Jack woke up with a start and almost fell off his top bunk. He looked at Spit Fire standing right below him and frowned. He turned over in his bunk but she yelled again. Finally he sat up and sighed.
"What is the problem Spit Fire?"
Spit Fire glared at Jack, "Stay out of this Jack!"
Blink and Chance looked over at Spit Fire and then looked at each other.
"Does she know who she's messin' wid?" Chance commented lightly and sat up in his bunk.
"She will shortly," Blink laughed.
Spot rolled over in his bunk and frowned. There was a commotion of loud annoying yells coming from right above him. He only wanted one thing this morning...sleep. This person keeping him up was soon going to find out how loud he could get when he was deprived of his sleep. He turned over and blinked sleep out of his eyes. He noticed Spit Fire glaring at him roughly.
He yelled up to Jack who was right above him, "Jack...can ya tell'er ta keep it down. Some people are tryin' ta sleep."
Spit Fire shot a glance to Jack and Jack laughed, "Ain't happenin' Spot. You git to deal wid this."
Spot rolled his eyes and then rolld over onto his stomach, mumbling, "What do yous want? Let me sleep."
"Get up Spot." She demanded, balling her fists so hard her knuckles turned white.
Spot looked back at Spit Fire and frowned. He sat up and sighed. Moving hurt too much this morning. He looked into her eyes and became a bit worried. `She knows...' He stood up and leaned against Jack's bunk.
"All right...what?!" he sounded with an annoyed voice.
Spit Fire glared at him with incredible hatred for the Brooklyn leader and quickly but powerfully sent a right hook his way making contact with his eye. She felt the pain as her knuckles made full contract with his cheek bone, making a disgusting crunching sound. Spot reeled back, hitting the wall behind him and falling to his knees. He put his hand up to his eye in a painful gustier and sat there for a few moments confused from sleep deprivation. Spit Fire stepped over to him and grabbed the back of his neck, yanking him up to a standing position. Spot's eye was already starting to swell and his unbuttoned shirt from the previous night was falling off his shoulders. If Spit Fire weren't enraged with anger, she would have commented to him about how cute he looked. Spot pushed Spit Fire back roughly, making her stumble back.
He glared at her hard, "You don't know what yur messin' wid Fire."
Spit Fire was about to lunge back at Spot until Jack jumped down from his bunk in between the two.
He grabbed Spit Fire's shoulder, "Come on, give him some time to wake up `fore ya soak'im." He laughed, "What's wrong?"
Spit Fire pushed past Jack, "This is none of your business Jack. So I recommend you stay out of it."
Jack hit the side of the bunk hard and sighed. He looked over at Chance and Random who were watching the fight with curiousness.
"Wondah what he did," Random smirked, "Bet he deserved this."
Chance elbowed Random and whispered, "What would he do ta her...all he does it tawk `bout how wondahful she is. Why would he hoit her?"
Jack looked back at the two confused, "What? Ya mean he actually likes her?"
Chance laughed, "Why do ya think he nevah soaks Spit Fire for sellin' in Brooklyn everyday. He only acts like he hates'er...you should see'im when he's in Brooklyn. He brags `bout her like she's the queen of England or somethin'."
Jack shook his head, "Alright you two, knock it off."
Spit Fire didn't even glance at Jack before sending a hit right to Spot's jaw, sending his bottom teeth almost right through his bottom lip.
"Damn! That hoit!" Spot yelled and tackled Spit Fire to the floor, pinning her shoulders down.
"I said that's enough!" Jack yelled louder.
"You pig!" Spit Fire shot back at Spot and spat in his face.
Spot, who's personal morale was to never hit a girl, continued to sit on her. He wiped his face and then licked his bleeding lip.
"Shuddup!" He pushed her shoulders further into the floor.
"You thought you were going to get away with this! You're sick!"
"I said shuddup!!" Spot yelled back, putting a hand over her mouth, "Listen to me. I can explain this."
"Spot! Git off'er!" Blade yelled, finally getting off his bunk and walking past Chance, Random and Jack. He grabbed Spot and pulled him off Spit Fire, pushing him backwards.
Spot quickly escaped Blade's grasp and brushed himself off, staring at Blade. Blade shook his head at Spot and walked over to Random, taking her hand.
"What the heck is this about Spot!" Jack glared at the now cut up and bruised Brooklyn leader.
Spit Fire stood up and pushed past the crowd, "You were just using me Spot! How could you be so selfish! You really are everything everyone says about you. You keep true to your rep don't you? You're disgusting Spot! I don't know how anyone looks up to such a jerk."
"You don't know that!" He yelled back and swallowed some more blood, "You don't! If you'd jus' listen ta me!" `Damn, she's got a hard hit.'
Spot's eye was starting to swell shut on him and the bruise was turning purple. It hurt to blink. He sighed, wondering how he had messed up that she knew. He instinctively put a hand to his neck and frowned. He looked at Spit Fire and she gave him a small victory smirk. He stormed off to the washroom, leaving Spit Fire to answer questions.
"What the heck is this all `bout Spit Fire? Yous gonna start a war wid Brooklyn and us. You got a reason for the way yous actin'?" Jack folded his arms looking at Spit Fire, "I've known ya to jus' up and punch guys, but this ain't jus' one of the Manhattan newsies Fire. Dis heyah is Brooklyn yous messin' wid now."
Blade nodded and stood next to Jack, "So, what's the story? What he do now?"
Spit Fire frowned, "Look, you're all just going to have to trust me that he deserved this ok."
Blade laughed, "Yea, he normally does deserve what he gits, but we gotta know what it is. So why did yous try and soak'im?"
"Try? Are you kidding me? He didn't even throw a punch back. Doesn't matter though."
She started to walk out of the room when Chance grabbed her shoulder, "Spit Fire, he don't hit goirls. No mattah what. Din't you know that?"
Spit Fire rolled her eyes, "He doesn't? What he's got some personal moral against it or something?" She smirked sarcastically.
Chance nodded, "Well, yeah. He does."
Spit Fire folded her arms and looked at Chance for a moment. He was telling the truth. `So maybe hitting him the second time was a bit too much,' she thought.
Spot walked back out with a towel over his lip and a glare of intense anger in his eyes. Spit Fire was almost intimidated by his look. He pushed past the group standing around and sat on his bunk and starting putting his shoes back on. The whole group had fallen silent and watched Spot closely for any signs that they should disperse. He eventually stood up and looked at the group.
He took the towel from his lip and gripped it tightly in his hand, "Boys let's go. Random, that means you too this time."
Random frowned and got her things together. Blade and Chance looked at each other, knowing better then to go against Spot right at this moment. Random was the first one out of the LH. She sat outside for a few moments looking around at the scenery. She knew this might be the last time she would see Manhattan for awhile. If Spot had his way, no Brooklyn newsie would be allowed in Manhattan until this whole mess blew over. Blade was soon to follow and took Random's hand. He smiled at her and kissed her lightly as they started back towards Brooklyn. He knew he should have stayed with Spot, if only to make sure Spot didn't start a fight. Finally Chance followed after making quick conversation with Kid Blink and Racetrack. They made plans to meet up later in the week to go the races together. Chance needed to get away from Brooklyn every now and then.
As Spot started out, Jack cleared his throat. Spot turned back and looked at Jack, standing only a few feet away from him.
"So uh...we still..." He paused.
Spot nodded, "I ain't got a grudge `gainst Manhattan Jack. Don't worry. Jus' keep your boys and goirls outta Manhattan."
Jack nodded and then looked over at Spit Fire who followed the group down the stairs. Jack glared at her hard, making a point that he was going to get to the bottom of this. She was starting to become too much trouble for Manhattan to handle. Spot looked over at Spit Fire as well and sighed, feeling almost let down about the whole situation. He opened his mouth to say something to her but she cut him off harshly.
"Just go Spot. I don't evah wanna see you again."
Spot nodded seriously, "Anythin' yous say Spit Fire. I'll do this one thing for yous. But..." He paused and glared at her hard. He sat there staring at her, searching her eyes intently for any sign that she liked him at all. A small smile slid across his face after a moment and he nodded confidently. "I'll leave on your terms this time Spit Fire. I'll nevah botha yous again. Nevah, that's my woird. But I can tell in your eyes you're lyin'. You don't want me ta go. So, I'll say this, if you can look at me right now and tell me that those nights meant nuthin' to yous, I'll go forevah. But if any one of those times you felt somethin' in yur heart; anythin' that meant somethin' to yous, I can promise you this ain't ovah. So what's it gonna be Fire?"
He waited and raised an eyebrow, not really sure of what she was going to say. Spit Fire looked at him, cold as stone and shook her head. She didn't know what to think yet and she definitely didn't need Spot telling her how she felt. She looked him up and down and rolled her eyes, "Get over yourself Conlon."
She turned and walked back up to the bunkroom. Spot nodded and tipped his hat at Jack, "Well, I'll be seein' yous Cowboy."
The Brooklyn newsies walked back to their lodging house in the shadows of the Manhattan buildings. Jack stood in the doorway, leaning back against it. He shook his head and then turned back to look at Spit Fire. He gave her a look of complete distrust and walked back up the bunkroom to get ready for a day of carrying the banner.
"What is the problem Spit Fire?"
Spit Fire glared at Jack, "Stay out of this Jack!"
Blink and Chance looked over at Spit Fire and then looked at each other.
"Does she know who she's messin' wid?" Chance commented lightly and sat up in his bunk.
"She will shortly," Blink laughed.
Spot rolled over in his bunk and frowned. There was a commotion of loud annoying yells coming from right above him. He only wanted one thing this morning...sleep. This person keeping him up was soon going to find out how loud he could get when he was deprived of his sleep. He turned over and blinked sleep out of his eyes. He noticed Spit Fire glaring at him roughly.
He yelled up to Jack who was right above him, "Jack...can ya tell'er ta keep it down. Some people are tryin' ta sleep."
Spit Fire shot a glance to Jack and Jack laughed, "Ain't happenin' Spot. You git to deal wid this."
Spot rolled his eyes and then rolld over onto his stomach, mumbling, "What do yous want? Let me sleep."
"Get up Spot." She demanded, balling her fists so hard her knuckles turned white.
Spot looked back at Spit Fire and frowned. He sat up and sighed. Moving hurt too much this morning. He looked into her eyes and became a bit worried. `She knows...' He stood up and leaned against Jack's bunk.
"All right...what?!" he sounded with an annoyed voice.
Spit Fire glared at him with incredible hatred for the Brooklyn leader and quickly but powerfully sent a right hook his way making contact with his eye. She felt the pain as her knuckles made full contract with his cheek bone, making a disgusting crunching sound. Spot reeled back, hitting the wall behind him and falling to his knees. He put his hand up to his eye in a painful gustier and sat there for a few moments confused from sleep deprivation. Spit Fire stepped over to him and grabbed the back of his neck, yanking him up to a standing position. Spot's eye was already starting to swell and his unbuttoned shirt from the previous night was falling off his shoulders. If Spit Fire weren't enraged with anger, she would have commented to him about how cute he looked. Spot pushed Spit Fire back roughly, making her stumble back.
He glared at her hard, "You don't know what yur messin' wid Fire."
Spit Fire was about to lunge back at Spot until Jack jumped down from his bunk in between the two.
He grabbed Spit Fire's shoulder, "Come on, give him some time to wake up `fore ya soak'im." He laughed, "What's wrong?"
Spit Fire pushed past Jack, "This is none of your business Jack. So I recommend you stay out of it."
Jack hit the side of the bunk hard and sighed. He looked over at Chance and Random who were watching the fight with curiousness.
"Wondah what he did," Random smirked, "Bet he deserved this."
Chance elbowed Random and whispered, "What would he do ta her...all he does it tawk `bout how wondahful she is. Why would he hoit her?"
Jack looked back at the two confused, "What? Ya mean he actually likes her?"
Chance laughed, "Why do ya think he nevah soaks Spit Fire for sellin' in Brooklyn everyday. He only acts like he hates'er...you should see'im when he's in Brooklyn. He brags `bout her like she's the queen of England or somethin'."
Jack shook his head, "Alright you two, knock it off."
Spit Fire didn't even glance at Jack before sending a hit right to Spot's jaw, sending his bottom teeth almost right through his bottom lip.
"Damn! That hoit!" Spot yelled and tackled Spit Fire to the floor, pinning her shoulders down.
"I said that's enough!" Jack yelled louder.
"You pig!" Spit Fire shot back at Spot and spat in his face.
Spot, who's personal morale was to never hit a girl, continued to sit on her. He wiped his face and then licked his bleeding lip.
"Shuddup!" He pushed her shoulders further into the floor.
"You thought you were going to get away with this! You're sick!"
"I said shuddup!!" Spot yelled back, putting a hand over her mouth, "Listen to me. I can explain this."
"Spot! Git off'er!" Blade yelled, finally getting off his bunk and walking past Chance, Random and Jack. He grabbed Spot and pulled him off Spit Fire, pushing him backwards.
Spot quickly escaped Blade's grasp and brushed himself off, staring at Blade. Blade shook his head at Spot and walked over to Random, taking her hand.
"What the heck is this about Spot!" Jack glared at the now cut up and bruised Brooklyn leader.
Spit Fire stood up and pushed past the crowd, "You were just using me Spot! How could you be so selfish! You really are everything everyone says about you. You keep true to your rep don't you? You're disgusting Spot! I don't know how anyone looks up to such a jerk."
"You don't know that!" He yelled back and swallowed some more blood, "You don't! If you'd jus' listen ta me!" `Damn, she's got a hard hit.'
Spot's eye was starting to swell shut on him and the bruise was turning purple. It hurt to blink. He sighed, wondering how he had messed up that she knew. He instinctively put a hand to his neck and frowned. He looked at Spit Fire and she gave him a small victory smirk. He stormed off to the washroom, leaving Spit Fire to answer questions.
"What the heck is this all `bout Spit Fire? Yous gonna start a war wid Brooklyn and us. You got a reason for the way yous actin'?" Jack folded his arms looking at Spit Fire, "I've known ya to jus' up and punch guys, but this ain't jus' one of the Manhattan newsies Fire. Dis heyah is Brooklyn yous messin' wid now."
Blade nodded and stood next to Jack, "So, what's the story? What he do now?"
Spit Fire frowned, "Look, you're all just going to have to trust me that he deserved this ok."
Blade laughed, "Yea, he normally does deserve what he gits, but we gotta know what it is. So why did yous try and soak'im?"
"Try? Are you kidding me? He didn't even throw a punch back. Doesn't matter though."
She started to walk out of the room when Chance grabbed her shoulder, "Spit Fire, he don't hit goirls. No mattah what. Din't you know that?"
Spit Fire rolled her eyes, "He doesn't? What he's got some personal moral against it or something?" She smirked sarcastically.
Chance nodded, "Well, yeah. He does."
Spit Fire folded her arms and looked at Chance for a moment. He was telling the truth. `So maybe hitting him the second time was a bit too much,' she thought.
Spot walked back out with a towel over his lip and a glare of intense anger in his eyes. Spit Fire was almost intimidated by his look. He pushed past the group standing around and sat on his bunk and starting putting his shoes back on. The whole group had fallen silent and watched Spot closely for any signs that they should disperse. He eventually stood up and looked at the group.
He took the towel from his lip and gripped it tightly in his hand, "Boys let's go. Random, that means you too this time."
Random frowned and got her things together. Blade and Chance looked at each other, knowing better then to go against Spot right at this moment. Random was the first one out of the LH. She sat outside for a few moments looking around at the scenery. She knew this might be the last time she would see Manhattan for awhile. If Spot had his way, no Brooklyn newsie would be allowed in Manhattan until this whole mess blew over. Blade was soon to follow and took Random's hand. He smiled at her and kissed her lightly as they started back towards Brooklyn. He knew he should have stayed with Spot, if only to make sure Spot didn't start a fight. Finally Chance followed after making quick conversation with Kid Blink and Racetrack. They made plans to meet up later in the week to go the races together. Chance needed to get away from Brooklyn every now and then.
As Spot started out, Jack cleared his throat. Spot turned back and looked at Jack, standing only a few feet away from him.
"So uh...we still..." He paused.
Spot nodded, "I ain't got a grudge `gainst Manhattan Jack. Don't worry. Jus' keep your boys and goirls outta Manhattan."
Jack nodded and then looked over at Spit Fire who followed the group down the stairs. Jack glared at her hard, making a point that he was going to get to the bottom of this. She was starting to become too much trouble for Manhattan to handle. Spot looked over at Spit Fire as well and sighed, feeling almost let down about the whole situation. He opened his mouth to say something to her but she cut him off harshly.
"Just go Spot. I don't evah wanna see you again."
Spot nodded seriously, "Anythin' yous say Spit Fire. I'll do this one thing for yous. But..." He paused and glared at her hard. He sat there staring at her, searching her eyes intently for any sign that she liked him at all. A small smile slid across his face after a moment and he nodded confidently. "I'll leave on your terms this time Spit Fire. I'll nevah botha yous again. Nevah, that's my woird. But I can tell in your eyes you're lyin'. You don't want me ta go. So, I'll say this, if you can look at me right now and tell me that those nights meant nuthin' to yous, I'll go forevah. But if any one of those times you felt somethin' in yur heart; anythin' that meant somethin' to yous, I can promise you this ain't ovah. So what's it gonna be Fire?"
He waited and raised an eyebrow, not really sure of what she was going to say. Spit Fire looked at him, cold as stone and shook her head. She didn't know what to think yet and she definitely didn't need Spot telling her how she felt. She looked him up and down and rolled her eyes, "Get over yourself Conlon."
She turned and walked back up to the bunkroom. Spot nodded and tipped his hat at Jack, "Well, I'll be seein' yous Cowboy."
The Brooklyn newsies walked back to their lodging house in the shadows of the Manhattan buildings. Jack stood in the doorway, leaning back against it. He shook his head and then turned back to look at Spit Fire. He gave her a look of complete distrust and walked back up the bunkroom to get ready for a day of carrying the banner.