I'm alive! Sorry this took so long to update, a combination of writers block and being way too busy, but I am really excited for how this story is starting to grow and it's been great to see the excitement you guys have in it. Please keep reviewing, those are life-giving when I am swamped by homework and truly brighten my day and help make me a better writer. As always I do not own Newsies as I am a poor college student. Enjoy!
"Alright everybody, everybody quiet down please! Thank you. It is so great to have all of you down here and together, I think we have met everyone by now but if not, I am Davey one of your RA's this year."
"And I'm Katherine and I will be the other RA for 2nd Day this year. As you can see, this is our lounge space for the floor, it's always open for you guys to chill and hang out and just get to know each other, we want this space to be great for you to build community."
"We also want you guys to know that our doors are always, always open for you. We do ask that you respect our time to sleep, we are all going to be busy people, but if there is an emergency or if you just want somebody to talk to don't hesitate to come to us. You guys are the reason we want to do this job."
"So we know things are awkward now because you don't know anybody but to start things off we want to get you guys in groups talking to each other about where you are from, what you want to major in, just some easy ice breaker stuff to start to get to know some people on our floor a little bit better. So just circle up with some people near you and make sure everyone has a circle, we don't want anyone left out for this!"
The group of eighteen-year-olds began to shuffle around the room, trying to find people they had already met, desperate to be as not awkward as possible. Crutchie just sat where he was, meeting people hadn't gone that well for him so far and he wasn't anxious to do any more of it. A guy with dirty blonde hair and striking blue eyes sat down on a chair next to him, the slight smell of cigar wafting over towards him.
"Hey I'm Matt," he said, extending his hand toward Crutchie, "but everyone calls me Race, I guess I have just never liked sittin' still very much!"
"I'm Peter, but everyone calls me Crutchie…for obvious reasons!" Crutchie replied giving his crutch a kick.
"I guess if you can't do anythin' to change it ya might as well embrace it! So what are you majoring in?"
"I really want to be a social worker. I've had some really bad experiences with them and I want to be able to help kids like me get the support they need. What are you going for?"
"That's really cool! And I don't really know yet so I guess you could say I'm undecided. I dunno, college just seemed like a place that I should be so…here I am!"
"Hey that's fine, this is why we're here for four years right?"
The boys laughed uncertainly as their eyes wandered around the room, quickly wracking their brains for some question to break the silence. To their relief a guy with short dark hair walked up to them wearing a nice button down shirt and a bowtie.
"Hey, do you guys mind if I join your group?"
"No problem, sit down! I'm Race and this is Crutchie."
"Nice to meet you guys, my name's Billy."
Race looked disappointed, "No nickname?" he prodded.
"Umm not really any that have stuck," Billy replied warily.
"Well I guess we'se gonna have to fix that. It'd just be weird if we both had nicknames and you didn't! Hm, let's see…how about Buttons!?"
"Well I mean…I don't know…"
Race rolled his eyes, "C'mon Buttons it sounds great. College is the time of life when you really have to live on the edge, take risks! Right now, the world's yer'erster!"
Crutchie and Buttons exchanged confused glances, reassured that the other was just as lost as they were.
"What was that last part?" Crutchie asked.
"I said that now the world's yer'erster."
Race sighed, "Yer'erster! You know, the fancy clams with the pearls inside?"
"Oh an Oyster!" Crutchie and Buttons exclaimed in unison.
"Ain't you guys ever heard an accent from the city before?"
"Not a lot, I spent most of my life getting tossed around the Buffalo area," Crutchie replied, not having any desire to go through his backstory.
"And I'm from Michigan," added Billy, "So no. Not at all."
"Well I guess I'se gonna have to take you all back to my city sometime then, get you'se acclimated to some real English!"
"Yea whatever you say Race…real English!" Billy replied laughing.
Crutchie leaned back in his chair and smiled, maybe this wasn't going to be as bad as he thought.
A haze blurred the air in the house. The bass repeated a monotonous thumping. Jack could feel the pulsing bodies closing in around him, it made him sick to his stomach.
"C'mon Jack! You haven't had a single thing to drink yet! How can you have a party when you're sober!?" Morris shouted through the noise, tipping a bottle back into his mouth, his arm around at least the third girl of the night.
"It's fine really," Jack raised his voice, trying to be heard through the chaos, "I'll just be the driver tonight."
"We don't need a driver! We'll just spend the night here," Morris said, thrusting a cheap bear into Jack's hand. "Now you've got no excuse freshman. To college!" Morris raised his glass.
"Cheers," replied Jack tentatively as he took a gulp from the can. He nearly gagged. He remembered the taste too well.
"Freshman you ain't that much of a lightweight are you? Throw it back Jack! Throw it back! Throw it back!" A small chorus of chanters began to encircle Jack, closing in around him, choking him out of choice.
Jack downed the rest of the can, the repulsive liquid sliding down his throat.
"There we go! We knew we didn't pick a win to come with us! We'll get you to lighten up after all!"
Morris popped open two more beers and handed one to Jack.
"Now let's see if we can find a nice little lady for you," he grabbed Jack by the arm and led him through the party.
Jack threw back another beer.
Crutchie opened the door to his room and saw his roommate's bed empty, he glanced at the clock amazed that it was already 3 in the morning. Apparently his roommate wasn't coming back anytime tonight. Oh well, he didn't need the party scene. He just talked for four hours with two great guys about anything and everything and he felt more alive than he had felt in years. And he would take that over a party any day.