Chapter 17
"Extre, extre! Mayor caught in office with group of prostitutes! Read all about it! Huge scandal!" Waving a paper through the air like a flag, Nichole raised her voice to be heard over the roars of the crowds. "Mayor caught in office with group of prostitutes!"
She gave a short nod to a buyer and pocketed the change. With a heavy sigh, she shook her empty hands out and sat down on an unoccupied bench. Feeling the beginning of a headache, she groaned and scanned the crowds for Race. Today was not one of her better days and spending the day at the crowded races made it worst. She wasn't much of a people person and she only wanted to out of there and to a quiet calm place. It was a change of scenery and Nichole was thankful for that. She needed to get away.
She still had no idea what the problem was with Mary, or where she was for that matter. Nichole hadn't seen her since she found her this morning in the stall. In fact she and Blink disappeared and she nor Race had seen then all day. However, that was probably due to the fact Race insisted on selling at the Sheepshed Races, far from anywhere Mary or Blink would be.
Nichole knew he was only looking out for her. He tried so hard to give her break from all the consiversy surrounding her, but as much as the truth might hurt her, she wanted and needed to know.
Raising her chin from her palm, she searched the crowd once again for Race. Finding him at the very bottom of the stadium, closest to the racetracks, she stood and carefully made her way through the rowdy crowd. Hopping over the flimsy bench, Nichole leaned on his shoulder. He glanced at her briefly, then stared back at the racing horses.
"Aren't you supposed to be selling your papers?"
Race glanced back at her and grinned. "I finished selling a while ago. I think I deserve to relax and bet alittle of the money I worked so hard for." His gaze floated back the tracks. "You sell all your papes?"
Nichole nodded against his shoulder. Her eyes closed shortly, blocking out he gust of dirt created by the stampede of horses. "Yea, just finished."
Her eyes shot up to his before she asked her next question. "Race, do you think we could get out of here soon?"
"Yea, sure. Let me just see If I won this race first."
Nichole, satisfied with his answer, got comfortable on his shoulder and waited patiently for the race to end. Not to her surprise the race ended and Race entered with the same amount of money he entered with. Nichole couldn't resist the urge to make fun of him on their way to Tibby's.
"You should have seen your face when the horse you bet on came in last." Nichole barely choked out, her hands clutching her side with laughter. "It was priceless, completely priceless!"
Race shook his head and continued walking. Nichole followed, leaning against buildings, to keep from falling, struggling to keep in tow.
"I mean who knew the horse that won the last three races would come in last?"
Opening the door to Tibby's, he rolled her eyes as Nichole walked by. "You know for someone who was worried about her friend a little while ago, you seem kinda happy."
Sitting in an empty booth, Nichole frowned. "Why did you have to bring that up? I completely forgot about that whole thing."
Race's face dropped. "Sorry, I didn't think it would bother you so much to bring it up again. Besides, I was only joking." He said meekly.
Nichole nodded. Turning away she stared out the window, leaving Race in an uncomfortable silence. He mentally kicked himself for bring the subject of Mary back up again.
"Nick, you know what you need?" He finally said fingering his hat. "You need to get out and just forget everything for one night."
Nichole turned her head. An eyebrow raised skeptically at the mischievous glint in his eyes. "What are you suggesting?"
"That I take you out tonight." Race grinned, knowing he caught her attention. "Just you and me, alone for the night. What do you say?" He asked, his eyes wide with hope.
"I don't know." Nichole sighed. "I don't want you spending none of your money on me. I mean we can both hardly afford to buy lunch. I would just be as happy staying at the lodging house with you."
"The whole point is to get out of the lodging house." Race informed. "We don't have to do anything that cost money, we could sit on the Brooklyn bridge, just as long as I'm with you."
Nichole's eyes shifted down to her hand that was now entwined with Race's. The sincerity in his voice was so truthful and the love for her in his eyes was so evident that she nodded her head without a second thought. "Fine, I give in. I don't want you spending any money on me though."
Race nodded in agreement. "I'll sell the afternoon edition and you can go back to the lodging house, just meet me at the Brooklyn bridge at six- thirty."
"Ohh, so we are going to sit on the Brooklyn bridge all night are we?"
"Well, since you're so concerned about me spending my money on you, then yes, we are." Race replied sliding an arm around her shoulders, drawing her closer. "Besides, that's the best spot in New York to see the sun set."
Nichole poked his stomach, and nodded. She wasn't about to pass on a chance to spend time alone with Race. "I'll be there."
HR
After a short lunch, Nichole went her own way to leave Race to sell the afternoon edition. The walk back to the lodging house was longer than usual, for she spent the entire time lost in her own cloud of thoughts.
She was ecstatic that she and Race would get to spend some quality time together, but she couldn't help but let her mind wonder back to Mary. Were her and Blink back together? Did they break up? Nichole knew she would find the answers to these questions eventually, and should try to forget about it and relax. But her mind wouldn't let her. She wasn't a patient person and she needed to know the truth of the situation instead of guessing from Mary and Blink's actions.
With a sigh, Nichole weaved through the people in the streets and into the lodging house. Finding the lobby empty, Nichole guessed Kloppman was keep himself busy in his office. Heading upstairs she was startled to find Mush in the bunkroom. Feeling someone staring at him, he glanced up from his book, and smiled when he saw Nichole standing across the room.
"Nichole, what are you doing here? I thought you went with Race to sell."
Nichole hesitantly moved farther into the room and sat next to Mush. Six months staying here and she hadn't gotten to get to know much about Mush. She felt like an idiot, not knowing how to act, or what to say around him. "Uhh, well, he's selling the afternoon edition. I'm waiting here until six, then I'm going to meet him at the Brooklyn bridge."
Mush smiled, and Nichole's body relaxed a bit. "You guys going to spend alittle time alone, huh?"
Nodding, Nichole picked up the book in Mush's lap, her fingers lightly trailing over the embossed title. "Romo and Juliet? I didn't think guys read this kinda stuff." She joked, hoping it would change the subject matter.
"I like it." Mush shrugged. Giving her a side glance, he cleared his throat nervously. "Umm, Nick, can I ask you something?"
"I guess, go ahead." She answered, scanning her eyes over the words of the book. She looked up at him weirdly when he shifted, and changed positions to get more comfortable. He grasped his hands together firmly, before he began.
"I was just wondering what was going on with Blink and Mary?"
"You know what's going on with them. They're fighting."
"Umm, not that." Mush ran a hand threw his curls. "I mean this morning. They walk out of the room like everything was fine after you left. Like nothing happened."
All her attention was turned to Mush now and the book was thrown aside. "Really? Do you know where they are now?"
Mush shook his head, prompting and frustrated groan from Nichole. Everything was becoming more complicated with every passing day. Shaking the thoughts from her head, Nichole reached across Mush and grabbed a stack of cards discarded on a table. There was no point in dwelling over anything, she would find out the truth soon enough. She hoped anyway.
"You wanna play some cards to pass the time?" She asked shuffling the stack. Mush agreed and Nichole threw out cards starting a game of poker. Nichole was the first to break the silence of the room.
"So, Mush why are you here. Aren't you supposed to be out selling?"
Breaking his gaze from his cards, he smiled at her and shrugged. "I wasn't really feeling all that well when I woke up. Kloppman told me to stay home and rest for the day."
Nichole threw down her cards. "You win. This game is more exciting with more people." Her eyes idly scanned the room, looking for something to occupy herself. "Don't you guys do anything other than play cards and read?"
Mush gave a short laugh and gathered the cards into a neat stack. "We go down to Medda's sometimes, but she don't start her shows until the evening." He scratched his head in thought. "We could go up on the roof and watch the clouds. I like to do that whenever I can. It's really relaxing."
Nichole grinned. She only hung out with him for a few minutes and she already wished she had gotten to know him earlier. "Sounds good. I need to relax anyway."
Not waiting for an answer she grabbed Mush's hand, and head for the roof.
"Hey, look at that one. It looks like a wagon."
Nichole snorted at Mush's poor observation. "It does not. It looks like a rabbit." She stated, lifting a hand to point at the specific cloud. "See there goes the ears, the nose, feet, tail…"
"I really don't see where you're getting a rabbit from." With an amused shake of his head, Mush lifted his body into a sitting position. Nichole grinned and followed his lead.
The day seemed like a typical summer day, but to Nichole everything that clouded her mind seemed clearer. Talking with Mush was like starting with a clear slate. Everything she was worried about had vanished from her thoughts. Mush, with his easy going attitude, was easy to open up to and she told him everything that was bothering her. To her and Race, to the problem with Mary and Blink. He listened intently to every word she said, his friendly brown eyes and babyface telling her everything would be all right in time.
The bright orange sun began to noticeably fall into the horizon, behind the monstrous buildings of New York. Nichole knew it had to be near six, and began to stand. The familiar sounds of the returning newies told her she was right.
"Well, Mush, it's been fun, but I think I'm going to start heading to Brooklyn." She offered him a hand, which he quickly accepted. "Thanks for listening to all my problems. You didn't have too, you know."
Mush scratched his curls and smiled shyly. He lifted his hands, but hesitated and dropped them again. Setting a determine look on his face, he tried again and this time he enveloped Nichole into a tight embrace, much to her surprise. She didn't react right away, but before he could pull away she returned the hug, and quickly pressed her lips to his cheek.
"Thanks again." Pulling back, Nichole grinned, seeing Mush's flushed face. She hugged him to her again, just for the sake of seeing him blush. Breaking the contact, she thanked him again, and descended the fire escape, past the window of the bunkroom, and down to the streets below.
HR
The crowds of people began to slowly thin out, as Nichole neared Brooklyn. The bridge soon came insight, and she felt her feet move faster over the copplestone street quickening the arrival to her destination.
The bridge appeared deserted in exception for a few middle class couples returning to their homes for the evening. Nichole lowered her head as she passed them, counting how many paces she took until she reached the midpoint of the bridge. Fifty-seven paces.
She waited patiently for a few minutes, but soon became restless. Digging into her pocket, she fished around her money until she found her last cigarette. It was her last and she wondered if she should smoke it or not. With a shrug of her shoulders, she found a match and lit the end, taking a puff.
"You know you shouldn't be smoking. Mary don't like it when you do that."
Pouting her lips, she allowed the smoke to rise into the air. Leaning her back against the cold steel of the bridge she grinned at the short boy, clad in black pants and a checkered vest, a half-smoked cigar balanced between his fingers.
"You know it ain't nice to sneak up on people. Especially in Brooklyn." Nichole commented, taking another puff of her cigarette.
Race sighed, laughter bubbling in his throat. "Specially, someone who could turn around and soak me real good." With a short laugh, Nichole swung an arm around him, engulfing him into a hug.
"So, what took ya so long." She mumbled into the crook of his neck. Breaking the hug, Race gave her a quizzical look.
"I ain't late you're early." With his arm draped across her shoulder, they stood, waiting for the sun to set. "You need to get yourself a pocket watch"
Placing her hand around Race's waist, she found a comfortable spot on his shoulder for her head. Silence followed, as the sun finally set into the orange and red streaked sky, sinking slowly below the buildings of the city.
Nichole silently giggled at her own thoughts, and Race looked at her questionably. She shook her head slowly. "Nothing, I just never imagined myself, standing in the middle of the Brooklyn bridge, watching the sun set, with my boyfriend." She giggled again. "Particularly the boyfriend part."
He trailed a few kisses down her exposed neck. "You better believe it now, cause it's true." He whispered. Tightening his grip on her shoulder, he kissed along her neck, up her jawline, until his lips met hers.
The kiss wasn't as heated as their first, but it was still full of lust. Race's lips worked slowly, yet strongly against Nichole's, building the passion of the contact. When they finally pulled away from each other, both stood serious, staring at the other, fire in their eyes.
They hastily closed the short distance between them, and their lips met again. They kissed with hunger and the need to be closer to each other. Breaking away for air, Race cupped her cheek. "You want to go back to the lodging house?" He asked quietly in between shallow breaths.
Nichole let her gaze drop from Race's to the ground in hesitation. She knew this could be one of the last times they got to spend any time alone, but what Race was suggesting could change everything between them, and she didn't know if she was ready for anything this intimate yet. She vaguely remembered her conversation with Mush on the roof. He told her many things in the little time they were up there, but one thing she clearly recalled was his advice to follow what her heart told her.
Nichole exhaled, making a decision. "Yea, lets go back." She murmured pulling him closer for another kiss.
Weaving his fingers with hers, Race led her back to the lodging house, and into the room that she and Mary slept in. With kisses and sweet nothings exchanged, they both let themselves fall silently back onto the bed.
HR
The sun rose slowly, spilling light over the dark streets again. Nichole groggily opened an eye, and threw the blanket that was wrapped around her body to the side. Out of pure reflexes, she sat up and stretched. With a yawn, she gathered her clothes that were thrown carelessly onto the floor last night.
A brown eye cracked open, feeling the sudden weight on the side of the bed. Rolling to his side, Race began to murmur a good morning, but abruptly stopped when he saw Nichole's bare back. Gingerly reaching out a hand, he gently traced on of the scars that covered her backside.
"Nick, if you don't mind me asking, what happened to your back?" He asked in a low voice. She threw her shirt over her head and lied back on the bed.
"Nothing, it happened along time ago, while I was still in the orphanage." Nichole whispered. Skimming her fingers over his bare chest, she rested her head on his shoulder. Race looked down at her with a concerned face.
"You okay? I'm sorry if I brought back any memories-"
Nichole cut him off "No, no, I was just thinking." She answered truthfully. Slapping his chest lightly, she moved off the bed. "Now get up. It's time to sell papes."
He groaned loudly and covered his head with the blanket. With a laugh, Nichole picked up Race's clothes from the floor and threw them ontop of the bed. "Race, get up. You got to sell."
"Can't we just stay here? In bed, nice and warm?" Was the mumbled reply.
Crawling next to Race, she pulled the blanket off him, exposing his head. "I don't know. Why don't you go ask Kloppman?"
Race's eyes widened in shock. "If he found out that we…we…" He looked up at Nichole shyly.
"Slept together? Made love?" She offered.
He nodded quickly. "Yea, if Kloppman found out, he would personally mane me" He glanced at her as she chuckled lightly.
"I was just kidding when I said to ask Kloppman. I know, for a fact that he wouldn't be too happy if he found out about us." Ruffling his already mused hair, she rolled ontop of him, kissed his lips slowly, and rolled off the bed.
"Get up."
Leaving a groaning Race in the room, she headed through the peaceful bunkroom (the newsies were still sound asleep.) and into the washroom. She would generally rush through washing up, wanting to get out of the boys way, but this morning she took her time. She just finished going to the bathroom and washing her face to see Race literally drag himself into the room.
"Good morning." Race sneered at her cheerful greeting. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he rested his head on her shoulder.
"I am so tired." He moaned. Nuzzling her neck, he leaned against her, almost knocking her down. "Can't we go back to bed until Kloppman comes to wake the others up?"
Regaining her balance, Nichole pushed him away lightly. "Go ahead if you want. But I don't think you are going to get much sleep. Kloppman should be up here soon."
"No, I mean you and me go back to bed together. I don't want to sell papes today. I want to go back to bed and hold you."
He sound like a whiny two year old and Nichole tried to hold back her laughter, but didn't succeed. However, her face turned serious again, when Race pulled her towards him, crashing his lips upon hers. Nichole involuntary moaned as he deepened the kiss, digging his fingers into her scalp.
Across the room, someone cleared their throat, causing the couple to break apart. Nichole licked her lips and eyed the person curiously.
"Mary? What the hell are you doing up?"
Mary cleared her throat again, and ignored the question. "Umm, Nick, I have to talk with you." She looked at Race leerily. "Alone."
Nichole turned to him with apologetic eyes. Getting the hint, he leaned in and kissed Nichole briefly on the lips and left the washroom, leaving the two alone. Hopping onto a sink, Nichole looked at Mary warily.
"So, what do you want to talk about?" She asked bluntly. Mary paced in front of her, wringing her hands together, nervously.
She drew in a shaky breath before she began. "I have some good news and some bad news. Well, not really bad news for me, but it might be fore you."
"Okay…" Nichole's eyebrows knitted together in confusion. She nodded her head for Mary to continue. She continued to pace.
"The good news is that me and Blink are back together." She paused her actions and glanced up and Nichole for a reaction. "Well?"
Nichole shrugged. "Well, what? I knew you two would get back together eventually. I'm happy for ya. So, what's the bad news?"
"Well, it's not really all that bad for me." Mary stalled. "This isn't really easy for me to tell you, because I know how you hate huge surprises…"
"Mary." Nichole interrupted. "If it's so hard for you to tell me, why don't you just spit it out and get it over with?" She stated calmly.
Mary breathed in, preparing herself for the reaction Nichole would have, hearing the news. Whether it be good or bad.
"Nichole, I'm pregnant."
"Extre, extre! Mayor caught in office with group of prostitutes! Read all about it! Huge scandal!" Waving a paper through the air like a flag, Nichole raised her voice to be heard over the roars of the crowds. "Mayor caught in office with group of prostitutes!"
She gave a short nod to a buyer and pocketed the change. With a heavy sigh, she shook her empty hands out and sat down on an unoccupied bench. Feeling the beginning of a headache, she groaned and scanned the crowds for Race. Today was not one of her better days and spending the day at the crowded races made it worst. She wasn't much of a people person and she only wanted to out of there and to a quiet calm place. It was a change of scenery and Nichole was thankful for that. She needed to get away.
She still had no idea what the problem was with Mary, or where she was for that matter. Nichole hadn't seen her since she found her this morning in the stall. In fact she and Blink disappeared and she nor Race had seen then all day. However, that was probably due to the fact Race insisted on selling at the Sheepshed Races, far from anywhere Mary or Blink would be.
Nichole knew he was only looking out for her. He tried so hard to give her break from all the consiversy surrounding her, but as much as the truth might hurt her, she wanted and needed to know.
Raising her chin from her palm, she searched the crowd once again for Race. Finding him at the very bottom of the stadium, closest to the racetracks, she stood and carefully made her way through the rowdy crowd. Hopping over the flimsy bench, Nichole leaned on his shoulder. He glanced at her briefly, then stared back at the racing horses.
"Aren't you supposed to be selling your papers?"
Race glanced back at her and grinned. "I finished selling a while ago. I think I deserve to relax and bet alittle of the money I worked so hard for." His gaze floated back the tracks. "You sell all your papes?"
Nichole nodded against his shoulder. Her eyes closed shortly, blocking out he gust of dirt created by the stampede of horses. "Yea, just finished."
Her eyes shot up to his before she asked her next question. "Race, do you think we could get out of here soon?"
"Yea, sure. Let me just see If I won this race first."
Nichole, satisfied with his answer, got comfortable on his shoulder and waited patiently for the race to end. Not to her surprise the race ended and Race entered with the same amount of money he entered with. Nichole couldn't resist the urge to make fun of him on their way to Tibby's.
"You should have seen your face when the horse you bet on came in last." Nichole barely choked out, her hands clutching her side with laughter. "It was priceless, completely priceless!"
Race shook his head and continued walking. Nichole followed, leaning against buildings, to keep from falling, struggling to keep in tow.
"I mean who knew the horse that won the last three races would come in last?"
Opening the door to Tibby's, he rolled her eyes as Nichole walked by. "You know for someone who was worried about her friend a little while ago, you seem kinda happy."
Sitting in an empty booth, Nichole frowned. "Why did you have to bring that up? I completely forgot about that whole thing."
Race's face dropped. "Sorry, I didn't think it would bother you so much to bring it up again. Besides, I was only joking." He said meekly.
Nichole nodded. Turning away she stared out the window, leaving Race in an uncomfortable silence. He mentally kicked himself for bring the subject of Mary back up again.
"Nick, you know what you need?" He finally said fingering his hat. "You need to get out and just forget everything for one night."
Nichole turned her head. An eyebrow raised skeptically at the mischievous glint in his eyes. "What are you suggesting?"
"That I take you out tonight." Race grinned, knowing he caught her attention. "Just you and me, alone for the night. What do you say?" He asked, his eyes wide with hope.
"I don't know." Nichole sighed. "I don't want you spending none of your money on me. I mean we can both hardly afford to buy lunch. I would just be as happy staying at the lodging house with you."
"The whole point is to get out of the lodging house." Race informed. "We don't have to do anything that cost money, we could sit on the Brooklyn bridge, just as long as I'm with you."
Nichole's eyes shifted down to her hand that was now entwined with Race's. The sincerity in his voice was so truthful and the love for her in his eyes was so evident that she nodded her head without a second thought. "Fine, I give in. I don't want you spending any money on me though."
Race nodded in agreement. "I'll sell the afternoon edition and you can go back to the lodging house, just meet me at the Brooklyn bridge at six- thirty."
"Ohh, so we are going to sit on the Brooklyn bridge all night are we?"
"Well, since you're so concerned about me spending my money on you, then yes, we are." Race replied sliding an arm around her shoulders, drawing her closer. "Besides, that's the best spot in New York to see the sun set."
Nichole poked his stomach, and nodded. She wasn't about to pass on a chance to spend time alone with Race. "I'll be there."
HR
After a short lunch, Nichole went her own way to leave Race to sell the afternoon edition. The walk back to the lodging house was longer than usual, for she spent the entire time lost in her own cloud of thoughts.
She was ecstatic that she and Race would get to spend some quality time together, but she couldn't help but let her mind wonder back to Mary. Were her and Blink back together? Did they break up? Nichole knew she would find the answers to these questions eventually, and should try to forget about it and relax. But her mind wouldn't let her. She wasn't a patient person and she needed to know the truth of the situation instead of guessing from Mary and Blink's actions.
With a sigh, Nichole weaved through the people in the streets and into the lodging house. Finding the lobby empty, Nichole guessed Kloppman was keep himself busy in his office. Heading upstairs she was startled to find Mush in the bunkroom. Feeling someone staring at him, he glanced up from his book, and smiled when he saw Nichole standing across the room.
"Nichole, what are you doing here? I thought you went with Race to sell."
Nichole hesitantly moved farther into the room and sat next to Mush. Six months staying here and she hadn't gotten to get to know much about Mush. She felt like an idiot, not knowing how to act, or what to say around him. "Uhh, well, he's selling the afternoon edition. I'm waiting here until six, then I'm going to meet him at the Brooklyn bridge."
Mush smiled, and Nichole's body relaxed a bit. "You guys going to spend alittle time alone, huh?"
Nodding, Nichole picked up the book in Mush's lap, her fingers lightly trailing over the embossed title. "Romo and Juliet? I didn't think guys read this kinda stuff." She joked, hoping it would change the subject matter.
"I like it." Mush shrugged. Giving her a side glance, he cleared his throat nervously. "Umm, Nick, can I ask you something?"
"I guess, go ahead." She answered, scanning her eyes over the words of the book. She looked up at him weirdly when he shifted, and changed positions to get more comfortable. He grasped his hands together firmly, before he began.
"I was just wondering what was going on with Blink and Mary?"
"You know what's going on with them. They're fighting."
"Umm, not that." Mush ran a hand threw his curls. "I mean this morning. They walk out of the room like everything was fine after you left. Like nothing happened."
All her attention was turned to Mush now and the book was thrown aside. "Really? Do you know where they are now?"
Mush shook his head, prompting and frustrated groan from Nichole. Everything was becoming more complicated with every passing day. Shaking the thoughts from her head, Nichole reached across Mush and grabbed a stack of cards discarded on a table. There was no point in dwelling over anything, she would find out the truth soon enough. She hoped anyway.
"You wanna play some cards to pass the time?" She asked shuffling the stack. Mush agreed and Nichole threw out cards starting a game of poker. Nichole was the first to break the silence of the room.
"So, Mush why are you here. Aren't you supposed to be out selling?"
Breaking his gaze from his cards, he smiled at her and shrugged. "I wasn't really feeling all that well when I woke up. Kloppman told me to stay home and rest for the day."
Nichole threw down her cards. "You win. This game is more exciting with more people." Her eyes idly scanned the room, looking for something to occupy herself. "Don't you guys do anything other than play cards and read?"
Mush gave a short laugh and gathered the cards into a neat stack. "We go down to Medda's sometimes, but she don't start her shows until the evening." He scratched his head in thought. "We could go up on the roof and watch the clouds. I like to do that whenever I can. It's really relaxing."
Nichole grinned. She only hung out with him for a few minutes and she already wished she had gotten to know him earlier. "Sounds good. I need to relax anyway."
Not waiting for an answer she grabbed Mush's hand, and head for the roof.
"Hey, look at that one. It looks like a wagon."
Nichole snorted at Mush's poor observation. "It does not. It looks like a rabbit." She stated, lifting a hand to point at the specific cloud. "See there goes the ears, the nose, feet, tail…"
"I really don't see where you're getting a rabbit from." With an amused shake of his head, Mush lifted his body into a sitting position. Nichole grinned and followed his lead.
The day seemed like a typical summer day, but to Nichole everything that clouded her mind seemed clearer. Talking with Mush was like starting with a clear slate. Everything she was worried about had vanished from her thoughts. Mush, with his easy going attitude, was easy to open up to and she told him everything that was bothering her. To her and Race, to the problem with Mary and Blink. He listened intently to every word she said, his friendly brown eyes and babyface telling her everything would be all right in time.
The bright orange sun began to noticeably fall into the horizon, behind the monstrous buildings of New York. Nichole knew it had to be near six, and began to stand. The familiar sounds of the returning newies told her she was right.
"Well, Mush, it's been fun, but I think I'm going to start heading to Brooklyn." She offered him a hand, which he quickly accepted. "Thanks for listening to all my problems. You didn't have too, you know."
Mush scratched his curls and smiled shyly. He lifted his hands, but hesitated and dropped them again. Setting a determine look on his face, he tried again and this time he enveloped Nichole into a tight embrace, much to her surprise. She didn't react right away, but before he could pull away she returned the hug, and quickly pressed her lips to his cheek.
"Thanks again." Pulling back, Nichole grinned, seeing Mush's flushed face. She hugged him to her again, just for the sake of seeing him blush. Breaking the contact, she thanked him again, and descended the fire escape, past the window of the bunkroom, and down to the streets below.
HR
The crowds of people began to slowly thin out, as Nichole neared Brooklyn. The bridge soon came insight, and she felt her feet move faster over the copplestone street quickening the arrival to her destination.
The bridge appeared deserted in exception for a few middle class couples returning to their homes for the evening. Nichole lowered her head as she passed them, counting how many paces she took until she reached the midpoint of the bridge. Fifty-seven paces.
She waited patiently for a few minutes, but soon became restless. Digging into her pocket, she fished around her money until she found her last cigarette. It was her last and she wondered if she should smoke it or not. With a shrug of her shoulders, she found a match and lit the end, taking a puff.
"You know you shouldn't be smoking. Mary don't like it when you do that."
Pouting her lips, she allowed the smoke to rise into the air. Leaning her back against the cold steel of the bridge she grinned at the short boy, clad in black pants and a checkered vest, a half-smoked cigar balanced between his fingers.
"You know it ain't nice to sneak up on people. Especially in Brooklyn." Nichole commented, taking another puff of her cigarette.
Race sighed, laughter bubbling in his throat. "Specially, someone who could turn around and soak me real good." With a short laugh, Nichole swung an arm around him, engulfing him into a hug.
"So, what took ya so long." She mumbled into the crook of his neck. Breaking the hug, Race gave her a quizzical look.
"I ain't late you're early." With his arm draped across her shoulder, they stood, waiting for the sun to set. "You need to get yourself a pocket watch"
Placing her hand around Race's waist, she found a comfortable spot on his shoulder for her head. Silence followed, as the sun finally set into the orange and red streaked sky, sinking slowly below the buildings of the city.
Nichole silently giggled at her own thoughts, and Race looked at her questionably. She shook her head slowly. "Nothing, I just never imagined myself, standing in the middle of the Brooklyn bridge, watching the sun set, with my boyfriend." She giggled again. "Particularly the boyfriend part."
He trailed a few kisses down her exposed neck. "You better believe it now, cause it's true." He whispered. Tightening his grip on her shoulder, he kissed along her neck, up her jawline, until his lips met hers.
The kiss wasn't as heated as their first, but it was still full of lust. Race's lips worked slowly, yet strongly against Nichole's, building the passion of the contact. When they finally pulled away from each other, both stood serious, staring at the other, fire in their eyes.
They hastily closed the short distance between them, and their lips met again. They kissed with hunger and the need to be closer to each other. Breaking away for air, Race cupped her cheek. "You want to go back to the lodging house?" He asked quietly in between shallow breaths.
Nichole let her gaze drop from Race's to the ground in hesitation. She knew this could be one of the last times they got to spend any time alone, but what Race was suggesting could change everything between them, and she didn't know if she was ready for anything this intimate yet. She vaguely remembered her conversation with Mush on the roof. He told her many things in the little time they were up there, but one thing she clearly recalled was his advice to follow what her heart told her.
Nichole exhaled, making a decision. "Yea, lets go back." She murmured pulling him closer for another kiss.
Weaving his fingers with hers, Race led her back to the lodging house, and into the room that she and Mary slept in. With kisses and sweet nothings exchanged, they both let themselves fall silently back onto the bed.
HR
The sun rose slowly, spilling light over the dark streets again. Nichole groggily opened an eye, and threw the blanket that was wrapped around her body to the side. Out of pure reflexes, she sat up and stretched. With a yawn, she gathered her clothes that were thrown carelessly onto the floor last night.
A brown eye cracked open, feeling the sudden weight on the side of the bed. Rolling to his side, Race began to murmur a good morning, but abruptly stopped when he saw Nichole's bare back. Gingerly reaching out a hand, he gently traced on of the scars that covered her backside.
"Nick, if you don't mind me asking, what happened to your back?" He asked in a low voice. She threw her shirt over her head and lied back on the bed.
"Nothing, it happened along time ago, while I was still in the orphanage." Nichole whispered. Skimming her fingers over his bare chest, she rested her head on his shoulder. Race looked down at her with a concerned face.
"You okay? I'm sorry if I brought back any memories-"
Nichole cut him off "No, no, I was just thinking." She answered truthfully. Slapping his chest lightly, she moved off the bed. "Now get up. It's time to sell papes."
He groaned loudly and covered his head with the blanket. With a laugh, Nichole picked up Race's clothes from the floor and threw them ontop of the bed. "Race, get up. You got to sell."
"Can't we just stay here? In bed, nice and warm?" Was the mumbled reply.
Crawling next to Race, she pulled the blanket off him, exposing his head. "I don't know. Why don't you go ask Kloppman?"
Race's eyes widened in shock. "If he found out that we…we…" He looked up at Nichole shyly.
"Slept together? Made love?" She offered.
He nodded quickly. "Yea, if Kloppman found out, he would personally mane me" He glanced at her as she chuckled lightly.
"I was just kidding when I said to ask Kloppman. I know, for a fact that he wouldn't be too happy if he found out about us." Ruffling his already mused hair, she rolled ontop of him, kissed his lips slowly, and rolled off the bed.
"Get up."
Leaving a groaning Race in the room, she headed through the peaceful bunkroom (the newsies were still sound asleep.) and into the washroom. She would generally rush through washing up, wanting to get out of the boys way, but this morning she took her time. She just finished going to the bathroom and washing her face to see Race literally drag himself into the room.
"Good morning." Race sneered at her cheerful greeting. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he rested his head on her shoulder.
"I am so tired." He moaned. Nuzzling her neck, he leaned against her, almost knocking her down. "Can't we go back to bed until Kloppman comes to wake the others up?"
Regaining her balance, Nichole pushed him away lightly. "Go ahead if you want. But I don't think you are going to get much sleep. Kloppman should be up here soon."
"No, I mean you and me go back to bed together. I don't want to sell papes today. I want to go back to bed and hold you."
He sound like a whiny two year old and Nichole tried to hold back her laughter, but didn't succeed. However, her face turned serious again, when Race pulled her towards him, crashing his lips upon hers. Nichole involuntary moaned as he deepened the kiss, digging his fingers into her scalp.
Across the room, someone cleared their throat, causing the couple to break apart. Nichole licked her lips and eyed the person curiously.
"Mary? What the hell are you doing up?"
Mary cleared her throat again, and ignored the question. "Umm, Nick, I have to talk with you." She looked at Race leerily. "Alone."
Nichole turned to him with apologetic eyes. Getting the hint, he leaned in and kissed Nichole briefly on the lips and left the washroom, leaving the two alone. Hopping onto a sink, Nichole looked at Mary warily.
"So, what do you want to talk about?" She asked bluntly. Mary paced in front of her, wringing her hands together, nervously.
She drew in a shaky breath before she began. "I have some good news and some bad news. Well, not really bad news for me, but it might be fore you."
"Okay…" Nichole's eyebrows knitted together in confusion. She nodded her head for Mary to continue. She continued to pace.
"The good news is that me and Blink are back together." She paused her actions and glanced up and Nichole for a reaction. "Well?"
Nichole shrugged. "Well, what? I knew you two would get back together eventually. I'm happy for ya. So, what's the bad news?"
"Well, it's not really all that bad for me." Mary stalled. "This isn't really easy for me to tell you, because I know how you hate huge surprises…"
"Mary." Nichole interrupted. "If it's so hard for you to tell me, why don't you just spit it out and get it over with?" She stated calmly.
Mary breathed in, preparing herself for the reaction Nichole would have, hearing the news. Whether it be good or bad.
"Nichole, I'm pregnant."