Bound To Rain

Don't Do It Again

"Spot neva takes another Newsie's goil." Elmer told me as we walked across the Bridge.

"That makes sense." I nodded.

I kind of liked saying that I was Elmer's girl. I thought to myself. My face turned pink with shame. I cannot like Elmer. It'd be weird.

"How'd ya like him?" The black haired boy asked, our arms still linked.

"He's very cheeky." I said slowly. Elmer nodded. "So he's the leader of Brooklyn?"

"Yeah." He told me. "Brooklyn's da sixth largest city in the world."

"I know." I nodded.

"So," he was more relaxed than he was earlier. "D'ya still think I's one of the betta lookin' Newsies?"

No questions asked. I thought to myself.

"Well..." I grinned. "You still ain't bad lookin'."

"Ah, c'mon, Olive!" Elmer whined. "Is i more attractive than Race or Jack?"

"They's more with da rugged looks." I told him. "You's cute!" I then pat his head twice over his hat.

"I don't wanna be cute!" He puffed out his chest. "I's wanna be tough."

"You is!" I objected.

"Tougher than Jack?" Elmer looked at me pointedly.

"Tougher than Jack." I confirmed.

"And Race?" The black haired boy asked.

"Yes!" I smiled. "And besides, Jack's already got himself a goil."

"She don't count." Elmer shook his head.

"Why not?" I grinned. By now, we were just walking towards the Lodging House. He unlinked our arms.

"Cause if he broke up with 'er, then Pulitzer would maybe fire him." He told me.

"That's intense." I shuddered. Imagine dating your boss's daughter!

"What'd your folks do, like their jobs?" Elmer asked suddenly.

"I's thinks Mom was a nurse." I told him slowly. "Dad was a barkeep."

"Pretty big contrast." He thought aloud. "My Mom didn't have a job. Dad was a scientist."

"That's interesting." I bopped my head.

"When's your birthday?" He asked.

"October 18." I responded automatically. The boy nodded thoughtfully.

"What would ya want–" He started.

"No." I interrupted.

"Why not?" Elmer whined.

"I's ain't wantin' ya to waste your money on me." I told him.

"But ya got me a new hat." The black haired boy protested.

"I's felt bad that ya gave me your cap, so I bought ya a new one." I grinned. "Ya birthday just made it super convenient."

"Okay..." He pondered. "So if I's wantin' ta repay ya for somethin', then I's will just save it for ya birthday."

"To make it convenient?" I looked at him. We'd reached the Lodging House, so the boy opened the door for me. I did a dramatic curtsey before entering. Only Crutchie was there. He was asleep on the couch with Honeybelle curled up on his chest.

"Yep." Elmer replied in a whisper.

"How long's he been on his crutch?" I asked as we sat down on different armchairs, looking at Crutchie.

"Longer than I'd known him." He shrugged.

"Since I's was like eight." Crutchie muttered, eyes closed. "Shush."

"Sorry." I hissed, stifling a laugh.

"Don't do it again." The lame boy mumbled, a little smile creeping onto his face. I looked over at Elmer, who was having to cover his own mouth to keep from laughing out loud. Once he'd gotten ahold of himself, he wagged a finger at me and mouthed something.

Don't do it again! He mouthed. I shook my head, grinning.

We spent about twenty minutes in silence until Jack came in. I held a finger up to my mouth. He rolled his eyes and leaned over Crutchie. Elmer and I watched intently as the leader carefully scooped Honeybelle from Crutchie and placed her on the side of the couch. He then  got really close to the lame boy's ear.

"Crutchie!" He said rather loudly. "There's a goil here lookin' for ya!"

Crutchie's face instantly went red and he shot up into a sitting position.

"I ain't got no goils!" He cried out.

"Nah, I know." Jack pushed off the couch, grinning.

"That's horrible, Jack!" I accused, trying so hard to keep a straight face.

"Hey, it's all fun and games!" Jack threw his hands into the air innocently.

"Yeah, uh, emphasis on fun." Crutchie glared at his best friend.

"I's done that ta my brudda, Chris!" Elmer claimed.

"Yeah, ya told me." Jack smiled. "That's where I got da idea."

"You's welcome." The black haired boy leaned back in his seat. By now, more Newsies were coming in.

"Jack!" Race shouted. "Would ya be interested in drawin' the most attractive person in New York?"

Jack shook his head. "I ain't any good at self portraits."

"Ooh!"‘s echoed throughout the cluster of boys. Race slapped a dime into Romeo's outstretched hand, a sour look on his face.

"C'mon, Race." Crutchie said loudly. "Why do ya gotta bet on everythin'?"

"Hey, I's gonna win one of these days!" Race protested.

"Well, that ain't gonna be any time soon." Albert snickered. Race punched him in the shoulder.

(A/n: Ha! This is about 11 hours early. I try to publish a chapter before midnight, although it can be a little bit late. The only time a chapter would be under 600 words is when I have a cliffhanger.)