At night, i couldn't sleep. I stayed awake for half of it, feeling anxious, excited, and, i hate to admit it, but scared. I didn't know what Spot had in store for me, even though i was confident i would pass, it just felt like something else.
Like what he had in store for me would be something like nothing before. Maybe he would have me sell 50 newspapes? That seems too easy though. Maybe he would have me swim?
I couldn't swim to save my life, one time when i was 8, i was pushed into the river at my school by a boy. A few breathes from death, i was saved by one of the teachers. The boy who pushed me really regretted it, and still is to this day is incredibly and terribly nice to me. He says sorry every time he sees me on the streets or in class.
His names' Brandon. He has shabby brown hair and green eyes that always seemed to bore me, like every other guy. Don't get me wrong, he wasn't awfully ugly, though he wasn't cute either. He just isn't my type. Actually, i don't know what my type is.
I guess you could say, i've never experienced what it's like to be in a relationship, since i'm too busy looking out of myself. Covering myself up with make up. Not once have i ever bee caught. Ever. And i don't intend to be anytime soon.
I woke up just before the stars started to dim away. Spot had me sleep with his newsies who snored quite a lot, but his exact words were "Youse should be thankful ise lettin' youse sleep on a bed."
I was on the top bunk and shared with Sweets. He was a little boy, only 7 years old and i don't know how he ended up with the Brooklyn newsies because they all looked pretty buff and intimidating.
Of course, not to me, i could take any of them any day. But to a boy who was slightly taller then my waist, i would guess he would be. But that'd be very wrong.
He was very sweet and nice to me, but when i saw him wrestle with a boy about my age, 13 maybe 14, who was much bigger than he was, he almost, but not quite knocked him down! But being sweet and nice wasn't how he got his nickname, it was because he ate a lot of sweets.
Every time he was done with one sucker, he pulled another out of his pocket and ate a new one. And it just kept coming and coming, it was never ending. And being the person i am, told him nicely not to eat too many sweets because he could get a tummy ache, but he didn't listen. I didn't mind though, i admired his young and naive mind.
I stared at the stars winding down and the sun almost at it's peak. I walked to the bathroom and quietly combed my hands threw my hair then put it in a braid all the way down the small of my back.
I splashed my face with water and i was set. I still had my white dress on from yesterday and it had dirt all over it from playing with all the little boys yesterday. They're a real blast.
Walking out of the bathroom, i bumped into a wall, again, like yesterday. And of course, it was just Spot. I gotta get used to bumping into him and not mistaking it for a wall. I rubbed my eyes open since it was still a bit dark out and i wasn't fully awake.
Then it hit me. Last night was the first night i didn't get beat up. Boy, it felt great to be bruise free, besides the bruises from the other day. Spot looked me over, his eyes scanning every aspect of my body, making me even more self-conscious then ever. His face told me that he liked what he saw, but i thought against it because i never thought about myself as pretty or even decent looking.
"Take that off." i looked down at my dress then back at him then to the ground. I blushed furiously. Did he just say.. I looked up at him again and whispered/yelled "No!" he sighed annoyingly and roughly ran his hand threw his bed head hair, but it still looked.. Nice. He didn't look like he wanted to deal with me right now, but it's too bad because he does.
He rolled his eyes and started unbuttoning his shirt. His broad tan chest gaping. In front of me. "What the hell?" i looked at him for a second and turned around when he was on his third bottom. I heard his low and amused laugh and could just picture the smirk plastered on his face right now and a glint in his eyes.
My face turned bright red when he tugged my shoulder to turn around, but i stood my ground. "Now will youse take dat off?" he tugged harder and still, i resisted. But the third time, i turned, but stumbled, lost my footing and fell. It all happened so fast, i couldn't process much of what was happening.
My eyes were closed, my head on his chest. Both of our heartbeats were in synch, on top of each other. My legs were in-between his opened ones. I heard a gasp from my right, and realized what this would look like. I opened my eyes, my hair already fell out of it's braid, now in Spot's furious face.
"Ahem, um.. Sorry der Spot, didn't mean to intarupt. I was just bou' to use the bathroom." i clenched my teeth as i saw Brick standing there. Brick was a 5 foot 9 inch tall boy and was a year older then Spot, 16. He had the scary look about him, and once you get to know him, he's a total and complete dumb ass but can be really nice, sometimes.
I hastily got up and pulled Spot up with me, he was heavier then i thought. "It's not what it looks like, i tripped and-" the words clumsily walked out of my mouth but i was cut off "Save it doll face, ise knows what happened. Youse twos was makin' out and ise walked in. Sorry Spot, ise'll go now." and he walked into the bathroom without another word.
Spot looked furiously at me then back at the bathroom door and then back at me. "Ise was jus' tryna' give yah me shirt ta borrow! What ise got in plan foah yah won't reqiah yah to wear a fuckin' dress!" he whispered loud enough for only me to hear.
I blankly stared at him then simply said "Oh. You could've just said so." and bent down to grab his shirt from the ground, i tried hard not to stare at his nice broad chest, but keep my eyes to his face and walked away into the private room next to the bathroom.
As i opened the door, i heard footsteps following me. Of course, it was Spot. He was always breathing down my neck and after awhile, it gets pretty annoying, really. "Wha-" i turned around, agitated, looking up at the still furious Spot. But he had already cut me off and closed the door.
"Don't." he said with emphasis. I innocently looked up at his blue/grey eyes that seemed to not bore me like others do, but entrance me. It's like one look at his eyes, you can tell he was real. One look at his eyes when he's not trying to cover up his emotions, and i could tell he's been through a lot.
It's like he worked so hard to get to where he is now, all his leadership and those newsies that fear him. All the rough and happy times, he's been through it all. I tried not to look like i was too focused on his eyes and tried to jerk my eyes away and look at his forehead.
Still, with a lot of effort, it didn't work. He captured my eyes with his and i couldn't look away.
Not taking his eyes off me, he walked toward the drawer behind me, messily looking for something. Opening it, he said "Youse need pants." and took a pair out, looked it over, looked me over then threw it toward me. I caught it right before it hit my face and smiled happily.
I've never been given pants or a button up shirt to wear in my life. Only dresses, skirts, dresses, and skirts piled my closet. I owned no pants or a baggy shirt. "Stop smilin' and put those on." at his command, i did as he said.
I started taking my dress off by my shoulder but stopped suddenly and looked at Spot. "Turn around!" he rolled his eyes "Please me doll face, ise know what breasts look like." i did a humph and pouted giving him my best puppy dog face.
"I'm not a whore Conlon, turn around! I won't let the likes of you see me half naked!" still, a smirk plastered on his face, Spot did not turn around.
We both stood and stared at each other for about 5 minutes. Him still smiling, me still pouting. Then out of no where, i flew across the room when the door opened, banging my back, yet again. My hair was in my face, kneeling in front of Spot.
"Really?! Third mother fucking time! Third!" i stood up, glaring, turned around and walked up to the boy who opened the door at my back. I threw my hands in the air, loudly complaining "Next time, knock!" and walked out of the room, not looking back at all.
Last night i didn't really get to talk to the older newsies, just the younger ones because Spot said most of them were at 'Medda's' whatever that meant. So that's why when i opened the bathroom door, still fuming, i was surprised to see about 10 other guys crammed into one little space, either half naked or just shirtless. Some were even in the middle of shaving.
But when i get mad, i don't care what others think of me. I just get focused on what gets me pissed off in the first place. Which, in this case, is Spot. "GET OUT. NOW." i pointed a strict finger at the door, and without a word, the boys lined out to leave the bathroom.
I let out a safe breath, proud that they listened. "Nobody is to come in here until i'm done." all of their faces mimicked the other, awe. "Whose ahh youse?" asked the newsie with half his chin shaved. I gave him a smirk, eyes of steel and said "Who are you?" i cooly shut the door and splashed more water in my face.
I stared at the girl in the mirror. Her skin was pale, yet still tan. Her bright, long and blonde hair covered the sides of her face, making it smaller. Her eyes, a deep green with swirls of hazel outlining the pupil. Her calm face looked sad in the mirror, and in a way, i guess she was.
I looked away, ashamed of the girl that looked back at me. I couldn't take those sad eyes, i couldn't take my sad eyes.
How come i can't be happy for myself? It's really easy to be happy for someone else, but it's hard.. For myself. My mind was taken aback when the door gave a jolt, hitting my arm, which i quickly shook off. "What?" i looked up from my toes to Spot's face.
"Youse can't-" he started off angrily but it was my turn to cut him off. "Sorry. I'll only be a minute." i closed the door at Spot's confused face and locked it. Sliding my dress off, i set it on a hook and pulled on the baggy brown pants that fit a little loosely, but in my opinion, it looked good. I buttoned up the plaid red shirt and tucked it in, my pants fitting a little better now.
I opened the door again to find the newsies that i kicked out talking amongst themselves and quietly walked downstairs. Only a couple noticed me, but i didn't mind, as long at the rest didn't look at me. Though i couldn't help but listen in on a few words in some conversations. "Man, Spot's new goil is a real somethin', aint't she?"
Along the wall, i kept walking and some words made me smile. "You have to admit, she's really cute, but how long do you think it's gonna take Spot to dump her on the street again?" those last few words stuck with me. It echoed in my mind that i might not be qualified for the newsie job.
"Oh, good. Youse ready." i met Spot on the docks, where the sun was just beginning to rise. He started walking straightforward, chin held up high and his hands were placed comfortably in his pockets.
I didn't ask where we were going because i don't know why, but whenever i say something, it usually pisses him off. And that's something i really shouldn't do as of right now.
We arrived at his destination, which was where all the newsies lined up to buy newspapers. "200 papes." i looked wide-eyed at him who, in response smirked down at me. "Foist task, doll." i let out a quiet breath and became composed. I tried to make it out like it was no big deal, but really, this was probably too much.
"Sell 150 papes in less then 5 hours and wese'll move on to the next task." the papers were heavier then he made it look, but i tried not to show it. "Oh? Whose this pretty lady, Spot?" i turned around and put a hand threw my hair, moving it out of my face to see who asked about me.
"Just anudder broad ise found." the boy stood a foot taller then me, blocking the sun from my face. I looked toward Spot then back up at this buff boy. "I'm Evelyn." we spit and shook hands. "Huh, this is different." he looked like he was deep in thought. "What's different..?" i asked curiously.
"Well, Spot here, usually doesn't go for girls like you." i raised a questioning and threatening eyebrow. "So what are you trying to say?" he put up two hands in front of him, showing that he meant no harm, but i was still curious.
He rubbed his chin and proceeded. "It's just, he usually goes for girls with.. Um, what should i say… Well let's just say i've never met one of Spot's girl who didn't look at me in disgust for spitting in my hand." i let out a small laugh. "Well, thanks, i guess? But what makes you think i'm Spot's girl?"
He knitted his eyebrows together. "Well aren't you? I mean.. You have to be." i shrugged my shoulders and twisted my lips together. "Well, i mean look at you.. Um.. Your a beauty!" i laughed a little too hard and said "Too bad Spot can't getthis beauty." i gave a wink and smiled brightly at him.
"Then who are you to him? Sister? No.. Um, cousin? Oh! I know, mudder!" he kept guessing but they were all very off and wrong. He seemed like one of those big bully kids at first, but once you get to know him, he's really sweet and clueless about life. And could really make me laugh.
"What's your name?" i asked because he's someone i'd like to remember. A sweet and kind guy like him was taught well by his mother.
"Oh, i'm softy!" he said more enthusiastically then i expected. Nodding my head, i made sense of his name and personality. "Well, maybe tonight, if i pass Spot's test, then we can pick up this chat? I gotta go, you know, sell these papers."
"You sell papes? But Spot-" He looked towards him who jumped in quickly "We'se gotta go Softy. Don't youse got papes ta sell youse self?" he said the last part leader like which Softy got the point, waved goodbye and left to buy newspapers.
"He seems really nice." Spot nodded "Yeah, youse should see him fight though." i imagined Softy punching Spot, but since i only just met him, i imagined Softy punching.. Well, softly. I kept that in mind to ask him to show me a punch, if i ever finish this first task.
"Alright, go get started. If youse finish before 10, ise should be here. Any questions?" he seemed so straightforward that if i asked a question i think i'd feel stupid so i shook my head no and left. Now, how the hell am i supposed to even sell my first paper?