"Jinx!" Bam called out into the dark street, but got no response. She sighed, debating between trying to chase after Jinx alone, or going back inside to drag someone with her. Who the hell am I going to bring, she thought. Jack sure as hell isn't going to help anything, and Race already took off. She sighed again, and sat down on the curb.
"Well hello dere, Miz Bam," Runner stood in front of her, flashing his yellowed smile. "Ya don't look quite as happy as I thought you would, all t'ings considered." He cocked his head.
"Listen kid," Bam growled. "I ain't in da mood for your games right now. Just go away."
"Of all da people you push away, I really don't t'ink I should be one of dem," Runner said matter of factly. "You should be t'ankin' me."
"Why da hell would I t'ank you? I don't even know you!" Bam laughed.
"I told ya, when I tell da story, ya didn't slap him." Runner winked. "Feel free ta t'ank me now." Bam felt the anger building up inside. This boy, who she didn't even know, was running around telling stories about her to God knows who. Just who did he think he way? Then it hit her.
"You... You're one of Spot's boids, ain't ya?" she asked.
"At your service, ma'am," Runner bowed. "I see all!" He said boastfully, then leaned in close to her, "but I only tell what I want."
"You have ta come find Jinx wit me. You have ta tell her da truth. She reallly t'inks me and Jack are t'gether, and she's all upset now!" Bam jumped up off the curb and grabbed for Runner's arm, but he quickly dodged her grasp.
"Oh, no no, Miz Bam. I can't be seen with ya." Runner shook his head. "What would ol' Spot say?"
"But you're with me now. What if one of da odda boids saw us now?" Bam was getting fed up with Runner's elusive attitude. She was determined to have him set the story straight, at least for Jinx.
"Dey ain't gonna see us." Runner suddenly lost his jovial mood at the reminder of the other "birds". The truth was that the other birds had deserted Brooklyn at least a month before, most saying that Spot was getting too strict for them. Several had gone all the way to Harlem to be away from Spot, knowing he would be angered by their desertion. The rest had joined random gangs in Brooklyn, making good use of their hiding and spying skills. Runner, on the other hand, still felt some sort of loyalty, not to Spot, but to the other Brooklyn newsies and to Jack. He felt he needed to help this problem between Brooklyn and Manhattan come to a close before he could move on. Bam noticed Runner's sudden mood change, and backed off.
"Well, at least tell me where she went." Bam demanded. Runner, however, was distracted by the sound of approaching footsteps. He suddenly grabbed Bam, and dipped her for an exaggerated kiss.
"Why da hell do you keep doin' dat?" She yelled, struggling to get out of his hold. He released her, dropping her to the ground. "God damn it!" Bam swore as she hit the dirt.
"Just ta mess with ya," Runner's mischievious mood had apparently returned. He walked away, whistling, leaving Bam sitting on the ground. "Heya Race," he said casually, passing by the boy trying to hide in the shadows.
"Uh... Hi Runna," Race muttered uncomfortably. He hadn't planned on being spotted. Bam's ears perked up at the sound of Race's voice. She hoped he would come talk to her, but instead heard his footsteps grow fainter as he walked away into the night, leaving Bam feeling more alone than ever before.
The couple weeks passed without event. Bam was happy to see that Spot, true to Jack's word, seemed to have backed off. She, however, was not happy at the act Jack insisted they put on. He flaunted her around, introducing her as "his girl" to everyone and anyone. He assured her it was to make sure Spot truly believed that they were together, but Bam couldn't help feeling like it was more than just an act to Jack. Jinx had kept her distance, even after Bam tried to explain that it had all been Runner's doing and it wasn't actually true, but only to fool Spot. Jinx wanted to believe Bam, but felt like she was slapped in the face every time she saw Jack and Bam hanging all over each other.
Race was spending more time at the tracks, coming home later and later every night, until it got to the point where barely anyone saw him anymore. He, like Jinx, couldn't bear to see Jack and Bam together. Fleet and Sway, out of concern, had confronted him about his odd behavior, but he refused to give up any information. Race secretly wished they would stop bothering him about it. Every question they asked was a reminder of the night Bam had kissed him, but he would not let himself tell anyone about it. Especially not those two. He assumed, being two of Bam's close friends, they already knew what had happened, and he felt embarassed at the thought of kissing Jack's girl. After all, why would any girl in her right mind chose a scrawnly little Italian kid over the great Jack Kelly, strike leader? The thought of it depressed Race.
Race was sitting in his lucky seat at the tracks, waiting for the race to start, when he heard his name being called. Recognizing the voice, he tried to act like he didn't hear it.
"Damn, Race, didn't ya hear me screamin' your name?" Bam huffed as she dropped herself into the seat next to his.
"No, sorry." Race stated bluntly. Bam could feel the tension between them. Jack had tried to explain the situation to Race, but Race assumed Jack was just trying to explain away some situation of cheating he thought he had been caught in. The conversation had only made Race more angry at Jack. It was bad enough Jack was with Bam, but then to try to pretend like he wasn't just so he could get away with God knows what... Race had walked away from Jack mid-conversation. At the time, Jack knew he should have told Bam about Race's reaction, but the reaction made Jack wonder about Race's feelings towards her. He was enjoying "dating" Bam too much to let Race mess things up. He decided to let Bam think that Race was in on their act, instead of telling her the truth.
"What the hell is your problem, Race?" Bam didn't understand why he was being so aloof. "I thought you would be happy about dis whole thing."
"Oh yeah, I'm thrilled." Race forced his eyes on the race in front of him.
"Well, I don't know why you wouldn't be. It's ova, Race." Bam waited for a reply but got none. Her words were burning in Race's ears. He had trouble wrapping his mind around the idea that they were over after only one kiss. "It's ova!" Bam said again, with more emphasis. She didn't know why he wasn't happier at the thought of all this trouble with Spot being over with, for the most part.
"Yeah, I hoid ya da foist time." Race shot at her. "It's ova. I'm glad you're so happy now." He waited until his horse crossed the finish line, in last place, before crumpling up his betting slip and throwing it on the ground. Race made his way out of the racetracks, desperate to be away from Bam, but she followed.
"What is goin' on with ya?" Bam demanded. Race ignored her, walking at a brisk pace trying to get away from her. He felt her shove him from behind. "I asked you a question, Race. Didn't ya tell me dat you was gonna help me wid dis whole mess? And now you're just walkin' away?" She pushed him again. This time he whipped around, his face red with anger.
"Listen goilie, you betta stop pushin' me." Race was in no mood to be messed with, especially not by Bam. She pushed him again, catching him off guard. He stumbled and caught himself against a wall. "I asked ya ta stop pushin' me Bam." Bam reached out to push him again, but this time he grabbed her wrists, forcing her arms behind her back. The sudden weight change threw her off and she fell against him. She didn't really expect him to be able to overpower her so easily; he wasn't that much bigger than her.
"Race..." Bam started.
"I don't need ya comin' and botherin' me, tellin' me dat somet'ing dat barely even started is ova." Race said in a strained voice. Fear flashed through Bam's eyes, and Race instantly released her. "Oh jeez, I'm sorry Bam. I didn't mean ta scare ya. Ya just really pissed me off wid all dat pushin'."
"What are ya tawkin' about somet'ing dat barely started?" Bam asked, ignoring his apology.
"You and me. I know it ain't gonna happen, now dat you'se wit Jack and all, but I just don't need ya comin' and tellin' me its ova." Race stared at the ground. He waited for her to tell him that it was over between her and Jack, or that it really was just a big act put on for Spot. Instead, she just kissed him on the cheek and laughed.
"Come on, let's go home," was all Bam said to him.
They walked home in silence. Race was filled with embarassment and shame for the way he had manhandled Bam. Bam spend the walk home thinking about these recent events. She was surprised and, although she hated to admit it, a little intrigued by Race's display of machoism. And though he hadn't said it, Race had made it pretty clear that he was not happy with the idea of her and Jack being together, even if it was just for show. She was disappointed that she could only kiss him on the cheek, but knew that Runner or some other bird was probably around watching. Besides, she thought, I've already kissed him once. Its his turn now.