Kara and Spot pt 1

Kara ran full tilt towards Brooklyn. Part of the reason was the urgency she had heard in Jess's voice, but the majority of the reason for her hurry was the idea of losing her nerve. Up until now, everyone in Brooklyn had believed she was a boy; the only name she heard was Ace unless she was with the girls. But now, Jess wanted her to shed that disguise and tell Spot who she really was.

She didn't really mind the idea of everyone knowing she was a girl; she could still sell papes, run around in boy's clothing, and fight with her friends (Jess had shown her that), but she was worried about what Spot would say when he found out the truth. Sure she had come to adore him over the past few months, but was she really willing to chance their friendship?

Before she really had a chance to change her mind, Kara was across the Brooklyn Bridge and into the heart of her area. She kept her cap on for the time being; she wanted Spot to be the first one she told the truth…she owed him that at least.

"Hey there Ace!" one of the boys called to her. "How's it goin'?"

"Not bad," Kara replied in her boy voice. "I need to see Spot…where's he at?"

"He's at the pier," the boy replied.

Kara nodded her thanks and took off for the pier. "Hey Spot!" she called when she got close to his usual place.

"Ah, Ace…what're you doin' here?" Spot replied, hopping down from his perch.

"I.." Kara swallowed hard, "I got a few things to tell ya, Spot."

"Go on then," Spot said.

Kara took a deep breath and reached her hands up to her cap. "This is gonna be a bit of a shock," she warned. "Please don't hate me," she whispered as she pulled off the cap.

At once, her long, curly hair fell from its restraints and cascaded down her back. Spot's jaw dropped, and he dropped his cane in surprise. For a moment, both just stood there staring at each other waiting for the other to move first. Finally, Kara broke the silence.

"I'm a girl," she said simply. "Jess saved me from the factory less than a year ago."

Spot finally closed his mouth and bent to pick up his cane. "Well…" he began slowly, "this is certainly a surprise. You had me fooled for all this time?" he asked in a mixture of shock and admiration.

Kara nodded. "I had to," she explained. "You wouldn't have let me in as a girl."

Spot began to pace in an attempt to clear his mind. "But you fight with me," he said desperately. "You run around and fit right in with the Brooklyn boys…even if you are a girl…I don't see how I can treat you like one!"

Kara wrinkled her nose in disgust. "I don't want ya to," she said. "I ain't no glass doll!"

"Then how am I supposed to treat ya?!" Spot cried in confusion. "You ain't a boy, but you ain't one of those rich snobs either…how am I supposed to find the balance?"

Sensing his rising panic, Kara placed a hand on his shoulder. "You did it with Jess."

Spot turned to face her, and she felt his eyes scanning her face. "That's true," he conceded. "But Jess was…"

"I know, Jess was special," Kara said quickly. "But…I've been your friend all this time, and you know what I'm capable of; doesn't that count for something?"

At these words, Spot's eyes seemed to soften slightly. "Course it does," he smiled. He laughed slightly. "I don't know anything about the real you though."

Kara laughed with him. "I guess you don't. Would you be willing to learn?"

Spot looked at her appraisingly for a moment. "Yeah…I think I would be. First things first, what's your real name?"

"It's Kara," she replied with a radiant smile.

"Kara…" Spot repeated and smiled at the way her name rolled off his tongue. "It fits ya. Why'd you go around as a boy for so long?"

"Like I said, I had to," Kara replied. "You wouldn't have let me in with the boys if I hadn't, plus it just seemed easier at the time. Nobody would be lookin' for a boy that escaped from a factory."

"Were you in the same one as Jess had been?" Spot asked.

"Yeah I was," Kara shuddered. "It was horrible. I couldn't believe it the day Jess busted me out. I've been helping her with the others since I got out. We have a nice little group of girls runnin' around the streets these days," she said proudly.

"Where are they all?" Spot asked.

"Some of 'em pretend to be boys and work with Newsies all around the city, but others hide themselves in groups of Newsboys that are willin' to take a girl in. The ones that pretend live in a secret alley so no one finds out the truth."

"That's why you never stayed here," Spot said thoughtfully.

"Yeah…it was always too much of a risk for me," Kara admitted. "Plus, I run the alley, so I had to go back."

"A leader, huh?" Spot said approvingly.

"I learned from the best," Kara winked.

Spot laughed. "Hey, why don't we go back to my place, and we can talk some more? Then you can tell the rest of the boys."

"Sounds good to me," Kara smiled and fell into step beside him.

After a few moments, however, Kara stopped short and seized Spot's arm. "Wait we can't right now!"

"Why not?" he asked slightly confused.

"Jess sent me to get you; Manhattan needs help."

Spot laughed darkly. "You bet they do. Jackie boy bailed on 'em for money."

Kara gasped. "He betrayed Jess?!"

"He betrayed all of 'em, but yeah…Jess too," Spot said sadly. "Bet she's crushed, poor thing."

"She didn't seem to be when she came to get me," Kara observed. "Either way, Jess says they need help. She says they're stormin' the gates and need as many people as possible. You have to help her!"

"Why?" Spot asked. "We did our part and got busted for it. I don't fancy gettin' caught a second time, thanks."

Kara fumed. "You sound just like those chicken girls! What're you afraid of? You're Spot Conlon for goodness sake! You're the most feared Newsie in all of New York, you beat up thugs just for fun, and," she added looking him straight in the eye, "you're the only one Jess would trust to lead Manhattan with Jack gone. You're the best, Spot…and they don't have a prayer without you."

Spot eyed her carefully for a moment before nodding. "Alright boys pack it up! We're headin' to Manhattan!"

There was an instant flurry of movement as all the boys rounded up their weapons of choice.

Kara smiled. "Thanks, Spot. I know Jess'll appreciate it."

"Oh I ain't doin' this for her," Spot said simply.

"Then why're you doin' it?" Kara asked, taken aback.

Spot turned to look her square in the face. "I'm doin' it because you asked me to," he whispered then walked away to get his things ready.

Sorry it took so long to get this out everyone! There will be a second part to this showing after the Strike ends, but I wanted to break it up a little. Is there anything else you guys would want to see? Let me know if you have any suggestions please!