TJ Detwillier sat on the steps of 3rd Street Elementary School watching his best friend Ashley Spinelli cream Lawson at dodge ball. He couldn't help but marvel at her quick speed and amazing throws. His stomach felt weird, he remembered this happening to Spinelli when they found out she was a boy-liker. Wait, no it couldn't be. He looked up at Spinelli once more and felt his stomach turn inwards once again.

TJ: 'I like Spinelli" he whispered in amazement.

Several moments later the game of dodge ball was over and Spinelli ran over and sat by TJ's side.

Spinelli: 'Hey Teej, you see me beat that jerk Lawson at Dodge ball?' she waited eagerly for his reply.

TJ: 'Yeah, he had no chance' he looked at Spinelli unsure of how to act around her now.

Spinelli: 'TJ are you feeling ok?' she reached over and placed her palm on his forehead. 'You haven't been yourself these last couple of days'

He flinched away at her touch, she looked hurt. 'TJ, is it me? Did I do something to upset you?'

He stood up from the steps they were sitting on. Yeah its you. His brain thought.

'You haven't upset me Spin, I just got a lot of thinking to do that's all'

Spinelli laughed. 'You sound like me when I had that stupid crush on Babytooth Johnny V' she continued laughing until she realised TJ wasn't laughing with her. She looked at TJ. 'Teej, man do you have a crush on a girl?'

'You could say that' he rubbed his hand over his face and looked out onto the playground.

'Oh please don't tell me its one of the Ashleys'

He looked back at Spinelli. 'Sort of'

'Oh Teej, I'm sorry' she put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. 'Look if it helps I got over Johnny V, maybe you will get over this chick you like'

'I dunno Spin, I got it bad'

Spinelli looked to her left away from TJ, he had always been the leader of the group, so strong and so loyal and she had always admired that. Now they were growing up it seemed like things were going to begin to change, and she hated that. If change were a person she would have beat the hell out of it by now.

She snuck a peek at TJ. She could imagine why girls would like him, his soft ruffled hair hidden under the backwards cap, TJ Style she liked to call it. He always looked so cute in his green jacket and blue pants. Spinelli had always thought TJ looked good, not that she would say she had a crush on TJ, no, but if he got a girlfriend everything would change.

'I'll always be your best friend Teej' she said sighing.

TJ was taken slightly off guard. 'Oh well thanks Spin' He didn't really understand where that had come from, to him it only made matters worse. Spinelli sees you as a best friend not a boyfriend. His brain told him.

Spinelli looked up at the huge clock on the side of the school; it was time for her to go home.

'Teej I gotta go, you coming?' she stood up and walked away from the steps, looking back to ask TJ the question.

'Ok but Spin, I gotta tell you something, you know that Ashley I like?' Spinelli moved closer. 'It's you Spin, its you I have a crush on' he lowered his head and looked at the ground.

Spinelli was frozen to the spot, had she heard right? TJ had a crush on her? Ashley Spinelli! It seemed like forever they both stood there waiting for the other to say something. Finally Spinelli did.

'I gotta go Teej, I'll see you tomorrow' she turned and started running.

'Spinelli, hey Spinelli wait!' he reached his hand out to her but she was already out of the school gates.

The wind started to blow heavily and dark clouds appeared overhead. TJ walked down the steps and followed Spinelli's path out of the school and towards his house dragging his feet all the way. He never once looked up from the ground as he walked. He reached his house and opened the front door to the warming smell of his mother's cooking. Throwing his jacket on the nearby couch he trudged up the stairs and into his bedroom, and lay on the bed.

'What have I done' he asked himself 'I've probably ruined me and Spinelli's friendship forever over some stupid crush' He thought back to all the great times they had all had as a group. It was hard to imagine those days might now be over.

'TJ' his mother called up the stairs. 'Get washed up its time for dinner'

TJ slowly rolled off the bed and headed for the bathroom. Feelings were dumb he decided as he washed his hands, they ruined everything. He made his way downstairs and took a seat next to Becky at the table.

'How was school' his mother asked him as she set a plate in front of him.

'Fine' he answered simply not wanting to be drawn into a conversation at this moment. TJ kept very quite at dinner and then when he was finished he made his way back up to his room to do his homework.

Three doors down Spinelli was beginning her homework too. She sat on the edge of her bed and read the first math problem.

'He likes me' she thought

She lay back on her bed the math homework forgotten on the floor. She couldn't understand how this had happened. Of course she and TJ were much closer then any of the others in there group that was obvious. They had been through so much, known each other longer and practically grew up in each others backyards. Not forgetting the kiss they shared, that was what had made them closer; they had done what no other kid on the playground had done. It was too late to take it back now, what was done was done.

Spinelli rolled over onto her right side and hugged her pillow. Then why wasn't she disgusted at what he said to her, why hadn't she punched him like she would any other guy. Spinelli began to fear that what TJ had said to her had made her feel…well…special. She couldn't have ever imagined herself falling for TJ, but the thought of him being with any other girl made her jealous.

'Pookie time for bed'

'TJ are you in bed yet?'

At both houses TJ and Spinelli crawled into bed and pulled the covers tightly around them. Morning would be here soon and they were going to have to face each other, neither one of them knowing what the other was thinking…

The next morning TJ's mother handed him his jacket and kissed him on the cheek. 'Have a good day at school dear'

'Yeah thanks mom, bye Dad' he made his way out of the front gate and onto the sidewalk, he had just gotten two houses away from his house when he looked up and saw Spinelli being shoved out of the door by her mother.

'but mum…' Spinelli protested loudly.

'Not another word' her mother answered shutting the door in Spinelli's face. Scowling Spinelli turned on her heel and marched down the path and onto the sidewalk almost crashing right into TJ as he passed.

'Woah careful there Spinelli' TJ said moving out of the way.

'Oh sorry Teej' Spinelli moved over so TJ could get back onto the sidewalk.

They both continued to walk to school in silence. TJ wanted to say something, even if it was just a friendly conversation. Spinelli desperately wanted to ask him about yesterday.

'About yesterday' 'So how are you?' they both began. They looked at each other and laughed.

'I'm sorry I ran off yesterday Teej' Spinelli said before he could open his mouth. 'You shocked me you know I didn't know what to say'

'That's ok Spinelli I should never have told you'

Spinelli stopped walking. 'No TJ I'm glad you told me' TJ stopped and turned to face her. 'You are?'

'Yeah, I like that you feel that way about me, and I think in some ways I feel like that about you too, it would tear me up if you liked another girl more then me'

TJ smiled his gorgeous smile at her 'You wanna come over after school then?'

'Sure'

TJ reached out his open hand towards Spinelli, she shyly took it and they walked the rest of the way to school hand in hand.