A/N: Hey everyone! How's it goin in Newsiesfandom? Ok, i'm a little hyper at the moment hehe...anyway this one is a bit long...but good and cheese free nonetheless! Anyway, I'm not sure when I'll be able to update, I'm going out of town on friday and won't be back til the 23rd, so if i can get one up before I leave, then I will but if not, I'll be back soon!
Shout outs: Dodger, Mouse and Spades, you guys, as always, continue to rock! I like ya'lls reviews, they make me laugh in a good way...bc there's humor...I'm gonna stop now!
And to Ducky! My ever faithful co-authoress and cheese nazi (in a good way)! Without her this story wouldn't be nearly as good as it is, nor would it have half the tickle fights it does! glares NO MORE TICKLING! LOL JUST PLAYING! ANYWAY ENJOY! ADIOS AMIGOS!
I woke up Saturday morning to go to work, happy and awake for once. I got dressed and walked downstairs to eat breakfast since I hadn't wasted all of my time getting out of bed. I sat down at the table and cheerily greeted everyone present.
"Good Morning!" I said smiling.
"Someone's in a good mood." Spades said stating the obvious.
"Yeah, 'specially foh stayin out all night." Spot commented.
"It was not all night." I retorted.
"I'm assuming that your date with your future husband went well then?" Spades said smiling.
"The next person to call him my future husband is gonna get it." I said glaring at my two younger siblings.
"All right, we'se just playin wid ya!" Spot said holding up his hands in the don't kill me motion.
"No, it's just you two, mom, Riley, Mush and Media have all said something about it, and it's a tad bit annoying."
"Aight, I said we'll stop." Spot said a bit angrily.
"What's wrong with you today Spot?" I asked, seriously concerned for him. He usually didn't act this way unless something was seriously wrong.
"Nuttin, dere's nuttin wrong wid me." He snapped getting up from the table.
"I'm leaving in 30 minutes, you'd better be down here if you want a ride!" I yelled.
"Be nice to him, Angel." Spades said.
"Why, he snapped at me?" I said.
"He snapped because, he thinks that you'll get hurt when Jack goes back to New York." She explained.
"I can take care of myself." I countered.
"You know that and I know that, but ever since last week, he's been a bit overprotective of you."
"He hasn't acted any different."
"Around you no, but when you aren't here he does."
"Why?"
"He didn't want to irritate you!"
"Oy" I muttered walking upstairs to escape the drama.
A half hour later we left, Spot still seemed a bit on edge, so I just let him be. We got to the hotel and clocked in. I went to the front desk where Blink was waiting with a huge cheeky smile on his face.
"What are you so happy about?" I asked.
"How'd ya date wid Cowboy go?"
"Oh, well, we went to Olive Garden, got stalked by my cousin, looked at Christmas lights, went for a carriage ride, and had hot cocoa before he dropped me off."
"Was dat all?" he asked.
"Do I detect a bit of sarcasm, Blink?"
"Me, nevah!" he laughed.
"Whatever!"
We had our usual Saturday business, countless people checking in and out and generally creating chaos in the lobby. In the early afternoon Riley showed up to talk to Blink.
"Heya Dodger." He said as she walked up.
"Hey Blink." Dodger smiled. "I missed you."
"I missed seein ya!"
"Oh, please, it's only been a week, if that!" I interjected.
"But, it's true, I really did miss him!" Dodger said.
"And I really did miss hah."
"Can you two not go one week without seeing each other?" I asked.
"No." Dodger pouted.
"Oh good gravy! You're worse than Spades when she lost her blanket when she was five!"
"Am not!" I shot her a yeah that's what you think look.
"Blink, whad ya do ta make Angel make dat face?" Jack asked walking up.
"It wadn't me!" Blink protested.
"Uh-huh, shoh it wadn't."
"No, actually it was my beloved sister!" I said poking her, and making her squeal. "He he"
"So ah, Angel, how're ya?" Jack asked turning his attention to me.
"I'm fine, how are you?"
"Great."
"I had a lot of fun last night."
"Me too. Maybe we'll have ta do dat again sometime."
"I'd like that." I said for some reason blushing.
"Well, I'se gotta get back ta woik. Catch ya ladah."
"Bye."
"OOOOO" Riley taunted.
"Oh shut up you." I said tossing a pen at her; which she dodged.
"Angel has a boyfriend, Angel has a boyfriend." She said still taunting me.
"No I don't!"
"Angel, ya was blushin!"
"How does my over reactive blushing mean that Jack is my boyfriend?"
"It just does." Riley said throwing the pen back at me, and it hit me in the head, surprise of all surprises.
"OW" I complained rubbing my forehead. "Gah, I swear, I have a magnet in my head!"
"Can't-stay-away!" Blink mocked as he slapped his hand to my head.
"Cute Blink, real cute!" I glared at him.
"I thought it was." Riley said giving him her goofy smile.
"You would think him walking into a tree was cute."
"No, that's something you would do." Riley commented.
"Ya know, I'm going to go where I'm appreciated!" I said walking off.
"DRAMA QUEEN!" Riley yelled.
"AND PROUD OF IT!"
Later that day, after we had all gotten off work, I drove everyone home and settled into my room to read a book. It seemed like it had been forever since I'd been able to do that. Especially since we've had company over every single night. About halfway in someone knocked on my door.
"Come in!" I called. Spot opened the door and poked his head in.
"Dinnah's ready" he mumbled.
"Thank you."
"Ya welcome." He said starting to back out of the room.
"Hold it, come here." I said, putting my book down.
"Yeah?"
"Look, I'm sorry I snapped earlier."
"Ain't a big deal."
"You've been avoiding me all day, yeah, it's a big deal."
"Yeah, so what if it is a big deal?"
"So, do you wanna talk about it?" I probed.
"Nah"
"Ok, let me rephrase that, I want to talk about it."
"Why dincha say dat in da foist place."
"I was giving you a chance."
"A chance foh what?"
"To say you wanted to talk about it."
"Well, it ain't gonna change nuttin."
"You don't know that."
"Ya like 'im doncha?"
"Kindasortamaybeyes"
"Well, den it don't change nuttin"
"WOULD YOU TALK TO ME!" I asked rather annoyed.
"I am talking to ya!"
"Talking yes, communicating no"
"Okay, ya like 'im, den da lil scabbah's gonna leave and den you'se gonna be hoit!"
"Well, that was unexpected." I mumbled.
"I try ta communicate wid ya and ya make fun a me, now ya know why I didn't wanna talk bout it!" he said turning to walk out the door.
"Spot, come back here, I'm not done with you!" I called after him to no avail. Sometimes the boy just made me want to scream, so I did while pounding my pillow. Once I finished venting my anger I composed myself and walked downstairs to dinner. I walked in to find my family along with Blink and Skittery sitting at our table.
"Hello boys." I said sitting down.
"Heya!" they said simultaneously. Conversation around our table was normal, with the exception of Spot and me. He was still avoiding me. After dinner we stayed in the kitchen while my parents went off to do, something.
"Hey, do ya'll wanna go play lasah tag?" Blink asked.
"Oh, laser tag, fun!" I said, getting slightly hyper.
"Good, because Mush and Media are pickin up Jacky Boy and meetin us dere."
"Cool." Spades said.
"I'll be in me room if ya need me." Spot said walking upstairs.
"What's eatin him?" Skittery asked.
"He's being a drama queen." I said.
"I HOID DAT!" Spot yelled.
"I DON'T CARE!" I yelled.
"Blink, can you go talk some sense into him?" Spades asked.
"I'll try." He said walking upstairs to talk to Spot.
"So uh, where do you think we're gonna go play laser tag at?" Riley asked.
"Probably the new Main Event, or Mountasia, they're the only places that I know that have laser tag." I answered.
"SHE'S TREATIN ME LIKE A CHILD!" we overheard Spot yell from his room.
I started to respond to that comment when Riley, Spades and Skittery all attacked me with verbal threats.
"Oy, fine, I'll stay out of it!" I said surrendering.
"YA DON'T EVEN KNOW DA GUY!" Blink yelled.
"Wow, they're really getting into it." Skittery commented.
"Indeed" I replied.
"I hope Spot doesn't hurt him." Riley said.
A few minutes of silence went by from Spot's room when Blink finally emerged.
"He said he'd come if Ace was gonna be dere."
"Someone call Ace and see if she wants to go!" Riley said.
"I'll do it, I know her a little better than you guys." Spades said walking over to the phone.
"Hello, Ace? This is Spades. We were wondering if you would want to go play laser tag with us. Who all is going? Well, Me, Skittery, Dodger, Angel, Blink, Media, Mush, Jack, Bumlets, Mouse and Spot said he'd go if you went. Ok, we'll tell him, see you at Main Event. Bye."
"I take that as a yes." I said.
"Yep, she said she'd meet us there."
"I'll go tell Spot." Blink said as he disappeared upstairs for the second time. He and Spot came down a few minutes later, Spot still looked angry, but he was calming down.
"Well, since I'se shoh ya hoid parta dat, dere's no reason ta be awkwahd." Spot said.
"Well den, let's go!" Skittery said walking towards the door.
"Let me grab my purse!" Dodger, Spades and I all said at the same time as we rushed up to our rooms.
"We've been heah for a good 15 minutes and dey didn't do dat eahliah?" Blink said.
"Goils" Spot added rolling his eyes. We came back downstairs and dashed out to our cars. Dodger, Blink and Spot rode in Blink's car and I had Spades and Skittery with me. During the drive over Skittery kept changing the radio stations.
"Spades, you get shotgun on the way back." I growled. Suddenly my cell phone rang.
"ARGH, can someone get that?" I asked shouting over the radio.
"Angel's phone." Spades answered.
"Uh, hold on a second, let me put you on speaker phone."
"Hello, can ya hear me, Angel?" Mush asked.
"Yeah I can hear you!" I called into the backseat.
"What?"
"She said she could hear you Mush." Spades narrated.
"Oh, ok. Jack won't admit it, but he's wondering where you are."
"Don't say dat!" Jack yelled in the background.
"Mush, stop teasing the boy." Media said, in the foreground.
"Ha ha" Mush chuckled.
"We're on our way Mush." I laughed.
"What?"
"She said we're on our way!" Spades shouted at him.
"No need to shout Spades. Ok, Jack, rest assured, your Angel will be here soon!" Soon we heard the sounds of a cell phone being knocked to the floor along with Media shouting.
"That's my cell phone! Don't hurt it, or him. Bad Jack, oh bad Mush. Stop it!"
"We'll be there in about ten minutes!" Spades said hanging up the phone.
"Dey'll both be dead by then."
"Let's hope not." I said unconsciously pushing harder on the accelerator.
We got there in about five minutes later to find Mush, Media, Jack, Mouse, Bumlets and Ace standing out front. I whipped Purity into a parking spot with Spades and Skittery protesting.
"Angel, that was my head." Spades said getting out of the car.
"Spades, love, how many times have I told you to sit in the middle?" I asked.
"Too many to count." She muttered.
"Then why don't you listen?"
"Because every time I get in your car I forget how you drive!" she said rubbing her head.
"I think I'm gonna be sick!" Skittery said running inside with his hand pressed over his mouth.
"You made my boyfriend sick!" stated a shocked Spades.
"It's not my fault he gets motion sickness!" I said innocently.
"Heya dere beautiful!" Jack said as we walked up.
"Ok, you two have to be officially dating if you're gonna talk like that." Media said obnoxiously.
"Well, are you?" Bumlets asked.
"I don't know, are we?" I asked Jack.
"Uh, I kinda had dis planned out differently, but uh, yeah?" he asked looking at me hopefully.
"Yeah." I smiled.
"Awww, how cutsie!" Media said.
"And that's the power of the Media." Mush said.
"Yuppers." She said.
"Can we play now? It's cold!" complained Mouse.
"Well, we've gotta wait for Spot, Dodger, and Blink." I said.
"Yeah, they don't drive as psychotic as Angel." Spades quipped.
"Oh and you're the BEST driver in the world?" I asked her.
"Of course!"
"Not." Said Skittery coming out of the building.
"Hey, you're supposed to be on my side." Spades said walking up to him.
"Just statin da truth." He replied. Before Spades could say anything more, Dodger, Blink and Spot drove up and got out of the car. As soon as Spot's feet hit the pavement he headed straight to Ace.
"Dang Angel, where was the fire?" Blink asked.
"Oh, uh, nowhere?" I said attempting to sound convincing.
"Weak Angel, really weak!" Dodger said.
"I know, it was a desperate attempt at an answer." I pouted.
"It's still cold!" Mouse said.
"Cuddle with Bumlets." Said Ace.
"Yeah, dat's what he's dere foh." Jack finished.
"Actually, that's not a bad idea." Mouse said snuggling into Bumlet's arms who was grinning broadly.
"AWWW, someone should take a picture." Media said, then finished when she saw the camera phones being pulled out, "Not really."
"I think she was being sarcastic." I said.
"Duh" Media replied attempting to tickle me.
"No!" I said dashing behind Jack.
"You can't hide forever!" she teased.
"Yes I can."
"I'm still cold, Bumlets is broken!" Mouse commented.
"I resent dat remahk." Bumlets said.
"Ok, we'll go inside!" Blink said walking towards the door. We got in line to play laser tag and had to wait for a few minutes before we could go in. While we were waiting Media decided to have what she called a "poke fest". Which basically meant she ran around poking everyone, and sometimes people would join in and others would run for their lives; namely me.
"Don't you want to play Acorn?" Media asked chasing me.
"No, not really. I don't trust you when it comes to poking."
"What kind of relationship do we have where you can't even trust me?" she asked as we ran by Jack.
"Is dere sumptin ya need ta tell me Angel?" Jack asked with eyebrows raised.
"Mush, please explain the relationship, while I hunt down Acorn." Media said running after me.
"NOOOOOOO!" I yelled still trying to get away. Mush and Skittery had been having their own poke war, but they broke it up so Mush could explain to Jack.
"Help me, save me, help me, save me!" I screamed running past again.
"Acorn, I won't hurt you!" Media said still chasing me.
"Why do I somehow not believe you!"
"Because you have trust issues!"
"Because of you!"
"That's gonna cost you an extra poke!"
"NOOOOOOOO!" I saw Spot standing nearby and quickly ran to hide behind him.
"Hide me!" I whispered.
"Fine" he said staying where he was.
"Where'd she go?" I heard Media ask.
"Where'd who go?"
"Your sister!"
"Dodgah?"
"Don't play dumb."
"Who ya callin dumb?" Spot said pulling himself up to his full height.
"I'm the youngest in a big family, that doesn't intimidate me! Oh, I'm gonna go get Bumlets!" Media said running off.
"Is she gone?" I asked poking my head out.
"Yeah, she's gone."
"Ok, see you in a minute." I said sneaking off to Jack. I walked over to where Mush and Jack were talking.
"So does that make sense?" Mush asked.
"Can ya rewoid it?" Jack replied.
"Uh, they're just, friends that attack each other in a playful manner."
"Ok, dat makes sense."
"Welcome to my world."
"You make it sound like dealing with Media is a hard thing." I teased.
"She has her moments." Just then Media ran up behind me and tickled me mercilessly. I ended up head bunting her to try to get her off of me, but all that did was give me a headache. By this point we were laughing so hard that tears were streaming and we collapsed. We ended up in a heap laughing our heads off.
"It burns!" Media said.
"Can't-breathe!" I laughed.
"Are you okay there Acorn?" she laughed.
"My head hurts!"
"Don't try to head bunt if you can't do it right!"
"It burns!" I snorted.
"I feel like I just did sit ups!"
"Should we get 'em up?" Jack asked semi concerned.
"Nah, they'll be fine in a minute." Mush said, which only made us crack up more.
"Or maybe five minutes." True to Mush's predictions, five minutes later we had regained what little composure we had left and got up to go play laser tag.
Once inside the dark room where we got our guns we split off into teams. Jack, Media, Dodger, Blink, Skittery and I were on team Green. While Mouse, Bumlets, Mush, Spot, Ace, and Spades were on team Red. They took our team off to one side and explained the object of the game. Once the staff had finished their oratory, they opened the door and let us begin. Loud Techno music blared through speakers embedded in the ceiling as we prepared for an all out war! Okay, well maybe not all of us; all right it was just me. I'm a little on the competitive side. So anyway as the game progressed, I was racking up points and noticed that Spot seemed to have a personal vendetta against Jack. Silently, I crept over to where Spot was aiming at Jack and took aim at Spot. I fired as many rounds into his back as I could until he looked back at me to see who had shot him. I smiled and waved at him before I ran off to our base to reload my gun, laughing inwardly the entire way.
"Acorn, my own freaking boyfriend killed me!" Media exclaimed as Mush went running around the corner.
"I find that quite humorous!" I laughed.
"It is. He's just getting me back for shooting him earlier." She said. "But still."
"You are nutty my friend." I said going back out to defend my boyfriend from my brother.