I'm the Queen of New York!

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

 "I shouldn't have left Crutchy back there." I told myself and the guys that night at the lodging house.

"There wasn't anything you could've done for him." Mush comforted.

"I could've helped him out of there. I would be with him right now."

"Yeah, in the Refuge." Blink said.

"Or worse, with the Delanceys." Race added.

"And who knows what would've happened to you under their thumbs." Jack stated.

"Why would I want to think about that?" I asked Jack.

"Just thought I'd add that," Jack replied.

"Why would you put that in her head?" Racetrack asked him.

"Would you guys just get off my back about that. New subject: Arch, did ya get anywhere with Spot?"

"What!?" I defended.

"About the strike, did you get him to change his mind?" Jack asked.

"He said he'd think about it." I said, diverting my eyes.

"Is everything alright, Arch?" Davey asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I responded.

"You sure?" Les asked tiredly.

"Yes, I'm sure. Sleep, Les. It's late. Take Boots' bed." I ordered.

"Why mine?" Boots asked.

"Cause it's close to the door and it's the bottom bunk." I replied.

"Oh, ok."

"Arch, can we talk to you about something?" Blink asked.

"Depends on who the 'we' is."

"Me and Racetrack." he replied.

"Okay." I said, standing up.

"Over here," Race said, pointing to the corner.

We walked over to the corner and gestureed for me to stand with my back to the corner, facing them.

"What's goin' on, guys?" I asked them.

"You spent a long time in Brooklyn today," Blink said, not answering my question, I might add.

"So what?"

"What were you doing there so long?" Race asked.

"Trying to persuade Spot and his guys to join the strike." I replied.

Jack and Davey stood up from the table and Jack said, "We're gonna go see a friend." And they left. No questions asked.

"Anyway, let's get right to the point, is there anything more between you and Spot?" Blink asked me.

"Like what?"

"Like, ya know, anything?" Blink prodded.

"Like, anything, romantic?" I asked.

"You suggested it." Race grinnned.

"Do I have to answer?"

"You do now." Race said.

"Seriously?"

"You'd ask that of us?" Blink laughed.

"Okay, as long as you promise not to tell everybody." I said.

"Promise," They said in unison.

"Okay, since a week after coming here-"

"What?"