DISCLAIMER: Newsies is owned by Disney. Not us. *sigh* All OCs are ours, though.
Chapter 5: Discoveries
"How do I look?"
Specs didn't even bother to look up from his text book, "You look fine..." he said absent-mindedly.
"You didn't even look," Dutchy pouted.
Specs glanced up for half a second, then returned to his book... then looked up again to make sure he'd seen right, "Wow," he said, "You look great, although..." Specs grinned as he blatantly checked out his shirtless boyfriend, dressed only a pair of very tight black jeans, "I'd prefer you wear a bit more around the others."
"Why?" Dutchy asked as he innocently perched himself on top of Specs' textbook.
"You know why," Specs said leaning forward to lightly kiss Dutchy. Dutchy also leaned forward, and deepened the kiss.
"Mmmmmm," Specs had to force himself to pull away, "Dutchy I have to study..."
"No you don't," Dutchy said, kissing Specs fiercely again.
Specs automatically responded, and again had to force himself away, "I have a test tomorrow..."
"You just had one yesterday," Dutchy whispered, now sucking on his neck in a most agreeable way.
"This one..." Specs had to remind himself to breath, "...is for a different... class..." he forced out. He was having trouble focusing on anything other than his boyfriend, who was now biting the sensitive area near his ear.
"Study later," Dutchy said huskily.
"We have dinner later," Specs tried to remember why he was putting up such a fight to begin with... Something about a test?
Dutchy slid off Specs' lap and pouted a little, "Screw studying!"
"I'd rather screw you," Specs murmured, shoving his text book away, and pulling Dutchy back down.
Dutchy's face lit up with a smile, "That was the idea," he mumbled against Specs' lips.
Specs had just finished rebuttoning his shirt after his and Dutchy's rendezvous when Mush burst into their room, hair a mess, and dark blue button up shirt hanging open, "I don't know what to wear," he said, then took in Specs's sex hair, and Dutchy's pantless, shirtless state (thankfully he had managed to pull on his boxers).
"O-oh," Mush said, blushing, "S-sorry... I didn't mean to... interrupt..." he said, slowly backing out of the room, "I'll just..."
"It's fine," Specs said. He thought it was kind of cute how embarrassed Mush always seemed to get at the constant hints of their sexual activity (he had yet to walk in on them doing the deed itself). Mush was just so innocent that sometimes it was hard to remember that they were the same age. "We're done anyways," he assured his friend, "Done," he repeated more firmly when Dutchy made a noise of protest. "Just let me get Dutchy dressed, and I'll come help you."
"Okay," Mush said, and practically ran back to his room.
Dutchy was still lounging nearly naked on their bed, "When do you think Blink's going to take care of that one?"
"Whenever they're ready," Specs said reproachfully, as he pulled out the nicest of Dutchy's t-shirts (he of course didn't own any actual nice shirts). "Now you put that on, I'm going to go help Mush."
Dutchy pouted, "I might need your help getting dressed," he said mournfully, "I don't know if I can put on my... pants without you..."
Specs was tempted to stay, but he shook his head, "The others should be here soon. We don't have time. And Mush needs help."
"Should I be jealous?" Dutchy teased, "You're leaving me here all alone, to help another guy get dressed..."
Specs laughed and gave Dutchy a quick peck on the lips, "No need for jealousy," he assured him.
Mush hadn't been kidding when he'd said he didn't know what to wear. He stood in front of his mirror, holding two shirts, as if he was trying to decide which one looked better. Three more shirts were strewn across the bed. He was biting his lip nervously as he looked from one shirt to another.
"Just wear the red one," Specs told him. Mush jumped as if he hadn't heard him come in.
"Are you sure?" he asked anxiously, "What if Blink likes the green one better? Or the blue one? Or..."
"Relax," Specs, rested a hand on his shoulder, "You alright?"
Mush looked startled, "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"
"Mush," Specs chuckled, "You're acting nearly as nervous as you were on yours and Blink's first date... Why?"
Mush blushed. "Blink and I..." he mumbled, "have never doubled... or tripled... or... anything before..."
"So?" Specs asked, holding back a laugh, only a little surprised. As Blink and Racetrack were best friends, roommates, and both in love with their boyfriends, he'd expected them to have doubled at least once or twice.
"This time it's with Racetrack!" Mush panicked, "What if he decides he doesn't like me when we're out on the date, and convinces Blink to break up with me!"
This time Specs really did laugh, "Mush," he said, "Racetrack is your friend, and if he had any qualms with you dating Blink, wouldn't he have said so already?" Mush opened his mouth to protest, but Specs continued, not giving him the chance, "And Blink loves you. Even if Race did for some unimaginable reason decide that he didn't like you two together, do you really think Blink would listen to him?" Mush didn't have a response to that. Specs smiled smugly, "Get dressed. Blink, Race, and Bumlets should be here to pick us up in about five minutes."
Mush nodded mutely, and began to put on the red shirt as Specs left the room.
As the other two were still getting ready, Specs was the one to open the door when the bell rang a half a minute later. "Hey Blink," he greeted the older boy.
Blink looked nice enough in a simple blue shirt and what, Specs thought, were probably the nicest jeans he owned. Racetrack had also cleaned up well, wearing a tight black t-shirt-something that, judging from the pleased looks Bumlets kept shooting him, his boyfriend very much appreciated.
"Hey there Racetrack, Bumlets. Dutchy! The others are here! Are you almost ready?" There was the sound of some muffled crashes, then Dutchy stumbled out of his room in the same tight black jeans he'd been wearing earlier, along with a hot pink shirt (not the shirt Specs had picked out for him, of course) that really no one but Dutchy could ever pull off.
"Where's Mush?" Blink asked, peering around Specs into the apartment.
"He's still getting ready in his room," Specs moved out of the way, and allowed Blink and the other two into the apartment.
Blink wasted no time in making his way over to Mush's door and knocking quickly. Almost immediately the door opened and Specs suppressed a smile as Mush threw his arms around Blink and hugged him tightly.
"Anyone would think it had been three days since they'd seen each other instead of three hours," Bumlets said, with a hint of amusement dancing through his dark eyes.
Specs looked back at Blink and Mush again. Mush was blushing as Blink spoke, smiling broadly.
"Hey loverboys," Racetrack called after several seconds of watching them, "Get over here, it's time to go!"
Blink, without looking away from Mush's flushed face, flipped the others off and leaned forward to kiss his boyfriend, but Mush shook his head scoldingly and grabbed both of Blink's hands in his own, pulling him over to the others.
The six of them made idle chatter as they made their way over to the cars. Racetrack's car could only hold four people, so Specs and Dutchy had agreed to go over in Specs' car. Not that they were complaining.
"I love shortcuts," Dutchy said, when they reached the restaurant ten minutes before the others could possibly get there.
"Do you think it was mean of me not to tell Race about it?" Specs asked.
"No," Dutchy said firmly.
And the two proceeded to spend the next ten minutes making out in the back of Specs' car.
They never had gotten around to christening it...
Unfortunately Race interrupted them before they could get around to taking care of that little problem.
"Now that you two've had your fun..." he said when Specs and Dutchy finally scrambled out of the car.
"Not enough fun," Dutchy muttered. Specs elbowed him. The whole point of this night was for the six of them to enjoy a triple date together, not to have sex with Dutchy in the back of his car. No matter how much fun the latter option might sound.
The restaurant Specs had chosen for the historic date was a somewhat snooty, very fancy Italian restaurant. It was also extremely expensive, but the food was good enough to be worth every penny.
"Yes?" the extremely well dressed, very tall, host looked down his (rather long) nose at the six of them. Specs knew why. None of them, particularly Dutchy in his hot pink shirt, really looked like they belonged in such a restaurant.
He protectively wrapped an arm around Dutchy's waist, "Goldstein for six please," he said firmly. He'd learned early on that as long as you acted and sounded like you had the right to be there, no one would really question it. He hoped that some of the others would catch on during the dinner, or else their waiter would be able to make them somewhat uncomfortable. Of course, he had been dealing with people like those who'd work in that particular restaurant since he was four. Obviously he'd have figured out the secret by then.
The host eyed the arm around Dutchy's waist disdainfully, then looked disapprovingly at Race and Bumlets's intertwined hands and the arm Blink had slung casually over Mush's shoulder. But he checked the seating chart, and sniffed, "Yes... Goldstein for six. You're right over here," and led the way to a beautifully set round table. "Your waiter will be with you momentarily," sneered the host, then left, with one last contemptuous look at the three couples.
Specs sat down with Dutchy on one side, and Blink on the other. He thought he heard Bumlets, who sat across from Dutchy, utter a soft "Wow," but couldn't be sure.
Their waiter, as it turned out, was new. He was tall, pimply, and clumsy. His voice cracked whenever he said more than three words, and the six boys spend most of the time he was around biting their lips to stop themselves from laughing at him.
As it turned out, their clumsy, pimply waiter was just what they'd needed to shatter the awkwardness Specs suspected his friends had been feeling since entering the restaurant. Almost as soon as he left, they all began to laugh. They chattered about the poor kid for a few minutes before they settled down a bit.
They had just ordered their main course when talk turned, inevitably really, to the talk of the other date, going on at that very moment. "Hey, Mush?" Bumlets asked abruptly, when there was a brief lag in the conversation.
"Hm?" Mush looked away from the piece of bread he'd been buttering.
"Lucky's on her date right now isn't she..."
Mush suddenly seemed a great deal more interested in his bread, "I guess. Yeah..."
The atmosphere around the table had suddenly turned uncomfortable. Ever since Lucky and Songbird's fight two days ago, any conversation featuring either of them or the date in any way had turned uncomfortable. None of the boys weren't really used to Lucky or Songbird fighting. They had, of course, had their spats before, but neither of them had ever been anywhere near as cruel as they, mostly Songbird, Specs admitted to himself, had been on Wednesday. Their arguments before had mostly consisted of Lucky doing something somewhat stupid, Songbird yelling at her about it, Lucky getting insulted and the both of them storming off in opposite directions, only to forget about the whole thing the next day.
"I've just been wondering..." Bumlets started, "We all know how Songbird feels about the date... and I know none of us are really pleased about it..." Understatement of the year. Dutchy had thrown a fit when Mush had mentioned it to them. Luckily, Specs and Mush had managed to calm him down before seeing Lucky. "...but you haven't really said anything about it..." Bumlets was getting a 'are you really bringing this up at a nice dinner?' look from his boyfriend, which he ignored.
Mush shifted uncomfortably, and looked around the table. Specs had, personally, been wondering the same thing. Mush hadn't seemed happy about the date, but he'd obviously supported Lucky about it. It looked like the others had thought similarly. "W-well..." he began. He looked around then down at his still uneaten, only half buttered bread, "Honestly..." he hesitated, then barreled on, "Songbird might kind of be right..." he finally mumbled. "I-I mean... Lucky... Abby... she might have been a little bit... desperate..."
Specs raised an eyebrow. He hadn't really been expecting that. Lucky had a habit of flirting in an easy going way with most of their young, male customers, and many of them had returned the favor.
"That is..." Mush looked even more uncomfortable, "She's never... really... had a boyfriend before... Not that Oscar's her boyfriend yet, but..."
A beat of silence, then "What?"
Sure, all of them had known she'd never dated anyone since she'd begun working at Tibby's, but all of them had kind of assumed that there had been boys before she'd stated working, or high school.
"Yeah, well," Mush shrugged, "Her brother did a pretty good job of scaring most guys off when we were kids," he explained, "and the one time one did get close... she kind of... broke his jaw..."
"That doesn't surprise me," Blink snickered. "What'd he do, breath on her funny?"
Specs smiled a bit, because Lucky did have a bit of a temper when someone, such as Blink, really bugged her, but shook his head. She might have a temper, but violence was not something he'd ever seen her use.
Mush just bit his lip. "He..." Mush turned a dark red, "He was just being a bit of an ass to her... and she wasn't really have a good day so..." he shrugged.
"But yeah... I guess she would've said yes to just about any guy although..." he hesitated, then seemed to decide that if he'd told them that much, he might as well say the whole thing, "She did say Oscar kind of reminded her of Spot, with his smirking and stuff..."
"Really? Just about any guy?" Bumlets asked.
"Any guy she liked enough," Mush shrugged.
"Great," Bumlets scowled, "This whole thing could've been avoided if Itey could've just gotten up the balls to ask her out already!"
"You're hardly one to talk," Dutchy said, leaning over the table and playfully punching Bumlets's arm, "you couldn't say more than two words to Race when you had a crush on him before he asked you out. At least Itey can talk to her."
"Dutchy!" Bumlets pouted, and Dutchy smiled affectionately at him.
Racetrack glanced at them, and raised an eyebrow. Specs frowned. He didn't see what Race did to regain Bumlets's attention, but within seconds, Bumlets and Racetrack were having a whispered conversation that Specs suspected was not appropriate to have in public. Dutchy laughed a little, and turned back to Specs. Upon seeing his frown, his own smile fell a little. He set his hand on Specs's leg and gave it a reassuring squeeze. When his expression didn't clear, Dutchy leaned forward and whispered in his ear, "You have no idea how much I want to drag you back to the car and have my dirty way with you right now..."
"Dutchy!" Specs hissed, not unlike the way Bumlets had moments earlier. Specs felt his frown melt off his face, only to be replaced with crimson cheeks, "We're in public!"
"I can't want my insanely attractive boyfriend who I'm in love with while we're in public?" Dutchy asked innocently.
Specs smiled, "You can... You just can't say it out loud!"
Dutchy smiled mischievously, and leaned around Specs to talk to Blink about something. He didn't remove his hand.
When their meals arrived, Specs expected Dutchy to, finally, remove his hand so he could eat properly, but instead the blond simply did his best with his free right hand, all the while expertly maneuvering his left one further and further up Specs's leg.
Specs hoped no on dropped their fork. Or looked at his face, since he was pretty sure it was bright red.
When everyone finished their meals, Specs asked, as calmly as he could, considering his extremely sexy boyfriend's hand was as far up his leg as he could be while still being... somewhat appropriate, "Would anyone like some dessert?"
Blink and Mush looked at each other, and seemed to have an entire conversation with just their eyes. Race shrugged, and Bumlets shook his head no. Dutchy made his answer clear, by leaning over and sucking on Specs's neck.
Specs shook his head, and nudged Dutchy away when he saw a mother at a table across the room shield her young son's eyes, and frown at them disapprovingly. He felt guilty, until she leaned forward to speak to her husband, and he read the words on her lips "Both boys... absolutely disgusting..."
Suddenly eager to make her, and any other homophobic customers, even more uncomfortable, Specs turned to Dutchy and kissed him fiercely on the lips. Their tongues battled for dominance. Specs was pretty sure their kiss belonged in a rated R movie.
Their friends' laughter broke them apart. "Alright you two," Racetrack said, "That's enough."
Dutchy stuck his tongue out at Racetrack, "You're just jealous Bumlets won't make out with you in public, like Specs and I do," he said, then went back to kissing Specs. Specs tried very hard to care that this was a public place, and there were kids around, and they really shouldn't making out in a restaurant, especially not one this nice but...
Damn, Dutchy had one talented mouth!
"S-should I-I get your check sirs...?" squeaked out their awkward waiter. He had been staring at Specs and Dutchy, and quickly looked away when he saw they'd finally broken apart and had noticed him, though his eyes continued to nervously dart back over.
Dutchy replaced his hand on Specs' thigh, "Let's get out of here," he muttered in Specs' ear.
Specs nodded, and pulled out a credit card, "Just use this to cover the meal," he told the waiter. "Give it to the kid with the curly brown hair when you're back," he said hurriedly, standing up. Dutchy followed suit.
"Specs, we can't let you pay for the whole thing," Mush protested. He and Blink had already begun arguing over which one of them would pay for the other's meal. Bumlets and Racetrack nodded their agreement.
"Too late now," Specs said, making sure he had everything, "Mush, put my credit card on my bed when you get back... Dutchy and I have some business to take care of."
Ignoring any other protests made, the couple made their way back to Specs's car, before driving to the park and proceeding to take care of christening the car.
When they had finished their very important business, Specs and Dutchy got out of the car. "Want to go for a walk?" Specs asked, gesturing to the empty park.
Dutchy nodded, "I'd like that," he said, taking Specs' hand. For several minutes, they wandered through the park in silence. Then a voice interrupted their quiet happiness.
"Yeah Boss, I'm still here," the ugly voice said.
Dutchy's eyes widened, "That's Morris," he muttered, "Morris Delancey."
"I know," Specs muttered back, "And keep quiet. I don't know about you, but I don't fancy having a run in with him at this time of night."
Morris seemed to be having a serious conversation, "Yeah, the plan's in action," he said into the phone, "he's on the date with the little twit right now, actually."
Specs glanced worriedly at Dutchy. He could read the same question he was asking himself in Dutchy's eyes, 'Who was Morris talking about?'
He sincerely hoped it wasn't Oscar and, of course Lucky, as he suspected it was.
"Yeah Boss, none of the others like us much, and Oscar figures if he goes out with her to, you know, get some distance between her and the others, then that's one down."
Specs frowned. From what he heard, he knew something was about to happen, and it didn't bode well for anyone. "Bastard," Dutchy hissed angrily, making Specs look over at him. Dutchy was livid, and evidently had reached the same conclusion as Specs.
"Quiet," Specs murmured again, this time, not because he wanted to avoid Morris, but rather because he wanted to hear more. Dutchy nodded, and they leaned forward a little.
"We got some other plans in action, too... Oscar managed to convince a, ah... an old friend... to help us out. No worries, Boss, the Best Restaurant award will be yours next time for sure. Those dopes don't stand a chance. By this time next year, half of them won't even be talking to each other... I guarantee it."
Specs didn't want to hear any more. He quietly pulled Dutchy away from where Morris was, back in the direction of the car.
Dutchy looked furious, "He's trying to break us up!" he yelled softly. "I mean not us," Dutchy held Specs's hand a little more firmly, as if silently telling him that nothing would ever be able to break them up, "But our friends... he's trying to... I don't know. What's he trying to do Specs?" Dutchy asked brokenly.
"That award Tibby's has won the past few years," Specs said after thinking for a moment, "Morris mentioned that. It sounded like he was working for someone... And Lucky..."
Dutch drooped a little, "Should've known it was something like this," he said, "I knew we couldn't trust him!"
Specs, for once, couldn't argue, nor reason, with Dutchy's temper. He agreed, "We have to tell her..."
"Yeah..." Dutchy agreed, still tightly clutching Specs hand, as if he were drowning, and it was the only life-saver around for miles. Specs could feel him shaking with anger.
He thought of what Mush had mentioned earlier, about Lucky breaking her previous almost-boyfriend's jaw. He wondered if, once they told her about this, she'd be angry enough to give a repeat performance. On Oscar. "Well... should be a fun conversation..." Specs finally said grimly, "When... when do you think we should tell her...?"
"The sooner the better if you ask me," Dutchy said. Specs couldn't see his eyes, but he knew if he could, they would be clouded with anger.
"Now?" he asked nervously.
"Sounds like a plan," Dutchy said grimly.
Abby felt more content than she had since her fight with Faye as she and Oscar, hand in hand, casually meandered towards her dorm. The date had gone wonderfully, with Oscar being the perfect gentleman, making her blush and laugh, and feel, for the first time in a long time, as if she didn't need to work more or study harder; to be better.
The restaurant Oscar had taken her to had been fairly nice, though the food, she thought, was not quite as good as Racetrack's or Sarah's, the wait-staff was not quite as friendly as herself or her friends, and the atmosphere was, in general, simply lacking in comparison to Tibby's. She had, of course, neglected to mention her thoughts on any of this to Oscar, who had, somewhat proudly, told her he worked for the owner of said restaurant. It wasn't that big a deal anyway, she figured.
She let out a small sigh of disappointment as they neared her dorm. She'd really had a fantastic time, and she was sorry to see the evening draw to a close. She wondered vaguely if Mush would be back from his own date yet, as she really wanted to talk about hers with him.
She lingered at the door of the building when they finally reached it, because she knew that as soon as they stepped foot inside, the night would really be over, and she really just wanted it to last a bit longer. Oscar smirked a bit at her, and her stomach turned over.
"Come on," he muttered, and tugged her over to the more isolated side of the building. She followed him, having something of an idea for what he was planning, and, sure enough, as soon as they were out of sight of the main pathway, Oscar had her pushed up against the wall and was kissing her fiercely.
Abby responded automatically.
Oscar was a good kisser. It wasn't until Oscar's hand fiddled with the edge of her shirt and slipped underneath that she pulled away. "No," she said firmly.
"No?" he repeated, looking so adorably confused, that Abby nearly laughed.
"W-well that's moving a little fast," she said softly instead.
"Guess most of the girls I go out with aren't quite as moralistic as you," he said. And though his words were complimentary, somehow Abby got the feeling he hadn't meant it as one.
She burned red as she thought of how childish she must seem to him now.
Oscar retook her hand, and led her back to the constant flow of college night life. One of the girls from two rooms over from her own saw them emerge from the girls' favorite make out spot, and gave Abby a grin, which she returned.
Oscar looked at his watch, "I got the early shift tomorrow babe, I'd better go," he said.
Abby nodded, "Bye," she said cheerily, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek, and planning on escaping into her dorm before she could see how he reacted.
Oscar's hand darted out, and fastened around her wrist. "That's all?" he asked, a little teasingly.
Abby's heart lightened when he placed what had been intended to be a light peck on the lips, but quickly deepened into something more. Maybe he didn't think she was too childish after all. When he pulled back, he gave her that Spot-like smirk, that always made her stomach turn over, then strolled away. Abby turned away as well, and went into the dorm, making her way up three flights of stairs and down the hall to her room.
Abby hadn't expected to see two boys outside her room, one leaning against the wall and the other sitting by the first's feet, head bowed. For a moment she paused, and wondered if she should go to one of her friends' room and wait until the two men left. But then the first one turned and saw her, nudging the other with his foot before calling out, "Lucky, that you?"
"Specs?" she called back and, no longer worried, strode the rest of the way down the hall towards the two boys.
Dutchy, who had previously been slumped on the ground, stood shakily, laying his head on Specs's shoulder. Specs automatically snaked an arm around his waist. Abby smiled a little to herself, still a little high off the happiness her date had brought her. Dutchy, she wasn't going to lie, annoyed the hell out of her. But he and Specs were adorable together.
"What are you two doing here?" she asked as she unlocked her dorm room door.
She glanced back at them just in time to see the two boys exchange a half-nervous, half-guilty glance. Abby shrugged it off, and pushed into her room, leaving the door open for her friends to follow.
She was relieved to see her roommate wasn't in. Having her friends at her dorm room was bad enough without having Mina there glaring and being a bitch.
She turned the light on, and waited patiently, for the two boys to settle themselves in her cramped room. As soon as they were comfortable on her bed, Specs sat behind Dutchy with both his arms wrapped around the other boy's waist, Dutchy leaned back into his chest, and Abby had seated herself in her office chair. She turned expectantly to them.
When neither of them spoke, she sighed. "So how was the date?" she finally asked.
Dutchy seemed to brighten immediately, "It was great we had sex in-"
Specs was quick to cover Dutchy's mouth with his hand, muffling the rest of his sentence. "It was a lot of fun," he said simply, "The food was really great."
Abby, wide-eyed from Dutchy's start, nodded slowly. She had known, of course, that Specs and Dutchy had a... healthy... sex life, from the number of times Mush had insisted she meet him here as an excuse to get out of the apartment he shared with them. Still, Dutchy's blunt reminder of it was something of a shock.
"How about your date?" Specs asked hesitantly. Dutchy's face fell at the reminder.
Abby frowned at them and their obvious disapproval, but couldn't stop a small smile from creeping onto her face, "It was really great," she sighed. "The restaurant he took me to was really great... couldn't hold a candle to Tibby's of course, but still, and..." She trailed off, a dreamy smile still firmly in place.
"Lucky," Specs said guiltily, "That's sort of what we need to talk to you about..."
"My date?" she asked confusedly.
He nodded, "After the date Dutchy and I went to the park to... walk around for a bit. And while we were there we saw Morris..." Abby was starting to get very bad feeling.
"Oh..." she said, shifting uncomfortably. "That's... interesting..."
Specs sighed, "Lucky, I really don't know how to say this, but Oscar he's... he didn't just ask you out because he liked you..."
"What do you mean?" Abby asked.
"I mean... When we saw Morris, we overhead him talking on the phone and he... he kind of said..."
"He said Oscar's only dating you because they're trying to make us all hate each other!" Dutchy cut him off.
Abby's insides went cold. "W-what...?" she asked slowly. She could hear her heart beating in her ears.
Thu-thump.
Thu-thump.
Thu-thump.
Her entire body suddenly began to tremble. She was having trouble focusing on anything, and was feeling a little woozy. "What did you say?" she asked, hoping, praying, that she had heard wrong.
Specs rested a gentle hand on her shoulder, "Oscar... is using you. He was in on some plan to..." He kept talking, but Abby had stopped listening. She couldn't listen to anything more. She couldn't focus on what he was saying. All she could think about was Oscar, and how nice he'd been, and how gentlemanly (well, up until the end, at least). How funny he was, and how great he'd made her feel. And he'd been... using her?
"N-no," she said softly, cutting off whatever Specs had been saying. She jerked away from the comforting hands of Specs and Dutchy, "H-he wouldn't... You're lying!" Please be lying was what she was really saying.
"Lucky..." Specs started, "Abby, I'm so sorry... I understand..."
I understand, he said? Abby thought to herself, a little bitterly. No, he didn't understand. None of her friends did. None of them could. How could they when they were all madly in love with each other? How could Specs think he understood, when Dutchy was right there, not quite touching him, but obviously desperately longing to? How could Mush pretend he might understand, when there was Blink... Blink, always right there.
She turned away, "I know none of you like him at all, but Oscar is really nice. And he likes me. I never thought you'd sink so low as to lie to me." She wondered if they'd notice the lack of conviction she spoke with.
You know they're not lying, her conscious reminded her. You know they wouldn't do that...
I'll apologize tomorrow, she silently told herself.
Specs looked shocked, as if she'd just accused him of killing her mother. "I-I..."
Dutchy seemed less shocked. He moved protectively in front of Specs. And that, Abby thought, just proved that neither of them got it. "You really think we'd lie about this?" he asked angrily.
Abby didn't look at them. She kept her back to both of them, "I think you guys should leave now," she said monotonously, "I suppose I'll see you around eventually..."
Dutchy made no move to leave. Instead, he spun her back towards him and Specs, and tightly gripped her shoulders.. Abby hastily focused on her shoes, to avoid the older boy's gaze, "Look Abby," it was the use of her real name that finally made her glance up, if only for a second. "I get that it hurts, and you don't want to believe it, but..." Another glance up told Abby that she just needed one more good hit to make him mad enough to leave her dorm and leave her alone.
"You don't know anything. Just get out of here!" She knew she was acting like a stupid little kid, but she didn't care, "Go away! I hate liars. Just get out of here and go call everyone else and tell them your stupid lie, because you know they'll all believe you, and hate me, and... and... and..." Abby had to stop. If she kept going, she'd start crying. And that's what she was trying to avoid.
Dutchy's grip on her shoulders tightened to the point of pain. Abby winced away, but he didn't seem to notice, "We're trying to help you!" he finally snapped, "Song was right! You are stupid. So fucking stupid! Come on Specs, anyone that dumb doesn't deserve our help! Or our friendship!" Dutchy stormed away.
Specs hesitated, and took a step towards Abby. "We won't tell anyone if you don't want us to, but..." he reached out to her. She stepped away, and sent him a ferocious glare. He pressed his mouth into a fine line, then followed his boyfriend, shooting her one last half sad, half angry look over his shoulder as he did so.
When the angry slam of the door told her that they had left, she breathed a sigh of relief. It was only the, once she was sure she was alone, that she let the tears fall, and keep falling until she finally fell asleep.
It was several hours later, almost two in the morning, when she woke up from her tear-induced coma. Abby knew it was late, but she didn't really care. She had yelled at her friends, who didn't deserve it. Now it was time to yell at someone who did.
So as not to wake her bitchy roommate, who had at some point during her rest, entered the room, Abby grabbed her phone, and went outside.
The phone rang three times, before he answered groggily, "Who the hell is calling me at two in the morning?"
"O-oscar?" Abby said shakily, she hadn't really expected him to answer so late at night. Or early in the morning, depending on how you looked at it. She took a deep breath, then said coldly, "Oscar, it's Abby."
"Abigail?" he asked, "Why the fuck are you calling me right now?"
She hesitated, then barreled forward, "Earlier tonight, after I got back from our date, a couple of my friends stopped by." She wondered if she could still call them friends, but shrugged it off. Specs, at least, wasn't one to hold a grudge.
"Why're you telling me this?" he asked grumpily.
"Because they said they heard your brother in the park, and they said.. they said you're only using me for some stupid plot, and..." Even as she spoke, she was still silently begging him to deny it, still hoping it wasn't true.
"Shit," he mumbled. "Look, Abigail..."
"Is it true?" she asked softly. Please don't let it be true. "Are you just using me?" Please don't just be using me.
"Abigail... of course it's not true..." Stop being so relieved Abby, he could be lying... But all the same, some of the tension left her body.
"My friends wouldn't lie..." Abby murmured.
"Listen," he said, "I'm not sayin they would, but hear me out, would you?"
She nodded, then remember he couldn't see her and said, "OK..."
"Its just, me and my brother and your friends, we don't get along so well..."
"I know," She said flatly.
"Right, and well. Look, I'm not the same as I used to be... I'm not gonna lie to you Abigail, I was pretty... pretty harsh a few years ago."
"I know," Abby repeated.
"But I'm different now, I swear. And I don't have anything against your friends anymore... and I wish I could say the same about them, but I can't."
Abby remained silent, as she waited for him to continue.
"And you know Abby, I hate to say this, but your friends, since they don't trust me and all... well, they're pretty fond of you, so it doesn't surprise me that they'd try something like that. I don't blame them, but..."
Abby stayed quiet, thinking. Mush would never, and he'd stop Blink from as well. And Faye... she was too mad at her about it to try a sneakier approach, and the of all the others, the one who she was closest to was...
Specs.
But he wouldn't... surely he wouldn't lie about that...
Abby's head was pounding.
"Abigail?" Oscar said, "I swear I wasn't using you... In fact as soon as I woke up, I was going to ask you if you wanted to join me for lunch on Wednesday... That's your day off, right?"
Abby had never told him Wednesday was her day off. It was another one of those things that would make Faye call him a creepy stalker, but she thought was kind of sweet he'd gone to the effort to find out.
You're being stupid, he could be lying.
But everything he said makes sense!
Would Specs and Dutchy do that to you?
If they thought they was protecting me...
Would you blame them for that...?
I can look after myself!
Can you...?
I can.
…
I think...
"I... I think... I'd like that," Abby said hesitantly, "Y-you're really not..." She didn't feel good about believing Oscar over Specs, and Dutch, but everything he had said had made... a surprising amount of sense.
As she accepted Oscar's explanation, a small surge of anger flowed towards Specs and Dutchy. She didn't want to explode at them again, but she didn't really want to talk to them either. So that, she decided, was exactly what she'd do.
The day after the dates, the regular dinner crowd had gathered at Tibby's. Jack decided that tonight he was going to work the bar.
"Hey you, Skittery!" Jack slid behind the bar and next to the frowning boy.
"Hey Jack," Skittery responded distractedly. He kept drying the glass in his hand with furious determination. Poor guy. He's probably still sore at Bumlets for getting in his way.
Jack, who decided to actually manage the staff tonight, quickly surveyed the rest of the room. He sighed, preparing himself for the three hours left until closing. The usual Saturday staff was there, of course. Blink and Mush were sending each other goofy smiles over their customers' heads whenever they could. They were so in love it was sickening. Jack turned around and saw Bumlets making his way out of the kitchen.
"Hey Bumlets!" Songbird ran up to him and they started talking about music (What else is new, right?). Lucky walked passed them quickly, and Songbird glared at her back. Bumlets whispered something to her and kissed the top of her head. I swear those two act more couple-y then he does with his actual boyfriend.
Bumlets looked pointedly at her again and then smiled his signature smile that could probably make any girl go weak in the knees. It was almost a shame that he was gay. Then again, maybe the smile worked on guys, too.
Songbird smiled back at him and- Holy shit! She just blushed! Faye "Songbird" Ballat was actually blushing! I don't believe it! She must, dare I think it, like him? Nah, she probably thinks he's hot and is just looking for someone else to sleep with- she's slept with all of the straight guys (yours truly excluded), so she's run out of options. Well, and then there's Spot, but he doesn't date. At all.
"But-"
He looked at her with a look that said, "Please try."
"Fine, Bumlets, I'll try." As Bumlets left the restaurant, Jack watched Songbird with amusement as she waved goodbye, looked at his retreating form for a second, and then approached Lucky, who continued to ignore her. Songbird kept trying to talk to her, but Lucky walked away. Ha. Serves her right. Jack grew bored watching them. He looked around the restaurant at the other employees. He loved working here because they were all so close (well, except for Songbird, who really hates me). Today was kind of weird, though, considering that Dutchy was actually waiting tables instead of having Lucky cover for him. In fact, Lucky hadn't spoken to Dutchy or Specs (who was, of course, sitting at his usual table) at all, and she always talked to him.
Speaking of Lucky, where did she go? He searched around the restaurant and couldn't find her. Or Songbird, for that matter...
Just then, he heard a door slam. Everyone in the restaurant quieted and looked towards the kitchen. Jack eyed Race suspiciously. The short Italian shrugged his shoulders, pointed at the back door, and mouthed, "Lucky."
Jack shook his head. The girls always managed to turn every little thing into a huge soap opera. He decided that it was time for it to end, so he put on his most charming smile and followed them out the door.
"Look Abby, just hear me out!"
"I don't want to be near you, okay? Leave me alone!"
"Abby, please!"
"You were such a... Well, such a bitch to me, Faye! And I-"
"I know! Fu- Ugh," Songbird sighed, "It wasn't... I had no right to say that to you."
Huh? Did Faye just say that?
Lucky opened her mouth automatically, preparing to retaliate, but then what Songbird said started to sink in. "What?"
Songbird sighed. "Bumlets was talking to me-scolding me, actually-and he helped me see how much I hurt you. You really didn't deserve my bitchy-ness. I just... And I'm trying to put this delicately: I'm not the biggest fan of the Delancey brothers."
Understatement of the century. Lucky, evidently thinking the same thing, scoffed.
"I just-Morris- Well, you know I've kind of- I- I'm not good at this, Abby. I don't like talking about it, and-"
"Faye, just tell me," Lucky said, exasperated.
"I dated Morris. When I was sixteen," she said in monotone. Then she quietly added, "He was my first. I was stupid enough to trust him, and he stopped dating me right after. I was 'too clingy.'"
Lucky stood there in a shocked silence.
Songbird looked at her and continued, "I never told you because I wanted to put it behind me. I'm sorry. I let my emotions get the best of me, and... Well, for lack of a better phrase, I fucked up. I have trouble remembering that Oscar isn't his douche of a brother. I know you like him, and he really seems to like you. I hope you guys are happy. I'm," she took a deep breath, "?" Songbird held her breath.
Huh?
"Uh, what?"
She sighed, "I'm so sorry," she repeated, noticeably uncomfortable. "Can you please forgive me?" Lucky remained silent. "Abbs, please answer me! You should know how fuc—how awful I feel."
"You should feel bad, Songbird," Jack yelled from the doorway.
"Shut the hell up, Jack!"
He threw his hands up as he approached the girls. "Woah! Just trying to help!"
"Ugh! Just—ugh!" She smacked the back of his head. "At least now we have a witness to this momentous event!" Her voice was dripping with sarcasm despite the truth of her words. Songbird never apologized, even when it was completely called for.
"I don't know, Faye... I'll think about it if you promise me that you won't be that mean to me again, okay?"
Songbird chuckled. "You sound like a five-year-old," she said fondly.
Jack smiled. It was one of their ongoing jokes. Songbird would make fun of Lucky's innocence, and Lucky would...
Lucky jutted out her bottom lip. "Do you pwomise?"
She would do that.
Songbird laughed as she nodded. "I promise."
Lucky smiled and pulled her best friend into a hug. "Okay, I accept your apology!" It was nice to see the girls talking to each other again.
Then Songbird had to add something else.
"But Abbs," Songbird warned, removing Lucky's arms, "if he hurts you and breaks up with you, leaving you to cry and run to someone to complain, and you come to me, I will say 'I told you so.' I hope it doesn't happen, and I'll be there for you, but just know that I will jump at the chance to say it." Lucky looked shocked, but she nodded slowly. Jack shook his head.
"Songbird, you really know how to make a heartfelt apology."
"Fuck you, Jack!"
"You offering?" He wiggled his eyebrows.
"To everyone but you!" she snapped.
"Oh, I'm hurt! Why not?"
"You ain't my type, hon."
"Oh yeah. What is your type? Tall, dark and handsome?" He studied her reaction.
Her eyes widened, but she quickly hid her disbelief and stared at him. "No, just anyone with more than half a brain!"
"Guys!" Lucky stepped in between them. "I think we're all supposed to be working." She tugged on both of their sleeves. They followed her into the restaurant.
Before Jack could leave the kitchen, Songbird had grabbed his arm and yanked him towards her. She was surprisingly strong for such a small person.
"What the-"
"What was that about 'tall, dark, and handsome?'" she asked, obviously trying to keep any desperation, and confusion, out of her voice.
Jack smirked and lowered his voice so that Racetrack couldn't hear. "I saw the way you looked at him." Her face paled.
"You won't say anything, will you?"
"I won't," he said, not really planning on staying quiet.
"Thanks," she sighed.
"How long have you..."
She glanced at Race. "Almost since we met."
Jack patted her shoulder awkwardly, and she actually smiled back at him.
"What's up with you two?" Race asked casually, "you're being pretty friendly over there..."
Jack shrugged. "Songbird's got a crush."
"Oh? Songbird, it's about damn time! On who?"
"None of your damn business," she spat as she hurried out of the kitchen.
"What's wrong with her?"
Jack shrugged, biting back a smile, "Beats me."
Oh, this was going to be so entertaining.
Author's Note
C: And welcome to the end of what I'm almost positive is our longest chapter yet! =D
S: Yay! It took us long enough...
C: It only took... two weeks, or so! That's not bad!
S: Yeah... Oh well, it's done now! *does a crazy happy dance*
C: -,-" I thought I was the one that acted like a 5-year-old...?
S: Happy dances don't have an age limit! And you'll probably respond with: "Clearly."
C: Hmph. Stop knowing me so well. It's kind of creepy!
S: :D Ha. We also started a new fic this weekend... It's insanity...
C: Literally. No joke.
S: It entertains me to no end!
C: And... oddly enough... flamer!Specs makes a brief appearance, accompanied by jealous!Dutchy, and kind-of-confused!Bumlets =D
S: BUMLETS! 3
C: And S's obsession with Bumlets is truly revealed... -,-"
S: I love him... *sigh*
C: You know, these author's notes make me look really good. I mean normally I'm the obsessive fangirl, and you're the best friend who puts up with my crazy obsession, but in the authors notes? Total role reversal =D
S: So true. Enjoy it while you can.
C: I plan to! Goodnight faithful readers (however few of you there may be)! See you next chapter!
S: Bye! :D