A/N: Nothin' to see here folks. Move along. (Actually there are some
church scenes in this chappy.. Just as a warning.)
Crunch: You rock. Your worldly critique is very impressive ^-^
Disclaimer: I own everything... muah ha ha! ;hangs head in shame; Sorry. I only own Rhyme.
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Chapter 2
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I stood against the wall of a shabby shop, the green paint already peeling and cracking. An unintended map. The city was bathed in blue, rain pouring down. I held a newspaper over my head. The ink running down my face like dark tears.
I was cold. Inside and out.
People walked by under the protection of umbrellas, I saw their faces full of pity as they glanced once at me. I turned away from their looks, staring out to the harbor, wishing I had an invisible string so I could pull the ships in. Pull them to safety.
My papers were soaked. A puddle of ink had formed around my feet. A day's worth of money gone to waste. Sighing, I picked them up and jumped out of my shelter. My hair was a mess of wet string, my dress soaked. Everyone seemed to be staring at me. Ashamed for the girl with nowhere to go.
Eventually I ran. Ran through the gray backdrop, my hands were so numb I couldn't feel a thing. My thin boots had betrayed my socks by soaking in the puddles beneath me. Conlon caught me. He gave me a look. Like a book with blank pages, I couldn't read it. We made small talk about everyday things, the weather, selling papers, all the normal nervous chatter.
And the more I thought about it, the more nervous he seemed. Maybe it was just the cold cut of the rain, maybe it was just habit, but I thought I saw him shiver. And I felt better. Spot seemed more human, more alive. To be honest I had never really thought of him as someone with feelings. He was the leader, the one you listen to, not think about.
I felt that warm feeling again.
Shake it off. I told myself. You're betraying Kelly. But I couldn't. I felt like an idiot, walking there with Conlon. Stupid emotions. When you think you're safe, out of the rain, they come back as a storm.
We ended up at the church. The older one. It was so solid; seeming to say that questioning the faith inside was ridiculous. I'd never been in a church before. Not many newsies have. My parents were hardly religious, they told me to be good or God will punish you, but nothing more.
Red carpets lined the main hallway leading to the altar. If I spoke, something would break I was sure. The nuns were singing. The priest was praying silently at the front, his head bowed low, hands clasped.
He looked up. Eyes of pity. So familiar.
I ran again. Compassion scared me. I didn't want to be saved, or helped. I wanted to be alone. I left Spot there, standing alone, staring after me.
Kelly was outside the church. He was wearing his cowboy hat. He said 'Rhyme' and tipped that hat of his.
I'm so cold.
Crunch: You rock. Your worldly critique is very impressive ^-^
Disclaimer: I own everything... muah ha ha! ;hangs head in shame; Sorry. I only own Rhyme.
------*------
Chapter 2
------*------
I stood against the wall of a shabby shop, the green paint already peeling and cracking. An unintended map. The city was bathed in blue, rain pouring down. I held a newspaper over my head. The ink running down my face like dark tears.
I was cold. Inside and out.
People walked by under the protection of umbrellas, I saw their faces full of pity as they glanced once at me. I turned away from their looks, staring out to the harbor, wishing I had an invisible string so I could pull the ships in. Pull them to safety.
My papers were soaked. A puddle of ink had formed around my feet. A day's worth of money gone to waste. Sighing, I picked them up and jumped out of my shelter. My hair was a mess of wet string, my dress soaked. Everyone seemed to be staring at me. Ashamed for the girl with nowhere to go.
Eventually I ran. Ran through the gray backdrop, my hands were so numb I couldn't feel a thing. My thin boots had betrayed my socks by soaking in the puddles beneath me. Conlon caught me. He gave me a look. Like a book with blank pages, I couldn't read it. We made small talk about everyday things, the weather, selling papers, all the normal nervous chatter.
And the more I thought about it, the more nervous he seemed. Maybe it was just the cold cut of the rain, maybe it was just habit, but I thought I saw him shiver. And I felt better. Spot seemed more human, more alive. To be honest I had never really thought of him as someone with feelings. He was the leader, the one you listen to, not think about.
I felt that warm feeling again.
Shake it off. I told myself. You're betraying Kelly. But I couldn't. I felt like an idiot, walking there with Conlon. Stupid emotions. When you think you're safe, out of the rain, they come back as a storm.
We ended up at the church. The older one. It was so solid; seeming to say that questioning the faith inside was ridiculous. I'd never been in a church before. Not many newsies have. My parents were hardly religious, they told me to be good or God will punish you, but nothing more.
Red carpets lined the main hallway leading to the altar. If I spoke, something would break I was sure. The nuns were singing. The priest was praying silently at the front, his head bowed low, hands clasped.
He looked up. Eyes of pity. So familiar.
I ran again. Compassion scared me. I didn't want to be saved, or helped. I wanted to be alone. I left Spot there, standing alone, staring after me.
Kelly was outside the church. He was wearing his cowboy hat. He said 'Rhyme' and tipped that hat of his.
I'm so cold.