"Just to Love"
By: Laney Sanchez
==============
Notes: Just the occasional copyright. Newsies don't belong to me. They belong to Disney...*weeps*
It just isn't fair...is it folks?
Anywho...this is a LONG chapter. I know, I know I said I wouldn't post until I had chapters 18-22 done, but I have a problem. Read on.
I hope you all don't wind up hating Reina after this chapter. There's more to her answer than meets the eye. *evil giggle*
But you'll find that out later.
Also read the notes at the bottom to find out that problem... =P
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 18 ~ A Dangerous Choice
Reina didn't know how she had gotten herself into this situation.
Moreover, she didn't have any idea why she had thought that possibly, just maybe, that Spot Conlon had a heart. At least a piece of one that wasn't devoted to being an asshole, flirt and all around smart ass.
Reina sat up to find herself on a bed. It wasn't like an ordinary bed though. It had a canopy that was covered with a scarlett red cloth. The bed itself wasn't like the ones in the lodging house. It was plushy with feathery soft pillows and the bed spread had to be silk or SOMETHING just like it.
The room itself was scarlett red.
Reina shuddered. It made her feel like she was swimming in a room of blood. Blood colored roses, red carpet, red walls...
The door bust open.
Two men walked in. One was dressed nicely in a fine tuxedo like suit. It looked very expensive. In a way it matched the man who wore it. He was tall with chestnut black hair which was slicked back. His eyes were green. However they weren't a pretty color of green, as Kid's were. They reminded Reina more of a serpent's. The man seemed to be in his late twenties.
The other was the man who Reina briefly remembered from the alley.
"Mr I-Can't-Be-Bothered-To-Shower...Greaseball for short..." her mind named him. Reina could only curl her lip as Greaseball came closer. She backed up on the bed and glared daggers at both men.
"Restrain her" the well dressed man ordered in a voice that was so calm it was scary.
Reina's eyes widened momentarily. His voice was so calm that it alerted Reina right away. If this man wasn't worried...and wanted her restrained...
Greaseball sniggered and reached a grubby hand out to grab her. "Ahh...thata girl...now come ta daddy..." he cooed in a sickening voice. His eyes shined with a mad lust towards Reina.
Reina kept the glare firmly plastered on her face. "...Thata girl THIS..." her mind spat.
Her leg kicked out and smacked Greaseball under the chin. He stumbled back, both hands flying to his face. Greaseball fell into the vanity set, knocking various perfumes and other little trinkets to the floor.
He fell to the ground and stayed there for a moment, holding his chin.
"She kicked me!!" he screeched, finally getting to his feet. The well dressed man snorted and shot Greaseball a look of annoyance. "Honestly...do you know nothing...?"
"Don't you touch me..." Reina said. She kept her voice low and threatening. Screaming threats weren't going to get her anywhere. She had to find out her situation first, then assess what had to be done. There wasn't room for panic.
"Who are you?" she asked, not bothering to hide the mistrust and suspicion in her voice.
"Ah...we haven't been properly introduced..." the man said with an eerily KIND smile. "Edward Vanderbelt" he said with a brief but gentlemanly bow.
If this man hadn't just ordered Greaseball to "restrain" her, she might have actually found him charming.
"What do you want with me?" she asked. Reina couldn't help but feel like she was in a life or death game of twenty questions. The man however just continued to smile. "I've been watching you...Reina...Townshend"
Reina's mouth fell open. Then she fell off the bed.
Reina shook her head and the fall snapped her back into reality. Before she could get up, Edward had grabbed her hand and was holding it soothingly. "You're all right I trust?"
Reina snatched her hand back. "How did you know my name?"
Edward laughed. Then he looked at her with admiration in his eyes. "My ... my...no matter how I act or what I say, you just won't trust me will you?"
Reina said nothing to this. She glanced at Greaseball to make sure he was keeping his distance.
"Things will all be revealed in time. No need to ask so many questions darling. The only-"
"Don't call me that..." Reina snapped and stood to her feet. Edward stood as she did. "Yes...well as I was saying...the only things YOU need to worry your pretty, little head about is the decision I'm giving you..." he said, smiling once more.
"A decision huh? ...You sure you aren't going to slit my throat and rape me if I say no to your proposition?" Reina countered, crossing her arms. Her keen blue eyes never left Edward for one minute.
"Mmm...no. Not in that order" he said, smiling then rather viciously. Reina's eyes narrowed into slits. He laughed, the viscous smile leaving his lips. "I'm kidding dear..."
When Edward had composed himself, he turned his back to Reina. "I'm going to offer you an...opportunity..."
Inside, Reina wasn't thinking nice thoughts about Edward. "Psh...one can only imagine what that might be..." she muttered.
Edward turned his head just briefly and raised an eyebrow. "Oh I can tell you..."
He then began to walk, slowly, to the other side of the bed.
"First of all, I know your name because of your father Reina"
Reina hadn't been paying much attention but when those words left Edward's lips she turned slowly. "You...what?"
At first she wasn't sure she had heard right. Maybe he had said "because you're an otter" or "you're hotter." But all of those sounded silly.
"I knew your father Reina"
Reina opened her mouth to speak but Edward beat her to it.
"Joseph...Joseph Townshend with his beautiful wife Taryn...am I right?" he asked, now turning and looking very seriously at Reina.
Reina still didn't give in. For some reason, she refused to believe it. "How old was my father!? My MOTHER!?" she screamed, losing her grip on her cool manner.
Edward bowed his head. "When we met...he was twenty-five, your mother twenty-two, however when they left he was twenty-nine and your mother twenty-five..."
Reina felt her knees begin to go weak. There HAD to be an explanation. Reina closed her eyes and focused on regaining her cool. Anyone could've known those facts...
Reina then opened her eyes slowly and smiled rather deviously. This would prove if Mr. Vanderbelt was a liar or not.
"What did my father ALWAYS wear...?" she asked, leaving the question very vague on purpose. If this man truly knew her father...then he would know the answer.
Edward looked back up at her and quite calmly answered "Your mother's ring from when they were teenagers. I asked him about it once...he said she had given it to him when he proposed to her. He told me it was Taryn's favorite ring...in fact it had been the only thing she had to remember her mother by"
Reina finally fell. However the bed broke her fall. She sat there. Not moving or saying anything.
Edward glanced at her with what seemed like worry. "...Reina...I know life for your family was never very easy...that's why your father wanted to bring you to me..."
Reina looked over at him somberly. She only managed to squeak "...what?"
Edward took his place beside her. He gently placed a hand over hers.
Reina looked down at it briefly then back into Edward's eyes. "Reina...I won't lie to you. I run a bordello"
Reina's eyes widened. She said nothing but wore the look of mistrust once more. She KNEW what a bordello was...and if this man was suggesting what she thought he was going to suggest...
"I want you to-"
"No!" she answered back immediately and looked away. It wasn't a distressed response but more of a strong "my mind is made up" response. She didn't even need to THINK for that one. Edward grasped her hand. "Reina...it isn't what you think-"
"My ass it isn't!!" she shot back then stood. She leaned in on Edward and glared with pure hatred. "You make girls sell themselves for money...you take away their dignity and pride for what? Five dollars?!" Reina clenched her hands tightly. To even think that her father was aquatinted with this man, made her blood boil. Then again her father never HAD been known for making smart choices.
Her whole body shook in anger. Edward stood and put his arms on her shoulders, or at least attempted to before Reina shoved them off. "Never..." she spat.
Edward watched her for a moment then finally spoke. Reina looked ready to kill.
"...It isn't as bad as you think..." he hinted.
He kept speaking before Reina could object. "Many girls are actually happy here...you make more than five dollars Reina. As for the degrading...manner...you speak of..." he paused then sighed. "They got the option just as you did. They live practically like royalty Reina! Think of it...you can afford nice clothes. Be on your own...! There's no ... SCRAPING the bottom of the barrel to get by!"
"That doesn't make it right!!"
"Reina...it's only wrong because society says it's wrong. This business isn't for everyone, and about ninety percent of the time it's THOSE people who wouldn't stand a chance in this industry that are calling it filth. It's your body Reina...and it's a natural instinct to use it. It's quite normal..."
"It's normal if you love someone..." she countered, though she felt her defenses weakening.
"Love...?" Edward snickered. "Love is just myth, an IDEA that gives poor bastards with no hope or will comfort..." Edward then looked directly into her eyes challengingly. "Have YOU ever been in love Reina?"
The question took Reina back. She wasn't sure how to answer. She had loved her parents...at least her mother. Or had it been admiration? Admiration for putting up with all the shit her father put her mother through...
"What about Kid...?" he mind countered. She had to admit that she had liked him and he WAS attractive...but love? She just didn't know. "...I...don't..." she paused then looked down, finally defeated. Who was she kidding? Kid didn't love her back. The only person left would be...Spot.
"Hell no..." her mind answered to the very thought of his name.
"No..." she answered.
Edward moved closer and smiled. "You see Reina...there is no such thing in this world..." his voice was quiet, like that of a father telling his little girl her puppy had just died. "It's do or die...Do you really think that selling newspapers is going to able you to survive, much less get what you want?"
It was scary suddenly how good this idea sounded. Her heart was screaming "No!" but her mind was thinking otherwise.
All Reina wanted was to survive. She didn't want to end up with a drunkard for a husband or cleaning up after other people. She wanted a home. A REAL home. She just wanted a LIFE for herself. Something she didn't have when she had been with her parents.
This could eventually offer her that...
"I...I just don't know. I don't think I'd feel right..." Reina said, looking away. She felt uncomfortable on the topic.
Edward lifted her chin gently. "Reina..." he said, flashing her a charming smile. Confusion and pain danced in Reina's ocean blue eyes. "You ARE beautiful..." he gushed. Reina felt her face heat up just slightly. She had never been paid a compliment like that and she found it hard to believe when she was standing there in newsboy clothes and dirt on her face.
"You have the looks...the personality and the body..." he cooed. "You only have so many years until it's gone..." he said, his voice now by her ear. "...Why not use it while you have it?" he asked seductively then stepped back in front of her.
Reina swallowed hard. She knew in her heart it was wrong, but part of it seemed so right. It wasn't going to kill her...
It was just sex. It involved no emotions, no attachment, no nothing. If it could get her out of New York...a place of her own and a future...
"What is your choice Reina?" Edward asked, holding out his hand for her to accept.
Who else was going to offer her a future? Spot Conlon? "Right..." her mind laughed. He had set her up to fall. She remembered Greaseball's words.
.·."Aw...what happened sonny? ...Your little plan backfire?".·.
In that instant, when those few words had been said, she had known that Spot truly did hate her. It didn't really matter, she supposed. Spot's idea and feelings towards her weren't going to make or break her.
It only went to show that she was alone...and unless she did SOMETHING to pull herself up...she wasn't going to make it.
Reina swallowed hard and took Edward's hand.
She lowered her face to the ground and failed to see Edward and Greaseball's devious and cunning grins.
She knew that this was going to help her in the long run.
However she just couldn't shake the feeling that she had just made a pact with the devil.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay...this is a big turning point in my story. This story has a plot but then again it doesn't. It's about Reina finding out who she is and over coming her past to have a future. For Spot it's learning to deal with new things such as love and changes. There's going to be a lot of little subplots as well and THAT'S where the trouble comes in.
I have three main ideas right now. They are as follows.
1. Beginning/Life in Brooklyn (Which is "Just To Love")
2. Manhattan
3. Closure/Finale
However if I put all of those into ONE story...it might end up being 40 or 50 chapters long. Maybe less, maybe more.
Here's where you guys can help me out. Would you rather read one BIG long story aka "Just to Love" and keep it at that. OR ...
Would you rather I split it into three parts. They would be...
1. "Just to Love"
2. "The Edge of Tomorrow"
3. "Putting it All on the Line"
Personally I just think that one big old story is too long. I don't wanna bore you guys or especially NEW readers. A lot of people would be turned off by looking for and finding a new story to read with 40 chapters. I dunno though. So help me out if you would kindly.
Thanks! :-)
By: Laney Sanchez
==============
Notes: Just the occasional copyright. Newsies don't belong to me. They belong to Disney...*weeps*
It just isn't fair...is it folks?
Anywho...this is a LONG chapter. I know, I know I said I wouldn't post until I had chapters 18-22 done, but I have a problem. Read on.
I hope you all don't wind up hating Reina after this chapter. There's more to her answer than meets the eye. *evil giggle*
But you'll find that out later.
Also read the notes at the bottom to find out that problem... =P
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 18 ~ A Dangerous Choice
Reina didn't know how she had gotten herself into this situation.
Moreover, she didn't have any idea why she had thought that possibly, just maybe, that Spot Conlon had a heart. At least a piece of one that wasn't devoted to being an asshole, flirt and all around smart ass.
Reina sat up to find herself on a bed. It wasn't like an ordinary bed though. It had a canopy that was covered with a scarlett red cloth. The bed itself wasn't like the ones in the lodging house. It was plushy with feathery soft pillows and the bed spread had to be silk or SOMETHING just like it.
The room itself was scarlett red.
Reina shuddered. It made her feel like she was swimming in a room of blood. Blood colored roses, red carpet, red walls...
The door bust open.
Two men walked in. One was dressed nicely in a fine tuxedo like suit. It looked very expensive. In a way it matched the man who wore it. He was tall with chestnut black hair which was slicked back. His eyes were green. However they weren't a pretty color of green, as Kid's were. They reminded Reina more of a serpent's. The man seemed to be in his late twenties.
The other was the man who Reina briefly remembered from the alley.
"Mr I-Can't-Be-Bothered-To-Shower...Greaseball for short..." her mind named him. Reina could only curl her lip as Greaseball came closer. She backed up on the bed and glared daggers at both men.
"Restrain her" the well dressed man ordered in a voice that was so calm it was scary.
Reina's eyes widened momentarily. His voice was so calm that it alerted Reina right away. If this man wasn't worried...and wanted her restrained...
Greaseball sniggered and reached a grubby hand out to grab her. "Ahh...thata girl...now come ta daddy..." he cooed in a sickening voice. His eyes shined with a mad lust towards Reina.
Reina kept the glare firmly plastered on her face. "...Thata girl THIS..." her mind spat.
Her leg kicked out and smacked Greaseball under the chin. He stumbled back, both hands flying to his face. Greaseball fell into the vanity set, knocking various perfumes and other little trinkets to the floor.
He fell to the ground and stayed there for a moment, holding his chin.
"She kicked me!!" he screeched, finally getting to his feet. The well dressed man snorted and shot Greaseball a look of annoyance. "Honestly...do you know nothing...?"
"Don't you touch me..." Reina said. She kept her voice low and threatening. Screaming threats weren't going to get her anywhere. She had to find out her situation first, then assess what had to be done. There wasn't room for panic.
"Who are you?" she asked, not bothering to hide the mistrust and suspicion in her voice.
"Ah...we haven't been properly introduced..." the man said with an eerily KIND smile. "Edward Vanderbelt" he said with a brief but gentlemanly bow.
If this man hadn't just ordered Greaseball to "restrain" her, she might have actually found him charming.
"What do you want with me?" she asked. Reina couldn't help but feel like she was in a life or death game of twenty questions. The man however just continued to smile. "I've been watching you...Reina...Townshend"
Reina's mouth fell open. Then she fell off the bed.
Reina shook her head and the fall snapped her back into reality. Before she could get up, Edward had grabbed her hand and was holding it soothingly. "You're all right I trust?"
Reina snatched her hand back. "How did you know my name?"
Edward laughed. Then he looked at her with admiration in his eyes. "My ... my...no matter how I act or what I say, you just won't trust me will you?"
Reina said nothing to this. She glanced at Greaseball to make sure he was keeping his distance.
"Things will all be revealed in time. No need to ask so many questions darling. The only-"
"Don't call me that..." Reina snapped and stood to her feet. Edward stood as she did. "Yes...well as I was saying...the only things YOU need to worry your pretty, little head about is the decision I'm giving you..." he said, smiling once more.
"A decision huh? ...You sure you aren't going to slit my throat and rape me if I say no to your proposition?" Reina countered, crossing her arms. Her keen blue eyes never left Edward for one minute.
"Mmm...no. Not in that order" he said, smiling then rather viciously. Reina's eyes narrowed into slits. He laughed, the viscous smile leaving his lips. "I'm kidding dear..."
When Edward had composed himself, he turned his back to Reina. "I'm going to offer you an...opportunity..."
Inside, Reina wasn't thinking nice thoughts about Edward. "Psh...one can only imagine what that might be..." she muttered.
Edward turned his head just briefly and raised an eyebrow. "Oh I can tell you..."
He then began to walk, slowly, to the other side of the bed.
"First of all, I know your name because of your father Reina"
Reina hadn't been paying much attention but when those words left Edward's lips she turned slowly. "You...what?"
At first she wasn't sure she had heard right. Maybe he had said "because you're an otter" or "you're hotter." But all of those sounded silly.
"I knew your father Reina"
Reina opened her mouth to speak but Edward beat her to it.
"Joseph...Joseph Townshend with his beautiful wife Taryn...am I right?" he asked, now turning and looking very seriously at Reina.
Reina still didn't give in. For some reason, she refused to believe it. "How old was my father!? My MOTHER!?" she screamed, losing her grip on her cool manner.
Edward bowed his head. "When we met...he was twenty-five, your mother twenty-two, however when they left he was twenty-nine and your mother twenty-five..."
Reina felt her knees begin to go weak. There HAD to be an explanation. Reina closed her eyes and focused on regaining her cool. Anyone could've known those facts...
Reina then opened her eyes slowly and smiled rather deviously. This would prove if Mr. Vanderbelt was a liar or not.
"What did my father ALWAYS wear...?" she asked, leaving the question very vague on purpose. If this man truly knew her father...then he would know the answer.
Edward looked back up at her and quite calmly answered "Your mother's ring from when they were teenagers. I asked him about it once...he said she had given it to him when he proposed to her. He told me it was Taryn's favorite ring...in fact it had been the only thing she had to remember her mother by"
Reina finally fell. However the bed broke her fall. She sat there. Not moving or saying anything.
Edward glanced at her with what seemed like worry. "...Reina...I know life for your family was never very easy...that's why your father wanted to bring you to me..."
Reina looked over at him somberly. She only managed to squeak "...what?"
Edward took his place beside her. He gently placed a hand over hers.
Reina looked down at it briefly then back into Edward's eyes. "Reina...I won't lie to you. I run a bordello"
Reina's eyes widened. She said nothing but wore the look of mistrust once more. She KNEW what a bordello was...and if this man was suggesting what she thought he was going to suggest...
"I want you to-"
"No!" she answered back immediately and looked away. It wasn't a distressed response but more of a strong "my mind is made up" response. She didn't even need to THINK for that one. Edward grasped her hand. "Reina...it isn't what you think-"
"My ass it isn't!!" she shot back then stood. She leaned in on Edward and glared with pure hatred. "You make girls sell themselves for money...you take away their dignity and pride for what? Five dollars?!" Reina clenched her hands tightly. To even think that her father was aquatinted with this man, made her blood boil. Then again her father never HAD been known for making smart choices.
Her whole body shook in anger. Edward stood and put his arms on her shoulders, or at least attempted to before Reina shoved them off. "Never..." she spat.
Edward watched her for a moment then finally spoke. Reina looked ready to kill.
"...It isn't as bad as you think..." he hinted.
He kept speaking before Reina could object. "Many girls are actually happy here...you make more than five dollars Reina. As for the degrading...manner...you speak of..." he paused then sighed. "They got the option just as you did. They live practically like royalty Reina! Think of it...you can afford nice clothes. Be on your own...! There's no ... SCRAPING the bottom of the barrel to get by!"
"That doesn't make it right!!"
"Reina...it's only wrong because society says it's wrong. This business isn't for everyone, and about ninety percent of the time it's THOSE people who wouldn't stand a chance in this industry that are calling it filth. It's your body Reina...and it's a natural instinct to use it. It's quite normal..."
"It's normal if you love someone..." she countered, though she felt her defenses weakening.
"Love...?" Edward snickered. "Love is just myth, an IDEA that gives poor bastards with no hope or will comfort..." Edward then looked directly into her eyes challengingly. "Have YOU ever been in love Reina?"
The question took Reina back. She wasn't sure how to answer. She had loved her parents...at least her mother. Or had it been admiration? Admiration for putting up with all the shit her father put her mother through...
"What about Kid...?" he mind countered. She had to admit that she had liked him and he WAS attractive...but love? She just didn't know. "...I...don't..." she paused then looked down, finally defeated. Who was she kidding? Kid didn't love her back. The only person left would be...Spot.
"Hell no..." her mind answered to the very thought of his name.
"No..." she answered.
Edward moved closer and smiled. "You see Reina...there is no such thing in this world..." his voice was quiet, like that of a father telling his little girl her puppy had just died. "It's do or die...Do you really think that selling newspapers is going to able you to survive, much less get what you want?"
It was scary suddenly how good this idea sounded. Her heart was screaming "No!" but her mind was thinking otherwise.
All Reina wanted was to survive. She didn't want to end up with a drunkard for a husband or cleaning up after other people. She wanted a home. A REAL home. She just wanted a LIFE for herself. Something she didn't have when she had been with her parents.
This could eventually offer her that...
"I...I just don't know. I don't think I'd feel right..." Reina said, looking away. She felt uncomfortable on the topic.
Edward lifted her chin gently. "Reina..." he said, flashing her a charming smile. Confusion and pain danced in Reina's ocean blue eyes. "You ARE beautiful..." he gushed. Reina felt her face heat up just slightly. She had never been paid a compliment like that and she found it hard to believe when she was standing there in newsboy clothes and dirt on her face.
"You have the looks...the personality and the body..." he cooed. "You only have so many years until it's gone..." he said, his voice now by her ear. "...Why not use it while you have it?" he asked seductively then stepped back in front of her.
Reina swallowed hard. She knew in her heart it was wrong, but part of it seemed so right. It wasn't going to kill her...
It was just sex. It involved no emotions, no attachment, no nothing. If it could get her out of New York...a place of her own and a future...
"What is your choice Reina?" Edward asked, holding out his hand for her to accept.
Who else was going to offer her a future? Spot Conlon? "Right..." her mind laughed. He had set her up to fall. She remembered Greaseball's words.
.·."Aw...what happened sonny? ...Your little plan backfire?".·.
In that instant, when those few words had been said, she had known that Spot truly did hate her. It didn't really matter, she supposed. Spot's idea and feelings towards her weren't going to make or break her.
It only went to show that she was alone...and unless she did SOMETHING to pull herself up...she wasn't going to make it.
Reina swallowed hard and took Edward's hand.
She lowered her face to the ground and failed to see Edward and Greaseball's devious and cunning grins.
She knew that this was going to help her in the long run.
However she just couldn't shake the feeling that she had just made a pact with the devil.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay...this is a big turning point in my story. This story has a plot but then again it doesn't. It's about Reina finding out who she is and over coming her past to have a future. For Spot it's learning to deal with new things such as love and changes. There's going to be a lot of little subplots as well and THAT'S where the trouble comes in.
I have three main ideas right now. They are as follows.
1. Beginning/Life in Brooklyn (Which is "Just To Love")
2. Manhattan
3. Closure/Finale
However if I put all of those into ONE story...it might end up being 40 or 50 chapters long. Maybe less, maybe more.
Here's where you guys can help me out. Would you rather read one BIG long story aka "Just to Love" and keep it at that. OR ...
Would you rather I split it into three parts. They would be...
1. "Just to Love"
2. "The Edge of Tomorrow"
3. "Putting it All on the Line"
Personally I just think that one big old story is too long. I don't wanna bore you guys or especially NEW readers. A lot of people would be turned off by looking for and finding a new story to read with 40 chapters. I dunno though. So help me out if you would kindly.
Thanks! :-)