Spot Conlon and I have been friends from the start. Sure, he thinks I’m obnoxious, I think he’s egotistical, and we find each other unbearably annoying, but that’s no reason why we can’t get along. We have an understanding, we know the line, and it has almost never been crossed. Almost anyway. There have been times I’ve said things a little out of line, and Spot has said things that hit a little too close to home, but for the most part, we know not to take each other too seriously. Most recently we had been arguing about who I should and shouldn’t trust. Today was no exception. “I’m tellin’ ya, da goil’s a bad influence.”

I rolled my eyes. “Since when do you care if I hang around with ‘bad influences’ anyway. We hate each other… remember?”

He stared at the slingshot I was trying to aim, and then at the pier I was going to hit. “Yer aimin’ too high.”

I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye, but didn’t aim any lower. “My aim is perfect.” I said distantly as I missed the pier.

He smiled. “Ya missed… and even Brooklyn doesn’t wanna hang around wit ‘er. She’s gonna drag ya down Echo.”

I rolled my eyes and aimed the slingshot again, actually hitting the pier this time. “No one is dragging me down. Anyway, you guys are way too uptight…. Or maybe the word is paranoid.”

He glared at me. “Da woid is street smart.”

I smiled. “Ah… egotistical.”

He sighed. “Not funny.”

I laughed. “I’m tellin’ ya Spot, she’s not so bad. Just uh… spontaneous?”

“No, a bad influence.”

I rolled my eyes. “You aren’t exactly an angel Rover. Besides, maybe I’ll be a good influence.”

He shook his head. “I ain’t sayin’ I’m perfect… I’se just sayin’ she’s way too wild. It’s easier ta pull someone down dan ta help ‘em up…. Jack would agree ya know.”

I glared at him. “Why should I care what Jack thinks? It’s not like I’m his girl anymore anyway.”

He looked at me suspiciously. “Bitter? It’s yer own fault. Ya just thought he’d forget about da whole thing. Ya should ‘ave known not ta take advantage of what ya had wit Cowboy.”

“I am not bitter. See you around Spot.” I said coldly as I gave him his slingshot and walked down the docks where Raven was standing.

“Spot still tryin’ ta give ya lectures?” She asked sarcastically.

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah. I don’t know why he’s being so paranoid. Not only is he telling me who I should talk to, now he’s giving me lectures about Jack, and even I’m over that one.”

She smiled. “Yeah, apparently Cowboy is too.”

I glared at her. “Don’t even bring that subject up.”

She laughed. “I thought ya were ova’ ‘im.”

“I am.”

She raised an eyebrow at me. “Den why don’t ya want me ta talk about oh… whats-her-name, from Harlem? Oh yeah, Ivy, da innocent liddle angel. Jack’s new goil. I wonda’ if she makes anyone else wanna puke.”

I shrugged. “I wouldn’t know, I haven’t met her.”

She laughed. “Ya ain’t half bad at dis… ya eva’ thought of actin’ as a career?”

I glared at her. “Come on Raven, I’m not going to spend the rest of the day talking about Ivy and Jack.”

“Good plan… so, ‘ave ya eva’ been ta da Boury lately?”

I stopped walking and stared at her in shock. “I can’t go there!”

She laughed. “Why not? Red ain’t gonna be there. Some a his guys maybe, but Red don’t eva’ go ta Skeeter’s poker games.”

“Who’s Skeeter?”

She smiled. “Ya’ll see.” She waited a few seconds and when I didn’t move she grabbed my arm. “Come on. It ain’t like Jack’ll care whera’ ya go. Anyway, it’s about time ya start havin’ some fun.”

I followed her, rather reluctantly, to the Boury, and over to some run-down buildings. Raven looked at me and laughed at the nervous expression on my face. “Lighten up Echo… nothin’ ain’t gonna happen.” She walked up to one of the buildings and knocked on the door. Seconds later a tall guy with curly brown hair and brown eyes walked out. He smiled. “Raven! Long time no see… who’se yer friend?”

She kissed him and turned to me. “Skeeter, dis is Echo.”

I smiled nervously. “It’s uh… nice to meet you.”

He laughed. “Raven, yer hangin’ out wit dis goil?!”

She slapped him lightly and motioned for me to come in. “Don’t mind him… he ain’t used ta people bein’ polite.”

I walked in and took one last look outside before Skeeter shut the door. I jumped as someone behind me laughed. “Well, if it isn’t Echo.”

I spun around and gasped as I saw the tall blond hair blue eyed guy standing behind me, recognizing him from the Boury. “It’s you.”

He smiled. “So ya recognize me.”

I nodded slowly and started backing up. “Raven said that Red wouldn’t be here.”

“Red isn’t heya.” He said cheerfully.

“Echo, ya comin’ or not?” Raven said impatiently as she walked back into the room and then smiled at the blond guy. “Oh, I see ya’ve met Nick… or Stingray as the guys call ‘im.”

I glared at her. “He’s one of Red’s guys!”

Nick laughed. “Don’t worry, Red won’t eva’ know ya was heya, I swear.”

Raven shrugged. “He’s harmless.”

He frowned. “Don’t listen ta Raven… I’se more dangerous den I look ya know. So, ya know how ta play poka’?”

I nodded, still a little nervous. “Yeah, I think I can handle it.”

He put an arm around my shoulders and walked me upstairs. The dealer looked up as we walked in. “Hey Sting, who’s yer friend?”

Nick smiled and sat down. “Dis is Echo… she’s Jack Kelly’s goil. Echo, dat’s Hooks.”

Hooks smiled. “Echo… how is Cowboy?”

I shrugged. “Don’t know, don’t care. Ask Ivy if you’re really curious.”

Nick gave me a strange look. “Ivy? Who’s Ivy?”

I picked up the cards Hooks dealed me and ignored him. Raven gave me a funny look. “Ivy is Cowboy’s newest goil. Echo is trying to pretend she doesn’t care about it so just play along.”

I glared at her. “I’m not pretending.”

Nick smiled. “Ah… so, how long ago did dis happen?”

I shrugged. “Who knows. Time flies when yer havin’ fun…”

He nodded. “And dat would be how long?”

“Ten days.” I said as I tried to hide behind my cards.

He laughed. “So what’s ‘is problem anyway? Why’d he choose dat Ivy goil ova’ someone like you. He stupid or somethin’?”

I glared at him. “No. I stabbed him in the back, it’s my own fault.”

Raven rolled her eyes. “Ya didn’t stab ‘im in da back. Ya just helped a friend.”

“Yeah, a friend that just happened to be his worst enemy.”

“Enough of dis, lets play some poka’!” Hooks said impatiently.

I stayed in for one poker game, and after that I just watched. Nick smiled and offered a cigarette. I shook my head. “No thanks, it’s a bad habit you know.”

He laughed. “Oh really? Well, ya wanna beer den?”

I rolled my eyes. “No, I don’t even like the smell of the stuff.”

A guy sitting not too far away laughed. “Hey goil, do ya do anythin’? Cause if not I’se sure I could teach ya some stuff.”

Nick hit him on the back of his head. “Hey, leave ‘er alone.”

I blushed a little as the same guy showed up a few minutes later with a drink. He handed it to me. “Don’t worry, it’s just sarsaparilla.”

I tasted it and looked at the guy. “You sure? It tastes funny.”

“Mine does too.” A kid sitting nearby said.

I shrugged and forgot about it. Two hours later Nick, Raven, Skeeter, and I were walking away. I tripped and Nick helped me up. “Are ya okay?”

I laughed and nodded. Nick gave me a strange look but kept walking. Raven and Skeeter wandered off somewhere eventually and it was just Nick and I. He smiled. “So, ya gonna go back ta Manhattan?”

I frowned. “Nope… Jack doesn’t care, and so I don’t either. He can go hang.”

He sat on some nearby steps. “Oh really? So ya don’t care dat he’s goin’ wit anotha’ goil now.”

I shook my head and laughed. “Why should I? That’s usually what people do.”

He stared at me for a few seconds. “Yer really takin’ dis hard, ain’t ya?”

I glared at him. “Absolutely not. In fact, Jack’s got the right idea.” I said as I leaned over and kissed him.

He seemed surprised at first, but then kissed me back. I pulled back and laughed. “See? I’m not taking this hard and I’m over it. I don’t know why everyone thinks I’m so upset.”

He sighed and helped me up. “Come on, ya betta’ get back.”

I frowned. “I’m not going back to Manhattan. I’d rather go to…. Brooklyn.”

He stared at me suspiciously. “Ya ain’t gonna try ta prove ta Spot Conlon dat yer ova’ Jack da same way ya tried ta prove it ta me are ya? His goil wouldn’t like dat.”

I glared at him. “I wouldn’t kiss Rover if my life depended on it.”

He stared at me for a second and the picked me up. I stared at him questioningly and he shrugged a little. “Ya can’t walk strait an ya’ve tripped too many times already.”

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

“Echo? Echo! Are ya gonna get up?!” Spot practically yelled.

I yelped and pulled the pillow over my head. He pulled it away. “What’re ya doin’ heya?!”

I covered my ears. “Stop yelling. My head is going to explode.”

He gave me a funny look. “Whatta ya mean, yer head’s gonna explode?”

I whimpered. “I think I’m dyin’.”

He started to say something but I got up and ran to the bathroom. Five minutes later he walked in and sighed. “I don’t believe dis… da little country goil’s got a hangover.”

I frowned, too miserable to manage a glare. “I do not… I wasn’t even drinking. An’ I ain’t a little country girl.”

Raven walked in the door and looked at Spot. “What’s wrong wit ‘er?”

He glared at her. “She’s got a hangover… ya wouldn’t know how she managed ta do dat, would ya?”

Her eyes widened and she looked over at me. “A hangover?!”

I groaned. “Stop yelling… have some sympathy for a dyin’ girl would ya?”

She started to laugh but stopped when Spot glared at her. “She wasn’t drinking anything Spot… just sarsaparilla.”

“Well den how’d she get a hangova’?”

Raven slapped herself. “Da creep dat gave ‘er da drink must ‘ave spiked it.”

I looked up slowly. “Spiked it? If I survive, I’ll have ta give that guy a good soakin’.”

Spot sighed and shook his head. “I’ll watch ‘er Raven.”

She rolled her eyes. “Fine. See ya round Spot.”

He walked over and kneeled beside me. “I can’t believe ya din’t notice it was spiked.”

I frowned. “It tasted funny… drinkin’ it wasn’t one of my best ideas.”

He smiled and helped me to my feet. “Jack won’t like this.”

I glared at him. “Oh, I don’t care what he thinks.”

He looked at me skeptically. “Ya don’t care at all?”

“Not at all… anyway, it’s none of his business what I do.”

He smiled. “What did ya do?”

I blushed as I thought of Nick. “I didn’t do anything.”

He stared at me for a few seconds. “Den why do ya look so guilty? Tell me what happened. I’ll find out anyway.”

I glared at him resentfully. “It doesn’t matter… some moron spiked my drink and I wasn’t thinking so it doesn’t matter.”

He gave me a funny look. “It wouldn’t have anythin’ ta do wit da guy dat brought ya back last night, would it?”

I frowned. “Who told you about Nick?”

He smirked. “Forgettin’ who yer talkin’ to? I know all.”

I glared at him. “Egotistical.”

He stared at me as I found the bunk I had been sleeping on the night before and tried to fall asleep. “Think ya’ll survive?”

I frowned slightly but kept my eyes shut. “I better… that creep that spiked my drink is going to pay. If I do die, would you soak him for me? Nick’ll know who it is.” I said slowly as I drifted off to sleep.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I looked at Echo in surprise as she mentioned Nick again. “Who’s Nick anyway?” I waited a few seconds and realized she was asleep. I frowned slightly.

“Hey Spot. Have you talked to …” I looked up and saw Sketch standing across the room staring at Echo with wide eyes. “She’s here! What’s Echo doing in Brooklyn?”

I shrugged. “Nick brought her heya after she got drunk.”

He looked down at Echo and shook his head. “Nu-uh! She wouldn’t do that! And who is Nick?!”

“Raven took ‘er to a poker game somewhere an’ some guy spiked ‘er drink. She woke up wit a hangover talkin’ bout how she was dyin’ an’ den she talked about Nick, da guy dat brought ‘er heya, an’ fell asleep before I could ask ‘er bout ‘im.”

Sketch sighed and kneeled beside her. “I don’t think she’s takin’ the breakup with Jack to well.”

I shrugged. “I don’t eitha’. But she won’t admit it.”

Sketch smiled slightly. “I’m not surprised. She’s a sweet girl, but she has her pride. I guess she’s just trying to keep what’s left of it. For someone who hates arrogance, she certainly cherishes it.”

I smiled slightly. “Ya got dat right. So, ya think she’ll like Ivy?”

Sketch rolled his eyes. “I don’t think Echo knows how to be rude to a stranger but she’ll probably try to be nice just to annoy Jack.”

“Yeah, dat sounds like somethin’ she’d do.”

He stood up and walked to the door. “I’m gonna go now Spot, but would you-“

“I’ll send ‘er back ta Manhattan when she wakes up.” I finished.

He smiled. “That’s not what I was going to ask, but if you think you can get her back there, it’s not a bad idea.”

I nodded. “I can get ‘er ta go back. If she doesn’t wanna go, I’ll just trick ‘er inta goin’.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That afternoon I was on my way back to Manhattan when I ran into Nick. “Well, we meet again. Hello Echo.”

I blushed. “Oh, hi.”

He laughed. “Blushin’? Starin’ at da ground? Last time I saw ya, ya were a lot bolder.”

I looked up slowly. “Sorry about yesterday. I wasn’t thinking.”

He shrugged. “Believe me, I didn’t mind. Goin’ back ta Manhattan?”

I nodded. “Yeah, that’s kind of unavoidable.”

He smiled. “Would ya like ta walk wit me ta Central Park?”

I shrugged. “Sure. It might be fun.”

He offered an arm and we started walking to the Park. “So, how did you become a newsie?”

He shrugged. “My family died in a fire when I was five, an I grew up in a orphanage. One night I just decided ta leave. Been a newsie ever since. So what about you? I know yer not from around heya.”

I shook my head. “Deffinately not. I grew up in Colorado, my parents died, I came here because Brooklyn was pretty much the only person I knew outside of my town.”

He pushed his hair back. “So, ya feelin’ okay? Ya want me ta soak dat guy from da poker game?”

I glared at him. “You knew?!”

He nodded. “Yeah, I figured it out afta we left. But I didn’t know he was gonna spike yer drink if dat’s what yer thinkin’.”

I frowned. “I wish I hadn’t gone to that place.”

Nick smiled. “Well I can’t blame ya, but I’m glad ya went.”

I blushed a little and he laughed. We talked the rest of the way to Central Park. I looked around. “Do you come here a lot?”

He smiled. “Truth?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I’d like it if you were honest.”

He laughed and shook his head. “Nah. I’ve almost neva’ been heya. I was just comin’ ta see you.” I blinked, but couldn’t think of anything to say. He smiled. “Well, ya seem ta be short on words, an’ I ain’t gonna waste dis opportunity.” I froze as he leaned down and kissed me. He ran his fingers through my hair and smiled. “Will ya be me goil?”

I bit my lip and pulled away, trying to hide the tears starting to build up in my eyes. “Nick, you’re a great guy. But I can’t.”

He nodded as if accepting bad news he had been expecting. “Ya still love Cowboy, I shoulda known. But I understand… if ya eva’ change yer mind, I’ll still be heya.”

I smiled slightly and kissed him on the cheek. “The girl that manages to get you will be very lucky…. Thank you for understanding Nick. It means a lot to me.”

“I gotta get back ta da Boury, an’ you probably gotta get back too.” He stared at me for a few seconds with a hurt expression on his face before he walked away. I sighed and walked back to the Lodging House.

A few of the guys looked up as I walked in around sunset. Sketch smiled. “So you survived after all. Congratulations.”

I glared at him. “Oh shut up.”

Dutchy gave him a funny look. “What’re ya talkin’ bout?”

I put a hand over Sketch’s mouth. “Nothing, we weren’t talking about anything.”

He laughed. “Yeah, right nothing. I’m sure Ni-“

I glared at him. “Would you just shut up already?!”

He shrugged and handed me a book. “I think that’s yours.”

I sent him one last warning glare and started to read the book. A few minutes later, someone walked in the door and a few of the guys whistled. Blink nudged Race and whispered, “Whatta ya think happened ta ‘er halo, cause she’s gotta be an angel wit a face like dat.”

Crutchy shook his head and gave a slight nod in my direction. Blink smiled sympathetically. “Sorry Echo, I forgot ya was dere.”

“I don’t know why you’re sorry. You didn’t do anything. What makes you think I care? Because I don’t.” I said as I rolled my eyes and started reading the book again.

A girl with curly sandy blond hair and dark blue eyes walked in slowly. “Is Jack here?”

Bumlets twisted his hat around. “No, he ain’t back yet. But ya can wait for ‘im if ya want.”

She smiled and sat down next to Sketch then stared at me for a few seconds. “I don’t think I know you. I’m Ivy.”

I smiled and shook with her. “Echo, it’s nice to meet you.”

She bit her lip. “Oh, I didn’t realize you were…. well, you.“

“Yeah, that would be the reason you introduced yourself.”

She laughed nervously. “Yeah, I guess I just was trying to avoid meeting Jack’s old girl. I’ve had some problems in the past with ex-girlfriends.”

I laughed and struck up a conversation with her… if not to make a friend, then to try annoying Jack. He walked in ten minutes later and gave me an angry glare when he saw that I was on good terms with Ivy. She looked at him seriously. “Jack, we need to talk.” He walked out of the room and ten minutes later he walked back in and glared at me. “Why were ya bein’ so nice ta Ivy?”

I smiled like I didn’t know what he was talking about. “Well I’m sorry Cowboy, but I’m not going to be rude to someone for no reason, no matter what you want me to do.”

“Whatever ya say.” He said sarcastically and before he could say anything else Raven walked in and smiled mischievously. “Hello Echo… someone’s been wondering about you.”

I glared at her and blushed. “Oh really? That’s nice.”

Sketch stiffled a laugh. “I bet I can guess who.”

I rolled my eyes. “You cannot, I don’t even know who she’s talking about.”

He raised an eyebrow at me in amusement. “You don’t? Maybe you should ask Spot, he told me something about a guy by the name of Nick… somethin’ about walkin’ you to Brooklyn.”

I shrugged. “Doesn’t sound familiar.”

Raven laughed. “Talk about a short term memory… come on Echo, da tall blond guy dat freaked ya out when ya first saw ‘im.”

I glared at her. “Oh, that Nick. Well let him wonder, if he expects me to go there he’s out of his mind because I wouldn’t have gone in the first place if I would have known he’d be at Skeeter’s poker game.”

Race stopped the poker game he had started and stared at me suspiciously. “Skeeter’s poker game? But that’s in da Boury.”

I blushed as every newsie in the room turned to stare at me and I tried to think of an excuse. “Well actually I uh…. What?”

Psycho glared at Raven accusingly. “Who took Echo to the Boury, Raven?”

She gasped indignantly. “Why do you think I took her to a poker game in Red’s territory?!”

“Because you would, and you did.” Sketch said after one look at my face.

Jack glared at her. “What were ya thinkin’?! Do ya ‘ave any idea what Red would do if he caught Echo dere?!”

I glared at him. “It’s not like she dragged me there against my will! I’m not scared of Red, and nothing happened anyway, so why don’t you just drop it?!”

He walked over slowly. “Ya shouldn’t ‘ave gone dere an’ ya know it.”

“Whatever you say.” I said, mocking him from before.

He glared at me. “Ya know not ta go ta da Boury Echo! I know ya ain’t smart enough ta figure out ya can’t trust every single person in da world, but I thought ya at least knew not ta give yer enemies a chance ta hurt ya!”

I took a step back towards the door. “Three weeks ago, you acted like you at least respected me a little, and now you treat me like a silly little girl. And I admit I’ve made some stupid decisions, but they were mine to make. I’m not your girl anymore, and you may be the leader here, but that doesn’t give you any right to try to make my choices for me. Once you told me that you didn’t deserve me, and I didn’t believe you, but you know what? You were right. And I am so sick of always doing what everyone thinks I’ll do. So, Your Majesty, go find some other loyal subject, because I’ve never been able to obey your every command, and that seems to be what you’re looking for, and may I suggest a dog, they listen better than anyone else.” I said icily and spun around, running out the door. I ran to the Boury, not really thinking about Red, or not caring, and ran right into the warehouse. A tall burly guy stepped in front of me. I finally realized what I had done and backed into someone else. The guy in front of me smiled evilly and grabbed my arm. “If it isn’t Echo… ya made a big mistake by comin’ heya, an’ yer gonna pay fer it.”

My eyes widened as a guy standing five feet away start swinging a chain. I closed my eyes and braced myself. “Let her go!” I heard Nick say angrily from across the room. We turned around to watch him walk our way. He nodded at me reassuringly. “I’ll take care of her.”

He grabbed my arm gently and led me into a room closed off from the rest of the warehouse. “What’re ya doin’ heya?!”

I frowned. “Where’s Red?”

He sighed. “Red’s gone, he left me in charge ‘til he gets back. Now why are ya heya?”

I hugged him and kissed him gently before looking him the eye. “I’ve been thinking about what I said to you in Central Park and I changed my mind. I’m sorry I told you I wouldn’t be your girl, but I was wrong.”

He sighed as a sad expression passed over his face and he pushed me away. “I wish ya were right. But ya don’t mean it, an’ ya’ll know it after dis whole thing is ova’.”

I frowned and sat on the bed. “I’m sick of Jack trying to tell me what to do, and he has a new girl, it’s over. So what’s wrong?”

He sat beside me and grabbed my hand. “Any other goil I wouldn’t care, in fact I’d probably take advantage of ‘er. But I won’t do dat to ya. Yer just mad, an’ ya may say ya don’t care now, but ya will. An I don’t want ya ta hate me because I didn’t stop dis thing. I do care about ya, but you still love Jack. If yer eva’ really ova’ ‘im, I’ll be heya. But he cares for ya too, an’ he’ll realize sooner or later.”

I wrapped my arms around my knees. “Why do you have to be so perfect?”

He kissed my forehead and stood up. “It’s too dark for ya ta go back, ya can sleep in da bed. I’ll just sleep on da floor an’ make sure no one tries ta hurt ya.”

I nodded and layed down. He left the room and made a small pallet on the floor when he walked in. “Nick,” I said as he leaned over to blow out the candle he had lit.

He looked up. “Yeah?”

I smiled. “Thank you.”

He didn’t say a word, just blew the candle out and before long I fell asleep.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I woke up as I saw Jack storm into the room. Less than a second later I heard Nick walking towards the room. “Echo, ya should go back ta Manhattan, yer friends’re gonna be worried. I don’t know about you, but I ain’t sellin’ papes taday… I didn’t get much sleep last night-“ He said as he walked in the room without his shirt on, but before he could finish the sentence Jack punched him, causing him to fall back and hit his head on the wall. He rubbed the back of his head and glared at Jack. “What’re ya tryin’ ta do, kill me?!”

Jack glared back. “Yeah, dat’s da idea. An’ I will if ya eva’ touch my goil again.” He grabbed my arm. “I’m takin’ ya back ta da Lodgin’ House.” I looked back one last time at Nick, who motioned for me to go with him, before I followed Jack back to Manhattan. I glared at him as we walked into the bunkroom. “Why did you do that?!”

He turned around angrily. “What was I supposed ta do when some guy is tryin’ ta take advantage of my goil?!”

I shook my head angrily. “I don’t believe this. Nothing happened. On the way back from Brooklyn I ran into him and he asked me to be his girl, but I said no. After we had the fight I was angry and I went to the Boury to tell him I changed my mind. But he said no because he thought I still loved you and he didn’t want me to hate him when I realized it. So he let me sleep in his bed and he slept on the floor by the door. End of story.”

“Yeah, I’m gonna believe dat.” Jack said sarcastically.

Before I could stop myself, I punched him, and he fell down. I gasped and kneeled beside him . “Oh gosh, I’m sorry. Are you all right?!”

He winced and rubbed his jaw. “Geez, what’re ya tryin’ ta do, kill me?!”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “Yeah, that’s the idea.”

He glared at me. “What’s yer problem?!”

“What’s my problem? You think I slept with a guy I hardly know and you want to know what my problem is?!”

He shrugged. “What am I supposed ta think? Yer layin’ in bed, an’ he walks in half dressed talkin’ bout how he didn’t get any sleep.”

I rolled my eyes. “My gosh Jack, you know me better than that.”

He sighed. “I was wrong, okay? I lost my tempa’. An’ I know I hurt ya, but I don’t wanna loose ya Echo.” He leaned forward to kiss me but I pulled back.

“Jack, you know I didn’t mean it don’t you?”

He thought for a second and couldn’t think of what I meant. “Mean what?”

I blushed guiltily. “What I said last night right before I ran out. I know I shouldn’t have kissed Nick those two times but I was so sick of everyone thinking I was stuck on you, and I didn’t want to admit it and-“ I stopped talking as he kissed me, but pulled back again when I remembered something else. “What about Ivy?”

He shrugged. “She came ova’ ta break up wit me.”

I thought for a few more seconds. “How did you know I was in the Boury?”

He smiled. “Let’s just say a little boid told me.”

I groaned. “Rover. I’m going to have to apologize to Nick you know.”

Jack frowned. “Will ya shut up so I can kiss ya?!”

I leaned forward until I was less than an inch from his face. “No.” I whispered, then jumped up and ran out of the room. He was right behind me, and a few hours later we walked into Tibby’s together. Everyone fell silent as Jack kissed me, but before long they recovered from the shock and started their usual whistling and cheering. Ten minutes later I was sitting at a table next to Jack when I saw him glaring at someone across the room, and when I looked I saw Nick standing by the door. I sent Jack a warning look and walked over to Nick who walked away from the guys. “What are you doing here?”

He smiled a little. “I came ta say good-bye.”

I blinked. “Good-bye?”

He nodded. “Yeah, I’m goin’ west… Texas maybe. Da guys’ll tell Red dat ya were dere, an’ I’ll neva’ be able ta win a fight wit ‘im, especially if he’s mad.”

I frowned. “That doesn’t mean you have to leave. You could come to Manhattan, or go to Queens or-“

He shook his head. “No, it won’t work. Anyway, maybe dis is all for da best. It’ll be easier dis way.” I stared at him for a few seconds, not even trying to hide my disappointment. He smiled. “Hey, I’ll keep in touch. Okay?”

I nodded and hugged him. “You better write, or I’ll never forgive you.” He nodded and started to turn around, but I stopped him. “Hey Nick?”

He turned around slowly. “Yeah?”

I smiled a little. “You know I’ll be your friend until the day I die.”

“Yeah, I know.” He said, and I thought I heard a note of sadness, before he smiled and nodded at Jack nervously then walked out the door. I walked back to the table I had been sitting at. Jack looked at me. “What’d he want?”

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t worry, he just wanted to say good-bye. You don’t have to break his nose or anything.”

Sketch stared at me suspiciously. “Echo, can I talk to you?”

I rolled my eyes but walked away from the guys and faced him. “What?”

He stared at me for a while. “What’s your problem? And don’t tell me you don’t have one, I know you better than that. It’s kind of obvious you made up with Jack, but why are you acting so weird?”

I shrugged. “I didn’t think I was acting weird. Nick was leaving and I wanted to tell him good-bye.”

“That’s not what I meant. What did you mean by your answer to Jack’s question?”

I glared at him. “I didn’t mean anything by it.”

He nodded. “Yeah, I’m sure you didn’t. But I bet I can guess where that guy got his black eye. I’m just wondering what he did to deserve it.”

“I don’t really think it’s any of your business, but okay, I’ll tell you. I kissed him twice, he kissed me once and asked if I’d be his girl, I said no and when I changed my mind he wouldn’t accept my answer because he didn’t want me to hate him. Then, since it was so late he let me sleep in his bed while he slept on the floor, and when Jack came in he got the wrong idea.”

He smiled fondly. “Ah. I get it, you’re mad at him.”

I glared at him. “Am not.” I said angrily and walked out the door towards Brooklyn. I walked up to Spot and tapped him on the shoulder. He stared at me for a few seconds. “I hear yer back wit Jack again.”

I nodded. “Yeah, and I’d like you to do me a favor. Next time you decide to spy on me, get the whole story.”

He glared at me. “I didn’t care ta see what happened from da time ya walked inta da Boury last night, ta when ya walked out dis mornin’.”

I faked a smile. “Yeah, must have been pretty boring. Nothing was happening.”

“Nothin’? Like da fact dat ya kissed ‘im afta’ dat poker game was nothin’?”

I glared at him. “Everyone makes mistakes.”

He nodded. “Yeah, but you deserve a medal for da biggest screw-up of all time.”

I sighed. “Why is it that Jack can go out with Ivy and no one questions what he does with her, but when I’m gone, everyone gets suspicious? I didn’t like it when you thought I was lying, but what really hurt was when Jack didn’t believe me. Yeah, I love Nick, but not like I love Jack. I love Nick like a good friend… like I love you like a really, really, really annoying brother.”

He stared at me, trying to determine if I meant what I said. “ Ya neva’ loved ‘im, not even when ya weren’t with Jack?”

I shook my head. “He was the perfect guy Spot, I knew he loved me, and that Jack was moving on so I should too, but you can’t make yourself love someone, no matter how much you want to. Kind of like you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.”

He nodded. “I’ve been friends wit Cowboy for a long time. I know ya’re mad at me for followin’ ya, but I didn’t wanna see him get hurt. Ya were mad when Jack told ya not ta help Psycho, but he did it cause he was worried bout ya.”

I looked towards the bridge. “Yeah, I know… I guess I better get back. See you later.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Jack’s POV

After I finished selling papes I started playing poker with the guys, but my mind wasn’t on the game at all. There were only two thoughts running through my head, and they were both about Echo. We had made up, but things still weren’t quite right. I finally decided to go up on the roof and think after loosing my fifth game of poker. When I got up there I saw Echo leaning against the ledge holding her head in her hands. My first impulse was to wrap my arms around her, and on any other night I would have, but something held me back. I walked to her side and cleared my throat so she would know I was there. She jumped, a little surprised to find me there, but managed a troubled smile. “Hello Jack.”

I stared at her for a few seconds. “Are ya okay?”

She nodded. “Yeah, I was just up here thinking about when I first came to New York and how different everything was then and I um…” She bit her lip. “No, it’s not right Jack. I know we made up and said everything was fine, but it’s not. I’m still mad at you and you can’t even trust me anymore.”

I frowned, afraid of what she was trying to say. “Dat ain’t true, I trust ya.”

She shook her head and looked away. “No, you don’t. I saw it in your eyes when Nick walked into Tibby’s today.”

I reached for her hand. “I’ll get ova’ it. We’ll get through dis, we gotta.”

I noticed there were tears trailing down her cheeks, but when I leaned down to kiss them away, she pulled back. “No, it’ll never work. You’re a leader and I hate being told what to do. We fight for days on end. It’s a miracle we’ve been together this long.”

I looked her in the eye. “You’re right. We ain’t got a perfect love from some fairy tale, but I love ya wit all a my heart, an’ if ya feel da same way, den nothin’ else matters ta me. I know we don’t always get along, but part a da reason I love ya is cause ya have a mind a yer own. Anyway, I know I love a good challenge, an’ I think you do too. We may not be da smartest people in da woild, but you know not ta let some stupid witch make ya fall inta a coma an’ I’m smart enough to figure out it’s a lot easier ta climb ladders den hair, so why don’t we forget dis stupid fight an’ show Cinderella an’ Prince Charmin’ how it’s done?”

She laughed a little and wrapped her arms around my neck. “I’d love two, but those are three different fairy tales.”

I thought for a second. “Ya mean Cinderella neva’ fell inta’ a hundred year sleep until dat prince guy kissed ‘er?”

She shook her head. “No, Sleeping Beauty touched the spindle and and fell asleep for one hundred years, and Snow White ate a poison apple that did practically the same thing. The prince never climbed Cinderella’s hair either, that was Rapunzel. Cinderella was the one with a fairy godmother who gave her a nice dress and a carriage but only until midnight to enjoy it.”

I thought for a few seconds and shrugged. “Oh, all dose stories is too much alike, dey’se all magic an’ witches. An goils wit stupid names.. Rapunzal, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White? What kinda parents did dey ‘ave?”

She laughed and kissed me. “Jack, do me a favor… don’t ever change.”

The End

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