*And here is yet another chapter to my story. I hope you all are enjoying it. I would like to say my thank you's to all who have read my story so far. I know it is going a little slow, but it will pick up soon, I promise. Well here is what some of you have been waiting for. Spot is indeed in this chapter. I will be saying my thank you's at the end. So if you reviewed it'll be there. Now I guess I will shut up and let you get on with the story. Continue to read and review, it lets me know that I'm not writing this for nothing .*
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Newsies characters. Although I wish that I did *grin* I do however own Julia and Hanna. Also all of the other miscellaneous characters that will be popping up throughout the story. Thanks!
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Chapter Two
I don't know whether I was doing it for myself, or just to spite my parents, but I was trying to get out of that school any chance that I could. Either way I planned on going back to Tibby's again today, with or without the help of Julia. We sat there for three excruciating hours the night before in my bunk room, discussing the different options that we had.
Julia thought of it as too dangerous. It was fun for one day but to do it again would just be ludicrous. I tried explaining it to her, how it was my escape, a sign that I could take control of my own life. I knew that she wanted to go back as much as I did, I could see it in her deep blue eyes. But somewhere Julia's mind was telling her heart that there was something wrong.
Eventually I convinced my uncertain friend that it was alright and that there would be no chance of us getting caught. Of course, I did not know that for sure but nothing had happened the day before, so my courage was a slight bit stronger than it would have been. Yet that morning at breakfast, I found myself stopping and reconsidering it.
If we did get caught, surely we would be sent home to our parents. I did not care, of course. But even the thought of what would happen to Julia made me uneasy. Unlike myself, this was her life. Julia planned on growing up and marrying a proper gentlemen. She wanted children and to do nothing more than raise them in the best home that she possibly could. I would not lead her down a road that she did not wish to take. So I promised myself that this would our last excursion. I may be brave enough to risk everything I had for one day of freedom, but I would not risk the livelihood of my friend.
We sat together at breakfast that morning and decided that for a precaution we would take matching shawls, so we could easily hide our faces if necessary. But there would be no need, for the perfect escape route has already been executed. The heads of the school houses planned a group tea session in the lobby this evening. Whoever wished to come was welcome. So of course that had means that every girl in the school will attend in order to make a good impression on the headmistress.
"This is absurd," Julia said to me as I drug her across the street to Tibbys. We had on one our best dresses. Julia's made of white silk with lace and velvet trim. We did this specifically to make it seem to the dorm warden that we where planning on having tea with the others.
But it did not occur to me at first that we would be slightly over dressed for the occasion. So I felt rather out of place when we walked into the restaurant and all of the scruffy boys sat gawking at us.
I really did not think of myself as a beautiful women. For I was the only one who knew of all my flaws. But when I had my golden blonde hair fixed up into soft curls and a nice dress on that flattered my figure, the guys seemed to drop like flies at my doorstep. It had confused me and I wasn't sure if I enjoyed the attention or not. Of course guys had liked me before. But some of the more high class kids, found me rather rambunctious and smart, but a little too eccentric for there tastes. They did not wish for me to tarnish there flawless reputations. So for me, the thought of getting such an enormous reaction at once, made me dizzy.
I turned my gaze over to Julia who seemed to be rather shaken, but pleased all the same. The light in her eyes could not be dimmed as a group of boys fawned over her every move. I had always told her that she was very beautiful in her own way. Not drop dead gorgeous, but a natural beauty. Yet she never believed a word I said. I smiled, knowing that now maybe she would see that there were a billion guys in the world and not all of them cared if she ate with the correct fork at dinner.
I started to become rather claustrophobic within the crowd of testosterone driven young men and moved to a booth in the far corner of the room. To my surprise Racetrack and Mush were there playing a game of cards. "Hiya doll face," Racetrack said and I laughed. He moved over in order to let me sit down. I was thankful that I received no comments from either of the two, only a slightly appraising glance from Racetrack. Because in the last few minutes I had come to the conclusion that I did not enjoy all of the attention. Besides I think Julia needed the appraisal more than myself.
"How are you?" I asked the boys. Feeling a bit of sympathy for them, seeing that they were practically wearing the same clothes that they had on the day before. I began to wonder if they even had a second pair.
"Hey, could ya pass the budda," I was startled as a little kid popped up next to my head. But I reached over and handed him the stick of butter that was sitting on the table by my hand. Then as quickly as he had come, he was gone.
"Where as good as were gunna get," Racetrack responded to my question. I nodded my head. Just then Jack appeared through the mob of boys and sat down next to Mush. He didn't say anything but just starred at me.
"So what was ya name anyway?" Jack asked finally breaking the silence.
"It's Hanna Grimmuald," I said and watched as the boys stopped playing and Racetrack spit his drink all over his cards.
"Ya name is Grimmuald?" He asked and I nodded.
"Your fadda's the judge…" Jack said trying to make sure he had heard me correctly.
"Yes," I said more softly this time. I could not see why my father always had to be brought up in every conversation that I had. Personally that would be one good perk about getting married, I would be able to change my name.
"and you are here talkin to us?" Mush asked shocked, as if I had committed some kind of horrific crime.
" I don't see why my father would have anything to do with who I speak to." I think they heard the ruthlessness in my voice when I said this, because they did not speak of it again.
After the tension of our conversation wore off, Mush and Race decided to teach me how to gamble. It was a rather interesting experience, although I lost a bit of money myself. I was actually concentrating so hard on my cards that I didn't even notice someone walk up to the booth beside us. It wasn't until he spoke that his presence was made known.
"Well, Well, if I had know you boys had such good lookin lady friends, I woulda stopped by Manhattan more often." Said the new kid with dark hair. He wore red suspenders and had a gold tipped cane at his side. I looked up and my blue eyes connected with his green ones, for a fleeting moment before I turned away.
"Full house boys," I said as I spread my hand out onto the table. I could hear Race swear and Mush groan as I took the money out of the center of the table.
"Hey Spot, how's things been up in your place ?" Jack asked as I watched them spit in there hands and then shake.
"Slow, very slow. Me boys are gettin restless. Hardly makin a living as it is, but we get by. Although I see ya must be movin up, hangin with the big boys now. Ay, Jackyboy." The kid named Spot looked down at me and smirked rather unpleasantly. He reached out a hand in greeting. "Me names Spot," I hesitantly shook his hand. I got an uneasy feeling in my stomach when our arms touched.
"He's from…" Mush began but I put up a hand to stop him.
"Let me guess," I said. I turned and looked at Spot more closely. "I'm very good at these kind of things. Now lets see…From your rough accent and scruffy misdemeanor. You must be from Brooklyn." I replied mimicking his accent and the boys laughed.
I had known a young girl from Brooklyn once. She had been staying in our house for a few days as a favor to her father. So in return to the favor, she stole my mothers favorite diamond necklace and got away with it. I did not like this Spot Conlon any more than I liked Brooklyn itself.
"As a madda a fact, I am," Spot said as he stood up straight, hooking his thumbs behind his suspenders. Then he leaned forward and whispered rather seductively into my ear. "You should stop by sometime, sweetheart. Gotta nice view of the riva." Jack snorted into his drink and I could feel Racetrack tense up beside me. I tilted my head and looked up into the fierce eyes of my contender. While starring I could not help but notice the many attractive features that he possessed. But that weakness was quickly hidden away.
Spot was more on the shorter side, around the same height as myself. At first sight he would seem harmless but his fierce persona and deep glare made him rather intimidating to most. I also knew by his conceded tone of voice that he had not been turned down very often by many other women. So it would come as quite a shock to everyone, when I smiled and said "I'm just fine here thanks."
It was exactly as I thought. I looked over at Racetrack and he seemed rather relieved that I had declined Spots offer. Not that I would have been able to except in the first place. What would I tell my parents. "Sorry mamma, papa but I'm leaving school and going to Brooklyn with some hoodlum that I met in a restaurant." Things like that just were not done. Besides I knew that Spots offer was for more than just a tour of his neighborhood. He was bad news and I wanted nothing more to do with him.
But when I turned my gaze back onto Spot, he looked rather shocked. It seemed like hours sitting there starring back at him. I could see the ongoing battle he was fighting with himself. I confused Spot and it gave me ever bit of the satisfaction that I needed. But his confusion soon turned to anger and I had cringed at the coldness in his voice when he spoke.
"Suit ya self, dollface. Your type aint welcome in my territory anyway. Even if ya were, ya wouldn't be able to handle Brooklyn. Besides your to high class for us. Makes me mouth taste all funny to even think of it." Spot replied spitting on the ground in front of me. I put a hand on Racetracks chest to prevent him from attacking Spot. I clutched my fists as I felt the anger boiling up inside me. I mean who did this kid think he was? The smile that was on my face only moments before, was gone. I glared up at Spot with every ounce of hate that I possessed.
Before Racetrack could stop me, I stood up quickly and became, nose to nose with Spot. I could feel his warm breath on my face and it made me a little uneasy. "Oh don't worry Spotty, I'm rather pleased you find me so distasteful. It makes it alot easier on myself. Considering I could find a better companion in a dog!" I screamed, my voice dripping with venom. Before he could answer I wiped around facing the boys at the table, who starred back at me open mouthed. "I'll see you around Race," I said before I shoved passed Spot and walked out the door.
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So here are my thank you's from the Prologue and Chapter One:
Splashey: I am really glad you like my character. I am trying to make her as fun/risky as I can. But not so much that I loose sight of reality. Considering that back in those days, women really didn't have many rights. I want it made clear that Hanna was practically breaking rules, acting the way that she did. So to keep in touch with the times of the story I have to put a limit on her persona. But its hard since I live in 2004. I am just so glad you are enjoying my story and please review this chapter and let me know what you think.
Bookey Elliot: Thank you for giving me advice on my story. I am open to any advice that could be given since this in my first Newsies fan fiction story. But like one of my other reviewers informed me. There were cars in that time, they just were very, very rare and only owned by the extremely wealthy. Which fits into my story, so I decided not to go back and change it. But like I said before, thanks for the advice and I'm glad you enjoy it.
StupidChocolateGirl: Thank you! I can't say it enough, how much my readers opinions mean to me. It makes me happy to know that there are people out there who enjoy my writing.
Raeghann: I am so happy that you read my story, considering I adore your work so much. Thanks for letting me know that there were cars in that time. I wasn't sure if there was. I haven't really written anything that has to do with history before. So its hard to keep all the facts straight. Well here is the next chapter. If you can, let me know what you think.
MorningDew: Thank you so much. I still can't get used to taking complements because I don't see myself as that great of a writer. So it means a lot when people enjoy my work. I know that it isn't that original of a plot, but it will be different, I promise. I already have the next few chapters written and things change. So I hope that you keep reading.