Disclaimer: Roses are red, violets are blue, me no own, so you no sue.
AN: This is (drum roll please) the long awaited chapter, everyone!! Anyone still wondering why Jade left Manhattan? Well, here it is folks! The answer at last. It only took me what, how many chapters?
Chapter Twenty
*Promise?*
The next morning Spot awoke with a crick in his neck. Rubbing the sore spot (AN: Heh, heh…. Get it? Sore spot….. wahahahahaha!! I'm so funny!!!…..lol…..) he cursed loudly, trying to remember why the hell he was in his chair, not his bed.
He walked over to his bed and saw Jade lying there. After a moments confusion he suddenly remembered the happenings of the night before.
Rubbing his hand through his hair he sighed, a troubled frown replacing his confused expression.
Jade stirred and sat up with a start. She was mildly startled when she saw Spot, but then a look of recognition passed over her face and she flipped over in the bed, so she was no longer facing him.
"What?" Spot asked indignantly.
Jade sighed, "Youse just ain't pretty in da mornin'."
"So….. Youse tink dat Ise is pretty at othah times?" Spot asked smiling.
"Don't flattah yoahself," Jade mumbled, standing up and swaying a bit on her feet.
"What do youse tink yous is doin?" Asked Spot, when she moved as if to go out the door.
"Goin' to da bathroom," Jade said, giving him a weird look.
"Oh," Spot said lamely.
He had thought that she was leaving, which he wasn't going to let her do until she had rested for at least a full day.
Spot, believe it or not, happened to have command of at least the most basic maternal instincts that were apparent in guys.
When Jade returned, slightly red from all the stares she had received from the Brooklyn newsies who were awake, she found Spot combing his hair in front of the remnants of the broken mirror.
"Can Ise use dat when youse is done?" Asked Jade, referring to the comb.
"Shoah," Spot said, tossing it to her.
"Tanks," said Jade, as she started to work the tangles out of her hair.
"Jade?" Spot said.
"Hmm?" She replied.
"Youse can stay heah foah as long as youse like, k'?"
"K'," Jade said nonchalantly.
"But youse should at least stay in bed foah da rest of da day, an youse should probably see a doctah, 'cause dat cut on yoah back needs stitches," Spot said.
"It's fine, Ise'll live," Jade said stubbornly.
"Fine," Spot said shrugging, "Ise'll 'ave one of my boys bring youse lunch if youse want it."
"Nah, it's okay," Jade said.
"Dinner, den?" He asked.
"Shoah," Jade said, tossing him the comb and laying back down.
Just as Spot was walking out the door to go so he could sell his papers Jade called, "Oh, an' Spot?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't tell anyone what Angel told youse," she said seriously.
"No problem," Spot said casually.
"An' if youse run inta Jack or anybody from Manhattan don't tell dem dat Ise is heah."
"No problem," Spot said again, "But….."
"But what?" Jade asked.
"If dey happen ta ask, can Ise tell dem why youse left?"
"Foist of all, why would dey ask dat? An' second of all, Youse. Don't. Know," Jade said the last three words forcefully.
"Dey asked me befoah if Ise knew why youse left."
"Yeah, so why would dey ask again?"
"'Cause Ise didn't tell dem anyting."
"Which is good, 'cause youse don't know anyting about it neithah."
"Try me," Spot said.
"Okay Mr. Ise know everyting," Jade started, "Why, if yoah so smart, did Ise leave Manhattan?"
Spot walked over and sat cross-legged on his chair.
"Angel," he said simply.
"What?"
"Da short answah is Angel. Youse left because of Angel."
"What's da long answah?" Jade asked.
"From what Angel told me about yoah life it sounded like youse spent most of yoah time protectin' Angel from da woild befoah a couple of days ago."
Jade shrugged, "What's yoah point?"
"While youse spent yoah life bein' her shield youse was exposed ta everyting dat youse kept from her."
"Like what?" Jade asked, her temper staring to rise as Spot hit closer to home.
"Like how yoah muddah 'disappeared an nevah came back.' From what Angel made it sound like yoah muddah was a whore. But Angel nevah came right out an said dat. Because she honestly didn't know. She said dat youse told her dat yoah mom had a night shift at some factory."
"Yeah, well Ise did tell her dat. So what?" Asked Jade.
"So while youse was dealin' with da fact dat yoah mom was a hookah youse was also dealin' with da fact dat yoah sistah got to remain blissfully ignorant of da whole ting."
"Ffffhhhh," Jade made a little noise of resentment, looking to the side and not meeting Spot's eye.
"Yoah entiah life youse have had ta be da one who was touched by all da filth an' pain of da woild while Angel got to remain happy. Youse were exposed ta tings dat no child should evah have to even heah about. But dose tings nevah came neah Angel. Because of you."
Suddenly Jade started clapping.
"What?" Spot asked.
"Well," she said when she stopped clapping, "Bravo Spot. Ise must say, well done. Youse 'ave sufficiently summed up my entire existence. But please, continue, foah youse 'ave yet ta tell da audience why Ise left Manhattan."
Spot glared at her for mocking him, but he continued anyway.
"Youse couldn't stand being around Angel anymore," he said bluntly.
"Why?" Jade asked in a sing-songy voice.
Spot rolled his eyes in frustration.
"Because she was free ta make friends an' get all lovey-dovey with Blink 'cause she had no memories of loss or sorrow weighing her down. Den dere's you, an' how could youse possibly make friends when youse nevah knew anyting but loss? Yoah relationship with Angel seemed to be more out of obligation den love."
Spot waited patiently for her reaction.
"Ise hate you," Jade said in a small quiet voice.
Spot was more than a little shocked. That was not what he expected.
"Why would youse hate me? I practically saved yoah life last night! An' Ise am quite possible da only poisen in da woild dat understands why youse are da way youse are!"
"Dat's why Ise hate you!" Jade cried.
Spot raised his eyebrows in surprise.
Jade began to cry, saying, "My life was poifectly uncomplicated an' Ise was poifectly fine jist bein' mean an' getting along on my own, until Jokah comes along an' is nice to me, despite all dat, an' den youse come along an 'ave ta save me, an' den suddenly understand me in less dan two days or so when Angel nevah could in a million years, an' she's my sistah! What da hell is wrong with you?! Youse just don't do dat to people!"
Spot almost laughed out loud, but he controlled himself. So he had been right after all. Even if she hadn't directly said it, she had said she hated him because he understood, which implied that he understood in her opinion.
"How did youse know, anyways?" Jade asked, still crying.
"'Cause dat's exactly da way Ise used ta be," Spot answered softly.
"So why are youse different now?" Asked Jade.
"A good friend of mine convinced me dat it wasn't worth it to live my entiah life alone."
There was a moments pause until Jade interrupted the silence.
"Oh, God, Ise look like an idiot," she said abruptly, roughly wiping away her tears with the back of her hand.
"Heah," Spot said, sitting by her on the bed and handing her a handkerchief from his pocket.
Jade said nothing, but she took the handkerchief and wiped her eyes with it.
Spot reached out and kind of awkwardly patted her arm. Jade flinched at the human contact and Spot looked at her curiously.
"Sorry," Jade whispered into the handkerchief, "It's jist dat Ise can still feel dat guy's hands on me…."
This comment started a fresh onslaught of tears and Spot felt his heart clench. He placed his arms around her in a sort of hug, but she shied away from his touch.
"Stop it," Jade said weakly, "Ise don't want yoah pity."
"Ise ain't givin' it," Spot said, holding onto her more tightly.
"Jist let me go!" She sobbed, hitting his chest with her fist.
"No," Spot said determinedly.
"Stop it! Jist let go a me!" She beat at him with her fists, but her throws were weak, and they felt like nothing.
"Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop!!" Jade continued.
Spot loosened his hold slightly and Jade panicked. She grabbed onto his shirt and held on tightly.
"Please don't leave me," she begged.
"Not like everybody else. Please don't leave me," Jade whispered, crying harder.
"Shhhhhh, it's okay," Spot cooed, stroking her hair.
"Don't go," she sniffled, burying her face in his chest.
"Ise won't."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
AN: Okay, who out there is proud of me? Come one, come on. Hey it may not have been original, but at least I finally got it all out in the open, instead of just hinting towards it every other chapter. Anywayz, as always, reviews would be greatly appreciated!!
AN: This is (drum roll please) the long awaited chapter, everyone!! Anyone still wondering why Jade left Manhattan? Well, here it is folks! The answer at last. It only took me what, how many chapters?
Chapter Twenty
*Promise?*
The next morning Spot awoke with a crick in his neck. Rubbing the sore spot (AN: Heh, heh…. Get it? Sore spot….. wahahahahaha!! I'm so funny!!!…..lol…..) he cursed loudly, trying to remember why the hell he was in his chair, not his bed.
He walked over to his bed and saw Jade lying there. After a moments confusion he suddenly remembered the happenings of the night before.
Rubbing his hand through his hair he sighed, a troubled frown replacing his confused expression.
Jade stirred and sat up with a start. She was mildly startled when she saw Spot, but then a look of recognition passed over her face and she flipped over in the bed, so she was no longer facing him.
"What?" Spot asked indignantly.
Jade sighed, "Youse just ain't pretty in da mornin'."
"So….. Youse tink dat Ise is pretty at othah times?" Spot asked smiling.
"Don't flattah yoahself," Jade mumbled, standing up and swaying a bit on her feet.
"What do youse tink yous is doin?" Asked Spot, when she moved as if to go out the door.
"Goin' to da bathroom," Jade said, giving him a weird look.
"Oh," Spot said lamely.
He had thought that she was leaving, which he wasn't going to let her do until she had rested for at least a full day.
Spot, believe it or not, happened to have command of at least the most basic maternal instincts that were apparent in guys.
When Jade returned, slightly red from all the stares she had received from the Brooklyn newsies who were awake, she found Spot combing his hair in front of the remnants of the broken mirror.
"Can Ise use dat when youse is done?" Asked Jade, referring to the comb.
"Shoah," Spot said, tossing it to her.
"Tanks," said Jade, as she started to work the tangles out of her hair.
"Jade?" Spot said.
"Hmm?" She replied.
"Youse can stay heah foah as long as youse like, k'?"
"K'," Jade said nonchalantly.
"But youse should at least stay in bed foah da rest of da day, an youse should probably see a doctah, 'cause dat cut on yoah back needs stitches," Spot said.
"It's fine, Ise'll live," Jade said stubbornly.
"Fine," Spot said shrugging, "Ise'll 'ave one of my boys bring youse lunch if youse want it."
"Nah, it's okay," Jade said.
"Dinner, den?" He asked.
"Shoah," Jade said, tossing him the comb and laying back down.
Just as Spot was walking out the door to go so he could sell his papers Jade called, "Oh, an' Spot?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't tell anyone what Angel told youse," she said seriously.
"No problem," Spot said casually.
"An' if youse run inta Jack or anybody from Manhattan don't tell dem dat Ise is heah."
"No problem," Spot said again, "But….."
"But what?" Jade asked.
"If dey happen ta ask, can Ise tell dem why youse left?"
"Foist of all, why would dey ask dat? An' second of all, Youse. Don't. Know," Jade said the last three words forcefully.
"Dey asked me befoah if Ise knew why youse left."
"Yeah, so why would dey ask again?"
"'Cause Ise didn't tell dem anyting."
"Which is good, 'cause youse don't know anyting about it neithah."
"Try me," Spot said.
"Okay Mr. Ise know everyting," Jade started, "Why, if yoah so smart, did Ise leave Manhattan?"
Spot walked over and sat cross-legged on his chair.
"Angel," he said simply.
"What?"
"Da short answah is Angel. Youse left because of Angel."
"What's da long answah?" Jade asked.
"From what Angel told me about yoah life it sounded like youse spent most of yoah time protectin' Angel from da woild befoah a couple of days ago."
Jade shrugged, "What's yoah point?"
"While youse spent yoah life bein' her shield youse was exposed ta everyting dat youse kept from her."
"Like what?" Jade asked, her temper staring to rise as Spot hit closer to home.
"Like how yoah muddah 'disappeared an nevah came back.' From what Angel made it sound like yoah muddah was a whore. But Angel nevah came right out an said dat. Because she honestly didn't know. She said dat youse told her dat yoah mom had a night shift at some factory."
"Yeah, well Ise did tell her dat. So what?" Asked Jade.
"So while youse was dealin' with da fact dat yoah mom was a hookah youse was also dealin' with da fact dat yoah sistah got to remain blissfully ignorant of da whole ting."
"Ffffhhhh," Jade made a little noise of resentment, looking to the side and not meeting Spot's eye.
"Yoah entiah life youse have had ta be da one who was touched by all da filth an' pain of da woild while Angel got to remain happy. Youse were exposed ta tings dat no child should evah have to even heah about. But dose tings nevah came neah Angel. Because of you."
Suddenly Jade started clapping.
"What?" Spot asked.
"Well," she said when she stopped clapping, "Bravo Spot. Ise must say, well done. Youse 'ave sufficiently summed up my entire existence. But please, continue, foah youse 'ave yet ta tell da audience why Ise left Manhattan."
Spot glared at her for mocking him, but he continued anyway.
"Youse couldn't stand being around Angel anymore," he said bluntly.
"Why?" Jade asked in a sing-songy voice.
Spot rolled his eyes in frustration.
"Because she was free ta make friends an' get all lovey-dovey with Blink 'cause she had no memories of loss or sorrow weighing her down. Den dere's you, an' how could youse possibly make friends when youse nevah knew anyting but loss? Yoah relationship with Angel seemed to be more out of obligation den love."
Spot waited patiently for her reaction.
"Ise hate you," Jade said in a small quiet voice.
Spot was more than a little shocked. That was not what he expected.
"Why would youse hate me? I practically saved yoah life last night! An' Ise am quite possible da only poisen in da woild dat understands why youse are da way youse are!"
"Dat's why Ise hate you!" Jade cried.
Spot raised his eyebrows in surprise.
Jade began to cry, saying, "My life was poifectly uncomplicated an' Ise was poifectly fine jist bein' mean an' getting along on my own, until Jokah comes along an' is nice to me, despite all dat, an' den youse come along an 'ave ta save me, an' den suddenly understand me in less dan two days or so when Angel nevah could in a million years, an' she's my sistah! What da hell is wrong with you?! Youse just don't do dat to people!"
Spot almost laughed out loud, but he controlled himself. So he had been right after all. Even if she hadn't directly said it, she had said she hated him because he understood, which implied that he understood in her opinion.
"How did youse know, anyways?" Jade asked, still crying.
"'Cause dat's exactly da way Ise used ta be," Spot answered softly.
"So why are youse different now?" Asked Jade.
"A good friend of mine convinced me dat it wasn't worth it to live my entiah life alone."
There was a moments pause until Jade interrupted the silence.
"Oh, God, Ise look like an idiot," she said abruptly, roughly wiping away her tears with the back of her hand.
"Heah," Spot said, sitting by her on the bed and handing her a handkerchief from his pocket.
Jade said nothing, but she took the handkerchief and wiped her eyes with it.
Spot reached out and kind of awkwardly patted her arm. Jade flinched at the human contact and Spot looked at her curiously.
"Sorry," Jade whispered into the handkerchief, "It's jist dat Ise can still feel dat guy's hands on me…."
This comment started a fresh onslaught of tears and Spot felt his heart clench. He placed his arms around her in a sort of hug, but she shied away from his touch.
"Stop it," Jade said weakly, "Ise don't want yoah pity."
"Ise ain't givin' it," Spot said, holding onto her more tightly.
"Jist let me go!" She sobbed, hitting his chest with her fist.
"No," Spot said determinedly.
"Stop it! Jist let go a me!" She beat at him with her fists, but her throws were weak, and they felt like nothing.
"Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop!!" Jade continued.
Spot loosened his hold slightly and Jade panicked. She grabbed onto his shirt and held on tightly.
"Please don't leave me," she begged.
"Not like everybody else. Please don't leave me," Jade whispered, crying harder.
"Shhhhhh, it's okay," Spot cooed, stroking her hair.
"Don't go," she sniffled, burying her face in his chest.
"Ise won't."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
AN: Okay, who out there is proud of me? Come one, come on. Hey it may not have been original, but at least I finally got it all out in the open, instead of just hinting towards it every other chapter. Anywayz, as always, reviews would be greatly appreciated!!