Chapter 8

Entering Irving Hall, you would think the strike was happening all over again. Newsies from all over were all ready packed into the room drinking, dancing, gambling and forgetting their troubles for the night.

Mary entered hand in hand with Blink awhile after the others arrived. Searching the crowd, she quickly spotted Nichole sitted with the Race, Jack and Spot obsorbed in an intense game of poker. If she were sitting with anyone else, Mary would not have known it was her. Instead of her just rolled out of bed look, Nichole appeared half-decent. Her shirt was neatly tucked, and buttoned with both suspenders over her shoulders instead of hanging from her side. Walking closer Mary also noticed her hair was still damp from the bath she must have took before coming.

Thanking Blink for pulling out her chair, she sat down and looked up at Nichole who sat straight across from her. When she didn't acknowledge her presence, Mary glanced over at Blink for help. He cleared his throat causing four pairs of eyes to stare up at him.

"Heya fellas, how's it rollin?"

Jack groaned and threw his cards down on the table. "I'll tell you what's rolling, Nick's luck. She's beating me out of all my money."

"Yea, well I'm going to quit while I'm ahead." Nichole stood advoiding Mary's eyes and gathered the money she won, leaving the table with a blank expression. All eyes were on her as she stalked through the crowd.

"What the hell did you do to her!?"

Mary gasped and glared Race down. "What do you mean what did I do? I didn't do anything, I haven't talk to her since she helped me get ready!"

Race snorted and threw his cards down, pushing the pile of money in Spots direction. "Well, she was acting just fine until you two showed up."

Blink stood, ready to beat Race to a bloody pulp. "Don't talk to my girl like that!" Placing a hand on his chest, Mary gently pushed him a saft distance from Race. When she was sure he wouldn't try anything, she turned back to Race.

"Race, whatever it is that's wrong with her, she will get over it. If it's something I did then I'm sorry, but I'm here to have fun not fix her problems." Grabbing Blink's hand she led him out to the dance floor, leaving the three friends shocked by the cold tone of Mary's usual soft, caring voice.

Spot shook his head and snubbed the cigerette that hung from his lips. "There is deffinetly something going on between the two of them, and It ain't nothing good."

Rolling his eyes at Spot's obvious observation, Race left the table to get a drink.

Mary tightened her arms around Blink's neck almost choking him. What the hells the matter with her? Is it that time of the month or something?

While dancing with Blink, all the events that occurred in the last few months flew through Mary's mind. Even after thinking through everything carefully, she couldn't figure out any reason for the way Nichole was behaving, but it was really beginning to tick her off.

Ungrasping her death grip from his neck, Blink bent his head to her eye level. He was quiet for too long; he needed to find out what was happening between the two friends. "Mar, If you don't mind me asking what the hell is going on between you and Nick? You two get in a fight or something?"

Mary turned her eyes away from his. "I don't know, but she's acting like a bitch, and it's pissing me off."

Blink sighed and pulled her closer to him. "Well, you must have said or done something. People just don't act that way for no reason."

She hit his chest somehow thinking it would release some of the anger she felt. "She was acting the same way while she was helping me get ready. She almost cut off my air supplie tying the corset." She followed Blink as he began to sway to the music.

"Well, did you say anything to her before you got ready?"

Mary thought for a moment. "Nope, I saw her at Tibby's before we headed back to the lodging house to get ready, but I didn't talk to her. You know, come to think of it she wasn't very talkative in Tibby's."

Blink shrugged. "You think it was something you said the night before when you went to talk to her, when you could have been cuddiling with me."

She laughed into his shirt. Blink grinned. "I really didn't say anything to her, I asked her if she wanted to pick a dress out…" Mary paused a ligth bulb going off in her head.

"What?" Blink asked when she paused mid sentence, a look of realization taking over her features.

"I asked her if she wanted to pick a dress out and she said no and when I asked her again she got defesive and left the room."

Blink was completely lost. "So?"

Mary shrugged lost herself. "I don't know, but that has to be it because I didn't say anything else to her. I must have to do with something in her past." She giggled lightly memories clouding her mind. "I remember after the age of seven, she would fight the nuns when they tried to make her wear a dress. She wanted to dress like the boys."

"I thought you guys knew everything about each other."

"I never said that."

"I just guessed seeing how close you two are."

Mary rested her head on his shoulder, kissing the exposed skin on his neck. " Well, everyone has their little secrets that they like to keep to themselves."

I just hope Nick doesn't keep this secret to herself for too long.

Nichole sipped from the half filled glass in her hand, her eyes wandering around the room, gaging at the couple's show of affection. Everyone seemed to being having a good time, everyone except her. The last place she wanted to be now was stuck in a room packed to its compacity with wild boys. Though the sight of Mary made a laugh escape her lips. Even with hundredes of people in the room, she stood out like a sore thumb. She and Mary were the only girls there, but with the ridicilouse getup Mary wore, she was even more noticable.

I have to admit though, she does look beautiful, and her and Blink do make an adorable couple.

Her eyes moved over to the table where Race, Jack and Spot still sat, unmoved. They seemed to be in a deep conversation; each of them hunched over the table. She glanced away quickly, turning her back towards the table. Did Race just glance over at her, concerned?

She pushed the thought to the back of her mind, bewildered by the thought of anyone caring about her. Pouring the rest of the drink down her throat, she shook her shoulders to release some of the tension. Damn, I need to relax.

Ordering another drink she pulled a cigerette out of her pocket and headed back over to the table.

The atmosphere of the party had slowed in the last few hours as people began to file out of the building. Only a few people were left and most of those who were staying were either too drunk to find the door or passed out lying on the floor.

The Manhatten newsies stayed and were grouped in a corner of the huge room, occuping six tables. Mary's and Nichole attitudes hadn't changed much through out the night and as of the moment they weren't looking nor speaking to the other.

Mary, who still couldn't put the puzzle pieces together, sighed and waved the smoke from Nichole's cigerette from her face. When did she start smoking again? She hasn't smoked for the last three months. She then remembered Nichole telling her smoking helped her relax. She must be really stressed out over something.

"Nick, you know I hate it when you smoke."

The boys at the table held their breaths, catching Nichole's challenging stare. Shit was going to hit the fan. "I know, that's why I'm doing it."

Spot looked between the two. Clearing his throat, he stood. Even he didn't want to get between these two. "Uhh, I think I'm going to start heading back to Brooklyn. See ya later Jacky-boy, Race, Blink."

Mary waited until Spot was out of hearing distance before responding. "Why are you being such a bitch tonight? Did I do something to upset you, because If I did I suggest you tell me right now" She pounded her fist on the table for puntuaction.

Nichole didn't flinch a bit; If possible her stare became colder. "You didn't do anything. I told you, earlier I was just frustrated, now leave me the fuck alone--"

"I'm not leaving you alone until you tell me why you're acting the way you are!" Mary stood and her chair went crashing to the floor. The boys eyeing the scene before them nervously jumped at the sudden sound.

"I'm acting the way I am cause I'm stuck around you all the time. I only learned from the best!"

Mary glanced away from Nichole, but quickly returned her glare. The laugh that she released was cold and bitter. "Ohh that's right just blame everything on me! EVERYTHING IS MY FAULT!" She paused and without thinking the next words slipped from her mouth. "IS IT ALSO MY FAULT YOU GOT RAPED!"

The pain and anger that flashed in her friend's eyes was like a punch to the stomach to Mary. That was far from the right thing to say she knew it, and she would regret saying that sentence for the rest of her life.

Everyone in the room held their breaths and Mary helplessly watched on as Nichole snubbed her cigerette and quickly stalked out the back door pushing anyone and everything in her way. Mary sat down and closed her eyes against the burning tears listening to Nichole punch the wall then walk out the door.

What the fuck is the matter with me! Why did I say that?

The flimsy wood door banged against the brick wall displaying how much anger Nichole held within her. Her only friend, the only person she had in this huge world, betrayed her. Not only had Mary told everyone the one thing in her life she was ashamed of, but also she lied to her.

The bond they made nine years ago at the tender age of six to always stand by the other was now broken. Broken like Nichole's heart. She was on the verge of tears, but refused to let them fall. She wasn't going to betray herself as Mary had and let herself cry, something she promised she would never do.

She needed to get out of this city, and back to her way of life, where the only person she had to worry about was herself and Mary. She didn't need this excess baggage, these boys butting into her present and past life. Everything around her was falling to pieces, and for once in her life, she didn't know what to do.

I could leave. NO! I'm not going to betray Mary like she did to me, I'm going to keep the promise I made.

Footsteps approached cautiously behinde her, but Nichole didn't bother to turn around. The smell of cigar smoke gave away the identity of the person.

"Race, I ain't in the mood for talking so I suggest you go back inside with your friends and enjoy the rest of your exciting evening."

Race's heart broke at the sound of her emotionless voice. Ignoring her command he sat next to her on the crate and did the only thing he could think would comfort her. Hesitantly, he moved closer and wrapped his arms around her in a loose hug. When she didn't resist, he tightened his grip, pulling her closer to his body.

The warmth that radiated from him was a huge comfort to her, and for the first time since she arrived at Irving hall her tense body was fully relaxed. Breathing in his scent of cigars and soap, she rested her head against his chest listening to the steady beating of his heart. If only she could stay like this forever.

"Was what Mary said in there true? Were you really ra…raped?" The last word came out choked. He hated to ruin the serene moment, but he needed to get the question off his back.

"No, it was an attempted rape. I got away before anything happened." Nichole was too drained emotionally to say anything other then the truth.

"I'm sorry." Race replied sincerely.

She groaned, exasperated. "I don't need you sympathy, or anyone elses for that matter."

Standing she began to walk out of the alley and back to the lodging house in hope to beat the others there. Race's frantic plea ceased her movements.

"Nick, wait!"

She turned, her eyebrows frowed in an irritated glare. Race swallowed the lump that formed in his throat; unable to find the words he wanted to say. He panicked when she turned away from him again, and grabbed her arm with more force then he intended too causing her body to crush against his.

Both stood motionless shocked at the closeness of their bodies, Race mostly shocked that she didn't pound his head in yet. Nichole released a shaky breath, and tilted her head upward something she regreted the moment her eyes met his chocolate brown ones.

Were the others right, was she really in love with Race but didn't want to admit it? She was only fifteen, how could she be in love if she didn't even know what love was? Her debating mind completely went blank at the feeling of Race's lips on hers.

Her body tensed at the soft touch, not knowing whether to punch him or return the embrace. Quickly making up her mind that she didn't want to leave the warmth of his arms, she wrapped her shaking hands loosly around his neck, and returned the kiss.

Race, shocked by her sudden actions hesistantly wrapped his unplaced hands around her waist. The two shared the embrace for what seemed like an eternity, but in reality only ten minutes passed. It was still a long kiss nontheless and both were breathless as they pulled away.

All thoughts of anything Mary had said slipped from her mind, and Nichole sighed contently feeling Race's heavy breath on her neck as he rested his head on her shoulder. Things were moving alittle too fast for Nichoe liking, but at the moment, none of that mattered. She was in Race's arms safe from anything that would harm her physically or emotionally.

Reluctantly Race pulled back from her and looked into her eyes, searching for the emotions she held deep within her. He could never tell what she was feeling before, her eyes always appeared empty, but now they were filled with different emotions. Love, longing, confusion…

Stroking the side of her face, he gave her a concerned look. "Are you okay with this? With what just happened?"

Nichole swallowed hard unsure of what to say. She wanted to tell him she was perfectly fine with everything, and that she loved him, but she was still unsure about the new feelings swarming throughout her.

Kissing him hastily on the lips, shocking herself and Race, she backed out of the alley. "I need sometime to think this whole thing over. This is all new to me…I'm sorry. "

With those last words said, she ran from the alley, mostly to escape the confused and hurt expression that glazed over Race's features. The last thing she wanted to do was hurt him, and rushing into something she wasn't ready for would do just that. Nichole stopped in mid stride, rememberance of a minor detail floating through her mind. She promised the room to Blink and Mary, meaning she would be sleeping in Blink's bed tonight. The bed that happened to be directly above Race's.

Nick, brace yourself. You have one hell of a night ahead of you.

Lost in thought and the sudden need to lie down, she didn't notice the small chain, and ring gleam in the dim moonlight on the dirt and copplestones below her.

Chapter 9

Any hope that she would beat the others home drained from her mind as Nichole walked into the crowded bunkroom. Lowering her eyes to the wood floor, she pushed her way towards Blink's bed. Her eyes flashed quickly in the direction of the empty bottom bunk where Race would sleep before pulling herself up and laying down. Most of the boys, too apprehensive to say anything, glanced quickly her way then went back to what they were doing, avoiding any eye contact. Others talked quietly among themselves, the topic of the fight coming up.

Nichole ignored the mummers and let her eyes focus on the wall above her. Her swift entrance into the room didn't leave her much time to identify faces, but she did catch sight of the closed bedroom door at the end of the hallway. If Blink and Mary were in fact on the other side of that door, she didn't know. She didn't care at the moment. Their doings were no interest to her.

The only thing she wanted now was to fall into a deep dreamless sleep and clear all the thoughts and emotions from her mind.

It was now close to ten o'clock and most of the boys lie in their beds or spread out on the floor playing different sorts of games, from marbles to poker. Nichole lay, unmoved from the position she lay a half-hour ago lost in her own world. In the back of her mind, she noted the bottom bunk was still empty and Race hadn't yet returned.

Where is he? God, I hope he is okay.

She metally kicked herself for that thought and a feel of complete guilt washed over her body. She had just fought with the only friend she ever had and here she was worrying over a guy that been in her life for only four months.

But, I love him.

Those three unfamiliar words repeatedly ran through her mind. Should she forget anything she ever told herself and Mary and give into her feelings? Or do what her mind told her and run away from the problems confining her?

However, this was not the past anymore, everything had changed. She could be vulnerable and let her guard down. She had a place to call home somewhere she felt safe, she wasn't on the streets running, looking behind her every second. She was was in Manhattan, surrounded by people who cared for her and miles away from the harm she once knew.

The bunkbed shifted jolting Nichole out of her thoughts. Shifting she slowly looked over the edge, catching a glimpse of the top Race's head. Quietly, she watched him place a cigar on the table beside the bed and lie down. Returning to her previous position, she exhaled a shaky breath. With only a few candles to light, the room Race must have not been able to tell who was on the top bunk.

Nichole rolled to her side and sighed. She wanted so badly to climb down to the bottom bunk and lay in Race's arms. Hear his soothing voice, and let him comfort her like he only could. Slowly and reluctantly, she shut her eyes and fell into a restless sleep, a single tear sliding down her cheek and onto the pillow.

The next morning waking up was pure torture. Not only did Nichole have to get up to the booming voice of Kloppman; her head was pounding with a monstrous hangover. She didn't drink that much, but she hadn't consumed alcohol in a few months and her body wasn't use to the sudden intake.

With a painful groan she sat up and blinked a few times to focus her blurry vision. Not remembering where she was, she rolled to the end of the bed expecting her feet to hit the solid ground. Instead, she fell to the floor with a thud. Ignoring the pain that was now in her backside, she lay there unfazed by the fall, staring at the ceiling.

Maybe the guys will leave me alone and I could go back to sleep.

"Nick, what are you doing here?"

Nichole inhaled raggedly and opened an eye slowly only to quickly close it again. Race hovered above her agonizing face, concerned. "Nick, what are you doing sleeping in Blink's bunk? Are you okay?"

"Fine, fine." Disregarding the pain in her back and head, she stood grabbing the table beside her for poise. Race was immediately at her side, but was hastily pushed away to let the grumbling girl by.

Nichole made it to the washroom safely, only bumping into a few of the boys, who politely guided her in the right direction. Leaning over a sink, she splashed her face with water in some hope it would relieve the pain. A few boys glared her way; stray water hitting them as Nichole blindly threw the water at her face.

"Mary and Blink threw you out of the room, huh?"

Nichole lifted only her eyes to glare at the grinning boy who stood on the opposite side of the row of sinks. "Shut up, Jack. I'm not in the mood."

Jack laughed at her growl. "You might not want to let them have the room too much. They might make it an everyday thing." Wiping the rest of the shaving cream from his face, he threw the towel on the end of the sink, and strolled out of the washroom well aware of the death stare he ws receiving.

Nichole only rolled her eyes. Straightening to her full height she stretched the best she could without falling to the floor. The blood that rushed to her head while washing her face drained causing the immense pain in her head to worsen.

Clutching her head she turned to head towards the stairs. Her heart nearly stopped as she turned around to face Racetrack, standing in the doorway watching her intently with concerned eyes.

"Jesus Christ!" Her hand groped for something to hold on too. Grabbing the side of a sink, she scolded Race. "What the hell Race! Are you trying to give me a damn heartattack!"

Sliding an arm protectively around her waist, he led her to his bunk. "Sorry, I just wanted to check and see if you were okay. You must have on hell of a hangover."

"Ya think?" She replied sarcastically to his observation. Lying down she closed her eyes. They shot back open at the feel of Race's fingers trailing over her face, pushing a stray hair from her eyes.

"You know you still haven't answered my question."

Her eyes wandered over his soft features as he observed her with a crooked smile. "And what question would that be?"

Her words formed in a harsh way. Race didn't seem to mind, he knew she wasn't in one of her best moods and didn't expect this encounter to be like last nights. "Why you were sleeping in Blink's bunk. What you do? Get confused or something?"

Nichole rolled her eyes when Race laughed at the words he just said. "Why do you think I was sleeping in his bunk!? Blink and Mary wanted the room to themselves, so I let them have it. I don't care what they do just as long as they don't use my bed."

Race laughed again. "Well, I don't know if you are going to get your bed back anytime soon. That door is still closed and I didn't see Blink or Mary earlier."

Groaning she covered her face with a pillow. Mary had better not expect me to do her anymore favors anytime soon. Throwing the pillow to her side, she glanced up at Race, who sat on the edge of the bed looking very amused.

"Don't you have newspapers to sell?" She asked obviously annoyed.

Pulling the pocket watch from his vest, he shrugged. "I got time, and beside I won alittle money at the races a few days back. I got money to live on for a few days without selling papes." He groaned exasperated when she rolled to her side, her back facing him. "Which means I can stay here and talk with you." He hinted.

"Well, you'll be talking to yourself so I suggest you leave and get your papes." Jezz, Nick why don't you just tell him to fuck off! God, one minute you're kissing him in a dark alley and the next you're lying on his bed telling him to get away from me and leave. Could you be any more of an idiot!

She rolled to her other side. Race still sat on the edge of the bed waiting. She sighed, upset with herself for giving in so easily. "Look I'm sorry, but you would act this way too if you had a hangover and in the back of the mind you had the fear you would never talk to your best friend again. Stay if you want, but don't expect me to be very talkative."

Race shrugged and plopped down next to Nichole on the bed, placing his arms underneath his head. Shifting her body slowly to her other side she glared at him. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Laying here." Race retorted, smiling smugly. Nichole scrunched her eyes closed, and inhaled sharply. Was everyone trying to drive her insane? It was a goddamn conspiracy.

"Well, I suggest you lay somewhere else, not so close to me."

"Well, I hate to tell you this, but you are laying in my bed, and that sorta gives me the right to lie here whenever I want."

With every word he said his face inched closer to Nichole's. She saw this and smiled mischievously. Placing a hand on his shoulder as if she was welcoming the kiss he was about to give her, she gave it a forceful shove, sending Race to the floor.

"HEY!"

Grabbing his aching head helooked up at Nichole, who was now perched on Blink's bunk and had to smile. He would have never guessed her to be the flirting type, but if he didn't know any better she had done just that.

"What's the matter? You didn't mind when I kissed you last night." He asked his small laugh piercing the sudden silence of the room.

Nichole growled when her thoughts were brought back to the kiss. That nights events would forever be etched in her mind, and she wanted it that way. It just occurred at the wrong time in her life…

"Race, do you want me to kick your ass, because you are really beginning to piss me off." She replied her voice dangerously low. Nichole drew back when Race rested his chin on the bunk and brushed a hand across her cheek; pushing a curl from her eyes.

"I'm sorry." Race answer sincerely jumping on the bed. When she didn't shun away from him, he cautiously rested a hand on her hip, making his position more comfortable. "I just wanted to get alittle laugh from you. I didn't mean to upset ya."

"Yea, well you succeeded in one of those two things."

Race groaned and rested his head against her shoulder. "Nick, give me a break here. I'm trying to get you to let me in." He breathed a laugh. "But it ain't working too well."

Nichole was taken back by his words. Leaning back she eyed his neatly combed hair. Slowly, unsure of her actions, she ran her fingers through his black tresses. Some where in the back of her mind she thought it would comfort him. Race lifted his head his eyes wide in surprise.

"It's not your fault, Race. I want to let you in, but this whole situation with Mary…you just had to choose the night me and Mary got in a fight to kiss me…Everything is just so damn confusing. I want to forget everything and just be with you--"

"Then why don't you?" Race meekly interrupted.

"Because I wouldn't feel right about it, with Mary mad at me and everything. On top of that, I never had anyone who actually cared for me like you, and I guess I'm just scared."

She paused, startled by the words that just left her mouth. Never in the years that she had been abused or lived on the streets had she admitted to herself that she was scared. It was just something you didn't do for if you did then you were giving in. However, this was something she wanted to give into.

Biting her lip in thought, she sat up startling Race from his resting-place on her shoulder. She turned towards him sheepishly. "Sorry." Turning she flashed him a small smile and jumped to the floor.

Laying there talking with Race made her realize something. The last few months in the lodging house had turned her into a different person. She needed to change the way she thought to match that person, forget the things she taught herself to live on the streets. She was going to give this relationship a chance, and if it didn't work out then atleast she could tell herself, she was once in love.

"Nick, you okay?" He sat there for the last minute just watching her lean against the bed, a thoughtful look on her face. When another minute passed and she still hadn't moved he became concerned.

Jumping down beside her, Race raised his eyebrows at the grin she held on her face. "What are you grinning at? A few minutes ago you were pissed at me."

She exhaled gustily and shook her head. "Nothing, just go get your papers. I want to wait here until Mary comes out I need to talk to her."

Race nodded not wanting to argue and ruin the good mood she was in. Turning his heel, he walked towards the stairs. Nichole, thinking on impulse and her heart, grabbed his hand pulling him back next to her. Tentatively she brushed her lips against his. The kiss didn't last long, but it was full of meaning and hope of a relationship to come. Breaking the contact, she ran a thumb over his bottom lip carefully, as if she was tracing it in her mind.

"After I talk to Mary or if I do I'll meet you at Tibby's for lunch." She said her eyes directed at the wood floor.

Race had to grin at her shy matter, she was always so confident in anything she did, but standing there with lips swollen from the earlier kiss, and her eyes towards the floor she appeared quiet and timid. Two things he knew she was not.

Pulling her into a hug, he kissed the shell of her ear sending involuntary shivers down her spine. "See ya at Tibby's."

Retracing his steps to the stairs, he was gone. Nichole stood there, still recovering from her close encounter with Race. For once in many years, she felt giddy and untroubled. Shaking her head, she glanced at the stairs before lying back down on Race's bed. The hangover that she had when she woke up was still there, but she had all but ignored the pain, her thoughts and emotions overpowering it.

From what she could tell from the rays of sunshine lighting the room, it was about midmorning. The heat of the day wasn't the worst it could be and Nichole could lie comfortably with her undershirt and button down shirt on. She sighed impatiently, and almost considered knocking on the door and asking Mary to come out. That plan was soon forgotten when the creak of a door cut through the silence.

She sat up waiting for one of them to notice her. Blink appeared first, he only wore his pants and still looked half-asleep. Though, the goofy grin spread over his face was a good hint of the events that went on last night. He yawned and scratched the back of his head sleepily then walked in the washroom oblivious to Nichole's presence in the room.

Mary walked out a minute later the same grin plastered on her face. All the anger she held last night had vanished. Looking up from buttoning her shirt, her eyes widened at the site of her friend still sitting in the bunkroom.

Briskly she walked across the room. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be out with the others selling papers?" She asked in a loud whisper.

Standing she crossed her arms over her chest and smirked smugly. "I should be saying the same thing to you." She leaned closer to her face. "Why are you whispering?"

Rolling her eyes, she pushed Nichole back on the bed. Sitting down next to her, she asked again. "What are you doing here?"

"I had a hangover this morning so I lied back down and Race stayed with me. He left alittle while ago." When she was met in silence, she glanced over towards Mary who looked away, ashamed. Grabbing her hand, she squeezed it reassuringly. "Mar, I know you are sorry for what you said last night and I forgive you. I was acting like a bitch and you had a right to be mad at me…"

"But I didn't have the right to say what I did in front of everyone."

Nichole nodded. "Yes, but I forgive you anyway." Mary laughed and Nichole's face turned serious. "Mar, you are my best friend and if I lost you I don't know what I do."

She gathered her in a hug and patted her back lightly. Pulling away, she shot Mary a wicked smile. "So, you and Blink…."

A blush creeped up Mary's neck, and she turned away shyly. After a few minutes of composing herself, she nodded up and down slowly. Nichole stood pulling Mary up with her and hugged her again.

"How was it?"

Mary hit her playfully on the shoulder. "I'm not telling you. That is between Blink and me. You'll have to experience it for yourself, to find out."

"Whoa, don't even go there!" Her eyes widened at the thought of her being in Mary's place. "I'm not ready for that sorta thing."

"Not ready for what sort of thing?"

Both girls turned towards a confused Blink and bust out laughing. His eye scrunched up and he shrugged. "What?"

"Blink, your shirt." Mary reached out, undid his crookedly buttoned shirt, and fixed it for him. When she finished, she patted his chest. "There good as new. Wouldn't want you making a fool out of yourself infront of the others."

"Ohh no, we wouldn't want that." Nichole retorted snorting back laughter. The couple ignored the comment and engaged in a passionate lip lock. Nichole stopped laughing to eye them disgusted. "God, you guys spend one night in the room alone and you get all mushy on me."

Breaking the kiss Blink flashed her a toothy grin. "You better watch it. When you get a boyfriend I'm going to make smart comments when you two are together." Nichole rolled her eyes at his playful threat. Blink kissed Mary quickly before releasing her.

"Gotta go sell papes. See you later." He waved a hand in Nichole's direction. "Bye, Nick."

"Bye." Her eyes followed Blink until he disappeared from the room, and then she shifted her gaze to Mary. "So, what are we going to do here by ourselves until lunchtime?"

Covering her mouth with a hand to prevent a yawn from escaping Mary shrugged. She let the words sink in then looked at Nichole confused. "What's happening at lunchtime?"

"Nothing, I just told Race that I meet him there for lunch." Catching the sly grin that slide across her friend's face, she groaned inwardly. She had just given herself away.

"Ohh really?" her eyes twinkled mischieviously. "Since when are you and Race going out on dates?"

"It's not a date." Nichole insisted. "It's just lunch with him and all the other guys."

"Ohh come on!" Mary pushed Nichole on the nearest bed. "Are you going to sit there and tell me nothing, absolutely nothing happened while you and Race where in here…ALONE?"

Nichole nodded and began to bit her nails, a habit she had when she was nervous. The one person she couldn't lie to was Mary, she just became too nervous, and Mary quickly caught on to that.

"You're lying! Ha! Something did happen!

Nichole sighed loudly, stood and began to pace the small space between the bunks. She spit the pieces of fingernail she bit off before answering. "Fine, something did happen. Last night in the alley after I ran out, Race came out and we were talking. I got up to leave, but he pulled me back and….he kissed me."

The high pitch squeal that filled the room caused Nichole caused her to loose her balance and fall back down on the bed. Mary stood jumping up in down in excitement like a five year old. Smiling at the reaction she received, Nichole shook her head and pulled Mary down next to her stopping her movements. Mary only bounced up and down on the bed.

"Oh my God, I can't believe you finally got your first kiss! So, how was it? Is Race a good kisser?"

Nichole blushed, something she rarely did around Mary. This only caused another outburst from Mary. "Ohh he must be if you're blushing! There is a first for everything!"

This comment earned Mary a pop to the head. Chuckling loudly at her shocked expression, Nichole stood dodging the pillow that flew by her head. Laughing again she let her eyes wander the room searching for a watch. Not finding one she shrugged and turned back to Mary.

"You know what time it is?"

Mary opened a window and stuck her head out. "It has to be atleast ten thirty, maybe eleven."

Nodding, Nichole turned her back to her. Mary scanned her eyes over her best friend, her new and improved best friend. She knew that going to New York would be in vain. Mary's eyes focused on Nichole's now bare neck where a necklace once hung. She never took that thing off.

"Nick, did you take your necklace off?"

Swinging around she glanced at Mary confused, her fingers groping her neck. When her hands didn't feel anything there, she cursed loudly. Clenching her fist, she punched the wall. Grabbing her arm before her hand made contact with the wall again, Mary pulled her into a hug.

"Look, we'll find it. It probably got loose and fell off while you were sleeping." Running a hand through her hair, Nichole shook her head.

"No, I had it on when I took a bath so either I lost it in the washroom." She sighed despondently her shoulders slumping. " Or at Irving Hall."

"Nick, don't worry. We'll find it even if we have to get all the guys to search the whole lodging house and Irving Hall."

She clicked her tongue and nodded, letting her eyes rest on the window. Grabbing Mary's hand, she dragged her out of the room. "Come on Mar, we got to start heading over to Tibby's."

With a swift walking pace, the two made it to Tibby's in five minutes flat. None of the guys had arrived yet so the girls made themselves comfortable in a booth and waited. Jack was the first to arrive a few minutes later, not to the surprise of the two.

"Whoa, what are you two doing here, and together? I thought after the little show you two put on last night, you wouldn't be talking to each other." Removing his cowboy hat, he sat opposite of the girls.

Nichole's lips twitched into a smile. The smile on his face was just too comical. "'Yea, well we're friends and friends forgive each other for their mistakes."

"Even if you were acting like a bitch…"

"Shut up, Mary."

A hint of amusement twinkled in Jack's eyes as he sat back and watched to two of them go at. It was obvious in their playful fighting that they both cared for each other deeply. How could he think they would stay mad at each other for long? He waved a hand in the air to get their attention.

"Hey, hey, break it up. We're here for lunch not to argue." He eyed them carefully. "Did you guys sell any papes today? You both look like you just woke up."

Nudging her shoulder, Nichole laughed. "You hear that Mar, he called you ugly. Who ever thought sweet old Jack could be that cruel."

"Shut up. He directed the question at the both of us."

Nichole shrugged. "I always look like this."

Mary ignored Nichole's statement, rolling her eyes. "We kinda got held up at the lodging house, so we just decided not to sell today." She told Jack simply.

"Well, I know you got held up." He nodded his head towards Mary. "But what to you, Nichole? That hangover you had get worst?"

He leaned forward, his eyes boring into hers. He smiled knowingly. He knew exactly what happened, he was the one that told Race to stay behind and talk to her. Watching Race's happy go lucky attitude all day, he was positive something happened between the two. He became even more positive when Nichole shot Mary a warning glare and fidgeted in her seat. The idea of Race and Nichole was slowly beginning to become a good concept.

"Yea, it became so bad I had to lie down for a while."

Jack the finger she was biting away from her mouth. "You know we are in a restaurant, you can order something if you're Hungary."

Nichole laughed nervously, and studied the bite marks in her skin. She sighed relieved when the bell on the door rang and Race and Blink walked in. Standing, Nicole saluted over to Race and grabbed him by the wrist. Before he could say anything, she dragged him out of Tibby's and into the nearest alley.

"What…was…that?" Blink gestured behind him, an eyebrow raised.

Mary patted the empty seat beside her, placing a hand around his waist when he fell down beside her. "Race and Nichole are finally getting together."

Running his hands soothingly over his wrist, he glanced at the nervous girl confusedly. "What's the matter, Nick. You kidnapping me or something? Cause you know if you just asked I go anywhere with you."

Nichole could help it. Her lips curled into a full fledge grin. His boyish features and adorable grin were irresistible. Relaxing, she shook her head and giggled. "Sorry, Jack was just making me nervous. I think he is expecting us to get together or something."

The grin his face held fell back to a frown."I thought we were together." He said solemnly.

"I never said…" Her voice trailed off into the musty alley. The look on his face was just heartbreaking. How could she be so selfish? Everytime someone said or hinted her and Race should get together she became even more unsure of what she should do.

Damit! I wish the others would get a life and stay the hell out of mine.

"Race, I want to be with you, but…

"But what, Nick." Race had it with this teasing, he wanted a really relationship with her. Couldn't she see that? "I'm not good enough for you!? Are you embarrassed to be seen with me!? Because frankly I don't know what's wrong with you!" He turned away from her and to the brick wall. Swallowing the tears that were coming to his eyes he continued. "I want to be with you, Nick. I love you…but obviously you don't feel the same."

He turned sending her on last heart wrenching glare, ignoring the shocked look on her face. "Do us both a favor and just stay the hell away from me."

Clenching her eyes closed, she turned her back to the opening of the alley, not wanting to watch him leave. God, he just poured his heart out and told her he loved her. He actually loved her. How could she so moronic?

A nauseating feeling washed over her, and she leaned on the wall to keep herself from fall over. With her back against the wall, she slid to the cobblestones. The emotions that were deep inside her took over her body and she did something she promised herself she would never do. The tears came slowly at first, but then they thoroughly soaked her face, and her body shook violently.

She had gained back her best friend, but lost the one person she truly loved.

Chapter 10

Nichole had no idea where she was going, but her main objective was to get as far away from Tibby's and the others as she could. Her stride was a strong one as she clutched her turning stomach and blindly sprinted through the masses of people. The bitter words said back in the alley rung through her head repeatedly causing her chest to tighten and her dry eyes to tear again.

She had always thought of herself as a strong person, someone who wouldn't let anothers words hurt her. Race had proved her wrong. He just opened her eyes to see how naïve and feeble she actually was. With a twinge she understood the fact that her heart had just been broken, and she would never get over the love she held in her heart for Race. She wanted and needed to be with him.

Stop it! Stop thinking like that! You don't need anyone; the only person you need to depend on is yourself, nobody else.

The last thing she needed to do in this situation was to admit she needed someone to lean on. She had given her feelings a chance and she had eneded up getting hurt, and she wasn't going to make the same mistake twice, just because her heart was screaming at her to do so.

Finally ripping her eyes from the sidewalk, her eyes searched the crowds around her. Everyone seemed exhilarated and lost in their own little perfect worlds to busy to notice a lone streetrat and her problems. Grumbiling a few profanities under her breathe, she shifted her eyes to the cobblestones again. Her hurt was slowly turning into anger and she needed to get away from the Newsies, herself, and the world around her before she lashed out at the wrong person and caused anyone else pain.

Nichole quickened her pace as she neared Central Park. The park seemed to be almost deserted, as people scurred back to their homes for dinner after a relaxing walk on the paths. Inside the boundries of the park, she felt safe. When the afternoon turned into evening, most people didn't stay in Central Park unless they were in large crowds. Most didn't want to be there after dark, and Nichole was thankful for that. Perhaps she could find refuge here tonight.

Race scoffed and shifted his eyes away from the flirting couple infront of him. Nobody seemed to notice his sudden mood change or the disapperance of Nichole; everyone was too busy with their own pleasures. He watched Blink and Mary give each other a firm, but sweet kiss. Unshed tears clouded his emotional eyes. Nichole kissed him like that this morning in the bunkroom just before he left.

How could he have told her to stay the hell away from him? That's the last thing he wanted. He needed her close to him, he wanted to hold her and take all her pains and worries away. Making a side way glance behinde him, he noticed how far they walked away from Tibby's already. There was no sign of Nichole. She was gone. Race shook his head. They had finally made it to the street the lodging house was on, and he vaguley wondered if perhaps Nichole was in her room. However, that possibility was ruled out as he entered the bunkroom only to see it as they left it this morning.

Holding back his emotions, he closed his eyes not wanting to look at his bunk in fear of the thoughts it would bring back to his head. Climbing out the widow he shut it loudly behinde him, catching the attention of the others in the room. Everyone went back to what they were doing realizing it was only the window in the exeption of Mary. She hadn't seen Nichole since she left with Race and he came back to the resturant without her. Scanning the room quickly, she found no sign of her friend.

She elbowed Blink stopping his finger's exploration of her hair. "Have you seen Nick? I don't see her anywhere."

Blink shrugged and continued to run his fingers through her thin blonde hair. "I haven't seen her since she and Race left the resturant." He sighed and dropped his hands to her waist, pulling her against his chest, catching the worried look in her eyes. "I'm sure she's fine, Mar. Nick can take care of herself." The kisses he placed on her neck couldn't completely ease her mind.

"Something ain't right, Blink. I can feel it."

"Mary, there is nothing wrong. Nick probably just needed sometime to herself to think. I bet you she will be back by the time it's dark." Mary pushed herself from his lap and groaned. "Then why did Race just go up on the roof and slam the window shut! Something is wrong, and I'm going to find out what that something is!"

Placing one last kiss on Blink's lips, Mary climbed out the window and up to the roof. Catching her breath, she glanced up her face contorting in confusion. Race sat on the edge of the roof his face stained with silent tears that flowed freely down his face.

Hearing footsteps, and soft panting, he looked up, but quickly turned away seeing who it was. He wiped the tears vigorously from his cheeks. Mary was the last person he wanted to see now. There was not telling how she would react if she told him what happened between him and Nichole. They were as close as two people could get, and both would do whatever they could to protect each other.

Mary promptly walked the ways across the roof and sat down next to Race, unafraid of how he would react. Seeing him in this state, she was frantic to know what was going on.

"Race, what happened?" Mary bluntly ordered.

Drying his face with his sleeve, he turned to face her. "Nothing, happened. I just said something to Nichole that I shouldn't have." Race looked away, Mary's eyes flashing with anger.

Placing a hand on his shoulder, she forced him to look her square in the eye. She fought herself to keep her voice in a hushed tone. "What exactly did you say to her?"

Race drew in a breath, trying to find the right words to say. "She said that Jack was getting the wrong idea, and saying that we were together. I told her that I thought we were together, and when she didn't answer I just snapped." When Mary just sat staring at him intensly, he continued. "I want to be with her, but she just doesn't return the feelings that I have for her."

Mary nodded. His words didn't surprise her, she knew one of them would get hurt in one way or another. "She does feel the same way you do, Race. Believe me. She just doesn't know how to express what she feels the way you do. You have to be patient." She explained.

"Yea, well after what I said to her, I don't think she's going to want to look at me."

"Nick will forgive ya. You just have to catch her at the right moment. Beside you could have said anything worst then I did that night at Medda's."

For a fraction of a second, he believed her comforting words, but rememberance of Nichole's hurtful eyes caused doubt to wash over his body. Standing, he ran a hand through his slicked back hair. Mary watched on from where she sat as Race began to pace the length of the roof with uncertainty.

"You weren't there, Mary. You didn't see the expression on her face, she just looked crushed." He lowered his eyes towards the ground, and whispered. "And it's all my fault."

"I ain't all your fault." She consoled. Pushing herself from the edge, she stood and pulled him back to the fire escape. "Come on, we have to go find her and fix this little squabble you two had."

Wrenching his hand from her light grip, he glared at her with unbelieving eyes. "Were you listening to anything I said!" Race cried. "I don't want to go out looking for her I just want to be left alone. She will come back, and when she does I'll apoligize then, ALONE with nobody else around!"

Mary didn't try to stop him as he stalked back towards his sitting spot and hunched over the edge. Rolling her eyes, she climbed down the metal stairs and back into the noisy bunkroom. Blink confronted her immediately.

"So, what did you find out?"

Mary glanced back at the window, and sighed. "Race and Nick got into a fight, and she went off somewhere." Grabbing his wrist, she dragged him out of the room. "Come on we have to find her and bring her back before something happens to her."

Blink followed willingly knowing any protest he made would be disregarted.

After a sufficient search of Manhattan, they found nothing. Falling down on the stoop of the lodging house, Mary rested her sore legs, and then glanced at Blink questionably. "You think she might be in Brooklyn? Maybe she went to talk to Spot."

Blink leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. He shook his head at the suggestion. "If she went to talk to Spot he would have sent someone over here to tell us where she was."

"Well, maybe she isn't in Brooklyn. Maybe she went somewhere else, she probably wanted to get as far away as she could."

"You guys still didn't find Nick?" A shadow fell over the two on the steps. Both reconized the voice as Spot's. Blink stood and quickly spit shook before answering.

"How do you know about Nick? We didn't tell anyone."

Spot shrugged, placed his cane in his belt loop and sat down on the step below Mary. "Jack-boy overheard your conversation and sent for me. Thought maybe I could help."

"Well, me and Blink searched Manhattan and came up with nothing. Either she found a place to hide that we don't know about, or she isn't in Manhattan." Mary replied grimly, her eyes directed towards the setting sun.

"I got some of my best newsies out looking for her now. If they can't find her, then she probably ain't in the city." Spot said nodding confidently.

Hearing thos encouraging words, Mary stood and streched yawning loudly. She pointed a stern finger in the direction of Spot. "I'm going inside. The minute you hear from one of your newsies come get me." Opening the door, she muttered under her breath. "Maybe while I'm waiting I could give Race some advice how to talk to Nick."

The sunset and evening turned into night, whiched turned back into day. Spot and Blink retired around midnight to the bunkroom, and fell into an uneasy sleep. With only a few hours of rest to work on, the newsies were roused by a frantic shout from the lobby of the lodging house.

"SPOT! SPOT! I FOUND HER!"

Spot groaned and opened an eye to glance at the small Brooklyn newsie who now stood beside his bed. "What the hell are you yelling about?" He had all but forgotten his and Blink's search for Nichole yesterday evening.

The boy pointed a finger behinde him and jumped up and down excitably, much to the annoyance of Spot. "I found her. The girl you sent me to look for. She's in Central Park."

He let out a long breath. Leisurely, he sat up and glanced around the room at the slumbering newsies, his eyes landing on Blink. Mumbling a few choice words he pulled on his pants, and grabbed his shirt not bothering to put it on.

"Blink! Blink!" Spot's cap flew across the room, hitting the blond boy in the face, jolting him out of his dreams.

His body flew into a sitting position; his eye scrunching closed from the bright sunlight. "Wha…huh? Spot, do you know what time it is? What you doing waking me up?" He questioned, wiping a few blond strands from his vision.

"One of my newsies found Nick." Spot explained quickly. " I ain't getting the girl myself. So come on get dressed." His gold tip cane lightly tapped against the edge of the bed, ushering Blink out of bed.

"Don't you think we should wake Mary up or maybe Ra…" He turned to motion to his sleeping friend, but was greeted by an empty bunk. He glanced at Spot, who leaned against the doorframe, questionly. "Where's Race?"

"Don't know. Maybe he went out to look for Nichole himself." He shrugged. "I'll meet you downstairs." Not waiting for an answer, he walked across the landing and down the stairs to the lobby. The young Brooklyn newsie scappered axnsiously after his leader.

"Let's hope so." Blink commented softly. Tying his tattered bandanna around his neck, and placing his hat over his ruffled hair he left the lodging house and followed Spot to Central Park.

"So, where is she?" Blink asked skeptically when the younger boy stopped next to a bench that sat under a tree. The boy pointed upwards, and the two older boys glared at him.

Spot grabbed him by the collar, pushing his back into the trunk of the huge tree. "Stop playing games, boy. Where is she?"

The boy trembled, and pointed up again. "Sh…she's in the tree."

Blink glanced up along with Spot and sure enough, a small figure sat on one of the branches, leaned against the trunk of the tree asleep. Spot frowned. He felt anger build within him, but with a gulp, he silenced it, knowing it would only make that situation worst. "How the hell did she get up there!"

Not waiting for an answer of any kind, he raised his cane, which reached to Nichole's dangling foot, and smacked her shoe with ample force.

Nichole could feel someone or something tapping her foot. She shifted, tightening her arms over her chest, but haulted a shooting pain spreading through her back. Leaning her head back she rolled her head to the opposite side and opened an eye only to see a very flustered looking Spot. Blink hung behinde him, silently watching the amusing scene, which was catching the eyes of quiet a few passerbyers.

Overlooking the pain in her backside, she leaned forward with a moan. She noted that even from all the way up in the tree she could see the fire burning in Spot's eyes. If she didn't play her cards right this could turn into an ugly situation. Nichole didn't want that nor was she in the mood to talk. She scratched her head through her thick hair drowsily, before sending a blank look towards the three below her.

"What do you want Spot?"

His anger grew again, hearing the nonchant tone of her voice. "I had newsies out all night looking for you and all this time you were in Central Park! You don't just walk off and dissapear for the night!" He yelled. Nichole rolled her eye and Spot banged his cane on the bark angery. "Don't roll your eyes at me girly! Get down here we are going back to the lodging house, NOW!"

She glowered at him, and rolled her eyes again. Out of the corner of her eye she caught Blink back away another step, pulling the young Brooklyn newsie with him. She was not going to let this boy intiminate her.

"Spot." She spit the name as if it was poison. "I'll go back when I'm ready. Not when you or anybody else tell me too."

"Nick, you can either do this the easy way or the hard way." He growled. "Now get down here and come back to the lodging house." He ordered.

Blink clenched his fist to keep himself from interfering with the two. Both held an enraged look in their eyes, but it wasn't Spot he was worried about, It was Nichole. The hurt and anger she held in her voice shocked him. She held a wild animal expression in her eyes, and he was afraid of what she might do.

Nichole restrained herself from jumping to the ground and breaking Spot's nose with a single punch. Instead she smiled smugly and turned her back to him. "Fuck off, Conlon."

Those three words hung in the tense air, and a moment of silence washed over the four figures that were in the park. Without another momnet of hesitation, Spot charged at the tree in and attempt to climb it. He failed miserably.

"You little bitch, I oughta…"

Blink promptly jumped between him and the tree grabbing his grabbing arms and holding them to his side. "Calm down, Spot. She didn't mean it. She's just angry." He whispered loudly in his ear.

"Stop lying to him, Blink. I meant ever word I said to him."

Sneering at her back, Spot ripped his hands from Blink's grasp. He couldn't believe the girl that he befriend in their many games of poker could ever talk that way. He didn't want to hurt her, but nobody talked to the leader of the Brooklyn in that manner.

"Blink, go to back to lodging house and get Race. Maybe he can talk her into getting down." He turned to the small boy who immediately snapped his full attention to his leader. "You, go see if you can find someone who can climb a tree and bring them here." He ordered.

Blink watched the boy brush past him confused. "Spot what are you doing? You can't make her come down…" he paused at the death glare he received.

Spot adjusted his cap and sent a scoff towards the tree. "I don’t care if she's upset nobody talks to me that way and gets away with it. If you aren't back with Race before someone else gets here I'm getting her down with force."

Blink remained unmmobile. Clearing his throat uncomfortably he turned and took off at full speed towards the lodging house. However, there was a little set back to his plan. He did not have the fainted idea where Race's whereabouts were.

Chapter 11

Blink impatiently wiped away the beads of water that ran down his forehead. The pounding of his feet against the hard ground penetrated his ears making him run at a quicker pace. Reaching the lodging house he sprinted through the lobby disregarding Kloppman's concerned glance, and ascended the wood stairs three at a time.

Entering the bunkroom, he leaned against the wall trying to regain some air into his lungs. Most of the boys questioned him before they left, but he shrugged them off and shuffled his way to the washroom, where he hoped Jack and maybe Race were. His eyes scanned the small area and attempted to sigh, but it quickly turned into a cough due to his lack of oxygen.

Jack, who had just finished shaving turned, surprised by the sudden sound. He frowned at his friends flushed appearance. "Blink, you okay? Where ya been?"

His eyes searched the room looking for any sign of anyone else. "Have you seen Race?" he asked ignoring Jack's question. "We found Nick in Central Park in a tree and she refuses to get down---Spot ain't too happy about it either. They both look like they are going to murder eachother---"

"And how does Race fit into this whole thing?"

Blink wiped away a few strands of hair that stuck to his forehead. "Spot thought maybe Race could talk her into coming down, but like I said Spot ain't too happy and if I don't get back with Race he is going to get her down with force."

Jack chewed his lip thoughtfully figuring out the situation out in his head. He was reluctant to tell his friend what he knew, because the fact was he hadn't seen Race since yesterday at Tibby's, and didn't have the slightest idea of where he was at the moment.

"Sorry, Blink. I haven't seen Race. Maybe he left to get his papes early." Jack offered.

Blink rubbed the remaining perspiration from his face in frustration. His mind instantaneously mulled over other possibilities. He could stay here and look for Race, and risk Nichole and Spot getting into a fight, or----MARY, why didn't he think of it before?

Jack jumped at Blink's sudden strike of movement. "Did Mary leave yet?" Jack eyebrows raised questionably. Shrugging he pointed towards her room. "She's probably in her room. She was up half the night, so I told her she could rest today." He shook his head and watched Blink run out of the room before he could finish.

"Mary…Mary…WAKE UP MARY!"

Grunting, Mary lifted the blanket off her head and squinted at the blurry figure shaking her. Blinking her eyes owlishly a few times, her eyes focused on her boyfriend. Moaning, she groped for the disregarded blanket and pulled it back over her head.

She yelped in shock as she was suddenly tickled. Curling her knees to her stomach, she swiftly kicked Blink off the edge of the bunk with a thud. Sitting up, she pulled the blanket from her head, only causing her mused hair to become even more unruly, and glared at Blink through heavily lidded eyes.

For that one moment, Blink completely forgot why he woke her up in the first place. God her loved her. He snapped back into reality realizing she was speaking.

"What the hell, Blink."

He had to lower his chin to his chest to hide the grin that spread over his face. Everything from the way she looked to the way she spoke was beyond hilarious. "Sorry, but one of Spot's newsies found Nick."

Mary woke up immediately at the sound of her friend's name. She leaned forward pulling Blink onto the bed intrigued. "Really, where is she?"

"In Central Park. Up a tree."

"Figures." Mary mumbled. She smiled knowingly at her hopeful looking boyfriend. "And let me guess, you can't get her down and you want me to talk to her?"

Nodding, he grabbed her hand dragging her off the bed. "Yup, so come on. We got to get back to Central Park before something happens between her and Spot."

Mary halted and eyed him skeptically. "Hold on. You didn't say anything about Spot. It's too damn early to get into anything with famous leader of Brooklyn." She proclaimed sarcastically.

"Well, Nick didn't think so." Blink mumbled under his breath, his eyes anywhere but on her face.

"Whoa, whoa." She grabbed the taller boy by the shoulders and pushed him back on the bed. "What do you mean Nick didn't think so. Did the two of them get in a fistfight or something? Cause I ain't in any kind of mood to get caught in the middle of anything."

Realizing she wasn't going to leave the room until he provided her with an explanation, he sighed and gave in. "No, they did hit each other YET. Nick just told Spot to fuck off and he flipped. If you don't get down there and talk her in to coming down Spot is going to get her down with force." He shook his head. "Either way the moment her feet touch the ground Spot is going to be all over her."

Mary nodded knowing Spot all too well. She sighed making a decision. "Come on. Lets get this over with so I can get back and go to sleep." So, saying she laced her fingers through Blink's and headed out towards Central Park, ready for the worst.

Upon entering Central Park Blink noted nothing had drastically changed. Nichole was still perched high up into the tree, and Spot still stood at the base of the tree hollering any threats and profanities that came to his mind.

Mary and Blink stood watching, taking in the scene before them. Blink raised a hand and tapped Spot on the shoulder. "Uhhh…Spot, Mary is here."

"I thought I told you to get Race." Spot snapped. "What good is she going to do?"

Mary raised her eyebrows at the insult. Grabbing his shoulder, she threw him into Blink's arms, and away from the base of the tree. "Nick, stop being an idiot and get down here." She ordered ignoring Spot's threatening grunts behind her.

A few leaves fell from the tree and to the ground followed by a yelp of pain. Mary tilted her head back to get a clearer view. "You okay, Nick?"

Nick lowered herself to the ground, rubbing her forearm, which now was branded with the markings of the bark. "Fine." She glared at Spot who was now struggling wildly in Blink's grip. "Lets get the hell out of here."

Both Mary and Blink's jaw dropped and their eyes followed her incredulously. Mary ran after her grabbing her by the arm before she left the park. "Whoa! You keep us up all night, put Spot and Blink through hell to get you out of that tree and all you can say is "Lets get the hell out of here!" Mary cried.

Nick's eyes moved rapidly between her friends fired up eyes and to the hand that was cutting the circulation off in her arm. Removing Mary's fingers harshly, she backed away an incomprehensible look on her face. Without a word said she turned her face from the three and shoved her way through the throng of people.

With Blink in an immobile state, Spot easily struggled free and took off at full speed after Nichole. Mary held out a hand discontinuing Blink's movement to get Spot. She shook her head slowly, her eyes locked on the path Nichole ran. "Let him go, Blink. The worst he's going to do is yell at her."

Her petite hand could hardly hold back his hundred fifty pound body, he realized this, but he didn't attempt to push by. He surveyed the path the two took one last time, only to see they were lost in the crowd. "Come on." He sighed. "Lets go get out papes before they sell out."

Nichole weaved through the lines of people swiftly, unaware of the figure following close behind her. She groaned. Pushing the curls from her eyes, she looked up at the person she bumped into before shoving them aside. She stalked away, unwavered from the man's screams of how corrupt today's youth was.

A small smile started on her lips as the lodging house came into view. She was home free. However, her joy was short lived. A voice from behind yelled her name and she grimaced when she recognized the voice as Spot's. She quickened her pace in some hope she would lose him in the crowd, but before she could move he popped up beside her, his eyes ablaze.

"Where the hell do you think you're going? I want to talk to you!" He demanded. "Would you stop walking." Spot grabbed her arm.

Ripping her arm from his grasp, she crossed them over her chest. "What is there to talk about! I told you to fuck off! It's in the past, get over it!"

"Nobody talks to Spot Conlon that way. Not you not anybody."

"How fucking arrogant can you be?" Nichole scoffed, shaking her head slowly side to side.

Spot's temper fumed. His fist clenched at his sides and he kept reminding himself she was just a girl. His instinct took over his body when she turned to continue her way to lodging house. He grabbed her arm roughly, bring her crashing into his scrawny frame. He opened his mouth to say something, but his head flew back; Nichole's fist contacting with the side of his face, giving him what would soon be a shiner.

Smirking in satisfaction, Nichole left Spot in the street a hand over his already bruising face, shocked.

Brushing past Kloppman, who sat asleep in a chair in the middle of the lobby, she sluggishly shuffled up the stairs. Slamming her door closed, she fell onto her bed. Pulling the blankets over her head, she shut herself off from the outside world and everyone in it.

Chapter 12

"OPEN THE DAMN DOOR, NICK!"

Nichole stretched out on her bed, clutched the covers closer to her body, and listened to Mary's booming command. This scenario had been going on for the last five minutes, ever since Mary returned and found the door blocked. Nichole knew she was being childish, pushing away everyone's attempt to help and blocking herself from the world. But that was the last thing on her mind, she needed to see Race. Nevermind the fact that Mary despised her and the fact the moment she showed her face Spot would soak her, her mind was only on Race.

"NICK! IF YOU DON"T OPEN THIS DOOR I'M GOING TO BREAK IT DOWN!"

Groaning, Nichole turned to face the wall, blocking out the persistent yelling. She wasn't going to give in this time; she was going to stay barricated in the room as long as she could get away with it. She needed time to be alone, time to think things through…

Her thoughts were interrupted as the chair that was wedge under the doorknob flew across the room. The door swung open with such force that it hit the wall and slammed back shut. Mary's narrowed eyes glided to the lump of cloth on the bed.

Mary shook her head and sat down on the edge of the bed. "Nick, Nick…come on, talk to me." She begged poking her a few times in the back. Nichole didn't answer, not knowing if Mary was angry with her or what.

"Nick, you'll feel better if you do." Her sing song voice caused Nichole to cringe.

"I ain't going to feel better until you all leave me alone." She mumbled into her pillow.

Rolling her eyes, Mary ripped the thin blanket from her friend's body and threw it to the floor. Nichole curled her knees to her chest trying to stop the cold air from touching her body.

Mary sighed at the sight piteously. "You can't just lay there, Nick. You have to get out of this room and fix whatever the hells bothering you." She stood from the bed and paced the floor. She waved her hands threw the air for punctuation. "You can't run from your problems anymore. You have to go out there and take what's yours, take what you want."

Nichole craned her neck and blinked her eyes in confoudment. "What the hell are you talking about?" A pain began to start in her neck, so she rolled to her other side and sat up Indian style. Stopping her movements, Mary sat down placing a hand on Nichole's shoulder.

"I'm talking about Race." Nichole rolled her eyes, and Mary tightened the grip on her shoulder to keep her from turning away. "Stop rolling your eyes and just listen. I know you want to be with him…"

"I do not want to be with him!" Nichole cried indignantly. It was a flat out lie, but who had to know?

It was Mary's turn to roll her eyes. "I don't know who you are trying to fool, but you ain't fooling me. I see the way you look at him, and act around him. And don't sit there and tell me you didn't feel anything when he kissed you that night in the alley." Nichole turned away as not to give any of her hints of her feelings. Mary continued. "Just let everything go, and give it a chance. Forget about the others and what they think, that doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is how you and Race feel."

Nichole fell back on the bed, her hands over her face. "It ain't that easy, Mar. I'm afraid if I see him and he says something I'm going to hit him, and the last thing I want to do is hurt him."

"Mm-hmm, just like you didn't want to hurt Spot, right?" Mary smirked.

Nichole's eyes widened. "How did you find out about that?"

"From Spot. He was sitting in the bunkroom when Blink and me got back. He looked like he was about murder somebody. You got him real good, Nick. Real good…"

"ARRHHH!" Grabbing the blanket from the floor, Nichole wrapped it around her body again. "Not only does Race hate me, but I have my own personal hit man on the other side of the door waiting to nix me off. God, guys suck…"

Mary laughed. "Ohh come on, it ain't that bad. Me and Blink are going to head over to Tibby's to get some dinner. Why don't you come with us? Get out of this room…"

"I'm not going anywhere." Nichole mumbled her words muffled by the blanket. Mary raised her eyebrow and climbed on the bed and onto the lump. Feeling the weight on stomach, Nichole peeked an eye from under the blanket. "Nick, you got to get out of this room. You are coming with me to Tibby's and you are going to have fun."

"Nope, I'm not."

Mary bounced up and down slightly. "Yes, you are. I'll get Jack and the others to hold Spot back until we leave, you're safe."

Replacing the blanket back over her head, she shifted to her side, pushing Mary to the floor. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying here, by myself, to think."

Shaking her head, Mary stood up from the floor and straightened her clothes. There was no point in pushing this matter, besides once Nichole made up her mind there was no changing it.

"Fine, have it your way." Mary shrugged opening the door. "BUT, and this is a really big but here, you and Race are going to be happily together by the end of this week, I promise you that." Smirking, she stepped out into the hallway closing the door softly.

"What the hell are you smiling at?"

Mary turned and had to bit her lip to keep herself from laughing. Spot look so pathetic sitting in a dark corner of the room. He held a pack of ice over the area where Nichole punched him, as he waited patiently for her to leave the security of her room. Nobody dare say anything, but she knew they all thought the same. She let her grin widen knowing quiet well it would cause him to become angrier. Normally she wouldn't provoke any kind of conflict between herself and Spot, but the situation was too tempting.

"Nothing, nothing at all." She shrugged nonchalantly and headed over to Blink, who lay asleep on his bunk. Using Race's bunk as a stepping stool, she lifted herself up to the top bed. Her lips curled slightly as she studied the relaxed features of Blink's face. She couldn't believe that she was with him, or how Nichole didn't want to admit she wanted to be with Race. What she and Blink had was beautiful, why wouldn't Nichole want a part of that?

Searching the contours of his face with her index finger, she smiled when his eye fluttered open slowly. Returning the smile, he yawned then grabbed her, pulling her down next to him. "Hey, Mar. What you up too?"

"Nothing." Mary whispered snuggling closer taking in his scent. "I just talked to Nick."

Blink tenderly kissed her forehead. "Really? Is everything okay with her?" he asked sincerely. "Ya know other then the whole Spot thing."

"Yea, everything is fine." She paused searching for the right words. "Blink I was thinking about something." When he just glanced at her with an encouraging gaze, she continued. "It is so obvious Nichole wants to be with Race, but Nichole is too stubborn and scared to do anything, and Race needs to understand that Nick isn't use to have someone care for her as much as he does and it's going to take time for her to get use to that feeling…"

"Is there a point to this conversation?" Blink interrupted. Slapping his chest lightly, she continued.

"Just…I don't know maybe you could talk to Race and I could try to talk to Nick again, try to explain why the other acted the way they did."

"Mar." Blink warned. "You tried to play matchmaker before and look what happened. Just leave the two of them alone." Blink snorted at the idea that just popped into his head. "Or if you're really desperate you could lock the two in the room until they make up."

Blink laughed lightly, but turned serious again catching the intrigued look on Mary's face. His eye widened and he shook his head. "No, Mary, no. They will kill each other…"

Mary propped herself up on her elbow. Pressing her lips to his, she silenced his ramblings. When she finally tugged her lips away, she smirked. "Good, now that you shut up, just listen to me. We could just try it. The worst thing that could happen is they sit in the room all night and not talk."

"Or they could kill eachother." Blink interjected. He yelped as Mary's finger poked into his side.

"Blink, think positive here. Nichole told me herself that the last thing she wanted to do was hit Race, and I know he isn't going to hit her." She clutched his arm and pouted. "All you have to do is help me get Race in the room that's all. If anything happens then you can blame the whole thing on me."

"Fine." He grinned not able to deny the look he was receiving. "But don't come complaining to me when it backfires."

"Positive, Blink. Think positive." Mary said laughingly poking the side of his head. Sitting up her eyes scanned the bunkroom. "Now, all we have to do is find Race. Then we can put this plan in action."

Blink moved beside her, letting his legs dangle over the edge of the bed. "Yea, well that's going to be a problem. Nobody seen Race since yesterday after we returned from Tibby's. I don't even think he sold today."

"No, no." Mary shook her head the events of yesterday becoming clearer in her mind. "We came back and he went up to the roof. I followed him and we talked, then I came back down…"

"Did he come down with you?"

She scratched the back of her neck in thought. "No, I tried to get him to come back inside but he said he needed time to himself and stayed on the roof."

"So, he's on the roof." Blink concluded. Mary shrugged, and patiently watched Blink jump to the floor and out the window. Her shoulders slumped as Blink poked his head a few minutes later a disappointed look on his face.

"He wasn't up there?"

Blink shook his head and rested his back against the bed while Mary rested her head in her hands. Mary was beginning to wonder if this whole thing was worth it, and admit defeat, until a voice spoke from behind her, causing her to jump, fall into Blink, and send both of them to the floor.

Pushing Blink's leg off her midsection, Mary glared at the owner of the voice. "What did you say, Jack?" Pushing herself off the floor, she walked over to stand by his bunk. Jack laced his fingers behind his head and smirked up at the girl.

"I asked ya if you were looking for Race." He laughed lightly catching the hint on hope that sparked in Mary's eyes.

"Ya, I'm looking for Race. Would you happen to know where he is."

"Sure would. He came down from the roof while you were in the room with Nick, and Blink was sleeping." He shrugged his head towards the stairs. "He left a few minutes ago. Didn't really say where he was going, but I thought him mumble something about being hungry."

"TIBBY'S!" Kissing Jack on the cheek in thanks, she grabbed Blink who still lay on the floor, and out of the lodging house towards Tibby's. Their plan was back in action.

Race sat at a lone table in the back of Tibby's lost in deep thought. He had finally been able to get down from the roof without many people seeing him. His first instict was to see how Nichole was doing or even try to talk to her, but he still needed time. He sat on the roof all half the night and a whole day and still could not think of anything worthy to say to Nichole. Maybe they weren't meant to be.

Then why do I feel like this?

Shaking his head, he sipped his coffee, hoping it would relieve him of the pain in his head and in his heart. His eyes shifted from the steam that lifted from the cup to the door as the bell above the entrance rang. He groaned inwardly seeing Blink and Mary waltzed into the restaurant. He sunk down in his chair, but the attempt was in vain. There were only three people in the restaurant including himself, and it wasn't hard to point him out.

"Heya, Race. How are ya?"

Race forced a smile towards the cheerful girl. His gaze shifted to Blink and his eyebrow twitched up in query. Both wore sly grins and a tense feeling surrounded him as they both sat across from him. Something was up, something not good.

He shrugged and blinked ridding the awareness from his eyes. "Nothing, just had to get something to eat, and stretch my legs."

Blink leaned forward, his chin resting in his hand. Mary merely smirked. "Really, and what do you plan on doing when you're done eating?"

Race eyes glanced from one then the other warily. "Uhhh, going back to the lodging house to go to sleep like I do every night. Why?"

"No, reason. Just thought maybe we could keep you company. I mean we haven't seen you since yesterday night, and I just miss your company." Blink replied tapping his fingers against the wood distractedly.

Running his inked covered hands over his face, he sighed. The two of them didn't look like they were going to take no for an answer and he was in no mood to argue. Finishing his coffee he threw down two coins and stood. He patted his pockets until he found were he placed his cigar, then took it out and placed it in his mouth. He turned towards the two who still sat in the booth.

"Are you coming or what? I thought you guys wanted to keep me company." Race exclaimed walking towards the door and out into the street.

Mary, who decided Blink was moving too slow for her liking, pushed him out of the booth, then climbed out herself. Blink pouted after he regained his balance. "And I thought you loved me." He dodged the punch that was thrown at him and laughed. "Jeez, Mar. We are all getting back to the lodging house at the same time, there is no need to be excited."

Rolling her eyes, she threw another punch, which hit him in the arm. "I know, I know. I'm just kinda surprised about how easy this was. At this point it seems like Race would do anything we told him too."

"He's probably just tired." Grabbing her hand, Blink pulled her out of Tibby's and onto the moonlit streets of Manhattan. "Come on, lets go catch up to Race."

Suprisingly enough Race only made it a block before Mary and Blink caught up. The threesome walked the next few blocks back to the lodging house in silence, a few small comments were made here and there, but nothing more then that. The walk relaxed Race somewhat, to a point where he might get some sleep tonight. What he didn't know was Mary and Blink had different plans for him.

Inside the lodging house, nothing had seemed to have changed. Most of the newsies were settling down for the night and Spot, Spot hadn't moved from the position he sat in a few hours ago. Back slumped against the chair, one hand holding an ice pack to his face and the other crossed over his chest. His eyes were narrow and it was clear he was watching, and waiting for Nichole to walk into the bunk area and out of the safety of her room. He closely resembled a lion stalking his prey.

Race noticed this, but quickly pushed it aside as one of Spot's many mood changes. Removing his shoes and shirt, he fell back on his bed with a content sigh. Sleeping on the roof was not the most comfortable thing to do and the only thing he wanted at the moment was a good nights sleep in his own bed. Still, he couldn't completely relax.

Across the room, Blink and Mary sat huddled together, planning their next move. They had accomplished the first part, but now came the difficult bit. They had to figure out a way to persuade Race to go into the girl's room.

"You think we could just tell him Nichole wants to talk to him?" Blink questioned his eyes darting towards Race's bunk. "Great, we better hurry up and think of something. Race is going to bed and when he falls asleep there is no way to wake him up."

Mary shook her head dissatisfied. "No, that won't work." She bounced her leg up and down in thought. "Why don't you just tell him you want to talk to him?"

"In your room?"

She sighed exasperated. "Yes. It's the only place you can have a private conversation around here. He'll fall for it, and if he doesn't you grab his legs and I'll get his hands and we'll throw him in there."

Blink exhaled loudly. "And what he asks if Nichole is in there?" Mary rolled her eyes and stood, pushing Blink in Race's direction. "I don't know just tell him she needed air and went for a walk." She gave him one last firm shove. "Good luck."

He sighed and closed the distance between him and Race in a few, quick strives. Resting his shoulder against the end of the bed he glanced back at Mary quickly, who waved him on. Turning back around he cleared his throat. Race, who was close to a much needed, dreamless slumber, groaned and cracked an eye. He shut his eye again and moaned.

"What do you want, Blink?" Race whined rolling to his side.

Blink smiled apologetically. "Sorry for waking you, but I really need to talk to you."

"Do you have to talk to me now? Can't it wait until tomorrow?"

Hooking his thumbs in his belt loops, Blink shook his head. "Nope, it can't. I have to talk to you today, right now."

Race could believe what her was hearing. He knew this was apart of the "little plan" he knew they were brewing up, but he still couldn't put his finger on exacly what they were doing. Rolling to his other side, he stared at his friend. "Fine. Talk."

"Well, I was thinking that maybe we could talk in private. You know maybe in the girl's room." He suggested, shifting from foot to foot nervously.

In no frame of mind to argue or disagree, he stood and dragged his way after Blink. Blink turned around and stood infront of the closed door, waiting for Race. He placed a hand around his shoulder when he finally stood next to him. Race only glared at him with droopy eyes.

"Are we going to go in and talk, or what?!"

"Sure, sure." Blink shrugged opening the door. Race entered, but instead of following him, Blink pushed him farther into the room and slammed the door. Race turned and grabbed at the doorknob only to find that it would budge. He slammed his hand against the door and yelled out in protest. "LET ME OUT OF HERE, BLINK! I AIN'T IN THE MOOD FOR PLAYING GAMES!"

Mary's calm voice answered his yells. "We aren't letting you out until l you and Nick makeup. So, if you want to get out of there I suggest you go wake Nick up and start talking."

Race spun around, only to find out what Mary had just told him was true. Nichole lay asleep on the bed, a relaxed yet troubled look on her face. His breath became short as he slowly made his way over to her bed and sat down next to her. In his eyes she look simply angelic lying there, her brown curls sticking everywhere. Inhaling deeply he slowly ran his finger down the side of her face removing any hair that rest there. He pulled his hand back, and held his breath, as she stirred, and opened her eyes.

Nichole raised her hand to her face, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Who she saw beside her when her eyes fully focused was the last person she expect to see. Sitting up, she blinked wondering if the person sitting next to her was a hallucination.

"Race, what the hell? Go somewhere else, I really don't feel like talking now or anytime else." Lying back down she pulled the blanket over her head once again.

Race shrugged sheepishly, even though he knew she could see him. "Well, that's kind of a problem. Blink locked the door on me and there ain't no other way out."

Sitting up, Nichole threw the blanket to the floor and glowered at Race. "Are you fucking with me, because I ain't in the mood."

"See for yourself." Race gestured towards the door. Groaning she stumbled over the door sleepily, and tried the knob. It wouldn't move. Enraged with wrath, she kicked the door and returned to her bed. She glared at Race as his lips twitched into a smirk.

"Don't even say or I'll kick your ass." She warned knowing exactly what smartass comment he was going to make. Rubbing her temples in a circular motion, she sighed loudly. "So, what do we do now?"

"You're asking me!?" Race replied incredulously placing a hand on his chest. "I don't know what to do. You know it's not everyday that you get locked in a room with someone that hates you!"

Nichole cringed. Oh, God he thinks I hate him. Bringing her knees to her chest, she wrapped her hands around her legs, resting her hands on her shins. She licked her lips and said in a choked voice. "I don't hate you, Race."

Race snorted in disbelieve. "Well, you sure act like you do." He stood from the bed and began pacing. "I tell you I want to be with you and that I love you and you still have doubts about a relationship with me…"

Closing her eyes, she hugged her knees tighter. She didn't know what to do, she wanted to tell him what he wanted to hear, but she couldn't bring herself to say it. It was just her nature and nothing could change that flaw that she had. Suddenly, she cursed and stood, stopping Race in his step. Grabbing him by his faded suspenders, she pulled his body towards hers. Tilting her head up she pressed her lips to his in a heated kiss, which he fiercely returned, a flood of love and passion hitting both of them like a tidal wave. From that moment they both knew the truth.

Chapter 13

The heat still seared between the two as Nichole pulled back slightly. The kiss she had given him was one of yearning, love, no uncertainty about her actions. If Race couldn't understand how she felt then she didn't know what to do. However, the look on his face told her he understood everything. She pushed him away not knowing what to do, or what to say. She had just put her feelings out in the open and that scared her more then anything.

Taking a few breaths to regain her composure, she glanced up at him. He too seemed to be greatly affected by the kiss they just shared, and she pondered on whether this was a good thing, or a bad thing.

Folding her hands across her chest, she looked at the wall, the bed, the floor, anywhere except Race's probing eyes. He saw this and led her over to the bed, pushing her back gently onto the mattress. He sighed when she directed her eyes downwards. Raising a hand to her cheek, he lifted her head and when she didn't protest he began to caress her skin soothingly.

"What's the matter, Nick?" He lifted her eyes to his as she dropped her head again. "You don't have to be shy. It's just you and me, nobody else."

She laughed lightly at his statement, and shook her head. Pushing his hand away, she fell back on the bed, still avoiding his eyes. "I'm not shy. It's just…" She paused and folded her hands over her stomach. She began to say something, but instead she turned her head to the wall. "I don't even know what it is…"

Race began to open his mouth, but Nichole cut him off as she sat up and continued. "You've been so wonderful to me, and I guess--I guess I'm just scared that if I get too close I'm going to lose you and that is the last thing I want." She giggled and turned to look at him. "You have no idea how crazy I've been going without you. I never really noticed how much I cared for you until we fought."

Race tightened the grip on her hand and scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. "Actually I do know. I've been the same way since I said what I did in the alley. I sat up on the roof all night thinking about it, an…and I realized that I need you. I need you to always be by my side, I need to know that you feel the same way I do." He confessed quietly.

Nichole's heart skipped a beat and her mouth became dry, restricting the use of her voice. Everything she wanted in her intricate life was happening now, and it was all happening at an unimaginable speed. Wetting her lips, she opened her mouth to speak. She repeated this three times before her voice finally returned.

"Race, I need you too, and I--" She paused, her mind at a loss of words. Her eyes involuntary shifted to his lips. Leaning forward, she brushed her lips against his, then slowly leaned back to study his face. Placing her arms around his waist she rested her head against his chest and whispered. "Please, just hold me."

He complied to her plea, and wrapped his arms around her drawing her closer to his body. Both sat in the comfortable silence that enveloped the room. Occasionally, Race would raise a hand and let his fingers sweep through her curls.

"Nick, how are we going to get out of here?"

She shrugged indifferently. "I don't care. I comfortable where I am." She sighed and snuggled deeper into his shirt.

Race chuckled and lazily fell back on the bed pulling Nichole with him. "That's fine by me. I'm too tired to move anyway."

"Haven't been sleeping well?"

He yawned and shook his head. "Sleeping on the roof isn't the most comfortable thing to do."

"Yea, well either is sleeping up in a tree." Nichole reached behind her and slapped Race when he began to laugh.

"I'm sorry." Race apologized trying to control his laughter. "You slept in a tree? What were you doing up a tree?"

She shrugged and rolled onto her back. "Nothing, just trying to get away from the world. I just needed to get away from everyone and everything for a while to think."

Race pulled a curl and smirked as it bounced back in place. "And did you get any thinking done, while you were up there?"

"Yea…"

"And?"

Nichole eyed him, a confused look starting on her face. "And what?"

"What were you thinking while you were up in the tree?" Race quizzed an eyebrow raising playfully. "How much you hated me and wanted to rip my head off?"

Nichole's relaxed face turned into a smirk, and then into a full fledge grin. She nodded up and down slowly. "Yup, basically. I had this whole thing planned out in my head how I could cause you enormous amounts of pain."

"Don't I feel loved." Race rolled his eyes, and poked her in the stomach. Nichole giggled quietly and rolled to her side as Race wrapped his arms around her waist again. She exhaled loudly. "You know, Mary was right."

Race stopped fiddling with their entwined hands. "Right about what?"

"About us getting to together. She said we be happily together by the end of the week and she was right. As scary as that sounds."

"Yea, well she and Blink had this whole thing planned out." Race laughed. "You should have seen the looks on their faces when they came to Tibby's to get me. It was so obvious they were up to something."

Nichole covered her mouth, fighting back a yawn. "I'm glad that her and Blink have such twisted minds." A yawn finally escaped her lips and she snuggled deeper into the pillow. "Night Race."

"Goodnight Nick."

Nichole's eyes fluttered opened. She glanced around the dark room unsure of her whereabouts then she felt the steady breathing on her neck. The events of last night flashed through her mind and her lips twisted into a smile. Carefully she untangled his arms from around her waist and eased off the bed. Tiptoeing across the room, she checked the door.

The door squeaked and Nichole jumped in surprise not expecting the knob to turn. Peeking her head out the crack, she looked down the hallway, only to be met with darkness and the sounds of light snoring.

Good everyone's still asleep. Now we can get out of here.

Walking back over to the bed, she smirked at Race's peaceful sleeping face before jumping onto the bed and on top of him. Race moaned and glanced up at her with drowsy eyes. "What are you doing?"

She smiled down at him and lifted her weight, allowing him to roll to his back. "Just getting you back for doing the same thing to me the first day I was here. You're lucky I don't drag you out of the bed and across the floor."

Race stretched beneath her and glanced at his pocket watch. "And why are you waking me up so early? The guys are probably not even up yet. I don't even think Kloppman is up this early."

Nichole tapped his nose. "That's the point, everyone's asleep so we can get out of here." She rolled off Race, and bounded over to the door and opened it. "They forgot to block the door somehow."

"Or maybe they looked in here while we were sleeping and saw that we didn't kill eachother and thought it was safe to unlock the door."

Nichole waved off his logic and shook her head. "You are just like Mary, you know that? Always looking at the obvious answers to things." Grabbing his hand, she dragged him out of the room and to the bunkroom.

"Whoa, whoa, where are you going." He wrapped his free hand around her waist stopping her movements. "You aren't planning on killing Mary and Blink in their sleep are you?"

She placed a finger to her lips and lowered her voice to a whisper. "No, but that ain't a bad idea. I just needed to get out of that room." She grabbed the hand around her waist and headed towards the window. "Come on, were're going up on the roof."

With many attempts they succeed in opening the window without much noise. Slipping out into the cool air they both climbed the fire escape to the roof.

"So, what are we going to tell everyone now that we're together?" Nichole asked sitting down next to Race and glancing up at the sky.

He shrugged and tried to figure out what Nichole found so interesting about the sky. "What do you mean what are we going to tell them? They 're kinda gonna see that we're together by that way we act around each other." He grabbed her and kissed her neck softly.

Laughing, she pushed him away. "But what if we didn't act this way around the others? What if we make them believe that we are just friends?"

Race raised his eyebrows and a questionably look started on his face. "What are you talking about? What is going on in that twisted mind of yours?"

She grinned and placed a hand around his shoulder. "Race, how would you like to play with everyone's mind alittle bit?"

Chapter 14

Race blinked, his brain soaking in the question Nicole just asked. "You aren't talking about anything that is going to hurt them are you?"

Nicole looked appalled at even the thought of doing anything to hurt her friend. "No, no. Just mess with their minds alittle bit. You know go around pretending that nothing happened while we were locked in that room."

Race thought and then nodded vigorously, the avenging thoughts overpowering his usual logical ones. He wasn't going deny that he would get a good laugh from the look on Blink and Mary's faces when they found out their plotting and planning was only met in vein.

"Okay, I'm in." He paused, deep in thought, then his lip stuck out in a pout. "Wait, doesn't this mean I can't kiss you no more…or until they find out which might take awhile."

Nichole laughed. Catching sight of the rising sun, she stood and held out a hand for Race, which he gratefully accepted. "We can still be all lovey-dovey. Just not in front of everyone." Locking her arms around his neck, she rested her forehead against his own. "Besides, this will give us alittle time to be alone."

Race wiggled his eyebrows playfully. He titled his head at an angle and let his breath mingle with hers. "What exactly are you suggesting?"

The brown lustful eyes that bore into her own caused a shiver to run down her spine. Something that happened quite often when she was close to Racetrack. Returning his smirk, she pecked his lips lightly and tweaked his nose. "Nothing yet, but maybe sometime in the near future."

Race exhaled gustily. His eyes followed Nichole's every movement as she walked over to the firescape and disappeared down the medal steps. Removing his hat, he ran a hand through his thick greased hair.

He had definitely fallen head over heels in love with that girl…

Mary groaned. Rolling to her side, she buried her face deeper into Blink's white longunderware in an attempt to block out Kloppman's grizzly voice. Blink's steady heartbeat began to lull her back to sleep, but the second her eyelashes made contact with her cheeks; a finger poked her firmly in the back.

"Hey, what's this? I thought the boys gave you your own room to sleep in."

Mary waved a hand sleepily at Kloppman; mumbling protest into Blink's shirt. He continued his prodding, poking and yelling, while the boys that were awake watched on, amused.

"Okay, Kloppman, I'm up, I'm up." Blink grumbled opening his eye lazily. He waved a hand at the older man and stretched. Looking down at the peaceful sleeping Mary, he placed a kiss on her forehead, then whispered into her hair. "Hey, Mar, It's time to get up."

She mumbled a few unrecognizable words, and swatted a hand at Blink. He stifled a laughed, and carefully rolled from under her. Running a hand through his tangled hair, he pulled on his pants, and headed towards the washroom.

In one of the bunks that were usually empty, he saw Spot getting ready. He shook his head. Spot was not one to give-up when he set his mind to something (or when he was angry), and he wasn't going to leave until he got Nichole alone and had a talk with her.

Nichole (from what he knew of her anyway) was one to do things without thinking, and hitting Spot was one of them. She was the type to let her anger control her actions.

Blink splashed a handful of water on his face and shifted his eyes down the hallway. The door was closed and nothing seemed to be out of place. But there was still the possibility that Race or Nichole found the door unlocked. Something that Mary had insisted on doing after the room became silent. On the other hand like he had said before they both could have killed eachother during the night.

Running a towel over his face, he walked back into the bunkroom, and sighed when he saw Mary hadn't moved from her spot in bed. Hoisting his body up on the empty bottom bunk, he loomed over her and lowered his mouth to her exposed ear. He exhaled slowly and bent back waiting for a reaction.

Nothing.

The others began to file out of the room, and Blink looked back down at Mary's sleeping form with a sigh. He bent his head and blew in her ear one last time, but this time he received a reaction.

"Oh come on, Blink. Let me stay here today." Mary wined, rolling to her side to face him. "I'm too damn tired to sell."

"No, you can't stay here. Get up." He grabbed her hand and pulled her up into a sitting position. "I know you're just dieing to find out what happened with Race and Nick."

Mary's eyes widened. Swinging her legs over the edge of the bed, she pushed Blink to the side and ran across the room. Before she could leave the bunkroom, though Spot stepped in front of her; placing a hand on her chest.

"Don't bother they aren't in there."

Mary looked from the hand on her chest to Spot's face. "What do you mean they're not in there? Where the hell would they go?" She asked Spot, confused. Turning, she looked at Blink for an answer. He only shrugged.

"I told you we should have locked the door somehow." Blink shrugged again. "They couldn't have gone far, if they went anywhere at all."

"You think they're still here?" Mary asked.

"If they're still here then Nick better not show her face because she is in store for a major soaking when I catch her."

Both Blink and Mary rolled their eyes.

"Even if you do see her, and you do catch her, you would not hit her." Blink reasoned. "She beat the crap out of you once and she probably could do it again."

Blink laughed silently and shook his head. Catching Mary's hand in his, they brushed past the glowering leader, and out of the lodging house. They had only walked a block but the sweat was already forming on Blink's forhead. Removing his hat and shoving it in his pocket, he wiped the sweat from his brow.

It was still early morning, but the sun was already shining brightly, and the temperature was slowly rising to a record high.

"Do you think anything happened between Race and Nick last night?" Mary asked, swinging their entwined hands back and forth.

Blink shook his head doubtfully. "Not with all that yelling going on. Both of them probably compromised on just being friends, and settled it at that."

Mary poked the side of his head. "What did I tell you about thinking positive? They are never going to get together if everybody keeps saying they aren't."

Dodging her finger, he laughed. "I'm only saying the truth. They are both completely different people, and there is no way they could be together without fighting."

"Hey, hey, opposites attract." She stated wisely.

"And then they kill each other." Mary punched his shoulder and Blink laughed. "What! You know I'm just joking. Besides after Nick went off at Spot like that you never know what she might do to Race."

"She would never hit him, she told me herself, and Nick wouldn't lie to me." Mary replied confidently. "And Spot deserved what he got." She added quietly.

Reaching the distribution center, Mary quickly kissed Blink and waited outside the gate. They still hadn't resolved the little problem with the Dalanceys and they didn't want to rouse up anything else.

Sitting down on a crate, Mary made herself comfortable. It was still early and most of the Manhattan newsies were still waiting for their papers; it would be a while before Blink got his. Tapping her finger patiently against the crate, she watched as files of people going to work or just out for a stroll walk by.

"Heya, Mary."

Mary glanced up and answered nonchalantly. "Hey, Race." Blinking, she took a double take. Had Race just walked past her, and if so where was Nichole? Standing, she glanced past the gate. Race stood at the end of the line, talking and laughing with Blink.

What is going on here? Where is Nichole?

Sitting back down her eyes scanned over the crowds of people. Nichole couldn't be to far away from Race. There was the possibility though; that they did get in a fight and Nichole ran off somewhere. Perhaps she was back up in the tree. But Race seemed too happy for anything negative to had happened. Her eyes scanned over the crowds for the third time.

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

"Mary, Mary…Hey wake up Mary!" Mary stopped her searching and snapped her attention to Blink who stood beside her with Race, a concerned look on his face. "You okay?"

Mary shook her head to clear her mind. "Yea, I'm fine. Just thinking about some things." Standing, she looked Race over. "Hey, Race. How are ya doing?"

"Fine, looks like it's going to be a good selling day. Great headlines."

Mary nodded. Glancing over his head, she looked around as casual as she could. "So, where's Nichole?"

Race looked surprised. "Nichole? I haven't seen her since last night. Of course, I was locked in a room with her last night so…"

"What do you mean you haven't seen her? Where did she go?" Blink asked stepping in front of Race.

"I don't know. I was asleep when she left. She must have found out the door was unlocked sometime during the night."

"And you have no idea where she went?" Mary asked, eyebrow raised. Race only shook his head and began to back away from her and Blink. "Now if you'll excuse me I have some papes to sell."

Mary followed Race's retreating figure with a determine look on her face. Shaking her head, she turned to Blink. "There is something not right here."

Blink sighed. He was beginning to get the idea Mary didn't trust Race. "What's not right? So he hasn't seen her all day? Big deal. They probably ignored each other all night and when Race fell asleep she slipped out of the room." Blink reasoned. "We did leave the door unlocked so you really can't blame the whole thing on him."

"I'm not blaming anything on Race."

"Yes, you are." He insisted. "You are trying to make Race out to be the bad guy. I told you this whole thing was a bad idea. We should have just left the two alone and if they ripped each other apart then fine, but don't involve me in it."

Blink turned and left for his selling spot, leaving Mary standing, shocked. Sighing, Mary sat down and covered her face with her hands. Everything piece of advice Blink told her in the last few months had come true. Not only had her plan backfired it caused her and Blink's first fight as a couple.

God, I wish Nichole was here right now.

What neither Blink nor Mary noticed was the small figure duck into an alley.

Race carefully looked behind him. When he was sure nobody was paying attention, he ducked quickly into an alley. Setting his papers on a crate, he slide down to the cobblestone ground and sat next to Nichole.

Blowing a puff of smoke from her mouth, she snubbed the cigarette. "What happened?" She asked excitedly, grabbing his arm. He laughed and pried her arm from his.

"What do you think happened? I told them I didn't see you all day, and they fell for it." He smiled at her. "What are you so excited about?"

She shrugged, a smile playing on her lips. "I was just thinking about the look on Mary's face when she finds out that we're together. Finally after all these months of her plotting to get us together, I get to pay her back." She rubbed her hands together in a mad scientist fashion.

"Are you sure you're sane?" Race questioned skeptically, a hint of laughter in his voice.

Tapping her chin in thought then shrugged. "I don't know, I never thought about it."

Race shoved her shoulder, laughingly. Standing, he grabbed his papers and extended his hand to help Nichole up. Brushing the dirt from the bottom of her pants, she followed him out of the alley and into the growing crowds of people. Nichole followed Race willing for about five blocks until realized she had no idea where she was going. She had never went selling with Race before and didn't know where his selling spot was, but what she could tell they weren't in Manhattan anymore.

"Race, where are we going?"

Race glanced over his shoulder. "Sheepshed Races, I sell there all the time."

Normally, Nichole wouldn't object to betting at the races or even selling a few papers, but after the little incident on her last visit there, she didn't want to go anywhere near the races. "I ain't going to Sheepshed, Race." Nichole replied grabbing his free arm.

He turned and looked at her curiously. "Why not?" Realizing the reason, he grinned and slid an arm around her shoulder. "Don't worry, Nichole, I'll protect you from the big mean men at the races."

"Oh, please." She rolled her eyes and pushed him away. "Come on, lets just go, sell your papes, and get it over with."

It was near noon before Nichole finally convinced Race to let her go off on her own. If they wanted to make their little joke believable, she had to make some kind of appearance. Since it was near lunchtime, she decided to head over to Tibby's. Perhaps Blink and Mary took a break from selling.

However, when she arrived at Tibby's, the scene before her was the last thing she expected to see.

Elbowing her way through the few customers in the restaurant, and gripped her friend's hand comfortably. "Mary, what's wrong?" She noticed Kid Blink was no where in site. "Did Blink do something to you?" She asked completely prepared to hunt him down and murder him.

Mary drew in a shaky breath and tightened her grip on Nichole's hand, afraid she might do something drastic. "No, I just got in a small fight with Blink. Nothing big." Sniffing, she wiped the tears that clouded her eyes.

"NOTHING BIG!?" Nichole stood shouting, not caring about how much attention she received. "YOU'RE SITTING HERE CRYING AND IT'S NOTHING BIG!?"

Mary grabbed her arm and roughly pulled her back in the booth. Leaning across the table, she whispered loudly. "Stop it, Nick! We just got in a fight, he didn't hit me or anything else to hurt me. We had a disagreement, we'll make up in time, that's the end of it." By the time she finished, she sat back, her arms crossed, and her teeth gritted.

Nichole held her hands up defensively. "Okay, I believe you." Leaning forward, she placed her chin in her hand. "Can I ask you what your little disagreement was about?" She questioned seriously.

Mary turned to away from Nichole's eyes and unfolded her arms with a frustrated sigh. "You aren't going to give up are you?"

"No, I'm not." Nichole smirked. When Mary didn't answer her face turned serious again. "Mary, I just want to know what you and Blink got in a fight about. You're my only friend and I care about you. I might even be able to help in some way."

Mary eyed her friend skeptically. Nichole wasn't one to give up on her easily and even if she did refuse to tell her what happened, Nichole would only find Blink and terrorize him until he told. It resulted the same either way.

"The fight was about you and Race."

Nichole sat back, surprised by Mary's answer. "Me and Race? Why were you fighting about us?"

Mary shrugged not knowing the answer herself. "I don't know. We were talking about what happened last night, you know locking you in the room and all, and then he got really defensive saying I was turning Race into the bad guy in this whole situation then he walked away…." She continued to rant on until Nichole interrupted.

"Calm down. It just sounds like Blink was only defending Race when you said something about Race he didn't like. This whole thing will blow over, you just have to find Blink and apologize."

Mary nodded. "But what if he doesn't accept my apology?" she asked uncertain of Nichole's reasoning.

"He'll accept the apology, cause if he doesn't I'll break his neck."

Mary rolled her eyes, knowing quite well she wouldn't do no such thing. Then she laughed, first out of embarrassment, then at how ironic her situation was. Nichole stared at her as if she was crazy.

She exhaled loudly. "I was just thinking this whole thing started just because I wanted you and Race to get together so badly. And after all the badgering from Blink, I still went along with my little plan, and then It blows up in my face." She shook her head. "I am so stupid."

The guilt that built up inside her after Mary told her that made Nichole want to crawl in a hole and die. The reason Blink and Mary were fighting was entirely her fault. If she had just stayed in that room with Race last night none of this would have happened and the lodging house would be like one big happy family. If she didn't tell her the truth now the guilt would eat her alive.

Nichole ran a hand through her hair nervously. "Uhhh…Mary I got to tell you something."

Mary caught sense of her friend's nervous vibes. She stopped laughing and leaned forward concerned. "What? Come on, just spit it out."

Nichole looked her friend in the face, then adverted her eyes downward. "Well, me and Race kinda tricked you into thinking that we weren't together when we really are." She cringed, waiting for an outburst from Mary. When one didn't come she continued. "I thought I would get you back for butting into the whole thing with Race, and I thought it would be funny, and I never expected to end with you and Blink getting in a fight."

Mary mouth grew into and grin and Nichole stared at her confused. "Wait, you aren't mad?"

"Why would I be mad? You and Race are together finally, of course I won't really believe it until I see it but still it's great." If possible, her grin grew wider.

Nichole frowned at Mary's cheerful attitude. Was Mary trying to make this harder on her? Running a hand over her face, she groaned. "You should be mad because I'm the reason you and Blink got in a fight. If I just stayed in that room then you two wouldn't be apart. God, I should have just stayed in bed with Race…"

Mary's eyes grew wide. "You were in bed with him!? Go Nick!"

She groaned again, and banged her head against the table. "Shut up, Mary. We were lying on top of the covers with our clothes on, just holding each other. Nothing happened."

"Mmhmm."

"Mary, SHUT UP!" Nichole warned picking her head up from the table. "Anything that happened was very innocent, nothing serious happened. Will you stop grinning!"

The laughter that bubbled in her throat shook her body. Not being able to hold it anymore, she opened her mouth and a long stream of laughter flowed out. When she finally controlled herself, she wiped the tears from her eyes and sighed. "I'm sorry, It's just you finally got together, and I'm happy for you. I still want some visual proof though."

Nichole rolled her eyes. "The moment I see him I'll be sure to grab him and give him a great big kiss."

"That's good enough for me." Mary stood. "Now, come on lets go find our men so I can sort this whole thing out."

Nichole snorted and followed Mary's example. "I don't think you can qualify Race or Blink as men."

"Ohh trust me Blink qualifies as a man."

Covering her ears with her hands, Nichole followed Mary out of Tibby's and into the streets. "That was WAY too much information."

Part 3 of Bond Worth Breaking