DISCALIMER: No, my dear, none of these characters belong to me except for
Salsa, Clue, and Phoenix. So puh-lease do not sue me because I am trying to
save money to buy a Camino. Woo hoo!
A.N.: Once again, I appreciate all you people who are reviewing!! :Cries: It means so much! Hee hee! At this point, even I do not know whom Spot is going to end up with! I'll just keep writing and see how it goes! Hope you enjoy this new chapter!
Sugar and Spice and A Little Bit of Vice
"Heya Clue, I'se gonna play a game of craps real quick, alright? Youse can stay heah and I'll be right back."
Clue quickly reached for Jack's hand and pulled him back down onto the chair next to her. She looked at him with pleading eyes. "Jack, please don't leave me. I'se only been in Brooklyn once, and it was when most of the newsies were sellin their papes. But I aint never been heah when all of New Yawk was jammed into the lodging house fer a big poker game! There's way too many guys heah! What if one trys tah talk tah me? Please don't go!"
Jack sighed. Clue looked so cute when she was this shy, but she would have to learn to defend herself sooner or later. "Youse don't wanna go tah the craps table wid me. The guys there are real creeps. Ya probably are better off stayin heah. If some newsie comes up tah youse talkin dirty, just say youse aint interested and make yer way over tah me."
"Fine," she muttered. What was so interesting about craps anyways? What was it about two dice that intrigued Jack so much to abandon her? She did her best to pout, but Jack only laughed and headed off to gamble. A few minutes passed and no one had bothered Clue. "Well, I guess everyone's too busy havin fun tah bother wid a goil like me. They probably can see right through me, can tell I'se jist some borin goil who'd never give them anything." She shrugged. She rather be with a guy who liked her for who she was.
"Is this seat taken?"
She shook her head without looking up, focusing her eyes on Jack. He probably was going to be playing craps for a while even though he said he'd be right back.
"Listen Clue," the person who had sat beside her said. "I'se sorry if I hoit ya at Tibby's when I came in wid Salsa." Clue looked up and her eyes went wide at the sight of Spot. Hadn't he just been playing poker at some table? Now he just appeared out of nowhere! "I aint goin out wid her, though. We'se jist talkin fer now. I was being honest when I said I wanted tah get tah know youse, and I still feels the same way."
Clue glanced back at Jack and then at Spot. "I don't know, Spot. It seems tah me as if youse just playin some mean game."
"Ugh! Why does everyone think that? I'se jist another guy who's looking fer a nice relationship. I don't mean tah hoit anyone! If I'se aint goin out wid anyone at the moment, how am I bein a playah?"
"I really don't know." She crossed her arms and bit her bottom lip. This was so nerve wrecking! Talking to Spot about this made her uncomfortable. Why couldn't he just stay with Phoenix or Salsa? He would be better off with crazy girls like that. But if we was interested in a simple girl such as herself, shouldn't she give him a chance?
"Oh, c'mon Clue! When I'se kissed ya in that alley, didn't it mean anything tah youse? It meant a lot tah me!"
Clue groaned. She wished he had not brought that up. The truth was that the kiss had meant so much to her. True she had not enjoyed the way Spot had gone about giving it to her, but when his lips touched hers, she had felt as if she were flying. It was such a wondrous feeling and she wanted more of it! Maybe she wouldn't have to change in order to grab Spot's attention. From the looks of it, he had been pursuing her since they had met in Brooklyn. "I really liked it when ya kissed me, Spot, but it seemed as if youse were tryin tah rush things. I like tah take me time when it comes tah things like this."
"Heya, I understand," Spot said, laying his hand atop hers. "If ya want, we'se can take things one step at a time. We'se can jist hang out and get tah know each other foist."
Clue smiled. "That sounds nice."
"So youse wants me tah walk ya home?"
"Yes," she giggled. "If youse aint too busy, that is."
Spot smirked. "I'se aint never gunna be too busy fer youse, sweety." He leaned in and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek. They sat there talking about all sorts of things well past midnight, and sure enough, Jack had been playing craps the whole time. However, he had continued playing for quite a different reason. He had seen Spot come up to Clue, and from the look on the girl's face, he assumed she did not want to be interrupted.
"So she's fallin fer Spot too," he grumbled under his breath. "I aint no match against Spot. If he's the kinda guy she wants, let her go after him." As he was about to exit the Brooklyn lodging house, he stopped by Clue to say goodbye.
"Oh heya Jack!" Clue said, blushing because Spot had just given her another kiss on the cheek. "Youse never came back tah check up on me! Did ya forget about me?"
"Yea, Jacky," Spot threw in. "Youse aint lookin after me goil properly! Don't make me soak ya!"
Jack glared at the shorter youth. "Shove it, Spot. I'se aint in the mood."
Spot was taken aback. He would have let Jack walk out but his pride was too strong and he grabbed the cowboy by the arm and yanked him back. "Who do ya think youse is talking tah? No one gives Spot Conlon that kinda attitude and youse of all people should know that! I'se gunna give ya three seconds tah take back that comment."
"Three seconds? All right." Jack looked to the side as if considering something. When he turned around, his fist was clenched and he slammed it into Spot's jaw in rage. Spot fell backwards from the unexpected force of the blow as Clue backed away in dread. Why had Jack done that? Had he lost all his money at the craps tables?
"Youse are gunna be so sorry fer that, Jacky," Spot yelled as he rubbed his jaw and arose from the floor. He lunged for the Manhattan leader but a Brooklyn newsie had caught him around the waist from behind and now held him back with the help of five other newsies. "Lemme go, ya bums! Cowboy's in fer the soakin of his life!"
Jack rolled his eyes and turned to walk away, ignoring Spot's threats. It probably had not been a good idea to get on the infamous newsie's bad side like that, but he didn't care. Clue was just going to end up as one of the game pieces in Spot's little scheme, and he would not let that happen. The girl meant something to him; he just didn't know what yet.
The cool breeze if the night hit his face as soon as he had left the Brooklyn lodging house and he found it refreshing. Maybe I'se should lay low fer the next few days, he thought to himself. Clue knows I'se crushin on her by now; she probably thinks I'se a loser. What chance do I have when she could be with Spot? He continued feeding into his pessimistic views all the way back to Manhattan.
* * * * *
Salsa had not attended the poker game last night. After she and Spot had kissed, she was convinced that she had gone mad.
"Youse can't like Spot Conlon! Shoah ya two are one of a kind, but since when have youse ever had feelins fer some bum?" She grimaced at the mere thought of it. Out of all the twenty-one boyfriends she had gone out with within two years, she had never 'liked' any of them. They had only been pieces of property for her to parade her powers with. But then Spot Conlon had to come along. Spot Conlon had to come and upset the whole balance of things.
"Maybe youse is just trippin," she said to herself as she lay upon her bed. "Maybe ya only think ya like him." She rolled onto her stomach and rested her chin on her folded hands. It would be nice to not have to live up to her image one day. She insulted quiet, shy girls quite frequently, but on the inside, she would not mind being calm and passive as they were for once. Sometimes, her popularity was tiring and she hated to live up to its demands. Sure she could simply stop being so nasty and fierce, but then what would that prove? That she was weak?
She shook her head. "Forget it, Salsa. Youse aint gunna break yer reputation fer some scab ya think like. Yer suppose tah be ruining the leadah of Brooklyn, not goin all googly eyes on him!"
* * * * *
"Jacky, can I'se talk tah youse?"
Jack glanced up from the paper he was reading and groaned when he found himself looking into Clue's deep brown eyes. She looked so dejected and it was all he could do to keep from pulling her into his arms and kissing her hurt away.
"Shoah," he said simply. "What's on yer mind?"
Clue clasped her hands behind her back and kicked a mound of dirt with her foot. "Well it's about yesterday. Why were youse so mad at Spot? Did ya lose that much money tah craps?"
Jack smiled at her naivety; it only made her more adorable. "Nah, it was nuthin like that. It's kinda personal though and I'se gots tah talk tah Spot about it before I mention it tah youse, okay?" She nodded and blushed, causing the cowboy's heart to sink. "Ya really like him, don't ya?"
"Yes," she giggled. "He talks real sweet tah me and he made me all these promises."
Promises he'll never keep, Jack said in his mind disdainfully. Spot shoah knows how tah woo the ladies; it all rests in his stupid charm.
"Well Jack, I'se gots tah be off tah sell me papes. Ya shoah youse aint got nuthin else ya wanna tell me?"
Jack looked at her and wanted to reveal everything, but the fear of rejection was greater than his desire for Clue to be his girl. "Nah, I'se just peachy!" He feigned a smile and continued reading his paper as she walked away, only to curse once she was out of hearing distance.
* * * * *
Spot chuckled when he heard the miserable headline Salsa was hawking. She was a sexy kisser, but a hopeless newsie. He sauntered over to her and kissed her on the cheek once he was beside her. Salsa looked at him startled and actually blushed. She tried to hide her embarrassment by looking down but Spot had already seen it.
"Youse aint gettin soft on me, are ya?" he asked with a smirk. "I'se really flattered, sweety."
Salsa shot him a look, remembering who she was supposed to be. "Don't let yer ego inflate too wide, Conlon. Youse aint got nuthin tah be flattered about."
"Shoah, shoah," Spot said with a roll of the eyes. "I'se picked out sumthin fer youse." He brought his hand up to her face to present to her a rose he had purchased from one of Central Park's many vendors.
"One rose?" Salsa looked disgusted. "Geez, Conlon, is that all youse could afford? Is that all I'se woith?" She looked him up and down much like an aristocrat would examine a beggar and pursed her lips. Then without a word, she turned around and walked away.
Spot glared after her, but his angry expression was soon replaced with a grin. "Well, I'se did want a challenge!"
More to come. Yeeeee-HAW!!! Well we've come to the end of yet another chapter, and you know what that means! Yep, it's time to send in those reviews!! C'mon now, don't be shy! Submit like you've never submitted before! MUAHAHHAHA! Love ya all!
A.N.: Once again, I appreciate all you people who are reviewing!! :Cries: It means so much! Hee hee! At this point, even I do not know whom Spot is going to end up with! I'll just keep writing and see how it goes! Hope you enjoy this new chapter!
Sugar and Spice and A Little Bit of Vice
"Heya Clue, I'se gonna play a game of craps real quick, alright? Youse can stay heah and I'll be right back."
Clue quickly reached for Jack's hand and pulled him back down onto the chair next to her. She looked at him with pleading eyes. "Jack, please don't leave me. I'se only been in Brooklyn once, and it was when most of the newsies were sellin their papes. But I aint never been heah when all of New Yawk was jammed into the lodging house fer a big poker game! There's way too many guys heah! What if one trys tah talk tah me? Please don't go!"
Jack sighed. Clue looked so cute when she was this shy, but she would have to learn to defend herself sooner or later. "Youse don't wanna go tah the craps table wid me. The guys there are real creeps. Ya probably are better off stayin heah. If some newsie comes up tah youse talkin dirty, just say youse aint interested and make yer way over tah me."
"Fine," she muttered. What was so interesting about craps anyways? What was it about two dice that intrigued Jack so much to abandon her? She did her best to pout, but Jack only laughed and headed off to gamble. A few minutes passed and no one had bothered Clue. "Well, I guess everyone's too busy havin fun tah bother wid a goil like me. They probably can see right through me, can tell I'se jist some borin goil who'd never give them anything." She shrugged. She rather be with a guy who liked her for who she was.
"Is this seat taken?"
She shook her head without looking up, focusing her eyes on Jack. He probably was going to be playing craps for a while even though he said he'd be right back.
"Listen Clue," the person who had sat beside her said. "I'se sorry if I hoit ya at Tibby's when I came in wid Salsa." Clue looked up and her eyes went wide at the sight of Spot. Hadn't he just been playing poker at some table? Now he just appeared out of nowhere! "I aint goin out wid her, though. We'se jist talkin fer now. I was being honest when I said I wanted tah get tah know youse, and I still feels the same way."
Clue glanced back at Jack and then at Spot. "I don't know, Spot. It seems tah me as if youse just playin some mean game."
"Ugh! Why does everyone think that? I'se jist another guy who's looking fer a nice relationship. I don't mean tah hoit anyone! If I'se aint goin out wid anyone at the moment, how am I bein a playah?"
"I really don't know." She crossed her arms and bit her bottom lip. This was so nerve wrecking! Talking to Spot about this made her uncomfortable. Why couldn't he just stay with Phoenix or Salsa? He would be better off with crazy girls like that. But if we was interested in a simple girl such as herself, shouldn't she give him a chance?
"Oh, c'mon Clue! When I'se kissed ya in that alley, didn't it mean anything tah youse? It meant a lot tah me!"
Clue groaned. She wished he had not brought that up. The truth was that the kiss had meant so much to her. True she had not enjoyed the way Spot had gone about giving it to her, but when his lips touched hers, she had felt as if she were flying. It was such a wondrous feeling and she wanted more of it! Maybe she wouldn't have to change in order to grab Spot's attention. From the looks of it, he had been pursuing her since they had met in Brooklyn. "I really liked it when ya kissed me, Spot, but it seemed as if youse were tryin tah rush things. I like tah take me time when it comes tah things like this."
"Heya, I understand," Spot said, laying his hand atop hers. "If ya want, we'se can take things one step at a time. We'se can jist hang out and get tah know each other foist."
Clue smiled. "That sounds nice."
"So youse wants me tah walk ya home?"
"Yes," she giggled. "If youse aint too busy, that is."
Spot smirked. "I'se aint never gunna be too busy fer youse, sweety." He leaned in and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek. They sat there talking about all sorts of things well past midnight, and sure enough, Jack had been playing craps the whole time. However, he had continued playing for quite a different reason. He had seen Spot come up to Clue, and from the look on the girl's face, he assumed she did not want to be interrupted.
"So she's fallin fer Spot too," he grumbled under his breath. "I aint no match against Spot. If he's the kinda guy she wants, let her go after him." As he was about to exit the Brooklyn lodging house, he stopped by Clue to say goodbye.
"Oh heya Jack!" Clue said, blushing because Spot had just given her another kiss on the cheek. "Youse never came back tah check up on me! Did ya forget about me?"
"Yea, Jacky," Spot threw in. "Youse aint lookin after me goil properly! Don't make me soak ya!"
Jack glared at the shorter youth. "Shove it, Spot. I'se aint in the mood."
Spot was taken aback. He would have let Jack walk out but his pride was too strong and he grabbed the cowboy by the arm and yanked him back. "Who do ya think youse is talking tah? No one gives Spot Conlon that kinda attitude and youse of all people should know that! I'se gunna give ya three seconds tah take back that comment."
"Three seconds? All right." Jack looked to the side as if considering something. When he turned around, his fist was clenched and he slammed it into Spot's jaw in rage. Spot fell backwards from the unexpected force of the blow as Clue backed away in dread. Why had Jack done that? Had he lost all his money at the craps tables?
"Youse are gunna be so sorry fer that, Jacky," Spot yelled as he rubbed his jaw and arose from the floor. He lunged for the Manhattan leader but a Brooklyn newsie had caught him around the waist from behind and now held him back with the help of five other newsies. "Lemme go, ya bums! Cowboy's in fer the soakin of his life!"
Jack rolled his eyes and turned to walk away, ignoring Spot's threats. It probably had not been a good idea to get on the infamous newsie's bad side like that, but he didn't care. Clue was just going to end up as one of the game pieces in Spot's little scheme, and he would not let that happen. The girl meant something to him; he just didn't know what yet.
The cool breeze if the night hit his face as soon as he had left the Brooklyn lodging house and he found it refreshing. Maybe I'se should lay low fer the next few days, he thought to himself. Clue knows I'se crushin on her by now; she probably thinks I'se a loser. What chance do I have when she could be with Spot? He continued feeding into his pessimistic views all the way back to Manhattan.
* * * * *
Salsa had not attended the poker game last night. After she and Spot had kissed, she was convinced that she had gone mad.
"Youse can't like Spot Conlon! Shoah ya two are one of a kind, but since when have youse ever had feelins fer some bum?" She grimaced at the mere thought of it. Out of all the twenty-one boyfriends she had gone out with within two years, she had never 'liked' any of them. They had only been pieces of property for her to parade her powers with. But then Spot Conlon had to come along. Spot Conlon had to come and upset the whole balance of things.
"Maybe youse is just trippin," she said to herself as she lay upon her bed. "Maybe ya only think ya like him." She rolled onto her stomach and rested her chin on her folded hands. It would be nice to not have to live up to her image one day. She insulted quiet, shy girls quite frequently, but on the inside, she would not mind being calm and passive as they were for once. Sometimes, her popularity was tiring and she hated to live up to its demands. Sure she could simply stop being so nasty and fierce, but then what would that prove? That she was weak?
She shook her head. "Forget it, Salsa. Youse aint gunna break yer reputation fer some scab ya think like. Yer suppose tah be ruining the leadah of Brooklyn, not goin all googly eyes on him!"
* * * * *
"Jacky, can I'se talk tah youse?"
Jack glanced up from the paper he was reading and groaned when he found himself looking into Clue's deep brown eyes. She looked so dejected and it was all he could do to keep from pulling her into his arms and kissing her hurt away.
"Shoah," he said simply. "What's on yer mind?"
Clue clasped her hands behind her back and kicked a mound of dirt with her foot. "Well it's about yesterday. Why were youse so mad at Spot? Did ya lose that much money tah craps?"
Jack smiled at her naivety; it only made her more adorable. "Nah, it was nuthin like that. It's kinda personal though and I'se gots tah talk tah Spot about it before I mention it tah youse, okay?" She nodded and blushed, causing the cowboy's heart to sink. "Ya really like him, don't ya?"
"Yes," she giggled. "He talks real sweet tah me and he made me all these promises."
Promises he'll never keep, Jack said in his mind disdainfully. Spot shoah knows how tah woo the ladies; it all rests in his stupid charm.
"Well Jack, I'se gots tah be off tah sell me papes. Ya shoah youse aint got nuthin else ya wanna tell me?"
Jack looked at her and wanted to reveal everything, but the fear of rejection was greater than his desire for Clue to be his girl. "Nah, I'se just peachy!" He feigned a smile and continued reading his paper as she walked away, only to curse once she was out of hearing distance.
* * * * *
Spot chuckled when he heard the miserable headline Salsa was hawking. She was a sexy kisser, but a hopeless newsie. He sauntered over to her and kissed her on the cheek once he was beside her. Salsa looked at him startled and actually blushed. She tried to hide her embarrassment by looking down but Spot had already seen it.
"Youse aint gettin soft on me, are ya?" he asked with a smirk. "I'se really flattered, sweety."
Salsa shot him a look, remembering who she was supposed to be. "Don't let yer ego inflate too wide, Conlon. Youse aint got nuthin tah be flattered about."
"Shoah, shoah," Spot said with a roll of the eyes. "I'se picked out sumthin fer youse." He brought his hand up to her face to present to her a rose he had purchased from one of Central Park's many vendors.
"One rose?" Salsa looked disgusted. "Geez, Conlon, is that all youse could afford? Is that all I'se woith?" She looked him up and down much like an aristocrat would examine a beggar and pursed her lips. Then without a word, she turned around and walked away.
Spot glared after her, but his angry expression was soon replaced with a grin. "Well, I'se did want a challenge!"
More to come. Yeeeee-HAW!!! Well we've come to the end of yet another chapter, and you know what that means! Yep, it's time to send in those reviews!! C'mon now, don't be shy! Submit like you've never submitted before! MUAHAHHAHA! Love ya all!