Spinelli couldn't believe what had just happened to her. She laid in bed, crying, wishing she had never gone to that stupid party in the first place. Why did the Ashley's hate her so much that they would do all of that just to embarrass her? She kept thinking about the look on TJ's face, the look up disgust and disappointment. Did he really believe she wanted that? Or was that scowl for the Ashley's? She couldn't really say because she couldn't find TJ after the incident and when she couldn't find him, she took off. Gretchen tried to stop her but Spinelli kept running.

How am I going to face everyone at school on Monday?

A knock came from her door.

"Go away!" Her voice cracked as she threw the blankets over her disheveled head.

"It's me Pooky, daddy," Bob's voice came from the other side of the wall.

"I don't want to talk to anyone. Please, leave me alone."

"Okay, well, when you do decide you want to talk, just let me know. I'm all ears," And with that, Bob left the door. He found his wife sitting on the bar stool in the kitchen, hovering over a mug of coffee.

"Did she come out?" She asked, looking up from the dark mixture.

"No, she won't even open the door." Bob sat down next to Flo and took a sip of his own coffee.

"Maybe we should call Joe? He's always had a way with her." Flo suggested.

"I'll give him a call, but I'm not sure he'll drop his friends for poor Pooky." Bob stood up and grabbed the land-line, dialing Joes best friend's home number. "Hello? Mrs. Pensky, is my son Joe still hanging around?"

"Oh yes Mr. Spinelli, let me get him," The woman on the other line replied.

"Hello?" Joes voice came from the receiver.

"Hi Joe, it's dad, look, your mother and I were wondering if you could come home early tonight. Something happened to Ashley, and we think she could use your help."

"Well, what happened?"

"We're not sure, she came home from a party in tears and locked herself in her room. She won't tell me or your mother what happened."

There was silence on Joes end.

"Okay, I'll be home in ten,"

Joe hung up the phone and turned to Mrs. Pensky.

"Thank you ma'am." He handed her the phone and headed back to the gang.

"Hey Joe, what's up bro?" Alex Pensky asked. He was sitting on the floor of his room with Rachelle Monarch in his lap, both of which were dressed as mummies.

"I got to get home, family issues," Joe grabbed his backpack and turned for the door.

"Oh Joe, please don't go, we were having so much fun," A soft hand touched his shoulder. He turned and gave Becky Detweiller a gentle smile.

"I would love to stay, really. But I need to get home."

Becky pouted, moving her hair behind her ear, trying to seem irresistible to Joe, but the effect wasn't working. He patter her on the arm and walked out of the room.

"Ouch, Beck, need a blanket for that cold shoulder?"

"Shut up Rachelle!"

Alex and Rachelle giggled over the scene but commenced to making out. Becky huffed and grabbed her purse.

"I'm going home too, see ya suckers."

The two lovers didn't even respond with Becky stormed out of the house.

How dare he blow me off like that! I'm a catch!

Becky turned down her block and headed for her house. She walked up the steps of her deck and turned the knob of the red door.

Joey Spinelli will regret tonight.

She opened the door to find her parents Halloween party coming to an end. Some of TJ's friends were leaving as well which meant no more parties for tonight.

"Becky, dear, your father and I are going to call it a night. That was the last of Theodor's friends so make sure to lock up and turn off the lights before going to bed." Janet said, picking up some cups that were sitting on the counter.

"Sure mom," Becky said, throwing her jacket on the coat rack. She locked the front door and turned off the living room and kitchen lights. She walked down the hall to her room, passing TJ's room on the way.

THUD. THUD. THUD.

What was that twerp doing?

Becky knocked on his door.

"TJ? You okay?"

"Go away Becky," TJ yelled from the other side.

"Damn it, TJ, open up." She reached for the knob and jiggled it, but he locked it.

"Please, Becky, I don't want to talk to anyone."

"TJ, I'm your sister, and I know we fight a lot, but I'm here to listen if you have any problems. It's my duty as the older one to help you."

It was quiet for a minute until Becky heard the door unlatch. She turned the knob and the door swung open, revealing TJ sitting on the floor of his room throwing darts at his wall. He looked like a mess, like he'd been crying. But TJ never cries, he usually laughs the pain away. But maybe this was a different kind of pain he'd never felt before.

"Tell me what happened." Becky said down next to him and started to fiddle with the carpet.

"I don't know, I just, there's this, girl, who I thought I liked, but I think I'm wrong. I found her kissing another guy tonight." TJ threw another dart at the wall.

"Were you guys playing a game?" Becky knew all the party games all too well. With this being his first co-ed party, they might have been playing spin the bottle or something.

"Yeah, it was a dumb game they Ashley's came up with. But kissing the guy wasn't the worse part, it was who she was kissing."

"Who was it?"

"Randall Weems."

Becky shuddered. The Weems family is notorious for being creepy weasels. Just thinking about anyone who would be interested in a Weems gave her chills.

"What game were you two playing?"

"Seven minutes in heaven,"

"And did she know she was in a closet with Randall?"

"I think so, but it all happened so fast,"

"TJ, you idiot, she didn't know who she was kissing! Was she upset?"

"Yeah, but probably because we saw them, and the Ashley's took a... picture..." TJ looked down at his hands ashamed.

"They did what?" Becky shoved TJ over in frustration. "I can't believe you thought that for one, she was even interested in the guy. And two, that you didn't think it was weird those snobby brats took a picture of it."

"I just thought they were being themselves."

"And you probably didn't think of the fact that these girls feast of other peoples embarrassments. And who do they hate more than anyone in the world, than Ashley Spinelli. So of course they would do what ever they could to humiliate the crap out of her."

TJ nodded his head in thought, then looked up at his sister.

"Hey, I didn't say anything about Spinelli,"

"I took a shot. Ashley's a great girl who has a good head on her shoulders. She wouldn't voluntarily hook up with Randall. Her brother, on the other hand, can go to Hell." Becky stood up and walked to the door.

"Hey Beck, thanks."

"No problem, twerp."

"Knock, Knock," Joey turned the handle of Spinelli's door and eased it open. "Wan'a talk?"

"No, go away," Spinelli was laying on her bed playing her GameBoy.

"Come on Ash, talk to me. Mom and dad are worried." Joey sat on her bed and she sat up.

"You're not going to leave until I talk, right?"

"Right,"

Spinelli sighed and looked up at her big brother. "The Ashley's tricked me into kissing some who's more vile than the plague and everyone saw and laughed and I'm sure I lost the guy I like as a friend because of it all and I couldn't find him to try and explain it was all the Ashley's fault but I couldn't find him and he won't return my calls and I just don't know what to do because I don't think he will ever forgive me for this accident and I know everyone will never forget what happened because the stupid A's took a stupid picture and will probably hand them out like candy on Monday!" Spienlli burst into tears as she threw her game across the room.

"Come here," Joey pulled her into a hug as she sobbed into his chest. "You'll be okay." She kept crying for about thirty minutes until it finally got quiet. Joey looked down at the head resting on his thigh. She cried herself to sleep.

She just needed to cry,

"We can talk in the morning,"

Joey slowly lifted up her head and replaced the empty space with a pillow. He covered her up with her blankets and turned off the lights, leaving the room.

"Well?" Flo asked when he walked into the living room.

"She'll be just fine."