𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚂𝚄𝙽 𝙸𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚂𝙺𝚈.

what’s ‘t like t’ have a friend you’se can tell ‘verything t’   ,   someone ya’d choose t’ always help ya out when the choice’s there   (    an’ even when ‘t ain’t   )    ,    someone t’ rely ‘n ‘ven when the world’s bein’ a shit hole o’ a place ‘gain?   well    ,    race don’t have t’ imagine   ,   or t’ worry ‘bout what that would’a be    -    he’s got smalls and she’s by far an’ wide the best damn friend he could’a imagine   ,   could’a ask for .   ‘ven livin’ ‘n different parts o’ the city   ,   she’s always there when they’s or only he needs ‘t    ,   and he does ‘s damn best t’ do the same for her .  an’ not only ‘cause ‘t helps with gettin’ ‘round the city   ,   but ‘cause he genuinely wants t’    ,    he genuinely likes her    ,    and she’s ‘s much family ‘s the lower manhattan newsboys union    -    no difference ‘tween the two .  they’s lyin’ ‘n jack’s rooftop   ,    warm summer’s usually pressin’ down ‘n the concrete o’ the city easin’ ‘t durin’ the evenin’    ,    an’ they’s had their usual roundup o’ recent life events t’ update each other ‘n what’s goin’ on in their lives    -    besides the dealin’ o’ the papes    -    talkin’ ‘bout everythin’ an’ nothin’ when she nudges ‘m an’ he turns t’ her an’ she says   ,   i hope  ,    my dear   ,    life doesn’t wear you down .  ‘s sounds like somethin’ she might’a learned from that smart   (   an’ scary   )   doctor o’ hers   ,   but then ‘gain that man ain’t seem t’ be the one with the big an’ touching life lessons   ,    so he’s fairly sure she’s come ‘p with ‘t all by herself   ,   ‘s she always do .   and ‘t suits her    ,    an’ ‘t makes ‘m a little teary-eyed   ,   okay .  he nudges her back with ‘s shoulder    ,    throwin’ one long leg over hers as he smiles an’ replies   ,   “ never . ‘t ain’t got the nerve t’ challenge this .  ”  gesturin’ towards ‘mself   ,   smile stretches wider ‘s he adds   ,   “  an’ you’se lookin’ ‘fter yourself always too   ,   yeah?   i’s know ya don’t need t’ hear ‘t from me    -    but ‘s can only help   ,   i’s let ya know i’s give expert advice .   ”

‘da promise that they’re gonna make out is what gets him ta’ finally sit down n’ settle.    not that he won’t otherwise,   though.   s’ just ‘dat maybe he’ll complaint a lot along ‘da way,   maybe.   sad scenes in particular makes him queasy all around.   spot don’t like lookin’ vulnerable more than he needs ta’   -    and as far as he’s concerned,   he’d looked vulnerable ‘nough right when he was a kid and his pops still got’a hold o’ his life.    ‘   fine.   but s’ ‘da wine that’s makin’ me shut up.   ’    true as he said,   he picks up the wine and swallow a chug.    ain’t ‘dat bad.   the scene starts then,   and julia roberts is introduced.    face afta’ face afta’ face o’ hers,   just smilin’ and walking down red carpets.   it’s got spot’s confused for a sec,   until he gets that julia’s s’pose t’ be a star too in ‘dis film.    it goes on,   and ‘da horrible posh accent starts ta’ come in.   spot groans.    but don’t say ‘nythin’ more,   until —    ‘    looks like ‘da kind o’ place walkin’ mouth would’a work.    ’    all books n’ stuff.   ‘dat guy seems smart like that.    ‘    so,  this guy’s gonna fall for a movie star,   ain’t he ?    that’s where julia roberts come in ?   ’

‘    yeah.    ’     he replies,   almost breathily.    he didn’t expect this,   if he were honest.    he was just   -   makin’ a conversation,   as they say.    tryin’ to have something to speak about.   he didn’t think that he would be actually welcomed.   weren’t most classes or rehearsals be exclusive ?    …   but if race says so.   okay,   jacobs.   this is probably the right time to not look with so much gay longing into his eyes huh,  buddy ?    davey shakes his head a little,   and smile some more.    ‘   yeah,   i’d like that.   but   -   only if i’m allowed,   okay ?    don’t push buttons where you’re not supposed to push them,   race.    ’    and yeah   -   if any of the lower manhattan crew ever thought davey would forget about their rebellious behaviour,   they would have another thing coming.    ‘     oh,   trust me.   i ask a lot,   and google helped.   you sure you don’t have t’ practise anymore ?   or   -   shower,   or anything ?    i mean.   i can wait.    i have a day-off today.    ’

‘    mmm                ’     well,    that sure ain’t gonna be one o’ the top ten hygienic thing he’s ‘ver been in,    but spot gets over his shock quickly,   takin’ wha’ever that comes t’ him in stride.    the wine is sweet,   and that’d be ‘da only reason he’s gonna give for lettin’ his mouth intrude and prod;   breakin’ pass the barriers o’ race’s mouth when he cups ‘da other’s jaw and deepens ‘da kiss.    it ends though,   soon enough,   only for higgins ta’ deliver ‘dat stupid line lookin’ all smug.    spot’s tempted ta’ roll his eyes,   but he’s still reelin’ a little from the sudden attack.   or maybe he’s already a lil’ light-headed.    lower manhattan and their cheap tricks.    ‘   i’d rather make out with ya’,   but sure.   let’s watch people who speaks their english all wrong.    ’    he’s got nothin’ against those from across ‘da sea,  ‘course.   ‘cept ‘dat their accents remind him of the opposite o’ those who’se livin’ there on the streets,   all posh n’ what not.   he lets ‘imself settle in,   regardless.    ‘da movie starts :   ‘    why is ‘da intro so damn long ?   ’

he can’t help but feel the edge o’ laughter ‘n ‘s throat    ,    the warm thrill o’ longin’ ‘n ‘s stomach    ,    when spot holds ‘m ‘n place an’ kisses ‘m much more conveniently than race would’a think ‘s would’a go .  but he likes t’ keep these things ‘p ‘n the air for spot t’ decide on an’ grab an’ do with ‘em what he wants     -    he likes t’ have spot in charge once in a while    ,    more than he‘d ever like or want that from anybody else really .   ‘s somethin’ that’s grown over time an’ now ‘t always makes ‘m smile    ,    always makes ‘m feel stupidly happy    -    t’ know he can let some parts o’ ‘m go or fall and know spot’s gonna catch ‘m    ,   meet ‘m right there in the middle .  they’s work like that   ,    they’s always worked like that    ,    an’ he’s nice t’ be proven right     -     ‘ven ‘n the little things    ,    though he’d say that kiss ain’t so little .  he keens when he’s movin’ ‘way   ,   grin ‘s wide ‘s can go   ,   when he finally says   ,   “   yeah   ,    yeah    ,   i’s know   ,   conlon .   we’s can make out durin’ the sad scenes   ,   i’s promise  .  ya can distract me .  ”  an’ then he finally pulls ‘way and sits down ‘n the couch   ,   careful not t’ trip ‘ver the wine at his feet    ,    reachin’ for spot’s hand t’ tug ‘m ‘long with ‘m    ,   wantin’ t’ be close ‘gain .   “   ‘s ‘cause ‘s ain’t a dvd   -   stop naggin‘   ,   like   ,   ten seconds ‘n   ,   baby .   the movie‘s actually good   ,   i’s do have taste  . ”

he’s hittin’ ‘s head on the kitchen cupboard right when he hears ‘t   ,   davey’s words rushed ‘t so fast that he’s nearly had missed ‘f he ain’t been fluent ‘n understanding the upper manhattan accent he’s got goin’ on   -   pristine an’ perfect   -    an’ the general speed ‘s brain runs    (   sometimes t’ fast ‘ven for race    ,    that shit says somethin’   ) .   ‘s runnin’ right through ‘s veins    ,    ingitin’ somethin’ ‘n ‘s chest that freezes ‘s feet t’ the spot for a moment ‘fore he can feel the satisfied thrumming o’ a feelin’ ‘n ‘s body    -    at least he registers ‘t    ,    ‘s ain’t a given with how he’s a little overwhelmed right now .   he’s suspected ‘t    ,    o’ course    ,    an’ he played on ‘t for months    ,    flirtin’ t’ hell an’ back with david whenever he’s had the chance when they’s been on their own    ,    an’ ‘ven when they’s ain’t been ‘cause he’s who he’s    ,    an’ he needed t’ test the waters for good .   an’ davey’s been respondin’ the way he expected    ,   fumblin’ a little an’ blushing   ,    but also surprisingly good ‘t dishing a compliment back .   only race ever ain’t been sure ‘f he’s been flirtin’ back or just bein’ nice    ,    but he guesses he’s got ‘s answer now     -     flirtin’ back the whole time    ,    jacobs    ,   how sneaky ‘f ya .   finally   ,    after a stretch o’ silence    ,    he turns ‘round from where he’s been standin’    ,     the process o’ findin’ whatever spice he needed cut short when he finds exactly what he’s been wantin’ for a while now ‘cross from ‘m    ,    wantin’ ‘m too .   that’s just convenient .   blue eyes light up when they’s settlin’ on davey    ,    an’ he can’t help the smile spreadin’ ‘ver ‘s face .    “   for real?   like    ,    you’se ain’t shittin’ me?   damn    ,   jacobs   ,   i’se ain’t ever be sure with ya.   ya burn hot and then ya’s cold    -    an’ there’s also jack    ,   ”    he says   ,   ‘though he’s don’t really wanna say that name right now .   but ‘s on ‘s mind    -   jack    ,    an’ david’s pinin’ look whenever their friend crosses a room or leaves a room    -   an’ race also told ‘mself t’ not get in ‘tween whatever the hell’s been goin’ on there .   but   ,   hell    ,    turns out ‘s nothin’   ,   or nothin’ he’s gonna worry ‘bout now .   not when davey’s a few feet ‘way    ,    pining for ‘m    -    for ‘m!   what a damn dream come true .    “   you’se gonna come ‘ver an’ kiss me now    -    since you’se already brave an’ all that    -    or’s somethin’ i’s gotta do first too?   ”

‘    ya’ wanna take a sip o’ it first ?    ’     he offers as soon as he realises he’d veto’ed on the glasses.    race’s presence is a constant warm next t’ him,   and spot ain’t the kind t’ push ‘em away when it’s there.    answerin’ on ‘da query ‘bout ‘da damn laptop,   the brooklyn leader only nods.   that’s fine.   ‘ven if it’s gonna stuck half-way,   it wasn’t like they’se both can’t talk ta’ each other.   they’se good like that:   fillin’ time.   there’s always gonna be somethin’ goin’ on,  and even if there ain’t,   they can sit there like ‘dat   -    in silent.   holdin’ one anotha’.   race’s manhattan side is soft like that.    (    and maybe,   jus’ maybe,   spot’s a little effected by it.   no big deal,   though.  )    ‘    ‘course i trust ya’.    ya’ have my whole heart,   don’t ya ?    ’     heavy words spoken so lightly   -    like whatever he’s feelin’ s’ just another thin’.   an expensive watch for safekeepin’.   or a key he needs race t’ hold.     ‘    what hellish movie taste you’se gonna have me sit through tonight then ?   ’

‘    hmm.   tempting offer indeed,   ’     it’s mostly a joke,   though.    davey doesn’t think he has one single dancing bone inside of his body unless albert or romeo managed to trick him into doing shots and drinking cups after cups of that rum mixed cola abomination again.    whiiiich —  he isn’t planning to do.   at least,   not anytime soon.    ‘   jack mentioned it.    i just     -    i didn’t knew you’d be so good.     ’     there’s a slight disappointment there that dips into his tone.    does this mean he’s a bad friend ?    ah,   he should’ve paid more attention.    ‘    i’d like to see it again.   i mean   -   if you’re open for an audience.   —   and of course to the lunch.   i was thinking sandwiches maybe ?   i heard there’s a great place in brooklyn.     ’

‘    yeah ?   ’     he wiggles his brows a lil’ bit   -   just a lil’   -   leanin’ back and lickin’ his lips at the taste o’ race there,   still lingerin’ ‘round his mouth.    his eyes,   brown like ‘da wood,   flickers downwards once as if ta’ make known ‘dat the intention ta’ kiss is still around,   but ultimately spot settles with a smug look,  gazin’ back up.   scoffin’.     ‘    you just wanna’ see me in action,   higgins,   admit it.    ’     but he does open the wine as instructed.   he’s a good lover n’ all that.   ‘ven if he won’t admit it aloud   -    ‘specially if jackie boy is present.    ‘    ya’ laptop still workin’ ?   ain’t it jammed the otha’ day ?   ’