Authors Note: Hey all, thank you for reading and your continued support. As you may have noticed I've managed to write a bit faster recently thank before, I hope to keep that up. I want to thank everyone for your amazing reviews and continued reading. I know that my writing can be slow to the point of madness, but it's getting there. Special thanks to my most recent reviewers: AnnabelleChristine – I'm glad to hear it ^^, TheMistOfThePast – Thanks so much for your very uplifting review, I'm glad that you are enjoying it and you definitely got me motivated to get this particular chapter up today, and as always thank you JACK5T3R your positive reviews and constant support keep reminding me to get back to this story even when I'm busy, thanks for sticking with me even though this story is taking so long. Good reviews are like my fuel so once again thank you to all my positive reviewers and readers.

And now, without further ado on to Chapter 37 -

Chapter 37: Mikey's Doubts

Mikey had been feeling rather low due to all of the changes with his friends. He was the most poetic, dramatic, and in touch with his feelings in the group. Because he felt this sadness, but could do nothing to stop it, Mikey decided to do what he often did to get over melancholy, write poetry and sing. The first few days of separation were dedicated towards poetry and lazy afternoons staring up at the blue sky. But as much as he loved his art, he missed his friends immensely. But since his friends were all doing there own thing he figured perhaps he should try singing instead of poetry for a bit.

So at Recess Mikey asked Miss Grotkey if he could find an empty classroom and use that time to sing as an expression of his current emotional state. Of course Miss Grotkey often celebrated and urged freedom of expression so she was more than happy to write him a pass. Mikey wasn't sure if it would hold up with Finster, but he was willing to take the chance with the piece of paper signed by his teacher with him.

Stuffing his permission into his back pocket Mikey walked around the school for a bit before finding what looked like the perfect room. It appeared lonely and in need of a cheering up as much as him. Especially the windows.

Mikey wasn't sure why the windows even existed in this room. Perhaps a long time ago there was a view that made it worth it, but now all that could be seen from outside the window was the outside wall of the opposite building. It was a lesser used short cut from certain areas of the playground to the front of the school. That little alleyway and the sad little brick wall that stood in the way of a real view, was what made the room perfect for Mikey's mood.

One of the 'alley way's' windows was open just a bit letting in a little breeze. Mikey found he liked it that way so he didn't close it up. He took a few minutes to warm his voice up as his music teacher had taught him. His surprisingly low voice echoed throughout the room and drifted out through the window. Mikey liked to imagine his voice going on a journey and finding kindred spirits and singing of there own melancholy as well.

He looked out of the window for a few minutes as he sung, before really getting into it. Once he was really going he couldn't stay still. He sung around the empty room as if in search for an answer, but instead of answers he only thought up more questions and the room began to feel smaller and smaller as if it were closing in on him. He threw his hands out as he sung. He sung of friendships and pain, of good times, and bad, of trouble and peace. He sang the story of his feelings as he changed from one song to another.

Mikey moved throughout the room portraying his feelings through dance as well as song, especially since he had preformed with Spinelli on stage before in such a capacity. It reminded him of his little spunky friend and of the sacrifice that she had once made for friendships sake.

Spinelli hated girly things so when she had been punished by her mother to dance she was mortified. Although it was an embarrassment to Spinelli it had ended up a blessing for Mikey who was able to live one of his dreams because of it. Spinelli had been tough enough to handle being Mikey's dancing partner and although she wanted to give up she put her rep on the line to help Mikey. It was something he'd never forget and hoped to one day repay. Although now that was beginning to look impossible.

Singing while thinking these sad thoughts brought a true song-bird quality and beauty to his voice, although he'd have preferred to have been happy of course. Turning around to face the window again, Mikey could have swore he saw a lock of orange-red hair and a red shirt pass. It was a familiar sight, but he couldn't quite place it. He wondered if perhaps he was seeing phantoms of those he missed. Perhaps not only Spinelli was on his mind.

He was about to finish his song when the door of the classroom flew open. Mikey

turned around quickly trying to fish the note from Miss Grotke out of his pocket assuming it was Miss Finster who had found him with her bloodhound-like teacher senses. But he was surprised by who it was.

In all honestly Mikey didn't know much about the girl across from him except that she was a friend of Gus' that the boy would occasionally play with and talk over military-like stuff. Mikey wasn't sure that he'd ever had a conversation alone with the girl, but here she was in the classroom that he had chosen looking a bit startled and looking up at him as if she were debating something.

"Corn Chip girl, what are you doing here?" he questioned her as the girl pulled a pair of headphones off of her head.