Nowhere to Turn: Part 6
By: Echo

Jack sighed and grabbed my arm. "Echo, forget it. Ya can't go around in life tryin' ta save every single person in trouble. It's impossible."

I frowned. "Maybe. But I can try."

Spot shook his head and walked over to his bunk. "That'd be a good answer if it wasn't so stupid."

I glared at him. "Why am I the stupid one? Just because I-"

Jack grabbed my arm. "Echo, don't."

I sighed and walked out the door with Jack right behind me. "Echo, ya can't go back dere. It won't help anyone."

I looked up at him and tried to smile. "Jack, I love you. But I have to try to help them."

He shook his head. "Echo, don't go."

I sighed. "Jack, I don't like how this could end. Don't ask me to stand and watch what happens without trying to help."

He grabbed my arm as I turned to go. "Echo, I'm serious. I ain't askin' ya, I'se tellin' ya. Don't risk everythin' ya 'ave heya for dose two."

I shook my head. "No Jack. I have to do this. I love you, I really do. I don't want to loose you or any of the other guys, but you aren't giving those two a chance, and they deserve it just as much as anyone else. I'm not the one that's giving anything up.... you are."

He didn't have to say anything, the icy glare he gave me before walking back into the bunkroom said it all. I sighed and started to walk back to the Boury. On the way there I was stopped by Dragon. "Psycho told me ya'd be goin' back dere... persistant, ain't ya?"

I nodded and started walking again, but Dragon grabbed my arm and stopped me again. "She told me not ta let ya go back dere. Somehow she managed ta get Frick back ta da Lodgin' House."

I looked over at the Boury one last time and started following Dragon. We walked back to the Lodging House, but he stopped me before we walked inside. "Why're ya tryin' so hard ta help 'em?"

I blushed a little. "Because if I was Psycho, an Frick was Jack... I would want someone on our side instead of having the whole world against us."

He nodded. "Dat's a good reason. What's Cowboy think?"

I smiled sadly. "Same as everyone else. But I guess you can't have it both ways."

We walked in slowly and Ice smiled as she saw us walk in. I waved. "How's Frick?"

Shadow smiled. "He's gonna be okay."

Sparrow looked up from across the room. "Echo, ya can stay heya if ya want."

Ice grabbed my arm. "Hey, us goils was gonna start a poker game. Wanna join us?"

I nodded and Star, Ice, Shadow, and I walked over to a corner away from the guys. Ice started dealing and looked up slowly. "What were you an' Dragon talkin' bout?"

Star hit her softly. "Don't be so nosey!"

Shadow looked up. "Cowboy break up wit ya?"

I nodded. "Yeah. Not that it's a surprise."

Star smiled sympathetically. "Well, like Sparrow said, ya can stay heya."

I shrugged. "Might as well."

I stayed in Queens for a week. Frick started selling papes with me as soon as he could, but eventually he talked me into going back to Manhattan. Unfortunately, he wouldn't go back with me. When I told Ice I wasn't looking forward to facing the guys alone, she gladly agreed to go back with me.

When I worked up the nerve to finally go back, Jack did a wonderful job of making me regret it. Blink was the first person to talk to Ice and I. He seemed to like her, and I had a feeling he was the reason she had been so eager to come to Manhattan with me.

When I got to Tibby's I sat in a table as far from everyone else as possible. It didn't really help me any, because Sketch, Dutchy, and Skittery decided to keep me company. By the end of the day I was wishing I had never agreed to coming back, but my pride kept me there.

Brooklyn was with Spot, and even though most of the guys were as friendly as ever, Sketch was the only one I could really talk to. He offered a shoulder to cry on, and walked me to the circulation center the next morning. I looked up as everyone stopped talking and saw Psycho standing at the gates. I saw Jack, and many of the others glaring at her but I just bought some papes and walked over to her. We spit shook and I offered to sell with her since Ice was selling with Blink. She agreed and we sold papers for a while before going to Queens to talk to Brian. When I told her I'd be happy to stay in Queens, she told me (to my disappointment) that she was going to stay in Manhattan to piss the guys off. The thought of making the guys mad after all that had happened may not have bothered her, but it was killing me.

Psycho and Frick stayed in Queens and said they'd meet me in Manhattan. So I walked back to the Lodging House, hoping some of Red's thugs were nearby. (No such luck) About an hour later they walked into the Lodging House. I was reading a book so I didn't notice anyone come in until a little gray furry thing ran across my face. I screamed and looked around frantically. "What was that?!"

Psycho frowned. "Echo! You scared Hoagie!"

I backed up against the nearest wall as I spotted a little gray cat stretching and staring at me. "What is that?" I asked slowly.

A few of the guys laughed as Race said, "Well Echo. I don't know what dey call 'em in Colorado, but I like ta call it a cat."

I shied away as Psycho picked it up and started walking toward me. "Keep it away."

Blink laughed. "Scared a dat cute little thing? Ya feelin' okay Echo?"

I glared at the cat. "Geez Psycho, couldn't you have a dog?! They're cute, sweet, and harmless. And they come to there name! Here Spot!" I said as Spot walked in the door with Brooklyn.

He glared at me. "Shut up."

I shrugged. "Okay, so most of them are cute, sweet, and can come to their name. There are always exceptions." I smiled as he glared at me again. "Rover, there's a cat! Go chase it up a tree!"

"I mean it, shut up Echo."

I nodded for a few seconds. "... Sure I won't."

Psycho smiled. "She doesn't seem to do that very often."

Frick walked over and started putting some stuff on an empty bunk. "Brian, not that bunk." I warned. "Rover always uses that bunk when he comes over. Always a top bunk... I think being on top has something to do with his egotitis (Note from Echo: Psycho, don't even think it! This isn't like that line in The Shadow! I don't mean it that way so get your mind out of the gutter!). He always has to be on top. (Echo: I mean it Psycho, shut up. I didn't mean it like that! Although it would be a fun way to tease Brookle... *evil laugh*) Just take the one under it." (Echo: At least I didn't make Brian get on bottom. *innocent smile*)

Spot glared at me. "Stop... callin'... me.... Rover."

I smiled innocently. "Okay... Fido!"

"Don't start wit me Echo."

I looked at Sketch who seemed to know what was coming next, because he had a worried look on his face and was shaking his head. I smiled. "Okay, Fido and Rover are out... Fifi."

Brooklyn grabbed my arm and started pulling me out of the bunk room. "Come on Echo. We gotta work tomorrow."

Psycho followed not too far behind, fighting laughter. Brooklyn glared at me. "Should call ya Clova', cause yer lucky yer not dead talkin' ta Spot like dat."

Psycho smiled. "Actually, I think Rover sounds better than Spot."

I laughed but Brooklyn glared at her. "Don't encourage 'er."


Part 7
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