Chapter VI

Halloween was quickly approaching, spirits escalated and everyone was becoming eager for the masquerade at Medda's. I met Julia two times at Tibby's, she hadn't shown up most of the times. I was getting a little worried but she said she was fine so I tried not to. I found out later she missed our get together because of a guy, someone that worked for Pulitzer. Howard is a sort of intern or something. He told Julia he wanted to own The World one-day.

"Oh my gosh Ariel, he is so cute, you don't even understand." Julia exclaimed to me at Tibby's one afternoon. "But I want to go back."

"I know, but like I said before, Jonathan Denton's machine isn't working yet,"

"Pulitzer can get us back though,"

"But I don't want to use his help."

"Only because of Newsies."

"Hello!" My voice escalated to a higher pitch. Under no circumstances was I going to even ask him for anything. "You can go if you want. I'll stay and wait." I waited for her reply. I didn't want her to go without me, but I wasn't really being fair to her. She only looked at me for a few moments finally she stood up.

"Fine. I'm sorry, but I really wanna go home." I watched her walk away, pull open the glass door, and disappear. I finished the rest of what I ordered and left. Walking down a street, I found a shop that was displaying costumes. I was only doing a little window-shopping when I spotted the most beautiful white gown; it was part of an Angel costume. The price however was something I would die to have in 2002. I was about to go in and see it, but I remembered how little money I had. If I was able to use the money I had with me from before, then I'd be set, but I didn't think it was going to work. I continued on the route that I had now embedded in my brain from the past few days. I didn't feel like stopping at the lodging house quite yet so I continued. I got some ideas in my head of how I could make a costume. It would be easy, or so I thought. I was never good at making things like that become a reality. Some white sheets, maybe a few things for a little color, and the halo maybe some wire. My thinking was interrupted by cheering and applause. I looked around to see people coming and going from a building with tickets and some with money. I walked a little closer when I thought I saw a figure resembling Racetrack. Drawing closer to him, I felt eyes on me and so I looked to the right of me. Gaping at me was a guy with red long hair and blue eyes. He was tall and l could smell the alcohol sweating from his pores. Quickly the smell reminded me of my father by the time nighttime came around.

"Whad's your name Miss.?" His Scottish accent was slurred. I ignored his question as I started walking away. I felt his hand on my shoulder and turned.

"I have to go." I didn't know what else to say. I was hoping this would get him to quiet. He crept a little closer however to my dismay. His clear, almost vacant eyes wandered up and down me. "I know dis spot where we'se can go, Las." I pulled from his grasp.

"Landon! Leave her be." I looked over and saw Racetrack coming over with a few other guys.

"And if I don't?" He looked down at him in the eyes. I couldn't believe this. I didn't want anyone to get hurt.

I had to say something, anything. "Don't." How effected I thought with sarcasm.

"What?" Landon asked.

"Do you think my answer is going to change or something if you try to beat him up?"

He looked at me. "I," I walked over to Racetrack, and turned him in another direction. We walked a few feet when he walked back in front of us. He was staggering badly. He started to pull at me when I pushed him. He was so drunk; he lost his balance, and fell on his butt. He became so embarrassed by the laughing that the spectators had started doing he got up and slowly ran away. Racetrack said something to his buddies and they turned and left waving all the way.

Racetrack turned to me. "So whad you'se doing here?" I wasn't sure what to say. I really had just been walking.

"Nothing. I just walking and ended up here. Thanks for your help by the way."

"No problem. Want me to walk wid ya back to the lodgin' house?" I nodded my head and smiled. We walked in silence for a few minutes while we passed the buildings by until we got nearer the lodging house.

He spoke. "Sos When are you'se goin' back to, uh,"

"Oh, uh, I'm not sure. Bumlets says the machine isn't fixed yet."

"Not fixed yet? I'se don't dink it's ever been broke dis long. Normally da goils dat come here are back in a few days."

"Huh." We were just about to walk into the lodging house when he stopped me.

"Do you'se ever wonder why you'se is here?" I never really asked myself that before. My co-co eyes squinted and I played with the Libra charm on my choker necklace as I thought for a moment, and stared at him. He was about a head taller, so I was really only looking at eye level.

"I do believe everything happens for a reason, so there must be a reason." I looked up at him.

"Really?" I nodded. "Well, whad do you'se dink da reason for dis is?" Before I could say ask what he meant he began to hover over me and then as if in slow motion he leaned in and kissed me. Oh my goodness! I couldn't believe it; I was so shocked I couldn't even think of something to say. I felt like Gidget and saying something stupid like, 'holy moly.' But why, I didn't think he even liked me too much. He pulled back and then right before I could say anything out came Bumlets.

He put his arm around me. "I have some news. Sorry, did I'se interrupt somethin'?"

"No, no. I'se just was goin' to see Jack. Bye Ariel." Racetrack walked into the lodging house, signed the register book, and ran up the steps.

"Is he okay?" Bumlets asked.

I nodded. "I think so. What's the news?"

"I'se talked to Jonathan and he said dat da machine may be done soon."

I smiled. "Really? I can't wait. No offence to you, but I miss my family." We walked in and were greeted by the others. I looked for Racetrack but couldn't find him. I really wanted to talk to him. On the other hand, I felt a little bad because I really wanted it to be Bumlets. That night we all went to bed early. I wasn't able to sleep again though. I was up all night asking myself the question Racetrack had brought up. Why was I here, and what kind of reason could there possibly be? At the same time, I was thinking about the kiss. I never have good luck with guys. I wished that I liked him like that. It would be so much easier, and that fact that it seems to be a rarity with me to have a mutual liking. It's always someone likes me that I don't like and visa versa. I hated it.