If Looks Could Kill I
By Stepherz
Mush's POV
My first thought was Wow…it's beautiful. I mean, two people with obvious passion for each other, if not simply lust, making love under a pale golden sky, with an ocean background, and the sea spray crashing gently with the breeze against the stalks that held the dock up. It was beautiful.
My second thought was Wait a minute…that's Jack. My Jack! I knew he'd been hiding things from me, but how could I ever trust him again? How could I have ever trusted him? I was stupid! Just plain old stupid! I should have known…I really should have known. It was too good to be true. Way too good.
My third thought was Uh oh…I'm gonna die. Spot and Jack had me cornered. I was scared for my life. The Brooklyn Newsie could be touch - and incredibly dangerous. Jack, he could be more dangerous when he had intent. I had no doubt in my mind that I would definitely not make it out of there unscathed.
Jack towered over me, his face was hidden from Spots view, and he shook his head.
I realized that I had tears in my eyes, and quickly, silently, repressed them. I couldn't cry in front of them! I couldn't let Jack see how much he'd hurt me.
I inhaled slowly, and my gaze met Spot's. His eyes were cold, and hard as they condemned me. I swallowed harshly, my gullet moving dramatically up and down.
Spot stepped forward. His expression was heartless. He was nothing but cruel.
"How much did you see, Mush?" His tone was softer than I had expected it to be.
I looked down, at the wooden boards of the dock.
"All of it…" I mumbled, very quietly.
I'd taken a short cut and practically run the entire way to Brooklyn. I got there just as they walked out onto the dock. At first I didn't think anything was going to happen, but…look how wrong I was.
Spot cursed under his breath, and eyed Jack.
"He followed you." Jack caught my gaze for a moment.
"Why don't you let me deal with him, Spot. I was just gonna go back anyway. I'll take him with me…"
Spot looked tentative, but sighed, nodding.
"Okay, Jack. Deal with it." He frowned, spit in his hand, and held it out to Jack.
Jack did the same and they shook hands firmly.
Spot took me by the collar of my shirt and lifted me off the ground.
"You'll regret this night, Mushy." He sneered, and I cringed. He had quite a stench.
He released me, and Jack walked off, obviously expecting me to follow. I did so, begrudgingly.
I knew Spot was watching us, as we walked off. I knew that I would definitely keep away from Brooklyn for as long as I could.
As we walked, slowly, along the streets of Brooklyn, I could see that we were getting vague, and incredibly nasty looks from the Brooklyn Newsies. It was actually quite amusing, and if I wasn't in suck a horrible fix, I might have made a face at them, or even laughed.
We were walking along the Brooklyn bridge, and Jack kept looking out over the side. I could tell he wanted to talk to me, but he was waiting until we were well out of range of Brooklyn.
About half way across the river, he turned to me.
"I'm sorry, Mush."
"Save your apologies, they don't mean anything to me."
"Sure they do." He frowned.
I shook my head. I turned to walk to Manhattan, where I would hide from him. I was afraid…I mean, being on this bridge with him. He could easily throw me over the side. I was strong, but he was older, taller, and he had a greater mass to propell me with. I was very uneasy.
As I stepped away from him, in the direction of 'home', he caught my sleeve and turned me around to face him.
"Mush - I can't let you go back like this." I stiffened. Just what was he getting at?
"I'm going back, Jack."
"You can't tell them." His young face was lined with worry.
"That's the first thing I'm gonna do! Why shouldn't they know? Why should I hide from them, the reason why you're not going back?"
"What do you mean, I'm not going back?"
"You're actually gonna go back. I mean…oh, hell, Jack - Why don't you just stay in Brooklyn?"
He looked hurt - more hurt than before.
"I hafta come back."
"And why?"
"Well…oh, hell yourself, Mush! It's not what you think!"
My eyes dilated, and my jaw dropped as I glared at him. If looks could kill.
"Not what I think? Not what I…Jack, you can't tell me that's something other than what I think! You just screwed the leader o' Brooklyn - you can't tell me I'm wrong!"
Jack looked defeated.
"No, you're right about that. But, it wasn't just a spur of the moment thing…"
"I should hope not!" I pursed my lips, and glared out over the water.
Jack and I had never…you know. I was content the way it was. Maybe if I had, he wouldn't have gone to…Oh, stop it, Mush - don't think like that - it wouldn't have made a difference.
So we hadn't ever done that. I don't think I ever really trusted him. Not like I should have, at least. I knew he trusted me, and would have trusted me with his life if ever the need aroused.
"Look, Jack. We'll get along just fine without you!" I turned and sped, running the rest of the way across the bridge.
Jack was hot on my heels.
He glared at me, stopping in front of me and anticipating my every move as I tried to dodge past him.
He knocked me to the ground, and pinned me. His face was flushed with anxiety.
"You're gonna listen to me, and you're not gonna complain about it."
I tensed. This was going to be a conversation to remember.
