Nobody's on Nobody's Side [Open]

[Shadow]

Silent was even too loud to describe how quiet Shadow was. Sure, he could have his moments; like when he was with his brother. But being quiet was just his personality. His brother was the exact opposite, even though the were identical. He was sick of people thinking they were clones of each other. He was sick of the "You don't act like twins" saying. He just shrugged it off and didn't let it bother him.

Another completely different aspect about the two brothers were their sides for the newsies. Shadow met a man named Mike D. Greaser, and the two formed a bond. He soon became the spy for Harlem, which meant he was working for Mike. His brother, Chance, fit right in with the Manhattan newsies. Since Chance was very loyal, he stayed with his friends and leader. Shadow thought Chance was an idiot for staying with the Manhattan newsies. Mike was offering them a better life on a silver platter, and Chance was snubbing his nose right at it. That wasn't the first stupid thing Chance had done. He was the more carefree and thoughtless one of the two.

Shadow walked quietly through Harlem, his steady gaze searched around for anything he could use to take back to Mike. He still needed to talk to Note, the Harlem leader, about being a newsie there. He could gather so much information about them if he was in the Lodging House. If he just sold with them, that meant he wouldn't be able to talk to them that much and get information. Chance said that's how he knew a lot about the boys and girls he lived with. It was like stealing candy from a baby when he talked with Chance. He told everything he knew about his friends and Jack. Shadow turned around and told Mike everything Chance just said.

Mike said that there were two other spies; one for Brooklyn, the other for Manhattan. Both were girls, Daphne was for Brooklyn and Bella was for Manhattan. He didn't know much about either one, he spoke with Daphne a few times, and he saw Bella on the streets at random points. Mike said he would introduce them all to each other sometime, but that was most likely not going to happen. Mike was very unpredictable.

Shadow folded his arms across his chest and walked down to the river. The water was calm for once, it glistened and glimmered, and it reminded Shadow of the stained glass he would see on a church. He decided against skipping stones, and he sat down to watch the quietness of the water.

That is until his silence was ruined by someone.

[Chloe Hawkins]

It was way to loud. The streets were bustling with loud people, yelling at each other, police whistles blowing, horses hoofs clattering on the cobblestones, kids laughing and running around, men cheering on a fight, ect... She needed to get out of it. It was way to loud for her. Her head was hurting from it all.

She ran out of Manhattan, until she got to the Brooklyn Bridge. She crossed over and made her way through Brooklyn. After a very long walk, she finally came to Harlem. Her legs were stiff and felt like logs from the walk. Her whole body was on fire from heat and muscle burn combined. She needed water. Water...Harlem River. Yes, she would go there. She had no plan of attack for the day except to wander around, maybe chat with strangers, the norm for her. She had sold enough papers and had just gotten her paycheck from Medda the day before, so her day was free.

She finally came to the river. She was bloody hot and thirsty, and her whole body was pretty much on fire. She hoped she would be alone - she actually wanted the silence and solitude for once. When she arrived on the bank, she found that she wasn't. She obviously wasn't the only one who had the idea to get away from noise and head towards water. Who was that?

Chloe did a double take. She could have sworn she saw Chance sitting there on the bank. She drew closer, quietly, wanting to be sure before actually tackling him or something. It was Chance...But...No. It wasn't. His eyes were sad. He looked defeated, quiet, and distant. That was not Chance. But who was he? He had the exact same physical features, but his eyes said otherwise. He was not him.

She sat down next to him. "You know, you look an awful lot like someone I know." she said nonchalantly. She began picking at the grass that surrounded the bank and provided a nice little cushion for her.

[Shadow]

"You know, you look an awful lot like someone I know."

Shadow looked where a girl was sitting next to him. He had no idea who this person was, or why she was talking to him. She probably knew Chance, because everyone knew Chance. Everyone loved Chance. He smirked, "Oh really? I get that a lot." He said, rolling his eyes. Many times he wished that they weren't identical. Things would be a lot easier. Perhaps he could use that to his advantage later on in the game.

He pulled his legs closer to him and crossed them. He glanced over to the girl that sat next to him. She was attractive; brown hair, and blue eyes. He studied her for a moment, and then looked back out to the water. "Now who is this person that looks so much like me?" He asked, even though he was pretty confident that the answer would be Chance.

One thing he resented his brother for was his outgoing nature. Shadow was shy, and seemed cold when you first met him. As soon as you met Chance, you fell in love with his personality. It wasn't like that for Shadow, and he got sick of hearing about his brother's friends when he didn't have many. Chance was somewhat popular, and everybody loved him. Shadow wasn't known at all, and it seemed he was alone in everything he did.

[Chloe Hawkins]

"Oh really? I get that a lot."

Chloe frowned. He was so bitter. Definitely not Chance. Nope, not her Chance.

"Now who is this person that looks so much like me?"

Chloe shrugged, "You seem to know that already." she said bemused. He did in fact seem to know exactly who she was talking about before she had even said anything about the person. She studied him further, noticing every little detail. They had to be very closely related. Brothers maybe? Chance would have told her he had a brother though....Wouldn't he? Chloe's frown deepened. What if he had left that little detail out? What if he hadn't wanted her to know?

Chloe threw a rock into the river. It disturbed the peaceful image of glass, flowing into her mood. This new discovery had disturbed her peaceful image of someone she loved. She decided to try a new approach;

"So, ah...Has your brother mentioned his girl at all to you?" she asked sullenly. She would ask questions that the answers might help clear a bit of her confusion up.

((Yuck. Short. Bla.))

[Shadow]

"You seem to know that already."

Shadow smirked, "Apparently I do. You're probably mistaking me for my twin brother, Chance." He said, as he stretched his legs back out. Obviously she knew Chance, it seemed like everyone knew Chance. Maybe because everyone he talked to thought he was Chance and spoke to him for that reason alone.

He watched as she threw a rock into the river, destroying the peace. Shadow glared at her, "What did you do that for?!" He said, she destroyed his peace. Even though hell would have to freeze over before he admitted it, he enjoyed the company. It was a rare moment when someone talked to him.

"So, ah...Has your brother mentioned his girl at all to you?"

Wait, Chance had a girl? When did this happen? He felt a little hurt that Chance never told him, they told each other everything. "Um, no he hasn't." He replied, wishing that Chance would've. If Shadow had a girl, Chance would've been the first person to know, besides the girl herself. It would be a long time before he had a girlfriend. People trusted their first instincts too much, and they didn't like Shadow. He was too 'cold' for them, too 'stand-offish'. He didn't mean to, he just wasn't outgoing as Chance was. Was that his fault? Apparently so.

[Chloe Hawkins]

"Apparently I do. You're probably mistaking me for my twin brother, Chance."

Well, that explained that. "I never mistook you for Chance. You don't look anything alike." she stated smiling. She was partially telling the truth - there expressions and demeanors were totally different, but their features were pretty much the same.

"What did you do that for?!"

"You would have too..." she muttered, almost incoherently. Adding in her head, If you had the feeling I just had....

"Um, no he hasn't."

Chloe looked up at him with a slight glimmer of pity. He seemed the type who shut people out of his life and had no friends. It was also as if his brother wasn't his friend.

"Well, maybe you'll meet her someday." she said grimacing. She figured maybe Chance should be the one to tell him about her, and not her, herself. It would be better that way. Chloe suddenly got one of her brilliant ideas.

"Or...Maybe you should meet her and Chance, in Manhattan, Saturday, 10pm, Irving hall." she rattled off. 10 pm at Irving hall was when she performed. So, they could talk together alone for a show, and then she could join them afterwards.

"I'll come too, if you want." she added brightly.

[Shadow]

"I never mistook you for Chance. You don't look anything alike."

Shadow raised an eyebrow. Was this girl blind or something? Him and Chance were identical, unless you knew them really well then you could tell the difference. And why was she so obsessed about Chance anyway? Chance was just...well, Chance. Nothing special, he's just Chance. He rolled his eyes, "As I recall you said something about me looking an awful lot like someone you know. Therefore we look somewhat alike." He said.

"You would have too..."

He sneered, "No I would not. Believe it or not, some people actually like silence. The water was just fine before you had to ruin it." He huffed, it really was a silly thing to get upset over. But the silence was ruined. He didn't even ask her to come over and talk to him. Maybe he should give this whole 'friendship' thing a try. "Sorry." He muttered under his breath.

"Well, maybe you'll meet her someday. Or...Maybe you should meet her and Chance, in Manhattan, Saturday, 10pm, Irving hall."

Shadow squinted his eyes like he was thinking. Irving Hall, she said? That was in Manhattan, which was where Chance lived. Suddenly, realization hit him. Chance's girlfriend was a performer, oh boy...this was going to be a wild ride. Performers rarely committed to anything except for their work. All they cared about was their work, and themselves. Poor Chance would get his heart trampled, and he would come running to dear Shadow for support.

"I'll come too, if you want."

Shadow grimaced, oh boy she's coming too. "Sure," He said, slowly with a fake smile. Hopefully she wouldn't be able to see right through it. "I'll come...do you work there or something?" He asked.

[Chloe Hawkins]

"As I recall you said something about me looking an awful lot like someone you know. Therefore we look somewhat alike."

"That was before I looked closer." she said simply, staring off at the water. Maybe it had an implied meaning, and maybe it didn't.

"No I would not. Believe it or not, some people actually like silence. The water was just fine before you had to ruin it."

What was wrong with this guy? He couldn't be Chance's Identical twin. Maybe in looks, but definitely not in spirit. Did he not want to make friends? Did he even have anyone besides his brother to turn to?

"Sorry."

Now that was more like it. There was actually a bit of genuine remorse in his tone that Chloe liked. It was as if he couldn't help it. Like, the rude answers and introverted-ness were automatic answers programmed into him. Like a bad habit that couldn't be broken.

"Sure," "I'll come...do you work there or something?"

Chloe paused at the forced looking smile, "Yes." she said shortly. How long could she keep up her charade? How long should she keep up her charade? Which was better; Lying to him about her being Chance's girl and him end up being humiliated when they 'met', or, her telling him now, and him merely getting mad at Chance? Both seemed rather like a lose-lose situation to Chloe.

Oh Chance, forgive me, she silently prayed before launching into scenario number two.

"I'm Joker." she said tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear. "Chloe.." she added quickly. She took a deep breath before continuing, "Well, I'm not going to lie to you...I'm...Ah...With your brother..." she said hesitantly. She wasn't really sure how he would respond to this - he seemed a bit...Depressed...Already, and this added news might make things worse.

[Shadow]

"That was before I looked closer."

Shadow was at a loss with what this girl meant. 'Before she looked closer'? What type of answer was that? He decided it would be one of those moments where you rolled your eyes, and shrugged it off. He didn't really care about her anyways, it wasn't like he would ever see her again.

"Yes."

That would explain it, so obviously he was going to see her again. Oh joy, oh rapture. He thought as he rolled his eyes. He wondered if she was the selfish, prima donna type of performer. She didn't seem like that. Then again, looks can be decieving. Shadow knew that almost better than anyone.

"I'm Joker. Chloe.."

He couldn't lie, the name 'Joker' worried him. Anyone with the name that referred to pranks worried him. They always had to pull pranks on the poor unsuspecting people. Shadow mainly being one of them.

"Well, I'm not going to lie to you...I'm...Ah...With your brother..."

Shadow started to laugh, her name fitted her well. Joker was well...joking. She couldn't be with his brother, his brother didn't like performers. He should know, he spent all of his life with Chance. He stopped laughing, she couldn't be serious...could she? "Are you serious?" He said. No way, no way in the world would he let his brother date this girl. No, no, no, no, no! He looked away angrily. The least Chance could've done is told him!

[Chloe Hawkins]

He started to laugh.

Chloe had honestly thought she would get a quizzical stare, but no, she had gotten some sort of laugh. What kind of laugh was that? Not the kind of laugh that sounded like it belonged in such a cynical person. It had been amused, sweet, and melodious.

"Are you serious?"

"Do you have a problem with it?" she asked hotly, almost threateningly. She didn't like the way he was acting about it. Well, at least things hadn't resorted to violence. Yet.

"Listen..." she began coolly, "Don't get mad at him for not telling you." She paused, not quite knowing where she was going with this.
"He's got a lot of things on his mind right now that happened all of a sudden." she finished, but it was only the beginning. She was about to open way up.

"It's all because of me!" she said looking distressed, "Because of me, his best friend hates him. Now because of me, his own brother is going to hate him. I can't keep putting myself into these stupid stupid stupid situations that end up embarrassing me and making Chance mad and making the people that Chance's loves, hate me and then eventually hating him at the same! What is it about me? What is so wrong with me that everyone but your brother hates on first sight?" she asked, the slightest tinge of tears brimming her eyes.

"Even his own brother didn't give me a chance. You judged me right away." she said quietly.

She wasn't gonna cry in front of him. No way.

[Shadow]

"Do you have a problem with it?"

Shadow rolled his eyes, it didn't bother him that Joker..Chloe..whatever her name is was dating his brother. What bothered him was Chance didn't tell him first, it sounded like a silly reason but that's how Shadow felt. He felt like he was somehow losing his brother. He felt left out, and basically miserable. Chance was there to make him laugh, and not take things so seriously.

"He's got a lot of things on his mind right now that happened all of a sudden."

Shadow snorted, "Oh really? Like what?" He snapped. He didn't really care about Chance's problems now. If Chance had so many things on his mind, he should've came to Shadow. He could've helped Chance sort everything out; that was his specialty. But no, Chance had to go find some girl, make some new friends, and forget about who helped him all along. Now he knew when people said, "When you're a big star, don't forget me." Chance wasn't even a big star, and it seemed like he had forgotten Shadow.

"It's all because of me! Because of me, his best friend hates him. Now because of me, his own brother is going to hate him. I can't keep putting myself into these stupid stupid stupid situations that end up embarrassing me and making Chance mad and making the people that Chance's loves, hate me and then eventually hating him at the same! What is it about me? What is so wrong with me that everyone but your brother hates on first sight?"

Stunned. Stunned was the only word to describe how Shadow felt. He felt..horrible. He didn't hate her, per se. He didn't mind her too badly, its just Chance he was irritated with. "Hey..hey, I'm sorry." He said, quietly. "I don't hate you." He took a deep breath, and let it out slowly as he tried to choose his words carefully. "Chance has this way about him, he's so easy going and crazy that he accepts everyone. You both are really lucky to have each other." He said, as he smiled slightly.

"Even his own brother didn't give me a chance. You judged me right away."

Shadow stared at the ground. He didn't give her a chance, and he did judge her right away. That was wrong, and now he felt awful. "Yes, I did..and I'm sorry. I shouldn't of done that." He said.

[Chloe Hawkins]

"Hey..hey, I'm sorry." "I don't hate you."

Oh. That was new. Chloe really didn't know how to respond to that. She was used to responding to snide remarks and humor...Not to serious stuff. Especially not apologies and remarks such as, "I dont hate you"

"I...Well, thats good to hear.." Chloe stuttered awkwardly.

"Chance has this way about him, he's so easy going and crazy that he accepts everyone. You both are really lucky to have each other."
"Yes, I did..and I'm sorry. I shouldn't of done that."

Chloe grinned sheepishly, "You'd think," she began smirking, "That with such sweet words and good manners, you'd have a pack of girls around you." she finished, glancing around. "But I seem to be the only female on the spot...Whats up with that?" she asked smiling.

It was rare to find good mannered boys in New York. Even the ones who had a hard shell could be sweet and mushy inside. Like a pineapple. Chloe was determined to harvest out all of the pineapples. She giggled suddenly at the thought, and thought she might share it with him.

"You know, there should be more pineapples in the world." she said grinning at him. Whether he understood it or not wouldn't matter. Hopefully, if anything, he would get a (she was sure) much needed laugh out of it.

[Shadow]

"I...Well, thats good to hear.."

Shadow continued to look at the ground. He wasn't very good with expressing his feelings, apologies and what not. It made him tap into his sensitive side. It was a love-hate relationship with his sensitive side. He loved to be tough, and so he hated to become soft and sensitive. It didn't seem as manly as he would like to of been.

"That with such sweet words and good manners, you'd have a pack of girls around you. But I seem to be the only female on the spot...Whats up with that?"

He smiled, "Thanks.." He wished there would be a pack of girls around him. Unfortunately they all loved Chance because they didn't get the opportunity to know the real Shadow. They all thought of him as cold, and mean. Chance was outgoing and fun, basically the preferable twin to be around. "Chance..." He said trailing off. "All of the girls love Chance, they prefer him over me." He said with a simple shrug. It wasn't news to him.

"You know, there should be more pineapples in the world."

Shadow stared at her with a blank expression. He began to laugh, even though he was confused. There should be more pineapples in the world? How did pineapples come into the conversation? What a random thought...pineapples. He laughed harder, for some reason it was just funny. Maybe it was because they both tapped into a side that wasn't very often visited. A good, random topic could make anyone laugh. "Pineapples?" He said, trying to catch his breath from laughing.

[Chloe Hawkins]

"Chance..." "All of the girls love Chance, they prefer him over me."

This was a disturbing thought. She knew that she was one of those girls, but that was the problem. ONE of MANY. Now what did that mean? There would have to be some investigation on that one.

"Well, right now, I'm sitting with you - not Chance." she said pulling up some grass, "Which pretty much means that I am choosing you over Chance right now." she finished. That sounded...Strange to her ears, and probably to his too. She was choosing him over his brother who just so happened to be the love of her life right now. But, she argued in her head, I don't mean it in that way, do I?

Laughter is a disease, and its very contagious. When he started laughing, Chloe couldn't help but join in. Their laughter swayed the silence and the water didn't look so still anymore. A few frogs jumped into it from the sudden bit of noise, causing little splashes and ripples.

"Pineapples?"

The laughter had slowed, and now the question had come. "Yes, Pineapples." she stated with a straight face. Feeling maybe she needed to elaborate some, she continued, "...You know...Pineapples are hard and spiny on the outside, but on the inside they are sweet and soft." she concluded. "You're a pineapple." she added giggling slightly

"Hey - you never told me your name." she said suddenly. She still didn't know his name and she had been sitting with him for a while, sharing things that she wouldn't normally share with a stranger. She wondered what kind of name he might have. Chance's was fairly obvious...But what would his be? Silence? Ghost? Would he even have a name? Of course he would...Everyone has a name. Even if its "Hey you!"

[Shadow]

"Well, right now, I'm sitting with you - not Chance. Which pretty much means that I am choosing you over Chance right now."

Well, that was a first. Someone actually preferred Shadow over Chance for once. Which really shocked Shadow, he was surprised that she had stayed around for so long. Normally people would get up and leave as soon as they saw him. It was a good feeling; being chosen over your brother. For once he felt accepted, and special. "Well, thanks." He said with a smile. He didn't know what else to say, all he could do was thank her for brightening his day.

"...You know...Pineapples are hard and spiny on the outside, but on the inside they are sweet and soft. You're a pineapple."

Shadow beamed, he felt as if that described him perfectly. Hard on the outside, but soft on the inside. People judged him before they even knew him, just like pineapples. "And is that a good thing I hope?" He was finally glad that someone noticed he could be nice too, and not what they saw on the outside.

"Hey - you never told me your name."

He frowned slightly, remembering over their conversation. That's right, he never did tell her his name. She introduced herself, and then she came out and said she was Chance's girlfriend. He got too caught up in that to be polite and introduce himself. "Oh, I'm Shadow. I'm pretty sure my name doesn't need explaining." He said, sarcastically.