Betrayal

Twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty! Ready or not, here I come!” Dutchy announced.
It was a warm day; a perfect day to play hide-and-seek. Dutchy had set the boundary lines up so that none of the newsies playing would cheat. As he searched the nearby trees and bushes, he suddenly heard laughing behind him. He turned to see Seven and Bumlets by the large oak tree, grinning at him.
“Safe!” Seven cried. “You can’t tag us!”
Dutchy frowned but continued his search for the other four hiders. He finally heard some rustling in the bush nearby and he quietly walked to it. Sure enough, Lake tumbled out and Dutchy immediately grabbed her arm.
“Gotcha!” he laughed. “Yer it!”
Lake sighed and stood up. “Okay, okay, you got me. Everyone else can come out now!” she shouted. “Dutchy found me!”
Specs, Darts, Dot and Pie Eater then emerged from their hiding spots and rushed to the oak tree with Seven and Bumlets. Dutchy and Lake followed, and then Lake told them to go hide and that she was going to count to forty.
As she began counting, the newsies split up and rushed to get to their hiding places. Seven ran to a nearby Mongolia tree with long branches that fell to the ground and hid by the trunk. This was a good place to hide.
“Ready or not, here I come!” Lake called.
Seven sat very still and kept quiet. As she waited, she heard some heavy footsteps coming toward her. At first, she thought it was Lake, but Lake’s footsteps were nowhere near as heavy as the ones that were coming her way.
Seven turned her head to see who the intruder was. She hoped it was Bumlets, but it wasn’t. It was Pie Eater.
“Oh, yer here?” he whispered. “Sorry, I’se jus’ tryin’ ta get ‘way from Lake.”
“Don’ worry, yer not the only one.” Seven whispered. “C’mon, if we work togethah, we can get out without ‘er seein’ us.”
Pie Eater nodded, and Seven arose and they looked through the branches to see if Lake was anywhere to be seen. She wasn’t in view, so they decided to run to the oak tree. When they reached the tree, Seven suddenly tripped over one of its roots, but Pie Eater caught her before she could hit the ground. Though he only held her for a fraction of a second, he suddenly felt strange. He had never felt this way before.
“Thanks fer catchin’ me.” Seven said breathlessly.
“Yer…uh, welcome.” Pie Eater stuttered.
He watched as Lake suddenly came around and tagged Bumlets as he tried to get to the oak on time. Darts, Dutchy, Specs and Dot came out of their hiding places and Bumlets told them to hide again as he counted.
Seven rushed to hide behind another tree, and Pie Eater went to a hydrangea bush that was fully bloomed and wasn’t too far from the tree Seven was hiding behind. As Bumlets counted, Pie Eater watched as Seven peeked out from the side of the tree and watch Bumlets.
‘Dang,’ he thought, ‘she really likes him.’ The more he stared at her, the stranger he felt. Never in his life had he felt this way. ‘What’s going on?’ He wondered. Since he had never felt like this before, he didn’t know what he was feeling.
“Ready or not, here I come!” Bumlets yelled.
Seven concealed herself behind the tree as Bumlets began searching for his friends. He found Darts, but she made it to the oak tree before he could tag her. He then went looking again and found Specs, but he too made it to the tree before he could catch them.
Bumlets then decided to look in a different place. He walked toward Seven’s and Pie Eater’s directions. Pie Eater ducked down and remained completely silent as Bumlets walked past. He looked behind the tree and found Seven. Seven giggled and broke into a run, but Bumlets caught her with so much force that when he threw his arms around her, he knocked the both of them to the ground.
Both newsies began laughing out loud, and Dutchy, Lake and Pie Eater came out of their hiding places when they heard the laughs. When they stopped laughing, Bumlets kissed Seven quickly, and they laughed some more. Pie Eater finally got sick of their being “lovey-dovey” and decided to do something about it.
“Hey guys,” he said, “I hate ta break ya up, but yer embarrassin’ us. Ever’one’s lookin’ at ya.”
“They are?” Seven asked.
“Well, guess we’d bedder not bring any more attention to us!” Bumlets joked as he arose and brought Seven up with him. “Sorry I knocked ya down. Din’t mean ta.”
“I know, but it’s okay. I’m not hurt.”
“We gonna play some more, or are we gonna head home?” Dot asked.
“Well, everyone’s been ‘it.’ Maybe we should.” Said Darts.
“Yeah, let’s head home.” Pie Eater mumbled.
Everyone else agreed, and they walked down the street toward the lodging house. Though everyone seemed to be in a good mood, Pie Eater wasn’t. Now he knew how he felt, but it wasn’t a good thing. ‘This is bad,’ he thought. ‘No, this isn’t bad, this is very bad.’

* * *

Pie Eater looked over his cards at the other players. He tossed two pennies into the center and waited for Jack to place his bet.
“Ah, I fold.” Jack muttered, folding his cards up and setting them down.
Midgy placed her bet, and then Bumlets. When it came to Seven, she smiled smugly and put four pennies into the center.
“I see two an’ raise it two more.” She said.
Pie Eater nodded and put in four pennies. Midgy folded her cards up and shook her head.
“Too rich fer me.” she said.
“Same here.” Bumlets said, folding his cards up. “I’ll let you two work it out.”
Seven put another four pennies into the center and waited. Pie Eater then threw eight pennies into the center and exhaled.
“I raise ya four more.” He said.
Seven nodded and put another eight pennies into the center. “Wanna show?” she asked.
“Sure. You go first, you opened.”
Seven set her cards down, revealing three kings and two sevens. “Full house.”
“Oh.” Pie Eater mumbled. “Ya see, I got a pair ‘a dese,” he set down a pair of aces, “an’ anudder pair ‘a dese.” He set down another pair of aces. “Four of a kind. I win!”
Seven was a little shocked, but she didn’t mind. Pie Eater gathered up his winnings and stuck them in his pocket.
“Good game, Seven.” He said.
“You too. Well, if I bet any more money taday, I’ll be flat broke in de mornin’, so I’d bedder leave now. See ya later, guys.”
“’Night, Seven!” Bumlets called.
“’Night Seven.” The other three said.
Pie Eater did looked over his shoulder at Seven and he began to feel strange again. Right then he wanted to slap himself across the face.
‘Give it up, Pie Eater!’ he thought. ‘She’s way out ‘a yer reach!’
“’Ey, Pie Eatah!” Jack said, snapping him back to reality.
“Uh, yeah, what?”
“You gonna look at yer cards or do we hafta read ‘em out loud fer ya?”
Pie Eater then picked up his cards and looked them over. As he placed two cards down and waited for two more, he thought of Seven again. ‘Try not to think about her,’ he thought. ‘The less ya think of her, the better.’

* * *

Pie Eater only picked at his sandwich as he watched Seven from across the room. As always, she was sitting with Bumlets, talking about who knows what. They were sharing a piece of pumpkin pie they had ordered for dessert at the moment, so Pie Eater didn’t want to watch them anymore.
He finished his sandwich and drank the rest of sarsaparilla and then looked back at Seven. She and Bumlets were leaving to finish selling their papers. As he looked at Seven, he remembered that she was his best friend’s girl.
‘Fallin’ in love with my best friend’s girl.’ Pie Eater thought. ‘I’m givin’ love a bad name.’
“’Ey, Pie Eater, ya done?” Swifty inquired.
Pie Eater looked at his friend and nodded. “Yeah.”
“Done sellin’ yer papes too?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, ya wanna come wit a few ‘a de guys ta shoot some pool? We’s done too, an’ we wanted ta ‘ave some fun.”
“Well, I guess so.”
“’Kay. We’s leavin’ now, so let’s get goin’.”
Pie Eater rose from his seat and followed Swifty, Snoddy, Jake, Itey, Flame and Skittery out the door. The group talked about the headlines and girls, but Pie Eater said nothing. When they finally arrived at the nearby pool hall, they grabbed some sticks and grabbed the last table.
Though Pie Eater was very good at this game, he really didn’t feel like playing. When his turn came, he aimed for the 13 ball, shot, and missed. Jake and Swifty looked at him with huge eyes.
“Pie Eater, is it jus’ me, or didja miss dat ball?” Jake asked.
“I missed it.” Pie Eater admitted.
“Dang boy, ya don’ look too good.” Skittery said. “You okay? Gettin’ ‘nough sleep at night?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” ‘Jus’ in love with someone I can’t have,’ he added mentally.
The game went on, and Pie Eater did even worse than before. When the game was over, he went over to the counter to get a coke. As he waited for his drink, he heard someone sit on the stool next to him. He turned his head to see Swifty there.
“Wassup wit you?” he asked.
“Nuthin’.”
“Yeah right, an’ I’m Marco Polo.”
“If I toldja, ya’d give me a long speech.”
“Oh, c’mon! Ya knows you can tell de newsies anythin’!”
Pie Eater’s coke finally arrived, and he gulped it down before answering Swifty’s question. When he finished his drink, he wiped his mouth off and stared at the countertop.
“Well, I think I’se in love.”
“Good fer you!” Swifty exclaimed, slapping his friend on the shoulder. “’Bout time a goil noticed ya!”
“She din’t notice me. She don’ even know I like ‘er.”
“Who’s the lucky goil, then?”
“Ya really wanna know?”
“Yeah!”
Pie Eater heaved a heavy sigh. “Seven of Nine.”
The smile on Swifty’s face immediately melted. “Yer kiddin’, right?”
“No.”
“Oh Lordy, what the heck got into yer mind? What’re ya thinkin’ in there?”
“Look, I din’t mean for it to happen! Ya see, yestaday we was playin’ hide an’ seek, and she tripped an’ I caught ‘er. Before den, we was good buddies, but when I held ‘er in my arms I jus’ felt a whole lot different about ‘er!”
“Cheese, yer in trouble.”
“Of all the goils in New Yawk, I gotta fall fer one I can’t have. Love stinks.”
“Well, ya’d bedder stop thinkin’ ‘bout ‘er so much, cuz Bumlets is one ‘a yer best friends, right?”
“Right.”
“Well, ya can’t betray ‘im like dat! ‘Ow’d you feel if ya had a drop-dead goigeous goil an’ yer bes’ friend was in love wit ‘er?”
“Pretty bad.”
“Bingo. So jus’ ferget ‘bout ‘er.”
“It’s not as easy as ya think.”
“Hey, I know! Ya think I’ve neva had a crush before?”
“Well, yeah, but was it hard?”
“Ta tell the truth, not really. She jus’ came up ta me an’ said ‘I hate ya,’ right to my face and I din’t like ‘er any more.”
Pie Eater snorted. “You got it easy. I don’.”
“Jus’ remembah, you’s betrayin’ yer friend by likin’ ‘er. Jus’ ferget ‘bout ‘er.”

* * *

Bumlets looked over his cards to catch Pie Eater sneaking peeks at Seven. Something was going on between them, and Pie Eater wasn’t doing a good job of covering it up. When he looked over at Seven, she looked at him and smiled sweetly.
Well, maybe it was just Pie Eater, for Seven hadn’t shown any evidence that there was something going on between the two. But Seven was also good at bluffing, so she could be fooling Bumlets. But whatever was going on, Bumlets was determined to find out.
When he folded from the game, he reached down and took Seven’s free hand. She squeezed it but kept her eyes on her cards. When it came time for her to place her bet, she released Bumlets’ hand and tossed four pennies into the center.
Bumlets then watched Pie Eater as he looked over at Seven. Seven wasn’t looking at him, and then Pie Eater placed his bet. It was Robin’s turn now, but she frowned, shook her head and folded. It was between Seven and Pie Eater again. Seven only smiled a little and doubled the bet.
“Eight.” She said.
Pie Eater only nodded and kept his eyes on Seven as he picked up a nickel and three pennies and tossed them into the center. Bumlets watched Seven, and then glimpsed back at Pie Eater. He looked nervous, but there was something else about him that he couldn’t discern.
‘What am I doing?’ he wondered. ‘Pie Eater’s my best friend, an’ Seven’s my girl! Why’m I so suspicious tonight?’ As he looked back at Seven, she tossed another eight cents into the center.
“Show?” she asked.
Pie Eater nodded. “’Kay.” He put his cards down. “Straight flush.”
Seven looked at his cards. He had a three, four, five, six and seven of hearts. Bumlets grew suspicious at the suit of the cards, wondering if it meant anything. Seven only looked back at her cards and grinned.
“I have a straight flush too.” She set her cards down. “Four, five, six, seven and eight of clubs. I win.”
Pie Eater’s jaw dropped as Seven gathered her spoils and put them in her pockets. Bumlets looped his arm around her when she had all of her money and pulled her close to him.
“Good job.” He said proudly.
Pie Eater turned his head. He couldn’t watch them as Bumlets held her in his arms. He knew that Seven was happy with Bumlets and there wasn’t anything he could do about it. He then got up and excused himself from the game, saying that he was going to bed. They said goodnight and he went to his bunk and lay down.
‘I can’t believe this,’ he thought. ‘I can’t be in love with ‘er! She’s my bes’ friend’s goil!’

* * *

Seven rolled over on her bunk and moaned. It was still dark. ‘Why can’t I get back to sleep?’ she wondered. Throwing her bedcovers off, she went to the fire escape and slid through the window. Maybe some fresh air would do her some good.
It didn’t take her long to realize though that there was someone on the fire escape above her. She could hear the iron creak as the person shifted their weight or moved. Seven looked up to see someone leaning over the edge of the escape so she couldn’t see their face.
“Hey!” she shouted quietly.
Whoever was up there was surely startled at the sound of her voice, for he jumped. When he looked down, Seven recognized them and came up to see him. But little did she know about why he was out there.
“Oh, hi Seven.”
“Hey Pie Eater. What’re ya doin’ out here so late at night?”
“I could say de same fer you.”
“Couldn’t sleep.”
“Same ‘ere, jus’ kept thinkin’ an’ it kept me awake.”
“What were ya thinkin’ about?”
Pie Eater fell silent. He couldn’t tell her, of all the people! And he knew that she could also tell when someone was lying, so he needed to be very careful at what he said. Inhaling deeply and avoiding eye contact with her, he began to speak.
“A goil.” He answered.
“Oh, really?” Seven sounded very interested. “Anybody I know?”
“Well, yeah.”
“Is it one ‘a the newsgoils?”
“Well, yeah.”
Only now did Pie Eater realize that he had blown it. If she kept up with this game of hers, she would find out.
“Is it one of the single girls?”
“I don’ wanna tell ya.” Pie Eater mumbled, turning around to go back to the bunkroom.
“Pie Eater, are you okay?”
He stopped short and looked at Seven. “What?”
“Something’s wrong, Pie Eater. Do ya wanna talk ‘bout it?”
Pie Eater then found himself right in front of Seven. She was clearly several inches shorter than he was, but she still looked at his face and tried to figure out what was wrong.
“What’s wrong with you?” She asked. “You don’ look so good.”
‘Don’t do it, Pie Eater. Don’t do it!’
It was too late. He suddenly ducked to Seven’s height and enclosed his mouth over hers. It was such a short kiss that neither of them believed it had happened.
‘It didn’t happen.’ Seven thought. ‘It didn’t happen!’
‘I did it!’ Pie Eater thought. ‘Bumlets is gonna kill me now!’
“What the HECK is goin’ on?”
Pie Eater turned to see Swifty looking in the window; his eyes were huge. Pie Eater couldn’t meet the eyes of either newsies and ducked back inside to the bunkroom without even acknowledging Swifty. At least no one else had seen what had happened.
When he disappeared into the dark room, Seven rushed down the fire escape to the girls’ bunkroom, tears blurring her vision. ‘How could this happen?’ She wondered. ‘I thought we were just good friends!’ When she crawled beneath her covers, she fell right asleep but her dreams were haunted of the event between her and Pie Eater.
Swifty couldn’t believe that Pie Eater would do such a thing, even to his best friend’s girl. ‘I knew he liked her, but he went to far,’ he thought. ‘I thought he was smarter than that.’
None of the three had a peaceful night that night. Each of them dreamed of what had happened and couldn’t get it out of their minds. This wasn’t going to go unknown for very long.

* * *

The next morning, neither Seven nor Pie Eater could look at each other. Seven was afraid he would try to kiss her again, and Pie Eater was afraid that Bumlets would find out what had happened. But whenever they saw Swifty, they gave him a look that told him not to tell anyone what had happened. And Swifty knew that he couldn’t keep this a secret for long.
Though Seven sold with Bumlets every day, he could tell that something was wrong. She refused to make eye contact with him, and she didn’t speak to him much. Now it wasn’t unusual for her to be quiet, but her not saying a word all day except to order and sell her papers indicated that something was wrong.
The two had been together long enough to know when something was wrong with the other, and Bumlets could tell that she was hiding something. They sold a little more half of their papers in the morning before heading to Tibby’s.
When they arrived, Seven sat with Bumlets at a table and still said nothing. When the waiter took their orders, Bumlets saw that Seven had made eye contact with someone other than him and had quickly turned her head away. When he looked behind him, he saw that Pie Eater had turned his head, and when he saw Bumlets, he turned white.
As he was about to look back at Seven, he saw Swifty. He also looked a little guilty about something. ‘Maybe it has to do about Seven.’ He thought. When he looked back at her, he saw that she looked like she was about to cry. He then reached over and gently took her hand in his. When he squeezed it gently, Seven looked up at him and Bumlets knew that something was wrong.
“Seven, what’s wrong?” he asked.
Seven swallowed hard. “Nothin’.” She whispered, almost inaudibly.
“Ya sure?”
Seven didn’t answer; but the answer was in her eyes. When he looked into her gentle hazel eyes, Bumlets could tell that she was hiding something. Whatever it was, she was scared. ‘Of what?’ He wondered.
After lunch, they left and finished selling their papers within four hours. When they headed for the lodging house, Bumlets suddenly saw Pie Eater coming into view. He wasn’t about to let him have his girl. He then stopped Seven and brushed his fingers through her hair.
“Seven, are ya okay?” he asked.
Seven nodded solemnly. “I’m fine.” She whispered.
Bumlets moved closer to her, hoping Pie Eater saw them. “Are you sure? Ya ain’t been yerself taday.”
“I din’t get much sleep las’ night.”
That was the truth; or at least, most of it. How could she tell him that his best friend had kissed her last night? It didn’t matter, for the next thing she knew, he slowly leaned closer and kissed her gently.
Never in her life had Seven felt better. She knew very well that he would still love her, even if Pie Eater had kissed her. After all, it wasn’t her fault; she was just trying to be a friend to him. When they parted, Bumlets ran his finger across her cheek.
“Are ya sure yer okay?” he asked.
Seven smiled faintly and nodded. “I am now.”
She wrapped her arms around him and snuggled close. She felt ever so safe when he held her. His arms were so comforting that it often made her feel like she was protected when in his arms.
Bumlets held her in his arms for a while until they headed back for the lodging house. Only then he kept one arm wrapped protectively around her as if to tell other young men that she was off limits. On the way, they passed Pie Eater, and there was no doubt that he had seen them. It was the look in his eyes that told them both of them that he had seen.
When they arrived at the lodging house, he let Seven go to the girls’ bunkroom to get some rest. When he went to the boys’ bunkroom, he found Swifty reading on his bunk, but he looked like something was troubling him.
Bumlets calmly walked over to Swifty and interrupted his reading time. When he saw him, Swifty knew what Bumlets wanted to know, and that he should. But how could he? Pie Eater was also one of his best friends too; how could he let him down?
“Swifty,” Bumlets said calmly, “is der somethin’ goin’ on between Pie Eatah an’ Seven?”
At that minute, Pie Eater entered the bunkroom. When he saw that Bumlets was talking with Swifty, he paled visibly for a few seconds. He also shot Swifty a look that was begging him not to tell. Once again, Swifty didn’t know what to do.
“Swifty, is der somethin’ goin’ on between Pie Eatah an’ Seven?” Bumlets asked again, but not as calm before.
“I…uh…no.”
For some reason, Bumlets had the feeling that this part was true. The only thing that was going on between them right now was guilt. Bumlets knew it too, but guilty about what?
“Yeah, der is. Dey seem guilty ‘bout somethin’.”
Swifty didn’t know what to say. ‘Cheese, he’s good.’ He thought, ‘but how does ‘e know? Jus’ some boyfriendly instinct?’
“They are.” He blurted out.
‘Shoot!’ he thought. ‘Great. Pie Eatah betrays Bumlets wit Seven, an’ now I jus’ let down Pie Eatah. Why did it hafta be me?’
“What happened between ‘em?” he asked calmly.
“Ya don’ wanna know.”
Bumlets’ eyes suddenly darkened over, and Swifty knew he shouldn’t have said that. Now he thinks that they did something else.
“Okay, maybe ya do.” Swifty mumbled. “’E kissed ‘er.”
“What?” Bumlets demanded, utterly speechless.
“It wasn’t Seven’s fault. She was jus’ bein’ a friend an’ ‘e suddenly kissed ‘er. But it was a mistake, ‘e jus’-”
Bumlets didn’t wait for an explanation. He immediately went to Pie Eater’s bunk to catch him. He was obviously trying to get away in time, but Bumlets was too quick. He grabbed him by the collar and pulled him around.
“Whaddaya think yer doin’, kissin’ my goil?” he demanded.
“I’m sorry, I don’ know what got inta me!”
“Why?” Bumlets asked, “why? Why’d ya do dis ta me? Yer one ‘a my bes’ friends!”
“I know, but I din’t mean fer it ta happen! One minute I thought we was good buddies an’ de next I was in love with her.”
“How could ya?”
“I can’t help it! I’m in love with her!”
“What did you say?” Bumlets asked, his eyes dark.
“I said…I’m in love with ‘er! An’ I’m not sorry I kissed ‘er!”
That did it. That was the wrong thing to say, for when Pie Eater finished speaking, Bumlets balled up his fist and sent it flying in his face. The blow was so hard that it knocked him to the ground.
Bumlets only shook his fist and gritted his teeth when he drew his hand back. He didn’t know he could hit that hard. But Pie Eater’s lower lip was split open, and he wasn’t too happy about it. As he stood up, the newsies gathered around to see if a fight would erupt. Swifty didn’t want to see a fight between them, so he rushed to keep them from fighting.
“That’s enough!” he exclaimed. “Why’re ya lettin’-”
“Shut up!” both boys shouted at the same time.
Swifty then backed off. There was only one person who could stop this, and it wasn’t him. He immediately ran to the girls’ bunkroom to get Seven. She was the only one who could stop them. When he reached the bunkroom, he banged his fist again the door, but louder than he had wished. When Sticks answered the door, she looked confused and surprised.
“What’s up?” she asked.
“I need Seven. Bumlets is about ta kill Pie Eatah!” Swifty said breathlessly.
Sticks’ eyes brightened and she turned around to call Seven. “’Ey Seven! Yer boy’s about ta kill Pie Eatah!”
“What!?” Seven cried.
“I can’t miss dis!” Sticks said as she rushed up the stairs.
Seven pushed past Swifty and was on Sticks’ heels as she ran up the stairs. Adele and Bagel were behind her to see what was going on. If the stairway wasn’t so narrow, Seven would’ve pushed past Sticks to get downstairs before her. When she reached the boys’ bunkroom, she could hear shouts of the newsboys trying to break up a fight.
Seven rushed to the crowd to find both Bumlets and Pie Eater on the floor, struggling to break out of the other’s grip while trying to punch them at the same time. Seven then ducked down and separated the two.
When they finally decided to end their fighting, Seven got a good look at them. Pie Eater’s lower lip was split open and Bumlets had a purple mark appearing around his left eye. Seven frowned disapprovingly at the two and held the nasty words she was tempted to shout at them.
“Now, what’s the problem?” she demanded.
“It…it was my fault, Seven,” Pie Eater said. “I-”
“No, it was my fault.” Bumlets admitted. “I los’ my temper.”
“Over what?” Seven asked.
“Pie Eatah kissed ya, dat’s why!” Bumlets cried, his voice trembling. He shot a look at Pie Eater. “I thought you was my best friend, an’ ya betrayed me with Seven! Ya know she’s mine! Ya knew an’ ya still kissed ‘er!”
“Yeah? Well-”
“Be quiet, you two!” Seven snapped loudly.
Both boys stared at Seven with wide eyes, along with the rest of the newsies. Seven didn’t notice though; she was concentrating on saying the right things.
“Now listen.” She growled. “You two are actin’ like kids. Yer fightin’ over me, fer pity’s sake! Pie Eater, Bumlets is my man right now. I’m with him, and I’m going to stay with him. You shoulda known that somethin’ like this mighta happened.”
Bumlets smirked at Pie Eater, and he looked at the floor. But Seven caught Bumlets’ smirk and shot him a disapproving look.
“An’ you.” She said. “Yer actin’ like a guy in the mafia! Now I know ya ain’t Italian, but dose guys are so territorial dat dey can kill guys dat steal der girls. Yer actin’ like a boy who’s four years old, not eighteen! Both of you, if this continues like this, I’m gonna soak de both ‘a ya!”
All the newsies around began to whisper among themselves. Was Seven capable of doing that? But she was only fifteen! But she was also completely unpredictable, and there was a chance that she could do it.
“So, ya gonna make up ‘r do I hafta soak ya two?” Seven asked.
Both boys heaved heavy sighs and looked at each other. It was several minutes before Bumlets spoke up.
“Okay, I’m sorry.” He mumbled.
“Yeah, I’m sorry too.” Pie Eater muttered.
Bumlets spit in his hand and held it out to Pie Eater. “Are we friends again?”
Pie Eater nodded and they spit-shook. “Friends.”
Seven smiled brightly as the two hugged and became friends over again. When they parted, Seven led Bumlets to the washroom, wet down a washcloth and wrung it out to make it damp.
“I knew you’d come around.” She said. “That’s why I’m with ya.”
She handed the washcloth to Bumlets and he held it over his sore eye. When he looked at Seven, he smiled.
“Well, I’m glad ta know dat yer still my goil t’rough dis. One ‘a da things I was scared ‘bout was dat you was gonna leave me.”
“I wasn’t, an’ I’m not gonna. Don’ worry, I’m with you, an’ when I’m with you, I don’ go afta udder guys.”
At that moment, Pie Eater entered the washroom, holding a washcloth to his lip. “’Ey Seven, can I talk ta ya?”
“Sure. What’s up?”
“Well, I jus’ wanna say dat I’m sorry dat I kissed ya de udder night. I mean-”
“Don’ worry, it’s okay. I understand dat it was a liddle tough on ya, but I forgive ya.”
“Are we still friends?”
“’A course. An’ let’s always stay friends, okay?”
Pie Eater smiled, despite the stinging it brought to his lip. “Yeah. Friends forevah.”

The End!

© 1999-2000; Seven of Nine