Chapter 36:
"Spot, why would you hit your newsies? A girl one to." Sweet Tart wrapped her arms around Spots waist and kissed him lightly.
"She deserved it. She was mouthing off to me and telling me I was like my father. I am not like him. He was a terrible man. He was awful. He use to…. And I don't….." Spot sighed and wrapped his arms around Sweet Tart. "She's not just a Newsies."
"Did you use to date her?" Sweet Tart asked looking up into Spot's eyes.
"No. She's my baby sister. She wants no one to know though. I mean everyone knows but she has gotten rid of Conlon when she introduces herself. She wants nothing to do with me. It makes me so mad Sweet Tart. I mean spent eight years of my life watching her, protecting her, loving her. I took such good care of her. You came on a crappy night. Sorry Sweets." Spot kissed Sweet Tart. Sweet Tart pulled away.
"Only eight years. She looked around fifteen."
"She's fourteen."
"So the other six years?"
"Eight years that's all your getting." Spot kissed Sweet Tart again.
**** Girls Bunk Room****
Mush opened the door to the girls bunk room and spotted Fire sitting on her bed. "You okay Fire?" Mush asked resting his hand on her shoulder.
"Peachy. Am I just someone everyone likes to beat up on. Mush I've been beaten my whole life and my life is running out. Is it ever gonna stop? Or will I be beat till my last day which could come any day now. I want it to stop Mush. I can't take it any more. Especially not him. He's the last person I though would ever. What's next with him. Is he gonna get his friends to rape me. He told me that Father was right. All I am is a dirty little whore. I am. That's what my brother thinks of me. I hate him!" Mush wrapped his arms around Fire and rested his chin on the top of Fire's head. Fire cried silently into Mush's chest. "I'm suppose to be tough. I was tough when my dad beat me and when slick beat me. But now I feel like a little kid. I just can't…."
"Shhhhhhhhhh. It's okay to cry Fire. Your human. The one person who always protected you just totally betrayed you." Fire broke away from Mush and looked at him.
"I deserved it. I've always deserved it. Every hit I got. I dese…." Mush put his hand over Fire's mouth.
"That's bull shit. You never deserved anything bad that happen to you. You were such a great little girl. You still are. I know you are Fire. You still have so much anger inside of you though. Let it go Fire. Everyone out there loves you." Mush pulled his hand away from Fire. Mush ran his finger along the side of Fire's face and Fire looked at him. Mush kissed her lightly then stared into her eyes. "I love you." Mush kissed Fire again but this time more passionately and it didn't just stop there.