Diamond looked up and smiled brightly as she saw Sadie approach.
Tucking the remainder of her newspapers underneath a thin arm she drew
Sadie close to her in a one-armed hug. Sadie blew a lungful of smoke out
and steadied herself as the taller girl let go finally.
"Still in Manhattan I see. Spot went back to Brooklyn then?" Sadie nodded and eyed Diamond thoughtfully.
"He doesn't know yet Diamond, I haven't told him." Diamond seemed to deflate right then and there letting out a gust of breath. Sadie watched the tension drain from her thin face and clucked her tongue.
"You need to be taking care of yourself you're eating and living for two now." Diamond cocked her head at Sadie a lock of her shining copper hair falling into her face. Tucking it behind one of her ears she shook her head.
"Sometimes when you give me advice I think that you've experienced more than you let on." Sadie felt a dull ache start to throb around her heart and tried to banish the flush that suddenly stained her cheeks. Diamond clasped her hands around one of Sadie's and looked at her earnestly.
"It's not a bad thing Sadie, anything you know that might help I'd like to hear. I swear on my unborn kid's life that I won't tell Spot." Sadie gave Diamond a stern glance.
"You shouldn't do that and what I tell or don't tell Spot will be my choice and for his ear's only. Nobody needs to know the details of my past they aren't important." Diamond snorted softly and shook her head.
"That's bullshit Trouble, and you know it." Sadie waved a hand in dismissal and took Diamond's newspapers away from her.
"Let me carry these for ya."
"I'm not even two months pregnant and I sure as hell ain't a weakling," Diamond protested.
"Yeah but you're a street kid you have to watch out for yourself a bit more than a rich pregnant lady would." Diamond sighed and finally gave in. Together they walked down the sidewalk talking about nonsense things, Sadie venting about the appearance of her cousin.
"I bet if we introduced her to the Delancey's they'd scare her off." Sadie got a hopeful light in her eyes which she quickly dashed away.
"Nah that's something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy." Kicking a stone, Sadie watched it bounce against the cobblestones of the street.
"When are you going to tell Jack?" Diamond looked as if she was going to vomit suddenly and she shook her head. Sadie looked at her concerned.
"You know you have to tell him Di." This time Diamond did puke and lurched away into a nearby alleyway. Some kids lounging in its shadows playing jumped up with cries of disgust. Sadie dragged Diamond away as she wiped her mouth on her sleeve.
"Christ, I'm sorry." Diamond held up a hand weakly in protest.
"It's not you it's just my nerves. That and I think I'm finally starting to get what they call morning sickness. My friend told me that I would start getting sick in the mornings and if I was really unlucky at night too." Sadie pursed her lips.
"That's it then, Jack will surely notice that. And as stupid as boys can be they know enough of what it means when a girl starts puking every morning." Diamond got a fierce light in her eyes.
"I can't lose him Sadie, I just can't." Sadie remembered how she had been when she had been thinking the same thing about Spot and let out a little swear. Diamond looked at her curiously.
"We know how we feel about those two boys Goddamn them but it's up to them how they react to whatever news it is we ever give them. If Jack really wants to be with you then he'll be upset but he'll deal with it. Are you going to tell him it's his or Spot's?" She looked slightly taken aback by her blunt question.
"At first I was going to tell him that it was his and be done with it. But then I realized that the time wouldn't match up and who would believe a healthy baby being born early? Besides what if the kid has blonde hair? I could lie but I'd feel horrible about it." Sadie agreed and studied her intently.
"If you tell Jack that the kid is Spot's then you know Spot will find out sooner or later." Sadie swore louder this time.
"If Spot finds out that I knew all along that the kid was his he and I are going to fight about it, I can already tell." Diamond shrugged.
"There are things I know he hasn't told you and there are things I know you have hidden from him and everyone else. He won't hold it against you for long, trust me." Sadie wasn't so sure about that. They stopped discussing the baby when they realized that they had walked all the way back to the lodging house. She almost did a double take when she saw her cousin Emma standing out front flirting shamelessly with Kid Blink and Mush, an enraged Cloudy standing nearby arms crossed in front of her chest, eyes narrowed dangerously. Racetrack lounged on the front stoop smoking a cigar and Sadie jerked her head at him waving him over.
"When did SHE get here," she hissed furiously in his ear as he bent his head towards her.
"Little while ago, was asking for ya and then decided to peruse the selection," his voice was heavily tinged with sarcasm and she could tell from the disgusted glances he was throwing in her direction that he didn't like Emma.
"Does Kid Blink know that Cloudy is most likely going to kill him any second now?" Racetrack muffled a laugh and looked at Blink whose eyes seemed slightly glazed over as Emma chattered brightly at him nonstop.
"I don't think Cloudy has anything to worry about, Blink and Mush don't seem too interested." Sadie thought Mush looked slightly interested herself but she didn't want to argue with Race.
Cloudy stepped forward and put a hand on Blink's arm, stopping Emma in her tirade. Blink shook his head and smiled brightly down at Cloudy which seemed to placate her. Giving Emma a murderous look, she and Blink disappeared into the lodging house. Emma then noticed Sadie and Diamond standing off to one side.
"Hi Sadie love!" she screeched making Sadie wince. Racetrack patted her shoulder and gave her a look that stated she was clearly on her own as he made a hasty retreat into the lodging house himself. Diamond was trying to hide a grin behind a hand as she watched Sadie grind her teeth.
"What are you doing here Emma? You said you didn't want to meet the newsies." The taller girl shrugged and something flashed across her face that Sadie couldn't identify.
"Oh well I got bored and lost and I asked Mush here if he knew you and he said he did and that you would probably show up here later so here I am." Diamond shook her head and Sadie sighed.
"Yeah here you are and now what?" Mush started talking to Diamond about a girl he had seen earlier that day and Sadie couldn't help but smile at the girl-crazy boy.
"Is Spot coming by later or what?" Racetrack had stuck his head back out of the doorway to the lodging house. Sadie nodded at him and heard a strangled little gasp.
"Who's Spot?" Emma's face had turned an interesting shade of white as she turned to Sadie and asked her that question. Sadie felt her chest puff out slightly in pride.
"Spot's the leader of the Brooklyn newsies and he's my boy." Emma looked as if she was going to suddenly vomit.
"He's your man?" Sadie nodded a smile crossing her face as she thought about him. Diamond snickered and then pointed past Emma.
"Speak of the Devil and he shall appear." Spot was striding up the sidewalk twirling his cane, Whiskey, Pirate and Striker walking alongside him. Sadie thought Emma was going to pass out. Growing slightly irritated at her cousin's strange behavior she made her sit down on the front stoop and forced her head between her knees. Striker slapped her hand on her knee and guffawed at the scene in front of them.
"What the hell is her problem?" Sadie shrugged up at Striker who had lit a cigarette and was peering down at Emma. Spot slung an arm around Sadie's waist and pulled her to him planting a chaste kiss on her cheek. He hated getting all lovey-dovey in front of the other newsies and usually only showed a reserved sort of affection towards Sadie in front of the other kids. There was a loud whoop and Ink barreled out of the lodging house to leap onto Pirate whose face turned numerous brilliant shades of red.
"Christ woman can't you act normal," he growled carrying her back inside the building. Sadie knew Ink would have gotten pissed if it wasn't for the curve of a pleased smile on his lips.
"Whiskey, Spot, Striker, this is my cousin Emma." Spot had a displeased look on his face as he studied the girl in front of him. Sadie had told him how her cousin had used to torture her. Emma looked up smiling thinly at the trio and nodded her head at each of them. Sadie had never seen her act so oddly before. Emma seemed to shrink under Spot's gaze and she suddenly leapt to her feet.
"I, I should really be going. Er, I'll see you later Sadie." Looking hurriedly at Spot, Emma took off down the sidewalk at a fast pace. Sadie cocked her head.
"What the hell was that all about?" Striker was watching Emma go a confused look spread across her face. Sadie shrugged.
"I have no idea, she's never acted like that before. Geez Spot you're a scary bastard ain't ya?" Spot grinned then, his smile reaching his eyes lighting up his face as he laughed and stuck a crudely rolled cigarette between his lips.
"I guess so huh? Where's Jack I have an idea of how to draw out that shit that's hurting my newsies." This time he looked at Diamond expecting her to know and answer. Diamond wouldn't meet his eyes and Sadie felt her heart go out to her.
"Jack said something about being her right after he was finished selling so if he's not here already then he should be here soon." Spot's glance lingered on Diamond a moment longer before he nodded and nudged Sadie with his elbow.
"Let's go inside then and wait." Sadie agreed and all the kids trooped into the lodging house. Sadie found her mind was occupied by how her cousin had been acting as they went up the rickety staircase to the bunkroom to wait for Jack to get back. Something wasn't right and she was sure as hell going to find out what that was.
Callista-Bella - Yeah Sadie has a dark side. I'm not sure why I decided to give her one, but usually even the most innocent acting person has their own demons.
Hills of Eire - Heh I thought Lucky was the character's name you sent me. Was I wrong or do you want me to call her Aine? (Grr I can't figure out how to get that little accent thing over the e Damnit.) But anyways if I got the character wrong I'm sorry I thought I was going by what you sent me. I actually had to switch computers so if you want to resend me the info I'd appreciate it. You'll have to wait and see if Spot finds out. ; )
"Still in Manhattan I see. Spot went back to Brooklyn then?" Sadie nodded and eyed Diamond thoughtfully.
"He doesn't know yet Diamond, I haven't told him." Diamond seemed to deflate right then and there letting out a gust of breath. Sadie watched the tension drain from her thin face and clucked her tongue.
"You need to be taking care of yourself you're eating and living for two now." Diamond cocked her head at Sadie a lock of her shining copper hair falling into her face. Tucking it behind one of her ears she shook her head.
"Sometimes when you give me advice I think that you've experienced more than you let on." Sadie felt a dull ache start to throb around her heart and tried to banish the flush that suddenly stained her cheeks. Diamond clasped her hands around one of Sadie's and looked at her earnestly.
"It's not a bad thing Sadie, anything you know that might help I'd like to hear. I swear on my unborn kid's life that I won't tell Spot." Sadie gave Diamond a stern glance.
"You shouldn't do that and what I tell or don't tell Spot will be my choice and for his ear's only. Nobody needs to know the details of my past they aren't important." Diamond snorted softly and shook her head.
"That's bullshit Trouble, and you know it." Sadie waved a hand in dismissal and took Diamond's newspapers away from her.
"Let me carry these for ya."
"I'm not even two months pregnant and I sure as hell ain't a weakling," Diamond protested.
"Yeah but you're a street kid you have to watch out for yourself a bit more than a rich pregnant lady would." Diamond sighed and finally gave in. Together they walked down the sidewalk talking about nonsense things, Sadie venting about the appearance of her cousin.
"I bet if we introduced her to the Delancey's they'd scare her off." Sadie got a hopeful light in her eyes which she quickly dashed away.
"Nah that's something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy." Kicking a stone, Sadie watched it bounce against the cobblestones of the street.
"When are you going to tell Jack?" Diamond looked as if she was going to vomit suddenly and she shook her head. Sadie looked at her concerned.
"You know you have to tell him Di." This time Diamond did puke and lurched away into a nearby alleyway. Some kids lounging in its shadows playing jumped up with cries of disgust. Sadie dragged Diamond away as she wiped her mouth on her sleeve.
"Christ, I'm sorry." Diamond held up a hand weakly in protest.
"It's not you it's just my nerves. That and I think I'm finally starting to get what they call morning sickness. My friend told me that I would start getting sick in the mornings and if I was really unlucky at night too." Sadie pursed her lips.
"That's it then, Jack will surely notice that. And as stupid as boys can be they know enough of what it means when a girl starts puking every morning." Diamond got a fierce light in her eyes.
"I can't lose him Sadie, I just can't." Sadie remembered how she had been when she had been thinking the same thing about Spot and let out a little swear. Diamond looked at her curiously.
"We know how we feel about those two boys Goddamn them but it's up to them how they react to whatever news it is we ever give them. If Jack really wants to be with you then he'll be upset but he'll deal with it. Are you going to tell him it's his or Spot's?" She looked slightly taken aback by her blunt question.
"At first I was going to tell him that it was his and be done with it. But then I realized that the time wouldn't match up and who would believe a healthy baby being born early? Besides what if the kid has blonde hair? I could lie but I'd feel horrible about it." Sadie agreed and studied her intently.
"If you tell Jack that the kid is Spot's then you know Spot will find out sooner or later." Sadie swore louder this time.
"If Spot finds out that I knew all along that the kid was his he and I are going to fight about it, I can already tell." Diamond shrugged.
"There are things I know he hasn't told you and there are things I know you have hidden from him and everyone else. He won't hold it against you for long, trust me." Sadie wasn't so sure about that. They stopped discussing the baby when they realized that they had walked all the way back to the lodging house. She almost did a double take when she saw her cousin Emma standing out front flirting shamelessly with Kid Blink and Mush, an enraged Cloudy standing nearby arms crossed in front of her chest, eyes narrowed dangerously. Racetrack lounged on the front stoop smoking a cigar and Sadie jerked her head at him waving him over.
"When did SHE get here," she hissed furiously in his ear as he bent his head towards her.
"Little while ago, was asking for ya and then decided to peruse the selection," his voice was heavily tinged with sarcasm and she could tell from the disgusted glances he was throwing in her direction that he didn't like Emma.
"Does Kid Blink know that Cloudy is most likely going to kill him any second now?" Racetrack muffled a laugh and looked at Blink whose eyes seemed slightly glazed over as Emma chattered brightly at him nonstop.
"I don't think Cloudy has anything to worry about, Blink and Mush don't seem too interested." Sadie thought Mush looked slightly interested herself but she didn't want to argue with Race.
Cloudy stepped forward and put a hand on Blink's arm, stopping Emma in her tirade. Blink shook his head and smiled brightly down at Cloudy which seemed to placate her. Giving Emma a murderous look, she and Blink disappeared into the lodging house. Emma then noticed Sadie and Diamond standing off to one side.
"Hi Sadie love!" she screeched making Sadie wince. Racetrack patted her shoulder and gave her a look that stated she was clearly on her own as he made a hasty retreat into the lodging house himself. Diamond was trying to hide a grin behind a hand as she watched Sadie grind her teeth.
"What are you doing here Emma? You said you didn't want to meet the newsies." The taller girl shrugged and something flashed across her face that Sadie couldn't identify.
"Oh well I got bored and lost and I asked Mush here if he knew you and he said he did and that you would probably show up here later so here I am." Diamond shook her head and Sadie sighed.
"Yeah here you are and now what?" Mush started talking to Diamond about a girl he had seen earlier that day and Sadie couldn't help but smile at the girl-crazy boy.
"Is Spot coming by later or what?" Racetrack had stuck his head back out of the doorway to the lodging house. Sadie nodded at him and heard a strangled little gasp.
"Who's Spot?" Emma's face had turned an interesting shade of white as she turned to Sadie and asked her that question. Sadie felt her chest puff out slightly in pride.
"Spot's the leader of the Brooklyn newsies and he's my boy." Emma looked as if she was going to suddenly vomit.
"He's your man?" Sadie nodded a smile crossing her face as she thought about him. Diamond snickered and then pointed past Emma.
"Speak of the Devil and he shall appear." Spot was striding up the sidewalk twirling his cane, Whiskey, Pirate and Striker walking alongside him. Sadie thought Emma was going to pass out. Growing slightly irritated at her cousin's strange behavior she made her sit down on the front stoop and forced her head between her knees. Striker slapped her hand on her knee and guffawed at the scene in front of them.
"What the hell is her problem?" Sadie shrugged up at Striker who had lit a cigarette and was peering down at Emma. Spot slung an arm around Sadie's waist and pulled her to him planting a chaste kiss on her cheek. He hated getting all lovey-dovey in front of the other newsies and usually only showed a reserved sort of affection towards Sadie in front of the other kids. There was a loud whoop and Ink barreled out of the lodging house to leap onto Pirate whose face turned numerous brilliant shades of red.
"Christ woman can't you act normal," he growled carrying her back inside the building. Sadie knew Ink would have gotten pissed if it wasn't for the curve of a pleased smile on his lips.
"Whiskey, Spot, Striker, this is my cousin Emma." Spot had a displeased look on his face as he studied the girl in front of him. Sadie had told him how her cousin had used to torture her. Emma looked up smiling thinly at the trio and nodded her head at each of them. Sadie had never seen her act so oddly before. Emma seemed to shrink under Spot's gaze and she suddenly leapt to her feet.
"I, I should really be going. Er, I'll see you later Sadie." Looking hurriedly at Spot, Emma took off down the sidewalk at a fast pace. Sadie cocked her head.
"What the hell was that all about?" Striker was watching Emma go a confused look spread across her face. Sadie shrugged.
"I have no idea, she's never acted like that before. Geez Spot you're a scary bastard ain't ya?" Spot grinned then, his smile reaching his eyes lighting up his face as he laughed and stuck a crudely rolled cigarette between his lips.
"I guess so huh? Where's Jack I have an idea of how to draw out that shit that's hurting my newsies." This time he looked at Diamond expecting her to know and answer. Diamond wouldn't meet his eyes and Sadie felt her heart go out to her.
"Jack said something about being her right after he was finished selling so if he's not here already then he should be here soon." Spot's glance lingered on Diamond a moment longer before he nodded and nudged Sadie with his elbow.
"Let's go inside then and wait." Sadie agreed and all the kids trooped into the lodging house. Sadie found her mind was occupied by how her cousin had been acting as they went up the rickety staircase to the bunkroom to wait for Jack to get back. Something wasn't right and she was sure as hell going to find out what that was.
Callista-Bella - Yeah Sadie has a dark side. I'm not sure why I decided to give her one, but usually even the most innocent acting person has their own demons.
Hills of Eire - Heh I thought Lucky was the character's name you sent me. Was I wrong or do you want me to call her Aine? (Grr I can't figure out how to get that little accent thing over the e Damnit.) But anyways if I got the character wrong I'm sorry I thought I was going by what you sent me. I actually had to switch computers so if you want to resend me the info I'd appreciate it. You'll have to wait and see if Spot finds out. ; )