Chapter 7

It was late into the night when Jane began to stir in her sleep. Her eyelashes twitched as she opened her eyes to discover it was still dark. Suddenly panicking, she searched the darkness for the candle as her hand discovered its little remains on the bedside table.

"Damn it." She quietly cursed herself. Mary was going to be annoyed. Maybe she could buy another candle before Mary noticed. Mary noticed everything…

Jane got up from her bed and stood at the window, the darkness was quite dense in the room but her eyes were slowly adjusting. Outside was visible, as the street lamps shone silently. She placed her hands to push up the window open some more, it felt stuffy as she slept, that was probably why she woke up, she thought, managing to open the window fully and let the tiny breeze cover her face. Closing her eyes, it felt cool on her cheeks as she sniffed in the night time air.

"A-hem…"

Jane's eyes snapped back open to discover a presence on the fire escape. She felt her whole body jump so hard she thought she had her heart stuck in her throat.

"Ah! What the hell?"

"Calm down! I'se didn't mean ta scare ya." Spot was leaning on the handrail, one hand in his pocket and the other on the top of his cane.

"Didn't mean to scare me?" Jane replied, still shocked and holding her arms to her chest as she realized she was only in her nightdress. "You're right outside my window! How long have you been here?"

Spot grinned a little, "Not long. I saw ya was asleep so I'se thought I'se wait a while, incase ya were gonna wake up an blow out ya candle."

"You saw me sleeping?" she asked curiously, although she felt a bit frustrated.

"I'se only saw yous 'cause the candle." He remarked, "It was almost ova anyways."

She remembered then the candle, still annoyed at herself. And now he was here.

"Why are you here?" She asked, a little wearily. She was tired now and sick of him turning up making her anxious.

Seeming to register her feelings he stood up straight at this point and put one hand on his chest in a somewhat relaxed way.

"I'se came ta ask yous if ya would like to come ta Brooklyn wid me."

His eyes, although unreadable, danced at her.

"I beg your pardon?" She questioned, she hadn't just heard what she thought she just heard.

"I'SE WOULD LIKE TA TAKE YOUS TA BROOKLYN." Spot repeated quite loudly.

"SSSHHHHHH! For god's sake, be quiet!" Jane responded panicking, she quickly glanced behind her into the apartment suddenly worried Mary might wake up. She looked back at him. She had heard him correctly.

"What the hell are you talking about 'take me to Brooklyn'? Are you crazy?" Jane exclaimed in a harsh whisper. Was he drunk? Did he think she was someone else?

Spot remained completely at ease. "I'se tawkin bout a little gets togedda in Brooklyn tonight, juss a few friends, an dere friends, an maybe a few uddas…" He trailed off as he removed his cane from his belt loop and began examining the gold colored top.

"You want me to go to some sort of party with you? Right now?" Jane tried to clarify.

Spot continued to inspect his cane.

"Absolutely not." She remarked, as if it was the most obvious answer anyone would give.

His fierce eyes flicked up at her. Jane felt a little wave of uneasiness flood over her. His mouth then entertained a flicker of a grin, as if he knew she would say no. What did he think she would say yes? Maybe he was crazy. What kind of girl did he think she was?

"Yous thinkin dat I'm crazy." He began. "And yous also prolly thinkin yous not tha type a girl ta go off ta some party in da middle of da night…"

Jane watched him silently.

"But see I'se know ya sometimes go out at night," Spot continued, "An I'se know ya like ta have a little fun," He strolled closer to the window, "An I'se also know dat if ya take a chance.." He leaned into the window ledge, "…Ya might have a real good time."

Jane stood with her arms folded. He was referring to the day before, Arlene's party. And then how she had walked off home into the night.

"And just why would I go off into the night with you?" Jane replied.

"Because ya been walkin with me befoah." Spot responded, a small smirk appearing.

"You mean when you lied to me." She stated

A pool of grey swam over his eyes as he looked at her, "I'se didn't lie to ya." He said calmly, "I'se told ya me name, and I'se more or less told ya where I'se live..."

Jane scoffed a little at his reference to 'more or less', remembering the walk home with him.

"…But I'se did walk ya home. And I'se did save tha day when ya threw yaself up tha steps."

Despite of herself, Jane formed a smile at her incident on the stairwell. He did come to her aid. He did act like a gentleman all the way home. Her mind then went back to the first time she ever saw him, he had gotten rid of that awful man at Irving Hall. It then occurred to Jane he had been nothing but nice to her, in the face of what everyone had said to her about him.

As if reading her every thought, he grinned at her.

"So why don'cha gimme a chance? Make ya own decision about me."

Jane looked at him hesitantly; his gaze bore straight into her as if it knew what she wanted to say.

Sensing her again, he continued, "Whateva happens, I'se swear I'se will bring yous home."

She believed him. Jane could see it in his eyes. She couldn't see anything else.

"Alright." She answered.

Spot grinned and simply nodded at her, satisfied with her answer.

"I need a few minutes to get ready," Jane remarked, thinking. "The hair brush is in Mary's room." She remembered, a little discouraged.

"Your hair looks fine ta me." Spot stated.

Jane made a small smile and turned around quickly to get ready. It took her about seven and a half minutes, which is pretty quick she thought. Spot stood in the empty street smoking and leaning with one foot up on a lamp post, she kept stealing a glance at him to make sure he wasn't climbing up while she was changing, and also because she couldn't quite believe she was doing this. She was definitely going to be home before Mary awoke, she decided, hoping to god Mary hadn't heard Spot shouting earlier.

She sat on the bed as she pulled her small ankle boots onto her feet one at a time. Standing up, Jane looked down to see the small candle stub on the bedside table. She sighed, picked it up, and put it under her pillow. She then climbed out the window, pulled it closed a little, and carefully made her way down the fire escape.

Spot heard her coming down and pushed himself from the lamp post.

"Ready?" he enquired.

"I hope so." Jane replied. She suddenly had a feeling of uncertainty.

Spot shone a half smile as he flicked his cigarette to the curb.

"Den let's go."