The Rooftop, part one
By
Hart
Rated: PG
       The stars were so bright.  Hard to believe that they were even there, considering that no one knew anything about them.  Just bright lights in the sky.  Hart lay on her back with her arms folded beneath her head.  Sometimes that bunkroom got so stuffy...  It was cool up on the roof, strange for the middle of summer.  Hart was about to drop off to sleep when she heard the door to the roof open.  She jerked up, and was surprised to register Skittery standing in the door.
        "What are you doing up here?" He scowled at her.
        "I might ask you the same thing.  Wouldya chill out?  Nobody's gonna bite you.  You don't have to make that face.  I'm just tryin' to get some shut eye."
        "Oh." The sneer slipped off Skittery's face as he came closer. "Well, I was doin' the same thing.  That mattress is infected.  I swear, it's impossible to sleep around here."
        "Yeah... So, Skit, why are you always in a bad mood?  There's gotta be a reason..."
        Skittery said nothing.  He just shrugged and scratched his shoulder blade.
        "Oh, I get it.  You gotta act tough so that no one knows that you got feelings."
        "Yeah, I guess that's it..." A small grin appeared on his face.
        "See?  Now that wasn't so hard, was it?"
        "Nah.  Hey, Hart?  Umm, what would a girl like you, not you, just a girl like you, want in a guy?  Cuz, I mean, it comes so easy to the guys.  Like Jack and Mush are always gettin' the girls, but me... I just don't know what they want."
        "Well, if it ain't a night of miracles.  First a smile, now a question about girls... Well, I dunno.  I likes all different kinds of guys.  Don' change who you are.  I'm sure there's a girl somewhere who'd like you just for the guy you are."
        Skittery looked at Hart, with disbelief on his face. "Yeah, right.  You want a smoke?  I'm needin' one bad."
        Hart took the cigarette and took a long drag on it.  The nicotine must've made her sleepy, 'cause she yawned with all of the smoke billowing out.  "Oh, that's gross lookin'."
        Skittery laughed, "Yeah, well everythin's gross lookin' at 3 in the mornin'.  We'd better go inside.  'S startin' to rain."
        "You go ahead.  I'se got me a makeshift tent to keep it off.  But don' be a stranger.  See ya when the bell rings."
        "Right..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  It didn't rain for long, but the cover Hart had put up shielded the sun from her eyes.  When she finally woke up, it was to the sound of the other newsies heading off to get their papes.  She cursed and ran down to the girls' bunkroom.  Hart grabbed her hat and money, splashed some water on her face, and ran out the door past a surprised Kloppman.
        "Hey, Hart."
        Hart skidded to a halt and spun around.
        Skittery threw his almost-gone cig to the ground.  He had been standing just outside of the door, but now he motioned that they should get going.  "I didn't see you come out, so I thought I'd -- hey, why's your face all wet?"
        Hastily, Hart wiped off her face with her sleeve. "I just woke up late.  So you say you thought?  Congrats."
        "Don't be like that.  I'se in a good mood.  As I was sayin', I thought I'd wait a bit , in case you were just late or somethin'."
        "Oh.  Thanks.  Well, sorry, I... snapped atcha."
        "'S'okay."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


        "Hey, you, Skittery!"  Jack yelled when he saw him.  "Where ya been?  We almost left witoutcha."
        "He was just waitin' for his goilfriend. Hah hah." Crutchy laughed at his own joke.  Actually, everyone laughed at his joke.
        "Wouldja gimme a break?  I forgot somethin', and I had to go back an' get it."
        "What?  Your 'Hart'?" sneered Race.
        "No, my money, what is kinda important."
        Hart and Skittery ran up the ramp to the window where Mr. Knockman was waiting good-naturedly.  "What'll it be, kids?"
        Hart winked at Knockman. "You know me, Knockman.  Gimme what I always get."
        "30 papes! Next."
        "Good mornin' Knockman.  Uh, 30 papes."
        "A good morning from you, Skittery?  What happened, did you get some action last night?"
        Skittery just rolled his eyes and grabbed his papes.
        "Hey, Skit, wouldja look at this?  There's supposed to be a shooting star sometime in the next few days."
        "Mind if I joins ya on the roof to look for it?"
        "Not at all."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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