DISCALIMER: Yada, yada, yada. Newsies belong to Disney. Phoenix, Salsa, and
Clue belong to me, though! Muah ha! Oh, and so does Crow!
A.N. Wow! Everyone seems to be excited about what's going to happen in the following chapters! That's great! I'm glad you all like this story so much. I'll put some shotouts in the next chapter, promise. I'm just trying to add this new chapter before school starts!!
Sugar and Spice and A Little Bit of Vice
Masked in the clouds of smoke she puffed out between her thin, red lips, Crow looked like the host of the devil reincarnated. Her dark brown hair was pulled out of her face into a tight ponytail, its strands transformed from a lanky straight by magic of a curling iron. She wore dark mascara and eyeliner that made her light green eyes stand out more, like emeralds in a pile of coal. Her high cheekbones were lightly streaked with peachy blush and her eyeshadow was of a light blue to bring out the dress she wore of that same color. She was readying herself in her private dressing room, readying herself for another night of performing for a bunch of beer-smelling, uncivilized men whom would attempt to reach for her from their seat in the audience with trembling hands and awed faces.
She hated that. The attention she received from complete strangers was enough to make her sick to the stomach in the most agonizing way. She would give it up in a heartbeat if she could, but of course, she had to make a living. And even though the career of pleasuring men for money was not particularly smiled upon by most people, it put food on her table and kept her in clothing. She was not one to complain over how the money was earned. True she felt like soaking someone when they insulted her. She had heard all the possible insults. Slut, Whore, Hooker, Shallow Bitch, just to name a few. But after a while, she had fortified her inner strength and now wore it like a cloak to protect her from the jeers of those who did not understand. She could have become a newsie if she wanted to, but living in a lodging house would bring her too many memories she did not wish to revel in. No, performing in a promiscuous vaudeville was just fine with her.
There was a knock at the door and she casually took the cigarette from her mouth to urge the person inside. She surveyed the large collection of expensive jewelries she kept in an ivory box one foot in length to find a necklace that suited her for tonight's show. She had pearls hanging from her vanity mirror and also silver chains, but she thought something more soft and elegant would fit well with the song she was to sing. Perhaps a choker would do. She paused when she still had not heard the voice of her guest and turned to face the door.
"Salsa!" She had not seen the blonde girl in years; they had lived together in Queens for quite a time before being separated by a choice in different lifestyles.
"Heya Crow," Salsa said with a smile. "Youse still lookin elegant as usual." She looked at her friend's room and her smile grew wider. Crow was sure living a high life, even if it paled next to aristocracy. At least it beat the life of a newsgirl any day. "So how's life been treatin ya these days?"
"Quite nice, thank youse. But cut tah the chase, huh. I'se got a show tah do in a few hours and I haven't even eaten yet! What brings ya heah? Ya never were too fond of creatures from the underworld." Crow never did have patience. She liked people who go to the point in less than thirty seconds; she could not deal with those who faltered and repeated themselves five times within one sentence.
"I met this guy," Salsa began. "Really sweet and handsome. He makes me feel different, ya know? He made me." she hesitated, reluctant to blurt out her true feelings, "he made me wanna do sumthin nice fer someone."
Crow shook her head disapprovingly. She had heard so many stories like this it was pathetic. "Lemme tell ya sumthin about love. Guys use the word so indifferently these days. They just wanna have someone tah warm them in bed, and then the next morning, they's tellin youse that yer great but that they can't commit to anyone right now."
"I disagree. I mean, there's such a thing as love out there and I-"
"Shaddup! I'se aint done!" Crow pulled a chair from her vanity and motioned for Salsa to sit into it. "Now youse listen tah me, alright? I was in love once just like youse is. The woild was full of angels durin that time and whenever someone saw me, they's knew that I had found the one. The smile on me face could not be wiped off by anything, and youse could always find me singin some song about friggin love. Unfortunately, the one who was supposed tah love me in the same way did not have those feelins when I told him about me past. We had used tah be inseparable and it lasted fer a year!
We'se were all over eachother, and one winter's morning he dropped down on one knee and actually proposed tah me. I was elated and said yes. A few nights later, I wanted tah be honest tah him about what I did tah earn money. So I'se told him of me night job, and he was so appalled, that he broke up wid me that instant and literally shoved me outta his house. I was crushed! How could he do sumthin like that? If he had loved me, he wouldn't care about me past. That's when I realized that I had only been a playmate fer him. Someone fer him tah come home tah and have fun wid. I cried me eyes out fer days, but eventually, I had tah move on."
Salsa frowned. "I'se sorry. That's horrible!"
"Yea, and I just wanted tah tell youse that story before ya go thinking youse in love." Crow gave her a hard look and then got back to fixing herself up. "Now if youse'll excuse me, I'se got things tah get tah still."
"Shoah. It was nice talking tah youse again," Salsa said as she rose from her chair and proceeded to walk out of the room. She took one last look at the glamorous decorations of her friend's room. Her eyes rested on an object that hung from one of the many silver chains draped over Crow's vanity. The object was a silver lock, and Salsa wondered what it was for, but she did not think anymore of it as she closed the dressing room door behind her.
* * * * *
Clue ripped the first three pages out of her journal with a smile. She did not want the name Spot in any of her memories. It had been a week since Jack had kissed her and from now on, all she would write about was Jack. She slid the journal under her pillow and ran down the stairs when she heard someone enter the lodging house, talking loudly and making jokes. Sure enough, it was her cowboy. She stood shyly by the staircase and blushed when he had noticed her right away upon entering.
He grinned at her mischievously, wrapping his strong arms around her waist and lowering his head so that he could whisper to her. "And how was yer day, sweetness?"
"I think it just got better," she dared to say, though it came out low in volume. She still maintained her shyness, but it did not matter to Jack. He liked it when she was bashful. He put his forehead against hers and gazed into her eyes. After a few seconds, he gave her a light kiss on the lips and was about to pull away when Clue grabbed his bandana, yanked him to her, and kissed him so hard that he thought she had lost her mind. So much fer innocence, he laughed in his mind.
* * * * *
Spot glared at the building as he stood in the middle of the street. The Manhattan lodging house was Jack's territory, and he hated being in someone else's territory. It made him feel inferior, as if he had to obey another's rules. But he especially hated that feeling now because of the brawl he and Jack had gotten into that long while ago. They had not spoken to each other since then, and Spot thought it time to make amends.
However, he had other reasons for coming to Manhattan. He suspected that Phoenix was lodging here, and his suspicions would not dissipate just because the boys said she wasn't. It did not take a rocket scientist to figure out she would have them lying for her.
He sighed and took a step forward. He knew hell was about to be unleashed.
More to come!!! But until that fateful day comes when you will get to read the next chapter, you will need to submit some REVIEWS!!! Don't make me go on strike now! I have been pleased so far by the number of reviews I've been receiving. *smiles proudly* Please keep those REVIEWS coming in! Love ya all!
A.N. Wow! Everyone seems to be excited about what's going to happen in the following chapters! That's great! I'm glad you all like this story so much. I'll put some shotouts in the next chapter, promise. I'm just trying to add this new chapter before school starts!!
Sugar and Spice and A Little Bit of Vice
Masked in the clouds of smoke she puffed out between her thin, red lips, Crow looked like the host of the devil reincarnated. Her dark brown hair was pulled out of her face into a tight ponytail, its strands transformed from a lanky straight by magic of a curling iron. She wore dark mascara and eyeliner that made her light green eyes stand out more, like emeralds in a pile of coal. Her high cheekbones were lightly streaked with peachy blush and her eyeshadow was of a light blue to bring out the dress she wore of that same color. She was readying herself in her private dressing room, readying herself for another night of performing for a bunch of beer-smelling, uncivilized men whom would attempt to reach for her from their seat in the audience with trembling hands and awed faces.
She hated that. The attention she received from complete strangers was enough to make her sick to the stomach in the most agonizing way. She would give it up in a heartbeat if she could, but of course, she had to make a living. And even though the career of pleasuring men for money was not particularly smiled upon by most people, it put food on her table and kept her in clothing. She was not one to complain over how the money was earned. True she felt like soaking someone when they insulted her. She had heard all the possible insults. Slut, Whore, Hooker, Shallow Bitch, just to name a few. But after a while, she had fortified her inner strength and now wore it like a cloak to protect her from the jeers of those who did not understand. She could have become a newsie if she wanted to, but living in a lodging house would bring her too many memories she did not wish to revel in. No, performing in a promiscuous vaudeville was just fine with her.
There was a knock at the door and she casually took the cigarette from her mouth to urge the person inside. She surveyed the large collection of expensive jewelries she kept in an ivory box one foot in length to find a necklace that suited her for tonight's show. She had pearls hanging from her vanity mirror and also silver chains, but she thought something more soft and elegant would fit well with the song she was to sing. Perhaps a choker would do. She paused when she still had not heard the voice of her guest and turned to face the door.
"Salsa!" She had not seen the blonde girl in years; they had lived together in Queens for quite a time before being separated by a choice in different lifestyles.
"Heya Crow," Salsa said with a smile. "Youse still lookin elegant as usual." She looked at her friend's room and her smile grew wider. Crow was sure living a high life, even if it paled next to aristocracy. At least it beat the life of a newsgirl any day. "So how's life been treatin ya these days?"
"Quite nice, thank youse. But cut tah the chase, huh. I'se got a show tah do in a few hours and I haven't even eaten yet! What brings ya heah? Ya never were too fond of creatures from the underworld." Crow never did have patience. She liked people who go to the point in less than thirty seconds; she could not deal with those who faltered and repeated themselves five times within one sentence.
"I met this guy," Salsa began. "Really sweet and handsome. He makes me feel different, ya know? He made me." she hesitated, reluctant to blurt out her true feelings, "he made me wanna do sumthin nice fer someone."
Crow shook her head disapprovingly. She had heard so many stories like this it was pathetic. "Lemme tell ya sumthin about love. Guys use the word so indifferently these days. They just wanna have someone tah warm them in bed, and then the next morning, they's tellin youse that yer great but that they can't commit to anyone right now."
"I disagree. I mean, there's such a thing as love out there and I-"
"Shaddup! I'se aint done!" Crow pulled a chair from her vanity and motioned for Salsa to sit into it. "Now youse listen tah me, alright? I was in love once just like youse is. The woild was full of angels durin that time and whenever someone saw me, they's knew that I had found the one. The smile on me face could not be wiped off by anything, and youse could always find me singin some song about friggin love. Unfortunately, the one who was supposed tah love me in the same way did not have those feelins when I told him about me past. We had used tah be inseparable and it lasted fer a year!
We'se were all over eachother, and one winter's morning he dropped down on one knee and actually proposed tah me. I was elated and said yes. A few nights later, I wanted tah be honest tah him about what I did tah earn money. So I'se told him of me night job, and he was so appalled, that he broke up wid me that instant and literally shoved me outta his house. I was crushed! How could he do sumthin like that? If he had loved me, he wouldn't care about me past. That's when I realized that I had only been a playmate fer him. Someone fer him tah come home tah and have fun wid. I cried me eyes out fer days, but eventually, I had tah move on."
Salsa frowned. "I'se sorry. That's horrible!"
"Yea, and I just wanted tah tell youse that story before ya go thinking youse in love." Crow gave her a hard look and then got back to fixing herself up. "Now if youse'll excuse me, I'se got things tah get tah still."
"Shoah. It was nice talking tah youse again," Salsa said as she rose from her chair and proceeded to walk out of the room. She took one last look at the glamorous decorations of her friend's room. Her eyes rested on an object that hung from one of the many silver chains draped over Crow's vanity. The object was a silver lock, and Salsa wondered what it was for, but she did not think anymore of it as she closed the dressing room door behind her.
* * * * *
Clue ripped the first three pages out of her journal with a smile. She did not want the name Spot in any of her memories. It had been a week since Jack had kissed her and from now on, all she would write about was Jack. She slid the journal under her pillow and ran down the stairs when she heard someone enter the lodging house, talking loudly and making jokes. Sure enough, it was her cowboy. She stood shyly by the staircase and blushed when he had noticed her right away upon entering.
He grinned at her mischievously, wrapping his strong arms around her waist and lowering his head so that he could whisper to her. "And how was yer day, sweetness?"
"I think it just got better," she dared to say, though it came out low in volume. She still maintained her shyness, but it did not matter to Jack. He liked it when she was bashful. He put his forehead against hers and gazed into her eyes. After a few seconds, he gave her a light kiss on the lips and was about to pull away when Clue grabbed his bandana, yanked him to her, and kissed him so hard that he thought she had lost her mind. So much fer innocence, he laughed in his mind.
* * * * *
Spot glared at the building as he stood in the middle of the street. The Manhattan lodging house was Jack's territory, and he hated being in someone else's territory. It made him feel inferior, as if he had to obey another's rules. But he especially hated that feeling now because of the brawl he and Jack had gotten into that long while ago. They had not spoken to each other since then, and Spot thought it time to make amends.
However, he had other reasons for coming to Manhattan. He suspected that Phoenix was lodging here, and his suspicions would not dissipate just because the boys said she wasn't. It did not take a rocket scientist to figure out she would have them lying for her.
He sighed and took a step forward. He knew hell was about to be unleashed.
More to come!!! But until that fateful day comes when you will get to read the next chapter, you will need to submit some REVIEWS!!! Don't make me go on strike now! I have been pleased so far by the number of reviews I've been receiving. *smiles proudly* Please keep those REVIEWS coming in! Love ya all!