My Ray of Sunshine

Chapter 10

"Are you okay?" A masculine voice asked from behind me. I jumped, cracking (not literally) my head on the railing.

"Um..yes?" I sighed, brushing myself off and tossing a stray piece of hair behind my shoulder.

"What's wrong?" I couldn't see any of his facial features underneath the out of date cape thing he was wearing.

"Nothing," I lied, rubbing my head while looking up at the door.

Albert's POV:

Raya had the door slammed in her face. "Hey, we can't just leave her out there!" I protested, trying to go back.

"She'll be fine. She's Jack's sista," the girl shrugged taking him to the main room. "Fellas, this is..."

"Albert."

"Albert from 'Hattan," the girl grinned.

"Hey," I waved sheepishly.

"What's yer business here?" A guy asked, I guessed he was second in command.

"I um..I don't actually know. Jack just wanted us here," I shrugged, sitting on the couch.

"Heather, why don't you go get Spot," the boy hissed. The girl, Heather, left; she returned a short while later with all five feet, four inches of the Brooklyn leader.

"What do ya want, Albie," the short boy questioned, sitting on a table.

"Jack just wanted us to come, he didn't give a reason," I shrugged, running a hand through my red hair (I had my Newsie cap in my lap).

"Us?" Spot cocked a brow in questioning.

"His sister is here too. Heather left her outside," I stated flatly, looking at the black-haired girl.

"I didn't do it, Spotty!" She yelped, sitting beside me. A little too close for my comfort; she was practically on top of me.

Spot slammed his hands down on the table and stood up abruptly, "don't call me that....again."

"Yes, sir," Heather shuddered, leaning into me.

"You two best be going," Spot Conlon looked directly at me.

"Yes, yer leaderness," I nodded, fastening my cap atop my head while I stood.

"I'll walk you out," Heather jumped up, lacing her arm through mine and walking me out.

I couldn't see Raya at this point. The black-haired girl spun me around to face her, draping her arms over my shoulders. "It was nice to meet ya," she cooed in a seductive tone. I guessed she had mastered it, but I wasn't about to let her phase me. There's only one person that I love more than life itself. I mean, I love da fellas, don't get me wrong, but there's something different with Raya. She makes me laugh, she makes me sad, she even gives me butterflies in my stomach every time she looks at me.

"You too," I agreed, trying to pry her off me.

"You should come back sometime, without that little girl. You're too good for her," she sighed, raising herself to my level and pressing her lips to mine.

"Albert?" My heart sank; Heather pulled away and grinned at Sunshine. "Okay," she nodded, turning on her heel and starting the walk toward Manhattan.

Raya's POV:

I turned the corner, seeing the same girl from earlier kissing Albert. My stomach dropped down to my foot and I felt tears spring to my eyes. "Albert?" I questioned, hoping more than humanly possible that it wasn't him. The girl pulled away, shooting me a malicious grin before re-entering the Brooklyn Lodging House. "Okay," I managed to choke out the word and turned, beginning the trek back home.

"Sunshine, wait!" Albert called, coming up next to me.

I stopped, spinning on my heel to face him. "Don't call me that, again," I hissed, words feeling like I was eating vinegar.

"But-"

"No! I can't do this! You know I've been through a lot and you have the nerve to go and mess around with other girls." I paused to motion to Brooklyn's Newsboy Lodging House, fighting the tears back. "I thought we had something! A connection! I just- I can't believe you right now. I thought you cared, but I guess not." I threw my arms up in the air, beginning to march off.

Albert grabbed my wrist, spinning me around and pressing his lips to mine. I tensed, pulling away. "Stop it. I'm done with all of this. Don't expect to see me in the morning."

(A/N: I'm legit about to cry. This scene is making me so sad. Haha.)

"Sunshi-"

"Don't call me that!" I screamed, pushing him away as water poured down my face. "I hate you! I don't ever want to see you again!"

His face fell and he dropped his hands to his sides. I could see the pain I caused appear in his greenish-brown eyes, the same eyes I could get lost in. "Okay," his voice sounded gravelly and hurt.

(A/N: I NEED A BREAK. MY POOR BRAIN CAN'T HANDLE THIS. I'M STILL DOING IT.)

I wanted to hold him, to apologize for my words, but I couldn't. I sniffled, wiping my eyes as we stepped onto the front steps of the house. (Fast forwarded to when they were back.)

The lights were out and everyone was asleep. "You two are back later," Jack's voice sounded from a corner near where we were.

"Yeah. We got held up, sorry," I apologized.

"That's fine. Go on up to bed," Jack shoed me away. "You too, Al." I slipped into bed, closing my eyes.

I woke up at dawn, the sun just barely peeking over the horizon. I sighed, slipping into one of Albert's outfits and combing through my hair with my fingers. Everyone else was still sleeping, so I grabbed a pen and paper, scribbling a note onto it before creeping downstairs. I slowly pushed the door open, wincing as it creaked. Once it was open, I slipped out into the warm air, freezing when the door slammed shut. When nobody seemed to notice, I made my way to the park. Once there, I climbed the tree, situating myself almost at the top and laying down as best I could.