FOREVER IN YOUR EYES
by sheena and trish
Chapter Three
The Newsboys Lodging House has been full of activity and movement ever since the two girls arrived. Blink is still pretending that Mush doesn't exist. Mush, however, looks confused and seems as though he has a lot of thoughts in his head. Race and Crutchy have been endlessly trying to prevent the two boys from fighting again. The Newsboys Lodging House will never be the same…
"Ready to sell some papes today boys?" Race looked over at Blink who was almost done washing up. "Hey Blink… you care to chat for a while?"
Blink eyed Race. "Sure."
He's still mad… "I just wanna let you know… Mush wouldn't do anything bad to those girls. He's your friend… he's practically your brother!"
Blink sighed, "But he knew I liked Kris! He goes walking around and sleeping with her without me knowing!"
"I'm sure Mush is confused as you right now. Just take your time to think about it alright? I'm sure Kris would want to be friends… or maybe more… with you."
"I guess… thanks, Race."
Race smiled, "Anytime. Now go sell some papes!"
Well at least he seemed to cool down already… Race walked downstairs toward the Front Desk where Kloppman was standing. "Hey Kloppman… are you planning to have those girls sleep at the hallway the whole time they're here?"
"You think I'm not looking out for whoever comes in here?! 'Course not! I'm gonna set up two bunk beds in you'se boys room. So don't you worry about 'em Race!" Kloppman patted Race on the shoulder.
That isn't gonna be good… Race thought. But before he could protest, Kris and Emily were walking down the stairs already. Emily kept on fidgeting about her corset while Kris stood there looking like she's worn corsets all her life. Psh, she doesn't even need to wear a corset! "Hey Kris, who you gonna sell papes with?"
"I… " Her sentence was cut off immediately by Mush who was standing near the corner.
"Um… Kris… can I talk to you? You can sell papes with me. So… will ya?" Kris stared at him for a moment. I didn't even know he was downstairs! Mush seemed worried whether she was going to agree. You're gonna say no aren't you? Fine, I'll just sell papes myself… He turned around and started to walk away.
"Wait! Mush!" Kris shouted, "I'll come with you." She ran up to Mush, and started walking beside him.
Looks like I'm alone… hey, she left me here!!! Damn Krissie! Emily's face was turning red with anger while Kris and Mush walked away.
"Hey… are you alright?" Blink was looking at her anxiously.
"I'll be fine… do you mind if you sell papes with me today? I've never done it before and I was thinking…"
"Sure, follow me."
Race watched all of this happen while he was pretending to read a sign outside the door. He walked back inside and shouted for Kloppman. "Hey Kloppman!!!"
"What now Race?!"
"Um… you sure you wanna be putting those girls in the boys room?"
"Yes Race! I'm sure! Are you the girls' protector or something? You keep on bugging me, and its YOUR TURN sleeping in the hallway!"
***
The sun was nice and high by the time Blink and Emily were out selling papes. Emily seemed to be quite a newsie; of course she was using her charm to sell papes. That girl's a born newsie… Blink smiled as he watched Emily charm another young gentleman into buying a pape from her.
She turned around with a smile of success. This is so fun! I mean, not only am I working and earning money but I can meet a couple of guys, but then of course back in my time these guys are probably all wrinkly and… eww… Emily quivered at the thought of that. She looked back at Blink who seemed to not have as much luck at selling papes than Emily. "How about I teach you how to charm a guy into buying a pape?" A goofy looking smile spread across her face.
"Well, if I let you, the other newsies might start talking," Blink smiled back at her and winked with his uncovered eye. She's got one great sense of humor… first the flying horses and now this…
"Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Flying Horses soon to develop!" Blink smiled again at Emily, who was bursting into giggle fits. "Thank you sir," Blink thanked the young gentleman who had run across the street once he heard what Blink said. "So, uh you got a thing for Mush, huh?" Blink asked her.
Wow that guy that just bought the newspaper is rather attractive…What? Huh? Did I just hear mush's name? "I'm sorry, what'd you say?" Emily asked as she snapped out of her thoughts. "I think you just answered my question," Blink smiled at a clueless Emily.
"What? What are you talking about?!" Emily exclaimed with yet another smile on her face. Does she ever stop smiling? But heck she does look really attractive when she smiles, but too bad she already has a thing for Mush... Blink had stopped talking and was busy trying to sell his papes while Emily was doing the same. There was an awkward silence between them, the first one since the minute she arrived at the Lodging house.
"Does Kris like Mush?" Blink asked, breaking the silence. Please say no, please say no. Say no, no, no, no…
Emily let out a long sigh. "To be honest I can't really tell…" Boy I hope not, I mean what happens if we end up fighting over the same guy? Well…come to think of it Mush isn't that great… "Do you think Mush likes Kris?" Yes? No? What do I want to hear? I don't know anymore…
"I think he might, but he knows how I feel about Kris…I'm still kinda mad at him about what happened last night…" Blink confessed. He turned and looked at Emily, who had an expressionless look on her face. I wish she were smiling again…why don't I like seeing her like this? Oh no, I think I'm falling for her TOO!
"Maybe you and I can team up or something. You know, I'll pretend that youse my girl and we can make Mush and Kris jealous. How's that sound to you?" He looked at her with a smile. Please smile, smile…I miss your smile…
Hmm…haven't I seen that plan in a movie or something before? And in the end it either backfired or I'd end up with Blink...But than again, it couldn't hurt…Emily smiled.
"And maybe I could hug and kiss you and call you snugglekins wherever we go," Emily joked.
Snugglekins…I hope she's joking… "Well if that's what you want…" Blink smiled somewhat flirtatiously at Emily, who was now laughing at Blink's response. "I wouldn't mind the hugging and the kissing, but snugglekins we'd have to talk about that…" Now both of them were laughing.
"Alright, I'll pretend to be your 'girl' but no touchy touchy alrite?" Emily finally managed to say after she was done laughing. This better not backfire…
"Touchy touchy? Haha I like the way you say it…" Blink winked at her. "Alright, but now's we gotta finish selling our papes…" Emily smiled back at him and she returned to charming young lads to buying her papes. Blink returned to yell out false headlines. Once or twice he saw Emily look back with a smile on her face…I wonder what she's thinking...
***
"Ok, the first thing you gotta remember is that you can ALWAYS improve the headlines a little. I learned it from Jack… he calls it improvin' the truth," Mush told Kris. They were standing at a street full of citizens waiting to get their pape. "Here's one you can play around with… baby found in abandoned warehouse… Kris?" Mush looked around and saw that he was talking to himself. Kris was almost done selling her papes.
Kris looked at the anonymous gentleman sitting on the bench. "Excuse me sir, but would you like to buy a pape?" She smiled sweetly and offered a pape. Haha, he's actually gonna buy it!
"Sure ma'am, anything for you." He handed her a quarter and took the pape.
"Looks like you're working your charm on people I dunno," Mush smiled.
"Hey, a girl's gotta look out for herself. Guess what? That guy gave me a quarter! That's a lot right?" I still can't tell what's expensive and what's not… if I only had my wallet right now, I'd be rich!
"Wow! And yes, that's a lot! That guy must really have liked you…"
"Um… yeah… are you and Blink getting along alright? Cuz when I came to ask for soap today…"
Mush looked away. I don't wanna say we was fighting about her… "Blink was just a little… annoyed at me…" Mush looked back at her face. Kris' eyes were full of worry and concern. "But don't worry, it wasn't like we were going to kill each other…" She didn't laugh… I guess that didn't work…
"I—I'm—mso—sor…" Kris looked like she was going to cry. Man! I'm stuttering again!
"Kris? Are you alright?" Mush looked at the stuttering Kris. Water… we need to get water… Mush ran into the nearest store and came out with a glass of water. He ushered her into sitting into a bench and tried to calm her down. "Here, drink…" He put the glass of water to her lips and watched her drink it slowly.
"Thanks… I just end up stuttering sometimes…"
Mush laughed. "It's pretty cute actually…" Kris looked at him. I can't let what happened last night repeat itself!
"Mush… we have to talk…"
"Isn't that what we're doing now?" Mush laughed. "Look, I know you're concerned about Blink and me fighting over you girls… it's just hard when two guys like the same girl…" Mush's eyes widened. Did I just say that?
Did he just say THAT? "Excuse me? What are you talking about? When two guys like the same girl? Is that supposed to be… me?!" Blink likes me? OH MY GOD!
"Um… yeah… I guess so…" Blink's gonna soak me…
"I…" Mush stared at Kris. It looks like she's gonna stutter again…
"I.. I gotta go finish selling papes... I'll see you at Tibby's later..." Kris stood up and ran towards the nearest person who didn't have a pape, leaving Mush stunned yet again. That was so stupid... I really wanted to talk to him... I should go back... Kris looked back, but Mush was gone.
***
The sun had set and Blink and Emily were already on their way to Tibby's. On their way there, the two of them were practicing being a couple to make Kris and Mush jealous. Emily kept calling Blink silly pet names and Blink kept his arm around Emily just to annoy her. They entered Tibby's still giggling over some silly thing that they did.
"Heya Blink, Emily!" Crutchy greeted the two as they entered Tibby's. Both Emily and Blink were trying to greet him back through their giggles, but ended up just waving at Crutchy.
"You two seem to have a good time selling papes," Jack said eyeing to two of them suspiciously.
"Well cowboy, you shoulda seen Emily charming every guy into buying her papes. She didn't even need my help." Blink replied as he put his arm around Emily's chair. Don't tell me the fellas can see what's really going on…
Emily let a guilty smile cross her face. "It was rather fun…" Jack don't mess this up! It needs to work! Where is Mush and Kris? This is going to be pointless if they're not here…The door opened and Mush entered by himself… What?! Where's Kris? What's going on? Gah!
"Hi Mush!" Emily flashed him an innocent smile. Wow this is the first time that I've been able to control myself around Mush, shoot; I hope I didn't just jinx it!
Mush nodded to Emily, but didn't utter a word to anyone. He slowly took his seat next to Jack; his expression looked like he was in his own world right now. I hope Kris doesn't hate me… I think I just made things worse… Mush was so lost in his thoughts about Kris he didn't bother listening to the conversation going on. Kris, Kris, Kris… Mush heard his name being called "huh?" Mush looked up and finally noticed that across the table Emily and Blink were acting very couple like.
Geez, and I thought that I easily drift off… "I asked how was your day," Emily responded. And what have you done with Kris? Where is she? Are you finally noticing what's right in front of you? You know you're friend and me being a 'couple'? Don't tell me you're slow like the rest of the guys from my time…
"Oh, it was umm…okay I guess. I tried teaching Kris how to sell some papes but she didn't seem to need any lessons since she was charming all the fellas in the streets." Mush responded. What's going on here? Yesterday Emily hardly noticed Blink and her attention was on me the whole time…now she's not even noticing me, she keeps looking at Blink…And what's this? Blink's arm around her…
"Well it sounds like Emily and Kris have had some practice selling papes, ain't that right Emily?" Jack said. "Do the girls back where you're from charm all the fellas into doing what you ladies want?" Jack winked at her and took a sip of his drink.
"Well…" Emily began with an innocent looking smile but before she could finish her sentence Kris entered the restaurant. FINALLY!! Where have you been girl? "Hey Kris!" Emily greeted her friend and motioned for her to sit next to her.
Like Mush, Kris seemed to be lost in her own thoughts too. She walked slowly towards the table and muttered "hello" to the group. Without knowing, she ended up sitting between Emily and Jack… and next to Jack was Mush.
"Hey Krissie… what's wrong?" Jack asked her. "Looks like you got a lot on your mind…"
Kris sighed. Maybe I should tell Jack… I know I can trust him… What the hell… Kris lowered her voice and started to talk to him. "How would you feel if two… wonderful girls liked you? Especially when you both like them? Its hard enough dealing with school and parents, but adding two more guys who live in the year 1899?! I can't even decide what to eat for dinner!"
There was silence in the room and everybody was staring at Kris. She realized that she had suddenly shouted what she was saying. "I… I better go…"
"But… but Kris, you haven't eaten anything since this morning!" Emily protested.
"I'll be fine…" Kris stood up and left Tibby's.
"Now, what have you boys done?! Look at her! She can't even eat!" Jack shouted. Mush and Blink looked at each other.
"Its about time she finally… cracked…" Dave answered. Mush and Blink looked at him as though they were making knives go down his throat. "I mean… In a good way! It's just that the two of youse been confusing her. Then Blink comes walking in here with Emily on his shoulder. Just think how she'd feel!"
"Wow Davey… how'd you know all this girly stuff? You're not turning into one are ya?!" Race asked.
"NO! It's just that… when you have a sister… you just know…"
"Right Davey… I'll take your word for it…" said Race as he snickered behind the drink he was holding.
"If you think about it… but that's not the point! One of youse has to go after her… and bring her some food…" Jack took Crutchy's hotdog and wrapped it in a piece of paper. "Well? Are you boys just gonna sit there?" He looked at each of them. Mush and Blink were looking down at the floor as if Jack wasn't talking to them.
"I'll go… I have to talk to her anyways…" Blink stood up, took Crutchy's hotdog and left Tibby's.
"Blink! Wait!" Jack ran towards the door and grabbed ahold of Blink's arm. "Don't forget to tell her that there's gonna be a party at Medda's tonight alright?"
"Alright, Jack." Blink turned and started to walk towards the park.previous chapter ... home ... next chapter
