If Looks Could Kill III
By Stepherz

Mush's POV

Instead of going back to the lodging house, where I'm sure Jack would come searching for me - for nothing less than to silence me forever.

Yes, I was scared of him. I'd seen him when he got violent…I'd been the motive of it once. He'd caused a lot of damage, mostly to my mentality, but we got over that…I didn't see us getting over this.

I made straight for Brooklyn. It seemed like a spiteful thing to do, but really…Spot needed to know.

I was nearing the bridge when Blink called out to me. I turned around, and shot him a dirty look - he didn't seem to notice.

"Hey, Mush!" He called, but I kept walking.

He ran to catch up to me, and I frowned at him.

"What do you want?" I snapped, and he looked slightly taken aback.

"Umm…it's almost curfew." I raised an eyebrow and looked loathingly across the bridge at Brooklyn. I sighed and nodded, shaking my head gently.

"Okay.."

We walked back in silence, and my head hurt from thinking so much.

I'd told Jack I didn't love him…

Jack's POV

As I watched him walk away, I got up and brushed myself off. The tears, still streaming down my cheeks, meant nothing to him, so I inhaled a shaky breath and wiped them away.

I knew what I had to do.

I slipped silently from the alley. I walked quickly, with my head down, to the Brooklyn Bridge. When I reached it, I looked absently out over it. I started the long trek across the suspension bridge.

Once across, I went straight to where I knew the Brooklyn Newsies would stay. I didn't go to the lodging house, but to the dock. Curfew wasn't yet upon us, so they'd be there.

Spot immediately saw me, and jumped down from his perch. He'd done this countless times before. With a smirk on his face that said "Back so soon?" he greeted me.

I frowned at him and shook my head. His smile faded immediately.

"Spot, we need to talk."

The rest of the Brooklyn Newsies were staring as Spot nodded, and we walked off the dock.

Once we were safe from the eyes of the rest of them, Spot turned and stopped me, putting his hand on my chest.

"What's this all about, Jacky-boy?" I cringed at the use of my pet name.

"Spot…" I began shakily, "We can't do this anymore."

The look on his face was not a trifle one. It was rueful, and confused…hurt and angry… above all, it was neutral…he also showed relief and glee. I could see them all pass his expression, one after the other.

"I'm sorry, Spot." He shook his head…overall; his expression was neutral again.

He shrugged nonchalantly, and turned away from me. This made me more nervous…calm before the storm, right?

He was biting his lip, and I sighed softly. He turned sharply and began to stare me down.

"Why?" He demanded. I was caught off guard… I hadn't prepared a reason for him!

"Uh…um…It's not working." He eyed me…it had 'worked' for years.

"If you say so, Jack. Just so long as you ain't lyin' to me." He sure knew how to lay on the guilt.

I stammered, and caught myself, frowning.

"I've found some one else." His nose twitched, and his facials seized an angry air, though remaining neutral, as always.

"Who is it?" Still calm…

I shook my head.

"I can't tell you that." He looked angry now, and narrowed his eyes at me.

"And why not?"

"It's personal…and I don't want you to go rip-roaring after him!" He nodded slowly.

"So it is a him…" More of a statement than a question. I nodded.

He shook his head and waved his hand.
"Get out of my sight before I kill you." I knew he would too…I cared about him too much to hurt him, but his emotions were second to his safety. If he thought I would go around telling everyone about us, he'd most certainly silence me.

I walked quickly back across the bridge, and sighed with relief once I was there.

Mush's POV

When we got to the lodging house, I wasn't in the best of moods. I was surrounded by the Manhattan Newsies almost immediately. Apparently David hadn't spread the word, and they all wanted to know where I'd been, and things of that sort.

I shook my head, and held up my hands at their questions. I could only do so many things to get back at him, and ratting out to his lowly subjects wouldn't be one of them.

I wasn't happy, but I wasn't about to do something that awful.

Seconds later, Jack walked in. He was also bombarded with questions, which he, in turn, ignored.

He walked towards me, with the most triumphant smile upon his lips that I'd ever seen him wear. He looked more elated than when we'd won the strike…

This was gonna be a good explanation, and I'd bet my life on that.

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Note - Sorry it's taken me so long to update…. I'll try and be more 'on the ball' with the next chapter.