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"What did he think of it?" Gordy asked as Spinelli walked back to their corner of the library.

"He liked it. And, um… he said whoever drew it had a lot of talent." She tried her best to ease tensions between the two boys, but Gordy only interpreted the statement that TJ thought Spinelli drew it. Spinelli threw herself on the library chair and put her boots on top of the table. "Geez, you guys make me walk all over the place. My legs must have frequent flier miles by now." Gordy laughed quietly, making sure not to draw attention to himself in the library. The librarian was almost as misanthropic as Ms. Finster.

"So, when are you gonna tell me why you don't want to work with TJ?"

Gordy's demeanor settled down. "I can tell you at recess on Monday. But I'm not going to remember so you better come to me first."

"Got it."

Gordy stood up and took the poster from the table. "Well, see you then. When are we presenting?"

"The hour after recess."

"Thanks. It was nice working with you, Spinelli."

Spinelli forced a smile and waved goodbye. Gordy seemed nice, but still in the back of her head she remembered what a jerk he was to TJ. She began to sympathize with TJ and her conviction to figure this boy out was stronger now.

After a long weekend, TJ and the gang headed over to Third Street School, except Gretchen who was still sick. Spinelli told the plan to the rest of the gang.

"Gordy's gonna tell me at recess today. He'll spill it all, I'm sure of it."

TJ interjected. "That's right. And Spinelli's wearing this microphone in her hair tie." The gang looked and noticed one of Spinelli's hair ties was a slightly darker shade of red. "And it's connected to this earpiece I have here".

"Wow, TJ! A real spy mission!" Gus was ecstatic about the plan. "Can I join too?"

"Sorry Gus, it's a one-person job. This isn't like messing with Ms. Finster or anything. This is personal."

"Then why is Spinelli helping out?" Vince asked skeptically.

Spinelli pointed her finger at Vince. "Hey, I'm just doing what I can for my pal, pal", she spoke directly to Vince. "Besides, I have some… um… persuasion power over Gordy."

Gus and Vince were a little too oblivious to know what that meant, but Mikey knew. He didn't say anything though, since it would not mull over well with Spinelli.

The class groggily filed into Ms. Grotke's class.

"Good morning class. Today as you know is your presentation for 'What do you think the future will look like'. But first, a healthy dose of Tai Chi will do your young minds good before recess."

After enduring a half hour of Tai Chi (which was not as fun as it sounds), the class was let out for recess. The gang went their separate ways. Mikey, Gus and Vince played tetherball in turns. TJ hung out behind the dumpster and fixed his earpiece. And Spinelli went over by the cheesebox where Gordy was.

"Hey Gordy."

Gordy looked up from his little video game. "Oh, hey Spinelli. What's up?"

"Nothing much. Just you were going to tell me something this recess."

Gordy remembered his promise. "Oh, right. Ok." Gordy sighed. "It all started back in third grade."

Spinelli took a seat by the cheesebox. She intensely was listening to the story. And so was TJ.

"It was the field trip for the state fair. TJ sat by me on the bus, and we started talking. We asked each other what ride we wanted most to go on. I said the roller coaster. I've never been on a roller coaster since my parents thought they mess up a kid's mind or something. But they weren't there so I could finally try it. He said he just wanted to go on the water slides."

I remember that, thought TJ.

"Anyway, all the kids got one ticket for each ride. Remember that?"

"Yeah", Spinelli said and TJ thought, in unison.

"He said he didn't like the roller coaster and I didn't like to get wet. So he suggested we should trade each other a ticket. I got his Roller Coaster ticket and he got my water slide tickets."

"Wasn't that was nice of him?" Spinelli asked calmly.

"Oh, you'd think." Gordy said with a scowl. "I must have dropped one of the tickets later, but I held out for when it was almost time to go, since I wanted it to be the last thing I did to finish the day. I was in line for that roller coaster and the operator guy was about to close it. He was going to let a few more people on, and I was the last one. I was really excited."

"Then TJ came along, without you guys. And when the operator wasn't looking, he… he…" Gordy's voice got high and shaky. "He cut me in line!"

WHAT? TJ almost yelled.

Spinelli stared in disbelief. "Didn't you say something?"

"I did! But he just ignored me. He must have got in with that ticket I dropped." Gordy's eyes narrowed. "And when he got on the roller coaster, he was staring right at me with that evil smile."

TJ was furious. He couldn't take listening to these blatant lies any longer. He pulled out the earpiece and stepped on it, and stormed back inside. Not even recess could make him feel better.

Spinelli was too shocked to be angry, especially at her lifelong best friend. "Gee, he said he was just going to the souvenir shop. I should have known something was up since he took so long."

Gordy was livid. "It's just, what kind of a guy would do that? Say he's not interested in roller coasters, steal a ticket behind someone's back and then slap them in the face by taking their childhood dream from under them." Gordy settled down and sighed again. "I mean, I don't care if you're friends with him, but at least you know now why I can't talk to TJ."

Spinelli put her hand on his shoulder. "It's ok man, I understand. It was a rotten thing to do."

"Well Gordy, we better get back in class. Recess is over in 2 minutes."

"Yeah, you're right Spinelli. But I think I'm gonna stay out here for a little longer. I need to finish my game and do some thinking."

"Of course. See you in class."

Spinelli and TJ ran into each other in the hall outside Ms. Grotke's room, both the first ones indoors. No one else was in the hallways, for the clock was five minutes early. TJ jogged up to talk to Spinelli and let off some steam.

"Spinelli, am I glad to see you. I'm just so angry at what Gordy said. Can you believe that g..."

Spinelli grabbed TJ by the shirt with one hand and pinned him up against the lockers. TJ's eyes got wide. He never knew Spinelli was that strong. Or that she could be so mad.

"You're angry? YOU'RE ANGRY? Tell me Teej, did your best friend turn out to be a total jerk when his friends weren't around? Did he cheat other people and take away their childhood dreams just for fun? Well if he didn't, then I really don't think you're as angry as ME!"

TJ recognized that the words she was using wasn't her normal diction, she was using Gordy's. He realized what had transpired, and he had to fess up quickly.

"Spinelli, he was lying. He was just sayin' that to get sympathy from you. Rollercoasters made me sick back in third grade."

Spinelli put the boy down. But her eyebrows were still furrowed in rage.

"Then what, TJ? Are you saying that whole thing was an act? His shaky voice and everything?"

"Yep." TJ gulped, ready to be pummeled or pinned again.

Spinelli closed her eyes and clenched her teeth. "AGH! I don't know who to be mad at anymore." She opened her eyes and stared right into TJ's. He recoiled in fear. "One of you two better tell the truth and fix this whole mess, or I swear I'll cream the BOTH of you!"

Spinelli stomped to Ms. Grotke's classroom just as the recess bell rang.

"I will, Spinelli" TJ said to himself somberly. "I will."