Hey guys, next chapter is here. I know it took a while so I made it a bit longer than usual, as you do. Thanks again to you all for coming back and reading this little thing of mine.

Let me know what you think of it so far. It's funny how much the writing has improved so far, in my opinion.

Anyways, enjoy and catch ya later.

Things were beginning to look up again for TJ. From an unknowing eye, he appeared as if he had never been injured in the first place. He was booked in today to remove the stitches in his back that the surgery had left him with.

He was sitting on his front steps waiting for Spinelli, who insisted she wanted to come with him. They had a while to to travel to get to the hospital and she was definitely taking her time with getting ready. TJ impatiently began to fiddle with his hands, tapping his fingers together and stringing together a basic beat that went along with the singing in his head.

His melodic bea in his head was soon broken with what sounded like a gorilla trying to be intimidating. The grumbling yell got closer and closer until it turned the corner into his street and pulled up in front of his house.

"Getting in?" A tough, yet girly, voice called at him.

Squinting in an effort to gain a better look at the driver of whatever this thing was, he saw her sitting there.

"Spinelli! You got a car?"

She all but jumped out of the front seat to greet him. "You're damn right. Isn't she a beauty?"

TJ observed the car in all of its glory. It wasn't much. No matter, Spinelli seemed to love it and he was not going to dampen her mood. Besides, it was a car!

"You bought this yourself?"

She acted insulted. "Is that so hard to believe?" She asked with a hand holding onto her 'broken' heart.

"No, no, no. Of course not." TJ retorted defensively. "If you're my new lift around town then this is my new favourite car."

Spinelli had never been so proud of herself in her life. She had saved for months to afford this car and she did it all by herself. She had spent most of her time awake trying to convince her parents to put money into it, like she heard other parents have offered their children, but she had been getting flat out refused.

"Then stop gawking at it and let's take it for a spin!"

In an instant Spinelli was pushing TJ into her new car before setting off down the blacktop. With TJ now secured in the passenger seat, she ran around the front of the car with an enthusiasm only Spinelli could pull off. It wasn't girlish but it was not her usual stomping, it was different.

With the turn of the key it came alive. TJ didn't think the car was perfect but it was good enough to get to where it needs to go. The car pulled out from the curb and began the journey for the day.

"So… What do you think, Teej?"

TJ sat back as he thought about the ride he was currently on.

"If I had to complain about one thing, it would be the driver." He laughed as he received a small hit on the arm.

"Shut up! I am one the best drivers you know."

TJ mumbled slightly. "But I don't know that many."

"Oh, oh, oh!" Spinelli maniacally laughed. "You've done it now."

"I'm sorry. I give up." TJ surrendered before the wrath he knew was coming hit him.

"You're just lucky that I'm not in a fighting mood at the moment."

"You not wanting to fight?" TJ was surprised. "Maybe you need to go to the hospital and not me."

Spinelli puffed. "Pass. Maybe next time."

They had arrived at the hospital car park, which seemed to be pretty full. As they drove around they drove over a speed hump and it seemingly shook the whole car down to its frame.

"Ahh." TJ winced at the sudden jolt while holding his back.

"Are you ok?" Spinelli instantly turned her attention to him.

The up and down movement had put added pressure on his back and reminded him why he was even trying to find a car park in the first place.

"Yeah, don't worry 'bout it. Just a bit sore."

Spinelli sank her head into her shoulders and gripped her steering wheel tighter between her fingers.

"It is getting better though, isn't it?"

"Of course it is. That's why we are here."

The two had finally found a park and they both seemed to waste no time in making there way to the entrance of the hospital. Not before paying the overpriced parking meter, especially after seeing the parking inspector making his way from the other side of the carpark. Her first drive was not going to get her a ticket.

"C'mon Teej, hurry up."

"I'm coming." He would have been quicker if getting out of the car wasn't such a weird angle for his back, a concern he wasn't going to raise up with the owner herself.

"I thought I was the one that was meant to be excited for this." TJ laughed with her.

The two walked hand-in-hand into the hospital. They didn't let go of each other until TJ had to be alone. The doctor preferred to have no onlookers.

Several days later, school was back on for another week. Currently it was a Thursday morning and the gang were catching up before going to their separate classes. It still amazed them how strong they were as friends, when most expected high school to tear them apart.

Each and every one of them enjoyed their time together as they seemed to bounce conversations between them so naturally despite how uniquely different they were to each other.

The bell suddenly rang loudly through their ears, realising that they were standing beneath one of the loudspeakers, signifying the end of their little time together.

Before walking off, TJ heard a voice call him. "TJ, wait."

"We have to get to class, Gus."

The military man stood solidly in front of his friend as if being addressed by a superior officer at his military camp.

"I know, but I think we should do something this weekend. A bonding exercise to celebrate you getting better. We do them at camp all the time whenever something bothers a cadet, and I swear it works every time."

TJ wanted to smile. Instead his face displayed a sense of hurt at Gus' words. This was quickly replaced by a genuine smile that showed nothing but respect for his friend.

"That sounds like a good plan Gus. We don't have to do anything too crazy though. Maybe we could go to Kelso's or something like that. Something chill, you know?"

Gus began to jump around like a little kid on Christmas morning. "Oh I know it is going to be great. Trust me, Teej, it is going to be awesome."

"Sure, you're the boss. Now we have to go to class before I get another lecture about being on time."

Gus didn't seem to hear him. "Me! The boss!"

"Yes Gus." TJ placed his hands on Gus' shoulder in an attempt to ground him back to reality. "You've done well for a new kid but now we have to get going. Okay?"

Gus shook his head and straightened out his posture into a perfect straight edge.

"Yes, sir. I'll see you at recess."

TJ shook his head in amusement at his friend. "See you then."

TJ quickly checked the time and… he was definitely late.

The day was a blur. Time had slowed down to almost a stop and all of the content throughout each class had molded into one giant pot of uselessness.

TJ was lucky he was in class with Vince. They were competing with each other to see who could flick a folded piece of paper into the bin the most. It was surprisingly a close match between the two. The paper kept unfolding in mid-air and was causing the shots to go all over the place no matter how hard the boys tried.

"LaSalle! That is enough of those games. Detweiler, I also expect you to not participate in such things." The old bag that taught this class was one of those unnecessarily angry types. "This is a business class and there is zero tolerance for tomfoolery while I'm here. Now back to the lesson."

"Damn, that was uncalled for." TJ whispered to Vince the moment the living skeleton at the front of the room turned her back on them again.

This earnt TJ a quizzical eyebrow raise as a response. "Are you kidding? You were just a participant according to the devil."

TJ's face scrunched up as he looked down into his hands. "You're telling me. I was late again this morning, and you remember last time that happened and how bad that was. But when I got in there she just told me to sit and that she wasn't reteaching what I missed. I know people are taking it easy on me."

"What are you complaining about? I would do anything to get out of trouble like that."

"It's not like that Vince. It's hard to explain."

Vince snickered at his best friend. "You have much to learn young Theodore…"

"LaSalle! Again, really?" Their conversation had been heard again, only Vince's last words it seems. "Do not make me inform your coach about you behaviour."

TJ attempted to intervene. "Miss, it was my…"

"Sorry Miss, it won't happen again."

Vince slowly turned to face his friend after taking the fall. "You lucky bastard."

"You have got to be the unluckiest person in the world."

A high pitched voice resonated around TJ's ears as he took in the pinkness in front of him, the head Ashley. TJ was simply trying to walk home when the brand new, little convertible pulled up next to him.

"And how is that, Ashley?"

"Well, like, you have to walk when you could totally get a lift from me. We could drive around for as long as we want."

"I'm sorry Ashley." And he genuinely was. "I don't have the time to drive around tonight as much as I really want to."

"I thought driving around was so your thing. I see you and the fake Ashley always driving together."

Ashley A continued to drive walking pace along the sidewalk and would speed up or slow down whenever TJ tried to subtly change his speed, as best as he could against a car.

"She just helps me get around. And tonight she's not doing that because I have somewhere to be tonight. Maybe next time."

"Jump in and I can help you get there. Wherever it is you're going."

It was becoming tiring how persistent this girl was. Looking up ahead, TJ spotted a small park that connected the street he was on to the next one over. From the moment he saw it he new his chance had came.

Reaching the park he began to turn into it, following the path. "Well, I'll be seeing you around, Ashley."

Coming to an unexpected stop, her tires almost leaving their mark on the road beneath them, she eyed him like a lion watching from the tall grass. "I do hope so. I'm sure there will be plenty of free time and parties we can get together at."

"Can't wait. Bye."

TJ walked deeper into the park and took in the sound of silence. The park wasn't the usual open area with a playground sitting in the centre of it. It was more of a protected area. The trees were dense and the grass was long. The only clearing through was the path he was currently on that zig-zagged up a hill.

TJ took his hands out of his pockets as he walked. It helped him to keep up the pace up the steep hill. It wasn't steep enough where he struggled to reach the top, but where his calves would slightly burn at the extra work they were being forced complete. It was because of this terrain that he usually walked to the end of the street he was on.

After a seemingly long 30 seconds or so he had reached the top of the hill and the next street on top of it. Although he didn't think it, it must have been a while since TJ had taken that hill. Walking along the flat ground again, he straightened himself upright to try and breath in more air after being puffed out so quickly. He then realised that it actually hurt him.

He kept walking in his quietened pain but it was not getting any better. He took off his backpack and began to rummage through it in search of something in particular. He pulled out his pills and read the label on it carefully. He checked the time, already knowing it was too early for them. He stood still for a while, contemplating his choices, before taking the one he would have later tonight, he would skip it and get back on schedule in the morning.

He pushed through on his way home. He would be better soon.

The weekend could not have come soon enough for the gang. The sun was out and there weren't too many clouds in the sky, just enough to make out shapes if you looked for them.

Everyone had met up at Kelso's for a quick lunch before they all were dragged away to wherever Gus had organised whatever thing he was doing. It was rare for Gus to take such control of the gang so they were all happy to follow him.

The friends lost track of time almost instantly when they sat down in their usual spot. The seats have the impressions in them from where they sat so often, though it probably isn't all from them, they still believed it was their asses that the seats now remembered.

"Alright, everyone up." Gus stood straight in front of the small booth they occupied, holding an air of authority about him.

The others were slow to react as they gathered their rubbish, they never left a mess at Kelso's, and if you looked hard enough, formed a single file behind their leader-for-a-day. They began down the street together as they headed for an unknown destination.

The journey was filled with laughter and the usual small talk that is so common between best friends.

"How are you feeling, TJ?" Gretchen had slowed down so that she was walking next to TJ now, leaving Vince with Mikey.

"Honestly… I'm still hurting a bit. I thought it would have been good by now."

It was not long now until the prescription was going to end and, if the doctor's words meant anything, he should be 'back to normal'.

"Hmmm, I believe our opinions line up. Stitching removal is truly only a minor procedure, like getting a splinter taken out."

"Ummm, yeah. I know, right. It's probably just me being a bit sensitive to it."

Gretchen stared into her glasses while she comprehended on TJ's words. "I concur. Do not fret, however, I am positive it will mend in due time."

The only remnants of his stitches was the scar that they helped to heal. Even on the day that he had them taken out TJ had not felt anything, and it was still the same feeling now.

"Do you know where we are going by any chance?" TJ now led the conversation with the genius.

"Well, if I had to deduce a possible destination, I would say another place from our younger years. We are heading towards third street and the plentiful areas that we once frequented for joy."

TJ couldn't help but be fascinated by Gretchen's use of words. She made having fun as a kid sound like she was a robot that needed a certain amount of time a week spent performing different activities. Like she was a video game character. It was completely out of ordinary for anyone else her age, but it was normal for her.

Minutes later they had come to a sudden stop, courtesy of the military man's abrupt standstill.

"Here we are!" Gus said calmly and he simply stood in front of the school playground in front of him.

"Oh joy, I do love this place." Mikey was first to speak.

"What are we doing here? Out of all the places to go you chose Third Street?" Spinelli didn't move her gaze from the their old school while questioning Gus' choice.

Gus' posture now began to lose its rigidity. "I thought we could hang out here like we used to."

"Gus…" Vince broke in. "We can't break into an elementary school."

"It's not breaking in, really. I still know the way in to the sixth grader's club."

It turns out, that was all the persuading that was needed to convince the gang to sneak back into their old school. They all ran around the playground as if they were still in the fourth grade. Going down the slide, sitting on the swings, swinging on the monkey bars, tetherball… the sky was their limit.

Before long they tired out and moved below ground into the secret club room hidden from all sight.

"So how is that concert ticket thing coming along, Vince?"

"Pretty good, Teej. I think we are gonna win this thing hands down."

The whole gang were sitting around in bean bags or on luxury couches. This place has clearly been upgraded since they last saw it.

Gus yawned from over in a corner. "I hope we win. Imagine if we all get free tickets to the biggest event that has ever happened in this town."

"Gus, I believe that may be an exaggeration on your part. I can think of several, much larger community orientated events that would surpass the grandness of a simple concert."

"Gretchen is right. But it is going to be awesome!" Spinelli pumped her fists into the air around her, as if she was fighting a ghost.

Vince returned to the question he was first asked. "Either way. We are going to get a call in the next few days to answer whatever questions they have. Gretchen has been helping me out a bit with general knowledge stuff. There is no way we can lose."

"Sounds cool, Vince."

It was getting late and everyone was beginning to get hungry. They lost track of time so easily when they were held up underground. And in a room that didn't have a clock for whatever reason. They could have checked their phones for the time but there was way better things to do with each other than look at a phone.

Once it began to dawn on them all that they would soon be leaving each other, the mood became somber. No one wanting to be the one to speak and initiate that conversation.

"How about before we all have to go home, we can hang back outside again?"

Everyone turned to look at Gus. It was clear that he wanted his day to go as good as it could get. Worry was written on his face. He was not scared of his friends ditching him, not at this point in his life, but he deeply wanted the night to last longer.

"Sure, Gus. Let's do it." Vince spoke for the whole gang.

This time, they were not as robust as they explored the jungle gym. Mikey and Gretchen were barely moving at all and instead chose the cheese block as a seat. TJ was happy on the swings. He was able to just sit there without putting too much pressure on himself, and with Vince with him he was happy to hang.

He looked around the playground to survey his friends. Each one contempt with how the night had unfolded, thanks to Gus. Speaking of Gus, he was sitting in 'Old' Rusty with Spinelli. It was a familiar spot to him and even more so with Spinelli sitting there. TJ couldn't help but wonder what they were talking about. She was most likely giving some friendly advice and trying to convince him to go home… or was that something she only did for him?

The staring probably lasted too long when Spinelli's eyes found his. At first her eyebrows creased at seeing him watching her before a blush crept onto her cheeks. She smiled and left his gaze to return to talking to Gus. At that moment her smile faded and she gave a look back to TJ that he couldn't identify. She almost looked guilty.

Shaking it off, he kept swinging with Vince until the time came where they had to leave.

As usual, there were two people left walking together. Was that the perk of living so close.

"Did you have fun tonight?"

"Yeah, I did. What about you Spin?"

Spinelli put her hands into her jacket pockets and slouched ever so slightly into herself. "It was nice."

TJ nodded in agreement before a hand slithered into his. How did it fit so perfectly?

"Are you sure you were ok? I mean, I saw that you seemed a bit held back so I just want to make sure…"

"Yes, Spin." TJ stopped walking, which in turned stop the owner of the hand he possessed. "Look, I promise, I'm all good."

Spinelli bit her bottom lip. "Alright. But you'd let me know if…"

"Spin, please stop."

Their hands lost each others grip as they pulled apart. TJ's remained exactly where they were while Spinelli's folded across her chest.

"Look, all I'm saying is usually you are heaps louder and I remembered the last time we were there together. I'm trying to help you."

"I know. Trust me, I know. Spin, I appreciate everything you do and you know that. I am just a bit tired and I'd rather not bring all this up tonight."

A silent understanding befell them both and they continued their walk back down their street. They walked close together side by side but only just weren't touching. They reached Spin's house first and they both stopped at the beginning of her driveway.

"Are you free tomorrow? We could do something if you'd like."

The little girl that lived deep within Spinelli crawled her way to the surface at hearing those words.

"Of course I'm free. Book me in."

"Cool, I'll come round in the morning."

The two leaned into each other for a meaningful kiss goodnight before Spinelli went inside, leaving TJ to walk the short distance back to his own house.

He entered to find Becky asleep on the couch, clearly she dropped the moment she got home. He would wake her up after he cooks up some food for the both of them. With a heavy sigh TJ moved to his room to put his stuff away then went to the bathroom medicine cabinet. He swallowed his pill and went back to the kitchen.

Maybe he would make an omelet?