Chapter Ten

It'd been a month since that damn meeting and while I still didn't necessarily get along with Becket, I tolerated him. Metal and I became better friends; I found out that he was a nice kid who lost his family at an early age and was probably the only person so close to Spot. Spot, I wanted to say I could read him a little better, but he was still confusing as hell. I could see one thing, like in his eyes, but he would act or say something completely different. We'd grown used to each other, I don't know if we necessarily liked each other, but whatever. Knuckles had finally found out that I, Sydney, was in fact Stretch, leader of Queens and attempted to 'take on' some of my Newsies, but they were tough enough to withstand it and get away without being too badly hurt. I hadn't encountered him yet but I knew sometime soon, I would.

"Syd," Piper whispered, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Huh?"

"Are we out of place?" I turned to face her and saw her biting her lip, making me laugh.

"Nah! We both know Manhattan and I haven't done anything offending, we just happen to be the only girls from Queens here. Don't worry bout it, Race is coming over."

"Having fun?" Race asked from behind her and she whipped around, making me lose interest. I turned to face the stage and saw Medda, I think her name was, singing. Suddenly, someone tapped my shoulder and I turned to a mischievous Piper and a suspicious Racetrack.

"What?" I asked slowly. They looked at each other before Piper leaned in.

"Tony called in a favour."

"What kind of favour?" I asked alarmed but she didn't answer, instead, I heard my name from behind me.

"Stretch, the leader of Queens I hear has a mean voice, why don't we call her up here," the red head called out to the crowd.

"Oh I'll kill you!" but I didn't have time, instead, I was being shoved onto the stage.

"Give her a hand!" I glared down at Piper, who only smiled but I got an idea.

"Aiight, then I guess this is for my best friend, Piper, who loves this song:

She walks to school with the lunch she packed

Nobody knows what she's holdin' back


Wearin' the same dress she wore yesterday


She hides the bruises with linen and lace



The teacher wonders but she doesn't ask


It's hard to see the pain behind the mask


Bearing the burden of a secret storm


Sometimes she wishes she was never born



Through the wind and the rain

She stands hard as a stone


In a world that she can't rise above


But her dreams give her wings


And she flies to a place where she's loved


Concrete angel



Somebody cries in the middle of the night


The neighbors hear, but they turn out the lights


A fragile soul caught in the hands of fate


When morning comes it'll be too late



Through the wind and the rain


She stands hard as a stone

In a world that she can't rise above

But her dreams give her wings

And she flies to a place where she's loved

Concrete angel



A statue stands in a shaded place

An angel girl with an upturned face

A name is written on a polished rock


A broken heart that the world forgot



Through the wind and the rain


She stands hard as a stone

In a world that she can't rise above

But her dreams give her wings

And she flies to a place where she's loved

Concrete angel."

The applause was deafening and I smiled when I saw Piper's teary eyes.

"Beautiful," she mouthed, "Now happy!!"

"Fine," I sighed, racking my brain before finally deciding on something, "And this one's for those people like me, who just like to be stubborn:

Every time I turn around

I run into your pride


Sometimes I'm not so sure if I wanna


Know that guy, know that guy
'

Cause you got a rock hard head


Stubborn as a mule


Oh, yeah, and by the way, I still love you

Go on and be that way


Slam that door

Make a scene


Yell some more

Come on let's have it out


Have your say
'

Cause with a love this strong

Baby it's okay

For you to be that way



Sometimes what you don't say

Can make the deepest cut


And I get my feelings hurt


And I just go nuts, well a little nuts

So try to ignore that girl

She's just blowin' off steam


Oh and I don't know about her


But I hope you say to me



I caught Spot's eyes but his expression was unreadable.

Go on and be that way

Slam that door


Make a scene


Yell some more

Come on let's have it out

Have your say
'

Cause with a love this strong


Baby it's okay

For you to be that way



Baby let's get emotional


What do you say we let it all go

Let it go



Go on and be that way


Slam that door

Make a scene


Yell some more

Come on let's have it out


Have your say
'

Cause with a love this strong


Baby it's okay


For you to be that way



Be that way, oh yeah.

Thank you!" I yelled before almost running off stage.

"That was great!" Medda gushed, "Please feel free to come by any time." I smiled nodding, not able to breath. I needed air, so I walked past her quickly and out the stage door, leaning against the wall. Suddenly, I felt a hesitant hand on my back, sending a slight chill through my body, and I turned my head to see Spot standing there.

"Hi," I chocked, not knowing what was wrong, god I needed to calm down.

"You okay?"

"I don't know, just a little, out of, air," I muttered, turning so I was facing him completely but leaning against the wall. I stared into the space in front of me, steadying my breath before looking at him. He looked like he wanted to say something.

"You," he started, "You look made for the stage."

"Thanks," I laughed slightly, "It's nerve wracking."

"Really?" he tilted his head and I nodded, "You don't look nervous."

"Years of practice," I smiled, dazing out a bit, adding after a while, "It's my favourite song."

"What?"

"Be That Way, it's my favourite." He smiled slightly and I felt my heart flutter slightly.

"You're different, Sydney," he murmured, brushing a stray hair out of my face, "It's-," but he either couldn't or didn't want to finish.

"It's what," I urged, resting a gently hand on his lower arm and his eyes snapped to mine. He must have felt the jolt of electricity, he could not have missed it.

"It's," he started; I felt his hand on my cheek, thumb stroking my cheek and barely registered him moving closer until his lips were on mine, creating the most incredible feeling I never wanted to lose, "I like it."