Chapta Sixteen

Dislaimer: I don't own Newsies.
A/N: Ah, one of the best chappies right here - Spot's change of character continues! Keep reviewing, it's my motivation!
The party was a tad boring.

It hadn't been planned, and therefore, no one knew what to do. Perhaps it was Spot, perhaps Ali, but after thirty minutes, someone threw it out on the table - "Why don't we play five minutes in the closet?"

(Me: Yeah, they did have that game back then.)

The rest of them agreed, and they paired up - Ali and Race practically clung to each other, so Spot shuffled over to Natalie - he wasn't upset, although anyone could be fooled by his slouching, but he had an image to keep. He was liking Natalie more and more by the minute, whenever she laughed or smiled or made a joke - and his mind silently cheered him on when he realized they were partners. For someone like Natalie, though, reading Spot was a bit harder, and she took it he was upset.

Racetrack and Ali were up first, and as they opened the door to step into the tiny closet, Ali gave him a look that was only meant for him to see. But Spot's eyes were good ones, and he caught on to the seductive twitch and the curve of her smile, and obnoxiously shouted, "Yeah Race! Gonna get some?"

Race snorted and shook his head as he stepped in after Ali. Covered and dipped in sarcasm, he replied, "Oh, you bet, Spots. You bet." The closet door slid shut, and no one said a word for about three minutes, before Spot got bored and decided to raise hell. Creeping over ever so silently, he rested his ear against the door, listening for any possible noise. However, neither of the two in question had been expecting to see a Spot eavesdropping on them when they came out, so as they opened the door, it bonked the Brooklynite loudly on the head and sent him sprawling backwards. Race jumped about a foot in the air, knocking over Ali, who was still halfway in the closet, and she tripped over the door frame and got herself tangled in a clothes hanger, whilst Natalie stood by, making fun of her. And utter chaos fell upon the Wells household.

Finally, after a good deal of laughing, cursing, tripping, and punching, Racetrack quieted himself down enough to suggest, "Okay, Spotty, how 'bout you? Yer turn ta go in."

"Don call me Spotty," Spot reprimanded him, "It makes me sound like I'm diseased aw sumthin'."

"Ya are. Yer diseased in da head."

"Stupid."

"Jus' go." Race made a shoving motion towards his friends, and ever-so-daintily, Spot stepped into the closet, followed by Natalie. Her face dropped a little as she saw the face he was making - which reflected absolutely none of his emotions - because she could not see past his front yet, and thought he didn't like her. The tiny glimmer of hope she had had for this crush was beginning to fade.

The closet was stuffy.

As the door slid shut, the light was cut off, leaving them sitting in complete darkness. It smelled of mothballs, and it was hot, dusty, and crowded. However, they were crammed together, and Spot smelled faintly of mint, while Natalie had the aroma of strawberry, so that was one less problem to deal with.

They sat in silence for about two minutes, shifting around in the darkness, and they could see each other's outlines, but that was it. Natalie's doubts grew. No one said you had to kiss in the closet, but how many other times would she get an opportunity like this? She knew that Race and Ali had kissed in here, judging by the fingerprints and hand prints all over the walls in dust (Heehee), and she hoped to god she wouldn't have to make the first move. Because she was going to get a kiss today.

Whether he liked it or not.

Spot's heart was thudding rapidly. He could see her brown hair catching tiny specks of light in the dark, giving her a shape, and he could hear her breathing, rather close to him. He wondered if he should kiss her, before the thought became a nagging and the nagging became an urge. Being a very impulsive person at heart didn't help, either, so he mustered up all the courage he could and leaned foward.

"Natalie."

Natalie was only aware Spot was close to her by the sudden minty smell that surrounded her. And as she looked up for a face, he kissed her.

It lasted only a few seconds, but it was a few seconds of ecstasy. His lips pressed on hers, worming his way into her mouth. He was experienced at this, so he questioned himself as to why he was so nervous - it wasn't like this was a first, but perhaps it was one time that mattered. He put a hand out as he leaned against the closet wall, drawing out the kiss for a few seconds longer, before he pulled away, and his outline was lost to Natalie.

She could hear him shifting around in the dark again, resuming his posture, and not saying a word about what had just happened - she supposed he was that kind of person who kept the past in the past - and finally, after a minute or so, reached up and grabbed the latch and swung open the door.

Stepping out into fresh air, Spot pulled a cobweb from his hair and dusted himself off. He had waited to get out so his face would have time to go back to it's normal color instead of red, as it had been a few seconds ago. Looking foward towards Ali and Racetrack, he did not turn to Natalie, who looked a little flustered but okay.

Race approached Spot with a comical grin on his face. "So, Spot, ya look like ya been up ta sumthin'," he announced, loudly. Spot did not turn to look at Natalie, or even say something about it. He laughed quietly, then said, "Now, we's gotta play anudda game - got any ideas?"

"..."

"...Poker?" suggested Race, looking around sheepishly.

"No."

"Eh..."

"Hell no! I don have a cent on me!"

"Yeah, but ya got one around ya."

"Put a lid on it, ya bonehead."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Well," began Ali, "We could play truth or dare."

There was a silence, before Race nodded and Spot chuckled. Natalie clicked her teeth. "Sure," she said, refusing to look at Spot.

Two could play at this game.

She could see him purse his lips and his eyes grew a cold shield over them, and began to think he was angry. But that wouldn't make sense, because he kissed her first. Maybe he was upset with her performance or something? Ah, well. That's the risk you take.

But Spot was not angry in the least - he was embarrassed, just waiting for her to go and let it slip that he kissed her - and the longer she didn't mention it, the worse he felt. It was like some big climactic procedure, and it was grating on his nerves.

So the four sat down and began the game. Racetrack rolled first, and it landed on Spot.

"Spotsy, truth aw dare?"

"Dare, bitch."

"Alright, den... I dare ya ta act out a rich fancy-smanschy lady."

Spot fanned his face with his hand and said in a high voice, "Oh, deary me, take me now, Anthony dear." He then fell into Race's arms, and Race bent over and kissed him with fake passion, causing Ali and Natalie to fly into fits of laughter that practically shook the attic. After the boys' little charades were done, it was Spot's turn to spin the bottle, and it landed on Ali. Race gulped.

"Ali, I dare ya ta..." He paused and thought for a moment, "Go an' make out wit Race. Right ova there."

Ali paused and looked at Race, and Race looked at Ali, before the pair stood up and abruptly began kissing like no one's business. "Yeah Checkers!" shouted Natalie, cheering, and Spot sat laughing and "Woo!" ing.

After a moment, the couple sat down, blushing and chuckling. Taking deep breathes, Ali rolled the bottle, and it landed on Spot again. A wave of nervousness overcame him as he saw Ali get a deadly twinkle in her eye - he would pay.

"I dare you to make out with Natalie," she said, without giving him the option of truth. There was dead silence, as Natalie stood up, followed by Spot.

There was no avoiding her now. Looking into her eyes, he felt the heat in his cheeks start up, because this time there was no closet to protect them and shield them from the humiliation. But there was no avoiding it, and he leaned foward.

Natalie moved her head the rest of the way, trying to ignore the giggles from Race and Ali, who sat on the floor. This time, there was tongue - not as if there hadn't been the first time, but much more now. And passion. She found herself getting so caught up in the kiss she didn't notice when Spot pressed her against a wall, or when his hand found itself in her hair. But when she finally opened her eyes, there he was, blue eyes watching her every move and with the bit of a smirk on his face.

Wow, he was hot.

And he couldn't avoid her now, since they had basically shown the world what had gone on in the closet. Maybe even better.

And it seemed they parted just in time, because a few seconds later, footsteps were heard coming up the staircase and Ali's mother appeared.

"Andria," she called, softly, "I think it's time your friends be going home. It's getting late."

"Ok, mom..." Ali replied, shaking her head.

Spot and Natalie nodded, and Victoria left. Shaking hands and hugging and saying goodbye, the two made their way outside the house and across the street, where they walked down the sidewalk in silence.

"So..." Natalie finally managed to say. Spot glanced up.

"I... I'm sorry if you're embarrassed," she continued, looking at her feet. Spot looked at his.

"Wasn't yer fault."

"But... If you plan on ignoring me..."

"I ain't ignorin' ya."

Natalie looked at him hopefully. "You aren't?"

"No," he said slowly, "Who said I was?"

"Well, no one, but..." she gave up, and there was a slight pause. "You sure you aren't mad?"

"Don be stupid," Spot warned, "I kissed ya foist."

"I'm guessing that wasn't new for you."

Spot shook his head. "Naw," he said, kicking a rock out of his way, "Yers?"

"No."

"Really?" He thought he had gotten her first kiss.

"Nope."

"Who was da lucky kid?"

"I dunno. About two boyfriends ago."

Spot stopped and looked at her curiously. "Ya that popular?"

Natalie shrugged. "I guess."

"Wow." He sighed. So he wasn't the first guy to like her... Like her? The thought popped into his head as suddenly as it shocked him. Spot Conlon... having a crush on Natalie O'Rourke? He thought of the day's events and realized that it did seem like it... He had been acting way different around her than with anyone else. He kissed her a few times, tried to always be next to her, and pinned her against a wall and threatened to 'punish' her. If Racetrack and Ali could notice that, did that mean Natalie could herself? He had kissed her, yeah. He had made out with her. But there had been no resistance, or he would've stopped right then and there.

But there was none.

So it either came down to one or the other - Natalie liked him back, or was incredibly naive.

Spot smirked to himself.

Now he had something to do in his spare time.

Goodbye, reading. Spot Conlon, the King of Brooklyn, has a crush.

Later that night...
Racetrack Higgins lay on top of his bed, reading over the note Ali had written him when she gave him the new clothes. Call it sad, but he wanted a piece of her with him wherever he went. Which meant he'd read the same tiny sentence over and over again if he had to. And he did.

The whole room was dark, aside from his kerosene lamp which sat on his nightstand. He stuffed the note in his pocket, but was sure to fold it neatly first, and lay in the darkness, staring at the ceiling. He wasn't tired enough to go to sleep yet. A cold chill swept up his spine, and he was beginning to doubt the furnace would ever work properly again.

Soft footsteps on the stairs gave him a ten second warning. Flicking out the lamp, he dived under the covers, touseled his hair, and closed his eyes. The footsteps were so soft that he knew they weren't William's or Victoria's, and Arthur didn't even bother trying to be quiet - yesterday he awoke Racetrack by banging on a toy drum in his ear.

He heard the footsteps creeping over to his bedside, and a light filled the insides of his eyes. Doing his best 'you-woke-me-up' impression, he yawned and stretched. Ali stood above him, holding her own kerosene, and she smiled a bit.

"Ali...?" he asked, trying to sound dazed. She gave him a playful swat across the face.

"It's really obvious you weren't sleeping," she pointed out. He sighed and rolled his eyes, totally losing the tired act.

"Okay," he asked, "So whaddaya want? Want me ta read ya a story?"

"No..."

"Aw," he said, grinning mischievously, "We could –"

A whack in the back of the head shut him up, very suddenly, and the only noise in the room was the echoing fwump!

She laughed. "Mind if I sit?"

"Go ahead. It's yer bed, anyways."

Ali sat on the edge, before laying down next to him. The two lay in silence, staring at the ceiling and listening to the last remaining crickets outside, chirping their lives away. No one said a word, before Race held out the corner of the blanket to her.

Ali paused, looking down at him, deciding whether or no to accept this invitation. But seeing his adorable little face and messed up hair peeking out from a giant pillow and heavy blanket was enough to make her take the blanket from him and get under it. She knew how sensual the scene looked, but she trusted him. Race was making no move to go any farther, and neither would she - they were fine just being together, which was something Ali treasured in their relationship. Very few people could say they could sleep in the same bed as their partner and not do anything, but she could... and it was refreshing.

Another cold draft entered the room, and she felt it through the blanket. Race must have felt her shudder, because ever so gently, he wrapped an arm around her waist.

Ali turned, and he removed his hand. Facing him, she began to say something, but he shook his head.

"I'm sorry... If yer uncomftable, I won't..."

She looked at him, and realized, he was innocent. No matter what he did, he always would be, and it was this quality that had attracted him to her in the first place. So, laying back down, she shook her head.

"No..." she whispered, "It's okay."

He smiled. "Ya sure?"

"Yeah... Just remind me to wake up in the morning."

He chuckled and nodded, and wrapping his hand back around her waist, the two fell asleep nuzzling, and the cold was gone.

A/N: Awww, that's true love right there. You better R & R for this one!