A/N: Again, I took way longer to work on this than even I expected. I didn't forget about the story, I just needed some inspiration. So, without further ado, here's chapter four! Oh…and some backtracking was needed. Just pointing that out.
Polly's Story
Mush walked towards the Brooklyn Bridge at a steady pace; wanting to take in the quiet a little bit before he was overcome with the joyful celebration in Brooklyn. He stopped to look around every once in a while. Manhattan was so peaceful at night. There were no cops to chase you if you looked at somebody the wrong way, no civilians to mock you if you were poorer than they were. The only thing you had to worry about was temptation, something that haunted the men in the city at every street corner.
Mush avoided the corners, walking through the roads and not the sidewalks, but he couldn't help wonder what would happen if he did approach one of the women. How much would he have to pay them - and what would they do for him if he did. He shook his head. There was no use thinking about it. He wouldn't sink that low. But something may have wanted him to sink lower than he would have liked, because he instantly recognized the two boys that happened to be crossing in front of him, a girl between their arms.
"What are you doing so far from your Lodging House?" one of the Bowery DeLancey's asked him, an annoying smirk on his face.
"Just…walking," Mush replied, hoping he could get out of the conversation quickly. He avoided the sight of the girl as much as he could, but still noticed her dress. She was wearing a skirt - however tattered it was - and a boys button down shirt small enough to have fit Tumbler. She held her face as far down as it would go, and it was covered with her hair.
"Hey, you'll have to pay to get a good look at our girl," the other one joked. He continued, "We haven't been properly introduced. Joseph DeLancey," he put out his hand to be shaken. Mush hesitated. "Oh, I forgot. We're not meant to shake hands with your lot."
Mush felt the anger rising inside of him.
"Well, you can still talk, right?" the first one asked him. Mush didn't answer. The question was rhetorical. "I'm Robert - DeLancey, obviously. And I forget your name."
"Mush Meyers," Mush whispered. He saw the girl's head rise a few inches, as if to look at him through her hair. He couldn't help notice that she was the same height as Polly. No, he thought. I shouldn't even think that.
"We're just off to have a little fun with our new friend," the one that called himself Joseph shook the girl on his arm for a second, quite violently. The girl whimpered. A familiar voice escaped.
"You'd think they'd be a bit happier, considering their being paid, wouldn't you?" Robert stated. Mush decided not to answer. Both boys noticed.
"Well, good luck with your little strike," Robert went on. The boys passed by Mush, and he was about to start walking again when they turned back around.
"By the way," Joseph yelled at him. Mush turned around obediently. "She won't tell us her name. We forgot it. I don't suppose you remember?"
Again, they had the last word, and left laughing.
Mush couldn't speak when he reached the party. He knew he couldn't tell anyone. Not only would Polly be embarrassed for life, but they probably wouldn't even help her. How could they? Still, these were the newsies, they'd find a way. Right?
"Something wrong?" Kid Blink asked Mush when they got back to the dark Lodging House. Mush told him that he was tired. Blink didn't go on questioning him. When the morning came almost all of the newsies were happy. Today the picture that had been taken yesterday would be printed. Well, if Denton had persuaded the newspaper to do so, anyways.
They all went to Tibby's to see if what they wanted to be true was, in fact, true. It was. Denton strutted in with the newspaper, and they were all amazed to find that they had received the front page. There was another celebration. There was some question over the fact that Skittery seemed completely angry, and that Specs seemed angry at him. Skittery attempted to celebrate, but in the end ended up just chatting the hour away with Denton, who he had only smiled at the night before.
"I heard you had a great interview last night, kid."
"Thanks," Skittery mumbled, not wanting the other newsies to overhear their conversation.
"No, really. I think you might have a shot at this job."
"You do?"
"Yes."
Skittery smiled honestly for the first time that day.
The short celebration ended, and after the planning of a so-called, "Newsie Rally" they all walked home together in a block of newsies. Polly, who had not been to Tibby's (not knowing that they were going), joined the group as they were moving. They told her of the celebration, and asked why she had missed it last night. She reminded them of her curfew, laughing a little. They joined her. Even Mush couldn't help forgetting what he had seen the night before, in total denial that he had seen it at all. Then, forgetting all social rules, he wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
Polly stopped instantly, and they were in luck when most of the boys did not notice. Only Racetrack did, and he eyed the pair curiously, focusing on Mush. He gave him a short glare, but Mush forgot to remove his arm.
"Mush," Polly whispered sharply, and he remembered. He frowned, and took a deep breath. Before running to catch up with the rest of the group, he muttered to her.
"I'm so sorry…I'm so sorry."
Polly stayed where she was. She noticed Racetrack still behind the group with her.
"Go…I'll catch up," she lied, and began to run in the other direction. Racetrack frowned, knowing she wouldn't be back soon. He caught back up with the group and they went to the Lodging House to perfect their plan. The fact that Polly was once again missing from the group didn't sway them much, even though Jack did inquire about her whereabouts. Mush stayed silent, and Racetrack told him that she had to go somewhere. It was enough for the group.
The newsies went to bed late that night, barely able to sleep after the day's exciting events. Most of them fell asleep quickly after hitting the pillow, but Racetrack couldn't help thinking about what had happened after they had gone to Tibby's. He wondered where Polly had gone, and why she hadn't come back. Sitting up, he rolled off his bunk, and stood on the edge of it to be level with Blink's top bunk.
"Blink, wake up," he hissed, poking his friend annoyingly.
"What, what!?" Blink mumbled, finally waking up. He saw the round face beside him and jumped a little, but regained his control quickly. "What are you doing?" he complained.
"Come down here. I need to ask you something."
Blink muttered his anger as he inched down the side of the bunk, sitting on Racetrack's below. Racetrack sat next to him, and watched his younger brother, Snipeshooter, in the next bed.
"You and Mush are good friends, right?"
"I guess so. Why?"
"There's something I've got to tell you, okay? Don't freak out."
Blink looked at Racetrack curiously.
"Why would I freak out?"
"I don't know, just be careful, okay?"
"Okay."
Racetrack took a moment to look over at Mush's bed. He couldn't see him very well, but he seemed to be sleeping. Racetrack spoke as quietly as he could.
"I saw him touching Polly today." Blink's eye widened. It fell back to normal.
"Touching her? Like how?"
"Like…like he put his arm around her. After Tibby's."
"Like…friends?"
"Kind of, yeah."
"Snipes and Boots do that, too, and it's no big deal."
Racetrack sighed.
"But this was less like friends…and more like friendly, if you know what I mean?"
"Oh."
"Yeah."
"You don't think…?"
"He wouldn't let go of her, not until she kind of told him to. I'm wondering if I should talk to him about it, you know?"
"She had to tell him?"
"Yeah."
"I'll talk to him. In the morning or something."
"You don't want me to do it?" Racetrack asked.
"No. Like you said, we're good friends."
"You think he likes her?"
"I guess I'll ask him."
Blink pulled himself back up onto his own bunk and lied down. This wasn't going to be easy.
Author's Note: Sorry that was so short. At least it got me back into the plot and such. Oh, and please read and review!