.Chapter five

The two teens continued selling their papers and getting to know one another along the way. When ever Spot noticed another newsie nearby, he would call them over and he or Mary would quickly tell them her story and ask if they knew any newsies by the name of Frankie. Around dinner time, Mary had finally been able to sell the 25 papers that Spot had generously purchased for her. She immediately paid him back and told him that she would be able to buy her own papers from then on. Spot agreed and they decided to head back to the lodging house. Along the way they stopped in a small bakery that was about to close up shop.

"A friend a mine works here and lets me buy their left ova rolls at the end a the day for real cheep. It's nice when ya need somethin quick and cheep to but in ya belly," Spot informed Mary. He then walked up to the counter and an elderly woman looked up from her money ledger and grinned.

"Well Spot, haven't seen you round here for a few weeks now," the woman cooed. "What'll it be? The usual?"

"Yah, Mrs. Donovan cepts make it a double orda this time. My friend here's new to the city and needs a good meal," Spot told the old woman.

"Sure thing Spot. Who is your lovely friend might I ask?"

Mary took this opportunity to speak up. "My name is Mary, ma'am. Spot here is helping me search for my brother."

"Oh well aren't you a southern belle. I must warn ya, mind this one, he's a charmer he is, I've seen him break his share of hearts," the old woman, Mrs. Donovan quipped.

"Now now Mrs. Donovan, don't go givin her tha wrong idea," Spot said smiling.

Mrs. Donovan smiled and handed the brown paper bag she had put their rolls in over to Spot. He accepted and handed her some coins. Mrs. Donovan immediately handed them back saying, "Not today Spotty, today it's on me. In honor of Miss Belle's welcome to the city."

Spot and Mary both thanked Mrs. Donovan several times before exiting the shop and continuing on their way to the lodging house. Along the way, Mary brought up something that had been bothering her since they started their trek back for the night.

"Um…. Spot?"

"Yeah, Belle?" Spot replied.

"Wait… Belle?" Mary asked.

"Yeah, Belle. I liked it when Mrs. Donovan called ya that back at tha shop. Most newsies adopt some form of a nickname. Helps keep the past from catching up witcha when ya don't want it to plus helps ya adopt a new life with the newsies. It's sorta become a ritual. I believe Mrs. Donovan crowned you as our Belle. Whadaya think?" Spot asked.

"I like it. It speaks about where I am from but does give me a fresh start. I'll be Belle." Mary responded. She then took a few breathes and refocused her attention. Spot was waiting for her to speak. She began, choosing her words slowly.

"Well, I was just thinking, I don't want to keep putting you out of your own bed. It's alright if I sleep in the extra bunk in the boy's room." Belle began speaking faster and kept her eyes focused on her shoes.

"I understand that it may be quite a while until we find Frankie, that is if we ever find him and it just wouldn't be right for me to keep you out of your own bed and room during that time so…" Mary began to ramble a bit. Spot just slowed his pace to a stop and grinned that lopsided grin at her. Mary realized his shoes weren't walking next to hers anymore and she turned to walk back to him. While she walked towards him Spot started, "Look Mary, afta what happened with that bum earlier outside the Distribution Office I ain't about ta leave ya in a room full of boys, some close to bein men, by ya self. I don't know what it is in ya past that has ya hurt and scared that way but I saw it in ya eyes."

At this point Belle opened her mouth to respond but Spot cut her off. "Ya don't gotta tell me about it, not now at least. If it turns into a situation where you'll be living with us more permanently, I may ask you to tell me. But for now just know that I don't want ya ta feel that pain and I'm not putting ya in a situation where I'm betting you would. I'm not sayin my boys would try nuthin with ya, they're all great boys, but they might not be as observant and courteous as I've been." Spot realized he was the one beginning to ramble a bit now and looked at Belle. His eyes had been trained on different parts of the street or the building while he was speaking. Now that he looked at her face he saw that those enchanting eyes were watching him. They held a mixture of emotion. Some combination that Spot wasn't able to understand. She was standing in front of him with her arms wrapped around herself lightly. Spot was tempted to reach out and touch her arms. Give her a comforting gesture but he hesitated. Not knowing what her history with men was, and seeing her reactions to a strange man earlier forced him to watch his actions. He would have to understand more and read her better if he were to give her that comfort.

Belle took a stabling breathe before she responded to Spot's words. "Thank you," she said. Simple and sweet and full of meaning. Spot looked deep into Belle's hazel eyes and knew that he had given her something with his words. He didn't know what it was but he knew that he had helped her in some way and that was enough for him for now. Her eyes showed him a storm of emotions. With that simple response, Belle turned slightly signaling her desire to begin walking again. Spot matched her stance and together they strode off.

After a few minutes of comfortable silence, Spot brought up the other part of Belle's question from before. He wasn't going to make her sleep in the bunkroom with the guys but he didn't want to loose his room either.

"Sos, I'se thinking bout whatchu said bout me having to give up my room and all. I have an idea about how we could fix that but we don't hafta if you aren't comfortable with it," he said.

"Well, what's your idea?" Belle asked while smiling up at him.

"We have some extra mattresses from when bunks have broken in tha past. You could keep on using my bed and not move inta the bunkroom but I could bring one a those mattresses into my room and put it on the floor and sleep there. That is if you'se comfortable with that, Belle. If you're not then I'll stay in the bunkroom just fine. A woman should have their own space to go if they're gunna be livin with a buncha guys anyhow." Spot finished his proposition.

Belle took a few seconds thinking it over. Spot certainly made her feel safe and comfortable, but the shadows from her past fell on her and warned her to keep her guard up. Finally the southern hospitality she was raised on won over. She couldn't stand the thought of keeping Spot out of his own room.

"I'd be alright with that. As long as you remain the gentleman you are now," she risked a glance in his direction.

Spot smirked. "Of course, Miss Belle."

Once they reached the lodging house, Spot got two of his boys to help him move a mattress into his room on the floor. Once they were finished, Spot ushered his boys into the main room downstairs. There he had Belle stand at his side while he explained her situation to all his guys. He introduced her by her new name and was stern and commanding when telling them to make sure not to try any funny business with her. She was one of their own now and deserved their friendship. Belle watched the meeting transpire and took in the rag-tag group before her. She saw Scratch smiling at her from the corner of a raggedy couch. He even gave her an energetic wave. She smiled back at him. Some of the older boys certainly did strike her as imposing and mean, until she saw an interaction here and there with one of the younger boys. These kids, she realized, had created a family. They truly were caring and there for each other, but she hated to think what it would be like to be on the opposing side when one of them decided you'd done something worthy of a punch to the face. She believed they could demand the respect they had. Their presence and demeanor at times proved it. But they had instead earned that respect through friendship and fairness. As she left the meeting, Belle smiled to herself. She wasn't closer to finding Frankie, but she was already much happier and surrounded by much better feelings and energy than back in Carolina.

Belle found Spot sitting down to a poker game and told him she was going to bed. Then she walked up the worn stairs and changed into the shirt Spot was still letting her use. She crawled into bed and drifted into a light slumber.

Spot climbed the stairs later that night and quietly opened the door to his room. Belle's sleeping form was curled up on her side and facing out the window. He walked over to his dresser and quietly took his shirt off and placed his cane and slingshot on top of the dresser. As he was kneeling to lay down on the mattress, Belle shifted in the bed above him. He looked up and she had turned her upper body to be able to see him. She sleepily peered at him.

"I will tell you about my past and why I've lived with pain for the past five years. But I'm not ready to talk about it just yet. You have been so kind to me and deserve to know, but I have to talk about it when I am ready." She whispered. The words came out soft and slow and Spot could tell there were tears behind them.

"Whenever you're ready, I'll listen Belle," he told her. There was no denying the sincerity in his voice.

"Thank you," she replied. Again, so simple and perfect. In the pale moonlight, Spot saw her lips slowly form a slight smile before he heard her breathing return to the slow steady pace of sleep. Spot lowered himself onto the mattress and drifted into a deep sleep. His dreams held visions of an auburn haired beauty leading him through thick trees. She was always just out of reach and she was silent.