"Look I'm sorry I haven't been completely straight forward with you, but
Spot, you have to understand, if I could, I would have." I gave him a
heartfelt stare, he seemed to read in my eyes I had no tolerance for
talking about the situation without bursting into tears. Seeing John
brought back all the memories, the secrets, the silences.
Spot's eyes narrowed and then he looked away and to Jack, I suppose Jack could feel the tension, and so he put his arm around my shoulders and tickled me with his other hand. I squealed and tried to get away from his strong grasp, I couldn't.
We walked away from John and his unwanted goon down to Manhattan. I don't know why, but I don't think Spot liked me anymore. Maybe me not trusting him enough to tell him my secrets, but come on. I had only known him maybe. what three or four days? I suppose he wanted absolute trust, well he wasn't going to get that so easily from me, my family lived on secrecy and lies, and had taught me no better. Even if I had been the most truthful of the lot of them, it didn't mean I didn't hold just as many secrets as they did.
Jack and Spot made small talk while we crossed the bridge to Manhattan, mostly consisting of how to make sure that the bulls notice when you jip someone. I thought and trudged along following them to Tibby's.
When we went inside, I noticed the corner filled with newsies, out of the entire group of at least twenty, there was but one girl.
She had long dark brown curly hair, nearly half way down her back, most was pulled up in her cap, but several strands were hanging down her back. She seemed to be having a good time sitting on a muscular guys lap. The guy had light blonde hair and had stunning light blue eyes. Her dazzling green eyes saw Spot and Jack and they widened with delight and surprise.
She jumped up and dashed towards the door with such lightning speed I swear she must have been faster then a cheetah. She first ran into Spot and hugged him fiercely, he patted her on the back politely and let her go, she seemed to notice he wasn't in the mood to talk much so she turned to Jack, an evil grin dawned her light pink lips.
"Jack!" she said loudly and jumped on him arms and legs clinging to him. He put his arms around her and turned about in circles, her long hair hit me in the face and stung my eyes, and damn she needs to get a haircut.
Jack smiled widely, "How's it rollin doll?" she smiled back just as widely and let go of him looking him up and down, "looks like you've been rollin.a lil too much!" she a gave a decisive look towards me, her eyes pointedly staring at me.
"Well Jack, you wanna tell me who dah kid is?" she said mockingly staring at my newsie pants and green shirt, she probly recognized them as Spots clothes.
"Ah. yea, Colleen, dis is Jade." he held his hand towards me in introduction. Colleen winced at my name, "Jade? Sounds like a whore-ish name if you ask me," I gave her an icy glance, "Yea, but Colleen sounds so much better.its more like a dog name if you ask ME, and I don't mean 'man's best friend' or maybe your just that, man's best friend?" in bed I said in my head. She glared back at me, then glanced at Spot, mans best friend? Or the other dog named boy's best friend?
"Step off Blondie, unless you'd like ta make it messy," Spots eyes widened, I doubt he had anticipated this. cat fight within the first two minutes of a new introduction.
At the name of Blondie, I let my hatred slowly smolder in my eyes, and calmly said to her, "If you had half a brain, which is being generous to you-and take a look at me, and then at Spot's current condition, then I believe you wouldn't want to have a tussle with me right now, so step off." Her eyebrows vanished into her long curly bangs that hung around her eyes.
I didn't need to stand there and listen to a girl I barely knew berate me, I saw her look at Spots various bruises, all relatively new, she asked him softly, "Spot, where'd ya get da bruises?" Spot gave a furtive glance at me, he was surprised at how the sparks had flown so quickly, but he was still offensive from how I had clamed up about John.
"Blondie did it," I realized that no matter what I said to Spot or Colleen, my name would be Blondie. and I suppose that wasn't too terrible, unless they were going to make it related to being stupid. I gave Spot a look that clearly stated silently- "SHUT UP, and stay out of this," He returned with a confused smile and rolled his eyes.
"I tought so, a'ight Blondie, is ya real name Jade, or ah ya lyin to me like I serspect!?" she asked suddenly, "Cause I hate dah lyah's" Jack burst out laughing at her second comment, and I could tell why, she looked like one of those people that would pull things behind your back, maybe not like a LIAR, but. a practical joker. Colleen punched him softly on his shoulder, he puffed his lip out and gave her a pair of large brown puppy eyes. He looks so adorable!
(A/N: aaaaaaa lip out and puppy eyes.common guys. that look is like so hott.)
Colleen's self satisfied smirk vanished at his look of 'pain' and she poked him in the stomach. Jack kept looking at her with his watering eyes and enlarged lip, then finally gave up, and socked her in the stomach softly laughing loudly at her swear of pain and annoyance.
I caught something glinting in both their eyes. hah I had caught it. whether or not they chose to show it to others, I could read it plain and clear. They loved each other, playful love, and obviously new. but love never the less. Probably based upon the fact that they were such good friends. I took another look at Colleen's eyes. they were misty- hah she's day dreaming. I wonder what? She clearly loved him, more than a friend, I wasn't sure about Jack however, he seemed to just have that overly protective leave the girl along I'm gonna kick your butt love for her. A little like his brotherly love for me. Who knows. that turned into different kinds of love all the time. Maybe I would see them hook up soon, that would be interesting.
I saw Spot eyeing me with my peripheral vision, only a few seconds had passed, but enough time for me to know, he could read me easily; easier than I would like him to.
Colleen noticed me eyeing her and Jack's glances, and spoke up, "So is you'se lie'n, or is you ain't?" "Oh me? I'm sorry. I was a little distracted by your obvious obsession with my friend Jack here." She gave me a hot glare, but the damage was done, however with Jack. he was just thoroughly confused at most. He looked at me, then at Colleen, shrugged his shoulders and started muttering to himself, too low for me to hear.
"But yes, I am lying, that is not my real name, however that is the name I would rather be referred to," I said this fluidly, she gave me another seizing up glance.
"What evah Bl-Jade," Spot had given her a look and she seemed to take his advice. I was now in no mood to be patronized, or made fun of. "What was that Collie?" I said airily, like when one was talking to a dog, "What were you about to say? Huh, huh girl?" my voice rising with mock interest. Her head drew back, and her jaw set, I could tell she was getting angry, so I said a curt- "Talk to you later Jack... I'll go meet your. hm. friends." with that I turned quickly in a circle and walked with dramatic ease to the table full to bust with newsies.
I proceeded to sit upon the very lap that Colleen had been upon only minutes before. The boy looked up in surprise that turned quickly to delight. I stared intently into his eyes for at least a minute, around me boys became silent and began to stare at the only other female in the building. I squinted my eyes, and said, "Hello!" everyone around the table laughed, and asked who I was. I told them my name, "Jade," they wanted to know what I did. so I told them, "Oh yes. im a newly hired newsie. haha.newly hired newsie." I laughed softly to myself, the boys around me gave each other looks, saw me laugh, and slowly a collective laugh began to accumulate among them. A boy with black hair and a large cigar stuck in his mouth took it upon himself to introduce me to the newsies, there were Kid- Blink, he was Race-track, Mush, Crutchy, Fibs, Skid, and then there was. him.
He looked exactly like John. shaggy black hair, falling into ice blue eyes. Light muscular form.perfectly chiseled, if John hadn't been so cruel to me, and if he hadn't had been my cousin, I would have said he was attractive. However, as it is, his blue eyes would cut through me, a shock of black hair on his white face was a look of death, and his light muscular form. terrifying. Every part of John was pure evil, well at least to me it was. His girlfriend thought he was as harmless as a puppy, he could put on a good act for others, and normally when he wanted to win someone over, he could succeed quickly and efficiently. He was never kind towards me, I don't really think John ever had kindness in him. he just knew how to act kind.
The only things that made him not the twin of John were his eyes. they may have held the color, but certainly not the coldness, and his face, this boy was laughing, a jaunty grin upon his face. A wide smile, with perfect teeth astonishingly behind well formed slightly pink lips.
"Nice to meet all of you," I said politely and smiled widely showing them all of my bright smile. I caught John's look-alike's eye, and realized I did not hear his name.
"Um, what's your name again?" I said uncomfortably, "Sparks," he said grinning showing pearly white teeth. "Nice to meet you Sparks," I held out my hand to shake his own perfectly shaped appendage.
A spark shocked my fingers as he clasped my cold hand in his own warm one. I shivered involuntarily, and he smiled at me, or smirked. just like John did right before he would hit me. I again shivered, this time more noticeably, Sparks frowned, "What's wrong?" I pulled my hand back from his grip, "Oh, its nothing.just WHEW! I'm tired.so I'll just be going I guess."
I stood up from Blink's lap and casually limped a few steps before I heard questions about where I lived. I turned around, "I was going to find a nice park bench-" I was cut off by at least five offers to stay at the Manhattan lodging house. I smiled truly for the first time since my parents had died. It felt weird, gratitude. and happiness; they had been gone from my life for so long it seemed natural for my life to be devoid of them. I accepted quickly and then turned to go and sit outside on a bench in from of the restaurant.
I looked back at Spot and Jack; I took a small note that Colleen was gone, Spot's gaze quickly traveled to mine as he felt my eyes on him. I felt blood rush to my face and I began to feel tingly all over; I ran outside and plopped down on the bench. My fingertips where on fire, it seemed like every time I was with the newsies; I felt emotions I had long since forgotten.
I could feel the blood still in my face, what made that happen? And what did it mean? As I tried to decipher my thoughts, I felt a shadow play across my face. I looked and immediately my face began to get hot again, Spot Conlon. He gave me a half filled grin and sat down next to me, he must have seen my flushed face.
"I want ya ta stay in Manhattan for a while, till I say you'se can leave," he said. I looked into his eyes that were staring immobile into my own. "What's to stop me from leaving?" I asked defiantly. "I think you'se knows dat I'm right, and dat you'se shouldn't be in Brooklyn wit dat crazy kid tryin to find you'se." I stared blankly back at him, how did he put things together so quickly?
I looked away now; I could not look at him when he brought up John. John, the whole reason my torment had begun in the first place. I felt a warm touch under my chin; it gently pulled my face up and towards his own face. "What did he do ta you'se?" he said so softly I had to practically read his lips. I could not look away from those lips.
I felt water coming towards my eyes, oh no, not now, Jade you cant cry, don't let him see you cry. I blinked furiously trying to clear my troublesome eyes of the unwanted moisture.
"He ruined my life," I said almost as softly as Spot had asked me, "And I don't want to talk about it," my voice had become hoarse and loud with the strain of emotions flooding my body.
I pulled from him and turned my head away.
He didn't miss a move, "I know you'se don wannah talk 'bout it, dat's what makes it so impoitant dat you'se do," he sounded more like a counselor than a brawny boy trying to get useful information from a witness. "If you'se don wanna say what he did, den why don't you'se just tell me why da hell dat he cares weddah you'se deah or not?" his voice was unusually cloaked with comfort. "He is just insane, now can I just leave it at that, please?" I turned my head back to him at please, he must have saw the pleading look in my eyes, for he nodded slowly and got up, offering his hand. I took it slowly, the contact shook my senses, his touch was like magic to me. I stood up slowly and looked at his facial expression, he seemed as confused as I was of my feeling in my fingertips that was quickly spreading like a fever to the rest of my body.
He may not have felt what I was feeling, but he certainly seemed in tune with my feelings, how he did, I have no idea. "I'm gonna take you'se to da lodgin' house, I'll be back lata, just stick wid Jack and I promise you'se dat I'll come back for ya, I've got things ta soit out." With that he began walking down an unfamiliar street to what I supposed was the lodging house. Ten minutes in silence went by when I realized he still clung to my hand. The feeling that had come since the first time I touched him, was still humming all over. I glanced over at Spot just in time to catch him giving me a sidelong glance. My previous feelings that he did not like me around him were quickly disappearing.
All too soon we stopped in front of the large building and he led me inside, still gripping me tenaciously by the hand, something told me that the infamous Spot Conlon did not hold hands with girls however for just the hell of it. He gave a comforting squeeze to my hand has he opened the door to the bunk room, he had said an unhurried "hello" to Kloppman and had passed him by.
Spot's eyes narrowed and then he looked away and to Jack, I suppose Jack could feel the tension, and so he put his arm around my shoulders and tickled me with his other hand. I squealed and tried to get away from his strong grasp, I couldn't.
We walked away from John and his unwanted goon down to Manhattan. I don't know why, but I don't think Spot liked me anymore. Maybe me not trusting him enough to tell him my secrets, but come on. I had only known him maybe. what three or four days? I suppose he wanted absolute trust, well he wasn't going to get that so easily from me, my family lived on secrecy and lies, and had taught me no better. Even if I had been the most truthful of the lot of them, it didn't mean I didn't hold just as many secrets as they did.
Jack and Spot made small talk while we crossed the bridge to Manhattan, mostly consisting of how to make sure that the bulls notice when you jip someone. I thought and trudged along following them to Tibby's.
When we went inside, I noticed the corner filled with newsies, out of the entire group of at least twenty, there was but one girl.
She had long dark brown curly hair, nearly half way down her back, most was pulled up in her cap, but several strands were hanging down her back. She seemed to be having a good time sitting on a muscular guys lap. The guy had light blonde hair and had stunning light blue eyes. Her dazzling green eyes saw Spot and Jack and they widened with delight and surprise.
She jumped up and dashed towards the door with such lightning speed I swear she must have been faster then a cheetah. She first ran into Spot and hugged him fiercely, he patted her on the back politely and let her go, she seemed to notice he wasn't in the mood to talk much so she turned to Jack, an evil grin dawned her light pink lips.
"Jack!" she said loudly and jumped on him arms and legs clinging to him. He put his arms around her and turned about in circles, her long hair hit me in the face and stung my eyes, and damn she needs to get a haircut.
Jack smiled widely, "How's it rollin doll?" she smiled back just as widely and let go of him looking him up and down, "looks like you've been rollin.a lil too much!" she a gave a decisive look towards me, her eyes pointedly staring at me.
"Well Jack, you wanna tell me who dah kid is?" she said mockingly staring at my newsie pants and green shirt, she probly recognized them as Spots clothes.
"Ah. yea, Colleen, dis is Jade." he held his hand towards me in introduction. Colleen winced at my name, "Jade? Sounds like a whore-ish name if you ask me," I gave her an icy glance, "Yea, but Colleen sounds so much better.its more like a dog name if you ask ME, and I don't mean 'man's best friend' or maybe your just that, man's best friend?" in bed I said in my head. She glared back at me, then glanced at Spot, mans best friend? Or the other dog named boy's best friend?
"Step off Blondie, unless you'd like ta make it messy," Spots eyes widened, I doubt he had anticipated this. cat fight within the first two minutes of a new introduction.
At the name of Blondie, I let my hatred slowly smolder in my eyes, and calmly said to her, "If you had half a brain, which is being generous to you-and take a look at me, and then at Spot's current condition, then I believe you wouldn't want to have a tussle with me right now, so step off." Her eyebrows vanished into her long curly bangs that hung around her eyes.
I didn't need to stand there and listen to a girl I barely knew berate me, I saw her look at Spots various bruises, all relatively new, she asked him softly, "Spot, where'd ya get da bruises?" Spot gave a furtive glance at me, he was surprised at how the sparks had flown so quickly, but he was still offensive from how I had clamed up about John.
"Blondie did it," I realized that no matter what I said to Spot or Colleen, my name would be Blondie. and I suppose that wasn't too terrible, unless they were going to make it related to being stupid. I gave Spot a look that clearly stated silently- "SHUT UP, and stay out of this," He returned with a confused smile and rolled his eyes.
"I tought so, a'ight Blondie, is ya real name Jade, or ah ya lyin to me like I serspect!?" she asked suddenly, "Cause I hate dah lyah's" Jack burst out laughing at her second comment, and I could tell why, she looked like one of those people that would pull things behind your back, maybe not like a LIAR, but. a practical joker. Colleen punched him softly on his shoulder, he puffed his lip out and gave her a pair of large brown puppy eyes. He looks so adorable!
(A/N: aaaaaaa lip out and puppy eyes.common guys. that look is like so hott.)
Colleen's self satisfied smirk vanished at his look of 'pain' and she poked him in the stomach. Jack kept looking at her with his watering eyes and enlarged lip, then finally gave up, and socked her in the stomach softly laughing loudly at her swear of pain and annoyance.
I caught something glinting in both their eyes. hah I had caught it. whether or not they chose to show it to others, I could read it plain and clear. They loved each other, playful love, and obviously new. but love never the less. Probably based upon the fact that they were such good friends. I took another look at Colleen's eyes. they were misty- hah she's day dreaming. I wonder what? She clearly loved him, more than a friend, I wasn't sure about Jack however, he seemed to just have that overly protective leave the girl along I'm gonna kick your butt love for her. A little like his brotherly love for me. Who knows. that turned into different kinds of love all the time. Maybe I would see them hook up soon, that would be interesting.
I saw Spot eyeing me with my peripheral vision, only a few seconds had passed, but enough time for me to know, he could read me easily; easier than I would like him to.
Colleen noticed me eyeing her and Jack's glances, and spoke up, "So is you'se lie'n, or is you ain't?" "Oh me? I'm sorry. I was a little distracted by your obvious obsession with my friend Jack here." She gave me a hot glare, but the damage was done, however with Jack. he was just thoroughly confused at most. He looked at me, then at Colleen, shrugged his shoulders and started muttering to himself, too low for me to hear.
"But yes, I am lying, that is not my real name, however that is the name I would rather be referred to," I said this fluidly, she gave me another seizing up glance.
"What evah Bl-Jade," Spot had given her a look and she seemed to take his advice. I was now in no mood to be patronized, or made fun of. "What was that Collie?" I said airily, like when one was talking to a dog, "What were you about to say? Huh, huh girl?" my voice rising with mock interest. Her head drew back, and her jaw set, I could tell she was getting angry, so I said a curt- "Talk to you later Jack... I'll go meet your. hm. friends." with that I turned quickly in a circle and walked with dramatic ease to the table full to bust with newsies.
I proceeded to sit upon the very lap that Colleen had been upon only minutes before. The boy looked up in surprise that turned quickly to delight. I stared intently into his eyes for at least a minute, around me boys became silent and began to stare at the only other female in the building. I squinted my eyes, and said, "Hello!" everyone around the table laughed, and asked who I was. I told them my name, "Jade," they wanted to know what I did. so I told them, "Oh yes. im a newly hired newsie. haha.newly hired newsie." I laughed softly to myself, the boys around me gave each other looks, saw me laugh, and slowly a collective laugh began to accumulate among them. A boy with black hair and a large cigar stuck in his mouth took it upon himself to introduce me to the newsies, there were Kid- Blink, he was Race-track, Mush, Crutchy, Fibs, Skid, and then there was. him.
He looked exactly like John. shaggy black hair, falling into ice blue eyes. Light muscular form.perfectly chiseled, if John hadn't been so cruel to me, and if he hadn't had been my cousin, I would have said he was attractive. However, as it is, his blue eyes would cut through me, a shock of black hair on his white face was a look of death, and his light muscular form. terrifying. Every part of John was pure evil, well at least to me it was. His girlfriend thought he was as harmless as a puppy, he could put on a good act for others, and normally when he wanted to win someone over, he could succeed quickly and efficiently. He was never kind towards me, I don't really think John ever had kindness in him. he just knew how to act kind.
The only things that made him not the twin of John were his eyes. they may have held the color, but certainly not the coldness, and his face, this boy was laughing, a jaunty grin upon his face. A wide smile, with perfect teeth astonishingly behind well formed slightly pink lips.
"Nice to meet all of you," I said politely and smiled widely showing them all of my bright smile. I caught John's look-alike's eye, and realized I did not hear his name.
"Um, what's your name again?" I said uncomfortably, "Sparks," he said grinning showing pearly white teeth. "Nice to meet you Sparks," I held out my hand to shake his own perfectly shaped appendage.
A spark shocked my fingers as he clasped my cold hand in his own warm one. I shivered involuntarily, and he smiled at me, or smirked. just like John did right before he would hit me. I again shivered, this time more noticeably, Sparks frowned, "What's wrong?" I pulled my hand back from his grip, "Oh, its nothing.just WHEW! I'm tired.so I'll just be going I guess."
I stood up from Blink's lap and casually limped a few steps before I heard questions about where I lived. I turned around, "I was going to find a nice park bench-" I was cut off by at least five offers to stay at the Manhattan lodging house. I smiled truly for the first time since my parents had died. It felt weird, gratitude. and happiness; they had been gone from my life for so long it seemed natural for my life to be devoid of them. I accepted quickly and then turned to go and sit outside on a bench in from of the restaurant.
I looked back at Spot and Jack; I took a small note that Colleen was gone, Spot's gaze quickly traveled to mine as he felt my eyes on him. I felt blood rush to my face and I began to feel tingly all over; I ran outside and plopped down on the bench. My fingertips where on fire, it seemed like every time I was with the newsies; I felt emotions I had long since forgotten.
I could feel the blood still in my face, what made that happen? And what did it mean? As I tried to decipher my thoughts, I felt a shadow play across my face. I looked and immediately my face began to get hot again, Spot Conlon. He gave me a half filled grin and sat down next to me, he must have seen my flushed face.
"I want ya ta stay in Manhattan for a while, till I say you'se can leave," he said. I looked into his eyes that were staring immobile into my own. "What's to stop me from leaving?" I asked defiantly. "I think you'se knows dat I'm right, and dat you'se shouldn't be in Brooklyn wit dat crazy kid tryin to find you'se." I stared blankly back at him, how did he put things together so quickly?
I looked away now; I could not look at him when he brought up John. John, the whole reason my torment had begun in the first place. I felt a warm touch under my chin; it gently pulled my face up and towards his own face. "What did he do ta you'se?" he said so softly I had to practically read his lips. I could not look away from those lips.
I felt water coming towards my eyes, oh no, not now, Jade you cant cry, don't let him see you cry. I blinked furiously trying to clear my troublesome eyes of the unwanted moisture.
"He ruined my life," I said almost as softly as Spot had asked me, "And I don't want to talk about it," my voice had become hoarse and loud with the strain of emotions flooding my body.
I pulled from him and turned my head away.
He didn't miss a move, "I know you'se don wannah talk 'bout it, dat's what makes it so impoitant dat you'se do," he sounded more like a counselor than a brawny boy trying to get useful information from a witness. "If you'se don wanna say what he did, den why don't you'se just tell me why da hell dat he cares weddah you'se deah or not?" his voice was unusually cloaked with comfort. "He is just insane, now can I just leave it at that, please?" I turned my head back to him at please, he must have saw the pleading look in my eyes, for he nodded slowly and got up, offering his hand. I took it slowly, the contact shook my senses, his touch was like magic to me. I stood up slowly and looked at his facial expression, he seemed as confused as I was of my feeling in my fingertips that was quickly spreading like a fever to the rest of my body.
He may not have felt what I was feeling, but he certainly seemed in tune with my feelings, how he did, I have no idea. "I'm gonna take you'se to da lodgin' house, I'll be back lata, just stick wid Jack and I promise you'se dat I'll come back for ya, I've got things ta soit out." With that he began walking down an unfamiliar street to what I supposed was the lodging house. Ten minutes in silence went by when I realized he still clung to my hand. The feeling that had come since the first time I touched him, was still humming all over. I glanced over at Spot just in time to catch him giving me a sidelong glance. My previous feelings that he did not like me around him were quickly disappearing.
All too soon we stopped in front of the large building and he led me inside, still gripping me tenaciously by the hand, something told me that the infamous Spot Conlon did not hold hands with girls however for just the hell of it. He gave a comforting squeeze to my hand has he opened the door to the bunk room, he had said an unhurried "hello" to Kloppman and had passed him by.