Chapter 11:
Dolly dragged Fire into the Brooklyn Lodging House. "I've had enough Dolly. Stop it leave me alone now!"
"Fire Ice I'm gonna change u once and for all enough with being this slutty girl your fuckin' fourteen. I'm two years older then you. Its time for me to take some responsibility"
"I am responsible. I've been taking care of you ever since that lil' accident you had with Clash!"
"You seriously think that was my fault?"
"No but you your such a lil' girl. You need me to protect you. Like you said I'm two yeas younger then you."
"Yea! And u need me to make sure you don't go off and yourself killed. what will all the times you get drunk. I take care of you, I deal with you when your drunk its hard having to watch you like that."
"Yea well its hard living my life Bitch! With you around I cant bring guys home whenever I want!"
"Yea and guess what slut some guys ain't gonna be so nice if wasn't there you would probably be dead right now!"
"Then why do you have to be there?!"
"Because no matter how bitchy and slutty you are I love you, you are like the closest to family I have Fire!"
"Family is stupid Dolls! Who gives fuck about family?! Family ain't important! I don't need anyone in this world! I don't need you!"
"No Fire family is important family is what keeps people together...I guess you just never understood that though! "
"I believed it when I was little but things happen Dolls. If you depend on family your screwed."
"Well then there's my life. Yea fine screw up your life but just keep in mind that you screw up other peoples too!"
"Your the one who is screwing up my life!"
"Yea ok I'm screwing up your life, I can't even believe u call that pathetic excuse of a human being a life!"
"I do. Its because deep down you do love us your just to scared to admit it!"
"I ain't scared of anything"
"Yea sure u ain't? You ain't scared of dying?
"No... no ..... no I ain't," Fire whispered.
"Well you're a tough girl ain't ya."
"Fuck you! Bet you anything you made the whole thing up. I bet you begged Clash you sleep with you! I bet he didn't rape you! If he did you deserved it Bitch!" Fire yelled. Everyone's eyes fell on Fire then at Dolly. Tears were streaming down Dolly's cheeks. Dolly turned and ran up the stairs and into the girls bunkroom. Fire watched Dolly run up the stairs, then she left the Lodging House. Fire walked aimlessly. She reached the bridge. She walked over to the railing and looked over. The water looked black. Auburn curls feel in front of Fire's face. Fire said something to Dolly that she regretted. Even if Dolly forgave her Fire could never forgive herself. Fire's hand clamped the cold railing. Fire started to climb over the railing. It was either this or live knowing she hurt Dolly.
"What the hell do you think your doing?" Jack asked coming up behind Fire.
"What the hell does it look like?" Fire asked back. Jack grabbed Fire's wrist. "Jack let go. This is something I have to do. The world will be a better place. Now let go!"
"I can't and I wont. Everyone back there loves you Fire! No one wants to see you body floating in that water! We love you God damn it! So get down from there right now and walk back to that Lodging House or I will carry you back, like the lil' girl your acting!" Jack grabbed Fire's waist. Fire tried to pull away form Jack but he was stronger then her and pulled her off the railing.
"Let go of me! Jack I'll scream!" Fire started laughing.
"So now you laugh?! Why is that lil' Fire?" Jack asked putting Fire down.
"The image of me screaming for help. Me asking for help. I mean it's the funniest thing I've ever herd." Fire started laughing.
"Why is that so funny? You should be willing to ask for help." Fire looked at Jack with a serious look on her face.
"I would rather die a slow and painful death then ever ask for help." Fire started walking towards the Lodging house.
"Well that's stupid. Fire your stupid. You oh my God, your just so…." Jack trailed off. Fire Looked at Jack and then took a cigarette out. Fire light it and took a puff. Jack watched the little girl he use to know smoke. "You use to be so pretty."
"You mean I ain't?" Fire asked just looking straight ahead with no emotion at all in her voice.
"Well I mean you are, but you were innocent. You were so pretty and adorable. Now you're a wild slut. Your pretty, but you ain't adorable. And your Prettiness isn't pretty its easy pretty." Jack turned away when Fire looked at him with a confuse look.
"The only reason I'm pretty is cause I look easy?" Fire asked.
"Well no and yes. You would be so much prettier if you didn't look easy." Fire nodded. Fire looked up at the black sky that was now filled with stars. "Did you ever heart he real reason why Spot left ya?" Fire shook her head. "He left because he hated your father. He hated seeing you hurt. He hated seeing you cry. He's about eighteen now and he got his little sister back. The most important person his life. He thought you were gonna go back home. The reason your father beat you was because of Spot. Spot defended you so many times Fire. Remember when you came home from hanging out with us and he had a broken arm. He said he fell on it the wrong way. Your father did that to him. Sure you got slap. You got slapped for hanging out with Spot and us newsies. Spot hated what he had to do, but it was the only way to keep you away from him and the newsies. He cried that night. He turned evil. No emotion. Then he met Books and finally loosened up. Don't make him change back to the way he was Fire. Please understand he did it out of love for you. I know you say that this person I'm looking at smoking a cigarette is you, but it ain't. We all know that including you. Baby Doll loves you and doesn't want to see you get hurt. Mush loves you and not as a sister but as the girl he wants to spend the rest of his life with. He told me himself, that he knows he's in love with you. He just could never date you. You ain't the type of girl he wants. If you showed emotion and love, he could deal. And face it Fire Ice, you're a slut and sluts can't be trusted. Mush wont enter a relationship scared of being hurt. I know you love him too. Your probably willing to change your ways from him if he ask you to be his girl. Well change your ways starting now and you will be Mush's girl, probably his wife in no time. Spot is a problem, he doesn't want that. But we'll all help warm him up to the idea. Fire I know you love all of us, well use to. I know you love Baby Doll, do it for her then." Fire looked at Jack and smirked.
"When did you become smart?" Jack hit Fire On the back of the head and laughed. "Jack I wanna try to change, for Baby Doll. I got to control my anger. But I need……" Fire trailed off and looked away.
"You need help?" Jack asked smiling. Fire only nodded. "Well then we can all help you."
"Not all. I don't want Spot, Baby Doll, or Mush to know I'm trying to change. I'll surprise them all. I think Books can help. I'm even willing to get rid of this whole look. The cloths, the smoking, the drinking, and the sex. I want that all changed. Most all I wanna learn to trust and love again."
"You already know how to love. Your changing for people and yourself. You love those people and yourself. See you've already started." Jack put an arm around Fire. "Come on lets go inside." Fire and Jack entered the Lodging House and saw that Dolly was stagnant he couch with Race. Everyone was still there. Fire looked at Jack and he gave her a little push. Bras came up and wrapped her arms around Jack's waist and gave Fire a warning glare. Fire just shook her head and started towards Dolly.
Dolly looked up and saw Fire walking towards her. Fire took a deep breath and stared at Dolly who only stared back. Dolly stood up and Fire took a step back. Dolly raised an eyebrow at Fire.
"Listen Dolly. I'm so sorry about everything I said. I didn't men any of it. I love you Dolly, your like a older sister to me. Dolly you're my best friend in the whole world, you're the only one who believe in me, you're the only on that was ever there when I came home drunk. I'm asking you the biggest favor I can ever ask you. Please forgive me. I need you Dolly. I need you to my dying day, so I pray to God I'm going before you." Dolly looked at Fire. Fire never apologizes and never ask for forgiveness.. Fire admitted she needed and loved Dolly. Dolly started crying. Fire came over and hugged Dolly. "I am so sorry Dolly. I really am sorry."
"I forgive you Fire. And I better be going first cause I can't survive in this world without you." Dolly and Fire pulled away. Fire smiled at Dolly.
"I'm going first. Dolly I got to tell you something. Something I've know for about a year." Dolly looked at Fire.
"No Fire! No! Please God, don't let her say what I think she's gonna say." Dolly started crying.
"Dolly I just never knew when the right time was to tell you. Dolly the doctor says at most I'll be seventeen. I am scared of dying Dolly. I am, I'm really scared. I tried to hide it with a bitchy attitude. I'm freaked out Dolly. And this is something that I'm gonna do and your not gonna be there to help me."
"Fire. I will be there for you until your last second. I will be by your side. I might not be able to die with you, but I will be there with you. I would never let my friend be alone at the time she needs me most." Dolly hugged Fire again. Fire for the first time in six years let silent tears fall.