"Just to Love"
By: Laney Sanchez
==============
Notes:
HAHAHA! Finally some Spot and Reina content in this chapter!! It took long enough but it will be worth the wait...sorta. It may not be what you think.
Granted this doesn't mean their officially in a 'relationship'.
It's just kinda like some feelings being admitted XD
Enjoy.
No thank yous only because I actually wrote this chapter AFTER I wrote Chapter 15. Heh heh...I skipped ahead a bit. My bad.
I revised some stuff after I wrote chapter 21, but also Spot thinks Reina's upset over his little stunt he pulled to get her kidnapped. In fact that isn't it...
Just thought I'd tell you.
I couldn't wait to post this chapter so I hope you like it...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 23 ~ 'I've Decided To Leave...'
Spot Conlon sat alone. He didn't desire anyone's company. Not at that moment.
If he had felt bad when Reina came to the lodging house...he felt worse when she had come back for the second time. However his feelings HAD changed.
A little...
He wasn't in love with the girl or needing her presence. He knew that as a fact. However...she had become important amidst everything that had happened. He had accepted the fact that she was now here to stay but...
Spot still felt resentment towards her.
"If it woint fer 'er...tings wouldn't ha changed" his mind reeled. Kid and him would still be partners and buddies. He would never have been given a tainted spot to his reputation and he'd still be top newsie.
Plus word had gotten on the street that Spot Conlon had hired a girl newsie. That Spot Conlon had ... gone soft.
Spot stood up and looked into the water. He thought he was over this whole thing...but that girl just provoked such emotions in him that made him want to go crazy. None of them were good emotions.
He hated the fact that Reina was back because with her presence had brought the hint of betrayal. At least that's the impression she gave off to him. He could've been wrong, but somehow he doubted it.
A sort of depression and listlessness hung heavily in the air since her rescue from the bordello. No one knew what to say to her because she seemed so closed off.
Everyone thought that any wrong gesture or word would cause her to break.
The only ones who knew better were himself, Kid, Figgy and Butters. They all knew Reina too well. They knew Reina WASN'T like glass. She wouldn't break. But it was interesting how this drama had affected her. She wouldn't cry...and hadn't yet to this day. At least not to Spot's knowledge and Spot knew of EVERYTHING that went on in his lodging house.
However her feisty flame and determination seemed to have withered away. That may have been more painful to watch than someone crying. Instead, Reina worked with an almost fragile manner about her. Spot had to resist the urge to yell "Yous snap outta it!!"
Spot had watched her work nowadays. Her pape selling records were no longer stellar. They were just average.
As for himself, Spot was left wondering where and when the hell things got so messed up.
After all, nothing around Brooklyn changed without HIS say so.
"Dats a bunch a BS..." his mind scolded. Spot gritted his teeth. Suddenly a feeling just over took him. He was filled with such rage and anger that he couldn't describe. He was suppose to be over this confusion and denial ordeal...
He growled and yelled out with a cry of rage. He angrily kicked or threw boxes into the river. He hated being wrong...
His hands reached out and slid a row of colored bottles off their usual target practice ledge. They all shattered. He hated change...
His fist punched a wooden pillar, over and over again. Most of all he hated admitting defeat...
"DAMNIT!!!" he roared. His fist slamming into the solid wood, one last bone crushing time. Spot stood their glaring and breathing hard. Unable to scream anymore.
Finally the fury had passed. It left Spot panting and his fist cut badly and bleeding. Spot hardly cared.
The night was silent and the only thing left to say anything was the gentle lapping of the river against the docks.
"I'm leaving..."
It took a second for anything to register in Spot's mind. When it finally did Spot turned. His dirty blonde hair hung a bit in his eyes and he looked at Reina mutely. No glare, no smile, no nothing. Just no expression.
"...What?" he muttered as if he had not heard her the first time.
"I've decided to leave..." she restated, turning to glance at the water. Spot licked his lips. He watched her, unsurely.
Was she really leaving or just saying this to get a reaction?
"I don't expect you to say anything..." she began. Her voice sounded tired. However it also sounded...worried? "I just figured I would tell you...because...well it would probably make your day"
She turned to face him again. Spot half expected to see her crying but still. No tears came.
"What...is she? Steel?" his mind questioned. He had never in his whole life known a girl never to cry. Especially put under the harsh circumstances that Reina had faced.
When nothing was said, Reina simply shrugged. "There's a reason...I have to leave...so this...is goodbye..."
She turned away one last time. This time it was to leave.
"Where is yous tings if yous is really leavin?" Spot questioned with an edge to his voice. He couldn't believe that the firecracker he had known, would just go out and really give up. He found it hard to believe.
"I don't HAVE anything to take with me Spot" Reina answered back with some venom creeping into her voice.
"...Ok den wheres will yous go?"
"Does it matter?"
Spot stood for a moment unable to answer.
This was what he had wanted, wasn't it? He hadn't liked her since day one, so he should be happy she was leaving right?
Reina shook her head. "So long Spot. Best of luck t-"
"Now don't yous go n do dat!" he suddenly blurted out.
Reina turned to face him, a very, very mild look of surprise was on her face.
Spot stood speechless. He hadn't meant to just blurt that out, but then again...part of him HAD meant to.
"...Excuse me...?" Reina asked, a look of disbelief now fully written out on her face.
"As...much as...I dislike yous...I can't just let yous go off on yer own without somewhere ta go" he said calmly, almost slowly as if it were tedious to just admit a kind statement.
"Please Spot" Suddenly Reina's face had turned cold and distrusting. "I don't NEED your pity. I don't NEED your false acts of niceness"
Spot looked at her and narrowed his eyes. "Look!" he stormed over, anger rising in his voice. "I DON'T pity no one. NO ONE, yous got dat?!"
"Good then don't start now!!" Reina hollered back, her eyes locking on his.
"Kitty I ain't-..." he stopped. Then continued, starting over. He had tried hard to not call her by that name since her outburst at the bordello.
"Reina...I ain't startin' nothin' now..." he said looking down slightly. Spot swallowed hard but continued. "Yeah...I wanted yous gone before..." he confessed.
Reina still held a brief look of "can-you-please-hurry-it-up?" but listened.
"But...I's...would be a down right bastard and no better den dem at dat...dat place!" he said with some malice when referring to the Scarlett Bordello.
Reina took in slow breaths. She looked up at him. Spot was looking away, as if in the direction of the bordello and glaring. His head then hung down low. "...Stay if yous want..."
-*-
Reina half expected this. However that half that she expected, she thought was only going to be faked pity.
That was not the case.
She could see that now, in this moment, Spot had given in.
Given in to her.
Something that probably was not very easy for him. She could tell this by the look of angst that had crossed his face.
She wasn't really mad at Spot, but it certainly had been easier to play it off that way. She was more worried for him. For him and the other newsies. As much as she and Spot quarreled, she had grown slightly fond of him. Emphasis on slightly...
Vanderbelt's words had troubled her since the moment they'd left his lips.
She didn't know Edward well, nor did she want to. However in her heart, she knew that Edward Vanderbelt was not one to cross or betray. He wasn't one to play the fool. In fact, Reina was willing to bet money that Vanderbelt could give a sniff less about her value to him. It was just the IDEA that Spot Conlon, a mere newsboy, had snuck right in under his nose and messed with his money deal.
Reina didn't have to KNOW Vanderbelt to know that this would bother him, until he got her back...
Reina didn't have any words for that moment. Not to say to Spot anyway...She just watched his face. She wanted to say "Thanks" but she couldn't stay...she WANTED to ...but she couldn't jeopordize the Brooklyn newsies like that.
Not for her own selfish reasons.
"...I don't know how I feel..." she muttered, unaware she had spoken that out loud. The words had just tumbled out of her mouth.
"What?"
She looked back into Spot's eyes. "I...uh...just said...I don't" she paused. "...Know how I feel..."
"What's dere ta feel?" he asked in the quietest and calmest voice she had ever heard. As though he was tired, his own self, of arguing with her.
"I...don't know" she admitted. She had at that moment, neglected the fact that Spot and herself were very close to together.
The moment just seemed to happen. It was like an invisible rope had bound them closer and closer together. Reina didn't MEAN for it to happen...
She suddenly became all too aware of the way she was looking into his gorgeous bluish gray eyes for any sort of answer and he was basically doing the same. She also became aware of their distance and how somehow their faces had become very close. She could just feel the warmth of his breath on her lips.
Both pulled back before it had even begun. In Reina's case she took a step back.
Spot looked down to the ground uncomfortably.
Finally he broke the silence and muttered "Yous can stay..."
And that was that, as he headed back to the lodging house.
Reina sighed, helplessly, however also partially from relief.
At some point...she had changed her mind. She would stay...
She knew staying was a bad idea...but Spot had a point. She had nowhere else to go...
Now something else was tugging at her, pleading with her to stay instead of leave.
She hoped, against common sense, that she was making the right decsion.
By: Laney Sanchez
==============
Notes:
HAHAHA! Finally some Spot and Reina content in this chapter!! It took long enough but it will be worth the wait...sorta. It may not be what you think.
Granted this doesn't mean their officially in a 'relationship'.
It's just kinda like some feelings being admitted XD
Enjoy.
No thank yous only because I actually wrote this chapter AFTER I wrote Chapter 15. Heh heh...I skipped ahead a bit. My bad.
I revised some stuff after I wrote chapter 21, but also Spot thinks Reina's upset over his little stunt he pulled to get her kidnapped. In fact that isn't it...
Just thought I'd tell you.
I couldn't wait to post this chapter so I hope you like it...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 23 ~ 'I've Decided To Leave...'
Spot Conlon sat alone. He didn't desire anyone's company. Not at that moment.
If he had felt bad when Reina came to the lodging house...he felt worse when she had come back for the second time. However his feelings HAD changed.
A little...
He wasn't in love with the girl or needing her presence. He knew that as a fact. However...she had become important amidst everything that had happened. He had accepted the fact that she was now here to stay but...
Spot still felt resentment towards her.
"If it woint fer 'er...tings wouldn't ha changed" his mind reeled. Kid and him would still be partners and buddies. He would never have been given a tainted spot to his reputation and he'd still be top newsie.
Plus word had gotten on the street that Spot Conlon had hired a girl newsie. That Spot Conlon had ... gone soft.
Spot stood up and looked into the water. He thought he was over this whole thing...but that girl just provoked such emotions in him that made him want to go crazy. None of them were good emotions.
He hated the fact that Reina was back because with her presence had brought the hint of betrayal. At least that's the impression she gave off to him. He could've been wrong, but somehow he doubted it.
A sort of depression and listlessness hung heavily in the air since her rescue from the bordello. No one knew what to say to her because she seemed so closed off.
Everyone thought that any wrong gesture or word would cause her to break.
The only ones who knew better were himself, Kid, Figgy and Butters. They all knew Reina too well. They knew Reina WASN'T like glass. She wouldn't break. But it was interesting how this drama had affected her. She wouldn't cry...and hadn't yet to this day. At least not to Spot's knowledge and Spot knew of EVERYTHING that went on in his lodging house.
However her feisty flame and determination seemed to have withered away. That may have been more painful to watch than someone crying. Instead, Reina worked with an almost fragile manner about her. Spot had to resist the urge to yell "Yous snap outta it!!"
Spot had watched her work nowadays. Her pape selling records were no longer stellar. They were just average.
As for himself, Spot was left wondering where and when the hell things got so messed up.
After all, nothing around Brooklyn changed without HIS say so.
"Dats a bunch a BS..." his mind scolded. Spot gritted his teeth. Suddenly a feeling just over took him. He was filled with such rage and anger that he couldn't describe. He was suppose to be over this confusion and denial ordeal...
He growled and yelled out with a cry of rage. He angrily kicked or threw boxes into the river. He hated being wrong...
His hands reached out and slid a row of colored bottles off their usual target practice ledge. They all shattered. He hated change...
His fist punched a wooden pillar, over and over again. Most of all he hated admitting defeat...
"DAMNIT!!!" he roared. His fist slamming into the solid wood, one last bone crushing time. Spot stood their glaring and breathing hard. Unable to scream anymore.
Finally the fury had passed. It left Spot panting and his fist cut badly and bleeding. Spot hardly cared.
The night was silent and the only thing left to say anything was the gentle lapping of the river against the docks.
"I'm leaving..."
It took a second for anything to register in Spot's mind. When it finally did Spot turned. His dirty blonde hair hung a bit in his eyes and he looked at Reina mutely. No glare, no smile, no nothing. Just no expression.
"...What?" he muttered as if he had not heard her the first time.
"I've decided to leave..." she restated, turning to glance at the water. Spot licked his lips. He watched her, unsurely.
Was she really leaving or just saying this to get a reaction?
"I don't expect you to say anything..." she began. Her voice sounded tired. However it also sounded...worried? "I just figured I would tell you...because...well it would probably make your day"
She turned to face him again. Spot half expected to see her crying but still. No tears came.
"What...is she? Steel?" his mind questioned. He had never in his whole life known a girl never to cry. Especially put under the harsh circumstances that Reina had faced.
When nothing was said, Reina simply shrugged. "There's a reason...I have to leave...so this...is goodbye..."
She turned away one last time. This time it was to leave.
"Where is yous tings if yous is really leavin?" Spot questioned with an edge to his voice. He couldn't believe that the firecracker he had known, would just go out and really give up. He found it hard to believe.
"I don't HAVE anything to take with me Spot" Reina answered back with some venom creeping into her voice.
"...Ok den wheres will yous go?"
"Does it matter?"
Spot stood for a moment unable to answer.
This was what he had wanted, wasn't it? He hadn't liked her since day one, so he should be happy she was leaving right?
Reina shook her head. "So long Spot. Best of luck t-"
"Now don't yous go n do dat!" he suddenly blurted out.
Reina turned to face him, a very, very mild look of surprise was on her face.
Spot stood speechless. He hadn't meant to just blurt that out, but then again...part of him HAD meant to.
"...Excuse me...?" Reina asked, a look of disbelief now fully written out on her face.
"As...much as...I dislike yous...I can't just let yous go off on yer own without somewhere ta go" he said calmly, almost slowly as if it were tedious to just admit a kind statement.
"Please Spot" Suddenly Reina's face had turned cold and distrusting. "I don't NEED your pity. I don't NEED your false acts of niceness"
Spot looked at her and narrowed his eyes. "Look!" he stormed over, anger rising in his voice. "I DON'T pity no one. NO ONE, yous got dat?!"
"Good then don't start now!!" Reina hollered back, her eyes locking on his.
"Kitty I ain't-..." he stopped. Then continued, starting over. He had tried hard to not call her by that name since her outburst at the bordello.
"Reina...I ain't startin' nothin' now..." he said looking down slightly. Spot swallowed hard but continued. "Yeah...I wanted yous gone before..." he confessed.
Reina still held a brief look of "can-you-please-hurry-it-up?" but listened.
"But...I's...would be a down right bastard and no better den dem at dat...dat place!" he said with some malice when referring to the Scarlett Bordello.
Reina took in slow breaths. She looked up at him. Spot was looking away, as if in the direction of the bordello and glaring. His head then hung down low. "...Stay if yous want..."
-*-
Reina half expected this. However that half that she expected, she thought was only going to be faked pity.
That was not the case.
She could see that now, in this moment, Spot had given in.
Given in to her.
Something that probably was not very easy for him. She could tell this by the look of angst that had crossed his face.
She wasn't really mad at Spot, but it certainly had been easier to play it off that way. She was more worried for him. For him and the other newsies. As much as she and Spot quarreled, she had grown slightly fond of him. Emphasis on slightly...
Vanderbelt's words had troubled her since the moment they'd left his lips.
She didn't know Edward well, nor did she want to. However in her heart, she knew that Edward Vanderbelt was not one to cross or betray. He wasn't one to play the fool. In fact, Reina was willing to bet money that Vanderbelt could give a sniff less about her value to him. It was just the IDEA that Spot Conlon, a mere newsboy, had snuck right in under his nose and messed with his money deal.
Reina didn't have to KNOW Vanderbelt to know that this would bother him, until he got her back...
Reina didn't have any words for that moment. Not to say to Spot anyway...She just watched his face. She wanted to say "Thanks" but she couldn't stay...she WANTED to ...but she couldn't jeopordize the Brooklyn newsies like that.
Not for her own selfish reasons.
"...I don't know how I feel..." she muttered, unaware she had spoken that out loud. The words had just tumbled out of her mouth.
"What?"
She looked back into Spot's eyes. "I...uh...just said...I don't" she paused. "...Know how I feel..."
"What's dere ta feel?" he asked in the quietest and calmest voice she had ever heard. As though he was tired, his own self, of arguing with her.
"I...don't know" she admitted. She had at that moment, neglected the fact that Spot and herself were very close to together.
The moment just seemed to happen. It was like an invisible rope had bound them closer and closer together. Reina didn't MEAN for it to happen...
She suddenly became all too aware of the way she was looking into his gorgeous bluish gray eyes for any sort of answer and he was basically doing the same. She also became aware of their distance and how somehow their faces had become very close. She could just feel the warmth of his breath on her lips.
Both pulled back before it had even begun. In Reina's case she took a step back.
Spot looked down to the ground uncomfortably.
Finally he broke the silence and muttered "Yous can stay..."
And that was that, as he headed back to the lodging house.
Reina sighed, helplessly, however also partially from relief.
At some point...she had changed her mind. She would stay...
She knew staying was a bad idea...but Spot had a point. She had nowhere else to go...
Now something else was tugging at her, pleading with her to stay instead of leave.
She hoped, against common sense, that she was making the right decsion.