Disclaimer:

I do not own Newsies or any of the Newsies characters. To the best of my knowledge, Disney owns them.

I am making no money from this story.

Warning:

Rated M for Slash, Sexual Situations, and Adult Language.

Chapter Two - The New Kid

Tony quickly thumbed through the papers that Sister Reggie had given him. "Ya know, Sis, we'll need to have Chris take a look at this report. I can handle the financial end, but this legal jargon is way over my head."

"Where is Chris, anyway? I thought he was coming with you."

"He had to be in court today," Tony replied as he set up one of the folding tables. "He's planning to catch a flight after the session. If the weather holds out, he should be here late tonight. Did I tell you that they're talking about making him partner at the firm?

"Yes, Tony. You told me three times on the telephone last week. . . . Tony, what are you doing with that table?"

"Well, you don't expect me to sit on the floor while I check these figures, do you?"

"No, Brother Dear. I expect you to go into my office where it's nice and quiet."

"Look, Sis, I doubt you'll find anyplace more quite than this," Tony said, gesturing around the empty gymnasium. "And I really don't think that you want anyone to find out that I'm going over these figures. I'd rather do this on the Q/T for now. Just find me something to sit on and I'll be fine."

Sister Regina exited the room and quickly returned with a chair and a table lamp.

"Thanks," Tony said as he gently pushed is sister toward the door. "Now you go away for a couple of hours and let me do my job."

He retrieved his laptop from the suitcase and set it on the table. Working numbers came as easy to Tony as breathing, and before he knew it, he'd finished going over the report. It took a lot less time than he'd expected.

Tony looked at his watch and began to think about Chris. The Rolex was a present from him last Christmas. Tony removed the watch and smiled as he ran his thumb over the inscription.

-T-

Now

and

Forever

-C-

Tony took out his cell phone and saw that Chris had left him a message. "Hi, handsome," the message began. "I'm just finishing up, so I'll be heading out soon. I'll hop the next available flight, so I should be there sometime later tonight . . . Miss you."

A warm flush came over Tony as he listened to the sound of Chris' voice. "I'm a lucky man," he thought. After all these years, the sound of Chris' voice still excited him.

Tony's mind traveled back to when he first met Chris. It was during his junior year at Pulitzer.

Tony and some of his friends were in study hall playing cards when Attila the Nun entered with the most handsome boy Tony had ever seen. The boy had sandy blond hair and a captivating smile. There was an intriguing brown patch over his left eye, and the other was the most incredible shade of blue.

"Class!" Sister Mary called as she clapped her hands to get their attention. "I would like you all to meet Christopher Hunter. He is new to Pulitzer and to our town. I trust that you will make Christopher feel welcome."

Tony was thrilled when after confiscating his playing cards, Sister Mary asked him to show Chris around and introduce him to the other students. Tony and Chris had the same schedule so he was the obvious choice. After their science and English classes were through, they headed to the cafeteria for lunch.

"Hey, Race, how's it goin'?" the curly haired boy seated at their table asked.

"Not bad, Mush. Not bad at all . . . Okay, guys," Tony said to the rest of his friends. "I want you to meet Chris. He's new here and I'm showing him around."

"Race? Why do they call you Race?" Chris asked. "Do you run track or something?"

"Nah," Tony replied. "Race is short for Racetrack. 'Cause I like to bet on stuff."

"Yea," Mush snorted. "He'll bet on anything. Last week in confession the priest told Racetrack that he had to say two Our Fathers and three Hail Mary's as his penance. Race told the priest that he'd roll him for it double or nothing." Everyone, including Tony, laughed.

"We all have nicknames," Tony continued. "Mush there is really Michael. Danny here is called Specs. Over there is Giuseppe, but we all call him Itey. This here is David. He's The Walking Mouth, or Mouth for short. The three guys I was playing cards with are Jack, Sean, and Adam. Their nicknames are Cowboy, Spot, and Dutchy. I know that there are a lot of names to remember, but you'll get to know them all eventually."

"I guess if you're going to hang with us, you should have a nickname too," Mush suggested.

"Well, at my old school, my friends all called me Blink."

"Then, Blink it is," Racetrack said, slapping him on the back.

By the end of the day, Tony and Chris were becoming good friends.

After school, the two decided to take the long way home so Tony could show Chris around town. While they walked, Tony talked about his family, his friends, and what it was like to live in a town where everyone has known him since he was born.

Chris told Tony what it was like being the only child of divorced parents. He explained that his father was an all round prick who screwed every woman he could and who never kept the same job for more than a year. "I got a heck of a surprise on my birthday two years ago," Chris explained. "I had a party at our house, and all of my friends were there. I heard my mother screaming, so I ran upstairs to see what was wrong. That's when I saw my father in my bed with my best friend's mother . . . Most of my friends saw it two."

Their lives couldn't have been more different, yet they had so much in common. They liked the same food and music. They watched the same television shows. They even had the same taste in sports. Well, except for baseball. Chris was a Yankees fan while Tony loved the Mets. They were having a great time together until they ran into the Delanceys.

"Well, look who we have here," Morris said to his brother. "It's none other than Magic Johnson himself. How'ya doin' kid? We ain't seen you around the gym lately."

"Fuck off!" Tony snapped.

Oscar grabbed Tony by the front of his shirt and lifted him so their faces met. "What's the matter kid? Got somethin' stuck up your ass?"

Chris grabbed Oscar's arm and tried to pull him away from Tony.

"Hey, Oscar," Morris snickered. "Looks like the little fagot went and found himself a girlfriend."

Morris laughed and turned his attention to Chris. "Guess you could say he caught your eye, ha kid?"

"Fuck you!" Chris shouted.

"Isn't that sweet?" Oscar said as he tightened his grip on Tony. "The one-eyed fagot is trying to protect his little girlfriend." Then with his other hand, Oscar reached for Chris, attempting to get him into a chokehold. To Oscar's surprise Chris elbowed him as hard as he could in the stomach. This caused Oscar to double over and let go of Tony, who then kicked Morris in the crotch and punched him square in the nose.

Tony and Chris took off running and didn't stop until they were sure they weren't being followed.

"What the hell was that about?" Chris asked breathlessly. "Who were those guys?"

"Those two charming individuals were Delancey brothers, Morris and Oscar. They're the town assholes and unfortunately, they go to our school."

"Well, what the fuck have they got against you?"

"I exist," Tony, answered coldly.

"If everybody calls you Racetrack, then why did that guy call you Magic Johnson?"

"Because he's an asshole, that's why."

Chris waited for an explanation, but Tony wasn't giving up any information.

"So that fagot stuff? What was that about?"

"What are you writing a fucking book or something?" Tony shouted.

"No, I'm not writing a fucking book! But I almost got my ass kicked back there, and I have a right to know why!"

"Because I'm gay you jackass! Do you have a problem with that?"

"No, I don't have a problem with that, asshole! Why? Do you have a problem with me being straight? What are you some kind of a heterophobe?"

Tony just stared at Chris. He couldn't believe what he'd just heard.

Tony started to chuckle, and so did Chris. Soon they were both laughing outright.

"Jackass," Chris sputtered.

"Asshole," Tony chuckled.

"Homo," Chris teased.

"Breeder," Tony laughed.

That did it. From then on, they were the best of friends.

The following summer was the best ever!

End - Chapter Two

Thanks for taking the time to read this story. Your reviews will be greatly appreciated.

A/N: This chapter was not beta'd. I hope that any rough spots you may have encountered did not detract from your reading pleasure.