x-OmgItsRach-x Thank you and thank you! And I will not say! Update for you! haha

Siasto Firarri No problemo, and thanks! I miss it to, we have "Family Channel" here not "Disney Channel" and Recess still comes on but I hardly get the chance to watch it, which saddens me. It really never gets old for me though haha. I've watched it a few times, but I never really get much of a chance for TV unless its late night haha.

earth-fairy2006 Thanks for the bday wishes! Thanks for the review!

FashionDrugs They really have to stay friends, even if they have stupid fights haha. I love writing her friends, they're really a blast, I think they suit her nicely. Thanks for the review!

Batgirl435 Good question... I guess I'd say a bit of both. I have a group of 4 or 5 girls who are my really close friends. Claudia and Alex are definatly inspired by one of my best friends, Lindseys looks and sort of attitude is inspired by one of my friends too. Rachel I made up on my own, but she has her influences. Thanks for the review! I love answering questions! haha

White Artemis Maybe... Maybe not. And thanks for the bday wish and review!

ShadowDog34 I love how everyone is getting so curious about Carlos. Just as I wanted! Thanks for the review!

AngelicallyChaotic Hello again! It was good, thanks! Haha, Vince just needs to grow on us a little, Imma start putting him in a better light soon, now that they've made up. Thanks for the review!

23lilly Yay! Long review and old fan! Mmkay, thats the most critism I get, with all my writings, my eye always misses a few vital mistakes. I shall slow down and reread more carefully, am hoping it doesn't take away from the story too much though! I am really glad I've got you hooked. I love writing Rachel andd Ashley Q, and now we get to see Carlos! Thanks so much for the great review and for reading again, EH! hehe.

SpinelliFan09 I know, I know. I've been trying to find the time. Am so sorry for the wait, but finally heres another chapter!

I'm lovin some of the longer reviews! Makes me happy!

Anyway, I am so sorry about how long its taken me to update! End of August was quite hectic for me and then school started. This first few weeks have school have been jam-packed and I've been dead tired by the time I got home. I really feel bad about not being able to update, and my schedule is so random I have no idea when I get to write and when I don't but I will try my best. Please know thought that I will not abandon this story and hopefully your waits for updates won't be as long as this one was.

Thanks for sticking with me!

Chapter Ten:

- Annoyance and Skipping School

"Ugh, Angelina how could you wear such an ugly dress?" Ashley Q scowled at the tabloid magazine she held in her hand. She was leaning against a tall white pole wearing tight blue jeans and a dark purple sweater, her blue coat hanging on her arm and book bag hanging from her shoulder.

She was in the mall. It was 11:23 in the morning so there were mostly older people or mothers with young children. The mall was in the center of town and usually occupied by teenagers at lunchtime and afterschool but at the moment, she was on the only one around.

Ashley Q wasn't really one for skipping school, in fact, none of that Ashley's really were. As the day went on, she just felt like it was more and more a waste of time and wondered what she'd missed the last two math classes. Truth was, she didn't know why she had skipped school. A sense of recklessness came over her

"Excuse me, could I have a large decaf with two sugars and large cafe mocha?" Ashley heard a deep voice say from somewhere behind her. Her head shot up and she turned around and noticed the man at the small coffee stand, her eyes went wide. She clapped a hand over her mouth to stop herself from gasping out loud.

It was her dad.

She hide herself behind the pole quickly, her heart racing. She didn't expect to run into anyone here of any real significance, especially not her parents. She knew it was best to make her getaway right now, get to school, stop being so dramatic and reckless but suddenly... she was curious.

Ashley quickly threw her tabloid in the trash and stuck her head out from behind the pole. Her father was wearing his normal business suit, he pulled out his blackberry and the lines in his forehead deepened as he looked at it in annoyance, he wasn't always the most patient person.

She then saw who was running late. Her mother walked quickly up to him, looking flushed but still gorgeous in a deep purple business suit that matched his tie. Ashley decided to listen in.

"Frank, sorry I'm a bit late. I checked in to the store, Elizabeth was working," her mother said. They had a small perfume shop on the first floor but her parents were rarely ever there.

"We have an appointment Laura," he responded calmly yet with a firm edge in his voice as if this wasn't the first or last time he had to wait for her.

"I know, but wouldn't it be better on your record if I am late," she retorted and it made Ashley wince slightly.

"Well, no one is late yet," Frank responded, and taking the two coffees from the counter and nodding to the server and then passed his wife the mocha.

"Thank-you," she responded politely. "Shall we head in now?" She was being so formal, it annoyed Ashley. But she didn't focus on that just yet as she noticed her parents heading in her direction.

Ashley quickly turned around, her back to her parents as she tried to again hide herself behind the pole.

"Have you told them yet?" her dad asked as they came closer.

"I tried to this morning," Laura admitted. "Ashley seemed to be in too much of a hurry," Ashley lowered her head at her name. Her mother had stopped her and Tyler before breakfast but she made sure to make a clean getaway before her mother said anything more.

"You could have at least told Tyler," Frank responded. They were very close now; she knew they'd pass soon.

"No. I'm telling them together, it's fair," she stated firmly. "I still think you should-"

"No Laura, I told you that we have-" Their voices were starting to drown out now and Ashley knew they had passed and she was clear. But she stayed there, leaning against the pole, knowing she looked ridiculous and would have to breathe soon.

Finally she let out a breath, leaning against the pole. She turned her head around slowly just to see where her parents were headed, hoping it would give her some false sense of hope. But it was all confirmed as they headed into the business part the mall. Law offices. She felt like she was going to get sick.

Ashley then took off, walking quickly in the opposite direction of her parents. She took the stairs, jumping two at a time and nearly running by the time she reached the front exit of the mall. She shoved open the door and was greeted by icy cold wind that hurt her face after exiting the warm mall. She stopped. It was raining, and as irrational as she wanted to be right now, Ashley Q knew that if she started to run she'd slip on the ice which the rain was creating.

Ashley sighed and put down her book bag and put on her jacket, pulling up her hood. She instantly decided she didn't want to go back to school, even though the fitness test in gym class called her name. Her phone vibrated in her coat pocket.

One New Message From:

T

Where are you?

Ashley Q slammed her phone shut, picked up her book bag and threw her blue phone aimlessly into it.

"Hey," Ashley nearly jumped out of her skin as someone touched her shoulder. A million thoughts shot through her mind, wondering who it could be.

To her surprise when she turned around to see a face of a young man around her own age who didn't seem familiar to her at all. He was tall with olive skin and wavy dark brown hair. She had to admit he was quite attractive.

"Um... Hi," she responded and it came out as more of a question. He smirked. "Did you need something?" she asked, deciding to add an actual question.

"Yeah, actually," he responded, pointing at the front pouch of her book bag as she adjusted the strap on her shoulder. "You go to 7th Avenue?" Ashley knew he was referring to the school crest on book bag.

"Yeah," she responded, becoming suspicious. "You aren't undercover patrol or anything, are you?" he laughed.

"Nah, I'm from out of town, I won't call you out for playing hooky," he responded with a wink and Ashley laughed. "But I would give you a ride back there, or wherever you were headed to a number exchange," he responded and Ashley raised her eyebrow. Was he asking for her number?

"Number for the school," he clarified almost apologetically and Ashley laughed to herself.

"I probably have a memo here or something with the number on it," she responded, shuffling through her bag. "But I won't need a ride," she decided to let the rational side of herself kick in a bit more. She knew it wouldn't be wise to take a ride from a stranger, no matter how cute.

"Fair enough," he responded. As Ashley was searching through her book bag one of the far doors opened and she then heard a voice she knew.

"I'm outside now Frank. Damn it's raining. Yes I know! Blue folder, front seat," Ashley turned her back to the boy quickly, hoping to hide from her mother. Luckily her mother was distracted by whatever she had to get as she quickly headed towards the parking lot, but Ashley knew he luck would run out soon.

"On second thought," she closed her book bag and turned to the young man. "I'll take that ride, I'll find you the number in the car where it's dry," she stated, hoping he hadn't parked near her mother's car.

"Aright then," he responded, pulling his keys from his pocket. "This way," he waved a hand to the other side of the parking lot and Ashley noticed her mother heading back to the entrance. Ashley jumped quickly into a step next to the young man, walking quickly away from Laura.

FIO

Spinelli was positively annoyed as she entered the art room after lunch. She flung her book bag onto one of the tables and sat down on the bench folding her arms on the table a scowl on her face. Yesterday she was happy and looking forward to school, TJ, verbal arguments with Ashley Q and first period art class with Mikey.

But today just wasn't going good. She was annoyed that TJ didn't tell her that he and Vince had fought, but even more that she wasn't told what it was about, much less that is was about her. And it just added to her annoyance that she didn't get any answers because she was called to answer another call where once again, no one was on the other end. She couldn't concentrate in any of her classes and it seemed as if Ashley Q and Mikey were missing from school today.

"Great," Spinelli muttered to herself. Mikey was always first there since he helped Ms. Lynch at lunch times which meant if he wasn't here now, he wasn't in school which disappointed her.

Quickly the class filled up but Spinelli hardly noticed as she let her mind wander. She wasn't bothered by the two phone calls, even though she felt like she should be, but she wasn't a paranoid person. She decided to herself to forget the calls, make them as insignificant as they were. Her mind then wandered to TJ and Vince which made her want to wander back to the insignificant calls.

She had class with Vince next and she was pretty sure she would run into TJ before she left. She did want answers but she wanted answers from both of them, not one on one. Usually she could spend gym class fighting with Ashley Q but she was not in today so she'd have to spend in with the other member of the group... Vince.

"You're late," Vince stated, walking up to Spinelli who stood in line, waiting for Coach to give them instructions for today's fitness test.

"I know," she responded simply. "At least he hasn't started yet," she didn't look at Vince; she seemed to notice her shoe was untied and bent down on the floor to tie it up.

"Look Spinelli," she looked up at him as she tied her right shoe and he continued. "TJ and I are cool now, I swear. I just go off sometimes and he gets annoyed. There's really nothing else to it," he stated and Spinelli scowled, standing up.

"You fought about me; there obviously is more to it," she retorted, a slight edge to her voice that said she wasn't going to drop this that easily.

"Drop it, Spinelli," Vince responded. "It's better off left alone for now," he spoke defiantly and Spinelli just narrowed her eyes.

"Till when?" she asked sceptically. "Till you fight about me again? No fair, Vince. If I'm the object of an argument I want to know why," she stated firmly and Vince sighed. Knowing there was no way out of this.

"It was a bad day Spin, I was annoyed that TJ was spending so much time with you and he was annoyed I was being selfish. End of story," he said and Spinelli folded her arms across her chest.

"I'm sorry if I am taking up TJ's time," she stated. "I'm just getting used to being back here now. It's hard. It's harder if you two are fighting behind my back and I can't do anything about it,"

"Just don't change anything," Vince stated firmly. "Listen Spinelli, TJ is happier then I have seen him in months. And I am selfish for trying to change that I guess but... If I go screwing things up now, if you feel you have to act different I... I don't know Spinelli, me and TJ made up. There's no problem here," he finished and Spinelli chewed on her lip. "Us having one little argument about you isn't a problem. Just forget it, okay?"

"If you insist," Spinelli stated just as Coach blew the whistle.

They didn't get to talk much for rest of the class. The fitness tests were fairly brutal and Spinelli was surprised she could walk at the end. Vince seemed better than the rest but he was still breathing a bit deeply and drinking more water than usual. She found herself wishing that Ashley Q was here, just to see who would win, her or Vince. Their competitions got rather amusing.

She headed towards the locker room and Vince gave her a small smile. She forced one back through her paining side and nodded. She decided to let it go for now, Vince was right. But, she was still going to give TJ a chewing out for not telling her then she'd drop it. Really.

Instead of changing out of her gym clothes, Spinelli quickly pulled on a pair of jeans over her shorts, grabbed her things from her gym locker and exited the locker room quickly as the bell rang but not before stubbing her toe on one of the benches.

Spinelli cursed to herself and glared down at her foot. This really wasn't turning out to be her day. She left the gym, a little more cautiously this time. Students rushed past, heading quickly out the back door to get their buses. She instantly decided she couldn't handle that long bus ride home today. Spinelli headed in the opposite direction from the traffic of students eager to get out of school and headed towards the pay phones.

"Hello?" she heard her brother's voice pick up at about the 5th ring. She chewed her lip impatiently. She hadn't been this nerved in a while; she was looking forward to getting home and getting some laughs from Rachel.

"Pick me up," Spinelli responded and Vito laughed sarcastically.

"How about a please?" he cooed and she knew that he could tell she was annoyed. She glared at one of the bulletin boards across the hall.

"How about a right now?" she stated, ignoring his laugh. She knew she had no reason to be snapping to her brother, but she figured once she got in the car and he started annoying her that she'd snap anyway because of her bad mood so she might as well start now.

"Ah sis, youre my favourite ray of sunshine," Vito smirked. Spinelli said nothing, just grinding her teeth. "Ill be there in 10," Spinelli muttered out a thanks and Vito chuckled as she hung up her phone.

As Spinelli turned around she noticed that the halls had become quite empty. A few seniors with their licenses headed out the front door while a few younger stragglers ran towards the back so they didn't miss their bus. The quiet loneliness was sort of calming and less stressful.

Spinelli headed towards the first floor girls washroom, wasting sometime before Vito came. She instantly regretted walking in there when she noticed a familiar auburn haired girl's reflection smirking back and her through the mirror.

FIO

Okay I lied. This chapter WAS suppose to be more longer and characterbased by alas... It wasn't. But next chapter has Vince, Rachel, TJ, Carlos, and I am hoping to make it a long one for you all! It will be quite interesting one indeed. Once again I am so, so, so, so, sorry for my lack of updates but please stick with me.

I love you all! Read and Review!

-Stef