Ah, sorry about all the repeating. It really starts to go away after awhile, because I got tired of it too, but it's really necessary to have it in the beginning.
"Ay, Bella," someone whispered, shaking me gently. I opened my eyes to see Jack smiling down at me. I sighed and rolled over. Jack started laughing, and shook me again. "C'mon, ya gotta get up if ya wanna go back home."
'I don't wanna go back home,' I thought silently. I stayed where I was.
"C'mon, Mush's taken ya home, and yer gonna-"
At the mention of Mush's name, I quickly sat up, only to bump my head on the bunk above mine. I moaned quietly, and touched the sore spot. "Ay, you okay?" Jack asked, concerned."Ya, I'm fine," I looked up at Jack and smiled weakly. He kissed my forehead, and I looked down at the floor, blushing. "You embarrassed cuz I kissed yer forehead?" Jack asked.
"No," I laughed, and decided to kiss his forehead also, just to prove I wasn't embarrassed (even though I was, but I wasn't about to let him know that). I leaned over to kiss him, and just when I did, he lifted his head, causing me to kiss his lips. I pulled back right away, and laughed. "Sorry," I said, very embarrassed by this point.
"Naw, it was my fault, I moved," Jack stated, laughing also. "Well, ya gotta be wakin Mush up now," he added.
"Wha-why do I have ta w-wake him up," I stammered.
"Well, for one, dat's how it woiks around heah. The foist poissin ta wake up wakes someone else, den dey wake someone, and so on. An since yer Mush's goyl, it's only right dat ya wake 'im." Jack winked at me, then walked into the washroom.
I walked over to Mush's bunk, and shook him gently, the same way Jack had done to me.
PC^^^^^^^^^^^^^PC
I opened my eyes slowly, and stared up at the bunk above me, thinking about Bella. She was so perfect, I just wished she would really like me. I really wanted to tell her how I felt about her, but decided against it. It would probably screw everything up, and I didn't want that. She had to go home, and that's all there was to it.
I rolled over, only to see Jack kissing her forehead. I know it's dumb, because it was only her forehead, but I still felt very jealous. I shut my eyes for a second, trying to make myself believe I was dreaming. When I opened them, I almost stopped breathing. They were kissing. Both of them, on the lips. I felt sick to my stomach, and rolled over quickly. I could barely stand the pain I was feeling. I had been dumb to think she might actually like me. Jack always got the girls. How could I think, for even a second, that she liked me?
I suddenly felt someone shaking me, but I just stayed how I was. "Mush, ya gotta wake up now," I heard Bella say. I almost gave in at the sound of her voice, but I didn't move. "C'mon, Mush, ya gotta...uh...take me home...today," she almost sounded sad, but I shrugged it off, remembering what had happened with Jack.
I got up on the other side of the bed, so I didn't have to face her. "Fine, I'm up," I said, "why don't cha have Jack take ya home instead?"
"What? Why? I don't want Jack ta take me home," she answered. "Mush, what's wrong?"
"Nuttin," I lied.
PC^^^^^^^^^^^PC
Mush wouldn't get up. "C'mon, Mush, ya gotta...uh...take me home...today," the thought made my stomach turn. I didn't want to go home at all, I wanted to stay there with Mush.
Mush got up on the other side of his bed. "Fine, I'm up. Why don't cha have Jack take ya home instead?"
"What? Why?" I began, fighting off tears. "I don't want Jack ta take me home." I knew something was bothering Mush. He hadn't acted like this earlier, and I wondered why he was being so rude to me. "Mush, what's wrong?"
"Nuttin," he said, a little sarcastically. I was totally puzzled.
"Don't lie ta me, I know somethin's up," I said seriously.
"Yeah, well, it's none a' yer bidniss," he replied rudely.
"It is my bidniss if it means ya ain't walkin me home!"
"Don't cha want Jack-"
"What makes ya tink I want Jack all a' sudden?" I heard him mumble something, but I couldn't understand him. "What?"
"Cuz ya kissed 'im," he answered. He was still mumbling, but I could understand him a little better.
"I kissed 'im cuz-ya tink I like Jack?" I asked incredulously. He nodded, and I laughed.
"Don't laugh at me!" he yelled."I don't like Jack!"
"Ya don't hafta lie ta me, it's not like I care, I just thought...I just thought ya wouldn't want me ta walk ya home when ya got Jack."
"I don't like Jack," I repeated, "an even if I did, I'd still want you ta walk me home. Yer my best friend around heah, Mush, an I want you to take me. Unless...unless ya don't wanna."
Mush looked up at me and smiled. "A coise I'll take ya home," he said as we walked inta da washroom.
"So, uh, Jack made ya jealous?" I asked.
"Shuddup, Bella," Mush answered.
"So, you was jealous a' me, Mush?" Jack asked.
He started to shake his head, then remembered that we were 'playing along'. He nodded. "Ya betta not mess wid me goyl anymore, Cowboy!"
"Ay, she kissed me!"
PC^^^^^^^^PC
"What makes ya tink I like Jack all a' sudden?" Bella asked.
"Cuz ya kissed 'im," I replied. I knew she didn't hear me, because I barely heard myself.
"What?"
"Cuz ya kissed 'im," I repeated.
"I kissed 'im cuz-ya tink I like Jack?" she asked.
'Great.' I thought, 'she can't even tink of a good excuse fer it.' I nodded, and she laughed. She laughed at me! Like it was stupid that I ever thought that!
"Don't laugh at me!" I yelled. What was I supposed to think after they had kissed. That wasn't a normal thing for 'just friends' to do.
"I don't like Jack!" she yelled back at me.
'I hoid ya da foist time.' "Ya don't hafta lie ta me, it's not like I care, I just thought..." I paused, knowing I would regret what I was about to say. "I just thought ya wouldn't want me ta walk ya home when ya got Jack."
"I don't like Jack." 'Whaddya tink, thoid time's a charm or what? I still don't believe ya.' "An even if I did, I'd still want ya ta walk me home. Yer my best friend around heah, Mush, an I want you ta take me home. Unless...unless ya don't wanna."
I looked into her eyes, and saw the truth. Well, part of the truth, the part about her not liking Jack. And right then, it was enough.
I smiled at her. "A coise I'll take ya home." I started walking into the washroom.
"So, uh, Jack made ya jealous?" she asked suddenly.
"Shuddup, Bella," I said. I knew I was doing a good job of concealing my feelings, and almost wished I wasn't. I wanted her to know how I felt, but was too afraid of what she might think of me to say anything.
"So you was jealous a' me, Mush?" Jack came up from behind me.
I started to shake my head, then nodded. I had almost forgotten that we were 'playing along'. "Ya betta not mess wid me goyl anymore, Kelley!"
"Ay, she kissed me!"
"Jack, you know what happened," Bella intervened.
"What did happen, Cowboy?" I asked. It was easy for me to sound jealous, mainly because I really was.
"Well, see, she bumped her head on the bunk, and I felt like bein gentleman-like, so I asked er if she was okay, an I kissed da bump on her head. Den I asked er was she embarrassed cuz I did dat, an she said no."
"An so I was tryin to prove I wasn't," Bella continued, "so I tried ta kiss im on da forehead, ya know? But jus at dat moment, his head came up, an I kissed 'is lips instead."
"Oh," I wasn't thoroughly convinced that was what had happened, but I decided to just let it go. Bella went into one of the bathrooms to change, and I went over to the counter to wash my face.
"So, when are ya takin 'er, Mush?" Blink asked.
For some reason, I didn't remember what he was talking about. "Takin 'er where, Blink?"
"Back ta Joisey, ya idiot!"
"Oh, yeah...taday."
"Yeah, I know," Blink sounded a little irritated, "but when?"
"I dunno, wheneva she wants ta go." Just then, she came out of the bathroom, back in her dress. I hadn't realized the night before how beautiful she looked in it. I think she felt me staring, because she looked down at the floor.
PC^^^^^^^^^^PC
I walked into the bathroom and changed into my dress. I really didn't want to. I wanted to stay in Mush's clothes. They were so comfortable, and I felt like he was hugging me all the time, which was a very good feeling.
I walked out of the bathroom, and realized all Mush was wearing were blue boxers. I felt my face turn scarlet, and stared down at the floor. I was very, very, very embarrassed. I could feel Mush staring at me. I walked over to him, only lifting my head slightly. "Heah's yer...uh...yer...yer-" I felt so stupid. I couldn't even think of the right word.
"Clothes?" Jack supplied.
"Yeah, heah's yer clothes."
"I tink yer a little noivous cuz Mush ain't got no shoit on," Blink laughed. I squeezed my eyes shut, and prayed for the ground to open up and swallow me. No such luck.
"Leave 'er alone, Blink," Jack jumped in and saved me. "I'm sure if dat's da case, she don't want us ta know. Let's leave dese two loveboids alone. Oh, an jus in case I don't see ya," he added, hugging me, "g'bye, Bella."
I hugged Jack, but still didn't lift my head. I knew my face was still totally red, and I didn't want Mush to see that. I also knew that even if I had stopped blushing, I would start up again as soon as I saw Mush. But my fears all went away when Mush reached over and put a shirt on. I managed to stop blushing, and looked up at him and smiled.
"Well its about time I see yer face dis moinin," he said.
"Yeah, well..."
"So, when da ya tink you'll wanna go back home?" he asked seriously.
'Home,' I thought sadly, 'dis is a betta home den da one back in Joisey.' "I dunno. How long is da walk?"
"Probly a couple hours or more," he answered.
"An yer gonna walk all dat way back by yerself?"
"Well, you did it an you'se a goyl," he said, "I'll be fine."
PC^^^^^^^^^^^PC
I couldn't believe Blink had said what he had. "I tink yer a little noivous cuz Mush ain't got no shoit on." I stared at him in disbelief, and Jack spoke.
"I'm sure if dat's da case she don't want us ta know. Let's leave dese two loveboids alone." I felt the back of my neck prickle when Jack referred to us as 'loveboids'. He said something else, but I wasn't paying attention. I just saw him hug Bella, and felt a huge amount of jealousy. I was almost sure she liked him, because she didn't lift her head off of his shoulder the whole time.
But I shook off the feeling, and put my shirt on. I soon as I had my shirt on, Bella lifter her at and smiled. "Well its about time I see yer face dis moinin'," I commented.
"Ya, well..." her voice trailed off, and that was her only reply.
I was wondering if what Blink had said was true. 'This is crazy!' I scolded myself silently for what I was thinking, and turned my attention back to Bella. "So, when da ya tink you'll wanna go home?" I asked. I thought again about how much I wanted her to stay, but gave myself the same answer I had been since the night before.
"I dunno," she answered after a few seconds. "How long is da walk?"
I really wasn't sure, but I guessed. "Probly a couple hours or more."
"An yer gonna walk all dat way back by yerself?"
"Well, you did it an you'se a goyl. I'll be fine." I knew I wouldn't be fine. I knew I wouldn't be able to get Bella out of my mind.
"Whateva ya say," she said doubtfully.
"Well, ya neva ansad my 'riginal question, which is when da ya wanna leave?" I hoped I didn't come off the wrong way, like I was mad, because I wasn't.
"Wheneva, as long as you'll be back heah by dark," she answered.
We decided to leave for Jersey right after lunch, and set out to the distribution center. Most of the time, we walked in silence, because I didn't know what to talk about, and she probably didn't either.
"If we walk a simple ten minutes wid nuttin ta talk about, how we s'possed ta walk three hours tagedda?" she asked suddenly.
I laughed, and thought desperately of what to talk about. "How's yer life back home?" I asked, trying to make conversation. I knew it was the wrong question to ask when her eyes welled up with tears. I suddenly felt very guilty, and put my arm around her shoulders. "It's okay, don't cry. You don't have ta ansa dat, I'm sorry, I didn't mean ta hoit ya..." I suddenly realized I had been babbling on and on for so long that I didn't even realize she had stopped crying.
"Apology accepted," she laughed. I started to take my arm down from her shoulders when we walked into Tibby's. She leaned over to me and whispered, "we're playing along, remember?"
"Ay, Mush!" Blink motioned to me to go sit with him and Jack, Spot, Race and-wait, Spot! 'Why is he here?! To take me goyl, I'm sure.' 'But she ain't yer goyl, Mush, yer jus playin along, rememba?' I told both of the voices to shut up, and walked towards the table.
"Who's dat udda guy? I didn't see him last night," Bella commented.
"Dat's cuz 'e don't live wid us," I answered. 'Tank God fer dat!' "He's da leadah a da Brooklyn newsies."
"That's Spot Conlon? The fearless Brooklyn leader?" She sounded totally shocked.
"Yeah, dat's him, why?" 'Great, she fell fer 'im already.'
Before she had a chance to answer, *Spot spoke*. "An who's dis lovely lady?" Spot asked, smirking. I prayed Bella wouldn't want to get involved with him, not only because I liked her, but also because I knew he would only break her heart in the end.
"Dis lovely lady is Mush's goyl, so keep yer hands off 'er," Jack warned.
"Ya caught yerself a fine lookin fish dere, Mush," was Spot's only reply.
PC^^^^^^^^^^^PC
We walked towards Jack, Blink, Race, and some other guy I didn't recognize. "Who's dat udda guy?" I whispered. "I didn't see him last night."
"Dat's cuz 'e don't live wid us. He's da leadah a da Brooklyn newsies."
I was completely shocked. I looked at the boy in front of us. He looked no bigger than fourteen or fifteen, when I knew he was at least seventeen. He was a little on the short and skinny side. "That's Spot Conlon?" I asked in disbelief. "The fearless Brooklyn leader?" He was very cute, I had to admit, but I couldn't imagine why he was considered the greatest, most respected newsie in New York, and, yes, everywhere else-well, in Jersey at least. It didn't make any sense.
"Yeah, dat's him, why?"
"An who's dis lovely lady?" Spot asked, not giving me a chance to answer Mush's question.
"Dis lovely lady is Mush's goyl, so keep yer hands off 'er," Jack said. 'I wish I was Mush's goyl,' I thought longingly.
"Ya caught yerself a fine lookin fish dere, Mush," Spot replied.
I squeezed my lips together and covered my mouth with my hands to keep from laughing out loud. I stared down at the floor, and could feel everyone at the table, and Mush, looking at me. 'A fine lookin fish?' I thought, trying very hard not to laugh. I had never heard that saying before, and for some reason, it struck me as being very funny.
"Ay, goyl, yer face is toinin all kinds a red. Whattsa madda?" Spot asked, almost sounding concerned.
I just shook my head, but continued laughing under my breath. I finally composed myself, and looked up from the floor. But as soon as I saw Spot, I started laughing again. I had to get out of there for a few minutes. I pulled on Mush's arm and walked towards the door. I saw him look back and shrug, then jog to catch up with me.
I walked out the door and burst out laughing. Mush looked at me like I was crazy, which I guess seems reasonable for the way I was acting. "Are you okay?"
I nodded my head, and eventually calmed down.
"What happened?" he asked with a big goofy grin on his face.
"It's just what Spot said," I answered, "I've neva hoid anyone say dat befoia, and I tought it was really funny."
"Oh, dat ting about fine fish?" I nodded, and Mush laughed a little. "People are a liddle...uh...dif'rint in Brooklyn. Listen, Bella, I want ya ta tell me sometin, and be honest. Okay?"
I nodded, but somehow already knew what he was going to say. "I don't like 'im, Mush."
He gave me a 'how did you know that's what I was gonna say' look, and I shrugged.
"Well, ya ready ta go back in now?" he asked.
"I guess," I answered. I got up and walked toward the door, with Mush close behind me.
"Bella?" he asked from behind. I turned around and smiled.
PC^^^^^^^^^^^^^^PC
I looked at Bella, who was turning bright red. It looked like she was laughing, but I couldn't tell. I looked at Spot, and he shrugged.
"Ay, goyl, yer face is toinin all kinds a red," he said. "Whattsa madda?" All Bella did was shake her head. It seemed like she was okay after a while, but as soon as she looked up, she started again. I was about to ask her what was wrong, when she yanked on my arm, practically tearing it out of its socket, and pulled me to the door. I turned around and looked at Blink, Race, Jack, and Spot, who all looked extremely confused. I shrugged and hurried out the door.
When I got there, Bella was laughing hysterically. "Are you okay?" I asked. She shook her head, and just kept laughing.
She finally stopped, and looked up at me, her eyes shining. I couldn't help but smile. "What happened?"
"It's just what Spot said," she answered.
I was still confused, but then remembered what he had said right before she started laughing the first time. "Oh, dat ting about fine fish?" She nodded. I laughed. It had been kind of funny because it didn't make much sense. "People are a liddle...uh...dif'rint in Brooklyn." I hesitated before I spoke again, a little afraid of how Bella would answer me. "Listen, Bella, I want ya ta tell me sometin, and be honest. Okay?"
She nodded, and before I had a chance to ask she answered me. "I don't like 'im, Mush."
I looked at her strangely, and she must have known what I was thinking, because she shrugged her shoulders.
"Well, ya ready ta go back in now?" I asked, relieved at her reply.
"I guess," she answered, and we got up. When we were a few feet from the door, I called to her. She turned around and I held out my hand. She smiled and took it.
We walked through the door and walked back over to Jack's table. There was one seat left on each side of the booth, one by Spot and one by Blink. Spot got up quickly and sat by Blink, so Bella and I could sit together. We smiled at each other, a little 'we totally have them fooled' kind of smile, and she slid into the booth. I went in next to her, and 'casually' put my arm around her shoulder. Even though she told me she wasn't interested in Spot, and despite the fact she wasn't even my girl in the first place, I still felt extremely jealous around him. She leaned her head on my chest, and I kissed her forehead.
"Aww, quit!" Spot whined. Bella just laughed and turned her head so her lips were less than an inch from mine. I leaned down and kissed her softly, and when I pulled away, her eyes were still closed. She leaned down on me again, without opening her eyes in the process.
Race shook his head. "How are ya gonna go home, taday, Bella?" he asked. "Won't ya miss Mush?" 'Yeah right,' I thought, 'she won't miss me. But I'll miss her. Oh well.
"Yer names Bella?" Spot asked suddenly. Bella nodded, and Spot stared at her for a minute.
"What about it, Spot?" Jack asked.
"Oh, nothin, I dunno," he answered.
Bella leaned over and whispered something in Jack's ear. Jack looked deep in thought for a minute, then whispered something back to her. She whispered something to him again, and he shrugged. Well, at least now it was confirmed. I wouldn't have to wonder if she liked Jack anymore, because know I knew.
PC^^^^^^^^^^^ PC
Ever since we sat down, I had felt this strange feeling that I knew Spot from somewhere. I wouldn't have thought that if it wasn't for his eyes.
I leaned on Mush, and he kissed my forehead. I wished I could stay there forever.
"Aww, quit!" Spot groaned. I laughed, and looked up at Mush. He kissed me softly, and it sent chills down my spine. He pulled away, but I kept my eyes closed. I leaned back down on him and didn't open my eyes.
"How are ya gonna go home taday, Bella? Won't ya miss Mush?"
'Well, yeah, I will,' I thought to myself. Before I could answer, *Spot spoke*. "Yer name's Bella?" he asked. I opened my eyes and nodded, wondering if he felt the same sense of familiarity as I did.
"What about it, Spot?' Jack asked after a short pause.
"Oh, nothin, I dunno," he answered. It almost sounded like it was an automatic response, because you could tell something was on his mind.
I leaned over to Jack, who was sitting next to me. "What's Spot real name?" I asked in a whisper. I wasn't really thinking of any name in particular, just something that would spark my memory. I knew I knew him from somewhere.
He thought for a second, then whispered back, "I think it's Nicholas, but I'm not sure." That didn't help a whole lot. I knew about five Nicholas' back in Jersey, and had a lot of friends when I was little with that name.
"Is Conlon his real last name?" I whispered this in his ear as well. Jack just shrugged. "Mush?"
"Yeah?" he sounded a little annoyed, but I tried to ignore it..
"Ya ready ta go? Remember ya gotta git home 'fore-"
"Sure ya don't want Jack ta take ya?" he asked, still sounding annoyed.
I tried to pretend I hadn't heard him. "Before it gets dark," I continued, "so we should leave now." Before he had a chance to protest, I pushed him out of the booth, grabbed his hand, and walked out of the restaurant. I yelled "G'bye" over my shoulder to anyone who would listen, and let the door slam behind me.
"What was that all about?" Mush asked me.
"That's funny, I was about ta ask ya da same question!" I yelled back at him.
"Whaddya mean?" "For the last time," I paused for a second, making sure my voice would be strong enough. I had to get my point across. "I DON'T LIKE JACK!!!" I practically screamed at him.
"Ya don't hafta lie da me," he said quietly.
I was so tired of this. He wouldn't stop thinking I liked Jack. I didn't hate Jack, but I didn't like him. Not that way. I couldn't figure out why Mush had such a problem understanding that. "Why da ya tink I like him? What gives you that idea?"
"Cuz you was whisperin ta him in-"
"I was askin if he knew Spot's real name!" I yelled again.
"It's Nicholas," Mush said, a little louder this time. I could tell he felt bad, and I was starting to also. "So you do like Spot? Ya don't hafta lie da me about dat eidda."
"I don't like eidda a da bums, Mush, I like-" I stopped myself just in time. I couldn't believe what I had almost done! I almost how I felt about him.
"You like who?" Mush asked suspiciously.
"Nobody!" I snapped at him.
PC^^^^^^^^^^^^PC
She was mad. No, it was worse than that. Her temper had flared, and if it was possible for people to turn to fire when they got to a certain point, she would have been. It reminded me of how Spot had acted when he saw Specs with his cousin. That was not a day I wished to relive.
"I don't like eidda a da bums, Mush, I like-" she stopped mid-sentence.
"You like who?" I asked, though not really wanting to know.
"Nobody!" I think she was ready to bite my head off at that point, so I backed off.
Even though I didn't want to think about it, it kept popping into my head. Who could she like? I thought of all my friends. I ruled out all the boys she had only just barely spoken to: Snoddy, Specs, Crutchy, and Itey. Then there were the younger ones: Snipeshooter, Boots, and Les. I hoped it wasn't any of them, because that would be pretty sick. Then there was Spot and Jack, whom she swore it wasn't, and I decided to believe her. There was also everybody she hadn't even met yet. And then there was me. Which only left a few people: Racetrack, Snitch, Kid Blink, and Skittery. I sort of doubted it was Snitch, because, even though she knew him, she didn't know him as well as the others. I didn't know about Race, Blink, or Skittery, and decided the only way to find out was to ask her.
Kay, so, there's the second part. By the next part, there's a lot less repeating. So, yeah, that's pretty much it!