For the past month, my life has been torture. Well, not exactly torture.
Since I kind of got Ice in trouble, she and her friends have been hitting
me with paper airplanes, spit balls and paper balls. There were also phone
calls whenever I was home alone for about a week or so. They'd call me up
and either played some kind of pop music like Aqua or Brittany Spears (A/N:
I have no offence to that group or person. Just needed a pop type.) or just
leave it completely silent. They stopped when Aunt Medda was home sick and
she answered the phone before me. She threatened that if they were to
continue doing that, then they'd be banned from the diner for at least a
month.
At school, I sit with Elf, Frenchy and Matt at the table I had sat at the first day I was there. The teachers don't do squat when the preps attack us with the paper airplanes and spit balls. They just ignore it. Last week, they ended up taking toilet paper and silly string and covered Slater in the junk from wheel to wheel. Once I got back to the house, it took me nearly a day to clean and wax the bike. And here's the piece de resistance. Two days ago, they did their worst in my eyes anyways. I was in my Drama class and took my trench coat off so I could participate properly.
When the end of the class came, I searched the entire room, from the cabinet to the desk looking for my coat. It was nowhere to be found. I went the entire day without the jacket and as it turned out, it rained. Getting home, I was drenched and ended up with a cold that has yet to go away. Hanging on my locker this morning was the jacket with a note clipped to it.
McClure,
Sorry about the coat. Sometimes they can act like 5-year-olds. Stress says she's sorry.
Specs.
I balled the paper up and threw it into my locker. I slipped the trench on and for the first time in those few days; I smiled. Sitting in Math can be really boring so today I've decided to work on some sketches. I'm not as skilful as Gus, but I hold my own. I took my notebook out and started writing Dodger in weird lettering. Unfortunately for me, Mr. Denton decided to come back where I was. As I was finishing my last touches to the one name, Mr. Denton grabbed my book.
"Miss McClure or as the writing here goes, Dodger what is all this? It's not math work. It looks more like cave drawings."
Hey, at least I could draw. He tries to draw something and it looks like actual chicken scratch. I straightened up in my chair. Was now or never. It seems people would just call me Miss McClure in classes, never by my nickname and now people knew the nickname. Oh well.
"These 'cave drawings' as you like to call them are my signature marks. I might use one one-day for when I become an author."
Taken back by my retort, Mr. Denton dropped my book onto the desk and moved back up to the front of the room, continuing with the lesson on algebra. I ignored the look coming from Spot across the room and for the last 10mins of class I doodled. When the bell rang, I moved from my seat as fast as I could but Spot stopped me at the door.
"Dodger? What kind of name is that?"
"I'd ask the same about Spot."
I left him stunned and headed off to my last class before he could answer. When I got to the class, I found that Specs for the first time in a month, wasn't there. Taking my seat, I pulled out my materials before pulling the Walkman out. I turned it on and drummed away until the bell ran for class to start. With its last ring, Specs and Ice ran into the room and to their seats. As Specs passed my desk, he dropped a note onto my open book. Casually taking it, I unfolded it slowly and read it over.
Dodger (Oh great, now he knew too),
Spot just told us what your nickname was. Why didn't you tell me last month when I drove you home and asked for a name? (Oh, because I didn't want to tell him?) Anyways, the guys talked it over and they want to have a game against you; a dodge ball game. What do you say?
Specs.
Below his note, I scribbled down,
~Fine, I'll take the challenge~. I slipped the note over my shoulder, landing it on his desk. 5mins later, I felt the paper nudge my back. I reached around and took hold, bringing it to the surface. Opening, the note asked me if I was sure, that the boys I'd be face were on the baseball team since they were 6. I scratched out what he wrote and put,
~I'm sure. I know what I'm doing so just back off~.
That was the last of our conversation since Mr. Pulitzer started to talk about the Russian Revolution. When the class finally ended, I picked up my books and headed for my locker. Arriving there, I found Frenchy, Elf and Matt standing around waiting. How Frenchy got there before me I'm not sure but doesn't really matter since she and the others were coming to my place for dinner. I put my books away in my locker and we headed for the parking lot. As we walked, I mentioned the challenge that had been set before me.
"The preps found out my nickname and have challenged me to dodge ball."
It wasn't until I got to the fence that I realized that my friends had stopped. Turning, they all looked like statues with their mouths gaped open. I guess if I had told them that in the parking lot, a car would likely hit them.
"Guys, why'd you stop?"
I walked back to where they stood and Elf was the first to speak.
"You're telling us that 4 guys from the city and school BASEBALL team are going against you and only you?" (I nodded) "You'll be creamed! Jack's nickname on the team is Whiz since that's the sound the ball makes when he throws."
"Please don't give into their antics, just forget about them. They're just full of hot air." Frenchy pleaded.
I gave a laugh.
"Guys, you have nothing to worry about. Back in Aspen I faced guys bigger than those, older than those 4 and we used things that weren't made out of foam."
My friends gave me confused looks until I groaned and told them that if we didn't get moving, there wouldn't be any time for music loud enough to kill our ear drums. Like me, music is something none of them will pass up. We walked through the parking lot where I went to Slater while Elf, Frenchy and Matt all got into Frenchy's 1986 T-Bird.
"Meet you guys at my place."
I pulled out of the parking lot with the T-Bird right behind me.
~*~*Next Day~*~*
"Aunt Medda, do you know where my black cut offs are?" I yelled down the stairs.
"Which ones?"
She asked as she came to the bottom of the stairs. I appeared at the top with my hand towel drying my hair.
"The ones with an outline of a silver rose down the left leg."
Medda stopped drying the dish before she disappeared, only to return a few minutes later with the pants in question in hand. With a toss, she had them up the stairs.
"I washed these last night since you got paint on them from painting the shed last weekend."
"Thanks. These will give me luck today."
I went back down the hallway only to hear my Aunt's footsteps coming up the stairs and down the hallway.
"Luck with what? Do you have a test today?"
I shook my head as I pulled them over a pair of boxers Gus had once given me as a joke. They had smiley faces all over them.
"I'm having a dodge ball game against some kids from school."
I took my hairbrush with Def Leppard etched into the handle and ran it a few times through my hair. Aunt Medda took a seat on my bed as I tucked the strands behind my ears.
"Which kids?"
"Some preps named Spot, Jack, Kid Blink and Mush."
The look on my Aunt's face read the same as my friends. I groaned and grabbed my bag from its resting place as I left my room. I tried to get out of the house before she could say anything, but she did the opposite.
"Child, you don't know what you're up against. Those boys have been on baseball teams since they were 6."
"Aunt Medda, I've heard this all before from Frenchy, Elf and Matt, oh and Specs too. I faced guys older, meaner and with things deadlier than dodge balls."
"Well, just be careful. I don't want to send you back to your mother with broken bones. Oh yes, and beat those braggarts. They need to be knocked down a few pegs."
I stared at her in shock. Did she just tell me to beat them?
"Yesterday those boys came into the soda shop and started bragging about how with their athletic ability, they'll beat you so fast your head will spin. Now, I don't mind a little bragging since I'm used to it coming from that lot, but they didn't stop. That went on for an hour until your friends went by and made a bet with them. They shut up real fast."
"What was the bet? Do you know?"
"No. Boots told me about the bet when he came up for an order."
I looked at the hall clock and saw that I was going to be late for breakfast with the others, we all had spare first apparently, if I didn't get going. I gave Aunt Medda a quick hug and again she wished me luck with the upcoming game. Walking outside I put my bag on the back holder and pulled the key from around my neck as I sat down. I started up the bike and headed off for the coffee shop. Pulling in, I saw Frenchy's T-Bird along with Matt's tracker. I parked in between them and entered the shop. My friends were sitting off towards the back and before I joined them, I grabbed a hazelnut coffee.
"Hey guys."
They all waved as I sat at the table. After taking a sip of my coffee, I stared at the three of them before asking,
"So what did you guys bet?"
Matt spit out his drink, back into his cup luckily while the other two looked at me uneasy. None of them were sure of what to say.
"Guys, I won't get mad at you. Aunt Medda told me about the bragging the preps were doing and how you guys stopped them by making some sort of bet. Now, since it concerns me..I'd like to know what you bet."
The just kept staring at me. They didn't say anything. I groaned and took a gulp of the coffee, burning my throat slightly.
"If one of you don't tell me, I'll find out from Boots the A.V Kid today once I get to school."
That unlocked the silence coming from them. Frenchy was the first to speak.
"When we heard Spot, Kid Blink, Jack and Mush all bragging to the girls of how they'd beat you, we tried to block it out but it finally got to us. We went up to them and asked them to stop. Spot was doing the most of the big- headed comments and he said that the only way to get them to shut up was some kind of bet." Elf added the next part.
"How did your Aunt know? Doesn't she finish work at 5? We were there at 8."
"She was called back in. I think Dutchy was sick so the supervisor asked her to come back. Anyways, I asked what kind of bet. Spot said that when you lost, you had to go in a dress that the girls of the group chose for a day, hang out with them for a week without us and go out with Specs."
Every time she said part of the bet I cringed. The last bit made me spit my coffee onto the table.
"WHAT! The dress and hanging out with them is much, but to go out, out on a date with one of them is going too far. I won't do it."
I sat back and crossed my arms. Matt set down his mug and turned at me.
"You haven't heard what these two came up with. The preps have to announce to the entire cafeteria that you, Dodger McClure are the best ball player. Secondly they have to buy all of us lunch on any day we choose. Lastly, they have to play our favourite type of music for a week over the P.A System. I know for a fact that Ice can get in there and play the music. She's the pres."
Okay, so those weren't half bad things for our side of the bet. Just thinking of those preps made me more determined to beat them. Looking up on the clock behind the cashier, I saw that the second period would be starting in 20mins. I finished up my coffee in a few gulps and waited for the others. How they weren't done before me, I have no clue. Once they did finish we took our mugs to the counter.
"Well, lets roll."
When we got to the school, there were several girls by the gate chatting it up and as we got closer, could tell whom they were. Ice, Stress and some others that I just couldn't remember their names. As I parked Slater, Ice came up to me.
"Listen, are you sure that you want to face four of the best baseball players our school has?"
What was it with people warning me and always mentioning that the boys were ball players? I get the point!
"Yeah I'm sure. I have a name to defend and after hearing you boy toy's bet with my friends, I'm even more determined."
I looked at Ice and she gave me an innocent look.
"What bet? I don't know of any bet."
"It's the one where I have to wear a dress that you girls pick, eat with your or hang with you I'm not sure which and to go out with Specs. Why the hell if I loose do I have to go out with Specs?"
Ice didn't answer me, she just smirked.
"Oh, that bet."
"Yes, THAT bet. Now if you don't mind, I'm not one who likes being late for a class."
I got up off the bike and headed into the school, my friends following behind me.
A/N: Oh man, I'm sorry that I didn't update sooner. I wrote the entire story in a book before putting it on the computer and ended up losing the book for a while. Now, time for disclaimers. I do not own any male Newsie or any character for that matter that is mentioned in this story. I also do not own Ice, Frenchy, Stress, Elf and eventually Pebbles. Dodger is my own creation. Robin Hood has yet to be mentioned but don't worry. It will be in two chapters.
Now, tis time for the thank yous.
First, to Boogalaga: My reason for why I haven't updated is up there in the author's note. Sorry once again. The pink part is comin up in the next chapter. Notice I didn't mention anything about her shirt. * winks*. It's kind of going to be like Wizard of Oz but the main story lies behind Robin Hood. Thanks for the review once again and I'll hurry up with the next chapter.
Lucky: Thanks for being a regular and sorry if I didn't mention you in the last thank yous. I've got a scattered brain at times and loading this thing up at 12 at night just doesn't help either. Answer to your question, it depends on the goth. There are some who go around in the black just because they think it looks neat. Then there are others who have the dark attitudes and dark clothing to match. For those it's some kind of statement. And yes, I'm sure that I am the Dodger you're thinking of and don't worry. Revenge just takes longer to think of, especially the rhymes. Thanks for the review.
Frenchy: Thanks for the review and thanks for letting me use your character. It helps a lot. I'll keep writing if hopefully everyone else keeps reviewing.
Well, that's the extent of the thanks for now, but I hope more so if you see that little box in the left corner that says go, please press! I'd appreciate it. Until later, hausta!
At school, I sit with Elf, Frenchy and Matt at the table I had sat at the first day I was there. The teachers don't do squat when the preps attack us with the paper airplanes and spit balls. They just ignore it. Last week, they ended up taking toilet paper and silly string and covered Slater in the junk from wheel to wheel. Once I got back to the house, it took me nearly a day to clean and wax the bike. And here's the piece de resistance. Two days ago, they did their worst in my eyes anyways. I was in my Drama class and took my trench coat off so I could participate properly.
When the end of the class came, I searched the entire room, from the cabinet to the desk looking for my coat. It was nowhere to be found. I went the entire day without the jacket and as it turned out, it rained. Getting home, I was drenched and ended up with a cold that has yet to go away. Hanging on my locker this morning was the jacket with a note clipped to it.
McClure,
Sorry about the coat. Sometimes they can act like 5-year-olds. Stress says she's sorry.
Specs.
I balled the paper up and threw it into my locker. I slipped the trench on and for the first time in those few days; I smiled. Sitting in Math can be really boring so today I've decided to work on some sketches. I'm not as skilful as Gus, but I hold my own. I took my notebook out and started writing Dodger in weird lettering. Unfortunately for me, Mr. Denton decided to come back where I was. As I was finishing my last touches to the one name, Mr. Denton grabbed my book.
"Miss McClure or as the writing here goes, Dodger what is all this? It's not math work. It looks more like cave drawings."
Hey, at least I could draw. He tries to draw something and it looks like actual chicken scratch. I straightened up in my chair. Was now or never. It seems people would just call me Miss McClure in classes, never by my nickname and now people knew the nickname. Oh well.
"These 'cave drawings' as you like to call them are my signature marks. I might use one one-day for when I become an author."
Taken back by my retort, Mr. Denton dropped my book onto the desk and moved back up to the front of the room, continuing with the lesson on algebra. I ignored the look coming from Spot across the room and for the last 10mins of class I doodled. When the bell rang, I moved from my seat as fast as I could but Spot stopped me at the door.
"Dodger? What kind of name is that?"
"I'd ask the same about Spot."
I left him stunned and headed off to my last class before he could answer. When I got to the class, I found that Specs for the first time in a month, wasn't there. Taking my seat, I pulled out my materials before pulling the Walkman out. I turned it on and drummed away until the bell ran for class to start. With its last ring, Specs and Ice ran into the room and to their seats. As Specs passed my desk, he dropped a note onto my open book. Casually taking it, I unfolded it slowly and read it over.
Dodger (Oh great, now he knew too),
Spot just told us what your nickname was. Why didn't you tell me last month when I drove you home and asked for a name? (Oh, because I didn't want to tell him?) Anyways, the guys talked it over and they want to have a game against you; a dodge ball game. What do you say?
Specs.
Below his note, I scribbled down,
~Fine, I'll take the challenge~. I slipped the note over my shoulder, landing it on his desk. 5mins later, I felt the paper nudge my back. I reached around and took hold, bringing it to the surface. Opening, the note asked me if I was sure, that the boys I'd be face were on the baseball team since they were 6. I scratched out what he wrote and put,
~I'm sure. I know what I'm doing so just back off~.
That was the last of our conversation since Mr. Pulitzer started to talk about the Russian Revolution. When the class finally ended, I picked up my books and headed for my locker. Arriving there, I found Frenchy, Elf and Matt standing around waiting. How Frenchy got there before me I'm not sure but doesn't really matter since she and the others were coming to my place for dinner. I put my books away in my locker and we headed for the parking lot. As we walked, I mentioned the challenge that had been set before me.
"The preps found out my nickname and have challenged me to dodge ball."
It wasn't until I got to the fence that I realized that my friends had stopped. Turning, they all looked like statues with their mouths gaped open. I guess if I had told them that in the parking lot, a car would likely hit them.
"Guys, why'd you stop?"
I walked back to where they stood and Elf was the first to speak.
"You're telling us that 4 guys from the city and school BASEBALL team are going against you and only you?" (I nodded) "You'll be creamed! Jack's nickname on the team is Whiz since that's the sound the ball makes when he throws."
"Please don't give into their antics, just forget about them. They're just full of hot air." Frenchy pleaded.
I gave a laugh.
"Guys, you have nothing to worry about. Back in Aspen I faced guys bigger than those, older than those 4 and we used things that weren't made out of foam."
My friends gave me confused looks until I groaned and told them that if we didn't get moving, there wouldn't be any time for music loud enough to kill our ear drums. Like me, music is something none of them will pass up. We walked through the parking lot where I went to Slater while Elf, Frenchy and Matt all got into Frenchy's 1986 T-Bird.
"Meet you guys at my place."
I pulled out of the parking lot with the T-Bird right behind me.
~*~*Next Day~*~*
"Aunt Medda, do you know where my black cut offs are?" I yelled down the stairs.
"Which ones?"
She asked as she came to the bottom of the stairs. I appeared at the top with my hand towel drying my hair.
"The ones with an outline of a silver rose down the left leg."
Medda stopped drying the dish before she disappeared, only to return a few minutes later with the pants in question in hand. With a toss, she had them up the stairs.
"I washed these last night since you got paint on them from painting the shed last weekend."
"Thanks. These will give me luck today."
I went back down the hallway only to hear my Aunt's footsteps coming up the stairs and down the hallway.
"Luck with what? Do you have a test today?"
I shook my head as I pulled them over a pair of boxers Gus had once given me as a joke. They had smiley faces all over them.
"I'm having a dodge ball game against some kids from school."
I took my hairbrush with Def Leppard etched into the handle and ran it a few times through my hair. Aunt Medda took a seat on my bed as I tucked the strands behind my ears.
"Which kids?"
"Some preps named Spot, Jack, Kid Blink and Mush."
The look on my Aunt's face read the same as my friends. I groaned and grabbed my bag from its resting place as I left my room. I tried to get out of the house before she could say anything, but she did the opposite.
"Child, you don't know what you're up against. Those boys have been on baseball teams since they were 6."
"Aunt Medda, I've heard this all before from Frenchy, Elf and Matt, oh and Specs too. I faced guys older, meaner and with things deadlier than dodge balls."
"Well, just be careful. I don't want to send you back to your mother with broken bones. Oh yes, and beat those braggarts. They need to be knocked down a few pegs."
I stared at her in shock. Did she just tell me to beat them?
"Yesterday those boys came into the soda shop and started bragging about how with their athletic ability, they'll beat you so fast your head will spin. Now, I don't mind a little bragging since I'm used to it coming from that lot, but they didn't stop. That went on for an hour until your friends went by and made a bet with them. They shut up real fast."
"What was the bet? Do you know?"
"No. Boots told me about the bet when he came up for an order."
I looked at the hall clock and saw that I was going to be late for breakfast with the others, we all had spare first apparently, if I didn't get going. I gave Aunt Medda a quick hug and again she wished me luck with the upcoming game. Walking outside I put my bag on the back holder and pulled the key from around my neck as I sat down. I started up the bike and headed off for the coffee shop. Pulling in, I saw Frenchy's T-Bird along with Matt's tracker. I parked in between them and entered the shop. My friends were sitting off towards the back and before I joined them, I grabbed a hazelnut coffee.
"Hey guys."
They all waved as I sat at the table. After taking a sip of my coffee, I stared at the three of them before asking,
"So what did you guys bet?"
Matt spit out his drink, back into his cup luckily while the other two looked at me uneasy. None of them were sure of what to say.
"Guys, I won't get mad at you. Aunt Medda told me about the bragging the preps were doing and how you guys stopped them by making some sort of bet. Now, since it concerns me..I'd like to know what you bet."
The just kept staring at me. They didn't say anything. I groaned and took a gulp of the coffee, burning my throat slightly.
"If one of you don't tell me, I'll find out from Boots the A.V Kid today once I get to school."
That unlocked the silence coming from them. Frenchy was the first to speak.
"When we heard Spot, Kid Blink, Jack and Mush all bragging to the girls of how they'd beat you, we tried to block it out but it finally got to us. We went up to them and asked them to stop. Spot was doing the most of the big- headed comments and he said that the only way to get them to shut up was some kind of bet." Elf added the next part.
"How did your Aunt know? Doesn't she finish work at 5? We were there at 8."
"She was called back in. I think Dutchy was sick so the supervisor asked her to come back. Anyways, I asked what kind of bet. Spot said that when you lost, you had to go in a dress that the girls of the group chose for a day, hang out with them for a week without us and go out with Specs."
Every time she said part of the bet I cringed. The last bit made me spit my coffee onto the table.
"WHAT! The dress and hanging out with them is much, but to go out, out on a date with one of them is going too far. I won't do it."
I sat back and crossed my arms. Matt set down his mug and turned at me.
"You haven't heard what these two came up with. The preps have to announce to the entire cafeteria that you, Dodger McClure are the best ball player. Secondly they have to buy all of us lunch on any day we choose. Lastly, they have to play our favourite type of music for a week over the P.A System. I know for a fact that Ice can get in there and play the music. She's the pres."
Okay, so those weren't half bad things for our side of the bet. Just thinking of those preps made me more determined to beat them. Looking up on the clock behind the cashier, I saw that the second period would be starting in 20mins. I finished up my coffee in a few gulps and waited for the others. How they weren't done before me, I have no clue. Once they did finish we took our mugs to the counter.
"Well, lets roll."
When we got to the school, there were several girls by the gate chatting it up and as we got closer, could tell whom they were. Ice, Stress and some others that I just couldn't remember their names. As I parked Slater, Ice came up to me.
"Listen, are you sure that you want to face four of the best baseball players our school has?"
What was it with people warning me and always mentioning that the boys were ball players? I get the point!
"Yeah I'm sure. I have a name to defend and after hearing you boy toy's bet with my friends, I'm even more determined."
I looked at Ice and she gave me an innocent look.
"What bet? I don't know of any bet."
"It's the one where I have to wear a dress that you girls pick, eat with your or hang with you I'm not sure which and to go out with Specs. Why the hell if I loose do I have to go out with Specs?"
Ice didn't answer me, she just smirked.
"Oh, that bet."
"Yes, THAT bet. Now if you don't mind, I'm not one who likes being late for a class."
I got up off the bike and headed into the school, my friends following behind me.
A/N: Oh man, I'm sorry that I didn't update sooner. I wrote the entire story in a book before putting it on the computer and ended up losing the book for a while. Now, time for disclaimers. I do not own any male Newsie or any character for that matter that is mentioned in this story. I also do not own Ice, Frenchy, Stress, Elf and eventually Pebbles. Dodger is my own creation. Robin Hood has yet to be mentioned but don't worry. It will be in two chapters.
Now, tis time for the thank yous.
First, to Boogalaga: My reason for why I haven't updated is up there in the author's note. Sorry once again. The pink part is comin up in the next chapter. Notice I didn't mention anything about her shirt. * winks*. It's kind of going to be like Wizard of Oz but the main story lies behind Robin Hood. Thanks for the review once again and I'll hurry up with the next chapter.
Lucky: Thanks for being a regular and sorry if I didn't mention you in the last thank yous. I've got a scattered brain at times and loading this thing up at 12 at night just doesn't help either. Answer to your question, it depends on the goth. There are some who go around in the black just because they think it looks neat. Then there are others who have the dark attitudes and dark clothing to match. For those it's some kind of statement. And yes, I'm sure that I am the Dodger you're thinking of and don't worry. Revenge just takes longer to think of, especially the rhymes. Thanks for the review.
Frenchy: Thanks for the review and thanks for letting me use your character. It helps a lot. I'll keep writing if hopefully everyone else keeps reviewing.
Well, that's the extent of the thanks for now, but I hope more so if you see that little box in the left corner that says go, please press! I'd appreciate it. Until later, hausta!