Chapter 24: Defeat?
"Explosion in Havana sinks the Maine! 260 dead!" I yelled out the exceptional headline without reservation. It was the best headline we'd had in months and I felt that it would be a profitable day for sure. "Remember the Maine Ma'am!"
I shoved a paper under the nose of a passing woman. The lady eyed me suspiciously so I pointed to the picture on the front and smiled. This only seemed to disgust her further but she bought a paper anyway.
After finishing, I slowly walked the streets and counted my change. It was almost double what I made on a normal day. Smiling to myself, I pocketed the change and aimed my feet towards Gideon's.
A chilly breeze whisked through the streets causing me to pull down my hat and shiver a bit. Summer was slowly ending and it was clear through the golden, red leaves falling on the Brooklyn streets that fall was just around the corner. Soon I would have to pull out my old jacket and gloves. Unlike most, I enjoyed fall and always looked forward to it; the crisp breeze and the beautiful colors. It made me smile just thinking of it.
As Gideon's came into view, I passed Flash and Dreads in a side ally where they were arguing heatedly. I rolled my eyes at their constant bickering. They were the most on and off couple I had ever known.
Gideon's was bursting with newsies, all of whom had had a successful morning. It was while I was on the way to a secluded table that I was stopped by Ebony.
"Hi."
I stared at her blankly, not knowing what to say. Looking around, I noticed that Spot was luckily not with her. I gave her a forced smile and started to move past her but she stepped in front of me. "Can I talk to you a sec?"
Hesitating a moment, I didn't answer. As far as I was concerned, Ebony didn't have anything to say to me that I wanted to hear. Then, sighing, I lead her to a corner and stood with my arms crossed because sitting down at a table together was out of the question.
Ebony wasted no time in saying what was on her mind. "Why do you hate me?"
"What?" Her blunt question caught me off guard.
"Is it because of the fight? I know I was a…" She paused to think of the word which I happily supplied for her.
"Bitch."
She winced, "Right." Then, looking earnest, shrugged. "I guess I just wanted to fit in with Manhattan and so I really wanted to win."
"You could've just asked ya know. Instead of throwing ultimatums and threats at everyone, saying, 'Hey guys, it would really help if I could win today, is it ok to change things up?' We don't give a damn as to who wins, Ebony. But there is a system and you didn't respect it or any of us."
"I know. It was stupid." Ebony shook her head as if scolding herself.
"It was stupid." I nodded in agreement; completely annoyed that she had waited two weeks to tell me this. "Is that all you wanted to say?"
She didn't say anything so I went to go sit down at a table and wait for the other girls.
"I'm sorry." It was quick and quiet so I could hardly hear it but I heard it all the same. I gave her a short nod to show that I did. She was making it hard for me to dislike her but I still did. I couldn't forget what she had done to Skittery or what she was doing to me now.
I didn't even bother to look at the menu to decide what I wanted. After a hard morning of selling, I decided it was time to treat myself to something more then the usual cole slaw. It was nice to sit alone for a change. Being a newsie meant you were surrounded by people all the time and being in Brooklyn, this meant loud, rude, sarcastic people. Most days I loved it but today I felt like keeping to myself.
I had hardly begun to dig into my roast beef sandwich and coffee when I felt someone standing next to the table.
"Mind if I join ya?" Spot looked down at me, waiting.
"Do I have a choice?" I asked before biting into my sandwich.
Taking this as a 'no' he sat down across from me and took in my meal. "Goin all out taday huh?" He gestured to the food in front of me.
"I feel I deserve it. It's been a long week." I didn't intend on sounding bitter or rude but it may have come across that way.
We sat in silence as I scarfed down my lunch in hopes of getting out of there with a shred of dignity. I couldn't chance having a conversation with Spot after how I had acted the night before.
"You okay?" He asked as he scrutinized my aloof attitude.
"Why do you ask?"
"You just don't seem yourself is all."
I shrugged. Again, it irritated me how well he could read me. It was as if the more I tried to cover up my feelings, the more obvious they became.
He continued despite the unnatural vibe that hung around us. "I wanted to ask for a favor."
There was a pause as if he was waiting for confirmation. However, the roast beef sandwich in my hands was the only thing I allowed my eyes to settle on.
"Yesterday I found out dat Switch has been seein Fox but I put a stop ta dat-"
My head shot up, "Why?"
"I don't like da scum."
"So?"
"So I don't think my sistah needs ta be wit a guy who don't appreciate her."
"But you like Fox." I had forgotten about my lunch and became preoccupied with his arrogance.
"He's a good leadah but dat don't mean nothin bout how he treats goils."
"You mean, even though you think he's a great leader and respect him, you're going to assume he's a womanizer?"
He gave me a 'duh' look. "Yeah."
I stared at him, slightly humored. "Talk about calling the kettle black."
"Huh?"
"Nothing," I rolled my eyes and finished my sandwich. "So what do you want from me?"
"Well, Switch is avoiding me like the plague-"
"I would too."
"So I wanna make sure she don't go doin somethin…stupid." His voice lowered slightly as if worried that someone was listening in on the conversation. This was unnecessary because no one had a death wish from Conlon and knew better then to bother him while he was having private conversations.
"You mean, like turtledoving?"
Spot winced at my abruptness. "Yeah, somthin like dat." He reached forward and took some chips off my plate. Seeing as I was no longer hungry, I didn't mind.
"I thought she was in 'Hatten?"
"She is." He answered with his mouth full.
I raised my eyebrows. "Wait, you want me ta go ta 'Hatten?"
He sighed, "Listen Remy, Switch likes you. She trusts you and foah some reason, will listen ta youse."
I narrowed my eyes, "I'm going to try and take that as a compliment." He smirked and reached for my plate again but this time, I pulled it out of his reach. "Spot, I'm not going to help you rationalize what you did."
He put up his hands. "Youse don't gotta. And somehow I know you never would." He mumbled under his breath. "Like I said, I just wanna make sure she stays outta trouble. I've asked Jacky but…I trust youse ta be moah honest wit me den anyone else."
"Why do I feel like this is just busy work ta get me out of Brooklyn?"
"It ain't," He smirked. "Besides, dere are easier ways ta get youse outta Brooklyn."
I gave a short laugh. "Your scare tactics don't work on me Conlon."
"True. All I need ta do wit youse is use a little of my charm." Spot stood up from the table. "Think 'bout it." With that being said, he winked and left.
I watched him leave irritably, not only annoyed at him but at myself as well. What he said was extremely true and it disgusted me. However, our conversation seemed less forced and more comfortable. Almost completely back to normal which made me smile to myself.
A couple of minutes passed as I sat drinking my coffee and thinking; not about going to Manhattan, because I knew I would go, but about Spot.
Suddenly, Dreads came in the front door, huffed her way over to my table and threw herself into the chair that Spot had previously vacated.
"I officially hate dis place." Before I could ask why, she continued, "I finally ended it wit Flash."
"You ended it wit him?" I asked confused. It was just yesterday that Dreads was saying that Flash was getting sick of her so it came as a surprise that she would break it off.
"Course I did! I wasn't gonna sit by and wait foah da ass hole ta do it on his own time!" She tore off her hat in frustration and slammed it down on the table. "And of course all da boys always side wit him so I might as well be a stranger."
I pushed my coffee cup across the table and let her finish what was left of it. "Don't you think you're exaggerating a bit?"
"No! I'm not! Don't youse remembah what youse went through when youse an' Spot broke up?"
I cringed, "I've blocked that time from my memory actually, so no."
"Well, dat's why." She took a sip of her coffee and looked around the room then lowered her voice. "And did youse hear what happened wit Ace last night?"
I shook my head in response.
"Boomer dumped her."
I looked at her surprised. "What? But they were so chummy the other night!"
Dread's face darkened, "Yeah well apparently dat was just ta get attention from another goil he was tryin ta make jealous."
"The scum," I said in disbelief.
"Yeah, don't it suck?" She drained the rest of my coffee and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, then looked around the room. "I will admit it was a good day of sellin though. Do ya wanna sell wit me tomorrah?"
"Can't."
"Why? You gonna be wit Christopher or somthin?"
"Uh…no." I still hadn't told anyone about our break up and after what Dreads told me, I didn't see it happening any time soon. "I'm going to Manhattan for a couple of days."
She jolted up in her seat and gave me a frightened look. "Remy youse can't! Please don't leave me to face da wolves alone!"
I chuckled at her exaggeration. "Sorry, but I have to." I stood up and counted my money to pay for lunch.
"Then I'll come wit youse." She stood too and plopped her hat back on her head matter-of-factly.
Thinking it would be nice to have her company and that it would be good for her to get out of Brooklyn as well, I agreed. On the way out the door I stopped at the table where Spot sat with Flash and Hawk.
"I'll do it on one condition."
Spot gave me his legendary smirk. "What's dat?"
"Pay my debt to Race, as you said you would, and then find Boomer and soak his ass."
"Dat's two conditions Bruin."
I copied his smirk, "I think you can handle it."
"Boomer huh?"
I nodded. "You said you trust me and I'm sayin the boy barely deserves to walk."
Spot shrugged, "Sure whatevah. Ise nevah liked him anyway."
"Then we have a deal." I stretched my hand out but Spot only looked at it. Realizing why he wasn't taking it, I rolled my eyes and spit on my palm. He did the same and we shook
On the way out the door I yelled over my shoulder. "Oh, and Dreads is comin with me!"
Sending Spot one last innocent smile, I left.
Before going to Manhatten, Dreads and I stopped by the lodging house to pick up a few things. Having less then Dreads, I waited outside on the steps for her, listening to an argument just a few feet away.
"Look I don't remember where it is. Will you just point me in the general direction?!" Ebony yelled at the boys in frustration.
"Why don't you ask your boyfriend sweetheart? Maybe he can escort youse dere." The group of boys laughed mercilessly as Ebony turned on her heal and came towards the lodging house, shaking her head.
"Is everyone here this rude? What is it going to take for these people to like me?" She asked.
"You're an outsider. Just because you're with Spot doesn't mean they'll automatically accept you. That's just the way it is."
She let out an exasperating sigh. "That's ridiculous."
"Maybe," I tilted my head in thought, knowing they didn't like her for other reasons too. "You see, when people think of a Brooklyn newsy, there's a certain expectation. You don't exactly fit the bill."
"And Ace does?" Ebony asked, annoyed.
"Don't let her fool you. Ace can hold her own when she needs to. These boys know better than to cross her."
I paused to look at the group of boys who were still laughing. "Normally, to be accepted here, all it takes is Spot. If he thinks you're Brooklyn, you're Brooklyn. But it's different for you. Everyone thinks the only reason Spot has you around is because…well, it's just different."
I couldn't bring myself to say it out loud.
"So I'm doomed to be an outcast."
"No, that's my point." I don't know why I felt it necessary to explain this to her, God knows she didn't deserve it, but I did. "You only need one person who isn't Spot, to say you're in and you're in. Simple as that. You've just gotta make sure it's someone who holds a little weight around here."
"Like you?" Ebony looked at me hopefully.
I knew I should have kept my mouth shut. "I don't know about that."
She nodded weakly and watched as the boys walked off. I sighed at her pathetic form and inwardly cursed myself. I needed to learn how to say no to people.
Standing up, I found Hawk, a couple blocks away, walking back from Gideon's with Deuce.
"Come on." I grabbed Ebony and dragged her away from the lodging house.
"What are you doing?"
I spoke through my teeth in regret, "Getting you in."
"But-"
"Just go with whatever I do."
Just before entering the boy's view, we slowed down to a walking pace and making sure they could hear me, I began to talk animatedly. "You mean to tell me that you sold almost 100 papes today? Shoot, I didn't even do that well."
I looked over and pretended to notice the boys for the first time. "Did you hear this?"
Hawk and Deuce walked over curious. "She sold 82 papes!"
"Really?" Hawk eyed Ebony, who shifted uncomfortably but nodded.
"Hey, feel free to sell with me any time Eb. I wouldn't mind doing that well for a change." I patted her on the back and smiled at the boys. "Do you boys know where Spot is? Ebony here is looking for him. I would show her myself but I have to head to Manhattan."
Deuce nodded, "He's on his way to the docks."
"Thanks." Ebony said weakly.
He shrugged, "Sure." And the two of them continued their walk to the lodging house. Once they were out of earshot, Ebony groaned. "Oh I'm sure they didn't believe that!"
Dismissing her insecurities, I waved my hand at them. "It doesn't matter if they do or not. I would venture a guess that the mere fact that you impressed me will be enough for them." I grudgingly gave her a smile. "Don't worry. It's only a matter of time."
Dreads came out of the lodging house and seeing that I wasn't there, picked up my stuff and began looking around.
"Well, as fun as this was, I gotta go."
"Hey, thanks Remy." She smiled genuinely.
I nodded but paused a moment. "I think you could be a half-decent person yet, Skitts must have seen something in you, but this doesn't mean I forgive you."
"Remy let's go!" Dreads called, juggling all our things.
Ebony's smile dropped but she nodded, "I understand."
"Right, well…good luck." I gave her a curt nod before walking back to Dreads and grabbing my stuff.
"What was dat about?" Dreads asked, watching Ebony's retreating back.
"Oh, nothing." I then frowned slightly, "I just took the first step towards acceptance is all."
She looked at me confused but I just smiled weakly. There was no way for me to explain what I meant without revealing my feelings for Spot. And I was not ready for that. A part of me wanted to just run up to him and throw my arms around him while the other half was ready to accept defeat and watch, painfully, as Ebony did it instead.
Either way, I was glad to get away for a while and did my best to leave my troubles behind as Dreads and I crossed the Brooklyn Bridge.
