Chapter 8- Surprise!

I laid on Spot's bunk, bored out of my mind. Everybody was outside partying while I was stuck in here. I wanted to scream, then I heard the rattling of the stairs as people piled into the building. Not following orders, a boy and a girl who were making out made their way into the room. I didn't want to be rude and remained quiet, but when they fell down on top of me I couldn't help but be noticed.

"Wha' are ya doin in here?" questioned the girl.

"I'se sorry, but I'se can't go nowhere else, 'sides are ya sure you're supposed tah be in here. Does Spot know?"

The boy panicked knowing that Spot would kill him if I told him. "C'mon Jewel, we'se shouldn't be in here."

She glared at me, and I just mirrored her image. "No, we'se ain' gonna let one o' Conlon's tramps stand in our way!"

"What'd ya call me?"

"A tramp, a Conlon Tramp! One o' da many! We'se all been dere, an' he'll dump ya jist like da rest o' us!"

I continued to glare, looking fierce. But inside I was dying. My stomach churned and I felt like I would puke. 'Dey were right! He is a no good piece o' shit! He doesn't give a damn about me! I'se only one o' his goils!' "I'se ain't no tramp, you slut! I ain't even with Conlon, he's jist helpin me out. Returnin a favor, dats it! Now git out!" The boy pushed the other girl out of the room, and I never felt so relieved when the door was shut. The tears filled my eyes, and I let them fall. They poured out and I couldn't help but think that Spot only wanted something from me and I didn't mean anything to him. Then, the door opened and in walked the girls. I was surprised that they were alone, missing their significant others.

"Heya doll..." Clue stopped mid sentence, as she saw the tears that were flowing down my cheeks.

"What's da mattah?" They all asked me.

"Some goil.. some slut, she came in with one o' da bois. We got inta it."

"Did she hurt ya?" Sweets asked whipping out her switch blade.

"Yea, she tore me up inside! She.. you'se .. are all right! Spot doesn't care bout me, I'se jist anuddah piece of ass!" All the girls' faces dropped. Sweets and Rambler knew that Spot was good at using girls, but he wouldn't use someone like me, who was bound to stay around.

"Naw, she's a tramp. No boy really cares bout dem, so dey try tah make us all feel bad," Clue spoke up.

"Look, why don't we jist let it go? Let's have a goils night? Da boys will be gone fer da night and we'se ain't allowed to leave. C'mon, let's git some cards, booze, and cigs and settle down fer a good time," Rambler decided.

I nodded, "Dat sounds like fun- no boys- no heartache!" We all smiled and the girls walked out of the room to gather up the items.
-
Bumlets lead Alicat to the abandoned factory just in time to hear his orders. He was to stick around, but be on the look out for Jersey boys. He nodded to Jack, "I'se be on it in a minute. Foist lemme take Alicat, here, tah da bunk room an' intraduce her tah da goils."

"Nice tah meet ya, I'se Jack. I'se love tah chat, but I'se gotta be goin'."

She smiled, "Nice meetin' ya Jack." She and Bumlets walked away and into the building. Heading up the stairs and they ran right into Clue.

"Sawrry Clue," Bumlets apologized.

"Dats aight, youse git tah stick 'round Bum?"

"Yeah, I'se gotta git goin dough. I'se won't be far, but could ya take care of Alicat here?"

Clue smiled, "Soire! I'se Clue, you'se can come with me and da goils. We'se havin a Goils Only Night." Clue grabbed Alicat's hand and lead her to Spot's room, and she waved good bye to Bumlets.
-
"So Lizzie, can ya tell me wha ya were doin' up on dat bridge if ya weren't gonna jump?" There was slight sarcasm in Mush's voice, but seriousness in his eyes. They made it to the factory, but ended up on top of it, sitting under the stars. Mush was supposed to be heading to Harlem's lodge for girls, but he figured that one less wouldn't make a difference. They were laying on their backs with Liz's head on Mush's stomach, searching the stars.

"Fine, you'se win. I'se gonna jump, but I'se couldn't. Den you'se came and hollered at me, scaring me to death. That's when I fell."

"Oh, well, I'se sawrry. God, I'se woulda killed meself if ya actually fell because o' me," He wasn't smiling anymore, and Sprite could tell by his tone that he felt really bad.

"Its aight. You were just trying to help me, thanks."

"So why were ya gonna jump?"

She sighed heavily and scanned the stars long and hard before answering, "My family, dey were killed. Well, me faddah(father) got influenza and died. But before he did, my mother was in a factory when it caught on fire and died. My brother was killed by a gang out in California. He was walkin home from woik, and dey mugged him. He didn't have much so dey killed him, 'sides I hoid dat he was seeing one o' da guys' sistahs."

Mush smirked knowing he used to be protective of his cousin, both him and his little brother were. No one was allowed to touch her, and if they did they got soaked, but that was all in the past now. "I'se sawrry, I'se undahstand and if ya evah need tah talk, I'se a'ways here."

She smiled, "Thanks, a lot. I woulda died witout ya."

"Ya, I'se like yer guardian angel- well sorta."

"Oh shit! Me guardian!" -
Spot and the boys made their way to Harlem, not being noticed. Most of the girls had come to the party, but not all of them. Some of the girls had to stay so that it wouldn't be noticeable if the Jersey Spies were out.

The rest of the girls made their way out, using different exits in hopes of not being noticed. Not all of the girls were out when there came a loud noise. Everyone stopped, and the girls that were all ready outside were rushed into a hide out. All the guys tensed up, and the girls were forced into the center of all of them. Out of nowhere came the crackling voice, "Surprise, surprise boys!"

It was the infamous Gram, the leader of Jersey. Spot sent the girls to the basement with a few boys, in hopes of being protected. All of the boys, hid out in dark corners and waited to attack. "Conlon!" Spot didn't respond but listened, "You'se think I'se gonna send me bois in dere? I'se know ya got yer best bois in dere, naw tah mention Manhattan's, Midway's, Bronx's, Queen's, everybody's. 'Sides dey are gonna be hittin' up yer territory any minute now, an' wit da bois dat ya left dere, we'se gonna knawck up all yer goils. Naw jist Hahlem's, it's a shame ya had tah put all o' New Yawk City's goils in danger o' Jersey. Dey'll still be alive when ya git back if dey don't fight."

Spot grew tense, he knew his sister would never give in. She'd pull out her switch blade and wind up gettin herself killed. And Rambler, she'd fight but would probably get screwed with first and then get killed. 'OH SHIT!' he thought, 'I'se gotta git back fer Vixen! I'se promised!' He knew he had to get back there and now. He knew Jack would kill him if anything happened to her, and before he got to reunite with her. Spot and many of the boys dashed out of the room, only leaving a small amount to take care of anyone who entered. -
"Goils! Dis here is Alicat, she is Bum's goil."

Alicat blushed at the thought of being Bumlet's girl. But she didn't correct them, "Hiya."

We all returned the gesture, introducing ourselves. "Hey, I'se Sweets."

"Rambler."

I smiled at her, understanding how it felt to be the new girl, "I'se Chelsea, but everyone calls me Vixen."

"Its nice tah meet ya'll."

"Aight, well, why don't we git tah some fun? Who's up fer pokah?" Clue jumped on the bed and began to bounce. I laughed when she tripped herself and landed on me.

"Dumbass!" I joked, and she smiled replying, "I'se know!"

We all laughed as Rambler dealt the cards for a game, and while Sweets poured the drinks. We all passed around the cigs, only having a small number. Then, Clue pulled something from her pocket. She was grinning devilishly, "I'se figuhed he'd steal anuddah. But dere's only one, so enjoy!"

Rambler and Sweets laughed with Clue, but Alicat and I looked at each other. "What?" We asked in confusion.

"Race?" I asked knowing that Clue was dating him and they laughed.

Nodding they stated, "Race." I didn't really understand, but I smiled wickedly anyways.

"Well, le's get dis game started." We were surprised to find that I was a very talented player.

"Goil , me bruddah would love tah have ya as his partner!"

My face dropped, "Can we naw tawlk bout yer bruddah?"

"Sorry, I'se forgot."

A few games and many drinks later we all started to rip on one another. "Yeah, Blink, doesn't really have only one eye! I's a covah up tah help 'im sell!" Clue exploded, not knowing this about her brother and found it very amusing. Yet, we all found everything amusing.. being drunk does that.

"Dis is good shit!" Alicat was very humorous when she drank, and was dancing all around the room. Soon, Sweets joined her and looped arms and went around in circles. Then, a loud noise down stairs sent us all to a jolting stop. And then we all giggled.
-
"You'se guardian?" Mush was confused, not hearing anything about this before.

"Yeah, me father told me tah look fer 'im. I didn't think I could find him, I mean in New Yawk City. Its huge!"

He sat there thinking, "Well, wha's his name? Maybe I'se know him."

"Patrick." Mush shook his head, "No, no one goes by dat, a'least no one I'se know. Wha's 'is last name?"

Liz thought long and hard, "Umm.. Patrick .. Patrick Meyers.. Thats it Patrick Meyers. Are ya sure ya don' know him?"

Mush sat up, not being able to believe it. "Mush, what's da mattah?"

He looked her over, and shook his head. "No, no way. Its impossible. Are ya sure his name was Patrick Meyers?"

Liz thought a little more, and then nodded her head, "I'm absolutely positive! Why? Do you know 'im?"

He could only shake his head yes, "I'se know 'im."

"Really? Where can I find im?"

Mush was quiet when he replied, "He's right in front a ya."

Her eyes grew wide, shaking her head. "Thats impossible! You're name is Mush, not Patrick."

"Its me nickname, jist like Sprite. Thats what I used tah call ya, don't ya remembah me?"

She looked into Mush's eyes, and stared in disbelief, "You are Patrick! But I'se a'ways called ya Pat." She hugged her best friend tightly and then pushed away, "You'se left me! You'se died in dat fire! How can ya be here?"

His face grew sad, "Me family died in dat fire, I'se made it out. I didn't even try tah save 'em."

"But why ya leave? Ya know me family woulda took ya in."

He grew furious remembering everything that he had pushed away, "Afath awhile I knew dey were dead without hearing it. I didn't want to hear, so I ran so they thought I died too. I didn't wanna impose, I took care of meself. I didn't want anuddah family!"

Sprite jumped up to place Mush in her arms in hopes to calm him down, "Its okay. C'mon, you'se know I love ya, you'se me best friend. Now, its just you and me. We can get on fine by ourselves."

Mush calmed down quickly and looked over the girl he knew so well. She wasn't the little girl he had played with when he was 4. She wasn't his best friend, how could she be? She was beautiful and he knew that their relationship couldn't be the same for the way she made him feel. A loud noise from below them, abruptly pulled them apart, "Fuck!"