Second Chances and Choices

"Wake up, Sleeping Beauty."
Briar yawned and opened her eyes to see Snoddy looking down at her. "Got ta get up," he said before turning away.
She stretched and looked over at Lit’l Bit who didn’t seem to want to get up just yet.
It took both girls just a few minutes to get ready and they walked off to the D.C. together, not bothering to hurry for any reason.
"Sounds like you and Jack had quite a night," said Briar once Lit’l Bit had finished telling her the Cliff note’s version.
"What did you end up doing?" asked Lit’l Bit, she noticed a blush appear on her friend’s pale cheeks.
"I was at the Jacobs," said Briar. "David got into a brawl with the Delancys and I had to teach him a little something called self defense."
They stopped talking when they got to the D.C. and took their place in line. Briar spotted Kid Blink and waved him over.
"Where were you last night?" she asked after letting him kiss her on the lips.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, I woke up in the middle of the night and you weren’t there."
"I just went for a walk, I do that sometimes," he shrugged.
"At eleven forty five?" Briar arched an eyebrow.
"Yeah, so? Listen, let’s sell together," he said, skillfully changing the subject.
Briar stood across the street from Blink’s selling spot and had soon gotten all her papes off her hands. She turned to see if Blink had finished too but he wasn’t there.
"Some selling partner," grumbled Briar as she walked slowly down the street. She wasn’t hungry so she decided to go back to the Lodging House. She kept her eyes down and almost bumped into somebody.
"Oops, sorry." She looked up. "Oh, nice of you to show up," she snapped at Blink.
"I was getting something done," said Blink. "Come on." He took her hand before she could say anything and led her into a building through the back door. She found herself in the cellar of some old diner because there were bags of flour and crates of vegetables on the floor. But that blanket laid out neatly looked a little out of place.
"What’s this for?" Briar turned to face Blink and saw him grinning.
"It’s for us," he said simply wrapping his arms around her waist even though she tried to push him off. He kissed her hard on the mouth and she pushed him away.
"I’m not in the mood," she said simply, her mind on David, and tried to get to the door, but he jumped in front of her and kissed her again.
"Blink... I... stop it..." she couldn’t pull away as forced her mouth open and slid his tongue over hers. He cupped her breasts in his hands under the shirt as his mouth moved to her neck and shoulders. “See? It’s not so bad.”
"No, get away!" she pushed him back roughly.
"What is your problem?" snapped Blink. "Yesterday you were all over me. This isn’t what I expected."
At this, her eyes flew open and she glared at him venomously. "This isn’t what I expected either! What happened to the guy who danced with me that night at the Four Diamonds?"
"You were good that night!"
Briar growled something vicious. Blink sighed.
"I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that."
"Damn right!" snapped Briar. "You’re telling me you’re only in this for sex?" she hissed.
"No, of course not!" he stroked her cheek but she slapped his hand away. "Let me make it up to you. This afternoon."
"You know, I’m not so sure about that, Just forget it, Blink.” Briar shook her head.
“Can’t we at least…”
“I’m leaving.”
David rammed his hands into his pockets as he walked home from running an errand for his mother. He brushed a loose curl away and stopped at a street corner.
"Should I go see her? Or wait till tonight?" he asked himself. He decided that it would seem desperate if he went to see Briar now, and he would wait for her back home. He looked up and saw Blink walk by with his arm around a blonde girl, probably Briar.
"I’ll go ask what time she’s coming," thought David as he followed them, neither Blink nor Briar sensed his presence.
He watched as she kissed Blink playfully, and he spun her around grinning. That’s when David saw... that wasn’t Briar.
A frown crossed his face. Who’s that girl? What’s he doing with her? He stood still for a minute before deciding to confront Blink. He didn’t have to.
Briar walked up to them and David watched as she yelled herself hoarse at Blink who was desperately trying to explain, but there was nothing to explain, she had caught him red handed. David winced when Briar slapped Blink hard across the face then stormed off.
That night, David noticed that Briar was unusually quiet. Though she read to Les and laughed while he showed her magic tricks, there was a troubled look in her eyes. As soon as Les fell asleep and Sarah left for the neighbors’ again, Briar sat on the couch and put her head in her hands.
"Are you okay?" asked David quietly.
Briar looked up and gave him a weak smile. "Yeah, I’m just tired. It’s getting pretty hot outside."
But David knew better. Briar wasn’t the type to open up about her problems, so he took matters into his own hands.
"How are things going between you and Blink?" he asked innocently enough.
Briar stared at him. "I saw what happened this afternoon," he admitted.
"I don’t want to talk about it." She stood up and crossed over to the window.
"You sure?"
Briar nodded and crossed her arms over her chest. "Son of a bitch!" she snapped suddenly and slammed her fist against the wall.
"Watch it! We need that wall to hold our roof up, remember?" said David as she rubbed her knuckles.
"Sorry. I’m just so mad I could kill someone!" Briar’s eyes flashed wildly.
"Then do."
"What?"
David picked up a cushion from the couch and held it in front of his chest. "Pretend this is Blink’s face, and punch the daylights out of him."
Briar laughed a real laugh that went up to her eyes.
David smiled. "Come on. Try it," he coaxed. Briar hesitated then brought her fists up and jabbed at the cushion.
"That’s better. Come on, harder!" Briar frowned in concentration and punched the cushion over an over as David held it out for her.
Briar stopped and smiled. "I think he’s dead now," she said.
David looked at the pillow. "We should give him a decent burial," he said. He put it down on the couch and sat on it. "There."
Briar doubled over laughing. "You’re good for me Davie!"
David looked her in the eye. "Try not to think about him anymore." He put his arm around her shoulder and let her lean against him. He felt her shoulders shake against his chest. He hugged her tight and let her sob into his shirt. "Got that out of your system?" he asked softly when she stopped.
"Yeah. Thanks."
He smiled and lowered his head towards her. "You’re welcome," he whispered, the words getting caught between their lips as he kissed her.
Briar sighed and let David’s lips cover her own. He leaned over her, deepening the kiss and bringing his hands up around her neck.
"Dave?"
They jumped as Les came out of the bedroom yawning sleepily. "The light went out," he mumbled.
"Great timing, kid," muttered David running a hand through his hair and Briar smiled shyly. She picked up a matchbox from the kitchen and led the boy back inside.
Lit’l Bit had stopped by Irving Hall and pick up something she had forgotten there the other night. The Hall was empty so she let herself in and took her time backstage before going to the second floor. That’s when she saw a brand new piano, a beautiful antique with clawed legs and clean white keys. She looked around before sitting down and laying her fingers on top of the smooth surface, careful not to make any noise; she ran her fingers up and down the keys playing an invisible tune.
Lit’l Bit closed her eyes and felt hands run down her shoulders till they got to hers and rested upon them. She opened her eyes and turned her head to see Spot smiling down at her. He put his fingers right on top of hers and led them through a short, simple song, Lit’l Bit relaxed and watched as he moved his hands with hers. When the song finished, she stood up and applauded him while he bowed grinning.
"I didn’t know you could play the piano," she smiled, obviously impressed.
"There’re a lot of things you don’t know about me," he said mysteriously. "I really wanted to see you again," he lowered his voice and looked at her seriously.
"Spot..." began Lit’l Bit.
"Meet me on Pier 12 at eight tonight," he said simply and walked off.
At first, Lit’l Bit considered standing him up because she was with Jack now… right? But her emotions (not to mention hormones) got the best of her and she made a mental note to herself about their meeting.

The breeze that night was cold and Lit’l Bit pulled her hands up the sleeves of her shirt to keep them warm. Pier 12 was an abandoned boathouse with creaky boards and a few dull lanterns; it was also built at a distance from the other docks. Spot was waiting for her outside, rubbing his arms from the cold.
"I’m glad you came," he said quietly kissing her softly and showing her inside. It wasn’t much, just a few blankets Spot had brought and lanterns he got from outside the boathouse.
Lit’l Bit took her cap off and ran a hand through her hair. "Spot, I’m not so sure about this. I mean, I’m sort of with Jack," she confessed. At first, she thought she saw a frown cross his face but it was gone as quickly as it appeared and he leaned in to kiss her.
"Just let me be with you now," he whispered, their foreheads touching and he captured her lips in a sensual kiss that made her knees buckle. She ran her hands through his blonde hair and pressed her body closer to his. Spot bent down and pulled her shirt up over her head, running his tongue between her breasts before moving his mouth to gently suck on it. He knelt down in front of her and pulled her pants off, then stood up to kiss her again as he slid two fingers inside her. She tightened around him as he stroked her, lighting a fire between her legs.
"Spot..." she moaned and slid down to the floor breathing hard. Spot knelt with her and tangled his hands in her hair, bringing her lips to his, his tongue snaking inside her mouth. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he lifted her up, pinning her against the wall, getting her legs around his waist. He stepped out of his pants and positioned himself to enter her. She cried out and wrapped her legs tighter around him as he thrust into her painfully, hitting her pleasure spot in no time. He drove in and out of her forcefully, moaning from the pleasure that surged through him.
Lit’l Bit kissed him hard, moaning into his mouth as he increased his pace, his body rocking against hers. She clung to his shoulders as he moved his lips and tongue all over her neck and shoulders. "Oh Spot! Spot!" she screamed and tossed her head back, Spot thrust into her as hard as he could, breathing heavily. He fucked her hard and deep till he came inside her, crying out and slowing his movements. Lit’l Bit rested her head on his shoulder as he thrust to make sure it was all in her. She leaned against the wall and tried to catch her breath, brushing her hair off her sweaty forehead.
Spot pulled out and slid down next to her, putting an arm around her shoulders while she rested against him. Both were tired and spent and it didn’t take them long to fall asleep.
It was pretty late when Lit’l Bit woke up and found Spot’s arm wrapped around her. She got up and looked for her clothes in the dark since the candles had long since burnt out. She cast a look back at Spot before heading out the door. "Damn he’s good," she whispered and quietly left. Once she arrived at the Lodging House, she went inside and called for Briar.
"Here!" replied Briar coming down the stairs. “Where were you? Jack’s been looking all over the place."
Lit’l Bit seemed suddenly interested in a lock of hair that had fallen loose from under her cap. Briar crossed her arms over her chest in a motherly fashion.
"Lit’l Bit?"
"Oh I was with Spot, all right! I was with Spot!" she sighed. "Am I so bad for wanting to be with him and Jack?"
Briar shrugged. "What Jack don’t know won’t hurt him," she said simply.
"What won’t hurt me?" Jack came up behind Lit’l Bit and looked down at her. "What’re you talking about?"
Lit’l Bit smiled nervously and shot a glance at Briar who was gesturing for her to say anything. "I, uh, I... had a little surprise for you, and I didn’t want you to know about it," she lied.
Jack grinned. "Really? What is it?"
"Oh, I can’t tell you!" she teased. "You’ll see soon enough." She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately while Briar rolled her eyes.
"Nice going," she said once Jack was out of earshot.
"Give me a break! What was I supposed to say?"
"Now, about this surprise..."
"That won’t be too hard to plan." Lit’l Bit smiled devilishly.
Later that night, Jack had just come back from a ‘night out with the boys’, and was just heading into the bunkroom when a hand shot out from the sickroom and grabbed his arm. Lit’l Bit grinned and motioned for him to come in.
"Lit’l Bit, don’t do that!" cried Jack, putting a hand on his heart. "You scared me!"
"Did I?" she asked innocently planting a kiss on his lips. She slid her hands under his shirt through the collar and massaged his shoulders, and then she started unbuttoning his shirt wrapping her arms around him once that was off.
Jack returned the kiss passionately and moved his hands till they rested on her lower back. He brought them to her front and bent down, pushing her shirt up and softly kissing her breasts with his warm mouth. He got her shirt off then leaned in to kiss her again, working on getting her out of her pants as he led her to the bed.
She sat down on the edge and Jack fingered her wet pussy, scissoring two fingers inside her he started to move them in and out, crooking them slightly to hit her pleasure spot.
Lit’l Bit moaned and pulled his hand away, getting down on the floor in front of him she lay him down on his back and straddled him, getting his pants off. With her hand, she guided his hard cock into her and Jack cried out as she lowered herself onto him. She started to ride him hard and deep, clenching her eyes shut as pain and pleasure went through her. Jack arched his back and thrust up against her, using his hands on her hips to help her ride him even harder. She moaned as a wave of pleasure made her whole body shake, Jack’s only reply was a loud cry that he couldn’t hold back.
They moved together to a fast, steady rhythm till both were panting with the effort. Lit’l Bit screamed as she had an orgasm and Jack came hard inside her. Now completely spent, Lit’l Bit lay down next to him and closed her eyes, opening them again when she felt Jack’s lips brush against hers. She smiled at him as he helped her up and they crawled into bed. Jack wrapped his arm around her and hugged her close to his warm body. That was all she needed to slip away into a calm sleep.