~*Author Notes*~
I really don't have anything important to say, but while I was finishing chapter 18 I realized that I am almost done with this story. A few more chapters and a epologue and I'm done. This will be the first fan fiction that I actually finish. I am so proud of myself! Anyway I just want to give a huge THANK YOU! to everyone who reviewed and to anyone who even read the story and didn't review. Sorry about all the cliffhangers!
THANK YOU:
Annie
Dice
Stripes McKee
Jazz
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
Chapter 18
Nichole's mind abruptly stopped at Mary's news. She turned to look at Mary, confident the whole thing was some kind of twist joke her and Blink put together. The look on her face told her differently. Nichole's hands gripped the side of the sink firmly, turning her knuckles white. She breathed in and out trying to control the anger that was growing inside her rapidly, but it helped very little.
"What the hell is that matter with you?"She asked, her voice louder than she attended. Nichole jumped to the floor and stared at her friend with fire in her eyes. "Didn't you use any protection?"
Lowering her head, Mary slowly shook it side to side. Than replied in a voice almost inaudible. "I didn't think I could get pregnant the first time."
"Well, that's obviously not true."
Mary rubbed her eyes roughly. She knew Nichole wouldn't take this well and was prepared. She just wished in her heart that Nichole could accept the choices she made in her life.
"It isn't that big of a deal." Mary shrugged, knowing in the back of her mind how big of a deal it really was. The moment she saw Nichole's enraged face, Mary wished she swallow her words.
"Not that big of a deal? NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL!" Nichole seethed. "It is a big deal! I never intended to spend the rest of my life in this lodging house! But it looks like I have too, because you had to go and get knocked up by Blink." Folding her arms across her chest, Nichole turned, feeling the urge to slap her friend if she looked at her another minute. "Is it even Blink's?"
"Of course!" Mary exclaimed, her voice rasing slightly. "What do you think I am? Some kind of slut?"
Nichole shrugged, absently playing with the numerous things scattered on the sink. "I really don't know what to think anymore."
In the other room, Kloppman could be heard trying to rouse the boys, but he was ignored.
"Do you know how selfish you're being about this?" Mary questioned, biting down on her lip to keep it from trembling. She refused to let Nichole take pleasure in seeing her cry. "Did you ever think for one second that maybe that I wanted this? That I want the baby and I want to stay here with Blink? Did you ever stop to think about what I want?"
Nichole flinched back at the harshness of her words, but didn't drop the stare she held on Mary. "Did YOU ever think about the situation we're in? Remember the money we owe! I mean we could walk outside tomorrow and be killed!" Nichole slammed her fist into the wall to show her point. "DID YOU EVER THINK OF THAT!"
"Oh for christsake, Nick. It's been over six months!" Mary cried. "They're gone! they probably forgot about the whole thing by now!" She ran a hand through her hair in an angry matter. "You know, I am so sick of you. It's your fault they are after us, and you are the one that dragged me into the whole thing!" Mary shot Nichole an icy glare. Tears glistened in her eyes, but the anger was still there. "I wish I could take back the day I met you in the orphanage, because right now I wish I never met you."
NIchole returned her glare to Mary, slowly, her mouth agape. Those words were like a blow to her stomach. Her friend, the only friend she ever knew told her (in not so many words) that she ment absolutely nothing to her. Nichole quickly composed herself, setting her face to stone, masking her true emotions.
Nichole shrugged indifferently. "Fine, you wish you never knew me? Poof, it's done. I'll leave, you never have to see me again."
She turned her back to Mary ready to leave, but she jumped back finding forty sets of eyes piercing through her. Sighing in annoyance, she shoved her way through the boys, ignoring their probing stares. The sounds of the boys arguing followed her down the stairs, and a hand was placed on her shoulder.
"Race, leave me alone. I need to get the hell out of here for a while." Nichole growled, not bothering to stop. Race, however grabbed her before she could reach the door.
He wrapped her in a hug, restraining her from leaving Mary and him. "Nichole you can't run away from your problems and fights." Race consoled, his eyes pleading with hers. "Please don't leave."
Relaxing against his chest, Nichole sighed and locked her arms around his waist. "I ain't leaving. I just need to get out of here and think things out." She breathed into his shirt. She could feel his lips form into a smile against her neck.
"You're going to come back?"
Nichole rubbed her hands down his back comfortingly. "Yea, I'm coming back. Where else am I going to go?" She planted a kiss on his chin. "I just need to be alone for a little bit, I'll be probably be fine tomorrow."
"Whoa, Nick, you know it ain't safe to be walking the streets at night." Race protested. Nichole kissed him firmly to stop his lecture.
"Race, I know how to take care of myself. I lived on the streets before remember? I ain't some defenseless little girl."
Race rolled his eyes, knowing there was no point in arguing. Nichole would somehow get her way. "Okay, but if you ain't back by tomorrow afternoon I'm sending every newsie in this house out looking for you." Race reluctantly released her from his grip. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Kissing him lightly, she gave him one last squeeze before removing his arms from Race's waist. "Race, do me a favor and don't go yelling at Mary and Blink the moment I leave. It isn't their fault, it isn't anyone's fault, but my own." Nichole smiled weakly. Mary's words had sunk into her head, and she realized how selfish she really was being.
Nodding in agreement, Race planted a kiss on her forehead. He silently watched her leave, reassuring himself that she would keep her word and return tomorrow.
"So, that's it? You are just going to let her leave and run away from her problems?"
Race set an even stare on Kid Blink. Nichole's words replayed through his mind, that being the only thing keeping him from blowing up at his friend. "She isn't running away from her problems. She needs sometime to herself. She said she'd be back tomorrow." Race replied calmly.
"Great, just great." Blink moaned. "Do you know where she went? I got to talk to her."
Shrugging, Race placed his cigar in his mouth, lit the end and inhaled deeply. "She just left, if you hurry you could probably catch her, but god knows where she is planning on going."
Blink groaned again. "Look could you go upstairs and see if Mary's okay? She was crying her eyes out when I left her." Blink's eyes pleaded with Race's. "I'm going to go get my papes, and see if I can find Nick."
Race nodded in agreement and gave Blink an encouraging pat on the back. "Yea, sure. Good luck."
Shaking his head, Race kept his word and ran up the stairs, avoiding the stampede of his friends, who were oblivious to the problem. The bunkroom seemed to be empty, but the soft muffled cries told Race differently.
"Mary?" Walking down the short hallway he knocked lightly on the door. "Mary, you okay?"
Race heard a muffled sniffle and light footsteps, than the door opened. He expected Mary to be upset, but he didn't expect her to do what she did. With one last sniffle, she threw herself into Race's arms and began to bawl. Taken back by the outburst, Race stumbled back. Regaining his balance, he hesitantly wrapped his arms around her in a comforting hug.
Many minutes passed until Mary finally teared herself away from Race. Mumbling an apology Race didn't understand, she wiped her damp face. "Did she leave?"
The question was so inaudible that Race had to strain to hear. "No, she just had to get out of here for a while. She said she would be back sometime tomorrow."
Mary laughed poignantly. "You think she actually meant what she said? She's probably across the bridge and gone already."
Race secured her in another hug. "No, she's not. She said she would come back, she was telling the truth. I could see it in her eyes." He tightened his grip on her when he felt her sigh against his chest.
Pushing away from Race, Mary took a few deep breaths to compose herself. "This is all my fault, you know that." She glanced at Race, than continued to ramble. "Why did I have to go and say that I wish I never met her? I am so stupid, and now she's gone and probably not going to come back." Turning back into her room, she sat on her bed. Sighing inwardly, Race followed.
"Mary, I just told you Nick said she would be back." Race assured, swing a friendly arm around her shoulders. "Don't worry, she wouldn't lie to me."
Mary groaned. "And I just told you that she lied. she's probably outta Manhattan by now."
She sniffed and shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe I shouldn't have told her I was pregnant, I should have waited. I mean she would find out eventually, but I would be better if I waited."
Race began to comment, but shut his mouth, shocked by the information he just heard. "You're pre...pregnant?" He stuttered. Race knew Nichole would need an extravagant reason to blow up, and this was as good as any. "Is it Blink's?"
A smile touched Mary's lips as she nodded. "Yea, he was kinda shocked at first, but I think he's glad he's going to be a father." She answered in a lowered voice.
"Are you scared?"
"I guess, yea." Mary answered pausing a moment. "I didn't plan on coming to New York and getting pregnant at fifteen. I always wanted a family and I love Blink. I couldn't really imagine having it any other way."
"Well, congratulations."
A short silence followed. Mary made a side way glance at Race, a small smirk hanging from the corner of her mouth. "So, you and Nick, you got together last night?"
At the mention of the words 'Nick' and 'last night' made a blush creep up to Race's face. Mary noticed this and giggled making him shift uncomfortably on the bed. "Ohh stop being so shy. It's sweet that Nick finally found somebody." Standing she patted his leg. "Come on, lets go sell some papes."
"Do you think that's such a good idea in you condition?" Race asked, running a hand through his greased back hair.
Mary turned and looked at his as if he were crazy. "Condition? What condition? I just found out I was pregnant, I don't have any condition, besides alittle morning sickness."
Rolling his eyes playfully, Race followed the rambling girl out of the room.
HR
Blink tapped his foot impatiently. The headlines were weak today and he still had most of his papers to sell. Improving the truth could only do so much. His eyes glanced at the clock in the square, and he sighed. He had been out here selling up and down the street for almost two hours and he still found no sign of Nichole.
He didn't know how good her word was and was beginning to fear the possibility that she may have left Manhattan. He knew he wouldn't particularly care about her absence, but it would kill Mary, and not to mention Race.
Seeing no potential customers, he gathered his stack of papers and headed to Tibby's. Today wasn't a good day for him at all, and he hoped with the little money he had he could buy some coffee and relax. Crossing the street to the restaurant, he retraced his steps and did a double take through one of the windows. There was Nichole, sitting in one of the booths as if nothing happened, while he ran around looking for her like a chicken with his head cut off. Throwing open the door, he marched over to Nichole, slamming his hand on the table.
Knowing who was standing next to her, Nichole didn't bother to look up from her coffee. "Don't start with me Blink. You're the last person that I want to see right now." She said solemnly, annoyed at the fact he found her.
"I don't care if you want to see me or not." Blink replied angrily, sliding across from her in the booth. "Mary is at the lodging house crying because she thinks you are not coming back."
"She's crying!? I should be the one that's crying!" Nichole interjected loudly. "She just comes up and tells me she's pregnant and expects me to be fine with it, than she tells me she wishes she never met me."
"You should be happy for her." Blink replied tolerantly, controlling his anger.
"Happy that she got knocked up at fifteen?" She retorted. "That ain't something to be happy about." Finishing her coffee, she threw a coin on the table. "Now, why don't you go back to selling you papers and I'll go back to wondering around with nothing to do." She stood to leave, but Blink gripped her arm firmly.
"Will you just sit down and talk with me? Mary is upset and I don't know what to say to her to cheer her up." He sighed when he saw her face. "Just sit down and talk with me." He pulled a reluctant Nichole back in the booth.
She glared at him skeptically. "So, what do you want to talk about?"
"Why are you so upset about this whole thing? If me and Mary are happy shouldn't you be happy for us?" Blink question. "I mean It's not like I slept with her and than dumped her. I love Mary, Nick. You have to understand that."
"I understand that, and I'm happy she found you, Blink." Nichole sighed. "You just don't understand...things that happened in the past." She struggled to put what she was thinking in words. "There are just some unfinished things that are still haunting us."
"What kind of things?" Blink's eyebrows knitted together in curiosity.
Nichole rubbed her face, angry with herself for even bring the subject of her past up. It was her past and Mary wasn't any part of it, but she just had to drag her in. "Nothing." Nichole answered swiftly. "Look, it's really something I rather not talk about. Just tell Mary that I'm not upset at her and that I will be back sometime tomorrow." Standing, she left before Blink could even react.
He ordered a coffee and sat, pondering over the information Nichole just told him.
HR
The early evening sun faded quickly as Nichole briskly walked across the Brooklyn bridge. After leaving Tibby's she ended up in central park, back up into the tree that she climbed back when she got into a fight with Spot. Out of curiosity and hopes of a place to stay the night, she made an impulsive decision to go see Spot. She knew he wouldn't be able to do much in comforting her, but it would be better than the streets and the hauntings of her own thoughts.
Reaching the midpoint of the bridge, a smile played on her lips, the events of the previous night replaying in her mind. Stepping off the bridge and into Brooklyn, those thoughts quickly diminished, and she set her mind to finding the boys lodging house. She knew little about Brooklyn and had no clue where she was going.
After many twists and turns out of alleys, she finally found it. A large brick building much similar to the Manhattan boys lodging house. Quickly noting the location in the back of her mind, she hesitantly stepped inside. Nothing seemed new to her, it all looked exactly like Manhattan. A lobby with a desk and a set of steps that most likely led up to the bunkroom for the boys.
However, the middle aged man that sat behind the desk, reading a book, didn't look the least bit friendly. Feeling Nichole's presence, he glanced up and sneered, throwing his book aside.
"What do ya want, girl?"
Clearing her throat, she moved from the door way to the desk. "I'm here to talk with Spot."
A look of acknowledgment washed over his face. Looking her up and down he smirked knowingly. "You another one of Spot's girls, huh?" Nichole sneered at the comment and the man continued. "Wait here. I'll get someone to get him for you."
With a blatant yell a muscular boy around Spot's age, charged down the stairs. "Yea, what do you want Mr. Smith?"
Resuming his reading, Mr. Smith pointed a finger at Nichole, and simply replied. "She's here to see Spot." The boy also smiled knowingly. Grabbing her hand, he attempted to kiss her knuckles, but Nichole swiftly yanked her hand away. Spitting in her hand, she extended her hand to the surprised boy, who glanced back at Mr. Smith before returning the guesture. He nodded his head towards the stairs for her to follow.
"I'm Brooks. You one of Spot's girls....?"
"Nick. " Nichole answered briefly. "And I ain't one of Spot's girls. I'm just here to talk with him."
Nodding, Brooks jumped up the last few steps, Nichole following close behind. Reaching the landing at the top of the stairs, they walked past the room that was used to bunk the boys. Passing by a few comments and whistles swelled through the room. Rolling her eyes, Nichole followed Brooks down a short hallway to a door. Brooks knocked, and Spot's angry voice yelled a loud. "WHAT!"
"A girl named Nick is here to see you. Says she wants to talk with you."
The door immediately and Spot shifted his gaze from Brooks to Nichole. "What are you doing here, Nick? Did something happen with you and Race?" Spot asked, concern evident in his voice.
Shaking her head, Nichole glanced at Brooks, who took the hint and returned to the bunkroom. "Nothing happened with Me and Race. I just needed to get out of the lodging house for a while."
Leading her into his room, he sat her down on his bed. "What happened to make you want to get out of the lodging house? Boys over there driving you nuts?" His trademark smirk cover his face, when Nichole's solemn face broke into a light laugh.
"No." She turned towards him serious again. "Look, I don't think Mary wants everyone to know what's going on, so I'm just going to say that we got into an argument..."
"But you guys got into a fight before and made up right away." Spot interrupted.
Nichole sighed, running her hand over her face. "This is completely different. It's bigger, and not so much of a fight." Nichole paused, searching for the right thing to say. "It's just that I don't agree with her on this one thing."
"And that thing would be...?"
"I just told you I don't think I should tell you." Nichole sighed annoyed. "Just pretend that this thing could change yourself and your life."
Spot looked at her weirdly. "What are you talking about, Nick? You ain't making no sense. Stop trying to get around it and just tell me straight out what it is."
Nichole sighed, aggravated. Why had she come here? She should have stayed out on the streets with her own damn thoughts. Making a decision, she turned to face Spot, who stared at her, confusion in his eyes. "Mary just told me this morning that she was pregnant." She answered quickly.
Spot's face relaxed, and he shrugged nonchalantly. "She's pregnant? Whoo, go Blink." This earned him a punch to the shoulder. "What? Ohh I'm just joking, you should be happy for them."
"I wish everyone would stop telling me that." Nichole murmured, covering her face with her hands.
"What's the big deal? Why can't you just put everything aside and be happy for them?" Spot raised an eyebrow. "I thought that's what you wanted, for Mary to be happy. She's happily together with Blink, you're together with Race. What's the problem?"
Their conversation once again came to a road block. Just like her talk with Blink, the subject of her past came up and it wasn't something she was in the mood for talking about.
"Look just forget I brought up the whole thing." Nichole snapped, leaving Spot more confused than ever. Standing, she darted from the room slamming the door behind her. Spot stood, in protest to her leaving, but sat back down, seeing she was already gone.
I really don't have anything important to say, but while I was finishing chapter 18 I realized that I am almost done with this story. A few more chapters and a epologue and I'm done. This will be the first fan fiction that I actually finish. I am so proud of myself! Anyway I just want to give a huge THANK YOU! to everyone who reviewed and to anyone who even read the story and didn't review. Sorry about all the cliffhangers!
THANK YOU:
Annie
Dice
Stripes McKee
Jazz
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
Chapter 18
Nichole's mind abruptly stopped at Mary's news. She turned to look at Mary, confident the whole thing was some kind of twist joke her and Blink put together. The look on her face told her differently. Nichole's hands gripped the side of the sink firmly, turning her knuckles white. She breathed in and out trying to control the anger that was growing inside her rapidly, but it helped very little.
"What the hell is that matter with you?"She asked, her voice louder than she attended. Nichole jumped to the floor and stared at her friend with fire in her eyes. "Didn't you use any protection?"
Lowering her head, Mary slowly shook it side to side. Than replied in a voice almost inaudible. "I didn't think I could get pregnant the first time."
"Well, that's obviously not true."
Mary rubbed her eyes roughly. She knew Nichole wouldn't take this well and was prepared. She just wished in her heart that Nichole could accept the choices she made in her life.
"It isn't that big of a deal." Mary shrugged, knowing in the back of her mind how big of a deal it really was. The moment she saw Nichole's enraged face, Mary wished she swallow her words.
"Not that big of a deal? NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL!" Nichole seethed. "It is a big deal! I never intended to spend the rest of my life in this lodging house! But it looks like I have too, because you had to go and get knocked up by Blink." Folding her arms across her chest, Nichole turned, feeling the urge to slap her friend if she looked at her another minute. "Is it even Blink's?"
"Of course!" Mary exclaimed, her voice rasing slightly. "What do you think I am? Some kind of slut?"
Nichole shrugged, absently playing with the numerous things scattered on the sink. "I really don't know what to think anymore."
In the other room, Kloppman could be heard trying to rouse the boys, but he was ignored.
"Do you know how selfish you're being about this?" Mary questioned, biting down on her lip to keep it from trembling. She refused to let Nichole take pleasure in seeing her cry. "Did you ever think for one second that maybe that I wanted this? That I want the baby and I want to stay here with Blink? Did you ever stop to think about what I want?"
Nichole flinched back at the harshness of her words, but didn't drop the stare she held on Mary. "Did YOU ever think about the situation we're in? Remember the money we owe! I mean we could walk outside tomorrow and be killed!" Nichole slammed her fist into the wall to show her point. "DID YOU EVER THINK OF THAT!"
"Oh for christsake, Nick. It's been over six months!" Mary cried. "They're gone! they probably forgot about the whole thing by now!" She ran a hand through her hair in an angry matter. "You know, I am so sick of you. It's your fault they are after us, and you are the one that dragged me into the whole thing!" Mary shot Nichole an icy glare. Tears glistened in her eyes, but the anger was still there. "I wish I could take back the day I met you in the orphanage, because right now I wish I never met you."
NIchole returned her glare to Mary, slowly, her mouth agape. Those words were like a blow to her stomach. Her friend, the only friend she ever knew told her (in not so many words) that she ment absolutely nothing to her. Nichole quickly composed herself, setting her face to stone, masking her true emotions.
Nichole shrugged indifferently. "Fine, you wish you never knew me? Poof, it's done. I'll leave, you never have to see me again."
She turned her back to Mary ready to leave, but she jumped back finding forty sets of eyes piercing through her. Sighing in annoyance, she shoved her way through the boys, ignoring their probing stares. The sounds of the boys arguing followed her down the stairs, and a hand was placed on her shoulder.
"Race, leave me alone. I need to get the hell out of here for a while." Nichole growled, not bothering to stop. Race, however grabbed her before she could reach the door.
He wrapped her in a hug, restraining her from leaving Mary and him. "Nichole you can't run away from your problems and fights." Race consoled, his eyes pleading with hers. "Please don't leave."
Relaxing against his chest, Nichole sighed and locked her arms around his waist. "I ain't leaving. I just need to get out of here and think things out." She breathed into his shirt. She could feel his lips form into a smile against her neck.
"You're going to come back?"
Nichole rubbed her hands down his back comfortingly. "Yea, I'm coming back. Where else am I going to go?" She planted a kiss on his chin. "I just need to be alone for a little bit, I'll be probably be fine tomorrow."
"Whoa, Nick, you know it ain't safe to be walking the streets at night." Race protested. Nichole kissed him firmly to stop his lecture.
"Race, I know how to take care of myself. I lived on the streets before remember? I ain't some defenseless little girl."
Race rolled his eyes, knowing there was no point in arguing. Nichole would somehow get her way. "Okay, but if you ain't back by tomorrow afternoon I'm sending every newsie in this house out looking for you." Race reluctantly released her from his grip. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Kissing him lightly, she gave him one last squeeze before removing his arms from Race's waist. "Race, do me a favor and don't go yelling at Mary and Blink the moment I leave. It isn't their fault, it isn't anyone's fault, but my own." Nichole smiled weakly. Mary's words had sunk into her head, and she realized how selfish she really was being.
Nodding in agreement, Race planted a kiss on her forehead. He silently watched her leave, reassuring himself that she would keep her word and return tomorrow.
"So, that's it? You are just going to let her leave and run away from her problems?"
Race set an even stare on Kid Blink. Nichole's words replayed through his mind, that being the only thing keeping him from blowing up at his friend. "She isn't running away from her problems. She needs sometime to herself. She said she'd be back tomorrow." Race replied calmly.
"Great, just great." Blink moaned. "Do you know where she went? I got to talk to her."
Shrugging, Race placed his cigar in his mouth, lit the end and inhaled deeply. "She just left, if you hurry you could probably catch her, but god knows where she is planning on going."
Blink groaned again. "Look could you go upstairs and see if Mary's okay? She was crying her eyes out when I left her." Blink's eyes pleaded with Race's. "I'm going to go get my papes, and see if I can find Nick."
Race nodded in agreement and gave Blink an encouraging pat on the back. "Yea, sure. Good luck."
Shaking his head, Race kept his word and ran up the stairs, avoiding the stampede of his friends, who were oblivious to the problem. The bunkroom seemed to be empty, but the soft muffled cries told Race differently.
"Mary?" Walking down the short hallway he knocked lightly on the door. "Mary, you okay?"
Race heard a muffled sniffle and light footsteps, than the door opened. He expected Mary to be upset, but he didn't expect her to do what she did. With one last sniffle, she threw herself into Race's arms and began to bawl. Taken back by the outburst, Race stumbled back. Regaining his balance, he hesitantly wrapped his arms around her in a comforting hug.
Many minutes passed until Mary finally teared herself away from Race. Mumbling an apology Race didn't understand, she wiped her damp face. "Did she leave?"
The question was so inaudible that Race had to strain to hear. "No, she just had to get out of here for a while. She said she would be back sometime tomorrow."
Mary laughed poignantly. "You think she actually meant what she said? She's probably across the bridge and gone already."
Race secured her in another hug. "No, she's not. She said she would come back, she was telling the truth. I could see it in her eyes." He tightened his grip on her when he felt her sigh against his chest.
Pushing away from Race, Mary took a few deep breaths to compose herself. "This is all my fault, you know that." She glanced at Race, than continued to ramble. "Why did I have to go and say that I wish I never met her? I am so stupid, and now she's gone and probably not going to come back." Turning back into her room, she sat on her bed. Sighing inwardly, Race followed.
"Mary, I just told you Nick said she would be back." Race assured, swing a friendly arm around her shoulders. "Don't worry, she wouldn't lie to me."
Mary groaned. "And I just told you that she lied. she's probably outta Manhattan by now."
She sniffed and shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe I shouldn't have told her I was pregnant, I should have waited. I mean she would find out eventually, but I would be better if I waited."
Race began to comment, but shut his mouth, shocked by the information he just heard. "You're pre...pregnant?" He stuttered. Race knew Nichole would need an extravagant reason to blow up, and this was as good as any. "Is it Blink's?"
A smile touched Mary's lips as she nodded. "Yea, he was kinda shocked at first, but I think he's glad he's going to be a father." She answered in a lowered voice.
"Are you scared?"
"I guess, yea." Mary answered pausing a moment. "I didn't plan on coming to New York and getting pregnant at fifteen. I always wanted a family and I love Blink. I couldn't really imagine having it any other way."
"Well, congratulations."
A short silence followed. Mary made a side way glance at Race, a small smirk hanging from the corner of her mouth. "So, you and Nick, you got together last night?"
At the mention of the words 'Nick' and 'last night' made a blush creep up to Race's face. Mary noticed this and giggled making him shift uncomfortably on the bed. "Ohh stop being so shy. It's sweet that Nick finally found somebody." Standing she patted his leg. "Come on, lets go sell some papes."
"Do you think that's such a good idea in you condition?" Race asked, running a hand through his greased back hair.
Mary turned and looked at his as if he were crazy. "Condition? What condition? I just found out I was pregnant, I don't have any condition, besides alittle morning sickness."
Rolling his eyes playfully, Race followed the rambling girl out of the room.
HR
Blink tapped his foot impatiently. The headlines were weak today and he still had most of his papers to sell. Improving the truth could only do so much. His eyes glanced at the clock in the square, and he sighed. He had been out here selling up and down the street for almost two hours and he still found no sign of Nichole.
He didn't know how good her word was and was beginning to fear the possibility that she may have left Manhattan. He knew he wouldn't particularly care about her absence, but it would kill Mary, and not to mention Race.
Seeing no potential customers, he gathered his stack of papers and headed to Tibby's. Today wasn't a good day for him at all, and he hoped with the little money he had he could buy some coffee and relax. Crossing the street to the restaurant, he retraced his steps and did a double take through one of the windows. There was Nichole, sitting in one of the booths as if nothing happened, while he ran around looking for her like a chicken with his head cut off. Throwing open the door, he marched over to Nichole, slamming his hand on the table.
Knowing who was standing next to her, Nichole didn't bother to look up from her coffee. "Don't start with me Blink. You're the last person that I want to see right now." She said solemnly, annoyed at the fact he found her.
"I don't care if you want to see me or not." Blink replied angrily, sliding across from her in the booth. "Mary is at the lodging house crying because she thinks you are not coming back."
"She's crying!? I should be the one that's crying!" Nichole interjected loudly. "She just comes up and tells me she's pregnant and expects me to be fine with it, than she tells me she wishes she never met me."
"You should be happy for her." Blink replied tolerantly, controlling his anger.
"Happy that she got knocked up at fifteen?" She retorted. "That ain't something to be happy about." Finishing her coffee, she threw a coin on the table. "Now, why don't you go back to selling you papers and I'll go back to wondering around with nothing to do." She stood to leave, but Blink gripped her arm firmly.
"Will you just sit down and talk with me? Mary is upset and I don't know what to say to her to cheer her up." He sighed when he saw her face. "Just sit down and talk with me." He pulled a reluctant Nichole back in the booth.
She glared at him skeptically. "So, what do you want to talk about?"
"Why are you so upset about this whole thing? If me and Mary are happy shouldn't you be happy for us?" Blink question. "I mean It's not like I slept with her and than dumped her. I love Mary, Nick. You have to understand that."
"I understand that, and I'm happy she found you, Blink." Nichole sighed. "You just don't understand...things that happened in the past." She struggled to put what she was thinking in words. "There are just some unfinished things that are still haunting us."
"What kind of things?" Blink's eyebrows knitted together in curiosity.
Nichole rubbed her face, angry with herself for even bring the subject of her past up. It was her past and Mary wasn't any part of it, but she just had to drag her in. "Nothing." Nichole answered swiftly. "Look, it's really something I rather not talk about. Just tell Mary that I'm not upset at her and that I will be back sometime tomorrow." Standing, she left before Blink could even react.
He ordered a coffee and sat, pondering over the information Nichole just told him.
HR
The early evening sun faded quickly as Nichole briskly walked across the Brooklyn bridge. After leaving Tibby's she ended up in central park, back up into the tree that she climbed back when she got into a fight with Spot. Out of curiosity and hopes of a place to stay the night, she made an impulsive decision to go see Spot. She knew he wouldn't be able to do much in comforting her, but it would be better than the streets and the hauntings of her own thoughts.
Reaching the midpoint of the bridge, a smile played on her lips, the events of the previous night replaying in her mind. Stepping off the bridge and into Brooklyn, those thoughts quickly diminished, and she set her mind to finding the boys lodging house. She knew little about Brooklyn and had no clue where she was going.
After many twists and turns out of alleys, she finally found it. A large brick building much similar to the Manhattan boys lodging house. Quickly noting the location in the back of her mind, she hesitantly stepped inside. Nothing seemed new to her, it all looked exactly like Manhattan. A lobby with a desk and a set of steps that most likely led up to the bunkroom for the boys.
However, the middle aged man that sat behind the desk, reading a book, didn't look the least bit friendly. Feeling Nichole's presence, he glanced up and sneered, throwing his book aside.
"What do ya want, girl?"
Clearing her throat, she moved from the door way to the desk. "I'm here to talk with Spot."
A look of acknowledgment washed over his face. Looking her up and down he smirked knowingly. "You another one of Spot's girls, huh?" Nichole sneered at the comment and the man continued. "Wait here. I'll get someone to get him for you."
With a blatant yell a muscular boy around Spot's age, charged down the stairs. "Yea, what do you want Mr. Smith?"
Resuming his reading, Mr. Smith pointed a finger at Nichole, and simply replied. "She's here to see Spot." The boy also smiled knowingly. Grabbing her hand, he attempted to kiss her knuckles, but Nichole swiftly yanked her hand away. Spitting in her hand, she extended her hand to the surprised boy, who glanced back at Mr. Smith before returning the guesture. He nodded his head towards the stairs for her to follow.
"I'm Brooks. You one of Spot's girls....?"
"Nick. " Nichole answered briefly. "And I ain't one of Spot's girls. I'm just here to talk with him."
Nodding, Brooks jumped up the last few steps, Nichole following close behind. Reaching the landing at the top of the stairs, they walked past the room that was used to bunk the boys. Passing by a few comments and whistles swelled through the room. Rolling her eyes, Nichole followed Brooks down a short hallway to a door. Brooks knocked, and Spot's angry voice yelled a loud. "WHAT!"
"A girl named Nick is here to see you. Says she wants to talk with you."
The door immediately and Spot shifted his gaze from Brooks to Nichole. "What are you doing here, Nick? Did something happen with you and Race?" Spot asked, concern evident in his voice.
Shaking her head, Nichole glanced at Brooks, who took the hint and returned to the bunkroom. "Nothing happened with Me and Race. I just needed to get out of the lodging house for a while."
Leading her into his room, he sat her down on his bed. "What happened to make you want to get out of the lodging house? Boys over there driving you nuts?" His trademark smirk cover his face, when Nichole's solemn face broke into a light laugh.
"No." She turned towards him serious again. "Look, I don't think Mary wants everyone to know what's going on, so I'm just going to say that we got into an argument..."
"But you guys got into a fight before and made up right away." Spot interrupted.
Nichole sighed, running her hand over her face. "This is completely different. It's bigger, and not so much of a fight." Nichole paused, searching for the right thing to say. "It's just that I don't agree with her on this one thing."
"And that thing would be...?"
"I just told you I don't think I should tell you." Nichole sighed annoyed. "Just pretend that this thing could change yourself and your life."
Spot looked at her weirdly. "What are you talking about, Nick? You ain't making no sense. Stop trying to get around it and just tell me straight out what it is."
Nichole sighed, aggravated. Why had she come here? She should have stayed out on the streets with her own damn thoughts. Making a decision, she turned to face Spot, who stared at her, confusion in his eyes. "Mary just told me this morning that she was pregnant." She answered quickly.
Spot's face relaxed, and he shrugged nonchalantly. "She's pregnant? Whoo, go Blink." This earned him a punch to the shoulder. "What? Ohh I'm just joking, you should be happy for them."
"I wish everyone would stop telling me that." Nichole murmured, covering her face with her hands.
"What's the big deal? Why can't you just put everything aside and be happy for them?" Spot raised an eyebrow. "I thought that's what you wanted, for Mary to be happy. She's happily together with Blink, you're together with Race. What's the problem?"
Their conversation once again came to a road block. Just like her talk with Blink, the subject of her past came up and it wasn't something she was in the mood for talking about.
"Look just forget I brought up the whole thing." Nichole snapped, leaving Spot more confused than ever. Standing, she darted from the room slamming the door behind her. Spot stood, in protest to her leaving, but sat back down, seeing she was already gone.