(Sorry for the delay. Adjusting back to college took longer then expected. Thanks for all of you who reviewed so far. I'm glad you like it.)
Chapter Four
"Oh shit." She swore as she slowly backed away down the alley. Before she could stop him, Cap ran out in front of her.
"Youse leave 'er alone, ya dirty rotten scabba!" Cap shouted. Katie's heart clenched as one of the boys grabbed the kid by the arm.
"Let him go!" Katie yelled as fury and rage consumed her. The boy shot her a smirk but Cap chose that moment to kick him hard in the shin, escaping from his grasp. Katie quickly pulled him behind her to keep him out further harm's way.
"Not so brave now, are ya pipsqueak?" the leader of the group taunted. Cap tried to rush at him but Katie held him back, giving him a hard look that made him think twice about fighting.
"Now are yas gonna cooperate, goil? Er am I's gonna hafta hurcha?" The guy sneered.
"Looks like you're gonna have to hurt me." Katie retorted and quickly punched him in the face, forcing his head to snap back.
"You stupid whore!" he shouted, holding his bloodied nose.
"Oh. Ouch. That hurt. Really." Katie said sarcastically. The other two boys appeared on both sides, grabbing her. She struggled, trying to get free as the boy she had punched reached back to return the favor. But just as he was about to strike, he was pelted in the back of the head with a brightly colored marble. Looking up, Katie saw Spot Conlon and some of the other Brooklyn newsies on the fire escape. Katie sighed inwardly out of annoyance. Of all of Brooklyn, Spot Conlon had to show up.
"Dis ain't any a yer business, Conlon." The boy with the bloody nose said.
"Whatevah's happenin' in Brooklyn is me business, Blake." Spot retorted. "Now why doncha head back ta Queens bafore I's forced ta soak ya." Blake looked back at the girl, who was scowling up at the Brooklyn leader.
"Dis ain't ovah, goil." Blake threatened. Him and the other two boys disappeared out of the alley.
"What are youse doin' in Brooklyn, Sky?" Spot asked leaning on the fire escape railing. Katie ignored him and walked over to Cap, bending down in front of him.
"You okay?" she asked softly, feeling Spot's gaze burning into her back. Cap nodded
"Can we's get dat chocolate cake now?" he asked. Katie laughed and stood up.
"Of course."
"Youse jist gonna ignore me, Sky?" Spot called out as Cap and her walked out of the alley.
"He catches on quick, don't he?" Katie laughed. They walked quickly to the bakery, which was more like a small café, trying to avoid any more trouble.
"You grab us a table an' I'll get da cake." Katie said stepping into the line of waiting customers. Cap pushed through the people and sat at a small table next to the window. After a few minutes of waiting, Katie sat down placing the large slice of cake in front of her and Cap. Cap stared in awe at the chocolaty richness as Katie handed him a fork. She only ate a few bites, letting Cap enjoy the treat. It was more fun to watch him eat anyway.
"Well why don't we go do that shopping now?" Katie suggested seeing the empty plate and chocolate smudged face. She cleaned the kid up and they headed out back towards Manhattan.
"Care ta answah me question, Sky?" Spot asked appearing as if from nowhere, but really from around a corner.
"Get a life, Spot." Katie stated and pushed past him with Cap clutching onto her skirt. They walked for a while and had just crossed the bridge into Manhattan.
"Is he still following us?" Katie asked. Cap glanced behind and saw Spot not too far away, following them at an eased pace.
"Yup." Cap said turning back around. Katie wasn't surprised but was deeply annoyed. It was an easy feeling to have when being around Spot Conlon. He was just one of those people that brought up that kind of feeling in her.
Katie and Cap entered a goods and produce store only to come back out a few minutes later armed with shopping bags. Spot was leaning on the wall next to the doorway, waiting for them. Katie let out an annoyed sigh and continued along the sidewalk with Cap and Spot trailing behind. She entered the butcher's shop and bought some beef for a stew she was planning on cooking tomorrow. Katie came out surprised to find Cap laughing with Spot. Spot looked up and saw her outraged look and gave her his ever-famous smirk. Cap then noticed and came back by her side before she got angry.
"Told ya so." Spot laughed and Cap hid his smile behind his hand. Katie didn't know what they were laughing about but she had a feeling that it had been about her.
They got to the lodging house and Katie stomped inside, heading towards the kitchen.
"Can somebody get rid of the stray dog that followed me home?!" Katie hollered up the stairs.
"Heya Spot." Jack laughed as he was coming down the stairs. Katie went into the kitchen and began putting away the food she had purchased from the shops.
"So, youse gonna answah me question yet?" Spot asked standing in the doorway.
"You followed me from Brooklyn just to get my answer for that stupid question?" Katie laughed. Spot just looked at her as if saying 'Yeah, so?' It was more then that to him though. He had asked a question and she had blatantly refused to answer him. He wasn't about to let her win by getting away without answering.
"What's the big deal, Spot? Yeah, so I was in Brooklyn. What I do and where I go is none of your business." Katie stated looking at him with cold eyes.
"Well I's makin' it me business." Spot stated returning the hard gaze.
"I was treatin' the kid to some cake at the bakery, okay?" Katie yelled. "An' since when have you given a damn about me? If I'se remember correctly, we'se don't really get along."
"When yer in me territory almost gettin' raped an' killed, dat's when I'se start carin'." Spot replied coolly.
"Now I 'xpect youse lookin' for a thank you or somethin'." Katie said. "Don't hold yer breath, Conlon." She pushed past him and ran up the stairs to her room before she did something drastic, like punching him.
"What happened in Brooklyn, Spot?" Jack asked having heard the whole thing. He had never seen Katie so annoyed before.
"She caught da attention a t'ree Queens newsies." Spot stated.
"Queens? What's Queens doin' in Brooklyn?" Jack asked.
"Causin' trouble, dat's fer sure. I'se not sure what ta make of it yet. Dey've been in da area fer da past few days. We'se been watchin' an' taday was da foist time dat dey 'ave cause any trouble. What's Sky doin' back 'ere anyways?" Spot asked fiddling with the cane hooked to his belt loop.
"She got kicked outta school fer soakin' Pulitzer's niece." Jack explained with a smile.
"Ha! Dat's me goil!" Spot laughed.
"Yer goil, Spot? I's do believe dat da famous Spot Conlon has fallen fer da irresistible charm a miss Katherine O'Connel." Jack teased. Spot, furious, pinned Jack against the wall.
"I'se like no one, got's dat Jackey-boy?! No one!"
"Alright Spot. Youse likes no one." Jack agreed, but inwardly he didn't believe him. He had suspected Spot's feelings for Sky before she left for Boston. Spot had been furious that Katie was leaving to become all 'hoity toity' as he had put it.
~Flashback~
"What are youse doin' here, Sky?" Spot called out watching as Katie walked along the docks, ignoring all the buys' hoots, hollers, and whistles.
"Jack made me come say goodbye." Katie frowned. She didn't want to be there. She wanted to be back home, packing to go to school.
"Goodbye? Where ya goin'?" Spot asked hoping down from his lookout perch.
"Ta Boston. I'se got a scholarship. I's get ta go ta school." Katie boasted. Spot frowned at her.
"Ya t'ink youse better dan us? Dan all dis?" Spot shot out. Katie looked at him like he was crazy.
"What are you talkin' 'bout, Spot? I'se just goin' ta school."
"Yeah an' ya know what youse gonna learn? Ta become all hoity- toity like all a dem rich folks. Too good fer anyone. A snob." Spot yelled.
"You don't know anything! If I do change, it would be for the better. But I will never, ever turn into one of dem snobs!" Katie yelled back.
"I'se ain't dumb, Katie. I'se got a brain even dough I'se don't have no education. An' I'se know dat youse gonna come back different, if youse even come back at all."
"You know, sometime I don't understand you Spot. Why do you even care? You are the most egotistical self-centered prick that I have ever met. An' I hope I never see youse again!" Katie yelled. The next thing she knew she was shoved off the dock and into the water. Coming up, sputtering with anger, she saw Spot smirking down at her.
"Well I'se hope ya gets yer wish."
~End Flashback~
"Youse stayin fer da pokah game tanight?" Jack asked after Spot had let him go.
"Nah. I'se gotta find out what's goin' on wit Queens." Spot said heading towards the door.
"Keep me posted, alright?" Jack called out. Spot nodded and left the LH. Jack sighed and headed upstairs to find out what happened between Katie and the boys from Queens.
