A/N- I'm not dead! If you sent me a PM, or if you updated your stories and I haven't reviewed like I usually do, its because I've been in New Jersey. I will get back to you within two days. Then school starts. :( So, I'll be worse at updating. But I'll update. I promise.
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As soon as we walked into Irving Hall, light and sound assaulted us.
"Hey Davey!" "Who's da goil?" "Heya doll," and other, less savory comments all came our way. Davey and I coolly ignored them and walked to the table Jack and Sarah were at. "Heya Dave. Who's your goilfriend?" Jack said, his eyes twinkling as he winked at me. I would've yelled at him, but I understood what he was doing. He was proving that he didn't know me. Normally, I also would've answered before Dave could answer, but I didn't tonight. "This is Robin." Davey said, pulling me in front of him. I nodded slightly and looked at my shoes. "What 'r you doin' lookin' at da floor? We're right here," a voice that couldn't be mistaken said. I looked up and met his eyes.
"I'm Racetrack. And dis lovely goil here," Race put his arm around a girl of about 16. She had curly, light brown hair that was short, about mid-neck length. She was very tan. I met her gaze and was startled by her violet eyes. Her gaze was intense, but it had a faraway glimmer, like she had seen the other side for a time. "Is Nevada. She's da best goil a guy could have." Race finished, pulling Nevada closer. "Hello," Nevada said in a rich alto voice.
"Gee Race, we all know you love Nevada. But please, don' drown da new goil in your mushy-ness," another familiar voice said. "Well you're one to talk Mush," Race countered, smiling to let Mush and I know he wasn't angry. Mush rolled his eyes at Race, then turned to face me. "Anyway. I'm Mush, as you probably gathered. This kid right here is Blink," Mush said pointing at Blink. He smiled and winked. Or maybe he blinked. I don't really know. ", Crutchy," Crutchy waved, ", Skittery," Skittery nodded while looking at the table, ", his goil Leah," a very properly dressed girl smiled at me, ",Jack," Jack smiled at me and waved, ", his goil Sarah," Sarah smiled at me, but the smile didn't reach her eyes, ", and dis here is my goil Rain," Mush wrapped his arm around a petite girl with blonde hair, a wide smile and bright blue eyes. "Hey dere Robin!" she said happily.
Davey pulled a chair out for me, and I sat down next to him and Rain. "So, how'd ya meet Dave?" Rain asked me. Already liking this sunny girl, I said, "I met him at school when he used to go. I had liked him then, but he disappeared after his father got hurt. I only found him a couple of weeks ago." I had to make sure that I spoke perfectly, working hard to drop my accent. "So you'se a richie?" a cold voice asked from behind me. "Mister Conolon, just because I prefer to use proper English does not make me a 'richie'" I said, putting as much disdain in my voice as possible. "How'd ya know me?" Spot asked, surprised. 'Crap. I'm not Two Bits any more. I'm not Lucky either. He doesn't know me!' I thought, panicked. I whirled around and said angrily, "Just because I didn't pick you does not give you the right to pretend you don't know me!" I met his gaze and pleaded with my eyes. He must've understood, because he smirked slightly and said, " You're right. Just 'cause you picked wrong doesn't make it right for me ta pretend I don't know ya. But I'm gonna anways. Now, who are you?" "Spot Conolon, you know very well that I am Robin!" I said angrily, thanking him with my eyes. "Well then Robin, since I don' know you, how 'bout a dance?" Spot said. Before I could answer he pulled me up and onto the dance floor.
"Who are you?" Spot asked as soon as we were out of earshot of the table. "You told me you were Two Bits Lucky. You were a guy. Every single person at that table, except for the goils, knew you before tonight. Now you'se tryin' ta tell me that you'se Robin, some richie who's datin' da mouth?" We started dancing to avoid suspicion. "Do you really wanna know da whole truth?" I asked Spot. "Yea," he said quietly.
"Fine den. My name's Tessa 'Lucky' Myers. My brother's name's Shawn 'Mush' Myers. We'se twins. Our mudder died when we was, umm, six, I think. I try to block unhappy memories." I added to satisfy Spot's look of complete disbelief. Speaking quickly, I continued, "Anyways, uh, where was I? Right, our mudder died. Our fadder got real depressed, fell deep in da bottle. Never crawled out. For five years we put up wid da beatin's our drunk fadder gave us. Den Mush ran away. He though pa would follow him, leavin' me in an empty, safe home. Well, he didn'. I was left wid 'im for five more years afore I called it quits. I took two a Mush's shirts, some pants, my hat an' left." I wanted to finish up quickly so Spot could say something before the song ended. "Den I got ta 'Hatten, met Mouth, went ta da Lodge, found Mush, pretended ta be Two Bits fer awhile, Race started callin' me Lucky, you figured out my secret, and I'm sure dis whole thing's gonna backfire on me any day now." I finished in a rush.
Spot looked at me. "Wow," he breathed quietly. "An' here I thought you was just a basket case. Well den, I was wrong. Ya jus' lost me a bet," Spot said with a smirk. "You was bettin' on me?" I asked, fuming. "Naw. But it shoa was fun seein' your face when ya thought I did." We both laughed. The song ended, and we separated, Spot going back to his boys and me going back to the table. "Well, wha' did 'e wan'?" Rain asked as soon as I sat down. "Ah, nothin' really. Just wanted ta talk ta me. He knew I'd run away if he tried ta talk anywhere but here," I said, forgetting that I wasn't supposed to have an accent. Lo and behold, "I thought ya didn' have an accent Robs." Of course it was Race who noticed this. He always saw through my lies. "Of course I have an accent!" I exclaimed, laughing. "Who is born in dis beautiful city with out an accent? My parents just don't like me using it. They say it's not 'proper' or 'dignified'" I said, using a stiff British accent and a funny face to show that I disagreed with my parents. Really I was just happy I came up with a believable excuse. "Well, you'se among friends, so lay it on thick while you can," Jack said, laughing. "Well den, how's 'bout we'se talk 'bout somethin'!" I said, laughing along with everyone.
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It was hours later, and the party was nearly over. I had danced a couple of times, but mainly I stayed and talked. I loved getting to know the boy's polite side and their girlfriends. Medda announced the last song and I breathed a sigh of relief. I wouldn't have to dance again. "Robin, do you want to dance?" a soft voice asked. I groaned a little bit, but stood up. I turned around and the asker, David, took my hand. We walked onto the dance floor and got situated. I took David's hand and he took my waist and we started to dance. Well, not really dance. Neither of us are the best dancers. I was fine, but only if someone else was leading. David had two left feet. We swayed to the music. It was nearly tangible, swirling around us, pushing us closer together. I rested my head against his chest and closed my eyes. I felt him place his head on top of mine. I felt the soft currents of the music cease, but we kept swaying, dancing to a tune only our hearts could hear. A thoughtless catcall brought us back to the present. Blushing furiously, David and I stopped dancing and walked off the dance floor. Good-byes were exchanged, and everyone started towards their homes. I noticed Race, Blink, Skittery and Mush all huddled together, talking in hushed tones. I ignored it. They were probably talking about some bet they all had made.
David and I walked in silence for several blocks. It wasn't strained, but something had changed from earlier tonight. It was like we had both revealed a locked away part of our heart, and neither of us wanted to admit it or figure out exactly what had happened. I shivered involuntarily as a cold breeze whipped around my ankles. Without breaking stride David moved closer and put his arm around me. Normally I would have complained, but there were two reasons I didn't. One, Sarah had put me in a ridiculously short dress and it was really cold. Two, I really liked being this close to David. We walked like that all the way back to his apartment. We hurried there as much as possible because I had to get back before the rest of the guys got back. In my sane, comfortable, regular, now dry clothes the night was no longer cold, but the perfect temperature. David and I still walked in silence. I didn't want to break the silence, but at the same time I wanted to talk. I suddenly slipped my hand into David's. He stiffened slightly and I muttered, "Sorry," and started to pull my hand back. "No, don't," David said quietly, gripping my hand tighter. "I was just surprised, that's all." "Oh," I said, smiling to myself. We stopped in front of the lodging house.
"Thanks for walkin' me home," I said shyly. "It was my pleasure," David said formally. "Well, 'night," I said, turning to go into the lodge. "Wait," David said, grabbing my hand. I turned around. "What?" I asked softly. He looked at me for a minute, then closed the small gap between us. "This," he whispered. He kissed me. The kiss was soft and slow and sweet and perfect. In fact, it was so perfect and we were so wrapped up in it that we didn't hear someone walking up behind us. "Oiy! Who's dere?" Race called out. David and I jumped apart guiltily. "Two Bits? David? What're you doin'?" Race asked, confused. I looked at David and sighed. "I'm kissing my date goodnight Race," I said quietly and slowly. "Two Bits, you and... and David... and date... and... and... Robin!" Race said, not making much sense, but smiling smugly. "What?" I asked, thoroughly confused. "You," he pointed at me, "are Robin," He stated simply. I looked at David, who looked quiet dumbstruck that Race figured it out. "Yep," I said simply. He smiled, if possible, more smugly than before. "I knew it! I knew you was a goil! Blink, Skitts, Mush, you all owe me money!" Race yelled the last past louder, like he was calling people out. Blink, Skitts and Mush all came out of the shadows.
"How didja know Race?" I asked, ignoring the four shocked boys around me. "When you sang dat song, ya sang high too well ta be a boy." I grinned, shook my head and said, "I was countin' on your lack of brains ta not notice dat." "Hey!" he yelled, taking a step towards me. I smiled and stepped behind David. "Dang you Race, I bet more money than I have!" Mush said once he found his tongue. I figured if one cat was out of the bag, the other one should be out too. I sighed and said, "Shawn, Shawn. Didn't Ma always hate gamblin'? An' didn' she always say 'If you've gotta gamble, don't bet more than you have. The chances of you losing are 100 with money that you don't have on the line.' It's awlright though, I'se got some extra money on me."
I tossed two bits at him. The money bounced off his chest onto the ground. He ignored it and whispered, "Tessa?" "No, it's Jill, your other long lost sister," I said, my temper starting to flair up again. "Easy," Dave whispered, putting his hand on my shoulder. I nodded a minutely and shrugged his hand off my shoulder. "It is you!" Mush exclaimed excitedly, "I would know that temper anywhere!" "Only you could be happy about my temper," I said, shaking my head. Mush ran at me and gave me a hug. "I've missed ya so much!" he said excitedly. "Me too. Please, breathing is needed." I gasped. "Sorry!" Mush said, releasing me. Everyone laughed as I took several deep breaths.
"So, should we still call ya Two Bits?" Skitts asked me. "Eh, shoa. I don' really care. Two Bits or Lucky, but not Tessa," I said, not interested in this conversation anymore. "Should we'se tell da udder guys?" Blink asked. "Yeah, probly," I turned to David, "Spot knows too. Should I tell 'im ta tell the Brookies?" David thought for a moment, then said, "Why not? Just make sure that he know his boys can't tell anyone else." "Good point," I nodded approvingly. Jack walked up behind Mush. "Hey Bits. What's goin' on? An after party-party?" he asked. "Naw. Jus' dese boys figured out dat I'm a goil an' Mush's twin," I said, smiling. Jack looked at me for a minute, then looked at each boy for a minute. "You told dese boneheads?" Jack asked after several minutes. "Um, no. Dese 'boneheads' figured it out by demselves. And dey don' like bein' called boneheads," I said, smiling sweetly.
I grabbed David hand and pulled him into the lodge as the 'boneheads' began to lightly soak Jack. Like I said, nothing makes you feel better then punching Jack Kelly. I laughed at the scene outside as the door closed behind us. David and I crept quietly through the deserted lodging house until we got to the roof. I lay down, and David lay next to me.
"Look at all da stars," I breathed. "They're beautiful," David agreed. I turned onto my side and looked at him. He looked so much more relaxed then when I first met him. He looked happier too. As if answering my thoughts, he smiled. "What're you so happy 'bout?" I asked him quietly. "Tonight was one of the best nights of my life," he said. "Medda's party was fun," I agreed. "That's not what I meant," he said, laughing. "Then wha' did ya mean?" I asked, confused. "I got to spend the whole night with the best girl ever. She's a great dancer, she's funny, not very self-confident, has a horrible temper, and lead a lot of boys on," David said, a dreamy look in his eyes.
"Sounds like you're fallin' for a bad goil, if she's lead crowds on. And I though only goils could get the look you've got on you're face," I said. David laughed. "I promise, she's not a bad girl," he said, smiling. "An' how do ya know dat?" I asked. "Well, are you a bad girl?" David asked. "No," I said slowly. "Then there's your answer," David said, still smiling. "Wait, you mean... me?" I asked slowly, hesitantly. I didn't want to ask and then have him say no. But I had to know whom he was talking about. He looked at me and kissed me again. "Of course I mean you. Who else would I be talking about?" he said. "I dunno," I replied softly. "Tessa?" he asked softly several minutes later. "Hmm?" "Will you be my girl?"
I looked at him for a moment and then kissed him. "Didja hafta ask?" I said, smiling. "I just wanted to be sure," he said softly. I moved closer to him so our shoulders were touching. We lay next to each other, breathing in harmony. We fell asleep looking at the stars, our thoughts full of each other.
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A/N- Aww, so sickeningly cute. Yes, this chapter is full of fluff. It's necessary. I promise, the reat of the story won't be this fluffy. Actually, it's gonna be really sad.
Blink: Why?
Me: Now, if I told them, there would be no reason to read the rest of the story
Blink: Oh.
Me: Now, where was I. Right. Long disclaimer this week. Blink, will you hold this list?
Blink: Shoa. Dude, this weighs like a million pounds!
Me: Okay, no more Hardy Boy fanfics for you.
Blink: Why?
Me: You're taking like Joe
Blink: Oh
Me: And yes, it is heavy. Like I said, there's a LOT of disclaimer this week. Now, let me see. Alright. I don't own Newsies. Nor do I own any of the newsies, except for Two Bits/ Lucky/ Tessa/ Robin. I don't own Nevada or Leah. They belong to Smiley94. (Please don't be mad at me for borrowing Leah. I can't picture Skitts with anyone else now :) ) I don't own Rain. She owns herself. (hi! I told you you would be in here!) I am done disclaiming now.
Blink: Good (drops list)
Me: You know what to do. Read and review. I made you a poem to, so push the buton blue!