Chapter 13

"What the hell happened to him, Snipes?" asked Jack.

"We were walkin' back to the lodgin' house and took a short cut through an alley, that's when we was jumped by some newsies from the Bronx and Harlem. We were told to tell ya that they wanna settle this tonight." Snipes replied.

"Shit," Jack said then paused to think of what to do next.

"Get him upstairs," Jack said pointing to the beaten newsie, "Bookworm, I want ya to clean him up. The rest of ya, in the bunkroom now."

Bookworm ran to get the supplies she would need and Arts, Reticent, and Angelfish followed Jack, who was bunding up the stairs.

"Swifty!"

"Yeah Jack?"

"I want ya to go to Brooklyn. Tell Spot we need him here now and be careful." Jack instructed and Swifty was gone in a flash.

"Listen up everyone," Jack yelled over the noise and everyone stopped what they were doing, "The Bronx and Harlem wanna settle this tonight and if it's a fight they want, it's a fight they'll get. Bookworm, Reticent I want you two to stay here. You know what to do. The rest of ya, get ready for war." Jack ordered.

After Jack was done, there was mass confusion in the bunkroom. Everyone was moving around trying to find their weapon or anything they could use for one. Bookworm was cleaning up the beaten newsboy and Reticent was running around getting all the supplies she and Bookworm would need for when the wounded newsies would arrive. Kate just watched everything that was happening while trying to figure out exactly what was going on.

"I'm gonna beat the shit out a dem." Angelfish said from next to Kate.

It was at that moment that the Brooklyn newsies showed up. That was fast. Jack thought but he wasn't going to complain. It would be easier to for Manhattan to start off the fight with Brooklyn.

Spot looked around the bunkroom that was a huge crowd of overly excited and nervous newsies. He was trying to find Jack amid everything, but his eyes fell on Kate before he could find him and everything around him seemed to disappear. Nothing else seemed to matter. He just stared at her. He couldn't make himself look away. It was like he was afraid that this would be the last time he would see her face. Pain, guilt, and heartache began to work their way to the surface but he pushed them away. He had to concentrate on the fight that was before him.

"Spot." Jack said, but Spot was off in his own little world.

"Earth to Spot." Jack said a little louder and waved his hand in front of Spot's face.

"What?" Spot asked coming out of his daze.

"You gonna be able to do this? Jack asked looking at Kate.

"Of course I can. I'm Brooklyn after all. I do what needs to be done. You know that."

"All right. Just thought I'd make sure. Snipeshooter!"

"Yeah Jack?" Snipeshooter called back.

"Which way was they comin' from?" Jack asked.

"They was comin' from that way." Snipes answered and pointed in the direction he and the other boys had come from.

"All right everyone, let's go." Jack yelled and headed for the door.

Spot looked at Kate one last time then turned to Lady.

"Lady, I want ya to stay here."

"Oh, come on Spot. I wanna fight."

"Stay here and don't cause any trouble." Spot said sternly. Lady just pouted.

"Find out how you can help and you can apologize to Kate."

"I don't apologize to people like her. You should know that Conlon."

"Just do it Lady. No if's, and's, or but's about it. You got it?"

"Fine." Lady said crossing her arms over her chest.

"Good." Spot said then turned and headed out the door.

Kate had seen Spot walk in with all his newsies but she didn't dare look directly at him. She could feel him stare at her but she never made eye contact with him. She didn't want to see the pain that was probably in his eyes. It would probably be more like sympathy. Kate thought bitterly. Well, she didn't want his sympathy. She didn't need him to feel sorry for her. Out of the corner of her eye though, she watched him talk to Lady for a few moments then watched him leave. She couldn't help herself from hoping that he would come back alive from whatever it was they were going to.

"Hey, Reticent?" Kate asked once the bunkroom had been emptied of newsies.

"Yeah Nightmare?"

"What exactly is going on?"

"Are you telling me that you don't know?" Lady asked before Reticent had time to answer.

"I wouldn't be asking if I knew." Kate replied.

"Well, you should know. You were Brooklyn's girl after all. You should who his enemies are and who his allies are. You should know what goes on in Brooklyn. You're pathetic. I don't know what he could possibly see in you."

"Leave her alone Lady. You've done enough damage already." Bookworm said coming over to Kate's bunk.

"Well, if it ain't Bookworm. The ever present mother of the group."

"Shut up Lady," Bookworm said glaring at her for a moment before turning to Kate, "Don't listen to her Nightmare. The Bronx and Harlem have always wanted more territory and they border Manhattan. So naturally, they want some Manhattan territory. Well, Jack won't give it up and he knows that he can't beat them without help and that's why Brooklyn is here. Jack and Spot have also been friends for a long time and in my opinion I think they think of each other as brothers and so they help each other out. Does that help any?"

"Yes it does. Thank you Bookworm."

"You're welcome. Oh, and Lady, didn't Spot tell you to apologize to her?"

"You heard him talking to me? You were like across the room." Lady said.

"Yes, I did hear him and I wasn't across the room. I was like three feet away from you guys. Now apologize."

"Fine. I'm sorry Kate." Lady said coolly.

"Don't you think you should also explain what exactly happened?" Bookworm said. Lady just glared at her.

"You shouldn't blame Spot for what happened. It was my fault. I kissed Spot. You just happened to walk in before he had a chance to push me away." Lady finally said after a few moments, "Happy now?" she said glaring at Bookworm.

"Yes and I'm sure Spot will be too." Bookworm replied then walked away.

Kate sat on her bunk and thought for a moment. Should I forgive her or not? She thought to herself. Finally she looked at Lady, who was still standing next to her.

"I know I shouldn't do this. My head is telling me to not forgive you and to hate you for what you did, and my heart is telling me to forgive you and I'm going to go with my heart on this one. So, I forgive you Lady." Kate said.

"You do?" Lady asked with a confused expression on her face.

"Yes, I do though it's against my better judgment."

"Thanks, I guess." Lady said looking at Kate with suspicion.

AN: I hope you like the chapter. Tell me what you think. I really wanna know. I hope you can wait for the next chapter cause it's gonna be good and it's definitely longer. Don't forget to review.