Chapter 12
Party in Brooklyn
A/N Gasp! Whaaa… an upload! How long has it been…like…forever. I am so sorry I haven't uploaded in forever, but thanks to a little thing called the first day of school, I've been focusing on that and work and trying to get that schedule down. Also, due to a certain case of writers block, I have been feeling a little less inspired than usual, but a few people helped me out… I would like to dedicate this chapter to Guest, Mary Ane, and Kristin. Thank you all so much for reading and leaving me awesome reviews! (more at the end for you guys)! This one's for you, hope you like it!
Last night had gone just as the one before. I slept in the same bed as Spot; he kept his distance, eyes twitching in his sleep. He woke up, ordered me to stay in the warehouse, and went to work leaving me to find some way to amuse myself during the day. He would come back at night, with some sort of food for me, play a round or two of poker, and go to sleep.
A couple days went by of the same routine. By the third day, the warehouse was spotless, and I had no information to give to Gavino, whenever I was supposed to see him. I had tried to keep it on the low when I asked about news on the war, but every time I did, he would get uptight and yell so I stopped.
That morning I had gotten out of bed with Spot and followed him downstairs after dressing. I heard voices coming from one of the side rooms, so I hid behind the doorframe hoping to get some sort of information.
"So whose commin?"
"Hattan an Harlem." I heard Spot's voice say. "We'se gotta see where they stand."
"Alright, I'll spread da woid."
I heard movement from the other side of the door and quickly moved away, afraid of getting caught. I saw Spot and one of his birds emerge from the room. He looked at me and raised an eyebrow in suspicion.
"What are ya doin?" he asked.
"Just trying to figure out something I could do today to pass the time." I answered.
"Oh well. I'se is havin a few boys ova tonight, so I'se want da place looking it's best."
"Spot, I wanted to ask you something."
He stared at me waiting for an answer, his crystal blue eyes searching me, narrowed and focused.
"What is it?" He asked sounding like he really did not want to know. He probably thought I was going to ask about the updates on the war again, but this time I did not.
"Spot, I have been wanting to ask you this for kind of a long time-"
"Will you'se just say it?" He interrupted in a frustrated tone.
"Is there a library in Brooklyn?"
"Huh?"
"Well I was just wondering if there was a library in Brooklyn. '
"Why, you'se read?"
"Well, yes."
"Huh. Well maybe one day someone will take ya. But now, I'se gotta go."
He walked towards the door spitting out the usual, "don't leave the warehouse, don't go to the third floor". And as usual, I obeyed.
The day was boring as usual. I spent most of the time washing and re-washing the windows, sweeping and re-sweeping the floors, until I got so bored that I was forced into conversation.
To say a "few boys" were coming to Brooklyn was an understatement.
True to Spot's word, about thirty boys from both Manhattan and Harlem came to the warehouse and chaos ensured. I had never been to or seen a newsie party, (Luciano didn't want me to go) so I had no idea what to expect. But despite the alcohol that was consumed, and the rowdiness that followed, nothing bad was happening. A few tables were set up around the room for boys to play poker, and a couple boys had brought harmonica's and other instruments to create a make shift band. It was only when I moved around the room trying to keep it tidy that I noticed I was the only female here. Suddenly feeling very conscious and I could feel everybody's eyes on me as I tried to find someone I knew. The first person I found was Match and made my way over to him. He was sitting at a poker table, not playing, but simple sitting and watching the game. I walked over to the table he was at, ignoring all the looks the other boys gave me as I shuffled past them, and pulled up a crate sitting behind Match. He turned his attention from the game to me.
"Hey Belle." He said. "Enjoying yourself?"
I thought about this question for a moment before answering. Nothing bad was happening, but I did feel uncomfortable being the only female here.
"You know Match, I think I'm just going to go to bed."
"Alright," He said standing up as I did. "Do you need me to take you up?" He asked probably sensing my discomfort.
I smiled at him grateful for his kindness.
"No thank you, I think I can manage."
"You sure?"
"Yes, and besides I wouldn't want to pull you from your game."
He smiled back at me and watched me get lost in the sea of newsboys.
I carefully made my way around the common room towards the stairs, trying to find anything to clean up on my way. I had a feeling this place would be a mess in the morning, but at least I would actually have something new to clean. But all I found was abandoned half empty beer bottles, and I didn't want to mess with those, just in case a newsie wasn't finished. I turned around and ended up running straight into somebody's chest. When I realized who it was I jumped backwards in surprise.
"Hey Doll havin' a good time?" Spot said as he leaned on his shoulder against the wall blocking my path to the stairs.
"It was ummm…it was, nice," I stuttered with a nod of my head. I went to walk past him, but he pushed himself up from the wall and stood blocked my way.
"Ya know," He said reaching out a hand to tuck a stray piece of hair behind my ear, "You're kinda cute," He brushed my jaw with the back of his fingers as his hand slid from my face. He stumbled forward making himself close enough that I could smell the cheap booze and cigarette smoke on his breath.
"You're drunk," I stated as I backed up a little further into the hallway. A cold chill shot up and down my spine as I became slightly afraid. If Spot could get angry the way he did when he was sober, I did not want to know what would happen when he had been drinking. I knew what alcohol did to boys.
"Only a little," Spot said smirking.
"I'm going to bed now." I told him. I went to walk around him but he blocked my way once more.
"Ya know, you're one of da few goils who doesn't want me," he said as his words slurred slightly. He began walking closer to me his feet shuffling beneath him as he used the wall for guidance. I thought about what he said. Had he believed I wanted him? Obviously not, but even so, how could I? This was the boy holding me captive, prisoner. I wasn't even allowed outside and he thought I would want him? Egotistic much? He continued coming closer as I continued to back up further into the dark hallway that is until I bumped into the wall. Even then, Spot did not stop until his mouth was next to my ear. "And everybody wants me," he whispered dangerously.
I quickly went to slide to my right but he slammed his hand against the wall preventing me from moving, followed by his left. I was trapped. I looked down the hallway at the common room hoping to see if anyone would be there who would help me, but we were down far now secluded from the room. I looked back to Spot, his face half shadowed from the light at the end of the hallway. His eyes were intense, one of them gleaming like a precious blue stone in the light.
"Spot, stop it." I said trying to seize his antics. "You don't know what you're doing." I said my voice quivering.
"I know exactly what I'm doing," He replied and the next thing I knew his lips was on my own. I could taste the alcohol as Spot moved his arms from the wall onto my shoulders as he pushed me hard against the wall. I tried to get away but he wouldn't let me go. I raised my hands and shoved at his chest as hard as I could, eventually pushing him back enough so he broke the kiss. I gazed up at him as he looked down at me, his eyes empty, yet focused, and before I had time to think, I rose my hand and slapped him across the face. Spot staggered backwards bumping into the opposite wall of the hallway, My fingertips and palm stinging as redness blossomed over its surface as I breathed in heavily.
It didn't take long before Spot regained his composure. Then he grabbed my right wrist holding it in place in front of me, followed by my left wrist which he pinned hard against the wall. But he didn't try and kiss me this time. "Please, just leave me alone," I begged as tears began to form in my eyes. But I would not let them fall. Not in front of him. I tried to wiggle out of his grasp, but he seemed to just hold on harder. And I thought to myself that this was it. This was the night all rumors about Spot would come true. And I prayed that God would strike me down before anything happened. Forcedly being kissed was not something I enjoyed.
"You'se is lucky dat you's a goil, I woulda soaked ya by now," He said as his blue eyes bore holes into me. I could feel the bruises forming on my wrists as his grip only tightened more. He narrowed his piercing blue eyes, as he looked over me, eyes searching my soul for weakness. But what came next, was something I was not expecting.
"Ya don't belong here," Spot said venomously as he shoved me back against the wall. I furrowed my brows as I thought about what he just told me. You don't belong here. Of course I didn't. My home was not in Brooklyn, it was Bronx, but there was more to this statement. There was something in the way Spot said it and the look in his eyes. He looked at me still, eyes searching mine as he let my wrists go.
I wormed out from infront of Spot, who was still keeping me trapped into the wall, but he didn't protest, he just leaned against the wall where I'd previously been. I backed down further into the hallway, looking back to see if he would pounce, but he never did, so I stumbled out of the hall, embarrassed and ashamed. I made my way back to the common room desperately needing fresh air, I wiggled through all the people and out of the Lodging House, and excited through the front doors, a bit surprised to see Chip sitting on the steps, smoking a cigarette.
I sat down beside him, I heavy sigh escaping my lips. I sniffled and thought about crying now, but the tears that had been pooling in my eyes just a few moments ago, were not falling. I could feel Chip's eyes on me as I sat there on the step, my chin resting on my hands as I looked at the moon in the wide midnight sky.
"You okay?" he asked me as he shifted closer.
I sniffled again before answering an honest "No."
"What happened? Is something goin on in dere?" he asked hoping to get a bit of excitement in the night.
"No it-it was Spot."
At this Chip straightened a bit and sat up a little taller. His eyes furred and he looked at me with serious curious eyes.
"What happened?" he repeated. "Are you okay? Is he okay? Did he try something-"
"Chip!" I exclaimed finally after trying to get words in between every question he asked. "I'll be okay, he didn't do anything-bad-but I just would not like to be around him tonight."
"Did he try ta kiss ya?" Chip said sensing what had happened. I nodded my head in response ashamed.
"Look, he get like that sometimes when he'd been drinkin. But ya don't have ta get scared much. He never goes 'al da way' with the goils he meets."
"What do you mean?" I asked curiosity flowing through my veins.
"You'se herd of Spot reputation right?"
I nodded. Everyone had herd of Spot's reputation.
"Well, that's all it is, just a reputation. Da most he ever does with goils is just kisses em'. Don't let em do no more."
"You mean he's never-"I trailed off starting to feel a bit uncomfortable talking about the subject at hand.
"Nah-he has, but only once. And no one know's who with. I happened before da strike, da only clue is da key he wears around his neck."
A flood of memories began racing through my mind, to the night I went to the third floor I found a key, matching to his on top of a note. A note signed "Ellie.". Then I thought about the night in Spot's safe house. He had gotten so angry when I mentioned her, and I wondered if it was worth bringing it up again.
Sensing the stressed expression on my face, Chip held out his hand with his cigarette in it, offering me a drag. I had never smoked before, but thought it could do me no harm, so I took it and inhaled resulting in a coughing fit with an awful taste in my mouth. I practically shoved the cigarette back into his hand and he chuckled and took a drag of his own.
"I'm sorry for whatever Spot said to ya," he said quietly, and I wondered if Chip noticed how red my palm was, or if he could smell Spot on my clothes. I didn't dare lick my lips. I didn't want to taste Spot. "He really ain't dat bad'o a guy. Really, he ain't. Just doin' what he does, ya know?"
I wasn't surprised that Chip knew. He seemed like a very intelligent boy, and that surprised and impressed me, especially since he was a newsie.
"Yeah, you're right. He's a pro at messing with girls' heads, especially his prisoners." I muttered. "One day he's screaming at you, the next he's letting you sleep in his bed, then he's yelling, then his kissing you like there's no tomorrow. I don't understand."
"Never said he wasn't confusin at times," Chip smiled taking another puff of his cigarette. "E's jus' not a bad guy. He's a great leader, and a damn good fighter when it comes to things he cares 'bout, especially Brooklyn. He'll do anything for 'er. And he's loyal like a damn dog. Jus'… not so great with the ladies."
"I disagree. Apparently half of New York City's female population wants him," I said, remembering how he told me that "everybody wanted him."
"Yeah, you're right," Silver smiled again. "That don't mean he gives a damn 'bout 'em. Ya see Belle, all da goils are da same. They just like his power, they like the fact that everybody knows him, that he's a leader."
"That's not right," I said softly.
"Yeah, I'se think dat's da reason he doesn't wanna go all da way, ya know?" Chip concluded. I had a feeling he was on the right track, but there was more to the story. "An' he only putts up with them goils because the Brooklyn boys is a tough crowd. If Spot ain't doin' what's expected of him as King of Brooklyn, ain't nobody gonna respect him. He's got his "reputation" ta think of."
"Then why me? I'm just like those other girls he can't stand, probably worse. I'm his biggest enemy's sister. He should hate me!"
"Maybe he's not thinking about that."
I couldn't believe that. All Spot had been doing for the past few days was thinking of this stupid was I was dragged into. That was the whole reason why I ended up in Brooklyn in the first place.
"Well if your right, I'm just going to be like the other girls.
Chip laughed. "Belle, you ain't no lidde goil. I don't think you'se ever be like dem. You got spunk, and spirit. And that ain't somethin' that comes 'round often.."
I rolled my eyes at what he was saying. I didn't have spunk, and certainly not spirit. "How would you know I'm not going to be like them?"
"I can read people," Chip elbowed me and smiled. I looked into his eyes and he into mine, and I believed he could read people. He had seen me from the very start. "'Sides, never heard him talk so much about a goil in me life."
I turned to look at him, eyes wide. If I had been eating or drinking, I would have choked. "He was talking about me?" I was confused and angry, but most of all didn't want to be pleased.
"The damn kid wouldn't shuddup about ya. " Chip laughed."And believe me, Angel, if there's one thing the King never does, it's ramble. But Jesus did he ramble today when we'se was sellin!"
I grinned quietly to myself. "Chip, what was he sayin?"
He smiled took one last drag before throwing it down on the street.
"Don't tell nobody, but he thinks you'se is beautiful."
I was thankful it was so dark outside so Chip wouldn't see the bush appearing on my cheeks.
He stood up and pulled me to my feet.
"Come on, Belle. You'se should go ta bed before it get's any rowdier."
"It can get rowdier than this?" I held shouted over the music and the yelling once we were back inside.
"Yep." Was his simple answer.
He escorted me through the common room and up the stairs to Spot's room, where he made sure I would be okay. We got into the room I turned to face him.
"Chip, may I ask you something?"
"Sure."
I took a few shallow breaths before asking the question that had been plaguing my mind.
"Do you know anything about the war?"
Chip sighed, clearly I had put him in a difficult position.
"Look, you'se know I'se would tell ya, but I'se ain even supposed ta be with ya."
"What?"
"Spot made a rule that we'se can't really be around ya."
"Well that's not fair! First I'm not allowed to go outside, now I can't even talk to people!"
"He says it's for da best."
"Chip, please tell me anything! I-I need to know what he has planed for the Bronx-I need to know what he has planned for my brother." I pleaded.
"Al's I know's is dat dere's gonna be something big. By week's end."
I smiled my thanks and he left, but not before patting me on the shoulder.
I thought about what this "something big" could be, and tried not to get myself too freaked out. I had to somehow find a way to reach Gavino, or anybody to tell them to be careful. Who knows what was going to happen.
Once he was gone, I changed into my nightdress and climbed into bed. I fell asleep to the distant sounds of music and chatter.
A/N Sorry to my latest reviewers, but I couldn't respond to you, privately, so I'm doing it here!
Guest- I'm so glad you have enjoyed this story! I hope this chapter fulfills the amount of Belle/Spot you were looking for!
Kristin- Thank you so much for the amazing review! Hoped you liked this chapter, sorry it took so long!
Mary Ane- I love you too! Haha, and yes it was sad to hear about the newsie closing. But it will always live on in our hearts! #newsiesforever
