Chapter Six

Spud was about to head back to the Battery, but I suddenly got a idea.

"Spud! Please, wait!" I called out after him.

Spud turned back toward me. "Forget something?"

I ran over to him. "I... I need to ask you something."

He raised an eyebrow.

"A favor, I mean."

"Okay?"

Day one at my new job at the bookstore with Spud. Perhaps it wasn't the most brilliant idea ever, but I think it'll keep me pretty safe from Spot and Dealer. Selling papers is more fun than dusting books, but I suppose I should be thankful that I'm not in a factory again.

"Achoooo!" I sneezed.

Spud peeked over the shelf beside me. "Hanky?"

I wiped my face on my sleeve for what felt like the millionth time. "I'm fine."

"You goin' to be okay doin' this?"

"Yeah," I replied as I picked up another book to dust.

He rested his elbow on top of the shelf. "You've been sneezin' like nuts since you started."

"I'm just not use ta all this dust."

"I really don't think this is a good idea."

I frowned and wacked a book hard in front of Spud causing a big cloud of dust to smack him in the face.

He coughed and waved the dust away. "'Ey! That wasn't very nice!"

I smirked. "You asked for it."

He coughed hard and wiped the remaining dust off his face. "I'm serious though, Rebel... I mean Rebekah. I don't feel right about it. I've been seein' Brooklyn newsies alot around 'ere."

My smirk vanished. "B-Brooklyn newsies?"

Spud nodded. "I don't think they'd be comin' across from Brooklyn unless Spot sent 'em over."

I gulped nervously. "You don't think... think he knows I'm 'ere, do ya?"

He shrugged. "Who knows? But ya know, he'll find out sooner or later."

"No... He can't. He won't." I clenched my fists. "I won't let him."

"Like it or not, he's bound to find you. It's Spot we're talkin' about."

I sighed. "I know..."

"You hate 'im or something?"

"No! I mean... yeah... er no! It's just complicated, Spud." I sank slowly to the floor and hugged my knees.

Spud silently walked around the into my aisle and squatted beside me. "You okay?"

"Not really," I admitted. "I just... I just don't know what to do. Running seems to be the only answer for me. Now don't be tellin' me running doesn't work. I know it doesn't, but I can't help but running. That's why I've been called Rebel... cause I'm always rebellin' and runnin' away. I'll always be runnin' away."

Spud held out his hand to me. "You don't have to run alone."

"Look, I don't want ta drag anyone into my problems." I gently pushed his hand away and stood up by myself. "This is something I gotta face on my own."

He sighed. "If that's how you want it."

"This is the only way it can be."

Day two on the job. Yeah right... I sorta sneaked off. Not during working hours! Okay? I just slipped out during lunch break. I wanted to see if I could figure out what Spot was up to. You know, if he really send those Brooklyn newsies to look for me. I don't think it'll take me too long. I borrowed some stuff from Spud last night when he was asleep so those Brooklynners shouldn't be able to tell it's really me if they are looking for me that is. Heh, I guess I should be thanking Dealer for teaching me a thing or two about disguises. Why I never thought about using it before is beyond me. It might have saved me from bumping into Spot.

Oooo perfect. I caught a glimpse of a Brooklyn newsie heading toward me. Here's my chance!

"'Scuse me!" I called out in the best husky voice I could make.

The Brooklyn newsie frowned a little at me. "Watch where you're goin' pipsqueak!"

"Shouldn't you be watchin' where you're goin'? You are a bit far from home, ain't ya?"

His frown deepened. "What if I am? I got some business wit' some newsies here."

"Oh?" I cocked my head slightly. "Boss didn't tell me nuthin' 'bout Brooklynners meetin' 'im or the oders."

The Brooklyn newsie gulped. "He didn't? Well um that's because Spot er just sent us! Yeah that's it! It was kinda um unexpected. He suddenly sent us here. Heh heh heh..."

"Suddenly, eh? What would 'e want wit' the little Battery?"

The newsie gulped again. "Uh well er..." He pulled me to the side and whispered into my ear. "The truth is... Spot didn't send us ova here exactly." He glanced around as if to make sure he wasn't being followed. "Dealer is back in business and needs ta talk to Boss."

I blinked. Wow... I didn't expect that and I definitely didn't expect the Battery leader's name to really be Boss! I hope I'm not causing too much trouble...

"Just don't tell anyone! 'Kay?" The newsie looked like he was going to get sick. "Spot'll kill me and the oders if he finds out."

"I won't tell anyone," I promised.

He looked a little relieved. "Good..."

"Well I um... better be goin'."

"What? You ain't gonna lead me to where Boss is?"

"I um... don't know where he is right now. He just um" Rats... I didn't think this far ahead! Gotta think of something fast! "Ah! He just wanted me to sell here and check our territory ya see."

"Oh..." the newsie sounded disappointed.

"I guess I'll be seein' you around later!"

And with that, I quickly got away from the Brooklynner.

I put my hand on my chest to calm my nerves as I headed back to the bookstore. That was a close one, Rebekah. I cracked a small grin. But that... that was kinda fun.

I slipped in the back door and quickly changed back into my dress before getting back to work. Spud didn't look too thrilled with me as he peeked over his bookshelf at me.

"Where've you been?"

"Me?" I asked innocently. "Lunch break."

Spud snorted. "Mighty long lunch break."

"It was busy."

"I thought you packed a lunch."

Caught...

"I had to ummm get a drink."

Please accept this excuse and ask no more questions.

"You borrowed my favorite hat."

Caught and skewered now. Rats.

I sighed through my nose. "How'd you know?"

"I always keep tabs on my favorite hat and you ain't very quiet when you snuck into my stuff last night."

"You heard me?"

"You were louda than an elephant!"

"I was not!"

"Was too!"

"Was not!"

Spud growled under-breath. "Anyways, what did you try ta do?"

"Try? I didn't try to do anything," I replied crossly. My pride was hurt badly... I'm not loud like an elephant!

"I can read you betta dan that. What sort of trouble did you get inta now?"

"I didn't get into any trouble!" I defended myself. "I just... well, I just wanted to find out something."

"And that would be?"

"None of your business," I said curtly and went back to organizing the books on my side of the shelf.

Spud mumbled to himself and went back to work. (Thank goodness. He didn't need to know about my new Dealer business.)

I bit my lip. I hope he doesn't get too mad at me later if he does find out what I've been up to. I am already going to have a mad Spot and probably have a mad Fred... Mush! I don't really want a mad Spud. Besides... he's the only one who knows what really happened that night.

Author's Note: Yay for an update! X3 This will probably be the last update on this story for awhile. XP I'm putting this one on hiatus until I finish "Hold Me Close" and maybe "Because Of One Person." Well until those are finished, this is goodbye.

Author's Response to Reviews:

Koo Kid- Aw, I'm starting to put the pieces together as to what happened in her past now, so sad. :( At least Spud was there to kind of comfort her in this chapter though. He doesn't seem like that bad of a guy so I wonder what lead him to do what he did and his shoulder and leg are hurt. Overall, I'm really looking forward to the next chapter and I'm glad that you're going to make it twenty chapters; I love good long stories. :)

Yeah she has a rather sad past. :( But yes, it's nice having Spud there for her. I hope you liked this chapter! I appreciate your support and encouragement. I think I might actually be able to push this story to over twenty chapters! :D

Ealasaid Una- she was suppose to kill Spot. What is skittery doing now since that fail?

Aw... well I didn't get to answer your question for this chapter and I apologize. D: I'll do my best to reveal more in the next chapter soo please keep reading! :)

To bE mY HEaRt- Meh! (pout) Danny, no... Confused! (mehh)

Heh heh... I sorry! I hope this chapter cleared a few things up for you aaaand I PROMISE that more stuff about Danny will be revealed very soon (next chapter hopefully *fingers crossed*).