I didn't even notice the formatting stuff for this until very recently (thank you, fruitstickers)
Hope this is better!-I plowed over the boy who was standing guard at the entrance to the lodging house. "Sorry!" I called over my shoulder, but couldn't afford to slow down. Spot stopped to pull him up, but started running after me as soon as the boy was standing.
My mind became a crude map of Brooklyn. How do I get out of here? I usually can remember, but the pressure of someone chasing after me made me forget. So I just kept running.
The papes were slowing me down. I saw this one kid seated on the corner, he was basically out. I slowed down just enough to drop them on his lap without them all going everywhere. The startled boy tried to say thank you, but I was already gone, Spot was seconds behind me.
I looked over my shoulder to see how close he was. Bad idea. He was closing fast, and he had drawn his cane.
I turned my head frontwards again, but a little too late. I slammed into someone. I fell on my butt and scrambled back up. Before I could take off, that someone grabbed my shirt.
Standing in front of me, was Blue. He was 17, about half a head taller than me, and his shoulders were as wide as a football player's. Now earlier I said I wasn't afraid of Spot Conlon, well, that's still true. It's this guy that terrifies me. But in this moment, I had a plan to pull off.
"Watch where you going!" I yelled at him. I tried to pull him off of me.
"Who do you think you talkin' to, Kelly? This ain't home, sweet home here." He snarled. By this time, Spot had caught up. He was just as out of breath as I was, eyes still full of spite. He stopped and looked at us, I could see his gears turning while he put his cane back, deciding what to do.
Blue pulled me closer to him; I could smell the cigars on his breath. It was overwhelming. My eyes started watering. "What are you doing here, Kelly? I thought youse was doing other stuff."
I felt a hand on the front of my shoulder, and I got pushed back. Spot had come between us; he had the other hand against Blue's chest, which was about as high up as Spot's head was. When he turned towards me, I could see a faint bruise starting across his left cheek. "That's enough, Blue. He was just on his way out." Blue let go of my shirt.
"I'll be keepin' an eye out for you, Kelly. And you," He turned to Spot. "you watch your mouth. I's the one in charge here."
Spot kept his firm stare, but didn't respond.
He took a step, sandwiching himself between the leader and I, facing him. With one fluid movement, he kneed Blue right in the crotch. He gasped and took a few steps back, all hunched over.
"You dare…" He muttered, hunched over. I stared in shock.
"Yeah, I dare." He said. Then, quieter, so only he and I could hear it: "It's time for a change a' leadership." Spot uppercutted Blue and his head snapped up and he stumbled back, falling on his butt. It was hard to imagine Spot as being strong, since he's so thin.
As Blue got up, he was rubbing his jaw. "You gonna die, boy. I took you in when youse were barely able to read the headlines yourself. This is how you repay me?" By this time, a respectable crowd has gathered by. Most made up by Brooklyn newsies, but there were a few grown-ups.
Spot swaggered over to where he was standing. "I see you the way our boys don't. They don't see you stealing your cigars, or begging for your whiskey, or getting into bar fights about nothin'. A leader is supposed to be someone other people wanna be someday. These guys don't deserve it to be like you." Spot got everyone's attention, especially the small boys.
"They don't need you," Spot continued. "you ain't helpin' them."
Blue looked outraged at the breakout of his secrets. He stumbled forward to attack Spot. But Spot was small and quick, and easily darted to the side. He picked up his foot and put it to Blue's backside after he ran past and pushed. Blue fell forward and hit the cobblestone.
He slid a few feet before scrambling back up again, a scrape on his chin, traveling up his right jawline. I then noticed that I was also in the center of this fight circle, for the crowd was around me, too. I took a few steps back, merging in with the people.
The fight continued. Blue was his usual hot-headed self, just getting more and more agitated. Spot seemed to be in control. He was cool in how he so gracefully leapt from the path of attacks, not letting things break his exterior.
It was obvious that Blue was getting tired. His form was getting sloppy, so now, the ball was in Spot's court. He let go a ferocious right hook square in the jaw. Blue spun in a half circle. He stumbled trying to turn around. He tripped over his own feet and fell on his back.
When he tried to sit up, the end of Spot's cane was inches from his neck. His eyes opened wide and looked from the sharp tip, to Spot, and back again, and swallowed.
All eyes were on Spot, who was standing over Blue. I was holding my breath, along with probably everyone else.
All was quiet for what felt like forever. Then Spot drew his cane back to his hip and stepped to the side. "We'll talk later." He said, just loud enough for the people in the center of the circle could hear.
Blue got up, and looking from side to side, bolted out of the circle. The crowd disappeared when the fight was over. I pushed through to find Spot to talk to him about Racetrack. But when I got to where he was, it was just the other newsies.
"Where'd Spot go?" I demanded. They all pointed down the road. I groaned and trudged after him.
I ended up at the same house. I turned the knob, but it wouldn't turn. It was locked. I thumped against it. "Spot, it's me, open up!"
No answer.
Dammit.
I knew there was no use persisting. Spot had the will of a rock, he wouldn't budge. I set off fuming, back home.
~oOo~
All the boys were in the lodging house, waiting for me. I got bombarded with questions.
"Where were you?"
"Did you find Race?"
"Is he okay?"
"Why are you mad?"
"SHUT UP!" I yelled. They all went quiet and looked up at me expectantly. "I was in Brooklyn. Spot's got Race. I don't know if he's okay." I murmured that last sentence, almost choking up, biting the knuckle of my index finger.
The boys spread out to their bunks in silence. They didn't speak to each other for the rest of the night. Even though none of us were religious, we were talking God's ear off, asking for Race to please be safe.
Thanks for reading!