Ch 13

Spot sat staring up at the stars, his thoughts rounding to another evening in which he had sat with Glorianna and they had watched the sunset. She had seemed to be enjoying his company, eyes glowing, her angel's smile wide, her laughter twinkling around him like some siren's song, drawing him closer to her lips. For moment she was there again, Spot felt his heart jump in his chest, at the remembered feel of her hand in his, of their lips touching. He had opened his eyes and watched her when they'd kissed. Her eyes closed, the sight of her gentle lashes brushing against her cheeks. He swallowed pain as her written words suddenly struck in his head:

"…sitting up there, watching the sun set, feeling the grime on your rough hands as they held mine, the smell of sweat and work that never leaves your worn clothes, I realized that this is not the life I want…"

Spot squeezed his eyes closed and started yelling within the confines of his head, trying to block out the words from his head… don't you want me to be happy?

Suddenly he was grabbed from behind roughly. He jumped up and turned, his fists high and ready to strike. He stared into the one ice blue eye of Kid Blink.

"What in the hell were ya thinkin', Kid?!" He yelled.

"I thought you were gonna keep 'er safe, Spot! What da hell is da meaning of dis? And why didn't ya come get me?!" Kid Blink growled, shoving a paper in Spot's face.

Spot stared down at the text, his pain doubling as he read the text in the newspaper:

"We happily announce the recovery of Miss Glorianna Huffington. This is a formal retraction of an earlier column, revealing her disappearance and the offer of an award. We are joyous to announce that the girl is back in the loving arms of her father and her fiancé, Mr. Charles Walker. When asked the happy young couple aid they were to be married before the end of the week. We wish them all the luck this world has to offer."

Spot swallowed, "Well, she got what she wanted, ya should be happy fer your sistah, Blink." Spot said beneath clenched teethe.

"What in da hell are you talkin' about, Spot! She hates Mr. Walker! An' why would she want ta marry 'im, anyway?! He's nearly fifty and was real rough wid his last wife. Why'd you let em take 'er, Spot? Did ya really hate 'er that much?"

Spot shook his head, his eyes narrowing, "I don't have ta explain anything to you, Kid. But 'cause you is Glori's bruddah, I'll tell ya dis much. Dat girl left of her own free will…she wanted a rich husband, not some lowly newsie, piece of gutter trash, boy, like me."

Kid's anger stopped abruptly in his mind as he listened to the words, Spot and Glori? The anger started up as quickly as it had stopped, "What in da HELL has been going on here?!"

At this point, Gospel stepped out of the door to the roof and stared Kid Blink, then back at Spot, and then to Kid Blink again, "Whoa…whoa…Kid, talk wid me, I'll explain…everthin'…I think Spot has had enough of ya verbal abuse…"

Spot glanced sharply at Gospel, then stalked passed him back into the lodging house…he'd rather not deal with Glorianna's hot headed brother…frankly he didn't want to talk about her at all anymore. He just wanted to be left alone.

-----

It had taken her all night to sneak into the hotel and even longer to discover which room was Glorianna's, but she had finally succeeded. She had been waiting all morning for the cleaning service to enter the young woman's room so she could as well and when the proper moment struck, she did so.

When the maid went to clean the bathroom, Bites snuck into the room and hid in the closet. She waited a good twenty minutes before the maid left and then snuck out once again. Her eyes widened at the opulence of the room. The bed was bigger than any Bite's had ever seen. Everything was opulent and beautiful. She shook her head at the gaudy richness of the room, her lips curling with disgust, and continued looking around for Glori. Her eyes caught sight of her and she walked silently towards her.

Glorianna stood leaning over the balcony, staring out over the city. She wore a long night, violet gown of silk and a matching lace cuffed robe over it. Her thick hair was braided and fell in a long plait down her back.

"So…are ya happy wid yaself?" Bites asked cruelly.

Glorianna let out a shriek and turned around quickly, her eyes widening when she saw the younger girl staring at her with angry eyes, "Bites! What are you doing here?" She whispered frantically.

"I came ta see for myself what ya was hurtin' Spot for…" Bites growled.

Glorianna looked down at her hands, "You don't understand…" She murmured, walking past her into the room and sitting on one of over stuffed gold colored chairs.

"Glorianna! Are you alright?!" Her father called, knocking on the door frantically, "I heard you scream!"

"I'm fine, Papa, I just was startled by a bird on the balcony!" She called out.

"Oh…well, don't stand out there, it's dangerous! And hurry up and get ready, Mr. Walker expects you down at breakfast in ten minutes and then we're going to be shopping all day for your wedding dress and flowers."

"Yes, Sir." She answered, then turned back to Bites.

"Wedding?" Bites said, her lips curling, "You're sick, Glori. I can't believe ya'd give up Spot fer some old man… I don't care how rich 'e is. Ya sellin' yaself, yer no better than one of dose painted ladies!"

Tears welled up Glorianna's eyes and slipped down her cheeks. She hid her face in her hands and began to weep softly, "You don't understand, Bites…"

"I think I'se understand clearly enough…Spot is bettah of widout ya!" She yelled furiously, turning no her heel to leave.

"Wait! Bites… how…how is he?" She asked, her eyes filled with concern.

Bite-size glanced at her and shook her head, "I wish I had da heart ta lie ta ya and say he was just fine…but, hell, Glori, he's crushed…how da hell do ya think he'd be after ya left 'im the same as his mudder an' for da same reasons…? I hope yer happy with your money and your old man…" She said, and left the room as quickly and quietly as she'd come in.

Glorianna covered her face with her hands and began to sob again.

-----

She's getting married today… Spot thought as he entered the room Glorianna had used during her short stay at the Brooklyn lodging house. He missed her…everything about her. He was miserable and the knowledge that she hated him, that she didn't want him, that she was marrying someone three times her age stuck in his chest like a knife. He didn't go selling that morning. He had stayed in bed. He knew his newsies were saying he was getting all soft over some girl, but he didn't care. It hurt, it hurt like hell.

He stepped in to the room and picked up her pillow. A long strand of blonde hair clung to it. He picked it up and wound it about his fingers, Why'd ya have ta do it to me, Glori? Couldn't ya have picked some other fool ta hurt? He wondered, as he watched the sunlight catch in the piece of hair.

He walked over to the desk, imagining how she sat there writing the letter that would break his heart, were you smiling? Did you feel the least bit guilty, for breaking my heart? He looked down and something caught his eye. A ball of paper lay on the floor a couple feet from the trash can. He leaned over and picked it up, curious as to it's contents as he slowly unraveled it. What he saw made his heart stop:

Spot-

First of all…I love you. I've fallen completely and deeply into the embrace of your arms and I never wanted to leave the safe haven which I have found there. But I fear my father and Mr. Walker will never understand and in the end it is you who will pay for my running away. I should've known not to come here to New York, but I never expected it to be this much trouble, nor did I ever think I'd fall in love with someone. I will do anything to keep you safe, Spot. Even if that means ignoring you, shutting you from my life…leaving you.

I promised. I know. And now I have broken it.

Please… hate me, Spot.

-Miss Priss

"Ya liddle idiot!" He yelled at the paper, a smile lighting his features as he read her neat writing, his heart flaring with hope. He ran down the stairs of lodging house and made his way to central park where he knew Kid Blink usually sold. He didn't have much time, he had to find out where that wedding was before it was too late.