Plot time yah :) Please enjoy and tell me what you think. constructive criticism is appreciated.
L.L.A.P
~Laces
Chpt.8
"Pleas- ach!"
"This is what ya get when ya refuse me!"
"Stop! I have- agh! A fa-family!"
"Shoulda thought about that before ya told Austin no." a young boy chuckled and the other boy, Austin, continued kicking the older gentleman in the rib cage.
"Please stop." The man whimpered, out of breath as blood dribbled down his face.
"Nobody says no to me." Austin growled, the turned and left the barely alive body in the ally with his crew following right behind him.
Austin was angry, which was understandable. The year was 1898, the year before the Newsie Strike of 1899, and at this time, people like Austin weren't treated too great.
Austin Johnson was seventeen years old with a pit of anger that constantly boiled in his stomach. He was angry about how his skin being dark, he was angry that he couldn't get a job, he was angry at his mother for leaving him, he was angry at his father for beating him, and he was angry that his little sister was dead.
However, Austin was able to use his anger as a tool.
Soon enough, Austin had some of his own goons. People who wanted power just like he did, but didn't have the force like Austin. They were followers and he was the leader.
Could he be charismatic? Of course. That's how he had his followers. However, people knew not to cross him. He could look nice but through learned habits from his father, he was a brute.
What did he and his followers do?
They were a street gang, beating on whoever they seemed fit and robbing whoever they wanted.
During this time, Laces was thirteen and she no longer was Jack's apprentice. She was independent. A fully knowledgeable full-fledged newsie. She was still considered a boy, but she had to go through extra lengths to keep her voice lower and some binding to keep her chest flat.
Her face was something different. People who didn't know about Laces' true gender often joked that she was a "pretty boy". Surprisingly being a "pretty boy" gave her admires.
What more, she wrote music. Some of which Medda used. She would also accompany Medda if the woman needed percussion in a song.
Which also made her popular with the ladies.
The first girl's name was Sarah, who would bat her eyelashes at Laces and only bought the paper for her father from Laces.
"If ya keep ignorin' Sarah, people'll start thinkin' your queer." Jack stated one day, and Laces sighed,
"Yeah, I know."
She then had a long talk with Mush as to how to entertain a woman. Of course she skipped over Mush's instructions for if they ever ended a night in bed, but Laces wasn't going to be sleeping with anyone. Not to mention that if that were to occur, Sarah would be in for a surprise as to what Laces lacked.
Laces took Sarah out on a date, where the two talked and Laces upped her charm, making the other girl blush and giggle.
However, Laces wasn't too interested in Sarah. The girl was just too plain for Laces, not to mention that the girl was also spoiled and bratty.
"Dally, you know, my Dad is away for the night." Sarah smirked deviously and Laces chuckled, trying not to grimace at the nickname given to her.
Sarah harassed Laces for her real name until Laces caved and told her that it was Dallas. And thus the horrendous nickname 'Dally' was born.
"Sorry Sarah, I'm afraid that I can't stay. Got some papes ta sell and music ta write." Laces kissed the back of the young woman's hand. "Thank you for the wonderful evening."
"Anytime." The woman giggled and with a grin, Laces retreated.
"Dally!? Oh that's terrible." Racetrack laughed later when Laces went over what happened. "But hey, you say her name's Sarah?"
"Yeah."
"Ya gotta introduce her ta me. Haven't had a lay in a while."
"I'll do that. Hopefully she'll take to ya more than ta me. Fair warnin' she's spoiled rotten." Laces grumbled.
"A lay and some possible cash? I'm in." Racetrack beamed.
"'S your funeral." Laces chuckled.
Eventually she managed to get Sarah off her back thanks to Mush. Mush was by far the best at charming women.
There had been some other girls but Laces still wasn't falling for them. Granted, she knew that deep down, she was a girl. However that didn't mean she didn't find other girls attractive. Some days she would see a woman and admire her beauty. She found some men attractive too.
However, man or woman, Laces never fell head over heels in love with someone.
"Love at first sight's for suckers." Jack stated when she talked to him about it. "Don't ya ever expect to see someone and just fall in love with 'em." Jack said as he leaned on the brick wall of a building.
"I hate all this mushy stuff." Laces grunted.
"That's why we leave it ta Mush." Jack chuckled. "Sure, the occasional lay's fine, but I've seen so many rich bastards with their wives practically dragging them on a leash and it's sickening. I wouldn't be able ta live like that."
"Which one would I be?" Laces questioned out loud to herself, then let out a long sigh.
"Hey." Jack stated, recognizing the look of worry on Laces' face. "Don't worry 'bout this too much. If ya just be yourself, you'll be happy an' that's all that matters." Jack smiled, patting Laces on the back.
"Thanks Jack."
"'S what I'm here for." He chuckled. "I'm goin' over ta Medda's ta paint. Wanna come with?"
"I'm goin' ta Medda's t'morrow. She wants me ta drum for a number." Laces informed. "I need ta go to the music shop an' buy s'more scores. Then I gotta practice some."
"Newsie an' musician. Dunno how ya do it." Jack whistled with a small smirk on his face.
"It's a fine life." Laces laughed, and then the two parted ways.
There was a spring to her step as Laces made her way to the music store. She loved getting her hands on new scores.
"Hey Negro, where ya headin'?" questioned a drunk man who was stumbling on the streets."
"None of your business ya drunk bastard." Laces growled, her giddiness turning to hostility towards the man.
That's when the fight broke out. It was the easiest fight of her life. One on one with him being sluggish and drunk , it was almost unfair.
To be fair, the man made the first move. Laces blocked a punch, dodged a sloppy kick, and then knocked the man out cold with a good punch to the temple.
She shook her head and was about to walk away when a voice stopped her.
"You're lucky. If any bulls were around you'd be beat then sent to the refuge." Laces turned around to see a young African American man who looked to be in his older teens leaning on the side of the building.
"The bulls are too busy eatin' donuts while getting' their shoes shined." Laces grumbled.
"What if I told ya that I was one?"
"You? A cop?"
"Yeah." He smiled and Laces laughed.
"A black cop. That'll be the day." She chuckled and the boy laughed with her.
"I suppose you're right. Would be nice though."
"Nice? It'd be a miracle." Laces smiled.
"I see ya around sellin' papes… Laces, right?"
"Yeah 's me." Laces shrugged.
"The name's Austin. I couldn't help but admire you. Don't see a lotta Black newsies."
"What can I say? I'm one of a kind." Laces smirked.
"I like ya Laces." Austin smiled. "Say, d'ya wanna make more money?" he questioned.
"More money?" Laces questioned, getting more serious. What did this Austin guy want?
"Yeah, see I run a small… operation. I can always use some fine upstandin' boys like you ta lend a helpin' hand. Pays well." He smiled but Laces wasn't smiling anymore.
"Lemme guess. Ya want me ta help you and your gang ta rob someplace." She stated.
"Rob's a harsh word. You're a newsie. Ya know what the world's like. Takin' what we need's a part of it." Austin stated.
"No." Laces stated and Austin paused, not used to the word.
"No?" he questioned.
"No." Laces repeated and the friendly look on Austin's face started to melt.
"Laces, I don't think ya understand. Nobody simply says no ta Austin Johnson." He stated and Laces tensed.
"What's your name?" she questioned in a whisper.
"Ah, so you've heard of me. I'm makin' my way to the top as street gangs go. Austin Xavier Johnson's my name, an' takin' what I need is my game."
Laces stared at him like he was a ghost.
"Austin Xavier Johnson?"
"What, are ya hard of hearin' or somethin'?"
Laces backed away, shaking her head.
"I have ta go."
"Laces, you can't turn your back on me." Austin growled, shooting her a deadly look.
"Forget about me." Laces hissed. "Should be easy for ya." With that, Laces turned her back, however she felt herself grabbed and pinned to the wall.
"Don't think ya can just walk away from me! I could kill you!"
"Shut up!"
"Shut up!? Shut up!? Don't think ya can tell me ta shut up! I'll feed ya your teeth!" he shouted.
"Not before I break your arm!"
"'S that a threat!? Where do ya get off thinking that you can threaten me!? You know who I am?! I'm Austin Xavier Johnson!"
"You're not acting like him!"
"Ya think ya know me!? You damn bastard I oughtta-"
"Stop actin' like Dad!" Laces screamed and Austin froze, still keeping Laces in pinned to the wall.
"O-"
"There a problem here?" a voice cut in and Kid Blink and JoJo were standing behind them. Austin looked back at them but kept his grip on Laces.
"No. Not at all. Now get lost." Austin growled.
"We weren't talkin' ta ya." JoJo stated then looked at Laces. "There a problem?"
The girl broke out of the hold and walked over to her fellow newsies.
"I'm fine. Let's go home." With that, the three headed back to the lodging house, leaving Austin to stare at them as they left.
I can't believe it. Laces thought. That was my damn brother.