Ah chapter eight, the final chapter in the story. Do not fret for those that have read When a King Finds a Queen, the sequel will be out as soon as I get a chance. Here it is though, so enjoy!

Chapter 8: Revelations

Now, I’m not saying that I’ve never celebrated birthdays before. Cause I have. It’s just…every time I do something bad happens. So, needless to say I was a little more then paranoid when the party for Spot first started. Okay…maybe I’m still a little paranoid.

It was raining outside now, along with lightning…and I swear it almost struck us a few times. Everyone else, far beyond annoyed with my constant worries darting to the window whenever there was a lighting bolt. Slinger understood my position though; he had practically tied to a chair after one freak out and demanded I tell him what my lovely ‘situation’. Needless to say he stopped bugging me after that. And Spot understood as well, though not quite as much, had gotten the tidbits of it from passing by.

“Alleycat, calm down.” Spot called for the millionth time as I twitched when a bolt of lighting rang through the air. I tried to not run over to the window and make sure nothing was on fire. It was a losing battle to say the least.

I whipped around to find him leaning back in a chair his feet kicked up on a table. His fingers were lazily running over the cane he had not let go of since we gave it to him. Ha, told Jack that it was a better one. Actually I think that was the only present he got this year to. “I’se calm thank you’se.” I didn’t snap at him surprisingly enough. It was more of a defeated sort of statement. Maybe I just needed to get over the fact that nothing was going to happen. After all it wasn’t like it was my birthday or nothing. Now on that we would have reason to worry.

He looked at me an eyebrow raised with one of those ‘yeah sure’ look. Sighing a bit almost in defeat I shuffled over to one of the old chairs that wasn’t occupied by Spot.

Unconsciously I copied his position but I leaned my own rickety chair a bit farther back a slight yawn passing my lips. Rain for some reason, when it was as hard as this, made me tired. Hmm, that name Alleycat was starting to make more and more sense.

“Yeah you’se embody calmness dere Alley.” I narrowed my eyes at him kicking his foot with my own. It wasn’t to hard for him to fall off the dangerously tipped chair but defiantly made him move a bit. He’s lucky though, anyone else I probably would of hit much harder. For some reason I didn’t like it when people shortened my name like that, to close to Kally I guess. Well whatever, either way for some reason I made an exception for him.

“What? I’se just saying.” He looked like he wanted to say a fair bit more but stopped himself. Good I didn’t feel like discussing this any farther with others around here.

“Yeah, yeah you’se just saying.” I mimicked, rolling my eyes a bit grumbling just a bit. Okay…maybe I did need to stop being like that…Nah.

He raised a brow and with his foot, pushed a half empty bottle of scotch my way. Sighing I let my feet fall down with a dull thud and took the bottle. Swishing the contents around for a moment before I slowly brought the bottle to my lips. Okay, I had alcohol before but never as much as I was having tonight. I wondered slightly how much longer till I actually started to get drunk or tipsy or whatever. I drained a bit of the liquid letting the contents spill into my mouth and down my throat in a slow trickle.

“What’s got you’se in such a bad mood today anyway?” He asked cocking his head to the side raising his brow just a bit.

“I’se not in a bad mood.” I countered in a slight grumble taking just a bit more slowly.

“Dat has got to be da biggest loada bullshit I’se ever heard.”

I rolled my eyes, somehow affectionately at him before standing wobbling just a bit and walked over to where some of the Manhattan newsies including Jack and where Ace had found his way in.

“We’ll Jacky-boi I told ya dat one was better.”

He gave me a slight look a mix between annoyance, anger and agreement. It made the corners of a smirk appear on my lips. I got a crazed amusement out of annoying these guys till their heads spun. It was quickly becoming my favorite pass time, messing with people’s heads.

“Yeah well-” Ace and Racetrack both nudged him in the ribs on either side giving him a look before smiling at me, which I returned easily. Those two were too enjoyable to not like really. Jack looked at the two of them before sighing a bit. “Yeah alright, at least ya got one.” Okay not exactly a compliment but it was a start huh?

I rolled my eyes a bit and Ace poked me, I raised a brow and turned to him, “What?”

“You’se still owe me.” He pointed out with a smug smile.

Damn I had thought I had managed to get out of that one, guess not. Well I was too tired and paranoid to poke him out of it tonight. “Not tonight huh Ace, I’se to tired ta deal with ya.” I shoved him gently giving him a small smile.

“Yeah, yeah I’se will just bug ya bout it tomorrow den.” He promised with a sly grin.

I rolled my eyes and he shoved me a bit, “I’se mean it Alleycat.” He promised once more the sly grin still firm in place. Chuckling I nudged him with my elbow flicking his ear, “Ya all talk Ace boi.” I retorted a small smile forming onto my face. One of these days we would act our age, one of these days. He pouted a bit slinging an arm around me pulling me into a headlock and ruffled my hair harshly. “Who da heck says I’se all talk?” He pretended to sound all tough as he continued to mess up my hair.

“Ace come on lemme go! Dat’s not fair!” I whined a bit but not to loudly, didn’t want to draw more attention then the Manhattan boys looking at us like we were crazy. “Why did ya wanna get out on da streets?”

“Cause I’se didn’t wanna live my uncle.” I grumbled a slight joking smirk on my face.

“Ya what?”

“Uncle!”

“What?”

“Uncle ya tightwad!” I snapped and he finally let me go and right afterwards I shoved him into Racetrack and the others my eyes narrowed just a bit. “Don’t do dat ya asshole.” I mumbled running my fingers through my hair flattening it a bit still glaring just a bit at Ace. He just grinned cheekily at me and Race grinned as well shoving him away. There seemed to be a fair amount of shoving today.

Spot made his way over tapping his cane and I turned to him pointing a finger, “See! Told you’se Jacky dat Spot liked dis one betta den da one dat ya wanted me ta get.” I chuckled darkly snatching a nearby bottle up and taking a drink just in time for the thunder and lighting to strike again. With the bottle in hand I was able to keep myself from flinching.

Spot blinked dumbly at me for a moment before he shrugged, “I’se don’t know what you’se going on about but yeah I like it.” I noticed how he unconsciously ran his fingers over the gold tip of the cane a small smile on his face. I smirked in triumph and gave a look of I told you so to Jack. Walking over a bit and swinging an arm around Racetrack my smile widened.

“Now then who is ready to loose dere money to my awesome skills?” I inquired and several of the boys that heard chuckled a bit. I was pretty good actually but Racetrack usually beat me. Though sometimes I managed to win some of the times. And I wasn’t one to brag, okay yes I was, but I was getting better.

“Alleycat you’se gonna loose den I’se gonna feel all bad for beating ya.” Racetrack stated plainly with a joking smirk on his lips. I poked his side smirking a bit as well as I sat down in the nearest chair taking the cards there and shuffling them. Spot, Ace and Racetrack of course sat down along with Slinger and another newsie who I believe was Knives. After I shuffled I handed the cards to Racetrack to deal. I would deal myself but after the incident with Roller and all them I usually gave it to someone else. Just to avoid complications.

We spent a good five minutes just staring each other down trying to see who had what and who was bluffing what. After the bets began and slowly started to get higher, Knives folded grumbling about crap cards. He didn’t dare lay the blame on someone though; from what I hear he wasn’t one to do that. Out of the corner of my eye I saw him go off to some other poker table, standing by it though, only watching. Looks like someone didn’t want to loose their money tonight.

Trying not to flinch at the lighting I turned back to the game my eyes scrutinizing every action that took place. Slinger was confidant, Racetrack unmoving and Spot, he was hard to tell. I’d never been able to read Spot very well, kinda ticked me off at points. My hand was all right, could get a decent amount with it if I played it off right. Slowly as the bets rose more, to ridiculous proportions Slinger ducked out and Racetrack, a big shocker, with a, “I’se know when I’se reached my limits.”

So, it was just Spot and I. Tapping my cards somewhat boredly I sighed, “Alright birthday boi let’s see what cha got.” I stated finally as I leaned across the table and pulled the cards down. To my shock I found he had a royal flush, damn it. Sighing I knew my measly cards wouldn’t do a thing and he’d want to see them after all. Shoving the money his way I glared lightly but gave a small joking smirk, “Ya going down next time Spotty.” I smirked as he cringed at the name.

Hmmm Spotty, yeah I liked the sound of that. A good way to annoy the spit out of him as well, and we all know how much I love to do that. Plus, if he was going to call me Alley I might as well get a name for him as well. I heard a few of the other boys snicker around us and Spot gave them all a glare, which just made me laugh. Standing I swiftly dodged the kick he tried to deliver under the table. Stretching I grabbed a near by bottle and headed to a different table to try my hand.

Eventually I won back some of the money I lost in the first game and I had to admit I was quite proud of myself. I had actually beat Racetrack two times in a row, quite a feat there. “No way man I’se beat ya fair and square!” I retorted as Ace tried to get out of paying up. Ha, take that mister ‘you still owe me’! He pouted a bit but it didn’t work as I lightly bopped him on the head smiling. He’d forgive me later.

Stretching my fingers a bit I stifled a yawn glancing around, looking for a certain birthday boy. For some odd reason, I felt like annoying him for a bit longer. Probably cause it was his birthday or something. I didn’t spot him in the room furrowing my brow just a bit in question I headed up to the bunkroom. He wasn’t there either. Okay, think Alleycat, where would he be?

With a sudden grin it hit me, he’d be at the docks of course. Boy practically lived on the docks when he wasn’t selling papers. Slipping out of the crowded room I creaked the door open and stepped out closing it softly behind me. The cold air and a light rain greeted me. Of course he picks the best time to go to the docks, figures. Shoving my hands into my baggy pockets, at a leisurely pace I made my way to the docks.

I heard him before I saw him actually. The sudden sound of breaking glass, bottles to be precise, a sound I had grown accustomed to over these past few months. I let out a soft snort of amusement as he finally came into my line of sight. His back was turned to me; his arm back and he took aim and fired the shot. Of course it hit its target, no surprise, boy had a gift with the slingshot.

An evil idea crossed my mind an evil glint appearing in my eyes. Well I did want to annoy him didn’t I? Creeping slowly forward I made sure to keep really quite, not to hard I had some light footsteps. When I was right behind him I slammed my arms down on his shoulders screaming, “Found ya!” He missed the shot and jumped a bit causing me to fall back since I was so close to the edge. He turned around to yell at me but I grabbed his suspender and pulled him down to the water with me.

With a loud splash the water filled my ears and I shivered at how cold it was. Surfacing I gasped for the air I needed and saw Spot was just in front of me. Grinning like a Chester cat at his annoyed look I flicked his cap off his head. His eyes narrowed at me, and he lunged forward shoving me back into the water our lips meeting for a brief moment. What a minute! Yes, our lips did in fact brush.

When we surfaced again I splashed some water on him, which he managed to dodge. I continued to splash him until he ducked under, “Oi! Asshole come back up here you’se stole my fist kiss!” Suddenly I was pulled under and I barely had time to gasp for breath before I was completely submerged in the water. A few moments later he let me go and I swam back up to the surface gasping for breath coughing up a bit of water. Turning around I splashed his square on glaring lightly. “If I’se get a cold I’se so blaming you’se.” He just shook his head grabbing his floating hat shaking it out then putting it back on his head.

“If anyone is gonna get da cold it’d be me. You’se da one dat pushed me in da water.” He pointed out with a small smirk.

Waving my hand I shrugged that off, “Details, details, first ya steal my first kiss den you’se want me ta get sick? Dat’s real cold Spotty boi, real cold.” I sniffed a bit for the dramatic affect of it all.

He scoffed a bit, “Ya count dat as a first kiss? Please Alley.” He rolled his eyes seemingly disappointed.

Poking his shoulder I glared lightly, “Dere was contact mister, it counts.” I pointed out wagging my finger lightly at him.

“Alleycat, Alleycat, Alleycat, dat does not count now dis,” He suddenly kissed me and I felt like my eyes would pop out of their sockets if they got any bigger. “Counts.” He added when he pulled back, and to my shock and worry to fast for my liking.

Narrowing my eyes I shoved him, “See now ya really did steal it ya bastard!” I grumbled and he just laughed knocking my cap lightly. Before I could do anything he was up and out of the water which I followed soon there after, not really wanting to get a cold. My clothes clung uncomfortably to my skin and drooped quite a bit. Spot laughed at my appearance, “Come on we’se betta get back before you’se self gets a cold.” He teased lightly.

I followed him slowly as we walked down the docks and back to the lodging house. I tried to figure out why I have been so disappointed when he pulled away, or when I didn’t kiss him back. I kept drawing up blanks. There just wasn’t anything that fit.

And then, it hit me. Just as we got back to the lodging house he turned to me and smiled crookedly and I felt a very slight amount of heat rise up my neck. No way! I couldn’t! I must of looked like a fool as I stopped short and the rain started to pick up. “You’se just gonna stand there all day or something Alley?” Spot teased with that same smile.

I shook my head getting out of it and waved him off, “Yeah, yeah, yeah I’se coming I’se coming don’t get ya knickers in a twist.” I mumbled walking up the steps shoving my hands in my pockets.

“My knickers ain’t in a twist.” I couldn’t help but laugh at the way he said knickers. Though I had to admit I probably sounded weird saying it as well. “Sure dey ain’t.” I teased smiling a bit. He just rolled his eyes and shoved me lightly, “Shut up Alley.” I could tell that the kiss from before had left his mind.

Sadly for me it had yet to do so. Stepping inside I closed the door behind us and leaned against it waving him off as he glanced back. It was there that I realized something, I actually liked that stupid annoying, little bugger of a friend of mine. Damn it all.

Alright guys, once again the sequel for When a King finds a Queen shall be up as soon as I get some time on my hands. Hope you guys enjoyed the story, I know I liked writing about her past. Well until next time guys!