Half Pint

Knots

Criss-Cross

:CHAPTER THREE:

THE RING

It was 11:30 at night and the 12:00 curfew at the Duane Street Lodging House was drawing near. The majority of the newsies had returned hours earlier, but now several were coming back from their usual stop at Blackman's Bar and Dancehall a few blocks away. Jack led the group up the street to the Lodging House, followed by Knots, an adorably short blonde with baby blue eyes that were constantly fixed on her prince in the cowboy hat. Shortly behind her were Race, Mush, and Blink, howling with laughter at a joke one of the bartenders had told them earlier that evening. Bringing up the rear were the two lovebirds, Spot and Criss-cross, holding hands as usual.

Inside the Lodging House sat Half Pint, not-so-eagerly awaiting her fellow newsies' returns. She rested her head in her hand, continually running her fingers through her dark, black hair. It was something she always did when she was in deep thought. Half Pint lifted her head up, hearing the sounds of her friends coming near. With her deep, blue eyes she gazed up at the door which then swung open, revealing Jack and the gang chattering about another great night at Blackman's Bar and Dancehall. Jack and Knots headed up the stairs, without barely a look in Half Pint's direction. Blink and Mush smiled and nodded a hello to her before they too ran up the steps, shortly followed by Criss-cross. Racetrack called after his friends, "Hang on guys, I'll be up soon."

Half Pint frowned as he headed towards her. "So…"

"So…?" he replied, a playful town in his voice.

"Race, you know why I didn't come with you guys tonight."

"Obviously I don't…"

Half Pint frowned, her eyes set on him in a deep glare. "Don't you even dare to lie to me Race. You act like I'm stupid or something, did you really think this would slide?"

"Half Pint, I swear I don't know what you're talking about!" Race said, his voice cracking a bit with nervousness. He knew he couldn't get away with lying to her.

"Like hell you don't know! Race, she told me. Penny told me."

Race stood in silence, unsure of what to say. Half Pint continued, "I don't believe what you did. I mean, Jesus Christ Race, Penny is barely 13 years old. She was so sweet and innocent and then you had to go and…oh god, I don't even want to say it. Can't you see what you've done? We're over, Race. You've ruined our relationship, you've taken away one of the only things Penny had, and on top of all that you've broken my heart."

Half Pint's face was red with fury. She was past the point of crying now.

"I loved you, Race. I loved you. But not after today. God, I can't even stand to look at you right now…" Half Pint brushed past him and headed up the stairs. Halfway up she stopped and turned back to face him, something clenched in her fist. She couldn't hold it in anymore, she screamed and threw the object at Race, hitting him right in the eye. Half Pint turned and ran up to the bunkroom.

Race was left alone, standing there in shock. Out of all the things running through his head, the only one he could easily concentrate on was the throbbing pain in his left eye. He reached up and felt the small bump, then looked down to see what he had been hit with. Lying at his feet was the small, silver ring he had given Half Pint a few months back for their one year anniversary.

He closed his eyes, remembering that day. She told him she loved him…but he had never said he loved her. He didn't know why he never said it. For Racetrack, wooing girls had always been an easy task. He would take their hand and comment on how their eyes were so beautiful, he could stare into them forever. The girl would be hooked by his charms, and so would start another meaningless fling. That was how Race lived…until Half Pint came along.

It all started out the same, until one day for the first time he actually started to feel. To all of their friends it seemed the perfect relationship; she loved him, and though he would never say it he certainly did love her. Yet after one year, Race started a slow slide back to his old ways. A month later, Penny came to the Lodging House. She was cute, bubbly, and probably a little too young. Nevertheless, Race secretly pursued. Now that had all gone wrong.

Looking back down at the ring Race felt another sharp pain. This time, however, it wasn't in his eye. It was in his heart.