Ok, well I'm going to continue where I left off four years ago. It may sound different from the first four chapters but I tried my best to get back on track. Let me know how it goes and if I should continue.
Still own nothing but my own characters.
Chapter 5- Back to Reality
Morning came about and I was probably the first to be up. My excitement got me up too early and I couldn't sleep any longer. Today was the day I was going to Manhattan to talk to Mel about Harlem, and also selling there was a lot nicer compared to the angry people of Brooklyn. Happiness. It was the one moment I got once in a while and never did I want to let the feeling go. Not saying I'm an unhappy person but living in Brooklyn you can't really have the emotion go around bouncing with every step you take. After using the washroom I realized I couldn't leave without Spot. Oh now to wake the sleepy bum. That should be fun.
Walking up the stairs to his own little space I started hitting his door very obnoxiously. "Spot! Spot get up you promised to take me. Spot!" Pounding on his door was probably a bad idea, oh well he needs to get up anyways. "Spot Conlon get your ass up now!"
"Alright, alright woman I'm up, I'm up, go away." Listening to him grumble around I bounce back and forth ready to take on the day.
"Well hurry I wanna go early so I can see everyone!" I was much too excited for this day to start.
After about five minutes your royal highness finally walked out with a look that might get someone soaked if they looked at him wrong. Big baby, he needs to be up anyways. "Ya know that if ya were anyone else I woulda soaked ya for poundin on me door like dat."
My eyes probably looked like sparkling gems, I was seriously too excited and my face is gonna hurt after all this smiling. "Maybe, but you can't hit a girl. Plus you can't get mad at me!"
"So ya think." He said with a stern look. He really wasn't a morning person today. "Why are ya so desperate to go to 'Hattan today? Gotcha self a boy dat I should know 'bout?"
Walking down the steps to the main bunk I answered, "No! And hey, even if I did why would you care?" Eyebrows raised I dared him to answer right.
"Don't give me dat look goil. Ise king so I gotta know everything whether ya like it or not." His face now dared me to answer him.
Now this is where dear Spots reputation comes in, always arrogant and a stone cold. I hated it sometimes. He always treated me different in front of the boys and other newsies, but when it was just us I got to see the Spot no one knew; a non-caring, somewhat real smiling seventeen year old boy. But no, he has to go all miserable and tough on me. Like a brother. Well I guess he is like a brother, he stuck by my side since him and Shark found me… Oh I should probably catch you up a bit. As you already know I have stayed here and things changed a lot! Spot became leader when we turned 14 because Shark got married to some middle class girl and he moved away to be all grown-up so to speak. Grown-up. God did that phrase scare me. I mean I'm sixteen now what will happen when I get too old to be a newsgirl? No, never mind I will tell you about the last eight years. Well since Spot became leader we kinda drifted apart, we used to play games and sell together now he's always "business this, business that" with Jack Kelly. He's a leader too but nothing like my dear Spot. Did I just say my Spot? Oh god. No. Sorry sidetracking. Manhattan is really fun I love all the newsies there, but secretly Blink is my favorite. Maybe that has to do with the fact that he's dating Mel but still that doesn't change anything. We always play poker, sorry scratch that, the boys play poker and us girls watch them cheat and be fools, and at least once a month we go to parties at Medda's; she acts like a mother we never had. It's a lot more fun than here in Brooklyn. Don't get me wrong this place is home and I wouldn't trade it for the world but everyone is so serious. Besides Spot I probably really only talk to Crook and Wolf, I mean I talk to everyone but those three are the closest I got to family. As you know Crook is Spots second in command while Wolf is his main "birdie" or spy so to speak. Those three are really scary together, especially if they are mad. Anger. Yeah, I get to see that almost everyday. It's really lovely I mean…
"Paige for Christs sake will ya answer me and stop starin' like I have three heads!" Oh here I go again with thinking and ignoring people.
"Uh, sorry what did you ask?" If he was in a bad mood two seconds ago I probably made him worse. God forbid the kid has to repeat anything to anyone.
Continuing to the first floor we left the lodging house.
"Nothin', lets go before I change me mind." Yeah, he's pissed.
The walk there was interesting to say the least. My excitement got him in a somewhat happy mood, although I got the "Keep it up and I'm throwin' ya ovah dat bridge, Paige" a couple of times. Now he wasn't being serious or anything as you may think so, the boy can be really nice and funny. I actually really enjoy his company when I can I have it. For the past couple month's things have gotten serious, although I haven't the slightest idea what since little miss Paige can't know anything. He won't tell me and he even tells the boys they can't tell me! Or he will act like he doesn't even know anything. He takes me for stupid but I am not. Secrets. One of the few things that bothers me. I hated being in the dark. Not the actual night-time dark, but the- I don't know what everyone else around me knows type of dark. Secrets are another memory to the past. No. I do not like this at all. I will find out either Spot will tell me or Melanie will! All I know is Harlem.
"Hey Spot I have a question for you." Looking at him I try my hardest to look innocent.
He always gives me this stupid one eye browed look when I ask him something. "Yeah, go for it."
"Uhm, well it's about…you guys keep like…" Maybe I am stupid around him… All he does is swing his cane and keep walking, not even glancing at me more than once. Ugh.
"Spit it out Paige, yer makin' no sense." Finally looking at me again he gives me a stare as if I'm stupid. I am not stupid! I'm getting angry again.
"You are keeping secrets from me!" Jerk better answer me. I need to know, although I'm being risky considering I'm keeping a secret too.
There we go with that look again. Sometimes I want to hit him really hard. Stopping mid walk and turning to stand right in front of me he says, "No I ain't. Why ya sayin that?"
"The boys won't answer anything I ask of them and Wolf said you gave orders to keep silent around me! You are always gone and more pissed off, if that's even possible. Now tell me what is going on right now!"
After staring at me for a second Spot started pacing back and forth all the while muttering, "He told ya what? Dat's it, he's gettin' a beatin..openin 'is mouth round ya! I'll teach 'im how to follow orders…Crook is da only one who.." I guess it is possible for him to be more pissed off.
I couldn't stand this. Stopping him from walking anymore, I put my hand on his chest and exclaimed, "You will do no such thing Spot Conlon! And quit ignoring me! I am not a child I have a right to know what is going on especially if it deals with my family!" There goes my excitement. I am just plain mad now. "Just because I am a girl does not mean I have to be hidden from whatever the hell is happening!"
"Quit ya yelling people are startin to stare. I already told ya Paige. Harlems recruiting. Dey wanna be powerful and think dey are tough, tryna beat up me boys. That's it." Turning back to Manhattan we started walking again. I didn't want to walk any further. Maybe I should tell him?
"I don't like liars." There, have a taste of your own medicine, you jerk.
"I ain't lyin! Now knock it off or Ise takin ya back to Brooklyn, understood?" Spot basically screamed this at me with a glare that threatened me to say something else. I had to though! What if he was back and helping those boys? Well probably not I'm just being paranoid.
This still isn't fair though. I know that's not the whole truth. If someone was just beating up on his boys he would go and soak them himself, but this is different. He's being quiet about it. He's disappearing all day. Now usually that's not an issue I usually hang with Crook or Wolf depending whose there, but get this; they are with him too. It's something serious yet I'm alone with it again. Lost. I haven't felt like this since I was eight. I don't like this. I don't want this. Oh god I'm crying. Tears. No. No. No. Paige you cannot cry in front of him. Remember he said crying was for the weak?
"C'mon Paige ya gotta hit harder than dat. A bum can even take ya. Now just don' bend ya wrist and when ya swing don' straighten ya elbow." 12 year old Paige was standing on the docks trying to mock what Spot has been teaching her, holding her arms up in a fighting position but practicing swinging the correct way. "Ok, good, now gimme ya best shot!"
Paige swung and hit Spot right in the jaw, not hard but enough for him to stumble a little. "Good! Dat wasn't bad, now remember what I said about blocking? Keep ya arms infront of ya face and duck. If ya too slow make sure ya one arm is out in front to take da blow insteada ya face."
Paige was a little scared, Spot hit hard but she knew she could handle it. She was of course raised in Brooklyn by him and Shark. Suddenly an arm swung and next thing she knew her arm hurt and she was on her butt. It really hurt and tears just came to her eyes. Maybe she couldn't fight maybe she didn't belong here.
"Paige ya ok? Ah, don't cry, ya can't cry in a fight! Cryin' is for da weak and yer Brooklyn and Brooklyn ain't weak. C'mon get up. We just gotta practice more, and if it helps after dis I'll make sure no one ever fights ya ok?"
Yeah, I remember that clearly. I don't cry over stupid things anymore but I have gotten into a few fights. So why am I crying now? This is ridiculous. I want to see Mel right now.
"Spot let's just hurry up and go. We're going to miss the morning addition and I want to talk to Mel." Please don't see my tears. Please don't see my tears. Walking a little faster I tried getting ahead of him. Go figure the kid can walk faster than anyone and caught up to me.
"Alright. Are ya cryin? I wasn't dat harsh wit ya, was I?" He seemed generally confused. Staring at me with his eyebrows crunched together and this questioning look in his eyes. Good he doesn't need to know about my mental break down. His eyes are a pretty blue right now, why did I never notice this? Woah. Stop.
"No I'm not crying why would I be?" Yeah, Paige lie to the one person who can see through you. "C'mon Spot like I said we're gonna be late."
It took us about twenty minutes to get to the Manhattan Lodging House and I was pretty sure he didn't notice any more tears. He doesn't need to know why I'm paranoid because maybe it is just a bunch of boys trying to be powerful. I over react a lot and right now might be one of them. Mel will tell me all she knows and then I'll be sure. But I just can't shake this gut feeling, it's not right and never I have felt this alone and scared since he took me from my mother. Lost.
