A/N - Yeesh is it just me or do I update too fast? Oh well.
I opened my eyes to find a pair of curious blue ones an inch away from my face. They widened in shock and I saw a little blonde curly haired head scamper away from my bunk. Groaning I shut my eyes as tightly as I possibly could until I heard a man hollering for all the kids to get the hell out of bed. His voice penetrated my brain painfully and I rubbed my temples feeling sick. My tongue felt like it was a lump of wool sitting in my mouth as I smacked my lips and rolled over.
"If you don't get up I'll tell Ladybug to wet the bed on purpose." I cracked open an eye to see Bourbon standing next to my bunk looking like she would rather be anything but awake herself. We studied each other grimly until I decided that a headache was better than the alternative. Ladybug stood not too far off giggling. I pulled myself up into a sitting position and saw that I was still fully dressed except for my shoes. Trying to smooth my wayward hair I slipped my boots on and laced them tightly. Snapping suspenders over my shoulders I straightened my red vest and threw on my black bowler hat. Bourbon nodded at me and went off to wake up Pistol who would undoubtedly be in the same pain as the both of us. I almost scared Flinch out of her mind when I ran into her going into the washroom. She leapt a foot in the air and then looked at me guiltily apologies running out of her mouth.
"Ey calm down," I grumbled flashing her a smile. She just looked at me with her huge brown eyes but I thought I saw the ghost of an answering smile on her lips before she ducked her head and brushed past me. I staggered into the room to the nearest sink and began dousing my head with water. Bourbon apparently had started to wake up the girls before Kloppman came upstairs so they could do whatever it was in the washroom before the boys awoke. Hearing a snicker I looked up water dripping down my face to see a highly amused Spot looking at me from one of the opposite sinks.
"What're you doing here?" I croaked wincing at the sound of my voice.
"Easier to sleep here last night than go all the way back to Brooklyn."
"Lucky us," I spat cupping my hand under the stream of water and drinking as much as I possibly could. Spot only smiled at my discomfort. It was then I noticed he was only half-dressed, his prized red suspenders hanging at his sides, a pair of ratty dark brown trousers on. Dropping my eyes I muttered underneath my breath and cheeks burning crimson I made a hasty getaway.
"Like it ain't nothing you've probably seen before," I heard his voice follow me out of the room. I stiffened slightly before letting it go. I wasn't in the mood for any sort of verbal banter at all this morning. Passing a groggy, half-awake Pistol in the hallway I made my way down into the lobby where I came across Bourbon, Nell, Ladybug, Peppermint and Flinch respectively. Just outside the doorway I heard voices and poking my head around the doorjamb I saw the Brooklyn newsgirl from last night talking to another girl I hadn't met yet. They both stopped talking and eyed me.
The new girl looked to be my age or a little bit younger, was of medium height and had black hair that fell just past her shoulders. Gray eyes blinked at me curiously as she put her hands on her hips and cocked her head. She wore a plain cotton dress with boots and yet I saw traces of thick black eye makeup around her eyes and she was wearing dark red lipstick. Bourbon pushed me out the door and I swatted at her, stealing a cigarette from behind her ear.
"Meesh! How's it goin'?" Bourbon clapped the smaller girl on the shoulder eliciting a warm smile from the latter. The other girls trailed out of the lodging house as I leaned up against the brick building to light my cigarette. I saw the Brooklyn newsgirl eyeing my smoke enviously and I held it out to her.
"Hey, thanks." She looked me up and down and took a drag before handing it back. Sticking out her hand she waited. I took it in my own and shook it solidly.
"The name's Pokey. Spot told Flame and me last night that you call yourself Misery." I nodded and she gave me a friendly look. Looking at the other newcomer I saw her watching me a cautious light in her eyes.
"How's Loon, Meesh?" I heard Bourbon asking after the latest of my brother's victims. Meesh shrugged and lowered her voice to ward off eavesdroppers but I still managed to hear.
"He's okay Bourb. Got a black eye and some nasty bruises, but I think he'll be fine. What I'm mostly worried about is how they're handling Claps' death. I've never seen a bunch of boys more willing to get into fights they know they can't win. Even Spot himself has been moping around the past week. He tries to act like he's okay but anybody who spends enough time around him knows that he's not. He drinks every night and treats anybody who crosses his path that isn't a newsie like they were the ones who killed Claps. Did Spot drink last night?" I crossed my arms defiantly as all eyes were suddenly focused on me. Pistol appeared just then grinning sickly and threw her arm around my neck. Although we were both short, she was just a shade taller than me.
"Christ Misery I haven't drank like that in a dog's age! Let's do it again sometime soon and this time we'll go to a pub I know where they sing some grand Irish tunes. I bet even Spot would go, he drank like a fish last night." I groaned inwardly as Meesh raised her eyebrow at me.
"I don't believe I've had the pleasure," she said.
"Misery," I replied holding out a hand. It was a second before she took it, but she shook my hand after what seemed like an eternity. Bourbon patted my arm reassuringly.
"Misery's a good egg, Meesh. Racetrack brought her home from Brooklyn like a little stray puppy." I glowered at Bourbon as she snickered. Understanding lit up Meesh's eyes suddenly.
"Ah so you're the girl Knuckles found." I nodded my face turning red for the second time that morning. Meesh gave me a disapproving glance.
"Not that you'd know, because you just joined the group and all, but Spot is under no circumstances allowed to drink. He drinks, all the other boys drink, and they get all stupid and crazy and do things they normally wouldn't." Bourbon put a restraining hand on Meesh's thin shoulder.
"Ey there, Meesh. Spot was the one who started it last night. He bet our Misery here that she couldn't out drink him and by God she did. He was just showing off." This earned me another glance, this one contemplative. I knew all about Conlon's history with girls, he was like any other street kid. Most didn't care what you looked like if you were a female they only wanted one of two things. The first was for you to get in the kitchen and cook 'em a meal and the second was highly unmentionable. I was fairly certain that Spot was like my brother's and their hooligans.
Girls to them were trophies if they were beautiful and if they weren't then they fell into the 'last resort' category. I highly doubted that anyone with the level of arrogance that Spot had shown he possessed could be any different. Besides most of the street boys hadn't been shown a lot of love or kindness in their young lives and in turn, had no idea how to give that away to someone else. Most ran like scared dogs with their tail's tucked in- between their legs at the first hint of a girl wanting something like that from them. That or they exploited it to the best of their abilities.
The Manhattan newsies seemed to be an exception. In the day and night I had been staying there I had seen that they were rather tough, but underneath they all had hearts of pure gold. They lived and worked together as a family and so had learned how to care for each other and show it in ways that wouldn't be looked at by the other borough's as 'weak'. Someone snapping their finger's in front of my face jolted me out of my thoughts.
"I swear to God you do that so often I'm surprised you haven't walked in front of a carriage and died." Racetrack stood in front of me smirking, his cigar in place, thumbs hooked through his suspenders. I looked around to see that the boys were starting to exit the lodging house and everyone was heading to the Distribution center.
"Yeah well, I guess I have a lot to think about."
"Oh really? Such as?" I rolled my eyes and just about stomped my foot in exasperation at the sound of Spot's voice. Why was this boy constantly up my ass? I had only just met him surely he had legions of other people to bother. Whirling to face him, I saw the other Brooklyn newsie Flame standing beside him. Both boys wore shit-eating grins and I knew they got some sort of pleasure out of seeing me frustrated.
"Listen Conlon," I took a deep breath planning to launch into a tirade when Race slung his arm around my shoulder on one side and Jack slung his arm around the other. I blinked up at Jack startled. I hadn't seen him join us. Together the two boys herded me away from Spot and Flame. Throwing a glare over my shoulder I saw Spot watching us with his trademark smirk.
"Y'know Misery, there's nothing I like to see better than a girl give Spot a good dressin' down but now just ain't the time. All them Brooklyn boys are itchin' for bloody murder and the last thing we want is a borough war on our hands because Spot feels like it. He's burnin' up for an excuse, just one excuse to have a fight with anybody. So until things get sorted out, it would be best if we step lightly." I felt guilt roil around inside my stomach as Jack spelled things out for me. I wished right then there that I could just up and tell them everything. When I look back on it, I suppose I could have. But at the time I was only thinking of getting my brother's thrown in jail. To do that I had to find someone who knew the proper contacts so as not to alert the cops my brother's had on their pay roll.
"Ey you got me?" I nodded at Jack and he smiled. Stealing the bowler hat off of my head he ran off laughing at my indignant squawk. Racetrack was laughing as well and turned on him holding my fists up.
"You better help me get that back or else," he held his hands up and scrunched his shoulders pretending to look scared.
"Or else what, Mis? Oooh lookit me I'm shakin' with fear." Feigning a punch at his face I took off after Jack yelling my head off. By the time I reached the Distribution center I found Jack sitting on the ramp perusing a paper, my hat cocked on his head. Giving me a wicked grin as I strode over and snatched it back he tossed a pile of papers at me.
"You owe me kid, but I spotted you fifty papes. Now, it's time to learn the tricks of the trade." I slumped down next to him as he explained how it was better to embellish headlines to get customers. There were a few other tricks such as pretending not to have change if someone gave you a nickel or a dime, or just flat out running away which he said was risky if anything. By this time the rest of the kids had come in and bought their papers. Spot, Flame, and Pokey were going to make the trek back to Brooklyn. Spot and Jack spit-shook and Spot studied me intently for a second before smacking my face lightly with the palm of his hand.
"Later doll," was all he said as the trio trooped out of the yard and off towards Brooklyn. I flipped Spot off behind his back and earned a cuff from Jack who warned me to behave.
"How can you stand him?" Jack got a serious look on his face and he lit a cigarette thoughtfully.
"I've known Spot for a few years now. Manhattan and Brooklyn used to fight all the time before me'n'him became leaders. I knew him before he was the leader over there and we always got along. Besides in case you haven't noticed you being from Brooklyn yourself and all, livin' here ain't exactly the same as livin' there. Spot needs to be a jerk to keep his boys in line and he gets so used to bein' like that that he tends to be a jerk to people who don't deserve it." Blowing out a thick stream of smoke he handed me his cigarette which I puffed away at for a moment before giving it back.
"I think I'm gonna have you sell with Racetrack today. I know you don't mind 'em and I'm positive he won't mind you." I looked at Jack curiously as Racetrack approached us his papers slung over his shoulder.
"What's that supposed to mean?" He just smiled at me and leapt off of the ramp. Tilting his head he looked at me again.
"Come to think of it the way Brooklyn's actin' I don't think he minds you either." Rolling my eyes I threw up my hands and smacked my forehead. Boys can't live with 'em can't live without 'em.
Racetrack and I sold our papers fairly easily which Race said was a sign of luck. Pocketing my share of the change I patted my stomach as it growled fiercely.
"Easy there girl, I'll feed you yet," I said to it soothingly. Racetrack snorted out a laugh and pointed to a fruit stand. We walked over and purchased apples which tasted absolutely delicious after not having eaten anything in a few days. Crisp and sweet, I licked at the juice as it trailed down my arm. Companionably we sat side-by-side on the edge of a stone wall that ran through a small park.
"Why were you runnin' from your brothers?" I almost choked on a piece of apple and Race had to whack me on the back to dislodge it. Looking over at him as he patted my back concern lighting up his brown eyes I felt an overwhelming urge to just tell him everything. He wouldn't hate me because of what my brother's had done, would he? But then a little voice hissed at me that he wouldn't be too happy with me lying to him and everyone else. I think he saw the indecision in my eyes because he looked away.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want," he said quietly. I was amazed at the slight hurt tone he was using. Putting a hand on his sleeve I cleared my throat.
"My brother's are huge creeps, Race. My Da ran away when I was a kid and left me with them. They didn't want to take care of me, and they made me look after them and the other...their friends who stayed with us. Their friends were never nice to me. You know, roaming hands hard fists."
I shrugged and threw the core of my apple behind me. Racetrack was watching me with eyes full of compassion. That was the thing with the Manhattan boys as well. They weren't out to out-tough anyone. They accepted that most of the kids they encountered had been abused in one way or another and quite often some of them had similar experiences they could relate to.
"Well you don't hafta worry about them anymore." Smirking, I wiped my hands on my pants and stood up.
"Yeah now I just have to watch my back around Conlon." Racetrack cocked his head.
"Why would you have to do that? He may be actin' all hostile towards ya for the time bein' but it won't last. He does that to all the new newsies to intimidate them into respectin' him." I cursed myself for my slip and smiled down at Race holding out a hand to him.
"Forget Conlon, he's boring. Let's go somewhere so I can steal some tobacco and rolling papers." Shaking his head at me, Race let me pull him into a standing position. I yanked on his hand too hard and for a second he teetered close to my face before he put a hand on my shoulder to steady himself. We froze, standing like that until I broke away cracking a joke about how clumsy he was. He darted a glance at me then laughed and put his cigar into his mouth and we walked off to find a grocer's store. As we walked I tried to ignore how nice it felt to be walking with a boy who was actually decent to me and as quickly as those thoughts were pushed away I had to force myself to get a certain pair of cool blue eyes out of my head as well.
Ruefully shaking my head as I entered the grocer's with my thieving plan fully intact the only thing running through my mind at that point was a grim reality. 'Shit Misery, you're screwed'.
Just Duck - I haven't decided who Misery will be with, but whoever she isn't with won't be unhappy I promise. Spot and Race are my favorite's I couldn't hurt 'em. I know, whiskey's harsh but I don't mind the taste of it so I figured meh, neither will they. Vodka is definitely evil. Thanks for reviewing!
Cabby1 - Hehehe..isn't it obvious whether they both like her or not? : P Romance complications rock but having to choose sucks hardcore.
Netangel182 - Geez I managed to impress someone? *struts* Thank you! I'm glad you like it, I'm enjoying writing it.
We Built This City On Rock and Roll - Psh no harm in letting the imagination roam, we're all *slightly* obsessed or why would we be writing fanfic about these boys?! Like I mentioned up there somewhere to someone else, I don't mind the taste of whiskey so I figured that two Brooklyn toughs like Misery and Spot wouldn't either. Hehehe, a shy Race is a cute Race. I could totally see him acting like a wise ass with his friends and being all quite and tongue-tied around females which is probably why I wrote him that way.
Maybe I Don't Wanna Go - Keep reading you just might get your wish ; )
Pokey7 - Yes she was and she's in this chapter as well! I have noticed that there are a lot of proud people with Irish heritage roaming around this site. I liked that song too, it was one of the few that seemed to fit the era. Of course Misery beat Spot, she's got a liver of iron. Thanks for reading!
I opened my eyes to find a pair of curious blue ones an inch away from my face. They widened in shock and I saw a little blonde curly haired head scamper away from my bunk. Groaning I shut my eyes as tightly as I possibly could until I heard a man hollering for all the kids to get the hell out of bed. His voice penetrated my brain painfully and I rubbed my temples feeling sick. My tongue felt like it was a lump of wool sitting in my mouth as I smacked my lips and rolled over.
"If you don't get up I'll tell Ladybug to wet the bed on purpose." I cracked open an eye to see Bourbon standing next to my bunk looking like she would rather be anything but awake herself. We studied each other grimly until I decided that a headache was better than the alternative. Ladybug stood not too far off giggling. I pulled myself up into a sitting position and saw that I was still fully dressed except for my shoes. Trying to smooth my wayward hair I slipped my boots on and laced them tightly. Snapping suspenders over my shoulders I straightened my red vest and threw on my black bowler hat. Bourbon nodded at me and went off to wake up Pistol who would undoubtedly be in the same pain as the both of us. I almost scared Flinch out of her mind when I ran into her going into the washroom. She leapt a foot in the air and then looked at me guiltily apologies running out of her mouth.
"Ey calm down," I grumbled flashing her a smile. She just looked at me with her huge brown eyes but I thought I saw the ghost of an answering smile on her lips before she ducked her head and brushed past me. I staggered into the room to the nearest sink and began dousing my head with water. Bourbon apparently had started to wake up the girls before Kloppman came upstairs so they could do whatever it was in the washroom before the boys awoke. Hearing a snicker I looked up water dripping down my face to see a highly amused Spot looking at me from one of the opposite sinks.
"What're you doing here?" I croaked wincing at the sound of my voice.
"Easier to sleep here last night than go all the way back to Brooklyn."
"Lucky us," I spat cupping my hand under the stream of water and drinking as much as I possibly could. Spot only smiled at my discomfort. It was then I noticed he was only half-dressed, his prized red suspenders hanging at his sides, a pair of ratty dark brown trousers on. Dropping my eyes I muttered underneath my breath and cheeks burning crimson I made a hasty getaway.
"Like it ain't nothing you've probably seen before," I heard his voice follow me out of the room. I stiffened slightly before letting it go. I wasn't in the mood for any sort of verbal banter at all this morning. Passing a groggy, half-awake Pistol in the hallway I made my way down into the lobby where I came across Bourbon, Nell, Ladybug, Peppermint and Flinch respectively. Just outside the doorway I heard voices and poking my head around the doorjamb I saw the Brooklyn newsgirl from last night talking to another girl I hadn't met yet. They both stopped talking and eyed me.
The new girl looked to be my age or a little bit younger, was of medium height and had black hair that fell just past her shoulders. Gray eyes blinked at me curiously as she put her hands on her hips and cocked her head. She wore a plain cotton dress with boots and yet I saw traces of thick black eye makeup around her eyes and she was wearing dark red lipstick. Bourbon pushed me out the door and I swatted at her, stealing a cigarette from behind her ear.
"Meesh! How's it goin'?" Bourbon clapped the smaller girl on the shoulder eliciting a warm smile from the latter. The other girls trailed out of the lodging house as I leaned up against the brick building to light my cigarette. I saw the Brooklyn newsgirl eyeing my smoke enviously and I held it out to her.
"Hey, thanks." She looked me up and down and took a drag before handing it back. Sticking out her hand she waited. I took it in my own and shook it solidly.
"The name's Pokey. Spot told Flame and me last night that you call yourself Misery." I nodded and she gave me a friendly look. Looking at the other newcomer I saw her watching me a cautious light in her eyes.
"How's Loon, Meesh?" I heard Bourbon asking after the latest of my brother's victims. Meesh shrugged and lowered her voice to ward off eavesdroppers but I still managed to hear.
"He's okay Bourb. Got a black eye and some nasty bruises, but I think he'll be fine. What I'm mostly worried about is how they're handling Claps' death. I've never seen a bunch of boys more willing to get into fights they know they can't win. Even Spot himself has been moping around the past week. He tries to act like he's okay but anybody who spends enough time around him knows that he's not. He drinks every night and treats anybody who crosses his path that isn't a newsie like they were the ones who killed Claps. Did Spot drink last night?" I crossed my arms defiantly as all eyes were suddenly focused on me. Pistol appeared just then grinning sickly and threw her arm around my neck. Although we were both short, she was just a shade taller than me.
"Christ Misery I haven't drank like that in a dog's age! Let's do it again sometime soon and this time we'll go to a pub I know where they sing some grand Irish tunes. I bet even Spot would go, he drank like a fish last night." I groaned inwardly as Meesh raised her eyebrow at me.
"I don't believe I've had the pleasure," she said.
"Misery," I replied holding out a hand. It was a second before she took it, but she shook my hand after what seemed like an eternity. Bourbon patted my arm reassuringly.
"Misery's a good egg, Meesh. Racetrack brought her home from Brooklyn like a little stray puppy." I glowered at Bourbon as she snickered. Understanding lit up Meesh's eyes suddenly.
"Ah so you're the girl Knuckles found." I nodded my face turning red for the second time that morning. Meesh gave me a disapproving glance.
"Not that you'd know, because you just joined the group and all, but Spot is under no circumstances allowed to drink. He drinks, all the other boys drink, and they get all stupid and crazy and do things they normally wouldn't." Bourbon put a restraining hand on Meesh's thin shoulder.
"Ey there, Meesh. Spot was the one who started it last night. He bet our Misery here that she couldn't out drink him and by God she did. He was just showing off." This earned me another glance, this one contemplative. I knew all about Conlon's history with girls, he was like any other street kid. Most didn't care what you looked like if you were a female they only wanted one of two things. The first was for you to get in the kitchen and cook 'em a meal and the second was highly unmentionable. I was fairly certain that Spot was like my brother's and their hooligans.
Girls to them were trophies if they were beautiful and if they weren't then they fell into the 'last resort' category. I highly doubted that anyone with the level of arrogance that Spot had shown he possessed could be any different. Besides most of the street boys hadn't been shown a lot of love or kindness in their young lives and in turn, had no idea how to give that away to someone else. Most ran like scared dogs with their tail's tucked in- between their legs at the first hint of a girl wanting something like that from them. That or they exploited it to the best of their abilities.
The Manhattan newsies seemed to be an exception. In the day and night I had been staying there I had seen that they were rather tough, but underneath they all had hearts of pure gold. They lived and worked together as a family and so had learned how to care for each other and show it in ways that wouldn't be looked at by the other borough's as 'weak'. Someone snapping their finger's in front of my face jolted me out of my thoughts.
"I swear to God you do that so often I'm surprised you haven't walked in front of a carriage and died." Racetrack stood in front of me smirking, his cigar in place, thumbs hooked through his suspenders. I looked around to see that the boys were starting to exit the lodging house and everyone was heading to the Distribution center.
"Yeah well, I guess I have a lot to think about."
"Oh really? Such as?" I rolled my eyes and just about stomped my foot in exasperation at the sound of Spot's voice. Why was this boy constantly up my ass? I had only just met him surely he had legions of other people to bother. Whirling to face him, I saw the other Brooklyn newsie Flame standing beside him. Both boys wore shit-eating grins and I knew they got some sort of pleasure out of seeing me frustrated.
"Listen Conlon," I took a deep breath planning to launch into a tirade when Race slung his arm around my shoulder on one side and Jack slung his arm around the other. I blinked up at Jack startled. I hadn't seen him join us. Together the two boys herded me away from Spot and Flame. Throwing a glare over my shoulder I saw Spot watching us with his trademark smirk.
"Y'know Misery, there's nothing I like to see better than a girl give Spot a good dressin' down but now just ain't the time. All them Brooklyn boys are itchin' for bloody murder and the last thing we want is a borough war on our hands because Spot feels like it. He's burnin' up for an excuse, just one excuse to have a fight with anybody. So until things get sorted out, it would be best if we step lightly." I felt guilt roil around inside my stomach as Jack spelled things out for me. I wished right then there that I could just up and tell them everything. When I look back on it, I suppose I could have. But at the time I was only thinking of getting my brother's thrown in jail. To do that I had to find someone who knew the proper contacts so as not to alert the cops my brother's had on their pay roll.
"Ey you got me?" I nodded at Jack and he smiled. Stealing the bowler hat off of my head he ran off laughing at my indignant squawk. Racetrack was laughing as well and turned on him holding my fists up.
"You better help me get that back or else," he held his hands up and scrunched his shoulders pretending to look scared.
"Or else what, Mis? Oooh lookit me I'm shakin' with fear." Feigning a punch at his face I took off after Jack yelling my head off. By the time I reached the Distribution center I found Jack sitting on the ramp perusing a paper, my hat cocked on his head. Giving me a wicked grin as I strode over and snatched it back he tossed a pile of papers at me.
"You owe me kid, but I spotted you fifty papes. Now, it's time to learn the tricks of the trade." I slumped down next to him as he explained how it was better to embellish headlines to get customers. There were a few other tricks such as pretending not to have change if someone gave you a nickel or a dime, or just flat out running away which he said was risky if anything. By this time the rest of the kids had come in and bought their papers. Spot, Flame, and Pokey were going to make the trek back to Brooklyn. Spot and Jack spit-shook and Spot studied me intently for a second before smacking my face lightly with the palm of his hand.
"Later doll," was all he said as the trio trooped out of the yard and off towards Brooklyn. I flipped Spot off behind his back and earned a cuff from Jack who warned me to behave.
"How can you stand him?" Jack got a serious look on his face and he lit a cigarette thoughtfully.
"I've known Spot for a few years now. Manhattan and Brooklyn used to fight all the time before me'n'him became leaders. I knew him before he was the leader over there and we always got along. Besides in case you haven't noticed you being from Brooklyn yourself and all, livin' here ain't exactly the same as livin' there. Spot needs to be a jerk to keep his boys in line and he gets so used to bein' like that that he tends to be a jerk to people who don't deserve it." Blowing out a thick stream of smoke he handed me his cigarette which I puffed away at for a moment before giving it back.
"I think I'm gonna have you sell with Racetrack today. I know you don't mind 'em and I'm positive he won't mind you." I looked at Jack curiously as Racetrack approached us his papers slung over his shoulder.
"What's that supposed to mean?" He just smiled at me and leapt off of the ramp. Tilting his head he looked at me again.
"Come to think of it the way Brooklyn's actin' I don't think he minds you either." Rolling my eyes I threw up my hands and smacked my forehead. Boys can't live with 'em can't live without 'em.
Racetrack and I sold our papers fairly easily which Race said was a sign of luck. Pocketing my share of the change I patted my stomach as it growled fiercely.
"Easy there girl, I'll feed you yet," I said to it soothingly. Racetrack snorted out a laugh and pointed to a fruit stand. We walked over and purchased apples which tasted absolutely delicious after not having eaten anything in a few days. Crisp and sweet, I licked at the juice as it trailed down my arm. Companionably we sat side-by-side on the edge of a stone wall that ran through a small park.
"Why were you runnin' from your brothers?" I almost choked on a piece of apple and Race had to whack me on the back to dislodge it. Looking over at him as he patted my back concern lighting up his brown eyes I felt an overwhelming urge to just tell him everything. He wouldn't hate me because of what my brother's had done, would he? But then a little voice hissed at me that he wouldn't be too happy with me lying to him and everyone else. I think he saw the indecision in my eyes because he looked away.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want," he said quietly. I was amazed at the slight hurt tone he was using. Putting a hand on his sleeve I cleared my throat.
"My brother's are huge creeps, Race. My Da ran away when I was a kid and left me with them. They didn't want to take care of me, and they made me look after them and the other...their friends who stayed with us. Their friends were never nice to me. You know, roaming hands hard fists."
I shrugged and threw the core of my apple behind me. Racetrack was watching me with eyes full of compassion. That was the thing with the Manhattan boys as well. They weren't out to out-tough anyone. They accepted that most of the kids they encountered had been abused in one way or another and quite often some of them had similar experiences they could relate to.
"Well you don't hafta worry about them anymore." Smirking, I wiped my hands on my pants and stood up.
"Yeah now I just have to watch my back around Conlon." Racetrack cocked his head.
"Why would you have to do that? He may be actin' all hostile towards ya for the time bein' but it won't last. He does that to all the new newsies to intimidate them into respectin' him." I cursed myself for my slip and smiled down at Race holding out a hand to him.
"Forget Conlon, he's boring. Let's go somewhere so I can steal some tobacco and rolling papers." Shaking his head at me, Race let me pull him into a standing position. I yanked on his hand too hard and for a second he teetered close to my face before he put a hand on my shoulder to steady himself. We froze, standing like that until I broke away cracking a joke about how clumsy he was. He darted a glance at me then laughed and put his cigar into his mouth and we walked off to find a grocer's store. As we walked I tried to ignore how nice it felt to be walking with a boy who was actually decent to me and as quickly as those thoughts were pushed away I had to force myself to get a certain pair of cool blue eyes out of my head as well.
Ruefully shaking my head as I entered the grocer's with my thieving plan fully intact the only thing running through my mind at that point was a grim reality. 'Shit Misery, you're screwed'.
Just Duck - I haven't decided who Misery will be with, but whoever she isn't with won't be unhappy I promise. Spot and Race are my favorite's I couldn't hurt 'em. I know, whiskey's harsh but I don't mind the taste of it so I figured meh, neither will they. Vodka is definitely evil. Thanks for reviewing!
Cabby1 - Hehehe..isn't it obvious whether they both like her or not? : P Romance complications rock but having to choose sucks hardcore.
Netangel182 - Geez I managed to impress someone? *struts* Thank you! I'm glad you like it, I'm enjoying writing it.
We Built This City On Rock and Roll - Psh no harm in letting the imagination roam, we're all *slightly* obsessed or why would we be writing fanfic about these boys?! Like I mentioned up there somewhere to someone else, I don't mind the taste of whiskey so I figured that two Brooklyn toughs like Misery and Spot wouldn't either. Hehehe, a shy Race is a cute Race. I could totally see him acting like a wise ass with his friends and being all quite and tongue-tied around females which is probably why I wrote him that way.
Maybe I Don't Wanna Go - Keep reading you just might get your wish ; )
Pokey7 - Yes she was and she's in this chapter as well! I have noticed that there are a lot of proud people with Irish heritage roaming around this site. I liked that song too, it was one of the few that seemed to fit the era. Of course Misery beat Spot, she's got a liver of iron. Thanks for reading!