Author's Note: Hey, I'm actually doing pretty good getting these chapters
out quicker. I hadn't even started this one and then went on this major
writing spree and wrote five straight pages tonight and I think I'm gonna
keep writing. Anyways, the end of this chapter is dedicated to Spark, as a
sort of reminder of all our past Medda-hating ramblings. And no, I did not
betray you, Eitak.
Whisper/Tomboy- I did get your application, I'll keep you posted!
Chapter 9:
Kid Blink sank down on the cot and ran his hands through his hair angrily. "Great, jist great. Dis wasn't quite how I'd planned on spendin' taday. Instead a askin' Charm to be my goil last night, I get arrested an' taken ta da refuge. It all makes lots a sense."
Flame peered over the edge of her top bunk critically, "I told ya not ta go back ta da Lodgin' House."
Blink glared at her through his fingers, "Since when have I listened ta you?"
"Well, ya shoulda at least done what Bronny told ya to instead a rushin' off ta save Calli from da bulls when ya didn't even know she was still in dere."
Blink stood up and began pacing again, "You were more den capable ta get Brooke an' Race, we didn't both need ta do it."
Flame's lips curled in a smirk, "Dough I don't reckon dey were all dat pleased ta see even one a us."
Blink paused briefly, "Why?"
The dark-haired girl rolled her eyes, "Why da ya t'ink, genius?"
Blink's face went from bad to worse, "Well at least one of us had a good time last night."
"Hey, yer just lucky I came ta bail you out. Quit complainin'."
Blink stopped and pinned her with a death glare. "I'm jist lucky???
Need I remind you dat yer oh-so-bright rescue plan failed an' now yer stuck in heah wit' me? How is dat lucky?"
Flame tossed her hair flippantly, "Now you have company."
^~*^~*^~*~^*~^*~^
Calli opened her eyes and looked around the Brooklyn bunkroom. A few of the early birds were beginning to dress, while most of Manhattan slept soundly. The floor was covered with bodies of sleeping newsies which Calli carefully picked her way through on her way to the washroom.
As she stood in front of the sink looking in the mirror the shock of the previous night hit her. Had she really said yes to Spinz and then kissed him? She touched her lips almost without realizing it, wondering if they felt different. No, they didn't. A small smug smile spread across her face at the memory of her first kiss. She ignored the gnawing feeling that it wasn't everything she had thought it would be. *It was great,* she told herself firmly, *I've just never pictured my first one to be with Spinz.*
She splashed water on her face and dried it, then walked back into the bunkroom and got changed quickly. She had a lot to tell Brooke today.
^~*^~*^~*~^*~^*~^
Brooke waited impatiently downstairs, tapping her foot against the floor. She couldn't wait to see Calli and tell her about last night. Brooke shivered all over just thinking about it, while the grin on her face just would NOT disappear.
The girls hadn't seen each other last night except for a quick, "I HAVE to talk to you." before lights out. Both woke early, knowing if they wanted to get away for girl talk they'd have to get their papers quickly.
Soft footsteps were heard upstairs, and then Calli could be seen tip- toeing quietly down the stairs. Brooke motioned her outside and then hugged her excitedly. "You'll NEVAH guess what happened last night!"
Calli grinned back, flicking her braid behind her shoulder, "Neither will you. C'mon. Let's get our papes an' den go talk."
^~*^~*^~*~^*~^*~^
"And then some girl interrupted you? Do you know her?" Calli had listened to Brooke's story with interest when the girl who had warned the two newsies caught her attention.
"A little. She's Bronx. One a Blink's old goils from a couple yeahs back. Dey're just good friends now, dough, so don't worry. Come ta t'ink of it, she said dat she had just seen Blink an' he was goin' ta da LH ta get youse. Did somethin' happen last night wit' him?"
Calli was unusually silent and pale. "Did-did you say she was Bronx?"
Brooke nodded, callin' out a headline. "Yeah, why?"
Calli didn't answer, searching the ground with her eyes for a moment.
"Brooke.uh, this is gonna sound weird, but when you an' Race an' Blink were on your way to the track did Blink say anything about me?"
Brooke frowned, her brown eyes serious as she looked at her friend in concern, "No, I don't t'ink-I don't remembah."
"Did-did he say anything at all about you guys having fun?"
Brooke furrowed her brow in concentration, realizing how important this was to her friend. "No- I can't.wait. Yes, he said dat even dough you weren't dere we could still have fun."
Calli closed her eyes and sank down to the ground, covering her face with her hands. Brooke kneeled down next to her, ignorant of the streams of pedestrians who passed by them. She pulled apart her friend's hands and got worried when she saw Calli's eyes wet with tears. "Calli, what's wrong? Tell me."
Calli shook her head, whispering, "Oh, Brooke, I made the biggest mistake of my life last night."
"What'd you do? Whatevah it was, don't worry about it. I'm sure Blink'll still love ya."
Calli shook her head again, "No, not this time. He'll hate me when he finds out. I've done something that I can't fix, and he won't be able to forgive me now."
Brooke pulled her up and led her over to a bench, "It can't be dat bad."
Calli's eyes filled up again, "Brooke-I kissed Spinz. We're going out."
^~*^~*^~*~^*~^*~^
Mush stopped Jack and Spot on their way to sell. "Jack, we're missin' Blink."
Spot raised an eyebrow and Jack frowned, "I t'ought you said we had everyone."
Spot turned around and whistled shrilly, a pattern of notes that sounded rather like a bird. Bronny broke free from the swarm of newsies and came running, "Yes, Spot?"
"Mush says we're missin' Blink." The look on Spot's face suggested it was Bronny's fault this had happened.
The boy gulped audibly, "We can't be. He got Race an' dat goil- Brooke? last night from da tracks. Race is right dere."
Spot scanned the newsies and turned to Mush, "Where's blondie?"
Mush raised an eyebrow and opened his mouth to ask the question when Jack shook his head and mouthed, "Calli."
Mush nodded and then turned to Spot. "Calli and Brooke are both gone. Race says dey left early ta go sell by demselves."
Spot started to walk off again, calling over his shoulder. "Blink's wit' dem."
^~*^~*^~*~^*~^*~^
Brooke stepped back in shock, "What?! Why? When?"
Calli patted the seat beside her and spoke miserably, "Last night. Swifty musta got me before Blink came and we went to Brooklyn. Kix told me that he had overheard Blink say to you three that 'you guys could have fun now that I wasn't there.'."
"An' so you went off an' made out wit' Spinz?" Brooke failed to see the logic in this, though she understood the mistake Calli had made.
"No! I didn't believe it at first, but then I overheard Bronny telling Spot that he had just passed by Blink WITH A BRONX GIRL and told him to go find you guys."
"Oh, Calli. You didn't."
"I was so upset I went outside onto the roof to calm down. Spinz followed me and started talking about how he liked me and stuff. I was gonna tell him no, but then I 'realized' that Blink didn't like me at all and actually liked a Bronx girl. So I was so confused and didn't know what to think that when he asked me if we could give it a go, I nodded and then he kissed me. And I kissed him back!" It was obvious to Calli that this was the worst part.
Brooke buried her face in her hands, then raised it again several minutes later, "Can't you just talk ta Spinz an' tell him ya changed yer mind?"
Calli didn't answer, and Brooke leaned back a few inches. "Woah, Calli. Don't tell me youse like him."
Calli looked at her pleadingly, "I don't know. It was my first kiss, Brooke. I liked it! Spinz is cute and isn't shy, and he knows how to take charge and just speak up about his feelings!"
Brooke breathed out heavily, "I don't know what ta tell ya. You'll hafta figure dis one out yerself. All I know is dat Blink really likes you and was pretty close to asking you out."
Calli closed her eyes and shook her head, unsure.
Brooke looked at her for a moment, "Ya know what you need?"
Calli glanced up at her, eyes full of question, "What?"
"Medda's."
^~*^~*^~*~^*~^*~^
"Brooke," Calli complained as she was being snuck through the back into Irving Hall. "I don't know if you've realized this, but I do not like Medda. Being in the same room with her will just put me in a worse mood."
Brooke shook her head, "You jist haven't given her a chance."
"You've only met her once, Brooke, so how do you know?"
Brooke knocked softly on the door of Medda's dressing room, "I can jist tell wit' her."
"Well, that's great, but-"
"Why hello, girls!" Medda appeared in the doorway, wearing a light blue dress and her hair partly down. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
Brooke smiled, "Calli was having a hard day so we decided to come here. If you're busy we can come back some other time though."
"Oh, no, you're fine. I just came from an act; I'm just getting changed." Medda gestured for them to come in then closed the door behind them.
The girls sat down in some chairs while Medda went behind a partition. "So Calli, why are you having a hard day?"
Calli glared at Brooke, but the other girl refused to meet her eyes. "Oh, just guy trouble. It's nothing you should worry about."
The blue dress appeared over the top of the partition, and a shirt and pants disappeared from sight. "Ahh." came the knowing reply, "is Blink still stalling?"
Brooke grinned at Calli's look of surprise. "How'd you know? I mean-"
Medda laughed softly, "My dear, I've known that boy since he was oh, nine years old or so. It takes him awhile to get up his nerve to do something. Especially when it's something really important."
"How'd you know about him and me though?"
Medda laughed again, walking out into view. She wore a pair of brown pants, a white blouse, and had her hair pulled back into a loose bun. She looked almost normal, and for some reason, without the makeup, looked a whole lot less threatening.
"Calli, since the day he first met you he's talked about you non- stop, and when he found out you were a girl it just got worse. I think I've heard about every move you've made and every word you've spoken to him. He adores you, sweetie."
A small smile spread across Calli's face and color rose to her cheeks. Then she frowned, "But it isn't just that."
Medda stood in front of her, nodding encouragingly, and Calli continued.
"Last night I made a huge mistake about him and.well, I-I."
Medda cocked her head to the side and raised an eyebrow.
Calli took a deep breath, "I sorta gave up on him and said yes to this other guy."
Medda didn't seem too surprised. She nodded understandingly, and sighed, "I saw it coming. There isn't much I can tell you, except to do what your heart tells you and if it isn't Blink, then it isn't Blink."
^~*^~*^~*~^*~^*~^
Brooke pounced as soon as they were safely on the street again, "So.whaddya t'ink of her now?"
Calli considered the afternoon for a minute and looked rather surprised as she answered. "A bit all-knowing.but I think I like her."
TO BE CONTINUED
A.N.- Like it???
Whisper/Tomboy- I did get your application, I'll keep you posted!
Chapter 9:
Kid Blink sank down on the cot and ran his hands through his hair angrily. "Great, jist great. Dis wasn't quite how I'd planned on spendin' taday. Instead a askin' Charm to be my goil last night, I get arrested an' taken ta da refuge. It all makes lots a sense."
Flame peered over the edge of her top bunk critically, "I told ya not ta go back ta da Lodgin' House."
Blink glared at her through his fingers, "Since when have I listened ta you?"
"Well, ya shoulda at least done what Bronny told ya to instead a rushin' off ta save Calli from da bulls when ya didn't even know she was still in dere."
Blink stood up and began pacing again, "You were more den capable ta get Brooke an' Race, we didn't both need ta do it."
Flame's lips curled in a smirk, "Dough I don't reckon dey were all dat pleased ta see even one a us."
Blink paused briefly, "Why?"
The dark-haired girl rolled her eyes, "Why da ya t'ink, genius?"
Blink's face went from bad to worse, "Well at least one of us had a good time last night."
"Hey, yer just lucky I came ta bail you out. Quit complainin'."
Blink stopped and pinned her with a death glare. "I'm jist lucky???
Need I remind you dat yer oh-so-bright rescue plan failed an' now yer stuck in heah wit' me? How is dat lucky?"
Flame tossed her hair flippantly, "Now you have company."
^~*^~*^~*~^*~^*~^
Calli opened her eyes and looked around the Brooklyn bunkroom. A few of the early birds were beginning to dress, while most of Manhattan slept soundly. The floor was covered with bodies of sleeping newsies which Calli carefully picked her way through on her way to the washroom.
As she stood in front of the sink looking in the mirror the shock of the previous night hit her. Had she really said yes to Spinz and then kissed him? She touched her lips almost without realizing it, wondering if they felt different. No, they didn't. A small smug smile spread across her face at the memory of her first kiss. She ignored the gnawing feeling that it wasn't everything she had thought it would be. *It was great,* she told herself firmly, *I've just never pictured my first one to be with Spinz.*
She splashed water on her face and dried it, then walked back into the bunkroom and got changed quickly. She had a lot to tell Brooke today.
^~*^~*^~*~^*~^*~^
Brooke waited impatiently downstairs, tapping her foot against the floor. She couldn't wait to see Calli and tell her about last night. Brooke shivered all over just thinking about it, while the grin on her face just would NOT disappear.
The girls hadn't seen each other last night except for a quick, "I HAVE to talk to you." before lights out. Both woke early, knowing if they wanted to get away for girl talk they'd have to get their papers quickly.
Soft footsteps were heard upstairs, and then Calli could be seen tip- toeing quietly down the stairs. Brooke motioned her outside and then hugged her excitedly. "You'll NEVAH guess what happened last night!"
Calli grinned back, flicking her braid behind her shoulder, "Neither will you. C'mon. Let's get our papes an' den go talk."
^~*^~*^~*~^*~^*~^
"And then some girl interrupted you? Do you know her?" Calli had listened to Brooke's story with interest when the girl who had warned the two newsies caught her attention.
"A little. She's Bronx. One a Blink's old goils from a couple yeahs back. Dey're just good friends now, dough, so don't worry. Come ta t'ink of it, she said dat she had just seen Blink an' he was goin' ta da LH ta get youse. Did somethin' happen last night wit' him?"
Calli was unusually silent and pale. "Did-did you say she was Bronx?"
Brooke nodded, callin' out a headline. "Yeah, why?"
Calli didn't answer, searching the ground with her eyes for a moment.
"Brooke.uh, this is gonna sound weird, but when you an' Race an' Blink were on your way to the track did Blink say anything about me?"
Brooke frowned, her brown eyes serious as she looked at her friend in concern, "No, I don't t'ink-I don't remembah."
"Did-did he say anything at all about you guys having fun?"
Brooke furrowed her brow in concentration, realizing how important this was to her friend. "No- I can't.wait. Yes, he said dat even dough you weren't dere we could still have fun."
Calli closed her eyes and sank down to the ground, covering her face with her hands. Brooke kneeled down next to her, ignorant of the streams of pedestrians who passed by them. She pulled apart her friend's hands and got worried when she saw Calli's eyes wet with tears. "Calli, what's wrong? Tell me."
Calli shook her head, whispering, "Oh, Brooke, I made the biggest mistake of my life last night."
"What'd you do? Whatevah it was, don't worry about it. I'm sure Blink'll still love ya."
Calli shook her head again, "No, not this time. He'll hate me when he finds out. I've done something that I can't fix, and he won't be able to forgive me now."
Brooke pulled her up and led her over to a bench, "It can't be dat bad."
Calli's eyes filled up again, "Brooke-I kissed Spinz. We're going out."
^~*^~*^~*~^*~^*~^
Mush stopped Jack and Spot on their way to sell. "Jack, we're missin' Blink."
Spot raised an eyebrow and Jack frowned, "I t'ought you said we had everyone."
Spot turned around and whistled shrilly, a pattern of notes that sounded rather like a bird. Bronny broke free from the swarm of newsies and came running, "Yes, Spot?"
"Mush says we're missin' Blink." The look on Spot's face suggested it was Bronny's fault this had happened.
The boy gulped audibly, "We can't be. He got Race an' dat goil- Brooke? last night from da tracks. Race is right dere."
Spot scanned the newsies and turned to Mush, "Where's blondie?"
Mush raised an eyebrow and opened his mouth to ask the question when Jack shook his head and mouthed, "Calli."
Mush nodded and then turned to Spot. "Calli and Brooke are both gone. Race says dey left early ta go sell by demselves."
Spot started to walk off again, calling over his shoulder. "Blink's wit' dem."
^~*^~*^~*~^*~^*~^
Brooke stepped back in shock, "What?! Why? When?"
Calli patted the seat beside her and spoke miserably, "Last night. Swifty musta got me before Blink came and we went to Brooklyn. Kix told me that he had overheard Blink say to you three that 'you guys could have fun now that I wasn't there.'."
"An' so you went off an' made out wit' Spinz?" Brooke failed to see the logic in this, though she understood the mistake Calli had made.
"No! I didn't believe it at first, but then I overheard Bronny telling Spot that he had just passed by Blink WITH A BRONX GIRL and told him to go find you guys."
"Oh, Calli. You didn't."
"I was so upset I went outside onto the roof to calm down. Spinz followed me and started talking about how he liked me and stuff. I was gonna tell him no, but then I 'realized' that Blink didn't like me at all and actually liked a Bronx girl. So I was so confused and didn't know what to think that when he asked me if we could give it a go, I nodded and then he kissed me. And I kissed him back!" It was obvious to Calli that this was the worst part.
Brooke buried her face in her hands, then raised it again several minutes later, "Can't you just talk ta Spinz an' tell him ya changed yer mind?"
Calli didn't answer, and Brooke leaned back a few inches. "Woah, Calli. Don't tell me youse like him."
Calli looked at her pleadingly, "I don't know. It was my first kiss, Brooke. I liked it! Spinz is cute and isn't shy, and he knows how to take charge and just speak up about his feelings!"
Brooke breathed out heavily, "I don't know what ta tell ya. You'll hafta figure dis one out yerself. All I know is dat Blink really likes you and was pretty close to asking you out."
Calli closed her eyes and shook her head, unsure.
Brooke looked at her for a moment, "Ya know what you need?"
Calli glanced up at her, eyes full of question, "What?"
"Medda's."
^~*^~*^~*~^*~^*~^
"Brooke," Calli complained as she was being snuck through the back into Irving Hall. "I don't know if you've realized this, but I do not like Medda. Being in the same room with her will just put me in a worse mood."
Brooke shook her head, "You jist haven't given her a chance."
"You've only met her once, Brooke, so how do you know?"
Brooke knocked softly on the door of Medda's dressing room, "I can jist tell wit' her."
"Well, that's great, but-"
"Why hello, girls!" Medda appeared in the doorway, wearing a light blue dress and her hair partly down. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
Brooke smiled, "Calli was having a hard day so we decided to come here. If you're busy we can come back some other time though."
"Oh, no, you're fine. I just came from an act; I'm just getting changed." Medda gestured for them to come in then closed the door behind them.
The girls sat down in some chairs while Medda went behind a partition. "So Calli, why are you having a hard day?"
Calli glared at Brooke, but the other girl refused to meet her eyes. "Oh, just guy trouble. It's nothing you should worry about."
The blue dress appeared over the top of the partition, and a shirt and pants disappeared from sight. "Ahh." came the knowing reply, "is Blink still stalling?"
Brooke grinned at Calli's look of surprise. "How'd you know? I mean-"
Medda laughed softly, "My dear, I've known that boy since he was oh, nine years old or so. It takes him awhile to get up his nerve to do something. Especially when it's something really important."
"How'd you know about him and me though?"
Medda laughed again, walking out into view. She wore a pair of brown pants, a white blouse, and had her hair pulled back into a loose bun. She looked almost normal, and for some reason, without the makeup, looked a whole lot less threatening.
"Calli, since the day he first met you he's talked about you non- stop, and when he found out you were a girl it just got worse. I think I've heard about every move you've made and every word you've spoken to him. He adores you, sweetie."
A small smile spread across Calli's face and color rose to her cheeks. Then she frowned, "But it isn't just that."
Medda stood in front of her, nodding encouragingly, and Calli continued.
"Last night I made a huge mistake about him and.well, I-I."
Medda cocked her head to the side and raised an eyebrow.
Calli took a deep breath, "I sorta gave up on him and said yes to this other guy."
Medda didn't seem too surprised. She nodded understandingly, and sighed, "I saw it coming. There isn't much I can tell you, except to do what your heart tells you and if it isn't Blink, then it isn't Blink."
^~*^~*^~*~^*~^*~^
Brooke pounced as soon as they were safely on the street again, "So.whaddya t'ink of her now?"
Calli considered the afternoon for a minute and looked rather surprised as she answered. "A bit all-knowing.but I think I like her."
TO BE CONTINUED
A.N.- Like it???
