Chapter 25: The Calm Before the Storm

Manhattan is very different from Brooklyn. Just ask anybody. The streets are cleaner, the people are nicer, the smell is sweeter, and I swear the sun shines brighter. This doesn't bother me much but Dreads… well she's pretty much disgusted by it.

"Ugh Remy, I don't know how youse come heah so often. Ise gettin sick just bein heah."

"Again, I think you're exaggerating a bit." I rolled my eyes at her as she stuck a tongue out.

We were still a couple of blocks away from the lodging house when we saw Racetrack walking up the street. He held his usual smirk as he approached us. "My, my. What are two 'a Brooklyn's prettiest newsies doin heah? Possibly payin a debt I hope?"

"Always the charmer aren't ya," I said sarcastically.

"I do like to charm da ladies."

"Save it Race. We's two ladies who ain't interested."

"Why aren't you at the tracks Race?"

"Oh, uh…" Racetrack scratched the back of his head and looked down at the ground. "Thought I'd take a break."

"What?" Dreads and I exchanged a look of curiosity at the gamblers uncharacteristic words.

"Yeah, I decided dat it ain't a good idea blowin all my money on a horse ya know?"

Dreads put her hand on Race's forehead in concern. "Youse okay Race?"

He swatted Dreads away but something else caught my attention. "Race," I leaned forward sniffing the air around him. "Are you wearing cologne?"

Dreads started laughing as I continued, "What are you up to?"

"I ain't up ta anything. Youse two can just mind yoah own-"

"Felix!"

The three of us froze as a petite, blonde girl came running up, smiling. "I'm sorry I'm late but Daddy kept badgering me about where I was going and wouldn't give up. I finally told him the truth and he had a fit! But I'm here now!" The girl stopped her rambling and looked at Dreads and I. "Hi! I don't think we've met."

"No," I shook my head and smiled, slightly taken back by the girl's perky personality. "I don't believe we have."

"I'm Sherry Marx. Are you newsies like Felix? I wish I could sell newspapers but I have to go to school. Oh, I guess it's not that bad but I don't really get along with many of the people there. I always go to Sheepshead with my Daddy instead of playing with the other girls. They find it to be too boring and think it's a horrible thing for a girl like me to be doing but that's how we met." She took a breath and smiled at Racetrack who weakly returned it.

Dreads and I were both having a difficult time holding in our laughter but introduced ourselves calmly.

"Remy."

"Dreads."

"What great names! Well, it's nice to meet you. Felix has never introduced me to any of his friends. He says they're a bunch of insensitive buffoons wh-"

Racetrack quickly cut in, "Sherry we's gotta go or we's gonna be late."

She waved as he led her away from us. "I just gotta talk ta 'em for a sec."

After receiving a nod from Sherry, he hesitantly came back to us. "Now look,"

"We didn't know you had a girlfriend. She's very friendly." I looked over his shoulder to see the girl bouncing on her feet.

"She ain't-"

"Yoah goil or friendly?" Dreads asked.

"Well, she's certainly friendly so it can't be that. I really felt we connected with her, huh Dreads?"

"Definitely. I feel like we's known her foah years already."

"Actually," I furrowed my eyebrows in mock concern. "I felt we didn't learn enough."

Dreads nodded in agreement. "You're right. How insensitive of us."

"Insensitive and buffoonish."

The two of us broke out in laughter, holding onto each other for support. Racetrack rolled his eyes, waiting for us to stop. When we finally did, he asked, "Ya done?"

We solemnly nodded so he could continue. "Look, we just met the othah day so it ain't like we's a couple yet or anything. I just haven't had da chance ta tell da guys."

"Well don't you worry Felix." I teased and continued walking towards the Manhattan lodging house.

"Yeah, yoah secrets safe wit us." Dreads finished.

We waved to Sherry, who gave us an enthusiastic goodbye and said something about seeing us later but Racetrack cut her off, hurrying her away.

"Hello ladies." Kloppman greeted us as we walked in the front door of the empty lodging house.

"Hey Kloppy, got any room foar a pair of wandering goils." Dreads eyed the sign in book in hopes of finding some empty lines.

"Depends," He ran his finger down the list. "You girls have a reservation?"

I smiled irritably, "Yeah, it's probably under 'scrawny, stubborn, pig-headed runt.'"

Kloppman smiled and tapped the very bottom of the list with his finger. "Ah yes, right there."

The two of us smiled at his antics then took the book that he pushed towards us. "There isn't much room so you'll have ta ask Cowboy where you'll sleep. We were full last night."

Another difference from Brooklyn; if there weren't any beds left when you came, you were referred to the next best thing; the ally outside.

I signed my name and handed the book to Dreads. "Why are you so full? Aren't the boys usually heading back to school this time of year?"

Kloppman shrugged, "Don't know. But a lot of 'em seem ta be sticken around."

Without a bed to go to, we threw our stuff in a corner upstairs and headed out to find Jack.

Jack had to move some of the boys around and after a few moans of complaining, which Jack quickly extinguished, Dreads and I were placed in two of the boys' bunks. I was to sleep beneath Skittery and Dreads across from me, under Specs. That night we sat around a table and, at my request, played go fish instead of poker.

"Ya got any two's Jack?" Dreads asked lamely.

"Go fish." He answered dramatically.

She heaved a sigh and reached for the deck in the middle. "Dis game is so stupid."

"You only think that because you don't see the strategy behind it." I thumbed through my hand as Dreads scoffed.

"Dere ain't no strategy ta dis…kiddy game."

"Sure there is. You got any two's?" I smiled as she handed them over, allowing me to get rid of all my cards. "See? Strategy."

The rest of the table sighed in relief, realizing that the game was finally over.

"Geez dis place is sooo boring!" Dreads leaned back dramatically in her chair but Blink glared in defense.

"Hey, just cause you don't like it don't mean it's boring. 'Sides. We never play go fish."

I rolled my eyes. "Fine, play poker. But you can count me out."

"Thank God." Racetrack began to shuffle and deal the cards while Jack chuckled.

"Remy, if I didn't know bettah, I'd say you were meant ta be a newsie heah instead 'a Brooklyn."

Furrowing my eyebrows, I looked at him and responded, "Why? Cause I don't like poker? I'm not good at it and I don't pretend to be good at it," Dreads let out a muffled laugh but I ignored it. "…so I don't play it. I think that makes perfect sense."

"It ain't just that. You just don't fit the profile."

Getting a bit defensive, I shook my head. "I don't know what you're talkin bout Cowboy."

Only, I knew exactly what he was talking about and found it bitterly ironic that I was just talking about this with Ebony about everyone else.

The table laughed at me so I sat back in my chair and crossed my arms defiantly.

Jack leaned forward, smirking. "Please Remy. Youse practically everything dat Brooklyn ain't; nice, smart, sensible…it's no wondah half da boys in New York want ya." He spared me a friendly wink before Racetrack cut in.

"And da othah half is smart enough not ta! Along wit dose lovely attributes pairs stubborn, defiant, and sarcastic; all of which are required in Brooklyn."

"Now dat's true." Skittery laughed along with the others.

I gave Racetrack a stern look. "Watch it Mr. Higgins, I also bear the 'lovely attribute' of keeping my mouth shut."

He took the hint and went back to studying his cards.

"Well, anyway," Jack cleared his throat and picked up his cards. "Ise just wonderin what's been keepin youse in Brooklyn all dese yeahs."

"I happen to like Brooklyn Jack, that's why I joined. I've stuck around all these years because I like…"

I stumbled but Jack waited for me to finish. "…Because I like the people." I finished quietly.

This answer seemed to suffice for the table, mostly because they were already bored with the conversation. The boys started the game, leaving me to ponder more about Jack's question. I made the poor mistake of looking across the table and making eye contact with Dreads. She gave me a calculating stare that I couldn't endure so I got up and jogged up the stairs to get ready for bed.

The room was empty so I was only one sitting on my bed. That was, until Dreads came in. She slowly walked towards me, then, stopped to lean casually against the bed.

"Now, if I didn't know better, I would say there was more to that answer then you originally let on. But," She looked sideways, down at me. "I know that if something were up, you would have told me."

I gave a nervous laugh that only turned into an exhausted sigh. The look on Dreads' face softened as she placed herself next to me. "You know, we haven't talked in a long time. And dis whole thing wit Flash was-"

"-was perfectly understandable."

"Yeah, but I forgot ta check in wit you and dat's crummy foah a friend ta do."

I shook my head. "No, I wouldn't have told you anyway. Besides, it's kind of a new development…or re-development."

I was thankful as Dreads sat silently waiting, allowing me to gather the courage to say what I really didn't want to.

"I kinda…sorta…maybe…" I sighed again and hid my face in my hands. "I have feelings for Spot."

"…Oh…" Was her only response.

Neither of us talked as my words sink in. I didn't have the courage to look at her because I was ashamed. Why? I don't know, but I was.

"Well," Dreads slapped her thighs. "What are we gonna do bout it?"

My head snapped up. "Do? We aren't going to do anything about it. He's with Ebony."

"So?"

"So?!"

"Yeah, so what? Dat don't mean anythin. Your wit Christopher but dat don't mean you actually like him."

"First of all, yes it does. And second, I'm not even with Chris so that's not a valid argument." I stood up to pace the floor, Dreads' eyes following me the entire time. "It means he likes her, not me."

Dreads scoffed, "I don't buy it."

"What? That he likes her or that he doesn't like me?"

She thought for a second then shrugged her right shoulder. "Either really. It ain't like Eb's gonna stick around. He's nevah been in a relationship longah den three days for pete's sake."

"Dreads, he's been dating Ebony for almost three weeks."

"Really? It's been dat long?"

I couldn't believe how utterly clueless she was.

"Yes, and they've spent almost every second of that time together. I don't stand a chance…even if I wanted to."

She rolled her eyes, "You obviously do."

The door opened and a number of younger boys came clambering in, chatting with each other. I stopped pacing and sat back down on the bed so Dreads and I could continue the conversation quietly.

"He's my best friend Dreads. I just want him to be happy." My throat began to close up which was a clear sign that I was more upset then I realized. "Even if it's not with me."

Dreads put her arm around my shoulders as I dropped my head on hers. She sighed and shook her head, clearly exasperated with me.

"When are you gonna start doin things foah yourself Rem?"

The next couple days went quietly by in Manhattan. I spent most of my time with Skitts and when I wasn't with him, I was with Switch, doing what I was told. I did my best to stay with the rest of the crowd but I didn't always feel like it. Dreads noticed this but didn't push the issue and instead gave me space. Every day I sold papes on the edge of Manhattan, right next to the Brooklyn Bridge so I could hear any news but none came. Anytime I saw Zig come by he seemed to get away before I could corner him. I may be fast but that kid is sneaky. If he doesn't want you to find him, you don't.

As each day passed, I came more and more to the conclusion that Spot had sent me here to get me out of the way; not to look after Switch. Jack already had the boys looking out for her and actually, she wasn't very heartbroken about Fox anyway. She figured that if he didn't want to fight for her, he wasn't worth it. She said she needed someone who would stand up to Spot, not fear him.

An unlikely find if you ask me.

It wasn't until about four days later that I caught some information about Brooklyn and it wasn't intentional at all. I had just happened to wander there late one evening but it was only because I needed to go for a walk and clear my head. It wasn't my fault that my feet lead me across the Brooklyn Bridge and back to the roof of the opera house where a private conversation was supposed to take place.

Having been lost in thought, I didn't even realize how long I had been sitting up there until I heard footsteps passing through the alley below. I quickly ducked down when I noticed a familiar figure and got as close to the edge as I could, listening to two boys arguing.

"…so what if you can't get her ta talk! I want some answers!"

"We've beat her pretty bad Jimmy. She ain't talkin. Even Trevor took a swing and he's our biggest guy." This received a disgusted grunt from Jimmy so the boy continued, "What do you want us ta do?"

"Nothin. I'll talk ta her myself." I poked my head out to get a better look and saw Jimmy punch his own fist. "Den we'll take our demands ta Conlon."

My breathing increased at the mention of Spot and the realization that they had someone from Brooklyn.

"He's got his boys all ovah da place Jimmy. Dey'll find her pretty soon-"

"Den move da broad! I don't give a damn wheah! Hand her ta Devin and let him deal wit her. I just don't want Conlon ta get his hands on her till latah and don't do anythin till I talk ta her eithah. Got it?"

The other boy nodded and Jimmy looked out behind him to take in the scene of Brooklyn. "Dat bastard'll be sorry he evah messed wit me. Let's see how he likes it when his precious goil is in the hands of an enemy."

He looked down at his watch and glared at it. "Wheah da hell is that good foah nothin Devin anyway?"

At that moment, another set of footsteps came pounding down the alley but it wasn't Devin.

"Jimmy! Conlon's on his way heah! One 'a his boys musta seen us."

Jimmy mumbled some curse word then the three boys quickly ran out of sight again. My heart pounded as I listened to the boys take off. There were a number of shouts down the street but I didn't understand any of them. I only focused on my hiding spot.

It was late and thus, had gotten dark so it would be too dangerous to go back to Manhattan but I couldn't go to Brooklyn either. There was no doubt in my mind that Jimmy had somehow taken Ebony and was trying to get information out of her. Not only that, but he was using her as bait for Spot.

I groaned. Why did I have to come back and hear that?

Then it occurred to me that I held pertinent information and I knew I had to do something about it, but there was little time to act. Somehow, I had to get Ebony out.

Feeling a slight tingle of excitement, I slid from my hiding spot and took off after Jimmy.