- Chapter 14 - Troubles  -
Warning: Mentions of Abuse
Modern Era
Third Person POV

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Albert walks down the school hall, alone. It was unusual for him to be alone in school, but he was perfectly fine with it right now.

After all, he wasn't sure he could keep a happy face on with his friends.

All these strangers in the hall, they don't care. They don't know you, they just care about themselves and their friends, if they even did care about their friends.

They wouldn't even give him a second glance, so a fake smile would work for them.

As for the Newsies, especially Albert's boyfriends, would know right away that something was wrong, even if he hadn't spoken to them yet.

He knew he probably should tell them what was bothering him, maybe they would even help, but he felt like a burden.

Even though he told all of the Newsies, especially his boyfriends, 'talk to us, don't keep it to yourself', he had difficulty taking his own advice.

Growing up in an abusive home, he was always told he was a burden. He knew how Race felt; they had both grown up in an abusive home.

Albert was snapped out of his thoughts by said boy, looking at him really worried. "Albert DaSilva!"

"Hey Race" Albert mumbles, looking as to try to not make eye contact with the younger boy.

"Hey Albie, are you okay? You look tired, and sad, and..." Race trails off, studying Albert's face for signs of his emotions. He was not happy, that much Race could tell, and that was a problem.

"I'm okay, I promise" Albert promises, still not making eye contact with Race.

Race looks at him, and lifts his chin to look at Race, which wasn't much, considering Race was shorter than Albert.

Race looks into Albert's brown eyes, trying to find some kind of emotion, since usually Albert's eyes displayed his emotions, but there was nothing. It was like there was a block so Race couldn't know.

Race steps back, still concerned but he wasn't gonna let Albert know what he was planning. He knows how Albert thinks.

"Okay..." Race stops for a second. "You're still coming to El's, right?"

Crap. Albert thinks to himself. I forgot. I physically can't right now. I can't see them more than usual right now, they'll find out.

"Uh, I don't know Race" Albert starts, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Please Al! It'll be fun, plus Spot and I will be there too" Race pleads, folding his hands, and using puppy eyes. Darn puppy eyes-

"Fine, I'll think about it" Albert answers. Race grins, hugging Albert.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Race exclaims, before giving Albert a kiss on his cheek, and running off.

"What did I just do?" Albert mumbles to himself. I can't see them, especially not for long. I'll break, and they don't need my problems on top of theirs.

Albert mentally punches himself, having to stop himself from actually punching himself. Stupid Albert, stupid, stupid, stupid-

With Race

Race walks over to Elmer and Spot, who were sitting together, at a table, alone. He puts his stuff down on the opposite side of the table, slumping down into his seat. "Problem."

"Morning Race, lovely to see you too" Spot mumbles. Race rolls his eyes.

The three boys had a free period today that Albert, sadly, didn't have. They were waiting for the other Newsies who had the same free period.

"Albert is definitely not telling us something. He looks tired, and sad, and he's really closed off today" Race states. Elmer and Spot look at him.

"You noticed it too?" Elmer whispers. Race nods, stealing a fry from Spot's tray.

"He won't tell me anything, but he agreed to 'think' about coming to your house tonight" Race informs Elmer, who nods.

"He definitely has bags under his eyes" Spot adds. Race and Elmer nod.

"I hate seeing him sad. It kills me" Race whispers, munching slowly on the fry he took from Spot's tray.

"I swear, sometimes they have the same mind." Spot mumbles, mainly for Elmer. "I mean, Albert says the same thing when Race is sad."

"I have an idea!" Elmer exclaims. Spot and Race look at him. "Race and I puppy-dog eye him into staying at my house, and we confront him, or even just help him. He doesn't have to tell us."

"That's a great idea!" Race exclaims, as the other boys come over to the table.

"What idea?" Crutchie asks, sitting down.

Race looks at Spot and Elmer, and they both nod.
"Albert isn't telling us something, and he looks tired, stressed, and sad, so we're gonna have him come to El's house, and help him." Crutchie nods.

"He definitely is out of it" Mike agrees, taking a sip of his drink.

"Hence the reason we're doing this" Spot responds. Mike nods.

"Okay, glad we had this talk, but I need to go now" Race states, getting up.

"Nuh uh." Jack, who sat next to Race, sits him back down, and points to the food on his tray. "Eat the food."

"You worried about money?" Race questions, holding back an eye roll. Jack shakes his head.

"No, Medda doesn't care. However, she, like the rest of us, care that you eat" Jack responds. Race rolls his eyes, taking a bit of the nasty, school cafeteria pizza.

"I swear the only good thing at this school is the fries" Race mumbles, making a face of disgust.

"And the ice cream" Blink adds. Race nods.

"You just like fries" Elmer responds. Race shrugs. (A/N, this is me.)

After school
With Albert

Albert walks out the back entrance of the school, hoping to not have to see his boyfriends.

"Hey Al!" Race exclaims. Albert mentally groans, I swear, they always find me.

Race, Elmer, and Spot walk over to him, and he puts on a fake smile again.

"You ready?" Elmer asks Albert, who shakes his head.

"I can't go. My mom-" Albert starts, making up an excuse.

"We already called your mom, she said you could go" Spot interrupts. Albert mentally curses, darn boyfriends calling my foster mom. They're too smart for me.

"Okay, great!" Race exclaims, noticing Albert's silence. "Let's go then!" He grabs Albert's arm, and starts tugging him towards Elmer's house.

Albert gives up, knowing that he wouldn't be able to get out of this mess. It was useless to fight anyway. He could only hope that his acting skills would trick them, but he knew they probably wouldn't.

At Elmer's house
A few minutes later

The walk was short. It consisted of silence, and Race dragging Albert to Elmer's house, plus Albert hoping and praying he could hide his problems.

When they got there, they said 'hello' to Elmer's grandparents, and ended up going to Elmer's room a few minutes later.

When they got to Elmer's room, Albert was pushed on Elmer's bed, while Elmer closed the door, Spot grabbed something, and Race grabbed a movie.

When they were done, each boy sat on Elmer's bed, next to Albert.

They eventually pulled Albert into a cuddle pile.

Albert was laying on Spot, who was sitting up, playing with Albert's hair. Race was laying to the right of Albert, and was half on Spot, while Elmer was to the left of Albert.

"Okay, Spralmer Therapy time" Elmer decides. Albert chuckles.

'Spralmer' their ship name apparently, decided by the other Newsies. They joked about it a lot.

"Today's subject, Albert" Spot adds. Albert freezes.

"No. Not happening. I'm fine" Albert states, trying to get up. His boyfriends keep him there, and Spot playing with his hair made him feel tired. He didn't know why, as only Race and Elmer ever got tired by someone playing with their hair.

"Al, you're not fine. We know that. Stop trying to hide it. We love you, and we just want to help" Race tells him. Albert sighs.

"My mother just got let out of jail. She was abusive, and eventually killed my father." Albert admits. Race, Elmer, and Spot share shocked looks, they were not expecting that. "Her brother, who was also abusive towards me, bailed her out, stupidly enough."

Albert feels Race wipe his face off. He didn't even realize he was crying, and he had only spoken two sentences.

"It's okay, Albie. We're here for you. You're gonna be okay" Elmer whispers to Albert, as Race guides him to take deep breaths.

After a few minutes, Albert managed to calm down, with help from his boyfriends, of course.

They decided to watch a movie to take everyone's mind off of everything, so they did.

And they fell asleep a few minutes later.

1480 Words
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