Brooklyn's Heart
"Hardships"
CH 15
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"Okay, okay, I got it. You don't like pink." Spot said laughing. "Then what is your favorite color?"
It was early in the morning, and the sun had yet to show it's self. Kayla was lying on her stomach, the black sheets pulled down to her waist, and her head was resting on her folded arms facing away from Spot. Her eyes were closed and a small smile was on her lips.
Spot and her have been resting for a while when he began tracing patterns on her back. After a few silent moments of this, Spot had began asking Kayla questions, saying he wanted to know more of her, like what things she liked, and so on. So on it went, Spot would ask a question, then Kayla. It was her time to respond and she was outraged Spot would ever think that would be her answer to her favorite color.
"Of course it is not pink." Kayla raised her nose in the air proudly and said, "It is actually blue."
Spot chuckled again and moved over Kayla, placing his face in front of her, lying sideways across her body. He raised his eyebrows suggestively when she opened her eyes grinning at her and remarked arrogantly, "Oh, well of course then. It's because of me shockingly bea-u-ti-ful blue eyes. Huh, huh? Yup thought so."
Kayla opened her mouth in mocked disbelief and began laughing. She lifted her self off her folded arms, making Spot fall off her to the side of the monstrous bed and wrapped the black sheets around her upper body and sat at the head of the bed.
"You wish, Mr. Full-Of-Himself."
Spot sat up to his elbows, the black sheets falling dangerously low on his waist and pouted. He looked up childishly, making Kayla laugh even harder and said sadly, "You mean, it's not because of me sparkling eyes?"
Kayla's face instantly sobered, but she still tried not to laugh and cooed at Spot, muttering a small 'ahh.' With one hand still holding the sheet up to her chest, Kayla lifted another hand, placing it on his cheek softly smoothing it, as if calming him. "Awe. You poor, poor baby." Kayla pouted as well, looking down at him sadly, "You think so highly of your self, when clearly you are not all that. Awe."
Spot narrowed his eyes and growled. Kayla began laughing again watching his reaction. Spot quickly grabbed the wrist of the hand at his cheek, and was rewarded with a squeal from it's captive. He pulled it down, making Kayla fall across his chest. Spot took this opportunity and rolled over her, sitting on her waist locking her wrists together above her head, with the sheet still covering her upper chest.
He smirked above her, and if it weren't for her restraints, Kayla would have really liked to slap it off. She was the one now who growled, and Spot just grinned triumphantly at her. Through glaring eyes and a stubborn mouth, Kayla muttered, "I think from now on, this position is going to be banned, for it has indeed been used far too many times."
Spot grinned and leaned closer so his mouth was next to her ear and whispered huskily, "Awe, it's my favorite. And you do come across very cute looking up all flushed."
Kayla growled even louder and glared at him. But a thought came to her mind and she smiled victoriously. "Fine. You go ahead and use this position. But I'm not giving you any more kisses. So...there."
Spot immediately scrambled off her, his face plainly in shock. What, no kisses from her! What an outrage. He would rather be the one being restrained all the time then get no kisses from her. Spot looked at her sadly and muttered, "Fine, no more capturing," and roughly crossed his arms across his chest in a huff. Kayla giggled at his little tantrum and crawled over to him, placing her self in his lap. This man was absolutely adorable.
She guided his drooping face with one finger till he was looking her in the eye. "You are just so cute, sweetie."
Spot raised an eyebrow at the name and smirked. "Sweetie, huh?" Kayla nodded grinning. Spot looked around scratching his chin; thinking. "If I'm gonna let you call me sweetie in the open, don't ya think I should get somethin' out of it?"
Kayla gave Spot a cheeky grin and looped her arms around his neck. "Why, of course, if I get to call you it in front of the newsies.. Anything you want."
Spot thought of this for a moment. He could defiantly use this to his advantage...hopefully she wont be that mad.
Spot kissed her one of her cheeks then kissed the other. "Ok, what I want is.." Spot's quirky face immediately changed and he was looking at her with a blank face, his eyes glazing over, "..to know why you have a New Yorker accent sometimes but a English accent as well?"
Kayla was smiling, about ready to kiss him, but stopped. Huh? Her mouth slowly opened, her eyes gradually becoming wide. Did he just ask her that? Uh oh. Kayla was slightly confused. She thought he was going to ask .Oh shit.
She quickly disentangled herself from his grasp, moving to the upper corner of the bed. She quickly muttered, "Um- um my mum was English. I got it from her." Kayla avoided his eyes, for if they came into view, the words would find their own way out, for she could not lie to him while looking into those eyes, those blue eyes. How dare he surprise her like that, how dare he-
Spot followed her across the bed crawling after her, moving his head, trying to see her eyes from beneath her fallen hair. She would not look at him. So, his question had more meaning than as simple as it seemed; She was not from here, she was from England.
"You lie."
Kayla stopped abruptly, glancing at his silver eyes, but immediately averted them, scrambling away from him yet again. "No, I do not." He crawled after her, trying to peer into her eyes. Spot finally got annoyed of this foolish chasing game and grabbed her wrist, making her rise on her knees bring her firmly against his chest. Slowly he raised his free hand, and brushed her cheek with the back of his knuckles. His head was cocked to the side, silently pondering why she would not trust him and just tell him of her past.
With her eyes wide and frightened, Kayla watched him warily. Her back rigged as if being contact with was going to easily burn her. And indeed it felt like it, for having his bare upper body against hers roughly was like scorching sparks were being emitted between the other. But that was a small distraction for Kayla, for his eyes were what held her attention. Not a deep blue but a quiet, endearing blue that held her motionless. Many emotions swam through this ocean of blue yet was as silent and blank as the calming sea. She could not look away, the gaze having the familiar mesmerizing spell over her. Kayla flinched at the feel of his warm hand touching her.
She could not tell him, it hurt too much.
Spot saw the denial and the pain in her eyes; the windows to her soul. Never once had he been able to read any girl's eyes such as these powerful ones. Never had he been able to! It was as if these dazzling eyes were only meant for him, only meant for him to heal and make sparkle. Only he was to make them glint with laughter, only him to dry away the tears that fell softly from them.
Never had he wanted to so much till now.
Spot sighed softly realizing she was not giving in. He moved his hand to the back of her neck, playing gently with the silky hair there, though he did not ease the grip on her wrist. He was afraid she would run away from him again.
"Please Kayla." He whispered. Kayla did not even flinch. She stared back, eyes hard with intent on not surrendering. Spot sighed audibly again, frustration leaking into his eyes. Why would she not trust him?! Why could she not tell her?! Did she not know it was too much pain for her to carry?! Did she not know-
"Kayla why?" Spot stared back just as well, his eyes penetrating at her full force. It was a game to see who would back down first and it would not be him. "Why do you not trust me? Can't you see I care about you? Why Kayla, why?"
Kayla narrowed her eyes, annoyance now clearly seen in her troubled state. "It is not of your business, so do not try and make it."
Spot growled, forcefully pulling her closer till their noses were touching. "How dare you say such a thing? This night nothing to you? How-"
"Oh, last night? You mean the thing you did with every other girl?"
Spot tightened his grip on her, his hand grasping the back of her head. "Err. Ya know as well as I do that is in the past. I do not do that anymore."
Kayla snorted, "Oh, yes you truly are a saint now, especially after just bedding me."
Spot's piercing eyes turned another shade of silver, darkening with anger. With his voice dripping with mockery he replied, "If I just wanted you for sex, don't you think I would have tried the first night I met you? Not weeks later?"
He did have her there.
Kayla glanced down, drawing her eyes away from his. But Spot gripped the back of her neck and snapped her head up, tilting it so he could look down at her. Through clenched teeth Spot whispered vehemently, "I believe what you just said is not true, but a distraction for a change of the subject." Kayla looked to the side but quickly back, convincing Spot that he was right. She sat there, being held forcefully in his arms, staring back despondently.
"I love you."
The whispered confession from him made Kayla blink. Even after hearing a night of 'I love yous' it was still shocking to hear it. Spot couldn't stand it anymore, this rejection, this denial, and this pain. She was different, and he wanted to comfort her.
Spot closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against hers and whispered gravely, "Why can't you just tell me. It'll help. It may hoit at first, but after you tell me, you'll know you're not in this alone."
Kayla slipped her wrist out of his grasp and buried it in his hair, pulling him even closer. She kissed him lightly on the lips, bringing his attention on her. "Oh, Spot. I know; I know I'm not alone now in this, I know you love me but. It's hard." She looked around trying to grasp for the right words. "..I don't want you to get involved, then get hurt. I would not want to put you through all that."
Spot shook his head sadly, "Baby? Don't ya see? I'd do all that for you. What you do, I do. Where ya go, I go. What ever happened, or what ever is gonna happen, we're in this together."
Silent tears softly slide down her face, and Kayla hastily wiped them away. Never had anyone cared so much for her. She had been on her own the last couple of years, with no one to help or comfort her. Now having Spot confess that he would be there for what she had been deprived of, it was too much of a sensation for her. Relive flooded through her veins, warmth spreading tingles all over her body. His hand started to stroke through her long chestnut tresses. "Oh Spot. I don't know what I ever did to get you."
"I know whatcha mean. I don't even know how I got myself either, ya know, deserving such a great guy and all."
Kayla laughed, smiling with watery tears. They sat there for a while; Spot rocking her back and forth, Kayla crying softly into his shoulder.
Spot carefully pushed Kayla off him, holding her by her shoulders making her look him in the eye. He wiped away the remaining tears and gave her a gloomy grin. "Come on. I know ya can do it. It's hard. But it was hard for me to tell ya I love you though. I've never done that wit any goil. Don't you think I should get something then, even just the little ol' story of your past perhaps?"
After a moment with lowered eyes Kayla nodded sadly. He wanted to know and wasn't going to give up. And he was right. He did deserve to know. "Okay. Spot, I'll tell you."
Spot gave a yelp of joy and gathered Kayla tightly in his arms, giving her an earth-shattering kiss that last well into twenty minutes. After Kayla caught her breath she separated herself from Spot, looking up at him sadly. "It's gonna be hard for me ok? I've never told anyone .I have never had anyone close enough to even tell. So, the story may be a little jumbled but I'll try and tell it from the beginning and in order for you." Spot nodded, looking grave again. He gave her a quick squeeze before letting her go.
"Just, don't touch me, ok?" Spot nodded again, understanding in his eyes, though he still looked confused. "It's still hard for me to tell you this but even harder if you do touch me, you can be quite distracting." Spot grinned in reply, now fully following what she meant. Kayla offered a small smile in return, but immediately sobered and took in a deep breath. Kayla moved to the black leather couch on the side of the room and sat down on it, drawing her legs to herself, hugging them. She looked out the window, watching the glowing moon descend upon the building tops.
For a long time she sat there, silently brooding with in her self. Spot didn't expect her to begin but from within her pink lips, the vulnerable story commenced.
{ Now, pretend Kayla is talking with a very rich English accent...it
helps and goes better with the story. }
"I was ten years old when I was sent to live with my uncle. I was living in England at the time, that's why I have this accent when I would talk to you in private. Even after all this time I thought it would eventually disappear, or I would be careful in not using it, but obviously I did not try hard enough.
"My parents had left a couple of weeks earlier, to come and visit America. I was intended to go, but some how my uncle had persuaded my parent's it was best to stay back and settle with my cousin. They had sent me postcards and pictures, writing about how much fun they were having and oh, how I wished I were there. But, soon thereafter, my happiness for them dispersed rather quickly when a letter was sent in the mail from him, my uncle, a few weeks after they left. It basically said my parents had died in a car accident, driving in the countryside here. You got to understand here, my parent's were the only people I had. I was an only child, so they were essentially the only close people in my life. I was inseparable from them; I wasn't even close to my own cousin I was staying with at the time. So, I was an orphan from that day on. I was sent to live with my uncle."
Kayla shuddered involuntarily, mentally scolding herself for being so scared of him. "His name was Ronald Schneider, and everyone was ordered to call him only Mr. Schneider, including me and aunt Cheryl, his niece and even his own wife! He was the type of man who got anything he wanted, and if not, every waking moment he would be out seeking to get it. No one was treated fairly around him, I learned from my early years not to have encounters with him if he visited my family. He was the biggest man I ever knew and had absolutely no hair on his head. Fashionable tailored suits were what he wore all the time. He was a big business man, yet I did not believe his job could have paid him that much money for all he had.
"But surprisingly, he treated my parents with respect and kindness. But, when I was young, when my parents would be out of the room, my uncle would crudely laugh at me. Anything that would be to his advantage, a dirty dress one night I would have on, and a messed-up hairstyle the next night, anything, my uncle would use to brutally put me down with. And that was not even the half of it. When he was done mocking me, he would threaten me, say if he had his chance, he would personally strangle me, and would see to my body resting at the bottom of the sea. I was absolutely mortified when he would come to our home, I would lock my self in my rooms, claiming I was sick due to a sore stomach, and would patiently wait till he would disband from our residence.
"By now you could be able to tell what my reaction was, when I heard the news of living with my uncle, day in and day out. I was frightened, utterly petrified, though there was nothing I could do. My uncle was the last known relative in my family that could raise me, except my cousin. But in my parents 'will', if any thing would happen to them, they wanted me to live with him, the bane existence of my frequent nightmares, the sole reason for my terrors.
"The first night I arrived at my uncle's I hurriedly rushed up to the room that was appointed to me. As soon as I opened the door I was shocked. It was the exact replica of my own room back in my old house. My Uncle had shipped all of my belongings the night before and placed them all in the same places as they were in my old room. I had expecting living in a cupboard, but I guessed wrong. After I was thoroughly done with my shock, I quickly bolted the door expecting Uncle to come in barging with a kitchen blade. But nothing happened. No strangers sneaking in the dark. No hit mans creeping in the corners. Nothing. I was safe for the moment.
"It seems that, I was safe for the next 4 years, while I was boarding in my uncles home. And, even more shockingly, I was treated fairly. Now that I think upon it, strangely, I was treated very fairly. My uncle was nice to me . . . Not one dirty word was uttered in my presence there. My uncle acted has if I was his daughter, though he didn't have one. He bought me clothes, new dresses, cosmetics, even my very own horse! He would tell me jokes, always trying to make me laugh. Always trying to make my stay there a happy one.
"But I know now why. My mom never trusted her brother-in-law. In their 'Will' she had clarified that if anything should happen to them before I was 18, and I had to end up living with my uncle, she had people sent to come monthly to check on me. You know, like government people who watch over children, helping abused and orphan kids. But not only did they come monthly, they watched me from afar. I never knew they were there. They were almost like my stalkers, but they watched out for me. My uncle seemingly knew this; it was why he treated me so good. He was afraid if anything should happen to me, they would know, and take me away from him."
Kayla dropped her head to her chest, looking at her lap. She let out a breath, sighing deeply. She rubbed her eyes, plainly showing she was wary at the moment, and then wrapped her self around her knees again, looking out to the moon. She began once more, "You would now have to question, 'Well, why would he want me to stay, if clearly he didn't want me there?' Believe me, I wondered this for a very long time. I finally got my answer the very last night I was there.
"That evening I happened to be out on a date with a young man named Harry Prigston. He was quite handsome, quite rich and plainly not my type," Kayla snorted, "especially with a name like that. My uncle had set me up with him, and being at the naïve age of 14, I thought I was in love with him. And apparently I thought he was in love with me too, but no, he was there only for my body. My uncle would pay for the dates, not Harry, my uncle would pick the places where to go, not Harry, and even my uncle would choose the flowers, not even Harry. So, obviously we were not meant to be. We were at the opera, and Act 1 had just happened to finish. I wasn't feeling very good, so I said I wanted to leave early. Being a true {fake} gentleman, Harry merely nodded and escorted me home.
"My uncle wouldn't be expecting me home, so I decided to enter the mansion through the kitchen back door, instead of the front entrance. The servants were up and I chatted happily with them for a while, telling them of my boring evening. I heard a quiet conversation coming form the entertaining room, you know, the room where we welcome guests. Well, I thought it would be 'correct' if I noted my uncle that I was home. I silently walked through the halls to that room, though when I heard my name, I stopped. I peered behind the corner and gasped inaudibly. My uncle was talking with worst kind of men I could have ever seen at that time of my life. They were three dirty, hairy and absolutely horrid. Their clothes were basically rags, their hair long, and their muscles very large. And they were talkin about me.
"'But why Boss?' the ugly blond one asked. 'Why can't we just do it now?'
"My uncle sharply looked at him, outraged he could even think of such a thing. He rubbed his temples severely, sighing exasperatedly, 'We have already gone over this, Borris. We have to wait till she is eighteen.'
"The brunette one, the seemingly dumbest one off all of them leaned forward in his seat excitedly, 'Then we kill her?'
"I gasped but quickly covered my mouth with my hand and leaned against the wall. I rested my head on it, closing my eyes. They were talking about me. My uncle was going to have me killed. When I heard them talking again I immediately peered over the wall.
"'So if we got ta wait fer her to be eighteen then why are we here now?' the leader of the so-called dumb ass's asked.
"My uncle gave him an I-Can't-Believe-You-Just-Asked-That look, clearly getting annoyed by the minute of these boneheads. 'Because I need you guys to report on her: Who her friends are, where she goes and what she does. Also, keep a tab on the men that watch her. I need to know whom they are and if there is more than two. All right?'
"They all nodded their head idiotically, resembling a hungry pack of dimwitted dogs. Accepting the fact that they knew their orders, my uncle gave them a disgusting look and said nastily, 'Ok, now get out of my site.'
"My uncle ushered them out the oak door and before he turned around to walk past me, I quickly disappeared down the hallway for the back stairway. Once I reached my floor, deciding that the noise I would make would not be heard, I rushed inside my room and quickly bolted the door. I sat on the edge of the bed with my arms holding my self in disbelief, my eyes staring into oblivion. I was going to be murdered, although at the moment safe, but still soon to be killed.
"I sat there I don't know how long, minutes, hours, all night. I don't know. But in that time I had decided I had to get out. I could not stay. Maybe I could contact those guys who watch over me I thought. No, then it would be a huge court battle between them and my uncle. Then I would be put into foster care. I had to go out on my own. I had about $500 {a/n: A LOT back then} in cash hidden in my room; allowance from my uncle and just some savings from when my parents were alive. I could hide out in the country, maybe stash out at my cousin's.
"I grabbed a bag and stuffed a few shirts and a couple ridding pants I wore when horseback riding into it. I snuck down to the kitchen, grabbed some food and "supplies". My Uncles mansion was not as big as my parents but it was out in the countryside, so it did indeed look it. I was going to ride my horse to the nearest town and room there for a little bit then go to my cousin for help. It would have been too much commotion if I rode in my carriage in that short distance.
"I left a note on my beau and when my Uncle saw it in the morning it would read,
-----------------------
I know now.
You are not going to
win this.
-----------------------
"I quickly climbed out the window and disappeared into the dark after I took a long last look at my home the last four years. I was 14 at the time, still young but clearly mature looking, or so my cousin said, so I hoped I would make it. After the night in the town, I went to my cousins. But I did not find help there. He said hastily once he saw me, "NO. You must not come here, he will know. You must hasten for America and lose him there. In four years come back and inherit your money and fight him."
"He swiftly hurried me to one of his carriages and sent me of to the docks. I bordered a magnificent boat on my own, departed onto America. I thought I was safe but obviously I didn't listen to my cousin's words wisely enough. He had advised 'lose him there,'
"I had thought I easily would.
"I could only stay in one area for a short time, and if longer than a couple of days, I would always see him. He was hot on my trail, and I couldn't lose him.
"For awhile I stayed in a spot near here, about 30 miles away in the other city. I was sleeping in an alley one night when I discovered a lose brick in a wall. Looking around making sure no one was around I stashed the 250$ I had left and hastily pushed the brick in the wall. Lately, a group of boys had been harassing me, and I was almost 16 at this time, about 8, 9 months ago and I was afraid they would steal my money. I had planned going back and forth to that stash when I needed the money but I saw one of my Uncles men in that neighborhood and knew I couldn't go back to it for a while. He had seen me and I had to get out of there fast. I made my way farther into the town, each night staying at the docks or in the alleyways hungry and cold.
"One night a baker was loading up a truck full of the days bread that had not been sold. Apparently they were for the 'needy', certain needy people, not the homeless ones walking on the streets. I in fact did not know this and reached to grab one, but it seemed that was a very bad thing to do because as I was reaching out, two coppers walking down the street saw me. I rushed away with my bread and as I was running I ran into Jack and he helped me. He took me back to the Lodge house and you can pick up from there."
Kayla hastily finished her story, taking a big sigh at the end. She leaned her head against the top of the couch, wariness clearly seen in her fragile body. After a few moments of stillness, Kayla looked up to Spot sadly. He was sitting in the same potion as before, leaning back on his outstretched palms. His mouth was slightly agape and he was staring at her but yet didn't notice her. Kayla called softly to him, "Spot." He quickly shook his head, blinking away his dazed state.
Spot cleared his throat, swallowing deeply and asked in disbelief, "He wants you dead just for money?" Kayla nodded mutely at him. "You've been on you own for dah last two years?" Kayla nodded again. With more courage in his voice, "You came all the way from England to run away from your Uncle?" Kayla peeped a small 'yes.'
Spot the sat there a few minutes looking down thinking. SO this was what happened, this was why she was scared and didn't want him to get involved. She had no one left...except for him. That was why she said she couldn't bare if he left her. Spot looked strangely up at her.
"If you could never stay in one spot for long, then why have you been here for so long?" he questioned softly.
Kayla had again glanced out the window, watching the fallen moon. She sat there a little longer before swiftly saying, "I needed the money, and a place to stay. I also need companionship and the boys here were nice to me. I hadn't really talked to anyone till then."
Spot nodded his head in understanding. That all? He had to know.
"Is that that only reasons?"
Kayla buried her head in her arms, shaking her head 'no' severely. Spot, seeing this asked, "What's the other?"
Kayla looked up at him with fast tears falling down her face. She looked at him sadly and whispered, "It's you, Spot."
Spot swallowed again and nodded his head in acceptance, his eyes going a deeper shade of blue.
"I stayed because of you," Kayla went on sadly, "I can't leave you now knowing what love is like. Don't you see? I love you."
Spot rushed over to her, and seized her into the hold of his arms. Kayla broke down, sobbing into his shoulder, clutching him around his neck. Spot cooed at her muttering 'it's alright' and 'don't worry' from time to time. After a moment Spot pulled back from her when he realized she had calmed down a bit. Looking deep into her eyes, determination riding over all the emotions in his blues he fiercely promised, "No one is going to take you away from me. If they do, I won't stop till I get you back. You're gonna be with me forever."
He leaned forward and snatched her lips with his own, showering her with all his passion and love deep into the night and early morning.
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Review.
erinsailorditz
"Hardships"
CH 15
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"Okay, okay, I got it. You don't like pink." Spot said laughing. "Then what is your favorite color?"
It was early in the morning, and the sun had yet to show it's self. Kayla was lying on her stomach, the black sheets pulled down to her waist, and her head was resting on her folded arms facing away from Spot. Her eyes were closed and a small smile was on her lips.
Spot and her have been resting for a while when he began tracing patterns on her back. After a few silent moments of this, Spot had began asking Kayla questions, saying he wanted to know more of her, like what things she liked, and so on. So on it went, Spot would ask a question, then Kayla. It was her time to respond and she was outraged Spot would ever think that would be her answer to her favorite color.
"Of course it is not pink." Kayla raised her nose in the air proudly and said, "It is actually blue."
Spot chuckled again and moved over Kayla, placing his face in front of her, lying sideways across her body. He raised his eyebrows suggestively when she opened her eyes grinning at her and remarked arrogantly, "Oh, well of course then. It's because of me shockingly bea-u-ti-ful blue eyes. Huh, huh? Yup thought so."
Kayla opened her mouth in mocked disbelief and began laughing. She lifted her self off her folded arms, making Spot fall off her to the side of the monstrous bed and wrapped the black sheets around her upper body and sat at the head of the bed.
"You wish, Mr. Full-Of-Himself."
Spot sat up to his elbows, the black sheets falling dangerously low on his waist and pouted. He looked up childishly, making Kayla laugh even harder and said sadly, "You mean, it's not because of me sparkling eyes?"
Kayla's face instantly sobered, but she still tried not to laugh and cooed at Spot, muttering a small 'ahh.' With one hand still holding the sheet up to her chest, Kayla lifted another hand, placing it on his cheek softly smoothing it, as if calming him. "Awe. You poor, poor baby." Kayla pouted as well, looking down at him sadly, "You think so highly of your self, when clearly you are not all that. Awe."
Spot narrowed his eyes and growled. Kayla began laughing again watching his reaction. Spot quickly grabbed the wrist of the hand at his cheek, and was rewarded with a squeal from it's captive. He pulled it down, making Kayla fall across his chest. Spot took this opportunity and rolled over her, sitting on her waist locking her wrists together above her head, with the sheet still covering her upper chest.
He smirked above her, and if it weren't for her restraints, Kayla would have really liked to slap it off. She was the one now who growled, and Spot just grinned triumphantly at her. Through glaring eyes and a stubborn mouth, Kayla muttered, "I think from now on, this position is going to be banned, for it has indeed been used far too many times."
Spot grinned and leaned closer so his mouth was next to her ear and whispered huskily, "Awe, it's my favorite. And you do come across very cute looking up all flushed."
Kayla growled even louder and glared at him. But a thought came to her mind and she smiled victoriously. "Fine. You go ahead and use this position. But I'm not giving you any more kisses. So...there."
Spot immediately scrambled off her, his face plainly in shock. What, no kisses from her! What an outrage. He would rather be the one being restrained all the time then get no kisses from her. Spot looked at her sadly and muttered, "Fine, no more capturing," and roughly crossed his arms across his chest in a huff. Kayla giggled at his little tantrum and crawled over to him, placing her self in his lap. This man was absolutely adorable.
She guided his drooping face with one finger till he was looking her in the eye. "You are just so cute, sweetie."
Spot raised an eyebrow at the name and smirked. "Sweetie, huh?" Kayla nodded grinning. Spot looked around scratching his chin; thinking. "If I'm gonna let you call me sweetie in the open, don't ya think I should get somethin' out of it?"
Kayla gave Spot a cheeky grin and looped her arms around his neck. "Why, of course, if I get to call you it in front of the newsies.. Anything you want."
Spot thought of this for a moment. He could defiantly use this to his advantage...hopefully she wont be that mad.
Spot kissed her one of her cheeks then kissed the other. "Ok, what I want is.." Spot's quirky face immediately changed and he was looking at her with a blank face, his eyes glazing over, "..to know why you have a New Yorker accent sometimes but a English accent as well?"
Kayla was smiling, about ready to kiss him, but stopped. Huh? Her mouth slowly opened, her eyes gradually becoming wide. Did he just ask her that? Uh oh. Kayla was slightly confused. She thought he was going to ask .Oh shit.
She quickly disentangled herself from his grasp, moving to the upper corner of the bed. She quickly muttered, "Um- um my mum was English. I got it from her." Kayla avoided his eyes, for if they came into view, the words would find their own way out, for she could not lie to him while looking into those eyes, those blue eyes. How dare he surprise her like that, how dare he-
Spot followed her across the bed crawling after her, moving his head, trying to see her eyes from beneath her fallen hair. She would not look at him. So, his question had more meaning than as simple as it seemed; She was not from here, she was from England.
"You lie."
Kayla stopped abruptly, glancing at his silver eyes, but immediately averted them, scrambling away from him yet again. "No, I do not." He crawled after her, trying to peer into her eyes. Spot finally got annoyed of this foolish chasing game and grabbed her wrist, making her rise on her knees bring her firmly against his chest. Slowly he raised his free hand, and brushed her cheek with the back of his knuckles. His head was cocked to the side, silently pondering why she would not trust him and just tell him of her past.
With her eyes wide and frightened, Kayla watched him warily. Her back rigged as if being contact with was going to easily burn her. And indeed it felt like it, for having his bare upper body against hers roughly was like scorching sparks were being emitted between the other. But that was a small distraction for Kayla, for his eyes were what held her attention. Not a deep blue but a quiet, endearing blue that held her motionless. Many emotions swam through this ocean of blue yet was as silent and blank as the calming sea. She could not look away, the gaze having the familiar mesmerizing spell over her. Kayla flinched at the feel of his warm hand touching her.
She could not tell him, it hurt too much.
Spot saw the denial and the pain in her eyes; the windows to her soul. Never once had he been able to read any girl's eyes such as these powerful ones. Never had he been able to! It was as if these dazzling eyes were only meant for him, only meant for him to heal and make sparkle. Only he was to make them glint with laughter, only him to dry away the tears that fell softly from them.
Never had he wanted to so much till now.
Spot sighed softly realizing she was not giving in. He moved his hand to the back of her neck, playing gently with the silky hair there, though he did not ease the grip on her wrist. He was afraid she would run away from him again.
"Please Kayla." He whispered. Kayla did not even flinch. She stared back, eyes hard with intent on not surrendering. Spot sighed audibly again, frustration leaking into his eyes. Why would she not trust him?! Why could she not tell her?! Did she not know it was too much pain for her to carry?! Did she not know-
"Kayla why?" Spot stared back just as well, his eyes penetrating at her full force. It was a game to see who would back down first and it would not be him. "Why do you not trust me? Can't you see I care about you? Why Kayla, why?"
Kayla narrowed her eyes, annoyance now clearly seen in her troubled state. "It is not of your business, so do not try and make it."
Spot growled, forcefully pulling her closer till their noses were touching. "How dare you say such a thing? This night nothing to you? How-"
"Oh, last night? You mean the thing you did with every other girl?"
Spot tightened his grip on her, his hand grasping the back of her head. "Err. Ya know as well as I do that is in the past. I do not do that anymore."
Kayla snorted, "Oh, yes you truly are a saint now, especially after just bedding me."
Spot's piercing eyes turned another shade of silver, darkening with anger. With his voice dripping with mockery he replied, "If I just wanted you for sex, don't you think I would have tried the first night I met you? Not weeks later?"
He did have her there.
Kayla glanced down, drawing her eyes away from his. But Spot gripped the back of her neck and snapped her head up, tilting it so he could look down at her. Through clenched teeth Spot whispered vehemently, "I believe what you just said is not true, but a distraction for a change of the subject." Kayla looked to the side but quickly back, convincing Spot that he was right. She sat there, being held forcefully in his arms, staring back despondently.
"I love you."
The whispered confession from him made Kayla blink. Even after hearing a night of 'I love yous' it was still shocking to hear it. Spot couldn't stand it anymore, this rejection, this denial, and this pain. She was different, and he wanted to comfort her.
Spot closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against hers and whispered gravely, "Why can't you just tell me. It'll help. It may hoit at first, but after you tell me, you'll know you're not in this alone."
Kayla slipped her wrist out of his grasp and buried it in his hair, pulling him even closer. She kissed him lightly on the lips, bringing his attention on her. "Oh, Spot. I know; I know I'm not alone now in this, I know you love me but. It's hard." She looked around trying to grasp for the right words. "..I don't want you to get involved, then get hurt. I would not want to put you through all that."
Spot shook his head sadly, "Baby? Don't ya see? I'd do all that for you. What you do, I do. Where ya go, I go. What ever happened, or what ever is gonna happen, we're in this together."
Silent tears softly slide down her face, and Kayla hastily wiped them away. Never had anyone cared so much for her. She had been on her own the last couple of years, with no one to help or comfort her. Now having Spot confess that he would be there for what she had been deprived of, it was too much of a sensation for her. Relive flooded through her veins, warmth spreading tingles all over her body. His hand started to stroke through her long chestnut tresses. "Oh Spot. I don't know what I ever did to get you."
"I know whatcha mean. I don't even know how I got myself either, ya know, deserving such a great guy and all."
Kayla laughed, smiling with watery tears. They sat there for a while; Spot rocking her back and forth, Kayla crying softly into his shoulder.
Spot carefully pushed Kayla off him, holding her by her shoulders making her look him in the eye. He wiped away the remaining tears and gave her a gloomy grin. "Come on. I know ya can do it. It's hard. But it was hard for me to tell ya I love you though. I've never done that wit any goil. Don't you think I should get something then, even just the little ol' story of your past perhaps?"
After a moment with lowered eyes Kayla nodded sadly. He wanted to know and wasn't going to give up. And he was right. He did deserve to know. "Okay. Spot, I'll tell you."
Spot gave a yelp of joy and gathered Kayla tightly in his arms, giving her an earth-shattering kiss that last well into twenty minutes. After Kayla caught her breath she separated herself from Spot, looking up at him sadly. "It's gonna be hard for me ok? I've never told anyone .I have never had anyone close enough to even tell. So, the story may be a little jumbled but I'll try and tell it from the beginning and in order for you." Spot nodded, looking grave again. He gave her a quick squeeze before letting her go.
"Just, don't touch me, ok?" Spot nodded again, understanding in his eyes, though he still looked confused. "It's still hard for me to tell you this but even harder if you do touch me, you can be quite distracting." Spot grinned in reply, now fully following what she meant. Kayla offered a small smile in return, but immediately sobered and took in a deep breath. Kayla moved to the black leather couch on the side of the room and sat down on it, drawing her legs to herself, hugging them. She looked out the window, watching the glowing moon descend upon the building tops.
For a long time she sat there, silently brooding with in her self. Spot didn't expect her to begin but from within her pink lips, the vulnerable story commenced.
{ Now, pretend Kayla is talking with a very rich English accent...it
helps and goes better with the story. }
"I was ten years old when I was sent to live with my uncle. I was living in England at the time, that's why I have this accent when I would talk to you in private. Even after all this time I thought it would eventually disappear, or I would be careful in not using it, but obviously I did not try hard enough.
"My parents had left a couple of weeks earlier, to come and visit America. I was intended to go, but some how my uncle had persuaded my parent's it was best to stay back and settle with my cousin. They had sent me postcards and pictures, writing about how much fun they were having and oh, how I wished I were there. But, soon thereafter, my happiness for them dispersed rather quickly when a letter was sent in the mail from him, my uncle, a few weeks after they left. It basically said my parents had died in a car accident, driving in the countryside here. You got to understand here, my parent's were the only people I had. I was an only child, so they were essentially the only close people in my life. I was inseparable from them; I wasn't even close to my own cousin I was staying with at the time. So, I was an orphan from that day on. I was sent to live with my uncle."
Kayla shuddered involuntarily, mentally scolding herself for being so scared of him. "His name was Ronald Schneider, and everyone was ordered to call him only Mr. Schneider, including me and aunt Cheryl, his niece and even his own wife! He was the type of man who got anything he wanted, and if not, every waking moment he would be out seeking to get it. No one was treated fairly around him, I learned from my early years not to have encounters with him if he visited my family. He was the biggest man I ever knew and had absolutely no hair on his head. Fashionable tailored suits were what he wore all the time. He was a big business man, yet I did not believe his job could have paid him that much money for all he had.
"But surprisingly, he treated my parents with respect and kindness. But, when I was young, when my parents would be out of the room, my uncle would crudely laugh at me. Anything that would be to his advantage, a dirty dress one night I would have on, and a messed-up hairstyle the next night, anything, my uncle would use to brutally put me down with. And that was not even the half of it. When he was done mocking me, he would threaten me, say if he had his chance, he would personally strangle me, and would see to my body resting at the bottom of the sea. I was absolutely mortified when he would come to our home, I would lock my self in my rooms, claiming I was sick due to a sore stomach, and would patiently wait till he would disband from our residence.
"By now you could be able to tell what my reaction was, when I heard the news of living with my uncle, day in and day out. I was frightened, utterly petrified, though there was nothing I could do. My uncle was the last known relative in my family that could raise me, except my cousin. But in my parents 'will', if any thing would happen to them, they wanted me to live with him, the bane existence of my frequent nightmares, the sole reason for my terrors.
"The first night I arrived at my uncle's I hurriedly rushed up to the room that was appointed to me. As soon as I opened the door I was shocked. It was the exact replica of my own room back in my old house. My Uncle had shipped all of my belongings the night before and placed them all in the same places as they were in my old room. I had expecting living in a cupboard, but I guessed wrong. After I was thoroughly done with my shock, I quickly bolted the door expecting Uncle to come in barging with a kitchen blade. But nothing happened. No strangers sneaking in the dark. No hit mans creeping in the corners. Nothing. I was safe for the moment.
"It seems that, I was safe for the next 4 years, while I was boarding in my uncles home. And, even more shockingly, I was treated fairly. Now that I think upon it, strangely, I was treated very fairly. My uncle was nice to me . . . Not one dirty word was uttered in my presence there. My uncle acted has if I was his daughter, though he didn't have one. He bought me clothes, new dresses, cosmetics, even my very own horse! He would tell me jokes, always trying to make me laugh. Always trying to make my stay there a happy one.
"But I know now why. My mom never trusted her brother-in-law. In their 'Will' she had clarified that if anything should happen to them before I was 18, and I had to end up living with my uncle, she had people sent to come monthly to check on me. You know, like government people who watch over children, helping abused and orphan kids. But not only did they come monthly, they watched me from afar. I never knew they were there. They were almost like my stalkers, but they watched out for me. My uncle seemingly knew this; it was why he treated me so good. He was afraid if anything should happen to me, they would know, and take me away from him."
Kayla dropped her head to her chest, looking at her lap. She let out a breath, sighing deeply. She rubbed her eyes, plainly showing she was wary at the moment, and then wrapped her self around her knees again, looking out to the moon. She began once more, "You would now have to question, 'Well, why would he want me to stay, if clearly he didn't want me there?' Believe me, I wondered this for a very long time. I finally got my answer the very last night I was there.
"That evening I happened to be out on a date with a young man named Harry Prigston. He was quite handsome, quite rich and plainly not my type," Kayla snorted, "especially with a name like that. My uncle had set me up with him, and being at the naïve age of 14, I thought I was in love with him. And apparently I thought he was in love with me too, but no, he was there only for my body. My uncle would pay for the dates, not Harry, my uncle would pick the places where to go, not Harry, and even my uncle would choose the flowers, not even Harry. So, obviously we were not meant to be. We were at the opera, and Act 1 had just happened to finish. I wasn't feeling very good, so I said I wanted to leave early. Being a true {fake} gentleman, Harry merely nodded and escorted me home.
"My uncle wouldn't be expecting me home, so I decided to enter the mansion through the kitchen back door, instead of the front entrance. The servants were up and I chatted happily with them for a while, telling them of my boring evening. I heard a quiet conversation coming form the entertaining room, you know, the room where we welcome guests. Well, I thought it would be 'correct' if I noted my uncle that I was home. I silently walked through the halls to that room, though when I heard my name, I stopped. I peered behind the corner and gasped inaudibly. My uncle was talking with worst kind of men I could have ever seen at that time of my life. They were three dirty, hairy and absolutely horrid. Their clothes were basically rags, their hair long, and their muscles very large. And they were talkin about me.
"'But why Boss?' the ugly blond one asked. 'Why can't we just do it now?'
"My uncle sharply looked at him, outraged he could even think of such a thing. He rubbed his temples severely, sighing exasperatedly, 'We have already gone over this, Borris. We have to wait till she is eighteen.'
"The brunette one, the seemingly dumbest one off all of them leaned forward in his seat excitedly, 'Then we kill her?'
"I gasped but quickly covered my mouth with my hand and leaned against the wall. I rested my head on it, closing my eyes. They were talking about me. My uncle was going to have me killed. When I heard them talking again I immediately peered over the wall.
"'So if we got ta wait fer her to be eighteen then why are we here now?' the leader of the so-called dumb ass's asked.
"My uncle gave him an I-Can't-Believe-You-Just-Asked-That look, clearly getting annoyed by the minute of these boneheads. 'Because I need you guys to report on her: Who her friends are, where she goes and what she does. Also, keep a tab on the men that watch her. I need to know whom they are and if there is more than two. All right?'
"They all nodded their head idiotically, resembling a hungry pack of dimwitted dogs. Accepting the fact that they knew their orders, my uncle gave them a disgusting look and said nastily, 'Ok, now get out of my site.'
"My uncle ushered them out the oak door and before he turned around to walk past me, I quickly disappeared down the hallway for the back stairway. Once I reached my floor, deciding that the noise I would make would not be heard, I rushed inside my room and quickly bolted the door. I sat on the edge of the bed with my arms holding my self in disbelief, my eyes staring into oblivion. I was going to be murdered, although at the moment safe, but still soon to be killed.
"I sat there I don't know how long, minutes, hours, all night. I don't know. But in that time I had decided I had to get out. I could not stay. Maybe I could contact those guys who watch over me I thought. No, then it would be a huge court battle between them and my uncle. Then I would be put into foster care. I had to go out on my own. I had about $500 {a/n: A LOT back then} in cash hidden in my room; allowance from my uncle and just some savings from when my parents were alive. I could hide out in the country, maybe stash out at my cousin's.
"I grabbed a bag and stuffed a few shirts and a couple ridding pants I wore when horseback riding into it. I snuck down to the kitchen, grabbed some food and "supplies". My Uncles mansion was not as big as my parents but it was out in the countryside, so it did indeed look it. I was going to ride my horse to the nearest town and room there for a little bit then go to my cousin for help. It would have been too much commotion if I rode in my carriage in that short distance.
"I left a note on my beau and when my Uncle saw it in the morning it would read,
-----------------------
I know now.
You are not going to
win this.
-----------------------
"I quickly climbed out the window and disappeared into the dark after I took a long last look at my home the last four years. I was 14 at the time, still young but clearly mature looking, or so my cousin said, so I hoped I would make it. After the night in the town, I went to my cousins. But I did not find help there. He said hastily once he saw me, "NO. You must not come here, he will know. You must hasten for America and lose him there. In four years come back and inherit your money and fight him."
"He swiftly hurried me to one of his carriages and sent me of to the docks. I bordered a magnificent boat on my own, departed onto America. I thought I was safe but obviously I didn't listen to my cousin's words wisely enough. He had advised 'lose him there,'
"I had thought I easily would.
"I could only stay in one area for a short time, and if longer than a couple of days, I would always see him. He was hot on my trail, and I couldn't lose him.
"For awhile I stayed in a spot near here, about 30 miles away in the other city. I was sleeping in an alley one night when I discovered a lose brick in a wall. Looking around making sure no one was around I stashed the 250$ I had left and hastily pushed the brick in the wall. Lately, a group of boys had been harassing me, and I was almost 16 at this time, about 8, 9 months ago and I was afraid they would steal my money. I had planned going back and forth to that stash when I needed the money but I saw one of my Uncles men in that neighborhood and knew I couldn't go back to it for a while. He had seen me and I had to get out of there fast. I made my way farther into the town, each night staying at the docks or in the alleyways hungry and cold.
"One night a baker was loading up a truck full of the days bread that had not been sold. Apparently they were for the 'needy', certain needy people, not the homeless ones walking on the streets. I in fact did not know this and reached to grab one, but it seemed that was a very bad thing to do because as I was reaching out, two coppers walking down the street saw me. I rushed away with my bread and as I was running I ran into Jack and he helped me. He took me back to the Lodge house and you can pick up from there."
Kayla hastily finished her story, taking a big sigh at the end. She leaned her head against the top of the couch, wariness clearly seen in her fragile body. After a few moments of stillness, Kayla looked up to Spot sadly. He was sitting in the same potion as before, leaning back on his outstretched palms. His mouth was slightly agape and he was staring at her but yet didn't notice her. Kayla called softly to him, "Spot." He quickly shook his head, blinking away his dazed state.
Spot cleared his throat, swallowing deeply and asked in disbelief, "He wants you dead just for money?" Kayla nodded mutely at him. "You've been on you own for dah last two years?" Kayla nodded again. With more courage in his voice, "You came all the way from England to run away from your Uncle?" Kayla peeped a small 'yes.'
Spot the sat there a few minutes looking down thinking. SO this was what happened, this was why she was scared and didn't want him to get involved. She had no one left...except for him. That was why she said she couldn't bare if he left her. Spot looked strangely up at her.
"If you could never stay in one spot for long, then why have you been here for so long?" he questioned softly.
Kayla had again glanced out the window, watching the fallen moon. She sat there a little longer before swiftly saying, "I needed the money, and a place to stay. I also need companionship and the boys here were nice to me. I hadn't really talked to anyone till then."
Spot nodded his head in understanding. That all? He had to know.
"Is that that only reasons?"
Kayla buried her head in her arms, shaking her head 'no' severely. Spot, seeing this asked, "What's the other?"
Kayla looked up at him with fast tears falling down her face. She looked at him sadly and whispered, "It's you, Spot."
Spot swallowed again and nodded his head in acceptance, his eyes going a deeper shade of blue.
"I stayed because of you," Kayla went on sadly, "I can't leave you now knowing what love is like. Don't you see? I love you."
Spot rushed over to her, and seized her into the hold of his arms. Kayla broke down, sobbing into his shoulder, clutching him around his neck. Spot cooed at her muttering 'it's alright' and 'don't worry' from time to time. After a moment Spot pulled back from her when he realized she had calmed down a bit. Looking deep into her eyes, determination riding over all the emotions in his blues he fiercely promised, "No one is going to take you away from me. If they do, I won't stop till I get you back. You're gonna be with me forever."
He leaned forward and snatched her lips with his own, showering her with all his passion and love deep into the night and early morning.
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