My Ray of Sunshine

Chapter 9

"I am," I smiled, placing my head on his shoulder.

"Good," he grinned, wincing as my sleeve brushed across his arm.

"It's still bleeding," I sighed, noticing the still shiny, red liquid. 

"I's fine," Albert lied. 

"I think not," I retorted, crossing my arms over my chest. He looked down at his arm, lips immediately turning down as he tried to see the wound. I ripped off a piece of the sleeve of the flannel shirt that Albert had given me. 

"No!" He yelped, holding up his hands and backing up. 

"Hold still." I hissed, taking his wrist in my hand and pulling him toward me. He lowered his head and gave me a little peck. 

I swatted at him, "I'm trying to save yer life." 

"I ain't gonna die." 

"You don't know that." I held his arm up, firmly placing the piece of cloth on the cut and wrapping it tightly around his arm. I made sure it wasn't too tight because if it was, the blood circulation would be cut off and he might actually die. 

"Ow!" He yelped as soon as the cloth made contact with the bleeding area. 

"Shut up," I grumbled, grabbing the collar of his shirt and pulling him closer. 

"Not today, Satan," he laughed. The ginger pulled away and scrambled up the tree. I followed suit, wobbling a little as I foolishly looked down during the climb. "Don't fall." 

"I won't!" I protested, jumping at his branch. My hands slipped and I went tumbling down onto the branch below.

"You okay?" Albert asked, climbing down to my level. 

"Pfft. I'm always okay," I laughed lightly. The ginger promptly raised a brow at me. "Usually okay?" 

"Ehhhh, I don't think so," Albert shook his head. 

"Well you're one to talk. You just got cut by a knife and you's tellin' me I ain't okay most of the time." I grumbled, sliding farther out on the branch as I had noticed a squirrel with his bum caught in between branches. 

"Sunshine, get back here," the ginger boy hissed, scooting toward the trunk of the tree. 

"I'll be fine," I whispered. I laid flat on my stomach, continuing to inch toward the squirrel. I quickly freed him, pulling the small animal toward my chest and sitting up quickly. I heard a crack and the branch fell, the squirrel and I falling with it. 

Albert's POV: 

"I'll be fine," Sunshine whispered, laying flat on her stomach and freeing the little mammal. She sat up abruptly and I watched the branch break, sending them crashing down to the concrete. Nobody else was around, it was just us as it was dark now. Raya shrieked, the sound cut off by a thud when she made contact with the ground. 

"Sunshine!" I descended the tree with abnormal speed, sliding to a stop beside her. The squirrel sat up and shook his head. "Raya? Raya are you okay?" I shook her, fighting back tears. The squirrel looked at me like I was crazy. 

"Did the squirrel live?" She groaned, a small smile cracking on her lips.

I did a weird, snorting laugh thing, "yeah."

"Good," she sat up. "Ouch!"

"What?"

"Headache," she muttered, stroking the squirrel.

"Jack ain't gonna let ya keep that," I laughed.

"Yeah he will. I'm very persuasive."

"Suuureeee," I laughed, helping her stand while slinging her arm over my shoulder and placing the squirrel on her other shoulder.

Back at the Lodging House:

"Why did your shirt just squeak?" Her brother arched a brow, looking us both up and down.

"Um..."

"Don't lie ta me, or I'll send ya to deal with Spot. He's grumpy today 'cause the girls took a trip over there and took his hat.

Raya mock gasped, I figured she had set up the whole thing, "his cap is his pride and joy. Well, other than being the King of New York of course."

"What's in your shirt, Ray?"

"A dog?" Raya tried, getting a playful glare from the Manhattan leader.

"I don't think so, try again."

"A cat."

"Nope."

"A bird," she tried again.

Jack sighed, "guess it's off to Spot Conlon's terf with ya both."

"Fine." Sunshine started to head out the door, me close on her heels.

"Albert," Jack hissed.

"What?" I turned to face him; pulling my cap off, I ran my hand through my hair and refastened it to my head.

"She gets hurt, it'll be your head."

"Yes, sir."

"Good."

We headed across the bridge, and Raya marched right up the front step of the Brooklyn Lodging House, pounding on the door. An unfamiliar Newsie answered the door, I guessed she was a girl. "What do you want?"

"Jack wants me ta see Spot," Ray explained with a shrug.

"Why?" The Brooklyn Newsies asked, looking us up and down before smiling at me. I rolled my eyes and answered for Raya.

"He didn't say."

"I don't think my brother would want ya comin' in here," the girl explained, looking back inside before her brown eyes landed on me again.

"Fine. Guess we'll send Jack and Davey. They were awfully persuasive during the strike," Ray sighed as she dramatically turned away and walked off the steps.

"Um..Fine," the girl sighed, pulling me inside by the arm.

Raya's POV:

The girl Newsie was checking Albert out the whole time. I did my best to make sure neither of them could see what was going through my mind.

She's so pretty.

Albert's sure to like her.

Oh my gosh, he totally likes her.

I don't deserve him anyway.

Wait, she's holding his arm and taking him inside?!

Follow. Follow. Follow.

The door shut right in front of my nose. I slammed right into said door and fell backwards, rolling down the steps and landing on my stomach. I looked up with a grunt, before rolling onto my back and looking up. Water began welling up in my eyes as I blinked slowly. Maybe the Delancey's were right, maybe I am nothing but a sewer rat with nobody who cares.

"Hey, are you okay?"