Hey Everyone! I loved writing this chapter so much and I think you will really enjoy it. Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed (and to those who didn't) I really appreciate you taking the time to read my story. I would be really happy if you would take the time to read my songfic also. it's a one shot, Spot/OC romance story. Well keep reviewing and letting 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 and all those who you don't recognize.
Chapter Twenty-One
Spot refused to let me go selling with him the next morning because he said that it was to dangerous and he didn't want me to end up getting hurt. The attacks on the Brooklyn newsies had become more frequent as time went on and Spot was waiting for the day when they would come after him. I was slightly upset because I wanted to spend some time with him that day but I understood his request and agreed to stay back at the Lodging House.
The weather outside was rather pleasant, unlike my mood at the time. I stalked around the old fishing shack and tried to find something to do while the boys were out making money. Over the last week and a half the Brooklyn boys had actually grown to accept me among them and had been treating me rather kindly for the past few days. Ever since the attacks started and I began taking care of them like they were my brothers.
But I didn't have to wait for long because Spot had sold all of his papers rather quickly that day and ended up returning sooner than I had expected. I was sitting at a table, playing solitaire, when he walked in. I was startled to see that Spot actually looked rather pleasant, with a bright smile on his face. It was something that I rarely got to see but loved very dearly.
I watched amused as Spot walked over to the table and sat down next to me. "Why are you so happy?" I asked.
"Oh, nuttin," he said casually as he placed his feet up on the table and tilted his chair back on two legs.
"Hmm, ok," I said disbelievingly.
Spot and I loved playing these crazy mind games with each other. It was like a contest where we would both battle to try and see what the other one was thinking. Of course he won most of the time because I had little experience with hiding my emotions. But every so often I could catch him off guard and break through the barrier.
"So…how was selling today?" I asked trying to start onto a different conversation.
Instead of answering me Spot leaned over and kissed me on the lips. When he pulled away he looked into my eyes and said. "It was perfect."
"Oh, was it?" I said smiling at the jubilant expression on his face.
"Yes," he replied as he stood up and began pacing on the floor in front of me. Then Spot turned around quickly and took my hand. "Come wit me," he said.
Even though I must have been looking at him like he was insane I did what he asked. "Where are we going?"
"I finally saved up enough money ta take ya out on a real date," he said happily.
I opened my mouth to say something as Spot pulled me outside into the brisk summer sunshine, but then I closed it again. When I spoke, my voice was soft and thoughtful. "Spot, you really don't have to do this. I thought our last date was wonderful."
"Your not gettin out of it dat easy Dollface," Spot replied laughing as he wrapped his arm around my waist. "Ya know, I think I might actually like havin ya around all da time."
"Well that's good," I said sarcastically as I laid my head on his shoulder.
"Ya know what I mean," Spot said as I smiled at him and nodded my head.
We walked down the musty streets of Brooklyn, arm in arm, just taking in the wonderful feeling that we got from just being together. I wondered where he was taking me but I knew that it didn't matter. I had missed spending time with Spot, just the two of us. Back at the Lodging House you didn't really get the chance because there were always twenty other boys lingering around at all times. So this was a welcomed change from our normal routine.
"Where are ya taking me?" I asked him as I stepped over a stick that was laying on the sidewalk. He just looked at me and smiled.
"You'll see," Spot said and I gave him a questioning glance.
We continued walking for awhile and the muscles in my legs were starting to hurt. By now the sun was directly above us and tiny beads of sweat were trickling down my forehead. But eventually the sun began to go down and it became slightly cooler. I was thankful when Spot finally stopped me outside of a small Italian restaurant. It looked ancient but was well taken care of, with a deck on the back that overlooked the river. I turned to Spot and smiled.
"So what do ya think?" he asked.
"Its wonderful!" I exclaimed. Spot just smiled as he put his arm around my shoulders and we walked into the restaurant together.
An old man came out of the kitchen and raised up his hands as he walked over. "Spot Conlon, long time no see!" The old man said happily as he patted Spot on the back.
"Well ya know I got's things ta do." Spot said nonchalantly. The old man continued to smile and nodded his head.
"Yes, Yes…so who is this young lady?" He asked pleasantly.
"Oh yeah, dis is Hanna Grimmuald," Spot replied as he motioned towards me. I was waiting for the man to give me the same strange stare that everyone did when they mentioned my name, but it never came. He just smiled and shook my hand. "Hanna dis is Mr. Butler he owns da joint." Spot continued.
"Its very nice to meet you," I said and he smiled.
"Uhh yes…she's a nice one," Mr. Butler replied as he looked over at Spot who just nodded his head promptly. "I always new ya'd come to your senses."
I laughed as I watched Spot give him a threatening glare which happened to turn in my direction. I did my best to stop laughing but I still had a wide grin on my face when Mr. Butler led us out onto the deck out back. It was so beautiful as lamps were hung up all along the wooden beams and I could see roses at the center of every table. The moon was out now and it was reflecting calmly off the river below us.
Spot held out my chair as we sat down at one of the tables. A waitress who was in her early twenty's walked over and asked what we wanted for a beverage. I ordered sweet tea and Spot got the same thing. I looked over at him curiously. "I didn't know you liked tea?" I asked.
"Well ya don't know a lot of things about me," He answered slowly. I just nodded my head as I flicked through the menu.
"But I'm willing to learn," I replied softly and he looked over at me. I could just see the shimmer of blue in his eyes and the reflection of the flame from the candle that burned between us. I knew that it was hard for Spot to accept the fact that I wanted to be in his life. I wanted to know everything about his past, present and prayed that I would be in his future. But I knew that he thought that I was something that could leave him at any moment.
Even though I tend to hide it from myself, I knew deep down that I loved him. Yet it was up to Spot to decide whether he loved me back. But to him love was nothing more than something that caused him pain. He was strong and so he shielded himself from anything and everything that would harm him. He had been torn apart by love and I wondered dearly if he would ever look past the pain and see that love doesn't always hurt, it heals.
Some people would say that I am trying to change Spot. But that's not what I want to do at all. I am trying to fix what had been done to him and make him someone that he can truly be proud of. It's a horrible thing to see someone wear away until they can't even recognize themselves anymore. I don't want that to happen to him, like it happened to myself.
"I know," Spot said and then looked back down at his menu.
He was never an affectionate person and I knew he never would be. But all I cared about were the little things and so I was happy with the simple fact that I had finally gotten through to Spot. If even to just let him know that I cared about everything that he was and I would always be there.
The waitress returned and we ordered our meals. I got pasta with meat sauce and Spot got some kind of chicken and rice that had a strange name that I couldn't pronounce. We sat in a comfortable silence for awhile while we waited for our food to arrive.
I was startled when Spot finally spoke. "Did ya like being rich?" he asked me.
I looked over at him cautiously and wondered what he wanted my answer to be. I gave up eventually and decided that there was no use but to speak the truth. "In a way I did, but not entirely. I don't think that anybody is ever truly happy with what they have. Like any girl I loved having new dresses and jewelry to fawn over, large meals every day and a beautiful house. But I was trapped within the confinements of my life." I felt my face flush as I looked over at Spot expecting him to look at me like I was spoiled and selfish. But that was not what I saw, he was staring at me with compaction and understanding. Two things that completely contradicted everything that Spot Conlon was. "If you ever knew what suffocating felt like, that's how I felt every day of my life."
"So ya wouldn't give anything ya have, ta get your old life back?" Spot said. I wondered why he kept asking me these types of questions. But I put my curiosity to the side and answered him. It felt good to just talk and let all of my emotions out. I hated hiding things from him and that's what I would be doing if I didn't speak the truth.
"I would give anything in my life to have my parents back. But I do not wish to go back to living as I had." Spot looked into my eyes for a few moments and it was a good thing I was sitting because I could feel my knee's go weak. He was testing me, trying to figure out whether or not I was serious about what I spoke of. I knew I had passed when he smiled softly and then looked over the railing at the river.
Our food came a few minutes later and I was thankful for the interruption. We had small conversation while we were eating, about the newsies and things that had happened in the past. He mentioned the strike that went on last year and how they had beaten Pulitzer into lowering the price and giving them 100% refunds for papers that they don't sell. Spot also told me how he met Jack when he was four years old and they became quick friends after Jack's mother died and his father went to prison.
When we finished speaking there was a few quiet moments before soft music filled the air. It was coming from the tavern across the street. I looked up smiling, as a few old couples in the restaurant stood up and started to dance. I quickly got to my feet and turned to Spot. "Dance with me."
He looked surprised and shocked at the same time, as he shook his head vigorously. "I don't dance."
I made a pouting face and stared down at Spot hopefully, "Pleeease," I asked sweetly.
"Ya don't understand Doll," He said and then he lowered his voice as if embarrassed. "I don't know how ta dance."
My smile just got bigger as I took his hand in my own. "Here, I'll teach you." I pulled him up into a standing position and he followed reluctantly as I pulled him into the center where the other couples were. "Just follow me."
I placed his arms on my waist and I wrapped mine around his neck. After a few instructions and slightly sore feet, I had managed to make him into a pretty decent dancer. Soon I was laying my head in the crook of his neck and could smell the familiar sent of tobacco and aftershave. "Ya know, dis isn't dat bad." Spot said warmly.
"Hmm," was all I managed to say. The music floating through the air and the feeling of tranquility that I got when Spot held me in his arms, was nothing more than magical. I wanted to savior every second of this day so that I would never forget how wonderful I felt at that moment.
"Can I ask ya something," Spot said as he pulled his head away slightly to look in my eyes. I nodded to signify that he could continue. "Why do ya care so much?"
I just smiled like I always do and then placed my head on his shoulder once more. It took me a few seconds and then I finally got up enough strength. I tilted my head to the side and whispered in his ear, "Because I love you."
I could feel the muscles in his back tense up but I was thankful that he didn't stop dancing. I seemed to be shocked at myself for saying what I had just said and in a way wished I could take it back. But then there was the other part of me that didn't care what his response was as long as he knew how I really felt. That is until something happened that I never would have expected. He leaned closer to me and I heard his voice say, "I love you to."
I couldn't help myself as I pulled away and stared at his face trying to figure out whether this was some kind of joke. "Really?" I asked, my voice quivering.
This time it was his turn to smile as he nodded his head in conformation. I was so happy that tears brimmed my eyes. Spot just wiped them away with his thumbs and then leaned forward as he kissed me passionately on the lips. I smiled as we broke apart and Spot took my hand. "Now lets get outta here before the boys start ta get worried."
It was really dark outside as we finally started our journey back to the Lodging House. I was slightly cold when the wind would blow but other than that the temperature was comfortable. Spot and I walked through the streets, with him leading. I never understood how he could possibly find his way in the daytime let alone at night.
We were walking for about a half an hour and were only a few street's away from the Lodging House when we started to hear footsteps behind us. At first we ignored them but then they grew louder. Spot gripped my hand tightly as we turned around to look. To my horror it was four rather large boys carrying clubs in there hands. "Don't ya know better than ta be wonderin da streets at night?" The tallest boy said tauntingly.
"Get outta here, Peter, ya know better than ta come into Broolyn." Spot said as he let my hand go and stepped forward. But the boys didn't seem to take any heed of his threat.
The next thing I knew the boy named Peter punched Spot hard in the face. I screamed and jumped forward but without realizing it a boy had come out of a near by alley and grabbed me from behind. He pulled my arms behind my back and wouldn't let me go. I watched as Spot got to his feet and punched Peter in the stomach. When he doubled over from loss of air Spot kneed him in the face.
Just then the kid behind me started to kiss me on my neck. I found myself lashing out and ended up kicking my leg backwards into his knee. He let me go and then backhanded me hard across the face, sending me crashing into the brick wall. I cried out as I fell down into the mud of the alley way. I looked over and was happy to see that Spot was surprisingly holding his own in the fight. But I knew that there were to many of them and he wouldn't survive much longer on his own.
I looked around the alley frantically and came upon a wooden plank, sitting by a trash can off to the left of where I was sitting. I made sure that no one was watching me and then crawled over to it. I picked up the piece of wood and got to my feet, walking quietly up behind them. I watched as Peter, who's nose was broken, was holding Spot while another boy walked closer to him with a club. Without thinking I smacked Peter hard in the back of his head and watched him fall to the ground.
Spot who was better able to think in these sort of situations got to his feet quickly and grabbed my hand. He pulled me along as we ran as fast as we could down the alley way. There were six boys chasing after us now and I knew that if they caught us we were dead. But I was thankful that Spot knew this neighborhood like he knew the palm of his hand and he took the quickest way to the docks.
It seemed like an eternity before we finally made it to the Lodging House. A few of the boys were sitting around outside keeping a watch and stood up as they saw us coming. I ran up onto the dock and Booker who was standing there caught me as I collapsed into his arms from exhaustion. My nose wasn't broken but it was bleeding profusely and my shoulder was throbbing from where I smacked into the wall.
I looked over and the six boys from Queens came running out of a street and stopped short when they saw all of the Brooklyn Newsies standing around us. "You got away dis time Conlon, but next time ya wont be so lucky!" Peter yelled venomously. But then ran as a few Brooklyn boys jumped off the dock and went after them.
Booker bent down beside me, "Are you alright?"
I nodded my head, "Yes, I'm alright." I said to Booker, who looked morally worried about my well-being. But then I saw Spot who look down at me concerned. He walked over and lifted me to my feet.
"Are ya sure?" he asked seriously as he stared into my eyes with both hands on my shoulders. I knew that Spot could tell when I was lying and he nodded his head when he saw that I wasn't. "Come on then, let's get inside and clean you up."
I walked with Spot into the Lodging House and then I walked up the stairs into his room. I stumbled over and laid down on his bed as I tried to steady my breathing. A few minutes later Spot walked in with a bucket of water and a rag. I sat up as he knelt down in front of me. He dipped the rag in the water and gently began to clean the dirt and blood off my face. We didn't take our eyes off of each other until he was finished.
Spot placed the rag back into the bucket and then looked back at me. His expression turned to worry when he saw that I was crying. "What's wrong?" he asked urgently.
"I…I was so afraid that something was going to happen to you," I cried as Spot sat next to me on the bed and held me close to his chest. I sobbed into his shirt as I tried to get a hold of myself.
Once the tears slowed down Spot put his hand underneath my chin and lifted my face up to see his. "Nothing is gunna happen ta me." He said firmly and I wished I could have believed him.
I just nodded my head as he leaned in and kissed me on the lips. I wrapped my arms around his neck and ran my fingers through his hair. Spot pulled me closer to him, in order to deepen the kiss and I all to willingly obliged. Somehow I knew that this kiss was different than any one that we had ever shared. Because it was filled with love and passion.
I felt his hands begin to roam like they had the last time we had gone this far but this time I didn't make him stop. I was incredibly terrified of everything that had happened that day and he was the only one who could make the pain disappear. I wanted him more than I had wanted anything in my life.
Suddenly I felt him stop and he pulled away gently, looking deeply into my eyes as if asking for permission. I thought about it for a second and then nodded my head. I didn't know if I was ready and I think I didn't care. All I wanted was to be in his arms for the rest of my life. I watched him as he stood up and walked over to the door. He shut it quietly and I knew the moment I heard the lock click that when I woke up the next morning, everything would be different.
Thank you:
C.M. Higgins- Thank you so much! I am going to start working on the next part of our story today. I am so happy that you liked the last chapter. I can't tell you what is going to happen, although I may give you a few hints. I always love having your reviews and you are like the most constant reviewer that I have. Thank you so much! I will talk to you later.
Spunkz-Hey! I always love your reviews, they make me so happy! Yeah I love making Spot have like two different personalities, its fun. I also liked the part in the last chapter where he threw the queen's kid into the river. I just thought it was funny. I'm glad you like how I write a lot of stuff about what my character is thinking. It's because I also like to read stories where the character seems real and not so fake. Well this was a fun chapter to write and I hope you think its good. Please let me know what you think.
Splashey- Hey! I'm happy that you liked the last chapter. Just to give you a hint… you were correct about Booker and Hanna becoming closer. Because something happens in the next chapter that causes some problems. But that's all I can tell you, lol I don't want to ruin it. Anyway, I really liked writing this chapter, I hope you liked reading it. Let me know what you think.
Dimonah Tralon- I'm glad you liked the filler chapters also. They are a really important part of my story. But this has to be my favorite chapter that I wrote. I really enjoyed writing it, so I hoped you enjoyed reading it. Thanks for always reviewing.
Swimade333- Hey! I'm very happy that you liked the last chapter. To me, the filler chapters are just as important because they tend to give information into my character. To make her seem more like a real person. I hope that you enjoyed this chapter, let me know what you think.
clover- Thank you so much! I am glad you liked the last chapter, I personally thought it was boring. But that's probably because I am the one writing it. Besides the readers are more important. Don't worry, Race appears in the next chapter. He will be coming back into the story. I just had to focus on Spot and Hanna's relationship first. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It is my favorite one so far. Let me know what you think!
The Good Girl- Thank you so much! I am glad that you love my story. I hope you liked the rest of my story and continued reading. It always makes me happy when I get new readers. It makes me want to write more.
Koodles4You- Hey! I am so happy that you continued reading. Its alright that it took you a little to get finished reading, I mean it's a long story. Don't worry, I will be throwing in some big twists, actually next chapter is one of them. But I still only have thirty chapters, everything is already planned out. I wish I could make it more, but I can't. That would just be dragging my story line out. Anyway. I am so happy that you love my story, it means a lot to me. Well I hope you liked this chapter, tell me what you thought of it.
Luv ya all,
BlackWiltedRose