The Key to Love [Discontinued]

Down For the Count

"The deal's off!" Spot shouted so everyone could hear.  Gasps rose and whisperings began.

"Because of me?" I asked bluntly, crossing my arms.

"I told 'ya I don't trust 'ya.  I told 'ya to never come back!" He said sternly.

"Just give me a chance." I pleaded, "For Jack?"

"Come with me." Spot said casually while the noise was still overwhelming loud.

We walked past the bridge to a clearing void of any people.

"What do you really want?" Spot asked, turning to face me.

I scoffed, "I want to help Jack!"

"Prove it.  Prove to me you're desperate."

"What do you want me to do?" I asked.

Spot though a moment, then his expression changed.  He had an idea.

"Fight me.  Whoever loses the fight does what the winner wants."

I gulped.

"But there's no-one around to mediate."

"So what?" He said, a grin slipping across his face, "Yous scared?"

I stood up stall. 

"No." I said firmly.

"Alright then." Spot said, rolling back his sleeves.  I did the same.

"Okay, go!" Spot shouted.

Immediately, I sprang onto him, tackling him to the ground.  I had figured he wouldn't expect that.  He rolled over away from me only to get up a second later, unfazed!

"Come at me!" He yelled, but I knew not to straight away.  This was his plan: to make me come at him and waste my energy.  Then we would win for sure.  Thankfully, I was smart enough to think before I acted.

So, instead of answering his taunting trick, I circled slowly, and he began to do the same.  It was anyone's move now.

It was his.  He came at me with a swing of unpropitious force.  I was able to dodge what would have been a fatal (for the win) blow.

He had however knocked off my cap in the process.  I bit my lip.  I fell to my knees.  I scrambled around to find it. 

Spot was lying on top of it.

He appeared to be unconscious.  But how could that be?  He didn't hit the ground with that much force!  He should be...

A rock.  That's what did it.  His forehead was bleeding as well.  I tore off part of my shirt sleeve and used it to apply pressure to his head.  At this point, my identity didn't matter, a life could be at stake.

Finally, he started to come to.  Immediately he saw my face and gasped.

"Wh-who are you?" he asked, his voice straining.  I laughed gently, my long brown hair resting below my shoulders.

He didn't seem to recognize me.

"I'm-"

"Spin?!" He interrupted, alarmed.  He backed away from me slightly, "But you're a- a-"

"A girl?" I asked, smiling.

"Y-yeah.  Yes you are." he said.

"I'm sorry I had to keep it from you, but I keep it from everyone.  So you have to swear to never tell a soul." I said.

"Sure, sure." he said.  He was staring at me.

"Please stop." I said uncomfortably, "I'd prefer not to be looked at right now."

Blood was still dripping from Spot's head when I said this, and I rushed to him, pressing the piece of shirt back in its place. 

"I don't know why you called me Prettyboy, when you're the prettiest boy I've ever seen." He joked.

I laughed.

"Good fight." He added, "And by the way, I think you win."

"You were down for the count." I said with a grin.

Spot smiled too.

I stated earlier that he had the bluest eyes I'd ever seen.  That still stands.  And what was even better about them?  Now they were staring at...

"Me." Spot said, finishing a sentence I hadn't been listening to.

"Could 'ya start over?  I zoned out." I replied.

"Sure.  What I said was: You won fair and square; your wish is !y command."

I smirked.

"Looks like you'll be helping us Manhattan newsies out after all."

"Yep." Spot said standing up.  "Oh," he added suddenly, "you dropped your hat!"

I blushed.

"Oh, so I did."

"So that's why your beaut...... hair is hanging down."

"Yep." I said awkwardly, trying to put my hair up once more.  "I've been thinking about cutting it so-"

"No!" Spot chirped, "I mean... I mean... I like it."