Chapter Eleven

Piper knew something was up when I came back inside in a daze and Spot, I don't know if she noticed, but I sure did, his eyes were a little bit brighter. The next day, we had to go back to Queens but Racetrack wanted to meet us in Brooklyn because he had to tell me something and he needed Piper. He had rushed off the night before, due to an issue with something he wouldn't tell us.

"Piper, has anyone ever told you, your boyfriend is weird?"

"Yeah," she laughed, rubbing at a spot on the counter really hard, "You." I smiled, pouring water onto the spot and it came off. "How do you do that?"

"Magic," I grinned.

"So are you ever gonna tell me what happened between you and Spot?"

"You," I started but shook my head, "No, nothing happened, crazy." She rolled her eyes, looking at the clock. "We should get going."

"You just want to see your boyfriend."

"So do you."

"Why would I want to see," but I saw her grin, "Piper! He's not-."

"Uh-huh sure," she laughed, ducking from my flailing arm, "C'mon lover girl, let's go."

"Piper!" I yelled, chasing her out the door, she laughed, running off but when I finally caught up with her, I had given up in paying her back. I had forgotten why I was chasing her. Instead, we laughed our way to Brooklyn. "So you and Race are pretty serious, huh? Should I be expecting a band on your finger any time soon?"

"Syd," she sighed, "He can barely figure out when we see each other."

"It's the Newsie thing," I reminded her. She glared at me.

"I never thought I see the day when you're actually standing up for him."

"Well, I can't help it. It was the same with my brother, it's the same with Race, and it's the same with, okay well it's not, but I'm a girl. I'm just naturally smarter."

"Do you even know what you're talking about?"

"No," I laughed and she smiled, "He cares about you Pipe, anyone with eyes can see it."

"I know but my patience is running thin," she muttered when Spot came into view.

"Hey there," I smiled, feeling Piper's grin.

"Hey Spot," she chimed; he looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Uhm, hi," he muttered, "Race should be here soon." Then he left to go inside. I glanced at Piper but she had the same confused look on her face.

"I'm sure he's just got a lot on his mind," she suggested, but it sounded more like a question. I shrugged, he was always an odd kid. We sat on the edge of the long pier and I let out a long sigh.

"I'm gonna go for a walk," I muttered.

"Just, be careful Syd," I heard her mutter under her breath but when I turned with a questioning stare, her eyes were closed and she was leaning back, so I went into the building Spot had disappeared into.

"Can I help you miss?" a boy asked as I looked around.

"I'm looking for Conlon."

"Whose asking?" he smirked, looking me over, and I glared at him.

"Stretch," he stumbled back slightly and I smirked, "I'll just show myself in, where is he?" He pointed to a door and I stifled a laugh, shaking my head. Knocking, I heard moving around and it opened. Spot looked at me, slightly confused. "Can I . . . come in?"

"Uh, sure," he muttered, opening the door further and I slipped in, "What's up?"

"I dunno, you tell me," I sighed, leaning against the bed frame.

"What'd you mean?" his emotionless demeanor had returned, blank face and all.

"I mean, last night," I held out a hand, "and five minutes ago," I held out my other hand, as if weighing options, "Did I miss something, or did I just imagine that you-."

"Stretch-."

"Sydney," I corrected.

"What?"

"My name is Sydney, Jaws calls me Stretch, it caught on, and I hate it."

"Sydney, last night meant nothing," he stated, his eyes becoming a darker, bluer blue, "You're a good looking girl, that's all you'll be to me."

"And you're a liar," I laughed. He portrayed shock for a split second but his eyes narrowed.

"Trust me, I'm not lying." He walked out the room and I stood there. Was he serious? He, he couldn't be.

"Oi," I yelled, stalking after him, "Who the hell do you think you are?"

"Brooklyn," he smirked.

"No," I growled, "You're an asshole who thought you could fuck with me. Well let me tell you something Mr. Conlon, I swear, I have absolutely no problem wiping that stupid smirk off your face, and would feel no remorse in setting my boys on yours, as well as compromising with Knuckles to work against you." He stared at me but I kept my promise, I punched him right in the face before storming off, disregarding Piper and Racetracks yells after me. I ignored the feeling of eyes on me, figuring it was just his Newsies but was horribly surprised when I felt a rough had over my mouth and surrounded by a rugged group of Newsies.

"Hey there Sydney-Rae."