Chapter 11- Hands Off!

"Me sistah?"

"Me bruddah?" Jack and I spoke at the same time. My eyes averted from Spot to Jack.

"Merriweather?" He asked, his eyes wide and sparkling, "Is it really you?"

"I'se sawrry, I'se don' no wha' ya tawlkin' about."

Jack's face dropped, and he was at a loss for words. "Its me, Francis," he seemed to be pleading with me.

I didn't respond, my mind was racing; taken over by a memory. It was of a young girl and boy of about 3 and 5. They were playing cowboys and indians. Suddenly, a man appeared, grabbing the girl. She started screaming, but her words as well as the faces were fading. It blurred completely, and was gone.

"Uh, Cowboy, dere's somethin' I'se gotta tell ya."

Jack was pulled back to look at Spot. Glaring, he shouted, "Me sistah? Den why don' she know me? Wha' ya do tah her?"

Spot looked down, he knew he should have told Jack long ago, "Jack, she's got amnesia. She don't remembah nottin'. Dat's how I got da journal. She had it when I found her."

"Amnesia? Found her?" Jack's thoughts clicked, "Wha da hell? Who fucked wit her?"

"Kelly, Joisey's out fer her. Dey tried tah git her, and we'se stopped 'em. But she was a'ready out, she woke up not knowin' nottin."

The boy's temper rose, and he pounced on Spot. Jack's fist collided with Spot's face, and then his stomach. Spot didn't waist time before fighting back. The two fought it out until I spoke up, "Both o' you, stop it! Git off o' im!"

They stopped and Jack looked at us both. He was so pissedd at Spot, 'He didn't even tell me he found her! Now, I'se walk in here an' dere gettin all close and comfy!'

"Spot, keep ya hands off me sistah!" Jack said, lifting me out of the bed.

"I'se not ya sistah!" I screamed at him, "I don't even know ya!"

"You'se may not remembah, but I'se ya oldah bruddah! An' dere ain't no way I'se lettin' him touch ya!" With that, Jack carried me out of the sick room and placed me on an empty bunk.

"How dare ya! I'se do as I please!"

"Look, I'se ain' gonna hoit ya. I'se nevah even think 'bout it, but you'se gonna listen tah me. If ya don't, well, I'se don't got a problem with hoiting Spot."

Jack walked away, and I was left all alone in the room. 'Who does he think he is? I'se don't care wha he says, I'se going back in dere!' After a few minutes, I got out of bed and stumbled to the door. As I reached it, the door knob was turning. When it opened I was standing face to face with Spot.

"Wha ya doin?" He asked me as I stood facing him.

"Da same thing yer doin, dumb shit," I said as a grin slid across my face.

"Dumb shit? Is that wha' ya jist called me?" his temper grew, slowly.

'He sure is cute when he's pissed. Thinkin he's all high and mighty.' I smiled, "Yeah, got a problem wit dat?"

"Yeah, I'se do!"

Soon, are lips were locked and we walked backwards towards a bunk. We fell backwards, and missed the bed entirely. Landing on the floor, we laughed so hard it hurt, and I nearly cried.

"Hope dat didn't ruin anything," He said as we still lied there laughing. I shook my head, and we kissed again. We weren't aware of how much noise we had been making, but then the sound of feet climbing the stairs spilt us apart. We knew it was Jack, and Spot was in pain after the fall. So, I pushed him under the bunk, and lied myself on it. I pretended like I was just waking as Jack came in.

"What was dat noise?" He asked looking on the bed, and then around the room. I shrugged my shoulders playing dumb, and he rolled his eyes before going into the sick room. Spot scrambled from the floor and skidded across the room into the wash room. Where, he pretended to casually be exiting a stall, and heading to the sink. I laughed at him, thinking of how ridiculous the entire scene was. Jack heard the stall door shut, and walked out of the room.

"Spot, wha' ya doin?"

"I'se had ta use da toilet, why? Ain' I allowed tah use it?" Spot face was stern, just like he always looked.

"Ya know dere's one fer da sick room."

Spot played dumb, "Really?"

Jack just glared at him, before he turned to me. "Ya okay? Ya wanna go git some food?"

I smiled, not really hating this boy, "I'se not hungry, but you go ahead."

He contemplated the thought, and said, "Aight, I'se gonna meet da boys fer lunch. I'se be back before I'se go tah sell the aftahnoon edition." We nodded, and before he left he said, "Spot, if I'se come back tah find ya wit 'er, I'se murdah ya! Now git back in dat room!"

Spot glared at him, and made his way to the room. Jack locked it, taking the key with him. He waved goodbye before heading down the stairs.

"Double down, boys. Double down!" Racetrack replied gleefully. He scooped up his winnings, as he heard the door open. Looking up, everyone saw the unhappy face of Jack. They all knew something had happened between him and Spot, but no one knew for sure what.

"Heya Cowboy!" Everyone greeted him as he sat down at his usual seat.

"Wha's da mattah Jack?" Mush asked him, as he sat down next to Sprite with their food.

"I'se gonna murdah Conlon!"

Sweets ears perked up, "Heya Cowboy, you'se bettah make dat clear." She had her hand on her switchblade, ready to whip it out. Everyone rolled their eyes, thinking she was as bad as Spot with his cane and slingshot.

"Ya bruddah, naw you!" he was very tense.

"Aight, den go ahead. Throw 'im off da Brooklyn Bridge." Her cloudy eyes were illuminating with silver, and green as she spoke.

Mush had an arm around Sprite, and held her slightly tighter when Sweets mentioned the throwing of Spot 'off the Brooklyn Bridge.' Her face was covered with a smile, and she rested her head into his shoulder.

Blink was the next to speak, "So why ya gonna kill him?"

"Did ya guys know Vixen was me sistah?" They all looked astonished except Blunt and Rambler. Who's ears perked up, and they quickly pretended to be preoccupied with kissing one another.

Jack stared them down, "Blunt? Rambler?"

They acted like they hadn't heard him, and continued to kiss. But when a hand was placed on Blunt's shoulder, they separated and slowly made eye contact with Jack.

"Oh, did ya say somethin' Kelly?"

"Yeah, did ya know?"

"Know what?" Rambler asked joining into the conversation.

"Funny! Did ya know dat Vixen is me sistah?" he exploded.

"Oh, us? No.. of course.."

"Why da hell didn' ya tell me?" Jack now was gripping Blunt by the collar of his shirt.

"Oh, c'mon Jack. You'se know Spot. We weren't supposed to. B'sides, ya think we were the only ones?"

Jack loosened his grip and let Blunt speak, "Sweets acts real innocent doesn't she? Wha' ya say Blink?" Jack crossed the room to the two, who were about to leave.

"Fuck you!" Sweets exclaimed, and heading towards him. Blunt just laughed used to being in this predicament.

"Blink, ya knew?" Everyone turned to look in astonishment.

"Ya know, its jist a lil' bit a pillow tawlk. I didn't believe it, b'sides I'se nevah think about going against Sweets. I mean she's a Conlon. They all got dat temper, ya know."

Jack never looked so disappointed in one of his boys. Shaking his head he sat down, and snagged a few of Clue's fries. Race, who had also been eating them, handed a few more to Jack.

"Jist hand 'em out, why don' ya Anthony," Clue remarked as she watched her fries get scarffed down by hungry newsies.

"Aww, c'mon Clue! Don' call me dat!" Race whined as he placed her in his lap.

"Oh, so you think by giving me a seat, I'se jist gonna forgive ya?"

He raised his eyebrow, and shook his head, "No, but I'se think dis will."

Race brushed his lips over Clue's, in which she mumbled, "You'se think right." And kissed him back.

Alicat giggled as she saw the couple kiss. She then sighed at the thought of Bumlets. He wasn't there, and she could only hope he would show up soon. She liked hanging out with the girls and found this selling thing fairly easy. Her thoughts stopped when she heard him.

"God, where's Cowboy off to in such a hurry?" Bumlets asked after he was nearly taken out by Jack as he rushed from the restaurant.

"Heya Bum!" The group greeted him.

"Jack jist got lil pissed dats all."

"Conlon?" Bumlets asked, not really needing an answer.

"God dammit!" Sweets exclaimed, "Would ya'll be specific bout which Conlon?"

Bumlets made his way over to Alicat, and took a seat. "Hows yer first day? Sawrry ya couldn't come wit me."

She smiled, "Its aight. I'se jist fine, not as bad as I thought it'd be."

He smiled back at her and thought, 'I'se really glad she likes it. I'se don't know wha I'se do if she thought about leaving me.'

"Spot, I'se can't git the door!" I complained again.

"Try it again!" I jiggled the handle, and it refused to turn.

"It ain't woiking! He's such an ass! Are ya soire he's me bruddah?" I heard Spot laugh, and then something hit me. I reached down into my shirt, searching my bra for the key.

"C'mon, I'se know ya in here," I said looking down, trying to see it.

"Who'se in dere? I'se like tah meet 'em," Spot sarcastic voice rang through the room, and I looked around. At the window, Spot stood looking rather amused by my performance. I felt my cheeks go red for I still had my hand in my shirt. Quickly, I pulled it out and turned so as not to face him feeling embarrassed. He strode towards me, and wrapped his arms around me from the back.

"Looking fer something? Maybe I'se can be of some help." I elbowed him in the stomach, and laughed.

"I'se jist looking fer something."

He pulled away and gave me once over glance, "Well, I think its all there. But, I'se can help ya if ya need it." He grinned wickedly at me.

"Well, I'se placed somethin' in dere, an' jist can't seem tah be able tah find it now." Laughing uncontrollably, I fell back on the bed with Spot landing on top of me. He began kissing my neck as he unbuttoned my shirt. Button by button. We were enjoying the mood and situation that the presence of Jack went unnoticed.

"WHAT DA FUCK! CONLON I SWEAR I'SE GONNA KEEP ME PROMISE!" Jack lunged at Spot, but I moved between them. He skidded to a halt so as not to hurt me.

"Jack, we'se weren't doing nottin!"

"Yeah, an' I'se Mistah Pulitzah," he replied rolling his eyes.

"Nice tah meet ya," I said lamely, "Look."

I lifted my shirt to expose my side, and Jack covered his eyes with his hands, "You'se me sistah! Keep dat tah youself!"

I pulled his hand down, "Knock it off! Look, I'se got a cut. He's jist fixin' it." Jack looked at my side, and even though he knew we were doing something else, it all left him and concern took over. His eyes weren't enough to exam the cut, he placed his hands on it causing me to yelp. "Don' touch it!"

He jerked away, and then came back to remove the bandage. Taking off the layers one by one. His face grew disgusted when they were all off. There the gash in my side was dripping with the pus. It had gotten worse after the fall from the window.

"Now ya see, he was jist tryin tah fix it. Its lookin bettah aready, right Spot?" I looked at him, and he was looking away before my eyes even landed on him, "Jack?"

"Wha's da mattah?" I was beginning to panic, my eyes going back and forth between the boys. Neither would answer, Spot refused to look and Jack couldn't take his eyes off the cut. Soon, the door down stairs was opened, and then it shut again. Then it opened, and shut over and over. The laughter and chatter of the newsies grew louder as they reached the bunkroom. Once the boys got a look at the cut they stopped dead in their tracks. The girls were stuck on the stairs, with boys blocking their path.

"Git out da way!" announced Rambler.

The boys moved and the girls poured into the room. One by one they stopped as well after seeing the cut. Alicat was the last one in the room, she too stopped but thought fast.

"Okay, I need hot water, clean rags, soap, whiskey, thread, and some needles." She stated, ordering each girl to get something. Then she turned to the boys, "Quit standing around and gawking! Move!"

Many of the boys jumped, surprised at her sudden controlling ways. Bumlets smiled, thinking 'God, she's great!' He wanted more than ever to put her in his arms, but knew that this wasn't the time.

Jack still couldn't pull his eyes away, and was shocked when I was pulled out of his grasp. The girls and I walked into the sick room, and shut the door keeping the boys out. In no time Alicat had finished, "Jist lay down, and take it easy fer a few days."

I smiled at her, "Thanks! Could ya send Spot in?"

The girls left and Spot walked in, "You'se okay?" I nodded and he climbed in the bed next to me. We lied there not having a care in the world, 'No mattah what Jack says dere ain't no way I'se can keep me hands off.' Spot grinned and rolled over to kiss me.