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. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU FOR ALL THE REVIEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
~SportyChik425: Runner's appearance is based on the guy I have a crush on, but his
character came from the good ol' Imagination machine. Muahaha. My favorite character?
*looks around and makes sure the others aren't around* Well, to be honest, my
favorite is none other than Runner! Heehee. But from the movie, definitely Spot. : )
~Rhapsody: Well, I'm glad you chose to read the last chapter even though you weren't
suppose to be online. *sigh* The devotion of my reviewers, how admirable. Heehee!
~Angel: Men ARE a confusing breed of species. Muahaha! Why do we love 'em? I'll
never know. Jealousy=cute when it's one of me boys. Heehee.
~Trek: I think going to school with Runner would be fun too! I went to school with
a guy like him named Levi. He was good looking, charming, admired by practically
half the girls in school, and a pure GENIUS!! Unfortunately, he graduated last
year, but we still keep in touch. : ) Never read "A Seperate Peace" but Finny
sounds interesting. Tell me more about this book, hmm?
~racesgurl52787: w00t w00t! Thanks for the review!!! Here's more Race!
~Apollonia: I can't believe you killed Spot!!! *cries* I need to read some more of
your story tomorrow. *sigh* I was like, speechless. I just stared at the screen
for a while...it was incredibly sad. Ah well, it was very well written!! : )
Who shall Mallory end up with indeed...hmmm...we shall see...
~geometrygal: Where you started writing your fanfics. Of Course! Yeeeshk, I hate
Algebra II!! I'm taking it now! Normal Distributions can burn at the stake! YUCK!!
Here's another Race/Becca chappie for youse!
~Shortie: Long time no see. I must say, Runner was quite disappointed by your lack
of reviewing, Captain, but he was glad to see you return. FLUFFY?! Muahahaha! You
should know me better than that, short stuff. I'm about to break those two up now!
Okay...well, not really...but yea. Muaha!
~Snuggles: Yes, Runner reminds me of Runner...did that make sense? He's this really
cute guy with blonde hair like Runner's and green eyes...*sigh* And when he passed
me at lunch, he looked back at me twice and I just think he's the cutest! So I named
him after dear lil' Runner. He looks like a flirt too, there's always a girl around
him....giving him a hug...*glares* But anywho, enough of me, how's Eric. hehehe.
~newsietomboy: Poor Jealous lil' Runner. OoOgles, and that kiss sure knocked
Mallory off her feet. *sighs* Well, another chapter 4 youse!
Just A Little Bet
~*~*~*~*~ "So, I'se hoid ya father finally came back yesterday."
Runner smirked at the comment as he read from the history book he was suppose to be
studying over last week for a coming exam that weighed heavily on his overall grade
for the class. "Yea, unfortunately so." The boy recalled the return vividly. His
father had made his trip back to New York by boat and when the man finally located
his family on the departure docks, his smile could not be any more wider. Collecting
his wife in a hug, he spun the woman around with a laugh that overpowered the raucous
of the other reunited families nearby.
"Oh darling, I'm so glad you've returned to us safely," Mother Conlon had said,
holding her husband's face in her hands.
The priest smiled at the warm homecoming and then noticed Runner standing by, waiting
to greet his father as well. "Hello son," he nodded. But instead of a loving embrace
or anything of the sort, the man merely held out his hand for a shake. And so once
again, Runner was left to bottle up his feelings.
Spot thanked Josephine as she brought the two boys cups of hot chocolate before
retreating behind the counter of her restaurant to ring up the order and then
watched his cousin flip the page in that confounded book of his. "I'se surprised.
Ya aint surrounded by ya usual cloud of smoke."
"Oh, I quit."
"Ya kiddin' me?" That defintely was news, considering the Brooklyn leader had just
seen Runner smoking last they spoke. "Me lecturin' finally rubbed off on youse?"
The younger newsie jotted down a few notes from the section he was reading as if
he had not heard the question. But just as Spot was about to press at it again, he
looked up with a blank expression. "Uh, not really. Actually I'se did it fer Mallory."
"Excuse me? Youse quit fer a goil?"
"Shoah, why not?" He would have gone on studying but suddenly, Spot slammed the
book shut and demanded an explanation. Runner sighed, not really wanting to share
his personal business. "Well, the foist time she invited me into her house, I'se
was smokin' and although she didn't say anything 'bout it, I kinda picked up on
the fact that she was turned off. So when I'se walked towards her livin' room, I
put the cigarette out in some gold ash tray they's got." He thought for a moment.
"I think the thing was just there fer decoration or somethin' cause their house
don't smell like smoke. But anyways, she looked more comfortable once I had stopped,
so I'se thought I'd quit. 'Sides, the things is bad fer ya health."
Spot rolled his eyes. "I'se disappointed in youse, Runnah. Changin' fer a goil?
Damn, ya really got it bad. Speakin' of Mallory, ya muddah told me youse were
settin' tah enroll her at ya school." He noticed the boy tense at the announcement
and smirked. "Ya didn't really think you could keep it a secret did ya? In any
case, I'se kinda busy wid another goil anyways, so youse have all the fun ya want."
"She aint some toy fer youse tah be playin' wid in some damn bet, Spot!"
"Ah, stop that goody goody talk. Youse is beginnin' tah sound like Race. Ya know
the bum dropped outta the bet?! Damn scab, figures." His eyes focused on two newsies
entering the restaurant then, the mischief in his face fading. "Runnah, get outta
heah."
Runner didn't make so much as the slightest move at first. He turned in his seat and
watched as Flame-the leader of Queens-and his righthand man Falcon approached
their table in anything but a friendly manner.
"Well, if aint the lil' preachah boy from St. Johnny's," Flame said mockingly.
"Ya writin' a sermon there, preachach?" Falcon joined in the laughter. "Hey, hey,
I'se moidered a bunch of altar boys the other day, is me sins forgiven?" He doubled
over in amusement, slamming his hand upon the table with joy.
Runner stayed cool, he even smiled. "Heya Falcon, deliver a message tah ya goil
Amber fer me, huh? Tell 'er I said thanks fer last night."
Spot jumped from his seat and stood between Falcon and Runner before the altercation
evolved into a physical fight. "Ya two wanna fight, then do it on ya own time. Now
we'se alls know that newsies from Queens aint allowed in me territory, Flame. What
the hell is youse doin' heah?"
"I'se heah tah settle a score wid some bum who ratted out on one of me boys. He
stole some food from a vendor and none other than a Brooklyn fag hinted tah the
bulls and now the kid's in the refuge."
"Well how can youse be so shoah it was someone from Brooklyn?" Runner asked from
behind Spot. "It coulda been Manhattan or the Bronx just as well. I know youse aint
that stupid tah forget how big New Yawk is."
Flame glared at the boy. "Ya know, Runnah, I'd be satisfied if I could just put a
bullet through ya head one of these days. Of course, that'd take all the fun outta
beatin' the shit outta youse." He turned back to Spot. "We'll leave ya lil'
borough, but the next time somethin' like this happens, ya bettah watch ya back,
Spotty." He shot one last menacing look at Runner, and then headed off to his
lodging house with Falcon aside him.
* * * * *
Charles took a bite out the apple that would serve as his breakfast in content. This
was quite the life, he thought to himself. Food, a home, a nice paying job...then
again, there was that assignment Webster had thrown at him. The words still played
over and over in his head.
"The girl that works for me, Becca's her name. She's a
quiet one, reclusive if you know what I mean. I pity the poor thing, she needs a
friend, someone to confide in. See what you can do."
The boy sighed. He doubted there was anything he could do! One minute she was
bounding with glee, the next she was correcting him on how to properly groom a horse.
Sooner or later, he knew he would go mad!
"Charles! Did you get that apple from the horses' pail?!"
"Ay, I did. What are ye gunna tell me now? That I'm not to eat while working?"
Becca snatched the piece of fruit from him. "If you're hungry, then buy something to
eat before coming here! These are for the horses!" She threw the apple into a pail
and then lifted the object off the ground, looking at her reflection in its metal
surface. She frowned at the sight. Her hair was an untidy mess and her face...she
would not even go on about its flaws.
"Ah, youse lookin' beautiful as always!"
She turned around to find Race standing right behind her holding a long stemmed rose,
a grin plastered on his face. "Race!"
"Just came tah visit youse, doll. How's ya day?"
"Great now." She kissed him on the cheek and smiled. "Is that rose for me?"
He presented to her, kissing the back of her hand as she receieved it. "Of coise. I
was originally gunna buy ya a rose fer everytime I'se thought of youse yesterday, but
I couldn't exactly afford six hundred and twenty two of em."
Charles groaned at the sappy exchange of words. "Beggin' ya pardon, Race is it? I
do believe the lass has forgotten to introduce us. Me name's Charles Hutton. I work
here at the stables with Becca."
"Nice tah meet youse." Race shook hands with the boy but disregarded him a second
later. "So Becca, I'se was hopin' you'd come visit me place sometime today. Ya still
gots tah meet all me friends, they'd love youse! Most are probably still out sellin'
their papes, but I bet Jack and the rest is playin' pokah or just hangin' around."
"I don't know," was the girl's reply. She liked Race very much, but she was still
hesitant about going out into the city with him. What if she didn't like his
friends? Or worse, what if they didn't like her? She was uncertain how she should
act with them. Being herself was an obvious answer, but she didn't even know how
to be that! Not anymore at least. "Can't we just stay here?"
"I'se don't understand what ya so scared of, goil! I'm gunna be wid youse the whole
time! None of the guys is gunna try somethin' on youse if they knows youse me goil.
Ya really aint got no excuses. What are ya afraid of?"
"Race, I just don't want to go right now. I'm not ready."
He was getting annoyed by her coyness now and couldn't help but raise his voice.
"Well when are ya gunna be ready!?"
"Ye needn't yell at the lass," Charles intruded from where he sat on a stack of hay.
Race sighed. "I wasn't yellin'"
"Charles, I don't need you to defend me," the girl snapped, embarassed that there was
a witness to her and Race's petty arguments. "Race, please, just give me some time.
This is new to me and I don't want to rush into anything. Please?"
It's not like he could say no, especially when she looked at him with those innocent
large eyes. "Shoah, we'll take it slow."
* * * * *
Snap was steadily ascending the staircase to paradise. Jack was blinded by his lust
for her, Spot was actually agreeing to a relationship with her, and the two best
friends were unknowingly marching forth to their own war with eachother. Although,
war was much too harsh a word. She would have none of that. Rather, they were
doing all the things that would eventually guarantee the ruin of their friendship was
all.
"And they's thought I wouldn't be able tah do it." The girl laughed as she retraced
the memory. It was a Saturday last November when she had been sitting with her
friends in the main room of the Staten Island lodging house. Talking about the
acclaimed Spot Conlon, one girl as fiery in nature as Snap had dared the girl
to try her best at seducing the Brooklyn leader.
"But why end there?" their leader, A.J., had asked. "Once ya take 'im tah bed, try
keepin' 'im there. Ya know 'is type. They's in it fer the sex and as soon as they's
get that, youse can go tah hell fer all they's care."
Snap had taken him up on that offer. To awaken a night of wild passions for Spot,
and then afterwards keep him focused on her alone. She had to admit, it was a
challenge. Twice already she had caught Vixen giving him meanigful looks during the
nightly Brooklyn poker games. Naturally, Snap would fend her off by sitting on the
boy's lap or whispering things into his ear that would make him smirk.
Her first morning in Manhattan, Snap remembered a girl named Piper endlessly ranting
about her love for Jack Kelly and how she would personally gouge out the eyes of
any who stood in the way of her relationship with the leader. But Snap still had
her eyes; it had been all talk. "You can't make Jack fall in love wid youse!" Piper
had barked at her one night. She was all too wrong.
Last but not least, there was that comment some newsies from the Bronx had made to
her at Medda's that night. "Ya wanna play Spot and Jack at the same time?" they
asked in disbelief. "Like they'd choose some goil over each other. D'ya even know
how long they's been friends?"
So Snap had three things to prove during her mission as an in-between newsie at
Manhattan and Brooklyn. One, that Spot Conlon could in fact abandon his womanizing
ways and actually work hard at a relationship with a single girl. Two, that Jack
Kelly could indeed fall for the type of girl Spot usually chased after. And third,
that in doing so, Spot and Jack would annihilate the vow they had made as best
friends to never let a girl come between them.
* * * * *
In the passing weeks, the temperatures neither dropped nor rose. Late winter's
freezing weather stayed consistent day to day, even when the month of February
now appeared on every calendar in the state. Mallory drew hearts around the date
February 14th in her planner and thought about Jack. He had visited her three times
since their first kiss, each time wrapped with surprises of its own. Sometimes
the two would catch an early flick and then stroll about Central Park, other times
they just stayed in Mallory's house talking for hours about whatever made them
comfortable.
The girl loved those days when the Manhattan leader showed up on her doorstep.
She felt as if she could tell him anything and not be ashamed or afraid of his
response. It was nearly as enjoyable as talking to Runner, only less so by a small
fraction because the butterflies that would flutter about in her stomach when looking
into Jack's eyes often made her lightheaded. Which was why Runner would be the
first to know whether she had been accepted into St. John's or not.
The boy claimed her acceptance letter would be sent any day now, for he had put
her application on fast-track evaluation by special request and had been told that
he would receive and answer in two to three weeks. She was drenched in worry and
nervousness. What if she didn't get in? What if she only received a partial
scholarship?
In the evening, she would sit with Runner on the couch of her living room and
resting her head on his shoulder, would spill her dreams to him. He always said
the same thing, that she had nothing to worry about. That out of all the
applications he had seen during the evaluation processes, hers shone the brightest.
But her heart was still filled with apprehension.
A knock on the door and she bolted down the hallways, rushing to answer it with
a fervor she had never known. "Lucas! Did you get it, did you get it?!" And then
she saw the white envelope in his hand and she shrieked with excitement and fear.
She pulled him through the doorway, closed the door, and urged him to tell her what
he knew. "Did I get in? Did I? Please Lucas, don't just stand there! Tell me!"
Runner laughed. "Jesus, girl, I haven't even opened it yet. I figured you should."
He handed the envelope to her but she coiled away from the paper as if it were
poison. "I'm dying to know, Mallory! Just open it!"
"Let me wake my father first. Daddy! Daddy, get up! The letter's finally here! Come
see what it says!" A minute later, Mr. Carter entered the room, his face paler than
usual and his figure a bit more skinnier than Runner had remembered.
"Ah, Good afternoon, Lucas."
Runner nodded. "Sir." His attention was recaptured by Mallory as she began hugging
herself and biting her bottom lip. "Mallory, open it already! Your father and I
want to know how soon we need to start buying your school supplies!"
His smile gave her the encouragement she needed. Exhaling a large breath of air, she
ripped the seal of the envelope and peered in at its contents, a single folded
letter. She looked at her father and he placed a hand on her shoulder to comfort
her. She reached in and pulled out the letter, unfolding it so slowly Runner thought
he could have gone home for a sleep and return to still see the girl working at the
task.
At last, she started reading the letter's words and all the while, Runner watched
her face, waiting for exuberation to mark her features. But it never came. She
frowned and creased the letter in half.
"What did it say?!" Runner exclaimed.
"Oh," Mallory replied sadly, "just that I've been accepted!" She burst into giggles
as Runner yelled overjoyed and lifted her in a hug in congratulations.
"I'm so proud of you!" Mr. Carter kissed the girl's forehead and hugged her as
well. "Darling, this is amazing! You'll do so many great things in life!"
Overwhelmed by the emotions within her, Mallory began to cry and sandwiched herself
between her father and best friend as they celebrated her greatest achievement yet.
* * * * *
YIPPY YI YAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!! w00t w00t w00t w00t!!!! And we Come to the End of
Another Chapter. *cries* But alas, for those of you on the edge of your seats,
more reviews=faster updates!!! YEEEEEEEEEEE HAW!!!!!!!!! C'mon goilies! I LOVE
THOSE REVIEWS!!!!!! And that button down there is feeling dejected again! C'mon,
a simple few words is fine!!! All that I ask from youse is a REVIEW! PLEASE!?!?
PLLEEEEEEEEEASsssse!? REVIEW!?!??! THANKIES!!! 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. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU FOR ALL THE REVIEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
~SportyChik425: Runner's appearance is based on the guy I have a crush on, but his
character came from the good ol' Imagination machine. Muahaha. My favorite character?
*looks around and makes sure the others aren't around* Well, to be honest, my
favorite is none other than Runner! Heehee. But from the movie, definitely Spot. : )
~Rhapsody: Well, I'm glad you chose to read the last chapter even though you weren't
suppose to be online. *sigh* The devotion of my reviewers, how admirable. Heehee!
~Angel: Men ARE a confusing breed of species. Muahaha! Why do we love 'em? I'll
never know. Jealousy=cute when it's one of me boys. Heehee.
~Trek: I think going to school with Runner would be fun too! I went to school with
a guy like him named Levi. He was good looking, charming, admired by practically
half the girls in school, and a pure GENIUS!! Unfortunately, he graduated last
year, but we still keep in touch. : ) Never read "A Seperate Peace" but Finny
sounds interesting. Tell me more about this book, hmm?
~racesgurl52787: w00t w00t! Thanks for the review!!! Here's more Race!
~Apollonia: I can't believe you killed Spot!!! *cries* I need to read some more of
your story tomorrow. *sigh* I was like, speechless. I just stared at the screen
for a while...it was incredibly sad. Ah well, it was very well written!! : )
Who shall Mallory end up with indeed...hmmm...we shall see...
~geometrygal: Where you started writing your fanfics. Of Course! Yeeeshk, I hate
Algebra II!! I'm taking it now! Normal Distributions can burn at the stake! YUCK!!
Here's another Race/Becca chappie for youse!
~Shortie: Long time no see. I must say, Runner was quite disappointed by your lack
of reviewing, Captain, but he was glad to see you return. FLUFFY?! Muahahaha! You
should know me better than that, short stuff. I'm about to break those two up now!
Okay...well, not really...but yea. Muaha!
~Snuggles: Yes, Runner reminds me of Runner...did that make sense? He's this really
cute guy with blonde hair like Runner's and green eyes...*sigh* And when he passed
me at lunch, he looked back at me twice and I just think he's the cutest! So I named
him after dear lil' Runner. He looks like a flirt too, there's always a girl around
him....giving him a hug...*glares* But anywho, enough of me, how's Eric. hehehe.
~newsietomboy: Poor Jealous lil' Runner. OoOgles, and that kiss sure knocked
Mallory off her feet. *sighs* Well, another chapter 4 youse!
Just A Little Bet
~*~*~*~*~ "So, I'se hoid ya father finally came back yesterday."
Runner smirked at the comment as he read from the history book he was suppose to be
studying over last week for a coming exam that weighed heavily on his overall grade
for the class. "Yea, unfortunately so." The boy recalled the return vividly. His
father had made his trip back to New York by boat and when the man finally located
his family on the departure docks, his smile could not be any more wider. Collecting
his wife in a hug, he spun the woman around with a laugh that overpowered the raucous
of the other reunited families nearby.
"Oh darling, I'm so glad you've returned to us safely," Mother Conlon had said,
holding her husband's face in her hands.
The priest smiled at the warm homecoming and then noticed Runner standing by, waiting
to greet his father as well. "Hello son," he nodded. But instead of a loving embrace
or anything of the sort, the man merely held out his hand for a shake. And so once
again, Runner was left to bottle up his feelings.
Spot thanked Josephine as she brought the two boys cups of hot chocolate before
retreating behind the counter of her restaurant to ring up the order and then
watched his cousin flip the page in that confounded book of his. "I'se surprised.
Ya aint surrounded by ya usual cloud of smoke."
"Oh, I quit."
"Ya kiddin' me?" That defintely was news, considering the Brooklyn leader had just
seen Runner smoking last they spoke. "Me lecturin' finally rubbed off on youse?"
The younger newsie jotted down a few notes from the section he was reading as if
he had not heard the question. But just as Spot was about to press at it again, he
looked up with a blank expression. "Uh, not really. Actually I'se did it fer Mallory."
"Excuse me? Youse quit fer a goil?"
"Shoah, why not?" He would have gone on studying but suddenly, Spot slammed the
book shut and demanded an explanation. Runner sighed, not really wanting to share
his personal business. "Well, the foist time she invited me into her house, I'se
was smokin' and although she didn't say anything 'bout it, I kinda picked up on
the fact that she was turned off. So when I'se walked towards her livin' room, I
put the cigarette out in some gold ash tray they's got." He thought for a moment.
"I think the thing was just there fer decoration or somethin' cause their house
don't smell like smoke. But anyways, she looked more comfortable once I had stopped,
so I'se thought I'd quit. 'Sides, the things is bad fer ya health."
Spot rolled his eyes. "I'se disappointed in youse, Runnah. Changin' fer a goil?
Damn, ya really got it bad. Speakin' of Mallory, ya muddah told me youse were
settin' tah enroll her at ya school." He noticed the boy tense at the announcement
and smirked. "Ya didn't really think you could keep it a secret did ya? In any
case, I'se kinda busy wid another goil anyways, so youse have all the fun ya want."
"She aint some toy fer youse tah be playin' wid in some damn bet, Spot!"
"Ah, stop that goody goody talk. Youse is beginnin' tah sound like Race. Ya know
the bum dropped outta the bet?! Damn scab, figures." His eyes focused on two newsies
entering the restaurant then, the mischief in his face fading. "Runnah, get outta
heah."
Runner didn't make so much as the slightest move at first. He turned in his seat and
watched as Flame-the leader of Queens-and his righthand man Falcon approached
their table in anything but a friendly manner.
"Well, if aint the lil' preachah boy from St. Johnny's," Flame said mockingly.
"Ya writin' a sermon there, preachach?" Falcon joined in the laughter. "Hey, hey,
I'se moidered a bunch of altar boys the other day, is me sins forgiven?" He doubled
over in amusement, slamming his hand upon the table with joy.
Runner stayed cool, he even smiled. "Heya Falcon, deliver a message tah ya goil
Amber fer me, huh? Tell 'er I said thanks fer last night."
Spot jumped from his seat and stood between Falcon and Runner before the altercation
evolved into a physical fight. "Ya two wanna fight, then do it on ya own time. Now
we'se alls know that newsies from Queens aint allowed in me territory, Flame. What
the hell is youse doin' heah?"
"I'se heah tah settle a score wid some bum who ratted out on one of me boys. He
stole some food from a vendor and none other than a Brooklyn fag hinted tah the
bulls and now the kid's in the refuge."
"Well how can youse be so shoah it was someone from Brooklyn?" Runner asked from
behind Spot. "It coulda been Manhattan or the Bronx just as well. I know youse aint
that stupid tah forget how big New Yawk is."
Flame glared at the boy. "Ya know, Runnah, I'd be satisfied if I could just put a
bullet through ya head one of these days. Of course, that'd take all the fun outta
beatin' the shit outta youse." He turned back to Spot. "We'll leave ya lil'
borough, but the next time somethin' like this happens, ya bettah watch ya back,
Spotty." He shot one last menacing look at Runner, and then headed off to his
lodging house with Falcon aside him.
* * * * *
Charles took a bite out the apple that would serve as his breakfast in content. This
was quite the life, he thought to himself. Food, a home, a nice paying job...then
again, there was that assignment Webster had thrown at him. The words still played
over and over in his head.
"The girl that works for me, Becca's her name. She's a
quiet one, reclusive if you know what I mean. I pity the poor thing, she needs a
friend, someone to confide in. See what you can do."
The boy sighed. He doubted there was anything he could do! One minute she was
bounding with glee, the next she was correcting him on how to properly groom a horse.
Sooner or later, he knew he would go mad!
"Charles! Did you get that apple from the horses' pail?!"
"Ay, I did. What are ye gunna tell me now? That I'm not to eat while working?"
Becca snatched the piece of fruit from him. "If you're hungry, then buy something to
eat before coming here! These are for the horses!" She threw the apple into a pail
and then lifted the object off the ground, looking at her reflection in its metal
surface. She frowned at the sight. Her hair was an untidy mess and her face...she
would not even go on about its flaws.
"Ah, youse lookin' beautiful as always!"
She turned around to find Race standing right behind her holding a long stemmed rose,
a grin plastered on his face. "Race!"
"Just came tah visit youse, doll. How's ya day?"
"Great now." She kissed him on the cheek and smiled. "Is that rose for me?"
He presented to her, kissing the back of her hand as she receieved it. "Of coise. I
was originally gunna buy ya a rose fer everytime I'se thought of youse yesterday, but
I couldn't exactly afford six hundred and twenty two of em."
Charles groaned at the sappy exchange of words. "Beggin' ya pardon, Race is it? I
do believe the lass has forgotten to introduce us. Me name's Charles Hutton. I work
here at the stables with Becca."
"Nice tah meet youse." Race shook hands with the boy but disregarded him a second
later. "So Becca, I'se was hopin' you'd come visit me place sometime today. Ya still
gots tah meet all me friends, they'd love youse! Most are probably still out sellin'
their papes, but I bet Jack and the rest is playin' pokah or just hangin' around."
"I don't know," was the girl's reply. She liked Race very much, but she was still
hesitant about going out into the city with him. What if she didn't like his
friends? Or worse, what if they didn't like her? She was uncertain how she should
act with them. Being herself was an obvious answer, but she didn't even know how
to be that! Not anymore at least. "Can't we just stay here?"
"I'se don't understand what ya so scared of, goil! I'm gunna be wid youse the whole
time! None of the guys is gunna try somethin' on youse if they knows youse me goil.
Ya really aint got no excuses. What are ya afraid of?"
"Race, I just don't want to go right now. I'm not ready."
He was getting annoyed by her coyness now and couldn't help but raise his voice.
"Well when are ya gunna be ready!?"
"Ye needn't yell at the lass," Charles intruded from where he sat on a stack of hay.
Race sighed. "I wasn't yellin'"
"Charles, I don't need you to defend me," the girl snapped, embarassed that there was
a witness to her and Race's petty arguments. "Race, please, just give me some time.
This is new to me and I don't want to rush into anything. Please?"
It's not like he could say no, especially when she looked at him with those innocent
large eyes. "Shoah, we'll take it slow."
* * * * *
Snap was steadily ascending the staircase to paradise. Jack was blinded by his lust
for her, Spot was actually agreeing to a relationship with her, and the two best
friends were unknowingly marching forth to their own war with eachother. Although,
war was much too harsh a word. She would have none of that. Rather, they were
doing all the things that would eventually guarantee the ruin of their friendship was
all.
"And they's thought I wouldn't be able tah do it." The girl laughed as she retraced
the memory. It was a Saturday last November when she had been sitting with her
friends in the main room of the Staten Island lodging house. Talking about the
acclaimed Spot Conlon, one girl as fiery in nature as Snap had dared the girl
to try her best at seducing the Brooklyn leader.
"But why end there?" their leader, A.J., had asked. "Once ya take 'im tah bed, try
keepin' 'im there. Ya know 'is type. They's in it fer the sex and as soon as they's
get that, youse can go tah hell fer all they's care."
Snap had taken him up on that offer. To awaken a night of wild passions for Spot,
and then afterwards keep him focused on her alone. She had to admit, it was a
challenge. Twice already she had caught Vixen giving him meanigful looks during the
nightly Brooklyn poker games. Naturally, Snap would fend her off by sitting on the
boy's lap or whispering things into his ear that would make him smirk.
Her first morning in Manhattan, Snap remembered a girl named Piper endlessly ranting
about her love for Jack Kelly and how she would personally gouge out the eyes of
any who stood in the way of her relationship with the leader. But Snap still had
her eyes; it had been all talk. "You can't make Jack fall in love wid youse!" Piper
had barked at her one night. She was all too wrong.
Last but not least, there was that comment some newsies from the Bronx had made to
her at Medda's that night. "Ya wanna play Spot and Jack at the same time?" they
asked in disbelief. "Like they'd choose some goil over each other. D'ya even know
how long they's been friends?"
So Snap had three things to prove during her mission as an in-between newsie at
Manhattan and Brooklyn. One, that Spot Conlon could in fact abandon his womanizing
ways and actually work hard at a relationship with a single girl. Two, that Jack
Kelly could indeed fall for the type of girl Spot usually chased after. And third,
that in doing so, Spot and Jack would annihilate the vow they had made as best
friends to never let a girl come between them.
* * * * *
In the passing weeks, the temperatures neither dropped nor rose. Late winter's
freezing weather stayed consistent day to day, even when the month of February
now appeared on every calendar in the state. Mallory drew hearts around the date
February 14th in her planner and thought about Jack. He had visited her three times
since their first kiss, each time wrapped with surprises of its own. Sometimes
the two would catch an early flick and then stroll about Central Park, other times
they just stayed in Mallory's house talking for hours about whatever made them
comfortable.
The girl loved those days when the Manhattan leader showed up on her doorstep.
She felt as if she could tell him anything and not be ashamed or afraid of his
response. It was nearly as enjoyable as talking to Runner, only less so by a small
fraction because the butterflies that would flutter about in her stomach when looking
into Jack's eyes often made her lightheaded. Which was why Runner would be the
first to know whether she had been accepted into St. John's or not.
The boy claimed her acceptance letter would be sent any day now, for he had put
her application on fast-track evaluation by special request and had been told that
he would receive and answer in two to three weeks. She was drenched in worry and
nervousness. What if she didn't get in? What if she only received a partial
scholarship?
In the evening, she would sit with Runner on the couch of her living room and
resting her head on his shoulder, would spill her dreams to him. He always said
the same thing, that she had nothing to worry about. That out of all the
applications he had seen during the evaluation processes, hers shone the brightest.
But her heart was still filled with apprehension.
A knock on the door and she bolted down the hallways, rushing to answer it with
a fervor she had never known. "Lucas! Did you get it, did you get it?!" And then
she saw the white envelope in his hand and she shrieked with excitement and fear.
She pulled him through the doorway, closed the door, and urged him to tell her what
he knew. "Did I get in? Did I? Please Lucas, don't just stand there! Tell me!"
Runner laughed. "Jesus, girl, I haven't even opened it yet. I figured you should."
He handed the envelope to her but she coiled away from the paper as if it were
poison. "I'm dying to know, Mallory! Just open it!"
"Let me wake my father first. Daddy! Daddy, get up! The letter's finally here! Come
see what it says!" A minute later, Mr. Carter entered the room, his face paler than
usual and his figure a bit more skinnier than Runner had remembered.
"Ah, Good afternoon, Lucas."
Runner nodded. "Sir." His attention was recaptured by Mallory as she began hugging
herself and biting her bottom lip. "Mallory, open it already! Your father and I
want to know how soon we need to start buying your school supplies!"
His smile gave her the encouragement she needed. Exhaling a large breath of air, she
ripped the seal of the envelope and peered in at its contents, a single folded
letter. She looked at her father and he placed a hand on her shoulder to comfort
her. She reached in and pulled out the letter, unfolding it so slowly Runner thought
he could have gone home for a sleep and return to still see the girl working at the
task.
At last, she started reading the letter's words and all the while, Runner watched
her face, waiting for exuberation to mark her features. But it never came. She
frowned and creased the letter in half.
"What did it say?!" Runner exclaimed.
"Oh," Mallory replied sadly, "just that I've been accepted!" She burst into giggles
as Runner yelled overjoyed and lifted her in a hug in congratulations.
"I'm so proud of you!" Mr. Carter kissed the girl's forehead and hugged her as
well. "Darling, this is amazing! You'll do so many great things in life!"
Overwhelmed by the emotions within her, Mallory began to cry and sandwiched herself
between her father and best friend as they celebrated her greatest achievement yet.
* * * * *
YIPPY YI YAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!! w00t w00t w00t w00t!!!! And we Come to the End of
Another Chapter. *cries* But alas, for those of you on the edge of your seats,
more reviews=faster updates!!! YEEEEEEEEEEE HAW!!!!!!!!! C'mon goilies! I LOVE
THOSE REVIEWS!!!!!! And that button down there is feeling dejected again! C'mon,
a simple few words is fine!!! All that I ask from youse is a REVIEW! PLEASE!?!?
PLLEEEEEEEEEASsssse!? REVIEW!?!??! THANKIES!!! Love Ya All~
