The Boy Who Smelt Like Cigars

Chapter 30- Trouble and a Cowboy

POV Brooklyn

Last night started out as the best night of my life. Race and I went to the bar he always hangs outside of and danced. It was probably the most romantic thing I've ever done.

Everything was going fine until we went back to the lodge house and had our first fight. I couldn't pretend that nothing was bothering me. Obviously, Race noticed and confronted me.

To me, Race has always been a guy that would never blow up. A guy that brightens a room. Makes everyone around you laugh, tells funny stories, and his frustrations always commercial.

But last night on the roof, I saw none of that. I saw a hurt, emotional Race. One I hadn't ever seen before.

I ended up just running inside and climbing into bed and crying myself to sleep. I wasn't mad at Race, how could I be? I was more mad at myself. After all, I caused this mess to happen.

Race never came into my bed last night. I missed the security of feeling his warm body against my own. In fact, he didn't come inside at all.

I only saw him for the first time this morning at the circulation station. Skittery, Mush, and I stood in line waiting for Weasel to come out.

I watched Race walk over to us from around the corner.My heart sunk as he got closer to us.

His usual slicked back hair was a mess, his suspenders were tangled, shoes were untied, and his white button down looked droopy.

His eyes were the worst of all. His usual bright brown eyes looked tiresome. Dark bags were under his eyes as if he got no sleep at all last night.

He walks past me avoiding eye contact to the front of the line behind Jack.

"Racetrack looks a wreck," Skittery mumbles.

"I don't think he came home last night." Mush mutters back.

"Brooklyn what's goin on with him? Weren't yous two out togetha last night?" Skittery asks.

"We were. But he never came in for bed." I answer quietly.

I feel Mush and Skittery's eyes on me looking for answers, but I give them nothing. I decide I am not gonna bring anything up about moving in with Pat. Wait a day or so until talking to Pat about my decision.

"Forty papes please." I grumble slamming coins on Weasel's counter.

I really am not my usual self.

"Forty papes for sunshine!" Weasel yelled.

I roll my eyes. I watch Morris and Oscar glance at each other then back at me before handing Weasel the stack of papes.

I trudge away with my head down. Race and Jack sit in front of me reading through their papes.

"Where'd ya go last night?"Jack asks.

"A bar at Sheepshead?" 

"With Bridge?" he questions.

"No. Alone. I passed out and walked back here early dis mornin." Race snaps.

I walk away as if I heard nothing. So Race went out drinking after our fight.

I keep walking. I don't wait for Skittery. I don't wanna talk to anyone. 

I have to focus on telling my brothers and my boyfriend about how I am gonna be gone very very soon.

I walk down the pavement yelling random headlines to sell a few papes.

A man tips me a nickel and I thank him before he walks off. I go to put it in my pocket but I accidentally drop it.

I bend down to pick it up but a big shoe stomps on it. I look up to Morris Delancey himself staring down at me with his shoe still on top of my nickel. He wears a sickening grin.