Ok i decided to make one note before i begin this chapter. I had a fw reviews question about Loki being whipped by the store dude. Lets slip into his shoes shall we? So say your wife left you, you have a hangover, you woke up on the wrong side of the bed, and suddenly you find a street rat stealing from your stand, wouldn't you beat her to?
Good i'm gald we agree, continue.
5. Worthy of time
Two days later, I was on my hands and knees scrubbing Anders vomit off the living room floor. No one had wanted to touch it when he had first puked, but when the house really began to stink, I was the lucky one assigned to the task of cleaning it up.
When I was finished, I walked into Karl's room. The reason? Because he and Anders were out at work, and it was barley ever that I entered the room.
Sitting on his dresser, I saw a one-dollar note, all by its lonesome self. Without hesitation, I picked it up and slipped it into my skirt pocket. I figured that since Karl didn't trust me anyway, I might as well give him a good reason for it.
That afternoon, and with money in hand, I walked right up to the stupid storeowner who had beat me and bought two apples from him.
Naturally he wasn't too happy about this, but I just smiled and asked for change. I jammed the first apple into my pocket, and took a huge bite of the other. When that one was done, I pulled out the second began to eat it as well.
I had just thrown my apple core to the ground, when I saw Sarah scurry into an alley. Even better, I saw Jack and that girl Cupid staring after her curiously.
I walked up to the bench they were seated at and leaned up against it.
"Why Cowboy, I wonder what yoah goilfriends doin," I said to him.
"Go away Loki," said Jack angrily. I ignored him and kept on going.
"She's a pretty girl, it's a shame she's cheatin on ya," I said, as I softly stroked the side of his face.
"No she ain't!" Jack shouted as he jumped away from me.
If you ask me, he believed me but didn't want any one to know, that's why he was shouting denial.
"Oh? Follow me and find out foah yoahself den," I quickly headed across the street.
I couldn't help but smile, when I sensed them following me. I led them up to the roof of some cruddy building, and motioned for them to look over the wall.
We all peered over the edge, and got a great view of Sarah in another man's arms.
" Sarah kiss me?" asked the man.
Sarah looked up into his eyes, their lips almost touching. She quickly pulled away and looked to the ground guiltily.
" Walter, we can't, I have a boyfriend."
I rolled my eyes at this, she wouldn't have a boyfriend for long, that was for sure.
Walter grabbed her chin and lifted her head so he could look her in the eye. "Do you love him Sarah?"
"No," Sarah mumbled looking down again.
Buuuuuurn. I looked over at Jack and tried not to laugh."Do you love me?" Walter asked.
Sarah looked up at him again with a smile. "Yes."
Walter wrapped his arms around Sarah and kissed her. She put her arms around his neck and kissed him right back.
I decided that was enough show for the night and stood up. I looked over at Jack who was shaking his head softly while breathing heavily.
"Waddya know, you ain't woith her time." I turned and walked out the door, but I wasn't smiling any more. I was once again filled with rage, as I remembered how I had been treated.
I wasn't worth Morris' time, and so why should Jack be worth Sarah's?
Well here's a headline for the world, he ain't!
The second I stepped through the front door, Karl's face hit my face, and I staggered back out the door, as I suddenly remembered the money I had taken that morning.
I took a deep breath and stepped back up to the door to meet my punishment, but as he raised his fist, I had second thoughts. I spun around and darted out of the building.
Just outside the entrance, I saw Anders with blood running out of his nose and I stopped to laugh.(A/N if you are wondering why Anders has a bloody nose you have to read 'a matter of life or death'.)
I then realized that Karl had followed me out, and I went speeding down the road in hopes of ditching him.
After running for a long time and ducking into a few alleys, I gave Karl the slip, but with the conclusion that I was sleeping outside tonight.
I slept outside for the next week and when I couldn't stand it anymore, I went back to the apartment.
When Karl saw me, he stood up and walked over. Before he got to close, I held my hand open, palm up, with the remaining coins resting there.
Karl grunted and snatched them from me, and gave me a light smack on the back of the head, causing my hair to fly forward. He turned and walked into his room, which left Anders and me.
Anders was sitting on the couch smoking, and I noted that his nose looked slightly crooked.
What can I say about the next few months? Summer stunk, and I continued to bug the newsies. I didn't get much money from them now that they knew of my stealing talents.
One day I did try to get some money off this newsie wearing pink underwear. I figured that any guy who would actually wear pink in public would be extremely easy to sucker.
Well, he was pretty grumpy, and worse, he pulled out a stick and threatened to smack my teeth out with it.
I was pretty sure he was exaggerating, but I left any way just as a precaution.
Jack Kelly began to show up every morning with a hangover, and I decided it was best to leave him alone.
Summer also stunk literally. We got away without paying our rent a few times, because the landlord would almost pass out every time he entered the apartment.
Anders should really learn to sleep with his mouth closed. But hey! At least the windowsill didn't have anymore flies on it.
One wonderful fall night I snuck out of the house. There was something mystical in the air that made me feel calm and carefree.
For once I didn't feel the need for any attention but my own. As I walked, I saw a lone figure seated on a wall.
There was a cowboy had resting on his back, and I quickly realized who it was.
"Awe is dah cowboy all 'lone wit no goil to keep 'im company?"
As soon as I said that, I regretted it. I didn't want to play my games tonight, but it was to late. Jack turned slightly so he could see me and then turned back again.
"I ain't wit out a goil, yoah heah. I'se ain't shoah you count as a goil though," Jack said. He leaned his head back and took a swig of beer.
"Ya stupid bum," I muttered. I don't know why, maybe it was something in the air, but I sat down beside him.
I guess Jack felt it in the air as well because he didn't object, and handed me his bottle. I took a sip from it and silently handed it back.
I really didn't want him to think that now he could get away with anything, so I kept talking.
"Now I'se heah repoahts dat you get moah drunk den dis. Whats dah occasion dat you ain't drinkin as much?" I was stating the truth.
By this time of night he would have been very drunk if he wanted a bad headache in the morning.
"Me sistah's getting married," he said. I didn't even know he had a sister. "So don't go tinkin ya can break her 'n' Race up, cause dey love each udda moah den dat."
I looked at Jack in fake horror, and put a hand to my chest. "Jack, would I really do something like dat?" I teased. We both knew I would, and I did, but for some reason what he said hurt
Jack snorted and drained the remaining contents of the bottle.
I jumped as he threw the bottle to the ground, the loud shattering of glass echoing in the night.
"Dats called litterin. It ain't right to do dat ya know." I teased, recovering from being startled.
"Since when 'ave you done any ting right in yoah life Loki?" Jack snapped back at me.
When Jack said those words, time seemed to freeze over, and memories of me trying to impress my parents came flooding back to me. I had tried so hard to be good, and where did that get me? I only ended up being ignored. How dare Jack accuse me!
Time unfroze, and I found myself shouting at Jack.
"I'se nevah done tings right, cause ev'ry time I'se evah tried, dah woild comes and screws tings up!" I couldn't believe how emotional I was acting. It felt like the earth was caving in around me, and I tried hard to breath.
I quickly jumped from my seat and ran from the wall and into the cool night, the air no longer mystical, but full of aqusations.
Well thats all for this chapter. The scene between Jack and Loki is also in 'a matter of life and death' but with less detail because it is in third person.
Shouts Outs
bitemytoemrmoe - Wow a 'great' chapter? I hope so. Yes i think he could get away with beating Loki because who really cares for a street rat?
Shrieksy- wow, your longest review yet. Yes i can guess where that scene is from...i love back to the future. The fly part is my favorite, and i don't hate Soren Poulson, but you can feel free to hate him if you want.
koodles4you- yes for the love of writing! I love writing and i love the fly scene. I'm glad you enjoyed my chapter, and i hoped you enjoyed this one as well.
shortatntionspaz- yeah, loki isn't always likable but i loved her from the moment i created her. Talking about rat race have you ever scene the movie rat. Or at least i think it was called rat, it was corny any way. But thats just me rambling.