#racehiggins

“Why do we have to go to Manhatten? Race is there, Spot. He’s so annoyin’!” You complained with a frown.

“Stop frownin’. Manhatten is askin’ for a little bit of help with all their new newsies. We’re da best of the best,” he says with a grin. “Now, let’s get goin’.”

You walked to Manhatten and the minute you got to their lodge, Race was running towards the two of you, with his signature smirk, curly blond hair, cigar in mouth...and those sparkling, dazzling...blue eyes.

You felt yourself supress a smile as he looked you up and down and took the cigar out of his mouth.

“Long time no see, Spot. You as well, (Y/N). You look wonderful as eva’.”

I don't have a sunny disposition.

I'm not known for being too amused.

My demeanor's locked in one position.

See my face? I'm enthused.

Suddenly, however, I've been puzzled.

Bunny rabbits make me want to cry.

All my inhibitions have been muzzled,

And I think I know why.

I'm being pulled in a new direction,

But I think I like it.

I think I like it.

I'm being pulled in a new direction.

Through my painful pursuit,

Somehow birdies took root.

All the things I detested impossibly cute.

What do I do?

Pulled

You were always known to the other newsies around New York that you were quite stand-offish, frowning most of the time, and it was rumored you were more scary and violent than Spot was.

But here in front of you, Racetrack Higgins was making you melt.

What the...what is this? A good, kind, warm feeling towards Higgins, possibly the most annoying person I’ve ever met, you asked yourself.

You looked at him once more, and felt butterflies in your stomach.

“I actually got you somethin’,” he said, his hand reaching into his pocket, pulling out a small yellow flower. “To hopefully cheer your day up.”

You plucked the flower from his hand and looked it over...a yellow flower was most definetly something that you would never like, but it was so pretty.

WHAT IS THIS?! Your thoughts screamed, echoing and racking your brain.

Mother always said be kind to strangers,

But she doesn't know what they destroy.

I can feel the clear and present dangers,

When she learns that the boy...

Has got me pulled in a new direction,

But I think I like it.

I think I like it.

Spot pulls you away and the two of you walk over to Jack to find the new newsies.

“You be nice to these kids, alright. Don’t want ‘em to be scared away. They need da money, just like we do.”

You nodded your head in agreement.

Spot had always told you to be nice to kids, strangers...people in general, especially Race. But if he knew that you thought you might just have feelings for Race, he’d be done for.

There’s a line for him, and that would be crossing it.

But you liked these feelings for Race. He was making you happy...so genuinely happy, with his stupid handsome face, and that stupid adorable grin, and those stupid blue eyes that distracted you.

I'm being pulled in a new direction,

But this feeling, I know is impossible,

So I'll confide that I've tried but I can't let it go.

It's disgustingly true!

Pulled, pulled, pulled!

Have got me pulled in a new direction!

If they keep insisting, I'll stop resisting.

Just watch me pulled in a new direction.

I should stay in the dark,

Not obey every spark,

But the boy has a bite,

Better far than his bark!

And you bet I'll bite too,

Do what's truly taboo,

As I'm pulled in a new direction!

“Hey sweetheart! I’m supposed to help you sell with da new kids. Spot sent me...he’s worried you’ll scare them.”

“Of course he is.” you laughed.

“You...laughed? I’ve never heard you laugh before,” Race remarked. “I like it.”

You felt an urge, to do something that would definetly get you in trouble with Spot.

Kiss him, (Y/N). Kiss him.

You looked at the boy, who’s cigar was in a pocket instead of between his lips.

His lips are freeee, your thoughts nagged.

“Race,”

“Yes, sweetheart?”

You stood on your tiptoes, and reached for Race’s face, which was a good foot away from you. But it was as if he knew what you were doing. He leaned down and pressed his lips to yours, and in the spur of the moment, he grabbed your waist and picked you up a little bit off the ground.

As I'm pulled in a new direction!

You had been living in your new apartment for almost a year. You moved in with your roommates, JoJo, Albert, and Race, when you were eighteen, after a very bad breakup.

It took you about seven months for you to get used to them being all wild and crazy, but you really enjoyed their enthusiasm now.

Race was your best friend now. At first, he didn’t really want you in the apartment. You didn’t know why, but the other guys did. He was scared he was going to fall in love with you.

He did.

“What are we doing tonight?” You ask, sitting down on the couch, next to Race, throwing your legs onto his lap.

“How about a nice old game of truth or dare.” JoJo offers before taking a swig out of his cup.

You were always down for a game of truth or dare, even at nineteen years old. You believed you had to be crazy to not want to play truth or dare.

Hours had passed, JoJo and Albert were drunk and laughing their heads off, Race was sober, and you were slightly buzzed.

JoJo had just finished running around the apartment complex with his pants on his head-cause that’s funny to drunk people...and sometimes sober people as well, and it was Race’s turn.

“Racer, truth or dare.”

“I’ll take a dare.”

“Alright, seven minutes in heaven, with (Y/N).” Albert said, laughing.

“Is that alright, (Y/N)?”

“For sure, let’s go.”

You both started to walk away to a place where it could be closed off and private. As you turned around, you saw the door move in front of you as it slammed shut.

“You guys aren’t allowed out until you kiss.” JoJo snickered.

The two of them slowly started to chant “kiss! kiss! kiss! kiss!” You felt your cheeks flush.

“Well, Higgins, what are you waiting for. Just get it done and over with.”

He looked down at you, and started to lean in, making a sort of face as he got closer.

“No! You can’t come in like that,” you giggled.

“Then how do you want me to?”

“Not like that! Obviously!”

Race contemplated how he was going to kiss you. The chanting from the boys grew louder, and seven minutes had definetly passed.

“Let’s just get it done and over with, Higgins. What’s the big deal?”

“Nothing. It’s nothing!”

“Then just kiss me!”

“No! Not like this!”

You looked at him.

“Not like this? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing! It means nothing. Let’s just get out of here.”

He walked over to the door and knocked on it.

“Did you kiss?” Albert chuckled.

“No-just get us out of here, Alb. Please?”

“For money maybe….”

“Fine, please just let us out.”

The door opened and Race reached into his pocket and pulled out a twenty, folding it and putting in Albert’s palm.

“Well, I’m calling it a night cause I’m going to be miserable tomorrow,” JoJo slurred.

“Me too,” Albert said.

They walked over to their rooms, and you quickly went to yours to get ready for bed and avoid Race.

After getting in your pajamas, you went over to the bathroom to get your glasses on and brush your teeth. After you finished the daily routine, you ran into Race on your way back.

“Oh sorry,” you sighed.

“No big deal,” he replied.

“Well….goodnight Higgins.”

“Goodnight, (L/N).”

You started walking back to your room, before you felt a slight tug on your arm. You felt yourself in Race’s arms, who quickly placed a kiss on your lips. You wanted this just as badly as he did, and you grabbed onto his shirt, pulling him closer to you.

It was magical.

You pulled away, stunned at what had just happened.

“I meant...I meant like that, (Y/N).”

You couldn’t believe it. You felt tears form as you tried to find the words to say.

“Washington…” you looked up at him. “Are you going to?”

“I’m not sure. I love New York, but I don’t want to mess up my relationship with my dad...it only started to work out. It would’ve been what my mom wanted.”

“I…” you breathed in, wiping away some tears. “I think you should do what you feel you need to do, Race. Whatever your heart feels it needs to do.”

“Thank you for being understanding (Y/N),” he climbed up the ladder and sat down next to you. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

He wrapped his arm around you and pulled you in closer to him, pressing his lips to your temple.

New York to Washington. All the way across the US...I have to pretend I’m okay with it...for Race.

You woke up the next morning, still wrapped in Race’s arms. He started to stir, but you didn’t want to wake him up completely, so you moved his arm off of you carefully and walked down from the bunk bed to the kitchen.

Mike and Ike were eating some cereal with Smalls next to them.

“You good (Y/N)? Your eyes are puffy and red.” Mike pointed out.

“Yeah, it looks like you’ve been crying.” Ike added.

Your hand flew to your face, your fingers running over the bottom of your eyes, feeling the skin.

“No, I’m all good.” you explained.

“You ready for the wedding?” Smalls asked you, as you grabbed a cereal box from a cabinet and a bowl as well.

“Yeah. I guess I’m just happy that my dad is going to be happy again.”

The three of them nodded their heads and you sat by them and ate your cereal.

I wonder if Race has told anybody else about Washington, you thought to yourself.

The kid always seemed to know what you were thinking. Race walked in, still dressed in his suit.

“Morning sweetheart,” he said, pressing his lips to your cheek and walking to the fridge. “Hey, can everybody get in here. I need to tell you guys something.”

Slowly, the rest of the group filed into the kitchen, groggily, rubbing their eyes and yawning.

“Race, it’s early, what is it?” Jack asked, hand in hand with Katherine, who still looked half asleep.

“Everybody in here?” he asked, looking around the room. “Alright, so as you all know, my dad has recently become a bigger part of my life now that he’s back in New York. Well, his living situation is permanent and his job is transferring him to Washington...and he wants me to move with him.”

The room went completely quiet and everybody’s face dropped. You felt Katherine put her arm around you and Smalls grabbed a hold of your hand.

“Are you going to?” JoJo asked, breaking the silence.

“I’m not sure,” Race said “I’m still deciding.”

“Race you can’t. The apartment...this friend group, it won’t be the same without you,” Albet complained.

“I still haven’t chosen, alright everybody. I just need some time.”

“When is your dad officially moving away?”

“He wants me to tell him by tomorrow morning. He leaves this weekend.”

The group all exchanged looks, but you kept your eyes locked with Race. You felt the tears form once more and you bit your lip in order to keep from crying.

If he sees me crying, he’ll choose New York. He’ll choose to stay and then he’ll probably never see his dad again. I can’t be the reason they have a broken relationship and Mr. Higgins isn’t apart of Race’s life…

“Ok guys. Let’s stop worrying about this whole Washington ordeal. We have a wedding to go too. We need to let Race choose on his own.” Jack said, getting a silent ‘thank you’ from Race.

You got up from your seat and put your cereal bowl in the sink, then left the apartment, Katherine following close behind you.

“Are you okay? About all of this?” she asked.

“Do you want the truth or should I just fake that I’m fine for you as well?” you asked, turning to Katherine, tears starting to spill.

She rushed to your side, holding you close as you cried.

“I can’t have him choose to stay. If he stays, then he might never see his dad again. And it will be my fault that he doesn’t have a good relationship with his dad.”

“Hey hey hey, (Y/N), it will not be your fault if he chooses New York. His dad only recently came back into his life. If he had a bad relationship with his dad, it wouldn’t be your fault. Not in a million years. It would be his father’s fault because he abandoned him seventeen years ago, alright. Now stop crying. We’ve got a wedding to go to.”

You nodded your head and wiped away your tears, putting a smile on your face as Katherine and you walked to her car.

While Katherine had to run home and get her dress, curling iron and makeup, you were almost ready, having slept in your dress the night before. Re-doing the makeup might be a good idea since it was mostly smudged from crying, and you needed to do your hair since it was a mess from the night before.

5:00 p.m.-The Wedding

You stood by Katherine, your dad across from the two of you. You were in line with a couple of Lydia’s friends and a sister or two. You gripped onto the bouquet with one hand, and held onto Katherine’s with the other, as Lydia started to walk down the aisle and everybody in the audience was standing up.

Race was in the front row, closest to you, Jack sitting next to him. On the other side of Race was Mr. Higgins, whom Race was looking a lot like as they were wearing almost matching suits.

Everybody sat down as Lydia reached your father and handed the bouquet to Katherine. Then the wedding officially started, as the wedding officiant read things and said things...all which you zoned out of almost completely-until the vows.

“After my wife passed away, I never thought I’d get another chance at love. I thought that nobody else could be a mother to my girls. But then Lydia, I met you. I knew that you were my second chance at love. The girls love you. You’re so good to them. You’re so good for me,” you looked at Race with tears in your eyes.

He locked eyes with you and mouthed the words: ‘I love you,” and then he started to mouth what your dad was saying

“I swear that no matter what. No matter where life takes us, I choose you. I will always choose you. Nothing can change my mind about that. Nothing will keep us apart.”

Then Lydia said her vows, and the wedding officiant declared them husband and wife.

The crowd cheered as they kissed and Katherine handed Lydia her bouquet, then joined Jack.

Race turned to his father as the rest of the crowd moved away inside the venue, where food was being served as well as dancing to start. You joined Katherine and Jack and walked into the venue, hooking onto a line for the food as Lydia and your father sat down at the main table.

7:00 p.m.

Your dad and Lydia had just finished their first dance as husband and wife as Katherine and the multiple women joined them on the dance floor for the bouquet toss. You would’ve joined the, but figured that you wouldn’t catch it. As it was tossed, the women lunged into the air, all trying to grab it, but it landed perfectly in Katherine’s hands, making you explode with laughter.

“I guess this is good a time as it can get,” Jack said, running out to the dance floor.

Your dad and Lydia turn to Katherine.

“We’re engaged…” Katherine said, holding hands with Jack.

The crowd all gasped in shock and the boys were even more surprised.

Katherine pulled on the chain with her ring, rubbing the diamond with her finger.

“I give you my blessing,” your dad says.

“Seriously?! Thank you dad,” Katherine gives your dad a hug and then turns to Jack and kisses him.

She then takes her necklace off and takes the ring off the chain and Jack slides it onto her finger.

Then everyone starts to dance again, Jack and Katherine holding each other close.

Tommy Boy and Smalls joined them, Les and his date, Specs and Sarah-the same couples as the night before. Mr. and Mrs. Jacob’s joined the floor as well, embarassing Davey a bit.

You felt a tap on your shoulder and turned to see Race.

“I think we’ve got to dance...show them how it’s done, you know?”

“I know.”

You stood up and he grabbed your hand in his, intertwining fingers. A slow song started and he pulled you closer. This time, you threw both of your arms around his shoulder, both his hand resting on your hips.

“So, I made my choice.” Race says as he spins you around.

“And?”

“I choose you. That’s what I said during the vows….”

“So you choose New York?”

“No, (Y/N), I choose you. I love you so much, and my father agrees that it might be best that I stay here. It’s what I know. Born and raised. He said he’ll fly out every couple of months and come visit, that it won’t ruin our relationship.”

“Really Race?”

“I’ll always choose you.”

He presses his lips to yours, and by some coincidence, the fireworks you and Katherine chose, start to go off, making you pull back and smile.

“I choose you too.”

The End<3