A/N: soooo sorry this took forever, I have been done with school and I had time to write, but I had huge writers block. I think there will only be one chapter left, maybe two but I feel this story needs to come to an end, which is sad but I don't want to make it boring by dragging it on forever.
Hope you enjoy this chapter, its not as long as usual but I tried to at least get something good out.
Thanks to my reviewers and everyone that is reading this!
Scratch O'Brien- thanks for your reviews! Glad you enjoy it. For the 1st chapter with the mirror..i had to go back to remember what I meant when writing it but I think she was smiling cause of her hair and the way it just fell into curls,..i think it was long ago and I'm not sure if they had showers like today but I kinda forgot to look into that sorry about that.
Racerchick- thanks for all your reviews! I have a feeling they will start to get along a little better, at least more like brothers and sisters, but well see they might still fight it out through to the end.
Imjustagirl0077- thanks for the review, yeah I had a hard time figuring out what she should do now, whether or not Brady will come back into the picture one last time or not, I guess we'll both have to see how this writes it self.
"Why don't ya become a newsie?" I laughed, a little too loud for Spot; I turned to see some anger in his eyes.
"What's wrong with a newsie? If ya don't want to be one, at least come to the lodging house until ya find a place. I'm not lettin' ya live on the streets with this Brady guy probably lookin' for ya"
I sat there, continuing to become lost in the surroundings of the park. my mind whirled with what Spot was offering. But I wasn't sure if I wanted him dragged into this, if Brady came back for me, it wouldn't be pretty.
Spot sat waiting for my answer, or even a sign from me. As much as my pride didn't want help I knew I should at least get out of Manhattan for awhile.
"Alright" I said as I slowly glanced back at Spot. He smirked and stood up from the bench.
"Well stay inhattan tonight, but tomorrow ya can come back to Brooklyn." I rolled my eyes, not quite sure what I had just gotten myself into. I stood as well and followed him toward Tibby's for some lunch.
Tibby's was full of noise and life, but somehow Spot and I hadn't spoken since we got there. I was still uncertain about where to go from here, and spent the lunch sitting back quietly listening to the other newsies around me. Spot had joined in conversations with them and seemed to forget about my presence all together.
I glanced around the whole restaurant taking in the sights of boys with no worries. They seemed to enjoy the life they had, I almost envied them and my brother, but I knew it wasn't as easy as they made it look. As my stare lingered near the door I was taken back when I saw Spring come hurrying in. She paused in the doorway, searching the crowd.
"Spring!" I yelled as I pushed Spot out of the booth so I could meet her. Spot shot me a glare but moved to allow me to pass.
"Oh Autumn, I was hoping I'd find ya here." she said as stood near our booth. "Brady sent his boys out lookin' for ya. I hope I didn't lead them here but I had to warn ya."
I sighed and hung my head for a little, "Thanks Spring, if ya have any trouble I want ya to leave and find me, its not worth it to stay" she nodded and gave me a quick hug before turning and hurrying out the back door of Tibby's, but not without winking to some of the newsies, my brother included.
I shook my head and turned back to Spot. The uneasiness in his eyes worried me. He threw down some change and stood up, "Alright change of plans, we'll head to Brooklyn tonight." I nodded slowly waiting as he said goodbye to the newsies. Jack excused himself from the table as well and followed us outside.
Since I already had my stuff with me we didn't need to go back to the Manhattan lodging house. Jack took this time to walk with us towards the Brooklyn Bridge, although the walk seemed to be silent. Spot and Jack conversed slightly while I kept my eyes open. Afraid and cautious for Brady's boys, I didn't want them spotting me or finding out I was heading to Brooklyn. They, unlike most newsies, didn't care about boroughs and would cross into Brooklyn to find me without a second thought.
Spot paused at the end of the bridge. He turned and spit shook with Jack, "See ya around Jacky boy." Jack nodded and returned the gesture.
Jack turned to me, "Ya keep outta trouble Autumn." I flashed him a smirk, which caused him to roll his eyes.
"Thanks Jack for snappin me outta everythin." He smirked and turned away, pulling on his cowboy hat as he went. Spot and I went our own way towards the heart of Brooklyn.
I glanced around taking in the sights, which caused memories to play around me. I shook my head slightly to get clear my thoughts. My past was something I was now trying to keep behind me. The only thing that worried me was the present.
Spot brought me by the docks and I laughed seeing his newsies lying around. They paused to acknowledge him but I didn't like their lingering stares on me. Spot called a kid over and whispered to him before he nodded and left.
I raised my brow but let it go, following Spot away from the docks now. We finally came upon what looked to be the lodging house. It looked run down and worn out, but it was better than the streets and I was grateful for that.
As we walked into the house I could hear some newsies yelling from a near by room. Spot nodded his head in the direction of the bunk room. "The boys sleep in here, my room is across the hall."
I raised my eyes, "Ya have ya own room?" he smirked as his answer, but I just rolled my eyes. It didn't really surprise me that he would want to have his own room.
"There's another empty room around here if ya want it. I don't think the bunk room is the best place."
He kept walking towards his room as I followed, "Why not?" I asked falling into the annoying sister role I had missed playing.
He didn't even turn to acknowledge me, "Because these guys aren't as nice as hattan newsies or anyone from ya work" I glanced into the bunk room, trying to picture how these boys would act around me. Spot was probably just looking out for me anyways but I really doubt they were worse than Brady and his boys.
Spot stopped and opened a near by door, the creaking sound brought me back to reality.
He motioned with his hands for me to enter, the room was small but I didn't mind, it wasn't the streets or back with Brady. I threw my stuff on the ground and turned back to Spot.
We stood in silence for awhile before I broke it, "Now what"
"I'm goin to sell the afternoon edition while I still can, I'll teach ya to sell tomorrow if ya want." And with that he walked out of the lodging house, leaving the silence as my only company.
I sighed and fell on to the bed, it wouldn't hurt to talk a small nap until he came back. I soon fell into a deep sleep, the day's events finally catching up with me.
Later that evening I heard the echo of feet coming up the stairs, groaning I rolled over in my bed trying to go back to sleep. But sleep never came and I decided to stay in bed waiting for Spot to come back.
Finally I heard my door opening as I watched Spot lean against the door frame, "Ya already sleepin. You'll never make a newsie if ya sleep all day."
I sighed and sat up in bed, "Well I'm not used to being up during the day yet, and I told ya I don't want to be a newsie"
Spot frowned, "We'll talk bout it later, ya wanna come play some poker?" I stood up and followed him towards the bunk room where the other newsies had all gathered.
I held my breath as I walked behind Spot, waiting and wondering the reaction I would get. I wasn't surprised to find most of the newsies watching my every move. Their eyes held colder looks than Manhattan newsies had, they seemed to hold the feelings closer to themselves as my brother seemed to do.
I rolled my eyes slightly as I realized half these boys were probably like the ones I had seen every night I worked. As we sat down at a near by table Spot glanced around, "Autumn is stayin' here for awhile, don't try anythin' with her" the glare he shot across the room was enough to silence everyone, or well silence their stares at me.
I sat down next to Spot and waited to be dealt. "Ya remember how to play?" Spot asked, remembering he taught me when we were both little. I smirked back at him challenging him to see how much I remembered.
The night quickly passed and although I didn't win overall I had proved the boys and Spot I wasn't to be challenged in poker. I left the table with three times the amount of my original money, and although it was nothing like work, I was satisfied with what I made. Spot and I had retired into the separate rooms away from the bigger bunk room.
I was now lying back in my bed, waiting for sleep to come upon me. Spot had told me I would sell with him tomorrow, but I still wasn't willing to be a newsie. Maybe tomorrow wouldn't be too bad, but then again it would be a tiring day since my sleeping habits still weren't with the newsies. I finally dozed off a few hours before dawn…a few hours before I had to work.
