"How long have you been sitting there?" she asked him.

"Only a couple minutes. Ya looked so peaceful while you were sleeping that I didn’t wanna wake you up." He smiled at her. "But now that you’re up, whaddaya think about some breakfast?"

Maggie’s eyes lit up. "Yeah. That sounds great," she said excitedly. She threw back the covers and practically leapt out of bed, then looked down at what she was wearing. "Um… do you have something I can change into?"

"Well," Spot said, thinking about it, "not any girls clothes, but you can borrow some ‘a mine. Do ya mind?"

"Nah," Maggie said. "Just as long as they’re clean."

Spot opened one of the drawers in the dresser and pulled out a shirt and a pair of pants. "Heah," he said throwing them to her, but then he just stood there watching.

"What, you’re going to watch me change?" Maggie asked giggling. "I don’t know you that well yet."

"Oh, yeah, right," Spot said. He backed out of the room and closed the door behind himself. "Not like I’d mind watching her change," Spot muttered under his breath.

Maggie peeled off the dirty skirt and blouse she’d been wearing for three days, and looked down at the shirt and pants Spot had given her. "It’s a good thing we’re about the same size," she said to herself.

Pulling the shirt on, Maggie inhaled deeply. ‘It smells like him,’ Maggie sighed as she thought about the night before, then realizing what she was thinking about, she mentally kicked herself.

‘You’ve only known him for a day Maggie,’ she scolded herself silently. ‘I mean, he did rescue me from Eric and Dad… and he fed me… and talked to me…’ She shook her head. ‘You can’t do this Maggie,’ she thought firmly. ‘It just can’t happen.’

Maggie pulled on the pants, absentmindedly ran her fingers through her hair, opened the door, and walked outside.

"Oh, ya look gorgeous," Spot said, laughing as he looked at his own clothes, just a little too big on Maggie.

"What, you think this is funny," Maggie retorted. He nodded, and she shoved him playfully across the hallway.

Spot’s back hit the doorknob on the door opposite his, and immediately winced in pain, pretending to be more hurt than he was.

"Oh my gosh," Maggie gasped, "I’m sorry. Are you alright?" She stepped forward and started to put her hand around to feel his back, then stopped.

The two stood there, faces just inches apart, staring into each other’s eyes. All Maggie’s scoldings flew out the window as Spot leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips. As Spot’s lips finally left hers, he pulled his head back just enough to see into her eyes, searching them for a sign telling him that was what she’d wanted.

Evidently, he found it, because he leaned down and kissed her again, putting his hands of her hips and pulling her closer to him. Maggie lifted her arms up and put them around Spot’s neck, kissing him back.

They drew apart, Maggie’s hand’s resting on his shoulders, and Spot’s arms around her waist. "So, um, breakfast?" Spot said, trying to sound nervous. The two broke apart.

"Yeah," Maggie said. She smoothed her shirt, rumpled from being pressed up against Spot. "Let’s go eat."

The two went downstairs to the kitchen and grabbed plates, putting biscuits and apples on them, then sat down at the table, directly across from each other. Spot, in the middle of chewing, suddenly looked up at Maggie. The second he looked up, her eyes, which had been staring at him, dropped down to the food in front of her. Spot smiled and mentally patted himself on the back.

‘That was brilliant,’ Spot thought. ‘Acting like I got hurt. What a perfect way to set up for kissing her. And for someone who’s probably never even kissed a guy, she sure is good… must be a fast learner.’ He smiled at the thought, and continued eating.

When Spot had caught Maggie watching him, she looked down and blushed deeply, both at being caught, and at looking at him in the first place. ‘So much for not liking him,’ she thought as she ripped her biscuit in half. ‘But he sure isn’t a bad kisser,’ she thought, trying to hide a grin. ‘Not bad at all…’

Maggie finished her food before Spot, and sat there waiting for him to finish. He did, and looked up at her.

"So, um, should we go back upstairs now?" Spot asked her.

"Yeah, that’s a good idea," she answered. They stood up, put their plates by the sink, and walked back upstairs.

Spot and Maggie walked into his room, Spot pretending to be nervous, and Maggie actually feeling nervous. Maggie walked over and sat down on the bed, and after only a moment’s hesitation Spot sat down next to her.

"Why did you kiss me?" Maggie asked quickly, before her conscience could tell her not to.

"Well… I, um…" Spot looked down at his feet, still acting nervous about the whole thing.

‘Oh, that’s so sweet,’ Maggie thought. ‘He’s scared to tell me how he really feels.’ And again, before she could think to stop herself, Maggie blurted out, "well, I like you… a lot. What about you?"

"That’s good," Spot said, breathing a pretend sigh of relief, "’cause I feel the same way."

If it weren’t for that fact that Spot was there, Maggie would have squealed and danced across the room. Instead, she wrapped her arms around Spot and kissed him for the third time that day, absolutely surprising him. He’d expected to be the one starting the kiss again, but he quickly brushed the thought away and enjoyed the moment.

The two finally broke away, needing to stop for breath, and for once, both had the same thought: they wanted to kiss again. But Spot had to leave if he wanted to get his papers for the day.

"Hey, I have ta go ta work, Maggie," Spot said to her, "but how ‘bout if I come back and we can go somewhere for lunch. Is that okay?"

"Yeah," said Maggie smiling. "That’s great."

"Well, in the meantime, you can go talk ta Mr. Roberts downstairs. Or have ’im show you where his books are, there’s some good ones." He kissed her quickly on the lips before getting up. "I’ll be back as soon as I’m done." "Okay," said Maggie. "See you then."

Spot closed the door behind him, then stood there smiling for awhile before he remembered why he’d needed to leave. Reminded of the job he had to do, Spot walked away from his own room and into the main bunkroom to get ready. He stopped in passing a mirror, and went back to look at himself.

‘Man do I look good," Spot told himself. "No wonder she started falling for me.’ Spot ran a comb through his hair and smiled at himself in the mirror before leaving the lodging house to get his papers.

Maggie sat on the bed trying to remain calm. As soon as she heard Spot leave, she squealed in delight, then fell back onto the pillow and giggled like a little girl until her sides hurt.

"Wow," Maggie finally said. "I can’t believe that just happened." She wrapped the pillow tightly in her arms and buried her face in it. "Ooh, this smells like him too," she said with a wide grin on her face. Maggie took a few deep breaths in attempts to calm herself down, but seconds later she was laughing all over again.

‘Man, I was so wrong yesterday. I thought he was mean and cruel like Eric, but he really likes me. This is so wonderful. I was never allowed to see boys when I lived with dad, let alone… kiss them!’ The wide grin crossed her face again, and she told herself how lucky she was one more time before finally calming down enough to think rationally.

‘Well,’ Maggie thought, ‘he told me to go talk with Mr. Roberts until he comes back, so I guess I’ll go find him. It’s either that, or sitting here daydreaming all day.’ She paused, considering the latter idea, then shook her head in amusement and got off the bed to go downstairs.

Maggie had talked to the owner of the Brooklyn Lodging House for awhile, then asked him about the books. He took her into his office and let her pick out one that she found interesting. She spent the next two hours in Spot’s room, emerged completely in Robinson Crusoe.

All of a sudden, there was a crash from where the window was, and Maggie heard a muffled, "Oh shit." She backed up against the wall and pulled the blanket tightly around her, thinking her father had somehow found her. Maggie started shaking when she saw a figure crawl through the window, but relaxed when she saw the figure was neither Eric, nor her father, but a girl.

The girl entered, and her blue eyes searched the room, but stopped falling on Maggie. She blew a strand of blonde hair out of her face and said accusingly, "you aren’t Spot. This is his room isn’t it?"

Maggie nodded, confused.

"Oh, I’m sorry," the girl said. "Lemme introduce myself. I’m Alex," she said, and stuck her hand out toward Maggie.

"I’m Maggie." They shook hands. "So, um, what are you doing here?" asked Maggie, worried that Spot might have another girl she didn’t know about.

"Me? Oh, well Spot wouldn’t let me sell papers, so I decided to get revenge on him by messing up his room or taking something, or… well, I figured I’d decide when I got here. And, if I may be so blunt, why are you in his room wearing his clothes?"

"Okay, you see, he found me when I was knocked out and took me back here and cleaned me up and all. And I’m wearing his clothes because mine are all dirty and bloody." But then Maggie thought back to that morning, and a lovesick grin appeared on her face.

"You like him, don’t you," Alex said disbelieving.

"Well, yeah," Maggie said. "And he likes me too," she added defensively. "He told me after he kissed… never mind, that’s not important."

"He did what?!" Alex yelled. "Listen to me Maggie. You can’t fall for that guy. He’s a jerk and he only cares about himself. And besides, he’s probably just gonna use you. I know you don’t know me, but you’ve got to listen to what I’m saying."

"I’m listening," Maggie said, "but I don’t believe it. He couldn’t be faking everything. Maybe what you said used to be true, but if it was, he’s changed. I do like him, and there’s nothing you can do to make me change that." She paused. "It is nice to meet you Alex, but you should probably leave before Spot comes back."

"Well, okay," said Alex. "But don’t say I didn’t warn you. I’ll see you around, Maggie," Alex said as she disappeared through the window.

When she no longer heard sounds on the roof, Maggie opened the book again and found where she’d left off, but she couldn’t concentrate. Doubt crept into her thoughts, and she started wondering if Alex had been right after all.

‘Come on, someone as cute and well known as that is interested in me? What if he’s just like all the other guys?’

Spot walked into the lodging house and up the stairs to his room. He opened the door, and Maggie’s frightened eyes shot up to look at him.

"What’s wrong," he asked Maggie, walking over and putting his arms around her. Maggie stiffened at his touch, and, surprised, Spot let go of her. "What happened," he asked again.

"Well," Maggie started, not sure exactly how to say it. "This girl Alex came into your room. She told me that you wouldn’t let her sell papers, and when she found out that I liked you, she said you were…"

"What, what did she say?"

Maggie rushed it all out in one breath. "That you’re a self-centered jerk and that you’re just using me."

‘Oh crap,’ Spot thought, trying to come up with a convincing lie. "Look," he said out loud. Spot put a finger under Maggie’s chin and lifted her head up so she was looking into his eyes. "I’m not allowed to let girls sell papes… and do you honestly think that I don’t like you?"

Maggie’s chin quivered. "I’m not sure."

"I love you," Spot said. "You’re the only girl I want. And," he added as an afterthought, "you’re an amazing kisser."

Maggie looked up into Spot’s eyes, and seeing truth there, she smiled and threw her arms around his neck. "I love you too," she whispered.

Spot kissed Maggie’s nose. "Good. So how bout some lunch, huh?"

"Sure," Maggie said, happy once more.

Maggie had her arm linked through Spot’s as the two walked along the side of the streets. They said nothing as they walked, but both were lost in their own thoughts.

‘I’m so glad that Alex was wrong,’ Maggie thought, ‘And he actually said he loved me. I never thought people could fall in love so quickly, until now. A week ago my whole life was different, but then Spot came along. And he said I was a good kisser. Wow.' Maggie tried to hide her smile, but it didn’t work very well.

Luckily, Spot was paying attention to where they were going, not Maggie. He suddenly turned and walked the two of them down a narrow street that no carriage could ever fit through. Maggie frowned at the shabbiness, but Spot saw the look on her face and explained.

"There’s a great Italian restaurant down ‘ere. They don’t have enough money to get a place on a main street, that’s why it’s back here, Ah, here we go," he said pointing to a sign that read ‘Giovanni’s Italian.’ Spot opened the door, and the two walked inside.

Having lived a secluded life under the control of her father, Maggie had almost forgotten the smell of good food. She stopped just inside the door and closed her eyes, breathing deeply. Tomatoes and garlic were the only things she could name, but all the smells combined together to make her hungrier than she’d thought possible.

"I may help you?" Maggie heard to her left. She opened her eyes and saw a man looking expectantly at them. "Oh, Spot, it is you. How you doing?"

"Good Giovanni. Can we ‘ave a booth please?"

"Whatever is want," Giovanni replied nodding. He picked up a menu and started walking to the right side of the tiny restaurant. "Is good?" he asked stopping at a secluded booth.

"Wonderful," Spot said. He sat down and motioned for Maggie to sit beside him, so she did. Giovanni put the menu down in front of them and left, soon returning with water, only to leave again.

Spot put his arm around Maggie while they looked at the menu, "So whaddaya want?" he asked Maggie.

"I dunno," she said. "I’ve never had Italian. You pick something for me." Maggie lay her head back on Spot’s shoulder again.

Spot put down the menu and they waited until Giovanni came back to take their orders. "We’ll just have two spaghettis," Spot said handing back the menu.

"Yes. Will be soon," Giovanni said, picking up the menu and walking away.

In a few minutes, Giovanni returned with two plates of spaghetti. He set them down on the table, said, "enjoy," and left them to eat their meal.

Maggie couldn’t get the hang of eating spaghetti. It would fall off of the fork, or hang there so she had to suck it up. After one particularly large bite she had to slurp, Maggie got tomato sauce on the end of her nose.

She tried to look down at her nose, ended up cross-eyes, and started giggling. Spot looked at her and burst out laughing too. After they both calmed down, Spot slowly leaned over and kissed the sauce off Maggie’s nose.

"Would you like some help?" Spot finally said, smirking at Maggie, after more failed attempts on her part to eat her lunch had caught his attention.

"Yeah," Maggie said blushing.

Spot put his arms around Maggie and took her hands in his. He picked up the fork in one hand and the spoon in the other. "Now, you use the spoon to twirl it so it’ll stay on the fork," Spot instructed Maggie, making her hands go through the actions.

Maggie looked up at Spot. "Thanks," she whispered kissing him quickly. But with his arms still around her, Spot pulled Maggie closer and kissed her back, long but soft. He finally pulled away, kissed her once more, then both returned to eating.

Later that evening, after they’d eaten dinner in the lodging house, Spot and Maggie were sitting up on the roof, watching the sun set. Maggie sat in front of Spot, leaning back on his chest, and Spot’s chin was resting on top of Maggie’s head.

"I never got to watch the sun set after my mom died. My dad would barely let me out of the house while it was still light outside, so nighttime was unthinkable." Maggie sighed. "It’s so beautiful," she said smiling.

A sudden gust of wind blew as the sun finally set, and Maggie shivered. Spot wrapped his arms around her, keeping her warm.

"So ya think we should go back inside where it’s warmer," Spot said kissing the top of Maggie’s head.

"Sounds like a good idea to me," Maggie said.

The two stood up, walked down the fire escape, and crawled back into Spot’s room through the window.

"Geez, it isn’t much warmer in here," Maggie said giggling.

She looked at Spot who was in the process of taking his shirt off. "Well, that’s why I’m here," he said, without missing a beat. Maggie was staring openly at Spot’s muscular torso and almost missed what he’d said.

"Huh?" Maggie asked confused.

"Well, da main bunkroom is noisy, an’ I miss my bed. So I’m gonna sleep in here with you tonight," he explained. "Ya mind?"

‘Do I mind?’ Maggie thought. ‘Good lord no.’ She spoke out loud so Spot could hear. "No, I don’t mind… as long as you behave yourself." Maggie was surprised at what had some out of her mouth. ‘I wasn’t like this before,’ she thought. ‘I was always nervous around guys. But Spot makes me feel so… I dunno, just so comfortable.’ She took off the pants she’d been wearing, but the long shirt covered halfway down her thighs, so she didn’t mind.

"Me?" Spot replied in a disbelieving voice. "Behave? Well, I’ll try, but only ‘cause you asked… don’t hope for too much though," he added, turning around and grinning at Maggie.

Spot walked over to Maggie, slid his arms around her, and backed up, falling onto the bed and pulling Maggie down on top of him

"So this is behaving?" Maggie asked, a smile tugging at her face.

"Yeah, this is behaving," Spot answered, kissing her softly on the lips.

Maggie kissed him back. "Then I don’t think I want to know what misbehaving is."

"Prolly not," Spot said. He moved his arms so they were tighter around Maggie and pulled her closer to him, kissing her long and deeply.

Maggie brought her hands up and ran them up Spot’s chest to his shoulders, then ran her fingers softly down his deeply tanned arms, kissing him the whole time.

"Maybe," Spot whispered between kisses, "we’d better stop, before we get carried away…" ‘Not like I’d mind,’ he thought.

Maggie sighed in disappointment. "Yeah, you’re right," she said after kissing him one last time. She slid off of Spot and lay next to him, but her head was still on his chest and her arm was draped across his stomach. Spot pulled the blanket up to his waist and put his arm back around Maggie.

‘This has been such a wonderful day,’ Maggie thought in contentment. And she fell asleep to the steady beating of Spot’s heart.

Spot, however, stayed awake for awhile longer thinking. ‘I could have had her tonight. What was I thinking stopping like that?’ He sighed. ‘Oh well, I just gotta deal with bein’ all lovey-dovey tomorrow, I’ll have to live with it.' And he too fell asleep, smiling in excitement of what he knew was coming the next day.