Yes...I know it's been a while. I'm sorry! I promise I'm not abandoning this story! Please have faith in me. :) Oh, and review! I'm getting back to responding to all of the chapter 1 reviews as we speak.
Breaking himself out of the memory, Ghost pounded on the door again. His fist began to throb from all of the impact.
"Spot! Get out here, or Ise swear on all dat is holy, Ise am gonna bust dis door down."
Ghost heard a pathetic scoff reverberate from inside the room.
"Ise would love t'see youse try," Spot mocked him.
Sighing, the lieutenant tried the handle again, groaning when it still refused to give up.
"Spot, open dis door, now."
Listening, the boy waited at the door. Finally, after a long moment of Spot's indecision, the door cracked open.
"What youse want, Ghost? Ise busy."
It did not escape Ghost's attention that Spot was attempting (poorly) to hide the bottle of cheap liquor behind his back. It did not escape Ghost's attention that Spot's breath reeked of spirits. Using all of his strength, the boy shoved the cracked door open and let himself in. The room sat in disarray. Shattered glass sprinkled the floor, Spot's clothes were scattered across the room, and everything else cluttered the remaining space. It smelled like a sewer, and Ghost nearly gagged when he stepped inside.
"Spot-"
The leader laid across his bed.
"Don't start, Ghost."
Shrugging, the boy let it go.
"Fine."
Tense silence spread between the two.
"Youse just gonna stand there like a dope or youse gonna say somethin'?" Spot asked, giving his lieutenant a look as he took a swig from the bottle.
Snatching the alcohol from his leader, Ghost tossed it carelessly from the window.
"Da hell?" Spot shouted, watching as the bottle flew toward the alley before shattering loudly on the ground.
His mind set on shaking his friend from his current state, Ghost grabbed the boy by the collar and drug him from the bedroom to the washroom. And, as drunk as he was, Spot fought tooth and nail from Ghost's grip.
"Youse need dis, Spot. Take it like a man," the younger boy said.
When they reached the washroom, Ghost drug his leader to the basin. Shoving his head in the cold, wooden tub of water unceremoniously a few times, the boy struggled to sober his friend. Pulling up, he asked,
"You done yet?"
As Spot always did, he allowed a snarky comment to escape his lips.
"Ise could go all day, kid."
Annoyance ran over the lieutenant.
"Fine."
He dunked Spot's head a few more times.
"Alright-" Spot spluttered, pushing Ghost off of him.
The boy rose to his feet, shaking himself of the water.
"Dere's a party over at Medda's tonight, Spot. Youse should go. Pay ol' Jacky-Boy a visit."
Spot understood what his friend was trying to do; he appreciated it.
"Maybe Ise will."
Thankful his leader was finally starting to act himself again, Ghost began to make his way out of the washroom.
"Who knows?" he called behind him, "Maybe she'll be dere."
Spot doubted it, but began getting ready all the same.
"Cowboy, please!" Queenie begged.
She clung to the sleeve of his patchwork jacket as he struggled to get out of the door.
"Youse're the one who's afraid a' him knowing youse're here. Ise didn't even get allowed to tell all me boys dat youse're here."
Resisting the urge to throw a temper tantrum, Queenie just gripped his arm tighter. Holding on for dear life, she pleaded with the boy.
"I can stay in the back of the theater. I don't even need to sit by you. I just have to get out of this house. Please."
Cowboy looked down at the girl. Her big eyes bore into his, begging him.
"Yous're goin' stir crazy, huh?"
She nodded.
"Please, Cowboy. Ise just gotta get out for a bit."
He considered it for a moment, running over the idea in his head. The night wasn't an all-newsie event; Brooklyn hadn't been invited. If Queenie stayed in the back, his newsies wouldn't see her. Praying that he wouldn't regret it, he looked down at her sternly.
"One hour," he allowed.
Queenie instantly began celebrating, launching herself at the boy.
"But dat's all youse got. Ya'understand?"
Nodding furiously, the girl hugged him.
"Now, go get dressed. Youse're gonna freeze to death in dat dress."
Without another word, she sprinted up the stairs.
"Ise gotta feelin' dis is gonna be a long night," he muttered to himself.
Slipping his hat on, Cowboy stepped outside to wait for the girl.
There it is! Chapter two! Please give me feedback! Review please!