Chapter 27

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I woke up in the morning; a smile on my face and the sun in my eyes. It was late, that I could tell, but early enough where the stragglers were still in the lodging house. Spot was probably out, but I was fine with it now, considering I am a better seller than before.

I sat up and scratched my head as I strangled a yawn out of my dry throat. Just out of curiosity, I peeked my head over the side of the bunk and looked down at Spots bed; it was Spot free.

I sighed, but was not disappointed; I mean I did not expect Spot to stay late for me, and he certainly should not have to wake me up every morning. I hopped off the side of the bed, my bare feet hitting the chilled wood floor.

I squinted my eyes as sun intruded my eyes further, putting my hand over my brow and looking away. I picked my suspenders up off the floor. I clipped them on, all the while chewing on my tongue in concentration. I pulled on my boots, and my hair was up in my cap, with some locks coming out the side.

I did not feel like bathing today, and I know it sounded gross but I was not in the mood to set everything up. I picked up my bag of coins and shook it lightly, feeling about five more cents. I sighed; I really, really needed to bulk up on cash.

I left the bunk room and was faced with about four moping boys with tired eyes and slumped shoulders. I wanted to laugh at them, but did not want to cause a disturbance.

Pushing past the tall, tired eyed boys, I skipped down stairs and threw open the door, allowing the sun to run in. I covered my eyes until they adjusted to light.

Once they did, I was able to see Spot sitting on the steps, his elbows back on the step behind him and his head turned slightly to the side. He had his sling shot in his hand and I smiled. He was waiting for me so he can teach me to use one.

I cleared my throat, gaining his attention and causing him to turn around. "Hey," I said, nodding my head to him.

He smirked at me and lifted the sling shot, "Hi there, Cross. I was jus' waitin' fa you'se ta wake up so dat I could finally teach ya ta use dis thing," he said, barely moving a muscle.

I smiled and then remembered the bag that was nearly empty in my hands. I frowned. "I would love ta Spot, but I'se don' got any money, and putting off anudda day could really hoit me, ya know?" I said, looking down.

Spot got up from his place on the steps and walked in front of me, my eyes still to the floor. I felt him put two of his fingers under my chin. Slowly, Spot lifted my chin, raising my eyes to his. He grabbed my hand and placed something in it, closing my palm, "Now ya don' gotta worry, babe," he said with a smirk, looking me straight in the eye.

I took a small step back and opened my palm; inside my hand was about ten coins and I looked up to Spot with wide eyes. I shook my head and held my hand back to him, "No, Spot, jus no. I couldn' possibly take dis from ya. After all, I couldn' take this and make you'se live out on da streets," I said solemnly, looking back into his eyes. He still had a smirk.

He chuckled and closed my fingers around the money; the simple feeling of his hand around my own made me stomach erupted in butterflies. "Cross, I'se got all da money a newsie could need in two whole weeks, trust me, ten cents don' mean nothing to me," he said, pushing my hand back towards me.

I shut my eyes and sighed, "Ya not gonna take dese back, are ya?" I asked, giving in to his offer.

"Nope," he said; a smirk very obvious in his silky voice.

I put the money in the bag and placed it warily my front pocket, "A'right, but I'se not gonna like it," I said stubbornly.

Spot laughed and rolled his eyes, "Whatevah ya say Cross," he said, stepping backwards down the steps, holding his hand out to me, "Well? Ain't ya comin'?" He asked; his hand out wide in front of me.

I gulped, and held back a smile, avoiding any form of eye contact. He wanted to hold my hand; I was going to die, for sure. Swallowing my nervousness in one gulp, I clasped his hand in mine and allowed him to lead me to wherever it was he was taking me.

He was moving fast through the crowds, weaving in and out and whipping me back and forth. I held my hat on my head with one hand as I sprinted behind Spot.

"Where are ya takin' me? Joisey?" I asked, my voiced raise above the chatter of the streets and the whipping of the air past my ears.

All of the sudden, we stopped about a block before the docks, causing me to nearly crashing in to Spots back, "We're heah," he said, releasing my hand and walking forward, in to an empty alley.

I followed him; most people might have been worried, but not me. No, I trusted Spot with my life.

I looked around the alley; it was full of crates and empty glass beer bottles. Spot sat atop a pile of crates and pulled out his sling shot and a bag of thick glass marbles and rocks. He looked at me and patted his hand on the space next to him, "Well? Ya wanna join me or stare at my magnificent form? Eithah way, I'se is happy," he said with a smirk, turning his attention from me to the furthest. Smallest bottle placed at the top of the building.

I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms, looking at him with a smirk, "Yea, like you'se can hit dat," I said with a mocking chuckle.

He looked at me with that cocky ass smirk before turning back to the bottle and releasing the band. The thick glass marble flew in the air, sailing up to the bottle at a high speed, crashing into it in mere seconds, totally destroying the bottle.

My jaw dropped and I looked over to Spot, "Wanna join me now?" He said, pulling out what I assumed to be my sling shot.

I sighed and pushed myself off the old brick wall and strolling slowly to Spot whose legs dangled about three feet above my head. I cocked my head and looked up confusedly.

Spot scoffed and looked down at me, "Climb up, ya thick head," he said, aiming at another hard target and letting it sail to the bottle, crackling it.

I rolled my eyes and climbed up, sitting next to him in an unstable manner.

He tossed the sling shot in my lap, "Take dis, and take a rock from da bag," he said, dropping his sling shot next to him. "Now close one eye and place da rock in da little pocket," I followed his instructions to a tee, "Good. Now find an easy target and align it. Good, now…. Release," he said.

I did what I was told and the rock fell down to the ground, missing my target by a good fifteen feet or so.

I dropped the sling shot to my lap and sighed, feeling disheartened, "I can't do it, jus- jus teach me something else," I said weakly.

Spot turned my head toward him and looked me in the eye, "Nevah, evah give up dat easily. Quittin' is foah da weak minded," he said in a hot whisper.

I gulped and put my hands up to his cheeks, "You'se my best friend Spot," I finally said.

He smiled and rubbed his thumb on my cheek, "And ya know what Cross? You'se is mine too," he said smiling and looking in to my eyes, his face inches from mine. I could feel his breath wrapping around my face and running over my lips and rolling down my cheeks.

I could not take it anymore. I pulled Spot forcefully to me, my lips crashing on mine, causing me to instantly melt into a puddle. He was my addiction.

I think I may be losing my mind, but one thing I know is for sure.

I, Sara "Cross" Clarke, was in love with the one and only Spot Conlon; the infamous, mean, ruthless leader of Brooklyn.

And you know what? I loved it.

End of Chapter!

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