Hey everyone, here is the next chapter. This one is kinda long and it took me awhile to write. I was going to post it sooner, but I wanted to get part of the next chapter written before I did. I like to have a few of the chapters written ahead, so that I can update soon and don't keep my reviewers waiting that long. The next chapter will be posted next Monday, so you know to expect it. I will be working on getting a few more chapters finished. Thanks so much for all of your reviews! Also I should apologies for all of the spelling mistakes ahead of time. Oh and I am going to be changing my penname to Crimson. Because that is the nickname all of my friends call me.
Disclaimer: I do not own anyone or anything from the Newsies movie. I wish I did, but I sadly don't. So I will just have to stick with my character, Hanna. Who belongs entirely to me.
Chapter Six
I don't know how long I have been asleep, waking in and out of consciousness but each time I awoke there was someone different watching over me. Race and Mush were there often and Jack had stopped in a few times. I still didn't have the strength to speak but I gradually began to regain more feeling in my limbs as each day passed.
Finally after a week of bed rest, I opened my eyes and looked around. It must have been just after sunrise because the warm light shining through the window reflected a dusty red glow on the walls. I didn't know how long I laid there just starring at the ceiling of my room, thankful that I had the chance to look at it once more. For awhile during the last few days, I had gotten the feeling that I wasn't ever going to wake up.
The window on the far right wall of the room was open and the pleasant aroma of newly fallen rain floated through the air. But it was mingled with the pungent odor of cheap tobacco and musty stale cigars. I smiled softly to myself, thinking of the boys who slept soundly on the opposite side of the wooden door. I think you learn to look at the sweeter side of life after something threatens to take it away forever.
Doctor Standford informed me staunchly, that I had sustained a fractured collar bone from where the horse had kicked me. I also had a slight case of hypothermia which developed into severe pneumonia. My skin still remained pale and cold. Dr. Standford told me that for the next few days I would encounter some minor headaches due to loss of blood. If I had sat in the rain any longer that night, I may have died. Isn't that a scary thought?
After he left, I sat up and my back cracked painfully due to lack of movement. My right shoulder was wrapped up in a white sling. But most of the pain in the rest of my arm had been reduced to nothing and I was able to move my fingers once more. It took me a few minutes to rise out of bed, but eventually I managed a standing position. It felt good just to be up and able to stretch my limber body, to walk around again.
My dress had been removed and was nowhere to be seen. I was now clothed in a long white nightgown. For a few moments I wondered who had changed me, but then it passed quickly from my mind. I began to take a few steps and shivered each time my bare feet touched the cold wooden floor. But when I reached the door to the room, movement in the far left corner made me stop in my tracks.
"And where exactly do ya think your going?" said the very voice that made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. The one thing that had haunted my dreams many nights while I had been ill. Of course I knew that it would not have had the same effect on me, had it not belonged to Spot Conlon himself. The one boy whom I detested most out of any man that I have ever known.
I turned around quickly and glared at my intruder. "What are you doing here?" I snapped curtly. But Spot seemed to be meekly effected by my response.
"Why, watchin' over you of course," he said with fake innocence.
"Well thanks, but I'm well now. So you can do me the favor of leaving." I knew that I was being harsh. But his disrespectful behavior towards me at Tibby's still boiled in my mind.
"Look Doll, Ya don't need ta get all snippy. It ain't like I'm here cuz I wanna be. I'm doin' it as a fava to Jack." He acted as if that had made it any better of an excuse. "Besides is dis how ya treat the man who saved ya life? Or did ya forget dat part?" Spot got up out of the chair and walked staunchly over to me. I backed away quickly into the wall. There was something about him that scared me. It wasn't a physical intimidation, more like an unwanted feeling that he erupted in the pit of my stomach.
"Look, Spot, or whatever your name is. Do not get me wrong. I'm very grateful for your help that night with the horse. But if you think that I am going to bow down at your feet like all the other girls that you have ever known. Then I'm very sorry but you are highly mistaken. I have more respect for myself than that." Spot looked at me with those piercing blue eyes that made my knees go weak and raised an eyebrow questioningly. Underneath his intense glare I felt my strength beginning to waver but I held strong. "So if you're looking for appreciation then I'd be glad to give it. But if your expecting something else, then I suggest you leave me be. Because you won't find anything here."
It felt as if I had spoken that statement all in one breath and once I finished, I breathed a deep sigh of relief. After the echo of my voice died down, we were left with nothing but an empty silence. Spot just stood there starring at me as if I had been something from another world. Once again I could see the battle blazing in his eyes. I knew that he had been trying to decipher whether or not to retaliate with one of his arrogant responses. Or just to say what he truly felt.
At that moment I knew everything that Spot Conlon was about, just by looking into his eyes. Because it was the same sad, diminishing shadow that I saw every time that I looked into the mirror. But unlike me, Spot had given up long ago trying to fight it.
"Look Doll, I gots lots of things ta do. An' don't worry, you ain't one of dem. I told ya before; dis is only as a fava to Cowboy, nothin' more. I swear, ya think dat every guy in New York luvs ya. Well ya're wrong." Spot said in retaliation to my accusations.
"Ha, you have room to talk! You're so conceited that it makes me sick to my stomach. You walk around here like you're the king of New York. When really all you are is a pompous, arrogant, jerk, who feels the need to get his way just by scaring people." Spot looked taken aback by my bold remarks and I knew right away that I had made a big mistake. Soon I saw the confusion in his eyes disappear and watched as it was replaced by pure outright anger.
"I don't know who ya think ya talkin' to like dat. But if I were you, I'd watch what I say. Havin' a smart mouth on da streets ain't a very attractive quality for a girl such as yaself. You may end up getting hurt, or worse killed. But ya know what? I wouldn't feel in the least bit sorry for ya. I think ya deserve to go down just like ya parents did." After he finished screaming in my face, a deadly silence fell over the room once more. Neither one of us could believe that he had just said that. My eyes filled with tears and Spot looked apologetically at me. But I was still in a state of shock. How could someone be so cold and heartless?
"I'm sorry," Spot replied as he reached a hand out to me. I could tell it had been forced by the crease in his jaw line as he clenched his teeth in aggravation. But I backed away quickly into a corner.
"Just leave me alone!" I screamed.
"I didn't mean what I said bout ya parents, ya just made me so angry." For a fleeting moment I saw pity flash in his eyes and that's when I lost all respect for him. I must have looked like a scared dog, cowering into a corner and I was ready to attack.
"You know what? Everyone else may be afraid of you, Spot Conlon. But I'm not! I see right through the mask that you hid behind and all you are is a pathetic excuse for a human being." I walked over to the door and opened it up. A few boys, who were awake, stared at us amused. I turned around and glared back at Spot. "Get out!"
He didn't say anything but just walked past me and out into the other room. Just then he turned around and went to speak.
"Doll I…" But Spot didn't get the chance to finish before I slammed the door hard in his face.
I listened to his footsteps fade and could here the faint mumble of swearing as he walked away. I slid down into a sitting position and wrapped my arms tightly around my knees. A single tear slid down my pale cheek, but I wiped it away quickly. I would not have a repeat of the night after my parents died. From now on, things would be different. I wanted my pride back. I wanted to be the person who didn't need to rely on the pity of others to survive.
I took a deep breath and got to my feet only moments before Racetrack comes storming into the room.
"Are you alright? What did he do to ya? I heard you two yellin' at eachotha and then Spot comes storming out of here swearin' like all hell." Race put his hands on my shoulders and looked at me concerned. The door to the room was left open and I could see a few of the boys looking in on us.
"I'm fine; he didn't do anything to me." I replied honestly. But Racetrack looked as if he didn't believe a word I said. "We just had a disagreement that's all."
"Yeah Race, ya shoulda heard her. I ain't never seen anyone tell Spot Conlon off like dat, not ever." Boots said as he walked over and patted me on the shoulder. "Ya shoulda heard some of da stuff she said ta him. I'm surprised she's still standin'." I blushed slightly and then shrugged it off as if it was no big deal.
"Your right Boots, she is lucky." Race turned to me. "Look doll ya gotta watch what ya say to him. Spot ain't as nice as da rest of us." He spoke sternly but I could still see the laughter hidden in his eyes.
I didn't want to argue with Race so I just nodded my head. "Alright," that seemed to satisfy his worry for the moment.
"So how ya feelin'?" Mush asked, he had been standing in the doorway laughing hysterically for around five minutes.
"Actually, I'm feeling rather hungry. How long have I been sick?" I asked looking back at Racetrack.
"For around a week." He responded and I almost had a heart attack.
"For a week! I have to get back to the school! They probably think I'm dead or something," The boys were hesitant to let me go, saying that I needed more rest before I went outside once more. But I assured them that I was fine. Jack's current girlfriend, Sara, lent me one of her dresses and I thanked her graciously, promising to return it once I came back.
Racetrack showed me the directions back to St. Brutus's, but he refused to go inside. "Its outta my league," he replied. "But I'll wait for ya out here."
There I was, standing before a part of my past that I would have rather left hidden forever. The black bars that separated me from the rest of my life shimmered in the sunlight. I walked slowly up to the gate and pressed gently upon it. Without an effort, it swung open with a creak of the hinges.
I felt rather self-conscious as I walked through the now empty hallways of the school, wearing nothing but a brown and white handmaidens dress. I only passed by a few of my old teachers and they walked on without even noticing my presence. I knew that they probably mistook me for one of the servants. Most of the young girls were in the main hall for lunch so I would have the pleasure of not being noticed.
Up the stairs I walked, until finally I reached the red carpeted hallway. On my solemn walk to the large brown doors that lie at the end, the eyes of the headmistresses seemed to be judging me as I passed. With my hands trembling, I gently opened the door.
The current headmistress looked up quickly and starred at me with a strange expression on her face. One that lacked neither surprise nor anger. "I have been expecting you," she said.
"I am sorry that it took me so long to return. I fell ill and was delayed," I replied and she looked at me with dull interest.
"I do not wish to hear excuses. Come and sit down, we must discuss what is to happen to you," the headmistress motioned for me to sit in the same chair that I had sat in the day she told me that my parents had died.
"Yes ma'am," I replied and did as I was told.
"Now, onto your parents will," At the mention of a will, I leaned forward slightly in my chair. My entire life depended on the thin slip of paper she held in her hand. "As you know, your parents were graced with a rather large sum of money and being their child it is only fair that you receive half of it," I took me a few moments to understand what she had just said.
"Why only half? Who shall receive the other share of the money?" I asked confused slightly. I knew of no other relatives that were alive at the time.
"Why, your brother of course! You did not think that your parents would leave everything to you. Such a selfish child," The headmistress shook her head.
"But you are mistaken, I have no brother. I am the only child," I stated confidently.
"You do not know?" she asked me with blatant shock in her voice. "Your father had a son to a previous marriage. Before he met your mother of course," I stared at her unable to speak. How could my parents not have told me something of this importance? Did my father think that he could spend his entire life, hiding the fact that he had bore another child to someone other than my own mother?
"No, I had not been informed of this," I said blankly.
"Yes, well this is not the time to discuss family issues. As I have already stated, your parents left you half of there earnings. Which as of now, adds up to be approximately 24,000 dollars." I choked on those words.
"24,000 dollars?" I repeated the words as if they were foreign to my mouth.
"But there is one stipulation." the headmistress replied and I gave her my full attention. "They have put the money into an account, that you will not be allowed to open until the age of twenty-one, unless before then, you find a suitable husband. Then on your wedding day, you shall be free to disperse the money as you wish," I felt as if a hammer had been pounded into my stomach. I was still only seventeen, what was I suppose to do until my twenty first birthday? Leave it to my parents to try and persuade me to marry, even on their death bed.
"Surely there is another way for me to retrieve the money. How and where will I live until then?" I asked as I stood up and began pacing the room.
"Well it is only proper that your parent's estate and all its belongings be given to the eldest son. So if your brother does not agree to take you in. Then I am afraid you will be sent to an orphanage." I wanted to break down in tears, but I held strong.
"I do not even know my brother, why would he take me in? I would just be one more mouth for him to feed."
"I will not deny that the chance of him taking you under his care are very slim, Hanna. But there is still a chance," The headmistress replied.
"What if I were to tell you that I have found a suitable place where I would be allowed to live?" I asked, wondering if the city would even allow me to live on my own.
"Where exactly is this place?"
"I would be living in the Newsies Lodging House. The boarder has agreed to let me stay there until I am able to make other accommodations," The headmistress looked slightly appalled. Everyone knew that a lodging house was the home of all the orphans and runaways that sold newspapers because they didn't have any other choice. In her society it was something so disgraceful that I don't even think she could comprehend how I could ask such a thing.
"Surely you do not wish to live in such a place!" The headmistress stated.
"Of course I do not wish it! But what other choice do I have?" I asked.
She stared into my eyes for a few moments before she nodded her head in agreement.
"Yes, you are right! There isn't much of a choice now is there. It is sad thing to see something like this happen to someone such as yourself. We had such high hopes for you." It hurt me as her words sunk in. It crushed my spirit into tiny pieces, to know that everyone was giving up on me already.
"May I go and retrieve my belongings?" I asked solemnly.
She nodded her head redundantly as I turned on my heels to go. I walked swiftly out the door without another word. All I could think of was how my parents could do something like this. Of course, when they had written the Will, surely they didn't consider dying at such a young age. But they should have been a little bit more considerate of my circumstances. How did they think that I would survive without anything to support me? Our house would be going to the older brother, whom they had neglected to inform me that I had. All of my money is locked up in a safe at the bank and it will remain there until my 21st birthday. Which unfortunately does not occur until 4 years from now.
After walking up the last flight of stairs and down the dreary hallways, I finally made it to my room. Or what had previously been my room. With a turn of the door knob I walked inside. For weeks I had looked upon this place as a prison. But now as I scanned longingly over my belongings, it occurred to me that this was all that remained of my previous existence.
I reluctantly packed everything that I had into my brown travel bag and what I could not stuff inside, I carried in my hands. Sighing, I took one last look over everything and then shut the door.
Outside Racetrack was waiting for me patiently. As I walked past the gate, I dropped one of my bags and a picture of my mom fell out. The frame shattered onto the dirty ground. Race ran up, kneeling down he picked up the picture carefully.
"Is this your mother?" he asked. I nodded my head as I looked down at her carefully. Even though I had never admitted it, I resembled her in so many ways. Her hair was golden blonde and unlike my own, was shoulder length and straight. Her eyes were deep green and sparkling, as she smiled up at me.
"Her name was Elizabeth," I replied as I took the picture from his hands. He just nodded his head and didn't respond.
We didn't talk again for two blocks as he led me back to the lodging house. Finally Racetrack asked what had been nagging at him since I come out of the school. "So, how did it go?"
I looked at him sadly, "I don't want to talk about it right now, if that's alright."
"Sure Hanna, but you'll havta talk about it sometime." Race said. It was strange to hear him call me by my real name. For some reason, I didn't feel as if I fit that name anymore.
"I know Race and I will. But I just need some time, that's all," he smiled softly once more as we reached the door to the Lodging House. I sat my stuff down on the ground at my feet and looked up at the building that loomed before me.
Right then I knew that my old life was over and a new one was just beginning. As far as I was concerned, Hanna Grimmuald was dead. Fate had decided to lead me down a different path than it had first intended. Or maybe this was what it had in store all along. Either way I know my path will be hard, but possibly one day I will find peace with it and move on. Maybe one day, but I knew that today was not that day.
Thanks to:
Padfootismyhero-I am glad that you liked that chapter. It was so hard for me to write. I wanted to make sure that I didn't get to confusing with details, because I tend to do that sometimes. No she wasn't paralyzed although it did seem like that. Here is your update and I hope you liked this chapter as much as you liked the others.
Coin- Of course I had to have Mush in the chapter, he is one of my favorite characters. I'm glad you liked the part were all of the people from her past were looking down on her. I tried to make it show that she was no longer part of that group and show how money can separate a society. Keep reviewing and let me know what you think of this chapter.
Bookey Elliot- Here is my next chapter. Sorry for all of the spelling mistakes I made when I reviewed your story. Lol I type fast and mess up a lot. Well I hope you update your story soon, I really do enjoy it.
CiCi- Thanks for the compliment, it means a lot to me. I try to put as much description into a story so that it makes it more realistic to the reader. Don't worry I have some plans for Spot and Hanna. There is still a lot ahead of them. So you will just have to wait and see. Even I don't know exactly how this story may end. But I have a good idea.
NadaZimri-Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed this chapter. Her name is Hanna. Lol don't worry I am very bad at remembering names myself. Well I hope that you liked this chapter and let me know what you think. I look forward to your reviews.
Splashey- You are exactly right! This is only the beginning and there is lots more drama to come. This story is crazy, it just seems to write itself. I sit down without a clue as to what I'm going to write and then I end up with an entire chapter. I swear its like the stuff just pops into my head. Anyway, Here is the next chapter. I have been trying to add a little Spot hugs, in here every once in awhile. Because he is a main part of the plot. I love Race, he is like one a my favorite characters. So of course I am going to have him in the story. I just love your reviews, they make me so happy! Hope to hear from you soon,
Luv ya lots,
Leila3