Back to the Newsies

Sunset

I laid next to Quicksilver on the fire escape, staring at the sky streaked with pink, purple, orange, and fading blue. A few more minutes, and the sky would be completely dark. And that's when Jack and David would be leaving for the Refuge. But I would have to leave earlier than that.

I quietly sat up, and peered through the window to see that no one was following me. Once I was sure that no one was following me, I shot a zip-line arrow down into an alley and slid down on my bow. I landed with a soft thud. 

Running through the streets, I made sure to stay in the shadows and find a place to hide at first sign of the Bulls or anything that could get me caught and put in the Refuge. 

Eventually, I made it to the Brooklyn Bridge, where Spot was staring off into the distance. I came up behind him and wrapped my arms around him. He turned his head slightly, and kissed my forehead once he realized it was me.

"What'd ya want ta show me?" I asked, scrunching up my forehead and earning a small chuckle from him.

"Come on." he replied, grabbing my hand and tugging me towards Brooklyn. He took us to the dock that Jack, David, Boots, and I went over to convince Spot to join the strike.

We sat down at the end of the dock, the tips of our toes skimming the water, and stared at the sunset.

"It's so pretty." I remarked.

"Yeah. But not as pretty as you'se."  he said.

I blushed. "So...are you'se gonna join da strike?" I asked him, changing the subject.

"Well, dat all depends. Do you'se want me ta?" he wondered. "And if ya do, ya gotta make a deal wit me."

I stared at the receding sun. I couldn't affect the movie in any way, besides the fact that I'm in it, and the original didn't have me in it. "What would da deal be if I wanted ya ta join?"

"I ain't tellin' ya until ya tell me if ya want me ta join or not." he simply stated.

I pouted at him, earning a small punch to the shoulder. "Don't be like dat. Ya know ya want me to." he taunted.

"Fine. Join da strike." I deadpanned. He raised an eyebrow at me. "What? Ya wanted me ta tell ya if I thought ya should join or not, and I told ya dat ya should. Ya didn't specify how I should say it!"

He laughed and I smiled. "Please?" I added.

"Alright. Fo' you'se." he assented. He spit in his hand and held it out for me to shake. I copied his actions and shook his hand. Then, in a split second, he pushed me into the water.

"SPOT!" I shrieked once I resurfaced. He was laughing his head off, the cocky king. Someone needed to teach him. And that someone would be me.

I climbed out of the water silently and snuck up behind him. I waited until he stopped laughing and peered into the water worriedly.

"Graceful? Graceful, where are ya?" he asked anxiously, taking his cap off and putting it on the dock. He took his cane out of his suspender loop and took his slingshot out of his pocket, putting them both on the dock next to his cap.

I crept quietly up and shoved him into the water just as he was about to dive in. He fell in with an indignant, "HEY!" and I burst out laughing as he resurfaced. His expression was the cutest mix of annoyed, yet still having fun.

"I oughta soak ya fo' dat." he said, raking his fingers through is wet hair and pushing it out of his eyes. It would have been more serious, but he had a big grin on his face, which took away all the seriosity of the situation.

"We's both already wet." I pointed out. I dove in after him and he immediately wrapped his arms around me.

"Hey! Let go, Spot!" I whined. 

"Nah." he replied, contentedly resting his chin on my shoulder. "I's likes it he-ah."

"Fine. Be dat way." I playfully grumbled, elbowing him to make him let go. I twisted around to face him. "What was da deal anyway?"

"Oh. Well, if I joined da strike, you'd be me goil." he replied, his face a deep shade of red. He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "If I's didn't, den......well, I's hadn't figured dat out yet. But I wouldn't need ta, would I?"

I laughed, and Spot smiled. "So will ya? Be me goil?"

"Of course, I's would!" I told him, wrapping my arms around his neck. "You'se Spot Conlon. Every goil wants ta be ya goil."

His blue eyes twinkled. "But I's only got me eyes on one."

"An' who would dat be?" I asked him, even though I already knew the answer. 

He leaned closer. "Dat's you'se." he replied. He closed the gap between us and pressed his lips to mine. I smiled into the kiss, and heard newsies whistling and catcalling in the background.

Spot pulled away reluctantly and frowned at the newsies, opening his mouth to snap at them, but I put my hand on his cheek and turned his head to face me again.

"Ignore dem." I told him. "You'se can yell at dem lata."

Spot grinned and swam back to the dock, hoisting himself up. He offered an arm to me, which I gratefully took. His muscles tensed as I pulled myself up onto the dock, dripping wet. I shook myself out like a dog, spraying excess water all over Spot.

"Hey!" he protested, holding his hands up to protect his face.

"Don't go complainin'. You'se already wet!" I scolded him. He pouted at me as he picked up his cap and put it on my head.

"Ya newsie cap is missin'. I wouldn't want ya ta go ta da Refuge or da orphanage; I's couldn't live witout ya." he explained, picking up his cane and slingshot and putting them in their respectful places. He picked me up, bridal style, and carried me upstairs to his room, where he dropped me on his bed. I immediately got up again, and rummaged through his drawers, looking for something dry to wear. 

"Ya got anythin' small and old?" I called to him from my position.

"Nah. I'd always give it ta da smaller newsies." he said, coming up behind me. I turned my head to face him and saw that he was holding a clean set of clothes.

"But dis is da smallest I's got."

I took it from him and made my way to the bathroom. I quickly peeled my soaked clothes off of me and put on Spot's shirt and pants. I put his cap back on and stepped out. Spot looked up from his seat and put the book he was reading, down.

"I's gotta get back soon." I said as he made his way over to me.

"But you'se don't wanna." he replied, voicing my true feelings.

"Yeah, but da oddas-mostly Mista Kloppmann-are gonna be worried." I weakly tried arguing back. 

Spot knowingly smiled, though I saw traces of.........jealousy? in his eyes. He spun me around so that my back was against his chest and his arms were around me. He took the cap off and put it back on his head, letting my hair tumble down on my shoulders.

"Ya know ya wanna stay......" he taunted, burying his face in my hair. "Ya hair dries fast." he remarked suddenly, eliciting a laugh from me.

"Alright, fine. I'll sleep he-ah." I tiredly consented. I wriggled out of his grasp and flopped on the bed. A few seconds later, Spot laid down next to me and wrapped his arms around me and buried his face in my hair again. I twisted around so that I faced him, and laid my head against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat, sleep instantly overcoming me.