Author note: So, sorry for not updating yesterday, I do have excuses but sadly I don't have time to type them out.
I had to visit the infirmary once again that week. The school was open to those who didn't have families to go home to.
The stitches in my leg were beginning to become a bother, and I just realized how much of an idiot I was in that room.
As I left the school, frowning to myself. I watched a man scurry behind a building, dressed in nothing but dark clothing.
I knew it was one of Ned's spies just by looking at him. He had that dirtiness of a spy, but lacked the sneakiness. I rolled my eyes to myself and continued down the street until I came upon Joy's diner, and smiled to myself when I looked through the window to see Stephen and Spot sitting with Blade and Erica.
I entered, listening to that little annoying ding coming from the bell at the top of the door. Stephen looked towards the door and motioned me over to the round table. I sat down beside Erica, just across from the Brooklyn leader, and glanced over at her.
"How are your hands?" I whispered to Erica.
She looked down at her bandaged palms and frowned. "They're okay," she whispered back.
Blade looked down at her and grinned, and she returned one of her own. I bit my lip, remembering the warning that Ned gave me, and sighed deeply.
"Somethin wrong, Parker?" Spot asked from across the table.
"No," I said, looking over at him.
He sat lazily in his chair, sitting back comfortably and relaxed, his cap sitting on the table. For a leader he was quite small for his age, but then again what did I know? I spent five years in a school of survival and death. The only thing I knew about boys was that they tried too hard to please the opposite sex.
Spot just shrugged and ran a hand through his hair, which was slightly damp from sweat. I stared at him for a minute and smiled – again. He looked at me oddly at first, but returned the smile, which made my stomach do flip-flops.
I'm getting too close, I thought. I never smile about a boy, no matter how attractive and sweet. Hell, I never smile period. And here I was, smiling at a boy who I barely knew, and hated with all my heart – or so I thought.
I looked away as a waiter approached us.
"What can I get you?" he asked disgustedly.
I glared up at him and sat up straight. "You know, you're not going to have many happy customers with that attitude, buddy," I said rudely.
"Excuse me?" he asked angrily.
"She said yer bein an ass, is it dat hard ta comprehend?" Spot asked, also glaring up at the waiter.
The waiter rolled his eyes and smacked his lips.
"There you go again," I said, waving my hands in the hair.
"Are you people gonna order or not?" he asked.
"Nah, I'm not hungry," I said, settling back in my chair.
"Me either," Spot said, propping his feet up onto the table.
Stephen grinned and shook his head and ordered himself something to eat. Blade chuckled and ordered a coffee, and Erica did the same.
Spot grinned over at me and winked, and I merely rolled my eyes. He laughed slightly and shook his head.
"So, when did you two start getting along?" Erica asked, smiling brightly.
Spot raised his eyebrows in amusement and crossed his arms over his chest. "Depends on watchya mean by 'getting along'," he said.
Erica shook her head and laughed. "I guess that mean you are friends now, right?" she asked.
I shrugged, as did Spot, which caused everyone to laugh.
"See, I told you she wasn't that bad of a person," Stephen said, patting my shoulder.
I stared at him warningly and narrowed my eyes. "Don't touch me," I said.
Stephen pulled his hand away and sighed. "But she's still got attitude problems," he said.
After drinking their coffees, Blade and Erica left for the docks, leaving me with the Brooklyn joke, and Mr. Eats-a lot.
Spot made silly faces on the other side of the table, just to hear me laugh. He had said he never heard me laugh, and was trying his best to make me do so.
I stared at him like he was an idiot as he made a fool of himself.
"Cut it out, Conlon, people are watching," I said with no emotion whatsoever.
Spot shrugged. "Ya gotta laugh, Anomie, so I'll know yer human," he said.
"Haha; happy now?"
"Nearly," Spot joked.
The three of us left the restaurant and headed for the docks.
"So, are ya ticklish?" Spot asked mischievously.
"No," I said. "Are you?"
Spot shrugged. "Dunno, no one evah had da guts ta find out," he said.
"You're full of yourself, Conlon," I said, looking up at him.
"So I've been told," he laughed.
I walked in-between Stephen and Spot as we neared the docks. I glanced over at the Brooklyn ruler and tilted my head confusedly.
"What's that?" I asked.
"What?" Spot said.
I nodded towards the silver key hanging around his neck, and he looked down. He took it up in his fingers and looked at it.
"If I told you, I'd have ta kill ya," he said.
"You can try, but you won't succeed," I told him. "What's the key to?"
"Don't know, honestly," he said. "Some guy sold it to me."
"You bought a key from a man you don't know?" I asked.
"Yeah," Spot shrugged.
"You don't even know what it's to," I told him.
"I know," he said.
"Hey, I'm still here you know," Stephen interrupted us. "You two want to act like I'm alive?"
"No," Spot and I said in unison.
Stephen sighed in defeat and shoved his hands into his pockets.
"What's the cane for?" I asked, returning to asking Spot questions about his odd possessions.
"It's been passed down from leadah to leadah," he explained. "It's a sign of leadership."
"It's a sign of idiocy. Don't you think that the cops are going to think that you stole it?"
"Da bulls ain't gonna botha me 'bout my cane," Spot explained. "Dey is too scared of me."
"This is a messed up place," I said, shaking my head. "Am I the only one not frightened by you?"
Spot glanced down at me and twirled his cane in his fingers. "I suppose," he said. "Am I da only one not scared of you?"
"You're the only one who has enough backbone to even argue with me," I said.
"Well, looks like we have Brooklyn's most terrifying couple," Stephen laughed.
I sent Stephen an icy glare, which shut him up. Spot just laughed and shook his head. "Funny Cromwell, but I have goils lined up for miles to hook up with me. Why would I ever hook up with a goil like Parker?" he asked.
I stopped walking and stared at Spot angrily. "What is that supposed to mean?" I asked venomously.
Stephen and Spot stopped walking, and turned towards me.
"Nothin, I was jus' sayin-"
"You were just saying how much of a jackass you were, and how stupid I was to finally trust you!"
I turned around and began to storm away.
"You're in trouble now," Stephen told Spot.
Spot sent him a glare before running after me. "I didn't mean ta sound like an ass," he said, falling into step beside me.
"Well congratulations, you did!" I exclaimed.
"Wait, why are you upset? Shouldn't you be happy dat I wouldn't wanna be with you?" he asked.
"Yeah, I'm overjoyed, but you didn't have to be a jerk about it," I said.
I was getting overworked about nothing, and I didn't know exactly why. I looked back to see that Stephen was long gone to leave me and Spot fighting over something stupid. I turned back, and stopped right in my tracks, which caused Spot to run into me.
"What the?-"
"Shut up," I hissed.
Not too faraway was Erica struggling to get away from that spy I saw earlier. He was talking to someone else, and looked kind of angry.
"She disobeyed the rules," I read his lip movements.
"What's going on?" Spot asked from behind me.
"Shh!" I demanded.
We watched as the man began to pull Erica towards a carriage. Spot gasped and moved forward, but I held my hand up.
"Don't get involved in that," I said. "They're teachers at our school," I lied.
"That's how da teachers treat you?" Spot asked, astonished.
"Eh, if you're bad I guess," I shrugged.
I licked at my lips, debating on whether or not to follow them. As a leader it was my job to keep everyone safe, but then again it was my duty to let everyone fend for themselves. It is a survival school, so shouldn't I let them learn on their own?
I shook my head and sighed as I began to walk towards the carriage. Spot stared at first, and then followed.
"Don't, Conlon!" I said.
"What?" he asked.
"Don't follow me. I have important things to do, and they don't involve being stalked by a self-concerned, dumbass jerk like you!"
Spot raised his eyebrows in amusement and crossed his arms over his chest. "I think yer jealous," he said, smirking.
"Jealous of what?" I asked, also crossing my arms.
"Dat I said I'd pick any goil ovah you," he explained.
"Listen, Conlon, you can pick the ugliest whore over me for all I care. I don't want anything to do with you. I don't want to be close to you, I don't want to talk to you, hell, I don't even want to know you. So don't go saying that I'm jealous."
"What? Too scared ta say dat yer attracted to me?" Spot laughed.
I rolled my eyes and sighed. "Believe what you want, Spot, but there are some things you'll never understand," I said.
Spot furrowed his eyebrows as I turned around and walked away. I sighed to myself and shook my head. No matter how much I liked someone, I'd never be able to express it. It was a rule of Ned's. I could love someone, but I could never show it.
I made a face at the thought of liking Spot Conlon. He had too much pride, and only thought of himself. You'd think that the girl's would be tired of him by now, but no, they all drop at his feet and kiss his boots.
I followed the carriage all the way to the school, and followed the spy as he pulled Erica out of the carriage and into the building. They stormed into Ned's office, and I pressed my ear to the door.
"What is this?" Ned asked angrily.
"She was with a boy, sir," the spy said. "She was breaking the rules."
"I see," Ned said. "I guess we'll have to punish her then."
I groaned and pushed the door open, and stormed in.
"That won't be necessary," I said walking up to Ned's big, brown desk.
"Anomie," Ned said. "So good of you to join us."
"I demand you let me take Erica's punishment. It isn't her fault she was with him; I was the one who failed to give her your warning."
Ned leaned back in his chair. "It was her mistake, not yours," he said.
"Just let me do it!" I exclaimed.
Ned shrugged. "Alright," he said.
I pressed my lips in a thin line and nodded.
"Anomie, no," Erica said. "You can't."
"I can!"
"But, you already risked your life for Stephen," she said.
"So? I'll do the same for you."
I turned around and began to leave.
"Oh, Anomie," Ned said. "6:00 tonight, be in the dungeons."
Next Chapter: Anomie is taunted by disturbing voices down in the dungeons where many died. Is the dead really talking to her, or is she losing her mind?
Author note: Blah, blah, blah. Whatever.
