I would just like to say again that this story will likely cap off at 30 chapters. The following chapters will close things up with the summer and such. Then the sequel about what happens in middle school.
Unable to sleep with an emerging case of insomnia, TJ wandered downstairs into the kitchen. He hoped that getting an extra piece of cake would help him get to sleep. At only 1 am, he was sure that he was going to stay up for a few more hours if he didn't do anything. Any other kid wouldn't pay this any mind, but with a sneaking suspicion that how much he slept and how well was connected to his migraines, he wanted to get to sleep ASAP.
Finding the cake, get got a small plate out of the cabinet and was ready to cut himself a slice. When he was about to take a bite, the phone rang. That was weird. No one calls at this hour, unless it was a family emergency. Not wanting to be the one to ignore a call like that, he put down his fork and picked up the phone.
"Hello?" He answered.
"Hey, Teej!" He heard Vince on the other end of the line. His shoulders dropped when he was reminded about the current state of their friendship, or lack thereof. "Is it true what Spinelli told us? You're not gonna be friends with us because of what Randal of all people said? You're gonna believe that snitch over us just 'cause of a couple of jokes?"
". . .They weren't just jokes," he said before letting out a deep sigh. It was too late to get involved with this. "It's 1 in the morning, Vince."
"It's the only time I could get to the phone. I was planning on leaving a message," said Vince. "So is it true?"
"You ask me that like I pushed you guys away. I didn't do anything wrong."
"Because any reasonable kid would listen to anything Randall has to say. So what, are you two best friends now? Just over a couple of jokes that hurt no one? How do you know he isn't exaggerating?"
TJ sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He leaned against the counter near the sink. It was too late to be getting bombarded with questions.
"You know what? If you actually think we pushed you away, you might want to think about how you added to that. There's two sides to every story, just like parents say, or whatever. It's kinda hard being around someone who sad all the time. That sort of thing rubs off on people, so excuse the fuck out of us for wanting a break every once in a while. And what's this about Spinelli saying you're on antidepressants? This is just like in the summer before fifth grade when you tricked us all into coming back to third street just because you were bored."
"This is nothing like that—"
"Could've fooled me! Since you want to ignore us for the summer ignoring us you should spend it growing up!"
The phone call ended, and he was left listening to a dial tone. Taking a deep breath, he put the phone back on the hook. Looking at the piece of cake on the table, he realized that he lost his appetite. Falling asleep never felt so far away to him.
…
He needed to get some air.
Quickly, he slipped on a pair of shoes and shorts and grabbed his bike helmet and house keys.
"And where do you think you're going?" Becky's voice asked from the top of the stairs.
"What are you doing up?" TJ asked.
"The phone ringing woke me up," his sister explained. "What are you doing?"
"I'm just getting some air."
"You need your bike helmet to get some air?"
". . .No. I could use a bike ride, too," said TJ. "I just gotta clear my head."
"It's 1 am!"
"I know, and I'll only do this once. Please, Becky? I won't be out all night, just 30 minutes, tops!" He said. "Please don't wake mom and dad."
She looked at him, thinking about letting him go out. It was late, but it was summer. And he wasn't a little kid anymore, despite their family trait of not hitting a preteen growth spurt until they were about 13.
"Alright, but take this with you," She said, tossing him her cellphone. "Call home if you need me to come get you, okay?"
"Okay. Thanks Becky," TJ said, putting his helmet on. "I owe you one."
"Just be safe alright? Don't get into any trouble," said Becky.
TJ nodded and headed out the door. Grabbing his bike, he headed down the street, keeping a close eye out for any cars that might still be on the road at this hour.
He didn't need that phone call. He just managed to get those guys off his mind, and then he gets a phone call like that placing the blame of what happened all on him. He wasn't just tired an unable to sleep, now he had 100 pounds worth a stress weighing down on him. Hopefully that will be the last time they contact him for the rest of the summer. He didn't need them calling him and sending him letters blaming him for everything wrong that happened between them.
This whole thing was like some bizarre nightmare. The depression, the dissolving of their friendship, it didn't feel real. It was almost like he was sitting back and watching things unfold on their own. But it was real, and it was happening, and it's how things are now.
If only he could go back in time and tell himself that friendship, even the one's the six of them used to have, don't last forever. That would make the blow hurt a lot less.
He stopped riding under a street light to calm his breathing and wipe the tears forming in his eyes. He wondered if it would've been less hurtful if they just came up to him one day and outright said they didn't want to be friends with him anymore instead of going behind his back. Maybe since their secret was out of the bag they were going out with a bang, taking everything out on him. TJ was sure there was some irony to be found in Vince's 'advice' to grow up when he was already struggling with more than they could bother to care about. Something that adults struggle to cope with, even with the best treatments, and sometimes they can't and just. . .give up in the worst possible way.
Grown-ups are right. Kids can be cruel.
He climbed back on his bike and continued down the street. The lights in all the houses were out, like he expected. He didn't plan on seeing any of the others up at this hour, not that he was planning on talking to any of them. This was a train of thought that he wanted to have uninterrupted.
How were they going to react when they come back from camp? Would they all confront him? The prospect sounded a lot less scary with the others there to defend him. What about when school start? Would they turn the whole school against him out of spite? Then it really would be hell then.
No, he has to be overthinking things, now. Maybe he was overthinking the whole thing. Maybe he wasn't really depressed, just wallowing in his own perpetual pity and bringing everyone down with him. Was he really that pathetic to do that just for some attention? There were people who were actually depressed and he was taking the attention away from them.
…
…
No.
The doctors said he was depressed. They were experts on this sort of thing. They would know if he was faking it or something. If they said he was, then he was. It's not like they give antidepressants out to just anyone. Even they said it wasn't something they gave out to kids his age too often, unless they believed the case was severe enough.
…
They didn't understand anything. They didn't want to understand anything, and that wasn't his fault.
…
Why did growing up have to be so hard?
"Detweiler? What are doing out this late?" TJ stopped and turned toward the voice speaking to him. He must've not paid attention to how far he was riding out, since he made it all the way to Prickly's house. The principal closed his trunk with a suitcase in one hand.
"I'm just out to get some air," TJ said. "What about you, sir?"
"Just flew back in from a trip," Prickly said. "It's a little dangerous to be out this late, especially by yourself."
"I know, but really needed to go out."
"Is something on your mind?"
"A lot is on my mind, sir."
"Would you like to talk about it?"
"Nah. It's late, and you're probably tired from your flight," said TJ. "I don't wanna bother you."
"You're nothing bothering me, TJ. Come on inside."
They ended up in the living room, Prickly with a cup of tea and TJ with a glass of lemonade, though drinking it was the last thing on his mind.
"So, what's the matter?" Prickly asked. TJ hesitated saying anything at first, but figured that things can't get much worse.
"Principal Prickly, how long do most people stay friends?" TJ asked.
"Hmm. I'm not sure. Why do you ask?"
"I'm just a little curious. Me and the gang, we're not friends anymore. They are with each other, just not me," he said. "I wanted to know if this was anything unusual."
"As you grow up, you find that sometimes you don't stay friends with the same people. Interests change, goals change, friends move, find people they get along with better, sometimes they become toxic. But you keep growing and you look back and you realize that it was probably for the best," Prickly said. "That's not to say it doesn't hurt. I had a friend in elementary who I was close with. We knew everything about each other, but then one day we just weren't friends anymore. Sometimes I wonder if anything could've been done to change that, but what's done is done, and you keep moving forward."
"But how do you deal with it now? When it happens? It hurts so much right now and I don't know what to do to make it stop. I always know what to do. And I don't this time. That's scary, Principal Prickly," He said. "I always have a plan."
"There are somethings in life that you can't make a plan for. This happens to be one of them," said the principal. "This might not be the best advice, but when it happened to me, it took so long to get over. It was only a year later that I was finally able to forgive him."
"Why should I forgive them? They're blaming me for all this!"
"It's okay to be angry at them. It's normal reaction. And I didn't say you had to forgive them now. Maybe now isn't the time for you. But you'll feel a world better when you're able to say that this happened, it's over with, and you only wish them the best."
"If you say so, sir," TJ mumbled. The phone in his pocket vibrated and rang. He sat the glass he held down and dug it out of his pocket. "Hello?. . . yeah, I'm fine. . .I ran into a friend and we started talking. . . I didn't know it was already 30 minutes. . okay, I'll come home. . ." He ended the call. "Sorry, Principal Prickly. That was my sister. She made me promise to come back home in 30 minutes. I have to go."
"Alright. If you ever need anyone to talk to, I'll be here."
…
"Did you get your air?" Becky asked when he came back inside. She sat at the bottom of the stairs.
"Yeah, I did. I feel better. Not a lot, but still a little better," TJ said. "My friend help me. I think I'll be able to go to sleep, now."
"That's good. You gotta get up in a few hours for that paper route of yours," she said. TJ nodded, and followed his sister upstairs. Inside his room, Sasha slept next to his bed, undisturbed. Carefully, he climbed back in bed and got under the covers.
Grace: Yes, that was a Stan Lee cameo! I just thought that it would be nice for TJ to get advice from a more than just well-known comic work writer/artist about his own comic, even if he doesn't recognize him right away. He will find out later on, but not now. Maybe in the sequel.
Guest: Yes, I will update Little Monster sooner or later. It'll most like just be an epilogue, showing what happens in the future. I'm seriously mulling over the idea of completely rewriting that story. It dragged on for way too long, and I feel like it can be written much better.
I'll make up something later: Thank you for the review! I know what you mean. I like the TJ/Spinelli ship, but I just feel that no one besides me and maybe a few others bothers to look beyond that for any other possible pairings. There's a bunch of pairings that I like outside of those two, and I wish more people explored other pairings.
Bluesz: I have to say, that if you're interested in what will happen to him in middle school, then keep an eye out for the sequel, "Youthful Rebellion." It'll heavily explore that.
Reviews are highly appreciated!