Ch.6

Spot returned to Brooklyn early the next morning without Bites, telling her to just stick to what she'd been doing. When she questioned what had brought about the change of heart, he simply said, "You was right, I was wrong, lets drop it." That was enough for Bites, though she secretly wondered what the story behind the statement was.

Glori seemed a bit disheartened when she awoke and found out that Spot had left early that morning, but she didn't comment and she'd had a dreamy smile on her face for half the day. That, and her earlier curiosity, was more than enough to prompt Bites, during breakfast, to ask her friend just what had happened between she and Spot the night before.

Glorianna blushed at the question, "I have no idea what you are referring to, Bites. You know Spot and I don't get along."

"Oh please! I knows what I know, I sees what I see. Somethin' happened 'tween ya's and eithah ya tell me, or I beat it out of ya… your choice." The smaller girl said in a mock growl.

Glorianna grinned and leaned over the table conspiratorially, "Promise you won't tell anyone, especially my brother?"

"Of coise, we's friends ain't we?"

She nodded, "Alright, last night I woke up and Spot was standing over me, just staring at me kind of strangely," Bites nodded and Glorianna continued, "Well, he apologized and-"

"Whoa, back it up, he did what?"

"Apologized for being rude to me."

"Alright…okay…dat's a foist…continue…"

"So then I told him that it was okay and he leaned over and…and he…he kissed me…." She said the last three words very quietly and blushed even more.

"Woo hoo!" Bite Size called out happily. Everyone in the restaurant turned to look at them.

Glorianna put a hand on top of Bites' and turned a darker shade of red, "Bites, quiet down…"

"Sorry 'bout dat, Sunny, I just got a bit excited, dat's all."

"No kidding."

Bite Size grinned, "Well, it's a start."

"What's a start."

"A start between you an' Spot. I can't wait ta see what happens next."

"Nothing is going to happen, he's probably already regretting it."

"Why do ya say that?"

"He left without saying goodbye, didn't he?"

"Aw, dat don't mean nothin'. Spot ain't regrettin' a thing, Sunny, trust me."

He regretted kissing her. Well, at least he partly did. Most of him had enjoyed it to much to ever regret it, but the rest of him, the parts of him that were still haunted by his childhood regretted it. Regretted ever meeting her in fact and definitely regretted falling for her. He had to stay away from her and that was that. He sighed softly as he approached the Brooklyn bridge where Gospel was waiting for him, idly watching the sun as it finished rising.

"Don't'cha evah sleep?" Spot growled as he walked up to him.

Gospel shrugged, "I was waitin' for ya, keepin' watch an' what not." He looked up at his best friend since early childhood and, upon closer inspection, frowned. Something was eating Spot Conlon, he could tell, something big, "What's da problem, Spot?" He drawled out slowly in that mild mannered, easy going voice of his.

"Spot opened his mouth to tell him that nothing was bothering him, but was cut off when Gospel said, "An' don't say nothin'…I've known ya for as long as I can remembah an' I know when somethin's eatin' at ya."

Spot sighed, "I kissed 'er last night, Gosp."

Gospel grinned, "Well, it's'about time, Spot. So, she ya goil now or what?"

"No, she ain't and she won't evah be."

Gospel rolled his eyes, his grin fading, "Why the heck not?"

"It's complicated." Spot said softly.

"Ahh, don't give me dat 'it's complicated' stuff. Spit it out, what's da problem? You got dis great goil in front of ya, wit' a spirit ta match your own and looks dat make angels jealous, and you ain't goin' for it."

"Listen, Gospel, I don't wanna talk about it."

Gospel frowned, "Since when did ya start not tellin' your best friend everythin', Spot."

"Since now." Spot growled softly.

"Whatevah ya say," Gospel said angrily. Truthfully, however, he was hurt and Spot knew it too. They continued walking a few minutes before Spot finally said, "It's 'cause she's from a rich family, she's used ta good stuff. Not only dat, but I don't like how I get when I t'ink about her, how I feel."

Gospel smiled softly at his friend, "So, you're scared…"

Spot frowned, "No, I ain't scared a nothin'."

"Except Glorianna."

Spot stopped, "It ain't fear, Gospel. It's just dat…dat deep down I know she's jus' like me mudder. I'm sure my fader t'ought dese same t'ings about 'er when dey first met, and look how dat turned out."

"She ain't nothin' like your mudder, Spot."

"All rich goils is da same."

"Dat's da stupidest t'ing I evah hoid. What about Caroline?"

Spot thought affectionately of the soft spoken girl with big brown doe's eyes and thick, curly black hair whom had been his brother's best friend, "Caro's different."

"So is Glori. Dey's both rich and neither of dem is like your mudder. You're just usin' dat mudder stuff as an excuse ta hide da fact dat you really, really like dis goil and it scares ya."

"Back of it, Gosp. I just liked kissin' her, dats it."

Gospel rolled his eyes, "You's impossible."

Spot grinned, "Bites' says I'm hopeless…"

"You's both," Gospel grumped, "An' dats da gospel truth…"

"Extry! Extry! Starvin' Children Break Outta Mayor's Basement!" Jack called out the "improved" headline about starving kittens being found in the mayors basement loudly, "Thank you, Sir. Thank you, Ma'am." He said kindly, as two papers were bought.

David rolled his eyes at the headline, but smiled from his place on the curb. He had to admire his longtime selling partner and friend's skill at what he did. He went back to perusing the entire paper, something he liked to do before he sold, instead of just changing around the bigger headlines like Jack did. He tried to be as honest as he possibly could, so he always read all the headlines and called them out, even the smaller ones. Who knows what could sell? Jack would say that he did, cause Jack thought he knew everything, but contrary to his beliefs in himself, Jack didn't, of this, David was quite sure.

He turned the page and something, or more, someone, caught his eye. It was a black and white portrait of a slightly younger Glorianna sitting stiffly in front of a camera, her soft violet eyes looking sad. She was wearing a big fancy dress, much like the one she wore the day she came to them, and a big bow in her hair. David wondered idly what Spot would have found worse, the silly hat or the hideous bow, before the caption underneath the picture grasped his attention:

MISSING: Miss Glorianna Huffington

Believed to be somewhere in Manhattan

REWARD: $1,000 in cash for her safe return!

SEE: Mr. Huffington or Mr. Walker at the Manhattan Imperial.

"Oh, shoot! Jack, you better take a look at this…" David called out to his friend.

Jack ambled over, pulling a cigarette out of his pocket and lighting it as he sat, "What's da problem, Dave?"

"This is the problem…" David said, pointing to the picture of Glorianna.

"Hey, dat's Glori."

"No kidding, Captain Obvious, read what's beneath it." David said dryly.

Jack glanced at his friend, but continued to grin, that is, until he read the caption, "Aw geez, deys searchin' for her. What're we gonna do?"

"Well, by the end of the day these papers will have been in the hands of every New Yorker, not to mention, Newsy, in New York.. 1,000 dollars is a lot of money, Jack."

"Yeah, and any of 'em down on dere luck'll be headin' towards Manhattan for the quick cash findin' her would get em, too. We's gotta get her somewheres safe."

David nodded, "What do you suggest?"

Jack was silent for a moment, taking another drag off his cigarette before putting it out under his foot and standing up, "I got it, we'll take 'er to Spot in Brooklyn, ain't nowhere's safter 'en that. If anyone can keep 'er safe, it's Spot and da Brooklyn boys."

Spot walked in a brisk pace towards the Manhattan Newsboy Lodge, Gospel following behind him. Spot had been in a hurry to get to Manhattan ever since he saw the picture of Glorianna in the newspaper.

He had been resting that afternoon by the dock when Tex and his selling partner, Forget-Me-Nots, had come sauntering up to him, papers in hand.

"Whats da problem?" He'd asked casually, swinging down.

"Remember dat goil a couple a weeks ago, da one wit' da silly hat?" Tex had questioned.

Spot had sighed, of course he remembered her, she was all he could think about, but instead said, "Yeah, Kid Blink, from Manhattan's sister, what about 'er?
"She's in da papes taday, Spot. Looks like her old man is searchin' for her."

Spot had jumped down quickly and grasped the paper out of Tex's hand. Seeing Glorianna in that picture, sitting so solemnly in a absurdly unflattering bow had been a shock to his overly cautious system, the amount of the reward was enough to make him curse.

And after rushing away from a very bewildered Tex and Forgy, he had grabbed Gospel and hurried off on his way to Manhattan.

Now, less than a block away from the Lodging House, he stopped.

Gospel nearly tumbled into his paused form, "What's da problem."

"Dis is stupid, Gosp, what da heck am I supposed ta do 'bout dis anyways? Why am I here?"

Gospel grinned, "Cause your so crazy in love wit' her dat da mere t'ought of 'er bein' in danger drove ya to a desperate scurry ta be by 'er side. You'se rushin' in ta save 'er just like da US Calvary." He replied happily, putting his hands over his heart and sighing as dramatically, "It's all just so romantic."

Spot scowled deeply, "Ya ain't amusing, Gosp. And ya definitely been readin' too many a dem dime novels."

Gospel shrugged, "Maybe it's not amusin' ta you."
When they got to the Lodging House it was strangely quiet. Spot went up the stairs quickly and found it almost entirely empty except for Jack, Bites, Mush, Kid Blink and Glori. Kid Blink was patting his sister consolingly. She didn't look sad or angry, which is how he had expected her to look, buy instead she looked scared, very scared and that wasn't something that the Leader of Brooklyn stood for.

"Spot?" Glorianna asked softly.

"Spot! Just da guy I was lookin' ta see." Jack said at the same time, walking over to them, his manner one of complete charm, "Heya, Gospel."

Spot was instantly wary of this, but spit shook with him quickly anyway; as did Gospel, "Why's dat?" Spot asked, his eyes trained on Glorianna.

"Well, we all saw da papes dis mornin' and well, Manhattan ain't safe for Glori. So, we t'ought you could take ta Brooklyn." Jack said, deciding to change tactics and just get straight to the point.

Spot raised his brows, "To Brooklyn?"
"Yeah."

"I don't t'ink so, Kelly."

Glorianna's jumped up, "Please, Spot! Please! I won't be trouble I promise! He can't find me! I won't marry, Mr. Walker, I can't! Please, Spot!" Glorianna cried frantically, walking towards him.

Spot stared deeply into her frightened violet eyes and found he could deny her nothing, and that in turn frightened him, "Alright, Priss, easy…you ain't goin' nowhere to marry nobody…"

Glorianna threw her arms around Spot's neck, "Oh thank you, Spot!"

Spot stiffened at first, then softened into the hug, pressing her close and gently stroking her hair, "Everything's gonna be okay…"

She moved away from him, blushing slightly, and sniffed, her eyes watery, "Thank you, Mr. Conlon."
Spot shook his head, "Yeah, yeah, alright already. Get ya stuff and we'll take off."

"I don't really have any stuff, but I'd like to say thank you and good bye to David's family before I go."

Spot nodded, "Alright den. Jacky-boy, you take 'er over ta da Walkin' Mouth's place and den meet me back at da Brooklyn Bridge. I'se got some business to attend to foist."

Jack nodded, "'Kay, Spot."

Jack, Glorianna and Kid Blink headed off towards the Jacob's apartment, while Spot, Gospel and Bite-size head towards Brooklyn.

"So, what's da business you gotta ta take care of?" Bites questioned after they had been walking in silence for awhile.

Spot shrugged, "I've gotta warn da boys about 'er commin', I can't just spring 'er on 'em. An' I want it be sure dat nobody messes wid 'er, or else…"

Bites nodded, "Cause she's your goil."

Spot rolled his eyes exasperatedly and the girl grinned innocently back at him, Gospel snickered behind his hand.

"Dat's it, from now on if I heah one more woid outta either of you's two guys 'bout me an' Glori bein' more den friends or anythin' like dat, I'm gonna kick ya both outta Brooklyn!"

"Alright, Spot…cheese….cool down, will ya? I ain't nevah seen ya so uptight 'bout a goil before." Gospel replied, still grinning.

"Yeah, Spot, you'd almost t'ink you had a t'ing for her or somethin'." Bite-size said, as if the idea had suddenly just popped in her head.

"Alright…dat's it…." Spot mock growled, tackling the girl and tickling her to the floor.