Author note: -Pout- I hate the doctor! Anyways, I hope you guys like this chapter. It'll be the last one I ever write because I'm gonna die when I go to the doctors! I mean, Jesus Christ I go there so often they should all know my name by now. I practically live there!

I walked solemnly upstairs to Scout's room, trying to find the good things in leaving. I'll finally be able to live with my actual family. Well, my father anyways. I won't have to sell papers anymore, and I won't have to live with that vile smell of beer and cigars, and I won't have to wake up so early, and most of all I won't have to be around Spot anymore.

I felt my heart sink as I began to put clothes into my bag. I thought I hated all of those things, but deep down inside I loved them! I grew to love selling papes, and I became so used to the smell of beer and cigars. I enjoyed waking up early in the mornings because you get to watch the start of a brand new day. And most of all, I loved to be around Spot.

Wait, what was I thinking? I hate Spot Conlon! I hate the way he only half dresses in the morning because he's too lazy to finish! I hate his rough Brooklyn accent! I hate his cold, grey eyes that bore into my soul. I hate his sweet smell that woke me up every morning. I hate his patience. I hate it when he laughs, or the way he mocks me. I hate it that he's always there to keep me out of trouble. I hate it that he plays with my emotions. I hate the feel of his lips. I hate the way he ran to Madison when we were so close to being something. I hate the way he says my name. And most of all, I hate it that he made me fall in love with him.

For all this time I thought I hated those things about Spot Conlon, but what I didn't realize was that I loved them. I loved everything about him. There wasn't a thing in the world that could make me hate him, and I hated him for that too! Damn it! Why did I have to come to Brooklyn? Of all the places I could have went, I just had to come to Brooklyn, and I just had to meet Spot Conlon, and I just had to fall for him.

"I hate you Spot Conlon," I said out loud.

Spot's P.O.V

I wasn't up to selling papes today, so I told the guys to go on without me. I also didn't feel like being with Madison, so I just stayed up in my room.

I'm glad Sage left; she was no good around here anyways! Without her here, I could probably get some actual work done. The room right beside ours felt so empty, and my mind was spinning. She was leaving. I mean, it's not like I cared. She was annoying anyways.

I mean, I hated her! I hate the way she wasn't afraid to stand up to me. I hated to always have to save her life. I hate the way she hid things from me. I hated having to teach her how to fight. I hate that she makes me worry. I hate it that she made me promise not to drink. I hate that she made me forget about Madison. I hate that she made me let her keep Chance. I hate that she defended me. I hate that she always confused me. I hate it when she would just leave without warning. I hate that she had a horrible past. I hate the feel of her lips. I hate it that she made me change. I hate it that I found her in the cell. I hate it that she was so gentle yet stubborn. I hate the way her eyes look when I hurt her. And most of all, I hate it that she made me fall in love with her!

Why did I have to love everything about this girl? She made me so frustrated and angry, but it was never towards her. Why can't I just feel this way about Madison? Why Sage? She wasn't even my type, and here I was, feeling something so intense it wasn't even describable.

I sat at the edge of my bed and rested my head in my hands. All along I never really loved Madison, she was just there to fill in the gap, but she didn't quite fit. She wasn't enough to make me happy, or to make me feel overprotected. Madison was beautiful, and she was a nice girl…when she wanted to be. But she wasn't what I was looking for. Spark was right, she was afraid to argue with me, and Sage wasn't. And Madison won't be there to comfort me when I'm sad. She just won't.

All this time I was too blind to see the good things in Sage; the things I loved about her. I wanted her to argue back, it made me sure that I wasn't scaring her. If I were arguing with Madison then she'd give up and expect me to say sorry, but Sage wouldn't.

"I'm such an idiot!" I said out loud.

Normal P.O.V

Just as I had finished packing, Scout walked in and gave me a questioning look.

"Going somewhere?" she asked. I tried not to look sad.

"I'm leaving…to live with my father." Scout flinched in surprise.

"What?" she asked the tone of her voice unbelieving.

"He needs me," I said. "He can't take care of himself, and he's lonely. I'm leaving for the better of it."

"No, youse is leavin 'cause youse don't want ta admit dat youse have feelins for Spot!" Scout said angrily.

"Actually, I will admit to it. I have feelings for Spot, strong feelings, but that isn't going to keep me from leaving. Spot has Madison, and he clearly doesn't need me. I'm just a bother," I said, pushing some hair out of my face. Scout stared at me as if I was some kind of exotic animal.

"I can't believe dis," she said. "Youse is givin up? Youse is gonna let Madison win, and let her ruin Spot's life?" I felt a bit hurt at her words. It did make me feel a bit bad. Madison would ruin Spot's life.

"That's his problem," I said. "If he wanted me around then he'd come here and tell me. But you know what? He isn't coming! He won't ever come! All he cares about is Madison, and he could care less about me!" I said, my angry tone matching Scout's.

"Youse know dat Spot has much more pride den dat! He ain't jus' gonna pop up and tell youse dat he needs ya, youse gotta go ta him!"

"And what will that make me, Scout?" I asked. Scout didn't respond. "Yeah, that's right, it'll make me desperate. It'll give Spot the upper hand, and he could look down on me and laugh at my pitiful self! Spot doesn't want one thing to do with me, and I'm helping his dreams come true by leaving!" I picked up my bag and headed for the door.

"So youse is jus' walkin away from yer friends? Youse is runin away from Spot?"

"You don't get it, Scout! I have a chance to gain my father's trust again! I want to be my normal self again, and that's all I ask for!" I said. It was growing darker outside, which surprised me. How long have I been packing?

"Youse is jus' a coward!" Scout said. I shook my head and left the room.

Spot's P.O.V

I walked into the bunk room as I finished a game of poker with Dice and the others. I yawned to myself as I heard a voice coming from the washroom.

"Are youse gonna go say bye to 'er?" I heard Tick's voice.

"I went eoiler today. She doesn't seem too happy," Splinter responded. Who were they talking about?

"I can't believe she's leavin! Do youse think it has ta do with Spot?"

"Probably, I mean look at dem. Dey jus' won't admit ta lovin each udder," Splinter said. Who were they talking about?

"I was getting used ta Sage, I can't believe she's goin back ta California tonight!" I felt my heart skip a beep as I tried to let Tick's words sink in. Tonight? Sage was leaving tonight? I glanced out the window to find that it was getting darker by the minute.

Damn it! Why did I have to kick her out? I felt the pocket watch's cold surface against my chest as it hung loosely under my shirt. I pulled it out and stared at it. I can't let her leave! I just can't!

I turned around and ran downstairs. I got a few looks from some of my boys, and I completely ignored them as Sage's image rewinded over and over again in my head. I grabbed my jacket and raced out the door.

"Please don't be gone," I whispered.

Normal P.O.V

I stared at Scout, Jack, Les and even Race as they stood at the bottom of the stairs. I sighed deeply and walked down, my father waiting for me beside the door. I made it to the bottom and stared at them.

"Do youse hafta leave?" Race asked. He and I became good friends, almost like siblings. I hung my head low and nodded.

"Yes, I have to." Scout switched her gaze to the top of the staircase as the other Manhattaners all sat around the room, watching me.

"We'll miss ya," Jack said. I bit my lip to keep from crying. I seriously sucked at saying goodbye.

"Yeah, me too," I said. I quickly hugged Jack and Race, and I stared down at Les. He wiped the tears from his eyes as he glanced back at his older brother.

"Please don't leave Sage," he said. More tears released from his eyes as he threw himself at my legs. It felt odd to hug him, but I did. I then bent down to his level and smiled.

"You're a great dancer," I told him.

"Maybe we can dance again one day," he said, wiping away more tears.

"Oh definitely!" I said. "I'd love to dance with you." I then kissed his cheek and gave him a warm smile before hugging him once more. All that was left was Scout, and I knew that I'd feel bad. I stood in front of her as a moment of silence overcame the Lodging House. Without warning, Scout hugged me tightly as tears slid down her cheeks.

"Are you crying, Scout?" I asked as I pulled away.

"No," Scout said. "Race's armpits jus' stink," she lied.

"Hey!" Race protested. He glanced around the room and quickly lifted up his arm and smelled his pits. "Whew!" he said. "They really do stink!" I laughed as Race tried airing out the "stench" and stared at Scout.

"You can always write me," I said. "And you can visit whenever you want; all of you!" Scout wiped away some more of her tears.

"Thanks," she said.

"For what?" I asked.

"For bein a great friend." I felt tears slipping down my cheeks as well as I hugged her once more.

"I'll miss you guys," I said. We pulled away and everyone followed me outside. There was a big, black carriage. It looked like the thing rich people rode it. The door on the side was kind of making me feel awkward, and the window at the back of the carriage was hard to see in. I smiled at my friends one last time as my uncle stepped into the carriage. The door was held open for me, and I could see another person inside. Before I could step in, someone called my name.

"Sage!" I turned around and looked around. Who's calling me? Everyone's eyes switched to the Brooklyn leader who ran up to me. He bent over to catch his breath and then stood up.

"Good," he said, taking deep breaths. "Youse haven't left yet!" I gave him an odd look as he stepped closer to me. But before he could say anything somebody wrapped their arms around me from behind and I was pulled violently into the carriage. A hand was over my mouth as someone pulled the door shut.

The carriage soon took off and I was released. My father was sitting beside me, so who grabbed me?

"What did you do that for?" I yelled. I then turned around to see who it was that grabbed me, and I gasped. It was one of my uncle's goons! I began to kick and scream and tried opening the door, but I was pulled back. I turned around and looked out the window. Spot was standing in the middle of the street will the Manhattaners behind him, watching the carriage.

"Spot!" I screamed. "Help! Somebody, help me!" I banged my fists furiously on the window and screamed Spot's name until I couldn't see him anymore. "No…" I whispered.

Next Chapter: Spot and the others have to save Sage! Why won't Madison just let him save her?

Madison won't allow Spot to save Sage. Spot gets furious and tells her to back off.

Sage comes face-to-face with an awful man she dreaded to see…her uncle.

Author note: I'm sorry this chapter is so short, but I had to make it this way. It adds to the suspense. I know, I know, you guys hate me 'cause I stopped here. Oh well, later!