Disclaimer: I don't own the newsies, however I do own Piper and Dice. Iris, Bailey, Quotes and Duckie belong to themselves and Shortie belongs to Iris.
March 3, 2005 - This is the (slightly) revised version of Sleepwalker.
I would also like to take this opportunity to point out that the story is quite violent (though I tried to make it as mild as possible) and has some character deaths.
Thank you,
Dice
Nobody really knows what goes through someone's mind when they are on that subconscious level in which sleepwalking occurs. Most of the time the person doesn't even remember ever leaving their bed. One of the phenomena of sleepwalking is that when on this level the person becomes a sort of superhuman. They have super strengths and super speeds. People have been said to lift up trucks and run hundreds of miles while sleepwalking. It is thought that emotions trigger this strange behavior.
This is just another tale of how emotions affect people even more in their sleep, than in consciousness….
Skittery walked down the street cheerily, he was in a very happy mood on that glorious day. The sun was shining outside warming every inch of his body, and he just couldn't keep himself from whistling a tune he had once heard. Nothing could ruin that day.
He grabbed the handle on the door to Tibby's, lifting his hat as two sophisticated girls walked by.
"Morning ladies!" They didn't reply, they merely increased their speed, but Skittery hardly noticed he just swung the door open and headed inside.
The restaurant was empty except for a single girl who sat tucked away in the back corner, at a table for two. Skittery pulled his hat down and headed over to her.
"Hello Piper," he greeted kissing the girl's hand. She shrugged slightly, and tugged her hand away from his grasp. "Is something wrong?" Piper looked up to the ceiling, then back at Skittery.
"Skittery, we've been-"
"May I take your order?" the waiter asked, interrupting Piper's thoughts and leaving her smiling awkwardly up at the man.
"I'm fine," she replied, looking back at her hands.
"I'm good for now," Skittery answered. The waiter nodded and walked back to the counter. "You were saying."
"Oh, yeah," Piper licked her lips nervously. "We've been going out for awhile now, but… I just can't picture us getting any further." Skittery frowned as this news sunk in.
"What are you saying?"
"Well, me and Jack have been talking and he's told me he really cares for me, and well, I think I do too,"
"Wait a minute, you and Jack? Jack Kelly? My friend Jack Kelly! How long has this been going on?" Piper opened her mouth to speak, but Skittery halted her words with his hand. "You know what I don't wanna know. Just go away. Go away. Have nice life with that wannabe cowboy."
"Skittery, I didn't mean to hurt…"
"To hurt me? So I suppose you thought that telling me you're leaving me for Jack was a really good idea. Did you think I'd be happy about this; that I'd feel the same way. Let me let you in on a little secret. I thought we had something special, something that would last. I guess I was wrong." Skittery looked away, and Piper stood.
"I'm sorry. I hope you find someone special, that will love in the way I couldn't." She left, but he didn't move. Later more newsies came into the restaurant, they greeted Skittery but he didn't answer, and he didn't move. He just sat there, going over the conversation in his mind, a million times over and over.
Why was it that good days were always ruined by the worst kind of bad news?
Skittery left his seat, and then the restaurant, still without a word. He headed over to Central Park where he sat and thought some more about the conversation. The more he thought about it, the more he hated Jack, and strangely, the more he hated himself. If only he'd loved Piper more, maybe then she'd still be his. He thought about all the 'what ifs' until his brain hurt. What if he had given her that, or what if he had gone there with her, but it didn't really matter anyway. She was with Jack now, and as long as he was around Skittery would never have a chance.
Soon it was nearly dark, and the full moon had come out. However, it only became visible every so often, as dark gray clouds drifted this way and that across the sky, like angry strokes of paint on an artist's canvas. Skittery hardly even noticed as it began to drizzle. But as the air began to cool and the rain poured down harder, he was awakened from his trance. He pulled his vest tightly around his chest, as he trudged back to his bed.
When he reached the lodging house he stopped in the doorway to wring the water from his cap, and to wipe the dirt from the soles of his shoes. After he had finished, he climbed the stairs and headed into the boys' bunkroom. As he entered a few newsies greeted him.
"Hey Skittery,"
"Hey Crutchy,"
"Heya Skitts, join us for a round of poker?"
"No thanks, Race. I'm tired."
"Alright, suit yourself." Skittery walked silently over to his bunk, pulling his hat and vest off, and hanging them on a bedpost. As he did so, the door opened and Shortie, Iris, Bailey, Quotes, Dice and Duckie walked in. The girls all went out together every Friday afternoon, and then came back around ten o'clock, to spend a few last hours with the boyfriends. He observed them each as they all greeted everyone before heading off to their boyfriends. Bailey and Shortie went over to where Specs and Jake sat talking. Shortie kissed Jake smiling, while Specs and Bailey hugged, whispering to one another. Iris, Dice, Duckie and Quotes went to the poker table, as Spot, Racetrack, Mush and Kid Blink finished their fifth hand that night.
Skittery sighed as he watched the remaining girls and boys get together. However, he became thoroughly confused when he didn't see Piper come in with the others. He quickly glanced around the room and found that Jack was not there either. He could only imagine what they were doing, and it was made him feel a little queasy. Shaking his head, he climbed up onto his bunk to lie down. He wasn't quite ready to sleep though, besides, it would have been a difficult job with all the lights on and everyone talking loudly.
"Alright, what do you got?" Spot laid his cards down on the table, and all the other newsies groaned when they saw that he had won yet again. Iris slapped his arm playfully.
"Spot, let someone else win for a change!" Blink groaned and Spot laughed.
"I'm trying, I'm trying." They laughed, and Mush began dealing out some more cards. "Oh, I'm afraid we're out this round," Spot started, standing up and grabbing Iris' hand. "I gotta go check on the guys in Brooklyn, see you guys later." When they had left, the others resumed the game.
"Hands up if you actually believe they're just going to 'check up on things'," Blink asked the table and surrounding newsies. Nobody raised his or her hand.
"He's gotta work on his excuses," Mush sighed, looking at Duckie, who blushed slightly. "He might as well just say it." Everyone nodded, and the game commenced.
Shortly after that Jack and Piper came in. They did so casually, and nobody noticed anything peculiar.
"Hey Jack, where you been?" Dutchy asked, from his bunk.
"Around. You seen Skittery?" Dutchy nodded and pointed over to the other newsie's bunk.
"Is he ok, he ain't said much since he got back?" Jack shrugged and headed over to the bunk, Piper didn't follow she went to join the card game.
"Heya Skittery," Jack greeted slowly, leaning against his bed. Skittery looked over the side at Jack and then back at the ceiling.
"Oh. Hi." Jack started to wonder if what he was doing was wise.
"Hey Skittery, I'm really sorry. I heard you didn't take the news too well, which I understand. But I love her, I wasn't sure if I was making the right decision when I told her either…."
"Look," Skittery interrupted, sitting up, "it's ok. I'll get over it. You win some you lose some." Jack wasn't sure if Skittery's nonchalance a good thing or a bad thing, but he nodded nevertheless.
"Right. Well, goodnight."
"Night," Skittery called. "Hope you sleep well."
A short while later, Kloppman came up the stairs and into the bunkroom.
"Lights out everyone!" Some of the newsies groaned. The couples kissed each other goodnight before the girls left for their own room, and then when everyone was settled the lights were turned down.