~ Next morning ~
Spot and I walked silently to get our papes. I haven't talked to him since yesterday morning, after what he said. I still can't believe he said that. After getting our papes, we got to selling. Spot, of course, finished before me.
"I'll take one sweet cheeks" an older man said, hand extended. I handed him a pape in exchange for money. I slipped the coin in my pocket and glanced back a Spot. He was leaned up against the corner of a store, admiring all the hustle and bustle of Brooklyn. I rolled my eyes and continued selling.
"U.S. helps put down Boxer Rebellion in China!" I yelled having a few more papes to sell.
"Here Miss.," a young business man called. I smiled slightly exchanging the pape. I turned around looking for my next customer. Instead, I came face to face with my worst fear.
"I found you," He said, dropping the bottle in his hand. Tears appearing to well up in his eyes. "I found you" He repeated taking a step towards me. As he did I took a step back.
"Victor" I whispered. I looked around me, trying to find a way to escape, but it was so crowded and there was no way I could easily escape. Even if I did, Victor would know I was somewhere in Brooklyn. He would never stop looking for me.
"Yous look good" he sniffled. It's clear he was in his emotional drunk state.
"Thank you" I mumbled, setting my papes down on the curb and wrapping my arms around myself.
"I've missed you" he said walking towards me. "I need yous."
"You...you hurt me."
"I know" he whinned
"Yous kept hurting me" I started to cry.
"I know. I... I didn't mean to." He did. "Please, please just come home." He reached out for me and I pulled away.
"Don't touch me."
"What's goin' on here?" Spot said stepping in between Victor and I. I just glared at Victor. "Mister, I think yous need to back off," Spot said sternly.
"Spot don't." I warned. After years of living with Victor I learned one thing... he was very delicate when drunk. His moods could shift in a split second - at one word or look. I learned how to cope and, in a sense, manage him when he was drunk. And trying to control or demand something of him was only asking for more trouble. Spot looked back at me and then towards Victor. An evil grin started to appear on Victor's face. He began to chuckle, slightly turning away.
"Mister" he slurred, mocking Spot. "You're the one who needs ta..." he pulled his arm back, striking Spot in the face as he finished, "back off. And the names Victor." I gasped. Spot held his jaw for a second, before he took a step towards Victor, fists ready. This was going to make things ten times worse.
"Don't! Stop!" I cried stepping in between the two of them before Spot could return a blow.
"Mys move!" Spot snapped, as he stepped towards Victor. I paced a hand on his chest, holding him back. Victor snickered trying to get in Spot's face, before I placed a hand on his chest too. I couldn't let the two of them kill each other.
"Mys?" Victor questioned, grinned looking down at me. "I like it. What don't yous move so I can teach this son of a ..." I could feel the two of them pushing on my hands. I turned towards Victor, doing the only thing I knew that would make him stop – giving him what he wanted. I put both my hands on Victor's chest, looking up at him.
"Take me home."
"What?" Victor and Spot said in unison, looking at me confused.
"Take me home. I want to go home" I said calmly, pushing Victor back and away from Spot.
"No, Mys!" Spot yelled, grabbing my arm and yanking me back towards him. I could see Victor's expression turning cold and evil again.
"No!" I snapped turning to face Spot. "Don't."
"Why are yous defending him?" he said holding my shoulders. I breathed in deeply as tears escaped my eyes.
"This is the best way" I sniffled, shaking my head. "Yous don't understand." No one did. Truth is, Victor has killed before and gotten away with it. He bragged about it a few times when he was drunk. I wouldn't put it past him to do it again. On the off chance that Victor wanted to, I couldn't let him kill Spot. I was not going to put him in that anger.
"Mys, yous are not going with him" his grip tightened.
"Yes, I am" I said pushing away from him. "Trust me" I mouthed to him. Spot looked at me confusingly. I walked past Victor. I could hear him chuckle as he turned around to walk after me.
"So yous came to ya senses huh?" Victor sneered, tucking some hair behind my ear. I tensed up as I felt his hand slide down my lower back to my butt. "Yous missed me, didn't ya? All our fun times?" I turned my face away from him as he hissed in my ear, his voice making me nauseous.
"I don't think so." I heard Spot say behind us. I whipped around to see Spot grab Victor, his fist meeting Victor's face several times. Blood gushed from Victor's nose and I heard gasps from some bystanders.
"No! Don't!" I screamed trying to pull Spot away. He was to strong. He pushed me back, out of his way as he continued to soak Victor. "Spot stop! Please!" I cried, fearing Victors repercussions. If Victor didn't want to kill Spot before, I'm pretty sure he did now. Spot, fists bloody, let Victor drop to his knees and hang his head.
"Next time I tell yous ta back off, will be the last time Is do so," Spot growled. "Don't yous ever come near her again," he finished, whipping his hands on a handkerchief. At that Victor grinned, blood covering his teeth. "Mys! Lets go," Spot snapped, grabbing my arm as he walked past me. He pulled me behind him.
"Yous are just going to leave him?"
"Yes" he growled.
"What about the police?"
"What about them?"
"Won't they come after you? I mean quite a few people saw yous soak him."
"They knows who I am. And they knows not to mess with da King."
Spot pulled me all the way to the lodging house, throwing me loose in front of him when we reached the door. I stumble, catching my balance on a few crates.
"What the fuck Mys!" My eyes widened at his outburst and language.
"What the fuck?" I question. "Is told yous ta trust me!" I spat, getting in his face.
"Yeah well Is don't. What the hell where yous even thinking Mys? Going with him?" He responded crossing his arms.
"I had it under control! Yous don't know what you've done!"
"Oh really? Then please, by all means tell me Princess!"
"Ugh" I groaned rubbing my face with frustration.
"Yeah! That's what I thought." Spot said smugly, getting even more in my face.
"Hes killed Spot ok!" I screamed at him, standing on my tip toes. "Hes killed before and I... I didn't want him ta kill yous." I started to cry. He searched my eyes, wiping a tear from my cheek with his thumb as he cupped my cheek. I breathed deeply trying to control myself and keep the memories from flooding back. "He's unpredictable when he's drunk, but over the years I... I have kind of learned his ways. Is had it under control."
"Mys" Spot said shaking his head at me "Yous shoudn't have ta do it alone. What... what were yous even thinking? I mean, what could yous even do?"
"Excuse me?" I said pulling away from him. "I'm more than capable of taking care of myself. I would have been fine," I said coldly.
"Mys, wes both know that isn't true." Frustrated, I sighed and walked past him and into the lodging house. He is so infuriating! I thought as I stomped past a few newsies and into the kitchen. Being so angry made me hungry. I quickly made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and was about to head out the door before it swung open, Spot stand in my way.
"So you're an angry eater" Spot snickered, raising his eye brows at me.
"No!" I snapped, embarrassingly.
"Uhhha" Spot sounded. I rolled my eyes at him before taking a big bite, trying to get past.
Ever heard of a plate?" he said blocking my way.
"No" I said, sarcastically, mouth full. I ducked under his arm and out the door, back into the lodging house. Most of the newsies where playing cards, a few stood around holding conversation. I wove in between them, making my way towards the stairs.
"Ok, plate." Spot snapped appearing out of nowhere. He held one underneath my chin as I took a bite.
"Oh, look at yous. A bit of a neat freak Spot?"
"No, Is just don't like crumbs all over the place, nor do I want mice in the near future. So, plate." He said shoving one into my hands and following me upstairs. I walked towards the foot of my bed, finishing the sandwich before throwing myself on the bed. Spot stood in the doorway, leaning against the doorframe. I looked around confusingly. What did he want?
"What?" He sighed and slowly walked towards the bed, standing in front of me, looking down. Was he going to yell at me again? I thought.
"Mys, I'm going to ask you again... what did he do to you?"
"Oh my gosh, not this again."
"Yes, this again" Spot mocked, waiting for an answer.
"Jack already told yous."
"Yeah I knows, but what did he really do ta ya?" I looked around, trying to act all confused. I couldn't let anyone know what really happened. It would be too embarrassing and humiliating.
"Mys Is know hes did something more. I saw the fear in your eyes. You've never been that scared." I just looked at him. How could he know me so well? He rubbed his forehead, clearly frustrated. "Mys, Is can't help yous if yous don't tell me the truth." He said placing his hands in his pockets.
"Yous can't help me" I whined as tears pricking my eyes. I stood up and tried to walk away.
"No" Spot said grabbing my arm and pulling me back. "Yous always do this." He held me in front of him.
"Do what?" I cried, getting in his face.
"Run away" he snapped, glaring down at me and getting really close. He was so close I could feel his breath on my face.
"I do not." I spat, trying to get free of him, but I was unsuccessful. He held me tighter and pulled me closer to him.
"You absolutely do! Yous try to act all tough and when that doesn't work yous run away." How did he know me so well? Like seriously! Our eyes connected, and we stare at each other for what seemed like forever. I shyly looked as Spot broke the silence.
"What did hes do?" He said sternly. My heart began to pound so fast, I swear he could hear it. Spot knew I wasn't telling the whole truth. There was no way he was going to let this go. This was it, I was done for.
"He... um..." I mumbled in between breaths. "He..." tear cascaded from my eyes. "He... ra..." I couldn't say it, but Spot knew. He sighed heavily. I tried to hide my face from him as I cried. I couldn't bear to look at him. What must he think of me? He cupped my face in his hands, forcing me to look at him. He kissed my forehead gently, sending a sensation through my body, before he pulled me into a hug. Who knew he could be so sweet.
"I'm so sorry," he whispered in my ear. I clung to him, crying, as he rubbed my back carefully, trying to comfort me. After a few awkward minutes, we pulled away from each other. Spot searched me eyes, his face covered with concern. "Jack doesn't know, does he?"
"No," I sniffled "It has to stay that way."
"Mys" Spot said argumentatively. "Yous have ta tell him, especially now that Victor is in Brooklyn."
"No. Is don't. And neither do you." Spot walked away shaking his head in disagreement. "Don't yous understand how embarrassing it is? I couldn't even stand to tell you. I... can't even imagine telling Jack. What he would think of me?" Tears escaping my eyes eye again.
"Mys, hes wouldn't think any less of yous. Is sure didn't." I looked up at Spot. "Wes have to tell him."
"No" I whined "Please. Promise yous won't tell Jack." Spot looked at me intently, running his hand through his hair.
"That is a promise I will not make" He said turning around and leaving.