I'm so sorry it took me so long to update! I have an excuse! I've been insanely busy. My life for the past week has been: Wake up, go to school, play volleyball, eat dinner at school, work on stage crew for school musical, go out til around midnight with other stage crew type people, and sleep. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Musical is over now and volleyball ends tomorrow so the updates should come way faster.
We did in fact get wet when it started to rain in a half of an hour. It came down slowly at first but it got faster quickly. Within an hour we quit. The ink was smearing and illegible. Several people bought one to use as a make-shift umbrella and others bought several out of pity. Selling more than half of the papers, Skittery and I managed to make a small profit. We walked quickly towards the Lodging House. The rain was intensifying and a distant roll of thunder motivated us to move faster. I continually tried dry my eyes but in moments water hung on my eyelashes, distorting my vision. Skittery's hat helped him to see and he kept a guiding hand on my shoulder as he walked behind me.
"Unpleasant weather." He stated.
"Unpleasant? That's a forgiving understatement."
"It's unusually bad."
"Yeah."
"I hope Trip's alright." He said more to himself than me. He pulled is hat off his head and wrung it out. Shaking it a little, he placed it back snuggly on his head.
"Why wouldn't she be?"
"She don't like storms."
"It's sweet that you care."
"Huh?"
"Do you fancy her?" I said jokingly. I twirled and laughed to hide my jealousy. "I shouldn't be jealous. I mean, I just met this guy! He's just nice and helping me get started. I probably just ... gravitate to him because he's been nice. Right? Right." I thought.
Skittery joined in my laughing like it was an absurd question. "Trip is like me little sista. Plus everyone knows she has a thing for David." He paused to think and continued, "Well everyone except David."
"Does David 'have a thing' for her?"
"Well he wouldn't really tell anyone, but it's obvious to anyone with sense. That excludes Trip."
"Oooh." I said. "Just wait 'til I tell her was you said!" I said running towards the Lodging House, which a few blocks down the street.
"Oh no you don't, Navy!" He called out chasing me. I'd like to blame my lack of vision for running straight into someone, but it was just my chronic clumsiness. I slammed right into him but neither of us fell. Words cannot describe how idiotic I felt just looking at the tall teenager who glared darkly at me.
"Wanna watch where you're going?" The boy asked rudely. I hate rude people.
"No, I want to run into people as often as I can." I said sarcastically. Oh wait, I can't hate rude people; I'm a rude person.
The boy looked at me menacingly. I was pretty sure he was on the verge of killing me. He was about to say something when Skittery walked up behind me. Spitting into his hand, Skittery held it out. The boy repeated the same gross gesture and shock hands.
"How ya doin' Spot?"
"I was doin' fine 'til she" He pointed accusingly at me while I glared. "Ran into me. It's a good thing I don't hit goils..."
"That's ridiculous!" I shot up.
"Heh," He laughed mockingly. "It's ridiculous that I don't hit goils?"
"No, it's ridiculous that you'd it anyone over a silly, little accident." I said.
"Who is she?" He asked Skittery, acting like I wasn't standing there.
"I'm Navy," I said before Skittery could open his mouth. "And I can answer for myself."
"Da name's Spot Conlon." Oh God, he's the idiot going out with Victoria. My dislike towards him intensified. "I'se is a forgiving guy so I'm gonna let your disrespect slide this time since you seem new. Don't let it happen again."
"You cocky little-" I started to say, but Skitts took it upon himself to forcibly shut me up. He clapped his hand over my mouth and started talking to Spot again.
"Whatja come ta 'Hattan foah? Not exactly a day for a stroll through the city." He took his hand off of my mouth and I formed my lips into a cold line.
"Dunno, I got nottin' better ta do."
"Like ruling over Brooklyn and spending time with your precious girlfriend?" I asked sarcastically.
"Don't talk about Little like dat!" Spot said angrily. My mouth dropped open.
"Little? What about Victoria?" I asked, confused beyond belief.
"Who da hell is Victoria?" Spot asked, still angrily.
"Victoria Snieder. Rich prissy girl. Red hair, green eyes."
"Snieder? Like I'd ever have anything to do with the Refuge warden's daughter."
"Wait, that means-" I broke into laughter while the two boys looked at me, afraid that I had lost my mind. "Oh dear God, that's too funny!" I laughed.
"What is wrong witcho?" Spot asked. I held a hand up to my mouth trying to gain my control.
"First off, my sincerest apologies Mr. Conlon." I laughed again. "You see, Victoria, she goes to school with me. She's telling people you and her are together." Peels pf laughter issued from me again. "She just broke up with her boyfriend and she made it up."
"Can ya blame her for pickin' me though?" Spot said with a smirk, having caught on. Skittery laughed, too.
"You better talk to Little before she hears about Ms. Snieder's rumors." Skitts suggested logically.
"Shit, I hope she hasn't heard." Spot took off running followed closely by me and Skittery. Before we even caught our breath once inside the Lodging House, Little stormed up to Spot and slapped him across the face.
"Oh you don't even need to tell me why your heah." She said loudly enough to catch everyone's attention. She continued on disgusted and angry. "You find a rich goil and dump me. You insensitive little bastard!" She screeched. Spot was still trying to catch his breath and speak up. "How could you? The last 4 months didn't mean anything to you?" She asked with less anger and more hurt.
"Little, will ya just listen?" A soaking wet Spot asked. He was drenched from the rain and
"What else is there to say? Some girl who bought a paper from me this afternoon was bragging about how she'd 'hooked Spot Conlon' and how she had him wrapped around her ring-covered finger."
"Little! Hun, listen ta me. It ain't true. You can ask Navy, she knows the goil!"
"He's right." I nodded.
"Fine, you have to explain this to me. Lets go talk in the back room, where nosy newsies," She directed at the people staring at the scene. "Won't be listening."
"Wait just one minute!" Russia said rising from the couch. She stomped over to Spot and slapped him just like Little had. The poor guy sure takes a lot of abuse for being the toughest newsie in New York. "How dare you grow! You're near 5'6 now! Why do you get to grow and I don't?"
"Russia, people grow. That's not a reason to hit me."
"Hmph." She turned to walk away.
Spot called after her, "And I'm 5'8!" She turned around to attack him, but Snoddy grabbed her and Little walked away dragging Spot with her.
"Yeah, deyse is really goin' ta talk in der." Racetrack said.
"More like kiss. Eww!" One of the younger newsies cried out and the other little boys echoed his disgusted noise.
What did you think?
I rushed through it a little, for your sakes (haha), so forgive any crappiness.