CHAPTER 8:

The party ended too quickly after that. They say time flies when you're having fun, well Alyssa was dreading the walk home with Spot and time seemed to breeze by even faster. When people began to leave, Blink pulled her aside and gave her a long kiss. She didn't really feel it though. Her mind was in a strange state, and she couldn't process any thoughts or feelings. Even so, she smiled and gave him a hug and said,

"I had a really great time. Thank you for an amazing night."

"I really hope we can do this again, soon." He told her. His smile made her stomach hurt and a lump rise in her throat. Here he was, laying his heart out for her. He was sweet, handsome, funny, a gentleman, all the things any girl would dream about in a guy. So why couldn't she give her heart back to him?

Alyssa hugged Jack and her new friends from Manhattan goodbye, and then Handsome grabbed her before she left so he could walk with her. This made her feel so much better. He kept her close, and watched Spot out of the corner of his eye, making sure he wouldn't come near her.

They were all quiet, but she didn't notice. Her mind was racing. Why didn't Spot kiss her? She had smelled his breath when he had cornered her, and it didn't smell like alcohol at all. He wasn't drunk. But why did he do that intentionally? He hated her.

Right?

More importantly, why didn't she move? When her worst enemy was right in front of her, about to make a fool out of her, about to make her look like a hypocrite, why did she stand there, helplessly waiting for him to make a move?

What if Blink hadn't burst in? What would have happened? She wouldn't have kissed him, of course. He was Spot Colon.

Spot Conlon. The name sounded differently now. Not in a good or bad way, just differently. But what needed to be decided now was how would this affect her. She thought for a minute and then decided:

It wouldn't. She would go on as if it never happened. Hating Spot would be so much easier than….well… not hating him. If he approached her, she would act like she had no clue what he was talking about.

God, what is he thinking right now?

They reached Brooklyn. She hadn't spoken a word. She thanked Handsome for watching her back, and went up to her room in a daze. When she got there, she just sat on her bed, staring at the wall. Her mind was full of thoughts, but nothing stood out for her to concentrate on. She heard the boys rough-house their way into the building and go to their rooms, noisily but quickly. For a few more moment she just sat there, blankly. A knock on her door woke her up, and made her jump. She opened the door saying,

"I'm really not in the mood to talk, Handsome…" but Handsome wasn't there.

Spot looked at her for a moment, then smirked.

"Aw, you think I'm handsome, DeCardo?" She threw him a disgusted look, then realized what she had decided to do.

"What do you want, Mr. Conlon?"

"Well, I wanted to know if you had fun tonight." He said, instigating.

"As a matter of fact, I had a great time." She told him

"Oh really?" He said, and took a step into her room. He had a teasing smile on his face. " I bet I know you're favorite part of the evening."

"That would be when I locked lips with Kid Blink, my date." She said defensively.

"I don't think so, DeCardo. You liked a different part, that had nothing to do with Blink." He was stepping towards her now. She took a seat on her bed and said,

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"I think you do."

"Really, I don't."

"Well do you want a reminder?" He said, standing right in front of her now, looking down with an evil and dangerous smile on.

"Mr. Conlon, I have no clue what you mean. So stop whatever you're getting at right now, because I…I know all about Manhattan five days ago. I know what you did and why you did it." In fact, she didn't know why he had waited for her and saved her, but it got to him.

His eyes changed. He had realized that she knew something she wasn't supposed to and he was making a fool of himself. That wasn't going to happen.

(FLASHBACK)

"Spot is known to lash out when he can't deal with something." Handsome said.

(END FLASHBACK)

He stepped back and his eyes grew harsh.

"You're crazy. I don't know what you're talking about. You know what, DeCardo? If I wasn't so drunk right now, I would smack you again. In fact, I should!" He raised his hand to hit her, but at that moment, Handsome came into her room. He saw Alyssa on the bed, and Spot with his hand frozen in midair.

"What the fuck is going on here?" he shouted. Alyssa knew Spot wouldn't hit her, now. If he did, he would have to admit everything. About Manhattan, about tonight…

Spot saw Handsome and he dropped his hand. His face was furious as he stepped towards him.

"What did you tell her?" he said.

"I…I nothing." Handsome stuttered, trying to move towards Alyssa."

"Bullshit! What does she know? You are the only person who could have told her

so you better just tell me now Handsome." His eyes looked ready to kill.

"Spot, really, I didn't…" But it was too late. Spot grabbed Handsome and punched him in the stomach. Hard. Handsome went right down. He probably could have knocked Spot out, if it wasn't for his fear of him and the fact that he didn't see that coming at all.

Spot kicked him in the chest when he fell. Alyssa gasped and ran over to Handsome.

On his way out, Spot said,

"That was a warning for you DeCardo. For lying to me and disobeying me earlier. So let's forget tonight and move on, so I don't have to kick you out on the streets. I know you need this place, and you don't know shit!" He was gone before she could throw back a "Fuck you, Spot!"

"Handsome, I'm so sorry. I…he was drunk and I just needed to…"

"Alyssa, it okay," he moaned. "I'd rather it be me than you."

Even when he had a wounded stomach, he still acted brave for her. She couldn't believe it. She helped him up and he sat down on the bed.

"Do you want to tell me why I just took a punch for you though?" he smiled, then winced in pain.

"Well, don't tell anyone this, but Spot was so drunk tonight he tried to kiss me. But Blink came in and stopped him before he could. Then he came in here and tried to do it again. I'm sorry you got hurt, I just wanted to change the subject before he tried to do anything else. So I brought up Manhattan, thinking it might shake him up again so he'd leave. But instead he got angry, and I forgot that he had only told you about it. He was about to hit me when you came in, and I guess you reminded him that he told you. I'm so sorry."

"Alyssa? I hate to tell you this, but Spot didn't drink tonight. Remember when he

dropped his glass? Well that was his only one, and he didn't even get a chance to drink it. So he was totally sober when he tried whatever it was on you. And don't worry about the punch, I'll be fine. I'm just glad he didn't get to hit you."

She didn't hear the end of that, though. He wasn't drunk? Maybe Handsome was more correct than he thought. Maybe Spot did like her a lot more than he let on. He had tried to kiss her twice in one night, and he didn't have any drinks in him at all. But how could he like her? She wasn't one of those easy sluts who he was enjoying earlier that night. That was his type right? Not her. She was interested in Blink, right? A gentleman, not a dictator. A nice guy, not a bad boy, right? Right?

Anyway, how could she love him? He hadn't done anything that would make her do that. Except for his unexpected apology, or the fact that he helped her with her job. Or that he hadn't slept with any girls since she came along.

Or that he had saved her life…

Fuck. She said to herself for the millionth time in 5 days. She needed to think about this.

"Handsome will you be okay?" she asked, in a whisper.

"Yeah, I'll be fine." He hugged her and then tried to get up. He wobbled to the door and turned around.

"Alyssa, be careful. I think Spot means business now."

"Don't worry. I will. Thanks again."

He left and she returned to staring at the wall.

When Spot looked at her, there was something in the back of his eyes that wasn't completely mean. Always. She was only beginning to see this now, but it had always been there. And he was always acting defensive over her. She remembered admiring how he carried himself when he was selling papers. That was like his getaway, when he could shine at something and be amazing. She had always sort of like how he was in charge and ran his city. Something about him….

Fuck. Again.

Did she love him?

She couldn't tell if her heart wasn't sure, or if it wouldn't admit it yet.

Alyssa knew if she ever did, and accepted it, she might let her guard down around him. Then she would be just like any sleazy cheap girl he slept with all the time. He would use her and throw her away.

That proved he couldn't love anyone. He could never just have one girl, because he had too much pride. He would only hurt her in the end.

Well she had pride too. Even if she did love him a little, which she didn't, she would never be one of those girls. Spot Conlon was not going to use her, ever.

She decided to stay further away from him: if they didn't see each other, they would fight, he wouldn't hurt anyone else, she wouldn't get in any more trouble, they wouldn't love each other. It was that easy.

Right?

To be honest, I'm not really sure about this chapter. Please give me feedback, because I don't know if this is the way I wanted it to go. I wanted to change it up a little so it wouldn't get boring.

PLEASE R&R

I'm sorry it took so long. :[ Next one will be up soon, but also give me any suggestions on what you'd like to see happen.

Thanks guys!

-Spunkyy7

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