Humbling Spot Conlon (A Spot Conlon Love Story)

Ch. 15: Friends

Nicky's POV

Spot and I made an unspoken agreement to stay away from each other. He stayed in Brooklyn, I stayed in Manhattan, that way, we wouldn't cross paths. That way, I didn't have to see his face, then it would be easier to stay mad at him.

Jack thought it was a good idea to bug me about it nonstop. It wasn't, in fact, a good idea.

"Well, it's just, there's hardly a day when you don't go ta Brooklyn. Yer bein' weird," He noticed. He had been following me around all day. It was really distracting and made it harder to sell my papers.

"I'm not bein' weird, Jack. However, you are bein' annoyin'. I'm tryin' ta sell papes here. Unless yer gonna buy one, beat it."

"You've been in a bad mood all week," He shoved me.

"I have not been in a bad mood," I lied, shoving him back, "Now, leave."

"No."

"Don't you have papes ta sell or somethin'?" I gestured to the stack of papers in his hand. "Because I do. Get out, yer makin' this harder than usual."

He blocked my path. "I'm not leavin' till you tell me why yer actin' like this." I simply rolled my eyes, skirting past him.

He had been doing this same thing all week, and somehow he still managed to sell all his papers. I don't know why he cared, it was none of his business. He just wouldn't leave me alone.

It all started when he'd gone to Brooklyn one day, then he just wouldn't leave me be. He had probably talked to Spot, which was something I hoped he wouldn't do.

"C'mon Nicky," Jack complained, "just tell me." He grabbed at my sleeves like a little boy would if he was begging his mom for a new toy. I suppressed a laugh, trying to stay annoyed.

He continued to whine like a little kid until I finally got tired of it. "Let go o' me. What're you, five?" I yanked my arm away from him. "Why does it even matter anyway? It's none o' yer business."

"It could be. If ya told me. Which ya should," He insisted. This was infuriating.

"Leave me alone," I groaned, "Why do ya even think I'm in a bad mood? And why do you insist on findin' out why?"

"Spot was actin' the same way." Hearing his name made me more upset than I already was. "He was angrier than usual. He wouldn't tell me either. Are ya mad 'cause o' the same reason? Did ya get into a fight or somethin'?"

I didn't want to answer that question. "Jack, would ya just leave me alone? I'm tryin ta get enough money to stay alive."

"You did! You got into a fight with Spot."

"What? No."

"You avoided the question, so the answer is yes," He said. Then he stopped for a second, as if second guessing himself. "That's how it works, right?"

I wanted to crawl into a hole and die. That way, Jack would finally leave me alone. Although, he might've just kept bugging my corpse about it. "No, Kelly. That ain't how it works. Now if ya don't mind, I don't wanna be here. Goodbye." I tried to leave, but Jack grabbed my arm. I would've pulled away, but he had a strong grip.

"What's wrong?" His tone became more sympathetic. He lightly touched my shoulder. I clenched my fists, crushing the papers in my left hand.

"I'm fine," I said through my teeth, "Just leave me alone." I stormed away, hoping Jack wouldn't follow me.

I didn't want to be asked what was wrong anymore. It happened every day. I didn't want to talk about it. Especially not with Jack. There was no way he could help me. And I didn't even want to think about it. My heart felt heavy whenever it was brought up.