Chapter 7: Perplexion
May 2003 part 6
Spinelli's rage ebbed away slightly, as she began to feel sick with guilt for punching her friend. She'd always told herself she would never, ever hurt a friend; it was a line she promised herself she'd never cross. However she did cross that line, and she hated herself for it. Then again, if nothing else, she realised that in a respect, this would actually work in her favour. Just like that, the gang were so angry with her, they wouldn't talk to her. Just like that, her plan was in action. Spinelli checked her watch, and realised she only had a couple more minutes of recess. As a shadow fell over her, Spinelli looked up to see the gang, minus Gus, gathered around her.
"What?!"
"We took Gus to the nurse" explained Gretchen, as she and the rest of the gang stated at Spinelli, as though she were some wild, unpredictable animal "She thinks his nose might be broken, he's been taken to hospital"
"um-hmm" muttered Spinelli, trying to sound as though she didn't care, her stomach continuing to feel heavier and heavier with the guilt. She couldn't believe she'd hurt her friend so badly, sure Gus was a little annoying but that didn't mean he deserved a broken nose. It was bad enough that her world was crashing down around her, but now she was also consumed with a sickening guilt, over Gus's broken nose.
"We told the nurse a ball had hit him in the face" explained TJ, as the gang exchanged unhappy glances. Clearly the lie was TJ's decision, and they didn't completely agree.
"Right"
"Why did you do it Spinelli?" asked TJ sounding utterly perplexed "Why did you hit him?"
"WHY?" shouted Spinelli, jumping to her feet, and rounding on TJ. As a girl who generally got very angry, she found it surprisingly easy to fake her temper "BECUASE HE HAD IT COMING, THATS WHY!"
"HE HAD IT COMING?!" shouted TJ in response, looking at Spinelli as though he'd never seen her before. Spinelli had never seen him this angry, she was sure his own, hurt feelings were fuelling part of his temper "HE'S YOUR FRIEND! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? I THOUGHT BETTER OF YOU SPINELLI!"
"GO TO HELL TJ!" screamed Spinelli, ramming her way past Gretchen who was unintentionally stood in her way. The force of this causing the still tall, frail, gangly girl to tumble over the bench and land painfully on the floor the other side.
"I HAD YOU WRONG SPINELLI! I CANT BELIEVE I CONSIDERED YOU A FRIEND! I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT I-I-I…. THAT'S IT FOR US SPINELLI! YOU HEAR ME!" shouted TJ, at the back of Spinelli's head, his fists balled, emotion pumping through his veins. Realising Gretchen was on the floor, with the rest of the gang gathered around her, he turned to help his friend.
Spinelli meanwhile bit her lip as she walked away, trying to force down the tears that were pricking her eyes and the gasping, hiccoughing breaths began to rack her body; threatening to turn into sobs. She'd never cried, not since she was three years old, and she was not going to start now. Not in school, not about some boy; even if that boy was TJ Detweiler. She was not a girly wimp.
The rest of the day passed without great event. On return to class TJ refused to sit next to Spinelli, instead taking Gus's vacated seat. Spinelli ate lunch alone, and avoided the gleeful celebrations, as the rest of Third Street was on a last day of school high. She didn't want to see it, she didn't want to see everyone so happy. She hurt, not physically, but emotionally. She hurt inside, like she'd never hurt before. Somehow, she the emotional hurt almost seemed to manifest itself into an almost physical pain. She'd broken Gus's nose, and Gretchen was now sporting a large, swollen bump on her head, after Spinelli had pushed her over the bench. Spinelli had never intended to hurt her friends. She just planned to act grumpy, she'd just planned to annoy them enough to not talk to her for a day or so. Spinelli had no idea how the situation had gotten so out of hand. She never meant to make them hate her, not like this. However, maybe it was easier that way, now they wouldn't care she'd left. Worst of all, she felt bad about TJ, she'd hurt him too. She'd hurt him badly, and now he hated her. Spinelli had never seen TJ look at anyone the way he did her, not even Lawson. There was no going back now. The gang would leave for camp, she would leave for Ohio, and never see them again. They wouldn't even care she was gone, in fact, they'd be glad.
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Aaah! This was one of the saddest chapters to write! Poor Spinelli! We thought things were bad in the last chapter, things are definitely worse now! Poor TJ! Not to mention Gus and Mikey! Please send a review to let me know what you thought! The next chapter will bring about some big changes!
Rose-Aki: Well Spinelli's anger at Gus continued in this chapter, as did her emotional turmoil surrounding leaving TJ, and everyone/everything else behind! I think apart from one of the chapters near the end, this was the saddest to write! I hated making TJ and Spinelli argue!
Please review, it would make my day! If not, and you can offer me some constructive criticism, please do! I will just ask for "no flames" please? I am dyslexic, and have worked hard to make sure this is perfect, but if you see any, please highlight any spelling/grammar errors that I've missed in proof reading, please highlight them, so I can correct!
I will update as soon as possible, but can't update every day.
Big Cliffy Meanie
