Unscripted (Jack & Crutchie)

Chapter 20 - Turned Tables

Criticism spot!

(note, I am fully aware that LGBT relationships wouldn't be tolerated whatsoever at this time, but jus lemme have this one thing please)

Jack's POV

I woke up to Crutchie shifting around, but still asleep. He was still facing me, the sunrise shining on his face. I thought about waking him, but as I saw how calm he looked while sleeping, I decided against it. I laid there, closing my eyes and listening to him breathe.

After a few more minutes he shifted again. I opened my eyes to look at him again, seeing if he'd wake up. He stretched his arms out and yawned, turning back to me. 

"Hm..." He said as he continued to wake up a bit, giving me a smile. "Morning." His voice was quiet as it always was when he first woke up, and his hair was a mess.

"Morning. Didn't want to watch the sunrise?" I asked, as he usually wakes up in order to see it. I started to run my fingers through his hair in order to fix the absolute disaster I was looking at.

"No, I just wanted to sleep in a bit." He continued smiling, continuing to look at me.

"I see," I was about to get up when he closed his eyes again. "Nuh uh, don't go fallin' asleep on me," I joked, getting up and laughing.

"Come on, a few more minutes?" He sat up, pouting.

"We gotta go sell," I couldn't help but smile as I looked at him, starting to get dressed.

"But Jacky," he whined, and I was caught off guard. I stopped buttoning my shirt, confused.

"Jacky?" Crutchie stared at me for a second, looking like he hadn't even realized he had said it. He started to laugh at himself, and I laughed a bit, too.

"I don't even know where that came from," he got up and grabbed his clothes, starting to change.

"I like it." I couldn't help but smile when I replayed him calling me Jacky in my head. No one had ever given me any form of nickname, mostly because I refused to let them. We finished getting dressed and headed to Newsie Square, smiles plastered on both of our faces.

The day was going pretty well. I had already sold all my papes, a difference from yesterday where I barely sold them all. I started to make my way to Crutchie, excited to see him. I'd never admit this to him, but I hated being away from him when we was selling. I was always real eager to get to him. 

When I was pretty close to Crutchie's selling spot, I noticed someone walking toward me real aggressively. It only took me a moment to see that it was Tommy, probably coming to get mad about god only knows what. I sighed to myself, preparing to hear what crazy ideas he would yell at me this time.

"Hey, what was with that look yesterday, Jack?" I stopped walking as he spoke, and we stood and stared at each other.

"What look?" As I had guessed, he was mad about something stupid. "I was giving everyone the same look last night." 

"No, youse gave me a different look. As if I had said those things about Crutchie." He crossed his arms, still seeming upset.

"Look, Tommy. I didn't give anyone any special look or anything. I was pissed and was lookin' at every fella the same way. Maybe youse just thought that because you know I don't like you." I was getting angry as I talked, wishing I could just punch him to shut him up.

"So you don't like me after a one-time thing, but Crutchie abandons everyone and you forgive him?" I froze when he said that, taken back by the mental hoops he was jumping through as he spoke.