Chapter 21:

The four girls awoke with Spot's pounding against the doors and him yelling for them to get up. Brass walked over to the door and opened it. Spot looked at her and then walked away. Brass walked over to Loons who looked like she was planning on going back to sleep.

"Don't even think about it Loons." Brass hit Loons on the head and walked away.

"Fuck you," Loons mumbled into her pillow. Books sat on Loon's back and Loon threw he off. "I'm up. Happy!" Loons walked out of the room and into the boy bunkroom and then into the washroom. "Move it boys, lady coming through."

"Where?" Spot asked/

"Fuck you." Loons pushed Spot out of the way and took the sink over. The three other girls came in laughing. Books stopped when she saw Spot. Spot turned around and saw her staring at him. She gave her a smirk and turned back around. Books walked over to Spot and taped him on the shoulder. Spot turned around once again. Books took his hand and led him out of the bathroom.

"Spot, you hurt me last night and you think we're fine. You don't even apologize. Was that smirk suppose to be an apologize? You promised you would never lay a hand on me. You hurt me! I know I might be over reacting, but Spot I don't want to be with you anymore. From now on its newsies and leader relationship." Spot didn't say anything which was kinda freaking Books out. He just looked at her. When he finally spoke, it wasn't what Books expected.

"Go get washed up, Your gonna be late. Have someone buy your papers for you." Spot turned away from Books and walked down the stairs. Books just watched him walk away. Walkout of her life. Sure he would be there everyday but not the way she needed him. Dolly came out of the bathroom and wrapped her arms around Books. Book cried silently on Dolly's shoulder. Did she make a mistake? He didn't seem hurt by it, but yet again he was Spot Conlon. Exactly he was Spot Conlon the man that took everything form her. The man she loved.

"It's okay Books. Your gonna find someone twice as great as him." Books nodded and walked into the bathroom. Dolly followed her to make sure no one bothered her. Everyone just looked at Books and didn't' say a word. Of course they all knew what had happened. They were all listening at the door.

********

Dolly got her papers and saw Spot sitting on the crates looking threw on of his papers. Dolly smiled and walked over to Spot. "Hey Spotty dotty." Spot looked up and cursed under his breath. "How's my favorite Newsies?" Dolly sat down next to Spot. Dolly rolled dup one of her newspapers and hit Spot as hard as she could on the head and ran off.

"Get the fuck back her Dolly! Dolly I swear to God if you don't get your ass back her I'll murder you! DOLLY!" Spot sat back down on the crates and opened his paper again.

"Nice one. Little Spot gets hit on the head by nicest girl that wonders this earth. Jeeze Spot how is it possible?" Spot looked up and saw Loons and Brass. "It amazes me sometimes how cruel and uncaring you can be." Loons was the one speaking.

"Look girls I know your mad that Books and I broke up but she dumped me." Spot stood up and started to walk away. Brass pushed Spot and he fell over the crates.

"Yea but you pushed her." Loons tried to keep a straight face but she couldn't. Spot stood up and took Brass by the collar of her shirt.

"One more time Brass and your out. Go to Manhattan I don't care." Spot walked away from Brass and Loons and they just looked at each other.

"Well I would say your on his good side." Loons ducked Brasses hand. "Come on lets go sell you big goon." Loons put her hand over her mouth to hid her smile. "GOON!" Loons started running and Brass chased after her. "GOON! GOON! BRASS IS A GOON! BRASS IS A BIG UGLY GOOD! COWBOY IS DATING A GOON! GOON!"

*******

Mush walked around central park selling his papers. It was about lunch time and he had two left. Mush just couldn't stop thinking about everything. Fire wasn't here that long but long enough for him to miss her. He barley saw Rosie anymore since her aunt ha married rich. Rosie wasn't suppose to hang out with the newsies anymore. Him and Rosie had decided that friends was better then a relationship. He dated but not a lot. Why couldn't he get her off his mind. She didn't give a shit about anyone exccpet herself. He wasn't even sure if she gave a shit about herself. Mush just didn't know what to do.

"I miss the old Fire not the new," Mush whispered.

"We all do," Jack said coming up behind him. "She had changed a lot hadn't she? I mean no personality. Then we finally started getting through to her and then we all go and kick her out. We're so stupid. But she never coming back. So Mush how's the love life."

"As good as a beating form Conlon." Jack winced and patted Mush on the back. "I don't know what wrong but I cant find interest in any girls really."

'then stay away from me," Jack joked.

"Oh shut up. Anyway if I was to go after a guy, it wouldn't be you, your not my type." Jack punched Mush in the shoulder and they both laughed. "How's Brass?"

"Better now that Fire is gone." Mush smiled at Jack comment. "I will miss those fights though. Fire was a tough little girl. I cant believe she is fourteen already. Seems like yesterday she was eight and cursing me out."

"Yea. Oh that was the funniest thing. Spot scolded her so bad though.

"Look here Fire you cant go to poker night because its a guy thing. Anyway you don't even know how to play poker," Eleven year old Jack said.

"Listen here pain in my ass, I do know how to play poker, better then you, but that's not hard because you suck monkey's dick. I am as much as one of the guys as you are one of the girls. Your as gay as they come asshole. So why don't you shut the fuck up and stop being the bastard your mama taught you to be and be the Jack Kelly who will one day be in charge of Manhattan newsies." Spot grabbed his little sister arm and turned her towards him.

"Why the hell you using that language. You sound like dad. Stop Fire. You're a lady. Your gonna be a lady for the rest of your life. If being around these guys make you think you can use that language, I'll never bring you again. Understand me?" Fire nodded. "Now go home Fire okay. I'll be home in an hour two. I'm gonna play only one round of poker then I'll be home." Fire nodded again. "Go in as quiet as possible. Don't let dad hear you or see you. Be the little sneak King taught you to be. We'll play some poker tonight okay. If dad sees you or hears you I want you to run to your and lock the door as quickly as you can. If you don't lock that door as quickly as you can and he gets to you, just be the Conlon you and don't cry out in pain it just gives him more pleasure beating the shit out of you. If his friends are home I want you to leave. I don't want something like last week happening. You get out of there and wait for me down here in the lobby. Everything should be okay though. You're a smart and tough girl. Remember if he has a friend or more home leave a quickly as possible." Fire nodded and Spot hugged her. "Be careful Fire. I love you." Fire hugged her big brother, her protector back. Spot watched his little sister walk out the door and turned to his friends. "She'll be fine." He could see all the worried expressions on their faces. They hated it when she went home. They were always scared she wouldn't return the next day.