Author note: Happy Valentines Day! Here is my Valentines gift to you. Oh, and I know they didn't have sleeping pills back then…but oh well, they do now. I invented them! Lol. .
Skip and I walked down the steps of the Lodging House and into the main room. The room was completely empty, probably because it was getting late. I must've took forever washing up. We sat down at the table and I stared at Skip as he began.
"I ain't supposed ta tell youse dis," he said, propping his feet up on the table, "but yer boyfriend ain't gonna take da time ta do it."
"He isn't my-"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, whateva. So anyways, 'bout da Harlem boys." Skip put his arms behind his head and closed his eyes. I thought he had gone to sleep after a moment of silence, but then he began to talk.
"Jus' a few months ago while youse were still recoverin, Jack and Spot caused a little trouble with Harlem. Dey argued 'bout somethin, I ain't sure what it was 'bout, but it made Harlem furious. Dey demanded more respect from Brooklyn and Manhattan, but Spot and Jack wouldn't give it to dem. So after a few months of fightin, Harlem started ta trespass on Spot and Jack's territory, and demanded for dem ta give over some of their newsies."
"Why would they want their newsies?" I interrupted.
"'Cause nobody likes ta sell in Harlem, so dey have less boys, but jus' as tough as Brooklyn. Dey ain't makin much sellin to dem Harlem folk, so dey want more newsies, and da only way dey can get 'em is if Spot and Jack demand some of their newsies ta leave. I think dat's what dey argued 'bout."
"Why wouldn't Spot tell me this?" I asked furiously.
"Probably 'cause youse got enough stress; and knowing youse you will try ta find a way ta end da feud. Dat'll put ya in danger." I crossed my arms over my chest.
"Stupid Spot," I muttered. "He never tells me anything!"
"Yeah, well, he cares 'bout ya."
"Or so he says," I finished for him. Skip shook his head,
"Youse two are killin me. If youse guys don't ever hook up den I'm comittin suicide!" I laughed and leaned back in my chair.
"Spot and I are just friends," I told Skip. "It would never work out. We are two different people."
"Maybe so, but people who are different are attracted to each udder more. 'Cause youse can learn more 'bout da udder and you'll only get bored with someone jus' like ya."
It was true, I had to admit. Spot and I are totally different people, but we were still attracted to each other because of our differences. I would get really bored being around a guy who acted just like me. Not that I'm boring, it's just we would never have anything to talk about.
"Spot is too stubborn to admit his feelings," I said.
"Spot already admitted his feelins. He told ya he liked youse, so why don't youse tell him yer feelins?"
"I guess I can – hey, how'd you know Spot said he liked me?"
"I hoid him tell his weird spy – Spark, I think – dat he told ya." I wrinkled my eyebrows and pondered through my head. What would Spot say if I told him how much I liked him? I couldn't, it would be too fast. Just way too early.
Before I could say anything, a small bang came from outside the Lodging House. Skip and I gave each other suspicious looks as we walked to the door. I opened it up and looked around; nobody was here. I then walked out, and Skip followed. He got in front of me and looked around the corner.
"What's going o-" Skip immediately clasped his hand over my mouth and pulled me away from the alleyway. He held his hand over my mouth and peaked around the corner as we leaned against the Lodging House.
"It's Harlem," he whispered. "Dey are here." He then pulled his hand off my mouth and I peaked around. There were three, tough looking boys staring up at the boy's window. I gave Skip an odd look as the boys began to walk out of the alley. Skip and I pressed ourselves closely to the wall.
The boys walked out and turned the other way, walking in the direction of the Brooklyn Bridge, chatting to each other. Skip and I glanced at each other as we crept in the shadows to follow them.
"I say we break in and soak," one with a cigar in his mouth said. The one walking beside him slapped his friend in the back of the head.
"We can't do dat, idiot! I told ya a million times, we's gotta do dis secretly. Youse is so stupid Twitch!" The on known as Twitch shrugged his shoulders.
"Hear dat, Sky?" Twitch said to the boy who hasn't talked yet. "Crow here wants ta do dis 'secretly.'" The one known as Crow slapped his friend once more and grunted.
"Shut up," he demanded. "Dis is Lance's idea, not mine. Hey Sky, wasn't it yer idea ta burn da Lodging House?"
"What, who's burnin down da Lodging House?" Twitch asked hysterically. Crow shook his head and sighed in aggravation.
"Not our Lodging House, youse idiot! Spot's Lodging House!"
"Oh," Twitch said. "Dat makes a lot more sense." Skip and I exchanged worried glances as we kept following the boys.
"They can't burn down the Lodging House," I whispered. "That's our home!" Skip nodded as we neared the Bridge.
Hey, if we's is gonna burn down Spot's Lodging House, den what are we gonna do ta Jack's?" Twitch asked stupidly. Crow, once again, slapped his friend in the bag of the head.
"We's is gonna coat it in flowers and candy," he said.
"We are?" Twitch questioned.
"No, youse idiot!" Twitch scratched his head.
"I'm confused!" he announced.
We soon entered Manhattan, and followed the boys to the Manhattan Lodging House.
"What do you think they're doing?" I whispered.
"Probably lookin or hiding spots for when dey 'burn' da Lodging Houses." I shuddered at the thought of being stuck in a burning building again. It frightened me terribly. We'd have to tell Spot the minute we return.
The three Harlem boys walked around the Lodging House, studying it closely. Skip and I stayed close together as we watched the boys look for easy ways to escape when they burn the building.
"What do ya think Spot and Jack are gonna do after dey find out it was us?" Twitch asked.
"Dey ain't gonna find out, youse idiot," Crow said.
"Oh…huh?"
"We're going to give them pills," Sky spoke up. He didn't sound like he was from New York. His English was proper, and didn't sound lazy like the people in New York.
"What do da pills do?" Twitch asked.
"They knock you out for a certain amount of time. We'll slip the pills into their drinks, and when they go to sleep that night, they'll burn in the fire," Sky explained. My eyes grew wide at the image of the boys burning while in their beds. I clasped my hand over my mouth to keep from gasping out loud.
The boys seemed to be quite pleased with their plan, but when were they planning on doing it? I looked up at Skip, who seemed just as surprised as me.
"Well, we should head back 'cause Lance said he wants ta know 'bout all da hidin places," Crow said. The boys agreed and began their long journey back to Harlem.
"Should we follow them?" I whispered.
"Probably, but dey'll soon get suspicious and find out we's is following dem. We should head back."
"But we don't know when they'll attack," I whispered back.
"Den keep an eye out for a pill in yer drink." I nodded and followed Skip back to Brooklyn, discussing what we just witnessed.
The moment we walked into the Lodging House, I walked for the boy's room.
"What are youse doin?" Skip asked, catching my arm.
"We have to tell Spot," I told him.
"No, we can't. If we's tell him den he'll get angry and get into a fight with Harlem, which will cause more chaos."
"And what are we supposed to do? Wait for them to destroy our home?" I protested.
"No, we's wait for signs. Dey'll be attacking sooner den we think, so let's jus' keep it to ourselves for now," Skip told me.
"What about Manhattan? We can't be there to keep them from drinking anything!"
"Youse jus' leave dat up ta me. I'm goin ta spy on Harlem tomorrow, so maybe I can find out when dey'll attack. Until den, don't tell Spot. Agreed?" I thought it over for a minute. He was right; Spot would make matters worse if we told him.
"Agreed," I said, shaking Skip's hand. Just as we were getting ready to walk upstairs, Spot emerged from the shadows.
"Where have youse been?" he asked, eyeing us suspiciously. Did he hear what we were talking about? Oh God please don't let him know! Skip looked down at me and then back at Spot.
"We jus' went out for a walk," he said truthfully. It was the truth; we did go walking…sort of.
"Yeah…because Chance needed to go out for awhile," I lied. Spot sent Skip a glare as he walked closer to us, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Oh yeah? Where is Chance?"
"He went to the kitchen," I said, giving Spot the same look he gave Skip. "Now if you'll excuse me, I am very tired and wish to go to sleep." I casually walked by Spot and walked the steps. I said my goodnights, and entered my room, leaving two, very stubborn boys back downstairs.
Spot's P.O.V
I glared intensely at Skip as he watched Sage walk up to her room. He then switched his gaze to me once she closed the door.
"Uh, goodnight," he said, trying to walk past me. I pushed him back where he was.
"Not so fast," I growled. Skip raised his eyebrows and glared at me.
"What?"
"What are youse doin with Sage?" I asked. Skip looked amused for a second before replying,
"Taking a nice walk. Dat's all." I narrowed my eyes as anger filled my veins.
"Do youse like 'er?" I asked, clenching my fists.
"Sure, she's a nice goil and all-"
"Dat ain't what I mean," I interrupted.
"Oh," he said, grinning. "What happens between Sage and I is our business, so I ain't gonna tell youse. Maybe I do like 'er, maybe I don't. Youse will jus' hafta find out." He then made a move to leave, but my anger got the better of me. I threw him against the wall and brought my cane up to his neck.
"Listen, dumbass, if youse touch 'er I'll kill ya. Don't try anythin with 'er; she's off limits, ya hear?"
"Well, well, well," Skip said in a disgusting tone. "I do believe the king of Brooklyn is jealous. Listen punk, if I decide to make a move on Sage, dat ain't any of yer business 'cause it'll jus' prove dat I ain't afraid ta show my feelins." I flinched as he pushed me away from him. "Maybe you'd like ta make yer move soon before someone much better, and richer, den you comes along."
With that said Skip stormed upstairs, leaving me stunned. What if someone did come along and take Sage away from me. Someone who lives in a actual house, an actual job, and actual money. What if she leaves for good?
Normal P.O.V
I listened vaguely to the fussing boys downstairs, not taking in much of their conversation. I was too busy watching the rain hit my window, and listening to it beat the rooftops.
I sighed deeply and closed my eyes, drifting off into an unforgettable nightmare.
Next Chapter: Sage dreams about the Lodging House being burned down.
Sage spots a pill in Spot's drink as the newsies engage in a friendly poker game. Wait – all of the other newsies have pills in their drinks too? Why won't Spot listen to Sage when she tries to take his drink away?
Sage is stuck in a burning Lodging House with a bunch of sleeping newsies. What can she do to save them?
Author note: Ah, that may be broken up into two chapters. Anyways, just so you guys know I barely ever plan out what I'm going to write when I'm at the computer. Throughout my first story I made it up as I went along, and I plan to do the same thing to this one. I can't sit down and plan it all out, I have to surprise myself. Much love: HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!