Spot turned back towards me as if daring me to ask him again. I shut my
eyes, awaiting a good soaking for questioning the almighty Brooklyn leader.
I wouldn't blame him for hitting me; I had questioned him in front of
everyone. It was a matter of respect, and I respected that. When I opened
my eyes, you could imagine my surprise to see Spot simply sitting there
smirking at me.
"Come on, let's take a walk," was all he said before turning and walking away. I stood for a minute, wondering what had just happened. Not wanting to push my luck I reluctantly follow Spot. We finally stopped at one of the docks no one hung around. Spot stopped so abruptly I nearly ran into him.
"You'se dat goil der lookin' for in Manhattan, ain't you'se?"
Well I certainly didn't see that coming. The last thing I thought Spot wanted to talk to me about was Manhattan.
"I don't know what your talking 'bout Spot."
"Don't shit me, Chrys. You ran away from Manhattan, didn't ya?"
I may have run away from a lot of things, but Manhattan certainly wasn't one of them.
"I didn't run away from Manhattan, Spot. And der ain't no reason why anyone der would be looking for me."
"You know Race?" I nodded, wondering what me knowing Race had anything to do with anything. Spot must have noticed my puzzlement because he continued before I could even think to ask why. "Well, it seems dat you'se buddy Race has taken quite a liking ta ya. I think he was hoping ta get ta know ya and den askin' ya to be his goil." Spot smirked at the thought.
Race wanted me to be his girl? I was excited and petrified at the same time. I had really taking a liking to Race too. But he reminded me so much of Sean, and I knew he would hurt me just as Sean had. I was so lost in thought, I had totally forgotten about Spot.
"Uhh, Crystal?" Spot must have noticed I was troubled about Race, because he used my full name. I just looked at Spot, not knowing what to say. I was completely stunned when Spot smiled at me. I'm not talking about his notorious smirk, but a genuine caring smile. You know, the kind a father gives to his little girl before giving her the advice he knows she needs. Or the kind of smile an older brother gives to his sister before he gives her his only piece of bread, so she won't be hungry that night. A true and caring smile. "We'se only known each udder a week, but it seems like I'se known ya forevah. You remind me a lot of me sistah. So it jist seems like you'se is me sistah. Race is a good guy and I know he ain't gonna let ya down. Trust me, Chrys."
I just stared at Spot, not sure if I was hearing right, or seeing right for that matter. Spot had said I was like his sister and was giving me advice on Race. My jaw dropped, I swear it nearly hit the ground. Spot was showing emotion. Not only was he showing emotion, but a caring one; not his usual egotistical one. And it was towards me, someone he had known not even a week. My face must have looked pretty amusing because Spot laughed. "I know, it ain't like me ta be like dis, 'specially wid someone I dun know dat well. But you remind me of Sindy so much, I guess I jist can't help but care 'bout ya."
I think for once in my life I was a loss for words, all I could get out was, "Sindy?"
"Yea, me sistah." Spot suddenly looked extremely uncomfortable. I could only begin to imaging why. I mean, Spot had a reputation for being tough and showing no mercy. He had gone with his gut feeling to show a girl he barely knew consideration and caring. And I think it just occurred to him that I could go and tell everyone what the mighty Spot Conlon had said. It would destroy him, and we both knew it.
"Don't worry Spot. I wont tell no one what you said heah. And what a softie ya really are. I promise."
He no longer looked uncomfortable, having gone back to his state as unemotional. I could see it in his eyes though, he was relieved that I promised not to say anything to anyone.
"So you wanna go ta Manhattan wid me tomorrow?" Spot asked, his usual smirk now present on his face.
"Shoa." I said with a smile. We walked back from the docks, acting as if nothing happened.
It was after that moment that I realized how much of a softie Spot really was. I mean, if you really paid attention to him, you can tell. He comforted the little kids when they were scared, he helped any of his boys when he was in trouble, and he really cared for all of his boys. It was just all hidden behind his ever-present apathetic face, and tough attitude. I wonder if anyone else notices it too, and just doesn't admit it.
I fell asleep quickly that night, thinking about Spot and Race. I didn't know what was going to become of me. Could I overcome my fear and let Race in my life? I guess I'll find out.
"Come on, let's take a walk," was all he said before turning and walking away. I stood for a minute, wondering what had just happened. Not wanting to push my luck I reluctantly follow Spot. We finally stopped at one of the docks no one hung around. Spot stopped so abruptly I nearly ran into him.
"You'se dat goil der lookin' for in Manhattan, ain't you'se?"
Well I certainly didn't see that coming. The last thing I thought Spot wanted to talk to me about was Manhattan.
"I don't know what your talking 'bout Spot."
"Don't shit me, Chrys. You ran away from Manhattan, didn't ya?"
I may have run away from a lot of things, but Manhattan certainly wasn't one of them.
"I didn't run away from Manhattan, Spot. And der ain't no reason why anyone der would be looking for me."
"You know Race?" I nodded, wondering what me knowing Race had anything to do with anything. Spot must have noticed my puzzlement because he continued before I could even think to ask why. "Well, it seems dat you'se buddy Race has taken quite a liking ta ya. I think he was hoping ta get ta know ya and den askin' ya to be his goil." Spot smirked at the thought.
Race wanted me to be his girl? I was excited and petrified at the same time. I had really taking a liking to Race too. But he reminded me so much of Sean, and I knew he would hurt me just as Sean had. I was so lost in thought, I had totally forgotten about Spot.
"Uhh, Crystal?" Spot must have noticed I was troubled about Race, because he used my full name. I just looked at Spot, not knowing what to say. I was completely stunned when Spot smiled at me. I'm not talking about his notorious smirk, but a genuine caring smile. You know, the kind a father gives to his little girl before giving her the advice he knows she needs. Or the kind of smile an older brother gives to his sister before he gives her his only piece of bread, so she won't be hungry that night. A true and caring smile. "We'se only known each udder a week, but it seems like I'se known ya forevah. You remind me a lot of me sistah. So it jist seems like you'se is me sistah. Race is a good guy and I know he ain't gonna let ya down. Trust me, Chrys."
I just stared at Spot, not sure if I was hearing right, or seeing right for that matter. Spot had said I was like his sister and was giving me advice on Race. My jaw dropped, I swear it nearly hit the ground. Spot was showing emotion. Not only was he showing emotion, but a caring one; not his usual egotistical one. And it was towards me, someone he had known not even a week. My face must have looked pretty amusing because Spot laughed. "I know, it ain't like me ta be like dis, 'specially wid someone I dun know dat well. But you remind me of Sindy so much, I guess I jist can't help but care 'bout ya."
I think for once in my life I was a loss for words, all I could get out was, "Sindy?"
"Yea, me sistah." Spot suddenly looked extremely uncomfortable. I could only begin to imaging why. I mean, Spot had a reputation for being tough and showing no mercy. He had gone with his gut feeling to show a girl he barely knew consideration and caring. And I think it just occurred to him that I could go and tell everyone what the mighty Spot Conlon had said. It would destroy him, and we both knew it.
"Don't worry Spot. I wont tell no one what you said heah. And what a softie ya really are. I promise."
He no longer looked uncomfortable, having gone back to his state as unemotional. I could see it in his eyes though, he was relieved that I promised not to say anything to anyone.
"So you wanna go ta Manhattan wid me tomorrow?" Spot asked, his usual smirk now present on his face.
"Shoa." I said with a smile. We walked back from the docks, acting as if nothing happened.
It was after that moment that I realized how much of a softie Spot really was. I mean, if you really paid attention to him, you can tell. He comforted the little kids when they were scared, he helped any of his boys when he was in trouble, and he really cared for all of his boys. It was just all hidden behind his ever-present apathetic face, and tough attitude. I wonder if anyone else notices it too, and just doesn't admit it.
I fell asleep quickly that night, thinking about Spot and Race. I didn't know what was going to become of me. Could I overcome my fear and let Race in my life? I guess I'll find out.