A/N: Hehe...long time no chappy, huh? Well, here 'tis, and if it weren't for Lady Arachnia (a.k.a. Cat... a.k.a. Talicia) these next three chappys wouldn't even be typed out (nope, they'd still be wedged in my head along with my other 555,555,555,555,555,5555,555,555,555,555... other fic ideas!) So, read and review and be the good liddle readahs ya ah!
-------------------
Lucks smiled and took in the fresh morning air as she made her way to Cooney Island. That day had been good so far, so she'd figure she might as well go to the amusement park.
Her morning had started off great. She woke up early, took a cool bath, got dressed, and was ready long before all the other girls. Then they made their way to get their papes for that morning.
Lucks hadn't seen Race, but then again, she didn't expect to. He probably had a hangover enough for all the Manhattan newsies and then some. Poor kid didn't know when to stop.
So, with a hundred papes in hand, Lucks headed off to Coney Island. The sunlight was fresh, which meant that that would be a good day. Heck, she even gypped an apple from an un-expecting vendor along the way.
As she pulled up to the large entrance to the carnival, Lucks took that very apple out of her pocket and shined it on her vest before taking a bite. Bittersweet juices flooded her mouth and she had a feeling of aliveness in her. Yep, definitely a good day.
But, all great things must end, and this one sure did. By the end of the day, Lucks was worn out. She'd sold all of her papes, but not without a little prodding from the little kids around her and shoving from the crowd of people trying to get to their next ride. Not to mention, the day grew hot. No, not just hot, sweltering. Lucks had to strip off her two over shirts and her hat before she was at a close-to-safe temperature.
After the crowd had dissipated, Lucks made her way back to the entrance and wiped sweat off her brow. She let out a long sigh and collapsed on a nearby bench. It had definitely been a long day. The people were gone and the sun was going down, causing a small chill to come up from the ground, but Lucks still felt like she was going to cry. She was tired and sick and she hadn't seen Racetrack Higgins all day. Sure, she sounds like a spoiled child, but wouldn't you?
Then, as if to answer her prayers, a voice called out to her. "Hey, Lucks, whadd're ya doin' heah? Slummin'?"
Lucks looked up. It was Race. His brow was furrowed, and he looked just as tired and worn out as she did, but he was still standing there.
Lucks smiled and forced herself to stand up and meet him. She kissed his cheek, linked his arm with hers, and rested her head on his shoulder. "Take me home." She groaned.
"Not so loud." Race groaned back.
Lucks rolled her eyes. "Make me!" She practically yelled in his ear. He deserved what he was getting. Didn't he?
He sighed and a look of complete pain and tired-ness swept over his face. Lucks looked into his eyes and nearly melted. "Oh, baby, I'm sorry. I'm tired dat's all. Oh, come on, Race, don't gimme dat face..." She whined. "Raaaaace!" He didn't stop looking at her. "Ugh, fine... let's go ta da Lodgin' house an' I'll getcha cleaned up." She rolled her eyes and held his hand, dragging him home.
Once at the Boy Lodging House (which they found empty), Lucks forced him to sit down on his bed while she went to the washroom. She returned with a wet rag.
"Take off ya shirt." She instructed.
Race gave her a look.
"Juss do it you pervert." Race sighed and obliged. Lucks nodded blushed slightly. Race was surprisingly...well... buff. He had abs. He was tan too. Lucks almost had to wipe the drool off her face. "Um... okay... now hold dis ta ya forehead." She instructed, handing him the wet rag. Again, he obliged. So, slowly, she sat down behind him, her short (but slender) legs on either side of his body.
Then, slowly, she placed her hands on his muscular back and began massaging it. She pressed her palms over every curve and circled out every knot. As she did it, Race let out a very audible sigh, causing her to blush harder. Then she moved slightly closer to him. Her hands moved upwards toward his shoulders, and then his neck, and then they felt themselves traveling back downward to his arms.
Lucks felt a tingle of cold on her arm as Race dropped the towel and clutched her hand. He then brought her palm up to his lips and kissed it. Then he slowly began kissing up her arm and to her neck. She fell backwards onto the pillow.
Five minutes went on like this. Silence in the room except for the small, yet audible sighs and moans coming from the bunk bed that Race shared with Blink. Then, Lucks heard something else.
She ignored it at first, until she heard it again. Race kissed her fully on the lips and then she pulled away and put a finger to his. "Shh." She whispered.
Race made a very confused face and Lucks motioned towards the open window. Race slowly got up from on top of her and the two of them made their way to the window.
Two men dressed in black were under the fire escape discussing something very quietly. But not quietly enough.
Lucks and Race both leaned forward to hear what they were saying, but they didn't need to go far.
"Are you hearin' me, Snake?" Said one man in a very thick Italian accent.
"Yes, sir." Replied the other in the same dialect.
"Good. I want da girl dead by tanight, ya hear? Any mistakes and you're gone, dead. Lei sente?" The first man said.
Lucks looked at Race for a quick moment, slightly frightened, then her attention was drawn back to the men.
"I hear you, sir." The second man, Snake, said.
"Good. Now Goodnight, Snake. I'll see you tomorrow." And with that, the first man left.
Snake looked around for a moment before heading the other direction.
Race looked at Lucks. "Whad'd'ya suppose dat was all about?"
Lucks furrowed her eyebrows and shrugged. Then she looked at the clock on the wall. 6:24. Then she looked at Race and snorted. "Uh... you should pro'lly put ya shirt back on."
Race grinned and walked over to the bed and pulled his shirt back on.
At that moment, the door to the bunkroom swung wide open to reveal Cat and Blink. Both of them were kissing, their shirts nearly off, and Blink's head was completely immersed in a sea of long black hair.
Lucks and Race looked at each other and burst into fits of hysterics. They had completely forgotten about the two Italian men... but would they forget for long?
