Disclaimer: I do not own any of the original newsie characters.
The ride to Brooklyn was long and quiet. The four boys were sitting side by side on the very back of a trolley car, their legs dangling as it sped down the street. Racetrack was squeezed in between Danny and David with Jack to the right of David. Danny was silent, only staring at the road as it flew beneath his feet. However, Racetrack was listening to Jack who was making sorry attempts to start a conversation with David.
Jack had been going on for about fifteen minutes when David finally cut in and said, "I'm not in the mood for small talk, Jack." His glare was harsh. Jack fell silent.
"Cut him some slack, Davey," Racetrack said, "He's just tryin' to make amends."
"You should be the one to talk." David gave a chin-up gesture in Danny's direction. Racetrack flinched at David's words, as if he had physically slapped Racetrack. Danny glanced up briefly. An innocent smile formed on his lips.
After that, no one talked. Tension hung in the air between them, like a dark cloud that threatened to burst at any moment. When the trolley car stopped at the point closest to the Brooklyn Bridge, the foursome hopped off and began walking. Their steps were slow and heavy, as if they dreaded what was going to happen. And they did; each for a different reason. For Jack, it was his pride. With how things had ended last time, it was almost humiliating to be coming back and practically begging for forgiveness. Racetrack, however, was afraid. If Danny mentioned their bet, then the blame would fall on his head. Danny was scared too. What would Spot say when he found out what Danny had done? Or rather, what would he do? And David, well, helping Jack was the last thing in the world he wanted to do at the moment.
None the less, they trudged across the bridge, only stopping when they reached the end that broke off into Brooklyn. They stood there for a moment, looking around warily. Racetrack had informed them of what had happened the last time he had tried to make it to Sheepshead. But no one popped out of the shadows and they kept walking. Jack subconsciously took the lead, turning down alleys and streets that were only slightly familiar to Danny and Racetrack. Though Racetrack was often in Brooklyn, the newsboy lodging house was not on the path that led to Sheepshead.
"Jack, are you sure you know where you're going?" David asked impatiently after they had been walking in silence for a good while. Racetrack was beginning to wonder the same thing. Jack didn't reply; instead, he stopped in front of a short building. Its lack of height was made up with its width. Racetrack assumed it had only one story. By the door was a sign that read 'BROOKLYN NEWSIES LODGING HOUSE'. Jack climbed up the steps and opened the door. The other three boys quickly followed after him.
When Racetrack stepped into the lobby, the first thing he noticed was its emptiness. It was much like their own lobby, with the couches and a big desk off to the side. But there was no old man behind the desk and no staircase that led to another floor. Instead, there was a door on the back wall. Sounds of laughter and talking flowed out from it. This was the door that Jack approached and knocked slowly on. The three boys stood quietly behind him, waiting for the door to open. But it didn't, at least not for a good couple minutes. Only when Jack knocked again did they hear thundering footsteps from the other side. The foursome took a quick step back and the door was swung open. A boy filled the door frame, his large body reeking of the smell of sweat. His hair was mussed and blood could be seen trickling down his mouth. Racetrack guessed he had been wrestling.
"Is Spot here?" Racetrack admired Jack for keeping the fear out of his voice. The boy's eyes flickered over the group briefly. Then, rather abruptly, the door was slammed shut and they could hear the boy hollering for Spot.
"Idiot," Racetrack heard Jack mutter. The four newsies stood in silence, waiting impatiently and listening to the crazy sounds coming from the other side of the door.
When the door opened again, it was Spot who slipped out. He pushed the door back in its place carefully.
"I see you came to talk," he said, eying David. Jack nodded in response. Spot sighed with irritation and walked promptly over to a couch and sat down.
"Well. Speak," he said brusquely, fingering his cane. Racetrack gave David a shove forward.
"You beat up Racetrack because you thought he was talking trash about you, right?" David began.
Spot shrugged. "I wouldn't say beat up-"
"Beat up, soaked. Whatever," David interrupted. "But you only knew what Racetrack had said because Danny came to you, correct?"
Spot nodded impatiently.
"Danny exaggerated a little," David said and then looked at Danny.
"Just a little. Racetrack was poking fun at you. But he was just joking around," Danny quickly said.
"Yeah, I wasn't being serious or nothin'," Racetrack threw in. Spot looked at each other boy's faces, searching for sincereness.
"A'right, a'right. Dat's understandable," Spot said, leaning back on the couch's cushions. Racetrack let out a breath of relief. But he wasn't safe yet. Spot continued. "So, if dat was nothin' to worry about, den why did Danny tell me 'bout it?"
All gazes flew to Danny.
"I'm sorry, Spot," Danny started. He looked over at Racetrack with sorrowful eyes. "Me and Racetrack made a bet a while back at Sheepshead. Five bucks. I know it was stupid, especially since I was new to the whole game. But I really wanted to prove myself to Racetrack. Anyway, I lost and used it as an excuse to be mad at him. So, telling myself Racetrack had taken advantage of me, I came here. I told you what I remembered him saying about you so you would get mad and go beat him up for me..."
When Danny finished, everyone was staring at him. Jack looked at Racetrack.
"You didn't tell me dis, Race," he said, looking confused. Racetrack just shrugged, trying to look casual about it. Spot stood up with another sigh and said.
"I can see dat dis is not really my problem. Racetrack, 'pose I owe you an apology. Sorry, it was just a misunderstanding. Danny, yer welcome for my services. And Jack, good luck," Spot said. He then smirked. "Now if you 'cuse me, fellas, I got a poker game to return to." With that, the Brooklyn newsie gave Jack a thump on the shoulder and exited the lobby.
As soon as Spot left the room, Jack burst out, "Racetrack!"
"What?" he asked, sticking his hands in his pockets.
"Why'd you make dat bet wid Danny?!"
"Hey! He made da bet wid me! I merely agreed."
"You knew he would lose!"
"Uh, its a game of chance. You never know."
"Racetrack."
"Fine! Maybe I did take advantage of him a little, but he didn't have to be such a sore loser!"
"You didn't hafta be a sore winner!"
"Guys!" David nearly shouted. The two boys looked over at him. "Danny said he was sorry; we got our alliance with Spot back. Why are you still fighting?
Racetrack looked down at his boots.
"I agree with David," Danny spoke up. "I really do wanna be friends with ya'll. Can't we just put this behind us?"
Racetrack looked up and caught Jack looking at him. He chewed his bottom lip. David did have a good point...and Racetrack was tired of holding a grudge and fighting with Danny. He felt himself caving in...and it felt good.
Racetrack turned to Danny. "Awuh, what da heck. I forgive ya, Danny." He spat in his hand and held it out. Danny grinned and did the same. When they shook, Racetrack felt like a big burden of anger and hate had been lifted from his shoulders.
He then turned to David with a big smile. "Now, Davey. You can't get away wid saying what you just said widout saying sorry to Jack."
David groaned. "You're right. Why can't I just keep my big mouth shut?"
Racetrack laughed. "I don't think dat's in your being."
David smiled. With a sigh, he said, "A'right, Jack. You're forgiven."
Jack pretended to be offended. "Hey!"
David rolled his eyes and added, "And I'm sorry."
And so, the four Manhattan newsies walked out of the lodging house a happier group than when they had come.
xoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
After the trolley car had stopped and the boys began to go their separate ways, Jack decided to walk home with David. The sun had set and the moon shown brightly in the clear night sky. The two boys walked in silence for awhile, but Jack felt as if he still needed to explain himself.
"So, you really forgave me, Davey?" Jack asked.
David laughed quietly. "Yeah. It was stupid of me to stay angry."
"I really am sorry. I didn't mean to get caught up in everything," Jack still said.
"Nah, I always knew that Nathan was a jerk. I was being a terrible friend letting him get his hopes up about Sarah," David replied.
"And a terrible brother," Jack added boldly. But David only nodded in agreement.
"You're right. I guess I was just so glad to see one of my friends from school that I didn't want to scare him away," David said with a faltering smile.
They had reached the apartment building by now. Jack followed David as he climbed up the staircase and entered the Jacob's apartment. The Jacobs family was still up and about, waiting for their son's safe arrival.
"Jack! Well ain't that a pretty picture! Good to see you two together again and smiling," Mrs. Jacobs exclaimed when they walked in the door. Jack laughed. David quickly walked over to the table and sat down, picking up a letter.
"Sarah's on the roof, if you want to talk to her," Mrs. Jacobs said, nodding at Jack.
"Thank you," he replied before crossing the room and slipping through the window. He climbed up the fire escape to the top of the building. Sarah was no where in sight, but he knew her to be behind the tower of bricks. Very quietly, Jack crept up to it.
"Boo!" he whispered in her ear when he had peaked his head around the corner. Sarah jumped. Jack laughed as he sat down beside her, leaning his back against the brick.
"Jack! Do you always have to scare me?" she asked with a glare that wasn't effective due to her cute smile.
"Yes. Almost always," he replied with a grin. Jack tilted his head up and stared at the stars.
"Another clear night," he mused, as his eyes wandered from constellation to constellation.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Sarah nod.
"So, how are things going, Jack?" she asked. He smiled, his gaze still on the stars.
"Things are going good. Real good."
A.N/ Eep! Sorry that took forever to get out! I've had a busy summer(had...-sniff-) and just been lazy with this whole story. Sorry! Plus, I couldn't figure out how to upload 15 documents without deleting one /
So, it's over! Ta, da, the end! Thanks to all you newsie fans out there who have followed my story, and especially those who sent in those yummy reviews. Luv you all!
Um, I'm actually working on another story at the moment. It'll be done soon, so add me to your author alert!
Aurevoir!