Chapter 8

Shout outs!

Well...there really were no REVIEWS, just oppies (opinions) on which one I should do....and the final vote is....

Me1: No! wait that's wrong! do a recount!

Me2: Whatever, You know what you want to do!

Me1: I don't, I'm paralyzed by indecision!

MeReg: Oh, dear, those two again. I was about to say I that I am going to do number 3 first, and then, possibly, I will do number 2 aswell. I know it sounds odd but It's only a theoretical, I'm going to at LEAST do number 3. Sorry to youse who wanted number 2 or one *_* (eyes red from crying) I feel your pain!

Disclaimer: *is being dangled by her feet over a pit of lava by our friendly neighborhood Balrog* FINE FINE FINE!!!!!!!!! I don't own Newsies! Are you HAPPY now? *The Balrog mutters and puts her back in her swivel chair, she straitens out her shirt, checks her hair, and continues typing*

Chapter 7/8 = )

The trip to Mid-Town, while better than selling on such a hot day, was entirely fruitless. The leader Rafael, wasn't on the best of terms with Jack, and since he didn't know what Spot was going to do (though that was purely implied) he refused to help at all.

Truth be told, he wasn't on the best of terms with Red either, so nothing, really, could've helped the situation.

Back at the square, Red, Race and the others were waiting for Jack and word of what Spot was going to do. The great dissapointment of Jacks words was soon brushed aside at the mayhem that ensued.

When everyone had left the Distribution Center after trashing the place, Red looked around frantically for Crutchy. Finding nothing, she found Race and proceeded to beat the crap out of him.

"How could you leave him like that?" Red shouted between trying to punch the frantically dodging Race.

"You've known him longer than I have and I know how he is, how he gets carried away. You know that!" Up till this point Race had managed to block all of her swings but the fist with a ring on the index finger connected and Race was left with a large cut on his cheek.

Race sat on the steps of the lodging house with his face in his hands for an hour and a half before Red came back over and sat next to him.

"Oh, gosh Race, I'm sorry!" Red said quietly. Race pulled his head up to look at his friend and noticed Red's sharply drawn breath. She immidiately stood him up and gave him a hug, his still slightly bleeding cheek staining her grey shirt

"Will you forgive me if I bandage that cheek?" Red asked anxiously.

Red looked into Races eyes and realized, in horror, that he had been crying. for the first time in six months Red started crying as well.

"Oh, Race, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean it, I was just angry, you didn't do anything wrong, it's not your fault." And so it continued, with Red trying to console Race. That is, untill she started washing his cut, then they were both yelling.

"OOOOWWW!!!!" Race yelled and jumped back, only succeding in banging his head on the cupboard behind him.

Red's eyes flashed, "All of Manhattan can hear you! and if you don't stop moving you're going to hurt yourself more!" Red tried to make him sit still while she applied a clean towel with alcohol on it to his cheek.

It didn't work. Race dodged the gowel and ran to the other end of the room, holding his cheek.

"Come back here!" Red yelled

"No way in hell!" Race yelled back.

Red threw the towel down on the sink and ran towards Race, stopping two feet from him, dropping down and kicking his legs out from under him. Race fell hard and Red jumped up and sat on his chest, with her knees on either side of his head and her fist raised.

"Ill hit you again if you don't sit still!" She yelled

"A'right! Fine! Have it your way!" Race shouted.

Red climbed off of his chest, dragged him over to the bowl of alcohol and held his chin tightly, while she cleaned the cut. Not to say that Race didn't protest.

"OOOOOOWWWWWW!!!!!" Red raised an eyebrow, but she didn't let go.

"You are such a big baby! There, I'm done!" Red announced, making one final swipe at the cut. "Don't worry, Jack and David are going to get Crutchy out tonight."

Race smiled faintly, "Do ya really foahgive me goil?" He asked.

Red's eyes started to cloud over with tears, "Yeah," She muttered, "Of course I do, I can't be mad at you for too long."

Race reached up and held her chin, like he had been holding hers, except, well, gently.

Red looked into his eyes and then turned away, and Race suddenly let go of her chin and looked up. He started to put away the bowl and towel, and other items they had knocked over, briskly.

Later, after about 4 games of speed (which Red had willingly taught Race when she first arrived) Race and Red dicided to meet the others at the square as usual.

~P.O.V.C~

Red

While we were walking to the square Race suddenly stopped and turned around.

"Red, how old are youse?" He asked.

I stared at him in disbelief untill I realized that I hadn't told them, ever!

"Sixteen." Came out of my mouth before I could stop it. Why did I just lie about my age, I was off by a full year and 6 months. I looked over at Race and saw something in his eyes that I couldn't classify, but he turned around and kept walking. I followed him.

"Red, have you evah loved anyone?"

"Truthfully, I'm not sure, I guess I might have." I said hesitantly.

"Ya haven't den." He said decisivly.

"And what makes you say that?" I asked, suddenly suspicious of something, I didn't know what.

"I've been in love. And ya don't say 'I's not shua' you say 'yea' when you have."

"Oh, well, who did you love?" I asked, I figured, as a friend, I was entitled to know. He grimaced and there was a short silence.

"I...I'm in love wid someone now, kinda." He said quietly.

"I thought you said it wasn't 'kinda' or anything like that." I said, only half paying attention to him.

"I did, didn't I. Well, Red it's like dis..." His voice trailed off and something in his tone made me walk in front of him, turn around and look at him as he slowed his pace.

"It's like what, Race." I asked, suddenly understanding and glad that I did.

He slowly put his arms around my waist, I looked at him, trying to memorize the feel of his strong hands.

"It's like what, Race." I said again and he looked at me carefully and brought his face closer to mine.

"It's like dis." And he pulled me towards him and kissed me softly. He then pulled away, but for only a minute and then kissed me again, only this one was longer and I pulled my arms up and around his neck. And then he pulled away and almost started to walk again but stopped and sighed.

"I's sorry," He faltered, his voice husky, "I don't know what I just did."

I was surprised and for a moment I didn't know what to do but then I grabbed his hand and made him look at me.

"I do." And I stepped towards him. "I know exactly what you did." And I brought my head within inches of his.

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HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! hope you liked it! and, yes, fivefold, there WAS romance in this one...see! Suggestions and REVIEWS *notice how I highlighted it* are...I want to say required...WELCOME!!!!