Spot's POV
This is a weird change of events. Definitely not something I was expecting him to say to me. Although this whole evening is pretty much one for the record books. All the stuff that's been said and done is going to take me a long time to forget even after he's long gone.
I'm not even sure if he really means what he just told me. He could just feel sorry for me and be trying to make me feel better and such. And that would probably make me feel even worse. Not that I'd let him see that. But he could be serious too, he had been looking at me a little weird a few moments ago, kind of like I was something he wanted.
"What about Sarah?"
"What about 'er?"
A-ha. So he didn't like that Jacobs girl all that much. I used to think he just paid her attention because he was such good friends with the 'mouth', but I could never really tell for sure. Especially after their kiss. . .
"Jack are youse screwing wit me? I mean, is dis some sort of guilt t'ing?" I have to be sure, I need to know. I've loved him for far to long to have him joke around with my mind and feelings.
He sighed and lifted his eyes from his feet and placed them on my face. He licked his lips again ( I really wish he would stop doing that) and shifted his weight to his other leg.
"No, I'se ain't screwing wit 'cha. I'se was jist t'inking 'bout dis whole night. Me announcin da whole Santa Fe thing, den all dis. . ." He trailed off motioning to the both of us before continuing. "An' I guess I'se jist confused. Or tired. Or both." He let out a shaky breath.
He's confused? I don't think so. His confusion is nothing compared to mine. And he just said that he wasn't screwing with me but then says that's everything that's happened has been because he was tired and confused. Yes, that is a real ego booster. Although most would joke that I don't need an ego boost.
"So all dis stuff dat's happened is because of confusion?" I asked cautiously. I'm not sure how I wanted him to answer. I wasn't sure of all whole lot at that point though.
"Yes. . . No. . . I don't know. Maybe. It's jist dis whole night 'as backfired on me. Me newsies are mad at me. . ."
Gee, can you really blame them?
". . . An' den youse come 'ere to talk and you end up tellin me dat youse are actually in love wit me. . ."
Ha. You think I want to be in love with you? Yeah right, it would be much easier on me if I wasn't. Me being in love with you is all your fault. Really.
". . . An' jist now I was lookin at 'cha and I'se was t'inking dat I'se could understand what all da goils find attractive about 'cha. Did 'cha know dat you 'ave pretty eyes?"
Okay, that got my attention. Pretty eyes? He thinks. . . and he saw what people thought was attractive about me? Maybe he really is confused, more so then I think. And, oh god, he's coming closer again. Seriously, how much torture does god think I handle in one night? And only four days before he's leaving. Damn.
I chuckled bitterly. "Youse really are tired Jack. An' very confused."
He shook his head and took another step closer to me. I held my breath only to let it come out a couple seconds later in a thin warily rasp. There was practically no distance between our bodies and if I wanted to actually look him in the face I'd have to crank my neck skyward. He's a lot taller then me. But I didn't want to look him in the face, afraid of what I might see there. So I just kept me eyes at chest level. (Not that that helped a whole lot)
"No, no, I'se serious Spot. Honest. They really are pretty, blue an' clear. 'Dare da foist t'ing I notice bout 'cha because yer skin is so pale dat da blue stands out. Not dat yer skin's color is a bad thing. . ." His voice got considerable softer as he spoke.
He lifted one of his hands to my cheek and caressed it gently. It made me freeze up to have him touch me like that. But he kept his hand there, blissfully unaware, or ignoring, my erratic breathing.
"Soft. . . like yer hair," He continued his assault on my hyper aware nerves and ran his hand through my hair then traced them back to face, until the hand was down near my chin.
I didn't saw anything. I just squeezed my eyes shut and prayed that it would end soon, or go on forever. Gently he raised my head, but said nothing about my closed eyes. He did, however, relocate his hand so that most of his fingers were on the lower part of my jaw bone and he let his thumb drift slowly, too, too slowly, over my bottom lip.
"Soft," He whispered again, then in a voice I didn't recognize from him. This new tone made me open my eyes and open them wide when I saw just how close his face was to mine and the look that was swimming on the surface of his eyes.
I froze again, but Jack didn't. He lowered his head even closer until I could feel his hot breath on my face, then his lips touched mine again. Only this time it was much more tender and gentle. He wrapped the hand still on my face through my hair keeping me where I was, while his over arm snaked around my waist pulling me against his solid body.
Like the first time I didn't think, I just responded, a bit faster this time because I wasn't quite as shocked. And this time when we parted he didn't move or look away in disgust. Instead he smiled. A bright Jack Kelly smile that I loved seeing.
Both my hands were gripping his arms for dear life, I had felt my knees give out soon after the kiss began and it wouldn't have been pretty if I had suddenly fell down, he probably would've fell on me or something. . . well, maybe that wouldn't have been such a bad idea after all.
"You okay Spot? You look a little breathless," Jack smirked talking in a low voice as he held me. He too was panting some and his cheeks were flushed as well. Plus too top it off his lips were swollen slightly from my hungry kisses.
"Youse aren't one ta tawk 'dare Cowboy," I answered using his famous nickname. He laughed at this, a clear genuine laugh and he let me go, so we were no longer touching. I'm pretty sure I whimpered at the sudden lack of body heat, but other than that I didn't protest.
Jack looked at me, cocking his head to the side as if he was trying to study me or admire his handiwork or something. But he smiled again so I decided to let him do whatever he felt like. I'm a goner when his smile shines through.
"Dis has been one interestin day," He concluded finally. I just nodded and idly fingered my lips, they hurt some. Jack batted my hand away and shook his head.
"Don' do dat. 'Day look good swollen an' all," He said waving his hand slightly in explanation. This time I was the one that smiled and let me hand drop from my face.
"Alright Jacky-boy, whatever ya say. I'se jist got one question," I said. He raised his eyebrows as if to inquire what about or encourage me to ask the question. I took a deep breath and frowned some.
"What is it?"
"Wat do wese do now?"
He bit his own lip and turned to the water which we had ignored for such a long time. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He walked back over to the dock and sat back down in the place I had found him in when I first went looking for him. He motioned for me to join him so I resumed my position on the dock as well.
"I'se suppose I'se better make peace wit me boys tomorrow. Probably won' 'ave ta tell anyone else, by mornin everyone in New York 'ill know," He ran a hand through his hair.
I looked down at my hands that were curled and fidgeting in my lap. "So youse really are leavin?"
"Yeah."
I didn't say anything more, just kept my eyes lowered watching my hands and let the silence and unanswered questions between us hang in the air. Jack was leaving and there was nothing I could do about it. You can't keep a dreamer in a place he doesn't like I suppose, but you wouldn't even be able to comprehend how much I wanted too. It'll be awkward in Manhattan after he leaves, especially for whoever is the new leader. They've got a lot to live up too.
"It's late. Yer newsies are probably wonderin where youse are," Jack stopped the silence. Glancing at me out of the corner of his eye.
"Yeah, I'se should leave. . . I'se jist don' want too," I sighed and stood up and he's at my side faster then I imagined.
"I'll miss ya Spot," He said looking down at me and speaking softly, almost like he doesn't want me to hear him.
"Youse ain't leavin tonight are ya?" I asked, chuckling bitterly to myself more than him.
"No."
"Then save it."
He scowled but nodded and didn't extend the issue. I hadn't meant to come off as angry, bitter or sarcastic but like I've said earlier, I'm selfish and I don't want Jack leaving me. Especially not now. Not after everything that's happened tonight.
"See ya Brooklyn," He called to me and moved in the direction of the lodging house.
"Back at 'cha Cowboy," I muttered and watched his back as he left where we had been standing. I sighed deeply to myself and turned in the direction on my own territory.
And that night I just laid in my bunk staring at the shadows that crossed and twisted on the ceiling above me. I thought through the actions and things that had happened earlier that night and smiled. A sad smile. But a smile none the less.
A/N: It's finally updated! (wipes sweat off forehead) I kept starting and restarting. . . but this chapter is finally done. The story is NOT finished. I repeat the story is NOT finished. So continue reading and reviewing please.
Special Thanks:
anUNDERCOVERnewsie
SpotLover421
Raven46 (glad you enjoyed the candy!)
Syd
TheCrazyUnknown
Okay last time I gave you all candy and that resulted in many crazy sugar rushes so this time I'll just give a hundred dollars. (Don't you wish it was real!)
This is a weird change of events. Definitely not something I was expecting him to say to me. Although this whole evening is pretty much one for the record books. All the stuff that's been said and done is going to take me a long time to forget even after he's long gone.
I'm not even sure if he really means what he just told me. He could just feel sorry for me and be trying to make me feel better and such. And that would probably make me feel even worse. Not that I'd let him see that. But he could be serious too, he had been looking at me a little weird a few moments ago, kind of like I was something he wanted.
"What about Sarah?"
"What about 'er?"
A-ha. So he didn't like that Jacobs girl all that much. I used to think he just paid her attention because he was such good friends with the 'mouth', but I could never really tell for sure. Especially after their kiss. . .
"Jack are youse screwing wit me? I mean, is dis some sort of guilt t'ing?" I have to be sure, I need to know. I've loved him for far to long to have him joke around with my mind and feelings.
He sighed and lifted his eyes from his feet and placed them on my face. He licked his lips again ( I really wish he would stop doing that) and shifted his weight to his other leg.
"No, I'se ain't screwing wit 'cha. I'se was jist t'inking 'bout dis whole night. Me announcin da whole Santa Fe thing, den all dis. . ." He trailed off motioning to the both of us before continuing. "An' I guess I'se jist confused. Or tired. Or both." He let out a shaky breath.
He's confused? I don't think so. His confusion is nothing compared to mine. And he just said that he wasn't screwing with me but then says that's everything that's happened has been because he was tired and confused. Yes, that is a real ego booster. Although most would joke that I don't need an ego boost.
"So all dis stuff dat's happened is because of confusion?" I asked cautiously. I'm not sure how I wanted him to answer. I wasn't sure of all whole lot at that point though.
"Yes. . . No. . . I don't know. Maybe. It's jist dis whole night 'as backfired on me. Me newsies are mad at me. . ."
Gee, can you really blame them?
". . . An' den youse come 'ere to talk and you end up tellin me dat youse are actually in love wit me. . ."
Ha. You think I want to be in love with you? Yeah right, it would be much easier on me if I wasn't. Me being in love with you is all your fault. Really.
". . . An' jist now I was lookin at 'cha and I'se was t'inking dat I'se could understand what all da goils find attractive about 'cha. Did 'cha know dat you 'ave pretty eyes?"
Okay, that got my attention. Pretty eyes? He thinks. . . and he saw what people thought was attractive about me? Maybe he really is confused, more so then I think. And, oh god, he's coming closer again. Seriously, how much torture does god think I handle in one night? And only four days before he's leaving. Damn.
I chuckled bitterly. "Youse really are tired Jack. An' very confused."
He shook his head and took another step closer to me. I held my breath only to let it come out a couple seconds later in a thin warily rasp. There was practically no distance between our bodies and if I wanted to actually look him in the face I'd have to crank my neck skyward. He's a lot taller then me. But I didn't want to look him in the face, afraid of what I might see there. So I just kept me eyes at chest level. (Not that that helped a whole lot)
"No, no, I'se serious Spot. Honest. They really are pretty, blue an' clear. 'Dare da foist t'ing I notice bout 'cha because yer skin is so pale dat da blue stands out. Not dat yer skin's color is a bad thing. . ." His voice got considerable softer as he spoke.
He lifted one of his hands to my cheek and caressed it gently. It made me freeze up to have him touch me like that. But he kept his hand there, blissfully unaware, or ignoring, my erratic breathing.
"Soft. . . like yer hair," He continued his assault on my hyper aware nerves and ran his hand through my hair then traced them back to face, until the hand was down near my chin.
I didn't saw anything. I just squeezed my eyes shut and prayed that it would end soon, or go on forever. Gently he raised my head, but said nothing about my closed eyes. He did, however, relocate his hand so that most of his fingers were on the lower part of my jaw bone and he let his thumb drift slowly, too, too slowly, over my bottom lip.
"Soft," He whispered again, then in a voice I didn't recognize from him. This new tone made me open my eyes and open them wide when I saw just how close his face was to mine and the look that was swimming on the surface of his eyes.
I froze again, but Jack didn't. He lowered his head even closer until I could feel his hot breath on my face, then his lips touched mine again. Only this time it was much more tender and gentle. He wrapped the hand still on my face through my hair keeping me where I was, while his over arm snaked around my waist pulling me against his solid body.
Like the first time I didn't think, I just responded, a bit faster this time because I wasn't quite as shocked. And this time when we parted he didn't move or look away in disgust. Instead he smiled. A bright Jack Kelly smile that I loved seeing.
Both my hands were gripping his arms for dear life, I had felt my knees give out soon after the kiss began and it wouldn't have been pretty if I had suddenly fell down, he probably would've fell on me or something. . . well, maybe that wouldn't have been such a bad idea after all.
"You okay Spot? You look a little breathless," Jack smirked talking in a low voice as he held me. He too was panting some and his cheeks were flushed as well. Plus too top it off his lips were swollen slightly from my hungry kisses.
"Youse aren't one ta tawk 'dare Cowboy," I answered using his famous nickname. He laughed at this, a clear genuine laugh and he let me go, so we were no longer touching. I'm pretty sure I whimpered at the sudden lack of body heat, but other than that I didn't protest.
Jack looked at me, cocking his head to the side as if he was trying to study me or admire his handiwork or something. But he smiled again so I decided to let him do whatever he felt like. I'm a goner when his smile shines through.
"Dis has been one interestin day," He concluded finally. I just nodded and idly fingered my lips, they hurt some. Jack batted my hand away and shook his head.
"Don' do dat. 'Day look good swollen an' all," He said waving his hand slightly in explanation. This time I was the one that smiled and let me hand drop from my face.
"Alright Jacky-boy, whatever ya say. I'se jist got one question," I said. He raised his eyebrows as if to inquire what about or encourage me to ask the question. I took a deep breath and frowned some.
"What is it?"
"Wat do wese do now?"
He bit his own lip and turned to the water which we had ignored for such a long time. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He walked back over to the dock and sat back down in the place I had found him in when I first went looking for him. He motioned for me to join him so I resumed my position on the dock as well.
"I'se suppose I'se better make peace wit me boys tomorrow. Probably won' 'ave ta tell anyone else, by mornin everyone in New York 'ill know," He ran a hand through his hair.
I looked down at my hands that were curled and fidgeting in my lap. "So youse really are leavin?"
"Yeah."
I didn't say anything more, just kept my eyes lowered watching my hands and let the silence and unanswered questions between us hang in the air. Jack was leaving and there was nothing I could do about it. You can't keep a dreamer in a place he doesn't like I suppose, but you wouldn't even be able to comprehend how much I wanted too. It'll be awkward in Manhattan after he leaves, especially for whoever is the new leader. They've got a lot to live up too.
"It's late. Yer newsies are probably wonderin where youse are," Jack stopped the silence. Glancing at me out of the corner of his eye.
"Yeah, I'se should leave. . . I'se jist don' want too," I sighed and stood up and he's at my side faster then I imagined.
"I'll miss ya Spot," He said looking down at me and speaking softly, almost like he doesn't want me to hear him.
"Youse ain't leavin tonight are ya?" I asked, chuckling bitterly to myself more than him.
"No."
"Then save it."
He scowled but nodded and didn't extend the issue. I hadn't meant to come off as angry, bitter or sarcastic but like I've said earlier, I'm selfish and I don't want Jack leaving me. Especially not now. Not after everything that's happened tonight.
"See ya Brooklyn," He called to me and moved in the direction of the lodging house.
"Back at 'cha Cowboy," I muttered and watched his back as he left where we had been standing. I sighed deeply to myself and turned in the direction on my own territory.
And that night I just laid in my bunk staring at the shadows that crossed and twisted on the ceiling above me. I thought through the actions and things that had happened earlier that night and smiled. A sad smile. But a smile none the less.
A/N: It's finally updated! (wipes sweat off forehead) I kept starting and restarting. . . but this chapter is finally done. The story is NOT finished. I repeat the story is NOT finished. So continue reading and reviewing please.
Special Thanks:
anUNDERCOVERnewsie
SpotLover421
Raven46 (glad you enjoyed the candy!)
Syd
TheCrazyUnknown
Okay last time I gave you all candy and that resulted in many crazy sugar rushes so this time I'll just give a hundred dollars. (Don't you wish it was real!)