Ok, so here's the next one. It's not the end though, not yet. Thanx for the reviews, once again! And, hey, if you haven't already, go read Candi Kane's Newsie fics, they're really good (she's my friend, by the way...) Anyway, on with the story.
I woke slowly to the sound of newsies getting ready for their day. I wondered why nobody had woken me up. I felt someone's arm around me, and it all came back to me. I smiled, and snuggled back into Mush's arms.
"Sleep well, sis?" Spot asked as he sat down on my bunk to put his shoes on. He winked at me, and I nodded. I closed my eyes, but opened them immediately when Mush took his arm down.
"Sorry, Bella, I didn't realize I had-"
"Don't be sorry, Mush," Spot grinned, "she liked it!"
"Spot!" I cried. He just bent down and tied his shoe.
"It's okay, Bella, I know e's kiddin." Spot looked up at me. I bit my lip and looked over at Spot, silently begging him to tell Mush otherwise. It worked.
"Don't be so shoa, Mush. Why else would she wanna be by yer side constantly, and not be afraid ta sleep in da same bed wid ya?"
"Spot, shuddup!" I yelled, but mouthed 'thank you' to him. He winked at me and walked away.
"Don't worry, Bella, I don't-"
"Shuddup, Mush," I saidquietly.
"Whatssa madda?"
Spot walked by again and I sat up quickly. Spot saw me and stopped.
"Bella, what is it?"
"Nothin, fergit it," I answered coldly.
"Jeez, Mush, don't cha get it?"
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"Bella, what is it?" I was actually a little worried for some reason.
I saw Spot stop by my bed, and Bella sat up, catching his attention. "Nothin, fergit it," Bella answered shortly.
"Jeez, Mush, don't cha get it?" Spot stood over me, and I got a little scared. He was very intimidating.
I shook my head. I really didn't 'get it.'
"She likes ya, Mush, plain an simple." These words, of course, shocked me. "Ya must be deaf, dumb, an blind not ta know dat by now."
He patted Bella's shoulder and walked away. I could barely breathe. I wanted it to be true, but I knew it wasn't. I tried not to believe him, but I couldn't get the possibility out of my head. I mean, no matter how slim, there was a still a possibility.
Bella turned to me slowly. She didn't say a word, just stared at me. She didn't even object to what Spot had said. "Bella, I...I neva-"
"I know ya didn't, jus listen ta what I ave ta say."
"But-"
"Please don't inurupt me," she said softly. "Tanks. Okay," she took a deep breath and continued. "Mush, I've liked ya eva since I met ya. I jus had ta tell ya dat. An I know how ya feel bout me. Well, I tink I do, an it ain't good. Plus, dere's whoeva it is ya like, an," she said the next part sarcastically, "God knows I can't get in da way a dat. I ain't eva even seen er, I mean, maybe we'd even get along. An I'll try ta get ova ya, but I don't know if I can. Maybe I should leave, an go ta Queens er sometin. No, I'll go ta Brooklyn wid Ni-...Spot. Well, I'd hafta ask im foist, but-"
"Bella, yer jus babblin now," I pointed out. I shook my head. "I ain't lettin ya leave. You are da goil I got me eye on," I smiled. "An if ya knew how ya felt about ya, den ya'd know ya've been da only tin on me mind since I met ya, too. I jus had ta tell ya dat," I finished with a smile. But it quickly turned into a frown as Bella turned around with tears in her eyes.
"I don't need ya feelin sorry fer me, Mush," she whispered. "I don't need yer pity."
"Bella, listen ta me." She turned around and crossed her arms over her chest. I motioned for her to sit next to me. She sat on the edge of the bed, and I pulled her closer. "I like ya, a lot. Ya must be deaf, dumb, an blind not ta know dat by now." I repeated Spot's words, and waited for a reply.
She looked at me for a minute, then she smiled and lay down to face me. I smiled back and was about to kiss her when Blink came over to us. "Ay, Mush, how-oh, sorry!" He stopped himself when he saw us and started to walk away. But he turned around and looked at us curiously. "Ay, ya messin wid us again?"
I sighed and looked up at him. "No, Blink. That'd be pretty dumb, don't cha tink?"
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I looked up at Blink, ready to kill him for interrupting us. I think he noticed, and held his hands up in mock defense. "Sorry, I didn't mean ta interrupt." And with that, he walked away.
"Where were we?" I focused my attention back on Mush.
"You were getting up and getting ready to carry da banna. And I was getting some rest," Mushanswered.
"But I'm not workin taday," I replied proudly.
"Dat was fore we was tagedda," he stated, "I need my rest an you need money."
I gave him my best puppy dog face. "I don't need money. And who says ya can't sleep."
"If yer heah, I won't be able ta sleep. So go."
After a little arguing, I finally gave in. I got up, and passed Blink, who was the last one left in the Lodging House besides me and Mush, and asked him to get me fifty papes. "Meet ya in Central Park ta get em?" He nodded, and I flipped him a coin and went to take a shower.
I wrapped a towel around me, and went out to get dressed. But there Mush was again, standing in front of the sink. And, once again, he was wearing only his boxers. He looked over at me and just stared, and I did the same thing. After a while, I snapped out of my trance, and walked over to pick up my clothes, which just happened to be right where Mush was standing.
I looked up at him and smiled, and he smiled back at me, sort of evilly. He leaned down to kiss me, but didn't quite make it-again. "Mush!" Kloppman called from the bunkroom. "You know you aren't supposed to outta bed!" I ran back into the shower and closed the door, barely making it before Kloppman came in. "Mush, I thought I gave you strict orders to stay in bed!" Kloppman said angrily.
"I know, but..." Mush was trying hard to think up an excuse, "but I had ta wash me face."
"Fine, but when you're through," Kloppman pointed his finger at Mush, "back to bed!" Mush nodded, and Kloppman walked out, closing the door behind him.
Well, during this conversation, I decided to get dressed. My shirt was halfway on when Mush opened the door. "Oh, sorry I...I should've known, er, knocked...I, well, I..." and he slammed the door shut.
I opened it again, with my shirt being the last thing I had to put on to be fully decent. "Mush, it's okay, don't worry about it." He smiled and pulled me close. Just then, we heard footsteps on the stairs again, and I climbed quickly through the window just in time.
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Kloppman shut the door with a bang (it is bang, right?). I walked over to the shower Bella had gone into and opened the door. I saw the side of her, and she didn't have her shirt fully on just yet. I was totally stunned. "Oh, sorry I... I should've known, er, knocked...I, well, I..." I couldn't even talk. I turned around and closed the door behind me.
Bella came out a second later (literally a second) and smiled at me. "Mush, it's okay, don't worry about it." I smiled at her, and was about to kiss her, when we were interrupted again. She barely made it out the window before Kloppman came storming in again.
"Mush! What are you doing out of bed? How many times do I have to tell you to-"
"Fine, fine," I lingered at the window and watched Bella run towards Central Park.
"And get away from the window," Kloppman added, "what are you doing anyway, do you want to catch a cold?"
"Can't a guy jus look out a winda when 'e wants ta?"
"Not when he's in the condition you are. Now into bed with you. Come on!" Kloppman practically pushed me into bed. "Stay there til I tell ya otherwise!" I sighed and drifted off to sleep.
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"Bella, ova heah!" Blink called. I looked over and saw him standing by a big oak tree in the middle of Central Park. I ran over to Blink and grabbed my papes from him. "Yer welcome," he said sarcastically.
"Sorry-thanks," I said, smiling. "I guess I have other things on my mind."
"Like Mush?" He guessed. I nodded, and blushed. I told him everything that had happened that morning-the towel thing, the shirt thing, and the no-shirt thing.
"Ay Bella," Spot came up from behind me. "Ay Blink," he said, nodding toward Blink.
"Ay Spot," he said.
"So...how'd it go wid Mush?" He asked, smiling.
"E saw 'er in jus a towel," Blink said, proud to be the first to tell. I smacked his shoulder really hard. "Wha was dat foa?"
"WHAT?" Spot screamed.
"Fergit it Spot, it's no big deal," I tried to fix Blink's mistake. He, on the other hand, was taking steps back. I pulled him back forward, and stared at Spot.
"It is a big deal!" he yelled back.
"It's really not," Blink said, now trying to keep Mush on Spot's good side.
"How would you know?" Spot asked angrily. "Dis has nuthin ta do wid you!"
"Spot, calm down. It's not like he saw me...bare. It was just with a towel," I tried to reason with my brother.
"Bella!"
"Spot!" I mimicked. I couldn't understand what he was so upset about, and I actually thought it was kind of funny.
We argued for a while longer (I don't want to bore you with the details), and Spot's anger finally subsided. "But if he hurts you..." Spot shook his finger at me, and walked away huffily.
As soon as he was out of sight, I breathed a sigh, partly from anger, but mostly from frustration. "He finds out he's brother, and two weeks later, he acts like it's always been this way." (Sorry if that doesn't make sense.)
"Don't worry about it," Blink patted my head like I was a dog or something, and we started selling our papes. I figured the sooner I was done selling, the sooner I could go back to see Mush.
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"C'mon boy, I got your lunch," Kloppman said as he set a tray down on my nightstand. "Mush, I know you're awake." Kloppman laughed and walked out, shutting the door behind him.
I rolled over and slowly began to eat my lunch, which consisted of a turkey sandwich, an apple, and a glass of milk. I glanced over at Bella's bed as I took a bite out of my apple. I saw a piece of brown leather sticking out from under her pillow, and was curious as to what it was. I set the apple down and walked over to her bed. I picked up her pillow, and recognized the leather to be the book she was always writing in. I knew I shouldn't have, but I opened it to the first page and read it silently to myself.
'2/14/10 - Claire was in another drinking spell. I went to Sally's, but she wasn't there (again-I swear, she's never home!). So I kept walking, and almost got lost. I finally turned around, and went back home. Claire was sleeping on the couch, so I just went back upstairs. So today was pretty boring.'
That one was pretty old, so I decided to turn to the last couple of written pages. I was trying to think of the day she had arrived in Manhattan, but didn't have to for very long.
'5-7-10 - Well, I guess I better start at the beginning. Claire was drinking again, Sally was gone again. So I took a little walk. Okay, a big walk. I walked almost all day, and it got to the point where I had no idea where I was anymore. Then I ran into Mush-literally. And he let me stay with him and his newsie friends. But then we decided to pretend I was his girl, because his friends already thought I was. Then he kissed me and...it's unexplainable. I just wish it had been real, but it doesn't matter, cuz I'm going home tomorrow.'
I turned the page slowly, letting the previous entry sink in. She had described the kiss as unexplainable-which was the same way I had felt.
'5-8-10 - Mush took me home today, but Claire wasn't there, and she sold the house. But Mush offered to let me stay at the Lodging House. I almost forgot! He didn't have his shirt on this morning, and I tried to give him his clothes back, and I couldn't even talk! It was so embarrassing. Then we met this guy, Spot. He looks really familiar, but I just can't place him (keep in mind that while this is the same day, she hasn't found out he's her brother yet). Anyway, on the way back from Claire's, I asked him if anyone was catching his eye, and he said sorta, which means yeah. I gotta do something about this! Well, not about him liking someone else, but about me liking him. I need to get over him. But I doubt that'll ever happen.' 'So Blink was right 'bout da shoit ting,' I thought, grinning broadly.
I skimmed over a few pages until I came to one that really caught my eye. The writing was very messy, and it took me awhile to read it all.
'I don't even know where to start. We left for the party, and Mush was avoiding me the whole time. Then he said 'I always knew it,' and didn't speak to me again. I kept looking at him the whole way there, and then when I looked back, he wasn't there. I found him in an alley, and Spot brought him back. I was so worried about Mush, I still don't know if he's gonna make it. If he dies, I couldn't stand it! I know he just thinks of me as an annoying bratty little girl, but I love him and I can't help it. And Spot heard me tell him. He heard everything I said. I love him! And if he wasn't around, I'd die!'
I could barely breathe. "She loves me?" I said out loud. I read those three words over and over again, making sure I was reading them clearly. I was sure of the words. That was why she was so panicky about me hearing what she had said. "She loves me!" I almost yelled, and clapped my hand over my mouth.
"Who does?" Race walked into the bunkroom, and threw his hat down on his bed.
"Uh...no one-you would know," I stuttered.
"Try me. I know a lot a goils in dis city," Race said cockily.
"No one." I said coldly. Race's last comment had upset me for some reason.
"Jeez, sorry!" Race exclaimed, turning around and walking out the door.
I watched him leave, then turned back to Bella's journal. I turned the page, but was very disappointed to find nothing. "That's because this was only yesterday," I whispered to myself, turning back to the page I had just read. I decided it was probably a good idea to put the journal back. Which it proved to be, -a good idea, that is- because Bella walked in mere seconds later.
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I pushed the door to the Lodging House open and ran inside, smiling at Kloppman. I walked quickly up the stairs, and saw Race sitting by the fire reading what I assumed was a leftover pape. "Hey Race," I said, still walking.
He looked up at me. "Ah, hey Bella. Watch out," he added, "Mush ain't in too great of a mood." I glanced over at Race, but kept walking.
I walked into the bunkroom, and saw Mush walking to his bunk. "Hi," I said softly.
He jumped, and spun around quickly. I raised my eyebrows at him and smiled. "Ya scared me half ta death, Bella!"
"Sorry," I said, laughing. I walked over to him. "Ya feelin any betta?"
"Now dat yer heah..." his voice trailed off as he pulled me closer to him. I closed my eyes, preparing for what I had been waiting for ever since the first night I had been to Manhattan.
There was a noise behind us. "Oh, sorry, I...hey, what have we heah?" Race asked. He looked extremely confused. Which I guess he had a right to be. Nobody knew about me and Mush yet except for Spot and Blink. "I tought you was jus jokin."
"We ain't now," I replied, exasperated. There seemed to be endless interruptions, and at this rate we would never get a chance to kiss.
Race nodded. "Oh...Oh! She's da one dat mub roo." I couldn't understand Race's last words because Mush had run over to him and covered his mouth. Mush whispered something in his ear, and Race's eyes widened. "Sorry," he said quietly, and he left the room. Now I was the one confused.
"What's goin on?" I asked Mush.
"Can we go somewheah else and talk about dis?" he asked. "Somewheah we can be alone?" I nodded. It sounded like a good idea to me.
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"Oh...Oh!" My eyes widened. I knew what Race was thinking and I knew he was going to say it. "She's da one dat mub roo." I covered his mouth just in time.
"I read dat from er joinal, an she don't know I know," I whispered to him.
"Sorry," he said quietly, truly sounding apologetic.
"What's goin on?" Bella asked.
I felt my heart skip a beat. Bella couldn't know that I read her journal. It was an invasion of privacy, and I knew I shouldn't have done it. "Can we go somewheah and talk about dis?" I asked timidly. I also wanted to do what I had waited for for so many months-finally kiss her. "Somewheah we can be alone?" Bella nodded, and we went out the fire escape. Kloppman would definitely not let me leave the Lodging House.
We started walking. "Tell me about what happened to me," I said suddenly. "I don't rememba anytin past bein pulled inta dat alley."
Bella visibly tensed up. "I found ya lyin in dat alley, all bloody and bruised, and I-" she sniffed and closed her eyes for a minute. I put my arm around her. "I tought you was dead. Den Spot came an carried ya back ta da lodgin house. Den 'e went ta get Kloppman, an I stayed up staihs and talked ta ya. I wiped da blood off yer face wid my sleeve."
"Dat was sweet a ya," I said sincerely. But there was something I really wanted to ask. "Whad ya say ta me?"
She looked up at me and smiled weakly. She was blushing, and I could tell she was nervous. "Just some, uh...encouragin woids. Ta make ya wake up. Took awhile ta take effect."
I prodded further. "What kinda encouragen woids?"
"Jus told ya not ta die, dat's all." I knew she was uncomfortable, so I let it go. Maybe I would ask Spot about it later. She said he had heard her.
"Well, what 'appened afta dat?" I asked, moving on.
"Uh...not a lot. Everyone came askin about what 'appened, but we din't know nuthin. So I went ta bed. But I couldn't sleep knowin ya might die. So I went ova to ya, an eventually fell asleep." She shrugged. "You know what happened from dere."
I nodded, and sat down on a nearby park bench. I motioned for her to sit next to me.
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I sat down next to Mush, and rested my head on his shoulder. 'I love im so much, I jus wish I could tell im.'
He shrugged his shoulder (not shoulders), indicating for me lift my head. I looked up at his serious expression. "I'm sorry, but I hafta do dis," he said seriously.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I thought of the worst. We hadn't even been together for a whole day, and he was already breaking up with me. 'I knew he just felt sorry for me,' I thought sadly. But he surprised me by kissing me. It took me a second to realize what was happening, but as soon as I did I kissed him back. He pulled away all too quickly, and I looked up at him sadly.
"Well, we finally-" he began, but didn't get a chance to finish. I kissed him again, and neither of us pulled away for a long time...
Ok, well, that's personally one of my favorite parts, but the problem is that it's not written very well, or at least i don't think it is. Anyway, the next part will be up soon, hope you liked this one. And sorry about that huuuge repeating part up there...don't hurt me!