By: Sassafras Lei
Spot sat that night locked in his room he just couldn't believe Sassy was really gone. He had to put up with a hard life as long as he could remember, and know that he lost her it wasn't looking any brighter. Living in Brooklyn as a little kid had made him very cold, and hard. However, since he'd forced him self into exile for the night he didn't have to be so cold. Spot let his mind go on the thought of Sassy; he gave a sorrowful sigh. He didn't ever think that she meant so much to him, but she did, she really did, and he realized it way to late. The more he thought about it the worse he felt, and he could feel tears well up in his eyes. Since he was by him self, and no one was around to see him he let everything come out through his tears. As he cried he found that he couldn't stop, but he didn't care any more; the tears brought him comfort. The next morning he still felt terrible, about Sassy leaving, and it was slowly draining his energy. Spot got up, and walked over to his window looking out upon the river. This had been one of her favorite sights, he sighed as a memory came back. {One month before}
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.
Since then he could remember her standing there or running to the park for comfort. As children Spot, and Sassy shared similar past, they'd both been on their own since they could remember. Which unlike most of the others, the two never really trusted any one after that happened. The city had taken them, and made them both very cold, and hard to get along with. That's one way they were perfect for each other in every single way. He was use to having a new girl every two weeks, and she was use to being, and fending for her self. But together they were both learning to get along with life. Sassy fell back into him, which sent him out of his trance.
"Gawd, what am I gonna do wit out her?" Spot asked himself.
Soon after that he had fallen back to sleep. It felt like he hadn't slept at all, because next thing he knew the sun of the next day was shining in on him. Spot was meeting up with Racetrack to sell that day to. After he got his papers, he soon met up with Racetrack. Together they decided to sell at the train station for the day. Spot was almost done selling, and was tired from a hard days work, when two girls stepped off, and caught Spot and Racetrack eyes.
"Heya Spot look at those dolls." Race said nodding in there direction.
"Da one in da light purples pretty cute, don't cha like 'um?" Spot said.
"Yah, but if ya don't remember I have a goilfriend, an' so do you." Racetrack declared.
"Yah, but what she don't know can't hurt her...or me fer dat mattah." Race just shook his head, he didn't agree with his friend at all.
"Fine Spot, what eva ya say, I'll see ya later I'm out of papes anyways." Spot nodded his head at him.
Both the boys knew they shouldn't mess with the upper class, and these girls were differently higher class. Spot had it in mind that he would never see them again, and that would just be okay. He walked out with out a thought on his mind, but he didn't know he had reached the upper class girls eye as he walked by. Spot walked down the pier, and jumped up on his stoop. He felt like going back to playing his little game with the girls, now that Sassy was gone. He was and had been a womanizer, until he meet Sassy, she some how changed him, in a way no other girl could. Spot thought she would just be another fling for him, but something about her stumped him, something about her changed him. Now that she was gone, there was something he couldn't resist about getting another girl, even though he knew he shouldn't, and it was wrong. He went to the lodging house as the sun was fading into the sky. As far as he knew he didn't expect anything big to happen. He found as soon as his head hit his pillow he was fast asleep. The next day Spot was waken before the sun to the front door of the lodging house slamming.
"Gawd, what's goin' on now?" he said to himself.
He got himself up and, dressed them ran down the stairs. Hoods was standing at the door pacing back, and forth across the room. To Spot he looked a little upset about something.
"Heya Hoods, what's wrong?" Spot asked.
"Oh, hey Spot.... Violet walked out on me, I's guess I's said somethin' ta piss her off." Hoods said slowly, his tone held little worry.
"Oh, I's sahrry; ya gonna be okay?" he asked.
"Its okay, I's know she'll be fine, she can fend for herself when she's not he'ah." he said.
"Okay, well ya wanna get yer papes since we're already up?" Spot asked.
"Sure, nuthin' betta ta do since we cant talk to are goils, right?" Hoods said walking out the door.
"Yah, how true dat is." Spot said, after minute of pause.
After they got there papers they bid their fair wells, and went there separate ways to sell. Spot sold out fairly quickly, and spent the rest of the time at the Wisdom hall. Around seven Spot walked out the door with some friends. He stood out front smoking, and talking to his friends as two girls passed by them. He didn't really see them but the one defiantly noticed him as she walked past. But he didn't seem to be paying to much attention; he was busy trying to have fun with out feeling guilty. Two days after Spot watched the two girls step off the train, he didn't even have a thought in his head. As he stood on a corner calling out headlines he didn't even notice the girl about to hit him. A minute later Spot found himself on the ground. Spot got up slowly brushing himself off.
"I'm so sorry, I really didn't mean to hit you," the girl said getting up smiling.
"It's awright, don't worry 'bout it," he said slowly. "Yer new he'ah ain't cha?" he asked seeing the sisters.
"Yah we are, were out exploring Brooklyn today." the sister said.
"I's Spot Conlon, leader of the Brooklyn newsies, I'll be glad ta show ya 'round." he said.
"Fine, dats Glory, and I'm Stormy," she said.
"Nice ta meet 'cha, now come on." Spot said.
He dropped his last five or ten papers, and started down the street with the girls behind him. Spot and the girls stopped by the lodging house first. He showed into the main room, grabbed a book from the counter, and sat in between the girls.
"So how many newsies are dere he'ah?" Glory asked.
"Oh, I'd say 'bout t'ree thousand, but dats all of Brooklyn. Right now da guys he'ah are Pounder, Hoods, Tracks, Central, Snickers, and Fear that's only a few of 'um wese got goils he'ah to." Spot said closing the book.
"Really, like who?" Stormy asked.
"Like Violet, ButterCup, Sandy, Jamie, Dancer, and Sassy...but she ain't he'ah right now." his smile faded away.
"Where is..." Glory started.
"Spot Conlon! What on gods name are ya doin' he'ah when yer 'poses ta be sellin?" An older lady asked.
"Hey Ms. B, I's showin' Stormy an' Glory around ta day." Spot said.
"I swear Spot if its not one girl its another, what happens when Sass gets back...." Spot interrupted.
"Ms. B can wese talk 'bout dis ta night?"
"Sure Spot, jus' remember this won't go away, like ya think it will," she said, taking the book as they walked out the door.
"What was she talking 'bout Spot?" Stormy asked as they walked out.
"Dere's jus' been some shit goin' on wit' some of da guys." he said. Together the three of them walked the streets to go get something to eat, they walked in slowly. So they went in, and he introduced them to some of the guys that were there. They sat down finally, and ate. After they were through they got up, and made their way trough the city again. Spot pointed to every other building as they went down road after road of the Brooklyn territory. The girls were finally starting to get board.
"Can I go home now!?" Glory asked her sister, getting tired, and impatient.
"Yah fine, find yer way home, I'll be there in a bit." Stormy said, turning around, and pointing the way to go. So she walked off towards their new house uptown, she was too tired to continue on with her sister, and Spot.
"Are you all right?" Spot asked looking over at Stormy, as he lit a cigarette.
"Yah jus' a lil' cold." she said leaning against an alley wall.
He walked over, and put his hands around her waist, and pulled her closer to him. She didn't care this was what she wanted, she thought. Then he kissed her, and pushed her back against the wall, there bodies were against the others. A few minutes later Spot broke the kiss took her hand, and they made there way back to the lodging house. He took her into his room, and closed the door. Stormy sat on his bed waiting for him to say some thing, but he didn't. He walked over, and laid her down sitting over her, he started kissing her again. She was nervous about it, but its what she wanted from the time she laid her eyes on him. So what had started with a kiss ended with sex that both of them had wanted to begin with. Plus it helped to get everything off of Spots mind for a little while at least. If only he would have know it would bother him later, but he didn't think about that at all before hand. A few hours later Spot laid beside Stormy, who was starting to get up slowly. He kissed her cheek. She walked out the door saying good-bye, and headed for home slowly. He got up to, he wondered if this was what he wanted, but then again if she was that easy to get in bed, he could get her into other things to. But thoughts he'd pushed to the back of his mind kept popping up.
'Hey Spot rememba Sassy, ya bettah nevah let her find out dat you fuck some one else, dat is if ya still like her. Of coarse I's still like her she's me one an' only goil foreva, I'm gonna marry her when I's get olda, I's swear it' he confirmed to himself. 'Oh yah, den what's Stormy ta ya, jus' a piece of ass dat ya can get easy, when evah ya want it, no when we split well still be friends, maybe' he truly felt guilty for cheating on Sassy, but he'd get over it (at least that's what he thought). Even when he was with Stormy, there was part of him missing, the part that Sassy held the key to, so he was never truly happy, with out her. Spot had given up so much for her he didn't ever give up for any other girl that seemed to change his heart some. But he was going to keep playing Stormy/Sassy until something drastic happened. He didn't even notice, but some how he had wondered right into Red's territory, which was no other then Harlem.
"Well, if it ain't my oldest friend, Spot." Red said leaning against
the street pole. "Hey Red." he said looking up from the ground.
"What's wrong ya nevah come around he'ah unless somethin's wrong, what cha got on yer mind ta night?" he looked at Spot wondering.
"Jus' a whole bunch of different shit. I's got all dese thoughts goin' through me head, an' half of 'um keep comin' back, I can't get rid of 'um, its drivin' me nuts." Spot said, leaning against a wall. "Oh, ok, let me guess dere about Sassy ain't dey?" he asked knowing he was right.
"Yah, I guess so, it's only been two weeks or so, but I's miss 'er. When she left she took part of me wit her I guess, it's kinda hard ta explain." Red looked like he was going to laugh, but thought about it again, he really didn't want to get into it with Spot tonight.
Spot looked pitiful, and Red didn't want to make him mad or piss him off, not now. He couldn't bare to see his friends in so much pain, and sorrow, so he started thinking. Red finally came up with an idea that would cheer Spot up, at least it should he thought. He watched Spot finish his cigarette before he through out his idea to him.
"Heya Spot, ya wanna go get a drink? It might help a little bit," Red proclaimed as Spot stood straight up again. "Sure, why not, cain't get worse right?" he asked as they walked off.
The rest of that week went by fast for Spot. Spot started spending more, and more time with Stormy. After about the third week of Racetrack staying with in the Manhattan territory he got board of it. So it was four weeks after Sassy left, it was starting to get cold, and snow covered the December sky. Race, and the rest were starting to do really bad at selling, and the worse they did the more restless they grew as the time went by. One cold day in late December Racetrack made his way to Brooklyn to see an old friend. He stopped at the end of the pier Spot sold at, and looked down it. He saw Spot turned around, and took off back towards the Brooklyn Bridge. He was too furious with Spot to talk to him now, he couldn't begin to believe Spot would cheat on Sassy, which really pissed him off. He got back to Manhattan by lunchtime; he stopped outside of Tibbys, and looked in. Jack got up seeing him standing out there, and went to see what was up with him he didn't look very happy.
"Back from Brooklyn awready, what happened?" Jack asked walking out the door to a cold breeze.
Racetrack leaned against the wall, and gave a weak sigh Jack couldn't see the anger in his eyes. He looked at Jack looking at him, and all that anger came back as he started to explain what was happening before his very eyes. He told him about the train station, and what he had just saw, Jack got pissed he couldn't believe it either. They both walked back in Tibbys, and acted like nothing happened. Every one was convinced of in except the one that knew Race to well to believe it, Tootsie.
"Oh gawd, what happened now?" she asked, not letting him get out of this one.
"Come on, I'll explain it all ta ya, but I cain't jus' stand around." he took her hand, and they walked out the door.
He explained everything to her, but in a lot more detail than he did with Jack. She was highly pissed at Spot for even thinking about cheating on her best friend, but there was more to come to her surprise. Racetrack finally finished as they reached the lodging house but neither of them stayed their very long, as he finished up his long thought out story.
"An' deres nuthin' wese can do about it neither." he said, finishing up with the story.
"Oh hell no! Ya wanna make a bet dere ain't nuthin' wese can do, watch me." she said, taking off towards Brooklyn. She was like Sassy she didn't let anyone get away with hurting her friends. Technically she wasn't really there but that didn't change the way she felt about her friends.
Tootsie stopped running when she got to the edge of the bridge, and Racetrack came behind her trying to regain his breath. She walked slowly across the bridge, she knew Race wasn't going to come, and that was fine. Spot wouldn't do anything, he respected her so she wasn't worried, she watched Race turn, and walk away slowly. Tootsie walked up to the lodging house seeing Buttercup right outside the entrance.
"Hey Tootsie, what brings ya he'ah?" she asked smiling.
"Spot! Where is he?" she asked madly.
"Last time I's saw 'im he was in 'is room, wit' Stormy." Buttercup answered.
"Whose dat?" Tootsie asked.
"Um dats Glory's sistah, but she's a bitch. Tootsie I miss Sass, when's she comin' back ta set everything straight again? Every thing is so screwed up wit' out her around." she asked, getting upset.
"Yah, Glory's a sweetheart, I's don't know but it bettah be soon dough, I's cain't live like dis much longer, I don't think anyone can." Tootsie said, walking in the lodging house.
She sprinted half way up the stairs to where Spots door stood closed. As she reached it she caught her breath, and pounded on his door until he opened it.
"Tootsie!" Spot said surprised.
"Well, come in." he said letting her by, and turned around.
"You, Out, Now! Spot we gotta talk." she said madly.
"Spot she can't be serious." Stormy said.
"Hello, I can he'ah ya, I'm right he'ah, I SAID NOW." Tootsie yelled.
"She's dead serious, out," Spot said, pointing at the door.
"Spot!" "Sahrry Storm but she's me best goil." Stormys jaw dropped. Did he just call her his best girl? She couldn't believe it Spot chose her over me. Tootsie put a smudge smile on her face and pointed at the door to, and gave a small wave.
"Now what's up wit'cha Toots? Bargin' in he'ah." Spot asked sitting on his bed.
"Ya know I's didn't believe it when dey told me, I's had ta see it wit' me own eyes, an' now I have." she said controlling her anger but just barley.
"She's jus' a friend." he lied, keeping his eyes on her back.
"Spot Conlon who do you think yer tryin' ta lie ta, so how many times have ya fucked 'er?" Tootsie asked, rolling her eyes.
Spot was trying to decide what he was going to tell her, but he couldn't lie to her, she and Sassy could both she right through him.
"None...Okay, okay maybe once." he said, looking down. Tootsie couldn't hold back she turned around, and slapped him.
"Damn, What da Hell Toots, ... oh Gawd dat hurt." he said rubbing his cheek.
"I'm sahrry, not 'bout hittin' ya, but what are ya gonna do when Sass gets back he'ah, ya totally played her, I wouldn't be surprised if she dropped your ass." Tootsie said, sitting beside him.
"Yah I know, all dese thoughts about 'er are startin' ta kill me. I's startin' ta lose it Tootsie, what am I gonna do 'bout dis?" Spot asked looking at her.
For the first time since Sassy had left he let all his emotions out, and Tootsie did the best she could to comfort him. After about half an hour Spot finally broke down into Tootsie's shoulder.
"Are ya gonna be all right Spot?" Tootsie asked.
"Yah, I jus' cain't believe I's been so stupid. I know dis sounds stupid but will ya stay he'ah till I fall asleep, ya can sleep in Sassy's bunk." Spot said upset.
"Chill Spot, I'll stay," she said sitting against the backboard. Spot laid his head on her chest, and she cradled him until he fell asleep. She didn't move from her spot on his bed, she fell asleep still holding him like a mother holds a son.
That morning Spot woke up surprised Tootsie hadn't moved that night after he fell asleep, but it was fine with him. He sat up for a minute, and shook Tootsie lightly to wake her up. She opened her eyes and stretched, it was still early for her.
"Mornin' Spot." she said, yawning.
"Mornin', an' thanks fer da comfort last night." he said getting up.
"No problem, so what ya gonna do about it?" Tootsie asked, pulling her hair down.
"If it makes ya feel any bettah, I's gonna break up wit' Stormy taday." Spot said, looking for a shirt.
"Yah, it does, I'm glad ya came ta yer senses," she said, getting up.
"Hey Spot, I's gonna go, I'll come back in a few days awright" Tootsie said, walking to the door.
"Awright, ... hey Tootsie I's do love 'er dough, I really do." Spot said, as she walked out the door.
"I's know Spot, believe me I know," she said, sticking her head back in the door. He looked up, and watched her walk out, she was right he couldn't take it anymore or live like that either, he was losing it. He got dressed, and ready to go sell then he looked out his window. Tootsie was just approaching the bridge, he stood and watched her, and if anything happened to her Racetrack would kill him personally. Spot grabbed his hat then turned to look back out the window in time to see someone grab Tootsie. He ran out the door to find her, and gave a weak sigh, he really missed having Sassy around. Tootsie stood in the middle of the bridge fighting one guy as another sat watching from the ground. She grabbed the guy's arm and flipped him onto his back.
"Tootsie watch out." Spot called from behind. "Spot." she said looking back. She hit the ground as Spot ran to her side, he pulled him off her, and the two guys took off down the road.
"Are you ok?" Spot asked helping her up.
"Yah, I'm fine," she said laughing.
"Who where they?" he asked. "I's don't know." Tootsie said, looking up. "I'll see ya in a few days awright Spot, next big poker game." She said hugging him.
"Okay, See ya Friday." he said watching her walk the rest of the way across the bridge.
Spot turned and walked back to the lodging house he didn't fell like selling that day, he was to depressed. He fell onto his bed he was tired and debated on when he was going to tell Stormy. He stared at the ceiling with nothing better to do, and sensed some one looking at him from close by. Spot propped him self up to see Stormy leaning against his bedroom door. She smiled looking at him, than she walked over and sat beside him on the bed. Spot rolled his eyes, and laid back again sighing discouraged, with Tootsie yelling at him. He hated being yelled at by anyone, but it made him realize how wrong he was. "Yo, Spot what's wrong why ain't cha ya sellin? I went by ta see ya, and ya weren't dere." Stormy said.
"Nuthin' I was wit' a friend, an' I's don't feel like selling taday, I have stuff on me mind. I'm tryin' to get it out of mind." he said looking up.
"Ya wanna talk wit' me about it?" she asked taking his hand.
"No, I need ta really think 'bout it," he said flatly.
"Are ya sure, I mean I'm hear if ya wanna talk about it, it might help." Stormy said looking at him.
"I said no! Jus' leave me alone, I'll find ya latah on." Spot said, pushing her hand away.
"Fine, I'll be at the house, if ya decide ta come by." she said walking out of his room.
He let his head fall into his pillow, and then he started laughing, he had to do something to get the pressure out. So she left soon enough he feel back to sleep after that, and all his thoughts he'd been having turned into a small confusing dream.
Spot sat under a tree in the middle of the park, he looked up, and saw Stormy walking towards him. As he propped himself up Stormy walked up, and sat down beside him.
"Stormy what are........." he trailed off seeing Sassy in a distance.
"No way." he said rubbing his eyes.
"Spot ya know you want me." she said moving in front of him.
"Oh yah, stop Spot, ya gonna let her make yer decisions for ya know." Sassy said walking over, cigarette in hand.
"But......" Spot started.
"What's it to ya if he does?" she asked.
"It's a lot ta me, why do you care?" Sassy asked.
"You are a bitch." Stormy implied.
"What you think I didn't know dat awready?" she asked. Stormy looked her over quick, and turned to Spot that was watching them.
"Since when do ya need Spot's permission ta hit me?" Sassy asked.
"I don't," she said.
Stormys fist connected with Sassy's jaw, and stumbled back a few feet in surprise. Sassy walked up to her slamming her fist into Stormys nose, and sending her to the ground. They went on fighting until Stormy had a broken nose and Sassy had blood all over from her nose to, when Spot butted in.
"Stop! Yer gonna kill each other!" Spot yelled at them. "Shut up!" they both said.
Sassy fell to the ground as a sharp pain ran through her right side, from the smaller dagger in her upper shoulder. She got up slowly, and turned to leave with out a second thought about what she was doing. Spot sat there amazed that it would ever get this far in a fight, they didn't even know each other.
"What, cha leavin' already" Stormy asked coming closer to her.
"Naw, see da thing is when it comes to me, I nevah leave a fight until it's finished. But when ya do somethin' ta me ya bettah damn well expect it ta be comin' back to you" Sassy said. She turned around shoving the knife into Stormys stomach, and gave a icy look to her as she fell to the ground. Spot didn't look to surprised, but he felt that Sassy had no remorse what so ever. Spot woke up in a cold sweat he had slept well into the night surprisingly. He didn't really believe Stormy would ever lead anyone on to a fight like she did, and he knew it wouldn't go over that easily either. But on the other hand he had no problem seeing his girl Sassy doing something like that.
"Dats what I get fer screwin' wit' everyone's emotions, and screwin' my own goil over." He thought to himself.
Spot didn't see Stormy that day so he didn't have to break the news to her about what was going on. He sort of just walked around the whole day after he had finished selling, there was nothing better to do once again, and well nothing he wanted to do. He got back to the lodging house right as it started to get dark, the clock had just chimed six o' clock.
Spot laid on his bed looking at the ceiling blankly, he just let his mind wonder to where ever he wasn't. Things all seemed better in his mind he didn't have to worry about anything going on around him. He was so out of it that he didn't even notice when one of the Brooklyn girls walked in his room. Spot finally looked up again when he got hit in the head with a hat, by Buttercup.
"Why do ya always walk in wit' out knockin'?" he asked sitting up.
"'Cause yer doors always unlocked, also 'cause ya get ovah it." Buttercup replied.
"Well den, what da want?" Spot asked.
"He'ahs da money me an' Violet owe ya, an' he'ahs yer stuff from Red, he was he'ah 'bout an hour ago, an' yous was out of it." she said, throwing a bunch of things down by him.
"Oh, okay, thanks." she looked at him.
"So what's up wit' cha an' Stormy?" Buttercup asked wonderingly.
"It's none of yer business what's goin' on wit' us." He said.
"Excuss me fer wonderin'." She said turning around.
"It's awright, but I's don't know, it really needs ta be ovah wit' its 'bout dat time." Spot replied, thinking about it.
"It should of nevah happened ta begin wit' Spot, we both know dat much." he looked up.
"Don't preach ta me, I's know dat already. Ya wanna jus' go away now." he said, getting mad.
"Fine, whatever ya say." Buttercup said, and walked out of his room.
On the other side of the town Glory, and Stormy were starting to calm down and get ready for bed. Glory jumped on her bed in her room, than fell to the floor laughing at herself. She jumped when she heard a knock on her window, and turned around, and opened it slowly. Mush was sitting on a tree limb looking straight at her smiling, she smiled at him as he jumped throw her window. They sat down, and started talking Stormy had to tell them to shut up, like five times. Stormy went back in her room slammed her door shut, and once again tried to get to sleep for a few hours.
Spot woke up at four thirty by being hit in the face with a very familiar hat, that he'd given to Stormy. He sat up slowly looking around the dark room for her, he saw shadows move around the room; he hadn't seen her yet though. He looked around the room slowly then his head snapped back to the door, where he saw a small flicker of a match light the cigarette she held between her lips. Spot swore he saw a trace of hurt in those eyes before the match went out.
"What do ya want its four-thirty in da mornin'?" Spot asked slowly.
"Come on ya gotta talk ta me. What's going on with you?" Stormy asked, with accent slipping.
"Oh......Give me ten minutes let me get up, an' ready fer taday." he said, walking to his window.
"Fine, ten minutes that's it, that's all the time you get!" she said laying across his couch.
A little while later she turned to her side spotting something she hadn't seen before on his desk. As she got up she realized that it was a picture of him, and another girl she had never seen before. Stormy picked it up then fell into the couch studying the girl next to Spot, 'they look so in love...I wonder what happened to her?' she thought. She looked over the girls' features. 'Light colored hair, light eyes unlike mine, her skin has a good complexion, Spot was lucky or is he still with her?' thoughts ran through her mind crazily. Spot walked back in the room, and saw that Stormy had found the picture of him and Sassy, and she was studying it deeply.
"I's see ya found da picture of me, an' Sassy." Spot said walking in the room.
"Yeah, So what happened between you two? I mean where is she now?" Stormy asked looking up at him.
"I ain't sure where she is, but she'll turn up she always does. Nuthin' happened 'tween us I loved 'er, she loved me, It still hurts sometimes she's been gone for five weeks ta da day now." he said looking at the floor.
"Gosh, Ya really did love 'er, didn't cha?" he looked up.
"Yah, an' I's guess I's always will, she's like inside of me, and I swear when I'm really stressed I can he'ah things she's said ta me, its crazy. My consiouss drives me nuts half da time too, an' dat don't help any(yes he does have one amazingly)." Stormy looked a little upset.
"Well dat's sort of why I came to see you.............about a guy" he looked up.
"So.......tell me what's goin' on?" Spot asked.
"I'm movin',...ya know back ta Chicago......" she stopped short.
"Dat ain't all, deres somethin' ya ain't tellin' me. What is it?" Stormy looked at her hand.
"Don't be mad at me, I forgot all 'bout it 'till I got a letter 'bout it...I'm sort of. well....engaged." she said, holding out her hand.
"What!? I's cain't believe ya never told me dat, gawd look at dat ring what is he? Rich! How could ya ferget yer engaged?" Spot said, his eyes went icy.
"Its like I said, I had forgot all about it until I found my ring, and....." Spot stopped her.
"Ya know what jus' stop, I's don't care! Jus' get out, jus' get out now!" he said pointing to the door.
Spot watched her eyes change from regular too a misted over color, but he didn't change his expression much. Stormy walked out slowly a little upset that Spot didn't take it better than he should of, but she was ok. Spots expression didn't change much after she left, he couldn't believe what he had just heard, but now at least she was gone. He sat slowly on his bed pulling out an empty cigarette box, he pulled some money out that he'd been saving, shoving it in his pocket. Spot got up again, and made his way down the stairs, out the door, and down the streets looking for something. He knew what he was looking, but yet he wasn't sure where he wanted to go to get it. As Spot walked down the road looking for something he couldn't seem to find. New York was barley a hundred and ten years old, but parts of it were already turning into ruins. He stopped in front of an old apartment that had been burned down, a year before. He wore a straight face, yet his eyes held a certain sadness, as if he'd lost his best friend. Spot gave it one last look then walked off, he couldn't stand to be there any longer. Spot heard a quiet footstep behind him, and turned around and stood surprised. There in front of him stood a girl who looked his age, and reminded him incredibly of Sassy. She stood there still until he asked her who she was, with a step she introduced her self.
"I'm Rekia, he'ah ta tell ya of one of Jacks boys." She said.
"Oh yah, how come I's neva seen ya 'fore? I know all Jacks goils." Spot said.
"With respect, if I'm right an' I usually am ya haven't seen Jack or any one from Manhattan, since Sassy left." Rekia said starting to get mad.
"How do ya know 'bout her? No one talks 'bout dat." Spot said.
"Come on Spot, who do I's look like?" she asked rolling her eyes. "I's look exactly like Sass ya know why?"
"I's guess 'cause yer related right?" he said.
"Right, I's two years oldah then her, seventeen how long she been gone now?" Rekia asked.
"A little ovah a month now, why ya he'ah?" Spot asked her.
"Well I've known she left but I figured she'd be back by now." She said.
"Dats lovely and great, but why ya lookin' fer her?" he asked again.
"We have a deal to settle, an' I expected her ta be back by now, but seein' as she ain't I guess I's gonna have ta come back lata." Rekia said flipping her hair.
"What's she owe ya fer?" he asked.
"She don't owe me fer nuthin', she's always been betta at everything then me...except fer keepin' a boyfriend, and I see da cards still stands. How long were ya goin' out 'fore she high tailed it outta he'ah?" Rekia asked looking at him.
"Five, six months maybe, I think." Spot said.
"Huh betta den usual, usually only last 'bout a month, but I guess somethin' 'bout ya stuck wit' her." Spot looked at her slowly.
"She didn't like me ta begin wit' she kept blowin' me off." He said.
"Not uncommon she don't like hardly anyone includin' guys she doesn't trust 'um." Rekia said and walked off.
"Why doesn't she trust us?" Spot called to her.
"Gives ya somethin' ta think 'bout huh?" Rekia said and disappeared behind a corner. Spot looked through a dusty window at a black velvet choker with a silver heart hanging down from it. He wasn't for sure of it, but he thought that she might at least like it if he was to get it for her. Spot walked into the small run down jewelry store, it was very dimly lighted. An Italian boy about Spots age sat behind a small counter looking at a book, and looked up as he heard the door close. "Can I help you with something?" he asked in a heavy Italian accent. "Yah, I want da choker in da window, how much do ya want fer it?" Spot asked. "Its ten bucks, you got the money?" the boy asked. "Yah, he'ahs da money fer it now can I's have da choker or what?" he asked. "Sure he'ah take it, if ya don't mind whose it for?" the boy asked. "Its fer her." Spot said showing him the picture. "It's Sassy right, haven't seen 'er around lately." He said. "Yah it's her, how do ya know 'er?" Spot asked. "Her an' ButtaCup sell papers ta me an' my brotha, haven't seen 'um around lately though." He said. "Sassy went down south an' I'm not sure where ButtaCup is sellin' now, but thanks." Spot said and walked out. Spot walked back to the lodging house slowly with nothing on his mind, he just cleared his mind. He was just spacing out as he walked back through Brooklyn, nothing was going to bother him. Spot was board and missed Sassy but he found if he cleared his mind it didn't seem to bother him as much. That seemed to be the only thing that helped him relaxed anymore or clear his mind. This was it he was back at the lodging house, he laid down on his bed and found himself in a dreamless sleep.
Spot sat that night locked in his room he just couldn't believe Sassy was really gone. He had to put up with a hard life as long as he could remember, and know that he lost her it wasn't looking any brighter. Living in Brooklyn as a little kid had made him very cold, and hard. However, since he'd forced him self into exile for the night he didn't have to be so cold. Spot let his mind go on the thought of Sassy; he gave a sorrowful sigh. He didn't ever think that she meant so much to him, but she did, she really did, and he realized it way to late. The more he thought about it the worse he felt, and he could feel tears well up in his eyes. Since he was by him self, and no one was around to see him he let everything come out through his tears. As he cried he found that he couldn't stop, but he didn't care any more; the tears brought him comfort. The next morning he still felt terrible, about Sassy leaving, and it was slowly draining his energy. Spot got up, and walked over to his window looking out upon the river. This had been one of her favorite sights, he sighed as a memory came back. {One month before}
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.
Since then he could remember her standing there or running to the park for comfort. As children Spot, and Sassy shared similar past, they'd both been on their own since they could remember. Which unlike most of the others, the two never really trusted any one after that happened. The city had taken them, and made them both very cold, and hard to get along with. That's one way they were perfect for each other in every single way. He was use to having a new girl every two weeks, and she was use to being, and fending for her self. But together they were both learning to get along with life. Sassy fell back into him, which sent him out of his trance.
"Gawd, what am I gonna do wit out her?" Spot asked himself.
Soon after that he had fallen back to sleep. It felt like he hadn't slept at all, because next thing he knew the sun of the next day was shining in on him. Spot was meeting up with Racetrack to sell that day to. After he got his papers, he soon met up with Racetrack. Together they decided to sell at the train station for the day. Spot was almost done selling, and was tired from a hard days work, when two girls stepped off, and caught Spot and Racetrack eyes.
"Heya Spot look at those dolls." Race said nodding in there direction.
"Da one in da light purples pretty cute, don't cha like 'um?" Spot said.
"Yah, but if ya don't remember I have a goilfriend, an' so do you." Racetrack declared.
"Yah, but what she don't know can't hurt her...or me fer dat mattah." Race just shook his head, he didn't agree with his friend at all.
"Fine Spot, what eva ya say, I'll see ya later I'm out of papes anyways." Spot nodded his head at him.
Both the boys knew they shouldn't mess with the upper class, and these girls were differently higher class. Spot had it in mind that he would never see them again, and that would just be okay. He walked out with out a thought on his mind, but he didn't know he had reached the upper class girls eye as he walked by. Spot walked down the pier, and jumped up on his stoop. He felt like going back to playing his little game with the girls, now that Sassy was gone. He was and had been a womanizer, until he meet Sassy, she some how changed him, in a way no other girl could. Spot thought she would just be another fling for him, but something about her stumped him, something about her changed him. Now that she was gone, there was something he couldn't resist about getting another girl, even though he knew he shouldn't, and it was wrong. He went to the lodging house as the sun was fading into the sky. As far as he knew he didn't expect anything big to happen. He found as soon as his head hit his pillow he was fast asleep. The next day Spot was waken before the sun to the front door of the lodging house slamming.
"Gawd, what's goin' on now?" he said to himself.
He got himself up and, dressed them ran down the stairs. Hoods was standing at the door pacing back, and forth across the room. To Spot he looked a little upset about something.
"Heya Hoods, what's wrong?" Spot asked.
"Oh, hey Spot.... Violet walked out on me, I's guess I's said somethin' ta piss her off." Hoods said slowly, his tone held little worry.
"Oh, I's sahrry; ya gonna be okay?" he asked.
"Its okay, I's know she'll be fine, she can fend for herself when she's not he'ah." he said.
"Okay, well ya wanna get yer papes since we're already up?" Spot asked.
"Sure, nuthin' betta ta do since we cant talk to are goils, right?" Hoods said walking out the door.
"Yah, how true dat is." Spot said, after minute of pause.
After they got there papers they bid their fair wells, and went there separate ways to sell. Spot sold out fairly quickly, and spent the rest of the time at the Wisdom hall. Around seven Spot walked out the door with some friends. He stood out front smoking, and talking to his friends as two girls passed by them. He didn't really see them but the one defiantly noticed him as she walked past. But he didn't seem to be paying to much attention; he was busy trying to have fun with out feeling guilty. Two days after Spot watched the two girls step off the train, he didn't even have a thought in his head. As he stood on a corner calling out headlines he didn't even notice the girl about to hit him. A minute later Spot found himself on the ground. Spot got up slowly brushing himself off.
"I'm so sorry, I really didn't mean to hit you," the girl said getting up smiling.
"It's awright, don't worry 'bout it," he said slowly. "Yer new he'ah ain't cha?" he asked seeing the sisters.
"Yah we are, were out exploring Brooklyn today." the sister said.
"I's Spot Conlon, leader of the Brooklyn newsies, I'll be glad ta show ya 'round." he said.
"Fine, dats Glory, and I'm Stormy," she said.
"Nice ta meet 'cha, now come on." Spot said.
He dropped his last five or ten papers, and started down the street with the girls behind him. Spot and the girls stopped by the lodging house first. He showed into the main room, grabbed a book from the counter, and sat in between the girls.
"So how many newsies are dere he'ah?" Glory asked.
"Oh, I'd say 'bout t'ree thousand, but dats all of Brooklyn. Right now da guys he'ah are Pounder, Hoods, Tracks, Central, Snickers, and Fear that's only a few of 'um wese got goils he'ah to." Spot said closing the book.
"Really, like who?" Stormy asked.
"Like Violet, ButterCup, Sandy, Jamie, Dancer, and Sassy...but she ain't he'ah right now." his smile faded away.
"Where is..." Glory started.
"Spot Conlon! What on gods name are ya doin' he'ah when yer 'poses ta be sellin?" An older lady asked.
"Hey Ms. B, I's showin' Stormy an' Glory around ta day." Spot said.
"I swear Spot if its not one girl its another, what happens when Sass gets back...." Spot interrupted.
"Ms. B can wese talk 'bout dis ta night?"
"Sure Spot, jus' remember this won't go away, like ya think it will," she said, taking the book as they walked out the door.
"What was she talking 'bout Spot?" Stormy asked as they walked out.
"Dere's jus' been some shit goin' on wit' some of da guys." he said. Together the three of them walked the streets to go get something to eat, they walked in slowly. So they went in, and he introduced them to some of the guys that were there. They sat down finally, and ate. After they were through they got up, and made their way trough the city again. Spot pointed to every other building as they went down road after road of the Brooklyn territory. The girls were finally starting to get board.
"Can I go home now!?" Glory asked her sister, getting tired, and impatient.
"Yah fine, find yer way home, I'll be there in a bit." Stormy said, turning around, and pointing the way to go. So she walked off towards their new house uptown, she was too tired to continue on with her sister, and Spot.
"Are you all right?" Spot asked looking over at Stormy, as he lit a cigarette.
"Yah jus' a lil' cold." she said leaning against an alley wall.
He walked over, and put his hands around her waist, and pulled her closer to him. She didn't care this was what she wanted, she thought. Then he kissed her, and pushed her back against the wall, there bodies were against the others. A few minutes later Spot broke the kiss took her hand, and they made there way back to the lodging house. He took her into his room, and closed the door. Stormy sat on his bed waiting for him to say some thing, but he didn't. He walked over, and laid her down sitting over her, he started kissing her again. She was nervous about it, but its what she wanted from the time she laid her eyes on him. So what had started with a kiss ended with sex that both of them had wanted to begin with. Plus it helped to get everything off of Spots mind for a little while at least. If only he would have know it would bother him later, but he didn't think about that at all before hand. A few hours later Spot laid beside Stormy, who was starting to get up slowly. He kissed her cheek. She walked out the door saying good-bye, and headed for home slowly. He got up to, he wondered if this was what he wanted, but then again if she was that easy to get in bed, he could get her into other things to. But thoughts he'd pushed to the back of his mind kept popping up.
'Hey Spot rememba Sassy, ya bettah nevah let her find out dat you fuck some one else, dat is if ya still like her. Of coarse I's still like her she's me one an' only goil foreva, I'm gonna marry her when I's get olda, I's swear it' he confirmed to himself. 'Oh yah, den what's Stormy ta ya, jus' a piece of ass dat ya can get easy, when evah ya want it, no when we split well still be friends, maybe' he truly felt guilty for cheating on Sassy, but he'd get over it (at least that's what he thought). Even when he was with Stormy, there was part of him missing, the part that Sassy held the key to, so he was never truly happy, with out her. Spot had given up so much for her he didn't ever give up for any other girl that seemed to change his heart some. But he was going to keep playing Stormy/Sassy until something drastic happened. He didn't even notice, but some how he had wondered right into Red's territory, which was no other then Harlem.
"Well, if it ain't my oldest friend, Spot." Red said leaning against
the street pole. "Hey Red." he said looking up from the ground.
"What's wrong ya nevah come around he'ah unless somethin's wrong, what cha got on yer mind ta night?" he looked at Spot wondering.
"Jus' a whole bunch of different shit. I's got all dese thoughts goin' through me head, an' half of 'um keep comin' back, I can't get rid of 'um, its drivin' me nuts." Spot said, leaning against a wall. "Oh, ok, let me guess dere about Sassy ain't dey?" he asked knowing he was right.
"Yah, I guess so, it's only been two weeks or so, but I's miss 'er. When she left she took part of me wit her I guess, it's kinda hard ta explain." Red looked like he was going to laugh, but thought about it again, he really didn't want to get into it with Spot tonight.
Spot looked pitiful, and Red didn't want to make him mad or piss him off, not now. He couldn't bare to see his friends in so much pain, and sorrow, so he started thinking. Red finally came up with an idea that would cheer Spot up, at least it should he thought. He watched Spot finish his cigarette before he through out his idea to him.
"Heya Spot, ya wanna go get a drink? It might help a little bit," Red proclaimed as Spot stood straight up again. "Sure, why not, cain't get worse right?" he asked as they walked off.
The rest of that week went by fast for Spot. Spot started spending more, and more time with Stormy. After about the third week of Racetrack staying with in the Manhattan territory he got board of it. So it was four weeks after Sassy left, it was starting to get cold, and snow covered the December sky. Race, and the rest were starting to do really bad at selling, and the worse they did the more restless they grew as the time went by. One cold day in late December Racetrack made his way to Brooklyn to see an old friend. He stopped at the end of the pier Spot sold at, and looked down it. He saw Spot turned around, and took off back towards the Brooklyn Bridge. He was too furious with Spot to talk to him now, he couldn't begin to believe Spot would cheat on Sassy, which really pissed him off. He got back to Manhattan by lunchtime; he stopped outside of Tibbys, and looked in. Jack got up seeing him standing out there, and went to see what was up with him he didn't look very happy.
"Back from Brooklyn awready, what happened?" Jack asked walking out the door to a cold breeze.
Racetrack leaned against the wall, and gave a weak sigh Jack couldn't see the anger in his eyes. He looked at Jack looking at him, and all that anger came back as he started to explain what was happening before his very eyes. He told him about the train station, and what he had just saw, Jack got pissed he couldn't believe it either. They both walked back in Tibbys, and acted like nothing happened. Every one was convinced of in except the one that knew Race to well to believe it, Tootsie.
"Oh gawd, what happened now?" she asked, not letting him get out of this one.
"Come on, I'll explain it all ta ya, but I cain't jus' stand around." he took her hand, and they walked out the door.
He explained everything to her, but in a lot more detail than he did with Jack. She was highly pissed at Spot for even thinking about cheating on her best friend, but there was more to come to her surprise. Racetrack finally finished as they reached the lodging house but neither of them stayed their very long, as he finished up his long thought out story.
"An' deres nuthin' wese can do about it neither." he said, finishing up with the story.
"Oh hell no! Ya wanna make a bet dere ain't nuthin' wese can do, watch me." she said, taking off towards Brooklyn. She was like Sassy she didn't let anyone get away with hurting her friends. Technically she wasn't really there but that didn't change the way she felt about her friends.
Tootsie stopped running when she got to the edge of the bridge, and Racetrack came behind her trying to regain his breath. She walked slowly across the bridge, she knew Race wasn't going to come, and that was fine. Spot wouldn't do anything, he respected her so she wasn't worried, she watched Race turn, and walk away slowly. Tootsie walked up to the lodging house seeing Buttercup right outside the entrance.
"Hey Tootsie, what brings ya he'ah?" she asked smiling.
"Spot! Where is he?" she asked madly.
"Last time I's saw 'im he was in 'is room, wit' Stormy." Buttercup answered.
"Whose dat?" Tootsie asked.
"Um dats Glory's sistah, but she's a bitch. Tootsie I miss Sass, when's she comin' back ta set everything straight again? Every thing is so screwed up wit' out her around." she asked, getting upset.
"Yah, Glory's a sweetheart, I's don't know but it bettah be soon dough, I's cain't live like dis much longer, I don't think anyone can." Tootsie said, walking in the lodging house.
She sprinted half way up the stairs to where Spots door stood closed. As she reached it she caught her breath, and pounded on his door until he opened it.
"Tootsie!" Spot said surprised.
"Well, come in." he said letting her by, and turned around.
"You, Out, Now! Spot we gotta talk." she said madly.
"Spot she can't be serious." Stormy said.
"Hello, I can he'ah ya, I'm right he'ah, I SAID NOW." Tootsie yelled.
"She's dead serious, out," Spot said, pointing at the door.
"Spot!" "Sahrry Storm but she's me best goil." Stormys jaw dropped. Did he just call her his best girl? She couldn't believe it Spot chose her over me. Tootsie put a smudge smile on her face and pointed at the door to, and gave a small wave.
"Now what's up wit'cha Toots? Bargin' in he'ah." Spot asked sitting on his bed.
"Ya know I's didn't believe it when dey told me, I's had ta see it wit' me own eyes, an' now I have." she said controlling her anger but just barley.
"She's jus' a friend." he lied, keeping his eyes on her back.
"Spot Conlon who do you think yer tryin' ta lie ta, so how many times have ya fucked 'er?" Tootsie asked, rolling her eyes.
Spot was trying to decide what he was going to tell her, but he couldn't lie to her, she and Sassy could both she right through him.
"None...Okay, okay maybe once." he said, looking down. Tootsie couldn't hold back she turned around, and slapped him.
"Damn, What da Hell Toots, ... oh Gawd dat hurt." he said rubbing his cheek.
"I'm sahrry, not 'bout hittin' ya, but what are ya gonna do when Sass gets back he'ah, ya totally played her, I wouldn't be surprised if she dropped your ass." Tootsie said, sitting beside him.
"Yah I know, all dese thoughts about 'er are startin' ta kill me. I's startin' ta lose it Tootsie, what am I gonna do 'bout dis?" Spot asked looking at her.
For the first time since Sassy had left he let all his emotions out, and Tootsie did the best she could to comfort him. After about half an hour Spot finally broke down into Tootsie's shoulder.
"Are ya gonna be all right Spot?" Tootsie asked.
"Yah, I jus' cain't believe I's been so stupid. I know dis sounds stupid but will ya stay he'ah till I fall asleep, ya can sleep in Sassy's bunk." Spot said upset.
"Chill Spot, I'll stay," she said sitting against the backboard. Spot laid his head on her chest, and she cradled him until he fell asleep. She didn't move from her spot on his bed, she fell asleep still holding him like a mother holds a son.
That morning Spot woke up surprised Tootsie hadn't moved that night after he fell asleep, but it was fine with him. He sat up for a minute, and shook Tootsie lightly to wake her up. She opened her eyes and stretched, it was still early for her.
"Mornin' Spot." she said, yawning.
"Mornin', an' thanks fer da comfort last night." he said getting up.
"No problem, so what ya gonna do about it?" Tootsie asked, pulling her hair down.
"If it makes ya feel any bettah, I's gonna break up wit' Stormy taday." Spot said, looking for a shirt.
"Yah, it does, I'm glad ya came ta yer senses," she said, getting up.
"Hey Spot, I's gonna go, I'll come back in a few days awright" Tootsie said, walking to the door.
"Awright, ... hey Tootsie I's do love 'er dough, I really do." Spot said, as she walked out the door.
"I's know Spot, believe me I know," she said, sticking her head back in the door. He looked up, and watched her walk out, she was right he couldn't take it anymore or live like that either, he was losing it. He got dressed, and ready to go sell then he looked out his window. Tootsie was just approaching the bridge, he stood and watched her, and if anything happened to her Racetrack would kill him personally. Spot grabbed his hat then turned to look back out the window in time to see someone grab Tootsie. He ran out the door to find her, and gave a weak sigh, he really missed having Sassy around. Tootsie stood in the middle of the bridge fighting one guy as another sat watching from the ground. She grabbed the guy's arm and flipped him onto his back.
"Tootsie watch out." Spot called from behind. "Spot." she said looking back. She hit the ground as Spot ran to her side, he pulled him off her, and the two guys took off down the road.
"Are you ok?" Spot asked helping her up.
"Yah, I'm fine," she said laughing.
"Who where they?" he asked. "I's don't know." Tootsie said, looking up. "I'll see ya in a few days awright Spot, next big poker game." She said hugging him.
"Okay, See ya Friday." he said watching her walk the rest of the way across the bridge.
Spot turned and walked back to the lodging house he didn't fell like selling that day, he was to depressed. He fell onto his bed he was tired and debated on when he was going to tell Stormy. He stared at the ceiling with nothing better to do, and sensed some one looking at him from close by. Spot propped him self up to see Stormy leaning against his bedroom door. She smiled looking at him, than she walked over and sat beside him on the bed. Spot rolled his eyes, and laid back again sighing discouraged, with Tootsie yelling at him. He hated being yelled at by anyone, but it made him realize how wrong he was. "Yo, Spot what's wrong why ain't cha ya sellin? I went by ta see ya, and ya weren't dere." Stormy said.
"Nuthin' I was wit' a friend, an' I's don't feel like selling taday, I have stuff on me mind. I'm tryin' to get it out of mind." he said looking up.
"Ya wanna talk wit' me about it?" she asked taking his hand.
"No, I need ta really think 'bout it," he said flatly.
"Are ya sure, I mean I'm hear if ya wanna talk about it, it might help." Stormy said looking at him.
"I said no! Jus' leave me alone, I'll find ya latah on." Spot said, pushing her hand away.
"Fine, I'll be at the house, if ya decide ta come by." she said walking out of his room.
He let his head fall into his pillow, and then he started laughing, he had to do something to get the pressure out. So she left soon enough he feel back to sleep after that, and all his thoughts he'd been having turned into a small confusing dream.
Spot sat under a tree in the middle of the park, he looked up, and saw Stormy walking towards him. As he propped himself up Stormy walked up, and sat down beside him.
"Stormy what are........." he trailed off seeing Sassy in a distance.
"No way." he said rubbing his eyes.
"Spot ya know you want me." she said moving in front of him.
"Oh yah, stop Spot, ya gonna let her make yer decisions for ya know." Sassy said walking over, cigarette in hand.
"But......" Spot started.
"What's it to ya if he does?" she asked.
"It's a lot ta me, why do you care?" Sassy asked.
"You are a bitch." Stormy implied.
"What you think I didn't know dat awready?" she asked. Stormy looked her over quick, and turned to Spot that was watching them.
"Since when do ya need Spot's permission ta hit me?" Sassy asked.
"I don't," she said.
Stormys fist connected with Sassy's jaw, and stumbled back a few feet in surprise. Sassy walked up to her slamming her fist into Stormys nose, and sending her to the ground. They went on fighting until Stormy had a broken nose and Sassy had blood all over from her nose to, when Spot butted in.
"Stop! Yer gonna kill each other!" Spot yelled at them. "Shut up!" they both said.
Sassy fell to the ground as a sharp pain ran through her right side, from the smaller dagger in her upper shoulder. She got up slowly, and turned to leave with out a second thought about what she was doing. Spot sat there amazed that it would ever get this far in a fight, they didn't even know each other.
"What, cha leavin' already" Stormy asked coming closer to her.
"Naw, see da thing is when it comes to me, I nevah leave a fight until it's finished. But when ya do somethin' ta me ya bettah damn well expect it ta be comin' back to you" Sassy said. She turned around shoving the knife into Stormys stomach, and gave a icy look to her as she fell to the ground. Spot didn't look to surprised, but he felt that Sassy had no remorse what so ever. Spot woke up in a cold sweat he had slept well into the night surprisingly. He didn't really believe Stormy would ever lead anyone on to a fight like she did, and he knew it wouldn't go over that easily either. But on the other hand he had no problem seeing his girl Sassy doing something like that.
"Dats what I get fer screwin' wit' everyone's emotions, and screwin' my own goil over." He thought to himself.
Spot didn't see Stormy that day so he didn't have to break the news to her about what was going on. He sort of just walked around the whole day after he had finished selling, there was nothing better to do once again, and well nothing he wanted to do. He got back to the lodging house right as it started to get dark, the clock had just chimed six o' clock.
Spot laid on his bed looking at the ceiling blankly, he just let his mind wonder to where ever he wasn't. Things all seemed better in his mind he didn't have to worry about anything going on around him. He was so out of it that he didn't even notice when one of the Brooklyn girls walked in his room. Spot finally looked up again when he got hit in the head with a hat, by Buttercup.
"Why do ya always walk in wit' out knockin'?" he asked sitting up.
"'Cause yer doors always unlocked, also 'cause ya get ovah it." Buttercup replied.
"Well den, what da want?" Spot asked.
"He'ahs da money me an' Violet owe ya, an' he'ahs yer stuff from Red, he was he'ah 'bout an hour ago, an' yous was out of it." she said, throwing a bunch of things down by him.
"Oh, okay, thanks." she looked at him.
"So what's up wit' cha an' Stormy?" Buttercup asked wonderingly.
"It's none of yer business what's goin' on wit' us." He said.
"Excuss me fer wonderin'." She said turning around.
"It's awright, but I's don't know, it really needs ta be ovah wit' its 'bout dat time." Spot replied, thinking about it.
"It should of nevah happened ta begin wit' Spot, we both know dat much." he looked up.
"Don't preach ta me, I's know dat already. Ya wanna jus' go away now." he said, getting mad.
"Fine, whatever ya say." Buttercup said, and walked out of his room.
On the other side of the town Glory, and Stormy were starting to calm down and get ready for bed. Glory jumped on her bed in her room, than fell to the floor laughing at herself. She jumped when she heard a knock on her window, and turned around, and opened it slowly. Mush was sitting on a tree limb looking straight at her smiling, she smiled at him as he jumped throw her window. They sat down, and started talking Stormy had to tell them to shut up, like five times. Stormy went back in her room slammed her door shut, and once again tried to get to sleep for a few hours.
Spot woke up at four thirty by being hit in the face with a very familiar hat, that he'd given to Stormy. He sat up slowly looking around the dark room for her, he saw shadows move around the room; he hadn't seen her yet though. He looked around the room slowly then his head snapped back to the door, where he saw a small flicker of a match light the cigarette she held between her lips. Spot swore he saw a trace of hurt in those eyes before the match went out.
"What do ya want its four-thirty in da mornin'?" Spot asked slowly.
"Come on ya gotta talk ta me. What's going on with you?" Stormy asked, with accent slipping.
"Oh......Give me ten minutes let me get up, an' ready fer taday." he said, walking to his window.
"Fine, ten minutes that's it, that's all the time you get!" she said laying across his couch.
A little while later she turned to her side spotting something she hadn't seen before on his desk. As she got up she realized that it was a picture of him, and another girl she had never seen before. Stormy picked it up then fell into the couch studying the girl next to Spot, 'they look so in love...I wonder what happened to her?' she thought. She looked over the girls' features. 'Light colored hair, light eyes unlike mine, her skin has a good complexion, Spot was lucky or is he still with her?' thoughts ran through her mind crazily. Spot walked back in the room, and saw that Stormy had found the picture of him and Sassy, and she was studying it deeply.
"I's see ya found da picture of me, an' Sassy." Spot said walking in the room.
"Yeah, So what happened between you two? I mean where is she now?" Stormy asked looking up at him.
"I ain't sure where she is, but she'll turn up she always does. Nuthin' happened 'tween us I loved 'er, she loved me, It still hurts sometimes she's been gone for five weeks ta da day now." he said looking at the floor.
"Gosh, Ya really did love 'er, didn't cha?" he looked up.
"Yah, an' I's guess I's always will, she's like inside of me, and I swear when I'm really stressed I can he'ah things she's said ta me, its crazy. My consiouss drives me nuts half da time too, an' dat don't help any(yes he does have one amazingly)." Stormy looked a little upset.
"Well dat's sort of why I came to see you.............about a guy" he looked up.
"So.......tell me what's goin' on?" Spot asked.
"I'm movin',...ya know back ta Chicago......" she stopped short.
"Dat ain't all, deres somethin' ya ain't tellin' me. What is it?" Stormy looked at her hand.
"Don't be mad at me, I forgot all 'bout it 'till I got a letter 'bout it...I'm sort of. well....engaged." she said, holding out her hand.
"What!? I's cain't believe ya never told me dat, gawd look at dat ring what is he? Rich! How could ya ferget yer engaged?" Spot said, his eyes went icy.
"Its like I said, I had forgot all about it until I found my ring, and....." Spot stopped her.
"Ya know what jus' stop, I's don't care! Jus' get out, jus' get out now!" he said pointing to the door.
Spot watched her eyes change from regular too a misted over color, but he didn't change his expression much. Stormy walked out slowly a little upset that Spot didn't take it better than he should of, but she was ok. Spots expression didn't change much after she left, he couldn't believe what he had just heard, but now at least she was gone. He sat slowly on his bed pulling out an empty cigarette box, he pulled some money out that he'd been saving, shoving it in his pocket. Spot got up again, and made his way down the stairs, out the door, and down the streets looking for something. He knew what he was looking, but yet he wasn't sure where he wanted to go to get it. As Spot walked down the road looking for something he couldn't seem to find. New York was barley a hundred and ten years old, but parts of it were already turning into ruins. He stopped in front of an old apartment that had been burned down, a year before. He wore a straight face, yet his eyes held a certain sadness, as if he'd lost his best friend. Spot gave it one last look then walked off, he couldn't stand to be there any longer. Spot heard a quiet footstep behind him, and turned around and stood surprised. There in front of him stood a girl who looked his age, and reminded him incredibly of Sassy. She stood there still until he asked her who she was, with a step she introduced her self.
"I'm Rekia, he'ah ta tell ya of one of Jacks boys." She said.
"Oh yah, how come I's neva seen ya 'fore? I know all Jacks goils." Spot said.
"With respect, if I'm right an' I usually am ya haven't seen Jack or any one from Manhattan, since Sassy left." Rekia said starting to get mad.
"How do ya know 'bout her? No one talks 'bout dat." Spot said.
"Come on Spot, who do I's look like?" she asked rolling her eyes. "I's look exactly like Sass ya know why?"
"I's guess 'cause yer related right?" he said.
"Right, I's two years oldah then her, seventeen how long she been gone now?" Rekia asked.
"A little ovah a month now, why ya he'ah?" Spot asked her.
"Well I've known she left but I figured she'd be back by now." She said.
"Dats lovely and great, but why ya lookin' fer her?" he asked again.
"We have a deal to settle, an' I expected her ta be back by now, but seein' as she ain't I guess I's gonna have ta come back lata." Rekia said flipping her hair.
"What's she owe ya fer?" he asked.
"She don't owe me fer nuthin', she's always been betta at everything then me...except fer keepin' a boyfriend, and I see da cards still stands. How long were ya goin' out 'fore she high tailed it outta he'ah?" Rekia asked looking at him.
"Five, six months maybe, I think." Spot said.
"Huh betta den usual, usually only last 'bout a month, but I guess somethin' 'bout ya stuck wit' her." Spot looked at her slowly.
"She didn't like me ta begin wit' she kept blowin' me off." He said.
"Not uncommon she don't like hardly anyone includin' guys she doesn't trust 'um." Rekia said and walked off.
"Why doesn't she trust us?" Spot called to her.
"Gives ya somethin' ta think 'bout huh?" Rekia said and disappeared behind a corner. Spot looked through a dusty window at a black velvet choker with a silver heart hanging down from it. He wasn't for sure of it, but he thought that she might at least like it if he was to get it for her. Spot walked into the small run down jewelry store, it was very dimly lighted. An Italian boy about Spots age sat behind a small counter looking at a book, and looked up as he heard the door close. "Can I help you with something?" he asked in a heavy Italian accent. "Yah, I want da choker in da window, how much do ya want fer it?" Spot asked. "Its ten bucks, you got the money?" the boy asked. "Yah, he'ahs da money fer it now can I's have da choker or what?" he asked. "Sure he'ah take it, if ya don't mind whose it for?" the boy asked. "Its fer her." Spot said showing him the picture. "It's Sassy right, haven't seen 'er around lately." He said. "Yah it's her, how do ya know 'er?" Spot asked. "Her an' ButtaCup sell papers ta me an' my brotha, haven't seen 'um around lately though." He said. "Sassy went down south an' I'm not sure where ButtaCup is sellin' now, but thanks." Spot said and walked out. Spot walked back to the lodging house slowly with nothing on his mind, he just cleared his mind. He was just spacing out as he walked back through Brooklyn, nothing was going to bother him. Spot was board and missed Sassy but he found if he cleared his mind it didn't seem to bother him as much. That seemed to be the only thing that helped him relaxed anymore or clear his mind. This was it he was back at the lodging house, he laid down on his bed and found himself in a dreamless sleep.