Past Secrets and Present Times
Chapter 19
By Megan
She returned to her house alone a few hours later. Rosa was in the kitchen so she tried to sneak upstairs. Unfortunately, Rubin was coming down them. "My God, what happened to you?" His yelling sent Rosa rushing out of the kitchen.
"Brooke, who did this to you? Which one of those newsies beat you up?"
She turned to face the older woman. Her clothes were muddy and torn but not bloody. In fact, there wasn't a scratch on her. "What? This?"
"Yes this. Which one of them beat you up?"
"This is nothin'. You should see the other guy. And I started it so it isn't his fault. No- wait…well he did sorta start it."
"How did he sorta start it?" Rosa glared at her, daring her to lie.
"You were in court today. You heard the last thing Medda said."
"Yes, I did."
"Well, Racetrack started a nice little joke among the other guys. I wasn't supposed to hear it but Snoddy can't keep his mouth shut. I just tackled him and beat on him a little. Don't worry though; he'll be fine."
"What'd you do to him?" Rubin asked.
"Bloody nose," she said as if it were no big deal, "and maybe a few scratches. Nothing life threatening, I promise. And he didn't land one punch on me so quit worrying."
"Speaking of the newsies…" Daniel entered the room, "where are they?"
"Staying at the lodging house tonight. See you at dinner." She trotted past Rubin up the stairs and down the hall.
At dinner she wore a clean set of clothes and sat around the bar with the rest of them. Even Daniel had moved there from the dining room table after his experience with Spot.
"Rosa, is it ok if I go selling with the fellas tomorrow morning?"
"That's fine. I get up at six, so I'll make your breakfast."
"Umm, Rosa. I'm gonna be up and outta here by like five."
"Why so early?" Daniel questioned.
"Well I have to go all the way across Manhattan and wake some of the guys at the lodging house up. Then we'll barely get there in time to get our papes." Then more to herself, "I wonder if Spot'll still be sleeping." She shrugged as she picked up her plate, "So can I go?"
"Yes, just be back before curfew tomorrow night."
She washed her plates in the kitchen and slipped upstairs. Rubin was the one who checked on her a few hours later.
"Are you going to bed early?" he asked.
She nodded, "I just wanna finish a few more chapters in this book first." She continued to read the book in front of her until upstairs was almost silent. She slipped her pocket watch into her pocket after checking the time, it was only nine, and pulled on her boots. She climbed out the window and expertly made her way to the ground. She ran until she was out of the rich section of town and slowed her pace. She loved Manhattan at night. Barely everyone was outside and it was reasonably quiet.
As she passed an alley a few bums leered at her suggestively. One of them was brave enough to comment on how nice she looked. Her clothes were tighter than the ones she wore when she was trying to look like a boy and she wasn't wearing a buttoned shirt over her tank top. She rolled her eyes and told him to get lost, plus a few other choice adjectives to tell him what she thought of him. She knew he was following her but did not increase her speed. More footfall, jokes, and suppressed laughter indicated that his friends were coming as well.
After a moment they quieted and many began laughing again when she stopped. The man who'd commented on her clothes stepped forward and spoke, placing a hand on her shoulder, "Why don't you and I-"
Not even letting him finish his question Hotshot spun around and aimed a fist at his face. He was handsome, she would admit that, but she wasn't going to let him talk to her the way he was. Her fist struck his face with enough force to send him flying over backward. His friends all jumped back and he cursed as he hit the ground. When he looked up at her the skin around his eye was already swelling; he'd have a black eye the next morning. "I don't want to have anything to do wit' you," She told him, "so get outta here and leave me alone."
She turned and heard a few remarks yelled after her as she continued on her way to the lodging house. She'd seen Oscar and Maurice in the group and planned to give them a lecture the next day.
She climbed in through the window and found everyone settled around the room. She walked over to the largest of the card games. Racetrack sat across from Spot with a smug look on his face. Unnoticed by Race she sat down behind Spot.
"Race's bluffin'," she told him, "He's got nothing."
"How d'you know?" he asked not turning around.
"'Cause if he gives you that smug look it'll make you think he has a good hand and quit. He uses it whenever he has nothing."
Spot added more money to the winnings and he and Race showed their cards. Spot collected his winnings copying Racetracks smug face. He respectfully declined Race's offer for another game. He stood to leave. It was then that Race saw Hotshot and began to protest as the two ideas connected in his brain. Spot turned around.
"You say something?" He was facing away from her but Hotshot knew the exact look on his face. It was the face he made that did not reveal anything. If you looked into his eyes all you saw was a threat to get soaked. Hotshot had seen it once, when she was fifteen, and it was the only time he'd ever hit her.
"No," Racetrack mumbled, deciding he didn't want to get beat on twice in one day.
"Didn't think so," Spot turned and walked off.
Racetrack threw a look in Hotshot's direction. She stared straight into his accusing glare and smiled. "Don't look at me like that. You know youse gonna win it all back by the end a the night."
When she found Jack he was sitting with Spot, Blackjack and Rebel in one corner of the room. "As promised I am here," she sat down on the edge of the bunk.
"The other guys'll be back in a few," Jack said.
"Which ones?" she asked looking around the room.
"Bumlets and Specs are comin' back from the hospital," he explained, "So what'd ya tell Rosa?"
"Wait a minute. Who's takin' Specs' place?"
"Mush."
"I told Rosa I was comin' at five tomorrow. I didn't leave 'til after ev'ryone went ta bed."
"I thought you might have gotten in a fight wit' that Daniel kid."
"Why would I get in a fight wit' him?" she looked Rebel in the eye addressing his comment.
"Well," he said, "Youse gots blood on your hand so you musta been in a fight."
All of the guys' eyes snapped to her hands and back to her face. Her brother raised an eyebrow in question.
Rebel continued, "If it wasn't Daniel then who was it?"
"There was a few a those rich hoity-toity bums the Delancy's hang out wit' a few streets from 'ere. One a 'em was thinkin' he was gonna get sumthin' tonight so I made 'im get lost."
"Hotshot," Blackjack groaned rubbing a hand over his face.
"Don't start wit' that," she interrupted, "I only hit 'im once an' all I gave 'im was a black eye."
Each of the boys stared at her face waiting for her to flinch.
"I swear." She said
Spot met her gaze. He was one of the few people who she could never lie to. No matter what he could always tell when she was lying. Even her brother couldn't do that. She'd made up excuses plenty of times to get away from him, but never with Spot.
"She's tellin' the truth." He nodded.
"Well, it's nice to know I'se believed." She acted offended and smiled as the door to the room entered, "If the four a you are done being asses than I'se gonna go where I'se appreciated." She staked off across the room. Two of the boys stared after her astonished that she felt that way, while the other two began laughing at her acting.
Bumlets nearly ran into Hotshot as she appeared out of nowhere in front of him. "Jeeez girl, what'd ya do that for?" he asked when he'd recovered from his shock.
"I didn't do anything." She claimed, "So how's Kid?"
"Same as always," Bumlets answered, "Hey Specs, you see who's here."
Specs looked over at her and his eyes went wide, "What're you doin' here. Hotshot it's way past curfew. If they find out youse gone-"
"Specs," she cut him off, "Rosa thinks I'se comin' here at five tomorrow and ev'ryone was sleepin' 'fore I left. Don't worry so much." She kissed his cheek and he shook his head, knowing it was no use to argue.
The three of them joined a card game with Dutchy and Skittery. Half an hour later Spot was behind Hotshot, whispering in her ear, "Roof. Ten minutes." She nodded and he was gone. She excused herself after another win claiming, "Youse guys need some money to buy papes tomorrow."
The roof was dark when she reached it and Spot was nowhere to be seen. She sat down to wait for him. After a few minutes he stepped from the shadows. "So what's up?" she asked as he approached her. Without saying a word in response he kissed her.
Hotshot's reaction didn't even take a second, "What the hell are you doing?" she yelled pulling back away from him.
"You broke up with Specs. Don't that mean we's back together?"
"Spot. No. I mean. Spot we aren't getting back together."
"Why not?" He was confused at being turned down.
"Spot, you and me, we's past being boyfriend and girlfriend. You know that. We was goin' downhill even 'fore you sent me to Manhattan."
"I don't believe you." He said angrily
"Spot, I love you. You know that. But I love you like I love Andres and my family. And Spot I think I'se in love with Specs."
"But we gotta get back together."
"No Spot. If Specs wants to when this is over we's getting' back together. I really love him Spot."
"No," he used his last bit of power over her, "If you don't get back together wit' me I ain't gonna help wit' you father's case and I'll kick you outta Brooklyn."
She stood there stunned for a moment and then yelled, "Don't you dare pull rank on me Spot Conlon." She was up in his face meeting his eyes and fuming.
"And what if I do?" He was just as angry but showed it only in the loudness of his voice.
Usually if any newsie, including Hotshot, was going to do anything Spot could tell by looking in their eyes. If they were going to turn and leave of throw a punch Spot could tell by something in their eyes and stop it. He didn't see anything in Hotshot's eye. She punched him once and sent him reeling over backward. When he got up and came back at her she hit him again, harder. This time he stared up at her with an astonished look.
"Don't you ever pull rank on me Spot Conlon," she said calmly as possible, "'Cause I have no problem hitting you." She stalked downstairs and left him sitting on the roof.
She walked right past every group in the bunkroom and sunk down onto her bed. Members of each group called out to her once or twice and then left her alone knowing she was angry at someone. When Jack and Specs came over she yelled for them to leave her alone. Her response to her brother was even nastier. Eventually all of the newsies began to quiet down and go to bed. This was when Racetrack chose to approach her.
"Who was it? He asked.
"Spot." She said the name with no emotion and without looking at him, "Now please Race leave me alone. All I want is to go to sleep and forget this ever happened."
Race left and found Rebel, "You might wanna find your brudah."
After Race had turned and left that was exactly what he did.
* * *
After she'd hit him the second time Spot stared after her as she left. He licked the inside of his cheek where blood was pooling and spat onto the hard, concrete surface. The area around his left eye was swelling rapidly and he was sure he'd be asked who gave him the shiner when he got back downstairs. Not only would he have to tell them he got soaked, but that he'd gotten soaked by a girl.
This brought him to another conclusion; Brooke had hit him. In her entire life she'd only hit him a few times before that and he'd known it was coming. The fact that her eyes hadn't revealed anything to him was what scared him most.
He moved to sit against the edge of the roof and sat in the dark thinking. He'd been there at least half an hour when the sound of someone approaching made him look up. Rebel wandered out onto the roof. He looked around and stared at the place where Spot was hiding in the shadows.
"Gabe," he said.
Spot came out of the shadows a little but kept his head turned so that his brother would only see the right side of his face. Rebel ignored this and took Spot's chin in his hand. He turned Spot's face and whistled, "Boy, she really worked you over."
"What's it ta you?" Spot snapped slapping his brother's hand away.
"So how come she hit you?" he asked raising an eyebrow.
Spot froze and thought back to what had been said. He immediately regretted everything he'd said. "Damn," he mumbled, "Reb, I really screwed up."
"Yeah, I would hafta agree wit' you there," the older boy nodded. He handed a small cloth to Spot, "Youse gots blood runnin' down your face.
Spot rubbed the cloth over his lips and chin, "Dennis, she ain't never gonna forgive me-"
"I told youse a million times; call me Rebel, not Dennis," his brother interrupted, "Now exactly what happened?"
Spot repeated the events that had taken place on the roof and his brother looked on with both horror and understanding. "She ain't never gonna forgive me Reb. I mean I don't blame 'er but…"
"You still care about her." His brother finished for him.
"Yeah," Spot agreed, "What do ya think would happen if Specs left or sumthin' happened to 'im."
Rebel sighed, his brother jumped to violence way too fast. "Spot, you can't soak Specs. It ain't his fault that Hotshot likes him or that he likes her. These things just happen."
Spot opened his mouth to say something but Rebel wasn't done yet.
"Spot, how do you love Brooke?"
"Whatta ya mean?"
"I mean do you love her like you love a sister or a good fiend or do you love her like you loved that girl you dated the year 'fore I left? Take a minute and really think before ya answer."
Spot paused and stared off into space for a moment. "A friend," he said amazed at his revelation.
"Then you should be makin' sure Specs and her are both safe and tryin' to keep 'em togetha." Rebel used the wisdom he'd gathered over the years on his little brother. "You ready to go downstairs?"
"Everyone asleep?"
"They'll see it tomorrow, Brooklyn."
"Well right now I wanna get some sleep and let it wait 'til tomorrow."
"Yeah, they's all asleep." The two of them walked downstairs and he pushed Spot into an empty bunk. The younger boy was drained of all energy and asleep almost instantly. Rebel made his way to his bunk and quietly whispered to Jack about what had happened. Jack let out a low whistle, thankful everyone else was asleep and that no one had heard it. Unfortunately for him one of the other boys was laying in his bunk wide-awake. When he was sure Jack and Rebel were asleep he crept out of bed. He pulled on his glasses and snuck up to the roof for an hour, just thinking about what he'd heard. There was one person that he was unsure about whether he should tell or not. He knew that person would want to know but didn't want to worry him or her (there you go Katelyn, not 'them'). When he made his decision he went back downstairs and crawled into bed. He'd decide by tomorrow. (Ooohhhh, was it Specs or Dutchy? Wiser? Virgo? Who needs to know? Specs or Hotshot? Dun, Dun, Dun!)
* * *
The next morning Hotshot was up at Brooklyn time; maybe even earlier. She was the first one awake, anyway and it was still before five. She quickly washed up and changed into her clothes. She was going to give Spot one chance, and only one chance, to set things right. He knew how to do it, but she wondered if his pride would get in the way.
When the other newsies began to wake up most of them threw glances at Hotshot; probably wondering if her bad mood had ended with sleep or carried into the next day. Race was the only one who met her eyes and she smiled sweetly at him in return. He sighed and a few of the boys around him relaxed.
The real challenge began when Spot came out of the washroom. Everyone froze or stared and he looked at them all with an ice hard glare. Pie Eater was the first to speak.
"Jeeez Spot, what happened ta you?"
"What's it look like. I got soaked."
By this time the bunkroom was deathly silent
"By who?" Itey's curiosity got the better of him.
"First of all it's whom," Spot corrected. He was stalling for time and Hotshot was getting worried about his answer. "And," he went on, "It was Hotshot."
All heads turned in her direction and she smiled at him.
"I'se sorry," he mouthed and no one could see.
She walked over and kissed him on the cheek. "Someone's gotta keep you in line," she said. Then she whispered, "We'll talk later. With that she strolled out of the bunkroom and the newsies who were ready followed her ,"
(A/N: I just love keeping people in suspense. You'll have to review and find out. If you don't I might not add anymore chapters. I know this one is short but the last few were really long and the next one will be longer too.
Taking a vote. Who should she get together with at the end of the story. Spot, Specs, or someone else? Vote in your review. It won't effect the ending at all I just want to see what people think. Anyway I promise new chapters soon.
~Megan)