Unlocking Him: A Spot Conlon Love Story

Chapter Sixteen: The Rally

"You did what??"

"Race, shuddup someone'll hear you'se!"

"How do ya expect me ta shuddup when ya do this again, but this time ya--"

"Calm down! It's not--"

"I'se don't care if you'se thinks it's a big deal or anythin' like that but now...you'se can't take that back."

"I'se don't want to."

"Right now."

"Racetrack how could you'se! I'se thought you'se were supportive of this!"

"Yeah I'se was until he--"

"He didn't do anythin' I didn't want him to! I'se knew exactly what I'se was doin'--"

"But you'se don't know 'im likes I'se do! He's gonna hurt ya Charlie--"

"For the first time in my life I'se actually not afraid of trustin' someone or lovin' someone, which you'se told me ta stop hesitatin' bout, you're going ta be like this?? You also said ta not keep you in da dark!! I was completely honest and then you start yelling at me!! Some best friend you are!!!"

And with that she stomped out of the bunkroom, fire in her eyes.

"Charlie, wait!"

Race went down the stairs fast as lightning and grabbed her arm. She faced him with a look that could kill. He was slightly intimidated until he came to realize she was indeed his best friend.

"Well, do ya love him?"

"That's a really stupid question Racetrack."

"C'mon I'se serious."

"I dunno what's happening ta me. I neva experienced anythin' like this before Race. It's so unreal. It's like a dream or somethin'. One day I'se don't need nothin' from no one and then he came an--I dunno. It's amazing an scary an weird an I'se dunno what it is I'se just feel...like I'se belong. For once I'se don't feel like I'se still gotta keep moving on cuz if I'se wanted to, Ise could just stay right here. An I'se knows I'se breakin' all of my rules and takin' all of theses risks but--they don't feel like risks. I'se feel safe even though I'se shouldn't. All I ever thought was that it's better ta be alone so no one can hurt ya. I'se changed somehow. You'se don't understand. Maybe you'se will someday, but til then you'se gotta trust me."

"If I trust you'se, that means I'se trustin' him. An I'se don't. How do I'se knows completely you'll be safe."

She smiled. "That's the thing bout trust. Ya don't."

"Well look at you'se. Ya all grown up on me."

"Racetrack, don't cry."

"I'se can't help it. It seems like only yestaday we'se took ya in and you'se was all cranky and bitter 'specially when someone made fun of ya name. You're so cute whens you're aggravated."

"Yeah til I'se bash ya head in."

"On second thought maybe you'se hasn't changed dat much."

"Race, you'se has no idea."

Later that night, Charlie was helping Race with his "best clothes" for the rally which started in an hour.

"Are you'se sure you'se wanna wear the top hat?"

"Is it too much?"

"Way too much."

He tossed the old battered top hat the boys found on the street to her and she tossed him back a nicer looking newsboy's cap.