𝚁𝚄𝙽𝙰𝚆𝙰𝚈 ° racetrack higgins

Saved by a Stranger

Cause why not have a pic of Spot ^^

I kept running, just like Jack had said. I could hear Morris behind me, cursing under his breath as he chased after me. I had to shake him, but I wasn't quite sure how. There weren't many places to hide; the streets were pretty empty, aside from a few woman standing outside of shops. Just then, I saw an opening to an alley.

It's worth a shot. I thought as I turned and ran into it, hoping to lose Morris when I got out the other side. When I turned the corner, however, I was met with a tall brick wall, which blocked the exit of the alley.

"Well, well, well." I heard Morris say. I turned and saw him stalking towards me, cracking his knuckles. "Looks like dere is nowhere to run, little Kelly."

I frantically looked around me, only to see that he was right; there was no where to go. There was no way out except for the way we came in, which Morris now blocked. Taking deep breaths, I tried to calm my breathing as the boy approached me slowly, an evil grin on his face.

Just as he was getting close, something flew at him, hitting him in the side of the neck. Morris howled in pain as what appeared to be a small stone fell onto the ground. The boy looked around to find the source, only to be hit by another stone, this time in the back of his head.

I started looking around, too, curious as to who was hitting him. As I did so, I saw someone standing up on a fire escape with a slingshot in their hand. Though I couldn't see their face, they seemed to have the build of a boy. The stranger loaded another stone and fired it at Morris again before climbing over the edge of the fire escape. Using a clothesline, the new boy zip lined down to us, his feet landing with a gentle thud on the ground. His back was towards me as he stood between me and Morris.

"Now, why you pickin on little goils, Delancey? Can't find one that is willin ta go on a date wit yous?" The new boys said, twirling his slingshot on his finger.

"You." Morris said bitterly, glaring at the new boy. "I oughta get you for that, you lousy little-"

"Now now, Morris. No need ta be name callin. Can't wes all just get along?"

The Delancey made a growl like sound before advancing in the stranger, throwing a punch. The boy dodged with ease, grabbing Morris' outstretched hand and twisting it sharply, causing him to howl in pain again. The stranger punched Morris hard in the stomach before shoving him to the ground.

"Get outta 'ere, Morris. Don't make me do sometin wes both gonna regret."

Not wanting to fight anymore, the injured boy picked himself up and turned, stalking angrily out of the alley. As he disappeared from sight, the stranger sighed and turned to face me as he tucked his slingshot into his waistline. When he looked up at me, I was finally able to get a good look at him. The boy was only a few inches taller than me, but then again, so were most of the newsies; I wasn't only five foot one, after all. He had light brown hair that was tucked up into his newsboy cap and his blue-grey eyes looked at me intensely. There was a black and gold pump cane tucked into his waistline next to his slingshot. He wore a simple tan checkered shirt and brown pants, accented by bright red suspenders.

"You alright?" He asked me, making sure to keep his distance, not wanting to scare he off. "He didn't hurt yous, did he?" I shook my head, but didn't speak. The boy nodded in response. "Good. Now, yous gonna tell me what Delancey wanted wit you?"

I sighed and shrugged. "I honestly don't know. Me and my brother were heading back to the lodging house when we ran into them. They started talking trash and my brother told me to run after he punches Oscar, so I did. Morris was chasing me, so I tried to lose him by going through here."

"And how'd that work out for yous?" He asked, a smug look on his face. When I didn't answer, he continued. "Take my advice, love, and don't be gettin into any more trouble wit da Delancey broddas. Dey are nuttin but rotten."

"And why should I trust what you say?" I asked a little harsher than I intended to. "I don't even know you."

"I did just save your skin, but whatever." He replied sarcastically before spitting in his hand and sticking it out to me. "Spot Conlon, Brooklyn newsie."

I hesitated before spitting in my own hand and shaking Spot's outstretched hand. "Tatum Kelly, newest Manhattan newsie. Call me Pockets, though."

Spot laughed breathlessly while we released each other's hands. "No way. Jacky Boy has a little sista. Neva woulda seen that comin."

I shrugged. "He didn't really tell anybody about me."

"I guess not. I mean, I didn't know about you so you had to have been a big secret." The two of us fell silent, not knowing what to say. The newsie sighed. "Well, I best be gettin back. My boys are probably lookin for me. I'll see ya around, love." With that said, he turned and started heading out of the alley.

"Hey Spot." I called after him, causing the boy to turn and look at me, his hand resting on his cane. "Thank you."

Spot smiled slightly and gave me a playful salute before continuing to walk out of the alley. As he disappeared from sight, I too left the alley, heading back to the lodging house.

Word Clarification
Neva = never
Broddas = brothers
Dey = they
Nuttin = nothing
'Ere = here
Goils = girls
Dere = there

Word Count: 972