hartio

Iced Over
by Natalie Hart
Rated PG

                                                                  PART 1:::
        "Morris. As in, Delancy." It wasn't a question. It was a statement. Martie stared open-mouthed at her friend, Anita, who was blushing and nodding. "But, but he... I mean, Morris! He, well, I mean... just, he looks like an ape!"
        "Well, yeah,but," Anita grinned, "he's so sweet!"
        "Yeah, sweet like the blood from a busted lip." Martie shook her head. "I don't think I can. Sorry, but..."
        "Oh, come on! I can't go to the center alone! It's almost halfway across the city. And it's cold, what if I get lost?"
        "How could you get lost? We go there every day!"
        "And... I'm nervous to go alone. Please, America's a lot different from England."
        "Ah... fine. But you... you owe me big time..."
        "Oh!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!" Anita ran over and threw her arms around Martie. "You're the best friend I could have!"
        "Yeah. I know." Martie moved over to her bunk and grabbed her coat. She, like most of the other newsies, had gotten warm clothes from the St. Vincent de Paul Society. The coat had obviously once been very nice, but by the time it got to Martie, it was stretched out in several places and had a few moth holes. But Martie had patched up the holes, and now the coat provided warmth against the brutal January in New York.
                                }}i{{
        As Martie and Anita walked toward the center later that day, neither girl noticed the sky growing darker or the wind blowing harder. They laughed as they walked, huddled against the cold that stung their cheeks and burned their lungs.
        They got to the center and Anita rapped quickly on the door. Morris almost immediately opened it and pulled Anita in by the hands. He smiled shyly at her, then awkwardly kissed her cheek. Oscar appeared behind his brother and rolled his eyes at Martie.
        The four walked inside, where it was no warmer than out side, but in the sitting room, a fire was crackling happily. Morris pulled two mismatched chairs toward the fire; Oscar mirrored his brother's actions silently.
        "So," Morris gazed at Anita. "What've you been up to?"
        "Nothing, really. Selling my papers, staying alive. Trying to keep from freezing to death." Anita laughed gently, and Morris hyucked along with her.
        Martie smiled uncomfortably, but her eyes flicked from Morris to Anita, again and again. She could figure out why Morris liked Anita. She was very pretty and sweet to boot. Her light brown hair curled gently around her face, loosely at the ends. Her skin was never tan, and never pale, just always very rosy and soft looking. Anita wasn't fat, nor was she skinny. She was round, but smooth and soft. Her eyes were dark brown and very welcoming. That was Anita, soft and smooth like a comfortable painting where the edges are blurred and sleepy. As to why Anita liked Morris, Martie didn't know. He needed a shave and a haircut, not to mention a good long bath.
        "So, sweet cheeks," Oscar smirked, "what brings you here?"
        "Your incredibly handsome face, Os." Martie rolled her eyes. "Anita asked me to come wit her, and she wouldn't take no for an answer."
        "Sure, that's it." Oscar winked at Martie and put a cigarette in his mouth.
        Martie sighed and pulled her coat closer around her. It was going to be a long visit.

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