Well, here's the next chappie. Hope you enjoy:) Things are starting to speed up, rapidly. One note here.
GinevratheNewsElf: Connie is not a newsie because she and Spot were separated when Connie was three years old. They were both in an orphanage after their parents died and Spot ran away from the orphanage. Spot mentions in the second chapter he is in. I think it's chapter 6 - "Discovery."
Chapter 15
Jenna wasn't a fast learner. She could teach reading to Mush with the greatest of ease but firing a slingshot was a different story. Spot was surprisingly patient with her, however. The one thing that she struggled with was steadying her arm for an accurate shot. She was fiercely frustrated whereas Spot couldn't be more pleased. Her slow learning enabled him to have more time with, just the two of them. He was getting closer and closer to the point where he could make his move, and today was the day. He had been scared to even touch her at first; he would show her with examples. He had gradually worked his way to adjusting her arm positions and such.
"Five out of eight, better," he said, watching the last bottle break. "But ya had six yesterday, were ya just lucky or somethin'?"
"No, I-I gotta lotta stuff on me mind, dat's all," she said.
"Anythin' I can do?" he asked, approaching her slowly.
"W-well, I don't know, i-it was sorta about you," she replied.
"Well, I've been thinkin' 'bout you too, Jenna," he said, face inches from hers. This was strange, he never called her "Jenna," none of the newsies did. It was always "Toothpick."
"Spot?" she questioned, completely confused. This conversation was not going where she had planned it to go. She had hoped to bring up the subject of his sister.
"Shh," he whispered, tenderly drawing her body into his. She was too stunned to do anything as his lips touched hers. His lips against hers didn't, however, bring upon the emotion of love as he had hoped. Jenna felt the sensation of sheer longing with all of her heart. She longed to be caressed by Racetrack, not Spot Conlon.
"Spot!" she cried, tearing away from him. "What is this?"
"Oh, Jenna, I love you," he breathed.
"Spot, I-I wasn't talking about love," she said.
"You weren't?" he asked.
"No, I was tryin' ta tell you that I've found your sista," she explained. "I don't have feelings for you, Spot, I'm sorry." He just stared at her blankly.
"M-me sista?" he muttered finally.
"Yes," she sighed.
"Connie?" he demanded.
"Yes," she repeated.
"Where?" he questioned as a huge grin spread across Jenna's features. "Where, Toothpick?"
"Spot?" came Connie's tiny voice.
"Connie?" he whispered.
"Spot!" she cried, rushing toward him.
"Connie!" he shouted, arms wide open as she fell into them. She cried her heart out with joy. It had been six years since the two had seen each other. Spot held her tight to him, never letting her go, afraid he might lose her. Tears began to form in his eyes too but never released.
"Why did you leave me, Spot?" she asked between sobs.
"You were so young and I didn't know how ta take care of you, but I know that's no excuse. I'm so sorry, Connie," he murmured. "But we'll never be apart ever again, I promise."
"Spot!" she cried, as a fresh flow of tears flooded her eyes. "I missed you so much."
"I missed you, too," he whispered, kissing the top of her head. Jenna and Sarah just watched, tears streaming down Sarah's face as Jenna just smiled sweetly. She wasn't flustered by Spot's earlier actions either. He had been infatuated with her, he didn't love her. Now that he had his sister, though, she had a feeling that he'd be paying a lot less attention to her.
"Hey, Race," Jenna said casually, walking up to Racetrack who sat on the steps to the newsies' boarding house. He had been playing his harmonica and quickly removed it from his lips as Jenna approached.
"Oh, hey, Toothpick," he said.
"You play da harmonica?" she asked, glancing at the small silver instrument in his hand.
"Oh, yeah," he muttered, taking one look at the horrid instrument.
Oh, great, she probably thinks I'm an idiot for playin' da harmonica. He thought.
"Really? I haven't met anyone yet who plays it too," she said, sliding her own out of her right hand pocket. Racetrack was completely stunned. "Me dad used ta play and he taught me. Left this to me when he died." She smiled. Raising the harmonica to her lips she began to play the tune "Buffalo Gals" and Racetrack soon joined in.
"Ya ain't bad, Toothpick," he said.
"You ain't bad yourself," she replied, returning the complement. They played another quick tune and then Jenna waved and went on her way.
He plays the harmonica. She thought, her heart racing.
She plays the harmonica. Racetrack thought as he watched her waltz off into the night. There was a connection now. Something more than papers that they saw eye to eye on. From that day on they would meet together, just the two of them, and play a few songs together. Then Jenna would hurry off to fix supper for her dying mother and be off again to help Must. He had been improving so much that they might not be meeting for much longer.