The meeting wrapped up relatively quickly after dinner with only a few arguments. Harlem had decided to join us – as proven by Racetrack's early hand gestures – as did most of the other boroughs. Only Long Island and the Bronx wanted to wait and see how it would be for a while before anything happened. By ten o'clock we were all on our way back home.
Spot and Roman parted ways with us during the journey to head back to Brooklyn. It appeared that I would be a permanent member of Manhattan, at least until the stuff with Chant cleared up. Apparently, I was safer there than in the much more involved Brooklyn.
"Jack, if its all right wit' ya, I'll walk Spark back ta da londgin' house, an' den I got some business ta attend too. I'll probably be late," he said to the Manhattan leader.
Suspiciously Jack answered, "Be careful, Race. Don' forget who 'er bruddah is. But if ya promise me dat, ya can go."
"Of course, sir," Racetrack said, tipping his hat to Jack and directing me towards the girls lodging house. When we got there he grabbed the fire escape ladder. "Let's go."
I blindly climbed the ladder in the dark night. I slipped on one of the rungs and fell into Racetrack, causing him to emit an "oof" of pain. Laughing, we tumbled to the ground, landing on top of each other. Giggling, we tried the ascent once again, and once again we were unsuccessful. Slowly we made our way up to the window and he dragged me off to a room off the bunkroom.
He kissed me passionately before whispering into my ear, "Are ya shuh ya ready for dis?"
"Yes," I said before kissing him back. As if in slow motion, the two of us fell to the bed.
~*~*~*~
"Feel like returning to the world of the living?" I saw Slider's frame looming over me; Mouth and Jack were beside her.
"Higgins, I thought I told ya ta be careful. What da hell were ya thinkin'?" Jack said, trying not to shout.
I looked up to Mouth, waiting for her comment, but none came. She shook her head in disappointment instead.
"I'se seventeen yeahs old, why are ya treatin' me like I'se ya daughtah?" I shouted, trying to cover up my embarrassment at the foolish choice I had made.
Jack's voice was at the same noise level as mine, shouting just quiet enough not to wake everyone. "I ain't da one dat thinks of ya like dat, but Spot does. An' if Spot evah finds out . . . we's all in deep shit." He lowered his voice as he sat beside me on the bed. "Ya didn' think 'bout da rest of us, did ya? Don' ya realize dat dis affects all of us?"
"Spot don' have ta find out!" I said. I had already realized the consequences of my actions.
"What if ya get pregnant or somethin'?" Sli yelled. "I been dere, I done dat, and ya don' want ta go through what I went through."
Racetrack had dressed and stood up, pacing back and forth through the room, muttering to himself, "This is the stupidest thing I'se evah done. What da hell was I thinkin'?"
"Race," I said, reaching my arm out to him.
He shrank back. "Leave me alone!" he shouted before walking off into the streets of New York, kicking the objects around him.
I felt a salty tear drop down my face. "What am I gonna do?" I sighed.
"I don' know, but we'se gonna help ya through it," Jack said, stroking my back. Slider came to my side and did the same, promising me I'd be fine. Mouth simply stood there observing and evaluating the situation.
"Ya gotta keep goin' like nothin's wrong or Spot'll find out 'bout everythin'," Sli said. "Jack, get outta heah." Jack walked away and Slider handed me my dress, which I slipped into.
"Ya shuh I didn' do da right t'ing?" I asked her worriedly.
Mouth stirred from her relaxed position on the wall. "It ain't all black an' white," she said before leaving the room.
A/N: See, not graphic, yet it happened, and now the consequences are coming. So I got over with the part I really didn't want to write. Also, I'm going to be gone from the 15th until 22nd so I won't be able to post. I'll make sure to write though, so that I can post as soon as I get back.
Shoutouts:
Birdy- Sorry I didn't get to "woik" you in this chapter, but I wanted to finish it before I left for London. You will be in the next chapter or so, I promise.
Soaker- Can't offer you lots to read 'cause I'll be gone that long too. Sorry! But, I offer you this chapter at least. Racetrack isn't such a sweetheart at the end of this, now is he? I didn't mean to make him act like an ass.
Sprite- I know, everyone automatically picks up the accent. I would like to point out that it is hard to get the accent! Or maybe that's just for me, but I'm not capable of getting certain sounds.
Sparx- First off, nice name. LOL. Anyway, glad you like this and I hope you keep reading!
Mouth- What the heck did you do? LOL I should have asked you that on the phone today. Wait a tick, I can ask you at Daniel's. I will. I am stupid. Just admit it, you are a maniac. LOL. Well, must go, byya!
Drama-Queen – Yeah, she needed to get the accent. But everyone works hard to perfect it, so she had to too. Anyway, thanks! Hope you continue to read it!