Here it is everyone! Chapter Twenty…only Ten more chapters to go. I hope that you are enjoying reading this as much as I enjoy writing it. This chapter is a filler but don't worry, next chapter will be more exciting. That's when things start to get intense. Well keep reviewing 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 Twenty
I felt a hand brush my cheek and I opened my eyes to see Spot staring back at me. I yawned and smiled as he kissed me on the forehead. "Good morning beautiful," he whispered softly in my ear.
I looked back into Spot's intense blue eyes, highly amused at his loving behavior and began to wonder what his friends would think had they seen him now. He worked so hard on putting up a protective barrier around himself that I had once thought it impossible to start a relationship with him. Spot lived off of making others feel intimidated by his presence, that was how he kept control of situations. He did not wish to come off as someone weak or to soft to fear, so I no longer took offense to his lack of affection towards me in public.
Spot got up and walked over to pull a shirt out of his small wooden dresser. It was almost identical to the one he had on at the time but looked somewhat cleaner. I could not help but stare at his well toned stomach muscles when he removed his shirt and pulled the other one on over his head. When Spot was finished he walked out of the bedroom and went downstairs so I could get dressed. I decided to just put on my familiar blue skirt and white blouse. Because there was no need for anything special today.
It didn't take me long to do my hair and I left the room feeling rather exhausted. I didn't get much rest the night before because it was rather uncomfortable sleeping on the hard wood floor. I spent most of the night just thinking about everything and staring at Spot as he slept. I still couldn't understand how I could love him so much, when not so long ago we hated the sight of each other.
Wait! I didn't love him…I couldn't love him. But yet I found that my feelings for him were more intense than anything that I had ever felt before. If it wasn't love then what was it?
I shook my head and sighed as I opened the door and walked down into the congregation room. I caught a glimpse of the same sight that I had seen for the past few days. All of the boys sat around smoking and laughing as they joked about things that I would never understand. It had become like second nature to me as I made my way through the throng of young men and sat down at the table next to Spot.
The moment I took a seat I began to feel an unwelcome ache in my stomach when I looked at the boy sitting next to me as he ate an apple. I hadn't eaten since early yesterday morning and I was craving the taste of food. But I had no money and I couldn't expect Spot to pay for me again when he couldn't even pay for himself. So I sighed and tried to push the hunger into the back of my mind.
I crossed my arms on the table and laid my head down on them tiredly. I looked around and began to realize just how much gratitude the boys in this room deserved. They had to get up everyday at dawn just to go out and sell the newspapers. It didn't matter if they were starving to death or had an hour of sleep the night before. They got up anyway and did there job, because that's what it takes for them to survive.
Then there was me on the other hand. I had no job, no money and I slouched around everyday feeling sorry for myself. So you couldn't exactly say that what I was doing was surviving. It was more like just existing.
Before my parents died I was nothing but a useless pawn in the game of life. I couldn't move, eat or speak unless someone told me to and the whole purpose of my existence was to be the best. It didn't matter who or what I had to crush in my path to get there. But now when I look upon the tired, ruthless faces of the boys that sat before me, I realized guiltily that I had once played a part in the slow destruction of there lives. Maybe the things that I did never really had a direct effect on them but every time I thought that I was better than someone or the days when I would refuse to buy a newspaper for a single penny from a homeless boy on the street. That was how I contributed to the corruption of society.
I looked over at Spot and began to wonder what he really thought of me the first day that we met in Tibby's Restaurant. I wondered if he truly hated me and if so what made him change his mind. Spot saw me staring at him and he reached out to put his arm around me as I laid my head upon his shoulder.
It was hard for me as I came to realization that everything my parents had taught me was a lie. Because they are the two people who are suppose to love you unconditionally not matter what happens. Yet for so many years of my life they had only told me what they wanted me to hear instead of what really happens. I had asked my mother once, what love was and she told me that it was the feeling that two people have for one another. She said that when I married a decent young man and created a beautiful household for my future children, then I would understand. But I had always believed that there was something more to love than just creating a perfect life together, more feeling…more emotion. Besides how could my parents describe love to me when they hardly knew what it was themselves.
I was so exhausted that I began to fall asleep on Spots shoulder. It wasn't until I felt him move and heard the loud bang of the Lodging House door, that I snapped out of my slight stupor. I looked over and standing in the doorway was a tall dark haired boy. He had on brown trousers that were held up by a pair of black suspenders and he wore a tan collared shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows. He had on a black hat that shaded part of his face but I could still make out deep brown eyes that stared sternly over at Spot. I sat up straight as the kid made his way over towards our table.
A lot of the Brooklyn Boys gathered around as Spot said "What are ya doin here?" The new arrival just stood there smirking and I kind of got the hint that he was from Queens.
"Ya know why I'm here Spot," he said as he took out a cigarette and blew the smoke in my face. I crinkled my nose and turned my head away. "We need da talk."
"Well den talk," Spot said ruthlessly.
"Alone," the boy replied as he pointed up to Spots room. I could tell by the way that the newcomer was fidgeting with his hands that he was becoming nervous as the other boys gathered around.
"No, whateva ya gotta say. Ya say it not just ta me but ta the rest of me boys." Spot replied with a smirk on his face.
"Fine!" The boy said as he pulled up a chair beside me. I scooted over closer to Spot as the kid looked me up and down. "Ya, know what I'm gunna say Spot. Have ya reconsidered our offer about da territory situation?"
When the boy finished Spot laughed and slammed his hand down on the table as he got to his feet. "Oh yeah! Hear dis boys! Queens came ta me a couple days ago saying dat we have to much territory ta sell in. Dey wan't us ta give up some of our's ta dem."
"Ya do know dat if ya don't agree den there are gunna be some problems." The kid said and if I wasn't mistaken he seemed to be looking at me when he said this. I think Spot saw this also because he snatched the boy up by the shirt and yanked him across the table.
"Does it look like I'm scared?" Spot yelled and then threw the kid backwards. I watched as the chair toppled over and the boy rolled onto the floor. Then Spot addressed the rest of the newsies in the room. "Did ja' hear dat boys? He said der are gunna be some problems. Now what do ya tink' we otta do about dat?"
A coarse of voices that yelled 'Soak em' rang throughout the old Lodging House. I stepped back as Spot smiled maliciously and got to his feet. "Exactly," he replied as he walked over and pulled the boy up into a standing position. I could see then that the kid was about the same size as him or a little bit taller.
I watched as Spot pulled the boy outside into the sunlight and dragged him over to the edge of the dock. With great ease he lifted the boy up and threw him into the river. When the dark haired kid resurfaced Spot yelled down. "Now ya tell your boy's from Queen's dat we will be waitin and if ya step into Brooklyn again I'll really soak ya!"
The boy sputtered incoherently as he swam to the shore. I looked around at most of the Brooklyn newsies as they stood there laughing and pointing at him. I don't know what made me look over at Blade but he didn't seem at all amused. He wasn't even looking at the boy in the water, he was staring directly at Spot with a glare so intense that it made my insides freeze. Last time I checked Blade was a Brooklyn newsie…so why was he so angry about Spots behavior.
The boy from Queens climbed out of the water and then turned around to stare at all of us. "You'll regret dis Conlon!" he yelled.
Spot acted as if he didn't hear a word the boy had said as he turned around and walked back into the Lodging House. I followed him quickly but by the time I got back in he was already upstairs in his room with the door locked. I was worried about him but I decided that it was best just to let him have his thinking time alone.
It didn't take long before Spot came out of his room and joined us at the table. It was Booker, Brass, Spot and myself all sitting around talking. We decided not to play cards like we normally did because none of us had money. But soon they had to leave because it was time for them to go sell the morning edition.
Spot asked me to come with him to sell and I agreed. I would have stayed back in the Lodging House like I had yesterday but for some odd reason I was afraid to be alone. I think it was because of all the stuff that has been going on with Queens and the strange looks Blade has been giving me lately.
It was still a little bit cloudy outside when Spot and I left to go to the distribution center that day. The wind was blowing hard and the light blue ribbon in my hair blew into the river. I was began to shiver and wrapped my arms across my chest tightly. I think Spot saw me because he put his arm around my shoulders for warmth. When we arrived I decided that I would sell that day, so I handed him a few coins and asked Spot to buy me some. He came back and handed me twenty papers.
The headline was fairly decent that day so it didn't take us very long to sell most of them. I found a large group of young men from the upper class and after a little bit of charming had managed to sell my last five papers. When I met back up with Spot who was across the street we started to make our way back to the Lodging House.
The sky had cleared up and the sun was now shining brightly in the sky. Although you could still see the faint glimmer of black clouds as they lingered in the distance. I lifted my skirt up as I stepped onto the dock and had to wait while Spot moved a bunch of old crates that had toppled over during the night. Booker nodded his head towards us when we made it to the Lodging House door. He was sitting out with his feet hanging off the dock, smoking a cigarette casually.
"Just so ya know Spot, ya got some visitors," Booker said and I could hear Spot growl in annoyance. I knew he was already testy and not in the mood for another run in with Queens.
I pushed on the wooden door and it opened with great ease but when I walked inside I stopped quickly. Because I noticed a very familiar looking boy sitting at a table to the right, talking to Bark and Sixer.
"How ya doin Dollface?" The voice of Jack Kelly asked as Spot pushed me further into the room.
"Fine," I replied coolly.
He just nodded his head understandingly. Jack knew not to push the limit of my kindness at the moment and so he turned to talk to Spot. "Spec's was sellin in Brooklyn taday and he told me what is happenin wit Queen's. So I decided ta stop by."
"So I see," Spot said as he walked over to his fellow leader. "But what's dis got's ta do wit you."
Jack just smirked, he knew by now how to deal with Spot's lack of kindness when it came to certain situations. "Cuz were friends and when dey mess wit you dey mess wit us."
Spot tilted his head to the side and took what Jack said into consideration. On the streets it was a role that you trusted nobody but yourself. They had been raised that only the strongest survive and even the word of friendship was under scrutiny. But I could tell that the relationship between Jack and Spot had been built up over many years of tribulation. That even though they acted like they were just mere acquaintances, on the inside they were true brothers at heart.
Eventually Spot nodded his head and spit in his hand as they shook to signify the agreement. As I stood there and witnessed the unification of two rather large neighborhoods I began to wonder if Queen's realized just what they had gotten themselves into. But then I also had the strange feeling that they knew what was going to happen and that they had something secret planned that backed up there sudden unfailing confidence.
My instincts began to show there true color as the days went on and what I had guessed only became more apparent. The boy from Queen's was right as each day the situation became more and more dangerous. Brooklyn boys were getting jumped in local alley ways and on the street's while selling in broad daylight. I began spending most of my time tending to black eyes and bloody lips.
Each night Spot made sure that every newsie was back in the Lodging House by 8:00pm and the doors and windows were bolted shut. I began to become increasingly more nervous as the days went on. Wondering what was going to happen next and who the next victim would be. I prayed every night before I went to sleep that Spot would be alright and I found myself incapable of closing my eyes until he came in to go to bed.
While he was out taking care of business I started to spend more time with Booker. I saw Spot every morning when I woke up and each night when I went to sleep. But most of the day he was out making plans, selling the papers and talking with boys from other neighborhoods.
Booker was all to willing to oblige when I asked him if I could spend my time with him while this whole situation got worked out. I was to scared to walk around alone and since Spot was busy I figured that Booker would be my next best option. He turned out to be a rather entertaining companion. We spent most days hanging around the Lodging House, talking and playing an occasional game of cards. The more we got to know each other the better friends we became.
Soon a week had passed by and Booker and I were walking along the dock outside. The day was cool and clean, with the pungent odor of fish lingering in the air as it always did when you were by the river. A slight breeze was blowing the curls back from my face and brushed my skirt gently against my legs. I walked over and sat down on a pile of old boxes while Booker jumped up onto a wooden post.
For a little while we remained quiet, just thinking about things and enjoying the peacefulness that came from such a beautiful summer day. I found myself thinking about the future and what laid ahead of me. I began to think about how much the newsies had changed me and what I would be doing in a few years.. Then I began to recall all of my past forgotten dreams. Things that I had wanted to do ever since I was a little girl. I looked over at Booker and he smiled at me.
" Did you ever think about what you wanted to do with your life?" I asked him thoughtfully.
He looked at me questioningly at first but then his face softened. It wasn't everyday that someone asked a newsie what they planned on doing with there life. " I have no idea. Neva really thought about it I guess. Besides I don't think there is much hope for me really. I'll probably just end up workin in a factory or on a steam boat somewhere. I mean I can't be a newsie forever, although sometimes I wish dat I could." I felt sadness rush through me when Booker finished speaking. I was to busy thinking about myself to even consider what would happen to my friends.
They didn't have a future as clear as my own. I knew that by the time I was twenty one I would have thousands of dollars at my disposal, more money than I knew what to do with. But Booker had nothing but false hopes and useless dreams. The same thing went for Spot, and Jack and Racetrack. What was going to happen to them when they grew to old to sell papers?
"What are ya gunna do when ya get your inheritance?" Booker asked me curiously. I turned to him and smiled softly as I sighed.
"I used to dream about the day when I would be on my own. The things I would do and the places I would go. But things change, I've changed and I don't know if its really what I want anymore." I replied. But Booker shook his head.
"Of course ya know what ya want, all ya gotta do is listen to what ya heart tell's ya." He replied, mimicking a line from one of our favorite novels.
"Alright then… The first thing I want to do is get out of this horrid city. I want to live in the country, or on top of a hill overlooking the ocean. I remember how my mother used to have a painting in her bedroom of a beautiful Victorian house. It was light blue with purple shutters and had a garden lining the pathway that led up to the wrap around porch. I used to dream that I lived in that house and could almost picture myself sitting on the swing, reading a book on a hot summer's day." I spun around with my arms out and my head tilted up at the sky. I laughed as looked at the expression on Bookers face. "I want to travel and see the world, I hate being tied down to a single peace of land. But I want one special place to call home. That no matter how far away I get, I know that its always there waiting for me to return."
"Dat sounds nice," Booker said smiling.
I stopped laughing and the jubilant expression on my face was washed away as reality once again showed its horrid face. "But it's only a dream," I said sternly. "Nothing more!"
Booker looked confused as I turned around and walked over to sit down on the boxes again. I had to stop living in a fantasy world. Because I had to learn to face reality and to except it for what it was. For every time that I started dreaming about the future something bad happens. Life was no fairy tale and if I started to lose myself in my dreams, I began to take for granted all that I had in the present.
Sitting there on the dock I began to realize just how truly alone I felt. It felt like I was drowning in the river again but this time nobody was there to help me. I knew deep down that I was slowly falling into oblivion and the only one who could save me was myself. Because I was fighting things inside my soul that only I knew existed.
I had spent my entire life just sitting around waiting for the day when I would finally just be satisfied with what I had. But there was only one thing that made me happy and he was out roaming the streets of Brooklyn. I didn't realize until just then how much I needed Spot Conlon. Because he loved me unconditionally and without expectations. I didn't feel like I needed to impress him or to be anything more than what I was. He listened to what I had to say and he did his best to make me happy. He was the one piece of the puzzle that I had been missing since the day I was born.
Thank you:
C.M. Higgins- Hey! I am so happy that you asked me to do a story with you. It will be so exciting. I am so happy that you like my story. This chapter wasn't the best…but next chapter will be fun. Yeah Blade is evil and he gets worse as the story goes on. I will try as best as I can to think of stuff for the story we are going to write. But until this is finished I wont be able to work to much on it. Just a few more weeks and it will be finished. Also keep it up with your stories! I love them a lot!
CuddleMonkey05- I am so glad you like my story. I really do love your story a lot! You are doing a great job with it. Thank you so much and I hope you liked this chapter as well.
Spunkz- I'm happy you enjoyed the last chapter. This one wasn't that interesting but it was just another filler chapter. I like the next chapter, things become more interesting. Yeah Blade is evil and he will have a major part in what's to come. No Spot isn't just using Hanna for her money, but she was just paranoid that he was. I am also very excited that you like how I developed my characters. I tried really hard on making them seem realistic. Well I hope that you like this chapter even though it wasn't very exciting.
Splashey- Your Back! I am so happy to see that you still like my story. I thought you stopped reading it. Yeah Rose definitely needs some help. Your correct about something's that you guessed and wrong about the others…but I don't want to tell you because it will ruin the suspense of the story. Lol I am just so happy that you are back and I hope you review when you get the chance.
Dimonah Tralon- Yeah Blade is up to no good…but you won't find out what it is until later. I hope you liked this chapter, it was just another filler chapter. The next one will be better, I promise.
Swimade333- I'm so, so happy that you like my story that much. Your compliment means the world to me. I could hardly say that my stories the best, but to know that someone thinks so is so wonderful. This chapter wasn't great but its just a filler chapter. The next one will be really interesting. I am also very happy that you got your sister to read it to. I don't know if I told you or not but I update this story every Friday. Well I hope to hear from you again.
Brooklyn-Bailey Conlon- Hi! I am so happy that you decided to read my story and that you actually liked it. Yes, I really did love your poems I think you are a very good writer. I would love to write a story with you. My other friend actually asked me to write a story with her also. This is going to be fun. But like I told her, I wont be able to work really hard on it until I finish this story which will be another couple of weeks. But think of idea's for stories and let me know if you come up with anything.
NadaZimri- Hey! Welcome back, its alright that it took you awhile to review. I understand, I have been so busy lately that I have had hardly any time to do anything. I am glad you liked those last two chapters. They are just sort of fillers for what is about to happen. Things start to get more intense as the story goes on. Well I hope to hear from you soon.
Joker is Poker with a J- Just so you know, I think your pen name is cute. But thank you so much! I am so glad that you like my story. Yes, I know its really long…I can never get the hang of writing short chapter stories. I still have ten more chapters to go. There are going to be 30 chapters all together. I hope you liked this chapter, it wasn't very interesting but its just a filler chapter. The next one is going to be fun to write. Well I hope to hear from you again.
Koodles4You- Thank you so much for all of the compliments on my first chapter. Did you end up continuing or did you get bored and stop. If you ever get to this chapter, let me know what you think. I hope you still liked it and that you continued reading.
Luv ya all,
BlackWiltedRose