A/N - I don't own Siren and Miles, they are owned by missfervent. I also don't own Emotions, she is owned by Emotions. I also don't own Dreamer/Blade she is owned by Narniafan96. Pixie is owned by MushSpotgoil. -A/N
I went through different outfits, not liking any of the clothes I had. I sort of wanted to dress up, show Spot what he was missing. But I lacked any dressy clothes so I put on a dark green blouse and a black skirt. I left the tails of the blouse untucked so it covered my baby bump. Putting a hand onto my stomach, I stared into the mirror in the girl's bunkroom and sighed.
There were dark smudges underneath my eyes and I looked so pale. I braided my black hair into a thick plait that reached the middle of my back and tied it off with a green ribbon. My gray eyes were tired and my mouth was drawn down at the corners. I looked older than my eighteen years. I also needed to eat more, because I was losing weight when I needed to gain some for the baby.
Voices made me hasten along, as girls poured in from a day of working. Silver found me and pulled me aside, her blue eyes serious. Unhappily I shifted my weight from one foot to the next.
"You know Spot is going to be there tonight, right? Pixie will probably be there too. Is there going to be a problem? I need to know." I frowned and crossed my arms. Damn straight there was going to be a problem if they showed up together. But I gave Silver an innocent look and shook my head.
"No, no. There won't be any problem, I promise." Silver gave me a stern look and I knew she knew I was lying. I smiled weakly and went downstairs and went outside. Misery was sitting on the stoop with another girl I had only briefly met.
Misery gave me a cigarette and I lit it thankfully. The afternoon sun made the other girl's hair glow like gold. She gave me a nod, her green eyes solemn.
"Have you met? This is Dreamer. Sometimes we call her Blades on account she carries so many around with her." I gave Dreamer a nod back. She wore a green shirt and gray short pants that came to her shins.
"Going to Medda's tonight?" I nodded in response to Misery's question. She was looking at me thoughtfully and I shivered a little. Misery was different and I wasn't used to her being thoughtful.
"If you need any help let me know." I smiled at Misery and thanked her. Dreamer suddenly drew herself up and a broad smile broke out onto her face. Jack was walking up the street with his friend Davey, and Racetrack.
"Hey girls," they all chorused when they stopped in front of the building. I noticed that Dreamer seemed very attentive towards Jack and hid a smile when he came over and kissed her on the cheek. So that was the way the wind blew. Racetrack started telling a funny story and I glanced over at Davey to see him staring at me.
"What? Do I have something on my face?"
"No, no...I didn't know you were pregnant." I gave Davey a sour smile. He didn't work as a newsie anymore now that his father's arm had healed and he could go back to the factory. He mostly was in school but after that was done for the day he hung around the newsies when he could.
"Well I am. Ta da!" Davey rolled his eyes and punched me gently on the arm. I gave him a real smile and shrugged. Then the talk turned towards Medda's and we left the front stoop to start the walk over there.
Misery stalked alongside me, her shoulder's rigid with tension. I knew that she was a very anxious person. Then there was a shout, and we turned to see Pie Eater running up the sidewalk. When he caught up and slid an arm around Misery's waist, I saw her relax.
She looked up at him like no one else was there and he bent down to kiss her gently.
I felt tears well up in my eyes and my throat burned. I missed that and it seemed like I hadn't really known what I had until it was gone. Turning away, I walked along, blinking rapidly trying not to let any moisture fall. I would have walked by Medda's if Racetrack hadn't grabbed my sleeve and slid his arm through mine.
"Calm down dollface. Spot's an idiot but he'll get over it soon enough, you just wait." The others went past us inside and I finally let some of my tears fall at Racetrack's kind words. He made an 'oh shit' face and hurriedly whipped a handkerchief out and handed it to me.
I couldn't help but laugh at his face and it made me feel better. Wiping my tears on my sleeve, I gave his handkerchief back and took a deep breath. Racetrack nodded approvingly.
"That's it, get it out. Now let's go have some fun." We walked up stairs covered with a plush red carpet and into the dancehall. A man was playing the piano up on stage, but there weren't any dancers out just yet. I blanched when I realized Brooklyn was already in attendance. I would have left, my bravery having flown the coop if not for Racetrack.
"Come on now, don't give up just yet. Let's go sit with the other Manhattan kids and see what happens." I nodded and let Racetrack lead me over to a long table where Jack, Dreamer, Misery, and Pie Eater were sitting alongside Mush, Kid Blink, Skittery, and other boy newsies. The Manhattan girls weren't quite represented yet.
I sat in-between Misery and Racetrack. Racetrack went up to the bar and came back with a beer for me. I smiled up at him gratefully and let him distract me from looking over at the Brooklyn table by telling me jokes. He had me cracking up in no time. We were facing the Brooklyn table, and it was so hard to not look over. I could have sworn I felt eyes on me the whole time.
Then the music changed, and Siren came out on stage. She looked beautiful in her costume, a mixture of innocence and sin. Her face spoke of naivety but the way she walked and dressed was sensual.
She definitely caught most of the boys' attention as she bowed her head for a moment and said what I assumed to be a prayer quickly and quietly to herself. Then she began to sing in French and her voice soared. She was quickly showered with money as the boys were sucked into her performance.
I noticed Miles standing in a corner, his rust-colored eyes on Siren. His arms were crossed over his chest, and although he did watch Siren, I noticed that he was very observant, his eyes darting to and fro, taking everything and everyone in.
I finally gave in and looked over at the Brooklyn table. My heart lurched painfully when I saw Spot sitting there, a glass of whiskey in front of him, Pixie seated next to him. She was talking at him, but he wasn't listening, I could tell. He was staring down at his drink, mouth drawn into a grim line. Then he looked up and our eyes met.
Sparks fairly flew as we stared at each other. I raised an eyebrow and he mimicked my movement. I saw Pixie finally realize he wasn't paying attention to her, and falter. Her green eyes went to his face, and then shot over towards me. She frowned and put a hand onto Spot's sleeve.
I looked away then, and watched Siren once more. She sang seductively, knowing just how to draw the crowd's attention to her. I was impressed with her performance. Then someone cleared their throat and I looked up to see Emotions standing next to me.
"Yes?" I enquired politely. Emotions grimaced and made a 'stand up' gesture with her dirty hand. I stared at her, confused. Emotions made another face.
"Spot wants to see you, come on." I felt people watching me uncomfortably at the Manhattan table. Silver and a few other girls entered then and joined us. Emotions crossed her arms and cocked her head.
"I'm not his slave, I don't need to be summoned like one." Emotions blanched and I saw her glance over at the Brooklyn table. Spot was staring at us, his face darkening. He didn't like to be crossed.
"Please come over Riot. He really wants to talk to you."
"Then he can tell me his goddamned self!" I snapped back. Emotions' hazel eyes flashed and then she walked away. I took a steadying drink of beer and was surprised when I felt Misery's hand on my arm.
"You did the right thing. Don't back down to anybody." I kept my eyes on the table's scarred and pitted surface, barely noticing when Siren finished her song and the piano began playing a lively number. People got up to dance, but I just busied myself with turning my beer around and around.
"So you're too good to talk to me now?" I felt my stomach clench at the familiar voice and looked up to see a thoroughly pissed off Spot Conlon standing next to me. I calmly took a drink and then looked at him again.
"No Spot, that's not it. You can't just summon me like a slave. If you wanted to talk to me, I knew you'd come over yourself." Spot dropped into a chair next to me, that Racetrack had vacated.
"I saw you with Race. He was being awfully friendly."
"Seriously Spot? He's my friend and he knew I was upset. He was just trying to help."
"Yeah well I don't like it."
"Well I don't like you sitting with that little slut either but there you are doing just that!" We glared at each other, blue eyes clashing with gray. Spot sighed deeply.
"Pixie isn't a slut. She is just my friend."
"Yeah well she's being awfully friendly," I spat back. Spot slammed his hand down on the table and I jumped. Spot's jaw clenched and a muscle worked in his cheek before he wiped his face with a hand.
"I've been pretty damn patient with you so far Riot. You're being stupid and while you can generally DO some stupid shit you aren't stupid. I've told you twice now that there's nothing between Pixie and me. If I have to tell you again..." His unspoken threat loomed large between us. I swallowed convulsively and blinked away burning tears. God damn my hormones!
Picking up my glass of beer, I took a swallow and then set it down. Spot sat down next to me and when a tear brimmed over and fell he wiped it away with his thumb. Then he took my hands into his and we sat like that quietly watching the other kids around us. I could see Pixie still over at the Brooklyn table, pushing a lock of her black hair behind her ear and glowering over at Spot and I.
"What can I do to prove to you that I'm serious about you and the baby? I've taken on some extra work with a local guy to save up some money but I don't know what else to do." When I looked into Spot's eyes they were honest and bleak.
"What sort of extra work?"
"Don't worry about that. All you need to worry about is taking care of yourself and coming home. I miss you."
"I'm trying to Spot." He gazed at me and I saw his eyebrows draw down and he frowned. Looking away for a minute, he looked back and I saw that he had put up his defensive walls once more.
"Trying to. That means you're not coming back."
"Spot you have to understand how important my freedom is to me."
"Am I really that bad of a person?" I froze him with a glare, and he glared right back at me, his blue eyes icy.
"Don't say that, it's not that. I don't like restrictions put on me, where I can go, who I can see. I know it's part of your job to keep all your newsies safe and accounted for, but everyone else has so much more leeway. It's not fair." Spot gave me a level look.
"I'm not in love with everyone else, I'm in love with you. That means I have to keep you doubly safe." Although his words warmed me, they exasperated me as well. Spot had a stubborn look on his face that I knew all too well, because I was wearing the same expression.
"So now we're stuck again," I said mournfully. Truthfully I missed him and Brooklyn so much. But I had put my foot down and if I folded so easily Spot would lose some respect for me.
"No it just means I have to work twice as hard to get you to come home." Spot leaned forward and kissed me gently and sweetly. When he pulled away, I kept my eyes closed.
"Course I could just throw you over my shoulder and drag you out of here." The corner's of my mouth turned up and I opened my eyes and smiled at him.
"There's not a snowball's chance in Hell that you could lift me anymore so don't even try it."
"Bah, you're tiny. You're not eating enough and you look exhausted. At least take care of yourself better so I don't have to worry about that. I worry enough about you as it is." Silently I agreed. He did have a point, it wasn't just me in this body of mine anymore.
"Okay Spot." Spot stood up and held his hand out to me. I looked up at him questioningly.
"Let me walk you home, it's late." I thought for a minute and then nodded. Looking around I spotted Dreamer talking to Jack, and I went over to them and waited for a good time to interrupt.
"Sorry, I just wanted to let someone know I was heading home." Dreamer shrugged and said she'd tell Silver before turning back to Jack. I caught a glimpse of Miles and Siren in a corner, sitting at a table. They were talking quietly to each other and watching everyone.
Heading back to the table, I stopped a few feet away when I saw Pixie talking to Spot. Whatever he was telling her she didn't seem to like it. He just seemed to grow more distant the more upset she got and for an instant I felt bad for her. Then he caught my eye and holding up a hand to stop Pixie from talking, jerked his head towards the door.
I walked away, not stopping to see if he was following or not. I was outside into the cool night air when I felt an arm wrap around my waist. Spot didn't say anything, and I was too tired to fight about Pixie that night.
We walked in a companionable silence until the lights of the girl's lodging house came into view, and Spot pulled me into an alley suddenly. Backing me up against a wall, he kissed me deeply and thoroughly.
"Did that change your mind any?"
"It helped," I squeaked out. I felt him smile against my lips before he took my hand and we went the few feet to the front stoop of the lodging house. Pausing, Spot lit a cigarette and gave me a cheeky grin as he took his cane out of his belt loop and twirled it.
"I'll be back in a day or so to try to change your mind some more." I couldn't help it, that made me laugh. Spot looked pleased as he tucked a lock of my hair that had escaped from it's braid behind my ear.
"Get some rest Riot. I'll see you real soon." I nodded, feeling sad all of a sudden. I watched him walk away, twirling his cane and whistling a jaunty tune. Going inside, I paused to say 'hi' to some of the younger girls and then made my way upstairs. Sleep came quickly after that.
Two days later Spot showed up again and told me to change into a blouse and skirt. I looked at him in shock. He was dressed in a nice suit, with a vest. He had on new boots and a new cabby hat. I went upstairs to change and brush my hair before heading out into the late afternoon with him.
Spot asked me about my day, and I absently told him all the while wondering where he had gotten the money for his new clothes. Spot took me to a small Italian restaurant almost near the Brooklyn Bridge where he said he knew the owner.
"You know everyone don't you?"
"Just about." He said as we were being seated. The restaurant wasn't that full so it didn't take long for our food to come out. The owner brought it out, and Spot asked after his family while the man exclaimed over me and congratulated Spot about the baby.
We ate for awhile, exchanging pleasantries and gossiping. Spot told me about how everyone in Brooklyn was doing and how much they all missed me. I laughed at that. I knew that some of the kids missed me, but I also knew some of the boys didn't care any which way if I was there or not. When we were done eating, and sitting back to digest, I hesitantly broached the subject of money.
"Where are you getting all this money Spot?" Spot's blue eyes bored into mine as he waved it off with a flick of his hand.
"You don't need to worry about that. I told you, I picked up some extra work with a guy I know."
"Do I know him?" Spot paused and I could tell he was concocting a lie all the while making his eyes appear guileless.
"You don't need to know Riot. I'd rather you didn't know. Just keep in mind that while I can't tell you, I'm making money for us and the baby." My anger leapt up and I stared at him with my mouth open.
"You used to tell me so much, now you tell me nothing at all."
"You don't need to know."
"I bet Pixie knows." Spot's eyes flashed with frustration and anger but he didn't deny my statement. I stood up and paused, feeling a stirring in my belly.
"Thank you for dinner, I appreciate it."
"But you don't appreciate me." My heart strings tugged at his quiet words but I didn't deny them, just looked down at him sadly. Bending forward I kissed him on the lips.
"Not right now I don't," was all I said before I turned and walked out of the restaurant.
SHOUT OUTS
Blockheadwriter - Yay I'm glad you like it! Thanks for the review I hope you keep reading. :)
ElleestJenn - Yes Spot is being stupid, but so is Riot. Thanks for the review, I'm glad you're reading this :)
MushSpotgoil - Good I'm glad you don't mind I made Pixie the antagonist. Riot is a breed all of her own, she is smart but can act very silly at times. Yes, Spot is worried sick but he has some things he's hiding as well. Thanks for reviewing and reading! :)