Disclaimer: Roses are red, violets are blue, me no own, so you no sue.
AN: I don't have anything to say so ummmmm…. Read my story and review!!!!
Chapter Five
*Jade, Meet Spot*
The next day started out much like the one before. Kloppman woke everyone one up, well, everyone except for Angel who was once again woken up by the prodding of Jade's foot.
Angel looked a little less like a zombie this morning, though, and she made sure to not run into Blink's chest when she stood up.
There were several fights in the bathroom, mostly over towels and counter space, though one was between Duck and Goose over a fairly sizable marble.
When they reached the DO Jade, along with the rest of the newsies, was happy to see Morris's nose all nicely taped up in a bandage.
He glared at her, but said nothing, when she got her papers. Even Angel couldn't help but form a small smirk on her face when she saw him.
It was hot again, and Jade bit her tongue to keep from complaining. Her, Jack, and Angel all sold together again and they had lunch at Tibby's, this time with the absence of Hawk.
After finishing selling the afternoon edition they all retired back to the lodging house. Jade plopped down on the old brown couch that was in the front room while Jack and Angel headed up the stairs.
Jade eyed her sister from underneath the gray newsie hat that she had pulled over her eyes. (she had bought it that day because of the weather). She's probably goin ta find Blink, thought Jade, frowning.
Stretching out on the couch and crossing her arms over her chest she promptly fell asleep. Much to her annoyance, however, she was woken about an hour later by someone poking her with something hard in the ribs.
"'Ay, 'ay goil, wake up," the boy who was poking at her demanded in an authoritative tone.
"Yeah, an' what do youse want?" Jade asked grumpily, swatting away the gold tipped cane he had used to jab her with.
The boy's hand that was not holding the cane clenched into a tight fist.
"Do you know who youse is talkin' to goily?" the boy growled, stepping forward with his fist raised threateningly.
Jade sat up, looking the boy up and down. He was short, standing only around four or five inches taller than her. He had dirty blond hair and gray-green-blue eyes, she couldn't really tell what color they were.
The boy was wearing a dark blue shirt and brown pants with red suspenders. A slingshot was hanging out of one of his pockets.
"Well," Jade said, standing up and slowly circling the boy, "Youse got a slingshot, so youse is from Brooklyn."
The boy raised an eyebrow at her, "Ain't youse da poiceptive one," he said smugly, while putting his cane in one of his pants loops.
"Hmmmm…" continued Jade, rubbing her chin thoughtfully, "An' youse got an' attitude da size of da Brooklyn Bridge," here she stopped and stared at him.
"By da way youse hold yoahself Ise would say dat youse is da leadah a sumptin." She paused for a moment, "Newsies…youse is da leadah a some of da newsies."
"An' how do youse know dat Ise a newsie?" the boy asked contemptuously.
"Easy," said Jade, grabbing his hands and turning them over, "Newsprint."
The boy roughly grabbed his hands away from her.
"Youse is Spot Conlon," Jade said, concluding her evaluation of the boy.
"Exactly," the boy said angrily, "So watch yoah mouth."
"Oh, deah me, was Ise supposed ta bow or sumptin?" Jade asked, her voice dripping sarcasm.
Spot, not one to be talked back to, took a step forward in warning. If Jade had been a guy he would have punched her by now, but she wasn't, so Spot was trying to intimidate her, instead of becoming violent.
Jade noticed this and smirked. Walking up to this and standing up so straight that she could almost meet his eye she said, "Aw, now Spot, dat ain't gonna woik. Ya see, Ise've dealt wid guys biggah den youse, fastah den youse, an' probably a hell of a lot strongah den youse, so youse don't scare me. Plus, all dose guys, well, lets jist say dat aftah Ise was trew wit dem, dey had a little trouble crawlin' back to whatevah hole dey came out of."
That was the final push, and Jade knew it. She had gone to far by Spot's standards. But she would rather fight with him then be meek and accepting. The whole nicey-nice girly thing wasn't really her style anyway.
Spot stepped forward and punched, aiming for her cheek, still considering the fact that she was a girl, and he didn't want to break her nose.
Jade turned her head to the side and let the punch go straight past her face. She turned around and flashed Spot a brilliant smile, before sidestepping out of the way of the punch he had thrown with his other hand toward her stomach.
Spot was starting to get angry. Not only had he not landed a punch but she wasn't fighting back! She was just dodging!
Spot came at her again, determined to hit her, but his left hook missed by a mile.
"Ah, ah, ah, don't let yoah anger get da better a youse," Jade taunted, wagging her finger at him while she backed away from him.
Let 'im git frustrated and wear himself out, thought Jade, dodging another punch from Spot.
Unbeknownst to Spot, though, was that she had barely avoided getting hit when he first punched at her. He was faster than she expected him to be.
"Shuddup, an' fight back!" Spot hissed.
Jade smiled at him again, saying, "Aw, it bugs ya when youse can't even land a punch, don't it, mutt?"
Alright, thought Spot, no one makes fun of my name.
Seething with anger he moved as if to tackle her and when she moved out of the way he caught her in the stomach with his knee.
Jade exhaled when he kicked her, so she wouldn't get the wind knocked out of her. She had underestimated him. He turned out to be a better fighter than she had originally surmised.
Frustrated that he had actually hit her, Jade decided to ditch the whole dodging plan and she elbowed him in the back of his neck.
Already slightly off balance, Spot tripped forward and fell to the floor, catching himself with his hands so his face didn't hit the ground.
Quickly jumping up he faced Jade with his hands balled into fists in front of his face, in a fighting stance.
Jade took a step back, holding the hand that was farthest away from Spot up in front of her face in a fist and letting the other hand hang loosely at her side.
A small smile played upon her lips as she bounced up and down a little bit on the balls of her feet, changing her foot position and constantly moving, making Spot's head spin.
It was confusing to him, and she knew it. He wasn't used to this fighting style. He was used to guys coming at him with their fists, slow but strong.
Jade, on the other hand, was always in motion, and Spot couldn't tell what she was about to do.
Spot charged at her again and Jade, letting him think that she had fallen for the same trick twice, stepped to the side. But just as Spot came up with his knee to hit her in the stomach she brought her elbow down as hard as she could on his thigh.
Spot elbowed her in her exposed rib cage before she could try and hit him again, though. Jade bit her lip so as not to cry out in pain. He had a bony elbow!
Blood filled Jade's mouth from when she bit her tongue and she backed away from Spot, spitting the blood out on the floor. A little bit of it trickled down her chin.
While Spot's mind was totally blank so he could just use his instincts in the fight Jade's mind was filled with strategies and plans, attacks and counter-attacks.
Just as Jade ran at Spot and punched him right below his left eye Jack, Angel, and Blink all came running down the stairs to see what all the thumping noises were.
When Jade punched Spot and he fell backwards he grabbed onto her arm in a last ditch effort not to fall. The end result, however, was that both Spot and Jade toppled to the ground, Jade on top. (AN: heh heh, now doesn't that sound a bit wrong?)
"Get da hell offa me!" Spot yelled, pushing Jade off of him.
Race, who had come down the stairs a few seconds earlier, offered Jade his hand and jokingly said to Spot, "Is dat any way ta treat a lady, Conlon?"
"Shove it, Race," Spot said while he stood up.
Race raised his eyebrows. He wasn't quite sure what had happened, but either way, Spot was pissed.
Jade slapped Race's hand away, and stood up.
She spat blood out onto the floor, her tongue was bleeding still, and it had filled her mouth up with the salty liquid again.
Angel eyes narrowed when she saw the blood that Jade spit out and the blood on Jade's chin. Her hands clenched at her sides.
Walking slowly and deliberately up to Spot she slapped him full force across the side of his face that Jade hadn't hit.
"What da hell was dat foah?!" Spot yelled putting his hand on his cheek and stepping back.
"Foah hurting my sistah!" Yelled the normally passive Angel, stepping forward with her hand raised as if to strike at Spot again, but Blink held her back with his arm around her waist.
Spot, never one to back down, stepped forward as if to meet her challenge by raising his own fist.
Jade stepped in front of Angel and caught Spot's raised arm by the wrist, digging her nails into it.
"If youse evah try to hoit my sistah Ise will poisonally make shoah dat youse can't walk foah da rest of yoah life," Jade said, her voice dangerously low.
Jack cleared his throat. Glaring at him, Jade released her death grip on Spot's arm and stepped back, satisfied with the red welts from her nails forming on his skin.
Blink let go of Angel and she moved beside Jade, asking her if she was all right.
"Ise is fine," Jade whispered, never taking her eyes of Spot.
Jack cleared his throat again and everyone turned their head to look at him.
"Well, Ise a see dat youse have met Spot, Jade," he said, turning to Spot he continued, "Spot, dis is Jade and her twin, Angel. Angel, an' Jade, dis is Spot Conlon, da leadah of da Brooklyn newsies."
Spot nodded, but still looked furious. If he was surprised to learn that Angel and Jade were not only sisters but twins he didn't show it.
Jack, sensing the tension, (AN: Boy, he's observant) quickly asked Spot, "What are youse doin' in Manhattan, Spot?"
Spot shrugged, "Hawk told me dat youse got a couple a' new newsies, an' goil ones at dat. So Ise decided ta come down heah an' check dem out."
"Define 'check dem out'," Jade snorted. Blink promptly elbowed her in the ribs. That wouldn't have mattered, had they not been the same ribs that Spot had elbowed.
"Ow!" Jade hissed through clenched teeth.
"What? Don't tell me dat hoit!" said Blink defensively, taking a step back in case either Angel or Jade decided to punch him.
"Well, it wouldn't have hoit if Brooklyn ovah theah hadn't elbowed me!" Jade said angrily, looking at Spot.
"Yeah, well, youse should have moved," said Spot nonchalantly.
Jade picked up her foot and lightly kicked Spot where she had elbowed him in the leg.
"Ow!" Spot yelped, jumping back.
"What? Don't tell me dat hoit!" Jade said grinning.
Surprisingly enough, Spot allowed a small smirk to form on his face. After giving Jade a once over he spit in his hand and held it out to her, looking her straight in the eye.
Jade quirked an eyebrow at him before spitting in her own hand and shaking his.
Jack smiled in relief, at least dat's settled, he thought.
Angel still glared at Spot but decided to let it go after she saw that Jade had.
"So, Spot," said Jack, while everyone walked up the stairs into the bunkroom, "Are youse stayin in Manhattan tonight?"
"Yeah, if dere's a bunk," replied Spot.
"We'se got plenty a' bunks," said Jack.
When Spot walked into the bunkroom behind Jack, Duck and Goose, who were once again playing marbles on the floor, stood up and whispered excitedly to each other.
Spot saw them and grinned, "Heya Duck n' Goose," he called, waving a little.
They both stood there with their mouths agape. Did the famous Spot Conlon just call them by name?
Jade couldn't help but smile when she saw the antics of the two twins. They really revered Spot, which she also thought was a bit funny. He was just so small, and it was obvious that everyone was a little afraid of him!
Not dat Ise can talk, thought Jade, referring to her height.
For the next few hours the older newsies, mainly Bumlets, Skittery, Race, Blink, Mush, Jack, Spot, Jade, and Angel, stayed up and played poker.
Angel ended up falling asleep, her head on Blink's shoulder, which Jade had to admit was a little cute, and Blink scooped her up and placed her in her bunk.
Soon after Kloppman came up the stairs and told them all that if he had to yell lights out one more time he was making them sleep outside. Grumbling, they all climbed into their beds, Spot in the extra one below Jack's, and drifted off to sleep.
Jade, however, lay on her back with her hands behind her head, thinking.
Dis is startin' ta feel to comfortable heah, thought Jade. True, she had barely been there for two days, but already she felt like she was in the right place.
Dis ain't no good, she thought, Ise don't tink dis is gonna woik. Ise can't afford ta git attached ta anyting, or anyone. Well, except Angel, she amended.
Cant afford ta, or are youse scared? Her mind taunted her. It was laughing at her again, grinning maniacally at her mere existence.
Jade frowned at her own thoughts, trying to push them away from herself, clear them from her mind.
She couldn't stand this, this fear that she would lose everything all over again. She couldn't stand to admit to herself that she was afraid.
Her only real defense was to box herself in. Create a shield and act like a total bitch. If no one liked her then good, her strategy was working.
But right now, it seemed to be failing miserably. And the only way out was to leave. Leave the lodging house, leave being a newsie, leave Angel.
The only thing really holding her back was Angel, though. Jade leaned over the side of her bed and gazed longingly at her sister.
It must be so nice ta have everybody love ya, thought Jade bitterly, letting her head fall back on her hands.
Sighing, she rolled over and fell into a troubled sleep, not knowing that a particular pair of eyes was watching her from across the room, not knowing that a particular person had seen far deeper into her psyche than she had ever let anyone see before.
AN: Mwahahahaha!!! Hee, hee…. I don't think that was really a very bad cliff hanger, I've seen worse. But anyway…Okay, let me explain something. That fight seen was actually based off of a lot of fights I've either been in or watched. (I take martial arts, for those of you who haven't read my bio).
The stance that Jade was in when she was bouncing up and down is the stance that my brother always takes (he takes martial arts too and he could totally kill anyone in his high school. I'm not kidding! He has an eight pack!). The position was hard to explain, so sorry for those of you that didn't get it.
Getting elbowed in the thigh hurts so bad! My friend did that to me when we were sparring (it's like fighting, but you don't actually try to hurt each other and sometimes you wear pads and stuff). Also, I was sparring my instructor and he kicked me right in the stomach. The problem was that I didn't exhale, so I got the wind knocked out of me. (Notice how Jade did exhale).
Okay, now you all know what time it is!!! It's time to review!!! I will be very, very upset with you if you don't review!!! REVIEW!!!!!!!
AN: I don't have anything to say so ummmmm…. Read my story and review!!!!
Chapter Five
*Jade, Meet Spot*
The next day started out much like the one before. Kloppman woke everyone one up, well, everyone except for Angel who was once again woken up by the prodding of Jade's foot.
Angel looked a little less like a zombie this morning, though, and she made sure to not run into Blink's chest when she stood up.
There were several fights in the bathroom, mostly over towels and counter space, though one was between Duck and Goose over a fairly sizable marble.
When they reached the DO Jade, along with the rest of the newsies, was happy to see Morris's nose all nicely taped up in a bandage.
He glared at her, but said nothing, when she got her papers. Even Angel couldn't help but form a small smirk on her face when she saw him.
It was hot again, and Jade bit her tongue to keep from complaining. Her, Jack, and Angel all sold together again and they had lunch at Tibby's, this time with the absence of Hawk.
After finishing selling the afternoon edition they all retired back to the lodging house. Jade plopped down on the old brown couch that was in the front room while Jack and Angel headed up the stairs.
Jade eyed her sister from underneath the gray newsie hat that she had pulled over her eyes. (she had bought it that day because of the weather). She's probably goin ta find Blink, thought Jade, frowning.
Stretching out on the couch and crossing her arms over her chest she promptly fell asleep. Much to her annoyance, however, she was woken about an hour later by someone poking her with something hard in the ribs.
"'Ay, 'ay goil, wake up," the boy who was poking at her demanded in an authoritative tone.
"Yeah, an' what do youse want?" Jade asked grumpily, swatting away the gold tipped cane he had used to jab her with.
The boy's hand that was not holding the cane clenched into a tight fist.
"Do you know who youse is talkin' to goily?" the boy growled, stepping forward with his fist raised threateningly.
Jade sat up, looking the boy up and down. He was short, standing only around four or five inches taller than her. He had dirty blond hair and gray-green-blue eyes, she couldn't really tell what color they were.
The boy was wearing a dark blue shirt and brown pants with red suspenders. A slingshot was hanging out of one of his pockets.
"Well," Jade said, standing up and slowly circling the boy, "Youse got a slingshot, so youse is from Brooklyn."
The boy raised an eyebrow at her, "Ain't youse da poiceptive one," he said smugly, while putting his cane in one of his pants loops.
"Hmmmm…" continued Jade, rubbing her chin thoughtfully, "An' youse got an' attitude da size of da Brooklyn Bridge," here she stopped and stared at him.
"By da way youse hold yoahself Ise would say dat youse is da leadah a sumptin." She paused for a moment, "Newsies…youse is da leadah a some of da newsies."
"An' how do youse know dat Ise a newsie?" the boy asked contemptuously.
"Easy," said Jade, grabbing his hands and turning them over, "Newsprint."
The boy roughly grabbed his hands away from her.
"Youse is Spot Conlon," Jade said, concluding her evaluation of the boy.
"Exactly," the boy said angrily, "So watch yoah mouth."
"Oh, deah me, was Ise supposed ta bow or sumptin?" Jade asked, her voice dripping sarcasm.
Spot, not one to be talked back to, took a step forward in warning. If Jade had been a guy he would have punched her by now, but she wasn't, so Spot was trying to intimidate her, instead of becoming violent.
Jade noticed this and smirked. Walking up to this and standing up so straight that she could almost meet his eye she said, "Aw, now Spot, dat ain't gonna woik. Ya see, Ise've dealt wid guys biggah den youse, fastah den youse, an' probably a hell of a lot strongah den youse, so youse don't scare me. Plus, all dose guys, well, lets jist say dat aftah Ise was trew wit dem, dey had a little trouble crawlin' back to whatevah hole dey came out of."
That was the final push, and Jade knew it. She had gone to far by Spot's standards. But she would rather fight with him then be meek and accepting. The whole nicey-nice girly thing wasn't really her style anyway.
Spot stepped forward and punched, aiming for her cheek, still considering the fact that she was a girl, and he didn't want to break her nose.
Jade turned her head to the side and let the punch go straight past her face. She turned around and flashed Spot a brilliant smile, before sidestepping out of the way of the punch he had thrown with his other hand toward her stomach.
Spot was starting to get angry. Not only had he not landed a punch but she wasn't fighting back! She was just dodging!
Spot came at her again, determined to hit her, but his left hook missed by a mile.
"Ah, ah, ah, don't let yoah anger get da better a youse," Jade taunted, wagging her finger at him while she backed away from him.
Let 'im git frustrated and wear himself out, thought Jade, dodging another punch from Spot.
Unbeknownst to Spot, though, was that she had barely avoided getting hit when he first punched at her. He was faster than she expected him to be.
"Shuddup, an' fight back!" Spot hissed.
Jade smiled at him again, saying, "Aw, it bugs ya when youse can't even land a punch, don't it, mutt?"
Alright, thought Spot, no one makes fun of my name.
Seething with anger he moved as if to tackle her and when she moved out of the way he caught her in the stomach with his knee.
Jade exhaled when he kicked her, so she wouldn't get the wind knocked out of her. She had underestimated him. He turned out to be a better fighter than she had originally surmised.
Frustrated that he had actually hit her, Jade decided to ditch the whole dodging plan and she elbowed him in the back of his neck.
Already slightly off balance, Spot tripped forward and fell to the floor, catching himself with his hands so his face didn't hit the ground.
Quickly jumping up he faced Jade with his hands balled into fists in front of his face, in a fighting stance.
Jade took a step back, holding the hand that was farthest away from Spot up in front of her face in a fist and letting the other hand hang loosely at her side.
A small smile played upon her lips as she bounced up and down a little bit on the balls of her feet, changing her foot position and constantly moving, making Spot's head spin.
It was confusing to him, and she knew it. He wasn't used to this fighting style. He was used to guys coming at him with their fists, slow but strong.
Jade, on the other hand, was always in motion, and Spot couldn't tell what she was about to do.
Spot charged at her again and Jade, letting him think that she had fallen for the same trick twice, stepped to the side. But just as Spot came up with his knee to hit her in the stomach she brought her elbow down as hard as she could on his thigh.
Spot elbowed her in her exposed rib cage before she could try and hit him again, though. Jade bit her lip so as not to cry out in pain. He had a bony elbow!
Blood filled Jade's mouth from when she bit her tongue and she backed away from Spot, spitting the blood out on the floor. A little bit of it trickled down her chin.
While Spot's mind was totally blank so he could just use his instincts in the fight Jade's mind was filled with strategies and plans, attacks and counter-attacks.
Just as Jade ran at Spot and punched him right below his left eye Jack, Angel, and Blink all came running down the stairs to see what all the thumping noises were.
When Jade punched Spot and he fell backwards he grabbed onto her arm in a last ditch effort not to fall. The end result, however, was that both Spot and Jade toppled to the ground, Jade on top. (AN: heh heh, now doesn't that sound a bit wrong?)
"Get da hell offa me!" Spot yelled, pushing Jade off of him.
Race, who had come down the stairs a few seconds earlier, offered Jade his hand and jokingly said to Spot, "Is dat any way ta treat a lady, Conlon?"
"Shove it, Race," Spot said while he stood up.
Race raised his eyebrows. He wasn't quite sure what had happened, but either way, Spot was pissed.
Jade slapped Race's hand away, and stood up.
She spat blood out onto the floor, her tongue was bleeding still, and it had filled her mouth up with the salty liquid again.
Angel eyes narrowed when she saw the blood that Jade spit out and the blood on Jade's chin. Her hands clenched at her sides.
Walking slowly and deliberately up to Spot she slapped him full force across the side of his face that Jade hadn't hit.
"What da hell was dat foah?!" Spot yelled putting his hand on his cheek and stepping back.
"Foah hurting my sistah!" Yelled the normally passive Angel, stepping forward with her hand raised as if to strike at Spot again, but Blink held her back with his arm around her waist.
Spot, never one to back down, stepped forward as if to meet her challenge by raising his own fist.
Jade stepped in front of Angel and caught Spot's raised arm by the wrist, digging her nails into it.
"If youse evah try to hoit my sistah Ise will poisonally make shoah dat youse can't walk foah da rest of yoah life," Jade said, her voice dangerously low.
Jack cleared his throat. Glaring at him, Jade released her death grip on Spot's arm and stepped back, satisfied with the red welts from her nails forming on his skin.
Blink let go of Angel and she moved beside Jade, asking her if she was all right.
"Ise is fine," Jade whispered, never taking her eyes of Spot.
Jack cleared his throat again and everyone turned their head to look at him.
"Well, Ise a see dat youse have met Spot, Jade," he said, turning to Spot he continued, "Spot, dis is Jade and her twin, Angel. Angel, an' Jade, dis is Spot Conlon, da leadah of da Brooklyn newsies."
Spot nodded, but still looked furious. If he was surprised to learn that Angel and Jade were not only sisters but twins he didn't show it.
Jack, sensing the tension, (AN: Boy, he's observant) quickly asked Spot, "What are youse doin' in Manhattan, Spot?"
Spot shrugged, "Hawk told me dat youse got a couple a' new newsies, an' goil ones at dat. So Ise decided ta come down heah an' check dem out."
"Define 'check dem out'," Jade snorted. Blink promptly elbowed her in the ribs. That wouldn't have mattered, had they not been the same ribs that Spot had elbowed.
"Ow!" Jade hissed through clenched teeth.
"What? Don't tell me dat hoit!" said Blink defensively, taking a step back in case either Angel or Jade decided to punch him.
"Well, it wouldn't have hoit if Brooklyn ovah theah hadn't elbowed me!" Jade said angrily, looking at Spot.
"Yeah, well, youse should have moved," said Spot nonchalantly.
Jade picked up her foot and lightly kicked Spot where she had elbowed him in the leg.
"Ow!" Spot yelped, jumping back.
"What? Don't tell me dat hoit!" Jade said grinning.
Surprisingly enough, Spot allowed a small smirk to form on his face. After giving Jade a once over he spit in his hand and held it out to her, looking her straight in the eye.
Jade quirked an eyebrow at him before spitting in her own hand and shaking his.
Jack smiled in relief, at least dat's settled, he thought.
Angel still glared at Spot but decided to let it go after she saw that Jade had.
"So, Spot," said Jack, while everyone walked up the stairs into the bunkroom, "Are youse stayin in Manhattan tonight?"
"Yeah, if dere's a bunk," replied Spot.
"We'se got plenty a' bunks," said Jack.
When Spot walked into the bunkroom behind Jack, Duck and Goose, who were once again playing marbles on the floor, stood up and whispered excitedly to each other.
Spot saw them and grinned, "Heya Duck n' Goose," he called, waving a little.
They both stood there with their mouths agape. Did the famous Spot Conlon just call them by name?
Jade couldn't help but smile when she saw the antics of the two twins. They really revered Spot, which she also thought was a bit funny. He was just so small, and it was obvious that everyone was a little afraid of him!
Not dat Ise can talk, thought Jade, referring to her height.
For the next few hours the older newsies, mainly Bumlets, Skittery, Race, Blink, Mush, Jack, Spot, Jade, and Angel, stayed up and played poker.
Angel ended up falling asleep, her head on Blink's shoulder, which Jade had to admit was a little cute, and Blink scooped her up and placed her in her bunk.
Soon after Kloppman came up the stairs and told them all that if he had to yell lights out one more time he was making them sleep outside. Grumbling, they all climbed into their beds, Spot in the extra one below Jack's, and drifted off to sleep.
Jade, however, lay on her back with her hands behind her head, thinking.
Dis is startin' ta feel to comfortable heah, thought Jade. True, she had barely been there for two days, but already she felt like she was in the right place.
Dis ain't no good, she thought, Ise don't tink dis is gonna woik. Ise can't afford ta git attached ta anyting, or anyone. Well, except Angel, she amended.
Cant afford ta, or are youse scared? Her mind taunted her. It was laughing at her again, grinning maniacally at her mere existence.
Jade frowned at her own thoughts, trying to push them away from herself, clear them from her mind.
She couldn't stand this, this fear that she would lose everything all over again. She couldn't stand to admit to herself that she was afraid.
Her only real defense was to box herself in. Create a shield and act like a total bitch. If no one liked her then good, her strategy was working.
But right now, it seemed to be failing miserably. And the only way out was to leave. Leave the lodging house, leave being a newsie, leave Angel.
The only thing really holding her back was Angel, though. Jade leaned over the side of her bed and gazed longingly at her sister.
It must be so nice ta have everybody love ya, thought Jade bitterly, letting her head fall back on her hands.
Sighing, she rolled over and fell into a troubled sleep, not knowing that a particular pair of eyes was watching her from across the room, not knowing that a particular person had seen far deeper into her psyche than she had ever let anyone see before.
AN: Mwahahahaha!!! Hee, hee…. I don't think that was really a very bad cliff hanger, I've seen worse. But anyway…Okay, let me explain something. That fight seen was actually based off of a lot of fights I've either been in or watched. (I take martial arts, for those of you who haven't read my bio).
The stance that Jade was in when she was bouncing up and down is the stance that my brother always takes (he takes martial arts too and he could totally kill anyone in his high school. I'm not kidding! He has an eight pack!). The position was hard to explain, so sorry for those of you that didn't get it.
Getting elbowed in the thigh hurts so bad! My friend did that to me when we were sparring (it's like fighting, but you don't actually try to hurt each other and sometimes you wear pads and stuff). Also, I was sparring my instructor and he kicked me right in the stomach. The problem was that I didn't exhale, so I got the wind knocked out of me. (Notice how Jade did exhale).
Okay, now you all know what time it is!!! It's time to review!!! I will be very, very upset with you if you don't review!!! REVIEW!!!!!!!