The Track

[Street]

"I appreciate your offer. I really do. I don't want everybody ta hate me. I don't want to be alone. But I've been doin' things for myself for so long...I couldn't take yar help even if I knew how to. But...thanks...a lot."

Street looked at him, her grey eyes lightening slightly. "Ah, well, ya can't stop me if I just follow ya and annoy ya, can ya?" She asked, patting his arm gently. "'S alright. I won't 'help'." She grinned. "But if I follow ya, neither of us can say anythin' about, can we?" She laughed softly, watching him carefully.

Street knew how the boy felt, to an extent. For a long time she had always been by herself, never quite connecting to the others in the orphanage, or on the street. But Chance was different, she could tell he was lonely. She was lonely too. Why couldn't they be lonely together? She sighed and brushed some hair back, turning slightly and dropping the watch into her pocket, taking care to make sure he did not see. She turned to him and smiled. "So, where are ya goin'? So I can follow ya know." She said seriously.

[Chance]

"Ah, well, ya can't stop me if I just follow ya and annoy ya, can ya? 'S alright. I won't 'help'. But if I follow ya, neither of us can say anythin' about, can we?"

A slow grin spread over Chance's face, an actual grin. He couldn't help but admit that Street was very clever. "I spose' not," He replied, joining in her laughter slightly, shaking his head.

He turned his gaze on her once more, as if trying to figure out her secret, what made her tick. Then he smiled slowly. "Ya know, maybe yar different too..."

He shifted his newspapers to his other arm, watching the crowds start to disperse, not noticing at all Street dropping his gold pocket watch into her pocket. He didn't want to worry about anything at the moment, he didn't want any troubles, he just wanted life to be normal...or unnormal you could say.

"So, where are ya goin'? So I can follow ya know."

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, seeing her serious expression. "Well, let's see. I "lost" my five dollars, didn't I? So I spose' I gotta get rid a' these newspapers and then get a little somethin' for supper. Then it's off to the lodge."

He studied her again carefully, and smirked, clipping her chin with his finger. "If yar good, maybe I'll show ya me collection."

[Street]

"Well, let's see. I "lost" my five dollars, didn't I? So I spose' I gotta get rid a' these newspapers and then get a little somethin' for supper. Then it's off to the lodge."

Street grinned. She handed him the ticket, curling his fingers around it. "Keep it. It was yours ta begin with... Let's just say I provided the luck." She said, chuckling. She winked a bit and looked at the papers. "Well... Even if ya wanted me ta help, I couldn't. Can't read a speck. They're just squiggles ta me. Or as the librarian says, 'it's all Greek ta me'." She straightened her dress, brushed some dirt off, and looked at him expectantly.

She was not sure if this was how you acted with other people, but she had seen others act like this with their companions, so she went with it. She hoped it would not seem to childish, but then again she was rather childish, being so small and such.
"If yar good, maybe I'll show ya me collection."

Street tried not to let his touch affect her, but she couldn't stop the slight tingle that started where he had touched her chin. "Yer collection?" She asked, trying to distract herself. "What kind of collection?" She asked eagerly. "I'll be good, I'm always good. Besides, don't ya think people would rather buy from a girl like me-no matter how ugly I am-rather then a boy like ya?" She teased, her hands on her hips. She stuck her tongue out at him playfully.

[Chance]

"Keep it. It was yours ta begin with... Let's just say I provided the luck."

Chance's gaze went from her face to the ticket now in his fist a several times, an expression of shock on his face. She was giving it back to him...and was asking for nothing in return? Was she trying to lead his mind in circles and then leave it in a dead end alley? Because if she was she was doing a good job. His gaze rested on their hands as her fingers gently curled his fist around the ticket. His heart was speeding up. What was happening to him???

"Well... Even if ya wanted me ta help, I couldn't. Can't read a speck. They're just squiggles ta me. Or as the librarian says, 'it's all Greek ta me'."

He smirked at what she said, scratching his short, slightly sticking up blond hair with his thoroughly ink stained fingers. He raised his eyebrows at her gaze, a half-smile still tugging at his lips.

"Greek, huh? Well, ya must be pretty smart somehow, I mean, if ya's hanging around at the library. Don't need to read to be smart. I mean, I hardly ever go to the library so I must be missing out on some of that smartness."

"Yer collection? What kind of collection? I'll be good, I'm always good. Besides, don't ya think people would rather buy from a girl like me-no matter how ugly I am-rather then a boy like ya?"

Street perked up quickly when Chance mentioned his collection, but she did seem to be a rather curious girl in general. He made sure all his newspapers were in order one more time and nodded for her to follow him, making his way towards the gates of the Racetrack.

"My collection of possessions that everybody else envies because I have them and they don't," he stated matter of factly, in a very typical Chance way.

He snorted a bit with amusement when she said she would be good. "Always good my arse. What do ya call pickpocketing?" Still, the thought that she might actually pick pocket him was still not coming into circuit.

"Yeah, yeah, they'd buy from ya, yar definitely pertinent enough where as I really could care less whether they really want to buy a newspaper from me or not, I just want them to take the dang things off my hands. The scar probably doesn't do any better in drawing customers either..."

He mused, feeling more confidently himself now that the butterfly flippy floppy knotty feelings in his stomach were gone and he had regained his normal Chance composure, though looking at the girl again, he shrugged and gave her another small smile.

[Street]

"Greek, huh? Well, ya must be pretty smart somehow, I mean, if ya's hanging around at the library. Don't need to read to be smart. I mean, I hardly ever go to the library so I must be missing out on some of that smartness."

"Yer nice. No, I ain't that smart. I went inta the library 'cause it was rainin' on night and I already had a cold and I saw the lights on, so I went in and met the old librarian there. He's lonely and all, always workin' at night ya know, with no one ta talk ta. So I talked ta him all night and in exchange, he reads me books. I always make a point of goin' there ta see him when he's workin', 'cause even if I don't understand what he's readin' he's happy just ta talk ta someone for a change. His wife died a while ago and he was old then and he's older now, so there's no chance of him marryin' anyone." She shrugged. The Librarian was dear to her heart, almost like a grandfather. He certainly fed her.

Street followed him out of the gate of the racetrack. She slinked her way through the crowds, trying to keep up with his longer strides. He certainly walked faster then she ever had. "My collection of possessions that everybody else envies because I have them and they don't," She listened to him, tilting her head. She grinned at him.

"Yer kinda cocky, ain't ya?" She asked, laughing. "I bet yer collection's real nice. The finest collection this side of the Hudson. That is the river inbetween us and Jersey, right?" She asked, suddenly unsure. For some reason, she did not want to be called dumb by him. Especially not by him. But she was almost positive that she'd heard that the Hudson formed the border between her beloved New York and Jersey. Almost sure.

"Always good my arse. What do ya call pickpocketing?"

"But, I'm a good pickpocket," She countered, smiling brightly.

"Yeah, yeah, they'd buy from ya, yar definitely pertinent enough where as I really could care less whether they really want to buy a newspaper from me or not, I just want them to take the dang things off my hands. The scar probably doesn't do any better in drawing customers either..."

She looked at him. "Hold on a minute." She said, tugging on his sleeve. She stood on her tip toes and looked at the scar. She touched it gently. "Hmm. Nothin' impressive. I saw this one boy, he had a scar the length of his face." She tried to make light of Chance's scar, but it bothered her more then she'd ever let on. "It doesn't hurt much, does it?" Street asked, concerned.

"What're ya shruggin' at?" She asked, laughing. "I can shrug at ya too, ya know." So, she did, she shrugged at him, trying to mimic his facial expression. "See? It ain't that difficult." She said, laughing.

[Chance]

"Someday I bet ya will learn ta read. I would teach ya but I wouldn't be very good at all, don't got no patience..." Chance listened to her describe the old librarian, his thoughts drifting to his old man. He was kind of trapped in that same situation. But Chance doubted he was lonely, and if he was, the boy could care less. All the hurt from his father's grudge took longer to heal than the scar on his eye.

"Yer kinda cocky, ain't ya? I bet yer collection's real nice. The finest collection this side of the Hudson. That is the river inbetween us and Jersey, right?"

Did she think it was bad that he was cocky? Wait, she was laughing about it. Wait, why would he care what she thought of him? He broke out of these uncertain thoughts when she was asking about rivers, seeing the way she was just unsure as he and he nodded, wanting to reassure her.

"Yar right, t'is."

"Hold on a minute. Hmm. Nothin' impressive. I saw this one boy, he had a scar the length of his face. It doesn't hurt much, does it?"

He held still while she ran her fingers gently over his scar, just gazing at her steadily with his blue green eyes, nodding at what she said. It was nice of her to try to cover up the scar, make it no deal. He appreciated it. "No, it doesn't hurt...not anymore. I got it a long time go'..."

"What're ya shruggin' at? I can shrug at ya too, ya know. See? It ain't that difficult."

He shrugged again, "I dunno, I shrug when I'm at a loss for words. Course' it ain't. Be silly if it was, everybody would be holdin' shruggin' contests..." He trailed off, taking in the absurdity of that idea.

[Street]

"No, it doesn't hurt...not anymore. I got it a long time go'..."

Street nodded, as if this pleased her, which it did. "See? It's just like they say, 'time heals all wounds.'" She said, taking on a serious expression. "'Course, that's only what I hear, not what I read. Ya know they got some picture books in that library? Some have words, but there are a few that just have pictures. The Librarian told me that they're for beginners, but I tell 'im I'm a beginner too, and that shuts 'im up." She nodded, emphazing this point.

"I dunno, I shrug when I'm at a loss for words. Course' it ain't. Be silly if it was, everybody would be holdin' shruggin' contests..."

Street pondered this. "I'm never at a loss for words, if I don't know what ta say, I make somethin' up." She laughed. "See? I never shut up..." She looked at him. "Shruggin' contests? That'd be somethin' I'd pay ta see. I especially paid ta see ya get beat at yer own game." She said, poking him in the chest. She shrugged a very big shrug. "See? I just beat ya!" She laughed, her grey eyes twinkling.

[Chance]

"See? It's just like they say, 'time heals all wounds.' 'Course, that's only what I hear, not what I read. Ya know they got some picture books in that library? Some have words, but there are a few that just have pictures. The Librarian told me that they're for beginners, but I tell 'im I'm a beginner too, and that shuts 'im up."

Chance nodded, half listening to her as he kept up his pace, watching his surroundings, catching her words here and there. He didn't doubt that she could shut the old Librarian up, she could probably shut up just about anybody. She was small but she definitely had some spunk.

"I'm never at a loss for words, if I don't know what ta say, I make somethin' up. See? I never shut up..."

"No, you don't, do you? But neither does Chatter...and she's worse than you, so you actually ain't that bad. I spose' it's better than silence...I guess."

"Shruggin' contests? That'd be somethin' I'd pay ta see. I especially paid ta see ya get beat at yer own game. See? I just beat ya!"

This girl was doing nothing less than surprising him every other moment the longer he was with her. He smirked, looking down as if defeated, "I always lose when I'm sposed' to win." He sighed dramatically, trying to make her regret winning, trying to stop the playful smirk from crossing his face.

[Street]

"No, you don't, do you? But neither does Chatter...and she's worse than you, so you actually ain't that bad. I spose' it's better than silence...I guess."

Street nodded. "Silence always mean somethin' bad. The orphanage lady's comin', the bulls are right behind ya, or... There's no one around!" She said hurriedly. "Kids under the bridge always drift in or out, so there's always noise, but when there's no noise, ya know that some of yer friends are sleepin' in the Refuge." She shuddered at the thought of the Refuge. To her, it was worst then even an orphange or a sewer. It meant being behind bars for a long, long time.

"I always lose when I'm sposed' to win."

Street grinned mischieviously. "Well, how about this? Yer a better newsie then me." She said, ignoring the fact that she did not sell a pape in her life. "And I bet yer a better boy then me." She said, laughing wildly at this point. "And-and... I bet yer better at bein' confused then I am!" She cried, tears streaming down her face.

[Chance]

"Silence always mean somethin' bad. The orphanage lady's comin', the bulls are right behind ya, or... There's no one around! Kids under the bridge always drift in or out, so there's always noise, but when there's no noise, ya know that some of yer friends are sleepin' in the Refuge."

Chance nodded solemnly, the refuge, it wasn't a place he cared to think about often. He knew of newsies who had spent many nights behind closed bars, and was silently surprised that he didn't end up there either, with his stealing habits. He was lucky, but luck never lasted forever. Certainly made Chance really think about things when he realized freedom was easily taken for granted. He could easily be hauled off the streets at any time if he wasn't careful, and so could Street.

"Well, how about this? Yer a better newsie then me. And I bet yer a better boy then me. And-and... I bet yer better at bein' confused then I am!"

Chance's solemn expression slowly eased into a grin, and he nodded, "Yeah, I'm a real champion huh? Hold up, confused?"

And at just the opportune moment, he made a perfectly confused expression. Dang it she was right. As he listened to her laugh so freely, he was marveling that he could actually be giving Street this moment of laughter, that he was causing it. The way her eyes sparkled, the way her nose wrinkled up when she laughed, the way the sun shone on her hair, these were things he was starting to notice that he had never thought of before.

This was a beautiful moment, a happy moment, a content moment, something that Chance didn't usually have a lot of. He felt himself feeling like if something ever happened to this girl, it would be the sorriest thing he could imagine. He felt himself wanting to protect her, to make sure that never happened, that nobody ever hurt her, not a bull or anybody else, and especially not him. She should be able to be this happy all the time, always laughing, always smiling. He found himself watching her with a small smile, and shook his head, catching his gaze and looking away shyly, wondering whatever would make him think things such as that. It wasn't his job to protect her, or to make her laugh. He hardly knew her.

Handing her a couple newspapers, he scanned the crowds before them before asking, "Wanna have a go at being a newsie? You don't have to read to sell a newspaper. It's simple."

[Street]

"Yeah, I'm a real champion huh? Hold up, confused?"

Street paused, grinning. "Yes, I've heard about yer confusion. Seems ta happen quite often, like now..." She said, looking at his expression. Something about it bothered her... His gaze made her feel all flustered and embarrassed for some reason. She suddenly wished she had pretty hair like many of the girls she saw. She bet they didn't have hair rougher then straw... Street scratched the side of her nose awkwardly.

She looked over the crowd, suddenly seeing a lot of couples. She wondered what she and Chance looked like walking down the street... Did they look like one of those couples, or merely a street waif following a newsie like a puppy, or something different entirely. She sighed, they were too different. On different levels, street kids never thought much about thier futures, because in reality, many of them had none. But newsies? They'd grow up, get a job in a factory or such, get married, live their lives. Street bit her lip, shaking her head. She grinned at Chance, trying to push the troubling thoughts out of her mind.

"Wanna have a go at being a newsie? You don't have to read to sell a newspaper. It's simple."

Street took the paper carefully. "So... What do I do? Just stand there and wait? Or should I say somethin'? Do ya know any of taday's good headlines?" She asked quickly, she wanted to do a good job. "Don't worry, I won't run off with yer money or nothin'." Because I have somethin' better, She finished in her mind. She smiled at him patiently, waiting for his instructions. She was focused, she could do this.