Just then, a door down the hallway opened and a girl stepped out to look at them.
"Jane? Is that you?" She registered the sight in the hallway, "Oh my god! What happened?" the girl exclaimed rushing forward.
"She fell up da steps outside." Spot informed
The girl eyeballed him, looking shocked. "Oh…" she stared at him.
"Well??" Spot persisted, "Where she live??"
The girl jumped, "In here, in here…" she beckoned Spot to follow her back through the door and into a tiny apartment room. The furnishings were minimal and the wall paper peeling. "Over here," called the girl and motioned him towards a small iron bed in the corner. She then pulled out a blanket from a small wooden cupboard.
Spot carried Jane over and placed her now sleep stricken body carefully onto the mattress, being cautious with her head. The girl just stared at him the entire time. He sensed her looking and stood up to face her.
"She hit her head dere." He referred to the small cut on her hairline.
"Th-thank-you f-for bringing her inside." The girl seemed nervous. He was used to it. "I'm Mary, Jane's friend." She said in an anxious voice, eyes wide.
Spot noticed her hand squeezing the blanket. He gave her a half grin, "I'm-
"I knows who you are," Mary interrupted. "You're Spot Conlon." She looked at him warily.
"Da one and only." He declared, holding out his hand to her.
Mary inched back slightly.
Spot sighed. "Well den, time I'se got goin." He straightened his cap where it had come loose carrying Jane and turned to look at her lying on the bed. "Goodnight Miss Jane," He tipped his cap to her sleeping form, and then strolled to the doorway where he looked back before he left. "And goodnight Miss Mary." He winked at her.
Mary looked petrified. And he was off down the hall, grinning from ear to ear.
Jane's eyelids struggled to block out the sunlight streaming into her face as she awoke. She tried to focus on the lace curtains swaying in the light breeze. She recognized the window. Jane sat up, immediately feeling the throbbing pain in her head. She put her hand to her brow and felt a small linen bandage. What happened? Looking around, she realized she was at her apartment, in her own bed. She couldn't quite remember going to bed though…. Jane remembered going to work yesterday evening… it was busy… Then it all came rushing back into her mind in split second images; the crowd, the bar, the party, those deep eyes….
"Oh, you're awake." Came a voice interrupting her memory.
Jane looked around to see her friend Mary coming towards her with a cup of water.
"Mary? Thanks," She said, as Mary passed her the cup.
"You've been sleeping for a while, how do you feel?" Mary asked, concerned. Her face looked at Jane seriously, as Jane sipped some water.
"I feel like my head was run over by a carriage, and it seems I have a new head-accessory." She referred to the bandage on her forehead.
Mary gave a small smile. "Yeah… I was a little bit shocked when I saw you, do you remember what happened?"
"Um. Yeah… I was walking… Oh yes! Then this boy said I was following him home, as he lived the same way… and then… O dear god… I fell over in front of him! I bet he thought I was a complete idiot! I can't even think how embarrassing this is…" Jane put her hands to her face and hung her head in shame. She could only imagine how awful mortified she would be if she saw him again.
Mary seemed a little apprehensive, "Yeah. Erm… Jane? Do you know that boy?"
"Well, I first saw him at the Hall, then he was at Arlene's party too… then I guess he was waking home the same time I was…" she recalled. "Conlon! That's it, Spot Conlon."
Mary nodded slowly, "Yes Jane. Do you have any idea who Spot Conlon is?"
Jane looked a little confused, "Well no, I told you I only met him last night, I've never seen him before that. Why? Have you met him before?"
"You mean before he had to carry you in here with blood on your head in an arrogant fashion? No, I have not, not personally anyway…"
"Arrogant? What's wrong Mary?"
"Jane, Spot Conlon is one of the most dangerous boys in all of New York! He's the leader of the Brooklyn newsies, one of the biggest, toughest and meanest boroughs! He's been with hundreds of women! He's feared by so many, young and old, and, my god Jane, he just carried you in here last night and put you to bed!" Mary no longer seemed calm.
Jane was trying her hardest to understand everything Mary was saying to her. She spoke it fast and her head was still painful and everything was swirling round and round, last night, the party, the slingshot in his pocket, the blue depths of those eyes…..
"Did you say Brooklyn???"
"Yes Jane!! BROOKLYN!" Mary cried.
Jane jumped. Oh my god he was from Brooklyn, and she remembered being sat around the table and what Race had said to her, he had said it quietly so no-one would hear, so Spot wouldn't hear! Then he had been walking her home! Then she said… he lied to me!! Then he let me carry on talking about not wanting to meet a Brooklyn newsie!
She was shocked. "So, he doesn't even live near here!" Jane exclaimed
"No Jane!! -Brooklyn is all the other ways across town! Over the damn Brooklyn bridge!!" Mary flung her hand to point in the physical direction of Brooklyn. She seemed a little hysterical now, Jane realized.
"Okay, Mary, okay, I didn't know! I didn't know what he was or where he was from, I was obviously stupid and just believed everything he said." She said calmly, blaming herself.
"That's what he's like Jane! He wants you to believe everything he says! Ooo…" she began pacing the floor, "I could tell you stories! Jane, that boy is a liar and a thief and a no-good womanizing criminal!" Mary yelled.
Jane lifted the blanket from over her and got up from the bed. Her head ached still but she was fully awake now.
"Mary, please, sit down and have my water." Jane passed her the cup and Mary took it.
"Jane, just don't even go near him, he's nothing but trouble." Mary said, calmly clasping the cup. "I didn't mean to shout, I just couldn't believe he came into this house."
"It's okay; I didn't mean to even come back so late. Just with work and then… oh no! I'm supposed to be at work today!" Jane panicked.
"Maybe you should stay and rest at home today. I was going to make a broth later, after I went to the market." Mary suggested.
"No, I'm fine, we really need the money." Jane replied, "Besides, its just sewing and dress mending today, and I doubt Luella would let me on the stage anyway with a huge bandage on my head!" she laughed.
"Well I still think you should rest, but when have you ever listened to me?" Mary teased, playfully nipping Jane's arm.
"OW! Hey! I'm still injured!"
"That was your own fault!"
Jane pretended to look sorry for herself, "I know! I can't even walk up steps!"
The two girls giggled and Mary stood up. "Right, well I shall go to the market now then, you better be home before it gets dark, Jane."
"Yes. I will. I promise."
Mary went to the tiny kitchen area to find the basket she normally took to the market and Jane started getting dressed. Mary appeared a few moments later again and waved as she went out the door. Jane continued dressing and then went to look in the small cracked mirror her and Mary shared. O dear, the bandage was pretty huge and covered a lot of her head. She thought it was a bit much for a tiny gash on her head but that was Mary's doing.
She would have to do. Arlene would definitely laugh her shoes off, but at least it wasn't as funny as Arlene had been last night.
Jane collected her shawl and a small bag and locked the door from the hallway. She walked down to the exit and stepped out into the sunshine, immediately met by the dust and smell from the busy street. She took in a breath of air and got her first funny look from a lady with a hat walking by, staring at her head. Great… Jane thought; get ready for a whole day of head staring…
"Afta'noon Miss Jane,"
Jane was startled at the voice that came up toward her from the bottom step out of the crowd. She looked down to find Spot with one hand in his pocket, and the other holding a cigarette to his lips as he took a drag.
"Ya need any help getting down dese steps taday?" his smirk enveloping his face as his unreadable gaze fixed her to the ground. He threw his cigarette down and held up his hand to her, in a bid to help her descend.
Jane collected herself, and took everything she had inside herself to tear her eyes from his.
"No thank-you." She replied curtly, and walked down the steps ignoring his hand.
"See ya all fixed up dere." He nodded at the bandage on her head.
She suddenly felt really embarrassed about the bandage. Then she felt angry.
"Why did you lie to me??" she shot at him, taking him a little by surprise.
"What are yous talkin about?"
"You! You're a Brooklyn newsie!"
"I'se neva said I wasn't."
"Well you said you lived nearby!"
"Brooklyn's always neah!" he retaliated
Jane huffed in frustration. "Well… It's not over this way so you weren't walking with me because it was on your way!"
"Maybe I'se wasn't goin ta Brooklyn." He replied, grinning.
She was getting agitated from every answer he gave her, why did he make her so tense? Jane felt hot and uncomfortable in her bandage in front of him, …one of the most dangerous boys in all of New York…
"You stay away from me Spot Conlon!" she yelled at him, and ran off into the sea of people before he could say another word.