Skittery led me to a table where Davey, Trip, Russia, Little, Snoddy and Jack sat. Once I was sitting, I once again tried and failed to hide my bleeding hands.
"What happened Navy?" Russia asked worriedly.
"Uh, nothing."
"Uhm, no, not nothing." Trip chimed in.
"Really don't worry."
"Who did it?" Jack asked. He didn't seem to notice Kiki walk up behind him, coming into the restaurant for a lunch break.. "Nobody messes with Manhattan."
"You sound like Spot." Kiki said pulling a chair up next to Jack, who jumped at her sudden appearance.
"Who is Spot?" I said, feeling hopeful that the focus was off of me.
"Don't change the subject. Who did it?"
"It really doesn't matter." I said disappointed that the subject had not changed.
"It was 'er jackass teacher." Skittery answered for me and earned himself a blow from my elbow into his arm. "Ow." He whimpered as I smiled angelically.
"Really, who is Spot? I've heard about him. Is he as bad as people say?" I spit out before the uncomfortable subject could continue.
"Leader of the Brooklyn newsies." Russia informed me. "Kinda annoyingly cocky, but not evil. He's taller than me. That's reason enough to be bitter, right?"
"Of course it is..." Little said. "He ain't that bad. Just a little too loud for his own good."
A waiter popped up behind me, looking frazzled by the amount of customers. "What can I get you?" He asked, pencil ready to scribble down our orders.
People started saying their orders all at once.
"Just a soda!"
"Salad please!"
"Burger over hear! No pickles!"
"Hot dog!"
"One at a time, please." The waiter said above us.
There was a two second pause before everyone started repeating themselves.
"Okay, this isn't working! You first please." He said point the pencil's eraser at me.
"Just some water." I said someone shyly. I didn't need to use all of my money on restaurant food when it was cheaper from a cart. The waiter rolled his eyes before scrawling it down on his notepad. He went around the table and everyone got something different.
Jack bragged about the number papers he sold and Kiki laughed, Race discussed horses' stats with Slight, and Russia and Little were having fun confusing Snoddy. Skittery and Davey were talking about actual news while Trip and I were flicking pieces of napkin at each other. The waiter brought out our drinks, looking annoyed with our rowdiness. I sipped the water I'd been handed and listened to Trip, Davey and Skittery's conversation. I didn't say much, more interested in their ideas than voicing my own. If anyone understood New York City, it was the people living on it's street and selling its news.
Everyone else's food came and I continued to slowly drink the ice water. Skittery pushed the plate of food in between us. Not entirely sure of what he was doing, I tilted my head to the side and lifted an eyebrow.
"Don't think I'm gonna sit here and eat while you drink water."
"Huh?" I was still not sure what he was getting at.
"Just eat something." He started waving a French fry in my face.
"But really, I'm not hungry." I lied.
"Shut up and eat. You didn't have any breakfast so you need lunch."
"But it's yours."
"So?" He asked.
"Are you sure?" It was the worst possible moment for my stomach to growl, it did.
"Yes!" He cried emphatically.
I took the fry out of his hand and ate it. "Happy now?"
"Nope." He said handing me half of his sandwich.
I brought it towards my mouth but paused before biting it and said, "I'll eat it, but you have to let me pay."
"Half and half?" He compromised.
"Fine." I laughed.
"Well if that wasn't sickeningly sweet." Racetrack said, having apparently heard the whole thing. I laughed awkwardly and Skittery rolled his eyes. For some reason the gesture that showed he was just being polite and didn't care that much hurt my feelings. Did I have a thing for Skittery? No, I can't, I just can't.
My thoughts of denial were interrupted by Kiki getting up and running away from Jack, who followed holding a ... cheeseburger? She made a few laps around the table before Jack caught her and grabbed her in a bear hug from behind. He whispered something in her ear and she nodded. A smile crept across both of their faces. Slight sent Trip, Little and I a knowing look and winked. Jack still hadn't let go of Kiki and he put the cheeseburger up to her face.
"No, no, no!" She screamed turning away from it. "Jack! I'm a vegetarian. Get it away!" Her pleas caught the attention of everyone in the room. The waiter stormed out and demanded we leave. When the boys protested and refused, the waiter became desperate.
"Please, just go." He begged. "You can take your food, and you can have it for free if you just go."
Laughing the newsies grabbed their food and left. Jack's arm was around Kiki's waist, destroying any doubt that the question he had asked had been was "Would ya be me goil?"
Outside people started splitting up in groups of ones, twos and threes. Skittery looked behind him and asked "You comin'?"
"Mmhmm." I mumbled.
We walked towards towards the place where they bought the newspapers. I think Skitts called it the Distribution Center. Once we got there I bought 25 papers and paid the unnattractive teen who gave me a crooked smile. Skittery sent him a glare when buying more papers for himself.
"Looks like rain. Have fun with that." The boy said. I looked up and the skies had turned a threatening shade of gray.
"Shut up, Morris." Skittery said. I tried to stifle my laughter caused by the way Skittery said Morris, earning myself a nasty look from Morris himself.
We walked away from the distribution center and once we were out of earshot I asked, "What happens if it rains?"
Skittery shrugged. "We get wet."