Destructive - Newsies | Sprace

Fifteen | Race

Two weeks had passed since the incident with Spot's brother, and a lot had happened in those two weeks. Katherine had come home and completely flipped her lid when she found out about what had been going on. She probably cried herself to sleep for at least three nights when she realized that Les and Mush were dead.

Davey never did come back to the lodge. He had taken Les home to his parents and no one has seen him since. Everyone longed to see him, but they all knew he needed his space. Davey was never one to take things well.

When Katherine had finally composed herself enough to function as a real human being, she took over the lodge. She had said that there was no way she was leaving the boys with someone who didn't care about them, and if she moved into the basement she would be able to be closer to the newsies. Jack told her she didn't have to do it, that it wouldn't be as lavish as she was used to. She had slapped him right then and there, then proceeded to storm into the building and kick Andrew out, taking her place as the owner of the Manhattan Newsboy Lodge.

With all that had been happening, Race and Spot hadn't been able to see each other since the incident in the sickbay. Race itched to run over to Brooklyn, but it had taken him a long amount of time to heal up and he found that his energy had yet to be replenished. He had smoked twice in the two weeks that he and Spot had been apart.

Speaking of Spot, the rumors had started. Nobody said anything, but Race could tell by the way people reacted when he walked into the room. They'd all fall silent and refuse to meet his eyes. Race had found himself being isolated, mainly by choice. It's not that the other boys kicked him out, it's just Race couldn't stand having people whisper about him like that.

Race also knew that Spot was most likely still distraught after what he had done to his brother. Race figured it would take some time for him to heal and Race didn't want to pressure him. The only problem was the burning question in Racetrack's mind. He had made a deal with Spot that they didn't have to friends anymore after they dealt with William. Did Spot actually keep the deal and wasn't coming to see Race because he thought he could erase everything that happened between them. Race thought of that only as the last option.

Crutchie was no longer sick. Not that Race saw him anyways. Whenever one of them would enter the room, the other would suddenly have something to do in a different room. It was a system, and it worked.

But today, today was the day that everyone was laughing and eating. Today was Christmas day.

All of the newsboys of Manhattan were shoved around a giant wooden table, with piles of food in the middle. Since Katherine now ran the lodge, she didn't hesitate to force her father to donate big chunks of cash so that they could have a wonderful feast.

Jack and Katherine sat at one end of the table, with everyone else crammed along the sides. Boys from all around the city were invited to join, whether or not they lived in the lodge.

There were a couple of new faces, but they fit right in. Dirty, smiling, and messy hair. That was all it took to be a newsie, it seemed. Everyone had plates of potatoes, bread, and meat in front of them. Despite the fact that everyone was busy shoveling food into their mouths, the newsies were nothing but loud.

Blink was doing better too. He was sitting next to Skittery, having a quiet conversation. He had ever quite repaired himself after what happened to Mush. Every now and again, some of the boys would slide gifts to each other. Jack had gotten Race a box of cigars and Blink had gotten him a deck of cards. Classic Racetrack gifts. Race had given away a few gifts he had managed to scrape up.

The conversation died down when a familiar face entered the room.

"It's Davey!" JoJo shouted from his spot at the table.