I had a huge headache and confused mind when I woke up in Spot's bedroom. He was getting dressed.
"Where the hell am I?" I asked sitting up quickly, and then doubled over in pain.
"Bad idea, oh owe!" I said grabbing my head and laying back down
Spot silently handed me some clothes and walked out of the room.
I changed and followed him. All his Newsies looked at me when I walked into the front room.
"What?" I asked coldly. They all looked away. I saw Spot among his Newsies, he was staring back at me. I shook my head and stormed out of the lodging house.
The air hit me like knives. It was cold, very cold. Brooklyn didn't look very dangerous in snow. I took main street all the way until I got to the bridge and then took the alley ways once I was back in Manhattan.
"Shane I neva got me dollas worth." A harsh voice said from behind me. I stopped and stood still. Oscar walked over to me and slapped me.
"Youse Racetrack's sista?" He asked. I didn't answer him.
"Answer me!" I shouted. I nodded.
"I have a message fer youse ta give youse brudda." He said and punched me in the stomach. I winced and drifted towards the ground. Oscar picked me up and Morris appeared from the shadows. His brass knuckles were ready and willing.
I took a couple hard blows to the face. Right before I blacked out I heard some ruffeled foot steps, and heard a familiar voice screaming at the Delancys.
"Touch 'er again, and I'll kill you." Spot yelled. He walked over to me and picked me up, I lost consiousness.
I woke up back home. Race, Spot, Jack, Mush, and Blink were all by my bedside. And Trolley was curled up next to me. Race walked over to me.
"Youse okay?" He asked. I nodded slowly. Dispite the pain in my face and stomach I was fine. I went to sit up but Spot's hand pushed me back.
"Stay in bed." He said. I cut my eyes at him and sat up again. Trolley moved so that I could get out of bed. The two of us walked downstairs. I walked over and sat down next to Specs, who put his arm around me and delt me some cards for poker.
"Nice Shinna." Skittery said luaghing slightly.
"What a'ppened?" Specs asked.
"I got jumped in alley, no big deal." Specs and Skittery grew serious and their eyes wandered to Pie-Eater, Snoddy, and Swifty, who were also playing.
"By who?" Snoddy asked. I was quiet.
"Shane who did tat?" Swifty asked.
"Whoeva it was is gonna get hoit."Skittery said throwing his cards down.
"They's gonna have alittle dis'cussion with me fists." He said cracking his knuckles.
"Ta Delancy's done ta to 'er." Spot said from nowhere. I put my head in my hands. The guys looked at Spot and then to Race, who was livid.
"Tey tried to rape 'er." Spot added.
Every one looked back at me and then back to Race who was now cracking his knuckles, and punching his hand.
David and Les walked into the lodging house.
"Hey fellas..." He trailed off and the smile on his face faded when he say the looks on his friends faces, and the bruises on mine.
"Jack what happened?" David asked in a whisper. Jack pulled him into a corner and told him the whole story.
"You could tell the police, they comminted a crime, that's a major felany." Spot slammed his cane down.
"So have half of us Dave." He said.
"We go ta bulls they'll take us in." Blink said handing Bumlets a ciggerette.
"No we go to the police, will go ta court to plead our case." David stated, I stood up. Every one looked at me.
"No body's goin' ta court.Or ta bulls. It ain't a big deal, nuttin a'ppened, I just got a few bruises."
"Shea yous blacked out." Snoddy said.
"Do what cha want, I'm goin' ta woik." I said and walked to the distribution office.
Blink caught up, and walked me the rest of the way.
Oscar and Morris, also bruised watched me intently. Blink stared back at them with hate in his eyes.
"100 papes.I said. Oscar handed them to me and then blew me a kiss. Blink lunged at the bars.
"You stay way from 'er!" He said threw gritted teeth. I pried him off the bars.
"Leave it." The others were finally walking into the distribution center. I met up with Race and handed him fifty papes. The three of us went to sell at Sheepshead Races. I didn't work in Chocolate's until after New Years.
"HAPPY NEW YEAR!!" Every body was shouting. New York was living the night life tonight. Every body was packed in Times Square.
I sat next to Race and Tex, in the restauraunt, "Broadway".
The rich snobs were mingeling with the poor, which for me was a first. People were playing cards and drinking, shooting pool and craps.
"You know."Tex said leaning over to me.
"Youse s'posed to kiss ta person next to you at midnight." I rolled my eyes.
"Then let me up." I stood up laughing, Tex grinned.
"I'll send Sweetie over ta ya latta."
"Ten seconds left til New Years!" A drunk man shouted. I looked at the clock on the way. There was ten minutes left until New Years. I bumped my way over to the bar.
"Margarita." I said to the bartender. He eyed me for a minute and then went to fix the drink.
"Aren't youse alittle to be drinkin'? Spot asked sitting on the stool next to me. I licked some of the salt off of the edge of the glass.
"Nope." I said smiling and took a sip. I pointed to his glass.
"Whadda youse drinkin'?"
He looked at his glass and then took a sip.
"Sasprilla...spiked wit udder stuff." I nodded and laughed at him Medda walked over to us.
"Hello Kids. How are youse two tonight?" She asked smiling.
"Fine. Whadda youse doin' heah Medda, shouldn't youse be tamming ta men at Irving Hall?" I asked her teasing.
"They asked me to preform later."I nodded.
"Well I gotta go kids I'l see ya later."
"Only one minute left til New Years!" A sober, person yelled.
"Remember what youse was sayin' back at Chocolate's, about how guys like me take advantage og goils like you?" Spot asked, I nodded. What ever he was about to say was making him uncomfortable.
"I would neva tke advantage of youse like tat."
"Ten seconds!!" Some one yelled.
"Youse to special.
"5..4...3..2...1...HAPPY NEW YEAR!!" Every body shouted.
"Youse s'posed ta kiss the person next to you, you know." I leaned closer to him.
"Then kiss me." I whispered to him. He took the invitation and kissed me lightly on the lips. It was enough to give me chills, and I pulled away from him and looked at him. He must have felt the same because he had the same expression. I walked away from him and found the rest of the newsies who all one by on ekissed my forehead or cheek.
I stummbled into bed around five. None of us were going to sell that morning. Jack, Blink, and me were the drunkest of every body.
********
(Summer of 1901.)
I jumped off of the peir and felt refreshed at the feel of the cool water on my skin. Jack and Dave had some business in Brooklyn earlier, so I went with them. They were gone now and it was near dark.
I went under and felt something pull on my foot. I quickly opened my eyes underwater but it was to dark to see anything. I felt a lightning bolt of fear and swam to the surface. I looked around to see absolutely nothing but the sun setting over some buildings.
I felt the pull again and grabbed for whatever had pulled my ankle.
I connected with another foot and pulled, Spot came up for air with a none to pleased expression.
"I shoulda known it was you pulling me." I scowled and swam to the peir, he pulled me once again.
I was getting irritated and kicked him in the stomach. He let me go and started to swim after me. I pulled myself out of the water and sat on the dock. Spot got out soon after me and had a dark expression. He hurled himself at me once I stood up.
We rolled around the dock, muttering curses at each other and struggling. Then we were kissing. Kissing!! I didn't expect it. We stopped rolling; Spot ontop of me. I thought for a minute that I was at work, but then it dawned on me that I wasn't getting paid and it happened to be a certain leader of Brooklyn ontop of me.
I opened my eyes and pushed him off. I grabbed my overshirt and ran into the streets. Spot was chasing me.
"Jesus this has got to be a dream!" I told myself and turned down an alley. I glanced back at and slowed down when I saw Spot wasn't there. My eyes grew wide when I saw him infront of me. He was walking towards me.
"How the hell you'd get in front of me?" I asked when he was in hearing range. He laughed slightly.
"Were in Brooklyn, I know every alley, road, building....shortcut." He smiled, and added.
"My territory." I tried to walk past him but he grabbed my arm and started to kiss me again, but more passionatly. I felt heat and shivers going threw my body. Spot closed his eyes and then I. I wrapped my arms around his neck and then walked backwards toward the wall behind me. He pressed up against me and his cane pressed harshly against my hip.
It must have bothered him to and he took one hand away from my face and relocated it to against the wall.
There were whistles and hollaring and we looked to see about three Brooklyn Newsies smiling widely. Spot, keeping one hand on my hip pretended he was about to tackle them. They backed off.
"You wanna go to the lodging house."
I was still alittle confused about what was going on and shook my head no.
"I should be getting back to Manhattan....I gotta work at Chocolate's tonight." He looked at me critically.
"I switched to bartending, I'm no longer working the rooms, Spot. They got a couple new girls so I asked to be switched." He nodded his head and walked away, but turned back.
"I'll walk you back to Manhattan...your going to the lodging house first?" I shook my head.
"Actually I planned on going straight to work."
"Then I'll walk you there...I wouldn't want any body grabbin' at something as beautiful as you." I blushed but looked at him quizzically. He had a different change in attitude. He had lately been trying to get closer to me...like he had all of the sudden developed some sort of feelings for me. I was confused.
"Alright. But just to work, no further. you've starting to scare me Conlon, you've been having a quick switch in attitude lately." He shot me a smirk and held my hand all the way to Chocolate's.
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