Disclaimer: If I owned "Newsies"... They'd be here.
Matchmaker: Chapter Seven
Complicated Matters
Damn it. Damn it, damn it, damn it.
I'm in love with Race.
Damn it.
And so is Pie Eater.
Damn it.
Well, not with Race, with Snoddy, as far as I can see, but still...
Damn it.
Mush and Kid haven't reconciled, and they're both still mad at me, and everything's all gloomy except where Pie's concerned 'cause he's in love with Snoddy, and it's so obvious, and he's upset 'cause Mush and Kid are mad at each other, and it's just a bad time for romance, especially around those two, and then I found out, or more like finally admitted, I guess, that I'm in love with Race, and...
Damn it!
Let's start at the beginning, shall we?
Mush and Kid Blink are still fighting. Well, actually, Mush is scared of Blink, and he's mad at me for it. The poor boy's completely heartbroken, and instead of crying his eyes out, like anyone would suppose he'd do, he went the other way and started stomping around and slamming doors all over the place. Blink is just as frightened of Mush for completely different reasons, but he's mad at me, too, 'cause... Well... Blink. He's always mad at somebody, but that somebody's never been Mush, and I suppose he just doesn't know how to be mad at Mush. So now he's mad at me. And I'm the only one who's willing to try and get them to just talk, the flaming idiots. But I'm unmentionable territory around them, so everything from my name to my hair is completely off-limits around them, unless you've got a death wish, you know what I mean?
And then there's Pie. Sweet, quiet Pie, who almost never talks and is shy as anything around just about everyone. After all this melodrama between Spot and Race and Mush and Blink, I've gotten pretty good at noticing things, you know what I mean? And that boy is completely smitten with Snoddy, you take my word for it. I feel awful for him, 'cause he likes Blink and Mush well enough - they're Blink and Mush... Everybody likes them, even Spot - and... Well...
Blink and Mush haven't just been fighting. They've been competing. "Who Can Get the Most Girls in the Least Amount of Time", I believe is the proper name for their game. And not only that, they're nasty about it. And by nasty, I mean nasty. They have been studiously ignoring each other, so they're not openly feuding. Well, they are, but not directly. Like, they'd sit next to each other with their latest girls and hurl very, very indiscreet insults at each other. I feel quite bad for all the girls they've managed to terrify, and it's no small number, either. Any other time, I'd say something, but this time... Things are different, and if this is the only way those two boneheads know how to work it out, then so be it. And the kicker is, even through all of that, it's quite clear that what they want most is each other. At least, it's clear to me; most everybody else is just thoroughly bewildered by this sudden change in behavior, which may be the only blessing, except for Race, who Mush had confided in first. As far as I know, Mush hasn't been too happy with him, either.
He pulled to one side the other day. "What's been happenin' with Mush and Blink?"
I could only sigh. "Remember that day you came home and found me?"
He nodded. "Crying" was clearly tacit, and I am the last person living in this lodging house to ever admit to crying.
"Well, they got in a fight. Mush asked me to 'scout Blink out', as he says. I did it, 'cause it's Mush, you know, and Blink told me he'd consider datin' Mush. But you know Blink... He talks before he thinks, and when Mush really asked him, he exiled Mush from his life." I sighed again. "And now they're mad at me 'cause Mush thinks I lied to him, and Blink thinks I set him up so Mush could play a joke on him, and..." I sighed for a third time and rubbed my temples. "I really don't know what to do with 'em."
He whistled, looking slightly amused. "So that's why Mush stopped talkin' to me..." His expression sobered, and he said seriously, "Make 'em talk, Sneaks. Make 'em talk."
"And how am I gonna do that, huh?" I demanded.
"How did you make me talk to Spot?" he asked mildly, smiling that slight smile again.
I groaned. "You weren't mad at me, Race! I had to drag you to Brooklyn, sure, but you weren't lookin' to kill me in the most painful way possible."
He only grinned. "Well, I didn't tell Mush to talk to you for no reason... You'll find a way." With that, he kissed me on the cheek and left.
I could only stand and feel my heart rise and bloom. It was almost a good day, as I watched his adorably short figure disappear through the crowd, whistling some bawdy tune on the way towards Sheepshead.
And Brooklyn.
And Spot.
And my heart dropped. The euphoria his kiss had brought on collapsed until not a trace was left, and I stood there, concentrating on the acute pain brought on by realization.
I was in love with Race. And he was in love with Spot, who was equally in love with him.
And I had brought them together.
Normally, I would go to Race and rant, and he'd listen and nod and say, "Want to get a few drinks? It's on me." But I couldn't talk to Race because it was about him. The obvious second choice here would be Mush, who couldn't be bothered at the moment and especially not by me. Which left... No one. And this new revelation only served to sharpen the pain and drive it deeper somewhere in my heart of hearts.
I was utterly alone, and it was my fault. Everyone I might have depended on, I'd driven away. Race... I'd handed him over without a second thought, and Mush... Mush was still a possibility, if I could convince him that I hadn't lied. Which shouldn't be hard, considering that it's the truth, but Mush could be damned stubborn when he wanted to be. I resolved at that moment that I would whack him around the head with a two by four if I had to, if only to make him see some sense. With that thought, I straightened my shoulders and turned towards Bottle Alley, where Mush had started lurking after the Fight. And who should I see but Pie, slinging an arm around Snoddy's shoulders, grinning fit to burst, and blushing to the roots of his hair. I suppose Snoddy attributed that last little bit to the early summer heat, but I knew better. Maybe my senses were sharpened somewhat by the pain, but I also knew from looking that they weren't together. And that Pie dearly wished it were so.
Another thing on my to-do list. But it would have to wait. This thing between Mush and Blink must be resolved first.
As I walked along, I realized that Race was right. It wasn't me that Mush needed to talk to. It was Blink. And they had to make their peace with each other. But to accomplish that, I would have to make my peace with both Mush and Blink. Call me prideful if you want, but I was certainly not going to apologize first for something I didn't even do. On both cases, nonetheless.
So I was left with this. I needed to get Mush and Blink together somewhere where they could talk, alone. No distractions. Then, I needed to talk to Pie and hope that he had more brains that Mush and Blink did. Combined. That would be nice. As for my own dilemma with Race... That could wait. And whatever ensued, as long as it was fair, I would make no complaints.
I hate my life.
[winces] Okay... I know that was extremely short for such a long wait, but I've been busy, and I had thought to finish chapter two of "Blood Red Rose" before I posted another chapter of "Matchmaker", but unfortunately, it's a no go. However, I will say that "Blood Red Rose" is coming along nicely, and I've finally gotten some good mood music for it, so be looking for that. And "Ashes", which I'm finally starting.
Other than that, a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Polecat!!! Luffles, sweetie!!
Oh, and November is National Novel Writing Month, which I will be participating in, so don't expect much them. Unless I decide to finish this, which is highly unlikely, so... Yeah.
Gothic Author
Replies:
shinigami nanoda:
Hmm... I'm usually wary of female original characters, too. I try my hardest to steer away from Mary-Sues, and I'm glad I'm doing it right.
Thanks, hon!! Appreciate it!
Artemis-chan of Redwing:
Yes. Yes, it does. And it's not getting better anytime soon.
Love ya, too!!
Sita-chan:
Oh, my genius who came up with "But I'm a Prep", you flatter me too much.
YAY FOR LOVERLY WRITING-NESS!!!! WOOT!!
Thistle:
EHEH... I didn't really update soon, I suppose, but I hope you like this chapter... And yes, Blink is a little jackass, and I love him for it. [ruffles Random!Blink's hair fondly]
Pyromaniacal Llama:
Of course!! I mean... Race!! How can you not want to hug him?!
[sighs and melts into a fangirl-y puddle]
Funkiechick:
Exactly. Blink and Mush are so perfect for each other. But they're stupid, and I like StupidBlind!Newsies. They're so much fun to play with.
"CONCERTO"!!!!!!! 'Cause I trust you guys with "Everything You've Done Wrong". ^_^
Dakota-Jones:
DAKOTA!! [huggles] Love you, hon... You're great, you know that?
studentnumber24601:
XD XD Fully funtional, huh? I don't doubt that... [dirty smirk]
I have my smrt days, too. "3 x 6 = 24... Right? Oh!! Is that why I got it wrong?" It doesn't matter. It matters that you're an uber-fantastico writer with a fanclub!!
Stage:
I knew I heard "2 x 4" somewhere before I wrote this chapter... You don't mind that I borrowed it, do you?
Luffles, Stage!! Hope your eye feels better...
Contacts suck sometimes.
Goddess of Oblivion:
Nope. Nope, she doesn't get a break. And she'll never get a break, as far as I'm concerned.
I'm so evil...
[sighs] No more hints from now on... I'm almost depressed...
Spider Chick:
Awww... [blushes] Shucks, you're making me big-headed... Thanks, dahling...
The Omnicient Bookseller:
[bows] You're wish is my command.
Sinhe:
I think you must have a sadistic streak if you're going to be a good author. It ruins everything if you don't. Like "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix". Imagine if everyone had lived. How horrible would the story be then?
GAH. I can't make Race anything but a hopeless romantic, I fear, 'cause I love him too much. And it's weird. I just woke up one morning and said, "Racetrack is cute. I like him."
I'm completely serious.
hilbz:
[sighs in relief] I was pining after your review, Hilz... No lie.
How's the "reconstruction" coming? I'll safe-keep a copy of your stuff, if you want.
And yes, Mush is frightening when he's mad, which is why I made him thus. He doesn't get enough anger, the poor boy, and he deserves some good, hard venting time.
Luffles!!
Thanks go to: Everybody who reviewed. I love you all madly!!!
