Friends for Life: Part 4
By: Echo

"Okay, I gotta go sell my papes. See ya round Spot." I said and walked back to Manhattan. After I sold all of my papes there, I went back to meet Spot in Brooklyn. Spot had talked to his spies and he said that they had seen Jack and Brooklyn both talking to the same guy. Spot told me what he looked like, and I wasn't too suprised to realize the guy was Frank. I told Spot what I knew and he went to Manhattan to talk to Jack and Brooklyn while I went to go look for Frank.

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

I walked into the Lodgin' House where all of the guys were playing poker and joking around. "Jacky-boy, we need ta talk."

He glared at me. "Dere ain't nothin' ta talk bout Spot."

I looked him in the eye. "Yeah, dere is, so ya betta' listen. I don't know what dat guy told ya, but dere ain't nothin' goin' on between Echo an' me."

"Dat's a lie." He said angrily and then motioned for me to follow him out into the hall.

"I ain't lyin'... what'd he tell ya?" I said when we got out of the bunkroom.

"Enough."

I glared at him. "Oh yeah?! Well if ya tink I stole yer goil an' yer so mad at me, den why ain't ya soakin' me right now?!"

He shook his head and looked at me trying to hide how hurt he was. "Cause, it ain't just you Spot."

I stepped back in surprise. "What d'ya mean?"

He looked away. "She got Snipe ta sell in 'er place so dat she could sell by whera' dat guy woiks."

"Really? Let's make sure." I said angrily and dragged Jack back into the bunkroom and over to Snipeshooter. "Hey, Snipe."

He looked up nervously. "Yeah Spot?"

"Dis is stupid." Jack muttered and started to walk away but I pulled him back. "Why were ya sellin' in Echo's spot?"

He looked from me to Jack. "Well, the bulls was afta' me an' so when I asked 'er ta trade spots wit me she did."

"Thanks Snipe." I said and looked at Jack who was shaking his head regretfully. "See? What'd I tell ya?"

He nodded. "I gotta talk ta 'er... whera' is she Spot?"

"She's lookin' fer dat Frank guy... she was really mad when we figured out what was goin' on."

Jack thanked me and left, but not before explaining to Brooklyn what was going on.

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

I was walking around in Central Park when Frank walked up. "Christina, you look wonderful today. So full of life, so angelic, so-"

"nauseated." I said dryly.

"Is something wrong?" He asked innocently.

I glared at him. "You are such a jerk."

He sat down on a bench and crossed his arms over his chest. "I really wish I knew what you were talking about."

I sat down beside him. "You know exactly what I am talking about. You told Jack and Brooklyn that something was going on between Spot and I. You thought that if you could keep us from talking to each other, then we would never figure it out. But we aren't stupid. I guess that's something you didn't count on huh?"

He shrugged and put a hand on my leg. I jumped up. "Don't touch me! If you ever try something like that again..."

He smiled evily as he stood up. "You won't be able to do a thing... it's your word against mine. You were the one that came onto me."

I shook my head. "That is a lie."

I tensed up as he brushed a strand of hair out of my face. "Leave me alone." I said slowly.

He took another step closer and I stepped back. "I swear you will be sorry if you even think of coming any closer."

He smiled and stepped forward. "That sounds like a threat."

"Damn right it is." I said through clenched teeth as I stepped back into a tree. He grabbed my arm but I pulled it away. "Leave me the hell alone."

I saw Jack out of the corner of my eye but before I could do or say anything Frank leaned down and kissed me roughly. I struggled for a few seconds, but I wasn't doing myself any good since this guy was a lot bigger than me. I calmed down for a few seconds until he pulled away and then I gave him a swift kick that would probably leave him singing soprano for a while.

I should have started running but I was too busy looking for Jack, who was obviously gone by now, not to mention the fact that I couldn't get my legs or brain to work. Frank stood up with a pained expression on his face. "You're going to be sorry you did that." He said angrily and advanced again. Without even thinking I decked him as hard as I could and sent him flying back.

I stood motionless for a few seconds and then started running as fast as my legs would carry me. Before long I heard a cop behind me, that stupid creep had probably told him to chase after me.

I didn't have to run for too long before I got rid of the cop, who didn't seem to be in the best physical condition. I walked into the Lodging House about eight o' clock and saw Brooklyn and Spot sitting together talking. At least they were back together.

Brooklyn walked over when she saw me coming. "What happened? Jack came back about five minutes ago and went up on the roof... he looked really mad about something."

We walked over to a bunk where the others couldn't hear us talking and sat down. "It's a long story."

She sat down on the bunk. "I like long stories."

I rolled my eyes. "Well, this is one you might not like." I said and told her everything that had happened.

"I oughta soak da stupid jerk!" She said angrily after I had finished.

I nodded. "You're tellin' me! I can't believe he would do that!"

She shook her head in disgust. "If I could just get my hands on that guy." I laughed and she stared at me. "What's so funny?"

I shrugged. "Not much... I just broke his nose, that's all."

She stared at me in shock. "YOU broke his nose?!" I nodded and we both started laughing hysterically until Jack climbed in the window and glared at us both before laying on his bunk and pulling his hat down over his face. She looked at me sympathetically. "I'm guessin' he didn't stick around long enough to see you give that guy a nose job, right?"

I sighed. "He left before I could do anything. If only he had waited just a few seconds longer. There's no way he'll ever talk to me again after what he saw."

She stood up. "I wouldn't worry bout it... he'll come around."

"I hope so." I said quietly as I walked out the door and down the stairs. I put my head in my hands as I sat on the bottom step to think. I looked up as I heard a noise and saw Kloppman standing in front of me. "You an' Jack fighting?"

I shrugged. "It's not important."

He sat down beside me. "If it ain't important... why are you so upset?"

I bit my lip. "I don't know... it doesn't matter anyway."

"I think you're wrong. He's just as hurt by this as you are... why don't you talk to him?"

I looked at him for a few seconds. "He won't listen."

Kloppman shrugged. "He might, if you try to talk to him."

I laughed cynically. "I can try to talk to him till I'm blue in the face, but it takes two to make a conversation."

He nodded. "True, true. But I know Jack, and he'll listen if you give him some time."

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

I started selling my papes in my usual spot the next day. After a while I met up with the other guys at Tibby's and then went to Brooklyn to start a poker game. Eventually I decided to leave after I heard thunder outside. There weren't many people left by then, just Spot, Brooklyn, Swifty, Dutchy, Mush, and Jake. When I was about six blocks from the Lodging House I heard a noise coming from an alley. I walked in and looked around but didn't see anything so I turned to leave only to find Morris standing in my way. I rolled my eyes. "This is a bad time for me... think you could rescedule for a later date?"

"I don't think so Echo." He said menacingly as he pulled out a pair of brass knuckles and tried to punch me in the stomach. I grabbed his arm and hit him in the face. "You must be pretty stupid coming here without that idiot brother of yours to back you up."

Just as I said that, someone walked up and grabbed my arms. "Hey Echo, whera's Jack, huh? Too bad he ain't heya ta protect ya."

I managed to squirm out of Oscar's grasp and backed up against the wall of the alley. They both ran towards me but I managed to dogde away. I seemed to be doing pretty good for a while, considering there were two of them and only one of me. But somehow Oscar managed to pull my arms behind my back again, only this time he pulled out a knife and held it to my throat. "I wouldn't even think of screamin' if I were you."

I clenched my teeth. "Why should I? You don't actually think I'm intimidated by you morons, do you?"

I flinched as Morris punched me in the stomach. "Did you just sneeze?" He hit me again and I glared at him. "Was that a breeze?"

"You through yet?" He asked after hitting me a few more times.

I smiled defiantly. "Not even close. You know, I have seen horse crap that smells and looks better than you. If I were as-"

He slapped me. "Shut up!"

I smiled. "What's wrong, can't handle it? Truth hurts, don't it?"

Morris smiled slyly as Oscar slashed my arm with the knife. "Yeah, more den one person."

I was starting to give up hope of ever getting out of the alley alive for the next five minutes that the two of them took turns punching and kicking me. Morris pulled me up off the ground and laughed.

"Hey sweetheart, ya loined yer leasson yet?" Oscar said as he ran a hand down my cheek. I glared at him and spit in his face.

Morris laughed. "Ya know toots, yer kinda pretty when yer mad."

I tried to wiggle away, but Morris was holding me too tight. Oscar laughed and put his hands on my waist and kissed me roughly. I bit his tongue and he pulled away angrily. "Ya're gonna pay fer dat." He said and put out his ciggarette in the cut he has given me with the knife. He laughed when I screamed. "If ya tink dat hurt ya betta' not try anythin' funny cause we'se just gettin' started darlin'."

"Don't touch her!" Someone yelled from the front of the alley.

I looked up just in time to see Matt deck Oscar. Morris let go of me to deal with Matt, who was yelling at me to leave and get help. I shook my head but he insisted and so I ran out of the alley just as it started to rain. I kept running even though I was getting dizzier and weaker with each step until I was in front of the Lodging House, where I heard someone call my name. I turned around and saw Brooklyn and Spot standing about 25 feet away. Before I could say or do anything the ground started rushing up to me and then everything went black.

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

I stared out the window at the rain. Echo should have been back by now. "Jack, hey JACK! Ya in dere?" I looked up. "What d'ya want Race?"

He rolled his eyes. "Don't tell me ya fergot bout da game!"

"Oh, the game!" I looked at me hand, not really paying attention and put my cards down. "I fold."

Race stared at me for a few seconds and then picked up my cards. "You fold?! Ya got a royal flush!! What's da matta' wit youse?!"

I glared at him. "Nothin'!" I looked up as Dutchy walked in. "Hey Dutchy! Ya seen Echo?"

He shook his head. "No, she left bout fifteen minutes before I did. Ya mean she ain't back yet?"

I shook my head. "No."

Blink looked up from his cards. "Dat's why yer actin' so weird Jack? Yer worried bout Echo?"

"NO!" I said angrily as I put down my cards and walked over to my bunk. I was just about to forget about it and get some sleep when I heard someone yell, "Someone get down heya! Echo's hurt!" I jumped up and flew down the stairs where I saw Spot holding Echo, who was soaked in blood. "Oh God, no." I said slowly as Kloppman walked into the room. "What's all this noise about?" He asked and then looked at Spot and motioned for everyone to get out of the way. "Spot, take her upstairs. Swifty, go get a doctor." Swifty nodded and ran out the door while Spot carried her up the stairs.

We all waited anxiously for the doctor to get there, and then waired some more for him to tell us if she would be alright. By the time I was about so nervous I thought I was going to throw up, the doctor finally walked out of the room. I stood up and walked over to him. "Is she gonna be okay?"

He smiled. "Don't worry. She was beat up pretty bad, but she'll be fine. She passed out from blood loss, and she'll probably have a headache when she wakes up, but it's nothing too serious. Just keep her in bed for a day or two."

I sighed in relief. "Can-can I see 'er?"

"Of course you can."

He shook my hand and I thanked him before I walked into the room and pulled a chair up beside the bed she was laying in. I brushed a hand up against her cheek and smiled, she looked so peaceful while she was sleeping. I kissed her forhead and leaned back in the chair. I had never been so scared as when Spot had carried her in tonight and I wasn't about to loose her over a stupid fight, so the only thing to do is to tell her I'm sorry.

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

I woke up and smiled as I saw Jack sitting in a chair, fighting to keep his eyes open. For a few seconds everything was normal, until I remembered everything that had happened the night before. I started to sit up but Jack put a hand on my shoulder and pushed me back down. "Yer not supposed to go anywhera' taday."

I pushed his hand away and started to sit up. "I'm-" I fell back down as a wave of dizziness washed over me. "-fine."

He smiled fondly. "Told ya."

"I think my head is going to explode." I said and looked up as someone walked in.

"Hey Echo! How're ya feelin'?" Blink asked cheerfully.

I groaned. "I feel like a carriage just ran over my head."

Jack shrugged. "Ya could be worse. So Blink, how's da healine taday."

Blink smiled. "It's not too bad... Dead Man Found in Alley."

I jerked my head up and then looked away. That had to be him... Matt was dead and it was all my fault, and I never even got to apologize. Blink walked out and Jack sighed. "Echo, who did dis?"

I stared out the window. "Is somethin' wrong?" He asked quietly. I shrugged. "Look Chris, I'm really sorry about-"

"Go away Jack." I said quietly.

"What?" He asked in a hurt voice.

"Leave me alone."

"Fine." He said coldly. I winced as he slammed the door. 'Of all the stupid things!' I thought as I slapped myself and immediatly regretted it. I closed my eyes and nodded. "It's okay, I deserved that." I spent the rest of the day thinking of Jack and Matt. But thinking was only making things worse. By the end of the day, the only thoughts passing through my head were that my best friend was dead and I could have done something to stop it.

The next two weeks passed slowly and uneventfully, and if anything important did happen, I didn't notice. Everyday passed in a blur of confusion, nothing made sense to me. I didn't talk except when I bought my papes, I didn't even listen to what the others said. Everything was confusing, like a dream... because that was all it was to me, a dream, a nightmare I was soon to wake from.

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

Part 5
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