Gotcha

Chapter Two

Disclaimer: read the first chapter

Rating: this chapter is safe, but it's rated M because of the last chapter

As I got off the train I glanced around the train station for Speedy. I could have spotted her long sandy hair from a mile away. As my dull blue eyes locked onto her lively, warm brown eyes I smiled. I waved and she waved back. She smiled shyly and brushed the hair, which was blown around from the arrival of my train, out of her face. I grabbed one bag of luggage and galloped as fast as my thin, lean legs could carry me towards her. She of course was a much faster runner than I am, hence the name Speedy. When we finally got face to face I could get a really good look at her. Not much had changed since I had left, but it looked much different to me. I had been gone for only 9 months, but it felt like a lifetime. Her pale face shone in the weird orange light that glowed through out the whole station. It seemed to be giving off a warm glow. Just like her personality.

"Hey, long time no see," she smirked. Her arms were open in a hug. I immediately covered the space between us. I knew she only meant it as a friendly gesture, but I held on for longer than she expected. When we broke apart her face was red with embarrassment. She suddenly got very uncomfortable. I started to clam up, suddenly very shy. Unlike my boisterous letters.

"Hh-ee-yy," I stuttered.

"What's wrong? You don't look so well. Where's the old Cowboy spark?" her face tightened up in confusion. She obviously tried to forget that I loved her and that we were still friends.

"I, uh, missed you," I managed to speak.

"I missed you too," her face turned into one of sadness, "Just not in the way you did, I think."

"I know, what I did was stupid. Telling you that I loved you. But I can't lie. I do," now my face was the one to bear sadness.

"I'm sorry Cowboy. I don't love you, but I'm willing to still be your friend," she smiled falsely. She probably hoped that I would yell out 'Gotcha' or something any second now. But I didn't.

"I can't. It would be too hard," I sighed. I wished both of our answers would be different.

"C'mon Jack, you know I can't go out with you. Blink and I love each other very much. We've been together for a year now. I can't just blow away that relationship and pick up yours," her warm eyes got moist. I could tell this was hard for her.

"I know. I'm sorry. I never should have told you," I sighed and looked away. I couldn't stand sadness.

"So, about lunch at Tibby's…can we still do it?"

"Are you sure Jack? Are you sure you can just forget that you're in love with me and just be friends?" Speedy looked quizzical.

"Yeah, for now," I lied. I never ever would stop loving Speedy. But I can pretend to forget for now.

"Alright," Speedy started to make for the exit, looking a little uncertain. "The Jacob's say that you are welcome in their household and Kloppman is all arms too. Except for you got to share a bed again."

"I think I'll stay with you guys at Kloppman's. Sarah might still have a crush on me and I'm not sure if I want to have that start up again." I shuddered at the memory of the times when I still lived in New York and Sarah was my girlfriend. She always wanted to do more than I wanted to and she was very bossy. After she ditched me for a scab, one of the Dalancy's to be exact, I was fed up with NY and I moved out to Santa Fe. I had enough money saved up, thanks to my partner Les, who brought the big bucks in with his warm smile and kid heart. Speedy interrupted my thoughts by saying something that sounded like, "Mush had a loon in his head."

'A what?!?" I stared at her like she was speaking gibberish, which she was.

"Mush is alone in his bed. You can sleep there." She stared at me the same way I stared at her and we kept walking.

"So lunch at Tibby's. Tomorrow. I'll remember," I reminded her. It was going to be like a date and I didn't want her to forget and ruin the bonding time we would have there.

"Right. I'll meet you there at 12:00 noon. Don't be late okay?" Speedy scolded, remembering my old reputation of being late to everything. She made a right down the street we were walking on and ended up on the front porch of Kloppman's Lodging House for Newsboys…and girls.

"Here we are. I got to go meet Blink for dinner so go on in and make yourself comfy okay?"

"Okay, um, see you tonight?"

"Probably not. See you in the morning," she smiled. I melted over that smile.

"Ri-ig-gh-ht," I clammed up again. Speedy waved and took off towards her meeting place with Blink and left me standing alone on the porch. I stood out there for a little, watching her saunter off into the distance, before I opened the door. When I finally did open the door I was greeted by warm hellos and spit shakes of my fellow newsies. It was my home. I was home.

R&R!!

mangotango 3