DISCLAIMER: These characters do NOT belong to me unfortunately. I tried to kidnap
them from Disney and was unsuccessful. Go figure. However, Runner and Mallory are
MINE, and so is Josephine, Aunt Patricia, and Daisy! Muahahaha! So take that, Mickey!!
OoOogles! I almost forgot Becca and Snap. They's mine too!! BleH! : ) Ah, the list just
goes on, there's Mr. Carter too of course. And Vixen...
A.N. First off, my sympathy goes out to the families who lost loved ones this morning.
May the victims rest in peace. On a lighter note, THANK YOU THANK YOU for all the
reviews!!! You goils is the best! I see Runner's fanclub seems to be growing day by day.
: ) Well, THANKS again and I hope ya'll like this chappie!
*SportyChik425: Yea, mean ol' Spot is a pig. *runs away from Spot* Heehee. I'll have
you know he's limping from that kick ya gave him. Hahaha. Good job, chica! : ) Awwww,
Runner and Mallory? *snuggles them* If you thought Becca was mad last chapter, just
look at her now! THanks for the review!! Hope ya like this chappie!
*Deanie: Liking players sucks nickels! *throws a shoe at Spot* But then sometimes there's
guys like Runner there to cheer you up! : ) Ha, you just wait 'til Jack and Spot start
getting violent. Tsk tsk tsk, I don't know what to do with those two.
*Raeghann: No don't stutter! I still have to read your stories! : ) Yaaay, you finally
find out how Runner knows Mallory now! w00t w00t!! Thanks for the reviews!! Read on and
enjoy!
*Trek: Gone to hell in a handbasket? Hmmm, I like it! Muahaha! Is Spot sexy?! Are you
kidding me!? OF COURSE!! LOL! I was watching Newsies for like, the millionth time
yesterday, and there I am an inch from the TV screen, worshipping his beauty. lol! I
like Runner's bad side too, but I'm not sure whether I like it more than his good side.
*thinks* We shall see.
*Snuggles: OoO, definitely good sign between you and Eric!! Yum Yum. I think you should
figure out what's going on between you and Eric and then decided whether you still want
to pursue Brian or not. Haha! Heya, I'm sorry about the whole thing that happened in Texas,
especially on your birthday. I hope it didn't ruin your special day. : ( Dun be sad.
*newsietomboy: Here's another update, goily! Yea, Runner is a sweetcake. Heehee. *dodges
Runner's punch* Glad ya liked the chapter, hope you like this one too!! : )
*Candi Kane: Oh jeez, I just love the expressions my reviewers use. Totally Jazzed?
I love that! hahaha! Alright, I won't die from exhaustion. *sigh* lol, : )
*Apollonia: Turn over a leaf, how cute! I've never heard that expression before! I think
I'm going to use it for something...I just don't know what yet! : ) Oh my, I still
have to read more of the new chapters you've updated! I hope nothing happened to Spot.
*runs away crying* Thanks for the review! Hope ya like this chapter!
*Shortie: YaaaaY, Shortie passed her driving test! CongraTz, kiddo. Now you can save us
all from Runner's wrath. : ) Oh dear, don't tell me you're attacking Becca now. LoL!
That's not pretty, she has horses and she can send them to stampede on you. Muahaha.
Yea, Runner likes to copy the lines of Super Heroes. I told him it was a bad habit but
he just flicked me off. *frowns* Own hell, eh? What's the rent cost these days? I think
I'm sending your dear lover boy there. Heehee. More Runner sweetness coming atchya!
Just A Little Bet
~*~*~*~*~ "Have I quite the surprise for you!" It was the third time Mallory had said
that to Race and he still had no idea what secret she could possibly be hiding from
him. All he knew was that the girl had evidently planned out their entire afternoon and
could barely contain her building excitement. "We're almost there!"
Race recognized the streets they were traversing; it was the same path he walked on his
daily swings to Sheepshead, and that fact worried him. With him and Becca having recently
disputed with one another over trust, it wouldn't be wise for the Italian to drop by
with another doll on his arm. "Would youse just tell me wheah we'se goin'?"
"A friend of my father's came over last afternoon and presented these to me." From the
pocket of her light sweater she took out two slips of paper and waved them before his
face with a smile.
"What are they?" He reached for them, but she pulled them away and giggled at his
disappointment.
"Patience is an admirable attribute," she said as they turned one last corner and finally
came onto the street where Sheepshead was located, admiring the spectacle that it was.
"You're really going to love this treat, Race!"
If this 'treat' had anything to do with entering into that building, he strongly doubted
her statement. "Well, are ya gunna tell me what those papes is now?"
Mallory nearly squealed. "They're VIP tickets to watch the races right alongside the
journalist crews and camera men! And because of their value, we have the opportunity to
meet the jockeys after each event! Isn't that exciting?" But when his expression hadn't
changed, she was under the impression that not even someone suddenly telling the boy
he was the inheritor of a multi-million dollar fortune could sway his moods. "Race,
why aren't you being your usual merry self? I thought you would enjoy this."
"Ya didn't buy these tickets, did youse?" Special passes like the ones in her hand ran
a good thirty to fourty dollars and he could never turn down her invitation if she had
spent so much to enliven his day.
"Of course not! A friend of my father's visited us last afternoon and presented them to
me when I told him of the sites I had visited within the past months. Naturally, the
most exciting parts occured in the past days with you, Jack, and Spot..." she looked
away from him when saying the Brooklyn leader's name, not wanting him to know she was
still hurt by Spot's actions at Irving Hall. "In any case, when I told him about you
and how you adored watching the horses and sometimes placing bets, he gave these to me.
He's one of the many managers at the tracks, mind you, so it was no expense to him either."
Race took her hands in his and spoke softly to her. "Listen Mallory, I thank ya for ya
consideration, it's real sweet of youse tah do this fer me. But I can't go, it's more
like I'se gots a lil' problem wid one of the locals there and I aint wanna start no
fights."
"Oh pooh!" She freed herself from his grasp. "How you worry! When first we met, you were
lecturing to me about needing to become more carefree, yet here you're afraid to take
advantage of this gift!" She was acting childishly, she admited as much. When she crossed
her arms and pouted, she felt like a five year old again demanding cookies from a jar
her hands could not reach. But Race was acting so strange and the cause was beyond her.
"I aint goin', alright? I'se, uh, I'se has a headache and it aint gunna do me no good
tah heah a bunch of people screamin' at the top of their lungs. We'll go some other time,
okay? I'se promise."
However, Spot had made a promise to her as well, only to end up breaking her heart in a
vulgar manner and she wasn't going to let this easily slip by. Grabbing the sleeve of his
shirt, she dragged him across the way as she stomped off, seemingly meaning to have him
run over by a passing horse carriage if he didn't know any better.
"Mallory, what is youse doin'?"
She turned on him. "My father had another doctor's appointment today and I need something
to distract my mind from the reality of his poor health. Before I met you and the others,
all I would do is sit about and cry all day over his conditions, but I honestly think
we being friends was predetermined. Now I have companions with whom I can spend my lonely
hours with. You aren't going to deprive me of that, are you?"
And there it was again, though unexpected. That guilt trip the girl always created to
bring her pity and sympathy. Race hated how she acted as if her father were the only man
suffering from physical pain in the whole state of New York, though he knew it must've
been hard for Mallory to deal with it all by herself. She had no mother nor any siblings,
and as he came to this conclusion he realized perhaps it wasn't an act afterall. Maybe
she really did feel alone at times. "Fine! I'll go, but we'se can only stay fer a lil'
while."
"Oh, I'm glad you changed your mind!" She hugged him tight and laughed happily. "You
won't regret this! Why, you'll love it!" She joined her hand with his, glad she wouldn't
have to resolve to her solitude this day.
"Remember, only fer an hour or two." But they didn't even get to spend a minute there,
because as soon as they entered the building, Race stopped short and gasped. "Becca..."
Becca was in as much disbelief as him. She had left the stables for a moment to talk with
Mr. Webster about the Chores List he had written up for her that morning, for there were
much too many tasks on the list that couldn't possibly be achieved in the time he had
alotted her, when she happened to look to her right and catch Racetrack hand in hand
with the brunette she knew as Mallory.
Race saw her anger before it was expressed on her face and rushed to her to explain, but
she was already shaking her head, not wanting to hear his excuses. "What's this all
about? You invited me to some dance, but weren't so quick as to mention that you already
had a dame all over you! You're a dirty liar, Race! I hate you!" He tried to hold her,
but she brought back a clenched fist and threw it into his cheekbone. "Stay away from
me, Race! You said you were different, you liar!"
"Becca, wait! Lemme explain!" With one hand holding his face and another reaching for
the girl, he started forward but was brought to his knees when he tripped over himself.
"Becca!"
Mallory only became more confused as the girl ran off and slammed the door of the
stables behind her. And when she saw Race trail after, she was left to wonder whether
she had been the cause of a fissure in their relationship.
* * * * *
Snap sat on Kloppmann's desk reading today's paper and watching over the cashbox as the
old man prepared himself breakfast in the kitchen. Her hair was pulled back in a messy
ponytail that left selected strands to sweep across her face, her clothes even less
graceful. On her first night of lodging in Manhattan, she only posessed three changes of
clothing and once those raggedy articles had dirtied from a day's work, she was too
lazy to handwash them and so left herself to borrow a shirt and pair of pants from Blink.
She would have borrowed an outfit from Jack, but the two weren't particularly on talking
terms at the moment. After last night, the Manhattan leader wouldn't even allow her to
sleep until she had explained what the hell had been going on between her and Spot.
Having no reasonable defense, she played ill and claimed the night's events had taken a
toll on her mental health. Jack didn't buy it, of course, but he knew he wouldn't get
any more out of her and so had left it at that.
She sighed. Each boy had taken the ordeal rather seriously. Jack seemed ready to kill
his best friend and Spot was none the less fierce. It was a good thing Manhattan and
Brooklyn weren't enemies, or at least hadn't been until last night, for the two boroughs
had the potential to wreak misery onto eachother. Misery and Pain.
The front door to the lodging house swung open and Snap wasn't surprised to see the
early return of that one boy who planned on receiving a reason for her betrayal no later
than today. Jack Kelly. She had to admire his persistence, she supposed. "Heya cowboy."
Jack ripped the paper from her hands and pointed a finger in her face. "Ya listen real
hard tah me, Snap, cause I'se aint repeatin' meself no more. Why the hell were youse
swappin' spit wid Spot when youse had told me ya wanted us tah hook up?"
"It's simple, Jack. Youse weren't givin' me what I wanted so I figured the lil' Brooklyn
slut would jump at 'is chance."
"Don't youse have any remorse for what ya did?" He yelled at her. "Don't ya care that
youse cheated on me. It aint the foist time Spot's taken someone's goil, but he aint
never taken mines and that pisses me off!"
She slid off the desk onto her feet and calmly looked him over. He was more angered than
she had thought. This had certainly penetrated the barriers around his heart, that was
for sure. "Don't yell at me then! Damnit, Jack! He obviously aint ya best friend if he's
feelin' me up! But nah, youse take it all out on me, as if I wanted him tah do it!"
"Whaddya talkin' about?"
"I tried to push him away, Jack. I'se told 'im we'se were thinkin' about goin' out and
all, but he just kept comin' onto me. And eventually, he pushed me into a corner of the
room and pressed me against the wall. I'se couldn't break free, and I couldn't scream
'cause that's when he started kissin' me. Once he was done, I told 'im I still had
feelings fer youse, and he told me it weren't no use likin' youse 'cause ya had a
reputation of havin' three goils at once. I didn't wanna believe 'im, but it sounded so
true...so I let 'im have his way."
Jack was speechless. How could Spot say something like that about him? If there were any
newsie in New York who had an infamous reputation of seducing girls only to throw them to
the curb the following day, it was Spot himself! "I would never do that tah youse."
"He kept tellin' me these things over and over," she said, urging herself to start
crying and complimenting herself when she did. "And I just didn't know who tah believe.
I'se was scared and felt trapped and so I gave into him. And I'se so sorry, Jack. Please
don't hate me. I'se so sorry!"
"Aww, Snap. I don't hate youse." He pulled her close to him and rubbed her back, sorry
that had he spoken so rudely to her. She had done nothing wrong! It had all been Spot!
"Heya, why don't we'se start over, huh? Go back tah being friends and woik our way up."
She sniffled and looked up at him. "That sounds great. I really like ya and I didn't
mean tah hoit youse or anything. It was Spot, I think he's jealous and wanted tah break
us up. Ya forgive me?"
"How could I say no?" He smiled at her and hugged her close, not seeing her smirk in
mischief when he closed his eyes.
* * * * *
Runner lay on his back, watching the smoke from his cigarette curl from his mouth and
rise to the air above him where it dissipated into nothingness. "Che sera sera." What
will be shall be, he thought. Mallory had four guys after her, though the intentions and
motives of three of them weren't exactly what one would deem noble. It was up to her to
decide which she would give a chance.
"Lucas, what are you doing?!"
Runner smiled and sat up on his elbows to see Mallory standing in front of him with
an amused look on her face. "I thought I'd catch up on some sleep."
"On my doorstep?!" When he shrugged, she laughed with a shake of her head. "You're an
odd one, Lucas. I don't know whether I should feel honored or stalked. Have you been
waiting here long?"
"Mmm, not really." Two hours and forty three minutes wasn't considerably long. Although
the headmaster at St. John's would probably beg to differ once the truancy of one of
his honor students was discovered. But Runner was a master at finagling his way out of
discipline, especially when he was the head priest's son. "SO where've you been all day?"
Mallory unlocked her door with a bronze key and welcomed the boy inside. "I went to the
tracks earlier with Race, but that proved a mistake and so here I am." She whistled
three notes and smiled when Daisy came trotting into the room with a wagging tail. "Hello
Daisy! How's my cute little puppy?" She kneeled down and combed her fingers through the
dog's fur, laughing when it happily barked.
Runner shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "Mind if I have a seat?"
She gave him a curious look. "You don't talk like the others. I've noticed that during
the times we've talked. There's no trace of an accent in your speaking yet your Spot's
cousin and you spend most of your hours with the newsies, am I right? Why is that?"
"I'se could talk like 'em if youse wanted me too," he grinned.
"No, no. I was only asking. Aren't you a newsie yourself though?"
Runner walked over to her and leaned against a wall, slowly sliding himself against it
downwards until he was seated beside her. "Not really. I'm actually a student at some prep
school, but I use to hawk headlines. My newsie name's Runner. You see, when I was around
thirteen, Spot lived with me and my family. But one day, he grew tired of being told
what to do and how to do it so he left and started selling papers for a living. A year
later, he became Brooklyn's leader and when I heard of about it, I envied his carefree
life, so I ran away. Over and over again. No matter how many times my parents found me
I just kept running away, until one day I realized I couldn't keep my future from being
no matter where I went."
"Wow. That's a pretty story." She sat back on her heels and cocked her head to
one side. "You have a good heart, Lucas. I'm glad we met."
"Me too," he whispered back as he stared back at her. She looked so fragile he was afraid
to reach out and touch her for fear she would crumble and break. How could his idiot of
a cousin be so heartless as to willingly break her heart? Her eyes were so warm, and her
lips...he could only imagine how precious they felt. He smirked. "You don't remember me,
do you?"
Mallory wasn't sure what he meant. "Excuse me?"
"Your mother died a little over a year ago."
The following silence spoke for itself. "How do you know that?"
He leaned his head back against the wall and sighed. "I've been an altar boy for six
years now, and I've seen weddings, baptisms, and sadly enough they made me overlook the
funerals too. There was one particular funeral that caught my interest, one being held
for a woman that had perished in a fire. I thought it would be the typical viewing and
mass service, and that they'd make me push the coffin to the awaiting carriage like they
usually did. But I was wrong. People filtered into the church one by one, the women
hysterical with sadness and the men trying to control their wives, typical as I said.
"And then I saw you. You were wearing this black velvet dress and your hair was tied
back under a small hat that I asumed you wore to hide your face. But despite your
tear-stained cheeks and paled lips, you still looked beautiful. You held the aura of a
goddess, and I worshipped your presence that day. I couldn't take my eyes off you, even
when you approached the coffin to say your final goodbyes. I wanted to hold you, to tell
you your mother was in a better place now, but you had left so quickly and when I was
finally relieved from my duties, you were gone.
"I never stopped thinking about you since then. I always hoped you were doing well and
that you would somehow remember me, even though we only exchanged a glance the day of
the funeral."
Mallory was near tears. Hearing a complete stranger reiterate the stages of the funeral
flooded her with too many memories she had refused to live since that day. "I wish you
would've spoken to me that day. I felt as if I didn't have anything to live for anymore.
As if I were better off dead." Her cries turned into sobs and she practically tackled
the boy down in a hug. "It's been so hard. Some nights I would hear my dad cry himself
to sleep and it was enough to make me hate my mother for leaving us behind."
"It was her time to go," Runner whispered into her ear, smelling the perfume of her hair
as he did so. He regretted bringing anything about her past up. He hadn't meant to
ruffle her in any way. But maybe she needed to finally let it all out once and for all.
"Why don't we go for a walk and talk some things over, hmm? It'll help relieve some
stress."
She nodded in agreement and much to his surprise kissed him on the cheek, dampening
it with her tears. "Thank you Lucas for being there for me, then and now."
* * * * *
~RaNdOm ThOuGhT but Meaningful Note: Every week, 100 youth commit suicide. It's a scary
statistic and I just want you all to know that your lives do mean something. So if you
ever feel like YUCK, feel free to email me if you want to talk to someone about what
you're going through. I'm here for ya all! : )
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Alright, So I told you all how Runner knows Mallory!
Can I get a few bones for that!??!!? Hmmmmm????? Heeehheee. PLEASE!??!?! Don't think
this is turning into a sappy romance so soon!!! Yuck yuck, NO NO NO. There's so much
MORE!!! But c'mon, kiddies, I need some REVIEWS!!! REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!!
THANKS SO MUCH, Love ya All!
them from Disney and was unsuccessful. Go figure. However, Runner and Mallory are
MINE, and so is Josephine, Aunt Patricia, and Daisy! Muahahaha! So take that, Mickey!!
OoOogles! I almost forgot Becca and Snap. They's mine too!! BleH! : ) Ah, the list just
goes on, there's Mr. Carter too of course. And Vixen...
A.N. First off, my sympathy goes out to the families who lost loved ones this morning.
May the victims rest in peace. On a lighter note, THANK YOU THANK YOU for all the
reviews!!! You goils is the best! I see Runner's fanclub seems to be growing day by day.
: ) Well, THANKS again and I hope ya'll like this chappie!
*SportyChik425: Yea, mean ol' Spot is a pig. *runs away from Spot* Heehee. I'll have
you know he's limping from that kick ya gave him. Hahaha. Good job, chica! : ) Awwww,
Runner and Mallory? *snuggles them* If you thought Becca was mad last chapter, just
look at her now! THanks for the review!! Hope ya like this chappie!
*Deanie: Liking players sucks nickels! *throws a shoe at Spot* But then sometimes there's
guys like Runner there to cheer you up! : ) Ha, you just wait 'til Jack and Spot start
getting violent. Tsk tsk tsk, I don't know what to do with those two.
*Raeghann: No don't stutter! I still have to read your stories! : ) Yaaay, you finally
find out how Runner knows Mallory now! w00t w00t!! Thanks for the reviews!! Read on and
enjoy!
*Trek: Gone to hell in a handbasket? Hmmm, I like it! Muahaha! Is Spot sexy?! Are you
kidding me!? OF COURSE!! LOL! I was watching Newsies for like, the millionth time
yesterday, and there I am an inch from the TV screen, worshipping his beauty. lol! I
like Runner's bad side too, but I'm not sure whether I like it more than his good side.
*thinks* We shall see.
*Snuggles: OoO, definitely good sign between you and Eric!! Yum Yum. I think you should
figure out what's going on between you and Eric and then decided whether you still want
to pursue Brian or not. Haha! Heya, I'm sorry about the whole thing that happened in Texas,
especially on your birthday. I hope it didn't ruin your special day. : ( Dun be sad.
*newsietomboy: Here's another update, goily! Yea, Runner is a sweetcake. Heehee. *dodges
Runner's punch* Glad ya liked the chapter, hope you like this one too!! : )
*Candi Kane: Oh jeez, I just love the expressions my reviewers use. Totally Jazzed?
I love that! hahaha! Alright, I won't die from exhaustion. *sigh* lol, : )
*Apollonia: Turn over a leaf, how cute! I've never heard that expression before! I think
I'm going to use it for something...I just don't know what yet! : ) Oh my, I still
have to read more of the new chapters you've updated! I hope nothing happened to Spot.
*runs away crying* Thanks for the review! Hope ya like this chapter!
*Shortie: YaaaaY, Shortie passed her driving test! CongraTz, kiddo. Now you can save us
all from Runner's wrath. : ) Oh dear, don't tell me you're attacking Becca now. LoL!
That's not pretty, she has horses and she can send them to stampede on you. Muahaha.
Yea, Runner likes to copy the lines of Super Heroes. I told him it was a bad habit but
he just flicked me off. *frowns* Own hell, eh? What's the rent cost these days? I think
I'm sending your dear lover boy there. Heehee. More Runner sweetness coming atchya!
Just A Little Bet
~*~*~*~*~ "Have I quite the surprise for you!" It was the third time Mallory had said
that to Race and he still had no idea what secret she could possibly be hiding from
him. All he knew was that the girl had evidently planned out their entire afternoon and
could barely contain her building excitement. "We're almost there!"
Race recognized the streets they were traversing; it was the same path he walked on his
daily swings to Sheepshead, and that fact worried him. With him and Becca having recently
disputed with one another over trust, it wouldn't be wise for the Italian to drop by
with another doll on his arm. "Would youse just tell me wheah we'se goin'?"
"A friend of my father's came over last afternoon and presented these to me." From the
pocket of her light sweater she took out two slips of paper and waved them before his
face with a smile.
"What are they?" He reached for them, but she pulled them away and giggled at his
disappointment.
"Patience is an admirable attribute," she said as they turned one last corner and finally
came onto the street where Sheepshead was located, admiring the spectacle that it was.
"You're really going to love this treat, Race!"
If this 'treat' had anything to do with entering into that building, he strongly doubted
her statement. "Well, are ya gunna tell me what those papes is now?"
Mallory nearly squealed. "They're VIP tickets to watch the races right alongside the
journalist crews and camera men! And because of their value, we have the opportunity to
meet the jockeys after each event! Isn't that exciting?" But when his expression hadn't
changed, she was under the impression that not even someone suddenly telling the boy
he was the inheritor of a multi-million dollar fortune could sway his moods. "Race,
why aren't you being your usual merry self? I thought you would enjoy this."
"Ya didn't buy these tickets, did youse?" Special passes like the ones in her hand ran
a good thirty to fourty dollars and he could never turn down her invitation if she had
spent so much to enliven his day.
"Of course not! A friend of my father's visited us last afternoon and presented them to
me when I told him of the sites I had visited within the past months. Naturally, the
most exciting parts occured in the past days with you, Jack, and Spot..." she looked
away from him when saying the Brooklyn leader's name, not wanting him to know she was
still hurt by Spot's actions at Irving Hall. "In any case, when I told him about you
and how you adored watching the horses and sometimes placing bets, he gave these to me.
He's one of the many managers at the tracks, mind you, so it was no expense to him either."
Race took her hands in his and spoke softly to her. "Listen Mallory, I thank ya for ya
consideration, it's real sweet of youse tah do this fer me. But I can't go, it's more
like I'se gots a lil' problem wid one of the locals there and I aint wanna start no
fights."
"Oh pooh!" She freed herself from his grasp. "How you worry! When first we met, you were
lecturing to me about needing to become more carefree, yet here you're afraid to take
advantage of this gift!" She was acting childishly, she admited as much. When she crossed
her arms and pouted, she felt like a five year old again demanding cookies from a jar
her hands could not reach. But Race was acting so strange and the cause was beyond her.
"I aint goin', alright? I'se, uh, I'se has a headache and it aint gunna do me no good
tah heah a bunch of people screamin' at the top of their lungs. We'll go some other time,
okay? I'se promise."
However, Spot had made a promise to her as well, only to end up breaking her heart in a
vulgar manner and she wasn't going to let this easily slip by. Grabbing the sleeve of his
shirt, she dragged him across the way as she stomped off, seemingly meaning to have him
run over by a passing horse carriage if he didn't know any better.
"Mallory, what is youse doin'?"
She turned on him. "My father had another doctor's appointment today and I need something
to distract my mind from the reality of his poor health. Before I met you and the others,
all I would do is sit about and cry all day over his conditions, but I honestly think
we being friends was predetermined. Now I have companions with whom I can spend my lonely
hours with. You aren't going to deprive me of that, are you?"
And there it was again, though unexpected. That guilt trip the girl always created to
bring her pity and sympathy. Race hated how she acted as if her father were the only man
suffering from physical pain in the whole state of New York, though he knew it must've
been hard for Mallory to deal with it all by herself. She had no mother nor any siblings,
and as he came to this conclusion he realized perhaps it wasn't an act afterall. Maybe
she really did feel alone at times. "Fine! I'll go, but we'se can only stay fer a lil'
while."
"Oh, I'm glad you changed your mind!" She hugged him tight and laughed happily. "You
won't regret this! Why, you'll love it!" She joined her hand with his, glad she wouldn't
have to resolve to her solitude this day.
"Remember, only fer an hour or two." But they didn't even get to spend a minute there,
because as soon as they entered the building, Race stopped short and gasped. "Becca..."
Becca was in as much disbelief as him. She had left the stables for a moment to talk with
Mr. Webster about the Chores List he had written up for her that morning, for there were
much too many tasks on the list that couldn't possibly be achieved in the time he had
alotted her, when she happened to look to her right and catch Racetrack hand in hand
with the brunette she knew as Mallory.
Race saw her anger before it was expressed on her face and rushed to her to explain, but
she was already shaking her head, not wanting to hear his excuses. "What's this all
about? You invited me to some dance, but weren't so quick as to mention that you already
had a dame all over you! You're a dirty liar, Race! I hate you!" He tried to hold her,
but she brought back a clenched fist and threw it into his cheekbone. "Stay away from
me, Race! You said you were different, you liar!"
"Becca, wait! Lemme explain!" With one hand holding his face and another reaching for
the girl, he started forward but was brought to his knees when he tripped over himself.
"Becca!"
Mallory only became more confused as the girl ran off and slammed the door of the
stables behind her. And when she saw Race trail after, she was left to wonder whether
she had been the cause of a fissure in their relationship.
* * * * *
Snap sat on Kloppmann's desk reading today's paper and watching over the cashbox as the
old man prepared himself breakfast in the kitchen. Her hair was pulled back in a messy
ponytail that left selected strands to sweep across her face, her clothes even less
graceful. On her first night of lodging in Manhattan, she only posessed three changes of
clothing and once those raggedy articles had dirtied from a day's work, she was too
lazy to handwash them and so left herself to borrow a shirt and pair of pants from Blink.
She would have borrowed an outfit from Jack, but the two weren't particularly on talking
terms at the moment. After last night, the Manhattan leader wouldn't even allow her to
sleep until she had explained what the hell had been going on between her and Spot.
Having no reasonable defense, she played ill and claimed the night's events had taken a
toll on her mental health. Jack didn't buy it, of course, but he knew he wouldn't get
any more out of her and so had left it at that.
She sighed. Each boy had taken the ordeal rather seriously. Jack seemed ready to kill
his best friend and Spot was none the less fierce. It was a good thing Manhattan and
Brooklyn weren't enemies, or at least hadn't been until last night, for the two boroughs
had the potential to wreak misery onto eachother. Misery and Pain.
The front door to the lodging house swung open and Snap wasn't surprised to see the
early return of that one boy who planned on receiving a reason for her betrayal no later
than today. Jack Kelly. She had to admire his persistence, she supposed. "Heya cowboy."
Jack ripped the paper from her hands and pointed a finger in her face. "Ya listen real
hard tah me, Snap, cause I'se aint repeatin' meself no more. Why the hell were youse
swappin' spit wid Spot when youse had told me ya wanted us tah hook up?"
"It's simple, Jack. Youse weren't givin' me what I wanted so I figured the lil' Brooklyn
slut would jump at 'is chance."
"Don't youse have any remorse for what ya did?" He yelled at her. "Don't ya care that
youse cheated on me. It aint the foist time Spot's taken someone's goil, but he aint
never taken mines and that pisses me off!"
She slid off the desk onto her feet and calmly looked him over. He was more angered than
she had thought. This had certainly penetrated the barriers around his heart, that was
for sure. "Don't yell at me then! Damnit, Jack! He obviously aint ya best friend if he's
feelin' me up! But nah, youse take it all out on me, as if I wanted him tah do it!"
"Whaddya talkin' about?"
"I tried to push him away, Jack. I'se told 'im we'se were thinkin' about goin' out and
all, but he just kept comin' onto me. And eventually, he pushed me into a corner of the
room and pressed me against the wall. I'se couldn't break free, and I couldn't scream
'cause that's when he started kissin' me. Once he was done, I told 'im I still had
feelings fer youse, and he told me it weren't no use likin' youse 'cause ya had a
reputation of havin' three goils at once. I didn't wanna believe 'im, but it sounded so
true...so I let 'im have his way."
Jack was speechless. How could Spot say something like that about him? If there were any
newsie in New York who had an infamous reputation of seducing girls only to throw them to
the curb the following day, it was Spot himself! "I would never do that tah youse."
"He kept tellin' me these things over and over," she said, urging herself to start
crying and complimenting herself when she did. "And I just didn't know who tah believe.
I'se was scared and felt trapped and so I gave into him. And I'se so sorry, Jack. Please
don't hate me. I'se so sorry!"
"Aww, Snap. I don't hate youse." He pulled her close to him and rubbed her back, sorry
that had he spoken so rudely to her. She had done nothing wrong! It had all been Spot!
"Heya, why don't we'se start over, huh? Go back tah being friends and woik our way up."
She sniffled and looked up at him. "That sounds great. I really like ya and I didn't
mean tah hoit youse or anything. It was Spot, I think he's jealous and wanted tah break
us up. Ya forgive me?"
"How could I say no?" He smiled at her and hugged her close, not seeing her smirk in
mischief when he closed his eyes.
* * * * *
Runner lay on his back, watching the smoke from his cigarette curl from his mouth and
rise to the air above him where it dissipated into nothingness. "Che sera sera." What
will be shall be, he thought. Mallory had four guys after her, though the intentions and
motives of three of them weren't exactly what one would deem noble. It was up to her to
decide which she would give a chance.
"Lucas, what are you doing?!"
Runner smiled and sat up on his elbows to see Mallory standing in front of him with
an amused look on her face. "I thought I'd catch up on some sleep."
"On my doorstep?!" When he shrugged, she laughed with a shake of her head. "You're an
odd one, Lucas. I don't know whether I should feel honored or stalked. Have you been
waiting here long?"
"Mmm, not really." Two hours and forty three minutes wasn't considerably long. Although
the headmaster at St. John's would probably beg to differ once the truancy of one of
his honor students was discovered. But Runner was a master at finagling his way out of
discipline, especially when he was the head priest's son. "SO where've you been all day?"
Mallory unlocked her door with a bronze key and welcomed the boy inside. "I went to the
tracks earlier with Race, but that proved a mistake and so here I am." She whistled
three notes and smiled when Daisy came trotting into the room with a wagging tail. "Hello
Daisy! How's my cute little puppy?" She kneeled down and combed her fingers through the
dog's fur, laughing when it happily barked.
Runner shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "Mind if I have a seat?"
She gave him a curious look. "You don't talk like the others. I've noticed that during
the times we've talked. There's no trace of an accent in your speaking yet your Spot's
cousin and you spend most of your hours with the newsies, am I right? Why is that?"
"I'se could talk like 'em if youse wanted me too," he grinned.
"No, no. I was only asking. Aren't you a newsie yourself though?"
Runner walked over to her and leaned against a wall, slowly sliding himself against it
downwards until he was seated beside her. "Not really. I'm actually a student at some prep
school, but I use to hawk headlines. My newsie name's Runner. You see, when I was around
thirteen, Spot lived with me and my family. But one day, he grew tired of being told
what to do and how to do it so he left and started selling papers for a living. A year
later, he became Brooklyn's leader and when I heard of about it, I envied his carefree
life, so I ran away. Over and over again. No matter how many times my parents found me
I just kept running away, until one day I realized I couldn't keep my future from being
no matter where I went."
"Wow. That's a pretty story." She sat back on her heels and cocked her head to
one side. "You have a good heart, Lucas. I'm glad we met."
"Me too," he whispered back as he stared back at her. She looked so fragile he was afraid
to reach out and touch her for fear she would crumble and break. How could his idiot of
a cousin be so heartless as to willingly break her heart? Her eyes were so warm, and her
lips...he could only imagine how precious they felt. He smirked. "You don't remember me,
do you?"
Mallory wasn't sure what he meant. "Excuse me?"
"Your mother died a little over a year ago."
The following silence spoke for itself. "How do you know that?"
He leaned his head back against the wall and sighed. "I've been an altar boy for six
years now, and I've seen weddings, baptisms, and sadly enough they made me overlook the
funerals too. There was one particular funeral that caught my interest, one being held
for a woman that had perished in a fire. I thought it would be the typical viewing and
mass service, and that they'd make me push the coffin to the awaiting carriage like they
usually did. But I was wrong. People filtered into the church one by one, the women
hysterical with sadness and the men trying to control their wives, typical as I said.
"And then I saw you. You were wearing this black velvet dress and your hair was tied
back under a small hat that I asumed you wore to hide your face. But despite your
tear-stained cheeks and paled lips, you still looked beautiful. You held the aura of a
goddess, and I worshipped your presence that day. I couldn't take my eyes off you, even
when you approached the coffin to say your final goodbyes. I wanted to hold you, to tell
you your mother was in a better place now, but you had left so quickly and when I was
finally relieved from my duties, you were gone.
"I never stopped thinking about you since then. I always hoped you were doing well and
that you would somehow remember me, even though we only exchanged a glance the day of
the funeral."
Mallory was near tears. Hearing a complete stranger reiterate the stages of the funeral
flooded her with too many memories she had refused to live since that day. "I wish you
would've spoken to me that day. I felt as if I didn't have anything to live for anymore.
As if I were better off dead." Her cries turned into sobs and she practically tackled
the boy down in a hug. "It's been so hard. Some nights I would hear my dad cry himself
to sleep and it was enough to make me hate my mother for leaving us behind."
"It was her time to go," Runner whispered into her ear, smelling the perfume of her hair
as he did so. He regretted bringing anything about her past up. He hadn't meant to
ruffle her in any way. But maybe she needed to finally let it all out once and for all.
"Why don't we go for a walk and talk some things over, hmm? It'll help relieve some
stress."
She nodded in agreement and much to his surprise kissed him on the cheek, dampening
it with her tears. "Thank you Lucas for being there for me, then and now."
* * * * *
~RaNdOm ThOuGhT but Meaningful Note: Every week, 100 youth commit suicide. It's a scary
statistic and I just want you all to know that your lives do mean something. So if you
ever feel like YUCK, feel free to email me if you want to talk to someone about what
you're going through. I'm here for ya all! : )
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Alright, So I told you all how Runner knows Mallory!
Can I get a few bones for that!??!!? Hmmmmm????? Heeehheee. PLEASE!??!?! Don't think
this is turning into a sappy romance so soon!!! Yuck yuck, NO NO NO. There's so much
MORE!!! But c'mon, kiddies, I need some REVIEWS!!! REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!!
THANKS SO MUCH, Love ya All!
