Spot's Milkshake
Chapter Four: An Invite
Disclaimer: I don't own Spot or the Newsies, Disney does. I do own the plot and the rest of the characters!
"Heya goily. Know 'ow ta swim?" A taller boy approached me. At first I thought Harold had sent this guy to dump me into the water. It dawned on me that he literally wanted to know if I could swim.
"Yeah's. Why?" I asked suspiciously. He smiled a big smile.
"Wanna come swimmin'? He smiled again. It was incredibly hot out, and I had begun to sweat. As long as it was just a cool, refreshing swim, I reasoned, it would be alright.
"Sure." I watched his eyes gleam as he turned to the rest of the boys that were swimming and jumping into the docks and yelled,"She said yeah!" They all cheered. I laughed. I didn't know that I was such a star. I wondered how I would swim in my tattered dress. I didn't know, and I wasn't about to find out. I bent down and ripped it so it only came down to my knees. The newsboys cheered and cat-called as I did this. I knew what they wanted, but I wasn't about to give it to them. Instead, I gracefully dove into the icy blue water. It felt so good. I emerged and many of the boys held up their fingers, producing a ten or a nine. Before I knew it, I had started an all- out diving contest.
It was almost too funny to watch. Most of the newsies didn't know how to dive. Their pathetic attempts to dive properly made me laugh. Many of their legs curled up and a couple of them did flips into the water. I gave these particular boys a ten.
I was reluctant to dive again. They joked with me, and gave me three's, but I didn't care. In return, I gave them all one's, with an occasional two.
"Wha's dis Milkshake? Only one?" A newsie named Pouncer teased me.
"Don't be such a 'ard critic!" A familiar voice said. I turned around and saw Troy. I was almost too happy to see him.
"Troy!" I pulled myself away from Pouncer, and jumped into Troy's arms, pushing him back into the water. We both emerged laughing, along with the entire Brooklyn docks.
"Wheah ya been all day?" He asked as he pulled me out of the water.
"Around." I replied, watching two more boys jump into the water. Some newsies who weren't swimming took part in judging the divers. It was a very fun afternoon, but it ended too soon. It was dusk and, and it was becoming increasingly hard to see the water. I bid farewello to all of the newsboys. I was going to go back to the Tabernaks, when Troy came up behind me.
"Come wit me." He insisted, dragging me to a nearby alley. It was musty, damp and humid there, and darker then it had been at the docks. I didn't know what to expect.
"So how's ya like Brooklyn so far?" He asked me, pulling me down to the ground next to him.
"So far it's been a blast." I responded quietly. It was hard to keep my heavy eyelids open when it was this hot. I hadn't noticed the heat before, probably because I was in and out of the water.
"Is dere sometink wrong?" He asked, noticing my struggle with my sudden sleepiness.
"Mus' jus' be da heat." I told him. I closed my eyes once more, and felt something press against my lips. I was afraid to open my eyes, so I waited until the feeling was gone. When I did open them, I saw Troy getting up and walking away.
"Night Milkshake." He said softly, yet happily.
I sat there for a few moments, replaying the last two minutes in my mind. I didn't know if I should be happy or confused when I made the conclusion that Troy had just kissed me.
***
I walked into the Tabernaks. My hair was still half wet, and had begun to frizz. Mrs. Tabdernak gasped when she saw me. My dress was ripped entirely off at the knees, and the rest of my clothes stuck to my skin. I smiled a weak smile.
"What in the world happened! You leave for a few hours and you come back half naked!" She looked extremely mad and worried at the same time.
"I'se ain't half naked, me dress jus' got ripped." I tried to explain. She didn't listen.
"You are going to march straight upstairs and get into a change of clothes!" She pointed a bony finger up the staircase.
"Alrigh' already. Don't 'ave a heart attack." I smiled at her. It didn't soften her up as I had hoped it would've.
I dragged myself up the rotting wooden stairs, and rummaged through my things. It wasn't a hard task to find a worn dress, and a white shirt, with dark blue cuffs lacing my hands. I wasn't really hungry, and I didn't want to have to face Mrs. Tabernak, so I laid down on my bed, and drifted into a hazy sleep.
I woke up fairly early the next morning. The Tabernaks weren't even up yet. My stomach reminded me that I had not eaten since breakfast the previous day. It growled loudly, but there was nothing I could do about it. I had no money, and I didn't know where the Tabernaks stashed their food. I wasn't about to wake them up and ask them. Instead, I tried to push it aside as I walked downstairs, and snatched a cigar that was lying on the table. I hadn't really gotten used to the taste of them yet, but I had to start somewhere.
I got to the center of town, and saw some of the newsies gathering. I was surprised at this; I didn't know they got up this early, let alone congregate in the town square. I was going to go to work a different way, one that did not interfere with the newises, when I noticed the I didn't have a match. I had no pockets to look in. Fuming, I didn't notice the newsies that were walking up to me. I heard snickers, as I frantically shoved the cigar in my mouth.
"Did ya need a match?" A newsie named Snicker said, handing me a match. I snatched it out of his hand, and lit my cigar hurriedly.
"Dude, what's your problem?" Pouncher stepped out of the group and approached me.
"Hungry." I spat. It was true, I was starving. What made me more mad was that I couldn't do anything about my hunger.
"Well, well, well. If it ain't da famous Milkshake 'erself. An' look, she brought me a cigar." Spot Conlon appeared out of nowhere. He looked at me with his crystal blue eyes. He walked up to where I stood, his nose almost touching mine. Without a word, he slid the cigar out of my fingers, followed by the match. Silently, he lit the cigar and popped it into his mouth.
"Tanks Brandie." He said smugly. He patted me on the head. I hated that pat. I had thought that Spot was a good guy. He had graciously saved me from Harold just the day, but now he had stolen the cigar that I had stolen. It made no sense at all. I stared after him as he walked away. The rest of the newsies followed him, except Pouncher. He lagged behind with me.
"Did ya 'ear bout dat party down in Manhattan?" He asked me. I looked away from Spot, and turned my eyes to him.
"No. Why?" I asked suspiciously.
"Ya haven't? Dat's strange." He looked at me funny.
"Are ya sayin' dat I'se should've already?" I asked again.
"Well, nah, I ain't sayin' nuttin." He looked at me again, and ran to catch up with the other boys.
I would've stayed glued to that spot to think about what he just told me, but I realized that I needed to get to work. I sprinted to the circulation building, panting as I opened the door.
"50 papes. Brandie you're late again." Randy said, giving me a sideways glance. I rolled my eyes at him. I searched the room for someone to talk to. My gaze instantly fell on Sniff. I rushed over to him, grabbing a stack of papers as I did.
"Hey. How's it goin?" I asked, still panting.
"Pretty good. Nice divin yestaday." He winked at me. "An' how's life been treatin ya?" He asked, giving Randy the 50 papes he had requested.
"Same old. Gots meself a second job. Woiking at da cigar place now." I told him proudly.
"Da usual fer Conlon." Randy shouted.
Little Johnny rushed over a stack of papes to Spot. I avoided his eyes, concentrating on the cigar in his mouth. It seemed to take him longer than usual to leave. When he finally did, I looked up at Sniff. He smiled mischievously as he took Snicker his papes.
"So ya 'eard bout dat party too eh?" I asked him. He smiled again.
"Yeah. I tink I'se is gonna axe Smalls ta go wit me. Unless o' course dat one boy from Manhattan got ta her foist." He blushed a little as Smalls approached the window. "She's da only goil newsie in Brooklyn. An' your da only goil dat 'elps wit da newises." His cheeks became red once more as he took her a heavy stack of papes.
"Wait. Dis, dis party is in Manhattan den?" I asked him.
"Yeah. Irving Hall dis Friday. Medda Larkson is throwin' it. She invited da Manhattan newsies, Brooklyn newsies, and Harlem newsies. She says dat she would've invited more, but she's afraid dat da place won't 'old nobody else." He grinned once more. "Ya goin'?" I thought about this for a moment.
"I can't. Technically I ain't a newsie. You's is, I ain't." I was a little disappointed when he nodded in agreement.
You's can go if a newsies axes ya. I'm sure one o' dem will. I mean, did ya see how's dey acted yesterday when's ya dove inta da 'arbor?" He smiled again. "An' anyways, Troy's got the hotts fer ya." I looked up for the paper I was reading, and stared at him. His eyes gleamed with happiness.
"How'd ya know?" I asked defensively.
"Well, I don't, but c'mon, ain't it obvious?" He asked, looking in Troy's direction. "Too bad he ain't a newsie, or else he would be your one way ticket ta da party."
***
Those words haunted me the rest of the morning. If he was my one way ticket, that meant that I wasn't going. He wasn't invited, so neither was I. I trudged my way to the Tabernaks. I found the store to be really busy. In fact, I could barely get through the door.
"Hey, hey, hey. Get out's of me way. I woik heah. S'cuse me sir." I pushed my way through the crowd. When I finally found my way to the counter, I saw the Tabernak couple hurrying around, trying to fill the customers demands. That meant that they would want me to help. Damn. I had no idea what I was doing.
I tried to creep back to the storage room, or to my room, but Mrs. Tabernak saw me.
"Glad you're here. Could you help?" She asked, gesturing to the long line of people.
"Er, I uh, could I just clean?" I asked desperately. She looked at me. I wished I could've read her mind, but I couldn't.
"I suppose. Yes, I think that would be better." She shooed my away to the storage room. Better? Why would it be better? I tried not to think about that. Instead, I picked up a broom and began sweeping the room. The moment I took one sweeping motion, dust engulfed me. I choked on it. Regaining my composure just in time to hear Mr. Tabernak call for me. He probably wanted me to help him. I tried to think of an excuse to get out of the upcoming request.
"There's a young man here to see you." He stepped out of my way, revealing Spot Conlon, papes slung over one shoulder. I stared at him for a moment, before I realized that he wanted to talk to me somewhere less noisy.
"Oh, ah, come up heah." I hesitantly, yet eagerly pulled him up the stairs to my room. I was ashamed that it was in such a poor state, but my mind raced back to the lodging house. That looked just as clean as my room.
He looked around before he set his papes on a rickety table next to my bed. He seemed to be pondering about what he was to say.
"So, ya 'eard bout dat party at Medda's?" He asked me suddenly. His words were fast and smooth.
"Yea." I replied with no emotion. My insides were squirming with anticipation. Somehow I had kept that curiosity inside myself.
"How's bout you an' me go together. It was more of a statement than a question, but he still waited for my reply. Without thinking, I blurted out an answer.
"I'd love ta!" He smiled as he toyed with his gold-topped cane.
"Great. I'll come by heah afta I sells me papes." He patted the pile of papers. "It's dis Friday, weah someting nice..." He paused and looked down at his feet. He probably thought that he offended me, but he didn't.
"Well, anyways, see ya den." He picked up his papes, walked out the door and down the stairs.
~A/N~ ok....all I have to say is thanks to Vinnie Monfredo for reviewing my story. Not really a long authors note this time! Haha, anyways, hope ya liked it! PLEASE review that always helps....if you do you get a cookie!
Chapter Four: An Invite
Disclaimer: I don't own Spot or the Newsies, Disney does. I do own the plot and the rest of the characters!
"Heya goily. Know 'ow ta swim?" A taller boy approached me. At first I thought Harold had sent this guy to dump me into the water. It dawned on me that he literally wanted to know if I could swim.
"Yeah's. Why?" I asked suspiciously. He smiled a big smile.
"Wanna come swimmin'? He smiled again. It was incredibly hot out, and I had begun to sweat. As long as it was just a cool, refreshing swim, I reasoned, it would be alright.
"Sure." I watched his eyes gleam as he turned to the rest of the boys that were swimming and jumping into the docks and yelled,"She said yeah!" They all cheered. I laughed. I didn't know that I was such a star. I wondered how I would swim in my tattered dress. I didn't know, and I wasn't about to find out. I bent down and ripped it so it only came down to my knees. The newsboys cheered and cat-called as I did this. I knew what they wanted, but I wasn't about to give it to them. Instead, I gracefully dove into the icy blue water. It felt so good. I emerged and many of the boys held up their fingers, producing a ten or a nine. Before I knew it, I had started an all- out diving contest.
It was almost too funny to watch. Most of the newsies didn't know how to dive. Their pathetic attempts to dive properly made me laugh. Many of their legs curled up and a couple of them did flips into the water. I gave these particular boys a ten.
I was reluctant to dive again. They joked with me, and gave me three's, but I didn't care. In return, I gave them all one's, with an occasional two.
"Wha's dis Milkshake? Only one?" A newsie named Pouncer teased me.
"Don't be such a 'ard critic!" A familiar voice said. I turned around and saw Troy. I was almost too happy to see him.
"Troy!" I pulled myself away from Pouncer, and jumped into Troy's arms, pushing him back into the water. We both emerged laughing, along with the entire Brooklyn docks.
"Wheah ya been all day?" He asked as he pulled me out of the water.
"Around." I replied, watching two more boys jump into the water. Some newsies who weren't swimming took part in judging the divers. It was a very fun afternoon, but it ended too soon. It was dusk and, and it was becoming increasingly hard to see the water. I bid farewello to all of the newsboys. I was going to go back to the Tabernaks, when Troy came up behind me.
"Come wit me." He insisted, dragging me to a nearby alley. It was musty, damp and humid there, and darker then it had been at the docks. I didn't know what to expect.
"So how's ya like Brooklyn so far?" He asked me, pulling me down to the ground next to him.
"So far it's been a blast." I responded quietly. It was hard to keep my heavy eyelids open when it was this hot. I hadn't noticed the heat before, probably because I was in and out of the water.
"Is dere sometink wrong?" He asked, noticing my struggle with my sudden sleepiness.
"Mus' jus' be da heat." I told him. I closed my eyes once more, and felt something press against my lips. I was afraid to open my eyes, so I waited until the feeling was gone. When I did open them, I saw Troy getting up and walking away.
"Night Milkshake." He said softly, yet happily.
I sat there for a few moments, replaying the last two minutes in my mind. I didn't know if I should be happy or confused when I made the conclusion that Troy had just kissed me.
***
I walked into the Tabernaks. My hair was still half wet, and had begun to frizz. Mrs. Tabdernak gasped when she saw me. My dress was ripped entirely off at the knees, and the rest of my clothes stuck to my skin. I smiled a weak smile.
"What in the world happened! You leave for a few hours and you come back half naked!" She looked extremely mad and worried at the same time.
"I'se ain't half naked, me dress jus' got ripped." I tried to explain. She didn't listen.
"You are going to march straight upstairs and get into a change of clothes!" She pointed a bony finger up the staircase.
"Alrigh' already. Don't 'ave a heart attack." I smiled at her. It didn't soften her up as I had hoped it would've.
I dragged myself up the rotting wooden stairs, and rummaged through my things. It wasn't a hard task to find a worn dress, and a white shirt, with dark blue cuffs lacing my hands. I wasn't really hungry, and I didn't want to have to face Mrs. Tabernak, so I laid down on my bed, and drifted into a hazy sleep.
I woke up fairly early the next morning. The Tabernaks weren't even up yet. My stomach reminded me that I had not eaten since breakfast the previous day. It growled loudly, but there was nothing I could do about it. I had no money, and I didn't know where the Tabernaks stashed their food. I wasn't about to wake them up and ask them. Instead, I tried to push it aside as I walked downstairs, and snatched a cigar that was lying on the table. I hadn't really gotten used to the taste of them yet, but I had to start somewhere.
I got to the center of town, and saw some of the newsies gathering. I was surprised at this; I didn't know they got up this early, let alone congregate in the town square. I was going to go to work a different way, one that did not interfere with the newises, when I noticed the I didn't have a match. I had no pockets to look in. Fuming, I didn't notice the newsies that were walking up to me. I heard snickers, as I frantically shoved the cigar in my mouth.
"Did ya need a match?" A newsie named Snicker said, handing me a match. I snatched it out of his hand, and lit my cigar hurriedly.
"Dude, what's your problem?" Pouncher stepped out of the group and approached me.
"Hungry." I spat. It was true, I was starving. What made me more mad was that I couldn't do anything about my hunger.
"Well, well, well. If it ain't da famous Milkshake 'erself. An' look, she brought me a cigar." Spot Conlon appeared out of nowhere. He looked at me with his crystal blue eyes. He walked up to where I stood, his nose almost touching mine. Without a word, he slid the cigar out of my fingers, followed by the match. Silently, he lit the cigar and popped it into his mouth.
"Tanks Brandie." He said smugly. He patted me on the head. I hated that pat. I had thought that Spot was a good guy. He had graciously saved me from Harold just the day, but now he had stolen the cigar that I had stolen. It made no sense at all. I stared after him as he walked away. The rest of the newsies followed him, except Pouncher. He lagged behind with me.
"Did ya 'ear bout dat party down in Manhattan?" He asked me. I looked away from Spot, and turned my eyes to him.
"No. Why?" I asked suspiciously.
"Ya haven't? Dat's strange." He looked at me funny.
"Are ya sayin' dat I'se should've already?" I asked again.
"Well, nah, I ain't sayin' nuttin." He looked at me again, and ran to catch up with the other boys.
I would've stayed glued to that spot to think about what he just told me, but I realized that I needed to get to work. I sprinted to the circulation building, panting as I opened the door.
"50 papes. Brandie you're late again." Randy said, giving me a sideways glance. I rolled my eyes at him. I searched the room for someone to talk to. My gaze instantly fell on Sniff. I rushed over to him, grabbing a stack of papers as I did.
"Hey. How's it goin?" I asked, still panting.
"Pretty good. Nice divin yestaday." He winked at me. "An' how's life been treatin ya?" He asked, giving Randy the 50 papes he had requested.
"Same old. Gots meself a second job. Woiking at da cigar place now." I told him proudly.
"Da usual fer Conlon." Randy shouted.
Little Johnny rushed over a stack of papes to Spot. I avoided his eyes, concentrating on the cigar in his mouth. It seemed to take him longer than usual to leave. When he finally did, I looked up at Sniff. He smiled mischievously as he took Snicker his papes.
"So ya 'eard bout dat party too eh?" I asked him. He smiled again.
"Yeah. I tink I'se is gonna axe Smalls ta go wit me. Unless o' course dat one boy from Manhattan got ta her foist." He blushed a little as Smalls approached the window. "She's da only goil newsie in Brooklyn. An' your da only goil dat 'elps wit da newises." His cheeks became red once more as he took her a heavy stack of papes.
"Wait. Dis, dis party is in Manhattan den?" I asked him.
"Yeah. Irving Hall dis Friday. Medda Larkson is throwin' it. She invited da Manhattan newsies, Brooklyn newsies, and Harlem newsies. She says dat she would've invited more, but she's afraid dat da place won't 'old nobody else." He grinned once more. "Ya goin'?" I thought about this for a moment.
"I can't. Technically I ain't a newsie. You's is, I ain't." I was a little disappointed when he nodded in agreement.
You's can go if a newsies axes ya. I'm sure one o' dem will. I mean, did ya see how's dey acted yesterday when's ya dove inta da 'arbor?" He smiled again. "An' anyways, Troy's got the hotts fer ya." I looked up for the paper I was reading, and stared at him. His eyes gleamed with happiness.
"How'd ya know?" I asked defensively.
"Well, I don't, but c'mon, ain't it obvious?" He asked, looking in Troy's direction. "Too bad he ain't a newsie, or else he would be your one way ticket ta da party."
***
Those words haunted me the rest of the morning. If he was my one way ticket, that meant that I wasn't going. He wasn't invited, so neither was I. I trudged my way to the Tabernaks. I found the store to be really busy. In fact, I could barely get through the door.
"Hey, hey, hey. Get out's of me way. I woik heah. S'cuse me sir." I pushed my way through the crowd. When I finally found my way to the counter, I saw the Tabernak couple hurrying around, trying to fill the customers demands. That meant that they would want me to help. Damn. I had no idea what I was doing.
I tried to creep back to the storage room, or to my room, but Mrs. Tabernak saw me.
"Glad you're here. Could you help?" She asked, gesturing to the long line of people.
"Er, I uh, could I just clean?" I asked desperately. She looked at me. I wished I could've read her mind, but I couldn't.
"I suppose. Yes, I think that would be better." She shooed my away to the storage room. Better? Why would it be better? I tried not to think about that. Instead, I picked up a broom and began sweeping the room. The moment I took one sweeping motion, dust engulfed me. I choked on it. Regaining my composure just in time to hear Mr. Tabernak call for me. He probably wanted me to help him. I tried to think of an excuse to get out of the upcoming request.
"There's a young man here to see you." He stepped out of my way, revealing Spot Conlon, papes slung over one shoulder. I stared at him for a moment, before I realized that he wanted to talk to me somewhere less noisy.
"Oh, ah, come up heah." I hesitantly, yet eagerly pulled him up the stairs to my room. I was ashamed that it was in such a poor state, but my mind raced back to the lodging house. That looked just as clean as my room.
He looked around before he set his papes on a rickety table next to my bed. He seemed to be pondering about what he was to say.
"So, ya 'eard bout dat party at Medda's?" He asked me suddenly. His words were fast and smooth.
"Yea." I replied with no emotion. My insides were squirming with anticipation. Somehow I had kept that curiosity inside myself.
"How's bout you an' me go together. It was more of a statement than a question, but he still waited for my reply. Without thinking, I blurted out an answer.
"I'd love ta!" He smiled as he toyed with his gold-topped cane.
"Great. I'll come by heah afta I sells me papes." He patted the pile of papers. "It's dis Friday, weah someting nice..." He paused and looked down at his feet. He probably thought that he offended me, but he didn't.
"Well, anyways, see ya den." He picked up his papes, walked out the door and down the stairs.
~A/N~ ok....all I have to say is thanks to Vinnie Monfredo for reviewing my story. Not really a long authors note this time! Haha, anyways, hope ya liked it! PLEASE review that always helps....if you do you get a cookie!
