Something More Than Temporary
Disclaimer: Alright, this is the usual disclaimer I guess, lol. I don't own Newsies, but I guess I own Fleck. Okay? Okay…and thank you so much to those of you who reviewed! It definitely makes my day!
Chapter 9: Repercussions
The next couple of seconds seemed passed by in slow motion. The back of Spot's hand came swiftly down across Fleck's face, knocking her over with the amount of force. She stumbled to the ground, colliding with a bed stand as she fell. The table crashed to its side, throwing all the items on it to the floor. For once, Spot was both stunned and disgusted with himself. He had actually hit a girl. What was he thinking? He knew a guy was never to strike a girl, but he had done it nonetheless. He lunged forward to help her up, but she shrunk away from his arms. "Get away from me!" she yelled.
"You was askin' fer it, ya know dat, Fleck," he said, but he was unsure of himself in that brief moment.
"You just wait 'til Jack heahs 'bout dis! He's-"
"Not gonna care," he said, reassuming his dominant stance.
"What? Of course he's gonna care!"
"No he ain't. He don't love ya."
"But-"
"He woulda done da same thing."
That was all Fleck could take. "Get da hell outta heah, Spot Conlon," she whispered dangerously, but his words stuck in her mind like an unwanted thorn. She knew he was right. Why did he always have to be right?
Just as Spot was heading for the door, Mush bounded into the room, drawn by the loud crash of the bed stand. He was taken aback by the scene in front of him: Spot was closest to him, slightly red in one cheek, Fleck was still on the ground, her whole face completely flushed with color, and the contents of the bed stand were scattered across the floor, including shards of what looked to be broken porcelain. "What da hell's goin' on heah?" he asked, though he was pretty sure he knew exactly what had happened.
"She fell," Spot said, feigning casualness.
Mush rolled his eyes. "Oh really, dat right?"
Fleck hesitated, unsure of what to say. She yearned to say Spot had hit her and to see his reputation crumble before their very eyes. But she feared what he might do if she did say that. She tried to convince herself that he wouldn't hit her again, but she didn't know that for sure. And she certainly wouldn't put it past him. "Yeah, I fell. Tripped ovah somethin'," she said shakily.
"Ovah what? Ovah Spot? Or maybe ya just ran inta his fist on da way down," Mush said, taking a step towards Spot and blocking his escape path to the door.
Now it was Spot's turn to roll his eyes. He sidestepped Mush, but Mush got right back in his face. "Look, Mush, I know what ya's tryin' ta imply heah, but she fell. Ain't my fault da goil's clumsy."
"Mush, just ferget it, awright? Spot was just leavin', let him go," Fleck pleaded.
Mush narrowed his eyes, looked at Spot and poked a finger in his chest. "You bettah hope she just 'fell'. Cuz if I evah heah oddahwise, you'se gonna be real sorry."
"Whatevah, Mush," Spot muttered, pushing his hand away roughly and stalking out of the room.
Mush turned his attention back to Fleck who was picking up the scattered contents of the bed stand, visibly shaken. He walked over to her and lowered himself to her level so he was kneeling next to her. It was then he noticed the trail from a fallen tear on her cheek and more tears on the brim of her eyelashes, threatening to fall. "Musta been some fall, ta make ya cry an' all. Don't think I'se evah seen ya cry."
Fleck didn't look at him, just wiped her eyes silently and continued to pick up the pieces of a porcelain washbowl that had fallen to its end. "I'se sorry I broke dis, I'll clean it up an'-"
"Don't worry 'bout it-"
"No, no, no, I'll pay fer it, it's my fault."
Mush took the pieces from her hand and placed them back on the ground, then took her hands in his. She finally looked at him for a split second before averting her eyes, but he swore he could see fear in her eyes. "I said don't worry 'bout it, no one's gonna miss it," he said soothingly. Despite trying to calm her down, another tear fell from her eyes. "Ya shoah you're awright?" Mush said doubtfully.
She nodded her head, but Mush wasn't convinced. He turned her head to the side to look at where a fresh bruise was forming. It was early still, but he could tell it would be there for a long time. "Looks like ya gonna have a pretty bad bruise heah. Spot do dis to ya?"
"I awready told ya, I fell."
"I know dat's what ya told me, but I don't believe ya. Now, did he do dis to ya?" he asked calmly. He knew the worst thing he could do in this situation was to lose his temper and scare her even worse than she already was.
"It was my fault, I made him mad-"
"Did he hit ya?"
"We was arguin' an' he called me a slut, an'-"
"Did he hit ya?" Mush repeated.
"An' I don't know what I was thinkin', but I slapped him an'-"
"Fleck, ferget 'bout what you was thinkin' an' listen ta me. Did. He. Hit. Ya," he said slowly, tilting her chin slightly so he was looking her in the eyes. "You can tell me."
She looked at him as a few more tears spilled from her eyes and nodded. He pulled her into a hug and she was almost limp in his arms. Fleck let down her guard for once and actually cried into his shoulder. It was the first time she had really cried in months, maybe even in a year. After a few minutes though, she forced herself to stop. Mush may have been one of her best friends, but she felt uncomfortable crying in front of anyone. She pulled away from the hug and wiped her eyes, leaning back against the bunk and pulling her knees towards her. Mush leaned back against the bunk opposite her and sighed. He knew this even was going to change everything. 'With Spot outta da picture at least you got a bettah chance with her,' he thought, but immediately shook the thought from his head. What was he thinking? Fleck had enough guy problems in her life without introducing himself into the mix. Had he really just thought that? And why would she ever choose him over jack, or even over Spot? They were leaders, important. He was a nobody. And she was too good for any of them.
He was pulled back into reality by Fleck's still shaky voice. "Are ya gonna tell Jack?"
"Course I am. We gotta."
"Please don't."
"Fleck, why not? Spot hoit ya, Jack's gotta know 'bout dis!"
"No he don't! It ain't a big deal," she said. Then quietly, she added. "'Sides, he ain't gonna care."
"Why wouldn't he care?"
"Cuz he don't love me. Why should he care dat I got hit? He'll probly just think I desoived it," she said, recalling Spot's words to her.
"How can ya say dat, Fleck?! Jack does too love ya, you an' I both know dat. He's crazy 'bout ya-"
"An' what 'bout Sarah, huh?"
"What 'bout Sarah?"
"He loves her, not me. He said so himself."
"Look, he may not know it yet, but he loves ya. He'll come 'round soonah or latah. An' even if he didn't, he's gotta know what an asshole Spot is. I mean, ya can't just let him get away with dis! It ain't right, Fleck, it just ain't right. Ya ain't nevah supposed ta hit a goil."
"I shouldn't a slapped him."
"Well he shouldn't a slapped you."
"It was my fault, I shouldn't a gotten him so mad neithah."
"Fleck it don't mattah what ya shoulda or shouldn't a done. Bottom line is, he shoulda nevah even though 'bout hittin' ya."
Fleck looked across at Mush. It showed in his eyes, in her whole face that he was being sincere. He actually truly cared about her well-being. That was a change. "Mush, I don't wanna tell Jack all da same. If Spot finds out dat I told anyone, who knows what'll happen."
"Ya don't gotta be scared a what Spot'll do. Jack'll protect ya. I'll protect ya. Every damn newsie in dis house'll protect ya," he said, offering her a half smile.
She let a small smile of her own grace her features, but shook her head nonetheless. "It'll just be easiah ta keep dis between you an' me. I don't need no more complications in my life. Please, Mush?"
He sighed and shrugged. "If dat's what ya really want, den I won't tell nobody. Whatevah makes ya happy." He reached over and tilted her head to the side again, examining the bruise that was quickly darkening. "Does it hoit much?"
"Hoits like a bitch."
"Dat's undahstandable. Come on, let's go get ya washed up a bit," he said standing, then holding out his hand to help her up.
She took his hand gratefully and once she was up, held onto it. They walked into the washroom together and headed over to the water pump. Mush pumped the water slowly while Fleck cupped her hands and splashed her face a couple of times. For once, she was glad the water was cold. It felt good against her still warm and pained skin. "Dat's good," she said as she pulled her face away from the cool liquid and Mush handed her a clean towel. She dried her face gingerly and looked back at Mush. "Well, how bad is it? Tell me da truth."
"It ain't too bad right now, but looks like it's gonna be pretty bad by tamorrow."
Fleck whirled around to look in the mirror, seeing for the first time just how much damage Spot had done. She rolled her eyes. "Jesus, dat's gonna be all black an' blue fer a week!"
"Maybe it'll bring ya a lil sympathy sellin' tamorrow. A new angle?"
She smiled. "Maybe."
Mush looked at the clock on the wall to see that it was already nearly 6:30. "Guess da rest a da fellas'll be home any minute."
"Yeah, I guess so," she said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Thanks, Mush."
"Fer pumpin' da watah? Anytime."
"Nah, fer everythin'. I really owe ya one."
He shrugged. "Anyone woulda done it."
"You'se wrong. Not just anyone woulda. Ya've helped me more times den I can count, an' den taday with da whole Spot thing, an' just…well, it just means a lot ta me. You mean a lot ta me."
A faint blush rose in his cheeks. "Anythin' fer a friend like you."
Fleck looked into his eyes for a second and then without even thinking, she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. Mush blinked a couple of times, surprised it had happened. He had slept with her many times before, but she had never kissed him on the cheek. She mistook his surprise for discontent and put her hand to her head. "Geez, I'se sorry Mush, I donno what I was thinkin', I just couldn't help it-"
"Nah, don't apologize. It just surprised me a lil. But…it was a good kinda surprise."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
Fleck smiled sweetly and Mush took her hand in his. He took a deep breath and acting on impulse, he kissed her full on the lips. It wasn't a passionate, hot, deep kiss, but a soft, sweet, romantic and almost innocent one. Almost innocent. As Mush's hand moved to rest lightly against her hip, she smiled against his lips. He had always been gently and careful when it came to kissing and the like, like he was scared she would crumble at his touch. Their sweet kiss came to an abrupt end when the sound of the bunkroom door opening was heard. Mush pulled away quickly as if scared that he was doing something wrong with Fleck. Footsteps were heard entering the door and a mumbled curse could be heard as the person most likely encountered the overturned bed stand. Mush looked over to Fleck for reassurance and then they moved from the washroom into the bunkroom to see who had come up. Mush may have acted like what they were doing was wrong, but they both knew that it couldn't have been more right.
Disclaimer: Alright, this is the usual disclaimer I guess, lol. I don't own Newsies, but I guess I own Fleck. Okay? Okay…and thank you so much to those of you who reviewed! It definitely makes my day!
Chapter 9: Repercussions
The next couple of seconds seemed passed by in slow motion. The back of Spot's hand came swiftly down across Fleck's face, knocking her over with the amount of force. She stumbled to the ground, colliding with a bed stand as she fell. The table crashed to its side, throwing all the items on it to the floor. For once, Spot was both stunned and disgusted with himself. He had actually hit a girl. What was he thinking? He knew a guy was never to strike a girl, but he had done it nonetheless. He lunged forward to help her up, but she shrunk away from his arms. "Get away from me!" she yelled.
"You was askin' fer it, ya know dat, Fleck," he said, but he was unsure of himself in that brief moment.
"You just wait 'til Jack heahs 'bout dis! He's-"
"Not gonna care," he said, reassuming his dominant stance.
"What? Of course he's gonna care!"
"No he ain't. He don't love ya."
"But-"
"He woulda done da same thing."
That was all Fleck could take. "Get da hell outta heah, Spot Conlon," she whispered dangerously, but his words stuck in her mind like an unwanted thorn. She knew he was right. Why did he always have to be right?
Just as Spot was heading for the door, Mush bounded into the room, drawn by the loud crash of the bed stand. He was taken aback by the scene in front of him: Spot was closest to him, slightly red in one cheek, Fleck was still on the ground, her whole face completely flushed with color, and the contents of the bed stand were scattered across the floor, including shards of what looked to be broken porcelain. "What da hell's goin' on heah?" he asked, though he was pretty sure he knew exactly what had happened.
"She fell," Spot said, feigning casualness.
Mush rolled his eyes. "Oh really, dat right?"
Fleck hesitated, unsure of what to say. She yearned to say Spot had hit her and to see his reputation crumble before their very eyes. But she feared what he might do if she did say that. She tried to convince herself that he wouldn't hit her again, but she didn't know that for sure. And she certainly wouldn't put it past him. "Yeah, I fell. Tripped ovah somethin'," she said shakily.
"Ovah what? Ovah Spot? Or maybe ya just ran inta his fist on da way down," Mush said, taking a step towards Spot and blocking his escape path to the door.
Now it was Spot's turn to roll his eyes. He sidestepped Mush, but Mush got right back in his face. "Look, Mush, I know what ya's tryin' ta imply heah, but she fell. Ain't my fault da goil's clumsy."
"Mush, just ferget it, awright? Spot was just leavin', let him go," Fleck pleaded.
Mush narrowed his eyes, looked at Spot and poked a finger in his chest. "You bettah hope she just 'fell'. Cuz if I evah heah oddahwise, you'se gonna be real sorry."
"Whatevah, Mush," Spot muttered, pushing his hand away roughly and stalking out of the room.
Mush turned his attention back to Fleck who was picking up the scattered contents of the bed stand, visibly shaken. He walked over to her and lowered himself to her level so he was kneeling next to her. It was then he noticed the trail from a fallen tear on her cheek and more tears on the brim of her eyelashes, threatening to fall. "Musta been some fall, ta make ya cry an' all. Don't think I'se evah seen ya cry."
Fleck didn't look at him, just wiped her eyes silently and continued to pick up the pieces of a porcelain washbowl that had fallen to its end. "I'se sorry I broke dis, I'll clean it up an'-"
"Don't worry 'bout it-"
"No, no, no, I'll pay fer it, it's my fault."
Mush took the pieces from her hand and placed them back on the ground, then took her hands in his. She finally looked at him for a split second before averting her eyes, but he swore he could see fear in her eyes. "I said don't worry 'bout it, no one's gonna miss it," he said soothingly. Despite trying to calm her down, another tear fell from her eyes. "Ya shoah you're awright?" Mush said doubtfully.
She nodded her head, but Mush wasn't convinced. He turned her head to the side to look at where a fresh bruise was forming. It was early still, but he could tell it would be there for a long time. "Looks like ya gonna have a pretty bad bruise heah. Spot do dis to ya?"
"I awready told ya, I fell."
"I know dat's what ya told me, but I don't believe ya. Now, did he do dis to ya?" he asked calmly. He knew the worst thing he could do in this situation was to lose his temper and scare her even worse than she already was.
"It was my fault, I made him mad-"
"Did he hit ya?"
"We was arguin' an' he called me a slut, an'-"
"Did he hit ya?" Mush repeated.
"An' I don't know what I was thinkin', but I slapped him an'-"
"Fleck, ferget 'bout what you was thinkin' an' listen ta me. Did. He. Hit. Ya," he said slowly, tilting her chin slightly so he was looking her in the eyes. "You can tell me."
She looked at him as a few more tears spilled from her eyes and nodded. He pulled her into a hug and she was almost limp in his arms. Fleck let down her guard for once and actually cried into his shoulder. It was the first time she had really cried in months, maybe even in a year. After a few minutes though, she forced herself to stop. Mush may have been one of her best friends, but she felt uncomfortable crying in front of anyone. She pulled away from the hug and wiped her eyes, leaning back against the bunk and pulling her knees towards her. Mush leaned back against the bunk opposite her and sighed. He knew this even was going to change everything. 'With Spot outta da picture at least you got a bettah chance with her,' he thought, but immediately shook the thought from his head. What was he thinking? Fleck had enough guy problems in her life without introducing himself into the mix. Had he really just thought that? And why would she ever choose him over jack, or even over Spot? They were leaders, important. He was a nobody. And she was too good for any of them.
He was pulled back into reality by Fleck's still shaky voice. "Are ya gonna tell Jack?"
"Course I am. We gotta."
"Please don't."
"Fleck, why not? Spot hoit ya, Jack's gotta know 'bout dis!"
"No he don't! It ain't a big deal," she said. Then quietly, she added. "'Sides, he ain't gonna care."
"Why wouldn't he care?"
"Cuz he don't love me. Why should he care dat I got hit? He'll probly just think I desoived it," she said, recalling Spot's words to her.
"How can ya say dat, Fleck?! Jack does too love ya, you an' I both know dat. He's crazy 'bout ya-"
"An' what 'bout Sarah, huh?"
"What 'bout Sarah?"
"He loves her, not me. He said so himself."
"Look, he may not know it yet, but he loves ya. He'll come 'round soonah or latah. An' even if he didn't, he's gotta know what an asshole Spot is. I mean, ya can't just let him get away with dis! It ain't right, Fleck, it just ain't right. Ya ain't nevah supposed ta hit a goil."
"I shouldn't a slapped him."
"Well he shouldn't a slapped you."
"It was my fault, I shouldn't a gotten him so mad neithah."
"Fleck it don't mattah what ya shoulda or shouldn't a done. Bottom line is, he shoulda nevah even though 'bout hittin' ya."
Fleck looked across at Mush. It showed in his eyes, in her whole face that he was being sincere. He actually truly cared about her well-being. That was a change. "Mush, I don't wanna tell Jack all da same. If Spot finds out dat I told anyone, who knows what'll happen."
"Ya don't gotta be scared a what Spot'll do. Jack'll protect ya. I'll protect ya. Every damn newsie in dis house'll protect ya," he said, offering her a half smile.
She let a small smile of her own grace her features, but shook her head nonetheless. "It'll just be easiah ta keep dis between you an' me. I don't need no more complications in my life. Please, Mush?"
He sighed and shrugged. "If dat's what ya really want, den I won't tell nobody. Whatevah makes ya happy." He reached over and tilted her head to the side again, examining the bruise that was quickly darkening. "Does it hoit much?"
"Hoits like a bitch."
"Dat's undahstandable. Come on, let's go get ya washed up a bit," he said standing, then holding out his hand to help her up.
She took his hand gratefully and once she was up, held onto it. They walked into the washroom together and headed over to the water pump. Mush pumped the water slowly while Fleck cupped her hands and splashed her face a couple of times. For once, she was glad the water was cold. It felt good against her still warm and pained skin. "Dat's good," she said as she pulled her face away from the cool liquid and Mush handed her a clean towel. She dried her face gingerly and looked back at Mush. "Well, how bad is it? Tell me da truth."
"It ain't too bad right now, but looks like it's gonna be pretty bad by tamorrow."
Fleck whirled around to look in the mirror, seeing for the first time just how much damage Spot had done. She rolled her eyes. "Jesus, dat's gonna be all black an' blue fer a week!"
"Maybe it'll bring ya a lil sympathy sellin' tamorrow. A new angle?"
She smiled. "Maybe."
Mush looked at the clock on the wall to see that it was already nearly 6:30. "Guess da rest a da fellas'll be home any minute."
"Yeah, I guess so," she said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Thanks, Mush."
"Fer pumpin' da watah? Anytime."
"Nah, fer everythin'. I really owe ya one."
He shrugged. "Anyone woulda done it."
"You'se wrong. Not just anyone woulda. Ya've helped me more times den I can count, an' den taday with da whole Spot thing, an' just…well, it just means a lot ta me. You mean a lot ta me."
A faint blush rose in his cheeks. "Anythin' fer a friend like you."
Fleck looked into his eyes for a second and then without even thinking, she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. Mush blinked a couple of times, surprised it had happened. He had slept with her many times before, but she had never kissed him on the cheek. She mistook his surprise for discontent and put her hand to her head. "Geez, I'se sorry Mush, I donno what I was thinkin', I just couldn't help it-"
"Nah, don't apologize. It just surprised me a lil. But…it was a good kinda surprise."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
Fleck smiled sweetly and Mush took her hand in his. He took a deep breath and acting on impulse, he kissed her full on the lips. It wasn't a passionate, hot, deep kiss, but a soft, sweet, romantic and almost innocent one. Almost innocent. As Mush's hand moved to rest lightly against her hip, she smiled against his lips. He had always been gently and careful when it came to kissing and the like, like he was scared she would crumble at his touch. Their sweet kiss came to an abrupt end when the sound of the bunkroom door opening was heard. Mush pulled away quickly as if scared that he was doing something wrong with Fleck. Footsteps were heard entering the door and a mumbled curse could be heard as the person most likely encountered the overturned bed stand. Mush looked over to Fleck for reassurance and then they moved from the washroom into the bunkroom to see who had come up. Mush may have acted like what they were doing was wrong, but they both knew that it couldn't have been more right.