All the characters used in my story are made up or property of the
Disney Corporation, I do not own any of the Disney characters. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~
By: Sassafras Lei
It was a lovely morning when Sassy left with Spot, for her new home in Brooklyn. For the first time since she'd left Queens, she felt like she was doing something right for a change. As they walked on something triggered that night she had left Queens, and the promise she made to Skip, that she said she'd never break.
~~Flashback~~ "Well yous know Spot's quiet da ladies man, yous might get attached ta 'im after awhile." Sassy rolled her eyes, at the thought. "Yah.... right, Well if I's go ta Brooklyn, I'm goin' be a newsie not a lady, an' I's wont get attached ta 'im, dats fer sure, but I's ain't goin' back, I ain't, yous hear me Skip, ya cain't make me. If dere's one promise I ever make, it would be not to ever fall in love wit' Spot, an' if I do, shoot me please." Sassy yelled getting impatience with him.
~~Present Time~~
The two got to the bridge, and Spot leaned over the edge looking at the water below them. Sassy dropped her bag, and slid to the ground. She sat there cradling her thoughts about promises made, and what was happening to herself. If she was back in Queens she would never find herself giving into a guy as easy as she did with Spot, she had to question what was going on with her.
"Ya all right Sass?" Spot finally asked, looking down at her. "Yah... I'm fine, neva betta," she said, not making eye contact with him. "Awright, ya ready ta go den?" he asked, not believeing her. "Sure." she said standing back up.
He put his arm around her shoulder, and they walked on across the bridge. As they made there way to the lodging house, Spot was greeted by some of his newsie friends from around the area. Sassy was introduced to a few, and they made their way to the lodging house together for the first time. "You can sleep he'ah, deres only goils in dis room to." Spot said. "Ok, thanks." she said, jumping up on it. "Yer not jus' gonna stay he'ah da rest of da day...are ya?" he asked, looking up at her. "I don't know; if I do ya might get mad wit' me." Spot laughed, and pulled her off the bed into his arms. "So what are we gonna do den?" Sassy asked.
"Come wit' me," he said, taking her hand. "Where we goin'?" Spot smiled, as they walked down the streets. "You'll see, come on," he said, as they walked down the pier. "Take off your shoes. Do ya trust me?" he asked, reaching the middle of the pier. "Yah, of coarse I do." she answered.
After they took off their shoes Spot grabbed her hand, and ran down the rest of the pier. "Spot, No!" she said, as she got pulled off the pier. "I's.... cain't.... believe... ya... did... dat!" she said, pushing back her hair. "Den, ya probably won't believe dis eidda," he said, splashing her. Sassy laughed, and did the same thing back. "I's cain't believe, ya did dat," Spot mocked.
Sassy rolled her eye, and splashed him once more. The water was just right, and like most said Spring was the time for love. Well it wasn't necessarily Spring anymore, but it was fading nicely into Summer.
"Oh, no you didn't." he said, wiping water out of his face. "Yes, I did to!" Sassy proclaimed. He smiled, and swam over to her.
Before she knew it, she was under the water. Since she was under she might as well mess with Spot's mind a little. She swam a little farther down; she looked up to see Spot's feet. Sassy swam up, and grabbed him pulling him under with her. "Yer crazy!" he sputtered. "Hell, I know dat." was how she replyed.
She wrapped her arm around his neck, he kissed her, and they both went under once again. When they came up Sassy swam back to the pier, followed by Spot. Half way up she turned around, and he pulled her off the ladder. A few minutes later they were both on the pier talking. "Feel bettah, now dat ya relaxed some?" Spot asked. "Yah amazingly, but ya know what would make me feel even bettah?" she asked him. "No, what's that?" he asked. "This..." she said, pushing him off the pier. "I's gonna get ya fer dat, Sass ya jus' wait." he said reaching for her ankles. "Spot!" she said jumping back. "I'd run, if I was yous," he said.
He watched her slip on her shoes, then run off the pier. He got up slowly so he could follow after her. Sassy wasn't paying attention to where she was going (as usual), and ran in to Hoods. "Ain't cha, Violet's friend?" he asked, helping her up. "Yah dats me, sahrry." she said, looking back. "What cha runin' from?" she smiled.
"Spot." he nodded, and let her go on.
She slowed her pace to a fast walk, not seeing Spot anywhere around, and walked on. She stood for a moment to regain her breath, and then she took off again. Sassy turned a corner, and Spot grabbed her, and she screamed in surprise because of it. "Jesus Christ, scare me half ta death, Spot." she said, breathing deeply. "Spot! What are ya doin'? Put me down!" she said, as Spot walked off towards the lodging house.
He dropped her on his bed, and fell into his couch. Sassy got up, and sat on the floor in front of him. He wouldn't look at her straight, so she turned her head away. He looked at her, and then sniggered a little, Sassy turned back, and slapped him lightly on the arm. He took her chin, and pulled her into a long passionate kiss. When they pulled apart she smiled, and wrapped her arms around him looking at his window. "So, if I go out dat window, what's da chance you'll follow me?" she asked. "Ahh, it's a pretty good one, why?" she got up, and went over to the window. "Awright den." she said, pulling herself out the window.
Spot sat dumbfound for a minute, and then realizing what happened he got up, and followed her out. When he got up she was standing at the edge of the roof, looking out as the sun started to set. Spot walked up behind her, and grabbed her wrists; she turned around fast bringing Spot to the roof. Spot sat holding on to Sassy as she hung over the edge. Sassy really didn't care it wasn't the first time; she had a look of amusement on her face.
"Spot jus' let go." Sassy said.
"No! Are ya crazy?" he asked.
"Yes! Now do what I tell ya." She said ready for him to let go. "Sass, give me yer odder hand, so I's can pull ya up." he said tighting his grip. He struggled for a minute but got her up with little strength.
"Spot, are ya awright?" she asked, more concerned about him then herself. "Yah, but I's should be da one askin' you dat," he said, hugging her.
"Good, I was fine I've had worse happen ta me, I's fallen higher amazingly." Sassy said looking at him. "Okay, yer crazy dough." he said, still holding her. "Spot ya can let go, I'm fine." he looked up. "Okay." he said, and fumbled to light a cigarette. "Don't ya know dat can kill ya?" Sassy asked, looking at him. "Yah, but, I figure I'm gonna die anyways, why, ya don't smoke do ya?" she looked, at him again. "I's take dat as a no," he said blowing out smoking.
"Yer crazy, 'a coarse I smoke, who doesn't now a days?" she said
taking it from him. "What ya surprised?" he watched her. "Yah, a lil, Yer one of da foist goils I've gone out wit' dat smokes, an' I mean evah." Sassy smiled, and rolled her eyes. "Ya haven't gone out wit' many news goils den have ya? Most of dem smoke." She said to him. "Yer right, I's haven't, I've only gone out wit' a few news goils." Spot said.
They sat up on the roof for a while talking about everything that they thought was possible. The sun had turned a bright red, and it was starting to fade into the darkness. Soon enough though the sun died away, and the darkness sort of just seemed to take over the light that was left. Spot let himself fall to the rooftop, he pulled Sassy back with him; He fixed his eyes on the nights sky above. She looked up to the stars were shining brightly; she closed her eyes thinking about another day. Sassy opened her eyes a few minutes later to Spot running his fingers across her cheek; she gave a small weak smile. "What da ya say Sass, are ya a night goil, or a day goil?" Spot asked, propping himself up on his elbows. "Both I guess, I love da day, but I like da night cause so much goes on afta dark." she said, turning to her side. "Yah, dat's understandable I guess." he said, getting up. "Yo, Spot! What's up?" Sassy asked, sitting up. "It's jus' dat ...Well I really sorta think dat your gonna be the best thing fer me since Moxie...well died." Spot said looking down. "Really, dats really sweet of ya ta say Spot." she got up.
He turned around slowly, and took her hand pulling her into him. She leaned against him slowly, she didn't know if she'd ever be really close to him though. She could never be sure what would happen though, Spot had changed her in the simplest ways ever, and she hadn't even noticed yet. Spot at 5'7 was still a few inches taller then Sassy, and with her head against his cheast his chin was rested on her head. He kept hold of her hand, and pulled her towards the escape. She looked at him and followed him down the fire escape, making sure she didn't kick him. It was after midnight when they went back in, and they were tired; plus they had to get up to sell papers again in the morning. She walked over to him, gave him a hug, he kissed her lightly and she walked out the door after they said there good nights.
When Sassy woke up she us surprised to see that the only other one up was ButterCup, who was sitting at the window. She sat looking around the room at all the sleeping girls, and then she jumped down and started to get dressed. As Sassy grabbed her hat to walk out the door, a few more of the girls were starting to move around. They could hear the boys above them jumping around, and getting ready for the day as well, as Sassy walked out the door. She walked down the stairs, and out the front door looking down the road. She stood at the corner of the street, and pulled out a half of cigarette then tryed to lit it. Sassy dropped it though when she saw Jack coming up the road towards her. He gave a weak smile as he came closer, but it faded as he walked past her and into the lodging house with a worried look.
Sassy watched Jack walk in, then noticed that he didn't look so great. Spot walked down the stairs greeted by rather worried Jack. Spot noticed when he saw Jack flinch when they shook hands a minute before. "So Jack, what happened? Why ya he'ah?" he asked. "It's Mush, he's gone, but all his stuffs at da lodgin' house, but he ain't dere." Jack said. "What's da point 'a dis Jack?" asked Spot. "I've had me boys out lookin' fer him all night, dis is serious Spot, we don't know what ta do." Spot looked up at him. "I's guess I can get some of my boys ta look fer him, I ain't grantin' nuthin' dough," he said. "Thanks Spot." Jack said. "I gotta go tell Sassy den, I guess I'll grab a few guys ta help out." Jack nodded and they left.
As the two guys walked down different roads Spot got a group of eight or nine guys too go look for the missing Mush.
"Sassy what are ya up ta taday?" Spot asked. "I'm sellin' what's it look like." she said turning to him. "Ya wanna come wit' me, an' Jack ta go look fer Mush?" she looked up. "Ya know I'd love ta, but I cain't, I gotta sell I's need da money." Sassy said. "Don't worry 'bout it," she looked up at him. "Trust me, don't worry 'bout it." "Well...awright." she said dropping her just bought papers.
So they started down the road, the guys explained to her what was going on as they walked on. Every one met at Tibbys, so they could get into different groups. They split up slowly, and took different parts of New York. Spots boys were of coarse in Brooklyn, Jack, Blink, Light, and Specs took uptown. Spot, Sassy, Tootsie, and Racetrack took the Bowery. Bumlets, Itey, Sugar, Kat, and Pie Eater went off towards Queens. And everyone else just split up to go to Harlem, Bronx, and Mid-town.
About six thirty that night everyone was getting restless, as they continued to search for the missing Mush. "Spot, we're runin' outta places ta look." Tootsie said bringing herself to stand.
"Seriously Spot let's head back ta Tibbys." Race said slipping a hand around her waist. "We're tired, we cain't do dis all night, jus' give up." Sassy said. "Okay, lets go back ta Tibbys den." he said taking Sassy's hand.
It was eight before they got back, and Jack still hadn't shown up. The four crashed into a booth waiting for him to get back with the others. By nine thirty Tootsie had fallen asleep on Races shoulder, and Sassy wasn't far from it. She was dozen off when Jack showed up at nine thirty. "What's da news?" he asked. "My boys have searched every inch he ain't in Brooklyn." Spot said. "No ones been able ta find 'im Jack, wese all worn out, we don't know what ta do anymore," Sassy said. "Most of da time people go missin' they ain't found, an' that's 'cause half of 'um don't wanna be found ta begin with." David said for the first time that night.
"Can we go back ta da lodgin' house now Jack?" Spot asked looking up. "Yah, go ahead, wese ran out of places ta look, I guess David was right." he said walking out the door. "What do ya thinks gonna happen?" Race asked pointing at Sassy at the same time. "Well I guess wese both got somethin' ta carry now, I don't know." Spot said standing.
"Okay, let's get goin' den." Racetrack said picking Tootsie up, Spot got up and did the same.
When they got to the lodging house Kloopman came out hearing the door open. Since the boys were carrying the girls he thought something was wrong with them. Racetrack looked up noticing Kloopman standing in the corner of the room. "Dere awright, jus' sleepin'" he said following Spot up the stairs.
They laid the girls on empty beds, and fell into their own tiredly. No one seemed to notice that Jack wasn't asleep in fact he wasn't even in his top bunk. The last day or two Jack had been running himself ragged looking for Mush. Yet no one had seen him, chances were he had probably ran off on his own. As tired as they all were the girls were that first to be woken up by the boys. The two definitely weren't thrilled about being woken up so early, but they got up quietly. "Why didja wake us up so early?" Tootsie asked stumbling down the stairs. "Jus' come wit' us." Race replied taking her hand. "Spot, what are we doin'? Its jus' now startin' ta get light out he'ah," Sassy questioned tiredly. "Ya trust me right Sass?" he asked. "No, No I's don't trust cha at all, not at all." she said seeing a smile cross his face. "It ain't dat Sassy, but I's know ya trust me," he implied.
The four walked down a few different roads. The guys seemed to know where they were going, and the girls weren't paying any attention to the roads. Spot and Racetrack stopped at a wall of vines that fell down to the ground nicely. Together the boys pulled the vines back, revealing a garden the girls were astonished. They had never seen this place before as they stood looking. It was amazing, heart shaped benches here and there, an angel shaped fountain, and Ivory growing beautifully up the side of a white gazebo, which over looked a small lake.
"Wow, dis is amazin'." Tootsie said hugging Race. "Yah, ten bucks says ya couldn't find it again dough," he said pulling her over to the gazebo. "Dis is a really nice place, but why is we he'ah?" Sassy asked as they say on the bench. " 'Cause it's a nice place ta relax, an' dats what wese all need right now. Why do ya gotta question every thing anyhow?" he asked putting his arm around her shoulder. "Ya know I really do like ya right?" he asked again. "Yah, I's know dat Spot," she said. "Ya know I's would neva hurt cha, but what if somethin' happens an' we break up 'cause of it?" he questioned. "It won't happen," she said kissing him to shut up.
She knew deep inside that they probably wouldn't be together for very long. There was something there about guys she found it harder to trust them, and she never stayed together very long she was too afraid she would get attached to the guy. Sassy didn't yet realize how attached to Spot she was already, and wouldn't for a while still. She would only realize how much she was when they would be apart for a while. She laid her head on Spots cheast and he looked down at her a little worried. Sassy looked up at Spot a few minutes later, not seeing any emotion at all, but it didn't surprise her. She looked at Tootsie and Racetrack, they looked and acted like they'd been going out forever, but they weren't yet. If you watched them though you would definitely mistake the two of them for a couple. "Look at dem, dere so happy an' Race ain't even asked her out yet," Sassy said. "What? I woulda swore dey were goin' out ta begin wit'." he said. "Dey might as well be, dey act like dey are so." Spot gave a weak smile.
The four talked in the groups of twos they had put themselves into, and talked for a while getting everything off their minds that mattered. By four that afternoon Sassy was ready to get back to the lodging house. She got up stretching watching Tootsie out of the corner of her eye. "Yo Tootsie, come he'ah girl!" Sassy called out. "Yah, what's up?" she asked walking over. "We're goin' back ta Brooklyn, jus' thought I'd let cha know dat." Tootsie smiled looking at her. "Okay, he finally asked me, an' I said yes, I Said YES!" Tootsie said. "Wow, dats great" she said hugging her "Well I'll see ya soon." Sassy said.
"Yah, next poker games in Brooklyn anyways," she said.
"Awright, see ya in a few weeks...Spot come on!" Sassy yelled.
He walked over to her and together they left the secret little spot, that was so nice, and beautiful to her. A few minutes Tootsie and Racetrack were also getting ready to go back to Manhattan for the rest of the day.
"Race do ya think dere gonna be ta gatha very long? Da longest either of dem has been wit' some one else is only like three weeks." Tootsie told Race. "I don't know what's gonna happen, dey've been goin' fer awhile behind Mush's back. Dere my friends, but I didn't think dat it was right." he said putting a hand around her waist. "Yah, yer right but dere perfect fer each odda in every way possible." she said as they left the little place.
"Yah, but wit' dere attitudes what's ta say dey don't get pissed, an' try ta kill each otha?" Race asked.
"You might be right, but I jus' don't know any more, dere meant fer each odda no matta what yall think." Tootsie said fixing her hat. "Okay, okay I's guess ya could be right 'bout dis one, I mean ya know more 'bout Sassy den I do. She jus' sort of came a cross like dat." she gave a weak laugh.
By the time Spot and Sassy approached the bridge they were both worn out. The summer heat was threating to burn them crisp; they both had already taken off their button up shirts because of the heat. Sassy rolled up her shirtsleeve so her shoulders could be seen; it was so hot in the city. Spot looked to his girl and realized she was starting to get depressed over something, something he wasn't too sure of. He could tell that she was deep in thought, of what he did not know, it was hard to tell for sure. "Are you alright?" Spot asked placing a hand on her shoulder. "What did ya say?" she asked looking up at him.
"Yah, are ya okay? Ya look sorta depressed," he said.
"Oh, really, well I'm okay jus' thinkin' about something." Sassy replied. "Awright I's unda stand, ya don't wanna tell me 'bout it." Spot said as they stepped off the bridge. "Huh...ya know dats not it, I's jus' don't like ta talk 'bout it a lot." she said pulling him to a stop.
"Do ya get it? ...Spot." Sassy sighed, than kissed him. "Yah, of coarse I get it," he said taking her hand.
They were three blocks away from the lodging house when Violet came running towards them soaked. She looked very happy to Sassy, and this cretin scene looked very familiar to her. Possible because she had found herself doing the same thing two days before, running from her boyfriend because she'd pushed him off the pier. Violet stopped in front of Sassy smiling, and trying to regain her breath. "Hey! Gawd Hoods is gonna kill me, I pushed him of the pier two times in a row." she said laughing.
"Heya, well ya betta run cause dere he is." Sassy said smiling at her. "Yah, well I's will see ya lata Sassy, I gotta run." Violet replied taking off again.
The two stood where they were as Hoods approached them more slowly. Spot said a few things to him, pointed him to an alley, told him to take a left and it would cut her off farther up. After the two had disappeared out of sight Spot and Sassy made there way to the lodging house, which was only a few blocks away now.
As they walked in to the lodging house they didn't plan on running into the keeper of the building, but they did. She was a woman in her forties with short red hair, and she was a plump little woman, but she looked like she knew what she was doing.
"Oh Spot dear yer back, is this da young lady signed in a few days ago?" she asked with a heavy Irish accent. "Yah, dis is Sassy Ms. B.," he said.
"Sassy I'm Ms. Beasley, Ms. B for short. Nice ta have ya he'ah," she said shaking her hand.
"Yah, same he'ah." she said then walked off with Spot. "She's really nice when ya get ta know her...ya know ya can come in me room." Spot said as they reached his door. "Yah, I know, I'll be by in a few minutes," she said walking up the stairs to the girl's room.
Sassy walked into the girl's room slowly and quietly, to her surprise none of the other girls were in there yet. She fell into her bed thinking about her best friends back in Queens, it had only been a few weeks, but she was missing them like crazy. She sighed heavily before hoisting her self back up, and made her way to Spots room slowly.
Sassy knew she really liked Spot; he was the first guy she ever really cared about. She had never met any one else like him, even after the all the rumors. Thinking back on about a month before, that was when she totally despised him. Gee how much she had hated him before, now look how that had all changed in a few simple weeks. She hated to admit it but she found it getting harder to be a bitch to him; but for everyone else she was still okay. Sassy walked through Spots door slowly looking at the floor, she was getting tired and it was only around five.
Spot turned around from his window where he had been staring at the Brooklyn Bridge so intently. He smiled seeing her standing in his doorway, it amazed him some how. That some one so mean to him in the beginning turned out to be his girl, he gave a weak laugh at the thought.
"What?" Sassy asked slowly. "I jus' think its funny dat ya use ta hate me now yer my goil." he said slowly. "Yah its weird, but I guess its true, opposite do attracted," Sassy said, standing in front of him.
"Ya know I's told ya once, an' I'll tell ya again, but I's think I'm fallin' more in love wit' ya." Spot said.
"Yah, okay." that's all she could think of to say. "I jus' tell ya how I feel an' all ya have ta say is 'Yah Okay'." he said surprised. "I'm sahrry, I's really like ya, but I's jus' don't know dat I love ya." Sassy said directing her attention to her hands. "Its okay, I unda stand." he said lifting her chin up, and kissed her. "Look, da suns goin' down, it looks so beautiful," she said. "Yer right, come he'ah," Spot said pulling her to his bed.
He lay on his side and then she lay on her side in front of him. He placed his arm around her waist, and started to whisper in her ear. That's the way the two stayed through out the rest of the night. They fell asleep together talking about what was going to happen in the next few days.
Spot didn't know what to expect with Sassy, she defiantly wasn't like any of the other girls he had ever gone out with. By this time with any other girl he would have gotten them to tell him everything he wanted to know. Something stopped him from getting any information from Sassy tough, probably the fact that she wasn't the one that had been attracted to him. She clearly hated him, but something along the way got her to change her mind at least a little bit. Spot started to realize that she wasn't going to be one of the girls he could control, she wasn't afraid to tell anyone what she thought, and Spot would just have to get over it.
The next few nights went by with out anything interesting happening they just did what any normal newsie would do. Sell their papers, eat, talk, and play poker and other games when they got board. Sassy stood at window looking out, a small smile swept over her face. Spot put his arm around her waist, and looked at her. He was right where he had always wanted to be. "What cha smilin' 'bout?" Spot asked. "Look at da rivah, it's so beautiful, right as the sun sets, and the colors from on the water." she said. "Yah, yer right, reminds me of you." "Really?" she asked. "Yah, of coarse." he said resting his chin on her shoulder. "You, know dat soon it will be a month since ya moved he'ah." Spot said as she turned around. "Yah, I's know dat." She said smiling. "Ya know what Spot, I's think I's gonna take a walk I'll be back in a little while." Sassy said. "Okay, let me know when you get back dough." Spot said sitting on his bed. "Awright I's will." She said and kissed him. Spot watched Sassy walk out onto the streets and head off not towards the bridge, but towards the upper side of Brooklyn. She knew where she was headed, and she knew why she was headed there to, she had a lot of shit that needed to be taken care of. Sassy knew about every short cut this side of Manhattan so getting to Queens would be no problem. If she wanted to take the roads though it would take her a few hours, but instead she used the shortcuts through alleys and found herself there fairly quickly. Sassy walked the road towards her old lodging house hoping that Zero and Speed were there and up to talking. She turned a corner and was grabbed around the neck, well growing up on the streets and hanging out with guys thought her to fight. She turned and flipped the person over her shoulder watching the person lay on there back. "Alley! I mean Sassy, what are ya doin' he'ah?" she heard a familiar voice. "Oh Eve, I's sahrry, I need ta talk to Speed an' Zero." Sassy said helping her old friend up. "Well, come on den...sahrry 'bout jumpin' ya, we've been havin' trouble wit' da Bronx again." Eve said as they walked off. "It's okay don't worry 'bout it," She laughed. "So do ya like Brooklyn or what, saw ya wit' some goil down dere sellin'." Eve said looking over at her. "Shit, who else knows, dat I'm back in Brooklyn?" Sassy asked as her eyes widened. "Umm... only me an' Val, but I think she might tell Skip." She heard eve say. "Good, don't tell him if she hasn't, an' when ya see her tell her ta keep her god damn mouth shut!" Sassy heard herself say. "Okay, I'll be sure to tell her ya said dat." Eve said walking in the girl's room. Sassy walked into the boy's room slowly looking around, most of them were already sleeping. But the few that weren't called out greetings to their old friend, they had known for the last five to eight years. She walked over to Zero first and punched him on the arm, like she use to too make them wake up. Then she walked over to Speed and did the exact same thing to him. Both the boys sat up looking at each other surprised they were never hit anymore at least not when they were sleeping. "She's back, for somethin'." Zero said sitting up slowly. "Yah, so where is she den?" Speed said looking back at him. "How am I's suppose ta know?" Zero asked turning around. " 'Iight, stop arguin' its really annoying." Sassy said jumping down from a top bunk. "Come on." She said. She walked over to the fire escape and climbed up to the roof with the guys following behind her slowly. They gave each other a look and smiled it was good to see her again, and they wanted to know what was going on. They sat down on either side of her and she started to explain to them her problems going on. She always went to the two of them when she had problems, and she could always count on Speed to give her the best answer. "Well, personally I think ya should go see 'um in about two months around Christmas." Speed said throwing an arm around her. "Yah, I think dat would probably be da smart thing to do for it, thanks." Sassy said standing up beside Zero. "Are ya sure ya don't wanna stay he'ah for da rest of da night? Yer more den welcome to." Zero said as they climbed back down. "Yah, I need ta go back ta night I promised I would." She said. "A promise neva stopped ya before." Zero said looking her. "That's okay, jus' come see us before ya leave fer da South in a few months, okay?" asked Speed. "You know I'll come by." Sassy said as the boys watched her walk down the road until she disappeared into the dark. The next two months went by pretty fast and still Spot and Sassy were still together it had been three months. They still fought all the time, but soon enough Spot found her relaxing points and where she ran off to. On more than one occasions he had found her in the park sitting on one of the tree limbs watching everything around her. The rooftop was another place she always seemed to go to, it calmed her to watch everything going on in the streets. Yet there were still a few places she'd go to chill out that he wasn't sure of. Everything was fine between the two though no big time fights, and they were great together. Yet they were getting closer to the date Sassy had picked to go see her friends down south. The weather was starting to get bad as winter came on fast, and money was getting harder to collect. The winter air blew throw the cracks in the window in Spots room as Sassy finished writing her note. She laid it on the table with care, kissed her sleeping boyfriend on the cheek, and walked out hoping he'd understand. It was early morning, and no one was up or out, so she had the advantage of getting where she was going with out any trouble. A little while later she walked in to the Manhattan boys lodging house, quickly and quietly. Knowing whom she wanted to talk to she dropped her bag, and made her way upstairs. She hated to wake Racetrack up so early but he needs to know what was going on. He was the only one she really trusted anymore. "Race, Race wake up." she said shaking his arm. "Okay, 'iight, I'm up, I'm up." he said sitting. "Good then we can talk." Race's eyes sprung open, he wasn't use to hearing that voice in the morning.
"Sass, what's wrong? No, no, no, what happened now?" she gave a weak
laugh.
"Come down stairs fer five minutes, and I's will explain." he got up,
and followed her back down the stairs.
"Okay so what's up? Why ya he'ah so damn early?" he asked sitting
down. "Well it's like dis, see a few weeks ago I's got word dat if I didn't go some where fer a month or so den me life would come crashing down around me...." she started. "So yous bein' black mailed, an'? What can I's do?" he asked as his tone dropped. "If Spot gets mad or don't unda stand will ya explain, 'cause I's left him a brief note but not enough ta explain what really happened." he nodded so she went on. "In da note I's told 'im I got word from family an' I's had ta go help wit' somethin', but if he don't believe it...an' he probably wont, tell him... what really happened." he took her hand. "I's can do dat, but only 'cause its you." she looked down. "One more thing, keep an eye on 'im 'iight, as much as I love 'im I don't trust 'im." Racetrack gave a strong smile, and squeezed her hand. "Can do." Sassy stood up, and hugged her friend.
She grabbed her bags and headed for the door, but before she even thought about leaving she turned around and said "Don't worry I'll be back in a month or two." with that she smiled and left. Spot sat in his room questioning himself. He had read the note but he didn't believe it, he just didn't believe it. He had always known in the back of his mind that nothing could keep her tied down to one place longer than she wanted to be. He had known that forever but he never thought that it would ever happen. He didn't know what he would do with out her around to keep him in check if that's what you'd call it.
Disney Corporation, I do not own any of the Disney characters. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~
By: Sassafras Lei
It was a lovely morning when Sassy left with Spot, for her new home in Brooklyn. For the first time since she'd left Queens, she felt like she was doing something right for a change. As they walked on something triggered that night she had left Queens, and the promise she made to Skip, that she said she'd never break.
~~Flashback~~ "Well yous know Spot's quiet da ladies man, yous might get attached ta 'im after awhile." Sassy rolled her eyes, at the thought. "Yah.... right, Well if I's go ta Brooklyn, I'm goin' be a newsie not a lady, an' I's wont get attached ta 'im, dats fer sure, but I's ain't goin' back, I ain't, yous hear me Skip, ya cain't make me. If dere's one promise I ever make, it would be not to ever fall in love wit' Spot, an' if I do, shoot me please." Sassy yelled getting impatience with him.
~~Present Time~~
The two got to the bridge, and Spot leaned over the edge looking at the water below them. Sassy dropped her bag, and slid to the ground. She sat there cradling her thoughts about promises made, and what was happening to herself. If she was back in Queens she would never find herself giving into a guy as easy as she did with Spot, she had to question what was going on with her.
"Ya all right Sass?" Spot finally asked, looking down at her. "Yah... I'm fine, neva betta," she said, not making eye contact with him. "Awright, ya ready ta go den?" he asked, not believeing her. "Sure." she said standing back up.
He put his arm around her shoulder, and they walked on across the bridge. As they made there way to the lodging house, Spot was greeted by some of his newsie friends from around the area. Sassy was introduced to a few, and they made their way to the lodging house together for the first time. "You can sleep he'ah, deres only goils in dis room to." Spot said. "Ok, thanks." she said, jumping up on it. "Yer not jus' gonna stay he'ah da rest of da day...are ya?" he asked, looking up at her. "I don't know; if I do ya might get mad wit' me." Spot laughed, and pulled her off the bed into his arms. "So what are we gonna do den?" Sassy asked.
"Come wit' me," he said, taking her hand. "Where we goin'?" Spot smiled, as they walked down the streets. "You'll see, come on," he said, as they walked down the pier. "Take off your shoes. Do ya trust me?" he asked, reaching the middle of the pier. "Yah, of coarse I do." she answered.
After they took off their shoes Spot grabbed her hand, and ran down the rest of the pier. "Spot, No!" she said, as she got pulled off the pier. "I's.... cain't.... believe... ya... did... dat!" she said, pushing back her hair. "Den, ya probably won't believe dis eidda," he said, splashing her. Sassy laughed, and did the same thing back. "I's cain't believe, ya did dat," Spot mocked.
Sassy rolled her eye, and splashed him once more. The water was just right, and like most said Spring was the time for love. Well it wasn't necessarily Spring anymore, but it was fading nicely into Summer.
"Oh, no you didn't." he said, wiping water out of his face. "Yes, I did to!" Sassy proclaimed. He smiled, and swam over to her.
Before she knew it, she was under the water. Since she was under she might as well mess with Spot's mind a little. She swam a little farther down; she looked up to see Spot's feet. Sassy swam up, and grabbed him pulling him under with her. "Yer crazy!" he sputtered. "Hell, I know dat." was how she replyed.
She wrapped her arm around his neck, he kissed her, and they both went under once again. When they came up Sassy swam back to the pier, followed by Spot. Half way up she turned around, and he pulled her off the ladder. A few minutes later they were both on the pier talking. "Feel bettah, now dat ya relaxed some?" Spot asked. "Yah amazingly, but ya know what would make me feel even bettah?" she asked him. "No, what's that?" he asked. "This..." she said, pushing him off the pier. "I's gonna get ya fer dat, Sass ya jus' wait." he said reaching for her ankles. "Spot!" she said jumping back. "I'd run, if I was yous," he said.
He watched her slip on her shoes, then run off the pier. He got up slowly so he could follow after her. Sassy wasn't paying attention to where she was going (as usual), and ran in to Hoods. "Ain't cha, Violet's friend?" he asked, helping her up. "Yah dats me, sahrry." she said, looking back. "What cha runin' from?" she smiled.
"Spot." he nodded, and let her go on.
She slowed her pace to a fast walk, not seeing Spot anywhere around, and walked on. She stood for a moment to regain her breath, and then she took off again. Sassy turned a corner, and Spot grabbed her, and she screamed in surprise because of it. "Jesus Christ, scare me half ta death, Spot." she said, breathing deeply. "Spot! What are ya doin'? Put me down!" she said, as Spot walked off towards the lodging house.
He dropped her on his bed, and fell into his couch. Sassy got up, and sat on the floor in front of him. He wouldn't look at her straight, so she turned her head away. He looked at her, and then sniggered a little, Sassy turned back, and slapped him lightly on the arm. He took her chin, and pulled her into a long passionate kiss. When they pulled apart she smiled, and wrapped her arms around him looking at his window. "So, if I go out dat window, what's da chance you'll follow me?" she asked. "Ahh, it's a pretty good one, why?" she got up, and went over to the window. "Awright den." she said, pulling herself out the window.
Spot sat dumbfound for a minute, and then realizing what happened he got up, and followed her out. When he got up she was standing at the edge of the roof, looking out as the sun started to set. Spot walked up behind her, and grabbed her wrists; she turned around fast bringing Spot to the roof. Spot sat holding on to Sassy as she hung over the edge. Sassy really didn't care it wasn't the first time; she had a look of amusement on her face.
"Spot jus' let go." Sassy said.
"No! Are ya crazy?" he asked.
"Yes! Now do what I tell ya." She said ready for him to let go. "Sass, give me yer odder hand, so I's can pull ya up." he said tighting his grip. He struggled for a minute but got her up with little strength.
"Spot, are ya awright?" she asked, more concerned about him then herself. "Yah, but I's should be da one askin' you dat," he said, hugging her.
"Good, I was fine I've had worse happen ta me, I's fallen higher amazingly." Sassy said looking at him. "Okay, yer crazy dough." he said, still holding her. "Spot ya can let go, I'm fine." he looked up. "Okay." he said, and fumbled to light a cigarette. "Don't ya know dat can kill ya?" Sassy asked, looking at him. "Yah, but, I figure I'm gonna die anyways, why, ya don't smoke do ya?" she looked, at him again. "I's take dat as a no," he said blowing out smoking.
"Yer crazy, 'a coarse I smoke, who doesn't now a days?" she said
taking it from him. "What ya surprised?" he watched her. "Yah, a lil, Yer one of da foist goils I've gone out wit' dat smokes, an' I mean evah." Sassy smiled, and rolled her eyes. "Ya haven't gone out wit' many news goils den have ya? Most of dem smoke." She said to him. "Yer right, I's haven't, I've only gone out wit' a few news goils." Spot said.
They sat up on the roof for a while talking about everything that they thought was possible. The sun had turned a bright red, and it was starting to fade into the darkness. Soon enough though the sun died away, and the darkness sort of just seemed to take over the light that was left. Spot let himself fall to the rooftop, he pulled Sassy back with him; He fixed his eyes on the nights sky above. She looked up to the stars were shining brightly; she closed her eyes thinking about another day. Sassy opened her eyes a few minutes later to Spot running his fingers across her cheek; she gave a small weak smile. "What da ya say Sass, are ya a night goil, or a day goil?" Spot asked, propping himself up on his elbows. "Both I guess, I love da day, but I like da night cause so much goes on afta dark." she said, turning to her side. "Yah, dat's understandable I guess." he said, getting up. "Yo, Spot! What's up?" Sassy asked, sitting up. "It's jus' dat ...Well I really sorta think dat your gonna be the best thing fer me since Moxie...well died." Spot said looking down. "Really, dats really sweet of ya ta say Spot." she got up.
He turned around slowly, and took her hand pulling her into him. She leaned against him slowly, she didn't know if she'd ever be really close to him though. She could never be sure what would happen though, Spot had changed her in the simplest ways ever, and she hadn't even noticed yet. Spot at 5'7 was still a few inches taller then Sassy, and with her head against his cheast his chin was rested on her head. He kept hold of her hand, and pulled her towards the escape. She looked at him and followed him down the fire escape, making sure she didn't kick him. It was after midnight when they went back in, and they were tired; plus they had to get up to sell papers again in the morning. She walked over to him, gave him a hug, he kissed her lightly and she walked out the door after they said there good nights.
When Sassy woke up she us surprised to see that the only other one up was ButterCup, who was sitting at the window. She sat looking around the room at all the sleeping girls, and then she jumped down and started to get dressed. As Sassy grabbed her hat to walk out the door, a few more of the girls were starting to move around. They could hear the boys above them jumping around, and getting ready for the day as well, as Sassy walked out the door. She walked down the stairs, and out the front door looking down the road. She stood at the corner of the street, and pulled out a half of cigarette then tryed to lit it. Sassy dropped it though when she saw Jack coming up the road towards her. He gave a weak smile as he came closer, but it faded as he walked past her and into the lodging house with a worried look.
Sassy watched Jack walk in, then noticed that he didn't look so great. Spot walked down the stairs greeted by rather worried Jack. Spot noticed when he saw Jack flinch when they shook hands a minute before. "So Jack, what happened? Why ya he'ah?" he asked. "It's Mush, he's gone, but all his stuffs at da lodgin' house, but he ain't dere." Jack said. "What's da point 'a dis Jack?" asked Spot. "I've had me boys out lookin' fer him all night, dis is serious Spot, we don't know what ta do." Spot looked up at him. "I's guess I can get some of my boys ta look fer him, I ain't grantin' nuthin' dough," he said. "Thanks Spot." Jack said. "I gotta go tell Sassy den, I guess I'll grab a few guys ta help out." Jack nodded and they left.
As the two guys walked down different roads Spot got a group of eight or nine guys too go look for the missing Mush.
"Sassy what are ya up ta taday?" Spot asked. "I'm sellin' what's it look like." she said turning to him. "Ya wanna come wit' me, an' Jack ta go look fer Mush?" she looked up. "Ya know I'd love ta, but I cain't, I gotta sell I's need da money." Sassy said. "Don't worry 'bout it," she looked up at him. "Trust me, don't worry 'bout it." "Well...awright." she said dropping her just bought papers.
So they started down the road, the guys explained to her what was going on as they walked on. Every one met at Tibbys, so they could get into different groups. They split up slowly, and took different parts of New York. Spots boys were of coarse in Brooklyn, Jack, Blink, Light, and Specs took uptown. Spot, Sassy, Tootsie, and Racetrack took the Bowery. Bumlets, Itey, Sugar, Kat, and Pie Eater went off towards Queens. And everyone else just split up to go to Harlem, Bronx, and Mid-town.
About six thirty that night everyone was getting restless, as they continued to search for the missing Mush. "Spot, we're runin' outta places ta look." Tootsie said bringing herself to stand.
"Seriously Spot let's head back ta Tibbys." Race said slipping a hand around her waist. "We're tired, we cain't do dis all night, jus' give up." Sassy said. "Okay, lets go back ta Tibbys den." he said taking Sassy's hand.
It was eight before they got back, and Jack still hadn't shown up. The four crashed into a booth waiting for him to get back with the others. By nine thirty Tootsie had fallen asleep on Races shoulder, and Sassy wasn't far from it. She was dozen off when Jack showed up at nine thirty. "What's da news?" he asked. "My boys have searched every inch he ain't in Brooklyn." Spot said. "No ones been able ta find 'im Jack, wese all worn out, we don't know what ta do anymore," Sassy said. "Most of da time people go missin' they ain't found, an' that's 'cause half of 'um don't wanna be found ta begin with." David said for the first time that night.
"Can we go back ta da lodgin' house now Jack?" Spot asked looking up. "Yah, go ahead, wese ran out of places ta look, I guess David was right." he said walking out the door. "What do ya thinks gonna happen?" Race asked pointing at Sassy at the same time. "Well I guess wese both got somethin' ta carry now, I don't know." Spot said standing.
"Okay, let's get goin' den." Racetrack said picking Tootsie up, Spot got up and did the same.
When they got to the lodging house Kloopman came out hearing the door open. Since the boys were carrying the girls he thought something was wrong with them. Racetrack looked up noticing Kloopman standing in the corner of the room. "Dere awright, jus' sleepin'" he said following Spot up the stairs.
They laid the girls on empty beds, and fell into their own tiredly. No one seemed to notice that Jack wasn't asleep in fact he wasn't even in his top bunk. The last day or two Jack had been running himself ragged looking for Mush. Yet no one had seen him, chances were he had probably ran off on his own. As tired as they all were the girls were that first to be woken up by the boys. The two definitely weren't thrilled about being woken up so early, but they got up quietly. "Why didja wake us up so early?" Tootsie asked stumbling down the stairs. "Jus' come wit' us." Race replied taking her hand. "Spot, what are we doin'? Its jus' now startin' ta get light out he'ah," Sassy questioned tiredly. "Ya trust me right Sass?" he asked. "No, No I's don't trust cha at all, not at all." she said seeing a smile cross his face. "It ain't dat Sassy, but I's know ya trust me," he implied.
The four walked down a few different roads. The guys seemed to know where they were going, and the girls weren't paying any attention to the roads. Spot and Racetrack stopped at a wall of vines that fell down to the ground nicely. Together the boys pulled the vines back, revealing a garden the girls were astonished. They had never seen this place before as they stood looking. It was amazing, heart shaped benches here and there, an angel shaped fountain, and Ivory growing beautifully up the side of a white gazebo, which over looked a small lake.
"Wow, dis is amazin'." Tootsie said hugging Race. "Yah, ten bucks says ya couldn't find it again dough," he said pulling her over to the gazebo. "Dis is a really nice place, but why is we he'ah?" Sassy asked as they say on the bench. " 'Cause it's a nice place ta relax, an' dats what wese all need right now. Why do ya gotta question every thing anyhow?" he asked putting his arm around her shoulder. "Ya know I really do like ya right?" he asked again. "Yah, I's know dat Spot," she said. "Ya know I's would neva hurt cha, but what if somethin' happens an' we break up 'cause of it?" he questioned. "It won't happen," she said kissing him to shut up.
She knew deep inside that they probably wouldn't be together for very long. There was something there about guys she found it harder to trust them, and she never stayed together very long she was too afraid she would get attached to the guy. Sassy didn't yet realize how attached to Spot she was already, and wouldn't for a while still. She would only realize how much she was when they would be apart for a while. She laid her head on Spots cheast and he looked down at her a little worried. Sassy looked up at Spot a few minutes later, not seeing any emotion at all, but it didn't surprise her. She looked at Tootsie and Racetrack, they looked and acted like they'd been going out forever, but they weren't yet. If you watched them though you would definitely mistake the two of them for a couple. "Look at dem, dere so happy an' Race ain't even asked her out yet," Sassy said. "What? I woulda swore dey were goin' out ta begin wit'." he said. "Dey might as well be, dey act like dey are so." Spot gave a weak smile.
The four talked in the groups of twos they had put themselves into, and talked for a while getting everything off their minds that mattered. By four that afternoon Sassy was ready to get back to the lodging house. She got up stretching watching Tootsie out of the corner of her eye. "Yo Tootsie, come he'ah girl!" Sassy called out. "Yah, what's up?" she asked walking over. "We're goin' back ta Brooklyn, jus' thought I'd let cha know dat." Tootsie smiled looking at her. "Okay, he finally asked me, an' I said yes, I Said YES!" Tootsie said. "Wow, dats great" she said hugging her "Well I'll see ya soon." Sassy said.
"Yah, next poker games in Brooklyn anyways," she said.
"Awright, see ya in a few weeks...Spot come on!" Sassy yelled.
He walked over to her and together they left the secret little spot, that was so nice, and beautiful to her. A few minutes Tootsie and Racetrack were also getting ready to go back to Manhattan for the rest of the day.
"Race do ya think dere gonna be ta gatha very long? Da longest either of dem has been wit' some one else is only like three weeks." Tootsie told Race. "I don't know what's gonna happen, dey've been goin' fer awhile behind Mush's back. Dere my friends, but I didn't think dat it was right." he said putting a hand around her waist. "Yah, yer right but dere perfect fer each odda in every way possible." she said as they left the little place.
"Yah, but wit' dere attitudes what's ta say dey don't get pissed, an' try ta kill each otha?" Race asked.
"You might be right, but I jus' don't know any more, dere meant fer each odda no matta what yall think." Tootsie said fixing her hat. "Okay, okay I's guess ya could be right 'bout dis one, I mean ya know more 'bout Sassy den I do. She jus' sort of came a cross like dat." she gave a weak laugh.
By the time Spot and Sassy approached the bridge they were both worn out. The summer heat was threating to burn them crisp; they both had already taken off their button up shirts because of the heat. Sassy rolled up her shirtsleeve so her shoulders could be seen; it was so hot in the city. Spot looked to his girl and realized she was starting to get depressed over something, something he wasn't too sure of. He could tell that she was deep in thought, of what he did not know, it was hard to tell for sure. "Are you alright?" Spot asked placing a hand on her shoulder. "What did ya say?" she asked looking up at him.
"Yah, are ya okay? Ya look sorta depressed," he said.
"Oh, really, well I'm okay jus' thinkin' about something." Sassy replied. "Awright I's unda stand, ya don't wanna tell me 'bout it." Spot said as they stepped off the bridge. "Huh...ya know dats not it, I's jus' don't like ta talk 'bout it a lot." she said pulling him to a stop.
"Do ya get it? ...Spot." Sassy sighed, than kissed him. "Yah, of coarse I get it," he said taking her hand.
They were three blocks away from the lodging house when Violet came running towards them soaked. She looked very happy to Sassy, and this cretin scene looked very familiar to her. Possible because she had found herself doing the same thing two days before, running from her boyfriend because she'd pushed him off the pier. Violet stopped in front of Sassy smiling, and trying to regain her breath. "Hey! Gawd Hoods is gonna kill me, I pushed him of the pier two times in a row." she said laughing.
"Heya, well ya betta run cause dere he is." Sassy said smiling at her. "Yah, well I's will see ya lata Sassy, I gotta run." Violet replied taking off again.
The two stood where they were as Hoods approached them more slowly. Spot said a few things to him, pointed him to an alley, told him to take a left and it would cut her off farther up. After the two had disappeared out of sight Spot and Sassy made there way to the lodging house, which was only a few blocks away now.
As they walked in to the lodging house they didn't plan on running into the keeper of the building, but they did. She was a woman in her forties with short red hair, and she was a plump little woman, but she looked like she knew what she was doing.
"Oh Spot dear yer back, is this da young lady signed in a few days ago?" she asked with a heavy Irish accent. "Yah, dis is Sassy Ms. B.," he said.
"Sassy I'm Ms. Beasley, Ms. B for short. Nice ta have ya he'ah," she said shaking her hand.
"Yah, same he'ah." she said then walked off with Spot. "She's really nice when ya get ta know her...ya know ya can come in me room." Spot said as they reached his door. "Yah, I know, I'll be by in a few minutes," she said walking up the stairs to the girl's room.
Sassy walked into the girl's room slowly and quietly, to her surprise none of the other girls were in there yet. She fell into her bed thinking about her best friends back in Queens, it had only been a few weeks, but she was missing them like crazy. She sighed heavily before hoisting her self back up, and made her way to Spots room slowly.
Sassy knew she really liked Spot; he was the first guy she ever really cared about. She had never met any one else like him, even after the all the rumors. Thinking back on about a month before, that was when she totally despised him. Gee how much she had hated him before, now look how that had all changed in a few simple weeks. She hated to admit it but she found it getting harder to be a bitch to him; but for everyone else she was still okay. Sassy walked through Spots door slowly looking at the floor, she was getting tired and it was only around five.
Spot turned around from his window where he had been staring at the Brooklyn Bridge so intently. He smiled seeing her standing in his doorway, it amazed him some how. That some one so mean to him in the beginning turned out to be his girl, he gave a weak laugh at the thought.
"What?" Sassy asked slowly. "I jus' think its funny dat ya use ta hate me now yer my goil." he said slowly. "Yah its weird, but I guess its true, opposite do attracted," Sassy said, standing in front of him.
"Ya know I's told ya once, an' I'll tell ya again, but I's think I'm fallin' more in love wit' ya." Spot said.
"Yah, okay." that's all she could think of to say. "I jus' tell ya how I feel an' all ya have ta say is 'Yah Okay'." he said surprised. "I'm sahrry, I's really like ya, but I's jus' don't know dat I love ya." Sassy said directing her attention to her hands. "Its okay, I unda stand." he said lifting her chin up, and kissed her. "Look, da suns goin' down, it looks so beautiful," she said. "Yer right, come he'ah," Spot said pulling her to his bed.
He lay on his side and then she lay on her side in front of him. He placed his arm around her waist, and started to whisper in her ear. That's the way the two stayed through out the rest of the night. They fell asleep together talking about what was going to happen in the next few days.
Spot didn't know what to expect with Sassy, she defiantly wasn't like any of the other girls he had ever gone out with. By this time with any other girl he would have gotten them to tell him everything he wanted to know. Something stopped him from getting any information from Sassy tough, probably the fact that she wasn't the one that had been attracted to him. She clearly hated him, but something along the way got her to change her mind at least a little bit. Spot started to realize that she wasn't going to be one of the girls he could control, she wasn't afraid to tell anyone what she thought, and Spot would just have to get over it.
The next few nights went by with out anything interesting happening they just did what any normal newsie would do. Sell their papers, eat, talk, and play poker and other games when they got board. Sassy stood at window looking out, a small smile swept over her face. Spot put his arm around her waist, and looked at her. He was right where he had always wanted to be. "What cha smilin' 'bout?" Spot asked. "Look at da rivah, it's so beautiful, right as the sun sets, and the colors from on the water." she said. "Yah, yer right, reminds me of you." "Really?" she asked. "Yah, of coarse." he said resting his chin on her shoulder. "You, know dat soon it will be a month since ya moved he'ah." Spot said as she turned around. "Yah, I's know dat." She said smiling. "Ya know what Spot, I's think I's gonna take a walk I'll be back in a little while." Sassy said. "Okay, let me know when you get back dough." Spot said sitting on his bed. "Awright I's will." She said and kissed him. Spot watched Sassy walk out onto the streets and head off not towards the bridge, but towards the upper side of Brooklyn. She knew where she was headed, and she knew why she was headed there to, she had a lot of shit that needed to be taken care of. Sassy knew about every short cut this side of Manhattan so getting to Queens would be no problem. If she wanted to take the roads though it would take her a few hours, but instead she used the shortcuts through alleys and found herself there fairly quickly. Sassy walked the road towards her old lodging house hoping that Zero and Speed were there and up to talking. She turned a corner and was grabbed around the neck, well growing up on the streets and hanging out with guys thought her to fight. She turned and flipped the person over her shoulder watching the person lay on there back. "Alley! I mean Sassy, what are ya doin' he'ah?" she heard a familiar voice. "Oh Eve, I's sahrry, I need ta talk to Speed an' Zero." Sassy said helping her old friend up. "Well, come on den...sahrry 'bout jumpin' ya, we've been havin' trouble wit' da Bronx again." Eve said as they walked off. "It's okay don't worry 'bout it," She laughed. "So do ya like Brooklyn or what, saw ya wit' some goil down dere sellin'." Eve said looking over at her. "Shit, who else knows, dat I'm back in Brooklyn?" Sassy asked as her eyes widened. "Umm... only me an' Val, but I think she might tell Skip." She heard eve say. "Good, don't tell him if she hasn't, an' when ya see her tell her ta keep her god damn mouth shut!" Sassy heard herself say. "Okay, I'll be sure to tell her ya said dat." Eve said walking in the girl's room. Sassy walked into the boy's room slowly looking around, most of them were already sleeping. But the few that weren't called out greetings to their old friend, they had known for the last five to eight years. She walked over to Zero first and punched him on the arm, like she use to too make them wake up. Then she walked over to Speed and did the exact same thing to him. Both the boys sat up looking at each other surprised they were never hit anymore at least not when they were sleeping. "She's back, for somethin'." Zero said sitting up slowly. "Yah, so where is she den?" Speed said looking back at him. "How am I's suppose ta know?" Zero asked turning around. " 'Iight, stop arguin' its really annoying." Sassy said jumping down from a top bunk. "Come on." She said. She walked over to the fire escape and climbed up to the roof with the guys following behind her slowly. They gave each other a look and smiled it was good to see her again, and they wanted to know what was going on. They sat down on either side of her and she started to explain to them her problems going on. She always went to the two of them when she had problems, and she could always count on Speed to give her the best answer. "Well, personally I think ya should go see 'um in about two months around Christmas." Speed said throwing an arm around her. "Yah, I think dat would probably be da smart thing to do for it, thanks." Sassy said standing up beside Zero. "Are ya sure ya don't wanna stay he'ah for da rest of da night? Yer more den welcome to." Zero said as they climbed back down. "Yah, I need ta go back ta night I promised I would." She said. "A promise neva stopped ya before." Zero said looking her. "That's okay, jus' come see us before ya leave fer da South in a few months, okay?" asked Speed. "You know I'll come by." Sassy said as the boys watched her walk down the road until she disappeared into the dark. The next two months went by pretty fast and still Spot and Sassy were still together it had been three months. They still fought all the time, but soon enough Spot found her relaxing points and where she ran off to. On more than one occasions he had found her in the park sitting on one of the tree limbs watching everything around her. The rooftop was another place she always seemed to go to, it calmed her to watch everything going on in the streets. Yet there were still a few places she'd go to chill out that he wasn't sure of. Everything was fine between the two though no big time fights, and they were great together. Yet they were getting closer to the date Sassy had picked to go see her friends down south. The weather was starting to get bad as winter came on fast, and money was getting harder to collect. The winter air blew throw the cracks in the window in Spots room as Sassy finished writing her note. She laid it on the table with care, kissed her sleeping boyfriend on the cheek, and walked out hoping he'd understand. It was early morning, and no one was up or out, so she had the advantage of getting where she was going with out any trouble. A little while later she walked in to the Manhattan boys lodging house, quickly and quietly. Knowing whom she wanted to talk to she dropped her bag, and made her way upstairs. She hated to wake Racetrack up so early but he needs to know what was going on. He was the only one she really trusted anymore. "Race, Race wake up." she said shaking his arm. "Okay, 'iight, I'm up, I'm up." he said sitting. "Good then we can talk." Race's eyes sprung open, he wasn't use to hearing that voice in the morning.
"Sass, what's wrong? No, no, no, what happened now?" she gave a weak
laugh.
"Come down stairs fer five minutes, and I's will explain." he got up,
and followed her back down the stairs.
"Okay so what's up? Why ya he'ah so damn early?" he asked sitting
down. "Well it's like dis, see a few weeks ago I's got word dat if I didn't go some where fer a month or so den me life would come crashing down around me...." she started. "So yous bein' black mailed, an'? What can I's do?" he asked as his tone dropped. "If Spot gets mad or don't unda stand will ya explain, 'cause I's left him a brief note but not enough ta explain what really happened." he nodded so she went on. "In da note I's told 'im I got word from family an' I's had ta go help wit' somethin', but if he don't believe it...an' he probably wont, tell him... what really happened." he took her hand. "I's can do dat, but only 'cause its you." she looked down. "One more thing, keep an eye on 'im 'iight, as much as I love 'im I don't trust 'im." Racetrack gave a strong smile, and squeezed her hand. "Can do." Sassy stood up, and hugged her friend.
She grabbed her bags and headed for the door, but before she even thought about leaving she turned around and said "Don't worry I'll be back in a month or two." with that she smiled and left. Spot sat in his room questioning himself. He had read the note but he didn't believe it, he just didn't believe it. He had always known in the back of his mind that nothing could keep her tied down to one place longer than she wanted to be. He had known that forever but he never thought that it would ever happen. He didn't know what he would do with out her around to keep him in check if that's what you'd call it.