Living

Chapter 10: Snipeshooter's Birthday Bash

On Sunday, Race was in Brooklyn, helping his boyfriend get ready.

"Should I wear a tie?" Race rolled his eyes at the shorter boy, standing up from his seat in the bed.

"He's fourteen, idiot", Race patted Spot's shoulder, hugging him from behind. "You're gonna be fine."

"I just want to make a good first impression", Spot sighs. "What if they don't like me?"

"Since when did you care about people likin' you?"

"Since I found out you're friends with the most protective newsies in all five boroughs."

"Ah, is we really still bein' called that?" Race cringed hearing the name, adjusting his hat on his head. "That was so long ago."

"It was like two years ago, Tony", Spot rolled his eyes, taking the tie off and walking back to the closet. "I mean, you were still seventeen when we graduated."

"Whatever", Race scoffs, following Spot. "Point is, I think we're past that. Also, you should wear that shirt because it looks nice on you."

Spot chuckled and put on a red shirt and leaving on the dressy pants he was wearing, grabbing some overalls and letting them hang from his sides. Race snickered.

"You still have suspenders?"

"You still have a Newsie cap?"

"Shut up!"

—————

"Dude, are you excited to turn 14?" Boots asked Snipeshooter, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. Luckily, Boots was feeling social today, which meant he would interact with people instead of judge them from afar.

"Hell, yeah", Snipe responds, a large smile on his face. "I finally won't be behind you and Books."

"Hey", Boots calls, smiling. "You'll always be behind me."

"Shut up", Snipeshooter shoved him, chuckling. "You know what I mean."

"On the bright side", Boots shrugs, playing with the Rubix Cube he found, "you'll always be older than Les."

"He still is 13, ain't he?" Snipeshooter shook his head, chuckling. "Poor guy."

"Hey, did you hear we finally get to meet Race's beau?" Boots smirked and focused on the spate colors. "And whoever this Finch person is."

"Oh, I already met Spot", Snipeshooter mentions, rolling up his pants twice. "You think that looks good?"

"What?" Boots looks to his best friend, shocked. "You already met him? And you didn't tell me?!"

"I didn't think about it", Snipe shrugs, walking over to his closet. "Plus, it was a while ago when Mike, Ike, Hotshot, and JoJo were still in the state."

"Oh, yeah", Boots remembers, smiling. "I do miss 'em."

"Me, too", Snipe agrees, grabbing a blue flannel. "Wish they could come to the party."

—————

"Why are we going to Albert's house?" Mike sat in the passenger seat as Ike was driving, leaving JoJo and Hotshot asleep in the back.

"Because we're trying to surprise Matthew and the rest of the guys", Ike sighed, telling his brother for the 7th time. "If we went to Race's house, that would ruin the surprise."

"Right", Mike nodded. "I wonder how the guys are doin' anyway."

"Well, last time we were in New York, Crutchie was headin' for college."