The bell rang, and TJ stood up slowly, stretching. One more class to go. He loved block scheduling, adored the concept of only having four classes to deal with per day. Around him, papers shuffled, chairs scraped, and students chattered, but over the din Erikson managed to shout, "No homework tonight folks! Rest up after the all-nighter you pulled writing the Shakespeare essay!"
"Yes!" Spinelli crowed from across the room, and TJ grinned. So typical. He watched her rush out of the room, and followed at a more leisurely pace to meet up at the locker they shared in the Science wing.
She was fumbling in the awful junkpile of her crap and his, trying to yank out her Physics book. He tiptoed up behind her, making sure his converse didn't squeak in the process, then ever so lightly set his hand on her head.
Before he knew what had happened, there was a slam to his shins and he was on the floor. Spinelli was looking at him wild-eyed holding her Physics book like a bat. He stared at her for a moment before cracking up. "What the hell was that Spin?" he asked, still chuckling. "You crazy or somethin'?"
She gave him a dirty look. "I thought you were Lawson, Teej!" TJ winced at the mention of Spinelli's dickwad ex-boyfriend. "I told him never to touch me again, what was I supposed to do?"
TJ laughed. "Turn around first?" Spin laughed to.
"Sorry Teej," she said softly, turning away. He put his thumb on her chin to turn her back, but she shoved his arm away. "Do that again and I'll slug ya," she told him seriously. "C'mon man, you know better." She then turned away and pulled his book out of the locker, passing it towards him. "Let's get to Physics."
TJ stood up and offered her his hand, and, surprisingly, she took it. He yanked her up a bit harder than necessary though, and she fell into him, toppling them both. She fell into his lap, and his arm was around her waist.
"I-" TJ began, just as Spinelli said "Why-" but they were both cut off by-
"Brrrrring!" the last call bell, ringing to tell them they were late for Physics. They stared at each other awkwardly for a second, and TJ wondered how he was going to get up without touching her in a way that would get him brained with the textbook. Finally, she looked up at him, cheeks redder than he'd expected, and said, "Dude, you wanna just skip? I can get us outta school if you wanna go." She paused, then laughed. "We're late anyways." she said unnecessarily.
TJ thought about it. "I need another detention like I need a hole in the head," he told her truthfully.
"We'd get a detention for the late, too," she reminded him. "Besides, I think I can get us out of both." Then she winked. "Girls have talents, you know."
TJ rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say," he told her. She stood and he followed her down the hall.
