Disclaimer: I do not own Recess or any of its characters.

Chapter Nine

January 30, Tenth Grade

"I can't believe I'm doing this," Lawson complained as he sat down in the seat next to Gretchen in the auditorium for the talent show.

"Just shut up and deal," TJ hissed at him from his spot on the other side of Lawson, "once Mikey performs we'll get up and leave."

"And you don't think they're going to notice thirty teenagers sneaking out halfway through the talent show?" Lawson shot back at him.

"We'll go in groups," Gus snapped at him, he was seated on the other side of Gretchen, "and you'll be in the first group because you are annoying me."

"Thanks," Lawson smiled, ignoring the part about him annoying Gus. Gus leaned back in his seat, rolling his eyes.

While they had been holding this conversation, Mikey Blumberg was peeking out from behind the curtain to see an almost full audience conversing and waiting for the show to start. And while he considered that most of these people were probably parents and family members, he also saw a lot of students, a lot more than had appeared at last year's talent show.

"Great turn-out," the talent show coordinator commented, joining Mikey at the curtain, "I wonder why all those basketball players came."

"Maybe they are just enjoying the fine arts," Mikey suggested, trying to repress a grin.

"Yeah, I'm sure that's it," the coordinator said, sarcastically, "Mikey, you are on about halfway through."

Mikey just nodded, leaving the curtain area to go practice one last time and try and calm his nerves.

"When is Mikey coming on?" hissed Lawson after about an hour of watching people try and sing, tap dance, and various other so-called 'talents'. As soon as the words left his mouth the coordinator came out and announced Mikey being next.

"Right now," Gretchen snapped at him. She had half a mind to kill TJ for sticking her next to Lawson when he knew that Lawson would complain the whole time.

"When I see you and you see me too," Mikey began to sing after coming onto the stage, strumming his guitar as he went along.

"Hey, he's actually not bad," Lawson whispered a half-compliment to Gretchen as Mikey continued to play. Gretchen just nodded, indicating for him to pay attention to the music.

"And this is when I see you and you see me too," Mikey ended his song a couple of minutes later. After he exited the stage, Lawson stood up, trying to stand as bent over as possible so as not to be spotted, Gretchen, Gus, and TJ all quickly followed him, heading towards the doors of the auditorium.

As soon as Lawson opened the doors, however, a big bunch of liquid, being held by a bucket at the top of the doorframe, splashed all over them. Gus, who had seen TJ and Gretchen getting splashed had tried to move away, but had not managed in time.

"This is soda pop," TJ hissed as he smelled the stuff. The four teenagers turned around to see an entire audience staring at them.

99999

January 30, Tenth Grade

TJ, Vince, and Spinelli were all at the pizza parlor on the night of the school talent show. They had been very pleased with their efforts to get people to not go to the talent show and had decided to celebrate by getting pizza and watching a movie. TJ, however, had looked preoccupied all night because Vince had told him that he was planning on asking Spinelli out tonight, and he couldn't quite wrap his mind around what he thought about it, while Vince was preoccupied because he was thinking about his asking Spinelli out and what she would say.

"What is up with you and Vince?" Spinelli hissed to TJ when Vince got up and went to the bathroom. TJ looked at her hesitantly.

"Look TJ, I'm worried … you aren't saying anything," Spinelli told him.

"Nothing bad is going to happen," TJ attempted to smile, "I just have a lot on my mind."

"Teej, are you okay?" Spinelli asked, a look of concern on her face, "what is wrong?"

"Um ..," at that moment Vince came back from the restroom, not giving TJ a chance to say anything, but Spinelli still looked at him expectantly. As if she was expecting him to say whatever it was with Vince in their presence.

"Spinelli, there is a question I have to ask you," Vince quickly said as he sat back down. Spinelli tore her eyes off of TJ to turn to Vince.

"Yes?" she said, politely.

"Would you like to go to the movies with me, like on an actual date sometime?" Vince rushed. Spinelli didn't answer him immediately. She just looked at him.

And then, her gaze shifted to TJ, who was trying to avoid her gaze. Spinelli sighed and then turned back to Vince.

"Sure, Vince, that sounds great," she replied, giving him a smile. TJ sharply looked up from the floor his gaze had been fixed on, but now it was Spinelli who would not distinctly meet his eye.

"So, Vince huh?" TJ asked later as Spinelli and him were walking home. Vince had gone in the opposite direction, promising to call Spinelli tomorrow to make plans for the movie.

"Yeah," Spinelli smiled, somewhat preoccupied, "is that why the two of you weren't talking earlier?"

"He was nervous," TJ shrugged, "I figured my talking would make him even more nervous."

"Oh," Spinelli sighed, "he's a good guy."

"Yeah," TJ said, awkwardly.

"Teej," Spinelli started to say, but then stopped, "I guess we need to find you a girl now."

TJ knew what she had been thinking. Or at least he hoped he knew what she had been thinking. But, Vince had liked Spinelli for so long and he would take care of her. TJ knew it. And if it made her happy, well, then he was happy for her. He only liked Spinelli as a friend anyway.

99999

"Michael Blumberg?" a voice spoke up as Mikey was getting ready to leave the auditorium. After Lawson, Gretchen, Gus, and Mikey had gotten soda pop spilled on them and taken to the office to discuss it, the talent show had pretty much come to an abrupt end. Mikey was just happy that he actually got to sing in such a fun place. He turned around and saw a smiling guy that he didn't know.

"Yes?" he pleasantly asked.

"I saw your performance," the guy said, "and I thought it was absolutely amazing."

"Thank you?" Mikey said, somewhat uncertainly.

"My name is Seth Piersen," the man introduced himself.

"Wait, THE Seth Piersen?" Mikey asked, excitedly, almost jumping up and down, "the big record producer and agent?"

"That's me," the guy smiled, "my son wanted to come to the talent show tonight and invited me to come along. I must say, I wasn't expecting to meet anybody of much promise here tonight, but you managed to impress me."

"Really?" Mikey asked, excited.

"Yes sir," Seth said, "why don't we go out for a cup of coffee and discuss a possible record deal?"

"Hey dad," a boy came up to them, "me and some of my friends are going to go play some chess, is it okay if I leave?"

"Sure Jeff," his dad smiled, giving the boy a quick hug before he left and then turned back to Mikey, "so, what do you say Michael?"

"I am so there," Mikey said enthusiastically.

00000

"Mikey? What's wrong?" Gus asked his friend as he found him in the music room at school after the talent show was over.

"No one was there," Mikey said hollowly, "only about twenty people in the audience. All parents of kids performing."

"But, you usually have at least the geek squad," Gus protested.

"Thanks," Mikey said dryly, "nobody came. It was like somebody told them to stay away."

"Who would do that?" Gus asked, puzzled.

"I don't know … it's not like I've done anything to anybody," Mikey shrugged, "poor Mr. Smith though, the talent show is the best part of his entire year."

Gus thought for a minute. Mikey was right, he hadn't done anything, he was an easy going person who didn't like to make people mad at him. On the other hand, Gus was pretty much hated by most people in the school, so if he had been in the talent show, he could understand why people would do that. But, who had that much clout in the school and would hate Gus enough to try and get at him through Mikey? And then, suddenly, Gus understood.

"I hate them," Gus whispered under his breath. It was one thing to pull a trick on him, to make his life miserable. But, to decide to do something to the one person he truly considered a friend? That was taking it too far. And Gus was going to get even. And in a very big way.