Title: Secrets Behind the Lies

Author: Stress

First written: June 27, 2002- March 19, 2004

Edited and replaced: May 16, 2006

Summary: Part II of the Soul Mates Series; After living in Manhattan for two years, Stress thought she knew everything about Jack Kelly or, should we say Francis Sullivan? Well, guess not.

--

Inside Tibby's

Quickly scanning the booths of Tibby's to make sure that none of his newsies were enjoying a break from selling, King ushered Gip inside the restaurant. What he had to tell his girlfriend, King did not want anyone else overhearing.

After making sure that Gip was sitting comfortably in her seat, King slid into the one opposite of her's. "Gip, there..." he began, clutching her tiny hand in his larger one. "I...I...I need to use the restroom," he blurted out as he anxiously rose from his seat and ran to the nearest stall.

Gip opened her mouth slightly to say something but never got the chance. King was much too fast for her. "Damn," she swore as she laid her head on the table, "at this rate King'll never tell me what's going on." She sighed to herself and remained rested on the wood.

Her ears perked up, though, when she heard jolly laughter coming from the table directly behind her's. Though she couldn't see the table's occupants, when one of them spoke, she knew who it was immediately. "Oh my God, he must seriously think we're loons." "Stress, what is she doing here right now?" Gip thought to herself, cocking her ear in the direction of Stress' voice to hear the rest of the conversation.

"If I promise to tell you why I was late to the distribution center this morning will you stop tickling me and never breath a word of what I tell you to any one?" And there was Jack's voice.

"Of course, Jack." Gip, her attention drawn to their words, drew in a breath. "Whatever they're talking about it's gotta be good," she murmured when she heard the sound of their palms slapping against each other. If Jack was making his best friend swear on a spit-shake, it was serious.

Jack drew in a deep breath. "Alright, this is what happened," he began before pausing for a moment, "King's going to kill me when he finds out I told you, Stress."

Gip's stomach sank. King? "I wonder if this is what King needs to tell me," she murmured, waiting for Stress to prod Jack into telling her anyway.

And, like Gip predicted, prodding Jack is exactly what Stress did. "But, Jack, King ain't going to find out, is he?"

"I guess you're right. Anyway, this all happened about a week ago. I was talking to King about something--"

"What were you talking about?" Stress interrupted.

"Twasn't nothing important. Anyway,--"

"Jack, I asked you what you and King was talking about." Stress was very nosy and if she wanted to know something, it was always better for her to find out. She always would, anyways.

Gip giggled when she heard Jack mumble his response then try to continue with his story.

"Jack..." Stress said warningly.

"Alright already. Ya want to know, I'll tell you. Me and King was talking about you and Gip." Even though she couldn't see Jack's face, Gip could tell by the tone of his voice that he was blushing.

"Oh. Well, continue with the story then." As was Stress. Gip sighed to herself. "Those two..."

Luckily, though, being embarassed didn't stop Jack from continuing with the story. "Well we was conversing about stuff when Kloppy comes in with a letter for King. I didn't think nothing of it, but King just made me swear that I wouldn't tell no one. So--"

"Why would he make you swear not to tell no one?"

"Stress, will you please stop interrupting me? Thanks. Like I was saying, after I sweared to keep me trap shut, I did. But this morning King came up to me and we had a li'l chat. And that's why I was late to the distribution center this morning."

There was a pause and then Gip heard the two of them, in unison, say "What was you two talking about?"

"Jack, that ain't funny." Gip had to disagree; As she sat behind Jack and Stress' booth, she had to stifle her giggles.

"I thought it was, Stressie. Anyway, to make a long story short, King offered me Manhattan this morning."

"What!" Stress screeched. Gip stopped giggling for a moment and held her breath. "Please Jack, continue with the story. Why is King giving up Manhattan?" Gip whispered to herself, looking quickly towards the bathroom to make sure that King wasn't coming back to the table.

He wasn't, of course, considering the fact that he had locked himself in the bathroom until he had gathered up the nerve to tell Gip he was leaving her. "C'mon, King, stop acting like a scab and talk to your girl!" With a quick look in the cracked mirror, King unlocked the door and made to head back to his and Gip's booth.

"Shhh!" Jack admonished, lowering his voice drastically. "Stress, do you want to let all of Tibby's know?"

"Sorry Jack," she whispered back.

"Well, I'm going to tell you real quick, and mind you this is only what he told me, but it turns out that King got a letter from his sister and he's going back to Connecticut...in three days."

"What!" screeched Gip, banging her fists on her table.

"Stress, I told you to keep quiet!" Jack whispered harshly.

"That ain't me, Jack," she whispered back.

Figuring she was caught anyways, Gip stood up and walked around the booth so that she was facing Stress and Jack. "Tell me you're lying, Jack." With her dark, bold eyes flashing, Jack was afraid to tell Gip anything.

"Uh...Gip...uh," Jack's eyes darted to and fro around the restaurant until he found something to distract Gip. "Hiya King."

King, who had just exited the bathroom, looked over to where Jack had called to him. "What? Jack? Gi-- Gip?" he croaked out when he saw his girlfriend squaring off against Jack.

Gip turned around and just stared for a moment. "You...you...you...Arrggh!" she yelled before running right past him and directly out the door of the restaurant.

King looked from the slamming door to the two embarassed faces of Jack and Stress. "Uhh, guys. Is there something you'd like to tell me?" When neither one said a word, King pointed at the door. "Like why Gip just ran outta here like that?"

Jack slumped in his seat and pulled his cowboy hat over his eyes. "It's all Stress' fault!"