Part 10: Starting Point

I made sure her eyes were closed before I grabbed her hand and pulled her after me. There was a place here in Brooklyn that only me and my newsies about. And it was only us because it had the most amazing view of Brooklyn in all the world. So as I led her down the docks, past my "throne" (the crates that I normally sit on and watch my boys play) my heart jumped into a faster pace. I was getting too excited. It was customary before I had stopped it to bring the goil you care about the most down to this spot to give her the time of her life. I thought it was corny at first but now, I actually liked the idea of showing Carter to this secret place. We went further into Brooklyn, away from the bridge turning onto Water Street. I took her into an old building, one that no one had entered for years. I gently helped her up the old stairs and took her up to the roof. Once I opened the doors, the setting sunlight painting the sky red and purple. As I stared at the view, I knew she would love it.

"Can I open them?" she asked suddenly, somehow knowing that we were here.

I didn't answer, I simply walked over to her. I took both her hands and pulled her after me. Once we were to the edge of the roof, I whispered in her ear, "Now."

I watched as she opened her warm brown eyes and smiled as I watched her jaw drop and a gasp escape her lips.

"Oh Spot…" she was at a lost for words. And who could blame her?

The sun was set at the perfect angle, making the Brooklyn Bridge almost golden. We were high enough to see both Brooklyn and Manhattan and, of course, the bridge in between. And the water looked like fire dancing underneath the bridge. I smirked as she just stared. Mouth open.

"Close your mouth, Carter you'll catch flies," I whispered teasing.

She smiled and laughed once.

"Spot it's… it's gorgeous…"

Am I good or what?

We stood there watching the sunset for what seemed like forever. And once it did finally set, and the moon was out, the water and bridge looked even more breathtaking in the moonlight, changing the bridge from gold to silver.

"Spot?"

I turned and looked at her. My voice caught in my throat. Her… she… what… Where did this angel come from? The moonlight reacted beautifully with her pale skin, making it shine like snow, and her auburn hair danced in the light breeze that gently moved around the rooftops.

That's it. It's official. I have met a real angel.

"I'm really glad you brought me here," she said smiling.

I half-smiled but it faded slowly. My brow furrowed as I stared at her hands sitting in her lap. It was the first time I noticed the scars twisting around them. I reached out and picked up one of her hands to see it more clearly. The scars didn't look too bad, but my eyes slowly went up her arm and the faded scars grew more and more frequent. Finally, I pulled up her sleeve (which only went down to her elbow) and I had to look away. These scars were fresh. She winced as my grip unintentionally grew tighter around her arm.

"Ow, Spot…" her voice reflected her pain.

I opened my eyes and let go only to clench my fists. I stood. I could feel my muscles coil. I wanted to pound Mr. Bailey down to a crisp. She probably had lots more where those scars came from underneath that dress.

"Why did you leave?" she said suddenly, trying to keep my mind off of what she knew was on my mind.

"We're too different," I seethed through my teeth.

I didn't look down as she stood. I could feel her eyes on my face but I didn't look back. My expression would give too much away.

I could feel her hand, so soft and warm, touch my hand gently and hold it. Very, very slowly, it unclenched and lay in between both of hers. I still refused to look at her.

She stroked the back of my hand as she said, "We're not that different…"

She placed her hand against mine, palms together. Finally, I looked down, but only at our hands. I still refused to look straight at her face.

My hand was dirty of course, and tan and my fingers were longer. Her hand was pale white and clean but still… I could see what she was trying to get at… sort of.

"We both have a heart. And they're beating. We're both human. We have feelings and wants and fears…"

I bit my lip as my brow furrowed again and I looked down at our feet. I could feel her finger underneath my chin and pull it up to finally meet her gaze. We stared at each other not saying anything for a long time. My teeth were clenched together the whole time and I refused soften the hard look on my face. My eyes traveled around the rooftop, scanning the area. My boys always snuck up on me at the most inconvenient times. She was waiting for me to speak, but I refused. And she refused to falter. Neither of us was going to win. But then I remembered that her father was probably waiting for her back at their place.

"Come on, I'll take ya home," I said grabbing her arm and pulling her away from the edge.

"Not yet," she begged. I was going to crack soon. I took a deep breath through my nose and let it out slowly through my teeth.

"Carter, please don't make this more difficult than it needs to be," I said trying desperately not to lose it. I turned halfway to glare at her.

"If you don't like my father so much than why are you taking me back to him?" she challenged.

She caught me off guard. I could feel the shock cross my face. I didn't know how to answer. She smirked that smirk that made me nervous. I groaned and hung my head back my eyes shut tight. But then I felt her finger run down the front of my throat, sending a shiver down my spine as my eyes popped open. I didn't straighten my head again until her finger went down the center of my chest. I stared at her face her eyes were locked on my chest. But then I felt her finger hook around the key that hung around my neck and pulled it up to her eye level so she could look at it closely.

"Rose?" she said raising an eyebrow.

"Me mother," I said reassuring her.

She looked up at me. My mother's name wasn't very easy to see on the key, I was surprised she noticed it.

"When they died," my voice a whisper now, "she had a music box. And when I was little and broke out of the orphanage, and found it in the master's office. I didn't want to take the whole thing, so I just took the key. And I've had it ever since."

She smiled sweetly as she dropped it and let it hang loosely from my neck. I stared at her for a while before realizing that it must be very late since the moon was very high in the sky now.

"Come on," I said more sweetly. "I'll take ya home."