Chapter 15
After a lengthy argument the two girls decided to head back to the lodging house. Nichole had insisted on finding Kid Blink and making up right that moment, but Mary declined. In no way, shape or form was she ready to confront Blink yet. She knew from experience that he didn't take the subject of offending his friends lightly and thought it would be best to let him have some time to himself to think. If she was lucky, the news of Race and Nichole finally being together would soften him up.
Mary was still skeptical about the news. She wouldn't truly believe it until she saw it with her own eyes. The idea of Nichole being with someone (especially intimate) was just an absurd thought to her and would be for quite sometime, if in fact they were together. Mary took a sidelong glance at Nichole, who sat on the stoop of the lodging house, her chin resting in one hand and a cigarette in the other. The afternoon was a clear one, but the heat of the sun was scalding and Mary stared at Nichole unpatiently as she puffed at the cigarette slowly.
"Will you hurry up and finish that thing so we can go inside? I'm baking here." Mary complained, fanning her face with her hand.
Nichole flicked some ash to the ground, and grinned not making any attempts to hurry her actions. "If you were selling with Blink would you be bitching to him about the heat or am I just lucky?" When Mary simply glared at her, Nichole laughed, snubbed her half-smoked cigarette and stood. "It isn't that hot out here. It's probably hotter inside then it is out here."
Mary rolled her eyes and pushed Nichole up the rest of the steps and into the lobby of the lodging house. Much to Nichole's suprise, the lobby was somewhat cooler than outside. Not by much, but it was definitely more comfortable then sitting under the blazing sun. Dodging Mary's probing hand in her back, Nichole fell back in a chair with a sigh. Wiggling in discomfort, Nichole lifted her hands to her shirt and undid the buttons, revealing her white undershirt. Turning to look at Mary who sat beside her, she asked.
"What are we supposed to do until the others get back?" It was a stupid question. She knew that Mary would just want to sit and stare into space until the racket of the boys returning broke her out of her trance.
Mary shrugged indifferently. "You got a deck of cards? Maybe you could try and teach me how to play poker again."
Nichole snorted at the suggestion. "I've been trying to teach you how to play poker since we were twelve and you still can't play. What thinks you can learn now?" She turned in her chair and eyed her friend suspiciously. "Why do you want to learn anyway?"
"I don't know." She shrugged. "I guess I'm just getting bored of sitting on the side while you guys play."
"You look pretty content to me sitting there in Blink's lap, whispering in his ear the whole game."
Mary swatted at her laughing friend and sighed in a sad manner. "Could we not talk about Blink right now? I just want the whole afternoon Blink free so l can think of the best way to talk with him."
Nichole looked over at her friend as if she were crazy. "What do you mean the best way to talk with him? Just go up to him tell him you need to talk with him and say you're sorry for whatever it is you did." She replied waving her hand as if were nothing. "If that doesn't work then I'll lock you two in a room until you make up."
Mary placed her head in her hands with a groan. "Don't even try it. I'll know exactly what you're trying to do"
The tone of her voice told Nichole to drop the subject and not push it. Standing, Nichole walked across the lobby and hopped up on the front desk. Her hands began to fiddle with the various objects and papers strewed over the desk. "So, what are we doing for the next few hours?"
"I'll tell you one thing you are going to do. You are going to get your butt off my desk, girly."
Nichole turned and grinned at the older man, before jumping to the floor. "Nice to see you too Kloppy." she replied sarcastically. Leaning her elbows on the desk she continued to play with the objects.
Kloppman grinned at the nickname Nichole gave him; small wrinkles forming under his eyes. "What are you two doing here, shouldn't you be out with the boys selling papers?" He asked grabbing the pencil that Nichole began tapping against the desk from her hands. She yelled in protest and Mary laughed from her place across the room.
"How do you keep yourself occupied all day, Kloppman?" Mary stood, and walked over to stand next to Nichole. "You got anything we can do?"
"I sit back there in my office and organize my papers." He replied straightening the desk. "You know, it ain't easy keeping track of all these boys."
"I could imagine." Mary mumbled. "So, you got anything for us to do? Paperwork, chores, want us to clean anything?"
Nichole glared at her friend, and held up her hands in protest. "Whoa, when did I ever agree I would clean anything. Paperwork is one thing, but cleaning? That is one thing I don't do."
Mary omitted her friend's complaint and gave Kloppman a questioning glance. He sighed and thought for a moment; while Nichole watched on nervously, knowing any decision he made, even if it was to clean, Mary would force her to do the task.
"The boy's bunkroom is getting alittle too dirty for my liking, so if you don't mind perhaps you can clean up there. That should keep you two occupied for a while." Without waiting for a response from the two girls, Kloppman turned and shuffled back into his office, quietly closing the door.
"Well, thank you for offering my maid services for the day. " Nichole said mockingly, glaring at her friend. "I'll be sure to thank you later."
"You're welcome." Mary replied cheerfully. Pushing off the desk, she headed up the stairs with Nichole following slowly behind her, whining a long string of complains, which Mary paid no mind too. Both stopped on the landing to survey the room. Neither noticed it before (or perhaps they were too tired to) but what Kloppman had said was true. The bunkroom was a mess. Beds were unmade, clothes and towels were thrown throughout the room, and parts of left over food lay hidden under the bunks.
Nichole kicked at a rotting apple core that lay at her feet, and stuck her tongue out in disgust. "So, Mary, you still want to help old Kloppy and clean the bunkroom?"
Mary held a face much similar to her friend's, and for once, she regretted her kindness towards others. "Uhhh, lets just suck it up and start cleaning." Walking into the room, Mary kicked a few shirts and other objects into a pile in the middle of the room. Nichole looked on for a few minutes, before sighing and following Mary's example and picking up various things from the floor.
HR
"Is this clean or dirty?" Mary held up a vest between her thumb and forefinger as if it would bite her. Nichole shrugged. "Why are you asking me? Just put it in the pile with all the other dirty clothes."
"Well, it's your boyfriends vest. I thought you might know if it's clean or dirty." Mary answered flinging the piece of clothing to the huge pile in the center of the room. "What exactly are we going to do with all these clothes?"
"I don't know. Maybe we can convince the guys to clean them. I sure as hell ain't going to do it. They can stay dirty for all I care." She kicked at some clothes that fell from the top of the pile and headed towards the bathroom. She stopped short, her eyes scanning the dirty room. She knew they forgot to clean something. "Umm, Mary, we forgot the bathroom."
Pulling the blanket over the bed, Mary stood and smiled satisfied with her work on the bed. It was the last and she was more then glad to be done. Nichole's voice snapped her from her thoughts. "Whoa, what do you mean we forgot the bathroom? I thought you were going to clean it." She walked around the pile on the floor and stood next to Nichole. Nichole's eyes widened at the presumption.
"Me? I thought you were going to do it. I was picking up all the crap so you can actually see the floor."
Mary crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. Her eyes wandered over the spacious area of the bathroom. "Yup, and I made all the bunks, which there was really no point in doing seeing as the guys should be home soon and will just sleep in them anyway and I'm tired so I ain't doing it either."
Nichole waved a dismissing hand and flopped down on Race's bunk. "They aren't going to notice anyway. Tomorrow everything will look like it did before we cleaned it up." Snuggling into the pillow, she sighed happily. Race's smell surrounded her, which consisted of a mixture of cigar smoke and soap. It was a heavenly smell and something she would never get sick of. Lifting her head, she rested her chin on her folded hands, and glanced at Mary who now sat next to her.
"You can't wait to see Race, can you?" Mary smiled knowingly. If possible the silly grin that was plastered on her face the moment her body hit the bed, grew larger. Feeling if she opened her mouth, she would only release a giggle, she simply nodded.
"He drives me nuts with his trips to the SheepShed races, but I just have this really incredible urge to be near him. Have him hold me and never let go." She replied in a dream state.
Mary smiled, and Nichole sighed with pleasure and snuggled back into the pillow. Mary heart broke silently as she watched her friend. She was happy for her friend, in fact she never seen Nichole so content with her life, but she couldn't seem to rip her thoughts from the fight she had with Blink only a few hours ago. Nichole's advice did little to calm her nerves, eventhough she knew she was right. Still there was that small doubt in the back of her mind that things between Blink and her would never be the same.
"Mary, you okay." Nichole eyebrows lowered in concern at the girl who stood in front of her in a trance like state. She only shook her head as if to clear it from her thoughts and rested her cheek on the middle of Nichole's back. NIchole frowned. She knew what was wrong and wanted so badly to comfort her friend, but she didn't make any move to disturb Mary's resting- place.
"Mary, don't worry about Blink. You guys were bound to get in an argument one way or another, but you will make up. You both were made for each other, and if he can't see that, then he doesn't deserve to be with you."
Her encouraging words were said in such soft tones, that Mary had to strain to hear them. Nichole continued in a stronger voice. "You know this is the whole reason why I avoided getting involved with boys. The only thing they know how to do is break your heart."
"Then why are you with Race?"
Nichole paused, and thought for a minute to two. Then she realized she had no idea how to answer. She replied with the first words that came from her mind, hoping she didn't sound too much of an idiot. "It just feels like the right thing. It's hard to explain, everything just fell into place and it happened." Nichole felt Mary nodded against her.
"You know, Nick, I never thought you ever get with a guy, but I'm happy for you."
"Well, thanks Mary, I'm glad you approve." Mary grinned and sat up when Nichole pulled herself into a sitting position.
"No, really, Nick. Race is good for you. I don't think I have ever seen you so happy."
"I'm always happy."
Mary shook her head. "You know what I'm talking about. I mean now you have a reason to want to live. Before we came here there really wasn't one. We could disappear from the planet and nobody would care. It's like we're starting a whole new life."
Nichole's eyes clouded over and her face turned hard. She wasn't upset, but the truth of Mary's sentence was too depressing. Both could have hung themselves or even been murdered and they wouldn't be missed. But, now the situation had changed. They now had a house full of boys that would protect them against anything with their lives, they now had a reason for living.
Mary's concern stare faded as a smile grew on Nichole's lips. She shook her head and laughed. "God, Mar, do you know how much our lives changed in the last few months? It's just so weird to think about."
Laughing at her friend's wide-eyed expression, Mary stood. "Yup, we definitely are living the fine life, aren't we?" Mary bent over to straighten the sheets. Nichole kicked her hands away with a laugh. "Mary, I don't think Race is going to care if his sheets are alittle ruffled, leave it alone."
"Nope, I ain't going to care, especially when you're sitting on my bed."
Nichole swung her feet from the bed and bent her head around Mary's body to grin at the small Italian boy. "You know, Race, you kinda are trying to pretend that we aren't together."
His face scrunched up in recognition of the mistake he just made. Race tired to think of something to say and Nichole laughed at the sorry attempt. "Race, calm down." She said soothingly wrapping her arms around his waist. "Mary already knows."
Race's face scrunched up again, this time in confusion His eyes darted from Nichole then to Mary, who now sat on the bed trying hard to control her laughter. "Wait, how did Mary find out? I thought you weren't going to tell her for a while."
Nichole shrugged, and released her grip on his waist. "Her and Blink got in a fight and I had to tell her." When Race shot her another confused glance, she said. "It was a fight over us. Blink thought that she was putting you down and I thought it would be best if I told her the truth about you and me."
Race finally realized what was going on. "Did you guys make up yet?" He asked directing his question towards Mary, who by now had stopped her laughter. She shook her head solemnly.
"We fought, then he just walked away. I haven't seem him all day."
Race slide his arms around Nichole's waist, bring her body back against his. "He should be back soon. He was just going into Tibby's when I was leaving."
"What!" Mary's eyes flickered to the door in fear. "He can't come back yet, I have no idea what to say to him!"
Nichole rolled her eyed and disentangled her arms from Race. Placing a comforting hand on Mary's shoulder, she gently pushed her down on the bed. "Calm down. Remember what I told you? Just walk up to him, say you want to talk with him and when you are alone tell him you're sorry. It isn't that hard."
"It isn't that hard?" Mary asked quietly in disbelieve. "What if he doesn't want to talk to me or see me anymore. What if he doesn't want to be with be me anymore?"
Nichole grabbed her shoulders and shook her, hoping she would gain some sense from it. "That is not going to happen. You guys are always all over each other. I don't know how you two ever stay apart."
"And if he doesn't then I'll talk with him." Race added sitting on Mary's other side. "He's one of my best friends, he has to listen to what I say."
"See, even if he doesn't want to talk you got a back up plan." Nichole glanced up and smiled admirably at Race. "And if that doesn't work then I'll beat some sense in him for you."
Mary released a choked laughed and wrapped her arm loosely around her friend. Embracing her in a tight hug, she whispered into her shoulder. "Thank you, Nichole. I don't know what I do without you."
Nichole patted her back a few times and pulled away. "Don't get all mushy on me here. I get enough mushiness from Mr. Sensitive over there." She laughed pointing towards Race.
Race yelled a protest and reached behind Mary to grab Nichole's shoulder. Pulling her back on his bed, he began to tickle her despite her screams of objection. Mary jumped up to dodge their bodies. Laughing silently to herself at the site of the two, she hopped up on the top bunk. Hopefully, if everything went well with her and Blink she be laying in his arms by tonight.
The pounding of feet on the steps indicated the return of the others. Mary sighed and turned away, not wanting to see Blink at the moment. Still, with Nichole's encouraging words, she had doubts. She needed more time to think.
A wave of voices flowed into the bunkroom, many of the boys heading to their bunks ignoring the two that lay on Race's bunk still laughing. Blink heavily sighed, and followed the others. The day had been hell and the only thing he wanted was to lay down go to sleep, and forget the events of the day. He paused his movement when his eyes focused on a figure sitting on his bunk. He knew who it was and she was the last person he wanted to see that night. Deep inside the only thing he wanted was to do was to apologize and hold her close to him. He didn't know how to say it though. There fight was over something so stupid, so insignificant he didn't know how to even start to apologize. Looking at her once more, he shook his head and walked to the girl's room closing the door behind him.
Nichole nudged Race and pointed to Blink, who disappeared down the hallway. "Why didn't he come over here and talk to Mary, and where the hell is he going? He ain't sleeping in my bed."
Race rested on his elbows. "Mary is on his bed, and I'm guessing he doesn't want to see her right now so, yup that's probably where he is going."
Standing, Nichole placed her hands on her hips in a determine stance. She was going to return the favor Mary had done for her and get those two back together if it killed her. Turning she glanced up a Mary with concern. "You okay, Mary?"
"Fine." Was the mumbled response. Jumping from the bed, Mary looked at Nichole with hopeful eyes. "Was that Blink that just walked in?"
Nichole's eyes shifted to Race before answering. He simply nodded for her to tell that truth. "Yea, it was. He went back to our room. I guess he doesn't want to talk either."
Mary closed her eyes tightly and swallowed her tears. She expected him to atleast say something to her, even if it was negative. Wrapping her friend in a hug, she gave Race a "help me" look over her shoulder. Race stood and placed a hand on Mary's shoulder.
"I'll talk to him tomorrow when we going selling. Like I said he'll listen to me. He loves you, Mary and he wouldn't give up on you after a little fight."
Breaking the embrace Nichole ran her hands up and down Mary's arms. "Everything is going to be all right. If he does anything else to upset you though, he is going to have to answer to me." Mary giggled. "Now, come on I need to get something to eat I'm starving."
A tap on her shoulder, paused Nichole's actions. She groaned when she turned and was met by a pair of icy blue eyes. "What do you want, Spot."
His bluish gray eyes flickered with anger. "You know what I want. I want to talk with you about you hitting me for no good reason." He replied coolly, his finger pointing to the bruise on his cheek.
"You got your information all wrong, Spotty." His jaw tightened noticeably at the nickname, producing a smile from Nichole. "I had a reason for hitting you. You were pissing me off that's why I hit you."
She tried to walk around him, but he grabbed her by the wrist roughly. Race, shot up form his place on the bed, and was by Nichole's side in the speed of light. "Let go of her."
Nichole refused to let her anger get the best of her. Placing a hand on Race's chest, she gently pushed him, creating somewhat of a distance between himself and Spot. "Race, don't get into this. This is between me and Spot. You don't need to be getting in fights and getting roughed up because of me."
Satisfied that he wasn't going to jump Spot, she turned ripped her wrist from Spot's grip. "Look, Spot, I don't want to fight. Just get over the fact that I hit you and you deserved it."
If it was possible, his eyes narrowed even more. "I ain't going to get over it. Nobody hits me and gets away with it."
"Well, then I guess I'm nobody." She growled. Gripping Mary's hand in hers, she slipped by Spot, and out of the bunkroom. She mumbled quietly to herself as she walked.
"Damn, I hate that boy."
After a lengthy argument the two girls decided to head back to the lodging house. Nichole had insisted on finding Kid Blink and making up right that moment, but Mary declined. In no way, shape or form was she ready to confront Blink yet. She knew from experience that he didn't take the subject of offending his friends lightly and thought it would be best to let him have some time to himself to think. If she was lucky, the news of Race and Nichole finally being together would soften him up.
Mary was still skeptical about the news. She wouldn't truly believe it until she saw it with her own eyes. The idea of Nichole being with someone (especially intimate) was just an absurd thought to her and would be for quite sometime, if in fact they were together. Mary took a sidelong glance at Nichole, who sat on the stoop of the lodging house, her chin resting in one hand and a cigarette in the other. The afternoon was a clear one, but the heat of the sun was scalding and Mary stared at Nichole unpatiently as she puffed at the cigarette slowly.
"Will you hurry up and finish that thing so we can go inside? I'm baking here." Mary complained, fanning her face with her hand.
Nichole flicked some ash to the ground, and grinned not making any attempts to hurry her actions. "If you were selling with Blink would you be bitching to him about the heat or am I just lucky?" When Mary simply glared at her, Nichole laughed, snubbed her half-smoked cigarette and stood. "It isn't that hot out here. It's probably hotter inside then it is out here."
Mary rolled her eyes and pushed Nichole up the rest of the steps and into the lobby of the lodging house. Much to Nichole's suprise, the lobby was somewhat cooler than outside. Not by much, but it was definitely more comfortable then sitting under the blazing sun. Dodging Mary's probing hand in her back, Nichole fell back in a chair with a sigh. Wiggling in discomfort, Nichole lifted her hands to her shirt and undid the buttons, revealing her white undershirt. Turning to look at Mary who sat beside her, she asked.
"What are we supposed to do until the others get back?" It was a stupid question. She knew that Mary would just want to sit and stare into space until the racket of the boys returning broke her out of her trance.
Mary shrugged indifferently. "You got a deck of cards? Maybe you could try and teach me how to play poker again."
Nichole snorted at the suggestion. "I've been trying to teach you how to play poker since we were twelve and you still can't play. What thinks you can learn now?" She turned in her chair and eyed her friend suspiciously. "Why do you want to learn anyway?"
"I don't know." She shrugged. "I guess I'm just getting bored of sitting on the side while you guys play."
"You look pretty content to me sitting there in Blink's lap, whispering in his ear the whole game."
Mary swatted at her laughing friend and sighed in a sad manner. "Could we not talk about Blink right now? I just want the whole afternoon Blink free so l can think of the best way to talk with him."
Nichole looked over at her friend as if she were crazy. "What do you mean the best way to talk with him? Just go up to him tell him you need to talk with him and say you're sorry for whatever it is you did." She replied waving her hand as if were nothing. "If that doesn't work then I'll lock you two in a room until you make up."
Mary placed her head in her hands with a groan. "Don't even try it. I'll know exactly what you're trying to do"
The tone of her voice told Nichole to drop the subject and not push it. Standing, Nichole walked across the lobby and hopped up on the front desk. Her hands began to fiddle with the various objects and papers strewed over the desk. "So, what are we doing for the next few hours?"
"I'll tell you one thing you are going to do. You are going to get your butt off my desk, girly."
Nichole turned and grinned at the older man, before jumping to the floor. "Nice to see you too Kloppy." she replied sarcastically. Leaning her elbows on the desk she continued to play with the objects.
Kloppman grinned at the nickname Nichole gave him; small wrinkles forming under his eyes. "What are you two doing here, shouldn't you be out with the boys selling papers?" He asked grabbing the pencil that Nichole began tapping against the desk from her hands. She yelled in protest and Mary laughed from her place across the room.
"How do you keep yourself occupied all day, Kloppman?" Mary stood, and walked over to stand next to Nichole. "You got anything we can do?"
"I sit back there in my office and organize my papers." He replied straightening the desk. "You know, it ain't easy keeping track of all these boys."
"I could imagine." Mary mumbled. "So, you got anything for us to do? Paperwork, chores, want us to clean anything?"
Nichole glared at her friend, and held up her hands in protest. "Whoa, when did I ever agree I would clean anything. Paperwork is one thing, but cleaning? That is one thing I don't do."
Mary omitted her friend's complaint and gave Kloppman a questioning glance. He sighed and thought for a moment; while Nichole watched on nervously, knowing any decision he made, even if it was to clean, Mary would force her to do the task.
"The boy's bunkroom is getting alittle too dirty for my liking, so if you don't mind perhaps you can clean up there. That should keep you two occupied for a while." Without waiting for a response from the two girls, Kloppman turned and shuffled back into his office, quietly closing the door.
"Well, thank you for offering my maid services for the day. " Nichole said mockingly, glaring at her friend. "I'll be sure to thank you later."
"You're welcome." Mary replied cheerfully. Pushing off the desk, she headed up the stairs with Nichole following slowly behind her, whining a long string of complains, which Mary paid no mind too. Both stopped on the landing to survey the room. Neither noticed it before (or perhaps they were too tired to) but what Kloppman had said was true. The bunkroom was a mess. Beds were unmade, clothes and towels were thrown throughout the room, and parts of left over food lay hidden under the bunks.
Nichole kicked at a rotting apple core that lay at her feet, and stuck her tongue out in disgust. "So, Mary, you still want to help old Kloppy and clean the bunkroom?"
Mary held a face much similar to her friend's, and for once, she regretted her kindness towards others. "Uhhh, lets just suck it up and start cleaning." Walking into the room, Mary kicked a few shirts and other objects into a pile in the middle of the room. Nichole looked on for a few minutes, before sighing and following Mary's example and picking up various things from the floor.
HR
"Is this clean or dirty?" Mary held up a vest between her thumb and forefinger as if it would bite her. Nichole shrugged. "Why are you asking me? Just put it in the pile with all the other dirty clothes."
"Well, it's your boyfriends vest. I thought you might know if it's clean or dirty." Mary answered flinging the piece of clothing to the huge pile in the center of the room. "What exactly are we going to do with all these clothes?"
"I don't know. Maybe we can convince the guys to clean them. I sure as hell ain't going to do it. They can stay dirty for all I care." She kicked at some clothes that fell from the top of the pile and headed towards the bathroom. She stopped short, her eyes scanning the dirty room. She knew they forgot to clean something. "Umm, Mary, we forgot the bathroom."
Pulling the blanket over the bed, Mary stood and smiled satisfied with her work on the bed. It was the last and she was more then glad to be done. Nichole's voice snapped her from her thoughts. "Whoa, what do you mean we forgot the bathroom? I thought you were going to clean it." She walked around the pile on the floor and stood next to Nichole. Nichole's eyes widened at the presumption.
"Me? I thought you were going to do it. I was picking up all the crap so you can actually see the floor."
Mary crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. Her eyes wandered over the spacious area of the bathroom. "Yup, and I made all the bunks, which there was really no point in doing seeing as the guys should be home soon and will just sleep in them anyway and I'm tired so I ain't doing it either."
Nichole waved a dismissing hand and flopped down on Race's bunk. "They aren't going to notice anyway. Tomorrow everything will look like it did before we cleaned it up." Snuggling into the pillow, she sighed happily. Race's smell surrounded her, which consisted of a mixture of cigar smoke and soap. It was a heavenly smell and something she would never get sick of. Lifting her head, she rested her chin on her folded hands, and glanced at Mary who now sat next to her.
"You can't wait to see Race, can you?" Mary smiled knowingly. If possible the silly grin that was plastered on her face the moment her body hit the bed, grew larger. Feeling if she opened her mouth, she would only release a giggle, she simply nodded.
"He drives me nuts with his trips to the SheepShed races, but I just have this really incredible urge to be near him. Have him hold me and never let go." She replied in a dream state.
Mary smiled, and Nichole sighed with pleasure and snuggled back into the pillow. Mary heart broke silently as she watched her friend. She was happy for her friend, in fact she never seen Nichole so content with her life, but she couldn't seem to rip her thoughts from the fight she had with Blink only a few hours ago. Nichole's advice did little to calm her nerves, eventhough she knew she was right. Still there was that small doubt in the back of her mind that things between Blink and her would never be the same.
"Mary, you okay." Nichole eyebrows lowered in concern at the girl who stood in front of her in a trance like state. She only shook her head as if to clear it from her thoughts and rested her cheek on the middle of Nichole's back. NIchole frowned. She knew what was wrong and wanted so badly to comfort her friend, but she didn't make any move to disturb Mary's resting- place.
"Mary, don't worry about Blink. You guys were bound to get in an argument one way or another, but you will make up. You both were made for each other, and if he can't see that, then he doesn't deserve to be with you."
Her encouraging words were said in such soft tones, that Mary had to strain to hear them. Nichole continued in a stronger voice. "You know this is the whole reason why I avoided getting involved with boys. The only thing they know how to do is break your heart."
"Then why are you with Race?"
Nichole paused, and thought for a minute to two. Then she realized she had no idea how to answer. She replied with the first words that came from her mind, hoping she didn't sound too much of an idiot. "It just feels like the right thing. It's hard to explain, everything just fell into place and it happened." Nichole felt Mary nodded against her.
"You know, Nick, I never thought you ever get with a guy, but I'm happy for you."
"Well, thanks Mary, I'm glad you approve." Mary grinned and sat up when Nichole pulled herself into a sitting position.
"No, really, Nick. Race is good for you. I don't think I have ever seen you so happy."
"I'm always happy."
Mary shook her head. "You know what I'm talking about. I mean now you have a reason to want to live. Before we came here there really wasn't one. We could disappear from the planet and nobody would care. It's like we're starting a whole new life."
Nichole's eyes clouded over and her face turned hard. She wasn't upset, but the truth of Mary's sentence was too depressing. Both could have hung themselves or even been murdered and they wouldn't be missed. But, now the situation had changed. They now had a house full of boys that would protect them against anything with their lives, they now had a reason for living.
Mary's concern stare faded as a smile grew on Nichole's lips. She shook her head and laughed. "God, Mar, do you know how much our lives changed in the last few months? It's just so weird to think about."
Laughing at her friend's wide-eyed expression, Mary stood. "Yup, we definitely are living the fine life, aren't we?" Mary bent over to straighten the sheets. Nichole kicked her hands away with a laugh. "Mary, I don't think Race is going to care if his sheets are alittle ruffled, leave it alone."
"Nope, I ain't going to care, especially when you're sitting on my bed."
Nichole swung her feet from the bed and bent her head around Mary's body to grin at the small Italian boy. "You know, Race, you kinda are trying to pretend that we aren't together."
His face scrunched up in recognition of the mistake he just made. Race tired to think of something to say and Nichole laughed at the sorry attempt. "Race, calm down." She said soothingly wrapping her arms around his waist. "Mary already knows."
Race's face scrunched up again, this time in confusion His eyes darted from Nichole then to Mary, who now sat on the bed trying hard to control her laughter. "Wait, how did Mary find out? I thought you weren't going to tell her for a while."
Nichole shrugged, and released her grip on his waist. "Her and Blink got in a fight and I had to tell her." When Race shot her another confused glance, she said. "It was a fight over us. Blink thought that she was putting you down and I thought it would be best if I told her the truth about you and me."
Race finally realized what was going on. "Did you guys make up yet?" He asked directing his question towards Mary, who by now had stopped her laughter. She shook her head solemnly.
"We fought, then he just walked away. I haven't seem him all day."
Race slide his arms around Nichole's waist, bring her body back against his. "He should be back soon. He was just going into Tibby's when I was leaving."
"What!" Mary's eyes flickered to the door in fear. "He can't come back yet, I have no idea what to say to him!"
Nichole rolled her eyed and disentangled her arms from Race. Placing a comforting hand on Mary's shoulder, she gently pushed her down on the bed. "Calm down. Remember what I told you? Just walk up to him, say you want to talk with him and when you are alone tell him you're sorry. It isn't that hard."
"It isn't that hard?" Mary asked quietly in disbelieve. "What if he doesn't want to talk to me or see me anymore. What if he doesn't want to be with be me anymore?"
Nichole grabbed her shoulders and shook her, hoping she would gain some sense from it. "That is not going to happen. You guys are always all over each other. I don't know how you two ever stay apart."
"And if he doesn't then I'll talk with him." Race added sitting on Mary's other side. "He's one of my best friends, he has to listen to what I say."
"See, even if he doesn't want to talk you got a back up plan." Nichole glanced up and smiled admirably at Race. "And if that doesn't work then I'll beat some sense in him for you."
Mary released a choked laughed and wrapped her arm loosely around her friend. Embracing her in a tight hug, she whispered into her shoulder. "Thank you, Nichole. I don't know what I do without you."
Nichole patted her back a few times and pulled away. "Don't get all mushy on me here. I get enough mushiness from Mr. Sensitive over there." She laughed pointing towards Race.
Race yelled a protest and reached behind Mary to grab Nichole's shoulder. Pulling her back on his bed, he began to tickle her despite her screams of objection. Mary jumped up to dodge their bodies. Laughing silently to herself at the site of the two, she hopped up on the top bunk. Hopefully, if everything went well with her and Blink she be laying in his arms by tonight.
The pounding of feet on the steps indicated the return of the others. Mary sighed and turned away, not wanting to see Blink at the moment. Still, with Nichole's encouraging words, she had doubts. She needed more time to think.
A wave of voices flowed into the bunkroom, many of the boys heading to their bunks ignoring the two that lay on Race's bunk still laughing. Blink heavily sighed, and followed the others. The day had been hell and the only thing he wanted was to lay down go to sleep, and forget the events of the day. He paused his movement when his eyes focused on a figure sitting on his bunk. He knew who it was and she was the last person he wanted to see that night. Deep inside the only thing he wanted was to do was to apologize and hold her close to him. He didn't know how to say it though. There fight was over something so stupid, so insignificant he didn't know how to even start to apologize. Looking at her once more, he shook his head and walked to the girl's room closing the door behind him.
Nichole nudged Race and pointed to Blink, who disappeared down the hallway. "Why didn't he come over here and talk to Mary, and where the hell is he going? He ain't sleeping in my bed."
Race rested on his elbows. "Mary is on his bed, and I'm guessing he doesn't want to see her right now so, yup that's probably where he is going."
Standing, Nichole placed her hands on her hips in a determine stance. She was going to return the favor Mary had done for her and get those two back together if it killed her. Turning she glanced up a Mary with concern. "You okay, Mary?"
"Fine." Was the mumbled response. Jumping from the bed, Mary looked at Nichole with hopeful eyes. "Was that Blink that just walked in?"
Nichole's eyes shifted to Race before answering. He simply nodded for her to tell that truth. "Yea, it was. He went back to our room. I guess he doesn't want to talk either."
Mary closed her eyes tightly and swallowed her tears. She expected him to atleast say something to her, even if it was negative. Wrapping her friend in a hug, she gave Race a "help me" look over her shoulder. Race stood and placed a hand on Mary's shoulder.
"I'll talk to him tomorrow when we going selling. Like I said he'll listen to me. He loves you, Mary and he wouldn't give up on you after a little fight."
Breaking the embrace Nichole ran her hands up and down Mary's arms. "Everything is going to be all right. If he does anything else to upset you though, he is going to have to answer to me." Mary giggled. "Now, come on I need to get something to eat I'm starving."
A tap on her shoulder, paused Nichole's actions. She groaned when she turned and was met by a pair of icy blue eyes. "What do you want, Spot."
His bluish gray eyes flickered with anger. "You know what I want. I want to talk with you about you hitting me for no good reason." He replied coolly, his finger pointing to the bruise on his cheek.
"You got your information all wrong, Spotty." His jaw tightened noticeably at the nickname, producing a smile from Nichole. "I had a reason for hitting you. You were pissing me off that's why I hit you."
She tried to walk around him, but he grabbed her by the wrist roughly. Race, shot up form his place on the bed, and was by Nichole's side in the speed of light. "Let go of her."
Nichole refused to let her anger get the best of her. Placing a hand on Race's chest, she gently pushed him, creating somewhat of a distance between himself and Spot. "Race, don't get into this. This is between me and Spot. You don't need to be getting in fights and getting roughed up because of me."
Satisfied that he wasn't going to jump Spot, she turned ripped her wrist from Spot's grip. "Look, Spot, I don't want to fight. Just get over the fact that I hit you and you deserved it."
If it was possible, his eyes narrowed even more. "I ain't going to get over it. Nobody hits me and gets away with it."
"Well, then I guess I'm nobody." She growled. Gripping Mary's hand in hers, she slipped by Spot, and out of the bunkroom. She mumbled quietly to herself as she walked.
"Damn, I hate that boy."