SORRRRRRY My wonderful readers for I have made the mistake of not pre-reading my work before I post and I spelled Spot Conlon's name wrong in all 3 chapters (Well actually It was the auto correct on my computer! Didn't even realize it was correcting anything!). DX don't hate meeee!
(Bley POV)
I planned on finding racetrack again before he got too far away. I ran the way he went and dodged the men going to work and the women shopping around. At the intersection at the end of the street, I was lost. I had no clue where Racetrack had gone.
"Hey, you'se lookin' for someone?" A voice asks me and I turn to see the source. There was an older kid, about two whole heads taller than me. Around his neck was a red scarf and a cowboy hat perched on his head.
I nod. "yah, one of my friends Racetrack." the boys eyes widen and he steps back.
"Is you'se Blues back from da dead? Takin' revenge on your friend for all dis bad stuff?"
I chuckle darkly "Yes, and you are next!" He pales and I laugh so hard my stomach hurts. "Your Jack, right? Jack Kelly?" He looks at me skeptically.
"Who's askin'?" I open my mouth but think better of it and pull him to the side.
"I'm John's sister." his eyes bug out and at first it look likes he's gonna have a seizure but his face breaks into a grin.
"Really? Blues used to talk a lot about you! He never mentioned you were a cross-dresser though…"
"No, no, no. I am not a cross-dresser. I'm a Newsie now. My dad left me alone and I decided that it was the last straw and I ran away." Jack looked impressed.
"Really? Who you'se stayin with?"
"You say really an awful lot." I say.
"Just answer the question." He says with an eye roll.
"Spot Colon took me in." That's when his face dropped.
(Spot POV (PS. Sorry the last chapter was all Bley))
Loyalty and Trust.
Loyalty and Trust?
Loyalty and Trust.
John's words rang in my head while I stood there in the atrium, listening to the slam echo through the large house. The whole world seemed to disappear around me and I walked back up the stairs to my room where I lie down on my bed and stare at the ceiling. That stupid boy! making me look like a complete idiot in front of all the boys. I should hate him.
Loyalty and Trust?
It seemed like two concepts far from anything that he would get around here.
Loyalty and Trust.
Were those even real things anymore? As long as I've been around here, I have never felt Loyalty or Trust toward anyone and I am certain that no one has felt them towards me.
"Loyalty and Trust."
The words fell out of my mouth in a nervous rush, as if that saying those words would make the bitter reality of Trickery and Betrayal more real. I know that I fool people. That I trick and manipulate them into doing what I want whether it is right for Brooklyn or not. I know that I betray people's trust. That I make a pact and break it, knowing they may never trust me again because it's amusing and "none of my concern" if their plans are ruined and their clan goes into chaos.
Loyalty and Trust.
I knew that those were the things I wanted from John. Not his allegiance. Not his money. Not him. I wanted…
"Spot… Spo-ot." said an annoyingly loud and obnoxious voice.
"What?" I snap, my eyes flying open. Had I really fallen asleep? One of the Newsies stood awkwardly next to the bed rocking back and forth on his heels. "What is it Tack?"
"You'se needs to get up. Jack's here. He brought Racetrack and John wit 'im." I wave him off with a lazy hand and stand up tiredly. Why was John with him? I hope there isn't any controversy over him. John was my Newsie.
My Newsie.
My Newsie.
Mine.
"Spot Conlon. Well if it aint da leadah himself." Jack Kelly's face lights up like a kid's on Christmas.
Jack spat into his hand and held it out; I did so as well. "Jacky-Boy. Long time no see. Hows yous been doin'?" Jack grimaced.
"Well, a couple of my Newsies were out late last night tryin' ta sell all deyre papes an they met up wit a couple of your Newsies at Tibby's."
"Why were dey togetha?" I ask, a little frustrated because he would not get to the point.
"A couple are siblings. A few are cousins. A few jus' tagged along. But really that is not the point. The point is that afta' dey left Tibby's, dey got attacked. Some o' dem were hurt real bad. One is still unconscious. One of our boys got…" Jack gave me the look that meant that something happened that was worse than getting hit, "and one of your boys got away jus' before. Righ' now da boys are all restin' at our place and will be comin' home to Brooklyn by tomorrow 'cept for da guy who got knocked out. He will be ova deyr at our place til' Monday at least." Today was Saturday.
"Well, who did all dis?" I ask, fury building up in my blood.
Jack sighed. "Da Delancy Bruddas." I heard John's sharp intake of breath. I saw his face pale to a sickly white. I saw Racetrack's hand snake down to meet his. For some reason that made me angrier.
"Well we gonna soak dem." Jack didn't meet my eyes. "Right?"
"Spot. My boys are scared. We need your help. We need your skilled fighters."
"What would be in it for me?" I growl as I see John give a sweet and innocent looking smile at Racetrack who throws back a wink and a smile.
"You'd get revenge on the guys who beat up your Newsies."
"Yah. That doesn't matter to me righ' now. I don' wanna risk da lives and, I can't believe I'm sayin' this, virginity of my Newsies on some worthless lumps of rock." John glares at me silently.
"Well youse better get your head in the game and outta da clouds cuz it's not like no ones gonna get hurt. Okay? It's inevitable. But the longer we let dis slide, the harder it's gonna be ta beat dese guys."
I don't meet Jack's stare for the longest time but rather look into John's eyes. I don't see any black under his eyes and I wonder if I was just imagining it that first night. The eyes were filled with rage.
"No. If I'se change my mind, I'll let you'se know. And I highly doubt that. Leave. Your not welcome here anymore." Jack looks sorrowful at me and then pulls John off to the side, him still clinging to Racetrack's hand, and starts murmuring something. John shakes his head.
"No, really, it's fine. I'll talk to him." Jack says something more and they shake hands warmly and John squeezes Race's hand one last time before waving them off over the bridge. John stares after them until they are only specs then he turns around. I know I'm in trouble.
"Now John, I-"
"You jerk! You just turned your back on all of the Newsies in New York. On the thing that would be best for the whole entire city. If this place goes into chaos, I blame you." The setting sun behind his head makes an eerie orange-red glow cover his face to make him look even angrier.
"I did what I had to-" he cuts me off again.
"You're the worst damn leader I have ever, ever seen! You're a coward!"
I hear a few snickers from the boys surrounding us. That's what set me off. "You have no right to talk to me like that! You are making a fool out of me in front of my own Newsies. You just wanted this to be public huh? Couldn't wait to ruin me in front of everyone who respects me? huh? You are no better than I am you ass. Get out of here now! I don't want to see you around here. Go starve on the streets or find Jacky-Boy and your little boyfriend." I stop, my face red from yelling, Johns face more pink than red either from embarrassment of public scolding or the fact that I just accused him of being gay.
"FINE!" He screams at me and picks up his bag. "You know, I was heading to Manhattan that night." John looks at me, his face suddenly sad. "I has always thought that Brooklyn would be a dream. I heard that they were strong and brave and cared for others. That they had what I wanted for my life." John lets out a loud sigh and turns his back to me. "I guess it was another one of your tricks."
"John I-" and yet again I am interrupted.
"Have fun cleaning the bunkroom Spot." And then he ran. The bag on his shoulder flew out behind him as he ran to the bridge. Without even a glance back, John was gone and I felt like a part of me was gone as well.
What had I done?
(Bley POV)
Bang goes that home. I was kicked out. That's definitely a first for me. Spot just made me so… so… irate. He had absolutely NO right to talk to a lady that way, whether he knew I was one or not. It was getting dark and there still was no sign of Jack or Race. No sign of the Newsies out at all tonight. They must all be hiding away from the Delancy brothers. If I ever get my hands on Spot I'll-
Two large hands grab me from behind. I scream and thrash but my noises are muffled and my movement is restrained by another pair of hands.
"Lets make this short and sweet, kay? We do what we want you don't try to get away again. You make a noise, we slit your throat." growls a voice into my ear. A familiar voice. An almost too familiar voice.
"Yah. Let us have our fun," says another deadly familiar voice, "and we might just not hurt you…
too bad…" They burst into laughter and pull me aside into an alley.
The Delancy Brothers.
OMG! This is a real turning point in the story! Yay! So, I have decided how to get this little secret of her's figured out by Spot. I only got one vote in my pole and I'm just gonna go with it! So thank you voter and thank you everyone else for reading! I check my stats daily and I am just hoping they keep going up! Read and Review! This story will not get any worse as far as the rating goes so your all safe.
PS I NEED A NAME FOR BLEY BEFORE THE NEXT CHAPTER IS COMING OUT OR ELSE I'LL USE THE TOP ONE ON MY LIST AND IF YOU HAD A BETTER IDEA, IT'S YOUR FAULT FOR NOT SPITTING IT OUT!
I love you guys!
- Quirk