A/N: I've been having lots of computer problems lately, as has So that is why this took so long. I have to get off because we are still having problems. Review Replys and Author Notes and better editing will happen soon ;)
That morning, Spot and I sold papers together in the streets of Brooklyn. I pretended, as did he, to be fully into the selling, but both of us only had one thing on our minds. I had an urge to just burst out and tell him even though I knew he had already heard. My mind only focused on one thing at a time, and won't change it until it's solved. Spot on the other hand, could temporarily push one thing to the side to concentrate on the main matter. Finally, I had to say something.
"Spot, do ya think Jack's heard?" I asked, but immediately after I thought of another thing and continued, "Or maybe he figures something has to happen, I mean I'm sixteen and you're almost eighteen next month, that's the 'age'..."
But I had to contradict myself yet again, "Well maybe he doesn't know that, I mean, we never told him the age, and he was never, well, um, 'first class' so he never learned those 'rules'" I said very quickly.
"Ally, Al. calm down. Nah I doubt Sullivan's heard. He may suspect something, but he won't know the age thing." Spot replied.
I fell back into silence, except for yelling "improved" headlines. Spot and I only made small talk for a while after that. I listened to sounds around me, people bustling about, birds 'choipen' (in Spot's ear) and a light breeze through the trees. I absent mindedly hawked papes, I was concentrating on sorting the mess out:
Ok, Al, just do your original plan, just go west or something. Mush---well, he knows your hiding something, and you are. It's just best left in the past. But my parents, Spot's parents, and their "people" will definitely be looking, and asking street rats. Poor Mush, he doesn't know, he's too upset. What would he say to the messengers? Worse, what would Jack say? That's why he HAS to know. Spot and I have to pay a visit to Manhattan, but how can I go without running into Mush? Well, I will need to talk to him before I leave, so why not now? The sooner I leave the better, also, how can I find Jack to talk to him alone? I can't tell anyone else, which would mean I'd have to explain Jacob--Spot, and I. No, I can't. But Spot, I know he wouldn't get caught, he's too smart, but what if???
"Spot, why don't we go over to Manhattan and let Jack know what's going on? I need to get outta here before too long, and I wanna say a last "I love you" to Mu--" I cut myself off. Surprisingly, Spot, the great leader, didn't now about my love for Mush. If he found out now, it'd only complicate things.
"Last 'I love you' to who, Al? Oh why did you have to fall in love?"
Damn Spot and his perfect hearing.
"Oh it's nothing, Spot. I just wanna say good-bye, alright?" If threw as one thing I knew about Spot, its that he'd do anything to make sure I was safe and happy, including making sure our parents and our 'little problem' didn't get in the way of any love I may have.
"Yea Ally. But why would you say good-bye? Where you gonna go?"
I let out a long sigh, "West Spot, I can't be found. Do you know what that could cause?" Of course he knew what that could cause!!
"Yes, I know exactly, what it'll cause. We'll talk about plans later, but I agree, lets go talk to Jacky-boy."
Later in the afternoon, Spot and I set out for Manhattan. The sun beat down hard now, it was summertime. I had become so used to the Brooklyn-Manhattan walk that it seemed to go by much quicker, but still gave me time to think, something I was quite good at. Just by looking in his icy eyes, I could tell Spot was thinking hard too. My thoughts turned to what had gotten me-us, Spot and I- into this mess.
Ally's Flashback, 3rd person POV
"Samantha! Samantha!" Jacob Hannaway whispered through the open window of ten-year-old Samantha James. Sam rolled over in bed.
Who would wake me up at this hour?
"Sam, come on! Sam!"
Oh, never mind, I know. What does Jacob want now?
The girl did what she's done at least half a million times: Climbed out of bed, got dressed, popped the screen out of the window, crawled out onto the fire escape, slipped the screen back in and go on some crazy adventure with Jacob. They've been doing the routine since the James family and the Hannaway family became "friends" Five years ago, when Samantha was five and Jacob was seven. However, the parents' friendship was simply because both wealthy families were upper-class. "Jake" and "Sam's" relationship was different. They became the best of friends since their first adventure together. Jacob was the leader of the adventures, and was always looking for a way to cause trouble. He hated the upper-class life of banquets and fancy dinners. On the other hand, Sam was almost afraid of disobeying but was always up for an adventure with her best friend, although she was afraid of being caught the entire time.
So it was no surprise to Samantha when Jacob wanted to go to Central Park at five-thirty in the morning, when they weren't expected up until eight o'clock in the morning.
"Its summertime, meaning that the newsies are going to be selling this early, the suns already up. Lets go, come on!" Jacob urged Sam.
"Oh Jake, well, but um, you think..." Sam searched for an excuse not to go, but non came to her. Deep down, she wanted to go, and Jacob knew that.
"Oh come on" Jacob pressured Samantha.
"Alright, but we have to be back by six-thirty."
They began walking down to Central Park. Not a long journey, considering their houses were in Manhattan.
"Sam, wouldn't it be great to live an independent life like the newsies? No parties or fancy clothes or proper private schools." Jacob longed for any life where he didn't have to wear itchy suits and could run anywhere, anytime, he pleased.
"Well, yes, I suppose. But--" Sam was cut off by a boy of about eight, who was selling papers.
"Wanna buy a paper?" The kid asked.
"Well, that's not a very good selling tactic." Jake said, while handing the kid a penny. The kid was ready to pick a fight. Sam could tell and slowly backed away; hoping Jake would to, but he welcomed the fight.
"Yea, what would you know about selling? Yer just a hoity-toity proper kid." The newsie responded.
"Yea, well that doesn't mean I got no common sense"
The fight continued verbally and physically for about ten minutes. Afterwards, Samantha and Jacob were walking together again.
"So, Jacob, why do you know how to sell?" Sam asked.
"No reason. Lets be getting back home"
They completed the 'routine' by going back through their windows, getting dressed back into sleepwear, and crawled into bed.
Hours later, around noon the James and Hannaways ate lunch, the adults in one room and the children outside on the porch. Another 'routine' that Jacob and Sam had was to distract the servants and go listen in on their parent's conversation. Usually they were quite boring, but an occasional interesting tidbit was mentioned. The servants probably knew exactly what they were doing, and because it was harmless the usually played along.
Yet on that day, they were trying hard to not let them go. But, Jacob succeeded in getting them distracted as he and Sam sneaked in.
"There must really be something important today, Samantha"
"Yes, I think so to" Sam agreed.
"Shhh!" Jacob commanded as they positioned themselves in their "spying" places.
Inside parlor where adults conversed
"Now, Mr. and Mrs. James, you do remember the agreement we made when young Samantha was born, don't you?" Adam Hannaway inquired of Elizabeth and Robert James.
"Yes, sir, of course we remember." Elizabeth replied.
"Barbara and I believe we should inform Jacob and Samantha next month on Jacob's 13th birthday." Adam continued.
"Oh, yes, yes I do suppose that would be a good time. Jacob and Samantha are already wonderful friends, telling them they are betrothed would be great news to them." Robert James responded.
"Excellent!" Barbara exclaimed.
Jacob froze, his face turning to a ghostly tone of white. "Lets go." He barely whispered to Sam, who was blinking into space, confused. They tip-toed outside, Jacob leading the way back to his house, and up into his room.
"J-j-Jake, what d-did they mean 'betrothed'?" Sam nervously asked, frightened by Jacob's quiet, confusing mood.
"It means they agreed to have us get married when we're older. We don't have a choice!" Jacob angrily explained, his voice rising to a yell.
Samantha just stopped, and fell to the floor, just staring in disbelief.
"But we're best friends..." she mumbled. Jacob didn't say anything, but grabbed his travel bag and began filling it with clothes, some money, and a few other items, including a picture of Sam and him when they were young. I don't hate Sam. I hate that my parents are continuing to control my life.
Sam just watched her best friend throw things in a bag with fury. She didn't ever get angry, but simply a silent, maddening disappointment, which was the state she was in."
"I'm out of here, Sam. I know this is a big responsibility for you, but don't tell the parents that we know, or that I ran. They'll figure out I ran, but even with pressure from the parents and police, stay quiet. And don't ever tell them we know. Don't let them control you either. You got your own mind, use it. Bye" Jacob said, awkwardly hugging Sam.
He crawled out the window, but turned to nod at Sam. She bit her lip, and he continued out the window. Samantha stared at the window for a few minutes, in complete shock at how her life just changed forever. That was the last day she ever saw Jacob Adam Hannaway.
Like I said, I gotta get off. Carrying the Banner!
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