Hey everyone!!! Chapter Nineteen is up! I hope you like this as much as I enjoyed writing it. Please Please review and let me know what you think. I got a lot more new reviewers last chapter and I love you guys for reviewing. But I also lost some of my old one's. Where have you gone! Lol Well keep reading and let me know what you think!
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 Nineteen
I woke up the next day and found myself in a bed. At first I thought that everything had been a dream and that I really was back in Manhattan but then I opened my eyes. I was still in Spots room but I thought that I had fallen asleep on the floor. I sat up and looked over the edge of the bed. There was Spot sleeping on the floor. I growled at his persistence and then laid back down.
My head hurt from where Rose had smacked me the other night. She must have had a ring on because I had a small gash above my right eye. I could hear movement from downstairs and knew that it was probably around time to get up to go selling. So I leaned over once more and shook Spot awake.
"Whaa…" he grumbled as he pulled the covers back up over his head.
I smiled as I shook Spot again and he didn't move. So I took the pillow that I was sleeping on and whacked him in the head with it. I grinned as this time I got a sufficient, "Leave me alone…" Yet that would not do, so I pulled the pillow up again but before I got the chance to bring it down Spot sat up and wrapped his arms around my waist. I screamed out in surprise as he pulled me down onto the floor beside him.
I ended up in a rather awkward position as I laid half on and half off of Spot. I rolled over and laid beside him on the blanket, my head on his pillow. He laid on his side and propped his head up on one elbow to stare at me. "You are to much of a mornin person for me, Dollface." Spot said with a grin as he rubbed his eyes tiredly.
"And that is exactly why ya need someone like me," I said happily. "I mean I don't know what you would do if I wasn't here to wake you up." I said as he leaned forward slightly. I was becoming dazed by our closeness as I felt my skin heat up. I was going to say something else but the words completely slipped my mind when his hand grazed my cheek.
"I don't know what I would do eitha," Spot whispered as he leaned forward and kissed me gently. But the softness didn't last for long when I wrapped my hands around his back and pulled him in almost hungrily, to deepen the kiss. It had been a couple days since we had last been this close. We laid there kissing for a few moments, only breaking apart to breath but soon I felt the familiar warmth of his touch as his hand began to wonder down my body. At this I was brought back to reality and I think Spot noticed my frigidness because he casually brought his hand back up to where it had been previously. I was thankful that he understood that I didn't wish to go any further just yet. So he still remained leaning over me, with a wide grin on his face when he said, "Well when I think about it. I would be able ta get allot more sleep witout ya pesterin me da whole mornin." I laughed and shoved him off of me playfully, as I sat up.
Spot did the same and then got to his feet reluctantly. I stood up and then stretched out my arms. My right shoulder was sore and aching as I rolled it around to try and get some of the tension out. Rose had really done some damaged the other day. I groaned when I realized that I probably had some bruises in places I hadn't even seen yet.
I just stood there and watched Spot as he brushed his hair and put on his red suspenders. Even when he was doing casual things there still seemed to be a slight tension that lingered around him. For the past few days Spot had been extremely stressed out about something and his patience had been wearing thin. I hated seeing him like that so I got up the courage and decided to risk asking about it.
"Why were you so upset last night?" I asked curiously. He looked over at me and then shook his head.
"Nuttin Dollface." He said with a wave of his hand. But I wasn't going to let him get out of it that easily.
"Don't tell me it was nothing Spot. I may have only known you for a few weeks but I can see right through you when you lie. So you might as well tell me now so I don't have to waste my time asking again." He raised an eyebrow and stared at me the same way he always had when I challenged him. Then Spot sighed as he hooked his slingshot into his belt.
"There has just been some problems wit da newsies from Queen's. Dey think dat Brooklyn has to much sellin territory and it aint fair to da rest of da Newsies dat we make more money. When dat aint even true cuz Manhattan makes more dan we do. Wit all of those hoity toity rich folk walkin around all da time." I nodded my head.
"So was that who that boy was yesterday?" I asked curiously.
"Yeah, he was a messenger from Queens." Spot said as he sat down on the bed to tie his boots. Even though I had lived with the newsies for some time now I still didn't understand everything that goes on and preferred not to get in the middle of any confrontations between neighborhoods. So I decided to just leave the conversation behind.
I walked over in front of the mirror and then cringed at my own reflection. It had been a long time since I had really took a good look at myself. My long golden blonde hair was now down to the middle of my back. What used to be beautiful silky curls, was a frizzy mess. My skin was much darker than it used to be and I had a bruise running down my right cheek. I was extremely thin and my dress hung on me loosely where it used to be slightly snug. Tears brimmed my green eyes as I stared at myself. I wanted to cry or to run away and hide somewhere. I just couldn't understand how anyone could think of me as beautiful when I looked like this.
Spot saw my disgruntled expression as I stared at myself in the mirror and he walked over. He wrapped his arms tightly around my waist from behind and sat his head on my shoulder. "Ya look fine," Spot said reading my mind.
I just shook my head and pulled away from him. "How can you say I look fine? I look horrible!" I cried as I flopped down into the chair sitting in front of the desk.
Spot looked down at me exasperatedly. "Look Doll, nobody care's what ya look like aroun' here . I mean look at da rest of us."
"I care about what I look like." I said staunchly. "Ya don't understand, Spot. It feels like it's the only thing in my life that I have control over anymore. Even my vocabulary has been going down hill. Soon I will be looking and talking like…like you." I said with a fake expression of distaste on my face.
Spot found this funny and started laughing. "I have an idea, wait here a moment." I watched as he ran out the door and down the stairs. It didn't take long before he returned with a bucket of water and a wash cloth. "You can stay here while I go sellin today. There is a lock on me door so you can clean yourself up while da boys are away. Then put on a nice dress and fix ya hair. Maybe you will feel betta."
I couldn't help it, I ran up and gave him a big hug. "Thank you so much." He just smiled and kissed me on the cheek.
"But ya gotta promise me that ya won't leave the Lodging House for any reason, until I get back." I nodded my head and then kissed him again. Spot smiled at me and then left, locking the door behind him.
Even though I knew that nobody could get in the room, I waited until the entire building was silent before I removed my dress. I dipped the cloth in the water and shuddered at how cold it was when I placed it on my skin. But it felt wonderful just to remove all of the dirt that I had accumulated over a week of not washing. Yet I was no less horrified when I looked at how brown the water was after I finished cleaning up. It probably would have been clearer had I washed the floor instead.
When I was finished I found one of my favorite summer dresses. It was violet and cream, two color's that matched perfectly with my skin tone . The dress had a square neck line and quarter length sleeves with frill at the ends. It laced up the bodice and had a beautiful golden floral design on the skirt.
The few hours that Spot was out, I had only left the room once and that was when I decided to go refill the bucket of water. After I scrubbed my hair I ran my fingers through gently to separate the curls. Yet it still looked dull and waited down. So I made a decision and after some searching, I located a knife in one of Spots drawers. I would have been startled at the sight of the weapon had I not realized by now how dangerous living on the streets were.
I took the knife and cleaned it off first. Then I took a chunk of my hair and prayed as I sliced it off a little below my shoulders. But when I saw that it turned out ok, I preceded to cut the rest of it off. I made sure to keep it long enough to pull back with a ribbon. But I was shocked when I once again looked into the mirror. It made me happy to actually see a glimpse of my old self, if only in my appearance.
I still had some time left before Spot got back so I decided to clean up his room a bit. I even dared venture downstairs. I washed off many of the tables and picked up random garbage that had been laying around. The only room I didn't clean was the bunkroom because I had a feeling that the boys wouldn't want me touching there belongings. After I was finished, the Lodging House could hardly be considered spotless but it looked fairly decent.
When some of the boys got back I was welcomed with mild appraise. "Wow Dollface, maybe it won't be so bad havin ya around here after all." Booker said laughing and I shoved him in the shoulder.
"Well I had the time so I figured I might as well do something useful," I said as Spot walked up and put his arm around my shoulder.
"So I see ya took my advice," he laughed looking around. I nodded my head happily.
"Yeah and after I finished I decided to clean up around here a little bit also. No offense but I think it needed it. "
"Ya look beautiful." He whispered as he leaned in and kissed me on the cheek.
We walked over together and took a seat at a table in the far corner of the room. Spot told me about his day while we finished eating what was left of the loaf of bread that he had bought yesterday. Then in return he listened as I told him what I did for the few hours that he was gone. I was happy when Spot commented about my hair, saying that although it looked nice before the new change looked even better.
Soon we were playing a game of poker and Booker decided to join us. I was doing a fairly decent job but Spot was much better than myself and beat me most of the time. It didn't matter to me because I was using some of his money anyway. Spot lent it to me in the first place knowing that he would win it back.
After we had been playing for a few hours Spot began looking around curiously. "What's wrong?" I asked as I laid my cards out on the table.
"I was just wonderin why Blade neva came back last night." Spot said.
"Well, didn't you say that sometimes they find other places to stay?" I asked inquisitively.
"Yeah, but Blade has been livin here since he was five and never once has he not come back." Booker replied.
"I just been getting a strange feelin about him lately. He has been testin my patience a lot." Spot said as he clenched his fist together when he spoke.
"It's my fault isn't it?" I asked quietly. Both Booker and Spot looked over at me with wide eyes.
"Why would it be your fault, Doll?" Spot asked.
"Because every time you fight, its about me." I said softly. I hated being the cause of so many problems and conflicts. Ever since I had come into there lives I had been nothing but a nuisance to everyone.
"It aint your fault dat Blade has been actin like dis. He had been causin problems for weeks before ya even showed up." Spot said comfortingly as he gave me a reassuring smile.
I became quiet as Spot and Booker went into a long conversation about everything that was going on with Queens. It began to rain outside as the sun went down and I looked out the small window as the water ran down the glass. Ever since I was a little girl I had always loved to listen to the rain. It helped me to wash away everything bad that has happened in my life.
Suddenly the door to the Lodging House opened up and in walked Blade. He was soaking wet and water was dripping from his dark brown hair. I looked over at Spot and watched as he stood up to go talk to him. There was something intimidating about Blade as he stood there in the doorway with the storm raging behind him. I was tempted to grab onto Spot's arm and hold him back. But I knew that I was just being overprotective and that nothing would happen.
In order to stay calm I decided to talk to Booker. " So, how have you been?" I asked. It had been a long time since I had last had a normal conversation with him.
"Alright, I guess." He said and if I wasn't mistaken I could hear a slight change in his voice. I got the feeling that there was something missing when we talked to each other now and I knew it had to do with Spot.
"So…what book are you reading?" I asked trying to change the subject onto something we both enjoyed. For a little while we discussed different novels and what they meant to each of us. Booker preferred intensely stimulating books that teach life lessons in too many complicated verses. I on the other hand loved to read romance stories which he found to be a waste of time. This always created a very heated discussion which neither of us ever won.
Even though I was in the middle of a conversation with a friend I couldn't help sneaking multiple looks over at Spot who was still talking to Blade in the corner of what I would begin to call the congregation room. Eventually Booker started to notice and he smiled. "Somehow I don't think Spot is gunna drop down dead any second, Doll." Booker replied with a laugh. "So I think it would be alright for ya ta stop worryin."
"I know…its just that Blade really makes me nervous." I said cautiously while trying not to sound like a pathetic girl, which is exactly what I was.
"Spot knows how ta handle himself," Booker said and I nodded my head, trying to believe that he was right. But I couldn't help praying that Spot would keep his temper down and not do anything rash.
But to my relief Spot came stomping back over to the table a few minutes later. He sat down forcefully and propped his feet up on the empty chair beside him. For a little while, Spot just sat there with an intense glare on his face. I knew he was thinking about something and I decided not to bother him at first. But soon the silence was becoming unbearable and I turned to him. "Whats wrong?" I asked questioningly.
He looked over at me as if warning me not to get involved. But then Spot realized that I wasn't going to give up and he would be better off just telling me what was going on rather than causing another conflict. Besides Booker was still sitting beside me and he wanted to know just as much as I did. "Oh alright, I'll tell ya!" Spot said as he sat up in his chair and looked at the both of us. " I asked Blade where he was las' night and guess what he told me." Booker and I looked at each other while trying to guess but we eventually gave up. "Well our little friend over dar' stayed wit his buddy's in Queens."
At first I didn't understand what the big deal was but then I remembered what Spot had told me yesterday. How that messenger showed up and said that Brooklyn had to much selling territory or something. But if Brooklyn was fighting with them, then why would Blade be staying in Queens?
Booker was asking the same question when he turned to Spot. "I got's a bad feelin about dis'."
Spot nodded his head as he took out a cigar from his pocket and placed it in his mouth. I hated the offal smell of them and was happy when he didn't light it. It began to get late when I excused myself to go to the bathroom. Booker and Spot were discussing some irrelevant things and didn't even notice that I had left at first.
On the way down a hallway I passed by an open doorway where a few boys were talking and I stopped when I heard Spots name. When I listened closely I realized it was Blade who was speaking. There seemed to be two other boys in the room that I didn't recognize.
"So ya really gunna go through wit it?" asked a boy with a high pitched voice.
"Of course I am," Blade said menacingly. "Spot needs ta learns dat he aint as invincible as he tinks' he is."
"But he is da leada' around here," said the other boy.
"Well I tink' its about time dat Brooklyn got's a new leada'," Blade retorted. "Besides Spot doesn't care about anything now but dat new goil of his."
"She isn't dat bad," said the boy with the high pitched voice. But then the other kid cut in.
"I heard dat she's got's thousands a dollars in da bank." Blade began to laugh.
"Ya see, Spot only does what's best for em'. He doesn't care about da rest of da house. He's only goin out wit Doll cuz he knows he'd get da money."
"I'd sleep wit er' for dat much money," said the high pitched voice.
"Hell, I'd sleep wit her for nuthin." the other boy said. "She's da best lookin goil I'd eva' seen."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I was so angry that I wanted to bust into the room and start screaming at them. How dare they say such disgraceful things about Spot and myself. But no matter how hard I tried I couldn't help thinking that they may be right. It never even crossed my mind before that Spot would only be with me for my money. Then I remembered how interested he was in Manhattan when I first told them how much money I had in the bank.
Wait! I couldn't believe that I was actually even considering this. Spot cared about me, he wouldn't use me for my money. I shook my head and walked back into the congregation room. I guess Spot could see the unnerving look on my face because when I sat down he looked at me concerned. "Whats wrong Dollface?"
I contemplated on whether or not I should tell him about what I just overheard. But somehow I knew of what it would result in and I couldn't take another fight because of me. So I reluctantly decided to keep this to myself. "Nothing," I replied carelessly. Spot looked at me for a few seconds and then nodded his head. But I knew that he didn't believe me and he would ask me about it later. "I'm really tired, I think I'll go to bed." I said as I got to my feet.
Spot nodded his head, "Goodnight."
When I made it back up to his room I sat down on the bed and placed my head in my hands. What was I going to do? In my heart I knew that I should probably tell Spot what Blade had said. But then I knew that it would mean that I would have to explain what they said about me as well.
Finally I decided that I would just worry about it tomorrow as I got the blankets and fell asleep once more on the floor. Later on that night I woke up and smiled as I found that Spot had placed me back in the bed. I laughed once more at how stubborn he was. I knew that as long as I was here Spot would never give up and sleep in his own bed. So I stood up, grabbed my blankets and curled up next to him on the floor. I figured that if neither of us could win, then we both would lose together.
Thank you:
C.M. Higgins- You are one of the few people who review like every chapter. So thanks so much! I can't wait till you update Spots Milkshake. I love that story allot. Sorry I haven't had the chance to review Learning Magic. I have just been so busy working on my two stories. But I am going to read it today. I hope you liked this chapter of my story, it probably wasn't as good as the rest of them.
kikki- Thanks you so much for the compliment and I am so happy that you like my story.
Spunkz- I'm glad you liked the last chapter, I had a fun time writing it. Yeah I planned out what is going to happen in every chapter and it just turned out to be 30 chapters. I was surprised because I never thought it would end up that long. But I'm glad that I still have peoples attention.
clover- Your reviews always make me happy! Because you always say such nice things. Yeah I always loved writing Spot when he's angry, I don't know, its just fun. I'm glad you guessed that it will have something to do with Blade because it doesn't seem like many people had figured that out yet. I know that this chapter wasn't as interesting as the other ones but it was one of those filler chapters that leads to something else that is going to happen.
Vacant Skies- Hey! I am so happy that you like my story. Thanks for the compliment but I'm not that great of a writer. I mean look at all of the mistakes that I make in every chapter. But your welcome, I love your story and I was so happy that you updated.
Dimonah Tralon- Thank you so much! I am also very happy that you decided to read my story. I do apologize ahead of time for all of the spelling and grammar mistakes that I made. When I go back over it, I like cringe because there are so many things that I messed up on. So it makes me really happy that people still like my story anyway. Yeah I did take awhile to get Spot and Hanna together, but like you said I though that it would make it more realistic. I mean people don't just meet for a day and fall in love. Especially when there is that much stuff separating them.
swimade333- Thank you so much! I am so happy that you looked passed the spelling mistakes because I made a lot of them. My reviewers always comment on that and I feel bad, but I am horrible at checking my stuff. I have been re reading my story and I have some corrections that I need to make. But I won't be able to do that until I finish the story. I'm very happy that you liked the kiss. I did enjoy writing that and I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well. Don't forget to let me know what you think, review's mean a lot to me.
Shortstack- Well I am really happy to see that you got caught up once more. Lol I know what you mean about the morning breath thing, I have a strange obsession with brushing teeth as well. But I knew that back then they didn't really have that great of a sense of hygiene. As you can see, there was another morning kiss in this one to. I will have to see what I can do about that. Oh and just to clear up everything about the Manhattan newsies. Well it isn't that they don't want her to be with Spot. Most of them didn't even know that they liked each other. It was only Racetrack who didn't want her going out with him and that was because he knew how Spot used to treat girls. So since he was friends with Hanna and cared about her, he was worried about her liking Spot. Because he didn't want Spot to treat her like he did his other girlfriends.
Luv ya all,
BlackWiltedRose