NOTE: This chapter mentions some sexual moments, not in full detail, but please be advised that it may not be entirely appropriate for everyone.
After several shots later, he finally got the nerve to go talk to her. He hated having to appologize and he was still pissed at her. He knew there was something going on and it had to be pretty bad. That was the only reason why he was doing this. He let himself into the girls bunk room to see her lying on her bed with her back to him. She was in an old shirt of his as she tried to beat the heat, and it made him feel warm all over seeing her like that. Most of the other girls were already asleep or at least ignoring him which he was used to anyway. He reached the foot of her bed where he could see that she wasn't asleep.
"Chels?" he whispered so as not to disturb the others.
Quickly, I turned to look up at him. He was standing, towering over me from the base of my bed. "Whaddya want?" I snapped. He rolled his eyes as he stuck out his hand, "Come on, I'se wanna talk with ya."
Reluctantly, I took his hand and followed him out the window and up to the roof. When we reached the top, I spoke up, "Conlon, this better be good."
"Will ya shuddup, I'se got somethin I'se wanna tell ya," he said as he walked a little farther away from me. He had his back to me and hung his head as he began to speak, "Her name was Chelsea."
"What?" I asked confused.
He turned around then, and retorted, "Look do you'se want me to tah tell ya about me past or what?" I was taken aback. I couldn't believe what I was hearing then, and I actually shut up.
He turned back around as he continued with his story, "Like I'se said her name was Chelsea. I'se met her whenever I started workin in the factory. After me muddah died, my father dropped me off at the orphange. Me sistah he sent to live with Rambler's family, and then he got outta town. My sistah and Ramblah ran away to look for me. I tried gettin outta the orphange but they was always catchin me, so aftah they was tired of me bullshit they sent me to the factory. I was livin in one of them boardin houses where they abuse the kids in all sorts of ways. Chelsea had been there fer along time, and was one the owner's 'favorite girls'... I'se tried tellin her to run but she was too afraid. I couldn't handle that sort of thing though, so I decided to run. I promised her I'se come back and get her after I had enough money to go far away from there. The day I went back to get her..." he paused as he allowed a single tear to roll down his cheek, "she was already dead. Da factory tried to say it was an accident, but I know it was dat damn bastard..."
"Oh Spot," I began as I went to him placing my hand on his shoulder, "you couldn't..."
"No!" He hollered pulling away from my grasp, "I left her there with him.. I knew what he did. I coulda stopped it, she would still be alive." I didn't know what to say because it was so obvious how much he really cared for the real Chelsea.
"So what's the key?"
"This key was the key to her only personal belonging, a wooden trunk. You know I'se had this key and that trunk for years now and I'se never looked in it."
"Why? Don't ya wanna know wha's in it?"
"No, I'se don' need to know. Its not going to make a difference now, but I wear this key as a constant reminder of how things mighta been. Chelsea, or Vixen, that day I saw ya being attacked was like God givin' me a second chance do the right thing. I'se love ya with me whole heart and yer the only person I'se evah told that too. I'se didn't want it tah hurt ya or you ta think that you'se just second best. I knew Chelsea so long ago and I'se a different person back then, but you'se changed me. I'se couldn't live without ya, I love ya Vix."
We were standing only centimeters from one another, and I couldn't help but let the tears pour down. His face was full of worry and I knew he thought I was upset, but I wasn't. Well at least not for the reason he thought I was. His head hung down sullenly, but I was quick to place my hands on his face and lift it so that he could look into my eyes.
With tears still freely flowing and a smile covering my face I spoke to him, "Spot Conlon, I ain't ever loved ya like I'se do right now. Ya have neva been so honest with me and I'se know dat couldn'a been easy." As soon as the last word left my lips, I smothered his lips with mine. I finally felt like even with the haunting memories of the Delanceys, they were just that memories, that I could finally move on with Spot and truly be with him.
Spot was at first taken aback by my actions, but when he saw the seriousness in my face, he knew everything was going to be alright. Slowly, we moved backwards towards the lodging houses fire escape. As we were moving, we continued to remove each other's clothes one at a time. They lay in a trail to where we finally came together as one.
The rickety escape creaked with every movement causing us both to laugh with delight. After several minutes of passionate kissing we decided to move into the lodge. Being mostly undressed caused the moment to be all the more interesting and sexy as we sprinted through bunk rooms to the privacy of the sick room. We fell back onto the bed as the last few garments fell to the ground below us. I rested under the protection of him as he moved his mouth from my lips to my neck, and then continuing south to tease so gently at all my womanly parts until he noticed the readiness in my breath. He stared deep into my eyes questioning me if I really wanted this, making sure I wasn't going to back out. Reassuringly I pulled him to me and kissed him seductively as he entered me. Our movements together were slow at first as he made sure I was comfortable before quickening and hardening the thrusts. I moaned in ecstasy, relishing in the moment where our bodies were united.
After hours of love making, our bodies lay in a heap upon one another happily. I held his hand out in front of us and intertwined our fingers, "See dey just fit the way we do."
He brought our hands to his lips and kissed them tenderily before turning to whisper to me, "Dere's nothin in dis world I'd want more than I want this tah last forevah."
"Forevah," I repeated.
We fell asleep peacefully together for the first time in months with the soft white linens engulfing our bodies and our hearts being full of the truest kind of love.
