Is that enough?
By: Morning Glory

The lodging house had become less of a war zone over the last couple of days. It was not Olivia verses the rest of the lodging house. Yes she was still her grumpy pessimistic self a lot, but she was not threatening people with her fists any more, just her words. It had been almost a week and a half since the first bet had been made. Little by little Skittery and Olivia began talking more, and then they began selling together. It was a little strange for all the other newsies who were used to seeing Skittery shoot his mouth off, and Olivia close it for him.

Wiping a bit of blood from her lip Olivia walked back to the lodging house quickly. Though over the last couple of days Livia had been selling with Skittery, today she did not. Race, Skittery, and Jack had gone over to Brooklyn the night before for a poker game. The three had come back later in the morning, they picked up their papers in Brooklyn and sold as they walked back. What had happened today? Well Morris thought it would be cute to mouth off to her. Making comments about how she had gone soft and he was not afraid of her. After Olivia had gotten her papers she wanted for the goon outside of the distribution office and soaked him.

Morris had gotten lucky today, he had managed to get in a hit or two, leaving Olivia with a bruised cheek and a bloody lip. She headed inside and up to the bunkroom, no one was back from selling yet. Which in her opinion was good, she would not have to hear people think they were being quiet while they talked about her. Olivia went into the washroom and ran a cloth under the cool water, then lightly dabbed at her cheek and lip. Well it could have been worse.

The murmuring of voices could be heard coming up the stairs to the bunkroom. Livia wrinkled her forehead some wondering who it could be, it was still too early for anyone to be back. The voices soon became clearer now; they belong to none other than the gambling Italian and the Santa Fe Cowboy.

Jack laughed, "I doubt he'll win this bet." He said to Race as they entered the bunkroom, "Do you really think that Olivia is gonna go out with him? The two of them couldn't stand each other a week ago. He even lost that first bet."

"Yeah, but the odds are in his favor." Race removed his cigar from his mouth as he spoke, "They've been talking a lot lately, ever see them out on the fire escape late at night?" He walked over dropping the cigar into the tin can beside his bunk.

"Yeah, but that don' mean nothin'. I talk to a lot of goils out on fire escapes an' nothing happens." Jack took off his cowboy hat hanging it on the post of his bunk before climbing up onto it. He was exhausted from the poker game.

Olivia drew in a swift breath listening to what the boys were saying, she could feel the anger rising, her blood was boiling. Everything had been lies and deceit. Her teeth clenched tightly creating a sharp pain in her face at the sites of her injuries. It all came together now, why Skittery had been so insistent on being her friend that day, why he wanted to talk to her all of the sudden. Olivia could feel a tingling behind her eyes as the tears slowly began to line her eyes, she could not remember the last time she had cried, the last time she had been hurt so badly.

With one swipe she dried her eyes. Never, never again would this happen. She had been right in believing that she needed no one. If you never got close to any one then there would never be any hurt. The discussion has stopped in the bunkroom. Olivia tossed the bloody rag into the sink. Looking through the partially opened door of the washroom Olivia spotted Jack asleep on his bunk and Race doing the same on his own bunk. It took everything in her power not to shout at those two, to keep her fists from connecting with their faces.

Not stopping Olivia darted out of the washroom, crossing the bunkroom. She needed a cigarette and needed to calm down. She jumped down the last of the stairs to the lobby walking outside. Leaning against the wall she lit a cigarette.

Worn-out and ready for a nap, Skittery went back to the lodging house. He had looked for Olivia when he had gotten back to Manhattan, but had not been able to find her. After his failed attempt Skitts had finished up selling and decided to go back to the lodging house, maybe Olivia would be there, but once more he had been wrong. Skittery was in a great mood for the first time in a while. Selling had gone amazingly well today. He finally felt as if things were starting to go his way. It had been awhile since Skittery had fancied any girl, he was not sure what it was about Olivia, but he really did like her. There maybe were some deeper feelings for her, but Skittery was not sure if he should act on these feelings. It had taken a lot of work just to gain Olivia's trust. Skittery placed his hands behind his head closing his eyes feeling the gentle afternoon breeze sweep across the bunkroom.

"That's all I am?!" Olivia was livid with Skittery now. Her hands clenched into tight fists pinned down to her sides. It was like a summer storm that rolls in, not a single cloud in the sky, but then suddenly out of nowhere the clouds roll in and the thunder cracks, "Everything you said and everything you did…was just for a lousy bet?"

Skittery's eyes shot open when he heard Olivia shouting, she was shouting at him! She knew. She knew all about the bet he had made with Jack and Race. But how did she find out? He could feel his cheeks burning with embarrassment. Skittery wondered how much she actually knew, did she know just about the first bet? The night she completely blew him off. Did she know about the second attempt the next day just to get out of paying for the two bums lunches? Skittery prayed, for the first time in a long time to god, that Olivia did not know about the last bet that had been made. Skittery had needed the money, but now when he looked back at it, it had not been a smart idea to take those two up on their stupid idea for a bet.

Olivia turned quickly and Skittery flinched. He opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. What could he say? He had screwed up in a big way; no one should ever have their emotions and feelings played with. Especially not her, not now that he really knew Liv. He was sure if he said something she would deck him.

"Here's a buck," Olivia grabbed his hand and placed the money it, shoving his hand back at him. Her eyes were full of hurt; Skittery could see that through the tough exterior, "Is that enough to make you leave me alone? I don't ever want to talk to you or see you again." Her tone was low and cold, not the same as the days before. With that said and not waiting to hear what Skittery had to say Olivia exited the bunkroom.

Her last words cut like a knife; it was unfortunate that he knew she meant what she said. Skittery stood there dumbfounded. Everything had blown up so quickly that Skittery did not even get a chance to say anything. He felt lost and empty, he felt alone. The one girl he had gotten to know and allowed him close to her he lost. The bunkroom was eerily silent now as the cool spring breeze swept across the bunkroom.

The End

Note: I haven't reread this chapter or had some one else check it for mistakes. It may not be the best chapter, but I tried. This is the end. Maybe I'll write another story about the two later.