A Rose With Thorns

Chapter Three: Newspapers and Football

Written by: Scandalous Behavior

~ ~ ~ ~

Morning came before Spinelli realized it. Hoping her parents didn't take it personally since when she got into the house the night before and heading straight up the seemingly long staircase collapsed onto her bed. Didn't come down to dinner and woke up this morning with a blanket tossed on her most likely from her mother. Her head pounded like an alternating sledgehammer and drill so first thing first was to find the biggest dose of aspirin she could find.

Coming down the stairs, a hand casually holding the banister as she did for safety reasons of sleep walking and loss of balance, Spinelli entered the kitchen to find her mom smiling but her dad was no where to be found.

"How's my Pookie this morning?"

The cheerful ringing of her mother's voice rang out in Spin's head that she couldn't help the wince.

"Oh," Flo cooed, "are you alright this morning?"

"Fine just had a long day yesterday."

Nodding in remembrance of her last year first day of high school.

"Toni called last night but we thought it best not to wake you."

Spinelli paused her hand, which was carrying a blueberry muffin to her mouth.

"What did you tell her?"

"That it would be better if she tried calling today. She said something about letting you know about a package she mailed for you that should arrive any day and that she wished you had a good day at school."

"Can't hurt to wish." Spinelli muttered.

Ignoring her mother's questioning look, she grabbed her backpack cursing that she hadn't gotten the assignment done for Mr. Quincy, her History teacher, that he assigned she called out a goodbye and ran out to her car. Driving to school with the single thought that she was going to be late as it was five minutes to the bell rang and pulled into the parking lot at the exact time the last bell rang. Scrambling out of her Jeep she ran into the school and had to come to an abrupt stop as Menlo, the school hall monitor and office helper stood right in her way. One thing hadn't changed about him he was still dressed with not a wrinkle in his clothes and files in his thin arms. Adjusting his glasses as he stared at her, she rolled her eyes at him knowing by this time her change in appearance had to be all over school.

"You're late." Menlo noted, stating the obvious.

"And here I thought I had seconds to spare."

"Funny," Menlo retorted, "come with me to the office."

"God, it's the second day of school, Menlo can't you find some else to harass this early in the morning?"

"Afraid you are the only one late this morning."

Thinking back to her promise to Toni that controlling her anger was a number one key in the slightly altered Spinelli, she stretched out her fingers that she hadn't realized were fisted. Opening the door to the front desk, he indicated with his hand for her to enter and as she did, narrowing her eyes at him as she passed him, she flopped down on the wooden bench provided for students that waited instructions after being caught doing something wrong.

Letting an impatient sigh out, a small smile formed on the weasel face of Randal Weems coming out of the Principal's office. His slight hunched back and sneaky ways were the ears and eyes of Washington High, literally. He was now the editor of the school paper, Washington Gazette, hard to believe as that was. Not bothering to hide her irritation of his presence, Spinelli scowled at him.

"Only the second day of school and already in trouble being on time," Randal gloated, "you wouldn't see me doing such a thing."

"It would ruin your chances at Spyville University would it?"

The secretary hid a smile at the well-known brunette's comment. Though Spinelli was a troublemaker and smart-ass there was not one person adult wise that worked in the office that didn't like her. The girl told it as it was and every time that she came up against 'The Rat' as the other office ladies had come to call Randal, they always rooted for Spinelli. He might have the Principal, Vice-Principal, and some of the teachers fooled at this school but he didn't fool them and especially not the spunky brunette that they all knew he had a crush on. Another will-never-happen scenario in his life as the girl would not give him the time of day if he were the most sought after guy on campus.

"A bit testy after the public display of Detweiler ditching you for Ashley A.?" Randal inquired, knowing all about it since he was on the front lawn when it happened.

"Keep it up, Weems, and they'll have something better to put on my school record when I spray your blood against the wall."

Menlo lowered his eyes back from the display of the two onto the filling out late slip for Spinelli.

"Spinelli," Ms. Edwards, the secretary, cut in, "please reframe from threatening Randal with bodily harm before the Principal hears you."

Shrugging at the woman, Spinelli glanced at Principal Prickly's office door. That man wouldn't be surprised to hear anything she said, he'd been her Principal in elementary school and knew her as well as he did Randal. Randal smirked at her being reprimanded by the secretary before leaving, knowing that the piece of information would be great to add into this Friday's addition of the Gazette. Menlo only shook his head at Randal and Spinelli's interaction, used to the threats. No one at the school truly liked Randal. Even he, Menlo, had friends when Randal only had his obsessions with spying on people and the school paper. It was sad but in that normal because in all honestly that was about as close to someone really being a friend that the loner was ever going to get if he kept up as he was now.

"I will let you off with a warning, Spinelli," Ms. Edwards reported handing the slip Menlo had filled out to the standing girl, "just try to keep on time for at least another week before I need to start handing detention out."

"Okay," Spinelli took the paper and slipped it into her jean jacket pocket, "I can go now?"

"Make sure that Mr. Ryan sees that so he doesn't send someone to get one for you."

Spinelli pushed the door opened and felt hands come out to stop her from running into the guy in front of her.

"Gotta watch where you're going or else someone might think that is how you meet people." a amused voice commented and Spinelli found herself looking into the hazel-gold eyes of the guy from the bleachers the day before.

"You can let go now."

Dropping his hands to his sides, he took in the feisty brunette, as the corridor was empty minus the two of them.

"I'm Ethan Campbell."

"How nice for you," Spinelli went around him and continued down the hall.

"See you around, Spinelli." Ethan called before grinning and heading into the main office.

Entering the auditorium where her drama class was already going over manuscripts for short skits that they would have to perform by next week, Spinelli dropped her bag in one of the wooden folding out aisle chairs and headed onto the stage. Forking over the late slip, she handed it to Mr. Ryan, who clipped it to his ever-handy clipboard and nodded to her.

"We paired you with Mikey for next week's skit, Spinelli," Mr. Ryan informed, "I trust that isn't going to be a problem?"

"No."

Coming off the side stairs from the stage, she picked up her bag and sat in the spot it had previously occupied, right next to an inquiring Mikey.

"Detention?"

"Nah, Ms. Edwards let me off with a warning. Ran into Menlo, battled with Randal, and got hit on by that new football guy."

A cry came from across the aisle, raising eyebrows from Spinelli and Mikey. Seeing Ashley Tomassian, the last of the four Ashleys, with her mouth open and shocked staring at Spinelli with one of the fellow cheerleaders, Courtney Johnson.

"Ethan Campbell talked to you?" Ashley T. screeched.

"Yeah, so?"

"Don't you know that he is the new Quarterback of Washington?"

That did surprise not only Spinelli but Mikey as well.

"Isn't T.J. Quarterback?"

"He is but Coach decided to have them both be Quarterback. You know for, like, a back up."

Spinelli's eyes met Mikey's.

"But who's the back up?"

~

After class Spinelli headed to the Math Division of the school, to where T.J. had his next class of Calculus. Something you'd never catch me taking, Spinelli thought. Standing against the open door leaning against the wall, she waited for him to show up so she could pull him aside for a minute. It was her free period so she didn't have to be anywhere.

"Helping hold the door in place, Spinelli?" Vince joked, coming to see what she was up to.

"Looked like it was having trouble. Aren't you in Language this period?"

"Wanted to see what you were doing standing there."

"Waiting for T.J."

"Did you two talk yesterday?"

"Didn't get a chance," Spinelli admitted, "then I heard that he and Campbell are sharing the Quarterback spot and thought I'd come see about it."

"Sharing Quarterback spot?"

"Seems Coach likes Campbell and wants him and Teej to share the spot. To have a spare."

"You can't do that." Vince protested.

"I know you can't, you know he can't, but Coach seems to think he can."

"Again I see you near a door," Ethan's voice came, "always lurk in doorways?"

"What do you want?"

"This is my class, as if you didn't know."

"Why would I care what class you have, Campbell?"

"Just consider the fact that as Quarterback how your association with me could help your reputation."

"Are you always this delusional? You aren't Quarterback and I wouldn't hang around you if everything you touched turned to gold. Why don't you go bother someone who cares about your Golden Boy rep?"

Vince smirked at the automatic defense response that Spinelli gave to guys that thought she didn't like who she was and that she would become another mindless simpering girl after a guy's reputation. The fact that she knew exactly who she was and what she wanted was one of the reasons she stayed Spinelli, even after her makeover. No guy was ever going to lay one over on her and no guy could, Vince thought, minus a certain guy she was on the outs with right now.

Ethan only heard what he wanted to hear. She was a spitfire that was sure. Knowing that he would have to change his tactics when it came to the petite beauty, he winked at her as he entered the class.

"Can that guy be any more dense? I swear," Spinelli gestured to her clothing, "this clothing change is causing me nothing but trouble."

"It isn't the clothes, Spinelli, it's you."

Too angered at Ethan's remarks to answer she caught sight of T.J. and pushed herself away from the door, as Vince waved goodbye. Feeling awkward about talking to T.J. after what she snapped at him yesterday, Spinelli stepped away and caught his blue eyes with her own.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?"

T.J. had the expression that he was too busy to want to deal with her but followed her by some unoccupied lockers never the less.

"What do you want, Spin?" His voice was cold.

"Look, I'm sorry about the way I acted yesterday. Seeing you with Ashley A. aga..." Spinelli stopped herself before she said too much about that, "we all were a little off about it. I didn't need to attack you the way I did."

"Okay."

Puzzled that he was being so distant with her when really she should be the one mad at him, at least in her mind she had a reason to be mad at him, she continued.

"I heard about Campbell being placed as Quarterback with you and thought I'd ask you about it."

"What do you want to know? That Coach thinks that I need to have a backup or that Campbell is just as good as me and is basically trying to take over the team? Was that what you wanted to hear?" The anger and bitterness in his tone threw her.

"Teej, I was just wondering..."

"Well, don't. I don't want your pity or understanding about this. Just leave it alone, Spinelli."

Turning his back on her, he walked a couple steps when he heard her holler at him.

"The guys said you had something you needed to tell me."

Glancing over his shoulder, his eyes took in the hidden pained expression she was trying hard to keep from having over people notice but after almost fourteen years of knowing her he saw it and inside it hurt to see her like that.

"It's nothing."

Spinelli stood in the hallway as the final bell rang, feeling like a complete idiot. What was wrong with him? T.J. had never been that way with her, had never been that cold to anyone that she knew of. Why now and why did it seem directly at her? What reason did he have to be so angry and bitter towards her?

~

The Friday that followed was the day that certain things came to light. Spinelli had tried two more times to talk to T.J. about what was going on but he only gave her one words answers or blew her off entirely. Frustrated with dealing with him, she took her energy out on her punching bag hooked to a beam in the garage at home or into her drawings.

Gus was in the JROTC at the high school and had flag detail that month, so he was always at school a while before even most teachers so it made it the perfect spot to come talk in the morning when she actually got up when she was supposed to. Her jet lag finally going away by mid-Wednesday morning. Gretchen had decided it was time for them all to have a talk without their fearless leader being present. On Friday, Spinelli climbed out of bed at six and groaned at Gretchen's wanting them at the school at six forty-five on the dot. Dressing in a mid-drift red sweater with interwoven gold threads, red snakeskin pants with matching shoes and jacket, Spinelli twisted her hair up and clipped it in place. Getting into her Jeep, which was freezing, she quickly turned on the defroster and then the air conditioner as she went to pick up Mikey.

They hadn't spoken alot about the singing deal but that changed the minute he got into the Jeep that morning. A smile plastered on his features, he was making her wonder if he was taking some sort of happy-pill in the morning cause he had been like this for two days.

"Enough, what in the world are you so happy about lately and don't tell me it's because they fired the lunch lady and replaced her with someone who actually cooks good food cause we got over that on Tuesday."

"I talked to Mr. Ryan."

Simple enough but it spoke volumes.

"Just what did you talk to Mr. Ryan about, Mikey?"

"That we will be doing the band."

Her foot slammed on the brakes and brought the Jeep to a complete stop on the road to the school.

"You did what?!"

"Spinelli, it is a really great idea. The music, the lyrics, the flowing of our essences over the audience holding them captive until the last cord."

"I don't care about our essences I want to know why you volunteered me for this?"

"Cause I knew you wouldn't have wanted to do it."

"And didn't that thought give you some clue as to what my reaction of you just putting me in this predicament? Mikey, are you nuts? I can't sing in front of people."

Noticing that cars were coming up behind her, she pressed her foot on the gas and headed down the road again.

"I've heard you and Mr. Ryan obviously has heard you. You have talent to sing, Spinelli."

"No, you have talent at singing. I sound like a choked up frog when I sing."

"You do not."

"Helping you that one time was a fluke. I can't do it in public, I can barely do it with my family in the same room. What the hell made you think that I would want to do this when he suggested it and I flatly refused, the first time?"

"Spinelli, you haven't even given yourself a chance to do this. I already found the people to do the instruments; guitar, drums, keyboard all we need is you and we're all set."

"Why me?" Spinelli pulled off the main road to the school private entrance and down to the parking lot.

"I will be singing too but with you to soften the sound and do duets with the band will really be something to see."

Cutting the engine, Spinelli turned to him.

"If, and I mean if, I agree to this, how much time of my life is this going to take up?"

"Practices are twice a week and every other Sunday afternoon. We'll do the school dances and some other functions but nothing too big."

"Only humiliating enough."

Opening her driver's door, she grabbed her backpack and locked the doors behind them. Mikey stood next to her as they walked.

"What are you so worried about?"

"I don't know, Mikey," Spinelli started, "I've never been a real joiner of things. Mrs. Wilcox convinced me to try out for swimming next week, then with this and my drawing..."

"You didn't tell me you were taking art."

"For self-study. In Rome I kinda got inspired or something."

Mikey smiled at her reluctance to admit those pieces of information but he knew that she was good at them. Her simple doodles in class on papers were better than most half an hour sketches that he saw and watching her in water was poetry in motion. The school main entrance door was cracked with Gus standing right to the inside of the door and locked it after them.

"You guys are the last ones," Gus told them, making Spinelli glance at her wristwatch.

"It's only six forty-two, we're early."

Gus grinned, "Try telling Gretch that."

Rolling her eyes, Spinelli and Mikey followed Gus to the JROTC room that was the only other door in the school unlocked. Sitting on the desk of the instructor, making Gus shake his head at Spinelli, she saw Gretch and Vince were already in a heated discussion that their entrance went unnoticed.

".....We can't just go and tell her without him knowing about it. He said he will tell her so we've got to leave it up to him." Vince challenged.

"He hasn't spoken to Spinelli in any other than a hostile manner since he came back from Los Angeles and it doesn't look like he wants to tell her. She doesn't know why he's mad at her and she has the right to know." Gretchen objected.

"Why do I get the feeling that you guys are holding back some big dark secret?" Spinelli interrupted with.

Gretchen and Vince both looked over to the three people that entered without them realizing it.

"Uh, morning, Spinelli."

"Good morning, Spinelli, Mikey."

"Are you two gonna answer my question?"

"Don't," Vince warned Gretchen.

"Okay, if neither of you want to get someone upset at you both for telling me let's see if I can guess," Spinelli offered, seeing Mikey sigh and Gus cringe, "it has to do with what T.J. was supposed to tell me, right?"

Gretchen nodded sadly.

"Now, what could he need to tell me? It happened when I left, I know, and none of you want to tell me since Teej made you promise to let him tell me but as that hasn't happened and he seems to be holding some grudge against me because of it I kinda need to know."

"His parents got divorced," Gus blurted.

Well, that wasn't what she ever expected to hear.

"They got divorced?"

"He told us the day you left that his parents were getting a divorce, that's why they sent him to L.A." Mikey went on knowing now that seeing T.J. so angry at Spinelli was getting to them all.

"The day I left," a flash back of the night before and it made sense that she could kick herself for being so blind.

"His father left that morning and moved to Oregon." Vince added.

"And all this time I didn't know, I mean I didn't see Mr. Detweiler's car and it never clicked that they were divorced. God, T.J."

"So now you know."

"He never let on that was what it was and I've been mad at him for being mad at me," Spinelli whispered.

"T.J.'s not exactly going to be pleased with us for telling you."

"Let me deal with T.J."

Not realizing that they were so into the conversation that they ignored the opening doors of the school and footsteps sounding off the five of them left the room.

~

During Spanish, Spinelli watched out the window of the classroom thinking and didn't hear her teacher call her name twice. Finally a girl sitting behind her poked her shoulder.

"Huh?"

"Looks like Senorita Spinelli has finally decided to join the rest of us," Senora Martinez pointed out and Spinelli forced herself to pay attention the rest of class.

Wondering how she could have missed T.J.'s withdrawal from his parents break up, she wasn't paying attention to the stares she was getting as she walked the halls until a snide comment interfered with her thoughts.

"Who ever said that she was the right girl for him anyway? T.J. is way too nice for Spinelli, did I tell you how many times he's had to bale her out of trouble..."

Spinelli didn't know the voice but the words hit her hard. Sensing she was missing something she grabbed a paper off the stand to the side of the table next to the cafeteria and read the words:

Break Up Of Power Couple on Quad Monday

After fourteen years of friendship and emotions that pointed a little towards those of romantic than just friends it seems that T.J. Detweiler and Ashley Spinelli have decided that splitting ways is the way to go with the surprise appearance of Ashley Armbruster on T.J.'s arm Monday morning. The reaction of Spinelli was not pretty and those who were witnesses described her response as hostile towards the new couple. Some say it has not affected T.J. at all, his football skills at an all time high, and although reports aren't too clear it seems that Spinelli was not able to sleep that night and arrived late to school the next morning from the incident.

Not bothering to read the rest of the lengthy article Spinelli saw red. Damn Randal and his butting into things that are none of his business. Throwing the paper to the ground, people quickly moved out of her way as she headed directly to the Editorial room. Her eyes took in the computers and layout table then focused on Randal Weems, his back to her and when a collective gasp came from the geeks that worked on the paper, he turned around to find himself trapped to the wall with Spinelli's arm across his throat as she pinned him in place.

"What gave you the right to print that, Randal?" Spinelli hissed.

"I have the right of the school to print any information I want and it's not like it wasn't lies, Spinelli. You and Detweiler are no longer friends."

Releasing her grip on him, as it wouldn't do to get her suspended by killing the rodent, she kept him still pinned to the spot with her eyes.

"Listen up, Weems, cause I'm only going to say this once. My life is my business and not open to public display on your gossip column paper. You print anything else on that paper with my name on it and I will personally force-feed every last paper down your slimy throat. I want a retraction done," Spinelli came closer menacingly, "now. Whoever gave you permission to print that wasn't me and I want it gone."

Turning on her heeled boot she stocked out of the room and came around the back of the school building, slumping down the brick wall and closing her eyes to block out the world.

~

T.J. was in fourth period when copies were handed out to the students, as soon as his eyes read the main cover story he couldn't believe Randal's odyssey to print that garbage. What happened on the front lawn Monday was his and Spinelli's business, no one else's. Clutching the paper in his hand, he heard the bell ring for class to get out and went the three doors down to the Editorial room to find Spinelli already in there making sure Randal knew just where she stood on the issue. His face broke into a small smile at her very blunt and direct threat that Randal knew better than to contradict with. Moving away so that when the steamed Spinelli came out she walked right by without seeing him, entering the room a red-faced Randal was sitting in his seat taking in breaths.

Some of the other reporters watched his movement with avid interest to see if he would do something to Randal as Spinelli had.

"I think what Spin said was clear enough, right, Randal?" T.J.'s voice was pleasant but firm.

"Sure, anything you say, T.J."

"Good, let's not have this discussion again cause I'd hate for Spin to get suspended by having you choke to death on another article."

The exit of Detweiler created the group to form around their editor. Randal relaxed back in his chair.

"Didn't look like they weren't friends to me, Randal," one of his reporters said.

"No, it didn't, did it." Randal replied, knowing that his plan had worked.

~

Gretchen caught up to Spinelli during last period, as she was teacher's aid to Dr. Zuckerman and sat next to Spinelli as she finished her formula. Seeing the distant expression on her friend's face, Gretch spoke softly.

"Are you okay?"

"Do I look okay?" Spinelli snapped, then calmed, "Sorry, Gretch. Been one of those days."

"Randal did not have cause to make that public. You and T.J. didn't deserve that."

"Thanks, Gretchen but even though he printed the retraction it still didn't stop people from reading it. Am I really that big of a nuisance in T.J.'s life? Getting him to get me out of trouble I put myself in and expecting him just to come up with some plan to make it all go away. What a friend I've been."

Wondering where this was coming from, Gretchen opened her mouth to ask but was called to the front by the teacher.

After school, Mr. Ryan was given the plans that Mikey had come up with for rehearsals while Spinelli sat in the back of the auditorium, arms crossed. Mr. Ryan spared her a look to see her withdrawn appearance and saw Mikey only shake his head.

"Don't worry about Spinelli, she'll be okay, Mr. Ryan."

Nodding that Mikey knew the girl better than he did, Mikey went up the aisle and Spinelli followed him out of the auditorium.

"Going to the game tonight?"

"First game is tonight?"

"Yes, if you want I'll tell Vince so we can all go in his Explorer."

"Why not?" Spinelli shrugged.

At home, she tossed her jacket on the coat hanger since she was going out later and sat in the livingroom, flipping on the television. Letting the background noise it provided echo in her head, she leaned back on the couch and closed her eyes only to open them two minutes later at the ringing of the phone. Reaching for the cordless in its cradle on the coffee table, she hit the send button and put it to her ear.

"Hello?"

"Don't we sound chipper?" Toni's amused voice spoke into Spinelli's ear.

"Hey, Toni. Thought you said you were going to call on Tuesday?"

"Got caught up in a shoot, sorry I didn't call back. Has my package arrived yet?"

"Package?"

"The one that your mom was supposed to tell you about?"

"Oh, that package, I don't know let me go look," Spinelli went around the couch to the hallway and saw a large package sitting under the table where they always put their mail, her name clearly on it and headed back into the living room, "yeah, its here."

"Well, open it I want to know what you think."

Tearing the cardboard of the Priority Mail packaging, she pulled out a small album and a square box.

"Do you have them?"

"Yeah," Spinelli opened the album to find photos of herself when she had modeled for Lorenzo.

"Aren't the photos great? He did a wonderful job on your shoot, Spinelli, so good that we did something you might be a little upset about."

"How much is a little, Toni?"

"Oh, about maybe not wanting to speak to me for a couple weeks."

Spinelli didn't know if she could handle another situation in her life but closed her eyes and said, "What is it?"

"It was Rafe's idea," hearing his protest in the background, Spinelli smiled, "we took some of the better shots of you and let my agent look at them. He said that you were very talented and anytime you want he would gladly hook you up with a agency and we kinda gave him permission to add them to one of our Italian fashion magazines as a future faces spread."

"My pictures are in a magazine in Italy?"

"Well, on the cover too but," Toni continued as Spinelli groaned, "it's tasteful and suits you. The magazine is due out later this month and I'll send you a copy. Now open the box."

"Toni..."

"Do it, Spinelli."

Carefully raising the lid of the second box, not knowing if it was going to just come out and bit her as so many things had this week, she placed the lid beside her on the blue plush couch and unfolded the tissue paper to reveal the dress that she wore when the pictures were taken. A dark scarlet satin creation that felt like a dream and if memory served was over a thousand dollars.

"Why am I looking at the most expensive dress in the world?"

"It is not. Some dresses I model are worth a hundred thousand and don't even think of sending it back to me because I'll just send it right back until the mail decides its had enough of playing hot potato and forces you to accept it."

"I can't accept this, Toni, it's too much."

"It's just enough, I think. Besides its not from me it's from Lorenzo. Francesca asked to wear and rather than fight with her about it he decided to make me ship it to you. Told me that it was yours as only a dress can call to who it is truly destined to be worn by and since its been screaming your name we thought we'd better send it to you."

"Are you on drugs? Dresses do not scream out to people."

"If you are going to model one day you better get used to dresses doing that. So how was your day?"

"You are going to go from giving me two heart attacks to asking about my day?"

"That's what big sisters are for. So tell me."

Spinelli went on about what happened since the first day of school, letting all of it just pour out and Toni listened, knowing that Spinelli needed to get this off her chest.

"Now I don't know what is going on between us and I can't tell him what I saw without looking like I was spying on him. God, you don't know how confused I am."

"Spinelli, listen, are you in love with T.J.?"

"Am I what?"

"Don't play with me, Spinelli, you either love the boy or you don't. A simple question. You wouldn't care so much about him if you didn't at least have some feelings for him. He is your best friend when it comes right down to it, the person you should be telling all of this to without a second thought. The fact of the matter is that you are not dealing with this because you don't have someone understanding what it is you are going through. His family is broken up, you feel guilty for not being there for him and now with this Ashley girl getting in the way, the newspaper article and a thousand little things going on in your life you need that stability. You need him."

"I don't need him..."

"Yeah, you do. Protest too much, Spinelli and I'm going to hang up on you."

"Fine. So what am I supposed to do? I don't want to let him know I know which will just get him mad at the others for telling me but I can't just stand by and watch."

"Confront him about it. Find out what's going on in that head of his. Did it ever occur to you he might need you just as much as you need him?"

The honking of the horn coming from outside registered that Vince was here to get her.

"I've got to go, Toni," glancing at her watch amazed that they had been on the phone for three hours, "football game."

"Here I thought you were just trying to get rid of me."

"Tell Rafe hi for me."

"I will and Spinelli?"

"Yeah?"

"Just think about what I said."

"I will. Bye, Toni."

Pushing the END button, she set the phone back in the cradle and put the lid back on the dress, hiding the album inside and pushing it under the couch. The last thing she needed was her parents finding them. Taking the trash she put it in the garbage, wrote a quick note on the board where she was going tossed on her jacket and headed to the passenger side of Vince's Explorer. Getting in beside him as Mikey, Gus and Gretchen were in back.

"What took you?" Vince questioned.

"My sister."

"Are you ready to be a fanatic fan of our school team?"

Spinelli 'woowhoed' sarcastically making them all laugh.

~

The bleachers were packed with people that because Vince was so well known as a jock himself, they managed to get seats at top with some of his basketball buddies. The field was filled with players, sidelines with cheerleaders and mascots, venders at ends of the bleachers and the commentary stand was on the home side in the center top of the bleachers.

Trying to make out numbers, Gretchen handed Spinelli binoculars and shrugged. It was the clearest way to see since they didn't have screens showing the details like professional fields and Spinelli scanned the field for number twenty-eight, Detweiler. Finding him she saw him in a debate with number four, Campbell near the sidelines. Ashley A was leading the cheerleaders in yet another annoying spelling contest cheer and Spinelli tossed the binoculars at Gus, who caught them.

"Gonna go down and see about some drinks."

"I'll come with you," Mikey offered and the two descended. Getting to the railing that was ten feet above the field and cheerleaders, Spinelli searched out for T.J. with her eyes.

"What are you doing here, Spinelli?" the snobby Ashley A. asked.

Catching the sweater and skirt of the cheerleading uniform Spinelli had to keep from laughing at the outfit that she was certain was freezing Ashley A to the Ice Princess she was.

"Watching the game."

"Just keep your paws and eyes off my boyfriend."

"Didn't know you had one, Ashley A.," Spinelli lied, "what's his name again?"

Fuming, Ashley A warned the brunette, "You know just who I'm talking about, Spinelli. Keep your eyes off T.J."

"Is that who your boyfriend is?" Spinelli convinced the people listening that she honestly didn't know by her tone, "sorry, I didn't realize. With us just being friends I'm afraid that part of the conversation was left out though god knows why he wouldn't want to tell me he's dating the Ice Princess, you know why he didn't tell me?"

Collective snickers came from behind Spinelli and satisfied that Ashley A was angered enough, she beamed proudly and headed to snack bar with a sullen expression Mikey behind her.

"What now?" Spinelli demanded at Mikey's face.

"Do you have to keep antagonizing her?"

"If I don't, who will? Everyone's so afraid of her Daddy's money and her popularity to say one word against her."

"And if T.J. is dating her?"

Spinelli paused, her throat suddenly contracting, then without a single give away to how she felt, "So what if he is?"

That comment got more than a few peoples attention, including a smug Ethan Campbell.

"I was never his girlfriend, only his friend. He can date whom he likes even Frosty Cheerleaders."

"Spinelli..."

"No, Mikey. I am tired of people tip-toeing around the subject," Spinelli's voice raised another level, "I am his friend. Not girlfriend. Not object of affection. And certainly not his lover," Mikey blushed at her words, "so why should I care who he dates? Do you see me holding a leash?"

"Say it a little louder, Spin, I don't think people in Switzerland heard you." T.J.'s presence suddenly making the snack bar quiet.

"Oh, hey T.J. just getting some snacks, want anything?" Spinelli asked in all innocence.

"No, thanks. Glad to hear that you approve of my girlfriend," his voice tight with held in anger.

"Couldn't approve more, lord knows its time someone defrosted her Worship," slapping down the five bucks to pay for the sodas and one thing of popcorn Mikey took the three sodas and popcorn while Spin held two.

"Mikey, can you take those sodas from Spinelli?" T.J. checked his anger; "I need to talk to her alone."

Mikey nodded, then walked out of the area as T.J. pulled her along by her upper arm to the back of the fence a hundred feet from anyone while half time was going on.

"Want to drop this act of being tough, cause it's starting to get on my nerves?" Spinelli wondered as they faced each other.

"What has gotten into you?"

"Me? You have the nerve to ask me that?"

"Ask you what? Why you're acting like a complete moron in front of all those people and the scene with Ashley before? Do you want me to spell it out for you?"

"I wish you would, Teej cause honestly I'm sick of guessing," Spinelli professed, "first I come home and you act like my being there is a nuisance to you, not minding that seeing Ashley A on your arm was going to throw all of us. You tell everyone that there is something you need to tell me but when I ask you say it's nothing. My very existence seems to make you mad at the whole world and I want to know why. What did I do that made you act like the self-involved jerk you've been acting like?"

T.J. didn't know what to respond to first. Even though the two of them had fought in the past, usually due to Spinelli's physical way of solving problems, it had never lasted more than a day. He couldn't figure out why it angered him so much that she left without saying goodbye but it did. Maybe because his dad did the same thing or maybe because he expected her to say something when she was suddenly going to disappear from his life for months at a time. He had to keep from being mad at Gretchen and Mikey for knowing about it first, it was childish, he knew, so what exactly was he supposed to say to Spinelli.

"Self-involved jerk? I wouldn't talk, Spin, you haven't been acting too altogether lately either. The hair, the clothes, a person might the idea that you are trying to be someone you're not or imitating someone," T.J. countered, "are you?"

"I am not trying to act like anyone I'm not. This is a physical change, not a mental one. So I cut my hair and am wearing different clothes, it's not the end of the world that you all seem to believe it is. Maybe you just got so used to me being tough on the inside and outside that seeing me any different than what your used to isn't going over easy. So I look more like a girl now," Spinelli declared, "but I'm still me which is more than I can say for you, T.J. Detweiler."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

She took a step closer, her hand going to his hair although she was quite a height difference she managed to touch the end of his now above the ear hair cut.

"It means that the T.J. I know seems to have disappeared with the vanishing red cap. The T.J. I know is gone replaced by someone I don't know and don't like. I want the T.J. I knew back and you gone. That's what I mean. He would never avoid an issue with me, he'd be as straightforward as I am. He'd tell me that his parents got divorced without making me find out from friends because he's changed so much he can't be around me. He'd tell me that my leaving and not telling him was a bad choice on my part, that it hurt and maybe he resents that I told others before him. He wouldn't make life altering decisions on his like or dislike of a certain Ashley and not tell anyone about it," Spinelli backed up one step, her eyes connecting with his, "and he'd say he misses me like I miss him."

"Geez, Detweiler, can't you hear them calling your name?" Garcia called out, breaking the connection the two had as the guy ran over to them his eyes seeking T.J.'s who were trained on Spinelli.

"Better go. A lot of people to cheer you on and make you a big football hero," Spinelli suggested, "wouldn't want them to think of you as anything else than what they know, right?"

Garcia caught the last part of her words but only gave T.J. a come-on look before the two of them left. Hugging her arms around her waist, she leaned against the fence wishing the cold she felt had something to do with the weather.

~ ~ ~ ~

Another chapter!! Hurrah. Promise Chapter Four will be out soon.

~ Scandal ~

November 18, 2001