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. OMG, I contracted a virus that's going around and so I couldn't write for three whole days!! It was crazy!! LOL! It's time to make some shout outs! All of your reviews are real heartwarming. They make me laugh so hard. You're either incredibly mad with a character or laughing like crazy because they didn't get what they want. It's great. I love writing!
*Snuggles: I'm glad I wrote that short chapter so that everything would make sense. I didn't want to suddenly pull something off on everybody that would leave them with big question marks on their foreheads. LOL! Thanks so much for being a consistent reviewer! I always look forward to reading a review from you.
*Thunderstorm: Sorry I had to cut the lovely scene between Spot and Phoenix. Hahaha! Truth is, I wasn't sure how to continue on from those words that Spot had said. It took a lot of thought, but I finally pulled it all together. Hope you like this chapter!
*Doll Face: Yea, twists in a story are always fun! I learned that after watching Minority Report. Muahaha! I'm glad you're loving the story; it's always fun to get new reviewers. I hope you enjoy this new addition.
*Mads and Alex: Fortunately, Clue had Jack to fall back on. I didn't exactly want to pair her with Spot because their personalities clashed. Opposites attract, but who ever said they lasted? LOL!
*lange: Wedding bells for Clue and Jack, huh? I'll take that into consideration. lol! Wow, I didn't know you thought so highly of 'big jerk Spot'. OMG, your review made me laugh so hard! That was great! I'll try to work some scenes for Clue and Jack though, don't worry!
*Candi Kane: Glad you're back from your vacation or whatever it was, lol. I'm glad you loved the chapters you missed while you were gone. Yes, Spot said he actually loves her. I can't believe it either. Hahaha!
*Gypsy: Ah, the reviewer that does not log on. Hahaha! You're incredibly enthused about this whole story! Your reviews are among the ones that make me laugh hysterically! Thanks so much for reading this story! Keep those funny reviews coming! Hee hee!
*Gemini Kelly: Heya, thanks for the reviews! I'm updating at an incredible rate these days! A chapter a day keeps the strongly-worded letters away! Hee hee! Hope ya like the fact that Clue and Jack finally got together!
~finally getting to the story
Sugar and Spice and A Little Bit of Vice
Phoenix stared at the Brooklyn leader with an unreadable expression that caused Spot to shift with discomfort. What was she going to say? Was she going to refuse him with utter disdain as she had done before? He almost regretted having said those three words that meant so much, that held so much power. Then again, had he kept his feelings suppressed, he would only be fooling himself. It wasn't a game anymore. Phoenix was beginning to move on, and he did not want to lose her.
"What did youse say?" Phoenix must have heard wrong. Here in the main room of the Manhattan lodging house, in front of Jack and countless others, Spot Conlon would never reveal his feelings for anyone! He was reclusive when it came to sentimental things like that, choosing to not speak his heart in privacy but to rather keep it bottled inside. Perhaps she was only imagining he had said those three words she had always wanted to hear him say.
"Ya know what I'se said." Spot hoped she would not make him repeat it. It was hard enough saying it the first time.
"I'se not shoah I knows," she said through clenched teeth. "What did youse say?"
Spot looked around him, noticing a gathering crowd. He let out a silent groan. Why were people always concerned with his business? "I said, I love youse." He pronounced each syllable with emphasis so that she would understand.
"Yer not lyin this time, are ya?" It was more of an observation than a question. She smiled at him and her green eyes sparkled with joy.
"I aint in the habit of lyin, babe," the Brooklyn leader smirked. And as she neared him, he outstretched his arms and pulled her into his chest, holding her close so that no one could ever take her away from him again. He did not have to kiss her or make a show of their reunion. Embracing her as he was pleased him just as well. He buried his face in her hair and breathed in her sweet scent, realizing how much he really needed the girl. He felt her hands rub his back in relief and he no longer cared who was watching him. The fact that nearly twenty newsies had formed a circle around the couple was insignificant to him; his whole attention was focused on Phoenix. As she pulled away from him, he felt a warmth at the corner of his eyes.
Phoenix bent her head to one side and seemed to want him all the more for shedding away his cynicism. It was not often that he let others see what was inside of him. Spot did not understand what made her smile so, but soon realized it when a lone tear traveled from one of his eyes down his smooth cheek, leaving a clear trail behind for all to see. So that's what love is all about, he thought, not bothering to wipe the evidence away.
* * * * *
Two weeks later, Salsa was throwing all of her belongings into the knapsack she always kept under her bed. She had been so withdrawn after her meeting with Crow. She had even resigned from flirting, much to the dismay of several newsies and factory workers. But she could not continue anymore. She was terribly afraid of falling in love again. She was afraid that she might sacrifice her complete self for love. She was quite sure she had loved Spot, the feelings for him still murmured in her heart. Maybe getting to know him was a lesson she was bound to learn. She had thought herself above others by great height, but loving Spot had made her want to embrace humility.
She sat down on the edge of her bed and rested her head into her hands. She knew that Spot had recently gotten together with Phoenix, but it did not bother her the least bit. On the contrary, she was rather happy for the both of them. She could never be involved with Spot anyways. She dreaded commitment now that she actually cared for someone. She had never been in love before and she would not know how to act anymore. She could not be flirtateous as she had always been before. No, love was something of a different sort.
Reaching into the pocket of her navy blue knickers, she pulled out a train ticket she had purchased a few days ago with the financial help of Crow. As a matter of fact, Crow had bought herself a ticket as well, except hers was for a later day. Salsa had decided to leave for North Carolina, where the last remnants of her family resided. She had already contacted her aunt and the arrangements had been made immediately. Now the only problem was leaving behind New York.
She had already said her goodbyes to the Manhattan newsies this morning before they all left to the Distribution Center. The only one she waited for now was Spot. He had said he would meet her before going off to eat at Tibby's for lunch. He was officially late.
"Who are youse foolin, Salsa?" She said to herself, packing up her last possessions. "He just said that tah get youse outta his hair. He has a goil now. Why would he care about ya?" She frowned and sniffled as tears welled up in her eyes.
"Heya Salsa! I thought I'se was gunna miss ya! I was runnin down heah like crazy!" Spot Conlon entered the bunkroom at that moment. He bent over and placed his hands on his knees to catch his breath.
Salsa spun around and wiped her eyes quickly with a smile. "Spot! Ya came!"
"Of coise I came," he said. "Ya thought I'se was gunna miss me chance tah say bye tah youse?" He ran his fingers through his hair, combing back the strands that had fallen into his eyes in his rush to Manhattan. "So, ya ready tah leave New Yawk? There aint no way we'se can convince ya tah stay?"
"No, I'se pretty much decided at this point. 'Sides, what would youse want me tah stay fer? Ya already gots a goil." She mentally reprimanded herself for not holding her tongue. She did not want Spot to think she was leaving out of jealousy!
Spot grabbed the girl's wrist and waited for her to look at him. "Listen, I'se didn't plan tah fall in love wid someone. I'se known Phoenix fer a long time and only now realized that I felt sumthin special fer her. But don't think that I never liked ya. I mean, I didn't get ya all those roses fer nothing!"
Salsa laughed. "Well, it was fun while it lasted. Youse were great tah be wid, Spot. Even if we only spent a few days wid each other. I'll never forget ya."
"Same heah, and youse better keep in touch." He wrapped his arms around her and gave her a quick hug and kiss on the cheek before pulling away. "Do ya want me tah walk ya tah the train station?"
"No, it's okay," she said softly. She took a piece of cloth from under her pillow and handed it to Spot, telling him not to open it until she had left the room. "I guess I better go now. Goodbye, Conlon."
"C-ya around, Salsa." When she turned around and closed the door behind her, Spot looked down at the piece of cloth now in his hands. He unfolded the material, wondering all the while what could be wrapped within its fabric. He smiled when he found out. There staring back up at him, filled with the love Salsa had held on to, was a single rose conserved from the original batch he had given the girl.
* * * * *
Jack's face darkened when he saw Clue huddled on one of the windowsills of the girls' bunkroom with a gloomy expression on her face. She had been acting rather introverted as of late and he had not wanted to push the subject at first, but it had finally gotten to him. He hated it when people kept secrets from him, especially people he cared about. He walked up behind the girl and began to massage her shoulders. She flinched at first, but gradually relaxed within his grasp.
"Clue, what's the matter?"
"Whaddya mean?" Clue continued to stare out the window, unwilling to meet Jack's hard stare.
"Youse been actin weird lately. Yer usually all lively and pepy, but the past few days, youse been pretty depressed. Tell me what's botherin ya."
Clue sighed. "It's pretty stupid, but if youse must know, I'se been hearin alotta talk about youse. Goils have been sayin that ya aint happy wid me and that youse been thinkin about seeing other people before settling down again. I know it aint true because it aint sumthin youse would say tah anyone but yer closest friends. What scared me was that one day, ya might actually feel that way. I don't know what I'se would do then." She looked up at him at that moment and Jack saw that her eyes were red; she had been crying for a long time.
Jack sat down beside her and pulled her onto his lap, putting his arms over her waist to secure her. He brushed her hair behind her ears and planted a warm kiss on her cheek. "Clue, yer the greatest person I'se have ever known in me entire life. Everything I'se ever wanted in a goil can be found in yer personality. Yer smart, funny, sweet, and have a good heart. Don't listen tah what other people say; they's just envious."
"Awww, that's so sweet." She began to cry and leaned her head onto Jack's shoulder. "I knew I shouldn't have let it get tah me, but I'se kept wonderin why a popular guy like youse would want tah be wid a simple goil like me when youse could have anyone ya want."
"Youse is who I want," Jack said, kissing her hair. "And yer all I'se ever gunna want. I love ya."
Clue dried her tears with the sleeve of her shirt and looked into his grey eyes. "I love ya too." He smiled back at her and they remained on the windowsill in silence, basking in the affection they both felt that night.
* * * * *
Spot closed the door behind him with a smirk. Ever since Phoenix had moved into his room with him, he always had something to look forward when he retired from the late poker games Brooklyn always had. He took off his hat and hung it on one of the poles of his bunk bed. Phoenix was lying on the mattress already, barely moving, and Spot knelt beside her to watch her sleep. He found her to be beautiful. Everything seemed perfect about her; the rise and fall of her breast, the occasional flutter of her eyelids, and the sound of her breathing.
She had gone to sleep an hour earlier before him; he should have joined her but she had insisted he stay, knowing he was involved in a heated gamed with Brooklyn's second best card player. He reached out a hand and traced the curve of her face with his index finger. She was soft like satin and he had an urge to take her into his arms and squeeze her tight. He had missed her so much when she was gone. Even now as she slept, he missed her.
He wandered what she was dreaming about. Was she thinking of him in the depths of her slumber? Was she happy? He sighed and took off his suspenders and shirt. Then he gently crawled into bed beside the girl, careful not to wake her. He situated himself on his side and set an arm on Phoenix's hip before closing his eyes.
"I love ya, Phoenix," he whispered into the silent room.
Phoenix smiled. I love ya too, Conlon, she said in her mind.
More to Come! REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!!! You guys know how much I love reviews! Please don't leave me hanging here. I wanna know if you guys liked this chapter! It's very important to me. And guess what! All you gots to do is click that pretty purple button down there and SUBMIT A REVIEW!!! WOOHOO!!! C'mon, you can do it! I have faith in you! SUBMIT SUBMIT SUBMIT!!! Love ya all!
A.N. OMG, I contracted a virus that's going around and so I couldn't write for three whole days!! It was crazy!! LOL! It's time to make some shout outs! All of your reviews are real heartwarming. They make me laugh so hard. You're either incredibly mad with a character or laughing like crazy because they didn't get what they want. It's great. I love writing!
*Snuggles: I'm glad I wrote that short chapter so that everything would make sense. I didn't want to suddenly pull something off on everybody that would leave them with big question marks on their foreheads. LOL! Thanks so much for being a consistent reviewer! I always look forward to reading a review from you.
*Thunderstorm: Sorry I had to cut the lovely scene between Spot and Phoenix. Hahaha! Truth is, I wasn't sure how to continue on from those words that Spot had said. It took a lot of thought, but I finally pulled it all together. Hope you like this chapter!
*Doll Face: Yea, twists in a story are always fun! I learned that after watching Minority Report. Muahaha! I'm glad you're loving the story; it's always fun to get new reviewers. I hope you enjoy this new addition.
*Mads and Alex: Fortunately, Clue had Jack to fall back on. I didn't exactly want to pair her with Spot because their personalities clashed. Opposites attract, but who ever said they lasted? LOL!
*lange: Wedding bells for Clue and Jack, huh? I'll take that into consideration. lol! Wow, I didn't know you thought so highly of 'big jerk Spot'. OMG, your review made me laugh so hard! That was great! I'll try to work some scenes for Clue and Jack though, don't worry!
*Candi Kane: Glad you're back from your vacation or whatever it was, lol. I'm glad you loved the chapters you missed while you were gone. Yes, Spot said he actually loves her. I can't believe it either. Hahaha!
*Gypsy: Ah, the reviewer that does not log on. Hahaha! You're incredibly enthused about this whole story! Your reviews are among the ones that make me laugh hysterically! Thanks so much for reading this story! Keep those funny reviews coming! Hee hee!
*Gemini Kelly: Heya, thanks for the reviews! I'm updating at an incredible rate these days! A chapter a day keeps the strongly-worded letters away! Hee hee! Hope ya like the fact that Clue and Jack finally got together!
~finally getting to the story
Sugar and Spice and A Little Bit of Vice
Phoenix stared at the Brooklyn leader with an unreadable expression that caused Spot to shift with discomfort. What was she going to say? Was she going to refuse him with utter disdain as she had done before? He almost regretted having said those three words that meant so much, that held so much power. Then again, had he kept his feelings suppressed, he would only be fooling himself. It wasn't a game anymore. Phoenix was beginning to move on, and he did not want to lose her.
"What did youse say?" Phoenix must have heard wrong. Here in the main room of the Manhattan lodging house, in front of Jack and countless others, Spot Conlon would never reveal his feelings for anyone! He was reclusive when it came to sentimental things like that, choosing to not speak his heart in privacy but to rather keep it bottled inside. Perhaps she was only imagining he had said those three words she had always wanted to hear him say.
"Ya know what I'se said." Spot hoped she would not make him repeat it. It was hard enough saying it the first time.
"I'se not shoah I knows," she said through clenched teeth. "What did youse say?"
Spot looked around him, noticing a gathering crowd. He let out a silent groan. Why were people always concerned with his business? "I said, I love youse." He pronounced each syllable with emphasis so that she would understand.
"Yer not lyin this time, are ya?" It was more of an observation than a question. She smiled at him and her green eyes sparkled with joy.
"I aint in the habit of lyin, babe," the Brooklyn leader smirked. And as she neared him, he outstretched his arms and pulled her into his chest, holding her close so that no one could ever take her away from him again. He did not have to kiss her or make a show of their reunion. Embracing her as he was pleased him just as well. He buried his face in her hair and breathed in her sweet scent, realizing how much he really needed the girl. He felt her hands rub his back in relief and he no longer cared who was watching him. The fact that nearly twenty newsies had formed a circle around the couple was insignificant to him; his whole attention was focused on Phoenix. As she pulled away from him, he felt a warmth at the corner of his eyes.
Phoenix bent her head to one side and seemed to want him all the more for shedding away his cynicism. It was not often that he let others see what was inside of him. Spot did not understand what made her smile so, but soon realized it when a lone tear traveled from one of his eyes down his smooth cheek, leaving a clear trail behind for all to see. So that's what love is all about, he thought, not bothering to wipe the evidence away.
* * * * *
Two weeks later, Salsa was throwing all of her belongings into the knapsack she always kept under her bed. She had been so withdrawn after her meeting with Crow. She had even resigned from flirting, much to the dismay of several newsies and factory workers. But she could not continue anymore. She was terribly afraid of falling in love again. She was afraid that she might sacrifice her complete self for love. She was quite sure she had loved Spot, the feelings for him still murmured in her heart. Maybe getting to know him was a lesson she was bound to learn. She had thought herself above others by great height, but loving Spot had made her want to embrace humility.
She sat down on the edge of her bed and rested her head into her hands. She knew that Spot had recently gotten together with Phoenix, but it did not bother her the least bit. On the contrary, she was rather happy for the both of them. She could never be involved with Spot anyways. She dreaded commitment now that she actually cared for someone. She had never been in love before and she would not know how to act anymore. She could not be flirtateous as she had always been before. No, love was something of a different sort.
Reaching into the pocket of her navy blue knickers, she pulled out a train ticket she had purchased a few days ago with the financial help of Crow. As a matter of fact, Crow had bought herself a ticket as well, except hers was for a later day. Salsa had decided to leave for North Carolina, where the last remnants of her family resided. She had already contacted her aunt and the arrangements had been made immediately. Now the only problem was leaving behind New York.
She had already said her goodbyes to the Manhattan newsies this morning before they all left to the Distribution Center. The only one she waited for now was Spot. He had said he would meet her before going off to eat at Tibby's for lunch. He was officially late.
"Who are youse foolin, Salsa?" She said to herself, packing up her last possessions. "He just said that tah get youse outta his hair. He has a goil now. Why would he care about ya?" She frowned and sniffled as tears welled up in her eyes.
"Heya Salsa! I thought I'se was gunna miss ya! I was runnin down heah like crazy!" Spot Conlon entered the bunkroom at that moment. He bent over and placed his hands on his knees to catch his breath.
Salsa spun around and wiped her eyes quickly with a smile. "Spot! Ya came!"
"Of coise I came," he said. "Ya thought I'se was gunna miss me chance tah say bye tah youse?" He ran his fingers through his hair, combing back the strands that had fallen into his eyes in his rush to Manhattan. "So, ya ready tah leave New Yawk? There aint no way we'se can convince ya tah stay?"
"No, I'se pretty much decided at this point. 'Sides, what would youse want me tah stay fer? Ya already gots a goil." She mentally reprimanded herself for not holding her tongue. She did not want Spot to think she was leaving out of jealousy!
Spot grabbed the girl's wrist and waited for her to look at him. "Listen, I'se didn't plan tah fall in love wid someone. I'se known Phoenix fer a long time and only now realized that I felt sumthin special fer her. But don't think that I never liked ya. I mean, I didn't get ya all those roses fer nothing!"
Salsa laughed. "Well, it was fun while it lasted. Youse were great tah be wid, Spot. Even if we only spent a few days wid each other. I'll never forget ya."
"Same heah, and youse better keep in touch." He wrapped his arms around her and gave her a quick hug and kiss on the cheek before pulling away. "Do ya want me tah walk ya tah the train station?"
"No, it's okay," she said softly. She took a piece of cloth from under her pillow and handed it to Spot, telling him not to open it until she had left the room. "I guess I better go now. Goodbye, Conlon."
"C-ya around, Salsa." When she turned around and closed the door behind her, Spot looked down at the piece of cloth now in his hands. He unfolded the material, wondering all the while what could be wrapped within its fabric. He smiled when he found out. There staring back up at him, filled with the love Salsa had held on to, was a single rose conserved from the original batch he had given the girl.
* * * * *
Jack's face darkened when he saw Clue huddled on one of the windowsills of the girls' bunkroom with a gloomy expression on her face. She had been acting rather introverted as of late and he had not wanted to push the subject at first, but it had finally gotten to him. He hated it when people kept secrets from him, especially people he cared about. He walked up behind the girl and began to massage her shoulders. She flinched at first, but gradually relaxed within his grasp.
"Clue, what's the matter?"
"Whaddya mean?" Clue continued to stare out the window, unwilling to meet Jack's hard stare.
"Youse been actin weird lately. Yer usually all lively and pepy, but the past few days, youse been pretty depressed. Tell me what's botherin ya."
Clue sighed. "It's pretty stupid, but if youse must know, I'se been hearin alotta talk about youse. Goils have been sayin that ya aint happy wid me and that youse been thinkin about seeing other people before settling down again. I know it aint true because it aint sumthin youse would say tah anyone but yer closest friends. What scared me was that one day, ya might actually feel that way. I don't know what I'se would do then." She looked up at him at that moment and Jack saw that her eyes were red; she had been crying for a long time.
Jack sat down beside her and pulled her onto his lap, putting his arms over her waist to secure her. He brushed her hair behind her ears and planted a warm kiss on her cheek. "Clue, yer the greatest person I'se have ever known in me entire life. Everything I'se ever wanted in a goil can be found in yer personality. Yer smart, funny, sweet, and have a good heart. Don't listen tah what other people say; they's just envious."
"Awww, that's so sweet." She began to cry and leaned her head onto Jack's shoulder. "I knew I shouldn't have let it get tah me, but I'se kept wonderin why a popular guy like youse would want tah be wid a simple goil like me when youse could have anyone ya want."
"Youse is who I want," Jack said, kissing her hair. "And yer all I'se ever gunna want. I love ya."
Clue dried her tears with the sleeve of her shirt and looked into his grey eyes. "I love ya too." He smiled back at her and they remained on the windowsill in silence, basking in the affection they both felt that night.
* * * * *
Spot closed the door behind him with a smirk. Ever since Phoenix had moved into his room with him, he always had something to look forward when he retired from the late poker games Brooklyn always had. He took off his hat and hung it on one of the poles of his bunk bed. Phoenix was lying on the mattress already, barely moving, and Spot knelt beside her to watch her sleep. He found her to be beautiful. Everything seemed perfect about her; the rise and fall of her breast, the occasional flutter of her eyelids, and the sound of her breathing.
She had gone to sleep an hour earlier before him; he should have joined her but she had insisted he stay, knowing he was involved in a heated gamed with Brooklyn's second best card player. He reached out a hand and traced the curve of her face with his index finger. She was soft like satin and he had an urge to take her into his arms and squeeze her tight. He had missed her so much when she was gone. Even now as she slept, he missed her.
He wandered what she was dreaming about. Was she thinking of him in the depths of her slumber? Was she happy? He sighed and took off his suspenders and shirt. Then he gently crawled into bed beside the girl, careful not to wake her. He situated himself on his side and set an arm on Phoenix's hip before closing his eyes.
"I love ya, Phoenix," he whispered into the silent room.
Phoenix smiled. I love ya too, Conlon, she said in her mind.
More to Come! REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!!! You guys know how much I love reviews! Please don't leave me hanging here. I wanna know if you guys liked this chapter! It's very important to me. And guess what! All you gots to do is click that pretty purple button down there and SUBMIT A REVIEW!!! WOOHOO!!! C'mon, you can do it! I have faith in you! SUBMIT SUBMIT SUBMIT!!! Love ya all!