"You'se been 'n enough trouble as it is, der ain't no way I'se lettin' you out a heah." Spot said.
"We'll it's a good thing that no one has ta let me do anythin'. I – "
Just as she was about to dig her grave deeper, a boy dripping from perspiration and huffing from running made his way towards Spot. Between deep inhalations, the boy managed to whisper something in his ear that caused Spot to turn to Jack.
"I'se don't want her or you'se ta leave dis room an' I'se means it. I'se gotta git back ta Brooklyn. Ise'll send dose boys ovah tomarah," Spot said, then left the room at a slow pace followed by a frantic looking messenger. His calm exit was purposely misleading on the urgency of the matter.
"There is no way I'se gunna let him tell me what to do. I said I was goin', and I am. Thanks fer yer help, but leave me alone!" Harmony exclaimed, trying to get to her feet. That turned out to be a little more difficult than she had predicted. On her first attempt she fell right back. The second time she stood for a few seconds, before she collapsed into the arms of a waiting Blink.
"I'se don't think you'se 'n quite da shape ta be travelin'. Why don't you'se stay 'til you'se feelin' bettah? Den, no one will try ta stop ya and youse'll be bettah off," Blink reasoned.
"All right, but I'm not happy 'bout it." Harmony said while being laid back into bed by Blink.
"You'se don't have ta be happy 'bout it, you'se jest gotta do it. I'se haven't known you'se very long, but I'se takin a likin' ta ya an' I'se don't wanna see anythin' bad happen to you'se…again," Blink stated.
"You'se okay Harmony? I'se don't know if you'se remembers me, but I'se undah house arrest wid you'se now. Undah the command a Mr. High-n'-Mighty Puppy Dog, I'se not ta leave dis place until he says I'se can. Same fer you'se I'se believes."
"So I've heard. Are ya actually goin' ta listen ta him?" Harmony asked him.
"Yeah, but not fer the reasons yer thinkin'. I'se listenin' cause Spot is one of me closest friends an' he knows when I'se upset, I'se does stupid, foolish things. In dis case, I'se was 'bout ta take on da whole a Queens, you'se seems ta be a weak spot. When I'se seen you'se all beaten up, I was real upset. Spot puttin' me undah house arrest was prolly da best thing. Der are ways oddah den soaking guys and breaking alliances ta git revenge…" Jack finished.
"I don't
understand. I haven't known ya fer more den a day, and while
yer 'round, I'm not nice ta ya at all, yet ya still seem ta want
ta help me out. I really don't understand,"
Harmony said, a little confused. She had done her best to
keep people away from her ever since, a long time, and up until now,
she had been successful.
She also had other reasons for not
wanting him in particular to get close to her. Earlier in her
life she had known Jack and they had been the best of friends. It was
strange seeing him again and she was happy about it but she knew that
she had hurt him when she left the first time, and couldn't imagine
doing it again. It was best if he never remembered her, and
this house arrest wasn't going to help hide her secret.
"It's simple. I'se likes ya. You'se reminds me of a real special goil I'se use ta know," Jack said. "Besides, youse'll learn dat in Manhattan, newsies are too nice fer der own good. We'se da friendly, trustin' type. If you'se wants secrecy an' all dat, Brooklyn'd suit ya much bettah. Dem newsies, like Spot, deys keep ta themselves. But deys tough. Can't remembah a fight deys didn't win…"
"Jack, I'se a little worn out, would ya mind if I took a little nap?" Harmony abruptly asked, none too subtly hinting that she wanted him to leave.
"Nope, course not." Jack replied, innocently ignorant that she didn't want him around.
"Goodnight Jack. Goodnight Blink." she called to them as she settled into her temporary bed.
I couldn't help myself. They were so sweet I had ta at least wish dem good night. But maybe I shouldn't a done dat. It opens me up, makes me vulnerable. Harmony thought, drifting off to sleep.