𝚁𝚄𝙽𝙰𝚆𝙰𝚈 ° racetrack higgins

The Rooftop

I got back to the lodging house a little while later, successfully avoiding Synder along the way. Instead of heading inside, however, I walked over to the fire escape and started climbing up to the roof.

Ever since I came here, this had been mine and Jack's spot to just get away to clear our heads or talk with one another. The sun was just starting to slip beneath the horizon, causing an orange glow over the city.

"Thought I heard you comin up here." A voice said behind me. Turning, I saw Race standing there, leaning against the short brick wall.

I gave him a smile. "Hey Racetrack."

"Whatcha doin up 'ere?"

"Just came to think." I told him, sighing as I sat on the half wall.

The boy picked himself up and walked over, sitting next to me. He was sitting so close that our legs were brushed against one another, his warm leg heating up my cold one. "About what?" I shrugged. "Come on, Tate. I knew when you're lyin ta me. What's goin on?"

I sighed. "Do you ever miss your family?"

Racetrack was silent for a while before he answered my question. "Sometimes, but not usually. I don't need dem when I got youse, and Jack, and Albert, and Specs, and da rest of da newsies." He told me, slinging an arm over my shoulder.

I smiled at him. Race and I were close ever since I first became a newsies, but I couldn't help but feel that things were changing between us. A weird feeling arose in my stomach, almost like a fluttering.

"Why do ya ask?" Racetrack said, interrupting me from my thoughts.

Sighing again, I looked down at my hands, which we folded in my lap. "Just...Davey and Les have a family. Just got me thinking about how my parents skipped town, leaving me and Jack alone."

"Dey didn't skip town, though. Aren't they just out lookin for a place in da West?"

"That's what Jack says. He told me that when they find a place and have enough money, they'll send for us. But, Race, its been almost ten years. I don't know, it's just weird."

"Hey." The newsboy said softly, placing his hand on top of mine. "Everythin is gonna be okay. Even if ya parents don't come back from wherever it is they went-"

"Santa Fe." I interrupted him, a slight smile on my face. If there was one thing Jack and I had in common, it was Santa Fe. Neither of us really liked New York; our dream was to leave this city and go to Santa Fe, all the way in New Mexico. According to Jack, that's where our parents went to settle, but any time I ask him about it, he avoids the question.

Racetrack chuckled softly. "Right. Well, if your parents don't come back from Santa Fe, you'll still have all of us newsboys here for ya." He paused, nudging me slightly. "You'll 'ave me."

I smiled more and looked up at him. "Thanks Race."

The two of us looked at each other, neither of us saying a word. Suddenly, I saw him leaning closer and I couldn't help but do the same. He got so close that I could feel his breath on my lips.

Not a second later, the bells on the clock tower started to chime, causing the two of us to freeze.

I saw as Racetrack's eyes glanced down towards my lips before back at my eyes, his cheeks tinting a soft pink. "Wes should probably get inside."

Not trusting myself enough to speak, I just nodded. The boy pulled away and stood up before extending his hand out to me.

I gave him a kind smile and put my hand in his, allowing him to help me up and over to the fire escape. My mind was going crazy. I almost kissed Race! And he almost kissed me!

What is even happening anymore?

Word Count: 664