A/N: Welcome to my new story! This is the continuation of What we started together, we'll finish together! This will be written so each chapter focuses on one character, and the story will be split in two parts; First semester and second semester. I hope you like it, and I don't own Recess ofc. Happy reading!
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Chapter 1, Gretchen
The moon is shining trough the big window in the second floor bedroom. It's nearly 1am, and tomorrow is the first day of senior year. The auburn haired girl is sitting at the window bench, looking at the dark world outside. Her hair is falling in her eyes again, and she huffs and brushes it away from her face. Her glasses are off for the evening, and she almost feel… normal.
But Gretchen Grundler is not normal. She is the brightest girl at her school, probably even in the state. This is normally not a bad thing, but right now it feels like a huge burden. Because when you're the smartest girl in school, it's also impossible to be one of the really popular kids. She has friends, really amazing friends. But that's not enough right now. She feels awful to think it, but she can't help it. Because if you're not popular yourself, it's not going to be easy to go out with the most popular guy at school.
That's right, this summer Gretchen have been dating Vince LaSalle. The Vince. Captain of the basketball team, tall, handsome, friendly and outgoing. It's no wonder why everyone likes him, really. She get's it, portably more than anyone. This summer has been amazing, mostly thanks to Vince. They've had a lot of fun, and have gotten to know each other in a whole different way. They've been friends since kindergarten, but she never really knew just how much they have in common. This summer have been amazing, really.
But now, summer is over. With that, Gretchen feels like she have to some back to the real world. She hates to admit it, but being with Vince their senior year feels impossible. She has to focus on her studies, nowhere than ever. He needs to get the basket scholarship he's been talking about since middle school. But what she's most nervous about is really how others will react. The nerdy girl with the sports guy? It feels like they could hide away and keep it personal during the summer, but that is going away now.
Gretchen sighs deeply. She really has to concentrate on not to cry. She knew what she had to do tomorrow. It was all just so fucked up, but she felt this was the right thing to do for know. She get's up from the window and moves on to the bed, getting under the covers, and tries to get some sleep before the long, hard day she knows will come tomorrow.
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The next morning Gretchen is sitting in her first class of the day, advanced English. She feels like a ton of bricks is crushing her chest and her eyes is burning with held back tears. This morning, before school, she had met up with Vince and shared her thoughts. She had thought he would agree with her, and see what she meant, because it was all so logical in her head. But clearly, Vince didn't want to see this her way.
He hadn't even been angry. She would've handled angry. He had been really, really sad. He had looked so confused, asking her what he did wrong, and begging her to try to make it work. But Gretchen had made up her mind, said how sorry she was, and ran off. And now she was sitting here, avoiding the questioning glances from her classmates. She had to find out where to go from here. What about the rest of her friend? They were all friends with Vince. Were they going to take his side? Was she going to end up going through senior year alone? She didn't take notice of this herself, but it seemed like her plan to focus more on school was already going down the drain.
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At lunchtime about a week Gretchen didn't feel like going to the greens outside the cafeteria, since she knows all her friends will be there, and even if Vince isn't there, there will be questions, and she just can't deal with that yet. She's been avoiding her friends for a week, and is not ready to stop yet. She walks around school, aimlessly eating her lunch as she walks.
As she walks past a group of students, she hears a voice from her left.
«Hey, Grundler, looking sad. Want something to cheer you up?»
Gtechen jumps at the voice, and turns around to see who is speaking to her. She sighs as she sees the former, or, not so former Hustler Kid, now just HK. He's smiling slyly at her, and opens his coat.
«Got some real good stuff here for the start of school you know. Need something to wake you up? I got it. Need something to help you sleep? I got it. Just ask.»
Gretchen sighs. «I don't need either of that, thank you. Thanks for the offer though HK. See you around.»
Just as she's about to walk away she hears him ask one last question.
«What about something to help you forget Grundler? With a head like your I bet you could need it. Just some good old quality spliff. Nothing strong, just helps you relax, and be happy for a while yeah?»
Gretchen would never do drugs. She barely drank at parties. She knows some of her friends so it sometimes, but she have never tried. But right now, maybe it was what she needed to come back to her old self. In a moment of confused and sad daze, she turns back.
«How much?»
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Gretchen had never felt so strange in her life. She probably should't have smoked it all at once, and not alone, since it was her first time doing this. But now, as she was walking around town feeling like her head was filled with cotton and her was a barely touching the ground. She felt lighter, yes, but something was still messing with her head. She seriously could not get Vince's face out of her head. What if breaking up with him really was a big mistake? Shit. She needed to do something. She should talk to him. Right now. If she only could remember the way to his house from here.
She starts to walk in the direction she's sure is right. Suddenly she hears a familiar voice from behind her.
«Hey, Gretch! What on earth are you doing around here at this time? And why have you been ignoring us since school started?»
Gretchen turns around and sees TJ walking in her direction. What is TJ doing here? Or, more relevant, what is she really doing her, right in the middle of the houses of TJ and Spin? Oh yeah, Vince. Vince!
«I'm finding Vince's house you see my dear TJ. I need to fix everything. Now.» Gretchen says, trying to act very seriously.
TJ's green eyes widens and he starts to smile. He shakes his head so his brown, messy hair dances around his head.
«Gretchen, why on earth have you been smoking weed? And don't life, I can seriously smell it from here.»
Gretchen suddenly feels really tired, and decides it's time to tell her friend what's been going on. After she's done, TJ looks at her with sympathy.
«You know Gretch, I could tell you that you make a mistake breaking up with Vince, but it seems like you've figured that one out for yourself. Lucky for you, I know Vince is just as bummed out as you, and all you need to do is tell him what you told me.»
«Okay, I will, I will. Would you be so kind to point out the direction to his house TJ?» Gretchen asks, suddenly in a hurry.
«BUT, not tonight. Right now what you need is a place to sleep this off. Lucky for you, Spin's parents are back in Italy to deal with some family stuff, so you can stay there. Come on, I'll take you» TJ offers smiling softly.
«That sounds smart. Do you think Spin have some potato crisps? I suddenly really crave some.»
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The next morning Gretchen is sitting at Spin's kitchen table, head in her hands. Spin sits on the counter as usual, eating a pop-tart. She looks her friend up and down, her black hair falling nicely around her shoulders. Gretchen looks over at her friend, feeling like she should thank her or something. But Spin just smiles understandingly at her, her dark eyes glowing with understanding, and her face in a taunting smile. Only Spin can look so kind and so judging at the same time.
«You know Spin, I don't get how you do this so often, and at the same time seem so together. It's really awful, if you ask me» Gretchen eyes her friend with amusement.
Spin just smiles and shakes her head. She gets up, holds out her hand and takes Gretchen with her outside. Gretchen have changed into some of Spins more… well, subtle clothes. Just a black skirt and a white blouse. Spins usual style is a little more outgoing than Gretchen is comfortable with. Like today, she's wearing a black dress, simple, tied together at her back, fishnet stockings that's partly ripped up and some floral Doc Martens. Others would look really slutty in that, while she just looks cool. Completely without effort. What Gretchen would have given to look like that without trying.
As they walk out Spins front door, Gretchen is met with the last person she feels up to seeing now. Sitting at Spins porch steps, looking lost and sad sits Vince. Gretchen stops, and Vince clearly hears them, because he gets up and looks straight at her. Spin lets go of Gretchen's hand, and walks over to TJ's house.
Suddenly Gretchen is alone with Vince, and her head feels completely empty. That's new.
Vince looks over at her. «So, TJ said you needed to talk to me. I'm here, and I'm listening. Want to walk to school together?»
Gretchen nods, and they start to walk. TJ and Spin is already out of sight, so Gretchen guesses they tried to share TJ's skateboard again. She sighs, shakes her head and suddenly she can't hold it in anymore. She just opens her mouth and suddenly all her feelings and insecurities are pouring out. Vince doesn't interrupt once, just listens. When she's finished, he just keeps walking in silence for a while. Suddenly, he takes her arm, turns her around and looks her right in the eye.
«You know, it seems like you've been doing more than enough thinking for both of us. Believe it or not I do think myself too.» He smiles at her. «And I think, that if you still want to try this, I'm game. Really, I really want to do this. Because this summer was the best summer of my life, thanks to you. And the fact that you let what others might think change that is really sad. Fuck them Gretch. It's me and you, you know? Thats what matters. I'll always be there for you. Friends, or more. Because you make my life better»
Gretchen just stands there, stunned. She shakes her head and whispers: «I was so stupid to doubt us. I just want to forget the last week. I can't believe how stupid I've been. Will you forgive me?» She looks at him, nervously. As a answer he leans in and kiss her. Gretchen have never been more relived in her life.
Vince breaks away and smiles. «Are you ready to take on senior year with me Gretchen?» he asks.
She smiles. «Never been more ready.» She takes his hand.
«And hey. No more weed for you miss.» Gretchen looks startled, but Vince just laughs and kiss her again.
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A/N: So, there it is. I hope you think it was okay, but anyway, please review! Thanks for reading!