Chapter 6

That evening, Jack Cassie, Maddie, Takoda, and Sarah left for Brooklyn. They were scheduled to meet the Brooklyn leader, 'Spot Conlon'.

They crossed the bridge, and as they approached the docks, they saw Newsies diving, in and out of the East River, and playing marbles or sling shooting at stacked beer bottles. The Brooklyn Newsies glared at the newcomers, as they entered their territory. Maddie shifted nervously, and edged closer to Takoda as he placed his arm around her in reassurance. "I can see why everyone fears Brooklyn." Maddie whispered in Takoda's ear.

"There's nothing to be afraid of, there just a bunch of kids." Takoda replied. Altough the Brooklyn Newsies didn't look quite like children. They were very built for a fight, and the majority of them were tall.

There he was, standing on the up most docks, pondering over the miserable day he had with his previous partner, a Newsgirl nicknamed Sugar, and the night before when he had been yelled at by some disrespectful girl. That left his nerves on edge. Spot saw Jack with a couple of newcomers, and jumped down. "Maybe Jackey-boy and Tiger will cheer me up." Spot thought.

"Well if it aint Jack be nimble Jack be quick." Spot said smirking positively.

Sarah eyed the Brooklyn leader, he was exceptionally handsome, and she could see why girls swooned over him, remembering the conversation between the two girls, she had heard earlier. Spot was lean but built, and approximately, an inch or two taller then Sarah.

He was shorter then a lot of the Brooklyn Newsies, but was very intimidating. "Small but deadly" Sarah thought to herself and giggled aloud. Tips of his golden-brown hair stuck out from beneath his hat, he had a tanned weather-beaten complexion, and blazing light blue eyes. His nose was slightly turned up, and he had the most perfect lips she had ever seen. She recognized his red suspenders, and the cane he was carrying. In his pocket was a slingshot, and a silver key hung from his neck. "I wonder what that's for." Sarah thought eyeing it quizzically.

Spot put his cane in his belt loop and replied, "It's a pleasure to see ya again ladies" Spot stated recognizing Maddie and Cassie from the other night.

"It sure is." Cassie mumbled sarcastically, as she remembered him storming out of the lodging house like a temperamental child the other night. He thankfully didn't hear Cassie's remark and spit shook with Jack and Tiger.

"Looks like you moved up in the world Spot" Tiger replied smirking at the Brooklyn leader. Spot's smirked and his sparkling blue eyes then shifted directly into Sarah's brown ones.

"Whose dis Jackey-boy?" Spot lured.

"I'm Sarah, good to meet you Spot." She said confidently. Spot delicately lifted Sarah's hand to his lips and gently kissed it.

"It's a pleasure to meet ya too." Spot replied.

Then it hit him…"I'se 'tink I seen her before, but where…when?'

She was so captivated by this handsome, mysterious Brooklyn leader that she completely forgot that her hand was still up and quickly put it down.

"We came all the way to Brooklyn for this" Cassie interrupted.

Jack nudged Cassie with a smile. They burst out into a rage of laughter; Spot rolled his eyes.

"You's look familiar, I seen ya before" Spot said breaking up the laughter.

"You sure about that" Sarah said nervously hoping he wouldn't remember.

"Of course I'se sure" Spot replied "Wait a second, don't tell me your da…. At da… Spot's charming act dropped, and his eyes turned cold. Spot abruptly turned his head in Jack's direction. "I told ya at keep dis goil away from me Jackey-boy. What da hell is she doin in my territory!"

Sarah was completely enraged at his remark. And there and then her temper exploded.

"I'm sure you would be enraged if some stranger came into your room when you were half naked! You out of all people should know what privacy is. Get over the damn incident! Life's to short to hold a grudge!" Sarah yelled her eyes glaring directly into his.

"You betta watch what your sayin goil!" Spot yelled his face scarlet from rage.

"I have a name!" she yelled back.

"Well I'll call you whateva I want!" Spot shouted furiously.

"Well I want a million dollars, but you can't get everythin you want in life!" Sarah said angrily.

Goil or no goil, how dare she talk to me like dat in front of all me boys!'I need to teach her a lesson she'll neva forget!" Spot's anger from the night before, now, and Sugar ran threw his mind, and his fury reached its limit. He rashly stormed toward Sarah getting ready to clout her across the face for bad talking him, but before he could raise his hand. Takoda, and Jack grabbed his arm and held him back.

Spot managed to let an arm loose, and unexpectedly punched Jack right in the jaw which sent him sprawling on Maddie, who was knocked off balance, when her foot got caught in tangled ropes that were attached to an anchor. As she fell into the East River, the ropes tightened to grip painfully around her ankle, Takoda tried grabbing the anchor so he could pull her out but the anchor skidded across the dock too quickly, and splashed into the water along with Maddie.

The water was frigid cold she wasn't used to the feeling as the murky water embraced and overwhelmed her like a blanket of ice. Maddie felt her lungs burn for air, but she couldn't tell surface from bottom. Maddie struggled to swim upward, but the rope attached to the anchor weighed her down. Her last breath of air was soon spent as the water pulled her down into its dark depths. Her life flashed before her. "Is this the fate I have? To die before I know I am truly loved?" She suddenly couldn't think, and she couldn't see. She was helpless. Then everything went black as she sank below the water…

"The anchors holding her down!" Sarah yelled and instantly jumped into the river. Sarah swam toward her, and she pulled Maddie up, but she needed help. Spot froze and held his fist in the air shocked when he realized what he had done and attempted to do, he had just punched his best friend and attempted to hit a girl. Of all the wrong things he had done in his life, these were by far two of the worst. Spot then dropped his fist, threw of his hat, and jumped into the water to help save Maddie. It was the least he could have done at a time like this. Spot slowly opened his eyes and squinted them against the sand and grit. But he had seen a silhouette, a shadow of Maddie, lying on her back, eyes closed, limp and helpless.

Swimming deeper, Spot groped along the bottom, feeling for the rope and anchor. Something cold and smooth like metal met his fingertips. He had found the anchor at least, he felt for the rope and follow its way up to where it was tied around her ankle, and quickly untied it. He brought her up to the surface, gasping for air. Thankfully Takoda, Jack, Sarah, Cassie and some other Brooklyn Newsies helped pull Maddie out of the freezing water. They placed Maddie on her back but she was unconscious. Spot climbed out of the water, breathing heavily, and instantly began to give her CPR (him being the only one who knew how)

"There's no pulse!" Cassie yelled.

"Well you shouldn't have punched Jack in the first place! or have attempted to hit Sarah! Everything Sarah said to you was right and you know it! Takoda cried, his anger rising "She's probably dead, all because you couldn't hold in your temper!' Takoda felt a sudden wave of fury overcome him, but he held the urge to hit Spot back. After all, he had helped Sarah pull her out.

A wave of guilt overpowered Spot as he held in the urge to cry, his whole life was on the line including the innocent girl's in front of him, all because of his temper. He hadn't cried in years, and wasn't going to do it now; he couldn't, and wouldn't let them see that side of him. Spot then fought back the pain and continued helping Maddie.

Suddenly, Maddie came round, choking and coughing. She rolled on her side gasping, her green eyes fluttered open, and as she tried to stand up Takoda rested his hand upon her shoulder "Sit' he told her, his dark eyes clouded with relief, a smile crossed his handsome face, suddenly he hugged her tightly. "You scared me, Maddie, never do that again!" Takoda murmured.

A large smile of relief crossed Spot's face. With all the problems he had been having lately he hadn't smiled like that in days,

"Alright…' "But what happened?' "All I remember is being pushed in the water, frigid cold, I felt as if I was dying, surrendering to my fate, I couldn't breath, I couldn't think…' "Then everything went black…' Maddie replied.

"Spot punched Jack and made you fall in' Sarah replied coldly.

"Spot!' Maddie said with a confused frown, "But…but why?'

"It was, I'm sure an accident!' Takoda replied hotly, turning to face Spot's glare.

"I'm sure Spot didn't mean too' Maddie replied sensibly. "After all he did save me , didn't he?' she turned to Cassie.

"Yes he did' Cassie answered simply.

"Well, I still think you owe Maddie an apology' Takoda replied.

"I'm… sorry' Spot said rather quickly.

"What!" Sarah said surprised, for Spot wasn't the type of person to apologize often.

"I'se said, "I'm sorry!' Spot repeated. " I know me damn tempa caused a lot of trouble here today , but everytins alright now. Jack, Maddie, Sarah? Do ya forgive me?" Spot asked a bit uncomfortable with himself, for the first time in years.

Jack didn't know what to say or how to react to it, it was the first time he had ever heard Spot apologize. Jack was still very angry but decided he shouldn't start anything since there had been enough problems that day, so he remained silent.

"I dunno should we forgive him', he actually had da guts to apologize!" Sarah said laughing.

" I dunno should we?" Cassie asked going along with the joke.

"Apology accepted, Spot Conlon' Maddie replied with a small smile. Spot looked relived and then shot Sarah, and Cassie a dangerous looking glare, for the comments they made.

" What, it was just a joke!" Sarah said laughing " Ye and a real rotten one to!" Spot replied back, clearly annoyed.

"Whatever… Spot I just wanted to say that…" Sarah replied hesitantly, before continuing. As she spoke Spot got up, placed his hat back on, and then sat with his arms crossed on the nearest crate, and slightly tilted his head to the right to hear what Sarah had to say. Sarah then continued "Spot…I guess I'm sorry too…you probably didn't know I was in the room searching for a towel, and I didn't mean to yell at you, I guess my own temper and caused some trouble too." "…And curiosity… Jack did warn me about this." Sarah thought.

Spot nodded his head understandingly with his arms still crossed, and closely eyed her up and down. For the first time that day, he realized that she was wearing his clothes. Suddenly an irritated expression crossed his face as his eyebrows came together in utter confusion.

Sarah noticed this and began to feel shifty. "A shit he probably recognized his clothes I completely forgot I was wearing them."

Before Spot could say anything about them she interrupted his thoughts, and replied "Well? Are you going to accept my apology or just stare at me all day?" Her arms were crossed and she impatiently began to tap her foot.

His eyes then averted from her slender body to her aggravated face. Then he finally answered smirking mischievously "I dunno…should I forgive ya? Youse surprisingly had da guts to appolagize to da most handsome Brooklyn leader in all of New Yawk. He replied purposely trying to annoy her.

The Newsies stared apprehensively to see Sarah's next reaction. Sarah rolled her eyes. "Don't flatter yourself Conlon." She grumbled mockingly trying to irritate him as well.

Surprisingly Spot began to chuckle at Sarah's remark. Spot glanced at her baffled expression and roars of boyish laughter soon replaced his chuckling. "Jeez…dis goil is sumtin else, where'd ya find her Jackey-boy, dis is da most I'se laughed in weeks!" Spot managed to say through his doubled over hilarity.

Hearing this a cunning idea crossed Sarah's mind. "I don't see what's so amusing Conlon, I guess I'm just gonna have to teach you a lesson you'll never forget!"

Still chuckling Spot shook his head in disbelief "What lesson would I learn from you? How to tick people off? I already know everything dere is to know doll." Spot was so drenched in pride that he didn't even realize that She just swiped his hat, and was now running away with it in her hand, along the docks. Spot snapped out of his self-conception, jumped up and began running after her.

As Sarah ran she could hear Spots footsteps getting closer, and closer. " Wow, is he ever fast!" Sarah thought to herself. There was a dead end, there were at least a dozen barrels stacked on top of one another.

" Ha! I'se got ya cornered!" Spot said with a devious smirk on his face.

" No you don't, cuz I can still go this way, Sarah said moving to his right "Or this way!" she said moving to his left.

" Ya, well I can block ya dis way or dat way!" Spot said moving to Sarah's left then her right. As his body shifted from one side of her to another her heart pounded. She liked the fact that he was this close to her.

" Ya! Well I can still run" Sarah said getting ready to sprint away. Before she could even take another step, Spot grabbed Sarah's arm rashly, and her heart began to beat faster and harder like a drum. She looked into his deep gentle blue eyes and felt something she had never felt before. A feeling of lust over came her, and Spot began to slowly move towards Sarah's lips. Spot could almost hear her heart beating faster and faster as he neared her lips. She could feel the calm rhythm of his breath against her face. As Spot looked into Sarah's beautiful brown eyes that were full of life, he too felt something special.

It was though that she had an amazing glimmer in her eyes, a sparkling radiance that would never fade. Then he suddenly realized that she still had his hat, and had an idea that was quite sly. He then, snatched his hat back out of her hands. " Got ya!" he said sprinting away with it.

"Wat a jerk I thought he was actually gonna kiss me!" Sarah said realizing that she had said it out loud, and abruptly covered her mouth. After all Sarah was known for speaking her mind. Spot looked back and smiled impishly, still running with his hat held tightly in his hand.

She quickly dropped her hand, from her mouth. " I'll get you!" Sarah yelled back giggling to herself

"Well you aint helping yourself by jus standin dere!" Spot yelled back. Sarah began to run after him as fast as her legs could carry her. Spot and Sarah arrived back where Maddie and the Newsies were. " Wat took you guys so long!" Cassie said suspiciously.

"We jus got a little tied up" Spot replied choosing his words carefully. Maddie didn't even bother to ask any more questions, because she knew Sarah would tell her everything later. Jack and the rest of the Newsies began to get very suspicious, for they knew something was up between the two, but chose to remain silent, in fear of getting on Spot's temperamental side, for the second time that day.

Suddenly fat raindrops began pouring down rapidly. "Alright fellas, head to da lodgin house, Jack you and your friends can spend da night in Brooklyn and head back to Manhattan in da mornin, and Doc fix up Jackey-boys jaw" Spot ordered

They all began running towards the lodging house, all except for Sarah. She loved the rain, and didn't mind getting wet. Sarah began to dance and did kicks, turns, twirls, and spins and sighed enjoying the feeling of the cool rain pouring down from the late evening sky.

"So … I see you got me clothes all wet." Sarah jumped startled, not expecting any one to still be out. Spot saw this and began laughing aloud. "Did I scare ya?" he asked still chuckling.

"Ya! Of course you did, who wouldn't be scared…or startled for that matter" Sarah replied laughing, although a bit embarrassed.

" Were you out here this whole time?" Sarah asked wondering.

Nervously trying to find an excuse, as to why he would be standing out in a storm, watching a girl dance her way through the rain, Spot replied "Ahh… I jus forgot sumtin"

" Ya… sure you did, I know why you were out here." Sarah replied with a wink, continuing to dance. Spot began to laugh proudly to himself.

"Aright den, ya tink your so smart, den tell me, wats da real reason I'se out here for. Spot asked.

"I dunno you tell me," Sarah asked smiling, while twirling around in the rain.

" I asked ya first" Spot replied mischievously. Sarah began walking towards the door, and before she went in she replied with a smirk "Well I'm not gonna tell you, guess you'll have to spend the rest of your life wondering."

With that she shut the lodging house door, leaving Spot to wonder.

Spot rolled his eyes and then began to snicker. "Wats wit dis goil…. She's startin to overpower me… an I'm takin it… come on Conlon get your act together… but deres somtin about her… Snap out of it Conlon she's jus a goil, I got goils lined up all around New Yawk for me." He snapped out of his deep thoughts, and realized that he was still standing in the rain, and by now he was soaked to the bone.

He rolled his eyes, and ran inside, to change into some dry clothes, quickly find something to eat, and get to bed. But what he didn't realize was that a jealous companion had watched him and Sarah.

Spot entered the lodging house, he was glad this miserable day was over, at least until tomorrow. But tomorrow was a new day, with new adventures, and more business to take care of, and hopefully no more misery, he could only hope.

He then wearily made his way up the creaky, old wooden steps to his room, as brief thoughts of Sarah ran though his mind like a breeze, making it's way through his conscience and out again. Then a familiar voice was heard, when he entered his room.

Spot had the opportunity of having his own room because of his leadership amongst the Brooklyn newsies. His room was small, with a sole widow on one wall and a single bed and dresser against another wall. A lantern that sat on a bedside table lit up the room.

On his bed sat a redheaded Newsgirl.

Spot rolled his eyes in exhausted frustration, and replied "What do ya want Sugar I aint in da mood, go to bed."

"What's a matter Spotty-boy, you look a little down in da dumps, do ya need a little cheerin up?" Sugar replied seductively moving towards Spot as he placed down his belongings. He then grabbed another set of dry clothes and turned to change into them, only to be met by Sugar' s seductive stare. She then wrapped her arms around him and soothingly sucked on his neck.

He groaned trying to resist, her passion drove him on, but he knew it somehow wasn't right. Last week he had officially ended the relationship and now she would stop at nothing to be his girl again.

She then kissed her way to his left shoulder blade, knowing all the right places that made him hungry for more, only to be forcefully pushed away by his hand.

"Sugar dis ain't right, I told ya I an't in da mood. I gotta tink some tings through an we ended dis a week ago"

"It's her isn't it?" Sugar squinted her eyes offensively and turned away. The man she loved had just rejected her.

"What da hell are ya talkin' about Sugar? What goil?" Spot yelled in bewilderment, shocked that this topic had randomly come about.

"The goil dancing in da rain, ring a bell in dat thick head of yours? I saw da way you looked at her" Sugar replied bitterly.

"What da hell are ya doin watchin me every move? I don't need ya starin me down like a hawk! I told ya, we're ova Sugar!" Spot shouted coldly.

"So dats it? everytin we had gone ta waste." Sugar replied softly her voice beginning to crack into a sob. She turned around to look Spot in the eye.

" Ya should have thought about dat before ya went runnin to Striker!" Spot yelled bitterly. Striker was a newsboy from Queens whom Sugar thought she would be better off with, but was wrongly mistaken Striker had disrespected her physically and emotionally. She had broken up with Spot for him, and now she wanted Spot back.

"I wasn't thinking Spot but know I am and I want to make things right!" Sugar cried not being able to hold back her tears any longer. Spot turned away from her, unable to meet her tear-filled eyes. He hated seeing a girl's cry, whenever he broke it off with a girl; he barely made eye contact, and did it as if it meant nothing.

But he wasn't going to make the mistake he made many times before, of accepting her back. "Go to bed Sugar. It's ova. Just go" He replied, his voice calmer, and lower, revealing no emotion.

Sugar shouldered past Spot, left his room storming off, and headed to the bunkroom. She climbed under the blankets on her bunk breaking into sobs, trying to fall asleep.

Sarah being the only one still awake lay on the top bunk beside Sugar's. She wanted more then anything to see what was wrong and to comfort her. But this girl was a stranger to her, so the best thing to do was just to let her be.

Upstairs, Spot finished changing into his dry clothes and was now pacing back and forth on the squeaky wooden floor, recalling his unusual day. "Did I make a mistake of not bein with Sugar? It seemed like the right thing to do. We'se been on and off for months, either way it neva works out." Then he thought of the incident today at the docks. "Me tempa gets me in a lot of trouble dese days, but dats what makes me who I am today, Da most feared and infamous Brooklyn leader in all of New Yawk …but is dat who I want ta be? I could have killed dat goil today, and I punched one of me best pals. I betta talk tings ova wit him in da mornin…and dat adda goil he brought along, Sarah… she's sumtin else…could I be startin to fall for her? Is Sugar right? Or maybe she's just some adda goil I'll probably get bored with in da next week." He then glanced at the clock that hung on his wall. "Shit its past midnight… I need to get ta sleep." He finished his pacing, and hopped into bed, hoping that tomorrow would bring broader horizons…