Do You Swear You Won't Forget Me?
Warnings: VERY SAPPY. Okay so maybe not that sappy, but you get the point. Just watch out for it. That's all… for now anyway.
Disclaimer: I don't own 'em. I DO, however, own Sparkles,
Opening Comments: I'd like to give a big THANK YOU to Stage for helping me out with this chapter. It would've been finished sooner but it needed major revamping
Shout Outs~
ButterScotchSnitcher: Okay, I'll try to fit you in somewhere…
Stage: ^^ Oh yes, soo much fun.
Rae Kelly: T'anks!
ToT: You didn't review, but you've told me what you think of my story and I thank you. ^^ Now review this chapter! XD;;;
Belle: So would I! Oh, wait…
Holiday: Thank you. And you can thank Stage as well, or you wouldn't EVER know what happens next ^_^;;
Mouse: Hey Mouse!!!!! Thanks for your review! Here's your next chapter!
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Chapter 04- I'm Alone But I Ain't Lonely
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"Sparkles! Sparkles, come back!"
Jack made a grab for me as I left, but I darted quickly around the mobs of people in the square. I could hear him behind me, calling out my name and begging me to listen.
Listen to what? Listen to him make up some lame excuse?
Dodging in and out of groups of people, I managed to lose him. I stopped for a moment, only to realize that Jack – and Bumlets- would be waiting a the lodging house for me to return.
I changed my course. This time I headed straight for Sheepshead, knowing that I could find comfort, as well as a shoulder to cry on, with my old friends at the track.
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By the time I'd reached Sheepshead, Jack was long gone. Still afraid to return to the lodging house, I dodged the guards and slipped to the backside of the track the way Race had showed me years earlier.
I shoved my hands in my pockets and, making sure to keep my head down, walked briskly down the shedrows. A few people looked my way, but no one said anything or tried to stop me.
I slowed when I reached the end of the barn and made my way throught the crowds to the warm-up paddock. It seemed that a race was going to be run soon, because horses were being tacked up and and jockeys were ready. People were lined up along the fence watching. I recognized a few but not many.
"Ehy 'Bit! Dat hoss youse on don't look loike it can run much fastah den youse!"
"You jus' wait! I'll have your money befoir youse'll even know dat da race is ova'!"
I whipped my head around at that last comment. I knew that voice! I shoved my way through the crowd to the fence and leaned over it.
"Heya Two-Bit!," I called, "when'd you get your license?"
The afore mentioned looked around for the source of my voice, and his face split into a big grin when he saw me.
"Sparkles! Hi!" Two-Bit took his hand of the rein to wave at me, and his mount took advantage of the extra slack. The colt shot forward, taking Two-Bit by surprize. I laughed despite myself.
Seeing Two-Bit in a jockey's saddle took my mind off Jack for a while, but as soon as I laughed it came rushing back to me. Bit got his mount under control just in time to see my face fall, and his surprized look became one of concern. Before he could say anything, thankfully, they were called out to the track.
I satyed around long enough to see the outcome of the race (Two-Bit was right about his mount – the colt proved to be faster than he looked and came in third) and to talk to my old friends a bit.
When I had left for Santa Fe, Two-Bit was an aspiring exercise rider. Everyone who hung around the track very long knew he was talented enough to be a jockey, but no trainer wanted a 'street rat' riding for them.
"Den I got on dis little filly…'ad a nasty case of colic when she was a yearlin' an' was a lot smaller dan the rest. I got on 'er tho and she ran fasta' den any otha' hoss on da track," he finished with a grin.
"Yeah an' 'er traina' wanted Bit ridin' for him, so now's he's got his liscence an' everytin'."
"Yeah t'anks Snaffy." Bit said scornfully, cuffing Snaffle in the arm. We were hanging around the saddling paddock while Bit cooled off his mount. The colt stood rather calmly in the center of the group while I patted absentmindedly at his soft muzzle. Bit had finished collecting the money he'd won on bets against the colt, and suddenly remembered the lead rope in his hands.
"Aw man, I gotta git him back befoire Alec kills me."
He turned to go, then stopped and looked back at me.
"Ya' know Sparks, Alec takes pretty kindly ta goils. I could ask 'im to let youse exercise 'is hosses sometime."
"Yeah Sparkles, now it's your turn for a license." One of the other girls told me. I turned to face her.
Dart was one of the few female grooms, and I had been among their ranks before I left. Everyone knew I wanted to be a jockey, but everyone also knew that no trainer would ever hire a girl – they claimed it was "too dangerous for women".¹
"Very funny, Dart." I said dryly.
"What, youse don't wanna ride no more?" Bit asked in disbelief.
"Yeah, isn't dat why youse came back?"
"Well, no – I mean yes, I still want to ride, but no, that's not why I came back."
"Den why did youse?"
"Because I wanted to…to see Jack."
"…oh. Sorry."
"Wait," I looked around in shock, "you guys knew?"
"Race tolds us." Two-Bit said quietly.
There were a few moments of silence. A few of the grooms looked down at their feet and shuffled them in the dirt, but others just stood there with sorry looks that I didn't need to see plastered on their faces.
"Listen Sparkles, forget about Jack. He's a jerk anyway."
"No, Dart, I can't forget it. And I can't hide around here forever." I realized, and, turning on my heels, headed back to the lodging house.
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¹ Which is a bunch of bullcrap. It's just as dangerous for men! So there.
Closing Comments: I hope that wasn't too short. Was that too short? Hopefully the next chapter will be longer. Either way, read and review!