Okay, I've started working on another story! I have it planned as part of a trilogy type thing that doesn't include this book, but the book I'm working on takes place after this... I'm not quite sure how to explain it, it's really weird, but whatever.

Anyway... I figured I'd give y'all a sneak peek!

***
The roof had always been Jack's place to think. When he was younger Race hadn't understood, but now he did.

The lodge's fire escape had become his safe haven over the past few weeks. He found himself constantly fleeing the stifling atmosphere of the lodge in favor of the cool evening air.

He would lean against the metal bars with his legs hanging over the edge, gently swinging back and forth. It was the perfect way to clear his mind, especially now.

Race's fingers shook as he pulled a cigar out of his pocket. He lit a match, but his hands were trembling so much that he dropped it before he could light the cigar.

He let out a curse as he lit another match, quickly bringing the cigar to his mouth, trying to forget. His mind seemed frozen, yet at the same time it was racing; all the thoughts running through this head, the conversation playing itself over and over again until he wanted to scream.

"Hey, Race! Can I talk to you for just a second?"

"Go ahead," Race responded, scanning his cards.

Jack stood beside Race and shook his head. "I'm afraid that ain't gonna work. I need to speak with you in confidence."

"Can't it wait?" Race groaned. He reluctantly dropped his cards face down on the table and stood up. "You better not look at those, Rome."

"I won't!" Romeo exclaimed.

Race shot the boys a grin and tipped his hat before following Jack upstairs. If he'd payed more attention he would have seen the serious look on Jack's face.

Race's hand tightened around the steel bar, the other one still clutching his cigar for comfort. If he'd noticed how Jack looked he wouldn't have followed him, no way.

He would've come up with an excuse, any excuse, and would have ignored Jack for as long as he could. Then he wouldn't be stuck in this mess, he wouldn't have to deal with any of these problems . . .

But he had followed Jack and he did hear what the older boy had to say, and now he had no way out. All he could do was sit out here on the fire escape and pretend, pretend it was yesterday or the day before. Pretend that nothing was wrong. Pretend that he had a say in this. Pretend that he wasn't next.

But he was.

"What's this about Jacky? Make it quick, I got some money I'm about to win."

"Do you want to sit down?"

"Do I look like I want to sit down? If I wanted to sit I wouldn't be standin'!" Race shook his head. "Are you okay?"

Jack seemed nervous, a completely foreign emotion for the leader to be wearing. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"Then what's the look for?" Race bit his lip, his fingers twitching. Race couldn't help it, Jack's nerves were affecting him; they always did. Anytime Jack was worried, all of the boys were certain to feel it soon.

Luckily for them, Jack wasn't worried often. That was one of the things that made him such a great leader. He could keep his emotions in check, he could keep his boys calm.

"Race, I been thinkin'-"

"Well then there's your problem! No good ever comes when you tries to think!" Race's attempt to lighten the mood fell flat.

"I'm serious. This is important."

Race didn't like being serious. He didn't like facing difficult things, he never had. He much preferred to laugh off any troubles, to ignore them and keep moving through life.

Jack had always warned him about ignoring his problems. Spot had as well-though the Brooklyn leader was more understanding than Jack. Still, both had warned him that eventually a day would come when he would be unable to push his worries aside, a day he would have to face them.

They had been right. He couldn't run from this. If he did they would never forgive him; he'd be a coward, and Racetrack was not a coward.

"You know I'm marrying Katherine."

"Everyone knows that," Race rolled his eyes. "You barely shut up about it."

"I'm going to need to support us. I can't do that makin' sixty cents a day."

Race froze. "What're you getting at, Jack?"

"I've decided to take up Mr. Pulitzer's offer. I'll work for the newspaper and maybe paint backdrops for theaters on the side."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Why do you think I'm telling you?" Receiving no response, Jack continued. "Race, when Kath and I get married, I ain't gonna be livin' here anymore. I'm gonna get a real job and live somewhere else. I won't be here anymore."

"No! You can't leave!" Race felt like a petulant child, whining and complaining the way that he was, but Jack was talking about leaving! He couldn't leave them!

"I don't have any choice."

"Why can't you stay?"

"Look, all of us is going to move on someday. I've been doin' this for as long as I can remember. It's my time."

"What're we s'posed to do without you?"

"That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about. The boys are gonna need a new leader."

Race's brow crinkled. What was Jack saying? Then it hit him and his eyes narrowed as he began shaking his head. "No."

"That's gonna be you."

"I ain't doin' it Jack! I can't! I ain't leader material!"

"You'll do fine. I'll teach you."

"I ain't ready for this!" Race argued. "I'll mess everything up!"

Race couldn't handle things like Jack could; he was short-tempered and impulsive. He wasn't nearly responsible enough and the trouble with the Bronx had been more than enough to prove how selfish he could be.

He was everything a leader shouldn't be.

He would let all of the boys down. They would hate him. He'd destroy everything Jack had done. Jack would hate him too.

"You don't have a choice. I'm leaving. You're my second. You're the only one I trust to do this right."

"What about Crutchie?" Race suggested. He was desperate.

"He can't handle it, not with his leg the way it is. It'd be to hard for him. Besides, he's almost to old for this too. He wouldn't be around for long.
You've got at least a year or two left."

"How about Specs?"

"Why not you? What's so terrible about you bein' in charge?"

Race didn't want to answer.

"They look up to you. I know that you don't see it, but they do. You are the only one who can take over, they'll listen to you. They can look to you for help, they'll follow your lead."

"I don't think this is for me-"

"You've been my second for years. Don't seconds usually take over when the leader leaves? Ain't that the point of havin' 'em?"

"I didn't think you would leave," Race admitted softly.

Jack softened and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You didn't think we'd all stick around forever, did you?"

Race shrugged. "I hoped," he whispered.

"Race, deep down you know that it's gotta be you. I wouldn't pick you if you wasn't the best option."

"I need to think," Race said, pushing off the bed and out the window, leaving Jack all alone.

Race didn't want this. He could say no, it was an option. They couldn't force him to lead. At the same time, he had no choice. Deserting the boys, leaving them to figure it out for themselves, wasn't an option.

Race could sit out here as long as he wanted debating the matter, but there really wasn't much point. He knew that in the end he wouldn't leave. He couldn't.

He was going to be the next leader of the Manhattan newsboys and it was about time he got used to it.

***
So... what'd you guys think?
I'm excited!!!