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“Davey, it’s not what it looks like. I-“
“I don’t care what it is! You kissed him, that disgusting, gambling, drunk! His name is Racetrack for crying out loud!” Davey yells, growing louder with each word. Each syllable makes me feel smaller and smaller next to him, as almost all the newsies watch from the window.
“He’s not..he’s not like that.” I start through tears. “His name is Anthony, Anthony Higgins. I love him, and whether or not you support me, I’m going to keep loving him.” My voice is calm, scared to make Davey angrier and louder than he already is.
“Once I tell Ma and Dad, you won’t be coming back to the house.” Davey storms off, no room for bargaining. They wouldn’t kick me out of the house, would they? I try my best to compose myself, and head back inside.
“I thought you were gonna get soaked!” Romeo says.
“You really pissed Davey off there, didn’t cha’?” Specs asks. Race is standing in the corner, leaned against the wall, as the other newsies crowd around me. We lock eyes, and I watch him walk out the back door.
“I..I gotta go.”I say, pushing through, running out the back door after Race. “Anthony, Anthony! Where are you going?” I call out to him, chasing those blonde curls and sky blue eyes.
“I’m going to give your brother a piece of my mind. If he thinks he can just yell, and talk down to ya like that, I’ll show him how it feels..” Race clenches his fists, and grits his teeth.
“Race, I know you’re angry and frustrated and all those emotions. But Davey..he just..he wants the best for me, ya know?” I say, holding his shoulders, forcing Race to look at me. By “the best for me”, I mean a wealthy guy, which Race is not.
“But he doesn’t understand that you’re the best for me!” I cry out, the passerby all looks my way.
“Well then I’ll go tell him!” Race says, his voice growing. We end up outside my family’s apartment. Race hands me his cigar, and goes up the stairs. “Race, come on! You don’t need to do this.” I try to convince him to stop, but he’s already knocking on the door. My ma answers.
“Hi, Miss Jacobs. You don’t know me, but I know your son. Mind if I talk to him?” How can Race, the born and raised New York newsie sound so..polite? I follow after him inside the apartment, saying a simple “Hi mama.” As I walk in.
Davey is sitting at the dining table with my father, eating dinner. He doesn’t even look up before Race grabs him by the collar, pressing him against the wall. “What makes you think you can talk to your sister like that?” He yells, pushing him harder and harder into the wall.
“Race, amore, you’re hurting him!” I cry out as my parents look on in horror.
“He hurt you, I’m just evenin’ the playing field.” He doesn’t even take his eyes off Davey.
“I’m sorry, ok? Won’t happen again.” Davey squeaks out, attempting to hold up his hands in surrender.
“Better not.” Race drops Davey, and walks out. “Have a good night, Mrs. Jacobs.” He puts on that polite facade as he leaves. Davey gets up, brushing himself off. I look at my feet, studying the creases and marks in my shoes.
“See Ma, this is who I was telling you about!” Davey goes back to his rant.
“Mama, he’s not like that, I promise! He just..” I try to come up with a reason for Race’s outburst, but I can’t find the words.
“You will not be seeing that boy again, do you understand?” My father looks at me sternly, while Davey smirks. I mutter some Italian curse words, that Race taught me, under my breath, and walk out the door. Race is leaning against the brick of my apartment building, smoking a cigar.
“Well, that wasn’t how I wanted you to meet my parents..” I say softly, settling next to him as I lean against the wall.
“I’m sorry, :name:, I really am. I just..couldn’t stand to let Davey talk to you like that. I love you, doll. I can’t just stand by and watch you get hurt.” He gives an apologetic look as our eyes lock. I turn to him, my back still against the wall.
“Amore, you always know just what to say to turn me on..” I smirk, my voice having a flirty tone to it. Race’s cheeks turn a lovely pink as he leans in to kiss me..
“Dad wouldn’t be happy to see this..” I hear Davey coming out of the apartment building.
“Just leave us alone, Davey. We ain’t causing no trouble.” Race grips my hand, firm but nice.
“You’re so much better than him, :name:. You could’ve gotten with Katharine’s brother if you wanted, but no! You needed this gambling drunk, you love this drunk, don’t you?” I hold my other hand out, a sign for Race to not intervene.
“David. Let me live my life, and I’ll let you live yours. Just because you can’t find a girl doesn’t mean you have to come after me!” I stand strong, not scared of my brother when I’m with Race. “Fine. Just know you won’t be getting back into the apartment tonight..” David goes back inside, his face stern, a replica of our father’s.
“You can stay in the lodging house tonight, honey. I’m here, you’ll be ok.” It’s like he has a sixth sense for when I’m about to break down. He holds me tight the entire walk back to the lodging house. “Jack! I got a visitor!” Race calls out when we walk in.
“If you’re trying to bring one of those female jockeys back again-oh, it’s you.” Jack Kelly looks at me, a slight smile of approval.
“Davey is such a.. cazzo.” I say. “He kicked me out!”
“Dave kicked ya out? What the..”
“I may or may not have made a bad impression on her folks..” Race finishes his cigar, stomping it under his boot.
“I’ll talk to him tomorrow, when we’re selling. But for now…do you mind bunking with Race?” Jack surveys the bunks, all full with newsies.
“I’ll be just fine.” I lick my lips, looking up at Race. “Ew! My god, get a room!” Jack makes a gagging motion, and walks off. That night, nothing happened, we were both too exhausted to even spoon. But Race held me tight, and that may have just been the best night of sleep..ever!
—-
“5 more minutes, princess.” Race tries to pull me back into his bed. “Come on, we gotta get up. If we get there early, there’s less chance of seeing Davey..” “Maybe I need to soak him again..” Race drifts in and out of sleep. I whisper sweet nothings into his ear, his favorite, and he perks right up. “I’m coming, mi amore!” Hopping out of bed, Race goes to shave and get dressed. I ache for the bit of stubble that shows up every couple days, but I get to kiss his cheek when he shaves. “Let’s go, doll!” Race seems so much better today, not filled with anger or hate or frustration. I can smell his aftershave as I peck him on the cheek, and a hint of cigars and toothpaste sneaks into my nose. “You think we’ll see Davey?” I ask him on our walk to the circulation gate, as I bite my nails with nervousness.
“Hey, I’m here. I’ll protect you, alright? And Jack said he was gonna talk to him, k?” Race gives me that look, making me believe him, making me believe in us .
“Speak of the devil.” I mutter as we reach the circulation gate. Race squeezes my hand, a silent message of I’m here, you’re okay. As we stand in line, I can feel Davey’s eyes on me, but I don’t dare look at him. Race sends a few glares his way, but nothing more. No more outbursts, I hope. Race and I buy our papes, and start to leave, buf Davey bumps into me.
“Whore.” He whispers as he walks off with Jack. “What the hell are you thinking, David?” Racetrack yells, getting ready to fight.
“What are ya now, Captain Chivalry?” Davey snaps back. Not here, not now. Newsies who start fights in the street..let’s just say it ends with someone in the Refuge.
“Race.. come on. You know better than to do this here, in front of Oscar and Morris..” he doesn’t budge, just continues sizing up Davey. I see Oscar putting on his brass knuckles, excited to make a quick buck off of Race.
“Come on, you mess with my girl, you mess with me!” Race continues.
“Your girl? She’s my sister.” Davey steps closer to Race. I see Oscar and Morris getting closer, just waiting for one of them to throw the first punch. Rash decisions aren’t my thing, throwing punches aren’t my thing, risking my life for a boy isn’t my thing, but there I go, standing between my brother and lover.
“Davey, shut up!” I yell, punching him in the face. Kicking him where the sun don’t shine seals my fate. Race backs off, cheering me on. Jack is there aswell, along with other newsies delaying their work. I start to throw another punch, until Oscar grabs me, kneeing me in the back so I fall to my knees. Dave is pushed back to the ground, as is Race when he tries to help me.
Oscar’s boot in my face makes me go dizzy, seeing spots as my head hits the concrete sidewalk. I can’t fight back, not now. I refuse to let out a cry of pain, I can’t give Oscar and Morris the satisfaction. I can feel Oscar’s breath on my neck, and sense his smile, as he drags me off to the Refuge. My vision is blurry, but I can still hear the screams of the newsies, and Race’s…muffled sobs?
If I go crazy then will you still call me Superman?