Author's Note: Thank you all for the reviews, especially BabyMyst, coveredinbees14, js158900. Y'all keep me motivated, and I enjoy hearing your reactions. :-)
Adelaide walked down the street, selling her newspapers. She hadn't seen Ralphie at all week - not since the incident. He let her go back to selling for a bit while he took care of business.
She saw a girl approach her from the opposite direction. She casually moved out of the way, to allow the girl to pass her, but the girl seemed bound and determined to talk to her.
"Hey," the girl said, stopping in front of her.
Adelaide looked up, shocked. "Violet," she said, surprised.
"I heard Ralphie gave you a rough time the other night."
Adelaide swallowed and averted her eyes. She felt a blush creep up her cheeks.
"Hey, it's okay," said Violet. "Nothing to be embarrassed about. Happens to all of us."
Adelaide looked up at her, incredulous. "Does it?"
Violet shrugged. "That's part of life on the streets, honey. People just take what they want. They don't care about you."
Adelaide was not sure how to respond to that.
"Anyway, I just wanted to tell you to hang in there. It'll get better."
"Um, thanks."
Violet nodded. "If things ever get too rough, let me know. I'll talk to Ralphie."
Adelaide looked at her uncertainly. "Thanks." Adelaide knew she would never talk to Violet if things got too rough with Ralphie. She was sure that if anyone talked to Ralphie about his treatment of Adelaide, he would turn around and do it even worse to her again.
With that, Violet turned and walked away. Adelaide watched her retreating figure, puzzled.
"She's not the best with words," said Spot's voice behind her. "But the sentiment is there."
Adelaide turned around. "She's a piece of work. How did she know what happened to me?" Adelaide frowned.
Spot looked down. "I, uh," he paused, looking up in front of him. "I may have mentioned it."
"Spot!" said Adelaide. "That was none of your business."
"I was angry, okay?" said Spot. "I was angry and I needed to talk, and I sure as hell wasn't going to vent anywhere near Ralphie or to any of the fellas who are loyal to him, coz I just started healing from my last beating!"
"You were angry?"
"Damn right I was!" said Spot. "What he did to you wasn't right."
Adelaide raised her eyebrows and nodded her head in Violet's direction. "So that's the type you fall for, eh?"
"There's more to her than what you see…or hear," said Spot.
"Just like you, it seems. There's a heart under that tough outside, isn't there?"
Spot just rolled his eyes.
They were silent for another half a block before Adelaide spoke up again.
"Why do you keep sticking your neck out for me?"
Spot was silent for a few steps.
"You're my friend. I don't want to lose you."
Slowly a smirk spread on Adelaide's lips. "Awww," she said, looping her arm through his.
Spot rolled his eyes, but a small smirk played at the corner of his mouth. "Don't think anything of it. You just remind me of a friend I used to have," he said. Adelaide looked over at him. "Charlotte. She was my best friend before I ran away."
"When did you run away?"
"I was fourteen. I just got sick of going home every day and listening to my mom…working."
"You too?"
Spot nodded. "I promised Charlotte I'd come see her but I had to lay low for a while. Things were bad on the street back then. Once I fell in with Ralphie's crowd, I was able to go see her again. But when I went back to our old neighborhood, she was gone."
"I'm sorry, Spot."
Spot just shrugged.
They walked along in companionable silence until they got to Flannigan's.
