Warning: Chapter good. Chapter also veeeerrrryyyy long! Kayl spend two hours proofing! People be weird to read in one sitting. Kayl getting annoyed of cave man lingo. We not own newsies...so...Cave-Kayl simmering down for next chapter. DONE!
Chapter 6
Dealing with Thieves is never an easy battle
The moon showered me in silver light, the night's cold air bit into me like a pack of enraged wolves. I tried to ignore it as I followed Spot into who knows where getting myself into who knows what. My hand fumbled in my pocket trying to grasp my only weapon. I remembered that I left my needles on my desk. I cursed myself trying to focus on what I had to do. "Well, I should at least find out where we are or what he's doing." I thought. "But I have to prepare myself for something!" A different me argued. "True but we don't have any weapons. If I get killed because of it I'm blaming Spot. Nothing I can do. Phff... He may be right though."
My thoughts were interrupted when I realized Spot had stopped. I crouched down hiding behind the point of the roof. I pondered many thoughts about what he was thinking at that moment, what he had planned to do, what he was going to do. He disappeared from view. I slowly crept from house to house scanning everything for signs of other people. I reached the house Spot was at. I looked both ways and saw nothing. Then I heard it. I first thought it was a bunch of dying cows attempting to sing. I soon realized that it was the sound of a group of drunken males. I looked around again but saw nothing. "Their underneath me! It's probably some party or-"
"Theem gails face hic looks so... funny. Ya shoulda seen it. She was all 'ahh' and they was all 'grrr'. They were soo hic plurple. I got lots of clinkies." There was the clicking of money and lots of it. The boy sounded young, Les's age maybe a little older at most. I hopped down near the window to hear more clearly.
"Yea. I proud o' ya, boy. I very p-proud of boy." There was at least five boys all completely drunk. I hopped down to a dark window right underneath. I knew that this must be the ones who stole the money. I barley peered over the top to see the fanciest room ever. It had big fluffy pillows, chairs, blankets and more than anyone needed, including mountains of empty liqueur bottles and more unopened. I assumed it was all stolen.
"This is probably where Spot was going to. Where is he? Probably planning the best way to ambush their place. What do I do? Maybe I should wait... no. I have a better idea." I felt the window behind me. Locked. I gingerly walked along the wall checking every window to see if it was open or not. Then I found a random door, the fire escape must have been torn off. It was poorly made with holes in old wood. I pushed it and it broke in half. I tiptoed inside the dark corridor keeping one hand on the wall. My footsteps were slow but somehow seemed to mildly echo. I searched for stairs leading up. I passed many doors with people saying things that I wished I had never heard. I finally found something metal and thin. I turned and placed one foot in front of me. I stubbed my toe from hitting the stair too hard. I hopped around in little circles clutching one foot until I nearly lost balance. I bounded up for the next floor. I could barley see any better up there. I passed many doors, all dark and filled with snores or silence. Then I found it, at first I thought it was just talking. Then I heard the befuddled laughs. Using a thin metal piece and a slender piece of wood from the floor, I attempted to pick the lock without success. I poked a tiny hole and peered through it to see a large dark area used as a kitchen. The tablecloth was of fancy shiny material I didn't recognize. There were plants everywhere, all poorly cared-for. I tried again to pick the lock again, hearing the soft and satisfying click of victory. I slowly opened the door, cautiously snuck in, nearly closed the door and took a good look at my surroundings. There were two doors on the opposite wall, one to the left, one to the right. The door on the right led to the room with the drinkers. I opened the left door and looked into a room that was a study now made into a bedroom. There was a door on my right leading to the room with the laughing and slurred talking. I looked around to see plants, fancy object, and empty bottles. This was definitely a house of men. In a way I was relieved. They clumsily stood up and headed for the kitchen. They laughed as they talked about the subject no girl would ever want to hear, especially from their boyfriends. I weaseled my way to the main room. I had no idea what I was doing. I found a small purse with at least eight dollars worth of coins in it. I tucked it into my pocket and started toward the bedroom when I got myself in the worst trouble I was ever in. They came back in, almost four drinks in each hand. (I'm surprised they stayed conscious for as long as they did). I froze. "Well, looky 'ere. I don't realize that someone got a prostitute." An older, chunky boy laughed. He lunged for my chest. I grabbed the first thing my hands fell on, which turned out to be two bottles. I slammed one into his face. He howled and blindly grabbed at me. I threw a punch up at his nose hearing the horrifying sound of the crunch as his nose broke. Another guy with jet-black hair and beady eyes took out a pocketknife gashed my arm. Using my heel I kicked him in the gut, forcing the air out of him like a toy. A boy shorter than me grabbed my hands and pulled them back as another punched several lazy shots. I defended myself by thrusting my right foot up behind me paralyzing the boy in the worst physical place someone can hit. I pushed my elbow back into his stomach, then my fist into his face. It was no good. They kept coming, kept hitting, kept kicking, and kept cutting. I was totally screwed. I was surprised when I heard the air whizzing around me and not at me. I opened my eyes to see Spot creaming these guys using his gold capped cane as his weapon. At the time I was in awe then I felt useless, powerless, and furious. So I decided to get in on this action...again. Before the fight could progress to a more deadly point the cops came. The thieves panicked for a second. Spot and I crashed through the window out onto the building next door. We quickly walked along the side of the wall. "They're coming after us! Keep going!" Spot shouted. We turned a corner and I climbed up to the roof. I looked back to see four chasing after us, the chunky one shouting through the window. I pulled Spot up and jumped to the next roof. As we leapt from one house to another we heard the cops following all six of us bellowed at us to get down. My breath fogged in front of me in soft white clouds. I grew more and more tired. Spot knew that I was slowing down. He seized my hand forcing me to continue. We jumped to the ground and ran like madmen. We turned down one alley than another with the four at the other end. The cops were following us using the dogs to catch us. "They probably think we're with them!" I grew frantic. Spot hurled us back to the roofs, turned in the other direction and sprinted off. Spot stopped, crouched down by the corner below the roof. I sat next to him panting trying to regain all air I lost. "The cops got 'em." He paused to catch his breath, "What were you thinking? Are you crazy?" "Speak for yourself! What were you doing? Sneaking out with weapons covering you." My eyelids fluttered as I realized that it was late and I hadn't gotten any sleep. "I was going to find those guys, soak 'em then hand 'em over to the cops! What were you doing coming after me?" "I heard you sneak out so, I followed out of curiosity. I lost you, but found them and decided to do something. So, I snuck in found the money and they thought I- then we started fighting." "What did they-" "What do you think they'll do to 'em?" He blinked, "Who?" "The thieves." "Oh. Well, most likely they'll lock 'em up for a while. We don't have to worry about them. Why did you follow me?" I paused thinking about what the best response would be. I sighed. "You really-" I yawned, "got to me when you said I couldn't do anything. When I saw you leave. I didn't think and just followed you. Here," I took out the pouch of coins, "I got a present for you." I closed my eyes for a second when I opened them again. I was leaning on Spot. I closed my eyes again and fell asleep. Spot's P.O.V She fell sound asleep. She looked so different than she usually did. She seemed so innocent and sweet (as impossible as that sounds). I watched the cops drag the thieves into a car and drive off. I took one more look at her before I picked her up bridal style, gingerly placing her on the roof as I clambered up. I paused. I wish time could just stay like that, me studying her trying to understand this new vision of Gwen. It puzzled me that she could be so annoying by day but the opposite by night. Snapping out of my trance, I picked her up and headed for home. I think it was that night when all my thoughts changed. At home I opened the door with my foot. I walked in, then looked at everyone. Surprisingly, most of them were awake. "Er- hi... what are you all doing awake?" My eye twitched slightly. "Wow! Congratulations! I didn't know you guys had a thing!" "Sure are getting married early." "You got yourself a real looker Spot." Twenty nudged me in the ribs. "I'm jealous of you." Counts smiled sadly. "Jeez, had to knock her out to get her to marry you? That's sad." "He wouldn't sink that low... right?" "She looks to different unconscious." "You could have told us!" "All we would have done is through you guys a party!" A good number of guys whistle and howled. Others grinned like fools slapping me on the back telling me how lucky I was. "No, no, no, no, no! We do not have a 'thing'... and we did NOT get married. She followed me and passed out." I placed her in her room gently. The others "oohed" and laughed. "NOT THAT WAY!" I shouted realizing I probably woke Gwen up. Thankfully she didn't. I closed the door and turned back to the room. They smirked and whispered about something beyond a line that I had no intention of crossing. "Alright. Let's get this straight. G-Shorty and I aren't together and if you think not I'll soak ya." I declared threateningly. I could tell that the room struggled to keep silent. I went to bed only to hear everyone to laugh and tell one another what they really thought. I shoved a pillow on my head falling asleep praying that this was just a dream. Oh, if only wishes worked like that. Gwen's POV My eyes fluttered open. I stared at the ceiling my mind blank. "How'd I get here?" I sat up, only remembering Spot questioning me. I dressed and walked to the main room rubbing my eye. "You're up late." Glider commented. There was only Glider, Spot, and Counts that were awake. I usually woke up before everyone to go on a walk. I looked around still trying to wake up. "What happened last night?" I asked. Glider and Counts exchanged looks of pure enjoyment. Spot turned a light shade of pink and hit them both on the back of their heads. "You fell asleep after the cops caught the thieves-" "Wait you guys were chasing thieves? You never told us that!" Glider was completely appalled to not have been told a story with fighting and hopefully explosions. "I was just getting to that. Besides I was chasing thieves. I specifically told Shorty to forget about that days ago." He glared at me. "Well, I did do something! So shove a sock in it, Blot! I gave you the money they stole!" I snapped. Counts and Glider turned toward Spot with accusing eyes. "I didn't do anything with it"
"So what happened to it?" Counts raised an eyebrow.
"It's right here." Spot pulled the money out of his pocket and handed it over to Counts.
"Wait...when I was in there house, where were you?" I studied Spot critically.
"I had called the cops before I left. I was planning that I would soak 'em and hand them over"
"I know what your plan was. I asked where were you." I was growing rather impatient.
"I was in the apartment next door"
"Wait...we need some filling in here." Glider looked at Spot then me then back at Spot. We told the story in less then two minutes.
"Oh...I see." Glider murmured softly, thoughtfulness printed on his face.
"So, how did I get back here if I was asleep?" I glared at Spot.
"I carried you home"
My throat closed up. "You carried me home? That's...it right?" I croaked. I could tell I was blushing. "That's all." I felt reassured...for the most part. The way Glider and Counts were looking at each other said something different. Something I didn't want know about. "Um... I guess it's my turn to cook, right?" Counts got up and began to cook pancakes. "So... what do you usually do back home?" Spot spun his cup between his hands. "Well, Maggie and I usually sell papes together. Go to Medda's just because or something." This was a bit awkward. "Maggie...you talk about her a lot. What she like?" I usually don't talk about her unless it ties into something funny, which it usually does. "Well, she's called Songbird. She decided to go sing with Medda because she was upset or bored one of the two. The guys and I went looking for her and ended up listening to the song. Then Jack came up with the name Songbird." "Why the bird part?" "Cause she sounds...like a bird I guess." "What kind of bird?" He chuckled. "A- bluebird. I don't know! Why are you so suddenly interested?" I tried to look him straight in the eye but he wouldn't meet my gaze. "She's your friend and you talk about her a lot. Besides you don't talk much about your life in Manhattan, except in short stories that I usually can't follow. I just want to know. What's wrong about that?" I sighed, "You could have just asked straight forward." "Okay. Tell me about your life in Manhattan." He smiled sat back waiting for my long story to begin. I told him so much about how Songbird and I met, the pranks we pulled, how we sold papes, and how she was the sister I never had. "Oh, there was this prank we pulled on my brother-" "You never told me you had a brother." "Yes I did." "No you didn't." "Yes I did." "No you didn't." "Yes I did." "No y-" "Whatever. You remember Mush right?" "Oh, yeah him from the strike." "Yeah, that's my brother. Spot placed his hand on top of mine, "I feel somewhat sorry for you." Spot grinned. "Thanks. Anyway, Mush had just taken a bath after some hard work. So Maggie got this crazy, but brilliant, idea. We put a bucket of molasses over the door while he was taking his bath. When he came out the bucket poured the molasses and he slipped and waved his arms around like he was trying to fly. Then Jack came in and slipped knocking them both down. The funniest sight I had ever seen." Spot laughed. I liked how hearty and full his laugh was. It made me feel proud that I could make him laugh like that. "They looked like cats that just had a bath. They started chasing us so we ran our legs off. Mush kept slipping, but Jack would not give up. He finally grabbed Maggie around the waist holding her captive." I was surprised when Spot gasped. He seemed to be getting attached to Maggie, and he hadn't even met her. They would be great together, with them both being so sarcastic and all. I thought about setting them up on a date. Before I got too deep into thinking about it I continued my story. "So I started kicking Jack and trying to unhook his arms from her. Then Mush came up and captured me. So I was fighting Mush while Songbird had to deal with Jack. Maggie and I looked at each other. We both bit them hard in the arm maybe a little too hard." Spot cringed slightly, "How hard?" "I think they were bruised pretty badly. Either that or they were bleeding." I couldn't help but to smile. I continued, "Then we kicked them hard in ... specific area." "Ooh. I feel really bad for them." He tried to suppress a grin. I grinned myself. "Then we ran off laughing into our bathroom." "Wait you had your own bathroom?" Spot was shocked. "Yeah. All of the guys kept telling Jack how awful it was to share a bathroom with us. So they built another one." I remembered how special Maggie and I felt. Then I realized that the others were awake and sitting beside us. "How long have they been here?" I whispered. "Who?" Spot looked around, "Oh." He laughed. "Wow, I never realized I could talk so much." I chuckled. "Neither did I." Spot smiled. "Breakfast is served!" When we bought our papes I noticed something interesting. "Spot!" I shoved the article into his face. His eyes grew wide as he read on. The picture had six people four a house behind and Spot and I in front. "Nobody's gonna be able to tell that's us." Spot whispered. I looked worriedly at him, "You sure?" "I'm sure. It was way to dark to get a decent picture. Now just go on the day as you would normally." Little did we know that someone did know. They wouldn't tell right now, oh no. They just wanted to watch us for a while. I sold as many papes as I could, making almost two dollars. I forgot my worries with the thought of training just a few minutes away. "Hurry up, Shorty we need to get going." Spot shouted through the door. "Just a second." I quickly handed Counts the money and began to trot off. Counts grabbed my hand in his. "Whenever you're done with your class for today, could I talk to you?" His big hazel eyes pleaded. "Sure thing, Counts." I smiled. He then did something that made my stomach twist, my eyes grow in shock and my face look like a cherry. He kissed my hand. No guy had ever done that. He let go and I trotted out trying not to run. "Jeez, took ya long enough." Spot uncrossed his arms and began to walk a brisk pace. "Yeah, whatever." I said absentmindedly. "You okay Shorty?" Spot frowned and tried to see through my long curtains of hair. "Sure, I guess." "Tell me." He jumped to the roofs and sat down waiting for an explanation. I climbed up but continued standing staring at the horizon. "Nothing. Let's just go." I ran off at a hard pace. I didn't look back knowing that Spot would be giving me a worried look. I knew he was looking at me like that now. It felt like his gaze was burning a hole in me. I soon realized that Spot had passed me. I frowned wondering if I was just imagining the feeling. Shaking it off we finished or route and headed for the temple for hours of training. "Today we'll begin combinations, then test your knowledge in a one on one battle." Spot said drinking some water. "One on one?" "Yeah. I figured that a battle with me would let me see how you are with instincts." "Well, you're the teacher." I shrugged. Spot smiled for whatever reason he had. Then he began the complicated series of kicks and punches. I struggled to keep up with his pace and doing everything correctly. That usually didn't work out to well. Spot stopped me several times to help me correct my mistakes. Two hours of that and I was exhausted. I was panting harshly, my cheeks were flushed, sweat covering my face. Spot and I sat down practically chugging down the flasks of water. "You're doing well. You still have a ways to go, but your doing well." Spot breathed deeply. "If I'm doing as well as you say I am, don't go easy on me." I gasped. "What do you mean?" "You've always gone easy on me and I don't like that! I've felt that I was never good enough for you to go your full extent! I want you to not hold back!" My anger burst in that sentence as if I was a pot if boiling over of hot water. I breathed deeply, thinking about what I just said. We both stayed silent. I was thinking about how stupid I sounded while Spot was thinking about what he had just heard. "If you want me to do my best, I will." He stood up taking a fighting stance. I blinked several times wondering if he really just said what he said. Coming to my senses, I copied him. We stood there still as stone gazing into each other's eyes, trying to seem bigger, stronger, more intimidating. I began the battle. I first threw a punch at his left jaw. He blocked, then striked my stomach. I took this opportunity to take his right hand turned in counterclockwise and gave him a swift kick on the back of his knees forcing him to kneel. He spun on the ground, catching my feet. I gritted my teeth and jumped up, retaking the fighting pose. Spot mimicked me. I kicked up, aiming for his face. He caught my ankle and spun me like a top, shoving me face down. He was going to thrust down onto my back when I plunged my feet up into his stomach, tossing him over me. He, somehow, landed on his feet. I sprung up. Before I could regain focus Spot hit me in the cheek and kicked my stomach, releasing all air. He was about to high kick me when I captured his foot and punched his jaw. Spot flipped over, tossing me around using his hands as his feet. I loosened my grip enough that he wriggled out. Spot quickly forced me into a head and hand lock and tackled me to the ground. Keeping me in place, he managed to flip me over and place his foot on my neck. I raised my hands to symbolize that he had won. We stayed in breathing deeply. "You certainly have gotten stronger. I can't remember the last time I was tossed over like that." There was a pause. "Thank you. Extra practice with Glider certainly did pay off." I stood up. He took one look at me and I could tell he regretted it. He grabbed a small white bag and shoved me down in a sitting position. "What are you doing!" I shouted my eyes wide. "I'm so sorry." He began to wash off a few cuts from my arm. The wounds from the thieves had reopened. I winced as he tied a white bandage to my arm. He continued to clean and bandage the wounds he could see. "I had no idea that you'd be so badly hurt." "It's- ah-okay...this is what I paid you to do." I curled over placing my head on my knees. Spot saw the blade gashes on my back as the blood slowly stained my shirt. "Don't kill me for this." He lifted the back of my shirt up examining my injuries and began cleaning them. It was a good thing he couldn't see my beet red face. He would have laughed and teased me. "At this rate I'll be a white cast." I was in mid-laugh when the pain kicked in again. I cringed. "I'm sorry." "Please don't feel bad, I asked you to do this. Plus, most of these were from last night." He placed my shirt gently down. "But they reopened cause of me." He took my hands to help me stand up. "Stop it. It's not your fault." I said firmly "It is, though." "Shut up! It's not." I punched him lightly on the arm. "Fine, fine. Class dismissed. But in order for me to let this go, you have to do something for me." We started walking back to the Lodging house. "What? If it's what I'm thinking, I won't." "You've been around men too long." "Sadly yes... but it's so fun to annoy them." "Getting off subject." "Man! I thought it would work this time." I whimpered. "You have to tell me what's bothering you." I stopped. The memories flooded back into my mind. I began walking again to not attract attention. "Before we left- um... Counts said he wanted to talk to me when we got home." I licked my lips. "That's it?" Spot crossed his arms. "N-no. He then... kissed my hand." I stared at my shoes. "And that's bothering you?" Spot suppressed a laugh. "Since no guy's ever done that, of course it bothers me!" "Well, then your just gonna have to get used to it." Spot grinned evilly. He took off his cap pressed it against his heart, bowing and kissing my hand. I could feel the heat in my face, like the flaming sun. Spot stood up straight only to curl over from laughing so hard at my facial expression clutching his gut. "I'm sorry. I really am." Spot burst out laughing again. I punched him in the shoulder making sure that it hurt. "OW! I'm-" It was no use he just kept laughing his head off, making himself look like a lunatic. He seemed hysterical and I seemed like a cherry. "Let's go, Blots." I said coldly, grabbing him by the shoulder dragging towards the Lodging house. "It's Spot." He gasped. We reached home. Spot had finally stopped laughing, but could not stop grinning like an idiot. He kept looking at me and remembered what I looked like and stifled his laughs. I glared at him. "I truly am sorry." His smile grew. "You are a truly bad liar." I snapped. "If I was a bad liar, I wouldn't have sold as many papes as I did." Spot opened the door. I stood still breathing deeply. Spot stopped in the doorway. "Ya coming Shorty?" "Stop calling me Shorty." I walked passed him. "HEY! Welcome home you two!" "Didn't get into any trouble, right?" A newsie asked jokingly. "Oh, shut up." I sat down on the table. "Oy. What happened to you?" Glider seized my arm to see a bandage near the elbow. "I was too slow." I tugged my arm from his grip. Counts came up beside me. "Can we talk now?" He whispered. "Sure." I followed him into a corner of the room. He thought about the best way to approach the question. He fumbled his thumbs a bit before he decided to just say it. "You and Spot aren't..." Counts coughed in his throat staring at his hands. "Aren't...dating, right?" "What? No! What gave you that idea?" I grinned, looking him straight in his troubled eyes. "Nothing. It's just- nothing." Counts looked down at me, smiled and walked off. "That was unusual." I thought nothing of it after that.
It was a half an hour before dinner when Spot came out of the bathroom. He was wearing a nice old black jacket over his best clothes; his hair was neatly parted down the center. "Oy! Spot! Where you going looking oh-so-fancy?" I looked him over with a critical eye. He had taken a long shower, combed his hair thoroughly and had shined his shoes. I knew it was something important.
"He didn't tell you?" Glider looked at me bewildered. "Tell me what?" I raised one eyebrow. "He's going on a date tonight." Counts jumped on my other side, smiling evilly. He received the look of death from Spot. "You never told me you had a girlfriend." I looked back to Spot. "She's not my girlfriend! Besides this is only the third date!" He slowly inched to the door. "Who is she?" I asked propping my head on my hands. "What's it to you?" He snapped. "Fine, when did you... oh." I remembered about a week ago while we were selling papes, Spot was talking with some prissy blonde. "Was she the blonde one?" I asked. "Her name is Cathleen, but yes." Spot answered. "Well, have a good time and um- don't do anything incredibly stupid. 'Course I know you will." I beamed. "Gee, thanks." Spot scowled and left in a bit of a hurry. "YOU'RE WELCOME!" I shouted happily after him, waving for no reason. "You love making his life miserable don't you?" Glider smiled. "Not miserable... just more interesting." I beamed. Glider shook his head grinning. "What's so funny?" I asked spinning around. "It's just that... I dunno I guess it's just nice to see someone pick on him without getting a bloody nose." Glider stared at a spot on the wall. "Spot would do that?" I was surprised mainly because I had never seen him give one of the newsies a bloody nose before unless they did something terribly bad. "Well, okay not a bloody nose but he'd punch us in the arm or something." "He probably doesn't do that to me because I'm a girl. For some reason guys never hit girls." "You speak the truth o' wise woman from Manhattan." Counts raised his glass to me and took a long swig. "What do you mean by that?" I turned toward Counts eager to hear a story. "I've just have had a lot of experience." "He really has." Glider chuckled and sat next to Counts. "Shut up." Counts punched Glider lightly on the arm. "How so?" I wrapped my hands around my knees. "I've had many bad girlfriends in the past." "No kiddin'." Glider scoffed. Counts punched him in the arm again, "Okay, okay, I'll shut up now." "Like I said, I had many bad girlfriends. Most of them manipulative or just plain cheaters. Some how they always slapped me and told me it was my fault. I could never hit them back, even when I really wanted to and when they really deserved it. I have never been able to figure out why." Counts chugged down the rest of his drink. "This is how I see it. If you did hit them and someone saw they would immediately take the girls side. They would cry and pout and say something like, 'he said I was a s-slut' or whatever. And if no one was around then they would tell someone and make it seem like it really was your fault." I shrugged. "Wow." Counts and Glider somehow seemed awed. "What?" "How do you know all of this?" Glider looked at me suspiciously. "I'm a girl I know more about this stuff than you do." I shrugged again. "She has a very good point there." Counts said to Glider. "What's that smell?" I sniffed the air. It smelled like someone was burning something. "The food!" Glider jumped up running toward the stove. "Can I help?" I hopped up. "Sure thing." Glider took something off waving his hand over it. "What's that?" I asked looking into a pot of a brown liquid with some chunks in it. "Chicken broth. I almost left it on there too long... would have tasted weird. Chop up the vegetables and put then in the other pot." I began chopping up carrots, skinned potatoes, tomatoes, something green, and something white. "I thought you said you had most of dinner done." I looked at Glider. "Shut up and finish chopping those up, people are very impatient." Most of us stayed up waiting for Spot. "What do you think happened?" I whispered. "I bet my money on that he broke up with her." Glider whispered. "Nah. I bet that they're going to have another date." Counts murmured. "No way. I think she broke up with him." "A girl breaking up with Spot Conlon? Impossible." "Nothing's impossible." I said firmly. "So you do think she'll break up with him?" Glider leaned against his knees. "No. I just said it was a possibility. She won't break up with the most famous Brooklyn newsy. Being his date makes her noticeable and somewhat famous herself. Once she knows she is, then she'll break up with him." I remarked. "Are you sure your fifteen?" Counts eyed me strangely. "Yes I am. Why do you ask?" "Sometimes you seem much wiser than someone who's fifteen." Glider stared at me. "Girls are just automatically wiser." I gazed blankly at the door. "But men are stronger." Dash snapped. "That isn't always true. Besides, both are needed to succeed in life. If one doesn't have the other something will go wrong. But they would be better off with brains so that they can get off of a crummy island." "Thank you, Confucius." Glider muttered. The door creaked open, and Spot walked in coolly. Everyone sat up straight expecting news. Spot took off his coat tossing it on the table. Sat down and kicked up his feet, his hands behind his head. "Well?" I was growing impatient. "Well, what?" Spot pushed his cap down covering his eyes. "What happened?" Glider asked. "We went to dinner and then she wanted to go dancing." Spot mumbled. "And?" Counts pursued for answers. "She wants me to come to her house when I can." Spot really didn't care. "Her house. Hmm that's a weird request." Counts thought. "What do you mean?" I glanced from Counts to Spot. "This is only the third date and she wants you to meet her parents." Counts scrunched his eyebrows. "Or something else." Glider grinned. Spot hit him. "Never mind this just go to bed." Spot ordered. We didn't want to pour water over an angry kitty so we did as we were told.
Spot's P.O.V.
It had been three weeks and a day since she first came to Brooklyn. Training with Gwen was just as hard as when it started. I would still not confess that I drew those, and I planned to never tell. Selling papes had been average most of the time, but we were used to that. The boys and I were eating breakfast when Gwen's door slammed open.
"I'M LATE!" She ran to the table and stole some of my food.
"HEY! Where you going?" I shouted over to her. She just looked at me, smiled, and ran out of the door.
"If only I could tell what she was thinking." I muttered.
"You should be able to, since she's your wife." Twenty grinned.
"I keep telling you, we did not get married! We aren't even in a relationship!" I stabbed my fork into the table.
"Fine... your secret lover you eloped with that you won't tell anyone." I punched him in the arm. Everyone started laughing.
Gwen's P.O.V.
It was Spot's birthday today. Counts, Glider and I decided to meet while everyone was eating breakfast to plan the surprise party. I was late. I arrived to the bakery with toast half in my mouth.
"I'm here." I gasped and collapsed into a chair.
"Jeez, you're late." Glider commented.
"I know, I know." I gobbled up the toast.
"So, we need beer." Counts said.
"What is it about men and beer?" I rolled my eyes.
"It's a party, what do you expect?" Glider leaned back on his chair.
"Fine, just don't get drunk. I hate it when men get drunk"
"Okay, Counts, Twenty, and I will make the food while everyone else sets up decorations or whatever." Glider concluded.
I grinned to myself, "I need to go get something, I'll see you guys later"
I left leaving them to ponder the wonder that is my complicated mind.
"I have a surprise for you today." Spot whispered smiling. "What kind of surprise?" I raised one eyebrow. Spot just smiled and continued to shout headlines. We sold papes, split our money and headed out. "What is it, Blot?" I asked looking up at him. "Spot. And it's a surprise." "Then why is Glider with us?" I looked at Glider, curiously mouthing him to tell me. He shook his head. "You'll see." Spot grinned mischievously. I crossed my arms stubbornly and pursed my lips. We continued walking down the street. Spot grabbed my arm. "In here." He nodded toward a small door that was barely noticeable. He opened it and we slid in. We walked down a dark hallway with one light on. It looked creepy, but it didn't feel that way. We reached another door. Glider covered my eyes. "What are you doing?" I asked smiling. "It's a surprise." Glider and Spot answered. I heard the door open and we walked in. Glide removed his hands from my face and I saw a beautiful sight. It was a room with hundreds of weapons. The room had everything from slingshots to old swords to millions of chains in all different sizes. I was in awe. My throat tightened from excitement. "THANK YOU!" I squealed. I jumped up hooking my arms around Spot's neck making us collapse to the floor. "You're welcome." He wheezed trying to sit up. I stood up blushing from my strange action. Glider knocked himself over from laughing. "You really mean it?" I stood up looking around the room, picking up different objects. "I do. Pick out one and we'll begin with that. Depending on whether or not you do well, I will determine how many weapons you learn to use." Spot stuck his hands in his pockets. "What kind of chains do you use?" I asked picking up what looked like a bow and arrow. Glider and Spot looked at each other and started laughing. "What?" I picket up arrows that had to tips. "N-nothing. Just us guys and our minds." Glider gasped only to begin laughing again. I rolled my eyes picking up the staffs. Once they calmed themselves down (which took a good long while) they waited for me to choose the weapon I would like to learn first. I ended up choosing the bow and arrow. "This is a fairly easy one to learn to be quite honest. You can bring one other weapon along and we'll see how for we get. Glider, grab the target we're heading out." I carried the bow and arrows and a staff while Glider picked up the large multi-colored target. We walked back to the training grounds. "Leave the equipment here. Glider will keep watch of it." Spot began walking off to the roofs. I followed my heart in the clouds. The "gliding" was much easier than normal. I had actually passed Spot by houses. I couldn't wait to gloat at him later.
"Jeez, Shorty. I haven't seen you this excited since I excepted your offer." Spot called. "I'm not excited, you're just slow." I shouted back. His jaw dropped.
"You better run goil." He began chasing after me. I yelped and sprinted laughing. I saw Glider and I jumped down only to be tackled by Spot. We were sprawled on the ground, laughing our hearts out. We quieted down to giggles when Glider walked beside us with a grin from the sun to the moon. Then we realized that people were staring at us. We stood up regaining air. "L-let's get started." Spot burst into another heap of chuckles as everything was being set up. He tried to get the serious look on his face that he usually had.
"Okay, first of all you hold your bow on its side when you're loading your arrow. Let it rest on the plate. Okay, now draw back. No don't put your thumb on the arrow and only use the first knuckle of your first two fingers. There you go." He watched as I released the first arrow missing the target by a foot. I sighed. "Your arm was shaking when you released that. Try to keep it steady." He walked over to my left side lightly drawing the arrow back with me. We freed the arrow letting it land on the red line. I smiled at him. "Thanks, I think I've got it now." I returned to the task at hand, not knowing there was a conversation about me just behind me. "It's the little things like that, that makes me wonder why you two aren't together." Glider smiled. "It's never gonna happen Glider. You know that." Spot sat down swigging some water. "No, I don't. I see how you two act. Sure, you have your problems, but every couple does." "We're not a couple." Spot snapped. "Sure." "We aren't. I have a girlfriend. Besides I've seen how Counts looks at her. He's going to ask her out." "What if she said no?" "What do you mean?" Spot looked at Glider as if he were crazy. "I mean what if she rejected him or he never asked her. What if you didn't have a girlfriend? What would you do?" Glider was surprisingly wise at that moment of time. Spot stayed silent not knowing what to say. "Why don't these arrows have tips?" I asked after all of the arrows were stuck in the target. "I don't think you want to kill anybody while practicing, do you?" Spot answered. "Point taken. So are you doing anything special for you birthday?" I tore out the arrows and started again. "No. Cathleen wanted to go out, but I told her I would another day." Glider poked Spot in the ribs with his elbow. Spot smacked him in the back of the head. "Okay." I began my rounds again and again. I had gotten two arrows into the small yellow circle. We never got to the staff that day, but I was very proud of myself... and proud of how much of an impact my surprise would be. We walked back to the house in a small conversation about headlines and what they should have had articles about. We opened the door to the Lodging house and were welcomed by the cheers and laughter of the newsies. I pulled out the bags of pepper and a strange contraption from underneath the table and began to work. Everyone was dancing and singing (some very good, others very drunk) and enjoying themselves, wondering when the food would be ready. "Soon! We're having chicken, vegetables, with beans and cake for dessert." Counts called. I was adding pepper to my concoction when someone tripped over me. Bags of pepper were added with the horrifying sound of hissing. "DUCK AND COVER!" I shouted. I curled up into a ball my hands over my head. A pepper explosion filled the entire house nearly blowing off the roof. My eyes stung as I looked up. Everything had layers of pepper over them. People included. I laughed as I looked around at the stunned faces of the boys. Everyone else joined in. "SHORTY!" Spot walked over to me brushing off the pepper from his clothes. We stood there for a moment. "Er...happy birthday Blot." I smiled. He began laughing and gave me a hug. "Awwwwwww." The boys cooed. "Shut up." Spot muttered turning back to the game of poker. That was one of the best nights of my life. We stayed up late, ate, drank, and played games. I showered and went to bed early, smiling at the genius that I am (more like at the stupidity of me.) I woke up the next morning to see people laying everywhere in every possible position. There was still pepper everywhere. I only thought then about how much work it would be to clean this up. "I'll just have to make everyone help." I thought. I began to clean up the kitchen and get ready to cook. It wasn't the worst breakfast I had made, but it wasn't very good. The bacon had black streaks on it, the eggs were still a bit drippy and the toast was slightly burnt. I was surprised when everyone ate it without complaining and teasing me about it.
The day proceeded as normal. Selling papes, training, going home. We came home and Dash ran up to me with an unusually large envelope. "It's from Manhattan, Pepper." "I'll be in my room for a while." I rushed into my room shredding the envelope. I quickly read it, my eyes growing wider and wider.
"OH MY GOD!" I squealed after reading her letter. My door sprang open with everyone staring at me. "I'm sorry. I just got some very interesting news." I closed the door and began writing.
Maggs, TELL ME EVERY SINGLE THING! Sarah broke up with Jack, no big surprise, but he kissed you! Okay maybe he was drunk, but still! I have never been kissed so, to me, this is very exciting news. Why did David hit you? Next time I get there, I'll break is nose for you. Do you think your dreams mean anything? What were your dreams exactly? You never really explained what they were and I want to know. Anywho.
Pepper? A pretty little nickname? HAH! That's funny. Wait... how did you know I, okay not explode the building, but how did you know I made a pepper bomb? And it wasn't my fault! It was only going to be a small one. Someone bumped into me and I accidentally added about three bags of pepper in it. Sorry, but I've already done things I regret sooo... too late! For one, I hugged Spot when he told me we'd be starting weapons. DON'T YOU GIGGLE AND MAKE KISSY FACES 'CAUSE I KNOW YOU ARE! Second, Spot and I were chased by thieves (look in some really old papes you might find something about it). Counts kissed my hand I was blushing practically the entire day. And then Spot kissed my hand just to see the look on my face!
And last, I cooked food. I really want to see you very badly!
I rubbed my fingers against the parchment, thinking about what else to write, revealing a second piece of paper.
To: Anyone who wants to come (mainly to Spot and Gwen) From: Racetrack (idea was his) and the Manhattan Lodging house Why: Sarah broke up with Jack and needs to cheer up.There will be beer and lots of fun!
I read the big bold letters that were printed on the top and bottom of the invitation.
"SPOTTY-BOY! WE'RE INVITED TO A POKER GAME AT THE MANHATTAN LODGING HOUSE!" I shouted running into the kitchen. I blocked Spot's hand, as he subconsciously was about to hit me. He quickly let his hand fall to his side. "What did you call me?" He asked, his dangerously quiet. "Spotty-boy." I smiled ignoring his tone. "Don't EVER call me that again." Spot commanded threateningly. "Why not? I think it's cute." I grinned evilly. "That's exactly what she said." He looked away form me.
"She"
"Forget it." He crossed his arms and stuck his chin up.
"If you don't tell me I'll keep calling you Spotty-boy." I crossed my arms. It was now a battle of will. He cracked. We walked into my room to talk privately. "So?" I sat down. Spot paced around a bit mumbling to himself. "Just get on with it." I rolled my eyes. Spot sat down next to me. I could tell he was troubled, but he didn't want me to know that. So I tried to sit silently and patiently for his answer. "She always called me that, especially when she was teasing me. I hated it. But she always did even when I kept telling her not to"
"Wait, who's she"
"She is Songbird"
My jaw dropped open.
"You know Maggie?" I was shocked.
"Yeah"
"Did you guys ever...date?" I asked praying for the answer.
"No"
"I see." I smiled to myself.
We sat quietly. I stared at the floor noticing a floorboard that was missing three nails. I pried this open to see something very interesting.
"Whose room was this?" I asked looking around.
"I already told you, it's a quest room." Spot stood up and began walking around the room again.
"I won't believe it." "Why not?" Spot sounded really bored.
"Because I found a doll in one of the floorboards under the bed"
Spot stopped. I took out the doll. It was really old and hand-made. The doll had brown yarn for hair, and a green button used for an eye that was missing. The pink dress was a dusty color. Spot took the doll.
"You recognize it?" I asked.
"Yeah"
"Whose was it?" Spot paused.
"It was my big sisters"
I waited for him to continue.
"She made this when she was young. She eloped with her boyfriend after she found out she was pregnant. Never seen her since." Spot sat down handing me the doll.
"I'm so sorry. Do you know what happened to her afterward?" "I think she drowned trying to save her husband. The baby, I want to believe, is still alive." Spot stood up again and headed for the door.
"I'm sorry I-I shouldn't have said anything." I looked at my feet.
"It's okay, let's just move on. Write back saying we'll be there by at least Thursday"
"Sure thing." Spot left and I continued writing.
And looks like I get to. A poker game to cheer Jack up. Tell Race I said that he is surprisingly brilliant. You never told me you knew Spot! What happened? God, I feel like I don't know anything. Anyway, we'll be there around Thursday. I really hope no one gets really drunk and does something incredibly stupid. Did you know about Spot's sister? I can't tell you now, maybe when we have time to ourselves without the guys. I also have something else I want to tell you!
So I'll see you sometime this week.
3 Gwen Margaret Williams
A/N (from kayls): I luv this chapter...CHAINS! I am in love with this chapter...Soo Bo Boo, got anything to add?
A/N (from Shrewy...don't ask): Okay, I've probably pissed off our readers from writing 17 pages of
Qwen's adventure in Brooklyn but hey I don't know that for sure. Anyway,
review saying whatever you want even if you're just saying you hate it.
I only want you to say something that you think we should change or
what you liked.
REVIEW PLEASE! (Puppy dog face)
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