"Just to Love"
By: Laney Sanchez
==============
Author's note: Okay...let me start by saying this chapter is long. It's long and AOL gave me an error TWICE while writing it. THAT is why I stopped making my chapters daily for awhile. When you have to re-write a fairly long chapter TWICE, you get to be REALLY annoyed.
Anyway...now it's done and I WILL be back to daily posted chapters.
Thank yous. I'm going to make these brief cause I had A LOT last chapter. Don't be mad. They still mean the world to me, it's just to cut down on some space ^,^
Sun Dreams~ Sorry this stopped being a daily thing. It will be again. =(
Please keep r&ring. Thank you so much =)
Angelic One~ Woohoo! Cameo for you in part two. I usually don't do cameos but what the hay. First time for everything. The Spot/Reina cuteness ceases in this chapter so beware! =)
Tawejea ~ Thanks a bunch! Spot is HELLA sessy!! ^_~
Feisty ~ Aww I'm glad you like the story. Keep reading and thanks! =)
Rede ~ Woohoo! I'm still doing good then? Thankies for your revie!
Killersabinx ~ Don't worry everything will become clear in part two. I'm going to reveal A LOT. Thanks as always :-)
Amazing-moth~ Big thanks to you. I was planning a Spot/Reina conflict and you inspired me on how to start this. This chapter goes with a big thanks for you =)
Gnat10886~ Keep reading! I'm glad it made it to your favorites. That makes me very happy =)
I'll be sure and check out some of your work soon. I promise ^_^
Gypsy ~ LOL you're funny! I'm glad you're into the story. Thanks! =)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 28 ~ A Traitor in Our Midsts
Selling papers had been the last thing on Reina's mind for the remainder of the day. She couldn't get Kid's words out of her head. "A traitor..."
Reina had been with the newsies for sometime now. She knew a lot of people around the lodging house and considered them all almost like her family. Really, really distant family, but family nonetheless. Granted, she didn't know EVERYONE, she still shuddered to think of someone playing the Brooklyn newsies.
Whenever a fellow newsie would walk past, Reina couldn't help wondering "Are they the traitor?".
"Hey Rei-Rei"
"Can it Figgy..." Reina snapped. The whole conversation had put Reina in a sour mood. She hadn't meant to sound so mean and nasty but part of her just didn't give a flying-
"So, how's da pape sellin'?" Figgy asked, obviously not getting the clue. Reina shot him an annoyed look. "Fine..."
"Don't look fine"
"It would be if you just left me-"
"Kittttttyy!" two voices chimed in. Reina glanced over to see Butters and Sticks. Peepers followed them not far behind. "We'se all done sellin' our mornin' papes!" Butters chimed in. Peepers rolled his eyes. She knew immediately what it was thinking. Peepers had told her that the only reason Butters and Sticks usually sold their papes the fastest, was because they were little. People just loved to buy from anything "cute" (which for the most part, was true).
"Great..." Reina said, rather flatly.
Butters held up his tin can, full of coins, proudly. "Yep!"
Sticks mimicked his action and did the same. He occasionally glanced to Butters, as if making sure he was doing it right. Peepers rolled his eyes.
At that minute Peepers expression turned to one of slow horror. Figgy followed his gaze. "Here comes Conlon..." he announced, sounding rather bored.
Peepers eyes lit with what could only be described as "panic." Peepers looked helplessly to Reina. "Sorry Kitty...gotta split" Peepers said with a nod and took off. Reina watched with suddenly surprise. It didn't take long for her surprise to turn to suspicion.
"What's his problem?" Figgy asked with a wrinkle of his nose. Butters shot Sticks a nervous look. Sticks glanced to Reina then Figgy. Both seemed busied with Peepers' sudden departure.
"We's oughta go...uh ..uh...bye!!" Butters said, trying to be cheerful. He quickly dropped the act and tugged Sticks away.
Sure enough, moments later, Spot approached Reina. Figgy eyed him but remained silent. "How yous doin' Kitty?"
Reina finally tore her eyes away from where Peepers had been and looked to Spot. "Fine...why the sudden check up...?"
Spot shifted, obviously uncomfortable with Figgy standing next to him. Figgy rolled his eyes. "Get a room yous two!"
"Yous shut yous trap!" Spot said fiercely, glaring at Figgy. Figgy sighed and shook his head. "I'm goin' back to my pape sellin'!" Spot only sneered. "Ya get ta woik!"
Figgy stuck out his tongue, snatched up his money and papes and ran off.
Spot turned to Reina, still riled. Reina forced a smile. She knew why Spot was checking up on her and why he was edgy.
For a moment Spot stood like he wanted to say something but then dismissed it and looked away.
"Good...good job" was all he said, then walked away.
Reina stared after him. Things certainly were getting weird...
***
Reina sat alone. The day had seemed very long. All her papers seemed to sell with the speed of snails. It was safe to say, that she was beat.
It was night and things around the lodging house had gone on as they always do, with the exception of Spot, Kid, herself and the usual group (Figgy, Butters, Sticks and Peepers). Everyone within that group, seemed tense, like they knew something was up. The only difference was that Spot, Kid and herself DID know something was up.
There was a traitor.
Though she had yet to tell Spot that she knew.
Reina bit her lip nervously, as she stared into the glassy reflection on the river. The girl stared back at her. She looked worried, almost kinda pale and sickly. Reina shook her head.
"Whatever happened to worrying about yourself?" a mental voice scolded her. Reina looked down and back at her reflection. However before she could really dwell on that thought, a voice interrupted her.
"So here yous are"
Reina looked over her shoulder to see Spot standing behind her, arms crossed. Reina immediately looked away. She wanted to be happy to see him, but she just wasn't. She felt confused inside. That last little thought had certainly given her something to think about. The words echoed in her mind "Whatever happened to worrying about yourself?"
What if she was dooming herself, like her mother had?
"Oh God..." Reina said weakly. She was staring at her reflection, but really was just staring past it.
"'Oh God' what?" Spot's voiced asked. Reina said nothing. She simply wasn't there at the moment. Spot eyed her like she had finally lost it. "...Reina, yous okay?" he asked, with a furrowed brow. Reina only nodded her head, very slowly, her eyes never leaving her reflection.
"Okay..." Spot said, still eyeing her. Spot took a breath and took a seat next to her. Neither said anything for a moment. Spot glanced at Reina, who was still in a trancelike state. He shot her a disgruntled look then seemed to give up. He glanced down to look at his own reflection upon the water's surface. "Reina ...I'se got someting ta tell yous"
"Hmm...?"
Spot looked at her and glared slightly. This was just creepy. It bothered him that Reina just sat there, STARING. He was sick of it.
"KITTY!"
Reina blinked, then shook her head as if snapping out of her trance. "Huh?"
Spot waved a hand in front of her face. "What are yous? Hypnotized?"
Reina looked away, feeling a bit embarrassed that she had zoned like that. Spot shook his head. "Listen, Reina..." he began slowly. His eyes didn't meet hers and he looked deeply troubled. Reina watched him seriously. She waited with patience to hear him out.
Spot drew a breath and continued. "Dere's...someone in da Brooklyn newsies who is..." he paused. "Well, dey..." he swallowed and threw his cap off. His dirty blonde hair was tousled and messed from being under the cap all day. Reina had never seen Spot looked this stressed. She watched him, then allowed herself to finish his sentence. "A traitor?"
Spot looked at her immediately, his eyes wide with...suspicion?
Reina wrinkled her features in confusion. "What...?"
Spot then eyed her very sternly and very seriously. A look that made Reina just a tad uncomfortable. "How did yous know?"
"I overheard you and Kid! Why!?" Reina spat. She had a funny feeling that she knew where Spot was headed with this.
"Reina...Kid suggested dat it was yous"
Reina about fell off the docks and into the water when Spot spoke those words. "KID?!" Reina spat, in pure disbelief. Spot nodded briefly. "YOU MEAN...KID!? ...The Kid I KNOW!?"
"Yeah so?!" Spot asked, glaring a little. He didn't understand where she was going with this little emotional outburst. Reina stood up and slapped a hand to her face. How DARE he?! How...COULD he? She had thought Kid was her friend. Thought.
After the talk they had shared that night, when Spot was bed ridden, she was sure they were friends. He had even said it!!
Now nothing was clear. Reina took a few shallow breaths, attempting to calm down. Her hand slid down her face and she looked to the sky, glaring.
"I shoulda known..."
"What?" Spot asked, standing up as well.
"...I shoulda known dere's no such thing as a 'good person'" (No that's not a typo you see there =) )
"Dat ain't true!" Spot said, rather suddenly.
Reina clenched her fists. Kid's betrayal had cut deep. Very deep. Maybe worse than when Spot had set her up.
"Reina, yous is new. Kid ain't tryin' to cause trouble, he's just bein' honest. It's easy ta suspect yous cause yous is da new poison. He-"
"SHUT UP SPOT!!!!!!!" Reina screamed. She had lost it. Every shred of her stability had disappeared. She was going to snap...
Spot seemed taken back by her sudden outburst. Then he promptly glared like a tiger that had been threatened. Reina turned and faced him. Her look was worse.
The look in her eyes was wild, almost mad. Anger and hate burned upon her facial features. "IF YOU WANT A TRAITOR THEN WHY DON'T YOU GO ASK THAT BACKSTABBING BASTARD?!" she screamed further. "I'm sick of this!!! I am SICK of this place!"
Spot stood back and said nothing. Silent judgement was reserved upon his face.
"FINE! You think I'm a traitor?!! FINE! I'm your traitor!! Are you happy?!"
Spot still said nothing. Reina charged up to him and grabbed him by his collar and stared straight into his eyes, challengingly. "I ASKED, ARE YOU HAPPY SPOT!?"
Spot still said nothing but stared straight back into her eyes. Neither said anything for a moment and a terribly fierce silence ensued. Then, moments later, as if watching the transformation of something evil to something pure, the dark, seething anger faded from Reina's aqua eyes. She threw Spot back and looked away. "...I'm leaving..."
Spot wanted to say something, but it was too late. What was said, was said. What was done, was done. He knew in his heart that Kid was wrong. He had KNOWN Reina wasn't the traitor.
Yet he said nothing.
Spot had little time to think anything else or dwell upon what had just happened, before he was hit roughly in the back of the head. Spot cried out for a moment, as sheer, nerve splitting pain rocketed through his skull. He fell forward and had just enough strength to turn and face his attacker.
"Boy...did yous mess up" the red haired, familiar boy said with a smart ass smirk. He had something gripped in his hands. Spot's eyesight was doubling, but he did finally realize what it was the boy had in his hand.
It was HIS cane. His trusty cane. It was also the last thing he saw before it was brought down harshly on his head and he lost consciousness.
By: Laney Sanchez
==============
Author's note: Okay...let me start by saying this chapter is long. It's long and AOL gave me an error TWICE while writing it. THAT is why I stopped making my chapters daily for awhile. When you have to re-write a fairly long chapter TWICE, you get to be REALLY annoyed.
Anyway...now it's done and I WILL be back to daily posted chapters.
Thank yous. I'm going to make these brief cause I had A LOT last chapter. Don't be mad. They still mean the world to me, it's just to cut down on some space ^,^
Sun Dreams~ Sorry this stopped being a daily thing. It will be again. =(
Please keep r&ring. Thank you so much =)
Angelic One~ Woohoo! Cameo for you in part two. I usually don't do cameos but what the hay. First time for everything. The Spot/Reina cuteness ceases in this chapter so beware! =)
Tawejea ~ Thanks a bunch! Spot is HELLA sessy!! ^_~
Feisty ~ Aww I'm glad you like the story. Keep reading and thanks! =)
Rede ~ Woohoo! I'm still doing good then? Thankies for your revie!
Killersabinx ~ Don't worry everything will become clear in part two. I'm going to reveal A LOT. Thanks as always :-)
Amazing-moth~ Big thanks to you. I was planning a Spot/Reina conflict and you inspired me on how to start this. This chapter goes with a big thanks for you =)
Gnat10886~ Keep reading! I'm glad it made it to your favorites. That makes me very happy =)
I'll be sure and check out some of your work soon. I promise ^_^
Gypsy ~ LOL you're funny! I'm glad you're into the story. Thanks! =)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 28 ~ A Traitor in Our Midsts
Selling papers had been the last thing on Reina's mind for the remainder of the day. She couldn't get Kid's words out of her head. "A traitor..."
Reina had been with the newsies for sometime now. She knew a lot of people around the lodging house and considered them all almost like her family. Really, really distant family, but family nonetheless. Granted, she didn't know EVERYONE, she still shuddered to think of someone playing the Brooklyn newsies.
Whenever a fellow newsie would walk past, Reina couldn't help wondering "Are they the traitor?".
"Hey Rei-Rei"
"Can it Figgy..." Reina snapped. The whole conversation had put Reina in a sour mood. She hadn't meant to sound so mean and nasty but part of her just didn't give a flying-
"So, how's da pape sellin'?" Figgy asked, obviously not getting the clue. Reina shot him an annoyed look. "Fine..."
"Don't look fine"
"It would be if you just left me-"
"Kittttttyy!" two voices chimed in. Reina glanced over to see Butters and Sticks. Peepers followed them not far behind. "We'se all done sellin' our mornin' papes!" Butters chimed in. Peepers rolled his eyes. She knew immediately what it was thinking. Peepers had told her that the only reason Butters and Sticks usually sold their papes the fastest, was because they were little. People just loved to buy from anything "cute" (which for the most part, was true).
"Great..." Reina said, rather flatly.
Butters held up his tin can, full of coins, proudly. "Yep!"
Sticks mimicked his action and did the same. He occasionally glanced to Butters, as if making sure he was doing it right. Peepers rolled his eyes.
At that minute Peepers expression turned to one of slow horror. Figgy followed his gaze. "Here comes Conlon..." he announced, sounding rather bored.
Peepers eyes lit with what could only be described as "panic." Peepers looked helplessly to Reina. "Sorry Kitty...gotta split" Peepers said with a nod and took off. Reina watched with suddenly surprise. It didn't take long for her surprise to turn to suspicion.
"What's his problem?" Figgy asked with a wrinkle of his nose. Butters shot Sticks a nervous look. Sticks glanced to Reina then Figgy. Both seemed busied with Peepers' sudden departure.
"We's oughta go...uh ..uh...bye!!" Butters said, trying to be cheerful. He quickly dropped the act and tugged Sticks away.
Sure enough, moments later, Spot approached Reina. Figgy eyed him but remained silent. "How yous doin' Kitty?"
Reina finally tore her eyes away from where Peepers had been and looked to Spot. "Fine...why the sudden check up...?"
Spot shifted, obviously uncomfortable with Figgy standing next to him. Figgy rolled his eyes. "Get a room yous two!"
"Yous shut yous trap!" Spot said fiercely, glaring at Figgy. Figgy sighed and shook his head. "I'm goin' back to my pape sellin'!" Spot only sneered. "Ya get ta woik!"
Figgy stuck out his tongue, snatched up his money and papes and ran off.
Spot turned to Reina, still riled. Reina forced a smile. She knew why Spot was checking up on her and why he was edgy.
For a moment Spot stood like he wanted to say something but then dismissed it and looked away.
"Good...good job" was all he said, then walked away.
Reina stared after him. Things certainly were getting weird...
***
Reina sat alone. The day had seemed very long. All her papers seemed to sell with the speed of snails. It was safe to say, that she was beat.
It was night and things around the lodging house had gone on as they always do, with the exception of Spot, Kid, herself and the usual group (Figgy, Butters, Sticks and Peepers). Everyone within that group, seemed tense, like they knew something was up. The only difference was that Spot, Kid and herself DID know something was up.
There was a traitor.
Though she had yet to tell Spot that she knew.
Reina bit her lip nervously, as she stared into the glassy reflection on the river. The girl stared back at her. She looked worried, almost kinda pale and sickly. Reina shook her head.
"Whatever happened to worrying about yourself?" a mental voice scolded her. Reina looked down and back at her reflection. However before she could really dwell on that thought, a voice interrupted her.
"So here yous are"
Reina looked over her shoulder to see Spot standing behind her, arms crossed. Reina immediately looked away. She wanted to be happy to see him, but she just wasn't. She felt confused inside. That last little thought had certainly given her something to think about. The words echoed in her mind "Whatever happened to worrying about yourself?"
What if she was dooming herself, like her mother had?
"Oh God..." Reina said weakly. She was staring at her reflection, but really was just staring past it.
"'Oh God' what?" Spot's voiced asked. Reina said nothing. She simply wasn't there at the moment. Spot eyed her like she had finally lost it. "...Reina, yous okay?" he asked, with a furrowed brow. Reina only nodded her head, very slowly, her eyes never leaving her reflection.
"Okay..." Spot said, still eyeing her. Spot took a breath and took a seat next to her. Neither said anything for a moment. Spot glanced at Reina, who was still in a trancelike state. He shot her a disgruntled look then seemed to give up. He glanced down to look at his own reflection upon the water's surface. "Reina ...I'se got someting ta tell yous"
"Hmm...?"
Spot looked at her and glared slightly. This was just creepy. It bothered him that Reina just sat there, STARING. He was sick of it.
"KITTY!"
Reina blinked, then shook her head as if snapping out of her trance. "Huh?"
Spot waved a hand in front of her face. "What are yous? Hypnotized?"
Reina looked away, feeling a bit embarrassed that she had zoned like that. Spot shook his head. "Listen, Reina..." he began slowly. His eyes didn't meet hers and he looked deeply troubled. Reina watched him seriously. She waited with patience to hear him out.
Spot drew a breath and continued. "Dere's...someone in da Brooklyn newsies who is..." he paused. "Well, dey..." he swallowed and threw his cap off. His dirty blonde hair was tousled and messed from being under the cap all day. Reina had never seen Spot looked this stressed. She watched him, then allowed herself to finish his sentence. "A traitor?"
Spot looked at her immediately, his eyes wide with...suspicion?
Reina wrinkled her features in confusion. "What...?"
Spot then eyed her very sternly and very seriously. A look that made Reina just a tad uncomfortable. "How did yous know?"
"I overheard you and Kid! Why!?" Reina spat. She had a funny feeling that she knew where Spot was headed with this.
"Reina...Kid suggested dat it was yous"
Reina about fell off the docks and into the water when Spot spoke those words. "KID?!" Reina spat, in pure disbelief. Spot nodded briefly. "YOU MEAN...KID!? ...The Kid I KNOW!?"
"Yeah so?!" Spot asked, glaring a little. He didn't understand where she was going with this little emotional outburst. Reina stood up and slapped a hand to her face. How DARE he?! How...COULD he? She had thought Kid was her friend. Thought.
After the talk they had shared that night, when Spot was bed ridden, she was sure they were friends. He had even said it!!
Now nothing was clear. Reina took a few shallow breaths, attempting to calm down. Her hand slid down her face and she looked to the sky, glaring.
"I shoulda known..."
"What?" Spot asked, standing up as well.
"...I shoulda known dere's no such thing as a 'good person'" (No that's not a typo you see there =) )
"Dat ain't true!" Spot said, rather suddenly.
Reina clenched her fists. Kid's betrayal had cut deep. Very deep. Maybe worse than when Spot had set her up.
"Reina, yous is new. Kid ain't tryin' to cause trouble, he's just bein' honest. It's easy ta suspect yous cause yous is da new poison. He-"
"SHUT UP SPOT!!!!!!!" Reina screamed. She had lost it. Every shred of her stability had disappeared. She was going to snap...
Spot seemed taken back by her sudden outburst. Then he promptly glared like a tiger that had been threatened. Reina turned and faced him. Her look was worse.
The look in her eyes was wild, almost mad. Anger and hate burned upon her facial features. "IF YOU WANT A TRAITOR THEN WHY DON'T YOU GO ASK THAT BACKSTABBING BASTARD?!" she screamed further. "I'm sick of this!!! I am SICK of this place!"
Spot stood back and said nothing. Silent judgement was reserved upon his face.
"FINE! You think I'm a traitor?!! FINE! I'm your traitor!! Are you happy?!"
Spot still said nothing. Reina charged up to him and grabbed him by his collar and stared straight into his eyes, challengingly. "I ASKED, ARE YOU HAPPY SPOT!?"
Spot still said nothing but stared straight back into her eyes. Neither said anything for a moment and a terribly fierce silence ensued. Then, moments later, as if watching the transformation of something evil to something pure, the dark, seething anger faded from Reina's aqua eyes. She threw Spot back and looked away. "...I'm leaving..."
Spot wanted to say something, but it was too late. What was said, was said. What was done, was done. He knew in his heart that Kid was wrong. He had KNOWN Reina wasn't the traitor.
Yet he said nothing.
Spot had little time to think anything else or dwell upon what had just happened, before he was hit roughly in the back of the head. Spot cried out for a moment, as sheer, nerve splitting pain rocketed through his skull. He fell forward and had just enough strength to turn and face his attacker.
"Boy...did yous mess up" the red haired, familiar boy said with a smart ass smirk. He had something gripped in his hands. Spot's eyesight was doubling, but he did finally realize what it was the boy had in his hand.
It was HIS cane. His trusty cane. It was also the last thing he saw before it was brought down harshly on his head and he lost consciousness.