When Spot awoke the next morning his heart skipped a beat when he felt the naked body lying next to his. He rolled over and kissed her neck gently, waking her slowly. She moaned and rolled over. He came face to face with Beth from Queens.
"What are you still doing here?" she asked quietly.
"I-I," he stuttered and to himself he muttered, "Shit."
"Are you ok?" she asked as she ran her hands over his still naked body.
"Yea," he said sharply, "I have to go sell my papes."
He quickly scrambled out of the bed and haphazardly put on his clothing. He took one more look at the curvy girl before tripping out the doorway. He ran down the stairs and out to the street where he paused to take in the fresh air. He sighed, wishing that the girl who had been lying naked next to him that morning had been Melody.
When he walked into the lodging house, his newsies took one look at him before bursting into laughter. The owner of the lodging house, an elderly man called Mr. P, walked over to Spot chuckling.
"What?" Spot snapped defensively. Mr. P approached him with a wet rag and tried to wipe his face with it, but Spot dodged his hand.
"You're a mess," Mr. P said quietly.
"I'm surprised no one screamed when they saw you walking home," a newsie called from the back of the crowd.
Spot dodged away from Mr. P's rag again and ran upstairs. When he entered the washroom he placed himself in front of the mirror before slowly looking up at his reflection. He had bright red lipstick marks smeared across his face, and in his rush to put his clothes on that morning he had buttoned his shirt unevenly. One collar of his shirt came up to his ear while the other collar was down by his chest. His hair was a matted tangle with bits and pieces sticking up randomly. He also had a large bruising bite mark on his neck. He smiled when he saw it and he ran his fingers over it gingerly. He had received it the previous day from Melody. Even thinking about it reminded him how turned on it had made him.
He stripped off his clothing and climbed into the small washtub to wash away the dirt and grime from the past day. When he was finished, he slowly got out and let the water drip off his body before wrapping a ripped towel around his waist. He proceeded to walk to his room where he found Melody sitting on his bed.
"Hey," he said, feeling guilty.
"Hey," she said, raising an eyebrow at him before letting her eyes skim over his still dripping body.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"Well," she paused, "I was bored at home, and I wanted to sell with you today. If that's ok with you."
"Of course it's fine!" he said a little too eagerly.
She smiled at him before standing up and saying, "You'd better hurry and get dressed or they're going to be out of papes by time we get there."
"Yes ma'am," he muttered before kissing her lightly and letting her walk out of the room. He pulled on clean clothing before opening the door. He was greeted by her lips pressed against his. He kissed her in return, but remembered the girl from last night, and pulled away feeling guilty. "I need to grab some stuff from the bunk room, I'll meet you outside."
"Ok." She quickly walked down the stairs with a few other Newsies.
Spot sighed and walked into the bunkroom to retrieve his cane and his slingshot. He turned to walk out and slammed into Tom who smirked at him, "You haven't fucked 'er yet?"
Spot shook his head, "No."
Tom sighed and said, "You still cheating on her?"
"Yea," Spot said quietly, "Last night, a girl from Queens."
"She any good?" Tom asked.
"I guess," Spot said shrugging.
Tom chuckled, "This girl is changing you Spot."
"Which girl?"
"Melody."
"I haven't changed a bit," Spot snapped defensively, "Just because I haven't fucked her yet doesn't mean I wont. And when I do, her and me will be over."
Tom held his hands up in surrender, "Fine." Spot threw one more glare at him before stalking out of the room and meeting Melody outside.
"You ok?" she asked cautiously.
"Yea, I'm fine," he said sharply. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him before pressing his lips against hers. She kissed him in return, but drew away from him and looked at his neck. She smiled and ran her fingers over the large bite mark.
"I got you pretty good," she said smiling at him. He smirked at her dangerously and she retreated back. Spot pinned her against the Lodging House and kissed her neck. She moaned and tilted her head back to give him better access to her skin. As he bit into her skin, she let out a shriek of surprise and pushed him away. "You bit me!"
He laced her fingers with his and muttered, "You deserved it," before leading her to the distribution office. They bought their papes and walked towards Spot's selling spot by the bridge. He kissed her and shivers went down her spine. "Come find me when you're done," he said quietly. She nodded and turned to walk away from him, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her back She stared up at him confused. "Don't make plans for next Friday night."
"Why?" she asked.
"Because we have plans," he answered.
"What kind of plans?" she asked.
"Secret plans," he smirked, "You'll find out next Friday."
"Ok," she smiled and continued to walk away so she could sell.
That night, Melody, Kes and Ace sat around their kitchen table playing a short game of poker and talking about the past days events. "So he's taking you somewhere special?" Kes asked.
"I have no idea," Melody sighed, "He just told me that we have plans and that I'll find out next Friday."
"Maybe he's going to lock you in a room and rape you," Ace said offhandedly.
"Oh, sure," Melody said sarcastically.
"I think he's going to propose to you," Kes said shrugging. Both Ace and Melody stared at Kes. Kes looked up from her cards and coiled back in her seat, "Just a thought."
"Well it was ridiculous," Ace said sharply.
"Well I don't see you coming up with any good ideas!" Kes said defensively.
"I still think he's going to rape her!"
"He's not going to rape her! She WANTS to have sex with him, so he can't rape her if she's willing!" Kes yelled.
"I doubt he's going to rape me, and I don't want to sleep with him!" Melody said loudly causing the two other girls to stop yelling. Melody stood up and stomped into her room. She threw herself onto her bed and screamed into her pillow for a good five minutes before rolling over onto her back and letting herself slowly drift to sleep.
She was running through the darkened streets with no idea where to go. The footsteps of someone chasing her were echoing in the small alleys, but she couldn't turn and see who it was. When she finally tripped her face hit the ground. Sitting up made her head start to pound and the faint clattering noise wasn't helping. She looked around, trying to figure out where the noise was coming from, but the only thing in the alley was a closed barrel. On her hands and knees she crawled towards it which caused the clattering noise to grow louder and louder. When she reached the barrel she grasped the lid, wrenching it to get it open and when it finally opened. BANG!
She was startled awake by the bang, which had not just been in her dream. Wiping the sleep from her eyes allowed her to look around her now darkened room. Her heart jumped in surprise when her eyes landed on Spot who was sitting outside her window in the rain.
She jumped out of her bed and jerked the window open. "What are you doing here?"
"I-I couldn't sleep," he stuttered.
She looked up at the dark gray sky and muttered, "Get inside, you're soaked and going to freeze to death."
He climbed in the window mumbling, "I'm sorry, but I just couldn't stop thinking about you. I started walking here and it started raining."
She giggled at him when he tried to snuggle against her, but she pushed him away saying, "I think Kes might have some of Racetrack's clothes in her room, you stay here, I'll be right back." Melody snuck out of her room and entered Kes's room quietly. After grabbing Race's spare clothes off of Kes's dresser, she quickly left and ran into her room. "Here," she threw the clothes at Spot who started stripping out of his dripping clothes. He glanced at Melody as he started to slip out of his pants. She blushed and turned around, embarrassed. Once he was fully dressed he allowed her to turn around. "So why are you here?" she asked.
"I missed you," he whispered.
A smile appeared on her face and she wrapped her arms around him saying, "You missed me? Spot Conlon missed a girl?"
He blushed and asked, "Kind of pathetic?"
She shook her head, "No. Kind of sweet." When she kissed him, she tried to tell him through her actions that she wanted him, that she needed him. He pulled her closer to him so he could feel every curve of her body. He felt her hands go to his shirt and he pulled away. She looked at him confused, but shrugged and crawled under her blankets. He stood alone, awkwardly until she gestured for him to join her. He happily followed her under the blankets and wrapped his arms around her. She nuzzled into him and relaxed against him. He sighed and kissed her forehead gently. He didn't want to admit it to himself, but he wanted her and needed her as much as she wanted and needed him.
When he awoke the next morning, he was still in her bed, and she was still in his arms. He looked down at her and she smiled up at him. "Good morning."
He grunted and nuzzled his face into her neck, trying to go back to sleep. She giggled and ruffled his hair. She stopped when he started kissing her neck gently. He slowly worked his way over her jawbone and across her cheek and she smiled when he finally kissed her lips. She responded to him instantly. Her arms wrapped around his neck and her fingers entangled themselves in his hair.
Spot pulled away from her when he heard a cough come from the doorway. Ace and Kes looked in on them questioningly. Melody blushed and buried her head in Spot's chest.
"Um… hi," Spot said nervously.
"Hi," Ace said, raising her eyebrows.
"Yea, hi," Kes said quickly, "And sorry to interrupt your… uh… your sex, but can we talk to Melody for a moment?"
Melody giggled and pulled out of Spot's grasp and kissed him deeply before following Kes and Ace out of the room.
"He spent the night!" Ace exclaimed, "You slept with him?"
"I didn't sleep with him," Melody said quietly, "He just showed up last night, it was pouring outside, so I let him in. I didn't want to send him home in the rain so he stayed."
"Sure," Kes said, "But that still doesn't explain why he's wearing MY boyfriends clothing."
"He was wet when he came in, so I had to give him a pair of clothes to change into." Melody answered shortly, "I'll wash them and get them back to you."
"Well, I don't want them back now," Kes snapped, "I'll go to Manhattan today and get a new pair," she glared at Melody, "And you're going to come with and tell Race WHY you're little boyfriend was wearing his clothes."
Melody sighed, "Fine! I just don't see why I can't just wash them and give them back."
She pouted, "Because NOW they smell like Conlon."
"What did they smell like before?" Melody teased.
Kes opened her mouth to answer seriously, but when she saw the teasing look on Melody's face she yelled, "They smelled like MAN!" She than stomped into her room and slammed the door.
"So, is he any good?" Ace asked, running a hand through her short strawberry blonde hair.
"I wouldn't know," Melody snapped. She turned to walk back into her room, but before she walked in, she turned to face Ace again. "But I can tell you that he's an amazing kisser."
Ace smiled at her before walking into the bathroom to change so she could go sell. Melody sighed and walked into her room. She stopped and smiled when she saw a shirtless Spot sitting on her bed.
"Why don't you have a shirt on?" she asked.
"It was kind of small," he answered, "and it smelled like Racetrack."
Melody laughed and ran her hands over his bare shoulders, "C'mon, you've gotta go sell your papes."
Spot stood and grabbed his shirt from the windowsill where Melody had hung it so it would dry. He was about to put it on, but hands ran down his shoulders and over his back. Turning, he came face to face with Melody who pressed her lips against his feverishly. She continued running her hands over his half naked body, and everywhere her hands touched, his skin started tingling. She broke the kiss reluctantly and said, "I can't sell with you today."
"Why not?" he asked.
"I told Kes I would go with her to Manhattan and return Race's clothes," Melody said quietly.
He nodded slowly, "Well, I'll see you tonight."
"Well, tonight I actually have plans," Melody said slowly, "It's Ace's birthday, and Kes and I are taking her to a show."
"Well, ok," he was obviously disappointed. "I'll see you later," he kissed her lightly before climbing back out the window and down the fire escape. She watched him run towards the distribution office.
Once he was out of sight, Melody walked into the living room and pounded on Kes's bedroom door yelling, "C'mon Kes! We've got a long walk to Manhattan."
Kes came out of her room attempting to smooth out the wrinkles in her shirt, "Do I look ok?"
"You look gorgeous, now can we go?"
Kes sighed, "Yea, we can go."
Melody smiled and the two girls headed towards Manhattan.
When they got there Kes ran over to Racetrack and pulled him into a deep kiss. Melody sighed and let the couple greet each other before walking over to them.
"Hey Mel," Race said smiling.
"Hey Race," Melody smiled in return, "How're you?"
Race sighed, "Pretty good. Even better now that I have Kes with me again."
Melody rolled her eyes and said, "Sorry about your clothes. Spotty needed them, he would have gotten sick otherwise."
Race smirked at her, "Well, I hear he go to stay the night there, so as long as you two weren't fucking around my clothes, it's ok." Melody sighed as Racetrack continued, "You two are getting pretty serious."
"Yea, I guess," Melody said shrugging.
"Well, Kes and I are going to go," Race paused to come up with the right word, "go catch up. The rest of the guys are at Tibby's if you want to go there."
Kes mouthed, "Sorry," to Melody before following Race towards the Lodging House. Melody was used to being the third wheel, or she had been the third wheel for a long while. When both Kes and Ace had boyfriends, she was always the tag along.
She walked to Tibby's and there she was happily greeted by the rest of the Manhattan newsies.
"So, I've been hearing things from everyone," Kid-Blink teased from across the table, "About you and Conlon."
Melody smirked at him and said, "What kind of things?"
Blink smirked back and said, "All sorts. Like you and him are together."
"You do a shitty Spot impression," Melody laughed, "and yes. Him and I are together."
"I thought you was saving yourself for me," Blink teased.
"You wish."
"Oh, boy do I wish," Blink said whistling.
"Better watch out Blinky," Jack yelled from across the small diner, "Or Spotty boy might come and try ta hurt you."
"I'm shaking," Blink laughed.
"So," Melody said laughing, "What are you buying me for lunch?"
"A new boyfriend," Jack exclaimed.
"I hope you're not nominating yourself for the position," Melody said.
"You say you haven't slept with him yet," Jack said walking over to their table, "Why? He to small for you or somethin'?"
"No, that would be you," Melody said raising her eyebrows at him.
Blink placed a hand on his chest and said, "See Jacky, she needs a real man."
"And Conlon fits that description?" Jack retorted.
"I was actually referrin' to myself," Blink said confidently.
Melody burst out laughing and Blink shot her an offended look, which shut her up immediately. She smiled at him sweetly and said, "Maybe someday Blink."
"But really," Blink said seriously, "Why Conlon?"
"You have to try to see the best in people," Melody answered, "By the way, a friend of mine wants to meet you."
"Really?" Blink asked excitedly.
"Well, she's not really my friend," Melody corrected herself, "She's Kes's cousin. She's called Kim and she's in town for a few months for school."
Blink smirked at Jack and said, "See, this is what's nice about having friends that are girls, they set you up with babes."
"Babes?" Melody questioned, "This is why you're not getting any action Blink, you're very crude around girls."
Blink sighed wistfully, "Babes."
Melody chuckled and said, "I need to go sell the afternoon edition, anybody wanna come?"
"I'll come," said a quiet voice from the corner. Les, one of the smallest Newsies, came out from behind one of the booths.
"Ok," Melody smiled at him and he smiled back. They left the restaurant saying goodbyes to everyone and once they had found the quietness of Manhattan's alley's Les looked up to her with a questioning look on his face.
"Why are you dating Conlon?" he asked.
"Because he's," Melody paused before looking down at Les and saying, "Because sometimes he's not an arrogant asshole."
"Aren't you scared of him?" Les asked, looking around cautiously as if he thought Spot was going to jump out of the shadows at him.
Melody laughed, "No, I'm not scared of him. You should spend some time with him, he can be a nice guy."
"I heard," Les paused to look around before whispering, "That he… he," his voice got so quiet Melody had to lean forward to hear him, "he does things with… with… girls." He emphasized girls and than giggled nervously before moving towards Melody and away from the shadows in the alley. Melody started laughing again before ruffling his hair playfully and saying, "In a few years you're going to want to do things with girls."
Les screwed up his face in disgust, "Ew."
Melody smiled down at him and the two walked in silence to the distribution office.
That night, Melody walked into the apartment and smiled at Ace who was sitting innocently in the living room.
"What?" Ace asked suspiciously.
"Happy Birthday!" Melody sang, "Kes and I have a surprise for you!"
Kes ran out of her room yelling, "What's peach and hot?"
"And makes guys jealous?" Melody finished.
"Um?" Ace looked confused, "A whore peach?"
"No!" Kes yelled, "Male Strippers!"
"What?" Ace yelled.
"We're taking you to see male strippers!" Melody laughed.
Kes grabbed Ace's hand and pulled her out of her chair. They left the apartment and Melody followed. When they got to Meddah's there were few other girls there, most of them were female newsies from the other boroughs.
Two guys came on stage and Ace pulled Melody and Kes into a hug, "I love you guys."
"We love you too," Melody said smiling.
"Now sit back and enjoy!" Kes said smiling.
A/N: Hope you like it! Review!