The Key to Love [Discontinued]

Looking Back

Ah, nighttime.  My time of day.  When Jack and I arrived back in Manhattan, it was pretty much dark already.  The sky was a thick black, and you could barely see the glimmering of the stars.  Surely there were clouds in the air.

Jack escorted me back to my alleyway.  We checked in with no-one.  If we had, someone might have suspected something.  Better for them to wonder where we are, he supposed.

I settled in, giving Jack a big hug.

"See 'ya tomorrow Cowboy." I said with a genuine smile.

"Yep.  Bright and early.  And try not to sleeps in." He said. "You were late yesterday."

I nodded and we walked off. 

I proceeded to take off my boots.  I always slept in my newsie clothes, just in case.

I laid back, my back on a torn up blanket and my head against a crate.  I tossed and turned until I became comfortable.

I was closing my eyes, but I was awake, thinking.

Every night I thought about the same things, such as my old home and the terrible tragedies that happened there.  They still haunted me... every night.  In fact, it was a night like this, I remembered, when my older sister died of pneumonia.  My parents were never the same.  She was their angel, their joy, their precious child and who was I?  I might as well have been dead. They thought it was my fault - I'd been sick with it as well, but had recovered by something.  They didn't care.  They did nothing but punish me and put me to work, like Cinderella without the happy ending.  My brother and I used to read that story together late at night when they were asleep.  I guess that's why nighttime was my favorite time.  That was when I was free.  I could do anything then, and my brother was always there.  He was my only friend.  He was more like a father to me than the man who was him.

I clutched at the old blanket.  This had been his.  Tears were streaming down my cheeks.  I still remembered everything.  I'd run away to escape the terror of losing loved ones, and now all it helped was nothing.  I still thought about it, I still dreamed about it.  And Jack was there to remind me everyday.  Though it wasn't his fault.  He just reminded me if him.   Of my brother.

I rolled over.

I had promised myself to never get close to anyone.  I had already failed in That.  I had promised myself to forget the horrid past.  I had failed again.  I had promised myself to never fall in love, because love is a fatal wound to all who wander to its inviting sword.  I had not failed in that area..... Yet.

-

My eyes fluttered open.  The morning air blew strong in to me.  I could smell the coldness.  Winter was near.  I put on my boots and without further ado, headed out to join the pack of kids that I joined everyday.

I could see Jack walking ahead of me.  I jogged up at plain speed to meet him. 

"Spin," he began warmly, "and hows is you dis fine mornin'?"

"I'm doing well." I said quietly, trying to mask my sorrows.

"Good, 'cause I gots a special plan for today!"

A special plan?  What in all New York was a special plan?

"Really?" I said with a smirk.  "This wouldn't happen to be anything like your last special plan, would it?" I asked jokingly.

"No no, definitely not."

The last time Jack had had a "special plan", we'd gotten in a lot of trouble...

[flashback]

It was early morning.  Jack, instead of waiting for me came direct to me and asked a very strange question.

"Do you wanna get outta here for a day?" He asked.

I cocked my head confusedly.

"I wanna know if you wanna not work today." He said in a Hushed whisper tone.

"I don't wanna work ever." I said with a chuckle.

"Well too bad - can't fix that, but if yas want," he paused to look around suspiciously, "we can get out of it."

My brown eyes sparkled.

"Absolutely." I said, a little unsure.  Frankly, it never occurred to me that we could have been caught.

He clapped his hands together excitedly.

"Great, follow me."

He grabbed my hand and quickly led me through the busy, crowded streets to an open area with more people than I'd ever seen in one place. 

Also more noise.  Hed brought me to a fight.

I could hear all kinds of shouting.  And feet pounding.

People were calling out the names of the fighters.  Jack soon joined in.

I remained silent, clutching at the tattered remains of a coat.  I was smiling though, for I enjoyed a good fight.

Suddenly, two guys appeared who weren't cheering.  They didn't even look remotely happy.  I recognized them as the Delancey brothers.

I tugged on Jack's sleeve, but he didn't notice... until he did, too late.

We were off on a sprint, Jack laughing and yelling smart comments at them, almost making them faster with anger.  We, mostly thanks to Jack, outran them by rolling barrels and such things into their way.  The whole time we laughed.  Somehow a chase ended up being hilariously fun.  When we had lost them completely, we had to catch our breath because of how much we'd laughed, the distance was the least of our worries.

-

I smiled as a firm grip on my shoulder brought me back to reality.  It was Jack's hand, gentle but firm.

"Spin," I heard him say, "This is David."