Little Cigars Little Muffins: Racetrack Higgins

Chapter Five

Sometimes I just want to scream, and today is one of those days. It has been about a week since I have seen Race, and the bakery has been busy. Too busy, I can't even get out in time to go to the Races. Today is clean out day, once a week Wendy and I will throw away all of the baked goods that have surpassed it's shelf life. Most of them are muffins, I don't understand why people dislike muffins. I love muffins, I shouldn't eat one. However sometimes I cannot help myself, I go for one of the Apple Cinnamon Muffins in the center. Stale, but not inedible. Maybe I should bring these over as a peace offering with the Race. He would like that, wouldn't he? I don't really want to face the other newsies though, they were rather disrespectful last time. I'll have muffins they will have to respect me.
"Could I give the rejects to the newsies instead of throwing them away" I ask Wendy, who is currently setting a timer.
"After your done working" Wendy answers. Fair enough I guess.
I am working on a new icing recipe when I hear a bell signaling someone has arrived. Looking up I see someone who looks familiar, it isn't Race but it is one of his friends.
"Are you Y/N" the boy speaks.
"Depends" I say, anxiously making my way over to the counter, "if you aren't going to buy anything I have to ask you to leave".
"Hey, slow down. I come baring news" he reacts, throwing his arms up in defense. "Race wants to talk with ya"
"He couldn't of asked himself?" I say squinting.
"I don't know, something about looking to eager" he sighs.
"I am planning on stopping by the lodging house after work" I say hoping to get him to leave. It appears to have worked too, as soon I said that he turned on his heels and left.
What was that about? Why wouldn't Race just see me himself? I can turn all of this confusion into my vanilla icing recipe.
The day is after what feels like forever, yet I still am not able to master the icing recipe. Part of me wishes I still had time before closing, I am scared to go back to the lodging house. Never the less though, I start my journey over to the lodge. Along the way I am able to swipe a few coins, inching me closer to be able to afford rent.
Eventually I come to the door, when I face a new problem: I cannot open the door. Why didn't I think this far ahead? Some of the boys inside see me struggling, when a boy helps me out. I ignore the comments about Racetrack and me as I walk over to the table and set down the pastries.
"Want to be with a real man" I whip my head around and make eye contact with the boy I recognize as Romeo. Not only were Race and I not together but he has a gut to insert himself into whatever we have.
"I beg your pardon" I say, pleading that he just apologises.
"Come on, we both know you are ignoring Race for me" he says, a smirk plastered on his face. However the whole room's atmosphere shifts, everyone is aware that he took it too far. Ignoring Race, I am not ignoring Race, I have just been busy. Oh my god I was ignoring Race, I didn't mean to do it, it just kind of happened. Of course I have been thinking about Race everyday, but he doesn't know that, all he knows is that I haven't been showing up at the races. Once I bring myself back to real life I see everyone is staring at me for a response.
"I brought some pastries, they were about to be thrown away but I thought you guys might enjoy them" I meekly speak, "where's Race?"
"Upstairs"
I grab two muffins and begin to mentally prepare myself for what is about to happen.