OH MY GOODNESS, WORDS CANNOT DESCRIBE HOW SAD AND UPSET I AM WITH MYSELF THAT THIS WAS PUBLISHED OH SO LATE. So I decided to use all caps to show it. There's LOTS of hugging and crying in this so be prepared. As usual I don't any of this cartoon whatsoever. Again, I apologize for the long wait! Like, life got insane

But anyways here you all go!


Chapter 11 Aftermath Part 1

Spinelii's P.O.V.

"This can't be happening"

Gretchen and I sat in her room on the floor in our Pj's. Mine consisted of a tank top and sleep shorts while Gretchen wore a simple slim fit shirt and long pants.

"Gretch face it, it is," I responded.

Gretchen looked at me with an incredulous look, "But, I can't believe it! First Mikey comes out and everyone took it surprisingly well, I'm officially with Gus and there's like a love pentagon I'm confused about."

I sat closer to her cross legged. "You're supposed to be smart! Ugh, I just can't believe he kissed me..."

Gretchen turned to me as her jaw dropped, "T.J. did what?" She practically yelled that at me.

I sighed deeply, "That's a part of the reason why Ashley A. was mad, she caught us, " I pause, "But Gretch, that kiss was so amazing!"

"But why did you leave abruptly after Mikey, Gus and I calmed down the crowd?"

My racing thoughts and feelings ceased Why did I run? I'm struggling to find an answer for myself. "I- uh, um, I guess... I have no clue." I felt myself blushing and put my hands over my cheeks as Gretchen giggled at me for blushing. "Look," I blurt out, "I'm not ready." This was politely greeted with a confused look from her.

I breathed in, "I'm not ready to tell him why I moved. It would be too much." I furrowed my eyebrows a bit. "Actually, I don't want a pity party either. Also Ashley A. hates my guts and-"

"Spin, remember she's always hated your guts." Her attempt at reassuring really didn't help at all.

"She rules the school! I'm still technically the new girl who used to be home schooled. Home schooled! I don't stand a chance against her whatsoever!" I slumped further into the floor in defeat. How am I so weak and vulnerable? All of a sudden...? I think Gretchen is noticing...

"Spin," she started, "What happened to you? You're not that feisty girl we all knew... "

I'm trying to stifle my tears as one by one they fall out of my eyes. "My dads infidelity shook us. We trusted him and he lied! We ran away, changed our names and tried school after school, stealing money from my dads second account." I paused to sniffle. "I hated my life! My mom told me to always have my guard up and look my best so no one would find us."

"Find you?" Gretchen questioned.

I nodded, "My dad knew so many people... Anyways, I kept to myself mostly, tried not to let anyone in...afraid my dad would find my mom and I..." I trailed off letting more tears fall. Gretch sat in front of me and hastily gave me a hug. I cried into her shoulder when she asked, "Why were you so afraid?"

I wiped my eyes, red from crying and muttered, "I didn't want the divorce to be real. I love my parents and with them being, not together, my toughness faded. Without my dad to watch wrestling with me, I had no urge to fight; I had no friends to protect or a family to care for. It was all pointless for me. My mom noticed and decided to home school me in her sisters house. When the divorce was final-"

"What about all the papers and court dates?"

Gretch, always the minor details girl. "Conference calls via webcam. My mom got me and the house. Heh, we thought coming here would be good for us, to start over, like a breath of fresh air... Guess I was wrong."

Next thing I felt across my face was a slap. "What the hell?" I yelled.

"You're not wrong! You seem so happy now! I'm glad you're here and so is everyone else. We don't care about your past! You're here now and I've missed you so much!"

Now we're both crying and I don't care. I tried being the old me, even thinking like the old me. Was that wise? Granted I do remember everything about 3rd street, and all my feelings as well. Maybe my guard doesn't have to be up all the time, but I let it down for Teej and this happens!

"That's why I ran..." I whispered to myself.

Another puzzled look surfaced on Gretchen's face. I smiled and said, "I let my guard down with T.J. I let him in..."

"Spinelli, you're kind of freaking me out a little bit! Are you having an emotional breakdown? Cause first day of school you were all quiet and reserved and then as time went on I started to see a part of the old you!" Gretchen cried.

Her words struck me. Have I really been that crazy? This is getting crazy. "Look," I finally said, "my mom told me to keep my guard up while I'm here. She doesn't, and I agree, want me to get hurt! I guess the more comfortable I got... I-I wanted things to go back to normal! I wanted to be the old Spinelli, but I realized too late that I can't be." I got up and started to pace back and forth, "I mean now especially with feelings involved it's all perfect now."

Gretchen rubbed her eyes and hugged me tight. "Like I said, you're here now," she began to chuckle, "glad to know you still have your same sense of humor. I guess Hollywood exaggerated high school just a bit."

I smiled and stopped pacing, "Tell me about it. I guess being home schooled has its disadvantages. But my mom did prepare me for 'drama'."

"I may not be a therapist but you're just going through a lot, emotionally speaking. You're dealing with conflicting feelings, your past and your present. I mean it is quite normal. And with what you've been through, I'm surprised you're not in an insane asylum."

Mentally slapping my face, "Thanks for the encouragement," I mumbled.

She slapped me on the back. "Come on!" She smiled, "Aren't we supposed to be having a slumber party? And don't worry, I won't tell the whole world you're here hiding from your cheating father!"

I smiled and hugged her close. Gretchen's right, I am here. People can protect me and they love me. Maybe I don't have a lot to be worried about being back home. I'm home.

"Gosh, my mom said high school is fun, and damn it, I'm gonna have fun!" She let me go and chuckled, "Exactly. We're too young for the real world. Let's take a chill pill and forget shit in our lives!"

"Ha, I couldn't agree more!" I laughed, "So let's watch a movie!"

Suddenly, we heard a rock hit a window. Clink. Then another clink. "Oh," I cooed," it's probably Gus. Gretchen oh Gretchen, let down your long caluculus equation."

"Oh shut up!" She retaliated and checked out the window. She waved me over and motioned for me to look down. As I did, I saw a young man with brown hair in a scuffed up suit smiling at me.

This can't be happening


T.J.'s P.O.V.

"What are you so afraid of?"

After I threw a few pebbles at Gretch's window, I finally got their attention. I'm trying to get Spin to come down so we can talk about well... tonight.

"Well," she began, "falling."

I smirked. "I'll catch you, "I assured her. Not sure what she means by that.

Next thing I know she's falling into my arms. "Oh geez," I cough out, " didn't realize you were serious, hack, oh God."

"Ha ha, are you okay?" she paused.

Dusting myself off, I playfully punch her in the arm and say, "Yeah, I'm fine."

I look at her for a brief second. Just a couple hours ago she fought for me, to protect me. Just like she had before. She still cares, but why? Why does she care for someone like me? Going out with her mortal enemy? How could I have done that? She should hate me, yet she doesn't. She's right here, she's back in my life and I think I love her. I think I'm in love with my best friend. Always have, always will be.

"Teej, what is it you wanna-"

I hugged her tight, soaking in all of her. Regardless of what she says, I will cherish this moment. Spin hugs me back tightly. I whisper in her ear, "Spin, I've missed you so much."

I feel a tear on my neck. I pull apart and watch as one by one they fall from her eyes. I wipe each of them away and hold her face in my hands and ask her, "Why did you run?"

She sniffled and looked up at me. "Cause I had let you in."

"What do you mean?"

"My dad...the summer I left, I was supposed to leave, but my mom found out about his secret family in Italy he wanted to be closer with. All the arguing you heard was my mom threatening divorce and we packed up and left..." She cried more.

"Spin," sitting her on the curb, "I'm so-"

"Wait," she interrupted, "let me finish. I need to say all this now. We were running from him, afraid he'd find us. So, I had started going by Ashley and using my mothers maiden name. We moved constantly... my 'toughness' decreased to the point where I couldn't be in a public school; I was home schooled. We ended up having the divorce issues handled through a freaking webcam in court and well, you know the rest."

A silence covered us. I wrapped myself around her. "He can't find you okay? It's okay to be yourself here. We all still love you! Somethings haven't changed. I know it must hurt to not have a real dad, to know he hurt you and you don't want anyone else in cause you don't want them to hurt you. It's all right. I get it." I just hope you don't leave again...or not let me in for that matter.

Spin looked to me as she wiped her tears. "So what happened with you and Vince?"

I ruffled my hair and took a deep breath, "It was back in 8th grade I think. I had recently gotten with Ashley, Gus had moved again and you had stopped writing about a year before that..." she looks away. "Vince was friends with Ashley and they were trying to..."

"To what!"

I gulped and put my head down. "They wanted me to give up on you and move on; forget you ever existed. We had gotten into a fight and that was that. Next day Ashley A. and I become an official couple." Official on her terms, we had went on a few dates...Spin doesn't need to know that.

I glance over at her and there are two violet eyes staring at me like I'm a pale ghost. Was it something I said?

"What?"

"You ended your friendship with Vince for me?" She stammered.

"Uh yeah, I mean-"

Next thing I know she throws herself at me and is kissing me with passion. My hands hold her close to me. A few minutes later we're both gasping for air and glaring at each other with love and a hint of lust (what, I'm a guy and she's wearing a tank top).

"So?" I breathed.

"Does this?" Breath

"Make us?" Breath

"Official?" Breath

We both laugh and hug. I stand up and give her my hand and help her up. A comfortable silence fell around us as our hands intertwine. I had my best friend back. I had my best friend back!

I finally spoke up, "I guess you should head back to..."

"Gretchens," she chimed in. "Yeah, she'd be expecting a story."

We walked up to Gretchen's door and parted ways. I whistled a bit on my way home, but then I remembered Ashley A.'s threat to Spin...

C'mon man,

What are you so afraid of?