Bam finally broke herself free from Jack's kiss. She stepped back, eyeing him.
"So I guess you feel da same, huh?" Jack asked, with a pleased look on his face. He reached for her again.
"No, Jack, I don't." Bam snapped, pulling her arm away. She reached back and slapped him as hard as she could across the cheek. "Ya can't just go and kiss someone like dat. Ya gotta build up ta dat." Bam stormed away, leaving a confused Jack behind her. She couldn't help it. She was more confused than ever now. Bam was fuming as she stormed down the street, not noticing where she was going. She walked for an hour, stopping when she finally felt that her emotions were back in check. Recalling the taste of Jack on her lips, she wondered if she really did feel the same as he. Looking around, she noticed that the gaslights on the street were now lit, and most of the shops were closing down for the evening. The reddish orange of the sky told her it was about to be dark out, and she needed to get home soon. Bam started to panic. Walking around alone during the day was one thing, but doing it at night was another!
"Race?" She called in a desperate attempt for companionship. "Race, if you're here, come out. I won't be mad dat you're following me." Bam looked around, but there was no sign of Race. She shook her head. Of all the times for that dope to not follow me... She saw one building with its lights still on inside, so she headed towards the door. At least there will be people around me, no one's gonna try anything with people around. As she reached the door, a young man appeared beside her and held the door open for her. She glanced at him quickly and he gave her a giant grin, exposing a row of yellowed teeth.
"Pleasure ta meet ya, Miz Bam." Runner laughed at the look of shock on the young girl's face at the mention of her name. He got a kick out of surprising people with the things he knew about them. It was good to be one of Spot's birds. Bam started to speak, but before any words could escape her mouth, Runner had his lips pressed against hers. She quickly pushed him away from her. "Well, well, at least ya didn't slap me!" Runner laughed again. "Don't worry, when I tell dat story, ya didn't slap him eitha." Runner winked and walked away with a smile on his face.
Shaken from the encounter, Bam quickly ducked into the small building, the stench of liquor filling her nostrils immediately. She took a seat at the bar, trying to ignore the fact that she was the only female in the place, with the exception of a few prostitutes in raggity dresses. The bartender stood in front of her, eyeing her up and down.
"What do you want" he asked, clearly uninterested in her answer. She pulled out a few coins.
"Whatever dis'll buy me." Bam hadn't really drank before, and wasn't sure what he brought her. The smell of brown liquid made her eyes water, but she drank it all the same, and even ordered a couple more. Bam had only been in the tavern for about fifteen minutes, but she was already well on her way to being drunk.
"For God's sake, Bam, what da hell are ya doin?" a voice asked from behind. She turned to see a very angry Racetrack standing behind her.
"Drinkin', come join me," Bam laughed.
"I didn't mean dat." Race said as he sat down next to her and ordered himself a drink. "I meant, why were you kissin' Runna like dat?" Bam, busying ordering her fourth drink, ignored his question.
"I didn't wanna walk home alone." Bam stated bluntly.
"And what did ya t'ink you was gonna do when dis place closed in a couple hours?" Race asked. He had been mad, but couldn't help chuckling at the look on Bam's face.
"I neva thought of dat." Race shook his head at her answer and downed his drink quickly, ordering another round for both of them.
A couple hours later, the two were stumbling back toward the lodging house, Bam leaning drunkenly on Race. They stopped when they reached the house. Race helped her find her way to the steps, and then sat down next to her, lighting a cigar.
"So why were ya kissin' Runna like dat earlier?" Race asked.
"I didn't kiss no one. I don't even know anyone named Runna." Bam slurred, her eyes barely open. Race sighed. He had been hoping that a little drink would loosen her tongue, but instead it seemed she just forgot instead. "Well, I did kiss Jack..." Bam added thoughtfully, her eyes opening again. Race froze, waiting for more of her story, but none came. Bam also sat frozen, suddenly feeling all too sober. Why did I just tell him that?
"So... you and Jack, huh? Good for you two." Race finally spoke. He threw the butt of his cigar out into the street and stood up. "Come on, you should get inside before Jackie starts ta worry 'bout ya." Bam stood up but made no motion towards the door.
"Race..." she started. She couldn't make any words come out. There weren't really any to say. The look on his face told her everything she needed to know. She took a step towards him, hoping he would reach for her but instead he went up the steps and into the lodging house. She slowly followed him. The foyer was dark, as everyone else was already asleep for hours now. "Race..." she said again. He stopped and looked at her. At least I can blame it on being drunk, she thought as she summoned her courage. She stepped close to him and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him into a hug. "Thank you for everything." She whispered into his neck.
Her hot breathe on his neck made goosebumps pop out all over Race's body. He closed his eyes and tried to convince himself that this was just a friendly gesture and that she was just drunk. He fought the urge to put his arms around her waist and pull her even closer to him, keeping them locked at his sides instead. He felt her lips gently graze his neck.
She looked up at him. It was obvious that he was uncomfortable, but she figured at this point, what did she have to lose. Sliding her hand behind his head, she pulled his face closer to hers and pressed her lips against his, tasting stale cigar and liquor. Finally Race broke and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her roughly against him. She was shocked at the intensity behind his kiss. It was nothing like Jack's kiss. Race held her tightly against him, their mouths locked. He knew that if she and Jack had already kissed, this would probably be his only chance to kiss her. He pushed the thoughts of her kissing Jack, and Runner, out of his mind and kissed her with a jealous passion that even he was surprised by.