"Just to Love"
By: Laney Sanchez
==============
Some notes from Stars: Okay...I got a minor note...I'm planning on making the rest of "Just to Love" a daily chapter thing...I will try my damned hardest to post a new chapter everyday. I was away mostly for Spring Break. I got 3 weeks off so I'm using my last two weeks to get on top of things!!
Note number two...I WANT FLAMES! Makes them mild flames please...I really would like to hear on how this story could possibly improve. I love comments and everyone who's ever commented is on my list of awesome people! However I feel that I could improve on "Just to Love" in a few ways...so flame away...just um...like I said...mild flames please! ^,^;
Don't be mean...
Okay thank you time!! Woohoo! I skipped this on the last chapter and now I have a lot of thank yous...eep X,x
...Sun dreams...LOL thank you! I'll be sure and write more as soon as I can. I will try and make it daily. Btw...what a cool pen name *,*
...Amazing-moth NO NO NO! Don't go crazy!! O,O
Um please? I'm so so SO happy you like my story...but er...I can't quit school...I'm already home schooled...so it helps ^,^
However I can promise I will never stop the story in the middle!! Thankies for your review :D
...Killersabinx thanks for your review! You've been there since the beginning and I thank you for sticking with the story. Boy, I wasn't lying when I said "A romance but not till much later on" was I? Well I promise the next Reina/Spot tidbit won't take long at all. Thanks again =)
...Princessred , one of my been-there-since-the-beginning reviewers! Hee hee, I'm glad you liked chapter 23. Finally some romance, huh? I actually happened to be singing...but not Annie :D
I was singing Oliver and Company X,x
I'm so weird...
Anyway keep reading. Thank you SOOO much for your review and I promise you'll like this chapter.
...AngelicOne a special thank you to you to for being with this story since it's beginning :D
As for the kissing booth...SCREW REINA! I'll write myself in and me and you can get first kisses on Gabe!! Okay...well...maybe that won't be a good idea...
Might ruin the story...damn that Reina...
As for Spot's cane...yes he will get it back. I garauntee that when he does there will be hell to pay =)
Heehee thanks as always to you for reviewing :D
...Singah if they got together it wouldn't really be wrong...it would be very right. They will get together eventually. It just may take time. Then it's marriage and kids you gotta wait and find out about...Thanks for your revvie! :D
AND NOW ...a very special thank you to AngelicOne and Killersabinx. The only two who reviewed Chapter 24. Come on folks! It wasn't Reina/Spot but was it THAT bad? ...Aye yi yi... -_-
Anyway you two rock...and I was wondering if for doing so I could give you two a little cameo in part two? The Edge of Tomorrow? Just to Love is almost finished so tell me what you think!
I hope everyone had a good spring break. Enough babbling. Let's get this show on the road!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 25 ~ April Fools Day
A month and some time had passed since Reina had arrived with the Brooklyn newsies. It was now officially the month of April. April showers, was not the word to describe the month. It had rained almost nonstop. In fact, it had gotten so bad that the streets had flash floods.
It had gotten SO bad that Spot was forced to pull his boys out and discontinue selling papes. Only of course after one of his smaller Newsies nearly got carried away in a flash flood.
This was unfortunate because everyone knew that a little rain never stopped the big rent they had to pay to keep the lodging house open. Another unfortunate flaw was that since Spot had terrorized the lodging house landlord off, he was now in charge of the monthly fee. If there was no money, there'd be shelter. If there was no shelter...then they'd really end up hating the rain.
Reina felt utterly bored. She came to the realization that she hated being cooped up in the Brooklyn Lodging house. She wasn't sure if the tension between her and Spot was worse than Peepers' constant questions about the female anatomy. Which Reina really had no answers for...
"...Bored..." she muttered, resting a hand against her cheek. She then allowed her hand to slump over her eyes. She just wanted the rain to end.
There were a few activities that Reina got use to doing every now and then. They usually consisted of drawing or sleeping. She had found scraps of old newspaper and had just began to draw. She wasn't very good at it, but it certainly was something to pass the time. Besides...practice makes per-
"AHAHAHAA!!! WE SURRENDER THE TIGHTIE WHITIES!!!!!"
Reina's eyes shot open and for a moment she thought she had fallen asleep and had someone yell something EXTREMELY bizarre in an EXTREMELY bizarre dream.
Reina turned around slowly. "Huh...?"
Reina was sure she was dreaming. Because only in her dreams would Figgy be running around with a pair of underwear tied to a long wooden stick.
Followed by an utterly furious Spot Conlon.
"Figgy...gimme dose back and yous will get away with yer limbs still 'tached" Spot said, trying obviously very hard to keep calm. Reina could already tell it wasn't working because he dived at Figgy the moment Figgy began waving his flag and yelling "All hail Spot Cotton-lon"
Luckily Figgy jumped back just in time to avoid Spot's grasp. Spot looked like a wild animal, ready to kill. His hand reached out and snagged Figgy's pants, yanking him roughly to the ground. "I'll moidah YOUS!!!!!!!" Spot yelled, seizing Figgy by the collar. Figgy only smirked. Reina was sure that Figgy had totally lost his marbles this time. Spot pulled his fist back and brought it down, hate searing in his eyes.
However he hadn't brought it down fast enough. Reina had seized his arm and was trying desperately hard to pull it back.
"LEMME GO!!! DON'T YOUS GET IN ME WAY!! I'M GUNNA KILL 'IM!!!!!" Spot howled as Reina did her best to restrain him. Spot wasn't muscular at all...but for having lack of, he certainly had strength. "Spot, he's just a kid!!"
"A kid, me ass!! He's been a pain in me side ever since he came 'ere!!!" Spot said, glaring at Figgy. Figgy only seemed to smirk, as if this was an entertaining show. Reina shot Figgy a look that spoke for itself. It seemed to say "back-off." Figgy only stuck out his tongue and dropped his "flag," running off. Spot shrugged Reina off harshly and stepped forward, snatching up the underwear. "Yous can't play hero all da time..." Spot muttered in Reina's direction. Reina narrowed her gaze and crossed her arms. She watched him for a moment. He turned and watched her with a cold stare. "What is yous lookin' at?"
Reina shook her head, closing her eyes and held up her arms innocently. "Nothing...nothing..." she said with a smirk. Spot eyed her and made a face. He wanted to punch the smirk off her face. Spot Conlon hated being made a fool of. He voiced it clearly enough.
"No one makes a fool outta Spot Conlon...Yous got da-"
Reina's eyes lit up and they snapped open. That was it!!
"SPOT!"
Spot jumped back just slightly, mildly shocked at her outburst. He eyed her like she was a bomb about to go off. "What...?"
"He didn't mean anything...I mean-! ...Aaagh..." Reina shook her head. Her words came out a jumbled mess. "Spot...remember the date on the papes three days ago?"
"Yeah...March 27...what's yous - " Spot stopped suddenly and stared at Reina very seriously. Reina nodded and smirked.
"Happy April Fools, Spot..."
Spot looked away for a moment then back to her. "...So what?"
Reina made a pouty and took a step closer to Spot. "Aww...come on..."
Spot eyed her out of the corner of his eye. She was getting close to him and Spot didn't like other people invading his space bubble. He could do it to anyone he pleased, but no one could break his. That was his theory.
"What is yous? Brain dead?" Spot shot, turning and eyeing her seriously. Reina shot him a glare then smacked his shoulder. Spot caught her hand, not quite roughly. "It's a day like any uddah day...Get it over it..." he said quite seriously and threw her hand down. Spot turned to leave and glanced over his shoulder, as if getting an afterthought. "Ain't yous a little old foah pranks...Kitty?"
Reina suppressed her annoyance that had suddenly arisen. She couldn't help be insulted. So what if she wanted to act a little immature...? Was that such a crime in the world today? Especially on April first...?
"...Not really...I'm just sorry you got such a stick up your butt, Spot..." Reina shot, walking past him quite calmly. Spot's eyes narrowed and he followed Reina. Reina smirked, secretly knowing she had lit a fuse on Spot's short temper.
"I'se don't!" Spot shot back, turning with fire in his eyes.
Reina yawned, feigning disinterest. It wasn't usually in her manner to act hyper or playful...but Figgy had spread the mood with the "tightie whities". The mood was contagious.
"Spot go plan business or count your money..." she muttered.
Spot had enough. He grabbed her shoulder, whipping her around and glared. "Yous don't even have any idea what yous is gettin youself into" he said, bringing his face dangerously close to hers in an attempt to intimidate her. Reina looked straight back into his eyes. She never really had been intimidated by Spot and she wasn't now.
Her hands shoved him back and she dusted her clothes off where he had grabbed her. "...is that a threat?" Reina shot coldly and jammed her hands into her pockets. Her eyes widened as she felt something but she suddenly coughed and acted normal once more as Spot narrowed his gaze on her. "As a matter of fact...yeah." Spot said, a sly grin crossing his lips. "Yeah, yeah it is...Kitten"
"Uh huh...and...why is that?" she asked, not really caring about his response, rather more interested in what was in her pocket. Spot turned around for a moment, looking amused. He crossed his arms and looked up faintly, as if trying to remember something. "I'se is one of da best April foolers evah...just ask around. Yous'll regret going against me Kitty...I'se is warning ya..." his tone suddenly turned serious.
He turned back around to look at her. She was hunched over a small table but suddenly stood straight. Spot's eyebrows locked together in confusion and he eyed her. Reina just nodded. "Sure...whatever you say" she said, plastering a serious look to her face.
"Yous ain't worth a prank Reina. Da minute I pull it yous'll run off cryin' or sumtin..." he said, as if changing his mind. He even looked a little disappointed. Reina walked over and stopped beside him. She turned her head and smiled, quite innocently. "Like I said...whatever you say Spot..." she said simply, patting his back.
***
"Dat no good...lousy..." Spot muttered. He had been waiting for about ten minutes now in the bunk room. Waiting for Butters and Sticks to bring him his "tools".
He had gone a good hour, walking about the lodging house with a sign on his back that said "Pulitzer's Playboy". It was only until Figgy had busted up laughing and in tears that he had thought to check his back.
All because he had been blind enough to fall for Reina's prank.
"Got it!" Butters announced cheerfully and bounded in with Sticks. They were holding a big bucket, filled with a brown substance.
"...Yous sure about dis Spot?" Sticks asked, looking rather guilty and nervous at the same time. Spot glared. "Sure? Of coase I'se is sure!! What are yous talkin' about?" he said, wrinkling up his facial expression slightly in angry disbelief.
Sticks looked down then timidly continued. "It's just dat...well...Reina...she won't-"
Spot glared then snatched up the bucket. "Aww...just gimme dat!" Butters and Sticks had no room to argue but their mouths dropped open upon seeing Spot rip back the covers of Reina's bunk.
Spot poured the contents of the bucket onto Reina's bunk with a sly smirk. "Teach her ta mess wid da best..." Spot muttered under his breath. When he finished he neatly pulled the sheets back into place. It looked perfectly normal. Like the bed had never been touched. Only Spot's steely gray eyes could be see over the bed once he climbed down. The expression in them was pure devilish glee.
***
The day had seemed to go on forever. Almost everyone had went to bed except Reina. She had opted to stay up and play a game of Poker with a few of the older boys.
One of them was Kid, the other two were named Jay and Racetrack Higgins. Racetrack was from a division of newsies in Manhattan. It had almost slipped her mind that there were other newsies aside from Brooklyn. It was so easy to get caught up in the midst of things and forget everything else.
"Showdown time" Racetrack said with a sly smile on his face. He leaned over the table intensely and slowly slapped his hand of cards down. "Full house. Beat dat!" Racetrack said triumphantly and smacked the table with his hand. He leaned back upon declaring his victory and bit down on a cigar. Racetrack was something else in Reina's opinion. He had the ability to be very charming, but Reina couldn't tell if that was a womanizers charm or just genuine charm. He also had an odd look about him that Reina found rather attractive. He had baby fine features, smooth skin and a rather childish face, but he also had quite a handsome complexion about him as well.
Jay glanced at Racetrack and blinked them curled his lip. "Yous bum!!!" he shouted, slapping his hand of cards down then glaring poison at Racetrack. "Yous is always gettin' a full house!!"
Jay was also rather handsome. He as well was from Manhattan. He was a "newbie" as Racetrack called it, instead of a "Newsie." Jay had slightly spiky reddish brown hair which fell over his eyes just ever so slightly enough to make it sexy. His eyes were a gorgeous shade of aqua. Not quite green but not quite blue either. He had a fiery personality that wasn't hard to smile at and like.
"What is yous suggestin' uh?!" Racetrack said, lowering one eyebrow in suspicion.
Kid sighed. "Fellahs...calm down..."
"Easy foah yous ta say..." Jay shot, still giving Racetrack the stink eye.
"Foist of all...he's been doin' fulls forever..." Kid said, gesturing at Racetrack. "Which we's have checked out is, most of da time, cheat free. Secondly ..." Kid said, giving a dark grin, which Reina guessed was signaling that he was hiding something.
"Straight flush boys!" Kid proclaimed and set the cards down then whooped. Racetrack's mouth fell opened and his cigar fell out. Jay looked at Reina with an "Oh joy!" expression. Reina had to smirk.
"Wait...wait wait wait!" Racetrack said standing. Kid paused his hysterics and looked to Racetrack. Racetrack looked to Reina. "Fellahs...we's still have one hand standing..." Race gestured to Reina. Reina raised her eyebrows. She truthfully was a beginner at Poker and she was pretty sure had NOTHING close to Race or Kid's hands. All her cards had hearts, which she was sure wasn't good. It meant a lack of variance in points... All she had was an Ace, Jack, Queen, King and one little ten which Reina thought was going to be what lost it for her.
She laid down her hand carefully, flinching and ready to receive the "first time player" jokes.
Nobody said anything.
She opened her eyes and saw that all three boys stood with their mouths open. Reina looked from Jay to Kid before finally glaring and demanding to know what was wrong.
"...Royal Flush..." Kid muttered. Jay sighed and pushed his chair in, heading to leave.
"That's good?"
"Yous won..." Racetrack said, defeated. "Dere goes dis months rent...Kloppman ain't gunna be too happy..." Racetrack said, grabbing his jacket from the chair and slinging it over his shoulder. "I'se want yous ta know...uh...Reina, right? Well, I want yous ta know dat...dat was just beginner's luck! I'll be back and yous bettah believe it..." Race said with a grin and headed out after Jay. Reina smirked and watched him leave. Kid remained eyeing her. The money on the table, which made about six bucks, was all Reina's.
She briefly considered giving it to Kid to give back to Race but she doubted he would. Besides a part of her was saying "You won it fair and square! TAKE IT, TAKE IT, TAKE IT!"
"Hows did yous pull dat off?"
Reina shrugged innocently and gathered her winnings. Kid shook his head and smirked. "I'se is going to bed. Good night!" he said, sounding exhausted. Reina decided to do the same.
***
Reina hadn't bothered to even change. The bunk room was quiet except for the sounds of snoring and faint mumbles. It was dark as well. Reina had just barely managed to find her bed. She was also incredibly tired. It had to be at least one in the morning...
Reina drew the covers back slowly then threw herself face first into bed.
It took a second for the "plop" sound to register in her brain.
...Plop.
Beds don't go "plop". They squeek maybe...but not plop.
Moments later a very angry Reina was running out to the docks, covered in mud with various other "nasties" in it. She screamed, not really caring if she woke up the rest of the the lodging house. Reina panicked for a brief moment then jumped into the river.
The mud came off slowly and she splashed her face with water, cleaning it off.
Her mind was reeling in anger. Who in the hell would've had the nerve to put mud in her-
"Happy April Fools day Kitten"
Reina turned her gaze upwards to see Spot Conlon standing before her with pure glee on his face. "Yous know...dat muddy look is ...really quite fitting for yous" he said trying to keep a serious face but eventually busted up into a snicker. (Think when Denton was talking to Race at the courthouse and Race said a little comment then Spot busted up laughing).
Reina glared and pushed herself up just enough to grab Spot's pant leg and pull him in. His snickers stopped and he came to the top, sputtering and glaring at her. "Happy April Fools indeed" she shot back.
Spot glared and sent a wave of water of her face. "Yous ...broad"
"Jerk..." She shot back, putting both her arms together and swinging so as to create a huger wave.
Before long both were splashing each other like it was really going injure the other. Reina then stopped and actually moved in to hit him with her fist, but luckily he caught it.
Reina struggled to pull it back but Spot wound up pulling her closer. She came so close to him, that if it was any closer she would've been kissing him. Spot looked into her eyes and whispered "...I told yous...yous would be sorry..."
Reina swallowed and tried to keep her wits about her.
"...I'm terrified...so terrified I'm trembling..." Reina shot, trying to make it come out as sarcasm. She failed.
"I'se know..." Spot whispered. She could feel his warm breath on her lips and it was driving her insane. So much so that she just wanted to lean in and...
As both leaned in to seal the would-be-kiss, the fragile silence was broken. "...Uh...Sticks told yous dat yous shouldn't have done dat prank..."
Reina and Spot turned their heads to face Butters.
Butters could only look at them both then to Sticks. "What...what'd I'se do?"
By: Laney Sanchez
==============
Some notes from Stars: Okay...I got a minor note...I'm planning on making the rest of "Just to Love" a daily chapter thing...I will try my damned hardest to post a new chapter everyday. I was away mostly for Spring Break. I got 3 weeks off so I'm using my last two weeks to get on top of things!!
Note number two...I WANT FLAMES! Makes them mild flames please...I really would like to hear on how this story could possibly improve. I love comments and everyone who's ever commented is on my list of awesome people! However I feel that I could improve on "Just to Love" in a few ways...so flame away...just um...like I said...mild flames please! ^,^;
Don't be mean...
Okay thank you time!! Woohoo! I skipped this on the last chapter and now I have a lot of thank yous...eep X,x
...Sun dreams...LOL thank you! I'll be sure and write more as soon as I can. I will try and make it daily. Btw...what a cool pen name *,*
...Amazing-moth NO NO NO! Don't go crazy!! O,O
Um please? I'm so so SO happy you like my story...but er...I can't quit school...I'm already home schooled...so it helps ^,^
However I can promise I will never stop the story in the middle!! Thankies for your review :D
...Killersabinx thanks for your review! You've been there since the beginning and I thank you for sticking with the story. Boy, I wasn't lying when I said "A romance but not till much later on" was I? Well I promise the next Reina/Spot tidbit won't take long at all. Thanks again =)
...Princessred , one of my been-there-since-the-beginning reviewers! Hee hee, I'm glad you liked chapter 23. Finally some romance, huh? I actually happened to be singing...but not Annie :D
I was singing Oliver and Company X,x
I'm so weird...
Anyway keep reading. Thank you SOOO much for your review and I promise you'll like this chapter.
...AngelicOne a special thank you to you to for being with this story since it's beginning :D
As for the kissing booth...SCREW REINA! I'll write myself in and me and you can get first kisses on Gabe!! Okay...well...maybe that won't be a good idea...
Might ruin the story...damn that Reina...
As for Spot's cane...yes he will get it back. I garauntee that when he does there will be hell to pay =)
Heehee thanks as always to you for reviewing :D
...Singah if they got together it wouldn't really be wrong...it would be very right. They will get together eventually. It just may take time. Then it's marriage and kids you gotta wait and find out about...Thanks for your revvie! :D
AND NOW ...a very special thank you to AngelicOne and Killersabinx. The only two who reviewed Chapter 24. Come on folks! It wasn't Reina/Spot but was it THAT bad? ...Aye yi yi... -_-
Anyway you two rock...and I was wondering if for doing so I could give you two a little cameo in part two? The Edge of Tomorrow? Just to Love is almost finished so tell me what you think!
I hope everyone had a good spring break. Enough babbling. Let's get this show on the road!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 25 ~ April Fools Day
A month and some time had passed since Reina had arrived with the Brooklyn newsies. It was now officially the month of April. April showers, was not the word to describe the month. It had rained almost nonstop. In fact, it had gotten so bad that the streets had flash floods.
It had gotten SO bad that Spot was forced to pull his boys out and discontinue selling papes. Only of course after one of his smaller Newsies nearly got carried away in a flash flood.
This was unfortunate because everyone knew that a little rain never stopped the big rent they had to pay to keep the lodging house open. Another unfortunate flaw was that since Spot had terrorized the lodging house landlord off, he was now in charge of the monthly fee. If there was no money, there'd be shelter. If there was no shelter...then they'd really end up hating the rain.
Reina felt utterly bored. She came to the realization that she hated being cooped up in the Brooklyn Lodging house. She wasn't sure if the tension between her and Spot was worse than Peepers' constant questions about the female anatomy. Which Reina really had no answers for...
"...Bored..." she muttered, resting a hand against her cheek. She then allowed her hand to slump over her eyes. She just wanted the rain to end.
There were a few activities that Reina got use to doing every now and then. They usually consisted of drawing or sleeping. She had found scraps of old newspaper and had just began to draw. She wasn't very good at it, but it certainly was something to pass the time. Besides...practice makes per-
"AHAHAHAA!!! WE SURRENDER THE TIGHTIE WHITIES!!!!!"
Reina's eyes shot open and for a moment she thought she had fallen asleep and had someone yell something EXTREMELY bizarre in an EXTREMELY bizarre dream.
Reina turned around slowly. "Huh...?"
Reina was sure she was dreaming. Because only in her dreams would Figgy be running around with a pair of underwear tied to a long wooden stick.
Followed by an utterly furious Spot Conlon.
"Figgy...gimme dose back and yous will get away with yer limbs still 'tached" Spot said, trying obviously very hard to keep calm. Reina could already tell it wasn't working because he dived at Figgy the moment Figgy began waving his flag and yelling "All hail Spot Cotton-lon"
Luckily Figgy jumped back just in time to avoid Spot's grasp. Spot looked like a wild animal, ready to kill. His hand reached out and snagged Figgy's pants, yanking him roughly to the ground. "I'll moidah YOUS!!!!!!!" Spot yelled, seizing Figgy by the collar. Figgy only smirked. Reina was sure that Figgy had totally lost his marbles this time. Spot pulled his fist back and brought it down, hate searing in his eyes.
However he hadn't brought it down fast enough. Reina had seized his arm and was trying desperately hard to pull it back.
"LEMME GO!!! DON'T YOUS GET IN ME WAY!! I'M GUNNA KILL 'IM!!!!!" Spot howled as Reina did her best to restrain him. Spot wasn't muscular at all...but for having lack of, he certainly had strength. "Spot, he's just a kid!!"
"A kid, me ass!! He's been a pain in me side ever since he came 'ere!!!" Spot said, glaring at Figgy. Figgy only seemed to smirk, as if this was an entertaining show. Reina shot Figgy a look that spoke for itself. It seemed to say "back-off." Figgy only stuck out his tongue and dropped his "flag," running off. Spot shrugged Reina off harshly and stepped forward, snatching up the underwear. "Yous can't play hero all da time..." Spot muttered in Reina's direction. Reina narrowed her gaze and crossed her arms. She watched him for a moment. He turned and watched her with a cold stare. "What is yous lookin' at?"
Reina shook her head, closing her eyes and held up her arms innocently. "Nothing...nothing..." she said with a smirk. Spot eyed her and made a face. He wanted to punch the smirk off her face. Spot Conlon hated being made a fool of. He voiced it clearly enough.
"No one makes a fool outta Spot Conlon...Yous got da-"
Reina's eyes lit up and they snapped open. That was it!!
"SPOT!"
Spot jumped back just slightly, mildly shocked at her outburst. He eyed her like she was a bomb about to go off. "What...?"
"He didn't mean anything...I mean-! ...Aaagh..." Reina shook her head. Her words came out a jumbled mess. "Spot...remember the date on the papes three days ago?"
"Yeah...March 27...what's yous - " Spot stopped suddenly and stared at Reina very seriously. Reina nodded and smirked.
"Happy April Fools, Spot..."
Spot looked away for a moment then back to her. "...So what?"
Reina made a pouty and took a step closer to Spot. "Aww...come on..."
Spot eyed her out of the corner of his eye. She was getting close to him and Spot didn't like other people invading his space bubble. He could do it to anyone he pleased, but no one could break his. That was his theory.
"What is yous? Brain dead?" Spot shot, turning and eyeing her seriously. Reina shot him a glare then smacked his shoulder. Spot caught her hand, not quite roughly. "It's a day like any uddah day...Get it over it..." he said quite seriously and threw her hand down. Spot turned to leave and glanced over his shoulder, as if getting an afterthought. "Ain't yous a little old foah pranks...Kitty?"
Reina suppressed her annoyance that had suddenly arisen. She couldn't help be insulted. So what if she wanted to act a little immature...? Was that such a crime in the world today? Especially on April first...?
"...Not really...I'm just sorry you got such a stick up your butt, Spot..." Reina shot, walking past him quite calmly. Spot's eyes narrowed and he followed Reina. Reina smirked, secretly knowing she had lit a fuse on Spot's short temper.
"I'se don't!" Spot shot back, turning with fire in his eyes.
Reina yawned, feigning disinterest. It wasn't usually in her manner to act hyper or playful...but Figgy had spread the mood with the "tightie whities". The mood was contagious.
"Spot go plan business or count your money..." she muttered.
Spot had enough. He grabbed her shoulder, whipping her around and glared. "Yous don't even have any idea what yous is gettin youself into" he said, bringing his face dangerously close to hers in an attempt to intimidate her. Reina looked straight back into his eyes. She never really had been intimidated by Spot and she wasn't now.
Her hands shoved him back and she dusted her clothes off where he had grabbed her. "...is that a threat?" Reina shot coldly and jammed her hands into her pockets. Her eyes widened as she felt something but she suddenly coughed and acted normal once more as Spot narrowed his gaze on her. "As a matter of fact...yeah." Spot said, a sly grin crossing his lips. "Yeah, yeah it is...Kitten"
"Uh huh...and...why is that?" she asked, not really caring about his response, rather more interested in what was in her pocket. Spot turned around for a moment, looking amused. He crossed his arms and looked up faintly, as if trying to remember something. "I'se is one of da best April foolers evah...just ask around. Yous'll regret going against me Kitty...I'se is warning ya..." his tone suddenly turned serious.
He turned back around to look at her. She was hunched over a small table but suddenly stood straight. Spot's eyebrows locked together in confusion and he eyed her. Reina just nodded. "Sure...whatever you say" she said, plastering a serious look to her face.
"Yous ain't worth a prank Reina. Da minute I pull it yous'll run off cryin' or sumtin..." he said, as if changing his mind. He even looked a little disappointed. Reina walked over and stopped beside him. She turned her head and smiled, quite innocently. "Like I said...whatever you say Spot..." she said simply, patting his back.
***
"Dat no good...lousy..." Spot muttered. He had been waiting for about ten minutes now in the bunk room. Waiting for Butters and Sticks to bring him his "tools".
He had gone a good hour, walking about the lodging house with a sign on his back that said "Pulitzer's Playboy". It was only until Figgy had busted up laughing and in tears that he had thought to check his back.
All because he had been blind enough to fall for Reina's prank.
"Got it!" Butters announced cheerfully and bounded in with Sticks. They were holding a big bucket, filled with a brown substance.
"...Yous sure about dis Spot?" Sticks asked, looking rather guilty and nervous at the same time. Spot glared. "Sure? Of coase I'se is sure!! What are yous talkin' about?" he said, wrinkling up his facial expression slightly in angry disbelief.
Sticks looked down then timidly continued. "It's just dat...well...Reina...she won't-"
Spot glared then snatched up the bucket. "Aww...just gimme dat!" Butters and Sticks had no room to argue but their mouths dropped open upon seeing Spot rip back the covers of Reina's bunk.
Spot poured the contents of the bucket onto Reina's bunk with a sly smirk. "Teach her ta mess wid da best..." Spot muttered under his breath. When he finished he neatly pulled the sheets back into place. It looked perfectly normal. Like the bed had never been touched. Only Spot's steely gray eyes could be see over the bed once he climbed down. The expression in them was pure devilish glee.
***
The day had seemed to go on forever. Almost everyone had went to bed except Reina. She had opted to stay up and play a game of Poker with a few of the older boys.
One of them was Kid, the other two were named Jay and Racetrack Higgins. Racetrack was from a division of newsies in Manhattan. It had almost slipped her mind that there were other newsies aside from Brooklyn. It was so easy to get caught up in the midst of things and forget everything else.
"Showdown time" Racetrack said with a sly smile on his face. He leaned over the table intensely and slowly slapped his hand of cards down. "Full house. Beat dat!" Racetrack said triumphantly and smacked the table with his hand. He leaned back upon declaring his victory and bit down on a cigar. Racetrack was something else in Reina's opinion. He had the ability to be very charming, but Reina couldn't tell if that was a womanizers charm or just genuine charm. He also had an odd look about him that Reina found rather attractive. He had baby fine features, smooth skin and a rather childish face, but he also had quite a handsome complexion about him as well.
Jay glanced at Racetrack and blinked them curled his lip. "Yous bum!!!" he shouted, slapping his hand of cards down then glaring poison at Racetrack. "Yous is always gettin' a full house!!"
Jay was also rather handsome. He as well was from Manhattan. He was a "newbie" as Racetrack called it, instead of a "Newsie." Jay had slightly spiky reddish brown hair which fell over his eyes just ever so slightly enough to make it sexy. His eyes were a gorgeous shade of aqua. Not quite green but not quite blue either. He had a fiery personality that wasn't hard to smile at and like.
"What is yous suggestin' uh?!" Racetrack said, lowering one eyebrow in suspicion.
Kid sighed. "Fellahs...calm down..."
"Easy foah yous ta say..." Jay shot, still giving Racetrack the stink eye.
"Foist of all...he's been doin' fulls forever..." Kid said, gesturing at Racetrack. "Which we's have checked out is, most of da time, cheat free. Secondly ..." Kid said, giving a dark grin, which Reina guessed was signaling that he was hiding something.
"Straight flush boys!" Kid proclaimed and set the cards down then whooped. Racetrack's mouth fell opened and his cigar fell out. Jay looked at Reina with an "Oh joy!" expression. Reina had to smirk.
"Wait...wait wait wait!" Racetrack said standing. Kid paused his hysterics and looked to Racetrack. Racetrack looked to Reina. "Fellahs...we's still have one hand standing..." Race gestured to Reina. Reina raised her eyebrows. She truthfully was a beginner at Poker and she was pretty sure had NOTHING close to Race or Kid's hands. All her cards had hearts, which she was sure wasn't good. It meant a lack of variance in points... All she had was an Ace, Jack, Queen, King and one little ten which Reina thought was going to be what lost it for her.
She laid down her hand carefully, flinching and ready to receive the "first time player" jokes.
Nobody said anything.
She opened her eyes and saw that all three boys stood with their mouths open. Reina looked from Jay to Kid before finally glaring and demanding to know what was wrong.
"...Royal Flush..." Kid muttered. Jay sighed and pushed his chair in, heading to leave.
"That's good?"
"Yous won..." Racetrack said, defeated. "Dere goes dis months rent...Kloppman ain't gunna be too happy..." Racetrack said, grabbing his jacket from the chair and slinging it over his shoulder. "I'se want yous ta know...uh...Reina, right? Well, I want yous ta know dat...dat was just beginner's luck! I'll be back and yous bettah believe it..." Race said with a grin and headed out after Jay. Reina smirked and watched him leave. Kid remained eyeing her. The money on the table, which made about six bucks, was all Reina's.
She briefly considered giving it to Kid to give back to Race but she doubted he would. Besides a part of her was saying "You won it fair and square! TAKE IT, TAKE IT, TAKE IT!"
"Hows did yous pull dat off?"
Reina shrugged innocently and gathered her winnings. Kid shook his head and smirked. "I'se is going to bed. Good night!" he said, sounding exhausted. Reina decided to do the same.
***
Reina hadn't bothered to even change. The bunk room was quiet except for the sounds of snoring and faint mumbles. It was dark as well. Reina had just barely managed to find her bed. She was also incredibly tired. It had to be at least one in the morning...
Reina drew the covers back slowly then threw herself face first into bed.
It took a second for the "plop" sound to register in her brain.
...Plop.
Beds don't go "plop". They squeek maybe...but not plop.
Moments later a very angry Reina was running out to the docks, covered in mud with various other "nasties" in it. She screamed, not really caring if she woke up the rest of the the lodging house. Reina panicked for a brief moment then jumped into the river.
The mud came off slowly and she splashed her face with water, cleaning it off.
Her mind was reeling in anger. Who in the hell would've had the nerve to put mud in her-
"Happy April Fools day Kitten"
Reina turned her gaze upwards to see Spot Conlon standing before her with pure glee on his face. "Yous know...dat muddy look is ...really quite fitting for yous" he said trying to keep a serious face but eventually busted up into a snicker. (Think when Denton was talking to Race at the courthouse and Race said a little comment then Spot busted up laughing).
Reina glared and pushed herself up just enough to grab Spot's pant leg and pull him in. His snickers stopped and he came to the top, sputtering and glaring at her. "Happy April Fools indeed" she shot back.
Spot glared and sent a wave of water of her face. "Yous ...broad"
"Jerk..." She shot back, putting both her arms together and swinging so as to create a huger wave.
Before long both were splashing each other like it was really going injure the other. Reina then stopped and actually moved in to hit him with her fist, but luckily he caught it.
Reina struggled to pull it back but Spot wound up pulling her closer. She came so close to him, that if it was any closer she would've been kissing him. Spot looked into her eyes and whispered "...I told yous...yous would be sorry..."
Reina swallowed and tried to keep her wits about her.
"...I'm terrified...so terrified I'm trembling..." Reina shot, trying to make it come out as sarcasm. She failed.
"I'se know..." Spot whispered. She could feel his warm breath on her lips and it was driving her insane. So much so that she just wanted to lean in and...
As both leaned in to seal the would-be-kiss, the fragile silence was broken. "...Uh...Sticks told yous dat yous shouldn't have done dat prank..."
Reina and Spot turned their heads to face Butters.
Butters could only look at them both then to Sticks. "What...what'd I'se do?"