Lady of the Bronx- Newsies

Chapter Twenty Three

Pov: Riccardo 

"Now's I'se know Katherine, but who's dat?" Race mutters, standing next to me.

"What?"

"Jack's over dere, talkin' ta two dames." He says, jerking his thumb towards the trio.

My heart skips a beat when I see her.

Standing next to Katherine, who like always, is dressed neatly, all prim and proper, is another girl.

The other girl has sun-kissed skin that's stubbornly tan due to the summer sun. The other girl has dark, thick, and wavy hair. The other girl is short, with eyes dark like the night sky.

The girl is my twin.

The girl is Bambina.

Race lets out a whistle next to me, "She'se seems more similar to us, ain't she? Dose clothes are Newsie clothes, and er suspender, they're brown-"

He cuts himself off short, staring at me wide eyed.

"Ricky....is dat...?" He asks.

I nod numbley, just staring at her. Afraid that if I blink, she'll be gone. "Dat's her. Dats my twin."

How is she here? Why is she here?

Where are the other Bronx Newsies? Why is she with Katherine? I saw them talk a bit the other day, but are they friends?

"Oh's my god, Ricky." Race says, similar to me, he seems in shock. Of course, my reaction is a bit more exaggerated. 

"I'se can't believe she'sa here." I say, mostly to myself.

I watch as she spit shakes with Jack, and my confusion only grows.

What is going on?

"You'se never tolda me that you'se sisters a knockout, Ricky." Race says, trying to lighten the mood.

I look at me, making a face. "Are you'se callin ma sista pretty?" I accuse.

He just shrugs, smirking. "If da shoe fits."

I hit the back of his head, "Oh's, shudup." I can't help but smile at his behavior though. At the very least, Race is always entertaining.

But if he keeps flirting with Bambina, well, we might have a problem.

"So, dats Den Lyn?" He asks, cocking his head towards her.

I nod a bit, "I'se guess so."

He lets out a whistle, "How'se she sellin so much when you'se was still stuck sellin fifty papes day?"

I roll my eyes, "You'se sell eighty, so she'se sellin more than both of us combined."

He looks at me, surprised. "More den Jack?"

I nod, "More den Jack. Bam- Den sells one hundred fifty a day."

Race's eyes widen, "Jesus."

The next time I look at Bambina, we make direct eye contact.

I don't know what to do, so I awkwardly raise my hand in greetings.

She just squints at me, but after a moment, she nods once at me.

That's all I get. One nod.

My heart aches a little, no, alot.

But it's my fault, I'm the one who left her, as much as I hate myself for it, I did.

She owes ya nothing- Spot Conlons words echo in my brain.

"What'a warm greeting." Race mumbles.