Disclaimer: I don't own Newsies. Disney does.


Chapter 9:

Can't I'm Grounded

At the end of the day Allison met Riley at the front of the school. "Hey ready to go?"

Nodding he followed her towards her car. "You drive?"

"Yeah don't you?" She asked as she unlocked the door and got in leaning over the passenger side and unlocked the door.

"I can but I don't have a car yet." He stated as he sat in the seat.

Nodding she turned the car into traffic. "I have to pick up my brother so there's going to be an extra stop on the way."

It didn't take them long to get to the junior high and Allison honked the horn to get her brothers attention away from his friends. He quickly ran to the car with a wave to his friends and got in the back seat. "Who's this?" Jack asked slightly annoyed.

"This is my friend Riley; Riley this is Jack my brother." She introduced as she pushed the car back into the street. The two boys gave each other a small nod in recognition.

"So where do you live Allison?" Riley asked as they started getting farther and farther out of Manhattan.

"Brooklyn; in a renovated Newsboy Lodging House." She smiled as they came up on the bridge that lead them home. "You?"

"A few blocks down from school," He chuckled. "So in Manhattan."

Flying over the bridge the trio made it to the house safely and got out. Riley stopped by the kitchen door and looked around the room as a chill ran up his spine. Allison and her brother walked in the house noticing that the copper skinned boy hadn't come in yet she looked back at him. "You ok?"

Shaking off his chills he smiled at her and stepped into the house. 'Something's here.' Following Allison into the house he was at her heels as she walked through the kitchen. Stopping outside of a door she knocked lightly looking unsure.

"Daddy, you in there?"

"Yeah Princess, is something wrong?" Came his muffled reply along with the buzz of battery powered tools.

Looking confused Riley shifted from one foot to other.

"No Daddy, nothing's wrong, remember how I told you my new friend was coming over to help me with my math. I wanted you to meet him."

"Oh that's right!" Robert exclaimed as scuffling sounds now replaced the buzz of tools and her father opened the door pulling off rubber gloves and tossing them in a bio-hazard container in the corner of the room.

Looking down at her father's lab coat she groaned and banged her head on the wall. "Dad." She stated pointing at the blood that stained the front of it.

Glancing down her father quickly ripped it off and threw it in the room and gave an apologetic smile to the 2 teens. "Sorry."

Sighing Allison leaned against the wall. "Dad this is Riley, Riley this is my father Robert."

The two shook hands and nodded to each other. "Right well, Riley it was nice to meet you but I have work to do, and you have homework correct?" See the two nod, he continued. "Your door is to stay open Allison." He stated firmly.

Allison nodded, pointed up the stairs and pulled Riley up. Robert walked back into the exam room whistling a little tune as he went. Walking into her room she groaned silently as she realized that Spot was "mysteriously" missing. 'He just doesn't want to help me.' She thought as she tossed her bag on the bed.

"Was that blood on your father's lab coat?"

"Uh, yeah my fathers a mortician and he work's in the house. So as long as you don't get crept out by dead bodies, I think you should be fine." She laughed nervously.

Riley gave her a strange look that she couldn't read and glanced around her room quietly taking in everything. From her purple walls to her black bed sheets to the posters that covered her closet door and the little knick knacks that rested on her bookshelf and dresser.

"Well this is my room just make yourself at home." She smiled and walked over to Spot's window and opened the shades. 'Where is that butthead he agreed to help me. Probably wants to make some grand dramatic entrance.' Rolling her eyes she turned towards Riley again to see that he was right behind her. Yelping a little she placed her hand on her chest. "You scared me."

Chuckling he smiled. "Sorry." Putting his hands up to show her he meant no harm. Both stood there awkwardly for a few moments as Riley's hands slowly started to find their way to her shoulders. Pulling Allison forward a bit he leaned down and caught her lips with his.

Quickly she pulled back. "What are you doing?"

"Isn't that why you invited me over here?" He asked confused.

"No," She stated pointing at the math book that lay on her bed. "That is why I invited you over here."

Looking over Riley instantly blushed as he realized his mistake. Embarrassed the two put some distance between each other. Both shivered as the temperature in the room dropped a few degrees. Acting like nothing was out of the ordinary she moved towards her bed and sat down glancing out of the corner of her eye to see Spot standing there glaring at Riley as the honey eyed boy sat on the window sill. Spot's window sill. Looking down at her book she didn't acknowledge the ghost to her left.

When he noticed that Allison's eyes were focused on the book in her lap, Riley looked over at Spot and narrowed his eyes.

Spot leaned his head the side, his cane swinging in his grasp.

Looking up Allison decided to break the silence. "I was going to go get a soda. You want one?"

"Sure," He nodded, quickly moving his gaze from the ghost to the girl. "Mind if I stay here and get a head start on that math?"

"Not at all. I'll be right back." Placing her books on her bed her back to Riley she mumbled only for Spot to hear. "Play nice."

Moving from the room she walked down the stairs quickly.

Riley stood and crossed his arms. "So you're the one I got the chills from walking into the house." He stated more then asked.

"Youse talkin' ta me?" He repeated the same question he had asked Allison.

"Who are you Robert De Niro? Yes I'm talking to you." Riley asked aggravated by the ghost's smugness. "Now state your business."

Lifting one eyebrow the newsies looked the boy up and down. "Business?"

"What do you want? Why are you here?"

"Still figurin' that out."

"We'll your going to have to leave. You don't belong here and that girl isn't going to be able to help you." The copper skinned boy stated crossing his arms over his chest.

"Ya gonna make me?" Spot demanded.

Sighing Riley moved towards his book bag and pulled out a battered old book. "Looks like I'm going to have to." Flipping the pages in the book he impatiently tried to find the right page. "Come on, come on, where's that exorcism chant."

"You know, I'd really appreciate it if you didn't exorcise him. I'm still working on his case." A female voice interrupted his searching.

Riley's head snapped up as he blinked in shock. "You can see him?"

"Yeah," Smiling she handed Riley his soda and walked to her bathroom after kicking her door so it sat slightly ajar. Sticking her head out of the open washroom door looked at Spot. "I thought I told you to play nice?"

"I was. He was da one doin' all da threatin'" The Brooklyn leader stated as he leaned against her dresser.

Riley gapped at the two. Looking over to the door that Allison had vanished into again. Slowly he glanced at the math book on her bed to Spot as realization hit him. "You didn't bring me here to help you with math did you?"

"Nope," She stated as she came out of the bathroom again her thick rimmed glasses replacing her contacts.

"How'd you find out?" He asked as he sat on the sill again making Spot glare at him.

"That's me usual seat your sittin' at."

"It's not too comfy either."

"Your eyes," Allison said as she sat on her bed completely ignoring the boys banter. "My grandma explained to me that if someone with 2 different colored eyes," She pointed to her eyes. "Or eyes that are lighter then they normally would be," She pointed to his. "That they have a gift. You just have to figure out what it is."

Nodding her class mate opened his soda and took a swig. "So you don't think I'm a vampire out of some story like most girls?" He laughed and smiled charmingly.

"No." She laughed shaking her head.

Opening up the window he stuck his hand out into the sun. "Good, cause as you can see, I neither sparkle nor do I burst into flames."

"I see that." Smiling the room went quiet. As the three continued to stare at each other, the floor or the dirty ceiling. Finally getting tired of the silence that passed, Spot spoke up.

"Spirit, don't ya got somethin' ya wanna ask him?" Tapping his cane on the floor he raised one eyebrow at her impatiently.

"What?" Looking over at him confused she blinked. "Oh, oh yeah." Looking over at the boy with a pulse she continued. "Look Riley, I know you haven't been in New York long and that we just met yesterday but I was wondering since you can see Spot… if you could help me on his case."

Switching his gaze from the ghost to the teen girl he crossed his arms and thought about it.

"Look Riley you don't have to say yes, but I'm stuck on case. I have found no clues, no history that helps me get farther. Like I told Spot all I have is a bunch of old newspapers and a dock that can get me arrested if I step foot on it."

"Arrested?"

"It's private property." She stated and the room grew quiet again as Riley thought.

"I'll do it," He stated. "But only if I can get a date this Friday night."

Spot tensed and the air around them seemed to spark with an unseen electric charge.

"I can't I'm grounded for trespassing on aforementioned dock and running from the cops." Getting uncomfortable with the power that Spot was giving off, Allison got off her bed and walked over to Spot. "Relax." She whispered to him as she placed her hand on his arm the electric charge that enveloped the room vanishing. Her skin tingled from their connection; she wasn't sure if it was her feelings for him or if it was just from touching a ghost.

Spot instantly relaxed at her touch, there was just something about her that put him at ease. Looking down at her with his expressionless mask he always wore he watched her as she continued to talk to Riley.

"So will you help me even if I can't go on a date with you?"

Spot had to look away to keep them from seeing his smirk. He was glad that she couldn't go on a date with him.

Glancing between the two he noticed that there was a connection with them. This case was important. Nodding with a small sigh he agreed. "Yeah I'll help you."

Smiling she ran over and hugged Riley. "Thank you!" Going back over to Spot she hugged him too not even realizing what she was doing. Grabbing his hands she smiled wide. "Isn't this great?"

"Yeah," Spot stated trying to sound enthusiastic. Great now he's going to have to deal with this new guy. 'I could soak 'em if Ise have ta.'

Time flew once they had actually sat down and did their homework like they had planned, pushing Spot's case to the side for the moment to discuss later. Looking down at his watch Riley realized the time. "Hey Allie, can I get a ride home it's getting late."

"Oh yeah sure let me grab my keys and wallet." Quickly picking up the items she grabbed a jacket. "I'll be right back." She told Spot as the two students left the room their stuff in there hands.

"I'll be back dad I have to take Riley home." She said as she and the dark haired boy entered the kitchen where Robert was cooking.

"Okay, be careful Princess." He said as he turned around in his red 'Kiss the Cook.' apron. "It was nice to meet you Riley."

"You too Mr. Matthews." He smiled as he followed Allison out of the house and to the car.

On the way to Riley's house Allison filled him in on what information she had. Everything about Spot that she had learned, the strike, and the bloodstained dock.

"What kind of name is Spot?" He asked chuckling.

"It's a newsie name." She laughed as she followed his directions. Pulling up to the front of his house she looked out the window. "Slightly fancy."

Laughing Riley grabbed his bag and slung it over his shoulder as he got out. "Yeah my mom is a news reporter. Money is no object to her."

"I'll see you tomorrow at school; I'll bring some stuff about the case with me ok?"

Nodding he shut the door and walked into his house. Slowly she started her long drive back to Brooklyn.

Pulling the car behind the house she turned off the engine and sat there for a while thinking. Was this a good idea? Was bringing Riley into the picture smart? 'To late now.' Pushing the door to her car open she stalked inside the house.

"Dinners in five," Her father said as Nancy set the table.

"Okay, just let me change out of this." She pointed to her school uniform and pushed her glasses up on her button nose. Running up the stairs she kicked her door closed as she walked over to her closet. Pulling out a loose shirt and grabbing her pajama pants she skipped to the bathroom and closed the door.

"So youse think that Riley could help us?" Spot asked as he paced the room his hand fiddling with the gold tip of his cane that stuck out of his belt loop.

"I hope so." She said coming out and sitting on her bed with a sigh.

Spot stopped his pacing in front of her and stepped closer. He had seen the kiss between Riley and Allison and he wasn't happy. He doesn't have feelings for her does he? There was only one way to find out.

"What's wrong?" She asked worriedly.

"Nothing." He said as he pushed her hair out of her face. Leaning forward a little his expressionless mask fell. Putting his fingers under her chin softly, he tilted her face up and closed the gap. His lips pressed against her soft ones and a smile graced his face as Allison didn't pull away like she had with Riley. Instead she kissed back a bit.

"ALLISON! DINNER!" Interrupted their moment and Spot pulled away. Breathing out Allison blinked in surprise as her breathe swirled around in a small puff of fog. She blushed as she stood up unsteadily. "ALLISON!"

"C-COMING!" Glancing over at Spot she walked out of the room. Smiling Spot sat at his window feeling like he was the King of the world. It was official Spot had feelings for Allison.

(A/N) FINALLY THEY KISS!!! Sorry it took so long to get this chapter up writers block = pain in the ass. THANK YOU TO ALL MY REVIEWERS!! YOU ARE THE BEST!! I hope you liked this chapter! I have some idea's for a new story so when this story is over I hope you read the one I'm going to be writing next. =]

Much love!