Chatper 16

(Race's POV)

"Klutz is um well... Is alive, but not for long." Sniper told us. I frooze. Jack swore under his breath and slammed his fist on the wall. "Dammit!" Jack said once he gathered himself. "Where are they holdin' Klutz?" He asked. Sniper pointed out da door, "Two doors down. And Jack left. I still haven't moved 'nd few mintues has gone by since Jack stormed out of da room.

'Klutz isn't gonna make it' I could feel tears burning in my eyes ta come out, but I didn't let it happen. 'Why are ya crying? She wasn't nothin' ta you. Plus you can't be wid anothera goil, not yet. She is just anothera kid ya ran into on da streets.'

"Racetrack are you ok? Ya seem like ya are gonna cry?" Sniper questioned me. "What no!" I grimaced, "I'm just a littlde shocked bout Klutz." It hurt ta talk but I need ta know more bout Klutz and hide dat fact I wasn't alright..

"Uhhh.. What bout Klutz?" Crutchie had waken up and was lookin overa at us. Sniper and I jumped a little. "hey Crutchie. how ya feelin'?" asked Sniper wid a smooth smile. "What did you say bout Klutz Racetrack?" He was starring at me. 'how ta tell 'im da goil he likes is gonna die?' "Ah ya, how ya feelin' Crutchie?"

Givin' me a questioning glance he finally answerd. "I'm bettera. Now I want ta know what is goin' on with Klutz." He tried to sit up, but Sniper walked over and got 'im to sit back again.

Sniper broke it to Cruthie, "Look Crutchie.. Klutz was beatin' worse then you 'nd da Doctor thinks she doesn't have much of a chance of livin'." Crutchies face went white. "What?"

"Crutchie... Ya need ta listen ta me. She is praicaly gone, and I know its rough for ya. After ya just figured out ya feelin' for 'er. But there are other fish in da sea buddy." 'This is gonna kill me trying to talk so much'. He started crying. 'dammit now i'm gonna cry seeing Crutchie cry'. "I know how ya feel. I liked 'er too. But-"

'Wait. What? Did I just admit to likin' Klutz?' I frooze, lookin overa at Crutchie and Sniper they stared back at me. Crutch had stop da tears. Wid Shock looks in their faces. 'Its been so long since I've let myself like a goil. last time I ever lliked a goil was Sammie..'

-In Klutz's room-

'Dammit Klutz's life must be a livin' hell. Foist her brothera tried ta dump 'er wid a scum bag 'nd had ta run away for a new life. Den she runs inta a dam pole and almost kills herself, which gave 'erself away and had her brothera come wid the scum to beat her up again and now she is barely able ta fight for 'er life.'

Walking in ta Klutz room I saw a sight I thought I never new I'd see in my life. 'Woah. Its da Spot Conlons' He was sitting on da edge of Klutz's bed. He was puttin' a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

I stood there in the door way for a while and listened. "I'm Sorry Al, I didn't know Andy was da reason ya were 'ere. And now ya fightin' for ya life once again because of me."

He was talkin' ta her. 'Conlons is actaully feelin' guilt?' "Its all my fault you are here again. I'm sorry." He said ta her. he took 'er hand and gave it a kiss. I held in a gasp. It's time ta let 'im know im 'erer. Den i gave a Knock on the door, He jumped ta his feet.

"Hey Conlons. What you doing 'ere?" I asked 'im like I didn't see nothing. "Ya know, just came ta see if da kid was really a goil and see if she was ok." He said. "Ya well I just got news bout her not havin' much of a chance at making it." I told him.

"Oh." I could see him tense up even more. "Well its happens. Sorry bout ya loosing a newsies." He told me. I nodded and he gave me a slap on da back and walked out of da room. Leaving me alone with Klutz.

'She is so pale, except for all her brusies and cuts on 'er.' I walked over slowly and sat down next ta her. "Don't know if ya can hear me or not, but I wanted ta tell you anyways. You are my new sistera. I nevera had one and ya seem like ya needed someone ta actually to look outn for ya. So I am." I smiled a little. then I remember bout Conlons. 'Why did he say it was his fault?'

-outside the hospital-

(Spot's POV)

'dammit, I put da kid in da hospital again.' On my way back ta Brooklynn all I could think bout was Al. 'No. Stop thinking about 'er.' Just den I ran inta Pockets. "Ey Spot. I've been lookin' fora ya." "Hey Pockets. I thought ya would of been back at da lodgin houde already." I questioned 'im.

"Ya well I got involved in a pokera game wid da boys in da Mahattan house. didn't have muck luck wid dat, but I did snatch some dough off of Boots." Pockets said with a giant smirk. I let out a small chuckle. "Ah I thought ya woudl grow outta of da name pockets by now."

Pockets has been my third in command since he ran inta me aftera getting chased by da cops for pick pocketin' some rich guy. He recently came my second in command since Jumper moved on life. We walked ta brooklnn bridge togethera in silence.

"Look Pockets, go on ta da lodgin' hosue wid-out me. I'll be there in a little." He nodded and was on his way. I waited for a few mintues beforea I headed across da bridge.

I decieded ta head ta da docks beforea I went ta da lodgin' house.

Sitting on da crates on da dock I leaned back and looked up at da stars. before I knew it I drifted off...

We were sitting in da tree house in his back yard. We were playin' cards while we listen ta his little sister humm under us. "Hey Andy You ready to loose? Cause I got a real good hand." Bluffin was my best trick. "No, you are gonna lose, I got the best hand i could asked for." I wasn't sure if he was bluffin' too.

"No he doesn't, his hand is really bad, ya can tell in his voice." Chimed in his little sister Alexis. I laughed as Andy's face went red. "Thanks Al." I shouted down and she just went back ta humming under the shade of the tree. "So Andy, ya 4 yr. old sistera ratted you out. Ready to fold?" I told him raising my eyes-brows.

"Joe, if it wasn't for Al, my life would be so much bettera. You're lucky you have no sisters. She is a pest" Andt said while slamming his cards down on the cardboard box we werre using for a table. We laughed as I showd him my crapy cards I had.

Ahh memories.

"But you are only 7 Joe! You can't just leave here alone." Andy wasn't happy with the idea of me leaving to find a new place to live. "Look Andy, I'll be fine." I told him as i patted him on the back. "I got family all around, I'll be fine." I lied and he seemed to accept it. Then it was time to say good bye to Al. She was in the yard while we were in the house.

Walking outside I saw her climbing up da ladder to the tree house. "Hey Al! You aren't apost to be up there." I shouted. It starlted her and she fell off the ladder. "Alexis!" I yelled running over to her. Andy came running ouside after hearing me scream. "What is going on? Joe what is -" He started. "Not now! Go get your mom. Alexis is hurt and she isn't respondin' to me!"

He ran back inside. "Al, Come on?" I shaked her. Please tell me I didn't hurt her. I stood up hearing Mrs. Finch come running over screaming out Alexis's name. The yard started spinning in front of me. I couldn't put it in my mind together.

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