Chapter Twelve; The Announcement



A/N; Kinna short, but you get the point.... ;) Shout-outs to everyone, you know who you are...



Race looked around the crowded restaurant at all the familiar faces of the Manhattan newsies. He looked over at Marit who sat directly across from him at the small, slightly secluded table.
She sat there looking down at the table, with a blank look on her face. No emotion could be traced, but her eyes said it all. Her normal forest green eyes, were now ocean blue. She now never smiled much, just when she had to, to make everyone think she was happy. She looked at her tummy that was slowly starting to grow larger and larger, then up at Race. He grinned at her, and she did in return.

"Ready?" he asked softly. She looked down at her tummy once more and nodded.

He sighed as he stood up, "Ladies and Gentleman... I'se have an announcement."

"Didja lose again?" Snipeshooter yelled from a table near where Race stood.

"No, you ass. I'se have an IMPORTANT announcement to make." Race said, emphasizing the word important. Everyone fell silent, Race looked back at Marit and then back at everyone.

"I'm gonna be a daddy..." he said, rather softer than everything else he'd said.
Blink was the first to rise to his feet, followed by Sprite, Mush, Doll, and Spot.

"You're what?" Jack said with a puzzled look on his face.

"I'se gonna be a dad.... Marit's three months pregnant." Race said, softer and softer with every word that came out of his mouth.

A loud thud was heard from Blink slamming his fist down on the table. He walked over to Marit and looked at her for a moment before speaking, "You'se a fuckin' whore. You're not me sista... you'se just a fuckin' slut!" With everyone he grew louder and louder. He glared at her for a second, studying her face, then raised his hand and slapped her across the face.

A few gasps from around the room was heard.

"Who the hell do you think you are?!" Race yelled. Blink turned around and looked at the Italian boy.

"I'm her brother, and I have every right to slap her. She's a fuckin' slut!" Blink yelled, motioning to Marit, who was still in shock,

"Don't you EVER call her that!" Race yelled, punching Blink in the nose as hard as he could. Blink was caught off guard and fell backwards. He touched his nose and brought his hand down to see the dark red liquid drip off of his fingers.

Sprite, Doll, and Vixen ran over to Marit as Blink jumped up and went after Race.

"Oh my gosh, are you'se ok?" Sprite said as she pushed the strand of blonde hair out of Marit face. She looked up at the girl, but couldn't find any words to say.

"Sweetie, come on, say somethin'..." Doll looked at the girl.

"Ahh come on Blink! Will you'se learn how to fuckin' control your god damn temper, you asshole!" Sweets yelled as she grabbed Blinks shirt and attempted to pull him away from Race, as Jack did the same to Race.

"Let go of me!" Blink yelled at Sweets.

"Outside!" she yelled grabbing his hand and leading him outside of the restaurant. "What the hell is your problem?!"

"My problem is that jackass fucking my sister! Wait, no, I'm sorry, I mean the SLUT!" Blink yelled leaning up against the wall.

Sweets looked at the blonde haired boy and sighed, "You're just worried about her. She'll be fine. Race is a good guy..."

"Yea, where are they gonna get da money to feed it? Huh? She's really screwed herself over this time..." Blink said rather loud, as he lit a cigarette.

He looked over at the girl. Her auburn hair glistened in the sunlight, her blonde highlights more noticeable in the day. He sighed and playfully punched her in the arm, and started to say something, but was cut off by her painful yelp.

"What? I didn't hitcha dat hard," Blink said. He glanced over at her arm and saw a large bruise. He gave her a questioning look.

"Oh it's nothing..." she said trying to brush it off as quickly as possible.

Blink took another drag from his cigarette, "You're lying..."

"I am not..."

"Are too... I wanna know"

"Don't ask....."

"Just did.... do tell...."

"Fine! Jack didn't mean to.... he was mad and he accidently hit me....."

"Accidently hit his goil?"

"Yes..."

"Take out the accidently part and I might believe you..."

"He was mad... he didn't mean to...."

"Ok... well, if he's ever mad again, and you wanna talk, you know I'm there for you right?"

"Yea." Blink wrapped his arms around the girl

"Just 'cause you'se bein' nice to me doesn't mean your off the hook for what you just did in there..." she said pulling away from the hug and glaring at him.

"God, why is it every time I'm around you, I just give in...."

"What can I say? My sex appeal hypnotizes you.... now go apologize to her....."

Blink smiled at her and through his cigarette down. He sighed and walked back into the restaurant. Small chatter broke out as he walked in. He stopped a little ways away from Marit. He looked at the group of people gathered around her and Race. She looked up and caught eye contact with him.

"You" he said pointing at her, "Come. We're going for a walk..."

Race stood up. Blink motioned for him to take his seat, "I just wanna talk to her."

Marit stood up and walked over to him. He put his hand on her back and led her out of the building. The first few minutes of their walk towards the Lodging House was silent. Until finally Blink broke the silence, "You know, you'se are so clueless sometimes it hoits me...."

Marit looked over at him then looked back down at her tummy.

He glanced over at her, and smiled, "That's what I'se gonna call ya.... Clue. 'Cuase you fuckin' need to get one...."

"Like a newsie name?" she questioned.

"Yea, your newsie name..... Clue." he said smiling at her, "Y'know.. I'm sorry about what I did in there. I just... shit Marit... you're fifteen. Race is seventeen... and y'all have a lifetime together... but to pick ONE person now is like suicide, and you know y'all are together for because of this. A baby Marit, a baby. A fuckin' kid! You are still a kid... and now you are gonna have a kid! We are barely makin' a living for ourselves.... and--" Blink stopped and looked over at her. She was looked down as she walked, one hand on her tummy. He watched as a silent tear leaked down her face.

He sighed, "Shit, I'se sorry." He stopped her, and pulled her into a hug. He pulled her away a little to he could see her face. She looked up at him, her ocean blue eyes full of tears.

"It's not gonna call me uncle...." he said with a serious look on his face. She laughed lightly and put her head on his chest. He laughed, and hugged her tighter.

"Come on, let's go. It's gonna get dark soon...." Blink said as he pulled away fromt heir hug and put his arm around her.