Lady of the Bronx- Newsies

Chapter Twenty One

Pov:Smalls

Pecks, Bugs and I are all walking back from the bar, Pacers. They got permission from Quinn earlier, right after lunch time, he allowed them to come back after sun down. And, Pecks (being Pecks) let me tag along. 

The sky is the type of color it can only be in the summer. The specific shade of twilight just after sunset that lasts a long period of time, just before complete darkness. The blueish black hue is my overall favorite color.

I still feel bad for not inviting Deer, but I couldn't find her at the time, I just left with them on a whim. Sliders would've gone too, but he needed to sell more papes. Times are tough, we've all had to more work, so I'm not surprised. 

Either way, as much as I like Pecks and Bugs, I felt like a bit of a third wheel. Maybe more than a bit. Even when all three of them are together, I'm still a bit of an outsider. Not saying that I didn't have fun! I did! 

But I miss Deer, I haven't seen her at much today. Earlier, she was selling with Bugs. And after lunch, she was off with Pete and Quinn.

I think back to lunch today, what a mess. It feels like Deer can't get a break; all she was trying to do was help someone off the ground.

I think back to the guy, Crutchie. My heart skips a beat.

"Oh's finally!" Bugs says, exasperated. "I'se walked so much today dat me legs feel like mush!"

"Eh same heres, Bugs!" Pecks agrees as we turn to look at the factory.

At first, everything seems fine, normal. 

But even from here, I can hear it. By the pailing of Pecks and Bugs's face, they can too.

"Cad a chiallaíonn tú go bhfuil sí imithe!?!?" The outraged voice of Sliders yells from inside.

"Sliders, calm down!" Quinn yells back.

"Calm down?!?! Tóg go bog é?!?!? Cad é an ifreann, Quinn?!"

At this point the three of us are running towards the factory- what is going on?

Throwing open the door, I try to observe the hectic scene around me.

Oh mon Dieu. 

Oh my god.

Sliders is red in the face, yelling at Pete and Quinn. And he's not the only one. To my surprise, Muffs looks pissed off as well. Welsh looks like a mix of worry, fear, and sickness.

Danny and Hector are in the back sitting on Deer's bunk.

Attends ... où est-elle?

Wait...where is she?

Where's Deer? My heart starts beating like an angry drummer, my eyes frantically looking for her, my legs carrying me inside.

That's when I notice it.

The bunk, the one Danny and Hector are sitting on, it's empty.

Deer's bunk is empty.

Où est-elle?

"Sliders, man, what's wrong?" Pecks says, going next to him.

Sliders turns to Pecks, steam practically coming out of his ears. "What's wrong? Céard atá mícheart? Look around, Pecks! Look who isn't here!"

A chill washes over me, so I was right. "Where is she?" the words that were replaying in my mind tumble out of my mouth.

Pete looks at me, he almost seems embarrassed. That, or ashamed. "Gone."