Part 9

"Uugggggghhhhhhhh…" The long, drawn out groan emanated from Books bed. The small blond herself was buried under her covers, trying to hide her eyes and ears from the sights and sounds of morning. She rolled over in an attempt to gain more sleep but that plan failed when Luna approached her bed.

"Wake up, honeeeeey," the almost maniacal strawberry-blond crooned into Books' ear. The covers flew from Books' face and she glared at her best friend.

"No, Luna. I feel like shit. Leave me alone." She closed her eyes once more, while Luna's were widening. She beckoned to Ivy. Ivy took a look at her sister and put her head in her hand.

"She's sick. She never gets sick. She doesn't know how to be sick." Ivy began making her way to the washroom to tell the boys her sister wouldn't be selling today.

"Who's sick?" Jill's head pooped into the room, her hair scrunchie in her mouth and a brush in her hand.

"Books."

"What? She's never sick."

"I know. That's what Ivy said too."

"Well, shit."

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Snitch sold by himself for the first time since the girls had arrived. He was, he realized early on, rather lonely. Having Books there…well, he didn't know how to describe it. She was a welcome presence, a friend, almost a confidant, and yet, he felt there was something more. Selling by himself gave him more than enough time to think about it. Almost too much time, actually.

By the time his morning's papes were sold, he'd made up his mind about a few things. Now he just needed to figure out how to go through with them.

***********************

Luna, it seemed to Jack, was in a perpetually bad mood when she was near him. It also seemed that she had come to the same conclusion as he. "Why do I sell with you again?"

Jack shrugged in response to her growled question. "Don' know. Maybe ya jus' like hangin' aroun' wit' me." Luna's face broke into a slightly frightening grin.

"No, that can't be it," she said in an almost too-sweet voice. "Especially since I'm coming to HATE you." At the last few words, her voice dropped and she made as if to lunge for his throat (or balls, he thought). She stopped herself, however. Luna turned and began walking briskly down the street in her hobbled way, as if she were trying to leave him behind. He ran and caught up, but she kept walking.

"Get away from me." Her voice was cold, and her eyes stared straight ahead as she continued down the street. Jack tried putting a hand on her arm to slow or stop her, but she shook him off brusquely. "I said leave me alone." Her tones were as forceful as her step to distance herself from him.

"Luna, wait-" he tried to plead, but his voice trailed off when she turned a corner and entered the Lodging House, nearly slamming the door behind her.

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"Luna? What's wrong, honey?" Books, though bed-ridden for the day, was by this point lively enough to try to calm her best friend down.

"It's Jack." The older girl's voice was still hard, though not quite as cold as it had been.

"What's wrong with him now?" Luna turned her eyes to the floor of the room.

"I think I might be falling for him."

***********************

"Ehy, Itey, you'se okay up heah?"

"Yeah, Race, I'se foine." 'That's the same excuse I gave Ivy yesterday…'

"Whatcha got on yer mind?" The shrewd Italian leaned against the edge of the rooftop, a cigarette in his hand. Itey sat, almost in a fetal position, against the wall next to him.

"Nuttin'. Jus' thinkin'." 'About Ivy, and how wonderful she is…and how I'll never, not in a million to one chance, get her attention as anything other than a friend.'

"Well, you'se gotta be thinkin' 'bout somet'in. C'mon, you'se can trust me."

"I'se already tol' ya, it's nuttin'."

"Uh-huh." Race shot him a skeptical glance. "Now, do ya mean 'nuttin' as in 'everyt'in undah da sun' or as in 'one thing in partic'lar, but I'se ain't tellin you'se'?"

Itey's eyes widened. Since when had Racetrack become so knowledgeable?

"So, you'se gonna ansah me, or you'se just gonna sit dere all night?" Itey sighed, giving in to his friend's insistance.

"I'se been t'inkin' 'bout Ivy. I'se kinda like her." Racetrack nodded slowly, digesting the information.

"I'se'll talk ta da oddah goils an' see what I can find 'bout her." Itey looked at Race in puzzlement. Why-?

Race's voice interrupted him. "I ain't one ta leave a friend hanging. I'll help ya."

"T'anks Race. I'se owes ya." Racetrack grinned.

"I know."

A/N: Ya know, I think I'm just gonna end it there tonight. I'm evil, aren't I? ^_~ Anyway, I can't believe this. I'm writing another chapter, and so soon. I have to be frickin nuts, especially because it's ten after midnight, I should have been in bed an hour ago, and I'm not even tired. _ Stupid internal clock. So, lots of Jack/Luna this chappy. I love those two, and Luna really does act like that when she's mad about something, or hurt, or upset. I should know, I've been on the receiving end several times. **winces** It ain't fun.

Oh yeah, last chapter was supposed to bring to light some things I realized while letting this sit for a while. I have a really bad…not plot, but plan…for this. It's awful, as I was rereading it. That's why I'm actually starting to rewrite this in a notebook, with several pages of planning. It'll be fun, and actually not related at all except for the pairings, really. Hmm… Tentative title is Promises Aren't Necessary.

Shout-out!

Erisnymph: Thank you so much! You thought it was funny? I try my hardest, and I agree completely about the spelling and grammar schtuff. I have been around fanfiction for several years now before I came here, and I've seen some pretty awful stuff in other fandoms. It's really bad. However, I'm glad you like this! You're actually part of the reason this is updated so quickly. I can't disappoint the new fans now, can I? ^_~

Luna: First off, hon, you spelled "impending" wrong. ^_^;; Sorry, just had to tell you. Hope you're happy with this chapter. I was writing it partly for you, you know. Just don't yell at me when I don't/can't tell you this is updated. ^_^;;

Ivy: You little whore! You actually reviewed! I'm in shock. And don't tell me you're not, because we all know you are. You've seen the planning schtuff on Promises, you know what I mean. ^_~ Love you, big sis!

Gryffin: I'm not sure whether I hate you or love you right now. It's a mix of both, I think. Shut up, I needed another Brooklynite, and the name just kind of fit, k? We'll see about the staff thing. I'm trying here, hon. Yay! **huggles Snitch-shaped sugar cookies** HEART YOU HON!

Dreamer: Last one here, but the first one to review. Thanks so much for the support!

And now, since I love you all, good night. ^_^