A/N; This is much longer than the other chapter, but you'll be SURPRISED at the next chapter!!! ;) HEHEHE!!! Loads in store.... LOADS... hehe. Another new character in this chapter!!!!!!! The wonderful Sprite.... hehe. She owns herself.. so don't steal her! Please R/R.
Harlem violence.
About a month later Marit rolled over in her bed. She groaned at the light pouring in through the open windows. She started to roll over, but jumped up as she covered her mouth with one hand and held her stomach with the other. She ran into the bathroom and darted straight for a stall.
"Oh geez, Marit!" Doll groaned as she moved as far away from that side of the room as possible.
"Sorry," Marit mumbled as she staggered out of the stall.
"What'sa matta?" Doll said walking over to Marit and sticking her hand on her forehead, "You'se don't have a fever."
"I'se don't feel sick.. I'se just feel sick to my stomach. I've been sick in the mornings..." Marit said as she began to walk away from the girl, "I'se goin' back to bed."
"But what about sellin'?" Doll asked.
"I'se don't care.. I'll try ta sell extra tomorrow." she said exiting the washroom.
A few hours later Marit walked downstairs fully dressed, and feeling much better than she had earlier that morning.
"Well, morning sleepy head." Jack said.
"Heya Cowboy." Marit said flopping down in the chair next to him.
"Do you'se feel up to goin' to Harlem wit Sweets? She don't wanna take dis all by herself.." Jack asked.
"Shoah, I'se ain't got nuttin' else ta do." Marit said, standing up. Sweets did the same, then bent down and kissed Jack. The tow made their way out of the building and out onto the streets. They were silent most of the way there, before Sweets finally broke the silence.
"So, you and Race still not made up?"
"Nope," Marit said, sighing deeply.
"I'se see.... I'se can't believe y'all haven't yet. You'se two would look so cute togetha." she said looking around.
"Thank you. I'se wish he'd forgive me."
"He will.. don't worry. He'll realize dat he's da one doin' the wrong. Plus, he's mad for no reason." Sweets said looking over at the girl.
Marit looked over at her, "Jack tell you'se everything?"
Sweets nodded, "Yup."
"Oh," Marit mumbled as Sweets mumbled something too. Marit didn't catch what she said completely. Just as she was about to ask her to repeat herself, Sweets grabbed her arm, "Gang war! Follow me!" Sweets began to run, trying to find a place for the two to hide. Marit heart punded as she ran behind Sweets. She could see the fighting right ahead of them.
"Here!" she said darting into a alleyway.
They both stopped as they got into the alleyway to catch their breath.
"Well be safe here for a lil bit... we'se gotta get back to Manhattan. You ok?" she asked looking up at Marit.
"Yea. I'se fine..." Marit answered, still breathing heavily.
"Oh shit!! Marit run!" Sweets yelled grabbing the girls arm and running to the opposite end of the alleyway. Marit looked behind her for a split second to see three guys coming toward them with canes.
"Holy shit! It's a trap!" Sweets said stopping quickly. Three more guys appeared at the end of the alleyway the girls had bee running towards.
"Oh my god... oh my god....." Marit panted as she started backing toward the wall.
"Going somewhere?" one of the guys said as he grinned, "Get 'em boys."
One of the taller guys stepped forward and swung at Marit, hitting her across the face and causing her to fall down.
"Ahhhh!" Marit heard Sweets scream after a loud thud.
Marit felt another painful hit on her back and fell fom her hands and knees straight down on the hard wet ground. After two swift hits to the head, blood covered he face as everything blurred and then went to black.
"Oh my god! Spot! Ova heah!" a brown haired girl yelled, as she ran down the alleyway toward the place where two bodies lay.
"Two more---- OH SHIT! It's Jack's goil, an' Blink's sista! We'se got to get 'em back to Manhattan! Boys! Ova heah!" Spot hollered at a group of guys who made their way over.
"We'se got to get them to Manhattan. They'se some of Kelly's bunch..."
A loud knock was heard at the door of the Manhattan Lodging House.
"Maybe it's dem comin' back... jus' calm down Blink." Dollsaid getting up and walking over to the door and opening it.
"Oh, Spot what are-- OH MY GOD!! What happened?! Get 'em in! Quick!" Doll shouted, stepping out of the way and lettin' the boys carry Sweets and Marit in followed by Spot and a young girl no one had seen before.
Race looked up to see the guys carrying them in and noticed Marit had been hurt. He jumped up, almost falling back over, scared to death she was dead.
"Oh my god! What happened to me sista!" Blink yelled running over, "Is she ok?!"
Jack jumped up and ran over to the guys holding Sweets.
"We'se gots ta get 'em in bed, and get a doctor heah quick." Spot said.
Jack tried to remain calm and started giving orders, "Snipe, run and get a doc. Mush show dem da way up to da bunking room and show 'em where their beds are."
Race followed closely behind them up to the bunk room. Jack looked at Spot and sighed, "What happened?"
"Gang war just befoire ya get ta Harlem.... it was terrible. I found Sprite ova heah, she was on her way to Manhattan and got caught in it. She had ta stop at the Brooklyn House and stay for a little while. She helped me look arond for some of me men, she found Sweets and Marit." Spot said, shaking his head.
"You'se on yoah way heah to be a newsie?" Jack asked the brown haired girl.
"Yea, I'se couldn't stand all of Harlem's fights an' wars..." Sprite said to Jack.
"I'se know whatcha mean. As soon as everything calms down I'll show ya around and letcha meet everyone. I'se Jack Kelly, but some call me Cowboy." he said extending his hand.
"I'se Sprite.." she said smiling and takin' his hand.
"Well, I'se betta get upstairs... you'se comin' or stayin'?" he said mothioning to both Sprite and Spot.
"I'll stay heah for da night prolly, and Sprite's heah to stay."
"Ok," Jack said as he started up the stairs. Spot and Sprite followed him up into the bunk room.
Jack raced over to Sweets bedside to make sure she was ok.
Race looked down at Marit. Her usual warm presence no where to be found. She lay in the bed which Race sat on, still bleeding some with numerous cuts and bruises all over her body.
Race felt tears jerk into his eyes looking at her. He wiped them away as the door opened and Snipe walked in, the doctor right behind him.
"Oh my goodness..." the man said as he saw the two girls in the beds beside each other.
"Ok, everyone out." he said hurrying over to the beds.
Everyone regretfully exited the room. Race sat down against the wall right across from the door and sighed.
Why did this happen to her? She could die.... and I wouldn't even talk to her. Because of something so fuckin' stupid. he thought.
"Race? You ok?" Mush said as he bent down in front of the Italian boy.
"Yea, I'se fine."
Hours later, with many of the newsies asleep in the hall, the doctor opened the door.
Race, Blink and Jack were among the first to jump up.
"Are they ok?" Blink said hopefully.
The doctor held up his hand, "Yes, they are both fine. And awake. Pretty bruised up and in pain, but they need their rest. Make your visit short, then let them sleep. They need it." he said, "Have a good day everyone."
"Thanks doc." Race said as he walked in the room. He went over to the bed where Marit lay.
He sat down and smiled at her, "I thought I'd lost ya at first..."
"I'se thought I'se lost you'se over a month ago...." Marit said quietly.
Race started to speak but lost all words.
"Race, I'se really need ta talk to you....." Marit said.
Race put his hand on hers and hushed her, "We'll talk in the mornin'.. you really need your rest."
"Ok, but it's really important..." Marit told him, trying ot get him to stay and listen.
"Baby, you'se gots ta be more important. So, shh, and get your rest. I promise I'll talk to ya before I'se go to sell.. ok?" Race said.
"Ok" Marit agreed. Race leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead, "Night."
