|
Post by Cloud on Feb 26, 2019 22:16:34 GMT -5
"It's not like that, I just think... maybe he wants ta start a new life away from newsies."
Cloud nodded slowly. "But that doesn't mean he wouldn't want you, does it?" He looked at her seriously. "If you really love each other, not being newsies anymore wouldn't change anything."
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Feb 26, 2019 22:19:30 GMT -5
"But that doesn't mean he wouldn't want you, does it?"
Lacey swallowed thickly. "I don't know... I just don't know."
"If you really love each other, not being newsies anymore wouldn't change anything."
"I'm so scared ta mess things up with him that I can't do anythin'. I get too nervous to do anythin', how are we supposed ta handle a relationship when we're doin' other stuff and leading different lives?" They were both even still newsies and yet things seemed to be getting more difficult, what did that mean would happen when they were both out of this lifestyle and doing other things?
|
|
|
Post by Cloud on Feb 26, 2019 22:28:22 GMT -5
"I don't know... I just don't know."
Cloud didn't like the sound of that. Lacey seemed so... defeated somehow.
"I'm so scared ta mess things up with him that I can't do anythin'. I get too nervous to do anythin', how are we supposed ta handle a relationship when we're doin' other stuff and leading different lives?"
He bit his lip. He wasn't sure how to help there... but there had to be a way, right? "Have you asked Spot about this?" he asked quietly. "I know you're scared... but if you don't confront Spot about your thoughts and feelings, how will you know that he'd leave you after all this?"
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Feb 26, 2019 22:30:50 GMT -5
"Have you asked Spot about this?"
Lacey turned her gaze back to Cloud, a slightly confused glimmer behind her eyes. "I can't."
"I know you're scared... but if you don't confront Spot about your thoughts and feelings, how will you know that he'd leave you after all this?"
She huffed again. Of course, Cloud was right. But how was she supposed to confront Spot about how terrified she was for the future when he was trying to get everything ready to step down as leader, and he was still suspicious of everyone for the leaked information? Wouldn't he be upset that she was worried about something so seemingly trivial when they had both agreed that things didn't feel the same anymore?
"I'm scared of being alone again." Lacey whispered.
|
|
|
Post by Cloud on Feb 26, 2019 22:37:34 GMT -5
"I can't."
He pursed his lips. "Why not?"
If she wanted to make sure Spot wasn't just going to leave after all they had been through, shouldn't she try asking him about all this?
"I'm scared of being alone again."
Cloud's eyes softened. He understood loneliness well. It wasn't something he wanted to have either...
"I know... but if you stay like this, you'll stay scared." Not that he was one to speak... He was quite the scaredy-cat in Brooklyn. "Sometimes you just have to wrack up the courage and face your fears. It might not be as bad as you think."
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Feb 26, 2019 22:40:30 GMT -5
"Why not?"
Lacey chewed a bit on her bottom lip. Fear of rejection was just something that was a part of her, and it was the reason why she would so often try to do something and then end up backing out before she could. She wanted to be brave, there was just always something that kept her from committing.
"I know... but if you stay like this, you'll stay scared."
She sighed softly. Once again, Cloud was right, it just wasn't that simple.
"Sometimes you just have to wrack up the courage and face your fears. It might not be as bad as you think."
"Right..." Lacey mumbled, sucking in a deep breath and closing her eyes for a moment just to finish gathering herself. Then, slowly, she turned back to look at Cloud. "Will you walk back with me?"
|
|
|
Post by Cloud on Feb 26, 2019 22:44:03 GMT -5
"Right... Will you walk back with me?"
Cloud gave her a small smile as he got onto his feet. "I will." He held out his hand to help her up.
Just maybe, maybe he had been able to give Lacey the courage she needed.
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Feb 26, 2019 22:45:40 GMT -5
"I will."
She took his hand, allowing him to help her back into a standing position. She wiped her eyes with her sleeve one last time, and though a part of her knew that Spot easily could have been busy with something right now... she was hopeful that maybe she would at least be able to set up a time in which they could talk before things really fell apart.
|
|
|
Post by Cloud on Feb 26, 2019 22:52:29 GMT -5
Cloud gave her an encouraging smile as they headed out of the park. He could only hope that things would turn out all right.
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Feb 26, 2019 22:53:30 GMT -5
The walk with Cloud was relatively silent, just because Lacey had no clue what else to say. She was trapped in her head once again, thoughts swirling around about how she was supposed to go about this as they headed back towards the main part of Brooklyn.
|
|
|
Post by Cloud on Feb 27, 2019 10:54:51 GMT -5
It wasn't a long walk. Lacey hadn't gotten too deep into the park to make it a long walk to the lodges. It was only about half a block away. In fact, the boys' lodge was just around the corner. Cloud paused, wondering if Lacey wanted to see if Spot was in, or did she just want to go home?
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Feb 27, 2019 12:26:53 GMT -5
Lacey bit her lip, glancing between the path to the boy's lodge or the path that would lead her around to the girl's. "Should I try now? Or is he bound ta be busy?" She whispered.
|
|
|
Post by Cloud on Feb 28, 2019 11:20:05 GMT -5
"Should I try now? Or is he bound ta be busy?"
Cloud pursed his lips and shrugged. "I don't really know... but I don't see any harm in tryin'," he quickly added.
She should at least give it a try. Besides, Spot might not be busy. Cloud hadn't seen him in awhile. He could have finished talking with all the other birds by now.
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Feb 28, 2019 11:21:31 GMT -5
"I don't really know... but I don't see any harm in tryin',"
Lacey swallowed thickly, but nodded in agreement. She had no clue how this sort of a conversation would go, considering it could so easily backfire and end up with the relationship ending sooner than it would have otherwise... but she had no choice. "Let's go then."
|
|
|
Post by Cloud on Feb 28, 2019 11:28:02 GMT -5
"Let's go then."
Cloud nodded as the two headed into the boys' lodge. He rang the little bell on the front desk to get Mr. O'Quinns' attention. It took two rings to get the lodge owner's attention. Apparently, Mr. O'Quinn had been working on something in the kitchen. He seemed a bit surprised to see Lacey there but made no comment.
"Do you need something, Cloud?" he asked politely.
The newsie nodded. "We were wonderin' if Spot was in."
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Feb 28, 2019 11:29:06 GMT -5
"Do you need something, Cloud?"
"We were wonderin' if Spot was in."
Lacey could feel her heart pounding at the thought. "It's okay... if he ain't."
|
|
|
Post by Cloud on Feb 28, 2019 11:34:38 GMT -5
"It's okay... if he ain't."
Mr. O'Quinn gave them both an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, but I can't say if he is here or not. I've been in the kitchen for most of the day," he explained.
Cloud raised an eyebrow but said nothing as he looked over at Lacey. "Want me ta check the bunkroom?"
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Feb 28, 2019 11:36:07 GMT -5
"I'm sorry, but I can't say if he is here or not. I've been in the kitchen for most of the day,"
Lacey's face fell a bit, and she slowly nodded. "Thanks anyway."
"Want me ta check the bunkroom?"
She had been about to head out once again before Cloud spoke, and his words stopped her right in her tracks. With a small sigh, she reluctantly nodded. "Yeah... yeah, that would be good."
|
|
|
Post by Cloud on Feb 28, 2019 11:38:15 GMT -5
"Thanks anyway."
Mr. O'Quinns gave her a nod before heading back to the kitchen.
"Yeah... yeah, that would be good."
Cloud nodded. "I'll be real quick," he assured as he bounded up the stairs. He wasn't the fastest bird in Brooklyn, but that didn't make him slow. If you wanted to be bird, you had to be pretty quick on your feet.
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Feb 28, 2019 11:39:16 GMT -5
"I'll be real quick."
Lacey bit her lip, stuffing her hands into a pocket with a sigh.
|
|
|
Post by Cloud on Feb 28, 2019 11:50:21 GMT -5
True to his word, Cloud was back in a flash with a small smile on his face. "Spot's on the roof."
He motioned for Lacey to follow if she was willing. "The back way is quicker than going through the bunkroom."
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Feb 28, 2019 11:51:37 GMT -5
"Spot's on the roof."
Lacey swallowed thickly. It seemed as though there was no going back now after all.
"The back way is quicker than going through the bunkroom."
Nodding, Lacey began following after Cloud slowly, heart practically beating out of her chest all the while.
|
|
|
Post by Cloud on Feb 28, 2019 12:01:27 GMT -5
Cloud carefully lead her to the back of the lodge and up the outside ladder to the roof where Spot was. The steps creaked a little, but then again, they always creaked, even when the wind blew. In just a few minutes they were on the roof where Spot was looking over Brooklyn.
|
|
|
Post by Lacey on Feb 28, 2019 12:03:28 GMT -5
Upon heading up to the roof, Lacey found her steps getting slower and slower every time that she would get closer to Spot. She could see him now, just sitting there and looking out on Brooklyn while the sun was bound to set soon enough... and she was suddenly afraid once again.
"I'm scared." She murmured.
|
|
|
Post by Cloud on Feb 28, 2019 14:20:13 GMT -5
"I'm scared."
Cloud gave her a gentle, encouraging nudge. "You got this far... you can do it," he whispered.
He took a step down, staying out of sight to let Lacey and Spot have their privacy.
|
|