Stand Out

Chapter seven: Obsession

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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"How is he?"

The voice was so soft, whispered into the phone, but yet it rang into the darkness of the alley, seeming impossibly loud. Night held no secrets it would seem. Not this night.

"Same." Came the sighed answer, "I'm not sure I like this. It isn't like Race to be so..."

"Emo?"

"No...No, not emo. He's just...obsessed. All I hear is Matt, Matt, Matt. It can't be healthy."

Lips quirked up into a small grin. "Jealous?"

"Oh, stop it." There was a near audible snort from the other line. "I just have a bad feeling. It's been three weeks, and Race hasn't stopped trying to figure out who that guy is."

"Yeah..." A lighter flickered to life, the only light save the glare from the phone, and he lit the cigarette hanging from his lips. "I'm worried too."

There was a surprise note to the voice then, "Are you smoking, David?"

David blew some smoke from between his lips, watching it drift toward the sky as he answered. "No. I'm not smoking."

It was a full blown lie, but he let it go. You knew things were getting bad when David Jacobs picked up a cigarette. They were even worse when he smoked one.

"Listen, I have to go."

David sighed, nodding. "Call me later, would you?"

"Yeah. Sure."

And the line went dead.

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"Who was dat, Jack?"

Looking up as he calmly placed the phone back on the hook, Jack grinned at Race, watching as the Italian rubbed his face and fell into a chair. It was the first time in days he had been out of his room.

"Wrong number."

"There food round heah?"

Jack smiled, getting up and fiddling with the coffee pot until he managed to get a cup for Race. "I haven't made breakfast yet. I can, if you'd like."

Not even caring, Race reached for the cup, tossing it back black. "I'm gettin close, Jack. I know I am. I can feel it."

He couldn't help it then, for the words burst forth before he could stop them. Not that he really wanted to. "You need to stop, Race. It's stupid and childish...and stupid. Just ask the guy who he is if you want to know so damn badly."

Race stared, and then laughed, throwing his head back. "You think he'd actually tell me? No... No, Jack. If I want to know anything, I have to figure it out myself."

"But why?" He demanded then. "Why do you need to know?"

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It was a back alley in some back alley of a back alley of the meat-packing district. The air smelled of sea salt, rotten meat and blood. It tasted worse, clinging to the back of a throat and clogging the air from reaching their lungs.

Leaves littered the ground, trash as well, blowing in the breeze, being kicked and thrown around. It wasn't all too safe back here, everyone knew it. Gangs ran amuck here, no one would be surprised if years from now they drained the lake and found heaps of missing people under the black depths.

"How did you get my number?" Blink's voice was barely held in check as it echoed off the walls, his arms crossed as he bit back the primal urge in him to fight and talk later. "Answer me, midget."

Silver blue eyes narrowed. "I'll let that go with a warning. But call me midget again, and you'll be on your ass. Don't order me around either. I don't have to tell you anything."

"But you were the one who called me."

"So I was." He brought a cigarette to the unlit cigarette hanging from his lips. He breathed in until the tip flared red before flicking it closed and replacing it in his pocket.

For minutes, no one spoke, the only sound being their breathing and the soft wheeze of the exhaled smoke. The wind rushed through the alley, sending Blink's hair flying around his face, and Spot's jacket back, flashing the gold-tipped cane he always carried, tucked safely in the jacket lining.

Blink thought about opening his mouth, but fought it every time. Matt was formidable, that had been proven already. But he wasn't unbeatable. Everyone had a weakness. The only problem was, this one was walled up tight and locked fast.

At the same time, Spot was looking Blink over, and thinking how incredibly stupid the kid was, to actually follow the directions given over the phone. Stupid or brave. He couldn't figure out which, but bravery at the wrong times was stupid as well.

Finally unable to take the silence any longer, Blink shifted his footing. "You called me."

"We've already been over this."

"What for?" It was a snarl. "To finish?"

"In a way." Matt blew smoke from between his lips. "I know Tony is trying to figure me out, Ryan."

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"I don't know..." Race murmurred, hands clenching on the table, eyes locked onto the wood and not those of his friend. "I don't know, Jack..."

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"What of it?" Blink's eyebrow rose. "Kid's off his rocker if you ask me. I don't see anything here I'd want to know more about."

Not taking the bait, Spot's eyes locked onto his. Cold, deadly. "Tell him to stop. Or I'll make him."

Bristling, Blink took a step forward. "Are you threatening...To kill him?"

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"Come on, Race. Just give it up." Jack pleaded, knowing he might never get another chance to stop this. Stop him. "It's driving you nuts. You don't eat, don't sleep. You're just on the computer, trying to find some way to figure out who this guy is. Just stop. Give it up."

Please.

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"Yes."

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"No."

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Next chapter: Tears

He wasn't sure what he was doing out here, especially since it couldn't be right. The G.P.S. system had to be off today, or something. Why would Ryan be in the meat-packing district at about 4 in the afternoon?

Frowning even move, hands pulled the edges of his jacket tighter around himself, collar turned up as the wind chilled him to the bone. He was going to look around a bit more before he went back to the car.

He looked down at the phone he held, sighing. Stupid Blink turning off his phone. What for? There wasn't anything going on, was there? Fear slid down his spine as he started to walk faster, getting nearly to a run as he bolted past alley and warehouse alike.

And then he heard voices.

Slowing to a stop, he forced himself to breath quietly as he slunk toward the corner of the alley. His eyebrow show up when he heard Blink's voice. He was here then. But then a voice answered him, with the single most chilling 'yes' he had ever heard, and his blood ran cold.

He knew it was going to happen before it did. Blink rushed Matt, just as he rounded the corner, voice sharp for them to stop. He reached out to grab Blink's arm, to tug him back, and a sort of numbness began to spread from his stomach.

Frowning, he looked down, rather confused to see a red stain spreading across his brand new white t-shirt. He heard Blink scream, and then his knees buckled out from under him. He hit the ground hard, conscious of the other's hands on his face.

Matt stood, shocked, his hand still holding the bloody dagger he had pulled to try and keep Blink at bay. He hadn't even seen the other until he was between them, and it was too late. His hands cleaned the blade, slid it away.

Then walked away.

Blink was on his knees, cradling the other's head. "Hey...hey..."

"Cold..." He whispered, vision darkening, before it slid to black.

Kissing his forehead, Blink was vaguely aware of tears on his face, but he kept kissing his forehead. "Baby, baby stay with me. Stay with me... Stay with me...Nick!!"

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Um...well... heh?

I don't have anything to say.

Read and review?