Shox

After buying practically everything in A&F, I went out and headed towards Aeropostale. I was about two blocks away when someone bumped into me from behind. I turned around and saw… Oscar Delancey? What would he want with me?

"Pardon me, toots." he said, tipping his bowler. I stared at him for a long time and walked off. A little ways later, Morris Delancey popped out of an alleyway, blocking my path.

"Where's your little boyfriend, tootsie?" he sneered. "Where's your little Racie?" For a split second I thought, Racie? What's this guy tryin' to pull, anyway? I tried to get away, but Morris, big as he was, still blocked my path.

"Get away!" I growled. With that, I kicked him in the shins. He winced and clutched where I had kicked him. Oscar shoved me down in a mud puddle.

"You've been messin' with the wrong guys, toots," he barked. "Now you're gonna pay." I stood up and brushed myself off. Morris shoved me into the alleyway that he had hopped out of originally. I didn't fall, I didn't want to risk it. They could do anything to me while I was down, since there were two of them. I stood firm, just about ready to kill them. As for my new clothes, they stayed behind in the mud puddle. I lunged towards Oscar and attempted to punch him in the stomach. He grabbed my wrist and twisted it. I kept back the howl, and tears had already come to my eyes. While he had a hold of my wrist, two things happened. First, Morris grabbed hold of my leg and they began to play tug-o-war with me. Second and most importantly, I took the arm and leg that were left, and struck the Delancey brothers. I kicked Morris in the lip, and I punched Oscar in the nose. With that, they both swung me a couple times, still holding me as if I were a tug-o-war rope, and threw me (Hmm… hasn't this happened once before?) into a nearby pile of hay. I couldn't help it, so…

"Racetrack!" I screamed, and I prayed that he would actually come, though I knew I didn't deserve it. I forgive you, Racetrack, just please help me! I thought, I miss you being with me all the time! I want you back! I love you! I knew that he wouldn't come, so I got up, slowly, remembering my sprained ankle that didn't have a cast. I faced the Delanceys and got ready to fight. By the time I was up, Morris was slowly fitting on a brass knuckle, laughing evilly. I was scared stiff and I couldn't move, which didn't happen to me much. I grabbed Morris' hand and punched him in the face with it. It didn't do much, because by now I was weak. I fell back on the hay, and said goodbye to Earth. All of a sudden, out of nowhere, I heard a parade of running footsteps coming closer to the alleyway. I turned towards the entrance, and apparently all the newsies had heard me scream. They were all crammed at the entrance, and leading them was none other than Racetrack. By then the Delancey brothers were advancing on me, and they didn't realize how many people were watching-and glaring.

"Get… off… her." Racetrack said, seething with fury. The Delanceys turned just as Racetrack wound up and punched Oscar hard. Racetrack was beating up Oscar, and Morris saw his chance. He began inching closer to me again, me scared stiff, him cackling, getting ready to knock my lights out with a brass knuckle. Oscar was down by now, and Racetrack turned to attack Morris. I was just about to get killed.

"Shox!" Racetrack shouted. Oscar was now winding up… "Get outta there!" He's bringing his hand back… "Noooooo!" I'm dead, I think as I cover my eyes. Morris was bringing his hand forward in a furious punch. Just then, a tall plaid-vested figure jumped in front of me and took the blow from the brass knuckle. I screamed as Racetrack fell to the ground, unconscious. I fell down on my knees and sobbed over my injured boyfriend. I didn't deserve his help. I should have taken the blow! I turned around and buried my face in the hay.

"You two are gonna pay for this!" Brooklyn hollered after the fleeing Delanceys. "We'll all have you in the refuge by tonight!" Cowboy ran after them, screaming things about always being big jockish bullies all the time. Lasso ran after him.

"Get back here, Jackie boy!" she shouted, and they both disappeared into the evening mist. Spyder headed to a phone booth to call ambulances and stuff. Racetrack was in the emergency room by half past five.

That night, I went to Irving Hall for another performance. Yes, that's where all the money came from. I perform every Friday night, and earn a lot of money, because people think that I am really good at singing, even if I don't make up all the songs by myself. I was backstage, and the show was starting in five minutes. All the newsies were in the crowd, because I told them that I would 'meet' them there. Just then, my cue music started playing and I was announced over the intercom. I came out on stage and walked up to the mike.

"Hi, everyone. I want to dedicate this show to Race, my boyfriend who is in the hospital." I said shakily. I heard a few "awww"s in the crowd, and I could tell that my face was bright red. I stopped talking, the blacklight came on, and I took a deep breath…