When Snap woke up the next morning, she just stared at the ceiling for a while, thinking.
She hadn't had the nightmare that night. She refused to connect that to anything that had to do with Spot, but there were obvious connections, which she ignored.
She took her time sitting up and getting ready to leave the apartment. It was noon before she was actually ready to go out in public. She wore a white button-up shirt, a long blue skirt, and her boots that she wore everyday. She tied up some of her hair with a ribbon, and rolled up her sleeves before pocketing some money and walking out the door.
It was another chilly autumn day, as they all had been since she'd gotten to New York several days earlier. She knew her way around now, so she tended to avoid certain places where she might run into Spot. That was a lot more difficult than expected, seeing as she basically had to avoid all the newsies and the newsies were everywhere. Not to mention- word had gotten around that she had mouthed off to Spot Conlon and lived to tell the tale, so all the newsies wanted a look at her, wanted to see the girl who had survived an argument with the King of Brooklyn.
She strolled aimlessly around the city, not in a hurry to get anywhere but keeping a constant eye out for Spot. She had some shopping to do, since there was absolutely no food in her apartment. She walked into a bakery, one that had some amazing scents coming out of it. The bakery wasn't the biggest building, but it was cozy. There were some tables scattered throughout the room and a big glass case full of baked goods directly in front of the door. Snap grinned and walked forward the counter next to the glass case, biting her lip as she decided what she needed.
"Hello! Can I get you something?" Snap looked up from the food, and a girl stood in front of her. The girl looked to be about fifteen, and had long, straight brown hair and hazel-green eyes. Her hip-length hair was braided over her shoulder.
"Oh, Hi!" Snap named off a few things, and the girl rushed to get them for her. As she set them on the counter in front of her ,the girl looked up at Snap.
"Are you new in the city? You don't look familiar and pretty much the same people come in here all the time." The girl asked, dusting some flour off her hands onto her plain brown dress. "By the way, I'm Eleanor."
"I'm Snap, and yes, I'm new here!" Snap smiled, and Eleanor's eyebrows lifted slightly.
"Wait- you said your name was Snap?" Eleanor asked, and Snap nodded.
Eleanor chuckled. "So, you're the infamous Snap. I've heard a lot of things about you, and I was so hoping I'd meet you, and here you are!"
"Who was talking about me??"
"Every newsie in New York! He tried to hide it, but everyone saw the huge shiner you left on Spot's chin!"
Snap burst into hysterical laughter, she hadn't thought she'd hit him that hard. Now, instead of wanting to avoid Spot Conlon, and putting off the inevitable conversation about the kiss, she wanted to see that shiner."Eleanor, will you do me a favor?"
"Depends, what is it?" Eleanor crossed her arms.
"Can you help me find Spot? I've been avoiding him lately, but I'd like to see the evidence."
Eleanor chuckled."I sure can. Let me change, and I'll be just a minute!"
"Hey, wait- Do you get alot of newsies in here? Is that why you hear things?" Snap asked, leaning on the counter.
"Yes, ma'am!" She glanced over Snap's shoulder and cracked a grin. "Speak of the devil." Snap turned around and saw that a few newsies had entered the bakery.
"Hi, Elle. Who's this?" The guy in the middle gestured to Snap, and Eleanor came out from behind the counter, throwing her apron behind her.
"Jack, this is Snap. Snap, this is Jack, Race, Les, and David." Eleanor blushed a little bit, and it was fairly obvious to Snap that Eleanor had a crush on David, and judging by the faint blush appearing on David's face- it was mutual.
Jack's eyes widened in recognition as he was introduced to Snap. "Is you'se the Snap that-"
"Yeah." Snap grinned wickedly, and Jack laughed.
"Who woulda thought a girl like you could do that to Spot." Race said from behind him, and Snap shot him a glare.
"What brings you guys here?" Eleanor asked, leaning on the counter next to Snap.
"We have a meeting with Spot. Snap, you'se might wanna get outta here. Spot ain't happy with you." Jack said.
"I think I'll stay. He was just the person I was looking for." Snap shrugged, crossing her arms.
All the newsies shot her an incredulous look.
"You're out of your mind!" Les shouted, and David knocked him across the back of the head. "Les!"
"Sorry." Les mumbled under his breath, and Snap grinned.
"It's okay, kid. I've heard worse things." Snap chuckled, ruffling Les' hair. He frowned and tried to fix his hair, sending Snap into a spasm of giggles. Jack slid into a chair around a big table and the newsies sat around him, Race on his right, and David and Les on his left. Eleanor took a seat next to David, who slung his arm around the back of her chair.
Race patted the seat next to him, and Snap slid into the chair beside him. "So, Snap, how did ya ever get involved with Spot Conlon?"
"He didn't tell anyone the story? Figures, since he lost the argument. Well, it was my first day selling papes, and I needed a spot and everywhere in Manhattan was taken. So, I kinda crossed into Brooklyn and sold on the docks."
"But that's where Spot sells! That's Spot's spot! How are you still living after trying to sell in his spot?" David asked, half joking.
"You don't even know the half of it. He came and he started ordering me around, and I didn't listen to him. He got real mad because I wouldn't leave his spot. And I might've been being a wise-ass to him. But, then, he tried to get some kid to escort me back to Manhattan and I told him I could walk myself, and he ignored me. After that, I told him off and knocked off his hat, and then, I came back to Manhattan."
There was a stunned silence for a while, and Eleanor cracked a grin. "I knew I liked you."
"Spot never told anyone that story. The day afta he left your place, he came and told me that you'se was dangerous, and that you'se was a threat, and we had to get rid of you."
"Hold on! Spot wants to kill me?! Oh my god, he is so dead when he gets here."
"Snap, be careful. I don't know how you've walked out of multiple arguments with him without a scratch, but you've gotten lucky. He has killed guys before because they disobeyed him." David warned her and she chuckled.
'I'm not afraid of Spot." She laughed, and they all looked at her like she had three heads.
"Les is right. You are crazy." Jack joked, then turned serious. "Look, kid, I've heard Spot talk about you, and I don't think youre going to be so lucky next time you talk back to him. He's real mad."
"I've seen him mad, before. Bruises don't come from a happy Spot." She gestured to her collarbone.
"But, really, Snap. Careful."
Eleanor stood up, glancing out the window. "We have about thirty seconds before what might be the most exciting confrontation ever seen in New York."
"Is Spot outside?" Les asked.
"Yes!"
Snap smiled wickedly, pushing her hair over her shoulder. They all waited in silence, until the door opened and in strolled Spot and Bullet. Spot had a smirk on his face until he saw Snap. "You."
Snap burst out laughing when she saw the shiner she left on Spot's chin. It was obvious. She was still giggling and breathing really hard when she finally responded.
"Hi, Spotty-poo."
