"Just to Love"
By: Laney Sanchez
==============
A/N: Thanks to everyone who's been sticking with the story. I'm gunna run the disclaimer...yet again. Then I'll do some well deserved thank yous. ^.~
I do not own Newsies. Nope. Sorry. If I did I would force Gabe to work at my kissing booth...eh..heh heh *nervous giggle*. HOWEVER I do own the "Just To Love" storyline and it's characters like Vanderbelt, Reina, Butters, Figgy, Peepers and Sticks. Yay.
Okay just a bit of whining...I wrote this chapter...and guess what!? I'll give the person who can guess...a big hug?
*silence* Okay okay I'll shut up and tell you. I wrote this chapter and my computer restarted without saving it. So another chapter lost...HOWEVER I was so pissed that I screamed "I'll just write it again!! SO THERE!" at my computer. It was pretty funny. So I wrote this chapter AGAIN! Computers do not love me...nope nope nope.
Okay. Thank you time!
...Tawejea...thank you so much. You're so sweet and I'm glad this story is becoming one of your favorites. I hope I can keep it that way. I will keep writing as long as people keep reading. ^.^
...BOOM BOOM...Nikkie you rock. I will shower you with goodies just for reading my story when you come visit this weekend!! Buwahaha! You rock. Thanks for reviewing and I miss ya ^,~
...AngelicOne heehee. Computers ARE evil...*coughs* but...um I won't jinx you. *looks to Angelic's computer* Niiiice computer...you LOVE Angelic...do not listen to me. You're a GOOD computer... *meanwhile her computer deletes her files for fun*
Gah...you piece of junk!!!!
Damn computers...
Anyhoo...as usual THANK YOU!!!!! XD
You rock as well!
...Fastdancr me, you and Angelic are offically in charge of catching Gabe for our kissing booth! Muwahahahaha! And if we run into his GF ...she's toast. XD
Thanks for complimenting my story!!! XD
...Singah, you know I've read bits and pieces of your story. I work a job at a theatre and otherwise I have home studies for school, so it doesn't leave me a lot of free time...usually I'm on my computer just DLing stuff and walk away. I REALLY need to finish your story, cause it interested me. Good job so far. Thank you for saying Reina has depth. I really really strive to keep it that way. I would hate for her to wind off as the whiny type or worse...like Sarah O,o
What a waste of character in Newsies...huh? Thanks for your review!
...Rede thank you very much! I hope you keep reading. It gets better...er...well I hope it does! O,O
...Tiger...AOL IS STUPID! IT IS! So are computers! But I won't go into that again...Thank you so much for your review and for agreeing with me about AOL...heeheehee ^,~
Princessred...their not outta the woods yet...meaning things aren't what they seem. Spot was holding her but not really with any feeling behind it. Sorta like you might hold a friend if they were that distressed. Sorta... and well all I'll say is that Spot will always be everybody's boy ^,~
Muwahahaha! We have the evil signature laugh!!
I think that's it...hope I didn't forget anyone... *glances about*. Eep... X,x
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 22 ~ After The Storm
About a day had passed since the adventure at the bordello. Many of the news boys at the lodging house had swamped Reina and Kid for the whole story. Plus there were now rumors that pinned the air, about none other than Spot, since he had become bed ridden.
Kid was doing his best to keep things together and Reina really had to admire him for it.
Spot had been injured bad. Luckily, Kid knew a thing or two about broken bones. He had advocated that Spot didn't have any broken bones. He had said that he once had helped his little brother Tony out when he had broken his leg, so he could tell if Spot had any broken limbs. That wasn't the case. However Spot looked worse for the wear. He lay in bed, shirtless with the covers around him securely. The hits on his back were so severe that they had even taken off some skin. Reina had been there to help bandage the wounds that were prone to possible infection. Spot had remained pretty out of it, but Reina had spent the night with him, as had Kid. Once around the early morning hours Spot had tried to leave bed and even tried attacking Kid when he had put him back in bed. It was to no avail for Spot.
Otherwise the passing hours were relatively peaceful.
It was now the following night. It had been quiet. Kid and Reina had pulled up old, wooden chairs beside Spot's bed. Just in case he tried another one of his valiant attempts to escape bed care.
Kid slept soundly as did Spot. For the moment. Reina herself was wide awake. Her head was just too crammed with too many thoughts for the moment. All of them were on Vanderbelt's last words.
"I'll break you, like I broke your father!!!"
Reina was now back in her normal newsies clothes. Inside, she had to admit that wearing these clothes was much more herself, rather than the dress, which she had stored away. Perhaps she'd sell it someday.
Reina sat with the chair turned around, her legs on either side of it. She had her arms rested upon the top of the chair and folded. Her chin rested softly upon her arms. She closed her eyes, as if shying away for the horrid memory of Vanderbelt's voice. She wanted to snub his face...his voice from her mind. But she couldn't. It just wasn't that easy.
"I'll have fun going through your little friends first..."
Reina shook her head slowly and drew in a deep breath.
"Yous okay...?"
She opened her eyes, to put a picture to the voice and held her breath. It was Kid. He had left his seat in the chair and was leaning against the doorway wall. Apparently he had been watching her. Reina released her breath slowly and gave a sort of pained smiled. "...You need to stop worrying about me..." she said, her voice sounding a little ragged from lack of sleep. Kid stopped leaning and walked over, kneeling in front of her chair. He let a weak chuckle escape his lips, then looked up at her. His green eyes held a kindred glow about them. The faint moonlight that shone in the room, illuminated his fine features.
"Yous know...Spot was right..."
At this comment, Reina raised her gaze to meet his and suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. She very much doubted that Spot had ANYTHING good to say about her...
"Mmm...and what was he right about?" Reina asked. Despite her disdain for the obvious thought of Spot's comment, she smiled still at Kid. She liked talking to him. She couldn't imagine anyone who wouldn't...
"Well...he said dat yous is like steel...and dat sometimes it made him a little noivous..." Kid confessed and smirked, ever so slightly.
"Ugh..." Reina moaned and rested her head, back upon her arms once more. This time she allowed her lips to sink past her arms so only her eyes were visible. They looked away from Kid's gentle gaze and off to the right. "Figures..." she muttered, almost knowingly into her sleeve.
Kid watched her. His smile faded but it was not lost in his eyes. "Yous...know Reina, he's right..." Kid repeated. She turned her eyesight back to Kid and listened. The tone of his voice told her that he wasn't being accusing or trying to offend her.
"It's just dat...yous ain't like uddah goils..." Kid said, averting his gaze for a moment. "Yous...yous is different, but in a good way. Most goils...dey need savin' and den dey fall head over heals in love wid ya if yous just flash 'em a smile..."
Reina smirked, just a little. It felt good to hear words of praise...
Maybe too good...
"Most goils don't tink for demselves...dey got no character...but not yous. Yous didn't come in 'ere pretendin' ta be all tough or nuddin. Yous just came in as youself...Yous didn't really evah need me or Spot's help..." Kid said. His eyes held a pain, a need to tell her something. They seemed to be pleading with her own, as if trying to get his meaning across through his gaze.
Reina smiled, a sort of distant, yet knowing smile.
Kid licked his lips and continued on as best as he could. "What I's is tryin' ta say is...well..."
Reina shook her head and closed her eyes slowly. She simply placed two fingers gently to Kid's lips. They were soft to her touch.
Reina had a lot on her mind. Vanderbelt and other things...not as important, but they were there. She was also faced with a difficult decision, in her mind. She had a lot of answers for it...but only a select few made real sense...
As for Kid's words, they were nice, but she really wasn't trying to be brave or strong. Maybe strong but only to survive. She wasn't a leader, nor did she care about proving it to anyone else. Even Spot. She no longer cared what he thought...it just seemed so trivial now...
Right now she had an idea of what Kid was trying to say. As much as the feelings and emotions were nice, they weren't welcome. Not right now.
She had too much on her mind and she didn't feel right.
Reina slowly opened her eyes. Kid didn't look hurt, but rather he looked like he understood. Without words, he had known that his words were better left unsaid.
Reina only smiled, a warm, thankful smile. Her hand moved from his lips and touched his cheek gently. A far off pain was in her eyes, but it wasn't an intense emotional pain. It was more of a "I'm genuinely sorry" pain.
Kid took her hand and his honest eyes stared into hers. "Reina...yous just remember dat I'll always stick wich ya...I'll always be yous friend"
***
Time passed with days and eventually, life at the Brooklyn lodging house was back to a fairly normal swing.
Papes were being sold, and work was being done.
The only things that hadn't returned to normal...were three of it's tenants.
Reina Townshend, Spot Conlon and Kid.
Spot had recovered, but he was still injured badly. He had huge bruises to prove his battle, but he had REFUSED to stay in bed any longer. This surprised no one, because it was typical Spot fashion. However what WASN'T Spot fashion, was his unusual tone of silence lately. Spot often seemed distant. He didn't have the usual egoistical bossiness that usually accompanied him wherever he went. An example was about a day ago. Butters had been out, selling papes as usual. When as according to his story, he was distracted by a dog. Innocent enough. It was only until Butters made the mistake of turning around and searching for the dog's owners, that the dog had relieved itself all over Butters' papes.
At that point, Butters had been so terrified of Spot's wrath, that he had hidden in a crate outside the house and refused to come out. It took two boys to drag him out and finally get him to spill the story to Spot. Much to Butters' surprise (and relief), he had gotten away with a stern look of annoyance and a rather disinterested "I's 'il take care of it..."
Butters believed it was because Spot hadn't returned with his beloved cane. Others believed it was for a different reason.
That reason's name was Kid. Kid had helped Spot recover most of his strength, but other than that, remained cold towards the leader. Anyone who knew Kid, knew that he was an easy going, likable guy. But piss him off and watch out, because Kid held killer grudges. Most guessed it was for Spot's comment about Kid being an orphan, which seemed so long ago.
The other mystery, was Reina.
Lately Reina seemed preoccupied. She often seemed like she was depressed in her own little world. She had gained the support of many Brooklyn newsies after word had got out about Spot setting her up, but the closest to her were still Butters, Figgy and now Peepers and Sticks. Peepers was as bad a smart ass as Figgy, but Peepers knew when to keep his mouth shut, whereas Figgy did not. Sticks was a scrawny boy, who never really spoke up for himself or his ideas. He just kinda observed and was often the victim of getting dragged into trouble by Figgy or Peepers.
"Well...er...maybe she met that evil doggy too?" Butters suggested, innocently. Figgy shot him a look. "Yous twit...dat ain't it..."
Sticks' eyes darted between the two.
Peepers shot Figgy a look. "I's suppose yous know?"
Figgy grinned broadly, glad for once to be able to act like the know it all he thought he really was. "As a matter of fact...I's do. It ain't dat hard ta see dat, she's all shaken up cause of dat Conlon"
Peepers rolled his eyes.
"Wow...uh...really?" Butters pried further.
"Yep...she's a goil. No goil takes well to dat...duh" Figgy said, leaning against the staircase which led to the attic. Butters and Sticks seemed to listen to Figgy like he was a guru of knowledge. Peepers knew better. "Geeze...yous make it sound like 'As Da Lodgin' House Turns'..."
Figgy shrugged. But no one could really disprove his story.
All anyone could do was guess...
~~~~~
Note: Anyone remember what I said about chapter 23 a while back? Well if you remember you'll be happy campers. I'll prolly post chapter 23 on March 13. So be on the look out for it. ^,^
By: Laney Sanchez
==============
A/N: Thanks to everyone who's been sticking with the story. I'm gunna run the disclaimer...yet again. Then I'll do some well deserved thank yous. ^.~
I do not own Newsies. Nope. Sorry. If I did I would force Gabe to work at my kissing booth...eh..heh heh *nervous giggle*. HOWEVER I do own the "Just To Love" storyline and it's characters like Vanderbelt, Reina, Butters, Figgy, Peepers and Sticks. Yay.
Okay just a bit of whining...I wrote this chapter...and guess what!? I'll give the person who can guess...a big hug?
*silence* Okay okay I'll shut up and tell you. I wrote this chapter and my computer restarted without saving it. So another chapter lost...HOWEVER I was so pissed that I screamed "I'll just write it again!! SO THERE!" at my computer. It was pretty funny. So I wrote this chapter AGAIN! Computers do not love me...nope nope nope.
Okay. Thank you time!
...Tawejea...thank you so much. You're so sweet and I'm glad this story is becoming one of your favorites. I hope I can keep it that way. I will keep writing as long as people keep reading. ^.^
...BOOM BOOM...Nikkie you rock. I will shower you with goodies just for reading my story when you come visit this weekend!! Buwahaha! You rock. Thanks for reviewing and I miss ya ^,~
...AngelicOne heehee. Computers ARE evil...*coughs* but...um I won't jinx you. *looks to Angelic's computer* Niiiice computer...you LOVE Angelic...do not listen to me. You're a GOOD computer... *meanwhile her computer deletes her files for fun*
Gah...you piece of junk!!!!
Damn computers...
Anyhoo...as usual THANK YOU!!!!! XD
You rock as well!
...Fastdancr me, you and Angelic are offically in charge of catching Gabe for our kissing booth! Muwahahahaha! And if we run into his GF ...she's toast. XD
Thanks for complimenting my story!!! XD
...Singah, you know I've read bits and pieces of your story. I work a job at a theatre and otherwise I have home studies for school, so it doesn't leave me a lot of free time...usually I'm on my computer just DLing stuff and walk away. I REALLY need to finish your story, cause it interested me. Good job so far. Thank you for saying Reina has depth. I really really strive to keep it that way. I would hate for her to wind off as the whiny type or worse...like Sarah O,o
What a waste of character in Newsies...huh? Thanks for your review!
...Rede thank you very much! I hope you keep reading. It gets better...er...well I hope it does! O,O
...Tiger...AOL IS STUPID! IT IS! So are computers! But I won't go into that again...Thank you so much for your review and for agreeing with me about AOL...heeheehee ^,~
Princessred...their not outta the woods yet...meaning things aren't what they seem. Spot was holding her but not really with any feeling behind it. Sorta like you might hold a friend if they were that distressed. Sorta... and well all I'll say is that Spot will always be everybody's boy ^,~
Muwahahaha! We have the evil signature laugh!!
I think that's it...hope I didn't forget anyone... *glances about*. Eep... X,x
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 22 ~ After The Storm
About a day had passed since the adventure at the bordello. Many of the news boys at the lodging house had swamped Reina and Kid for the whole story. Plus there were now rumors that pinned the air, about none other than Spot, since he had become bed ridden.
Kid was doing his best to keep things together and Reina really had to admire him for it.
Spot had been injured bad. Luckily, Kid knew a thing or two about broken bones. He had advocated that Spot didn't have any broken bones. He had said that he once had helped his little brother Tony out when he had broken his leg, so he could tell if Spot had any broken limbs. That wasn't the case. However Spot looked worse for the wear. He lay in bed, shirtless with the covers around him securely. The hits on his back were so severe that they had even taken off some skin. Reina had been there to help bandage the wounds that were prone to possible infection. Spot had remained pretty out of it, but Reina had spent the night with him, as had Kid. Once around the early morning hours Spot had tried to leave bed and even tried attacking Kid when he had put him back in bed. It was to no avail for Spot.
Otherwise the passing hours were relatively peaceful.
It was now the following night. It had been quiet. Kid and Reina had pulled up old, wooden chairs beside Spot's bed. Just in case he tried another one of his valiant attempts to escape bed care.
Kid slept soundly as did Spot. For the moment. Reina herself was wide awake. Her head was just too crammed with too many thoughts for the moment. All of them were on Vanderbelt's last words.
"I'll break you, like I broke your father!!!"
Reina was now back in her normal newsies clothes. Inside, she had to admit that wearing these clothes was much more herself, rather than the dress, which she had stored away. Perhaps she'd sell it someday.
Reina sat with the chair turned around, her legs on either side of it. She had her arms rested upon the top of the chair and folded. Her chin rested softly upon her arms. She closed her eyes, as if shying away for the horrid memory of Vanderbelt's voice. She wanted to snub his face...his voice from her mind. But she couldn't. It just wasn't that easy.
"I'll have fun going through your little friends first..."
Reina shook her head slowly and drew in a deep breath.
"Yous okay...?"
She opened her eyes, to put a picture to the voice and held her breath. It was Kid. He had left his seat in the chair and was leaning against the doorway wall. Apparently he had been watching her. Reina released her breath slowly and gave a sort of pained smiled. "...You need to stop worrying about me..." she said, her voice sounding a little ragged from lack of sleep. Kid stopped leaning and walked over, kneeling in front of her chair. He let a weak chuckle escape his lips, then looked up at her. His green eyes held a kindred glow about them. The faint moonlight that shone in the room, illuminated his fine features.
"Yous know...Spot was right..."
At this comment, Reina raised her gaze to meet his and suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. She very much doubted that Spot had ANYTHING good to say about her...
"Mmm...and what was he right about?" Reina asked. Despite her disdain for the obvious thought of Spot's comment, she smiled still at Kid. She liked talking to him. She couldn't imagine anyone who wouldn't...
"Well...he said dat yous is like steel...and dat sometimes it made him a little noivous..." Kid confessed and smirked, ever so slightly.
"Ugh..." Reina moaned and rested her head, back upon her arms once more. This time she allowed her lips to sink past her arms so only her eyes were visible. They looked away from Kid's gentle gaze and off to the right. "Figures..." she muttered, almost knowingly into her sleeve.
Kid watched her. His smile faded but it was not lost in his eyes. "Yous...know Reina, he's right..." Kid repeated. She turned her eyesight back to Kid and listened. The tone of his voice told her that he wasn't being accusing or trying to offend her.
"It's just dat...yous ain't like uddah goils..." Kid said, averting his gaze for a moment. "Yous...yous is different, but in a good way. Most goils...dey need savin' and den dey fall head over heals in love wid ya if yous just flash 'em a smile..."
Reina smirked, just a little. It felt good to hear words of praise...
Maybe too good...
"Most goils don't tink for demselves...dey got no character...but not yous. Yous didn't come in 'ere pretendin' ta be all tough or nuddin. Yous just came in as youself...Yous didn't really evah need me or Spot's help..." Kid said. His eyes held a pain, a need to tell her something. They seemed to be pleading with her own, as if trying to get his meaning across through his gaze.
Reina smiled, a sort of distant, yet knowing smile.
Kid licked his lips and continued on as best as he could. "What I's is tryin' ta say is...well..."
Reina shook her head and closed her eyes slowly. She simply placed two fingers gently to Kid's lips. They were soft to her touch.
Reina had a lot on her mind. Vanderbelt and other things...not as important, but they were there. She was also faced with a difficult decision, in her mind. She had a lot of answers for it...but only a select few made real sense...
As for Kid's words, they were nice, but she really wasn't trying to be brave or strong. Maybe strong but only to survive. She wasn't a leader, nor did she care about proving it to anyone else. Even Spot. She no longer cared what he thought...it just seemed so trivial now...
Right now she had an idea of what Kid was trying to say. As much as the feelings and emotions were nice, they weren't welcome. Not right now.
She had too much on her mind and she didn't feel right.
Reina slowly opened her eyes. Kid didn't look hurt, but rather he looked like he understood. Without words, he had known that his words were better left unsaid.
Reina only smiled, a warm, thankful smile. Her hand moved from his lips and touched his cheek gently. A far off pain was in her eyes, but it wasn't an intense emotional pain. It was more of a "I'm genuinely sorry" pain.
Kid took her hand and his honest eyes stared into hers. "Reina...yous just remember dat I'll always stick wich ya...I'll always be yous friend"
***
Time passed with days and eventually, life at the Brooklyn lodging house was back to a fairly normal swing.
Papes were being sold, and work was being done.
The only things that hadn't returned to normal...were three of it's tenants.
Reina Townshend, Spot Conlon and Kid.
Spot had recovered, but he was still injured badly. He had huge bruises to prove his battle, but he had REFUSED to stay in bed any longer. This surprised no one, because it was typical Spot fashion. However what WASN'T Spot fashion, was his unusual tone of silence lately. Spot often seemed distant. He didn't have the usual egoistical bossiness that usually accompanied him wherever he went. An example was about a day ago. Butters had been out, selling papes as usual. When as according to his story, he was distracted by a dog. Innocent enough. It was only until Butters made the mistake of turning around and searching for the dog's owners, that the dog had relieved itself all over Butters' papes.
At that point, Butters had been so terrified of Spot's wrath, that he had hidden in a crate outside the house and refused to come out. It took two boys to drag him out and finally get him to spill the story to Spot. Much to Butters' surprise (and relief), he had gotten away with a stern look of annoyance and a rather disinterested "I's 'il take care of it..."
Butters believed it was because Spot hadn't returned with his beloved cane. Others believed it was for a different reason.
That reason's name was Kid. Kid had helped Spot recover most of his strength, but other than that, remained cold towards the leader. Anyone who knew Kid, knew that he was an easy going, likable guy. But piss him off and watch out, because Kid held killer grudges. Most guessed it was for Spot's comment about Kid being an orphan, which seemed so long ago.
The other mystery, was Reina.
Lately Reina seemed preoccupied. She often seemed like she was depressed in her own little world. She had gained the support of many Brooklyn newsies after word had got out about Spot setting her up, but the closest to her were still Butters, Figgy and now Peepers and Sticks. Peepers was as bad a smart ass as Figgy, but Peepers knew when to keep his mouth shut, whereas Figgy did not. Sticks was a scrawny boy, who never really spoke up for himself or his ideas. He just kinda observed and was often the victim of getting dragged into trouble by Figgy or Peepers.
"Well...er...maybe she met that evil doggy too?" Butters suggested, innocently. Figgy shot him a look. "Yous twit...dat ain't it..."
Sticks' eyes darted between the two.
Peepers shot Figgy a look. "I's suppose yous know?"
Figgy grinned broadly, glad for once to be able to act like the know it all he thought he really was. "As a matter of fact...I's do. It ain't dat hard ta see dat, she's all shaken up cause of dat Conlon"
Peepers rolled his eyes.
"Wow...uh...really?" Butters pried further.
"Yep...she's a goil. No goil takes well to dat...duh" Figgy said, leaning against the staircase which led to the attic. Butters and Sticks seemed to listen to Figgy like he was a guru of knowledge. Peepers knew better. "Geeze...yous make it sound like 'As Da Lodgin' House Turns'..."
Figgy shrugged. But no one could really disprove his story.
All anyone could do was guess...
~~~~~
Note: Anyone remember what I said about chapter 23 a while back? Well if you remember you'll be happy campers. I'll prolly post chapter 23 on March 13. So be on the look out for it. ^,^