DISCALIMER: Yada, yada, yada. Newsies belong to Disney. Phoenix, Salsa, and
Clue belong to me, though! Muah ha! Oh, and so does Crow! And Doctor
Reynald too!
A.N. Yay, my virus is going away. Maybe I can update everyday now. Then again, school has started. :Dies: And with all the work that I get from my IB classes, I doubt I can type up a new addition to this story seven days a week. But I'll try! Hope you all enjoy this chapter very much, and thanks for the nice reviews!
Sugar and Spice and A Little Bit of Vice
When Phoenix woke up the next morning, her head was spinning with incredible nausea. The objects surrounding her rotated in disordered revolutions and even when she closed her eyes against the sights, the dizziness only grew in intensity. She grimaced at the soreness she also felt and ran to Spot's private washroom to splash cold water on her face. Twice she stumbled to the ground, feeling lightheaded and as if she had no bones within her flesh by which to support her body. She ended up crawling to the washroom on her hands and knees.
When she finally reached the sink, she grabbed its porcelain structure and pulled herself up to her feet but before she could even turn on the water, she felt a spasmic movement forcefully make its way up her throat. She dropped to her knees, suddenly weak, and tried to hold her mouth shut, but the contents of her stomach gushed out of her mouth nonetheless, spewing all over the tile floor in its yellowish liquid. She vomited quite involuntarily four more times, each more abundant than the preceding discharge. When her body was well again, she could only lean her back against the wall of the washroom and cry. What was wrong with her?
She peeked through the door into Spot's room to see if the Brooklyn leader was still asleep. He was, and she saw no need to bother him. She could easily clean up the washroom on her own. Besides, it was still too early for Spot to wake up, it being only four in the morning; he still had two hours to sleep away before heading off to the distribution center. Phoenix sighed. After she retrieved the mop in the storage room downstairs, she would head for the home practice of a doctor she happened to know quite well. She was saddened that she would not be able to be with Spot when he awoke, but it would be better if she got a physical check-up early. If she had contracted a virus of some sort, it would only go away if she got medicine as soon as she could.
* * * * *
Spot had finally sold his last paper from the one hundred morning editions he had purchased earlier. He was ahead of schedule and decided to run back to the Brooklyn lodging house to see if Phoenix had returned. She had not been anywhere in sight when he finally woke up that morning and it worried him. Where did she go in such a rush? Why had she not told him she was leaving? He had looked everywhere for her before going to the distribution center; he even checked Manhattan for the girl. But nobody had seen her.
The Brooklyn leader took a deep breath to relax himself. Maybe he was overreacting as he had done the night Phoenix went out on a date with Race. She was strong in both spirit and strength; she could take care of herself in any circumstance and Spot kept having to remind himself of that fact. He was not dealing with a shy wallflower or an ignorant child. Phoenix was just as street-smart as any tough newsie could be. He had to stop thinking of her as a baby.
A few minutes later, he was inside his room. Expecting to see Phoenix there, he had first entered in dramatically, but upon seeing that his assumptions were wrong, he fumed. "Where the hell is that goil!?" He flopped down on his bed and threw his hat across the room. Ever since he and Phoenix had gotten together, they had yet to spend quality time with each other. Spot was too busy either selling papers or playing poker whereas Phoenix was always wandering the city on her own or mingling with friends of hers who were not newsies.
Spot brought his head up hopefully at the sound of someone climbing the staircase. He spread himself over the bed to make it look as if he had been merely taking a nap and waited for Phoenix to walk in.
"Spot?"
His eyes snapped open at the voice he had not heard in years. He bolted upright and stared at a short girl with black, curly hair who only stared back at him with uncertainty. It was Crow.
"What are youse doin heah?" Spot did not know what to say. There were not many times in his life when he was at a lost for words.
"I asked some newsies wheah I'se could find Spot Conlon and they pointed me tah this place. I didn't expect ya tah be heah already, but when I hoid someone come in, I thought I'd see if it were youse. And it was. God, youse still looks the same."
Spot relaxed a bit, but still kept the girl in check. "Youse looks the same too. Still beautiful as ya were back in the day." He crossed his arms and leaned against one of the poles of his bed. "So, why were ya looking fer me anyways?"
"Not a day has passed by when I'se haven't thought about youse, Spot," the girl began slowly, walking farther into the room. "Those things ya said tah me last we talked hoit me so much, but I still loved ya. The thing is, I'se tired of livin in the shadows while everyone else is free tah do as they please. I'se tired of doin sumthin I hate in order to make money. Woise of all, I'se tired of being enemies wid youse. I want us tah be friends again, Spot. I want us tah go back tah the way things use tah be before we ended it." When she was sure she had nothing more to say, she looked at him, waiting for a response.
"Foist of all, I'se sorry fer all that crap I said tah youse when I ended it. I was young then and pretty stupid; also, I didn't have respect. People make their livin in different ways and I shoulda accepted that. Secondly, no one's makin ya live in the shadows and ya chose yer own career. Third, I'se agrees that we shouldn't be enemies anymore, but we can't go back tah the way things were because that would require us tah be a couple again and I'se don't think it would woik out fer us."
He wondered whether he should tell her that he was already involved in another relationship, but figured it would only make this more painful for the girl. He would have to explain this in another way. "Ya see, if I had loved youse when ya told me about yer job, I wouldn't have broken up wid youse because nuthin can change yer love for someone. I mean, I do love ya as a friend and all, but when it comes tah that special kinda love, I just don't think we'se have it fer each other. I'se shoah youse'll find someone else who you'd be better off wid."
Crow could do nothing more than stand there expressionless. This had not worked out the way she thought it would. Spot had indeed changed as she had guessed, but he still was unwilling to get back with her. She questioned in her mind what it would take for him to reconsider. She shifted her weight from one foot to another and gave Spot a playful look as she neared him with a longing smile.
Spot was immediately uncomfortable. He scooted back on his bed and stood to his feet atop the mattress. "What are youse doin? I thought we'se were gunna be friends?"
"Spotty! Ya know ya want me. Why don't youse just give in to yer desires? I don't understand ya, Conlon. Then again, I never did. Ya see sumthin ya want right in front of youse, but yer too scared tah reach out and grab it."
"I don't want youse!" Spot raised his voice. Crow had never been like this! She always knew when to hold back, yet now she was crossing the border.
Crow climbed onto the bed and laughed when Spot backed up against a wall with an angry glare. "Are ya shoah about that?"
Spot sighed. He had not wanted to bring Phoenix up, but Crow had left him no choice. "Yea, I'se shoah. I'se already involved wid someone, and I love her! Not the kinda love I thought I had fer youse, though. This feeling I have fer her is warm and strong, and even when I'se not wid her, it tingles in me heart. And she loves me too, so it's perfect! So I'se not gunna trade all that in fer someone from me past just because she finally got around tah makin up wid me. I love me goil too much!"
Crow blinked at the reply. She had not expected that either. Last she heard, Spot was single. She backed away from the Brooklyn leader and lowered herself to the edge of the bed. She could not believe she had acted like a complete fool only to hear that Spot was in love with someone else. It was completely embarrassing and she could only turn her head away from him to hide her dread. Spot sat beside her and laid a hand over her shoulders, feeling her tremble.
"I'se sorry, Crow, but ya have really bad timing."
Crow laughed through her tears. "Yer such an idiot, Conlon." She would have to cover up her pain quickly; make it look as if she had not been stabbed in the heart just now, even though she had been.
"Yea, I knows." He kissed her gently on the cheek and then rose to his feet. "Listen, I'se gots tah be headin tah Manhattan right about now. Youse welcome tah join me and me friends fer lunch if ya want. Meet up wid the old gang again like old times; it'd be fun."
"Nah, I'se gunna pass," she said, standing up as well. "I have a train tah catch. I'll be headin tah Pennsylvania in two hours. I said to meself, if Spot wants tah start over, then I'll stay, but if he doesn't, then I'll leave."
Spot frowned. This was the second girl that left the state because of him and it made him feel terrible. He wished things could just have a happy ending for everybody. Causing people all this pain was overbearing. "Ya shoah ya don't wanna stay? I mean, we'se startin over as friends, right? Why not stay fer that?"
Crow shook her head. "I think it's time tah move on wid me life, but heah's an idea. I'll write ya whenever I have the chance, and we'll keep in touch that way!"
"Sounds like a plan, my dear," Spot said in his best English accent. He and Crow always used to read English plays when they were together, and that happened to be a line from their favorite one. They both laughed and made their way outside onto the streets where they had their last conversation before parting. Spot hugged his ex-fiancé and reminded her of her promise to write. She smiled and kissed him on the cheek. Soon enough, their paths diverged.
* * * * *
Phoenix sat on the exam table of the room a nurse had placed her in, swinging her legs a foot above the hardwood floor below. The room was cold and lacked any color, making her feel as if she were in a prison. Perhaps if there had been some bright wallpaper or paint, she would be in happier moods. A knock sounded at the door and she answered, "Come in."
Doctor Reynald, whom Phoenix had known from her childhood, walked into the room holding a chart in his hands and a folder where the girl's records were stored. The folder was rather thin for Phoenix rarely returned for her annual exams.
"So, according to the symptoms my nurse has listed, you seem to have caught the first starters of a minor flu. But something leads me to believe otherwise. Now, dear, you must be perfectly honest with me. Are you sexually active?"
Phoenix blushed. "Harrison! That aint sumthin youse ask a goil youse known since she was ten! Goodness!" She tied her hair back in a ponytail with a piece of cloth and sighed. "Just cause youse is a doctor, I'se gunna answer that. Yes, I is. But don't worry, because me and Spot aint sick in any way, so I knows I aint got no disease."
The doctor nodded and looked over his notes. "When was the last time you two, well, you know?'
"Fer cryin out loud, I'se don't record it whenever we'se sleeps together. What does this have tah do wid anything? I said we weren't sick. I think I'se just got the flu er sumthin."
"Are you and this, uh, Spot living together?"
"Uh-huh, and we'se love each other very much, so it's no big deal that we'se do stuff like that wid each other. It's natural, ya know?"
"Well I hope he still loves you when you tell him the news," Doctor Reynald said, closing the folder and looking up at the girl.
"I'se shoah he will. What's the news?" She smiled at him radiantly and leaned in close with interest.
"Phoenix, you are over three weeks pregnant."
Phoenix's eyes glazed over and her jaw dropped open. Then she could only see blackness as she passed out cold.
~More to come!! MMkay, don't get scared away by the sudden turn of events! I promise you that you will continue to love this story more and more by the chapter!!! Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a three-legged camel in my eye! *OUCH* PLEASE REVIEW!!!! I need REVIEWS really really bad! I just love reading them; they're like food for my muse. YEEEEEEEE HAW! So SUMBIT THEM REVIEWS, ay? WOOHOOOO!!!! REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!!! I LOVE YA ALL!!
A.N. Yay, my virus is going away. Maybe I can update everyday now. Then again, school has started. :Dies: And with all the work that I get from my IB classes, I doubt I can type up a new addition to this story seven days a week. But I'll try! Hope you all enjoy this chapter very much, and thanks for the nice reviews!
Sugar and Spice and A Little Bit of Vice
When Phoenix woke up the next morning, her head was spinning with incredible nausea. The objects surrounding her rotated in disordered revolutions and even when she closed her eyes against the sights, the dizziness only grew in intensity. She grimaced at the soreness she also felt and ran to Spot's private washroom to splash cold water on her face. Twice she stumbled to the ground, feeling lightheaded and as if she had no bones within her flesh by which to support her body. She ended up crawling to the washroom on her hands and knees.
When she finally reached the sink, she grabbed its porcelain structure and pulled herself up to her feet but before she could even turn on the water, she felt a spasmic movement forcefully make its way up her throat. She dropped to her knees, suddenly weak, and tried to hold her mouth shut, but the contents of her stomach gushed out of her mouth nonetheless, spewing all over the tile floor in its yellowish liquid. She vomited quite involuntarily four more times, each more abundant than the preceding discharge. When her body was well again, she could only lean her back against the wall of the washroom and cry. What was wrong with her?
She peeked through the door into Spot's room to see if the Brooklyn leader was still asleep. He was, and she saw no need to bother him. She could easily clean up the washroom on her own. Besides, it was still too early for Spot to wake up, it being only four in the morning; he still had two hours to sleep away before heading off to the distribution center. Phoenix sighed. After she retrieved the mop in the storage room downstairs, she would head for the home practice of a doctor she happened to know quite well. She was saddened that she would not be able to be with Spot when he awoke, but it would be better if she got a physical check-up early. If she had contracted a virus of some sort, it would only go away if she got medicine as soon as she could.
* * * * *
Spot had finally sold his last paper from the one hundred morning editions he had purchased earlier. He was ahead of schedule and decided to run back to the Brooklyn lodging house to see if Phoenix had returned. She had not been anywhere in sight when he finally woke up that morning and it worried him. Where did she go in such a rush? Why had she not told him she was leaving? He had looked everywhere for her before going to the distribution center; he even checked Manhattan for the girl. But nobody had seen her.
The Brooklyn leader took a deep breath to relax himself. Maybe he was overreacting as he had done the night Phoenix went out on a date with Race. She was strong in both spirit and strength; she could take care of herself in any circumstance and Spot kept having to remind himself of that fact. He was not dealing with a shy wallflower or an ignorant child. Phoenix was just as street-smart as any tough newsie could be. He had to stop thinking of her as a baby.
A few minutes later, he was inside his room. Expecting to see Phoenix there, he had first entered in dramatically, but upon seeing that his assumptions were wrong, he fumed. "Where the hell is that goil!?" He flopped down on his bed and threw his hat across the room. Ever since he and Phoenix had gotten together, they had yet to spend quality time with each other. Spot was too busy either selling papers or playing poker whereas Phoenix was always wandering the city on her own or mingling with friends of hers who were not newsies.
Spot brought his head up hopefully at the sound of someone climbing the staircase. He spread himself over the bed to make it look as if he had been merely taking a nap and waited for Phoenix to walk in.
"Spot?"
His eyes snapped open at the voice he had not heard in years. He bolted upright and stared at a short girl with black, curly hair who only stared back at him with uncertainty. It was Crow.
"What are youse doin heah?" Spot did not know what to say. There were not many times in his life when he was at a lost for words.
"I asked some newsies wheah I'se could find Spot Conlon and they pointed me tah this place. I didn't expect ya tah be heah already, but when I hoid someone come in, I thought I'd see if it were youse. And it was. God, youse still looks the same."
Spot relaxed a bit, but still kept the girl in check. "Youse looks the same too. Still beautiful as ya were back in the day." He crossed his arms and leaned against one of the poles of his bed. "So, why were ya looking fer me anyways?"
"Not a day has passed by when I'se haven't thought about youse, Spot," the girl began slowly, walking farther into the room. "Those things ya said tah me last we talked hoit me so much, but I still loved ya. The thing is, I'se tired of livin in the shadows while everyone else is free tah do as they please. I'se tired of doin sumthin I hate in order to make money. Woise of all, I'se tired of being enemies wid youse. I want us tah be friends again, Spot. I want us tah go back tah the way things use tah be before we ended it." When she was sure she had nothing more to say, she looked at him, waiting for a response.
"Foist of all, I'se sorry fer all that crap I said tah youse when I ended it. I was young then and pretty stupid; also, I didn't have respect. People make their livin in different ways and I shoulda accepted that. Secondly, no one's makin ya live in the shadows and ya chose yer own career. Third, I'se agrees that we shouldn't be enemies anymore, but we can't go back tah the way things were because that would require us tah be a couple again and I'se don't think it would woik out fer us."
He wondered whether he should tell her that he was already involved in another relationship, but figured it would only make this more painful for the girl. He would have to explain this in another way. "Ya see, if I had loved youse when ya told me about yer job, I wouldn't have broken up wid youse because nuthin can change yer love for someone. I mean, I do love ya as a friend and all, but when it comes tah that special kinda love, I just don't think we'se have it fer each other. I'se shoah youse'll find someone else who you'd be better off wid."
Crow could do nothing more than stand there expressionless. This had not worked out the way she thought it would. Spot had indeed changed as she had guessed, but he still was unwilling to get back with her. She questioned in her mind what it would take for him to reconsider. She shifted her weight from one foot to another and gave Spot a playful look as she neared him with a longing smile.
Spot was immediately uncomfortable. He scooted back on his bed and stood to his feet atop the mattress. "What are youse doin? I thought we'se were gunna be friends?"
"Spotty! Ya know ya want me. Why don't youse just give in to yer desires? I don't understand ya, Conlon. Then again, I never did. Ya see sumthin ya want right in front of youse, but yer too scared tah reach out and grab it."
"I don't want youse!" Spot raised his voice. Crow had never been like this! She always knew when to hold back, yet now she was crossing the border.
Crow climbed onto the bed and laughed when Spot backed up against a wall with an angry glare. "Are ya shoah about that?"
Spot sighed. He had not wanted to bring Phoenix up, but Crow had left him no choice. "Yea, I'se shoah. I'se already involved wid someone, and I love her! Not the kinda love I thought I had fer youse, though. This feeling I have fer her is warm and strong, and even when I'se not wid her, it tingles in me heart. And she loves me too, so it's perfect! So I'se not gunna trade all that in fer someone from me past just because she finally got around tah makin up wid me. I love me goil too much!"
Crow blinked at the reply. She had not expected that either. Last she heard, Spot was single. She backed away from the Brooklyn leader and lowered herself to the edge of the bed. She could not believe she had acted like a complete fool only to hear that Spot was in love with someone else. It was completely embarrassing and she could only turn her head away from him to hide her dread. Spot sat beside her and laid a hand over her shoulders, feeling her tremble.
"I'se sorry, Crow, but ya have really bad timing."
Crow laughed through her tears. "Yer such an idiot, Conlon." She would have to cover up her pain quickly; make it look as if she had not been stabbed in the heart just now, even though she had been.
"Yea, I knows." He kissed her gently on the cheek and then rose to his feet. "Listen, I'se gots tah be headin tah Manhattan right about now. Youse welcome tah join me and me friends fer lunch if ya want. Meet up wid the old gang again like old times; it'd be fun."
"Nah, I'se gunna pass," she said, standing up as well. "I have a train tah catch. I'll be headin tah Pennsylvania in two hours. I said to meself, if Spot wants tah start over, then I'll stay, but if he doesn't, then I'll leave."
Spot frowned. This was the second girl that left the state because of him and it made him feel terrible. He wished things could just have a happy ending for everybody. Causing people all this pain was overbearing. "Ya shoah ya don't wanna stay? I mean, we'se startin over as friends, right? Why not stay fer that?"
Crow shook her head. "I think it's time tah move on wid me life, but heah's an idea. I'll write ya whenever I have the chance, and we'll keep in touch that way!"
"Sounds like a plan, my dear," Spot said in his best English accent. He and Crow always used to read English plays when they were together, and that happened to be a line from their favorite one. They both laughed and made their way outside onto the streets where they had their last conversation before parting. Spot hugged his ex-fiancé and reminded her of her promise to write. She smiled and kissed him on the cheek. Soon enough, their paths diverged.
* * * * *
Phoenix sat on the exam table of the room a nurse had placed her in, swinging her legs a foot above the hardwood floor below. The room was cold and lacked any color, making her feel as if she were in a prison. Perhaps if there had been some bright wallpaper or paint, she would be in happier moods. A knock sounded at the door and she answered, "Come in."
Doctor Reynald, whom Phoenix had known from her childhood, walked into the room holding a chart in his hands and a folder where the girl's records were stored. The folder was rather thin for Phoenix rarely returned for her annual exams.
"So, according to the symptoms my nurse has listed, you seem to have caught the first starters of a minor flu. But something leads me to believe otherwise. Now, dear, you must be perfectly honest with me. Are you sexually active?"
Phoenix blushed. "Harrison! That aint sumthin youse ask a goil youse known since she was ten! Goodness!" She tied her hair back in a ponytail with a piece of cloth and sighed. "Just cause youse is a doctor, I'se gunna answer that. Yes, I is. But don't worry, because me and Spot aint sick in any way, so I knows I aint got no disease."
The doctor nodded and looked over his notes. "When was the last time you two, well, you know?'
"Fer cryin out loud, I'se don't record it whenever we'se sleeps together. What does this have tah do wid anything? I said we weren't sick. I think I'se just got the flu er sumthin."
"Are you and this, uh, Spot living together?"
"Uh-huh, and we'se love each other very much, so it's no big deal that we'se do stuff like that wid each other. It's natural, ya know?"
"Well I hope he still loves you when you tell him the news," Doctor Reynald said, closing the folder and looking up at the girl.
"I'se shoah he will. What's the news?" She smiled at him radiantly and leaned in close with interest.
"Phoenix, you are over three weeks pregnant."
Phoenix's eyes glazed over and her jaw dropped open. Then she could only see blackness as she passed out cold.
~More to come!! MMkay, don't get scared away by the sudden turn of events! I promise you that you will continue to love this story more and more by the chapter!!! Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a three-legged camel in my eye! *OUCH* PLEASE REVIEW!!!! I need REVIEWS really really bad! I just love reading them; they're like food for my muse. YEEEEEEEE HAW! So SUMBIT THEM REVIEWS, ay? WOOHOOOO!!!! REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!!! I LOVE YA ALL!!