The Boy Who Loved Cigars

6

"I'd say we launched our strike in a most auspicious manner." Toasted Davey, raising his glass. We all stared at him. No one really knew what he said.

"We did great, boys!" I cheered, clinking my glass with Race's. I had never noticed before, but the way his eyes glistened when he was happy was... almost hypnotic. No, that was crazy talk. I had never had feelings for anyone before, not really. I mean, I'd had a thing with a guy from Brooklyn, but that was more... physical, if you know what I mean. I wish I coulda grown up the kinda girl with a mother to talk to about these things, to tell me that 'giving your innocence is a special thing that should be shared with someone you love', and to tell me whether or not I was crazy for lookin' at Racetrack Higgins like that, but I didn't. I sure as hell couldn't talk to Jack about it, and as far as he knows, nothin' happened between Spot Conlon and I, and I was still his innocent baby sister who didn't know nothin' about anything.

"Quick?" I was snapped out of my thoughts by Race looking down at me. "Anybody home?" He laughed, and I grinned nervously.

"Brooklyn or midtown, Y/N?" Jack asked me.

"What?"

"Ain't you been payin' attention?" He asked, lightly flicking my forehead. Jack and I had never hit each other, flicking was the worst we'd ever really done to one another. But I guess when your older brother raised, fed, protected, and clothed you, it didn't feel right to hit him. "We's splittin' up, spreadin' the word about the strike. Youse either takin' Brooklyn with me, or midtown with Race."

"Midtown." Shit. I answered too quickly. Jack looked at me strange but didn't say anything. "Ready to go, Race?" I asked, standing up.

"Sure thing, Quick." He told me, tossing some spare change on the table before we left.

"Be safe, Y/N! I mean it!" Jack called to me, and I turned and smirked.

"Ain't I always?" Jack scowled as I left with Race. He doesn't joke around about my safety. These streets are dangerous, and we both know that. "Ready for midtown, Race?" I asked cheerfully, and Race smirked.

"Youse excited to be wit me or somethin'?" He teased, and I rolled my eyes.

"Oh of course! I am madly in love witcha, ain't I?" I joked, and the tall blonde boy pushed me lightly.

"Oh whatever. You could do betta than me, anyway." Race told me. It looked like he was only half joking.

"Higgins, don't you dare say that. I can only think of one guy better than you. It's my brudda, and I have to think he's the best guy alive. I owe 'im that much after he raised me, don't I?" I explained, and Race didn't even look at me.

"Whatever you say, kid." I looked up at him, and was so glad he wasn't looking back. I didn't like hearing him say these things about himself, and I coulda cried right there. I don't cry, considerin' everything my brother and I have been through, and the way we live every day. "Let's uh... let's hope you marry rich, Quick." My friend laughed, breaking the uncomfortable silence.

"I don't even think I'll eva be gettin' married, Race." I laughed lightly.

"Why not?" Racetrack stopped dead, looking at me with a raised eyebrow.

"What's it to ya?" I pried. I don't know what I was gettin' at, what I was hopin' he'd say, but here I was anyway.

"Nothin'. Just curious is all."

"I just don't see what rich man would wanna marry any rag-tag girlsie." I told him honestly.

"What about somebody poor? A-anotha' newsie, perhaps?" Race moved his cigar from one corner of his mouth to the other, and shoved his hands uncomfortably in his pockets. I wasn't used to seeing him like this, so I just avoided his eyes.

"Well, I just don't think anybody would wanna marry... me." I admitted quietly, and in the time I had quickly glanced up, Race's piercing eyes were on me.

"I'll tell ya what, Quick." Race finally said, throwing his burnt out cigar on the ground. "If youse ain't married by the time youse is twenty, and I ain't married when I's twenty one, we'll just marry each udda. Deal?" He offered, a light grin playing at his mouth.

"Deal." I finally laughed, spit shaking on it. "Now let's get to midtown, okay?"