Stand Out

Chapter five: Tension

By: Ambrlupin

Rating: M

Summary: It started out as a dare, then an interest formed, and then an obsession. Now Anthony Higgins will do anything he has to, just to stand apart from all the rest. After all, Mr. Sunshine, a.k.a Matt Conlon, cant ignore him forever...right? SpotRace.

A/N: ahem, yes, yet another Race and Spot fic. I swear, these things aren't planned! Hehehe, anyway, I hope you all like this, cause im having a lot of fun writing it!

Disclaimer: As always, I do not own newsies. Thank you.

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"I...Im not sure about this..." Race whispered as he was pushed back to the wall, shivering as the other's fingers slipped the first button on his shirt loose.

"Are you scared?"

Was he? That was hard to answer. His heart was pounding, he felt light-headed and he wasn't sure if there was any ground underneath his feet. But was he scared? "No..."

"Then what's the problem?" There went another button.

"I'm just...not sure...I..." He reached up and stopped the hand, fingers around his wrist. "Come on, man...stop..."

"But I don't want to stop." The breath was hot on his ear, "And you don't want me to stop either."

He shivered, shaking his head back and forth, "Im serious-" He gasped as his shirt fell open and hands ghosted over his skin, teasing, taunting.

"No, you aren't."

"Dutchy..." He murmurred as their lips met, and the idea of stopping flew out of his head on the wings of a sigh.

Slamming his fist into the brick wall behind a local fast food restaurant, Race roared his frustration, knuckles splitting and dripping blood down his hand. He was so angry, at himself, at the others... So angry he felt like he was burning, being consumed by fires he couldn't see.

"DANG IT!" He took another swing, welcoming the pain. It helped clear his head. "GOD DANG IT!"

He didn't want the memories, didn't need them. In a few weeks it would be their anniversary. He didn't understand why he still cared. It had been a few months since they had broken up anyway, but he couldn't stop thinking about him.

It was maddening.

He didn't love him anymore. He didn't.

"I HATE YOU, DUTCHY! I HATE YOU!" Each word was emphasized with his flesh hitting the stone, the blood he left behind reminding him every time he pulled his hand back.

"You sure have some issues." A voice remarked cooly from behind him.

Race turned, breathing heavily. His eyes fell on a pair of black jeans and a royal blue silk shirt, a leather jacket thrown over it all. He looked up and sucked in a breath. Oh crap.

Matt smirked, holding a take-out bag in one hand. "I think your hand's bleeding."

Just how bad was his luck, really?

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"Im lost." David admitted as he watched Jack and Blink get ready, throwing jackets over their shoulders, and pulling on their boots. "What's going on? What's wrong with Tony?"

The two exchanged glances and Jack pulled his boyfriend aside, voice dropping to a whisper. "Look, Race...He's been having some problems lately. After he caught Dutchy..." He shook his head, "It's a tender subject, Davey. Let it go."

"He's my friend too!" He exclaimed, "Why can't I know what's happening?"

Jack sighed, running a hand through his hair, "Because you cant." He saw Blink grab his keys and he moved. "I have to go."

David spun on his heel in time to see Jack shut he door behind him. Growling, he paced back in forth, finally turning to the three left with him. "Do any of you know what's going on?"

Chase shook his head silently, arms crossed as he leaned back on the couch. He had been strangely quiet ever since Race's outburst, and Skittery was looking at him, worry in his eyes. He touched his shoulder lightly, "You all right?"

"I...don't think..." He looked up, eyes haunted. "I don't think that was Race."

Mush raised an eyebrow, "Chase?"

"When he left...his eyes..."

Skittery reached over and pulled him into a hug, laying his chin on the other's head. "I know, but what can we do? We're his friends, but we cant do anything unless he tells us what is bothering him."

Chase's eyes widened, his mouth opening in a sort of fish-out-of-water expression. He was in the arms of his crush, and it was just like he always thought it would be. Skittery smelled of cigarettes, and something more exotic, like a spice.

"Its Dutchy." Mush murmurred, shattering the happy bubble around Chase and making everyone turn to him in surprise. "Their anniversary is coming up."

David stared, mouth falling open. "You...You know what's been going on?"

"Of course I do." He shook his head, "But, Dave, it aint my place to say anything. So don't ask, cause im not going to tell you." And when Mush made his mind up about something...he was as stubborn as an ox.

The other sighed, sagging against the wall, running a hand through his hair. He was worried, so worried his hands were shaking slightly. Why couldn't anyone give him a straight answer? What had happened between Race and Dutchy?

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"What are you doing here?" Race breathed, eyes accusing.

"It's a public place." Matt raised an eyebrow, "I happened to be getting some lunch. Why do you care?"

Why did he care?

"I don't." He snarled. "Get your stupid lunch and get away from me."

Matt snorted, "Your hand is still bleeding. Whatcha gonna do? Run home to mommy and get it cleaned up? Get a kiss to make it better?" He smirked, head cocking to the side, "Oh no, wait...It isn't going to be mommy. Its going to be those gay friends of yours. They're gonna give you a band-aid with pink little butterflies on it, and do all sorts of gay things to make you feel better. Is that whats going to happen...Race?"

Race's eyes flashed and he was taking those few steps before he knew it. He stopped a mere half foot from the other, hands shaking as they balled into fists at his side. "Shut up. Just SHUT UP."

"Oh? And if I don't?" He snorted, "Don't make empty threats. They tend to bore me." He turned to walk away, done with the conversation, when a hand grabbed his arm and spun him around.

"I wasn't done with you, yet." Race hissed. "Whoever said they were empty threats? Face it, you're scare of me."

Matt roared with laughter, eyes ice cold. "Scared? Of you? The little half-pint Italian? Oh thats a good one." He was smirking, chuckling darkly.

"Then why were you runnin away?"

The smirk died from Matt's face, to be replaced with calm, collected fury. "I don't run from fights, pip squeak, you got that." He jabbed Race hard in the chest with one finger. "But we would be so outmatched you'd be a smear in the dirt and I wouldn't even get myself a work out. So whats the point?"

"He wont give you a work out. But I will." A new voice snarled, tone not unlike Matt's own. "So why don't you give me a try?"

Race's eyes flew open and he knew he was there before he even looked. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he slid to the side and could feel the tension skyrocket as Matt caught sight of the newcomer.

"I said, why don't you give me a try?"

It was Blink.

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-sigh- for some reason, I cant put out a good chapter to save my life. -grumble- oh well. Here, for your viewing pleasure! A crappy chapter! (Yes, im sick) -headdesk-