Never mind a single word I said. (Closed)

[Racetrack]

"Don't be. Crying's good...it makes sense." It was actually much, much better than the numb, exhausted, disbelieving state he'd been in all night. He took a deep breath, wiped away another flood of tears, and gently touched her hand, as if he was trying to stop the shaking. He thought he should let go of her, but couldn't bring himself to do that yet, any more than he could've brought himself to touch her at first.

((FINALLY a Junior Member! Whoot!))

[Sapphy]

((Congratulations!!))

Sapphy suddenly felt exhausted and all she wanted was to stop feeling like this. She was sad all the fucking time but kept a damn smile on her face to hide it. She was so sad she didn't really feel like doing anything anymore. She was so tired of feeling like this and thoughts like throwing herself into the river right now.

"Makes more sense for you to," Sapphy said, even though she knew Race was no mind reader.

[Racetrack]

((Currently waiting for my parents to finish packing so we can go driving off toward Jersey, so if I disappear at some point, I'll see you soon!))

"Maybe I don't know all your reasons," he said, because he was a little bit of a mind-reader, or at least a poker player. "Anyway, it's nice to not be the only one." Which sounded completely selfish--it wasn't like he was happy that Sapphy was crying--but it was true anyway.

[Sapphy]

Sapphy let out a small, strangled laugh, eyes lighting up for half a second a she pulled away. "It is," she agreed, smiling at Race through her tears.

[Racetrack]

He returned her watery smile and actually felt a little bit better. Tired as hell, but better.

With all that Raven had been through before, with her brother...she'd get through this. It was worse, it was horrible, it was everything at once, but she'd come out on the other side of it, and she'd still be Raven. And they'd eat spaghetti. And why couldn't everyone move to Manhattan, where things like this didn't happen, or so he liked to pretend?

"We can go inside if you want," he said softly. "The kids are trying to bake a cake...don't ask. Or we could just stay here," he added, because Sapphy might not be up for a crowd. He didn't know if she wanted to talk, or if she even could. He was okay either way, as long as she didn't leave.

[Sapphy]

"Can I lay down?" she asked softly, voice cracking slightly.

[Racetrack]

"That's a wonderful idea," Race said wholeheartedly.

All the newsies were down in the kitchen or already out selling--they could have the bunkroom to themselves. The thought of a bed was suddenly like a lifeline. He led Sapphy back toward the lodging house.

[Sapphy]

Sapphy felt like the walking dead. Every step she took was a step further and further away from that one laugh and smile she didn't have to fake with Race. Everything that was chased away was closing in on her again.

Hopeless. Everything was hopeless. She felt lonely with Race being close enough to touch. Why does this idiot like me? Probably just wants to nail me like everyone else. Don't think that about him, stop it.

As soon as she saw a bed, all thoughts rushed out of her head and she sighed. She just wanted to sleep and never wake up.

[Racetrack]

With all the times it had been clear that their emotions and desires didn't mesh, Race found it oddly comforting that he and Sapphy were finally on the same page: a good cry and a long sleep. He took off his vest and sank onto some random kid's bottom bunk. He lay down near the edge, with plenty of room for Sapphy if she wanted the company--and if she didn't, there were plenty of other bunks to choose from. He closed his eyes so she would feel free to make either choice.

[Sapphy]

Sapphy still looked a mess from the night before. She'd changed clothes when she got home, slept in them for three hours, then she awoke this morning and put her hair up in a tie. She let he unruly hair down and without giving much thought to it, undid her pants.

She let them drop to the floor before crawling into the bunk with Race. While she did feel guilty about not reciprocating his feelings, she wanted to be wanted by someone -- even if she didn't understand why someone would be daft enough to feel that way about her.

[Racetrack]

He felt Sapphy lie down next to him and unconsciously relaxed. All the tension in his body just went rushing out. If only this was how last night could have ended, he thought, with nothing at all in between. He curled up close beside her, though not touching, and was sound asleep after two or three breaths.

[Sapphy]

Sapphy gently turned to look at Race for a moment. For half a second, just a half, she considered kissing him. But then she fell asleep and the moment was forgotten.

((Have them wake up on move onto something else?))

[Racetrack]

((Sounds good.))

Race woke feeling groggy and strange. Not surprising, considering when he'd gone to sleep and all that had happened beforehand. He flashed a quick smile at Sapphy, still asleep beside him, then squinted up at the window, where bright afternoon sun came pouring in. He had no idea what time it was, but none of the newsies seemed to be back yet.

It wasn't until then that everything came rushing back to him. His stomach clenched with fresh grief and worry. I have to get to the hospital, he thought, wondering if he should wake Sapphy.

[Sapphy]

Sapphy shifted in her sleep, arching her back slightly as she turned around to face Race. She curled into him, bare leg slipping over his.

((I am going to torture this poor soul. bwahaha.))

[Racetrack]

(( ;D Poor boy!))

This was so completely unexpected that Race actually yelped. And then cursed himself for it because she'd probably wake up. And then realized that was really for the best, because God knew what she would've done next. His leg, however, seemed to be frozen in place. He tried to convince it to move out from under hers, but in vain.