Special thanks to my friend Marissa for the next three chapters. She also inspired the character Aqua. (Oh no you didn't!)
I woke up the next morning late. I had gone out to watch Spot on the docks last night and as a result didn't get much sleep. I walked down stairs to find everyone mulling around getting ready to go out for the day. I sat down next to a newsie I had met yesterday named Nosey on account of he knew just about everything about everyone, and Andrew. Andrew smiled at me. The two said hi to me and I was about to start up a conversation when the front door burst open and a girl about my age walked in to the lodging house. Everyone in the house immediately stopped what they were doing to turn and look. Then, all at once, all the guys started hooting and hollering at her. A few came up and kissed her hand as if she were royalty. This didn't faze her at all. She just smiled.
"Heya boys," she said. Many shouted their hello's back. Just then the door to Spot's room opened and slammed shut. The entire house went dead silent as the fearsome leader walked down the stairs. He barely seemed to have noticed the new arrival. He just blew past her and walked out the front door without even glancing back.
Everyone started talking again as soon as the door had closed behind Spot. I was confused. If everyone knows this girl and they obviously respect her then why didn't Spot even look at her? I wondered this aloud to Nosey knowing that if anyone had the answer to this it was him.
"That's Aqua," he said to me. "She came here three years ago after her parents died. She had broken out of the refuge and come from Queens to Brooklyn to escape. Spot had found her sleeping on the streets and brought her back here. Spot had just become the leader. Spot fell in love with Aqua, obviously, and she liked him back. They would even go out to the docks every night. Aqua would sing to him and they would make-out."
That might explain why Spot goes out there every night.
"Anyway, she gave him a key, you know the one he wears all the time, as a promise that they would always be together. They were in love."
"Well that was a funny greeting for two people who love each other so much." I mused.
"I'm gettin to that. Most girls were jealous of Aqua and one made up a rumor that Aqua was cheating on Spot. When Spot found out he was furious. He went out and did sumthing stupid. He actually cheated on her. Aqua came up to Spot's room on night and found him in bed with the girl who started the rumor. Aqua walked out and when Spot tried followin her she blew up in his face. She told him the rumor wasn't true and that she never cheated. She broke up with Spot that night. Broke his heart. That's what the greeting was all about just now. Spot never forgave himself. He still loves her you know." Nosey finished.
At that moment Aqua walked over to the three of them. Nosey introduced her to me and Andrew and then he left. Andrew went with him and they walked out the door leaving me alone with Spot's ex-girlfriend.
"So you're da new girl. I've just hoid a lot about you. That you're from da future? That's amazing. So how do like it heah?" At least she was friendly.
"It's great here. It's a lot better than where I'm from." I said. After that she invited me to Manhattan to sell papes with her. On the journey to Manhattan she filled me in on everyone and everything ending with Spot.
"My advice to you on Spot Conlon is not ta trust him. You've heard my story right?" I nodded.
"Then you know how I feel about him. He'll break your heart." She finished just as we arrived in Manhattan. We walked over and met the boys at the circulation office.
"Heya Dusk how's it rollin?" Jack asked me. I went up and started talking with him until Weasel opened the window. I got I line behind Aqua who was now all over Mush. I could tell she was the kind that rebounded fast even if it had been a year since her showdown with Spot.
"30 papes please," I said. I looked around trying to find Aqua but she and Mush had gone off to sell together. Probably went to Central Park to do anything but sell papes. I was about to set out alone when Racetrack caught up with me.
"Got a sellin spot yet?" he asked me. When I shook my head no he took me by the arm and led me down the street. "I'll sell with ya today." He said. We were off. We hawked headlines and sold all our papes together. I was extremely grateful for his help. On our way back to the bridge where he was seeing me to I told him about my growing feelings for Spot.
"Well it isn't like I didn't see it comin," he said shaking his head sadly. "Spot's dangerous territory. Especially when ya decide you'se got feelins for him just when the love of his life comes back in ta town. Now I can't tell ya what ta do but I will tell ya this. Just think about what your doin and if he's really worth the trouble." At thatt he turned on his heel and walked back in the direction of Manhattan leaving me lost and even more confused than when I'd started.
