Friends for Life: Part 2
By: Echo


I finally got to Tibby's and sat at a table with Jack, Dutchy, Mush, and Blink. They all looked at me but I just stared down at the table and didn't say a word.

"Echo, are ya alright?" Jack asked in concern. He looked at Blink who just shrugged when I didn't answer. "Where've ya been?"

"The moon." I said sarcastically.

Race walked up. "Since when is Brooklyn on the moon?"

I looked up and glared at him. He ignored me and kept talking. "I was about to start taking bets on a fight on the bridge."

I rolled my eyes. "Who was fightin'?" Jack asked Race curiously.

Race looked at me. "I ain't gonna say nothin', but some goil took a shot at a certain Brooklyn newsies and is still alive."

Jack laughed. "Dat's a good one Race..." He noticed no one was laughing and looked at Racetrack. "Tell me you're jokin'."

He shook his head. "Nope, dead serious."

Jack stared at me in shock. "You tried to hit Spot?!"

I glared at him. "No... I did more than try."

"You-wha-but-Spot?! WHY???!!!" He asked as he jumped up out of his chair.

I shrugged and tried not to notice that everyone in Tibby's was staring at us. "No reason."

He brushed his hair back and started pacing. "So yer tellin' me, dat ya started a fight wit da most respected and famous, not to mention feared, newsie in all of New Yawk fer no reason at all."

I smiled and replied cheerfully. "Uh-huh! And I'm GLAD!"

I looked up as the door slammed and saw Brooklyn walk in. "Geez, who died?" She asked as she looked around the resturaunt. She walked over to me. "What's goin' on?"

I shrugged but couldn't help glaring at her. "Nothing."

She looked around and then leaned down and whispered. "Are you mad at someone?"

I laughed. "Mad? Now THAT is funny! I'm not mad... nope, not me! No, I'm beyond mad! I'm pissed off! No, not pissed off.... I'm beyond being pissed off even! There aren't words to describe how pissed off I am!"

"Okay... I think I'll just leave you alone." She said quietly and backed off.

I looked around at all the newsies who were staring at me and rolled my eyes. "Geez, you'd think I'd just grown an extra head." I said sarcastically as I walked out.

I walked around New York for a while but never did calm down any. At about 8:00 I finally sat down on a bench in Central Park to think. I still didn't know why Spot had said that. I never had liked him much, but I never would have expected him to say something like that. It was deffinately a touchy subject. My father had died in August and now it was only the beginning of October.

After about thirty minutes of thinking a man in his 20's walked up and sat beside me. He was kind of handsome, with black hair, dark brown eyes, and a muscular build. Judging by the way he was dressed and the briefcase he carried he was probably rich and probably a lawyer. He stared at me for a while and then asked to buy a paper. I gave him a pape and he gave me the money then read it for a while. "Well, nothing exciting in that paper." He said when he finished reading it. "I think I would prefer real literature, like Shakespeare or Poe."

I shrugged. "Poe isn't bad. But his stories can get a little creepy. I did liked his poem Annabel Lee... or Alone, that was a good one too."

He smiled. "Yes, those are some of his best. Although I think I like The Raven more than any of them."

I looked down. "I like it better than The Tell-Tale Heart, I can say that much. But I think I would prefer Shakespeare over Poe anyday, especially his sonnets. 'Let me not to the marraige of true minds admit impediments-"

"-love is not love which alters as it alteration finds.'Deffinately one of my favorite sonnets by him but I think I prefer Romeo and Juliet." He said cheerfully.

I smiled, starting to get into the conversation. "Romeo and Juliet wasn't bad but it makes suicide sound romantic. They died because of a stupid crush, if Romeo had met Rosaline the same thing would have happened. I don't think they were truelly in love, besides, if they were I would think they would go on living. If I died I wouldn't want the guy I loved to kill himself, it's silly."

He smiled. "That is a very good point. You sound like a realist."

I shook my head. "I'm more of an optimist, but sometimes I do have a realist point of view."

He shrugged. "You didn't look like much of an optimist. You looked upset sitting here all by yourself earlier."

I sighed. "I haven't had a good day."

He nodded. "I know what you mean. This little talk is really a breath of fresh air after all the business talk at work. I never would have expected to have a conversation like this with a newsie!"

I shrugged. "Most people wouldn't."

He looked at his watch. "I think I better be getting home."

I smiled. "I should probably leave too. But it's been nice talking to you."

"It's been a pleasure." He said and started to walk away but stopped and turned around. "I'm sorry. I must seem incredibally rude. I was so caught up in the conversation that I never introduced myself. I'm Francis Handly... and you are?"

I smiled. "I'm Echo.. I mean, Christina Collin."

He kissed my hand. "Good night Miss Collin. I hope to see you again someday."

"I hope so. Good bye." I said and then walked away. I was feeling a lot better but I still wasn't ready to talk to the guys so I walked around New York until about two in the morning, that's when I finally decided to go back. Luckily I managed to get back to the Lodging House without getting soaked or killed, but Kloppman had already locked up so I had to go in through a window. Everyone was asleep when I got there so I put some money on Kloppman's record book and went to the room Brooklyn and I shared and went to sleep.

I awoke the next morning to the sound of boys rushing around above me and Brooklyn singing softly to herself. She turned around and stopped singing when she saw me there. "Oh... where have you been?" She asked, obviously not very happy to see me.

I shrugged. "Oh, you know. Asleep."

She frowned. "Why did you come in so late last night?"

"I didn't feel like talking to anyone and I needed to think."

She stared at me. "Okay... you better get ready so you can get some papes."

"Yeah, yeah, I know." I said in an annoyed voice.

"Well you must be in a bad mood." She said and then walked out the door.

I got ready as fast as I could and walked out the door. Jack saw me and ran to catch up. "Hey Echo, where were ya last night?"

"Places."

He smiled. "Okay, what were ya doin'?"

"Walking."

He nodded. "What else were ya doin'?"

"Thinking."

He stared at me. "So, I guess ya ain't in a good mood."

I smiled. "Now you've got the idea!"

He sighed. "Aw.. come on Echo. I jus wanna know why yer actin' so weird."

I shook my head. "You mean you haven't figured it out yet? Ask Spot. I'm sure he'd love ta tell you."

He frowned as I walked over to Skittery. "Hey Skit! How ya doin'?"

He shrugged. "Not to good. Da headlines stink, I can't sell any of me papes, an' I got a cold."

I smiled and talked to him until I bought my papes and then walked off before Jack or any of the others could talk to me and went to Snipeshooter's selling spot. I sold most of my papes but around noon the man I had been talking to in Central Park walked up to me. "May I buy a paper Christina?"

I turned around. "Sure.. um..."

He smiled. "Francis, but you can call me Frank."

I nodded and handed him a paper. "Thanks Frank." I started to try and sell some more but he interupted me. "I was just about to grab some lunch and I was wondering if you would like to come with me? I know this great little Italian restaurant not too far from here."

I looked around nervously and bit my lip. The guy seemed okay but something about him just wasn't right. Just then I saw Dutchy walking to Tibby's across the street. I tried not to look too relieved as I replied. "I'm sorry, but I have plans. It was kind of you to offer though."

He smiled. "Maybe tomorrow."

"Maybe." I said and ran across the street. "Hey Dutchy!" I said cheerfully.

He looked at me and smiled. "Hey Echo, ya on your way ta Tibby's?"

I nodded. "Yeah. I saw you and I thought I'd walk there with you."

He smiled again. "Because of dat guy across da street? He wasn't botherin' ya was he?"

I shrugged. "Well, not really... Lets just say I needed an excuse to get out of something and you walked by just in time."

"Glad to help a friend in need."

I laughed and talked to him until we got to Tibby's. Dutchy sat at a table with Mush, Race, and Blink. I looked around for a while and took a deep breath as I walked over and sat down at a table with Jack and Spot. "Hey Spot, where'd you get that black eye?"

He glared at me. "Dat ain't funny."

I smiled teasingly. "Maybe not to you, but I think it is."

Spot started to stand up but Jack motioned for him to sit back down and put his arm around my waist. "Forget about it Spot, it's ova' now."

Spot and I glared at each other for a while. I knew I should apologize, but I couldn't do it because I was still mad at him. He stood up and spit shook with Jack. "See ya round Jacky-boy, I's gonna go talk ta Brooklyn."

"I asked Spot bout what happened, how do ya know McClareny anyway?" Jack asked.

I shrugged. "Our parents were friends and we kinda grew up together. His parents died when we were little kids and he lived with some relatives. He was like a big brother to me until he ran away when he was nine."

"I can see why ya're so mad at Spot, he said a lot of stuff he shouldn't have, but I still dont' know why ya hit 'im."

I shrugged. "He deserved it."

Jack laughed. "I don't think I'll argue wit ya. Come on, lets get back ta da Lodgin' House."

~*^^*~*^^*~*^^*~*^^*~*^^*~

The next day I went back to Snipeshooter's selling spot and started hawking the headlines. Jack, Brooklyn, and Spot, who had only agreed after a lot of persuasion, were supposed to meet me at 11:30 so that I would be gone before Frank showed up, but they didn't know that. Unfortunately, he showed up before planned.

"Oh, hi." I said as politely as possible when he asked to buy a paper.

He smiled confidently. "Are you free today?"

I bit my lip nervously. "Actually, I was supposed to meet some friends for dinner."

"Do you have plans tomorrow too?" He asked trying to hide the sarcasm.

I pushed my hair behind my ear and looked at the ground. "Well.."

"Is that a no?"

I nodded but then realized and shook my head. "No, I can't-"

He smiled. "Of course you can. It's not like you have a boyfriend!"

"Actually, I um... do have a boyfriend." I said nervously.

I looked across the street and smiled when I saw Brooklyn, Spot, and Jack walking towards the end of the block. "Is your boyfriend in that group over there." He asked not quite covering up his anger.

"Yeah.. the one with the cowboy hat." I said rather hesitantly. "I have to go now."

~*^^*~*^^*~*^^*~*^^*~

I stared at the girl running across the street. Christina Collin, a beautiful teenager with a stunning personality, had impressed me the first night I met her in Central Park. My first intentions had been very short term, just a little entertainment for that night, but after five minutes with her I decided to rearrange them a little. She didn't seem like the kind of person that would go for my original plans anyway, I would have to lead her on a little. I could take her out to dinner a few times, make her think things were getting serious, maybe take her to a cheap hotel for some extra spice in the relationship, and then get rid of her when she started getting insistant on marriage or pregnant.

Those had been my intentions anyway. But now I had a challenge, her boyfriend. I glared at the boy that had his arm around her. He had greasy brown hair, and hands covered with ink from the papers he sold. He was obviously nothing more than street trash, but she was choosing him over me. With him around, I wasn't going to get anywhere with Christina.

I smiled as an idea popped into my head. I could get rid of the boy easily, but it had to be planned perfectly. I followed the group and observed them carefully. By the time they walked into a place called Tibby's I had gathered all the information I would need to put my plan into action.

~*^^*~*^^*~*^^*~*^^*~*^^*~

Part 3
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