Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognize from the movie.
Chapter Three
In hindsight, the morning selling in Manhattan was extremely prosperous for Owl. She took Jack up on his offer and spent the morning selling with him as well as with his selling partner. Owl doubted the young man, who Jack introduced with a smirk as the Walking Mouth or David, could really sell papes. His neat curly hair, dark intelligent eyes and his impeccably clean clothes made him look more like an office worker than a newsie. It was his younger brother, an adorable kid named Les, who obviously brought in the money.
Owl took advantage of this and sold with Les a block down from Jack and David. Together they made quite a pair. Les, with his adorable child's face and smile, sold more than half of the papers they had between them. Owl stayed next to him and called out headlines, waiting on the side until she was really needed to finish the sale. If there was one thing Owl knew, it was how to play the customers. It didn't take much time until their papes were gone and they had rendezvoused with Jack and David. With the money quickly split between them, Jack told Owl that they should start their walk to Brooklyn now if she ever wanted to go.
It was now late afternoon and the pair was almost to the docks where Jack had assured Owl that they would find Spot Conlon. Although Jack had been chattering the entire walk, Owl had not heard a single word said to her. She was lost in her own thoughts about the rumors she had heard about Spot Conlon. It was common knowledge that he had a temper, much like Keys whose temper could flare up at any moment at an unsuspecting and undeserving newsie. Owl wondered if Conlon's temper ever extended to the girl newsies as Keys had. Owl remembered the time Keys had punched her friend Lips and the girl had been knocked unconscious for several hours. Owl thought it was more than likely that Conlon would do so too. Although the New York newsies treated females in general with respect, it was the general consensus that girl newsies weren't real ladies and didn't have to be treated as such. Owl frowned to herself with worry. She did not know how Spot Conlon treated his newsies and unknowns made Owl uncomfortable.
Jack's voice broke through her contemplations, "Penny for your thoughts." Owl glanced at the taller newsie and frowned in confusion. Jack's face broke into a smile, "I just told you that aliens was going to invade and you didn't even flinch. I ain't ever seen anyone so deep in their thoughts."
Owl smiled and spoke playfully, "Well Jackie boy, that ain't a surprise considering your newsies ain't ever had an original thought."
Jack burst into a laugh and shook his head, "You better watch your mouth when you get into Brooklyn, Owl. Spot don't like girls with big mouths."
The idea struck Owl that she could find out from Jack how the Brooklyn newsgirls were treated. Owl tried to look nonchalant as she asked, "So, how is Conlon as a leader?" She glanced at Jack and saw him raise an eyebrow in question. Owl looked away as she added, "I mean, he don't hit his girls or anything like that, right?" She looked straight ahead and avoided looking too interested. There was a long pause before Jack spoke and Owl couldn't help but glance at him again in curiosity.
Jack face was sober and he was staring into her eyes, "I ain't ever heard of Spot Conlon raising a hand to hurt a girl newsie unless she attacked him first." Owl nodded and looked away, embarrassed. Even as the relief flowed through her at the news, Owl was reluctant to let Jack in on her personal worries.
He continued talking, "Spot's a good leader; unlike some people." There was a pause and Owl tilted her head in Jack's direction, indicating for him to continue. Jack cleared his throat, "I heard rumors that Keys liked to hit his girls."
Owl visibly tensed up and her mind spun in circles debating the safest answer. In spite of the hurt he had caused her, Owl still felt loyal to Keys and didn't want to spill any of the Bronx's secrets. She took a small breath before answering, "Keys never laid a hand on me out of anger."
Even though she could not see Jack, she knew his face was showing disbelief. "That wasn't exactly a denial." Jack paused, testing his ground. Owl stayed silent, giving no indication for him to stop. Jack continued, "Well I know he hit that one girl who ended up in the hospital. Her name was Games or something like that, right?"
"He's only like that when he drinks," Owl protested in Keys' defense.
"Is he ever sober, Owl?" Jack countered loudly. He sighed and lowered his voice, "I've been in the Bronx many times. Me boys go to the Bronx to see girls sometimes. I know what it's like, Owl." He glanced at her meaningfully.
Owl didn't answer. She knew in her mind that Jack was right. There was rarely a night that Keys would fall asleep sober and if he did, it was because he did not have enough money to buy any liquor and had gotten caught trying to pilfer some. The last year it had gotten steadily worse. Even though she knew it was true, Owl's heart wanted to tell Jack that he just did not understand and did not have the whole story. Instead she kept silent.
Jack sighed once he realized that Owl was not going to say anything else about the Bronx. "Spot ain't like that, you know," He went on, "He drinks some but he just gets flirty and handsy. That's all. He don't cause all that much trouble." He smiled at Owl in an attempt to be reassuring and comforting.
Owl felt herself smile back in spite of the confusion that was clouding her brain. She knew that Jack was only trying to help and made a conscious decision to let him know she appreciated it and was trying not to be upset. Deciding that a playful joke would lighten the situation, Owl smiled, "I heard that Conlon doesn't need to drink to get handsy with the ladies. Everyone knows as soon as a pretty girl walks by, Conlon already has his hand halfway down her shirt."
Jack's laughter lightened the mood more than Owl's joke ever could have and Owl felt herself pulled in and began to laugh with him. She had heard the phrase that laughter was good for the soul and Owl fully believed it now. Laughing with Jack made her worries and fears float away and seem minuscule. As their laughter died down, Owl hoped they would stay that way.
Jack smiled at Owl and stopped walking, "It's true. Conlon doesn't even need those pretty girls to have a drink before they're cuddling up next to him."
Owl snorted in disbelief, "He can't be that attractive, Cowboy."
He shrugged and pointed to her left, "See for yourself."
As Owl turned in that direction, she was hit with the smell of the docks. The smell had been building so gradually that Owl had not been consciously aware of it. Now standing in front of them, Owl was hit by the various smells of fish, water, garbage, and wet wood. Owl was surprised to find herself standing in front of the docks but was glad that the long walk was over with. Her head had started to throb again towards the end.
She turned her attention to the young man Jack was pointing at. Although he was leaning against some crates halfway down the dock, Owl was struck by the aura that surrounded him. His posture exuded confidence and poise. Owl knew without a doubt that this was the famed Spot Conlon. His dirty blonde hair was blowing across his face by the soft breeze coming off the water. He nonchalantly brushed the hair away and looked in their direction. He smirked and started walking towards them.
Owl took the opportunity to study him further. He was wearing typical newsboy pants held up with suspenders but underneath, he was bare-chested. From a distance, he looked skinny but as he walked closer, it became apparent that he had a muscular chest and arms. Owl found herself wondering how those arms would feel around her and quickly shook herself mentally. It wasn't right to start lusting after the first attractive man she met after Keys.
As Spot slowed to a stop in front of them, Owl saw the changes that had occurred since the glance she had gotten of him during the strike. He seemed taller and more confident, if that were even possible. Owl's eyes were drawn again to his naked upper body and discovered to her utter dismay and delight that it was glistening with water. Spot Conlon had obviously just gotten out from a swim.
Owl forced herself to tear her eyes from his sexy chest and looked up at his face almost losing herself when she looked into his eyes. His striking grey blue eyes. They were filled with intelligence and self-assurance. And they were currently running over her body looking quite satisfied with what they saw.
Owl shook herself from her revere and mentally scolded herself. This was not the way to react to her new leader. She had made the mistake in the Bronx to become infatuated with the leader and it had gotten her nowhere. Never again, she told herself. Owl rationalized to herself that the only way she was reacting this way was because she had been dating the same guy for a year and a half. Now that she was single, she reasoned, every attractive man she saw would seem like a god. Even as she spoke the words in her head, she knew they were lies.
His deep voice broke the silence, "Jackie boy, I got your birdy this morning. I didn't think it would take this long for you to get her here." His eyes were still running over Owl as he said it.
She refused to look into his eyes for fear of what her reaction would be. She instead turned to Jack who was shrugging, "We decided to walk slow." He and Conlon spit shook. "Spot, I want you to meet Owl. She was hoping you could take her in as one of your newsgirls."
Owl felt herself smile at Conlon as she spit in her hand and held it out to him. Without hesitation, he did the same and shook her hand, "I know who she is. She can stay, Cowboy. Your girl is taking a swim." It was an obvious dismissal.
Owl glanced at Jack to see his reaction. To her surprise, he simply smiled and tipped his cowboy hat at her, "See you later, Owl. Thanks for the talk."
Owl reluctantly watched Jack walk away before turning to face her new leader who was staring at her with calm, calculating eyes. Owl was worried about what would happen now that she was alone with the young man. Would he be rude? Would he assume she was an easy girl and flirt with her?
His eyes continued to run over her body and Owl felt her indignation rise at the blatant offense. It was one thing to appreciate someone's body but to blatantly stare as if undressing her was just plain rude and offensive. She bit back the snarky response that sprouted in her brain. It would not do to piss off Spot and get kicked out of another borough before she was even truly in it. Instead of snapping at him, Owl simply scowled in his general direction. Her scowl fell as disbelief flooded her when Spot began to circle her as if inspecting a piece of meat. Owl's temper flared and she let out an angry breath, "Are you done inspecting your new acquisition?" She spat the words at him. While not angering Spot had been her original intention, she refused to be treated as a piece of meat.
Spot simply arched an eyebrow at her as he finished his circle and came to stand in front of her. "Temper, temper, girly. I was just seeing how fit you are. Brooklyn's a tough neighborhood and I don't have the time to waste looking after a weak girl who can't handle herself."
She was only slightly surprised at how truthfully harsh his words had been. She smiled ruefully at herself for allowing Cowboy to let her think Spot Conlon would behave any differently than any of the other leaders she had known. Owl laughed harshly at Spot and at herself, "Don't worry yourself, Conlon. I grew up alone on the streets of Harlem. You learn to take care of yourself or you don't survive." Owl had been taking care of herself for almost as long as she could remember. Even in the Bronx, while being the leader's girl, Owl had been forced to defend herself more than once while Keys had been off doing business.
Spot shrugged, her confession obviously not coming as too much of a surprise. "Well I ain't going to spend my time looking over your shoulder so you'd better know how to take care of yourself." He started walking away from the docks and motioned for Owl to follow him. Owl was once again struck by the aura of the slim young man. Everything about him from the way he held himself during a conversation, to his walk, exuded confidence and control and fearlessness. There was no way any one could not see that he was a born leader.
Owl shook herself from her musings and quickly followed him. Her musings had distracted her from her anger and, for the life of her, Owl could barely remember why she was so upset. All she could think about was this enigma of a young man who was leading her. Owl walked beside him in silence for a moment, unsure of what to say. Spot broke their silence, "There are certain rules if you want to stay in Brooklyn. Since you come from the Bronx and we aren't on the best of terms…"
Owl snorted, "That's putting in mildly."
Spot smirked at her before continuing and Owl found her insides squirming in pleasure. She mentally scolded herself for her reaction as she focused on what Spot was saying, "Until I know for sure I can trust you, you won't be going off alone. Me or one of me boys that I trust will be with you unless you're in the girls' bunk room." Owl opened her mouth to protest but Spot cut her off, "I don't know you and I don't trust you, especially since you're Keys' girl."
"Used to be, Conlon." Owl frowned, " 'sides, I really like being alone. I need my alone time." She realized how futile her arguments were and quieted.
Spot shrugged nonchalantly, "So you can be alone with one of me boys there." Owl let out an exasperated sigh but let the subject drop. "Another thing, I won't have any of me newsies fighting with each other. If you have a problem with someone, fix it. You can't attack someone when they make you angry." Owl knew his comment was a reference to her incident with Fire as well as the fight with Amber. She refused to look ashamed and defiantly stared at Spot's profile, a look which he ignored.
He suddenly stopped walking and turned to face her causing Owl to startle to a stop, "This last rule is the most important. If things start heating up between us and the Bronx, you had better be ready to prove your loyalty. If something big goes down, I expect you to be there and be there on Brooklyn's side." His piercing blue eyes held her gaze as he waited for a response.
Owl nodded solemnly, "I understand, Conlon." She noticed that they were now in front of the lodging house.
Spot nodded, "And just because you're a goil, don't think you're gunna get special treatment. Goils pull their own weight around here."
Owl smirked, "I would expect nothing less."
She glanced around and noticed a lack of female newsies in the area. She glanced to Spot and frowned, "I thought there were other goils here," she accused.
Spot shrugged, "They usually travel together after selling. They'll be here soon." He nodded and pointed behind her, "See, right over there." With that last comment, he walked away. Owl was glad. She didn't know how the other girls would take to having another girl and having Spot near when they met her would only make her more nervous. She hoped at least one of the girls would like her. Back home in the Bronx…Owl paused. No, not home anymore. Owl sighed, back in the Bronx she had not had any female companions.
Owl turned in the direction Spot had pointed and saw three girls laughing and walking towards the entrance of the lodging house. Like her, all three of them were wearing typical newsgirl clothing which consisted of dingy skirts and baggy shirts. While some girls opted for pants which were safer, Owl and others opted for thinner skirts. While skirts could become a hindrance when attacked, they also hid more weapons and made customers more comfortable. Owl was proud to say she had a knife and slingshot hidden in the folds of her shirt.
One of the girls had an oval face with black hair hanging in a long braid down her back. She looked quiet and sullen in comparison to her two companions who were laughing and playfully shoving each other. One of the girls was the quintessential Irish girl. She had curly, unruly red hair flowing from under a newsie cap and framing her pale freckled face. She stopped when she saw Owl staring and nudged the third girl. This girl was obviously the leader of the three. She was shorter than the other two. Her short scraggy black hair hung limply from under a brown hat. Her eyes brightened as she led the group to where Owl was standing.
Owl straightened and stared back at the girl as she stopped in front of her. Three pairs of eyes ran over her as the leader spoke, "So you're the new goil." She spit in her hand and held it out to Owl, "Me name's Kicker."
Owl did the same and the two girls shook, "I'm Owl."
The redhead spoke up, "We know. You're the goil from the Bronx. We heard the story. The name's Sparks." She nodded her head in the direction of the third girl, "That's Milly. She don't talk much." Milly simply frowned in Owl's general direction.
Owl smiled at Milly, "I see." Milly avoided any eye contact and looked at the ground. Owl wondered if the girl was entirely there mentally. Feeling awkward, Owl looked back to Kicker, "So it seems like everyone has heard me story."
Kicker smirked, "Everyone has hoid some version of your story." Owl felt no resentment from Kicker and realized that these girls were going to accept her.
Owl groaned to herself in response to Kicker's comment. Of course there would be stories. No one ever tells the truth, she thought to herself. Out loud she said, "I sure they all make me sound just peachy, right?"
Sparks and Kicker laughed. Sparks' eyes lit up as she said, "Guess we's gunna find out which version the boys hoid. Here comes Aces"
Owl felt someone tap her shoulder and turned around to see a handsome blonde newsie smiling at her, "Heya there goily. I heard you need yourself a selling partner." He brushed a strand of hair out of her face and Owl had to clench her fist to keep herself from punching him. She was well aware that Spot was watching or would have someone watching her so she fought to keep her temper in control. "Maybe after that, youse and me could go somewhere and have some fun," the newsie added.
Oh dear lord, is he serious? Are all guy newsies perverts? Owl thought to herself as she heard snickers from the girls behind her. Although slapping the newsie would have been appealing, Owl reminded herself of Spot's warning. The thought that this was a test floated across her mind. Instead of fighting, she reeled her temper in and smiled sweetly, "As appealing as that sounds, I would rather drown in the sewers."
The newsie's eyes flashed in anger as peals of laughter floated from the three newsgirls standing behind Owl. He muttered under his breath and stormed away. Owl turned back to Kicker who was smirking.
"All the boys here seem to think they can get into your pants." As Owl stared hopelessly at her she added, "It'll get better once they get to know you. They think it about all the new goils."
Owl rolled her eyes, "I'm sure my history helps that impression so much."
Sparks shrugged and took Owl's arm to lead her into the lodging house. As soon as they got through the door, Owl felt eyes on her. She turned and saw Spot staring at her with indifferent, steely blue eyes. Fear jumped into her throat that he would get angry about her encounter with Aces. Suddenly, Spot's face broke into a smirk and he turned away to talk to a newsie next to him. Owl felt her fear melt away and a familiar fluttering in her stomach. She turned back to Sparks hoping that she could keep her emerging feelings under control.
A/N: Sorry it took so long. School is back and all that jazz. Thanks to everyone who reviewed. To everyone who didn't, shame on you! Review now please.
