CHAPTER SIX

That's were we spent most of our time during the next two weeks, or as he would call it, it's were he "watched me". We kind of talked, but mostly we sat there, looking at the breath-taking view. It was truly beautiful. Although, I'm not sure Spot was really watching the view anymore.

"What's wrong?" I asked as I saw his eyes turn darker.

"Nothing," he muttered, kicking the ground. I was sitting on the railing and he was standing next to me. I rolled my eyes and jumped down, used to his moodiness. Well, as used to it as I could be. "What?"

"I'm hungry," I told him slowly, raising an eyebrow. He shoved his hands into his pockets and nodded to the door behind me. That was also something I had to get used to: his choice not to voice certain things. Shaking my head, I opened the door and we walked downstairs, to Kenny's, the Brooklyn Tibby's. In other words, it was where most of the Brooklyn newsies ate their meals. I sat, watching the boys around me, vaguely feeling Spot glance over during his conversation with Bernie. Neither Bernie nor Wex really changed from when I first met them but I didn't really pay it any mind. I'd decided to keep to myself for the most part, aside from practically being babysat by Spot. Wrinkling my nose, I glanced up as I heard the doorbell jingle, my eyes narrowing. The boy who'd just walked in reminded me of someone, but I couldn't remember whom. Whoever it was, it gave me a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. I felt something brush against my forearm and jumped slightly, seeing Spot's eyes narrow in observation.

"What's wrong?" he questioned quietly but I felt my eyes tugged back to the familiar face.

"Nothing," I muttered, as the boy stared back at me. He smirked, shaking his head but turned out the door, passed the window I was sitting by. Finally my eyes switched back to Spot, who was now glaring at me but my eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "What?"

"You recognize him," he stated, pointing to where the male stood moments ago. Rolling my eyes, I scooped some lettuce into my mouth but his glare sharpened.

"You don't scare me, stop trying," I sighed, sending him a bored stare before finished my meal without so much as a glance back at him. When we were done, we started back to the pier but as we rounded the corner, I froze, causing one of the Newsies to bash into me. Spot turned around and rolled his eyes, reaching for my arm but I shook my head. "Don't move." He raised an eyebrow, amused, and was about to step away but I glared at him. I watched as the Stanley looking person walked out of sight and let out an unknown sigh of relief, only to look back to the group around me who were staring at me like I was crazy. Flipping my hair from my face, I brushed past Spot but he grabbed my arm, pulling me close to him. I'm pretty sure he didn't realize what he'd done until I had.

"Who'd you see?" he asked firmly but shortly.

"No one," I muttered, quietly. "Can we just leave?" I pried my arm away and kept walking.

"Royal, who was it?" he persisted, following me.

"Don't worry about it," I tried but an irked sigh made it known he wasn't finished.

"I will worry about it," he yelled annoyed, pulling me back, to stop me. "Who was it?"

"Nobody, Spot, can we please go," I asked, walking, well, dragging him with me. I didn't want to get into this here. Not when people could hear. Especially if it was him. Stanley I mean.

"Tell me who you saw."

"It doesn't matter."

"Why won't ya tell me?"

"Cause, it doesn't matter," I repeated finally getting my arm back but he kept up with my brisk pace. It was just the two of us now. Glancing back, I wondered momentarily where the other Newsies had gone but looked back to the path in front of me.

"Royal, Jack and Medda want me to keep ya safe. How can I do that when you won't tell me who you see that makes ya look so scared?"

"I'm not scared, Spot, just leave it!"

"Royal, just tell me. I wanna-."

"No!" I shouted, fed up with his pestering. Why couldn't he see I didn't want to talk about it?! He looked at me, thoroughly annoyed, but his eyes portrayed hurt or a pain of some sort. I couldn't help feeling slightly guilty when he stalked off, leaving me in front of the lodging house. Sighing, I shook my head, walking into the building. I jumped onto the couch, pulling my knees to my chest but after a while, I heard a lot of shouting and a few things drop. Suddenly the door burst open and I saw Les in the doorway, looking around. His eyes landed on me and he ran over, jumping at me.

"Royal!!"

"Wow, Les," I laughed, hugging him tightly. "Hi to you too." He bombarded me with all sorts of questions but when I heard the door again, I saw Jack and David standing there. Jack looked annoyed but David looked peaceful . . . ish.

"Who'd ya see?" Jack demanded, making me roll my eyes.

"Oh, honestly," I sighed irked as I stood. "I've been fine, nothing's has happened, nothing-."

"If it were a different situation, I wouldn't care, but Stanley's not in Manhattan anymore."

"Why me!" I whined, throwing my head into the couch beside me but I bolted upright. Why had that boy been so familiar?

"What?" Jack asked but I was too busy thinking, trying my hardest to figure out who the guy from Kenny's was. He looked so familiar but, for the life of me, I couldn't place him! "Royal-."

"Hold on, would you!" I yelled, burying my head in my hands. Needing a moment to think, but it was damn near impossible with these boys. "He couldn't be."

"Who?" it was Les who asked this time and I couldn't help but let my mood soften slightly.

"I think Henner has a brother," I muttered, rubbing my face as I tried to recall. "I just can't remember what he looks like."

"How would you know?" David asked slowly. This made me go silent. There was one tiny, incey, wincey, little detail I had left out of my entire story with Henner. It wasn't something I was particularly fond of discussing. Considering it was probably one of the bigger mistakes made in my life.

"This is going to drive me crazy," I groaned, running my hand through my hair.

"What is it, Royal?" Les asked, sounding so cute because he was eager but I let out an annoyed sigh. I couldn't remember.

"Nothing."

"You can't just not tell us things. How are we supposed to help you when we don't know the full story?" Jack asked. "And when you see people-."

"Jack!" We all sort of jumped when we heard this but it Jack and David ran out of the room. Les was still in my lap when I saw the scene through the window and I practically pushed him off.

"What happened?" I pretty much screeched as Spot was carried in by some of the Newsies.

"Royal, calm down," David soothed, placing his hands on my shoulders.

"But, he-."

"Do you recognize this?" Jack questioned, shoving something in my hands. As soon as I looked down at it, I dropped it, as though it'd burned me. This was going too far. Sure, we hadn't exactly ended on a good note, but this, it was ridiculous. Outdoing any if not all of my dramatic characteristics.

"What is it?" David inquired, picking up and looking at the bracelet, squinting slightly. "KR & MH."

"For the love of god," I muttered storming out the door but froze. "Damn."

"Miss me?" Stanley sneered. I backed up and Jack pushed past me, along with a handful of the other Newsies. I had a feeling he was angry. Actually, that they all were. Les tried to as well, but David pulled him back by the collar as he yanked me back inside by my upper arm and led me upstairs, to Spot's room.

"Did you see him earlier?" he asked after I sat on the windowsill. I nodded, looking at Spot, feeling helpless.

"He did it, didn't he?" I croaked, annoyed with myself.

"Stanley did," David said softly. "It's not as bad as it seems. He just hit his head. He's fine."

"He was angry with me."

"Well, you wouldn't talk to him. Incase you haven't noticed, he's changed since, well, since he met you," he told me slowly.

"He can't have changed that much," I mumbled, looking out the window.

"It's not your fault," David stated quietly.

"Then why do I feel so bad," I snapped annoyed.

"Conscience?"

"You're no help," I muttered, looking out the window again. He laughed slightly, touching my shoulder lamely but I knew he didn't exactly know how to help or comfort me and I slid down the wall next to the door, running my hands through my hair. After a while, I let myself fall against the floor and watched Spot until my eyes were too heavy to keep open.