Chapter 25

My feet clicked against the cobblestone; the sounds of horse hooves and chatter filled the air. It was still early afternoon and I did not feel like going home.

I was going to Manhattan; Spot would not care if I went to visit my friends, so I did not bother to even go tell him. He was probably going at it with that waitress by now anyways, so he probably did not even remember my name at the moment.

I grabbed a pole on the corner of the bridge, swinging my body around the corner and walked up the ramp to the bridge.

I took a large, selfish bite out of my apple, delicious juice rolling down my chin on to my shirt.

I tossed the apple carelessly over the side of the bridge and reached up to take my hat off of my head,

The mid July sun was beating brutally on my face; beads of sweat formed on my brow and my eyes squinted.

I pressed the palm of my hand to the back of my neck and made a sound and face of utter disgust. My neck was soaked with salty sweat, and I could only imagine my back.

I held my hand down at my side as I continued to make my way over the long bridge to Manhattan

After about fifteen or so minutes, I made my way to the end of the bridge, hopping off of the ramp on to the street. I exhaled and smirked as I saw Jacks broad back facing me.

I sprinted as fast as I could and jumped on to his back, wrapping my legs around him and covering his eyes. He freaked out and spun around, waving his arms in the air.

"What da heck!" He hollered, looking like an idiot. I could see Mush at the corner of the sidewalk cracking up and strolling towards us.

"Guess who," I mustered in the most manly voice I could.

At that moment, Jack stopped and began to laugh, reaching his hands up to mine and prying them off his eyes, "Hey Cross," he said with a laugh.

I pouted and hopped of his back, moving to face him, "How did ya know?" I asked, feeling slightly disheartened.

He shook his head laughing as he ran a calloused hand through his sandy hair, "Like I said da foist time you'se and I met, ya don' sound like a boy," he said, through his arms around me and giving me a noogy on the head.

I laughed and wriggled out of his grasp, fixing my hair, "Oh I fahgot bout dat," I said, looking down.

His laughter subsided and he looked at me. He sighed with a smile, "What is you'se doin heah anyways? Trouble in paradise?"

I sighed and got serious, "Ya, I guess I jus' needed a little break. Ya know wid Sinkah betraying us, Spot bein a jackass and Midtown issues," I said.

He half nodded with an understanding expression, "I get what ya mean. Too much Spot ain't good fa anybody's health; especially a goil," he said simply, throwing his arm over my shoulder in a friendly manner, looking over to Mush, who's laughs also subsided.

"Hi dere Cross. I jus happened ta notice dat you'se look lovely tahday," he said in a flirtatious manner.

I crossed my arms and rolled my eyes, a smile present on my face, "Do ya floirt wid all da goils?" I asked with a giggle under my breath.

He took a step closer, "Only da pretty ones," he said, taking my hand and kissing my knuckles lightly.

I blushed. What a gentleman.

"Well, since yoah heah, why don' we go see da rest a da boys. I'se is sure dey would be happy ta see you'se again," Jack said, lowering his hand to the small of my back.

My eyes left Mush's brown ones and looked up to Jacks, "Yea, dat sounds jus' fine wid me," I said.

Jack pushed me forward and began to lead me to the lodging house.

Little did I know I was being watched.

Very, very closely.

End of Chapter!

Sorry for the wait! Anyways, I have been busy and I just wanted to say thank you all for the kind reviews! I would like to thank Bridgy for all her awesome comments!

So please, if you will, PLEASE REVIEW! If you give a good review I will thank you my next chapter