Fireflies in Central Park: Chapter 13

Chapter 13: I'll Make a Newsie Out of You

"Patch, dis is hopeless!" Leech groaned letting her slingshot fall into her lap. The two newsies had been sitting on the roof of the lodging house for hours. All the poker players had cleared out after Spot's appearance. In the alley below a line of crates was set up with glass bottles sitting on top of them. only one was broken and that was by Patches.

"Come on, Leech, yous just gotta focus," Patches assured her, smacking her arm lightly. Leech sighed and took aim at another bottle. One eye closed and arm pulled back she evened out her breathing and let the pebble fly.

"Damn," she hissed as it bounced off the stone wall of the building across from them. "I can't do it!"

"Sure yous can," Patches said for the millionth time. "Yous just gotta-"

"I am focusin!" A shadow fell over the two teens just as a bottle in the alley exploded into dozens of tiny shards. Leech and Patches spun around to see Spot Conlon looming over them, slingshot in hand.

Patches let out a low whistle. "Nice shot, Spotty." Leech turned back to the alley, grumbling angrily under her breath.

"Hey, Patch, go check on da younga boys would ya?" the tough leader of the Brooklyn asked. Patches nodded immediately and swung his legs back over the edge of the roof.

"See ya, Leech," he called as he jogged towards the roof entrance. Leech squirmed to see him go and glanced sideways as Spot took his place beside her. She kept her eyes lowered to the alley as spot pulled out a cigar and started to light it up.

"So ya tryin to use ya slingshot?" he said after a tense moment of silence. He blew a cloud of smoke into the air and Leech watched it swirl about into nothingness.

"Well I…just wanna do what ya told me ta. Be a betta newsie ya know? "

Spot nodded his under standing and slipped his slingshot into his pocket. Leech furrowed her eyebrows as the Brooklyn King carefully placed his cigar on the ledge and scooted closer to her until their legs were pushed together. He snaked one arm around her back and the other one slid easily into her lap to interlace with the hand that was holding her slingshot.

"What're ya-"

"Pay attention," he cut her off raising his other hand to rest on her elbow. She shivered at the feel of his hands running over her and scooted even closer. He positioned them so that it looked as if they were both going to fire the slingshot. He turned her to aim at a bottle in the center of the crates. "Now just take it easy."

Leech nodded, swallowing over the lump in her nervous throat. She could see that her hands were shaking under his and cleared her throat to cover it up. He moved his head until it was resting on her shoulder and they were cheek to cheek. "Easy," he whispered again.

Leech took a deep breath and tried to focus on the bottle. Spot's hand pushed her elbow down slightly before tapping on it with his index finger. She let the pebble fly and watched in amazement as the bottle was knocked clean off the crate shattering once it hit the ground. Leech yelped in surprise as Spot squeezed her slightly and turned so that his mouth was near her ear. "Poifect."

"I did it," she stammered as he pulled away to his original spot. it was a bit colder without his body heat but her face still felt hot. He picked up his cigar and smirked around it.

"Nice goin," he complimented like he hadn't done anything. Leech laughed happily and jumped up, swaying dangerously on the ledge and not caring.

"Dat was amazin! Ah wow, Spot, ya really somethin!" she gushed, slingshot clutched in her hand. Her heart was beating faster than ever and she couldn't figure out if it was from that encounter with Spot or succeeding in finally hitting a bottle.

"Nah, dat was all you, Skip" Spot smirked standing also. Leech turned to him when he mentioned her old name. He'd never used it with her before; it was like a breath of fresh air.

A breeze rolled by and Leech shivered slightly, this time definitely from the cold this time. Spot puffed out another cloud of smoke and stared at her small frame before turning away. His eyes scanned his city and he nodded as if approving. Leech stood silently beside him appreciating the young man more than ever. He was a true leader. He had shown her a tight fist when she'd gone against him but still offered his help to better her. She lowered her eyes back down to the alley and smiled again.

"Ya know what ya need ta do befoa it gets real cold?" Spot asked suddenly making Leech flinch. She shook her head curiously, stepping away from the ledge. "No one can be a true Brooklyn newsie wit out takin a swim in da riva."

"Down at da docks?" Leech asked, turning to look that direction. Spot nodded, smiling at his own good idea. He moved away from the ledge and started towards the door. He turned to face Leech and started walking backwards, smirking all the way.

"Come on, Leech," he called. "We's goin' for a swim"