He climbed into my bed and I turned so that I wasn't facing him. He put his arm around my waist and I fell asleep to his breathing on my neck. I felt so safe in his arms. The next morning I felt Spot shake me up. "Good morning sunshine!" I turned onto my back and he just smiled at me.
"Don't go changing my name now!" He smirked and he leaned into me and we kissed. When we pulled apart I was breathless.
"Youse didn't have any bad dreams," He kissed my forehead . "Youse ready to sell papes?"
"Hell ya, Ise needs to eat today, Ise getting hungry." I must've said that loud because the newsies around us started to clap and cheer for me. I blushed and I sat up and looked around the room.
"Whosse are youse looking fer?" Spot asked me.
"Rocket and Jack, Ise didn't see them come up."
"Dey never came up, I tink dey went fer a walk of no return." I laughed. Spot quickly grabbed his clothes and went into the washroom. I got up myself and stretched. I yawned and almost didn't notcies Jack and Rocket coming into the room.
"Where were youse two?" I walked over and asked them.
"We went fer a walk and we slept ova at da Brooklyn Lodging House." Jack said.
"Sure you did Jack. Go wash up, youse smell!"
"Tanks Sweetz." He messed up my hair and left Rocket and I alone to talk.
"So what happened between youse two?"
"Lets just say dat I'm his goil and he knows bout me past."
"Yes!" I screamed so loud that everyone looked. Rocket and I just turned to each other and started to laugh.
"But anyways, so we went to Brooklyn and dey said dat dey needs Spot back. He's been gone fer bout two weeks total and dat dey feel like he's abandoning them, so dey want mes to ask youse if dats okay, is it?"
"Yeah its fine, Ise was actually wondering when he was going to go back."
"Who go back where?" I turned around to see Spots face.
"You go back to Brooklyn." I really didn't want him to leave but that's the price of going out with a newsie leader.
"Yeah, Ise really should."
"Youse should go now cause dey seem like dey gots to talk to youse." I didn't want to loose him and I didn't want him to leave.
"Youse right, I'd dere leada and I'm here. Sorry Sweetz, but Ise should go."
"I know, Ise just told ya to leave." He smiled at me and gave me a quick kiss and headed out the door.
"Youse okay?" Rocket looked at me.
"Ya, I'm going to miss his kisses."
"Its not like he's gonna neva come back or break it up wit youse."
"Dats where I tink your wrong. I tink I'm becoming a hassle for him. He don't need dat much stress in his life."
"Well lets just hope dat dats not what's gonna happen." We hugged and then I felt arms going around Rocket. I looked up and I saw Jack and he smiled. I let go of Rocket so she could be with her guy. I left the room and down the stairs. I felt arms around my shoulders as I was walking down the stairs.
"Heya Sweetz."
"Heya Race." I knew his voice right away. He came next to me while we walked to the distribution center. "Youse happy dat your working again?"
"Definitely, I've missed selling so much. I miss yellin headlines out."
"Well youse yelled a lot dis morning." I laughed.
"Ya, I'm so happy Race. Everythings going back to normal."
"I hope your not going back to the bad normal, cause dat was hard woik fer us guys." I looked at him questionably. "Its true, we would wait for youse to start moving in yer sleep and den wese would make sure dat youse go back to sleep, and den we tried to get youse to ear." I looked at him blankly. Did I really waster their lived? What if they thought I was doing it on purpose, they might abandon me. "Sweetz!" I looked back over to Race. "Youse okay?"
"Ya, stop worrying bout me would you?"
"Yeah, you should, she don't need anybody in this world." I looked behind me and there stood my mother.
"Why don't you leaves her alone miss, and gets on yer way." Race said angrily.
"Race, dis is me mudda, moms, dis is Race."
"Nice to meet you ma'am."
"Ise don't talk to street rats." Race looked hurt.
"Den why youse talking to me?" I asked her.
"What?"
"Youse heard me, Ise a street rat and Ise said whyse you talking to me. Ise make me own money, ise gots a new family." I snuck a smile to Race. "What youse want?"
"You need to come home."
"No I don't."
"yes you do because we're paying your bills from the hospital and in return you will work for your father."
"I don't have a father." Race looked at me and ran for help. "And Ise not going wit youse or anybody else." Since we were so close to the distribution center, Race showed up with half the newsies.
"This isn't over Samantha."
"For now it is." She turned and walked away. I turned around to Races face. "What am Ise going to do? She knows dat I stay at da Manhattan Lodging House."
"Go wit me to talks to Spot, we'll figure out sometin."
"No, I don't want to go ova to Spots place. Ise rather eat dirt."
"Whyse?" I looked over at all the newsies listening to me intently. I gave them a look and they all went back to the center.
"Ise don't tink Spot would wants to see me so soon."
"Why wouldn't Spot want to see his goil?" I turned around and there was Spot. I ran to him and gave him a hug. "Ise only been gone for twenty minutes and youse miss me already? I just came back cause Ise needed to talks to yas."
"Your not back from Brooklyn though. Because it takes youse longer den twenty minutes to get dere and back." I said.
"Ise know, Ise was walkin but Ise decided to come back."
"What bout youse newsies?"
"Well dats why Ise cam back, Ise need to talk to youse."
"I'm going to da centa." said Race. I smiled and waved to him. Spot and I held hands and walked over to a bench. We both sat down. I waited silently for him to talk first, but it didn't reach Spot in time.
"Youse need to tell me sometin, right?" He nodded.
: Sweetz, you belong in Manhattan, but Ise really want youse in Brooklyn wit me. Ise love you and Ise don't know if Ise coulds stay away from youse fer a long time."
"Spot, Ise love you too, and Ise can't stay in Manhattan cause right now me mudda is afta mes and she knows dat Ise stay here. So Ise wondering if Ise could stay wit youse fer awhile." Spot smiled. "Ya, Ise go back now and get a bunk in me bedroom. Ise aint letting youse sleep wit da otha boys." I smiled and we kissed. He slowly got up and headed towards Brooklyn. Okay what's going on? I'm moving in with Spot……this can't be good……oh god…..I'm so nervous. This is the first time in my life I actually feel love and protection at the same time. I wonder what's going to happen next. Oh….probably he'll break up with me……leave me heart broken….and then I'll never be able to trust another guy again…I don't feel like getting my heart broken. I think that asks way to much from me. I mean….I came to the newsies a couple of months ago and all I've done is cause trouble and stress for them. They must really care if they haven't kicked me out yet. I can't believe myself…..what if Spot doesn't break up with me….does that mean that he actually cares or does he pity me? I can take care of myself and I don't always need someone there to guide me. I feel the only time I need protection is when I am with my mother or father cause they hurt me. Well my thoughts aren't going to bring me down. I'm going to go back to the Lodging House and share my news with Rocket and Jack. While I was walking I was thinking about my relationship with Jack. He's like my brother, which is real cool. I feel like he's the one person that I could always trust. I have a few of them like that. Like Race is my closest friend and he is also another person that I know that will always be looking out for me. Mush and Blink always seem like they are always there when I get into trouble and its getting weird. I treat them like my brothers but they probably think of me as 'Spot's goilfriend' which is foreign territory to them. Mush was a stud, and I am the person to admit to that. Every morning I sleep in Manhattan I always see him without his shirt on and I tell ya, it's a good site to see. But then again, so are Spots adorable face and those perfect eyes of his. And then there is Kid Blink. He's cute also and tall. But not as cute as Spot. No one is. I don't ever want to hurt him and I'm afraid that I might without even knowing it. People always told me stuff on how he uses people, and that its not healthy for me to go out with him. I finally entered the Lodging House and ran up the stairs. I went over to Jack and Rocket who were sitting on his bed talking. I quietly went over by them and knocked on the wood that connected the two beds to form a bunk.
"Heya Sweetz, what's going on?" I ran to Rocket and I hugged her then I turned to Jack and I hugged him. "Ise see youse in a good mood, whyse?"
"ise moving to Brooklyn!"
"What?"
"Yeah, cause me mudda is looking fer me and Ise need a place to hid and since Rocket is wit youse den we can trade places."
"Dat would be great, den youse be wit Spot and I would be wit Jack."
"Ise going to miss you kid." Jack said. I slightly punched him in the arm.
"Ise aint dying Jack, Ise only be in Brooklyn if Ise find out anytin bad bout youse den Ise coming back and gonna have a few words wit youse." I turned to Rocket. "Make sure he showas, cause afta awhile he can really get stinky." I smiled and both Rocket and I laughed. Jack just messed up my hair. "Don't mess wit me hair." We all started to laugh. I decided not to sell that day because I was too excited about moving in with Spot. I was walking down the streets when I bumped into someone. I looked up and it was the bulls. I quickly looked down and started to walk.
"Excuse me miss, have you seen this girl?" He showed me a picture of myself.
"No, I haven't, sorry. But if Ise see er den I'll come get youse."
"Wait." I looked back at him worried if he had recognized me. "Before youse go, take dis picture and show it around." I took the picture that he offered me. I walked away and as soon as I was out of sight, I ran to Tibby's. I walked in and all the newsies were there.
"Hey everyone shut up fer a second!" Everyone stopped and looked at me. "Has any of youse seen dis goil?" I held the picture up for everyone to see.
"Aint dat youse Sweetz?" Blink said while walking towards the picture. He took it from me and looked at it. "Aw…youse so cute? What happened?" Newsies started to laugh.
"Haha…your funny. NOT! Youse best be shutting up Blink or Ise soak ya."
"Ya, ya, Ise know it." He sat back down next to Race.
"Well anyways, deres a reward fer me arrest." I giggled. "Me arrest, boy dis is a foist fer me."
"Youse runnin from da law now Sweetz, dey catch youse and youse go to da Refuge." Race said in concern.
"Well, if Ise find out dat any of you ratted at me den I'll make sure Ise come back and soak you."
"Youse know dat none of us would rat on youse, wese not like dat." Race said.
"How much is da reward?" Everyone looked over at Harley who was sitting in the back.
"Fifty dollas." Harley and some of the other newsies started to get up and head out the door, and right when they were opening the door Jack and Rocket walked in.
"Where do yas tink youse going?" Jack asked Harley.
"Wese going to collect us fifty dollas."
"Hows youse going to do dat?"
"Rat on Sweetz, its fer er arrests." They took a step forward but both Rocket and Jack blocked the door.
"Youse aint ratting on anyone." Rocket shouted. "And if youse do den I'll be poisonally take care of it and den Ise go get Spot and da Brooklyn newsies." Jack looked and nodded in agreement with Rocket.
"Dats right!" Jack said.
"Let dem go you guys, its dere necks their risking." I said.
"And yours." Rocket yelled towards me. I walked over and found my way though Jack and Rocket. I motioned for the newsies to come out with me. When they came out they stood next to me.
"If youse want to rat me den you'll have to soak me foist."
"We just want da money, wese don't want to hoit youse." I slapped him in the back of the head. "Oww…whyse youse do dat?"
"If Ise get arrested den de'll take me to me folks and den dey prolly kill me. Youse guys can't let me go back, Ise woiked too hard to go back to dem."
"We need da money, sellin aint too good lately."
"Ise give you money, youse don't even hafta pay me back. Now, please, tell me, are youse going to rat me out?" I looked over and I could see newsies watching us from the inside of Tibby's.
"Ise don't know Sweetz."
"Listen to me, Ise will do anytin for youse if youse don't go telling on me."
"Anytin?"
"Well, it depends on what it is, but mostly anytin."
"How bout a kiss?"
"No, youse know dat Ise wit Spot, Ise not going to hoit him, and deres no way Ise going to touch you. Pick sometin else."
"I still want da kiss and dats it. Just one peck on da cheek right here." He pointed to his left cheek.
"I aint going to do it."
"Well den youse sleep in me bed tonite." He said in an orderly kind of voice.
"Dats worse den kissing youse. Can youse pick sometin else where it doesn't involve us doing sometin? Like me sellin youse papes, and youse get da money, how bout it?"
"No, Ise either want da kiss or youse sleepin in me bed, or Ise ratting on youse."
"Ise not a piece of meat and Ise just told ya dat Ise wit Spot and dat I wouldn't touch youse. So take dat as a hint and give me sometin else to do."
"Well den were telling on youse, youse have no way of winning!" I saw Jack, Race, Blink, and Mush come out of the restaurant. Jack went up to Harley that was talking to me and pushed him to the ground. Race, Blink, and Mush grabbed the other newsies making sure they didn't run away. "What was dat fer Cowboy?"
"Youse blackmailing er. She tolds ya she had a boyfriend but youse kept pushing er." I looked at him wondering how he knew. "Everyone in Tibby's hoird yas, wese left da door open." Harley stood back up and stared at Jack.
"Dis aint any of youse business! So turn away now and Ise forget youse were her."
"Youse got to be kiddin me, dis is bout me friends and how dey should trust us and wese gonna make sure dat no one is ratted out. Youse hear me?" The other newsies nodded and then I saw Harley clench his fist and pull his arm back when Jack wasn't looking. Without think I jumped onto Harley and started to punch him in the stomach. Jack tried pulling us apart but he couldn't. I heard more newsies come out of the restaurant to watch. I kept punching Harley in the stomach until he punched me in the jaw.
"Youse son of a bitch, youse just didn't do dat!" I screamed and hit him harder. I kneed him in the groin and I pushed him off of me. Jack helped me up and stood me in back of him. Harley got up and yelled,
"Youse aint safe Sweetz. Youse neva will be." He ran off into the streets. Jack looked to some newsies and said,
"Chase him into Spots territory and makes sure he gets dealt wit!" The newsies started to chase him.
"What should wese do bout dese guys Jack?" said Mush.
"Wese promise dat we aint going to tell, please, trust us."
"Let dem go. But if Sweetz is caught den youse going to be expectin me wit a couple of words." The newsies that Race, Mush, and Blink were holding all nodded. They were all released and they went back into a Tibby's. "Sweetz, youse hungry? You haven't eaten anytin all day and you said dis morning dat you will." All the newsies looked at me. I couldn't help but smile at them.
"Youse such a brudda to me." I looked over at Blink, Mush, and Race, and then Rocket who was over by the door. "Youse all are like family to me and I apprecitate it. Ise mean, no one in me family woulds take cares of me if Ise have a nightmares, but youse guys did." They smiled and we walked into Tibby's and we all sat at a table. (WOW, a first for me!) We sat down and ordered food. I ordered a roast beef sandwich. When the food came all of the guys waited for me to take a bite. I picked up my sandwich and took the biggest bite ever. All the guys and Rocket cheered for me. I smiled while I chewed happy to eat food again. (I never show my teeth when I smile.) When we finished we decided to leave. "Well you guys Ise better be going."
"Where youse going?" Race looked at me questionly.
"Don't tells anyone but Ise going to Brooklyn, cause me mudda is looking for me."
"Oh." He hugged me, and then after that Blink, Mush, and Jack hugged me. I went up to Rocket and gave her a long hug.
"Brooklyn is tough; remember to stay in a group when you go out. Try and stay wit Spot cause he aint let any of his newsies hit on youse, but days only if youse wit him."
"Ya, ya, Ise hear you." We let go of each other. "I'll miss youse. Ise come and visit youse though." We both nodded and I walked off. After about a half an hour I was in the middle of the Brooklyn bridge. I stood there thinking about the first time I had met Spot. If I hadn't have met him then I'd probably be still at the Manhattan bridge feelin bad for myself. What if I hadn't met any newsies? Then I'd be sleeping on the streets. The newsies saved me and look what I've done to them. They have been losing sleep because of me, they have been involved in fights because of me, and then they are always worried about me. I'm stupid. I made them worry about me when my parents came, and then when I stopped eating, and now I'm making them worry about me because my parents are back. I feel like I'm in 'The return of the evil parent's part 2.' My life is so ridiculous. It seems like everything happens to me in one day and then there's nothing else to do for the rest of my life. This sucks. But my life doesn't suck so bad anymore because I was with Spot. I never noticed but we have been going out for about a month now. I didn't know he could go for that long. I smiled to myself and looked up to see the sun setting. It was so beautiful. The sun hid behind some clouds and it became very cold. I better be going to the Lodging House or I'll be sleeping out here. I walked to the end of the bridge and by the time I got there it was pitch black. All I could see was the docks for the Brooklyn newsies and the Lodging House itself. I was starting to get Goosebumps because I was cold and scared. I saw the Lodging House coming closer to me as my pace quickened. I went to the door and found out it was locked. Since all the lights were on I decided to knock on the door real hard. Someone opened the door and looked at me suspiciously.
"Whose are you?"
"Ise Sweetz, Spot here?"
"Ya, he's upstairs playing poker." He took me upstairs. We walked in and we saw a bunch of newsies surrounding two boys. I recognized a voice that rose above the others.
"Ha, beat dat you sucker!" I couldn't help but giggle at Spots remark. I looked over to the guy who had brought me up.
"Youse neva told me your name." I looked at him. "So, what is it?"
"Me name is Tiger, people call me Tigs. So youse really Sweetz?" I nodded.
"Whyse? Youse hoird sometin bout me?"
"Ise only know dat Spot was worried bout youse when youse didn't eat."
"Tanks fer telling me, and Ise apologize dat Ise kind of kept Spots away from heres."
"Don't worries. Ise would stay away too if Ise had a poirty goil like you." He smiled and I blushed.
"Tanks but how much money did Spot gives you to say dat to me?" I laughed and he chuckled.
"Nuttin, you means Ise could be gettings paid fer giving youse compliments?" We smiled at each other until we heard a loud cheer come from the table. We looked over and saw Spot standing on the table holding his winnings. He looked over to Tiger and I and he smiled.
"Every ones, dats Sweetz." He said pointing to me. All the newsies turned their heads and looked at me. Spot jumped off of the table and came over to me and we kissed on the lips. He put his arm around my shoulders holding his winnings in his other hand and he walked me up to some of the newsies.
"Sweetz, dats Spikes, Scraps, Pots, Crabs…" He went on and on and I was already forgetting names. I just smiled and nodded. My cheeks were red by the end of the night because more then half the newsies either kissed my hand or my cheek. (I mean come on, you see the hottest guys of all and they kiss you, yeah I do have a boyfriend, but, wow! They were so cute.) I could feel Spot get angry every time a newsie kissed me. Den I met dis one goil, she didn't look like she felt good but she had that kind of vibe that made you think of her as a nice person. I remembered her name and it was Bambie. I thought it was a cute name. When Spot was done introducing me to his newsies he took me to his room. I saw two separate beds at opposite sides of the bedroom. "Dis is me room. Youse get da bed ova by the window.
"Don't go changing my name now!" He smirked and he leaned into me and we kissed. When we pulled apart I was breathless.
"Youse didn't have any bad dreams," He kissed my forehead . "Youse ready to sell papes?"
"Hell ya, Ise needs to eat today, Ise getting hungry." I must've said that loud because the newsies around us started to clap and cheer for me. I blushed and I sat up and looked around the room.
"Whosse are youse looking fer?" Spot asked me.
"Rocket and Jack, Ise didn't see them come up."
"Dey never came up, I tink dey went fer a walk of no return." I laughed. Spot quickly grabbed his clothes and went into the washroom. I got up myself and stretched. I yawned and almost didn't notcies Jack and Rocket coming into the room.
"Where were youse two?" I walked over and asked them.
"We went fer a walk and we slept ova at da Brooklyn Lodging House." Jack said.
"Sure you did Jack. Go wash up, youse smell!"
"Tanks Sweetz." He messed up my hair and left Rocket and I alone to talk.
"So what happened between youse two?"
"Lets just say dat I'm his goil and he knows bout me past."
"Yes!" I screamed so loud that everyone looked. Rocket and I just turned to each other and started to laugh.
"But anyways, so we went to Brooklyn and dey said dat dey needs Spot back. He's been gone fer bout two weeks total and dat dey feel like he's abandoning them, so dey want mes to ask youse if dats okay, is it?"
"Yeah its fine, Ise was actually wondering when he was going to go back."
"Who go back where?" I turned around to see Spots face.
"You go back to Brooklyn." I really didn't want him to leave but that's the price of going out with a newsie leader.
"Yeah, Ise really should."
"Youse should go now cause dey seem like dey gots to talk to youse." I didn't want to loose him and I didn't want him to leave.
"Youse right, I'd dere leada and I'm here. Sorry Sweetz, but Ise should go."
"I know, Ise just told ya to leave." He smiled at me and gave me a quick kiss and headed out the door.
"Youse okay?" Rocket looked at me.
"Ya, I'm going to miss his kisses."
"Its not like he's gonna neva come back or break it up wit youse."
"Dats where I tink your wrong. I tink I'm becoming a hassle for him. He don't need dat much stress in his life."
"Well lets just hope dat dats not what's gonna happen." We hugged and then I felt arms going around Rocket. I looked up and I saw Jack and he smiled. I let go of Rocket so she could be with her guy. I left the room and down the stairs. I felt arms around my shoulders as I was walking down the stairs.
"Heya Sweetz."
"Heya Race." I knew his voice right away. He came next to me while we walked to the distribution center. "Youse happy dat your working again?"
"Definitely, I've missed selling so much. I miss yellin headlines out."
"Well youse yelled a lot dis morning." I laughed.
"Ya, I'm so happy Race. Everythings going back to normal."
"I hope your not going back to the bad normal, cause dat was hard woik fer us guys." I looked at him questionably. "Its true, we would wait for youse to start moving in yer sleep and den wese would make sure dat youse go back to sleep, and den we tried to get youse to ear." I looked at him blankly. Did I really waster their lived? What if they thought I was doing it on purpose, they might abandon me. "Sweetz!" I looked back over to Race. "Youse okay?"
"Ya, stop worrying bout me would you?"
"Yeah, you should, she don't need anybody in this world." I looked behind me and there stood my mother.
"Why don't you leaves her alone miss, and gets on yer way." Race said angrily.
"Race, dis is me mudda, moms, dis is Race."
"Nice to meet you ma'am."
"Ise don't talk to street rats." Race looked hurt.
"Den why youse talking to me?" I asked her.
"What?"
"Youse heard me, Ise a street rat and Ise said whyse you talking to me. Ise make me own money, ise gots a new family." I snuck a smile to Race. "What youse want?"
"You need to come home."
"No I don't."
"yes you do because we're paying your bills from the hospital and in return you will work for your father."
"I don't have a father." Race looked at me and ran for help. "And Ise not going wit youse or anybody else." Since we were so close to the distribution center, Race showed up with half the newsies.
"This isn't over Samantha."
"For now it is." She turned and walked away. I turned around to Races face. "What am Ise going to do? She knows dat I stay at da Manhattan Lodging House."
"Go wit me to talks to Spot, we'll figure out sometin."
"No, I don't want to go ova to Spots place. Ise rather eat dirt."
"Whyse?" I looked over at all the newsies listening to me intently. I gave them a look and they all went back to the center.
"Ise don't tink Spot would wants to see me so soon."
"Why wouldn't Spot want to see his goil?" I turned around and there was Spot. I ran to him and gave him a hug. "Ise only been gone for twenty minutes and youse miss me already? I just came back cause Ise needed to talks to yas."
"Your not back from Brooklyn though. Because it takes youse longer den twenty minutes to get dere and back." I said.
"Ise know, Ise was walkin but Ise decided to come back."
"What bout youse newsies?"
"Well dats why Ise cam back, Ise need to talk to youse."
"I'm going to da centa." said Race. I smiled and waved to him. Spot and I held hands and walked over to a bench. We both sat down. I waited silently for him to talk first, but it didn't reach Spot in time.
"Youse need to tell me sometin, right?" He nodded.
: Sweetz, you belong in Manhattan, but Ise really want youse in Brooklyn wit me. Ise love you and Ise don't know if Ise coulds stay away from youse fer a long time."
"Spot, Ise love you too, and Ise can't stay in Manhattan cause right now me mudda is afta mes and she knows dat Ise stay here. So Ise wondering if Ise could stay wit youse fer awhile." Spot smiled. "Ya, Ise go back now and get a bunk in me bedroom. Ise aint letting youse sleep wit da otha boys." I smiled and we kissed. He slowly got up and headed towards Brooklyn. Okay what's going on? I'm moving in with Spot……this can't be good……oh god…..I'm so nervous. This is the first time in my life I actually feel love and protection at the same time. I wonder what's going to happen next. Oh….probably he'll break up with me……leave me heart broken….and then I'll never be able to trust another guy again…I don't feel like getting my heart broken. I think that asks way to much from me. I mean….I came to the newsies a couple of months ago and all I've done is cause trouble and stress for them. They must really care if they haven't kicked me out yet. I can't believe myself…..what if Spot doesn't break up with me….does that mean that he actually cares or does he pity me? I can take care of myself and I don't always need someone there to guide me. I feel the only time I need protection is when I am with my mother or father cause they hurt me. Well my thoughts aren't going to bring me down. I'm going to go back to the Lodging House and share my news with Rocket and Jack. While I was walking I was thinking about my relationship with Jack. He's like my brother, which is real cool. I feel like he's the one person that I could always trust. I have a few of them like that. Like Race is my closest friend and he is also another person that I know that will always be looking out for me. Mush and Blink always seem like they are always there when I get into trouble and its getting weird. I treat them like my brothers but they probably think of me as 'Spot's goilfriend' which is foreign territory to them. Mush was a stud, and I am the person to admit to that. Every morning I sleep in Manhattan I always see him without his shirt on and I tell ya, it's a good site to see. But then again, so are Spots adorable face and those perfect eyes of his. And then there is Kid Blink. He's cute also and tall. But not as cute as Spot. No one is. I don't ever want to hurt him and I'm afraid that I might without even knowing it. People always told me stuff on how he uses people, and that its not healthy for me to go out with him. I finally entered the Lodging House and ran up the stairs. I went over to Jack and Rocket who were sitting on his bed talking. I quietly went over by them and knocked on the wood that connected the two beds to form a bunk.
"Heya Sweetz, what's going on?" I ran to Rocket and I hugged her then I turned to Jack and I hugged him. "Ise see youse in a good mood, whyse?"
"ise moving to Brooklyn!"
"What?"
"Yeah, cause me mudda is looking fer me and Ise need a place to hid and since Rocket is wit youse den we can trade places."
"Dat would be great, den youse be wit Spot and I would be wit Jack."
"Ise going to miss you kid." Jack said. I slightly punched him in the arm.
"Ise aint dying Jack, Ise only be in Brooklyn if Ise find out anytin bad bout youse den Ise coming back and gonna have a few words wit youse." I turned to Rocket. "Make sure he showas, cause afta awhile he can really get stinky." I smiled and both Rocket and I laughed. Jack just messed up my hair. "Don't mess wit me hair." We all started to laugh. I decided not to sell that day because I was too excited about moving in with Spot. I was walking down the streets when I bumped into someone. I looked up and it was the bulls. I quickly looked down and started to walk.
"Excuse me miss, have you seen this girl?" He showed me a picture of myself.
"No, I haven't, sorry. But if Ise see er den I'll come get youse."
"Wait." I looked back at him worried if he had recognized me. "Before youse go, take dis picture and show it around." I took the picture that he offered me. I walked away and as soon as I was out of sight, I ran to Tibby's. I walked in and all the newsies were there.
"Hey everyone shut up fer a second!" Everyone stopped and looked at me. "Has any of youse seen dis goil?" I held the picture up for everyone to see.
"Aint dat youse Sweetz?" Blink said while walking towards the picture. He took it from me and looked at it. "Aw…youse so cute? What happened?" Newsies started to laugh.
"Haha…your funny. NOT! Youse best be shutting up Blink or Ise soak ya."
"Ya, ya, Ise know it." He sat back down next to Race.
"Well anyways, deres a reward fer me arrest." I giggled. "Me arrest, boy dis is a foist fer me."
"Youse runnin from da law now Sweetz, dey catch youse and youse go to da Refuge." Race said in concern.
"Well, if Ise find out dat any of you ratted at me den I'll make sure Ise come back and soak you."
"Youse know dat none of us would rat on youse, wese not like dat." Race said.
"How much is da reward?" Everyone looked over at Harley who was sitting in the back.
"Fifty dollas." Harley and some of the other newsies started to get up and head out the door, and right when they were opening the door Jack and Rocket walked in.
"Where do yas tink youse going?" Jack asked Harley.
"Wese going to collect us fifty dollas."
"Hows youse going to do dat?"
"Rat on Sweetz, its fer er arrests." They took a step forward but both Rocket and Jack blocked the door.
"Youse aint ratting on anyone." Rocket shouted. "And if youse do den I'll be poisonally take care of it and den Ise go get Spot and da Brooklyn newsies." Jack looked and nodded in agreement with Rocket.
"Dats right!" Jack said.
"Let dem go you guys, its dere necks their risking." I said.
"And yours." Rocket yelled towards me. I walked over and found my way though Jack and Rocket. I motioned for the newsies to come out with me. When they came out they stood next to me.
"If youse want to rat me den you'll have to soak me foist."
"We just want da money, wese don't want to hoit youse." I slapped him in the back of the head. "Oww…whyse youse do dat?"
"If Ise get arrested den de'll take me to me folks and den dey prolly kill me. Youse guys can't let me go back, Ise woiked too hard to go back to dem."
"We need da money, sellin aint too good lately."
"Ise give you money, youse don't even hafta pay me back. Now, please, tell me, are youse going to rat me out?" I looked over and I could see newsies watching us from the inside of Tibby's.
"Ise don't know Sweetz."
"Listen to me, Ise will do anytin for youse if youse don't go telling on me."
"Anytin?"
"Well, it depends on what it is, but mostly anytin."
"How bout a kiss?"
"No, youse know dat Ise wit Spot, Ise not going to hoit him, and deres no way Ise going to touch you. Pick sometin else."
"I still want da kiss and dats it. Just one peck on da cheek right here." He pointed to his left cheek.
"I aint going to do it."
"Well den youse sleep in me bed tonite." He said in an orderly kind of voice.
"Dats worse den kissing youse. Can youse pick sometin else where it doesn't involve us doing sometin? Like me sellin youse papes, and youse get da money, how bout it?"
"No, Ise either want da kiss or youse sleepin in me bed, or Ise ratting on youse."
"Ise not a piece of meat and Ise just told ya dat Ise wit Spot and dat I wouldn't touch youse. So take dat as a hint and give me sometin else to do."
"Well den were telling on youse, youse have no way of winning!" I saw Jack, Race, Blink, and Mush come out of the restaurant. Jack went up to Harley that was talking to me and pushed him to the ground. Race, Blink, and Mush grabbed the other newsies making sure they didn't run away. "What was dat fer Cowboy?"
"Youse blackmailing er. She tolds ya she had a boyfriend but youse kept pushing er." I looked at him wondering how he knew. "Everyone in Tibby's hoird yas, wese left da door open." Harley stood back up and stared at Jack.
"Dis aint any of youse business! So turn away now and Ise forget youse were her."
"Youse got to be kiddin me, dis is bout me friends and how dey should trust us and wese gonna make sure dat no one is ratted out. Youse hear me?" The other newsies nodded and then I saw Harley clench his fist and pull his arm back when Jack wasn't looking. Without think I jumped onto Harley and started to punch him in the stomach. Jack tried pulling us apart but he couldn't. I heard more newsies come out of the restaurant to watch. I kept punching Harley in the stomach until he punched me in the jaw.
"Youse son of a bitch, youse just didn't do dat!" I screamed and hit him harder. I kneed him in the groin and I pushed him off of me. Jack helped me up and stood me in back of him. Harley got up and yelled,
"Youse aint safe Sweetz. Youse neva will be." He ran off into the streets. Jack looked to some newsies and said,
"Chase him into Spots territory and makes sure he gets dealt wit!" The newsies started to chase him.
"What should wese do bout dese guys Jack?" said Mush.
"Wese promise dat we aint going to tell, please, trust us."
"Let dem go. But if Sweetz is caught den youse going to be expectin me wit a couple of words." The newsies that Race, Mush, and Blink were holding all nodded. They were all released and they went back into a Tibby's. "Sweetz, youse hungry? You haven't eaten anytin all day and you said dis morning dat you will." All the newsies looked at me. I couldn't help but smile at them.
"Youse such a brudda to me." I looked over at Blink, Mush, and Race, and then Rocket who was over by the door. "Youse all are like family to me and I apprecitate it. Ise mean, no one in me family woulds take cares of me if Ise have a nightmares, but youse guys did." They smiled and we walked into Tibby's and we all sat at a table. (WOW, a first for me!) We sat down and ordered food. I ordered a roast beef sandwich. When the food came all of the guys waited for me to take a bite. I picked up my sandwich and took the biggest bite ever. All the guys and Rocket cheered for me. I smiled while I chewed happy to eat food again. (I never show my teeth when I smile.) When we finished we decided to leave. "Well you guys Ise better be going."
"Where youse going?" Race looked at me questionly.
"Don't tells anyone but Ise going to Brooklyn, cause me mudda is looking for me."
"Oh." He hugged me, and then after that Blink, Mush, and Jack hugged me. I went up to Rocket and gave her a long hug.
"Brooklyn is tough; remember to stay in a group when you go out. Try and stay wit Spot cause he aint let any of his newsies hit on youse, but days only if youse wit him."
"Ya, ya, Ise hear you." We let go of each other. "I'll miss youse. Ise come and visit youse though." We both nodded and I walked off. After about a half an hour I was in the middle of the Brooklyn bridge. I stood there thinking about the first time I had met Spot. If I hadn't have met him then I'd probably be still at the Manhattan bridge feelin bad for myself. What if I hadn't met any newsies? Then I'd be sleeping on the streets. The newsies saved me and look what I've done to them. They have been losing sleep because of me, they have been involved in fights because of me, and then they are always worried about me. I'm stupid. I made them worry about me when my parents came, and then when I stopped eating, and now I'm making them worry about me because my parents are back. I feel like I'm in 'The return of the evil parent's part 2.' My life is so ridiculous. It seems like everything happens to me in one day and then there's nothing else to do for the rest of my life. This sucks. But my life doesn't suck so bad anymore because I was with Spot. I never noticed but we have been going out for about a month now. I didn't know he could go for that long. I smiled to myself and looked up to see the sun setting. It was so beautiful. The sun hid behind some clouds and it became very cold. I better be going to the Lodging House or I'll be sleeping out here. I walked to the end of the bridge and by the time I got there it was pitch black. All I could see was the docks for the Brooklyn newsies and the Lodging House itself. I was starting to get Goosebumps because I was cold and scared. I saw the Lodging House coming closer to me as my pace quickened. I went to the door and found out it was locked. Since all the lights were on I decided to knock on the door real hard. Someone opened the door and looked at me suspiciously.
"Whose are you?"
"Ise Sweetz, Spot here?"
"Ya, he's upstairs playing poker." He took me upstairs. We walked in and we saw a bunch of newsies surrounding two boys. I recognized a voice that rose above the others.
"Ha, beat dat you sucker!" I couldn't help but giggle at Spots remark. I looked over to the guy who had brought me up.
"Youse neva told me your name." I looked at him. "So, what is it?"
"Me name is Tiger, people call me Tigs. So youse really Sweetz?" I nodded.
"Whyse? Youse hoird sometin bout me?"
"Ise only know dat Spot was worried bout youse when youse didn't eat."
"Tanks fer telling me, and Ise apologize dat Ise kind of kept Spots away from heres."
"Don't worries. Ise would stay away too if Ise had a poirty goil like you." He smiled and I blushed.
"Tanks but how much money did Spot gives you to say dat to me?" I laughed and he chuckled.
"Nuttin, you means Ise could be gettings paid fer giving youse compliments?" We smiled at each other until we heard a loud cheer come from the table. We looked over and saw Spot standing on the table holding his winnings. He looked over to Tiger and I and he smiled.
"Every ones, dats Sweetz." He said pointing to me. All the newsies turned their heads and looked at me. Spot jumped off of the table and came over to me and we kissed on the lips. He put his arm around my shoulders holding his winnings in his other hand and he walked me up to some of the newsies.
"Sweetz, dats Spikes, Scraps, Pots, Crabs…" He went on and on and I was already forgetting names. I just smiled and nodded. My cheeks were red by the end of the night because more then half the newsies either kissed my hand or my cheek. (I mean come on, you see the hottest guys of all and they kiss you, yeah I do have a boyfriend, but, wow! They were so cute.) I could feel Spot get angry every time a newsie kissed me. Den I met dis one goil, she didn't look like she felt good but she had that kind of vibe that made you think of her as a nice person. I remembered her name and it was Bambie. I thought it was a cute name. When Spot was done introducing me to his newsies he took me to his room. I saw two separate beds at opposite sides of the bedroom. "Dis is me room. Youse get da bed ova by the window.