The Boy Who Smelt Like Cigars

Chapter 3- First Impressions

POV: Racetrack

Today, da most beautiful girl I's eva seen joined da newsies. I'll tell ya what happened.

Me friends and I was sittin' outside of da lodgehouse today after woirk. Blink walked ova' with er and was showin' er 'round. Looked ta me like she was joinin' us newsies.

"She's goirgeous!" Skittery started, his eyes fixed on er.

Jack looked up from da game we was playin' and nodded. 

"Lemme go talk ta 'er." he smirked.

"Go get em Jack!" Crutchie cheered as Jack ran off ta meet er.

"1 seven" Skittery announced placin' his card face down on top of da pile.

He just played his second ta last card in our game of BS. I knew he ain't lyin' either, so I didn't call bullshit. 

It was Mush's turn. I's took a long hit of my cigar as I watched the goirl start walkin' over ta us.

"I wanna get me a girl dat looks like dat." Boots said, agreein' with Skittery.

"Me toos." Mush added. 

He let his head fall into da palm of his right hand and continued ta stare. I rolled me eyes at him. Whatta softy.

"Yeah, yeah, she's beautiful and all. Would ya play ya turn now?" I's pretended ta be focused on our hand. Honestly though, I was still keepin' me eyes on er.

I turned me attention back ta da game and watched Mush place a card on top of Skittery's 7.

"1 eight." he said. 

He won't meet me eyes after placin' it. Ladies and Gentlemen, dis is da numba one sign yous opponent is lyin'.

"That's bullshit Mush! Pay up! I win." I yelled.

I smiled wide and looked at da coins I was gonna get. Everyone bet a dime today. 

It was now me turn and I was on me last card which was a true 9 of hearts. Mush took all da cards in da center of da table and looked miserable. I's loved it.

I's smacked me 9 face up for everyone ta see. Dey all groaned. I's took me 50 cents and made me move ta be da first ta shake dis beautiful goirls hand.

"Names Racetrack. Racetrack Higgins best gambler in all of New York. Call me Race. So I hoird yous da new newsie?" 

Er eyes was goirgeous. So blue.

She told me er beautiful name was Brooklyn. I's sat back and relaxed knowin I's made da best foirst impression of me life.

And yous wanna know somethin'? I's almost kissed er too. Late'a dat day. Stupid Jack and his curiousity Mr. I gotta know everythin' interrupted. 

I's love em. Jack I'm talkin' 'bout. But he ruined a kiss with da most poifect goirl.

After dat failed, I walked away lookin' for me jacket. We are meetin' up with Spot Conlon and a few of da Brooklyn Newsies tonight at Medda's show.

I run into Jack after gettin' me jacket from da closet.

"Hey Cowboy, is Brooklyn Bridge goin ta da show tonight?"

"No, but dat's a good idea. Lemme go ask er." Jack smirks at me bridge joke.

"Wait- lemme ask er." I say before he walks away. 

Jack takes a second ta think but nods in agreement and then smiles.

"You's got da hots for er, don't ya?" he smiles.

I roll me eyes and lightly punch him in da stomach. He's me best friend. He knows me too good.

"Yeah right. Are yous drunk are somthin?"  

Shit though. Did I's make it dat obvious?

"Yeah. OK Race, good one." he says in a goofy voice. 

He knows I don't like openly talkin' bout feelings. Feelings are for da soft... like Mush.

"I'll let you have it. But I'm comin' wit'cha ta tell er cuz I gots a good nickname for er."

Before I's can ask what it was he tells me, "You'll see."

We walk back into da bedroom ta find er. Instead, she's standin' in da bathroom washin' da dirt off er face. 

She is also dressed in er new woirk clothes. She looks adorable in er cap.

I's smirk ta me self.

"Hey, Brooklyn! I was wonderin if ya wanna join da rest of us tonight. We're goin' ta see Medda perform er new show." I ask. 

I stuff me hands into me pockets quickly. She smiles and nods. Thank God.

"Sounds like fun." she answers.

She's still smilin'. Er smile is so cute. It's kinda crooked, but it looks great on er.

"Heya, also me and some of da guys was talkin and we think it would be funny if we called ya Bridge. Cuz of Race's joke earlier about da Brooklyn Bridge. Whatta ya say?" Jack asks.

I make a quick face but don't say nothin'. What kind of dumbass shit is dat? 

Bridge? I ain't usin' it.

Jack smiles big time. Whatta Dork. But whateva. I let him have his weird moment.

She giggles and nods, "I like it. Sounds cool."

She is bein' nice, let's be real.

Jack whistles loud enough for New Joisey ta hear and yells, "Hey everyone! Brooklyn's new nicknames Bridge!"

Da others cheer and high five. I guess dat's what they's was comin' up with when we had our blackjack moment.

I's just happy I's get ta spend more time with Brooklyn tonight.