Three days. No food. Two cups of water. Never out of my room. Non-stop crying. I can tell the boys are starting to get worried, because im no longer myself. My beautiful, curly, soft chococlate hair has turned into a matted, frizzy mess. My normally tan, vibrant skin has turned in to a ghostly white. And it seems even whiter with the dark, black circles under my eyes. Thats another thing, my bright hazel eyes have become blood red and unbelievably puffy. I havent been sleeping much either. Everyday, when hes done selling, Jack comes in my room- hes the only one that I let in, the others that have tried have earned themselves a pretty lil' shiner- and he wraps me in his strong arms and lets me cry and cry some more. Thats how we sleep also, Jack hasnt slept in his own bunk in three days. He doesnt like to leave me, he says. And i like it. I feel safe with Jack, like nothing else in the world can hurt me.

I here things about Spot too. When your room is right above the boys common room, things squeeze through the floor boards. The boys say that he has become a monster. Soaking every kid that even steps in front of him. And i guess he doesnt look very good either. Mush went to Brooklyn one day to talk to a close friend, came back saying that the dead can walk.

I woke up before all the other boys today. Jack was still sleeping like a baby next to me. I was tired of crying. I was tired of having to sleep with Jack. But most of all, i was tired of looking, and feeling, like shit. Today was the day. I got out of bed, careful not to destirb Jack. I made my way to the washroom and looked in the mirror. Bad idea. I almost screamed. I needed to get clean! I filled the bath tub up three quarters of the way. I stripped of my clothes and jumped in, sighing at the amazing feeling. I dunked my head under and scrubbed my hair clean. Then i probably scrubbed at least five layers of dirt off my body.

I heard someone step in to the room and turned to find Jack leaning against the door way. Most girls would find this uncomfortable. But Jack and Spot have probably memorized every aspect of my body by now. If you swim at the docks, you swim like the boys. Which doesnt mean you jump in with every inch of clothing on.

"Heya Jacky-Boy." I said politely, climbing out of the tub.

"Hey girl." He threw me a semi-clean towel and walked over to wear i was drying myself off.

"Are you okay doll?" He asked in a simpathetic voice.

I brushed out my hair and threw on my clothes, finally i answered "Actually Jack," I turned to him, " im peachy." I smiled. He pulled me into a tight hug.

"Im glad to hear that, sweets." He whispered.

"Me too." I said, more to myself than Jack.

I made my way down the creaky wooden stairs just as Kloppman was coming up to wake the boys. He tipped his hat and i gave him a bright smile. I went into the small kitchen and decided i would suprise the boys with a nice, big breakfast. I did this sometimes, but only when i was in the best of moods. I cooked eggs, sausege, and buttered some bread. I fresh squeezed some oranges, making juice.

Then, I heard about fifty pairs of feet on the stairs and loud shouting.

"Dear me, what is that simply lovely aroma?" Asked Racetrack.

I came out of the kitchen and whistled to get all of their attention. All the boys turned to me astonished, but oh-so-very-smiley. I smiled, "Breakfast is in the kitchen boys." I said sweetly.

They ran to the kitchen giving me tight hugs along the way. I threw my head back and laughed a magical, sing-song laugh, at the boys digging into the food. I was back. And i loved it. My boys.

"Wait!" I screamed in fake anger. They turned and looked at me like puppies that just got in trouble for chewing up the furniture. "Group hug!" I yelled smiling. They all jumped up laughing and tackled me to the ground. I screamed and started laughing with them. But i got the feeling someone was missing.

I stopped laughing and sat up, "Hey guys, wheres Boots?" I asked confused.

Mush answered, "Oh, he went to talk to Wormer in Brooklyn." Wormer was a little kid about Boots' age. My eyes went wide.

Me and Jack yelled at the same time, "You let him go to Brooklyn by himself?!"

"Uhh," Race answered, "We kinda forgot about that." He said looking down.

"Ughh!!!" I screamed "You fuckin' idiots!"

Just then, the door slamed open revealing a bloody, bruised Boots. All of the boys rushed over to him bombarding him with questions. Jack carried him to the couch and layed him down. I was frozen. I couldnt move. The shouts of the boys became distant hisses. I snapped out of it when Jack yelled for me to get the bandages, I obeyed. I came back into the room with a roll of bandages and a bucket of water. I sat beside Boots and asked him the most valuable question.

"Who did it?" I asked through gritted teeth.

He croaked something that made me see red "Spot."

That was enough for me. I dashed out the door before anyone could stop me. I ran all the way to Brooklyn. I could here the boys at the docks, so I made my way there. And right about now, I glad I had brought my knives. I ran up to the crates where Spot Conlon sat with his hat over his eyes, and feet propped up. He was asleep! The nerve!

I reached my arm up and pushed, sending him flying to the ground with a satisfying thud and a spactacular "Oof!" He scrambled to his feet so fast you would have thought the boy was on fire.

"Aff?" He asked quietly. By now, all his boys had gathered around.

"You hurt Boots." I replied dangerously.

"Yeah, yeah I did. He was, " he put his hand to his chin in mock thought. "annoying me."

I lunged. Sending him to the ground in an instint. I began punching him so hard, that I thought I was going to kill him. He pushed me off with his legs, which sailed me into his boys, and I was thankful that they caught me. Spot, was stronger, but I was faster and more skilled. He charged me like a bull and grabbed me around the waist, we both fell to the ground. I hadnt noticed that by now, Jack had showed up and was watching us contently. Spot was on top of me trying to hit me, and missing. I dodged every one. The only blood that was on my face was from his nose and lip. I flipped us around so that I was on top. He was struggling to get up, which didnt work very well. But when I pulled my knife and held it to his throat, he was as still as a rock. Everyone went deathly quiet. All I could hear was our deep breathing.

I spoke dangerously low, almost a whisper, "You listen to me Conlon, you stay away from the Manhatten boys. Actually, if I even hear about you beatin' your boys for no aparent reason, ill come after you." I ended in a whisper. I could tell every boy there- including Spot- was petrified. "I never go back on my word Spot, im not like you." I said mockingly. I jumped up and let him get up also. I started to walk away when I was grabbed around the wrist and pulled into the body of Spot Conlon. His face was less than an inch from mine when he said,

"I love you Alexis." And I knew that.

"Then show me." I whispered to him. And I walked down the docks with Jack in tow. And Brooklyn cleared the way.