Trapped Where There Ain't No Future

9

A/N: This one and the next are some fluffy recovery chapters. 

"Wha' happened?" Jack said behind us.

"Da Delancy's." Spot said grimly.

Eventually I drifted all the way off to sleep. But not before hearing Spot return and hold a hushed, tense conversation with my brother.
"Da knife wasn't theah." Was the last thing I heard before sleep finally overcame me.

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"Hey Les!" Boots whispered out to me after he got his papes from Mr. Weasel and walked past me an' Davey (who was talking to Jack) on his way to his selling spot. "I hoid from Skittles dat Spot's comin' ta see Red today. Handin' out his papes an' everythin'. Pass it on ta Jack an' Blink, will ya?"

"Yeah sure." I nodded. "Jack!" I tugged on his shirtsleeve til he looked down at me.

"Wha's up?"

"Boots says I need ta say that Skittles says that Spot says he's comin' to see Red today so's Blink can sell."

"A'right. I'll tell Blink." Jack said.

"What happened to Red?" Davey asked.

"She had a run-in wit' da Delancy's." Jack explained, startin' to head back to the Lodging House.

"Why is Spot coming then?" Davey asked.

My brother is so clueless sometimes. "Red's Spot's girl now, Davey!" I said.

"What? Spot has a girl?"

"Obviously. It's Red." I rolled my eyes. I liked Red. She was nice. "Can I come see Red with you Jack?"

"Shoah. Come on den, we gotta get dere sos Blink has time ta get 'is papes."

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"Whaddaya mean Spot's comin'? I'se sittin' wit her, he don't need ta come." I protested, lookin' at me sistah, who was still sleepin' on my bunk.

"Youse gotta woik, Blink." Jack said, pushin' me t'words da door. "Ise'll sit wit' her 'til Spot gets heah."

No way! I didn't want Eva bein' alone wit' a boy! I didn't realize I had spoken out loud 'til Jack said,

"She's stuck in bed, Blink! Whatta dey gonna do? 'Sides, Kloppman's right downstaihs."

I guess... an' I do need ta woik...

"Mornin' Blink." Eva said, opening one of her eyes.

"Mornin' Eva. How ya doin'?" I asked, resistin' Jack's pushes.

"Ise fine." She yawned and tried to get up.

"No, youse need ta rest." I insisted, and she listened (foah once) layin' back down on da bed.

"An' you need to work." She said.

Aw dang it, she was listenin'.

"I'll be fine, I swear." She said, lookin' at me wit' her big brown eyes. How was I s'posed ta say no?

"Fine." I muttered, lookin' back one moah time at Eva 'fore leavin'.

"I love you too." she called, an' I could hear da smile in her voice as I went down da staiahs. At da bottom I ran inta Spot. He was holdin' a small papah bag an' looked moah noivos den I had eva' seen 'im befoah.