Disclaimer- I own everything you don't recognize…
Somebody you fill find me, Caught beneath the landslide- Oasis
It was still early afternoon when Spot entered the Brooklyn Lodging House for the first time in nearly four days. He knew none of the boys were back from selling and took advantage of the knowledge to enjoy some peace and quiet.
He made is way through the common room and over to the stairs. Each stair creaked its own musical melody as he walked up them to his own bedroom. As he walked through his bedroom door, and over to his bed, his tired body began to scream of rest, the last few days hadn't been easy on him.
Before he left this morning, he had to fight with her to eat, she didn't want to. Then he had to fight with her to drink some water. She didn't want to. He left the glass on her night stand, and she threw it at him narrowly missing his head. He was so enraged he left the broken pieces on the floor and left the bedroom ignoring the sounds of her apologetic sobbing through the door. Jack was the only welcome sign he had all day and was relieved when he had walked through the front door of the apartment. He was tired of watching her be the way she was. He had lost the will to help her. He wanted to stay in Brooklyn.
He flopped onto his bed and stared up at the ceiling. He wanted her to be the way she used to be. Nice and caring and friendly. He wanted to see her beautiful smile shine across her face. It had been awhile since he had seen that smile. He thought back to the first few months that she had lived at the lodging house. How she tried desperately to be happy, but always seemed to be sad. How all she wanted was her sister that nobody could seem to find. The day that Lissy showed up at the lodging house was one of his favorite memories of Lanie. The way she looked, the way she let her emotions hang out. Yes, it definitely was his favorite memory of her…
"If you're going to cheat Conlon, I am not playing with you!"
Spot smirked at her before flipping his cards over to reveal a full house, "I don't need to cheat, I'm just that good."
The girl sitting across from him threw her cards down in disgust and got up walking away from the poker table.
"Ain't you gonna show me your cards?" He yelled across the room to her.
She looked back at him and shook her head, "No point. You beat me, but one day Spot, I swear, with God as my witness, I will beat you."
Spot shook his head and laughed. She had been there three months, and already, she was the apple of his eye. He had never taken to a girl so quickly, and he found himself being captivated by her presence. He loved being around her.
He watched as she walked through the common room and up to the stairs heading her own little bedroom; her retreat away from the rest of the world.
Spot cleaned the poker table up, and was just gathering the last of the cards before following Lanie up the stairs. He walked down to her room and knocked on the door.
"Come in," answered the knock and Spot turned the doorknob letting himself into the room.
She was sitting on a small chest that she had placed in front of the window and was staring out over Brooklyn. He smiled at the back of her head, but something was tearing at his heart. He felt so bad that she was so lost. He hadn't really been looking for her sister, but he knew it was constantly on her mind.
"You look sad," she said to him making him jump.
He shook his head, "Naw, just came to see what you were doing up here, and claim what is mine." He stared intensly at her, trying to keep eye contact, but she blushed and looked away. She stood up quickly and fixed her skirt before moving to her bed and dropping to her knees to look under it. Her head disappeared for a few seconds as she reached rummaged around looking for something and soon she emerged, holding a tiny box in her hands. She held it out to him.
"It's not all the money I owe you," she looked away sheepishly. "I didn't think I was going to lose."
Spot just shook his head and shoved the box back down at herr chest. "I don't want it," he said. He took a few steps back. He couldn't explain what was going on, or why his heart only seemed to skip a beat when he was around her. He looked away from her quickly and over to the wall next to her bed.
"Take a nap Gem, you look terrible."
The girl stood up quickly and raised her hand, slapping him playfully on his arm. "Don't you start Conlon," she said laughing, not picking up on Spot's mood.
The boy smirked at her before retreating for the door. Without another word he left and headed back for the stairs. He whistled as he walked down them, thinking about what he was going to do to fill his time while Lanie was in her room.
The docks seemed as good an idea as any, and he quickly walked to the river, wanting some much needed time with his boys.
As he approached he could see a large group of boys standing in a circle around something. "Not a fight," Spot though to himself.
He quickened his pace as he came closer and closer to the group he could now see what the boys were staring at. He stopped short.
There in the middle was a tiny girl, bloody, dirty, and obviously shaken. He pushed his way toward the center of the group and once again, he stopped short, his breath caught in his throat.
"How did this happen?"
The girl looked too terrified to speak and just stared back at Spot wide-eyed.
"Gem, how did this happen? When? Who?"
The girls face crumpled into confusion and tears.
"Who's Gem?" The girl asked. "They keep calling me Gem, my name isn't Gem."
"What is it then?" Spot asked. Getting more confused by the second.
The girl just looked at him but said nothing. The pair looked at each other in silence, both confused, both wondering what was going on.
Suddenly footsteps were heard behind them, and a high pitched voice rose above the group, "Hey, what are you guys doing?"
The entire group turned to see Lanie walking towards them cheerfully. Spot did a double take, looking from Lanie to the other girl in disbelief. Lanie caught Spots stare and stopped short, trying to figure out what was going on. Suddenly the group parted, and the girl pushed her way out, staring at the girl on front of her.
The group just watched the scene unfold in front of them. Unsure what they were seeing was real. Finally somebody got the nerve to whisper, "They're twins…"
Spot was taken aback at the new discovery and stared at Lanie for a few seconds. Then suddenly the other girl walked forward towards her sister.
"Is it really you?" The unknown girl whispered aloud.
Lanie nodded her head as she examined the girl in front of her.
Without warning, the girl sprinted forward, and embraced her sister in hug finally allowing the tears to fall freely…
Suddenly Spots thoughts were interrupted by a knock on his bedroom door.
"Come in," he yelled out.
The door flung open, and Gunther came walking in out of breath. Spot sat up quickly and watched the boy, who was now doubled over, trying to catch his breath.
"Jack…Boots…Lanie…downstairs," was all Gunther was able to say between breaths. Spot sprang from his bed and flew out the door to his bedroom without a thought. He rushed down the stairs to see Boots in the same position as Gunther upstairs.
Spot took long strides to reach the boy and upon doing so grabbed his shirt and hoisted him into the air against the nearest wall.
Boots body shook with fear, as the King of Brooklyn stared at him, breathing heavily. Boots flinched preparing for the worst. He didn't want to be the one that came to tell Spot the bad news, but he was the closest to Lanie's apartment when Jack was looking for help.
"What's wrong?" Spot yelled into the face of the younger boy. "What happened?"
Boots averted eye contact with the boy, and while still trying to catch his breath he quietly said, "Gem, slit her wrists…she's at the hospital…"
The boy was abruptly cut off by being dropped to the floor, and before he could even look up, Spot was gone.
Okay people Thanks for the reviews! You guys are awesome. Keep them coming! And just a real quick note about the next chapter, it's taking place at the same time as this one, so it's the same period of time, just in Manhatten with Lanie and Jack… hopefully I will get it up sometimes later today!
And remember REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW:)