The next day I stay, understandably at home. Being sick and all that.
My mum and dad were already at work when I had gotten up to tell them how close I was to dying so… I can do whatever I want now, while not having to pretend to be really close to death.
Which is basically not thinking about yesterday and TJ. Or TJ at all. Well a girl can hope.
As I am always a fan of a good horror movie 'cause it serves as the best distraction imaginable from whatever trouble one is facing, I search for a suitable film. Not that I am facing any sort of trouble. I just dying to see one.
See what I did there. Oh God TJ's bad humour is starting to rub off on me. Well but I have to say he does have a lot of good puns… and his laugh is super contagious… so whether its funny or not I always…wow. So much about NOT thinking of him. Since when am I so awfully aware of him just being…him ?! Its so DAMN annoying.
Trying to shove those thought back to where they came from, I put in my Chosen one, Insidious 2.
Around the break between first and second period, I receive a call from Gretchen.
Which is, to admit, kinda unexpected considering that she puts school before…everything. Maybeee not Vince but hey, she'd never admit THAT.
I also almost had a heart attack when she called. Not because I was scared of the movie or that she would kill me as soon as she got to talk to me…well maybe a bit of the later…BUT no one likes to be called in the middle of a scene that prepares for a typical "jump-scare" when the noise of Sinister is your ringtone. Believe me.
Yes, Sinister is my ringtone. Deal with it. It was either that or the "John Cena meme".
Anyway, that girl has it bad for my athletic friend but she'd rather put her nose into some science books instead of actually asking him out.
Which he would totally say yes too because he has a crush on her as well.
...which I do NOT know from TJ ! Very important for all to know.
Gretchen as well as TJ, has changed a lot, and is now wearing her hair open. She let it grow out a lot and it now covers most of her back like some majestic red lions mane. This superb head of hair, and also the fact that her teeth have been regulated as well as throwing out her glasses and exchanging them with contacts (I solemnly I swear I had nothing to do with the glasses thing) have made her one of the most beautiful girls in school.
Much to the displeasure of the Ashley gang, who yes, are still with us attending the same high school.
I had a mental breakdown when I heard that those freaking weirdos would keep mauling us with their presence. The only one who hadn't seemed too fazed was TJ. Apparently that idiot had seriously had a crush on one of those…those I don't even have a word to truly insult their incredible hollowness. YUCK. Like I don't even want to know who of them it was on but I heard Vince mention my best friend being head over heals for "Ashley".
And no, my burning fire of hate did not get poked by that fact. AND I WAS NOT JEALOUS, GRUNDLER. Damn you and your assumptions back then.
But not only had Gretchen become very popular with everybody…no, apparently aaaalso the most popular thing in Vince's mind. NOT according to TJ.
He himself has only changed in two aspects, height and weight (eheheh). He looks like some very hot version of Dwight Howard now.
And what other way could it be, the hot girl and hot boy are in love with each other.
Although, Vince is not as amazing as TJ.
DAMNED.
I shake my head to get that annoying thought out of it and pick up the phone…which I've been utterly ignoring. Like I said, Gretchen puts school first and a call during her beloved study time couldn't mean anything good.
"Yeah ?"
"Hello Spinelli."
Uhoh
"How…can I help you ?"
"Just checking"
"ahm…ok ? checkin' for what ?"
"If you are really sick."
Oh right. I knew there was something I had forgotten. Time to activate my acting skills.
"Yes very very."
I put a rasp over my voice and cough twice. That should do.
"Really."
ALrighhhht that didn't do the job. Maybe if I sound like a rotting zombie?"arrgghh…"
"Don't even try to fool me."
Ah yeah. I forgot. I don't have any acting skills.
Was worth a try tho. It is my dream to once in my life fool Gretchen. Never has worked yet though.
"Alrighhht" I say, my voice back to normal.
"What is it ? You'd never call me unless Godzilla attacked the school, aliens abducted some of the teachers, you forgot to do a homework or some other incredible disastrous thing has taken place during school time.
"Don't mock me Ashley."
Uhoh.
someone means business. What the hell did I do now ?
"I would have obviously not called when assuming you were merely sick…"
"DEADLY SICK! I tell you she must have caught…"
"SUSH TJ ! GOD GREACIOUS IM GONNA…*growl* wait Spinelli I have to find a place where this annoying fella does not overhear anything I say."
Wow. Gretchen sounds really pissed."Allright. As I have said already, I wouldn't have called even if you were dying."
Right thanks, best friend. I love you too."BUT. As a certain someone could not shut up about you being so horribly ill and explaining me in EXTRRREME detail what your symptoms were, I had no choice but to call.
Now, as you sound just like always when you fake being sick, my theory has been confirmed."
"Theory?"
Based on her emotional strained voice, TJ must have really talked through all of first period…which was.. ah…physics I guess…well NOW I get why Gretch is moody. Physics is her favourite! Besides Maths, Chemistry, English, Language, Geography, History,...nerd.
"Yes, well actually not theory anymore. Your symptoms were: blushing, being fidgety, easy to I quote to pin on the floor and blushing… oh and not being able to talk normally, Right ?"
"Yeeees ? If TJ described it like that ?"
shit.
"Well. Alright. Should I elucidate your sickness further."
"Ahm…I guess ?"
PLEASE no. Don't just keep throwing some fancy words around like you always do and don't ever say anything about what might be happeni…
"You are in love."
Did you really have to say it. ITS NOT TRUE BY THE WAY!
"SHE IS WHAT ? WITH WHOM ?" I repeat, DID YOU REALLY HAVE TO SAY THAT GRETCHEN?! Still not true.
" TJ GET OUT OF HERE!"
"BUT I thought she was sick ! I was so worried and now she is just crushing on somebody ? And she didn't even tell me who or even THAT she is…"
But now you upset TJ. And an upet TJ means no quiet study time AAAALLL day. Well serves you right for saying UNTRUE stuff. Hah.
After TJ interfering I'm hanging up, 'cause I really have better stuff to do than listening to the now 100%tly following discussion where Gretchen would go on and on about how wrong it is to listen in on people when they having a private conversation (with TJ around it's a weekly topic)
… and TJ pressing the matter of me having a crush.
Which I so totally not have. Never. Who even would I be crushing on. Ha-ha. Unimaginable.
Right when I'm about to forget that conversation with Gretchen I get a text message telling me to stay where I am as she is coming over IMMEDIATELY (no need to stress that word so much girl) after school.
It also says something about not even trying to deny having a crush on SOMEONE (again with the stressing.)
…and that she would kill me or something if I did… I didn't really pay attention to the last part. Neeever mind. I'm gonna continue my trip to horror land now.
I am woken up by two very insensitive hands that shake me until I let out a groan that could put a dinosaur in awe. Those two hands belong to my lovely friend Grundler. Who would have thought.
"Wake up Spinelli !"
"ah…..dun….wa..naaaaa"
Which is sleepy Spinelli for: " I do not give a rats ass about anything right now (except…TJ in underpants…wait…NO NO no never mind. I didn't mean that) so leeeaaaaave intruder. Away with you.
"You are not sick in any way so stop being lazy and get off that bed of yours"
Lazy? Me ? Where did she get that from.
"I'm NOT letting this chance of you two finally having a shot of getting together being ruined by your unexplainable desire to sleep right now."
Its super explainable. I watched TV, ate some sandwiches and then got tired.
"huu..h?"
Wait together ? Who's getting together ? She and Vince ?
Must be why else would she be so energetic to get me out of my slumber."Congratu-uuuuuhhhh-lations" I say yawningly and turn from my belly onto my back to be at least able to see my torturer.
But Gretchen just looks at me with raised eyebrows and not as happy as I would have imagined her looking like the day she gets to officially smooch her Vince.
And yes, officially. They have already made out on lots…ok 2…parties. And counting.
"For what may I ask ? That I found out ? It wasn't that difficult sweetheart."
"Heh. I always thought you were shy, Gretch. But guess you finally took the first step. I need to high five you."
But please come over here and hold your hand closely to mine because I'm way too laz…SLEEPY too lift my arm, not to think of my body.
!Would be very appreciated!
Not that she tells people again I am rude.
As she seems to ignore my inner request to get her her high five and also my super nice compliment about her being not shy once in her life, I keep talking.
"So you and Vince are finally together now huh ? About time I say. Tots obvious"
I rub my eyes, and finally take a good look at the read head.
Instead of beaming like a little girl who got 2 wrestling shows for Christmas instead of one (comparison based on me) as I would have imagined her looking like, due to the fact that she got herself a boyfriend, she was rather…stiff. Like a girl seeing her favourite wrestler getting beaten up. (comparison also based on me.)
Judging from her emotional state, as explained by emotional states on me, I take the wild guess that she is not together with Vince. Yet.
Unofficial smooching It is then.
