A Newsie Story

Chapter 22

"Race,"I say exasperated,"And Specs!"

"Why ah you'se two fighting,"Davey asks as the crowd seems to disappear.

Race is on the ground with a very angry Specs on top of him. Specs looks like he is going to kill him as he glances up at me,"He was yellin at Swift threatening ta soak him!"

"Swift stole one a me papes,"Race says seeming still shocked that Specs attacked him.

Then a new thought occurs to Race,"Um Specs ah you'se sweet on Swift."

"No no of course not. What? Why would ya even think that? What,"Specs says getting up and flushing so dark that most people would believe that he is sunburned.

Swift blushes too but she walks over to Specs and Race,"Im done with this. Specs is going to start getting questions he doesn't need. I'm not what I appear to be."

"What ah ya then,"Race says with a little growl. He doesn't like being lied to.

"I'm a girl,"she says taking off her cap.

It's only Specs, Race, Davey, and myself. Davey and Race gasp while Specs and I hang our heads since we knew all along.

Race's eyes take on a slight hazy quality looking at Meaghan. A white hot jealous feeling hits me all of a sudden. I shouldn't be worried. She has Specs. Race likes me. Then I really look at Race. He's one of the most handsome newsies. His reddish blonde hair flips over his ears under his hat perfectly. He is thin and not too tall but you can see the muscles bulge slightly under his shirt. I always look at a boy's eyes and Race has pretty green eyes that shine with mischief out lined with light colored eyelashes.

To think of it Davey is pretty handsome too. He's quite tall and has dark hair that seems always disheveled. He has brown/green eyes that have an even mix of brown and green. I probably need to stop staring at them.

"Why didn't ya tell me about her Specs,"Race asks quietly.

I jump in because I hope to soften his blow towards Specs,"We found out a week ago. She didn't want anyone to know so she would be safe. The less people that know, the safer she is."

"I guess that makes sense. Uh sorry I threatened ta soak ya. I'll keep ya secret. Carry on,"Race says looking around nervously.

Meaghan and Specs walk away and I see Specs give her a quick peck on the cheek. Race comes up to me and Davey,"Lets all three sell togetta today."

We nod silently as we go back to our spot. Then Race looks over at Davey,"Did you'se see how pretty Swift was?"

"I uh didn't seem ta notice,"Davey says quickly looking at me.

I have my teeth clenched, my fists clenched, and all my muscles are coiled up in agitation. Why is he saying these things?

"You'se should look moah closely when a pretty goil is around. She wasn't just pretty, she was beautiful. Her hair is possibly the prettiest brown I've ever seen an her chocolate brown eyes...."

"I'll be right back. I need to go,"I say cutting him off and hobbling away.

My eyes are filled with tears as they stream down my cheeks. I guess my brown hair isn't good enough. I guess he doesn't like blue eyes anymore. Footsteps run up beside me but I just won't look at him,"Just go away."

"What did I do,"The voice asks.

I look over to see Morris. I smile halfheartedly,"Oh hey Mo."

"Hey Princess....wait? What's da matta? Did someone hurt ya? I'll soak 'em,"He growls out stopping me.

The tears shine on my face and there is no way of hiding them,"Just stupid newsies. Lets go do something and not think about the newsies for the rest of the day."

"But what about ya papes,"Morris asks quietly.

I grin,"Davey can sell them. He'll understand."

* * *

Race's POV
"What did I do,"I ask quietly staring after Liv who seems to have tears streaming down her face.

Davey looks at me seeming pretty pissed off,"You'se can't just do that!"

"Do what!? I didn't do nothin,"I say trying to think of anything I could of done wrong. Nothing crosses my mind though.

"Ah you'se really that thick in the skull? She likes ya. You'se can't just go around talkin about otha pretty goils like that! Ya hurt her feelings,"Davey says punching me on the arm harshly.

I glare down at my arm for a moment and think of all I said. I really screwed up this time. Liv hobbles down the street trying to wipe away the tears.

I caused those tears.

I'm about to run up beside her when Morris gets to her first. How is he always around to upstage me? Him with his money and muscles. What's so great about money anyway? I also don't see why muscles and height are so important.

I deserve this.

I deserve to see her smile at him like that.

The way she smiles at him makes my heart shatter.

Why did I talk about Meaghan like that? I don't even think she's that pretty! Was some demented part of me trying to make Liv jealous? Why would I want to hurt the one person I care about most?

I would die for her.

My head starts to pound as I stare at Morris and Liv flirting. Of course I know that she cares for him. It's so obvious that I can't stand it. Maybe if she tried being slightly more discreet.

What am I talking about?

I just basically said that Meaghan was the most beautiful girl who ever lived while the true most beautiful one had been walking right beside me. Davey looks at me carefully,"I don't like her wit him..."

"Me neither,"I say nearly growling.

Davey stares at me thinking through something slowly,"Ya know how Oscar is with goils. He uses 'em then throws 'em away. Morris is prolly the same.... We gotta protect her from that. I don't care if she ends up wit you'se. I just don't want her with him."

I grin slightly,"I agree."

"So we'll figure out a way to get her to not be with Morris,"Davey nearly asks me.

"Yes we will,"I whisper mostly to myself.

I'm doing this to protect her.

Aren't I?

* * *

Liv's POV
Morris leads me by the arm to the park. We look like a completely different couple than the rest. We are younger than most and of course I'm in boys clothes. A few people glare at us. One rich man even has the nerve to spit on me.

Morris takes care of that problem quickly.

I went to this park quite often in the days when my parents were trying to find me a husband. This is where most young couples start their courting. Marriage isn't something the couples choose though. Marriage is arranged by guardians.

It's easy to tell that most of these couples seem bored. They talk nonchalantly, mostly about the dull weather, and sit so far apart that you can barely tell that they are together.

The middle class couples seem to be slightly more happy. Most of them don't seem to be marrying for money. Though occasionally you do see a poorer girl with a richer man. Not the other way around of course. Women with money always seem to marry men with even more money.

Then the poorest couples in the park. They seem to flit around with not care in the world except the person beside them. They marry for love and love only. It's beautiful.

They are the ones that make this park wonderful.

They may not be in the best clothes or smell the best but their hearts are truly the best. I remember once when I was younger I told my mother how pretty I thought the poor people were.

I of course was scolded and got hit a few times with the ruler, her favorite weapon. My mother despised the poor people of the city. But when we were in public she only responded quietly,"their life's have no meaning."

That phrase seemed to stick my brain for years. How could someone's life not have meaning when his had created it just the same as mine. I finally realized that my mother could be rude and half the things that she said were rude.

"Ah you'se alright Princess? You'se seemed a little upset earlier,"Morris says taking my hand gently in his own.

I try to smile but it doesn't work. My eyes probably look slightly teary,"It's just.....It's hard to..... It's Race."

"Can I soak him foah ya,"He asks looking at me genuinely concerned.

"No no no no no. No more soaking. Please just let the whole thing go,"I reply trying to pretend like I'm blowing it off.

He kisses me on the cheek softly,"Ok let's just forget about the whole thing."

I spend the rest of the day with Morris just wandering around this beautiful city. I start to silently say goodbye too him. I only have one month left with him.




* SO GUYS I TRIED SOMETHING NEW AND HAD RACE'S POV IN IT. HOW DOES EVERYONE LIKE HAVING HIS POV IN THERE? COMMENT AND VOTE IF YOU LIKE IT*