Author note: Hope you guys liked the last chapter, this one should be better…or so I hope.
"I can't believe Christmas Eve is tomorrow!" I nearly screamed, pacing around the room. Scout sat on the floor playing with Chance.
"Gees, Sage, calm down," Scout said, rising off the floor and picking Chance up. "What are youse so worried 'bout anyhow?"
"I don't know! I didn't get anybody anything, because I can't afford it!" Scout shrugged.
"Christmas ain't 'bout buyin people stuff; it's 'bout bein with yer friends and family." She was right, but I still felt a bit odd.
"What are you and Jack doing for Christmas?" I asked.
"Uh, comin over here like always."
"No, I mean are you getting him something?" I asked.
"Of course I am…I jus' don't know what it is yet." I sighed and leaned against the door.
"This is going to kill me!" Scout laughed.
"Uh, Sage...It's not safe ta lean against da door," she reminded me. I smiled and stepped away from the door.
"It's not safe to live here," I said, pushing some hair behind my ear. Scout grinned.
"Well, I suppose I should get goin. Gotta find a gift for Jack," she said, walking to the door. She opened it, and then turned to me.
"Oh, and don't stress yerself 'bout Christmas," she said. She then left, and I sighed in frustration, and fell backwards onto my bed.
"Chance," I said. "I don't know what to do." Chance gave a small bark and jumped on my bed. He laid his head down on my shoulder and stared at me. "I think I'm losing my mind…"
"O'course youse are, youse is talking to a dog," came a voice from my door. I leaned my head up and glared at Spot.
"Shut up!" I told him. Spot laughed and walked in, studying my room.
"So, what's da matta with youse?" he asked, sitting on one of the many beds.
"None of your business," I said, staring up at the ceiling. Spot rolled his eyes.
"It ain't ever my business." I propped myself up on my elbows and stared over at Spot.
"Let's say you had a heart," I started. Spot gave me an odd look. "What do you do if your heart told you to…buy something for someone for Christmas?" It didn't make any since, but that wasn't my fault. Okay, maybe it was.
"Well, for one, I do have a heart. And two, why would I wanna buy somethin for someone for Christmas?" I raised my eyebrows.
"You're not helping," I told him.
"Who's dis special person?" Spot asked, playing with the gold tip of his cane.
"Like I'd ever tell you," I snapped, glancing over at Chance. Spot shrugged,
"I don't really care who youse have feelins for, I was jus' wonderin." He then rose from the bed and walked for the door. I sighed and laid back down and continued to stare at the ceiling.
"Jus' try gettin somethin dey'll appreciate," Spot said before leaving. I smiled slightly and turned over on my side.
The next day I awoke to the sound of yelling, and I fell face first onto the hard wood floor.
"Owe," I muttered, pushing myself up. The sheets were entangled around my legs, so the minutes I stood up, I went back down. I pulled the sheets away from my legs and got back up without tripping. I walked to the door and opened it to find two boys screaming at the top of their lungs, and Spot leaning against the banister looking amused.
"Do you mind?" I asked, irritation in my voice. The two boys stopped quarrelling and turned their attention to me. Spot raised his eyebrows.
"G'mornin," he said, giving me a fake smile. I glared at him, and then at the boys.
"Whatever the two of you are fighting about, get over it and let the world be at peace again!" I snapped, giving them an evil look. The boys glanced at each other, and then at Spot. The two of the shrugged and walked down the steps, talking like nothing ever happened.
"Wow, youse seem ta be pretty good at dat," Spot said. I looked over at him.
"Yeah, well, you didn't fall out of your bed from two idiots yelling," I told him. Spot chuckled and walked towards the stairs. He then stopped, and turned towards me.
"Hungry?" I gave him a smile and followed him downstairs and out the door. We quietly walked to the restaurant, enjoying the silence.
I didn't want Spot to pay for my breakfast, but he insisted. He said,
"Think of it as a Christmas present." Then what were the other times he paid for my food? Valentine's Day and Eater? Although I haven't been here that long.
"Spot, please, you're always paying for everything!" I whined. It wasn't long ago until I started to pay my own way in for the Lodging House.
"If youse don't lemme pay, den I'll give youse up ta some guy on da street!" I blinked a few times, a bit scared of what he just said. I still haven't told him about that murderer, and from what I've seen, Skip hasn't either. Spot saw my scared expression.
"I'm jus' kiddin, Sage," he said, putting change onto the table and standing up. "I wouldn't ever do dat." I glanced around the restaurant and stood up.
"Uh, I…have things to do," I told him before leaving. I could feel Spot's eyes on me as I opened the door and left. Since after I became a newsy, I started to buy more and more papes so I could buy something. I walked up to the antique shop and stared in the window. It was now or never. I entered the shop and walked up to the man behind the counter.
"Hello there, Sage," he greeted me. He knew me well because I came in here everyday to make sure that the silver pocket watch was still available.
"Hey," I said. I gave Mr. Markson an eager look, and he smiled before pulling out a new, silver pocket watch from underneath the counter. I grinned as he placed it down into the table.
"It ain't ever been touched," he said. I picked it up and ran my fingers over the smooth surface. The chain of the pocket watch hung loosely over my fingers, and gleamed as the sunlight hit it. It was beautiful, I had to admit.
"So, do ya have the five dollars?" Mr. Markson asked. I glanced up at him, and then back down at the watch.
"Yeah," I said, putting the money down onto the counter. "It took me forever, but I got it." Mr. Markson smiled and slid me a dollar.
"How 'bout you keep that for food," he said. I gave him a smile as he wrapped the pocket watch up.
"Thanks, Mr. Markson," I said. I shook his hand and took the pocket watch and left. I couldn't keep the grin off my face as I walked back to the Lodging House. Nobody ever really sold papes on holidays, so I had the day off. There were some boys out in the streets selling, though, probably so they could make more money to buy gifts.
I ran upstairs and to my room, stashing the pocket watch under the loose floor board in my room. It was safer there. I then turned towards my bed and smiled at Chance.
"Hey, Chance," I said, walking over and petting him. Something glimmered under Chance's body. I raised my eyebrows and gently moved Chance aside and stared down at the necklace.
It was a locket with blue a gem in the middle of the heart, shaped like a heart, and there were diamonds encircling it. The locket and chain were silver, and glistened in the sunlight as I picked it up and stared in awe. Who would leave me a gift? I looked around the room to see if there was a card, but found nothing. There was only the necklace, and my sleeping puppy.
I smiled to myself as I opened the locket and found that it was empty. I smiled to myself and put the necklace around my neck, and hooked the back. I looked down at the locket and smiled. This must've cost ten or more dollars. If only I knew who it was from…
I heard a knock on the door.
"Come in." The door opened and Splinter walked in, smiling.
"Hey," he said.
"Hey. Where have you been?" I asked, petting Chance. Splinter glanced down at the puppy, and then back at me.
"I've been busy," he said, slipping his hands into his pockets. I took a deep breath.
"Oh, okay," I said. I walked up to him and gave him a quick hug. Splinter blushed.
"Uh, do youse wanna help set things up?" he asked. I raised my eyebrows.
"Set what up?"
"Da Christmas stuff," he said, scratching the back of his head. I grinned and nodded, following him out the door.
"Come on, Chance," I said. Chance jumped off of my bed and followed us downstairs. There was a ladder sitting in the foyer, and a box of Christmas stuff on the floor. Dice and Tick entered from the main room, carrying, yet, another box of Christmas stuff. Wades walked in behind them and grinned up at me.
"Hey there Sage," he said, waving. "You can help set up the Christmas tree!" I smiled and followed him back into the main room. There was a tree sitting in the corner, and it smelled of pine. I began to wonder if Wades went out into the woods and cut it down himself, but pushed that thought away as he began to rummage through a box sitting on the table.
"We'll put the ornaments up first, and then the candles," Wades told me. I walked up beside him and looked into the box. I pulled out a few ornaments and walked over to the tree and hung them up. Wades did the same, and I walked back over to the box.
The ornaments were beautiful, and I suspected they were made by Wades. Or maybe some people gave them to him. I pulled out a few more ornaments and placed them on the tree. The process continued until there were no more ornaments, and Wades brought out a box of candles.
"We have to be safe when we light these," he told me, handing me a few. I put them on the tree, and Wades did the same until there were no more. He walked to one of the boxes and pulled out an angel.
"Wow, she's beautiful!" I said, staring at her. Wades smiled and handed me the angel.
"She resembles you, my dear, so you should put her on the top." I grinned as Wades pulled out one of the chairs and placed it beside the tree. He helped me up onto the chair, and I placed the angel on the top, giving the tree a spiritual look. I then jumped down and stared at the tree as Wades lit the candles.
"Wow," I said. "It's…beautiful. I've never seen a Christmas tree as breathtaking as this one." Wades nodded in agreement.
"Hey Sage!" I heard Dice call. I turned around and gave him a questioning look. "We's need help hangin da mistletoe!" I laughed and walked over to Dice. He handed me mistletoe and helped me up the ladder. I hanged mistletoe in almost every doorway of the Lodging House, which kind of made me feel a bit weird. I also hung it at the front door.
"Wouldn't it be funny ta have two guys under one?" Dice laughed. I grinned and nodded. I helped them with the decorations for the rest of the day, and didn't even notice it turn dark. We then came upon our last chore, and it was to hang mistletoe in the main room doorway.
"Why didn't we do this one first?" I whined, climbing up the ladder and taking the mistletoe for Dice.
"I dunno, but dat's a good question." I laughed and hung it. The front door opened and Spot stared up at me in confusion.
"Yer gonna fall," he said, catching me off guard. I missed the step of the ladder and flew backwards. Somebody caught me before I hit the ground.
"I told youse," Spot said, holding onto me tightly. I blinked a few times as he put me down and glanced down at the necklace around my neck. He smiled slightly and walked away, admiring our hard work. I smiled at his back and continued to help the others decorate.
After everything was done, I heard people…cheering? I ran into the main room to find everyone staring out the window. I raised an eyebrow and walked over to see what it was they were staring at. I pushed my way to the window and gasped. Snow crystals fell from the sky and stuck to the ground.
"Oh my God," I said, staring in awe. It was a beautiful sight, and it got even better when Wades lit the fireplace. I sat down at the table beside Spark and shared a nice conversation with some of the boys.
"So, Sparky," I said, making everyone laugh. "Who is this special girl I keep hearing about?" Okay, the truth was: there was no special girl. I was making this up to see what his reaction would be. Spark's cheeks turned red and he looked away.
"Who told youse?" he asked. Everyone then burst out laughing.
"I…was just kidding!" I said, clutching my stomach. Everyone soon stopped and waited for Spark to talk.
"Well…her name is Vanessa…" he said, playing with his fingers.
"Aw," I said. "What did you get her for Christmas?"
"Uh…" Spark glanced around the room. "Something…personal." I gave him a smile. I never had the chance to socialize with the boys before because Spot was always around. To my surprise he wasn't here.
After about a few more hours of talking, Wades sent us all to bed.
The next morning I awoke to Chance licking my face, and warmth not just from my sheets. I looked up and saw the fireplace lit. I smiled and jumped out of bed, and ran to the window. Snow was stuck to the ground, and was still falling from the sky. I grinned, and quickly washed up. I ran downstairs and almost ran into Wades.
"Sage," he said, laughing.
"It's snowing…Still!" I said, smiling. Wades laughed.
"Of course it is. Now, if you'll excuse me, my wife and I have cooking to do." I nodded and walked into the main room. I wanted to go outside so bad, but I didn't have a jacket. As if to read my thoughts, a jacket appeared in front of my face. I looked up at Spot who held it in his hands.
"Here," he said. I took the jacket and put it around me. Spot smiled and I followed him outside in the snow. I looked up as snow fell on me, melting against my skin. I smiled and held my hands out, twirling in the snow. Spot watched me with a soft smile on his face. I began to laugh.
"Spot! It's snowing!" I said, still staring up at the sky.
"Really? 'Cause I didn't notice," Spot laughed. I smiled widely at him, and closed my eyes.
"It never snowed in California," I told him. "This is my first white Christmas."
"But I thought youse said youse lived here since youse were…uh, younger…"
"I did, but my uncle always left down during this holiday and I had to leave too," I said, twirling around again. Spot smiled and walked up behind me.
"C'mon, we's hafta pick a few things up for Wades." He then began to walk backwards in front of me. I gave him an odd look, and before I could ask him what he was doing, a snowball hit me. I gasped, and sent him an evil look. He began to laugh.
"Oh, you better run!" I warned him. He turned around and took off as I grabbed a bunch of snow in my hand and threw it at him. It hit his back and he stopped. He turned around and gave me a mischief grin. I stepped back a bit and put my hands up.
"Now, now, Spot…you must be gentle with girls…" I reminded him. But it was too late. He took off after me, and I turned around and ran. He caught up with me, and the two of us went rolling in the snow. I laughed as Spot landed on top of me.
"Get off," I told him. Spot smiled, and his eyes twinkled. I bit my bottom lip as he got a bit closer to my face, but he stopped himself. He laughed and pushed himself up, and held his hand out to me. I took his offer and he pulled me up. I wiped the snow off my clothes and glared at him.
"Thanks for making me cold!" I said.
"Sure thing," Spot said, walking away. I caught up with him and walked along side of him.
We soon arrived back at the Lodging House with a box of gifts that Wades had Spot and I go pick up. We set the boxes down and went our separate ways. I ran upstairs and into my room. I took a deep breath as I pulled the loose floorboard up and retrieved the pocket watch. I turned around and ran into the boy's bunk room.
"I hope you like it," I said to the empty room as I placed the watch down onto a bed. I then turned around and ran out.
Spot's P.O.V
After Ihelped Spark stop a fight between two newsies, I walked upstairs to the boy's bunk room and threw my damp jacket down on the floor beside my bed.
My eyes landed on a small package on my bed. I wrinkled my eyebrows in confusion as I picked it up and opened it. I pulled out a new, silver pocket watch that glistened when the sun's beams hit it. It was…well, beautiful…in a manly way. I smiled to myself as I opened it and stared down at the time.
It was around three in the afternoon. Who could've gotten me a gift as expensive as this? I looked around for any sign of a card, but found nothing. I shrugged and put the pocket watch safely around my neck. I hid my key under my shirt, but let the pocket watch show. I then turned around and walked out of the room as I heard the Manhattaners enter.
Normal P.O.V
Scout ran up the stairs and into my room, grinning from ear to ear.
"Hey!" I said, giving her a hug. Without saying anything, she showed me the necklace around her neck. It was in the shape of a heart, but it wasn't a locket. It had diamonds on it, and a deep blue, the color of her dress she wore to the dance, in the middle.
"Jack," she said, reading my thoughts. I gave her a grin and she immediately noticed the locket around my neck.
"Who gave youse dat?" she asked, nodding towards the necklace. I looked down at it, and then back at her.
"I don't know," I said. "I found it on my bed."
"Really? No card or anything?" I shook my head. "Wow, dats strange." Chance jumped down from my bed and ran up to Scout. Scout bent down and petted him.
"So, are youse ready for Christmas?"
"Yup," I said, sighing deeply. Scout grinned as Jack walked into the room. I gave him a small hug.
"Merry Christmas," he said.
"Merry Christmas," I replied. The three of us then walked downstairs. Everybody seemed to be waiting for the feast, and I sat beside Scout, talking to her about my necklace.
"I don't know who gave it to me," I said. "But it must've been expensive." Scout nodded and examined the locket.
"It's pretty," she said.
"Yeah, so is yours." We then heard laughing, and Scout and I looked over to the doorway to see why. Jack and Spot both stood under the mistletoe. Scout and I immediately burst out laughing as the two boys hesitantly hugged. I learned from Dice that if the same sex gets caught under the mistletoe, then they have to hug. But if the opposite sex did, then they'd have to kiss.
I got up from my chair as Spot walked into the foyer, and Jack walked over to Scout. I wanted to see how Wades was doing with the cooking, but I got shoved into the doorway of the front door, which was…opened? Who leaved the front door opened? I bumped into somebody in the doorway, and looked over at him.
He looked up at the mistletoe above us, and I did the same. I bit my lip as my cheeks turned red.
"Uh…" I said, looking away. He chuckled as he brought my face to look at his. I heard music in the background as he leaned down and brushed his lips against mine. It wasn't quick, and seemed to last for forever. I didn't even notice that I kissed him back, and I brought my arms around his neck, and his went around my waist.
He then pulled away and I could feel his breath. His eyes scanned mine as he let go of my waist and stepped back.
"Merry Christmas," Spot said before leaving out into the cold, winter night.
Next Chapter: Was the kiss just a kiss because of the "mistletoe" rules, or did it mean more than that? Well, the Christmas party continues as Sage wonders about the kiss she had just shared with Spot.
Author note: They kissed! They kissed! They kissed! Yay! Anyways, we'll find out if it meant something or not, so wait up for the next chapter. Oh, and if you're wondering why it took me awhile to get this chapter out, it's because I've never written one this long. LONG LIVE SPOT!