Part Two

The next morning, Harmony woke up to find a small breakfast in front of her. Looking for the culprit who was trying to soften her up, she found that all the beds occupants were unmoving. After taking one more glance, she nibbled on the bread, surprised to find it was fresh. Reaching for the glass of water she drew back gasping in pain. 'Some a dese injuries must be pretty bad, maybe I should take it easy,' Harmony thought. For a few minutes she sat there staring at the water, very thirsty from the bread.

'So close. Yet, so very far away! Eerrr! Da sun's not even up an' I'se already frustrated. Evil watah! Evil, evil watah! I'll just sleep an' deal wid dat watah latah. Hey, where's Jack?' she wondered, realizing that she was in his bed. 'Where would he sleep? He musta taken one a da other beds, and he's probably covered up so I can't see him.' Content with the assumption that he was one of the immobile forms, she lay back and thought, 'It's not like he can go anywhere.'

Shortly after the sun had risen, Jack was already out of bed. Pacing the floor of the Lodging House, he felt like a trapped rat. Spot had said he wasn't to leave the house, and he knew that that included leaving to sell papers. Jack could afford to miss selling for a few days, but he still wanted to get out there. No matter what reasoning Spot had, maybe he could get around it. He needed to sell papers to make a living. 'Yeah, dat'll be me excuse,' Jack thought. 'But der's somethin' 'bout dat goil. I'se didn' know what ta tell Spot, but…oh…dis is so frustratin'. Ise'll have plenty a time ta figure it out doh.'

Jack, happy with his conclusion, started getting ready for a hard days work when he heard Kloppman's footsteps coming up the stairs. Oddly enough, his were not the only feet on the steps, he was accompanied by three or four others. His first instinct was to run, thinking it was the bulls, but Jack knew Kloppmann wouldn't lead them up there without giving some kind of warning. The door opened revealing Kloppmann surrounded by three hostile boys who appeared to be brooding. Brooklyn.

"Cowboy, you know these boys?" Kloppmann asked. "They'se been waiting to see you for hours, but I didn't want them to disturb your sleep."

"You'se must be Spot's boys. Whats ya doin' heah dis oily? Ya must've left Brooklyn before you'se had time ta properly sleep," Jack reasoned.

"Spot wanted us ta git heah befores you'se had a chance ta slip out, an' we'se wasn't gonna take any chances disappointin' him," explained the tallest of the three, his eyes nervously flickering from side to side at the prospect.

"Well'se you'se got heah, what's he want?" Jack asked.

"He wants ta make shoah you'se don't leave da Lodging House, even ta sell papes," the same boy replied.

'Stupid Spot, you'se always covers all da bases,' Jack cursed silently.

"He knows Ise'd nevah do anythin' like dat!" Jack shouted, trying to sound shocked.

"He knows exactly whats you'se was thinkin' so don't act shocked. Ta git introductions ovah wid I'se Caps. Dat der," referring to da shortest of the group, "is Smiste', an' he'se is Smokes, fer obvious reasons." Caps indicated the kid who was coughing with a cigarette in his mouth. "An' by da looks of it, you'se must be Jack. Spot told us ta listen ta you'se, but we'se makin' it clear, we'se don' like bein' pushed 'round, git it?"

'It's going to be a long stay,' Jack thought.

"Well'se whatevah you'se wants ta make clear, make clear ta someone who cares. I'se lettin' you'se stay heah as a favah ta Spot. I'se don't care nothin' fer any of you'se. Leave me boys 'lone, an' I'se pretty shoah I'se won't be havin' no problems wid ya. Dat clear ta ya?" Jack said, making sure they got his drift.

Caps, realizing that he had to be submissive to the leader while he was here, merely grumbled in assent. He wouldn't start anything, but he wouldn't go out of his way to be nice to a bunch of sissies.

"Where's will we be sleepin'?" asked Smister.

"You'se boys will be sleepin' 'n da beds 'n dat corner ovah der. An' I'se warnin' you'se right now, we'se got a goil stayin' wid us 'til she's healed up a bit, an' she's off limits ta everyone. Don' touch her or so much as even talk ta her unless you'se asks. She's a good friend, an' I'se ain't lettin' nothin' happen ta her."

"Whatevah," Smokes said between puffs. While he had been there, he had already gone through three cigarettes and was on his fourth.

"What are ya, some kinda chain-smokah? I'se don' wanna see you'se go through so many dose while you'se heah. Cut back 'r git out," Jack said.

"You'se some kinda control-freak?! Spot –" Smokes started.

Jack cut him off, "I'se don' care how Conlon runs his town. You'se 'n mine, an' I'se keeps me boys 'n line well enough my way."

By now, all three boys were glaring daggers at him. Kloppmann, who had been there the whole time, observing the conversation, realized it was past time to wake everyone up—which was surprising because it was his favorite time of day. He took an almost sadistic pleasure in waking the boys

"Git up everyone, you'se late!" Kloppmann yelled cheerfully, shaking the boys then standing back. In two minutes he watched most of the boys rise from their beds like the living dead…but with tempers and bad breath…and those who didn't got rolled onto the awaiting floor.

Scattering to fulfill their morning preparations, hardly any of them noticed, or gave an indication that they noticed, the three brooding Brooklyn newsies in the center of the room.

Blink, after getting ready in record time, tentatively shook Harmony awake, carefully avoiding bruised areas. Seeing it wasn't working, Blink leaned down and gave into temptation by bestowing her with a small kiss on the lips. That got her up and got him a smack on the cheek. Before she could figure out it was Blink, he ducked away and ran into the washroom, returning only seconds later calling out to her, "Hey Harmony, nice ta see you'se 'wake. Hope we'se didn' make too much noise er nothin'."

"No," Harmony replied, "I woke up aftah da weirdest dream. I thought dat someone had…an' den I…it felt real…cinnamon…"

"Would you'se like ta tell me 'bout it?" Blink asked.

"Uh, no, can't remembah it anymore, dat was sweet a ya ta offer," Harmony broke off. She wasn't about to tell a guy about that dream.

"Dat's me alrigh't. Da sweet one," Blink said, a little disappointed.

"It wasn't meant ta be an insult," Harmony apologized.

"I'se jist playin' wit'cha," joked Blink, trying to hide his hurt feelings behind his big, goofy grin.

"Oh, good. I really didn't want ya ta be mad at me!" Harmony said, but thought, 'Yes I do!! What am I doing? Whenevah dese boys come 'round, I let me guard down. As soon as I can walk, I'm outta here. Really. I can leave dem. It won't be a problem. An' if it is, I'll make dem hate me and it won't be so hard to leave.'

"I'se could nevah be mad at ya!" Blink said, meaning every word he spoke a little deeper than she'd ever know.

'Want to bet on dat?' she thought wryly.

"Yer so sweet!" Harmony exclaimed, hugging Blink, not realizing that she had used the same word that had started the 'fight'.

'Der's dat woid 'gain,' Blink thought, but said, "Not as sweet as you'se." Then he jumped up and headed to work.

After selling his papes, Blink headed to Tibbys to have a quick meal. When he saw his reflection in the window, he was surprised to see a bruise on his cheek where Harmony had slapped him.
Blink wondered, 'Think she'll notice? Bettah not take any chances.' Then he left the restaurant at a run.

Outside, Race was just entering when he noticed his friend leaving in a hurry. He called out to him, "Where ya goin' Blink?"

"Brooklyn!" Blink yelled and took off, leaving behind a very confused Race.

Upon arriving at the pier where Spot was known to hang out, Blink had only minimal difficulty passing Spot's little cronies before coming in front of an expressionless Spot.

"Whats kin I'se do fer ya, Blink?" Spot asked.

"Hit me," Blink responded as calmly as if he were asking for a napkin or some other object.

"Are you'se drunk 'gain?" Spot demanded. "If you'se is, I'se gonna tell Jacky-boy to lay off da parties."

"No, I'se jist needs ya ta hit me," Blink continued. "Stop making things difficult jist 'cause you'se a coward."

"Jist hit him Spot!" yelled a Brooklyn newsies who was toying with a snake emblem on a necklace.

"Snake, mind you'se own business. Ise'll deal wid dis meself." Spot said annoyed with his followers. Turning back to Blink he said, "Even if you'se is drunk, nobody gits 'way wid insultin' me – 'specially on me own territrey."

Blink braced himself as Spot swung his cane. The cane first struck Blink's nose, breaking it and causing blood to erupt. Then instantly swung to his stomach, causing him to double over. And lastly striking him on the backside of his knees, which made him fall backward to the ground, covering him with scratches and causing him to lose consciousness.

After Blink recovered from the beating, he admired Spot's handiwork. He looked up to see that Spot and his boys had gone, and the sun was sinking into the horizon. This alerted Blink that he should have been headed home long ago and that he had been unconscious for a few hours.

Limping as he went, Blink walked the way to Manhattan smiling.

'It takes a lot more than a beating to wipe away this smile. Besides, now there is no way to distinguish one bruise from another.' Blink thought in amusement.

When Blink walked into the Lodging House bunk room, he saw Harmony sitting up in bed. Her mouth was hanging open, obviously she had seen him.

"Oh my gawd, what happened ta ya?" Harmony cried in distress.

"Oh, don' worry yerself 'bout it. Was jis a misunderstandin' between friends," Blink said truthfully.

'Well, Spot didn' understand, so it was a misunderstandin',' Blink justified to himself.

"C'mere, I'll try an' fix up dat nose fer ya. It looks like it's broken," Harmony said in a motherly tone.

"Yeah, Ise'd have ta say dat it is. Der's prolly nothin' ta be done. It'll heal, it has befoah."

"How many times has it been broken?" she asked.

"I'se couldn' tell ya. I'se can't really count dat high," Blink said, ashamed of his meager education.

"Well, ya couldn't tell from looking at ya, except right now. At least let me clean up da blood," Harmony firmly requested.

"You'se don' have ta."

"Well, I am. I don't want ta hear anythin' more. I would get da towel and bowl of water, but I'm goin' ta have ta ask you ta. Me legs don't seem ta remember what der purpose is," joked Harmony.

"Notta problem, Harmony. Ise'll git it, you'se jest wait right heah," Blink assured her and went off to get the supplies she had requested.

After some scrubbing, Blink looked pretty good, besides the bruises and scratches for which there was nothing to be done.

The next morning, when everyone else was still getting ready, Blink tried to wake Harmony up, but once again, found it harder than normal. So he leaned down and kissed her, but ducked out of the room before she could smack him or see him. Over the days, it became a daily ritual, and she believed it to be a recurring dream and came to think of it as her internal wake up call. Blink, unsure of how she would react to the truth, let her believe whatever she wanted to.

Their days had become routine. Blink would kiss her when it was time to wake up and disappear into the washroom. Harmony would sit up and think about her recurring dream, trying to figure out the deeper meaning, and Blink would come in and wish her a good morning, then leave. Once he left, Harmony would have only Jack for company.

Since both Jack and Harmony had no place to go, they came to a mutual agreement that it would be pointless to argue with the only company they had. Slowly, Harmony started getting better with Jack's help. Jack would let her lean on him while she tried to get her legs back in shape and be her punching dummy to regain arm strength. Finally, one day, she could limp across the room without Jack's help, and the next day she could walk. Finally, after four more days, she could run her best. Her strength had completely returned after two and a half weeks of training.

Harmony knew that her recovery was in a big part thanks to Jack, but every time she tried to thank him, he would blush and start joking about something else. They had become great friends, so she knew that it was best to drop it. He knew how she felt.

Every night, ever since she'd been beaten, she'd dreamed of revenge, and now it was time. With her wounds fully healed and everyone, even Blink, ignorant of her fitness, it was time to strike.

The next morning, after the newsies had left, Harmony jumped out of bed and scribbled a quick note to Jack telling him where she'd went, and not to worry. Then she climbed out the window, sure that if she talked to Kloppmann, the owner of the Lodging House and honorary father to all its occupants, he would tell the boys before she could take a step from the building.

She ran down the fire escape and took the vaguely familiar path she had treaded a few weeks before, but this time she was ready. She heard footsteps behind her and spun around to meet her opponent with a swift punch to the gut. The punch found its way, shortly before she realized it was Jack. Keeling over, clutching his stomach, Jack had a shocked look on his face. As soon as he could talk again he gasped, "Geez, you'se strongah den you'se looks."

She asked him sternly, "What are ya doin' here, Jack? Spot told ya not ta leave da Lodgin' House."

"I'se seems ta recall dat hese'd said da same thing ta you'se."

"Well…dat's different…" Harmony said, loosing all the conviction in her voice.

"'Sides, did ya think I'se was goin' ta let you'se take dem all on by yerself?"

"He's not goin' ta be happy, an' I bet he'll blame me," she said. "But I'm glad fer da company."

"I'se knew you'se would. So, come on, we'se 'bout ta soak us sum bummahs," Jack said enthusiastically.

After a couple hours of diligent searching the two friends discovered the assailants that had waylaid Harmony. The opposition consisted of four boys, but they were overly cocky when realizing one of their attackers was a girl and caught unaware in the beginning. Although Jack and Harmony were slightly outnumbered they ended the fight victoriously.

When they got back to the bunkroom, they were glad to see none of the newsies had come back yet. They walked into the room and headed to wash up when they heard the door close behind them. It was none other than Spot, standing behind the door, waiting for them.

"Heya, Spot," Jack started nervously. "We'se was jest out – "

"Jacky-boy, I'se already upset 'bout you'se goin' 'gainst me fer da foist time. Don' make it woise by lyin' 'bout it. It insults my intelligence," Spot said, a little melancholy. He was very obviously upset about his friend betrayed his trust, but oddly enough he had a neutral, yet cold, expression.

"Shoah, Spot. I'se sorry 'bout not listenin' ta ya, but I'se ain' sorry doin' what I did. Dey desoived every bit," Jack stated angrily.

"Whats done is done, I'se sent me boys ovah ta help da injured, and I'se sent yers too. I'se would imagine you'se did a lot a damage, so be content wit' dat. Don' try anythin' else, you'se got yer revenge," Spot said.

"Fine," Jack obediently consented.

"I'se needs ta talk ta da goil fer a second. Go talk ta Kloppmann," Spot ordered.

Jack left with a glance from Spot to Harmony.

"You'se are nothin' but trouble, goil. Was ya sent ta torture me 'r somethin'?" Spot asked.

"I am not sent anywhere. No one tells me where ta go or what ta do. And besides dat, its not like anyone cares 'nough 'bout ya ta send someone to annoy ya. Sooner or later, yer goin' ta learn dat da world doesn't revolve 'round ya." Harmony defied him.

"Shoah it doesn't. Nows dat yer healed you'se kin go. Tomorah," Spot commanded.

"Ya know, I don't think I will," Harmony said, almost pleasantly. 'I'll stay just in spite a ya! Ha!' she thought to herself, spitefully. She continued outloud, "I'se started ta like it heah. Kloppmann said I could stay here once I'se got healed as a newsie. Jack said he'd teach me ta sell papes, an' Blink already said he'd watch out fer me 'cause he really didn't want me ta leave. So it's all settled. If ya don't like me den maybe you should stop comin' 'round here."

"No body tells me what ta do. 'Specially not you'se," Spot said, venomously, slightly glaring.

'A little frightened by the murderous look in his eye,' Harmony thought. 'Maybe I shouldn't a gotten him angry. Wow, he looks really angry. I'm a little scared. But, at da same time, I couldn't be more attracted ta him. I always have ta fall fer da dangerous type, don't I? How frustratin'! It's really time ta calm him down.'

"Look, Spot, maybe we didn't get off on da right foot. I'm sorry dat I went against yer little – " Spot's glare deepened. "I mean, yer very important rules. But it isn't in my nature ta follow da rules."

"I ain't mad 'cause you'se left da Lodging House, you'se was free ta once you'se was healed. I'se furious 'cause ya took Jack wid ya. Jack being 'n dat fight threatened a whole lot a treaties which put Brooklyn 'n a uncomfortable position. We'se almost had ta choose between Manhattan and Queens. Luckily, da damage was repairable, but it was a close call."

"Jack can do whatevah he wants. I didn't make him do nothin'."

"We'se nevah had trouble befoah you'se came," Spot said. "Jest stay outta me way, ors youse'll be askin' fer trouble dat you'se ain't ready fer."

"I can handle myself. I think I proved dat tanight," Harmony asserted, slightly puffing her self up.

Any ego she had blown was popped when Spot laughed at her. "Ya think dat 'cause you'se beat Queens you'se any match fer Brooklyn. Foist of all, you'se had Jack fightin' wit' you'se. Jack, or at least da Jack I'se knows, would nevah go up 'gainst Brooklyn. Second of all, Brooklyn has more fightin' capability in its littlest member, den Queens has in der leadah. I'se ain' sayin' dis ta impress ya. If you'se don' believe me, ask Jack. Hese'll set ya straight."

"Yer so arrogant. I don't care how many boys ya have undah yer command or how well dey fight, yer a coward dat hides behind his lackeys," Harmony avowed.

"If I'se didn' have rules 'gainst hittin' goils, youse'd be sportin' a pretty shinah ta go wit' dat outfit," Spot threatened, completely calm which infuriated her even more.

"Wow, big bad Spot threatenin' goils. How brave," Harmony taunted, getting up in his face.

"I'se don' need ta take dis from a slut. You'se shouldn' be tellin' oddahs how ta live der lives. I'se seen what you'se been doin' ta dat poor guy, Blink. He's me friend, an' its me responsibility ta stan' up fer him. You'se needs ta eithah cut him loose or reel him 'n cause oddahwise he's gonna snap. I'se don' know or care how many guys you'se are leadin' on, but dat boy is lovesick. If you'se don' do somethin' - I'se will," Spot promised.

Harmony slapped him, "I don't have any idea what yer talkin' 'bout, but I really don't appreciate bein' called a slut. Whatevah Blink an' I do, is our business. Do we have an understandin'?"

Spot smirked, "Shoah we'se do. Youse'll leave me boys 'lone, an' Ise'll limit me visits so I'se don' have ta see you'se so much."

With that he left Harmony alone in the room to wait for Jack to come back up and the boys to return from Queens.

When Jack came up, Harmony recapped the entire story, sparing no details. Jack, needless to say, was very upset.

"You'se like me sistah, but Spot's like me broddah. I'se kinda caught 'n da middle heah," Jack said.

"I understand. Is it true what he said 'bout Brooklyn though?"

"Yeah, Brooklyn has unfathomable skills in fighting an' all dat. I'se glad dat Ise'll nevah be 'n a fight 'gainst um. Ise'd nevah be able ta go up 'gainst Spot. It would be real difficult, an' I'se wouldn' be able ta foresee da loyalty a da boys, even mine when it came down ta it."

"Yes, I suppose it would, an' I would nevah ask ya ta. Is it true what he said 'bout Blink? Am I leadin' him on? Is der anythin' ta lead him on wid?"

"I'se hasn't seen anythin' ta prove what Spot accuses ya of, but as much as I'se hates ta say it, he's usually pretty well informed," Jack said apologetically. "But 'course youse'd nevah do anythin' like dat ta anyone on poipose. It's jest a misunderstandin'." Then he jokingly punched her in the stomach. It was only a small punch, and very light, but it still sent Harmony to the floor, gasping from the pain.

Jack was frantic. "Harmony, Harmony. Whats wrong wid you? What did I do?"

"It's me stomach…" Harmony forced out in pain.

Jack laid her on his bed and lifted her shirt. There was a shallow, yet long, cut across from her bellybutton to just above her right hip.

"Dis don' look so good, Harmony. Seems like somebody sliced ya wit' a knife," Jack said, concerned that it might get infected.

"Yeah, probably 'cause dey did. I didn't think it was dat bad doh," Harmony reasoned, tears from the pain in her eyes.

"Why didn' you'se tell me befoah?" Jack asked.

"I was a little caught up in fightin' wid Spot. Sorry. It'll be alright."

"No, we'se bettah clean it out. Its kinda deep an' it might get infected."

"Don't worry 'bout it." More edge in her voice than she'd meant to have.

"Harmony, I'se don' care what you'se has ta say, dat cut needs ta be cleaned," Jack insisted.

But Harmony protested, "I'se had worse! Now leave me alone!"

Eventually she gave into him because she knew he wouldn't leave it alone. But, she wasn't pleased with Jack at all, even if he had been helping her. In no time he had her stomach cleaned and bandaged, but that didn't mean she was happy with him. By the time the others had returned, stained with the blood of the boys they had been 'nursing' in the streets, she was completely ignoring him. When she studied the people entering the room, she saw someone she hadn't expected. Spot. Again.

'Doesn't he ever go away?' she contemplated. But deep down she knew she didn't want him too, and she was only beginning to accept it. And for reasons even she couldn't explain, further than simply being female, she decided, 'I'll show him me being a slut!'

She called Blink over to her, and proceeded to have him sit on the bed next to her. She told him about the day, giggling and whispering in a felicitous manner, glancing at Spot now and then. When she realized she wasn't going to get a reaction, she started to get flaunt it a little more. She leaned over and kissed Blink on the cheek, telling him it was because he had been such a big help. She tried to convey to Blink that he was just a brother to her while conveying to Spot that she and Blink were on intimate relations. It was impossible.

After she had kissed Blink, Spot started in her direction.

"Blink, ya mind if I'se talk ta her fer a second? Good," Spot said and pushed Blink towards Jack without waiting for a response.

"Look, goil, if you'se doin' dat fer my pleasure, you'se be bettah off givin' up. I'se cam ovah heah ta stop dis befoah ya slept wid him 'n spite a me."

"Spot Conlon, yer so full a yerrself. Der's nothin' between us. Der is no us. I will do whatevah I want wid Blink. He actually cares 'bout me, which is more den I can say fer you. Ya don't pay any attention ta me."

"What is wrong wid you? Pay attention ta you? Its not like we're togethah. You'se shoah a needy goil. An' if dis is all 'cause I'se don' care 'bout you'se, den you'se needs ta git a life. How da hell did ya come up wid da name Harmony anyways? I think Bittah is more like it."

"Lay off. Ya think I need ta get a life? Yer da one who thinks he's all big and bad jest 'cause he's da leadah a da Brooklyn newsies," Harmony threw at him.

"No Bittah, I'se already big an' bad, dats how I'se became da leadah a da Brooklyn newsies. Git it straight."

"Don't ya have somewhere else ta be? Like a street cornah?" Harmony angrily stuttered.

"Shouldn' you'se be gettin' tucked 'n by yer parents," Spot coolly replied.

Then she slapped him, hard, and spoke in a low, tight voice. "Don't you evah talk 'bout me parents."

Still Spot seemed unmoved by the slap or change in attitude. "Looks like I hit a nerve."

"I hate you! Why can't ya jest leave me alone?!" Harmony screamed.

"Gladly," Spot agreed and walked to a bed only a few feet away and got in.

'Oh great!' she thought sarcastically. 'He's stayin' longah. Joy!'

When Harmony had a chance to look around the room, she noticed everyone watching. As soon as they saw that she noticed, they all tried to look busy. She lay back down in bed and closed her eyes.

Trying to sleep, Harmony thought, 'He's so infuriating'. Can't we have one conversation dat he doesn't dominate. And where does he get off thinkin' dat I'se interested in him. Probably 'cause I am, but he has no right ta assume dat. I need ta get ovah him, now. Soonah or latah I'll get sick a him, an' da soonah da bettah as far as I'm concerned.'