2. Serene
'It's probably around twelve. Yeah. Somewhere around there.' Spinelli estimated. She knew her parents were probably thinking she was dead. Or was abducted and being beaten and raped or something. She was sitting by the park pond, knees up to her chin and arms around legs, staring at the water.
Eventually, her parents would be looking and would check by here. She'd tell them she fell asleep and didn't know the time. After all, lying was her specialty. She slowly blinked, watching the very tiny waves made by wind cause the pond to shimmer insanely.
Why did she care so much? Sure, letting everyone know your first name was Ashley is something she didn't want to get out, or be kissed by TJ. but maybe liking someone isn't exactly normal. A lot of people told people lies about people liking who ever. But why did it matter so much this time? Spinelli knew for sure that there once was a rumor floating around about her and TJ after the kiss. Which she HATED by the way.
She would look back and always feel mad because of that day. Her first kiss was spent on her best friend. There was nothing wrong with TJ, except she found it hard to kiss him with everyone looking, and he was one of her best friends. It might have ruined their friendship, and it wasn't exactly what she would call happy.
She saw headlights reflecting on the lake and disturbing the once perfect reflection. She somehow knew it would be her parents, and soon a car pulled up next to her. She didn't look. "ASHLEY SPINELLI!"
Her mom had practically jumped the ten meters separating them and hugged her insanely. Soon enough her dad joined the hugging, and she remembered her lying task. "What?!"
"Where have you been? It's twelve thirty and we were so worried. . ." Her mom cried.
"Twelve? It isn't that late!" She retorted. Her mom and dad finally stopped hugging her and exchanged confused glances. "Have you fallen asleep or something? DID SOMEONE HIT YOUR HEAD?!"
"I think I fell asleep. I do remember sitting here while it was lighter outside." Spinelli lied, and her parents believed her.
"Well, get in the car and we'll go home so you can get some real sleep. Just NEVER even do that again, Ashley!" Her mom said, scared to death.
Spinelli grunted and got in the car and leaned her head up against the window, watching the pond disappear behind a wall of trees as they drove home.
The weekend was spent thinking and playing her music really loud, trying to block out any thoughts she didn't want to think about. She even skipped watching all of her wrestling. That Monday, she was walking to school and once again didn't meet up with her friends except while walking up to the school doors.
Something seemed really out of place, but she couldn't notice exactly what it was at the time. Then, Gretchen came running up, as she began to open the doors. "Spinelli, wait! I have to tell you something -"
It was too late, because she swung both the doors open, and was greeted by a quiet and staring hall. Some people had the nerve to whisper and point. Spinelli felt the anger boil up inside of her. "What are you all looking at?"
They all gave each other a look that shown that they didn't know why she was acting like she had no idea what was going on. Then Spinelli felt her anger turn into nervousness. Did this have to do with Randall figuring out why she was really looking at the king like that?
She stormed down the halls, eager to get to class. But going there was a wrong decision, because once inside, her eyes fell on TJ, Vince, Gus and Mikey. They looked at her for about two seconds before turning around and talking about something. 'Most likely me,' Spinelli thought and took her seat. She sat stiff for the whole class until ten.
There, the teacher let them outside to recess and she practically dragged Gretchen out with her, trying to get ahead of her other friends. "Gretchen, please don't tell me its."
Gretchen nodded, her face showing sympathy. "Yes. Apparently, Ashley A. went to the theaters to see 'Freaky Friday' and saw you and the King sneaking in. And you know what people would first think if a guy and girl was sneaking in to see an R rated film."
Spinelli felt like she would just punch her friend to let some anger out, but kept it all in. "B-But. . . but that's not what happened!"
"Over the weekend, she most likely called, e-mailed or used an instant messenger to get her information to anyone she knew in school."
Spinelli finally thought she would loose it. She looked up at the jungle gym and then felt a huge pang of guilt. King Bob was staring out into space, and from the distance she could see just how worried and vulnerable he looked. Also on the right side of the playground, there was a group, and Ashley A. was standing in the center, telling anyone who didn't know anything the whole story, or at least her version of what really happened.
Spinelli went stomping over and broke into the circle, and went right up to Ashley A. "What're you doing?! You know you're lying about everything you say!"
Ashley snorted. "Lying? I'm just telling my friends what I saw."
"You're friends? YOU MEAN THE WHOLE SCHOOL!" Spinelli screamed.
A few people left the circle, knowing just how hard Spinelli could punch and didn't want to get involved. The little kids who didn't understand a lot just stayed and watched all of this, confused.
"What? Scared at the fact that you and 'the highness' were sucking face at an R rated movie?" Ashley snapped and folded her arms across her chest and standing in a preppy posture.
For a moment, Spinelli just gaped, and slowly realized the meaning. Sucking face?! HOW COULD SHE COME UP WITH THAT?
In a second, Ashley was down on the ground screaming for her group of 'Ashley' friends to help her up and get the 'crazy girl' away from her. Spinelli threw herself at Ashley, thirsty to give her another punch across the face. Someone caught her in mid-air and she was squirming, tempted by the blood now coming out of Ashley's nose to get some more out of her.
"Come on, you stupid, preppy barbie! I'm gonna beat you so bad your baby is going to be born fuckin' bruised!"
By now, Ashley was screaming her head off, people immediately began to talk about her cursing with gasps, and Randall went running to find Ms. Finster. Then she realized that she wouldn't have time to say anything to Bob if Ms. Finster came out. She'd get suspended. Spinelli stopped struggling and let whoever had her in the air set her down but still grasp her shoulders. "LET GO OF ME!"
She whirled and saw it was TJ, Vince and Mikey that had her. "Let me go! NOW!"
"For your own good, no!" Vince said, struggling to keep the raging bull in his grasp.
"You have to let me go! You don't understand!" Spinelli shouted. Everything was happening so fast. Ashley was screaming about her nose might be broken, everyone talking really loudly, her friends trying to get her to calm down.
It was too much and she finally stopped moving altogether. She tried taking a calm breath but instead, felt like she would choke. "Let me go. I don't have enough time to -"
Ms. Finster flew the doors wide open and came stomping out like the Tyrannosaurus off of Jurassic Park releasing herself from her cage. She stomped over and roughly grabbed Spinelli by the shoulder, and whirled her around. "You little Hooligan! Do you understand the consequences of what you just did?" she growled.
Spinelli was silent and wincing from the nails of the angry teacher digging into her skin sharply. Ashley came running up fanning her bloody face with her hands. All of her friends crowded and tried to comfort her. "SHE ATTACKED ME!" Ashley A. screeched, pointing at Spinelli madly while the other Ashley's patted her shoulder and told her things meant to calm her down.
"Randal! Get the principal and tell him the situation! Get a doctor and this young lady's parents!" Ms. Finster informed Randal. He replied with a 'yes, ma'am' and went running inside. Then the old lady sent Ashley to the nurse for now politely and then painfully dragged Spinelli towards the school doors. Finally, she just broke down in tears hating everything.
She hated this stupid school, that retard Randal for constantly snitching, Ashley for being a constant a-hole, the movie 'underworld.' Sniffing, she looked behind her and then felt even worse. King Bob was about halfway to where she once was. He was now looking at her with what looked like guilt and sympathy. Was he going to help her? As soon as she was close enough to the doors, she immediately heard him be assaulted by the crowd and their questions.
Except now it wasn't just a crowd. It was the whole playground that watched the fight, watched her be taken away and now bothering King Bob.
In the Principals office, Principal Prickly was pacing. "I don't think you understand what your unnecessary actions will cost you, Miss Spinelli. Do you know what you did to that girl?"
He faced her, and she looked away from the window to him. "Broke her nose, hopefully."
His face had a red tint to it. "Hopefully? You don't realize the severity of this situation! You could be suspended for a month at max. If you miss that many days of school you may not be able to pass fourth grade!"
Then, her parents stormed in. "Mr. Prickly?"
They each gave her a sharp glare, and she sunk in her seat. They started talking, every now and then one of her parents looking at her with a shocked expression. But she didn't notice. She was too busy staring out the window. King Bob was in his throne again, and was looking at the office windows. 'Could he see through the glass?'
"The suspension will last three weeks long, based off of what I have been informed."
She looked away from the window. Good. She would pass. "I recommend you try to talk some sense into her. At the time, I need to calm down Ashley's hysterical parents." Principal Prickly sighed, sitting down and rubbing his temples as if he had a major headache.
"Thank you, sir." Her parents sharply said, and waited for Spinelli to get up. She did and slowly walked out of the room, with them following silently. It wasn't until they got in the car that her mom finally went off.
"Ashley Spinelli, what on earth where you thinking?" Her mother yelled, not looking at her but the road. They pulled out of the parking lot, and Spinelli didn't answer.
"What would drive you to do that, in the first place?" She asked. Once again, Spinelli was silent. There was no way she'd tell them why she did it. Fist of all, she snuck into an R rated movie, and then just letting her parents know that she liked King Bob wasn't right, and she never really told them much in the first place.
Her mom did the famous 'parental disappointed sigh' and gave up all together.
When she got home, Spinelli was quickly informed that she was grounded for a month, along with the three week long suspension. She didn't answer but walked to her room, slammed the door and hit the bed. For a while she was silent and finally started crying.
- -
It was the second week of her suspension, which was spent on just moping around the house and going out for walks when her parents would scarcely let her. The whole time she thought about her everyday problems. Did she really like the King? Would her friends get mad? How would she be treated when she went back to the school?
One time while walking down the street, she thought about that last look Bob had before she entered the doors. She still didn't know whether or not he was coming over to blame everything on her, help her or just watch. From the look he had when watching her leave, she assumed he was going to help, but wasn't exactly sure. Checking her surroundings, she realized she was only about five minutes or so away from school.
She had to know what was really going on. Was King Bob STILL being harassed? She liked him too much for any retard to bother him! Smiling, she started running. So, she DID still like him.
At the school, she walked around the fence wall until recess started and she reached a spot where there were about three big trees. The whole time, she made sure she would keep her eyes on Finster and Randal. They, luckily, where harassing some student for something, while facing the other way, so she made her move.
Spinelli quickly climbed the fence, lucky that she didn't touch any of the barbed wire on the top. She found it pretty funny how they would go to that much of an extreme just to keep kids from skipping. She hit the ground and looked around. The two she was eyeing were still harassing the kid, and she saw King Bob luckily not in his throne on the jungle gym, but was instead getting carried around on that wooden thing.
She ran, not caring if anyone saw her, and got up to Bob from behind. His eyes slid to where she was standing, and did a double take. "Halt, and go on elsewhere." He told the guards, giving a gesture with the wave of his hand.
They set the wooden carrier down and walked away without saying a word, looking behind their shoulders very suspiciously. "Aren't you supposed to be suspended?" King Bob asked, without showing too much emotion.
"Um, I need to ask you something. I'm not really aloud to be here, so can we go somewhere else where Ms. Finster can't see us?" Spinelli asked, glancing at Finster every second.
"Of course."
They both started walking over to the side of school building, with Spinelli to his side so Ms. Finster couldn't see her face. They went behind the side of the building. Someone might had have the nerve to follow if Spinelli didn't give Ashley a broken nose just the other day. She turned to face King Bob and realized that he had a familiar look on his face. 'The one after I talked about how much of a deal he would make if someone was going out,' she bit her lower lip.
"Are you mad at me?"
"No," He answered.
Spinelli exhaled. She couldn't just stand here watching him, or her, like this anymore. She'd have to tell the truth to live without guilt for the rest of the year. "Okay, you have to promise not to interrupt anything I say. I just have to finish." She said, looking off to the side. When she met eyes with Bob for about two seconds, he didn't say anything but gave a slight nod to let her know he wouldn't stop her.
She stopped looking at him again. "Alright. The real reason why I wanted to go to the movie theater at first was because I. . . I kind of wanted to be with you." She didn't look at him, but continued, "I really liked you. Then I thought how wrong people consider it when they found out a fourth grader likes a sixth grader."
He was still silent, but was slowly registering the words.
".So, I was acting all stupid in the theater because I wanted to learn to hate you and not go through everyone constantly bothering me, or you'd hate me or something if someone found out. And then this happened. I got mad at Ashley as you could tell. Then I realized even through everything that has happened I STILL like you. Then I came here to really see what was going on and give you the sense to tell everyone that all of this is my fault. So, I guess that explains a lot. You can tell everyone it was me and not get bothered, now."
"What?" King Bob looked at her in what appeared to be disbelief. "Why would I do that?"
"Because I just ruined your life. And you're the King! Do you know what can happen to you because of me, now?" Spinelli asked. "It's not like it would change anyone's view on me or anything. So, you will, right?"
He shook his head. Spinelli's jaw dropped. "Why not?!"
"Because, I didn't just go to sneak in with you in the first place." He started out loud and kind of quieted down towards the end, like he had said some kind of mistake.
Spinelli swallowed. This was beginning it get a little complicated. "Then, why?"
He kind of turned to face the playground from where he was leaning up against the wall. "I don't know how you can say everything so easily."
Spinelli wondered if what she thought he meant was true. Did that mean he liked her, too? "What do you mean?"
King Bob kind of hesitated for a minute. "Well, you're the only one I have ever really met that had a personality, didn't follow the mainstream, and was an individual. It isn't exactly easy to not like you, either."
"Wait, you're saying I'm the only one with a personality? There are tons of people."
"No, not really. For instance, everyone hates Randal, right? Well, they don't punch him or beat him up. You're the only one that does, because you don't care if you get in trouble for basically being yourself. I can go on and on all day why you have some kind of individuality and no one else does."
"You do. Why not count that?"
He laughed. "Because I'm the king so a lot of people look at me as an individual in some weird way. But really, I act like everyone else would."
"I give up. Well, I still don't see what you're point is." Spinelli said, not exactly following him. She knew he didn't follow the mainstream, and didn't act like anyone else she knew. She wanted to figure everything out important, for now.
He gave her a weird look. "What I'm SAYING is. . . I like you, too."
Just like one of the things he didn't want to happen, she got quiet and stared. He found it extremely hard to look at her. "The reason why I act the way I do is because I was born that way, and it isn't something I can exactly control. So even though it sounded like I hated you, it didn't mean I really did."
"Through everything that had happened, you still do?" Spinelli quietly asked. "But, you can lose your job as the king."
"I'm going to lose it anyway. It isn't really something that can be stopped." He murmured. "So, it isn't your fault at all."
"How do you know, then?" She questioned.
He had this sad look in his eyes, but didn't show any facial expression. "I heard some people talking about how as soon as your suspension is over, they were going to try and get everyone in school to make a new king, because it isn't right for a King and fourth grader to be supposedly 'sucking face' in a R rated movie, as quoted by Ashley. They wanted you here to see it. Basically, they can do that because all of the kids can run the king over. It's almost happened before with the whole 'pyramid' problem."
"What? Did Ashley start it?!"
"No. She's too scared of you now to do anything involving either of us." He explained, and the bell rang.
Spinelli was glad to know that he liked her, too, but for now wasn't exactly thrilled with what those people were planning to do. She'd help him. "I can't see you until my suspension is over. I'm grounded, too," she sadly said.
"Really?" He, too, asked sadly.
She nodded. "Bye." Spinelli slowly said, and walked away to climb the fence. Turning around while about mid-way up the fence, Bob was gone. She continued climbing, and began to run home as soon as she touched the cement.
Once there, she tried to sort everything out. At home, she started to play music by a band called 'Dark Tranquility' and sat on the floor. Okay. so now the whole playground is going to try and make a new king because of what she did. Going to the theatres was slightly worth it, now that she knew he also liked her. But now, he might lose his job as the king. To other people, it might sound something like 'I lost a quarter,' or something, but she knew just how much being the king meant to him.
Half of the year was over, and she already knew he couldn't survive an hour being treated like an 'everyday nobody.'
Spinelli looked at her wrestling calendar on her wall. She had been keeping track of her suspension. She only had six days left, and had to help him somehow.
- -
The suspension was over, and Spinelli stood in front of the school, her knees very close to shaking she was so nervous. She took a deep breath and walked down the cement sidewalk, with eyes following her. Finally, after six days she could finally tell Bob what her plan was. But first, she still had to go to class. She walked in and was greeted by Mikey. "Hi?"
"Why, hello, Spinelli! I missed you so much!" Mikey cheerfully greeted her.
She was confused. "Aren't you disgusted at the fact I like King Bob?"
"Oh, so you WERE denying it all along. Anyway, no I am not. I think it's beautiful! Like birds on a bright, warm morning frolicking about in the skies -"
She smiled. Good old Mikey. "It's good to know you aren't mad and all, but you REALLY have to stop all that mushy stuff," she informed him, and the teacher stepped on in.
"Hello there, Spinelli. It's, um, NICE to have you back," she said, stumbling on her words. Spinelli gave her a real cheap grin, which she had to painfully force.
She sat down in her assigned seat, next to TJ and tried not to look in his direction. It was hard, because every time she would even take the smallest glance, he would be staring at her like she was a venomous snake. She paid no attention to whatever Miss Grotke was trying to teach them, because she was still busy trying to rehearse what she could say to Bob. After all, the thing she thought of was just about the only way out.
Finally, it was recess. Miss Grotke once again had to talk an extra five minutes before finally letting them out. Spinelli practically leaped from her chair and went running down the halls. She doubted it, but now since she was back something might have happened in those five minutes. She ran out of the doors and skidded to a stop, checking to see where Bob was.
He was sitting in his throne on the jungle gym and she immediately sensed something was really wrong as made her way over. The guards immediately parted to let her through. They seemed to be the only people other than her who weren't plotting against King Bob, and she assumed that they knew just how important to him she was right now.
Spinelli went to the top and walked over to King Bob. "I know how to make them stop."
"I hope it's good, because someone even said that they were going to make sure there would be a new king today right in my face." He dully replied. As they spoke, a group noticed them and began collecting as they started to walk over.
"Well, you have to tell them to just accept everything."
"WHAT?! You know I can't do that!" He protested.
"Why not?" she asked. He replied, "Because I just can't talk about everything in front of people like that. Sure, it can be about someone stealing something or sentencing someone to the dodge ball court for blackmail, but there is NO WAY I can just talk about 'accepting people' like it's an every day issue!"
"What do you want? Me to do it?" She asked sarcastically, glancing at the crowd. It now grew to being close to the whole playground and coming their way.
"You'd do that?" He asked, with a hopeful look in his face. She couldn't bring herself to let him act like an idiot in front of everyone and she would just stand off to the side watching. ".Fine. You owe me BIG time. At least going to the next ten horror movies to come out with me and sneak in."
"Deal!" He proudly said, glad to know he wouldn't have to say anything he never said before.
The whole playground, aside from Spinelli's friends who stood off to the side, was now underneath the jungle gym. Luckily, they weren't mad enough to try and climb up.
"Do you know what this is all about?" Someone asked, and Spinelli immediately recognized the voice belonging to Ashley Q. She snapped her head in her direction, and Ashley immediately silenced. Bob was being smart and waiting for them to say what they wanted to do, even though he knew what they had planned.
"I know, we can vote! Whoever here thinks that King Bob shouldn't be king anymore, because is associated with a fourth grader, and it's probably an association too horrible to think of, say 'Aye.' " Some random person shouted. This was probably all part of the scheme.
As planned, everyone excluding Spinelli's friends said 'aye.' Spinelli immediately felt Bob go really tense and nervous. "So, now that the majority of the playground had said 'yes' we can crown a new king. You just lost your job. Are there any rules against THAT?" The same person asked.
Spinelli could see that the person was no other than Randal. She bet the only reason why they let him talk for everyone else was because he had Ms. Finster on his side.
". . .No." Bob said, barely loud enough so people could here.
"So, you're pretty much over your job as being a king, now, aren't you? I guess that's what you get for having bad judgment." Randal sneered.
Spinelli decided it was time. "You know what? You're all really blind right now to that fact that not everyone has the same exact opinion on everything."
"But ours actually matter!" Lawson shouted, and Spinelli shot him a dirty glare that could make a grown man cry.
"Now, onto my point! All of this started just because of a rumor that says we were. you know! You guys are acting really stupid by going far enough to actually try and let a rumor take away something important to another person. And I think you all have enough sense to know people would only 'suck face,' as you friggin call it, if they liked each other. I'll have you know that even your best friends could like someone. THEN would you treat them like this? You might not even now if they liked the person, for heavens sake!"
There was a slight murmur of agreement in the crowd, and King Bob smiled.
Spinelli continued, "You were treating them the same without even knowing that they liked the person. And it isn't like during that time they turned into the devil or something. So then when you DO figure it out, all of the sudden you act like they have the power to kill everyone and everything on earth! Another person liking another one doesn't make them evil, or make them hate you or something! Sometimes, it lightens people up, and it isn't like a friend would NOT want their friends be happy, right? Even though King Bob isn't exactly a friend to every single person, the same things goes for him AND me. Now, I think I made my point so I'll stop now."
Once again, people talked amongst themselves. They couldn't come up with a decision at the time, because half of the playground felt bad, and the other half didn't care about what she had just said at all. "Alright, then! We'll get the most important people to decide whether or not you still deserve to be king!" Lawson said, and Spinelli and Bob gave each other a glance.
"Who are those people?" Bob asked.
Lawson looked around him. "I don't know... But just wait until tomorrow! Then we'll see if you deserve your job or not!"
They walked away, Lawson cackling (and then he stupidly tripped) and some leaving since they knew that they were no longer involved. Bob let out a relieved sigh and leaned back in his chair. "I was so nervous."
"You? You didn't have to give the embarrassing speech!" Spinelli said in disbelief.
"Oh , yeah. Thanks a lot." he gave her one of those smiles, and she slightly blushed.
"Um, I'm gonna go see my friends. They must be really messed up right now." She said, and left. Passing by the guards, they stared at her like she was the new god. They could practically hear the 'Hallelujah' music playing.
'It's probably around twelve. Yeah. Somewhere around there.' Spinelli estimated. She knew her parents were probably thinking she was dead. Or was abducted and being beaten and raped or something. She was sitting by the park pond, knees up to her chin and arms around legs, staring at the water.
Eventually, her parents would be looking and would check by here. She'd tell them she fell asleep and didn't know the time. After all, lying was her specialty. She slowly blinked, watching the very tiny waves made by wind cause the pond to shimmer insanely.
Why did she care so much? Sure, letting everyone know your first name was Ashley is something she didn't want to get out, or be kissed by TJ. but maybe liking someone isn't exactly normal. A lot of people told people lies about people liking who ever. But why did it matter so much this time? Spinelli knew for sure that there once was a rumor floating around about her and TJ after the kiss. Which she HATED by the way.
She would look back and always feel mad because of that day. Her first kiss was spent on her best friend. There was nothing wrong with TJ, except she found it hard to kiss him with everyone looking, and he was one of her best friends. It might have ruined their friendship, and it wasn't exactly what she would call happy.
She saw headlights reflecting on the lake and disturbing the once perfect reflection. She somehow knew it would be her parents, and soon a car pulled up next to her. She didn't look. "ASHLEY SPINELLI!"
Her mom had practically jumped the ten meters separating them and hugged her insanely. Soon enough her dad joined the hugging, and she remembered her lying task. "What?!"
"Where have you been? It's twelve thirty and we were so worried. . ." Her mom cried.
"Twelve? It isn't that late!" She retorted. Her mom and dad finally stopped hugging her and exchanged confused glances. "Have you fallen asleep or something? DID SOMEONE HIT YOUR HEAD?!"
"I think I fell asleep. I do remember sitting here while it was lighter outside." Spinelli lied, and her parents believed her.
"Well, get in the car and we'll go home so you can get some real sleep. Just NEVER even do that again, Ashley!" Her mom said, scared to death.
Spinelli grunted and got in the car and leaned her head up against the window, watching the pond disappear behind a wall of trees as they drove home.
The weekend was spent thinking and playing her music really loud, trying to block out any thoughts she didn't want to think about. She even skipped watching all of her wrestling. That Monday, she was walking to school and once again didn't meet up with her friends except while walking up to the school doors.
Something seemed really out of place, but she couldn't notice exactly what it was at the time. Then, Gretchen came running up, as she began to open the doors. "Spinelli, wait! I have to tell you something -"
It was too late, because she swung both the doors open, and was greeted by a quiet and staring hall. Some people had the nerve to whisper and point. Spinelli felt the anger boil up inside of her. "What are you all looking at?"
They all gave each other a look that shown that they didn't know why she was acting like she had no idea what was going on. Then Spinelli felt her anger turn into nervousness. Did this have to do with Randall figuring out why she was really looking at the king like that?
She stormed down the halls, eager to get to class. But going there was a wrong decision, because once inside, her eyes fell on TJ, Vince, Gus and Mikey. They looked at her for about two seconds before turning around and talking about something. 'Most likely me,' Spinelli thought and took her seat. She sat stiff for the whole class until ten.
There, the teacher let them outside to recess and she practically dragged Gretchen out with her, trying to get ahead of her other friends. "Gretchen, please don't tell me its."
Gretchen nodded, her face showing sympathy. "Yes. Apparently, Ashley A. went to the theaters to see 'Freaky Friday' and saw you and the King sneaking in. And you know what people would first think if a guy and girl was sneaking in to see an R rated film."
Spinelli felt like she would just punch her friend to let some anger out, but kept it all in. "B-But. . . but that's not what happened!"
"Over the weekend, she most likely called, e-mailed or used an instant messenger to get her information to anyone she knew in school."
Spinelli finally thought she would loose it. She looked up at the jungle gym and then felt a huge pang of guilt. King Bob was staring out into space, and from the distance she could see just how worried and vulnerable he looked. Also on the right side of the playground, there was a group, and Ashley A. was standing in the center, telling anyone who didn't know anything the whole story, or at least her version of what really happened.
Spinelli went stomping over and broke into the circle, and went right up to Ashley A. "What're you doing?! You know you're lying about everything you say!"
Ashley snorted. "Lying? I'm just telling my friends what I saw."
"You're friends? YOU MEAN THE WHOLE SCHOOL!" Spinelli screamed.
A few people left the circle, knowing just how hard Spinelli could punch and didn't want to get involved. The little kids who didn't understand a lot just stayed and watched all of this, confused.
"What? Scared at the fact that you and 'the highness' were sucking face at an R rated movie?" Ashley snapped and folded her arms across her chest and standing in a preppy posture.
For a moment, Spinelli just gaped, and slowly realized the meaning. Sucking face?! HOW COULD SHE COME UP WITH THAT?
In a second, Ashley was down on the ground screaming for her group of 'Ashley' friends to help her up and get the 'crazy girl' away from her. Spinelli threw herself at Ashley, thirsty to give her another punch across the face. Someone caught her in mid-air and she was squirming, tempted by the blood now coming out of Ashley's nose to get some more out of her.
"Come on, you stupid, preppy barbie! I'm gonna beat you so bad your baby is going to be born fuckin' bruised!"
By now, Ashley was screaming her head off, people immediately began to talk about her cursing with gasps, and Randall went running to find Ms. Finster. Then she realized that she wouldn't have time to say anything to Bob if Ms. Finster came out. She'd get suspended. Spinelli stopped struggling and let whoever had her in the air set her down but still grasp her shoulders. "LET GO OF ME!"
She whirled and saw it was TJ, Vince and Mikey that had her. "Let me go! NOW!"
"For your own good, no!" Vince said, struggling to keep the raging bull in his grasp.
"You have to let me go! You don't understand!" Spinelli shouted. Everything was happening so fast. Ashley was screaming about her nose might be broken, everyone talking really loudly, her friends trying to get her to calm down.
It was too much and she finally stopped moving altogether. She tried taking a calm breath but instead, felt like she would choke. "Let me go. I don't have enough time to -"
Ms. Finster flew the doors wide open and came stomping out like the Tyrannosaurus off of Jurassic Park releasing herself from her cage. She stomped over and roughly grabbed Spinelli by the shoulder, and whirled her around. "You little Hooligan! Do you understand the consequences of what you just did?" she growled.
Spinelli was silent and wincing from the nails of the angry teacher digging into her skin sharply. Ashley came running up fanning her bloody face with her hands. All of her friends crowded and tried to comfort her. "SHE ATTACKED ME!" Ashley A. screeched, pointing at Spinelli madly while the other Ashley's patted her shoulder and told her things meant to calm her down.
"Randal! Get the principal and tell him the situation! Get a doctor and this young lady's parents!" Ms. Finster informed Randal. He replied with a 'yes, ma'am' and went running inside. Then the old lady sent Ashley to the nurse for now politely and then painfully dragged Spinelli towards the school doors. Finally, she just broke down in tears hating everything.
She hated this stupid school, that retard Randal for constantly snitching, Ashley for being a constant a-hole, the movie 'underworld.' Sniffing, she looked behind her and then felt even worse. King Bob was about halfway to where she once was. He was now looking at her with what looked like guilt and sympathy. Was he going to help her? As soon as she was close enough to the doors, she immediately heard him be assaulted by the crowd and their questions.
Except now it wasn't just a crowd. It was the whole playground that watched the fight, watched her be taken away and now bothering King Bob.
In the Principals office, Principal Prickly was pacing. "I don't think you understand what your unnecessary actions will cost you, Miss Spinelli. Do you know what you did to that girl?"
He faced her, and she looked away from the window to him. "Broke her nose, hopefully."
His face had a red tint to it. "Hopefully? You don't realize the severity of this situation! You could be suspended for a month at max. If you miss that many days of school you may not be able to pass fourth grade!"
Then, her parents stormed in. "Mr. Prickly?"
They each gave her a sharp glare, and she sunk in her seat. They started talking, every now and then one of her parents looking at her with a shocked expression. But she didn't notice. She was too busy staring out the window. King Bob was in his throne again, and was looking at the office windows. 'Could he see through the glass?'
"The suspension will last three weeks long, based off of what I have been informed."
She looked away from the window. Good. She would pass. "I recommend you try to talk some sense into her. At the time, I need to calm down Ashley's hysterical parents." Principal Prickly sighed, sitting down and rubbing his temples as if he had a major headache.
"Thank you, sir." Her parents sharply said, and waited for Spinelli to get up. She did and slowly walked out of the room, with them following silently. It wasn't until they got in the car that her mom finally went off.
"Ashley Spinelli, what on earth where you thinking?" Her mother yelled, not looking at her but the road. They pulled out of the parking lot, and Spinelli didn't answer.
"What would drive you to do that, in the first place?" She asked. Once again, Spinelli was silent. There was no way she'd tell them why she did it. Fist of all, she snuck into an R rated movie, and then just letting her parents know that she liked King Bob wasn't right, and she never really told them much in the first place.
Her mom did the famous 'parental disappointed sigh' and gave up all together.
When she got home, Spinelli was quickly informed that she was grounded for a month, along with the three week long suspension. She didn't answer but walked to her room, slammed the door and hit the bed. For a while she was silent and finally started crying.
- -
It was the second week of her suspension, which was spent on just moping around the house and going out for walks when her parents would scarcely let her. The whole time she thought about her everyday problems. Did she really like the King? Would her friends get mad? How would she be treated when she went back to the school?
One time while walking down the street, she thought about that last look Bob had before she entered the doors. She still didn't know whether or not he was coming over to blame everything on her, help her or just watch. From the look he had when watching her leave, she assumed he was going to help, but wasn't exactly sure. Checking her surroundings, she realized she was only about five minutes or so away from school.
She had to know what was really going on. Was King Bob STILL being harassed? She liked him too much for any retard to bother him! Smiling, she started running. So, she DID still like him.
At the school, she walked around the fence wall until recess started and she reached a spot where there were about three big trees. The whole time, she made sure she would keep her eyes on Finster and Randal. They, luckily, where harassing some student for something, while facing the other way, so she made her move.
Spinelli quickly climbed the fence, lucky that she didn't touch any of the barbed wire on the top. She found it pretty funny how they would go to that much of an extreme just to keep kids from skipping. She hit the ground and looked around. The two she was eyeing were still harassing the kid, and she saw King Bob luckily not in his throne on the jungle gym, but was instead getting carried around on that wooden thing.
She ran, not caring if anyone saw her, and got up to Bob from behind. His eyes slid to where she was standing, and did a double take. "Halt, and go on elsewhere." He told the guards, giving a gesture with the wave of his hand.
They set the wooden carrier down and walked away without saying a word, looking behind their shoulders very suspiciously. "Aren't you supposed to be suspended?" King Bob asked, without showing too much emotion.
"Um, I need to ask you something. I'm not really aloud to be here, so can we go somewhere else where Ms. Finster can't see us?" Spinelli asked, glancing at Finster every second.
"Of course."
They both started walking over to the side of school building, with Spinelli to his side so Ms. Finster couldn't see her face. They went behind the side of the building. Someone might had have the nerve to follow if Spinelli didn't give Ashley a broken nose just the other day. She turned to face King Bob and realized that he had a familiar look on his face. 'The one after I talked about how much of a deal he would make if someone was going out,' she bit her lower lip.
"Are you mad at me?"
"No," He answered.
Spinelli exhaled. She couldn't just stand here watching him, or her, like this anymore. She'd have to tell the truth to live without guilt for the rest of the year. "Okay, you have to promise not to interrupt anything I say. I just have to finish." She said, looking off to the side. When she met eyes with Bob for about two seconds, he didn't say anything but gave a slight nod to let her know he wouldn't stop her.
She stopped looking at him again. "Alright. The real reason why I wanted to go to the movie theater at first was because I. . . I kind of wanted to be with you." She didn't look at him, but continued, "I really liked you. Then I thought how wrong people consider it when they found out a fourth grader likes a sixth grader."
He was still silent, but was slowly registering the words.
".So, I was acting all stupid in the theater because I wanted to learn to hate you and not go through everyone constantly bothering me, or you'd hate me or something if someone found out. And then this happened. I got mad at Ashley as you could tell. Then I realized even through everything that has happened I STILL like you. Then I came here to really see what was going on and give you the sense to tell everyone that all of this is my fault. So, I guess that explains a lot. You can tell everyone it was me and not get bothered, now."
"What?" King Bob looked at her in what appeared to be disbelief. "Why would I do that?"
"Because I just ruined your life. And you're the King! Do you know what can happen to you because of me, now?" Spinelli asked. "It's not like it would change anyone's view on me or anything. So, you will, right?"
He shook his head. Spinelli's jaw dropped. "Why not?!"
"Because, I didn't just go to sneak in with you in the first place." He started out loud and kind of quieted down towards the end, like he had said some kind of mistake.
Spinelli swallowed. This was beginning it get a little complicated. "Then, why?"
He kind of turned to face the playground from where he was leaning up against the wall. "I don't know how you can say everything so easily."
Spinelli wondered if what she thought he meant was true. Did that mean he liked her, too? "What do you mean?"
King Bob kind of hesitated for a minute. "Well, you're the only one I have ever really met that had a personality, didn't follow the mainstream, and was an individual. It isn't exactly easy to not like you, either."
"Wait, you're saying I'm the only one with a personality? There are tons of people."
"No, not really. For instance, everyone hates Randal, right? Well, they don't punch him or beat him up. You're the only one that does, because you don't care if you get in trouble for basically being yourself. I can go on and on all day why you have some kind of individuality and no one else does."
"You do. Why not count that?"
He laughed. "Because I'm the king so a lot of people look at me as an individual in some weird way. But really, I act like everyone else would."
"I give up. Well, I still don't see what you're point is." Spinelli said, not exactly following him. She knew he didn't follow the mainstream, and didn't act like anyone else she knew. She wanted to figure everything out important, for now.
He gave her a weird look. "What I'm SAYING is. . . I like you, too."
Just like one of the things he didn't want to happen, she got quiet and stared. He found it extremely hard to look at her. "The reason why I act the way I do is because I was born that way, and it isn't something I can exactly control. So even though it sounded like I hated you, it didn't mean I really did."
"Through everything that had happened, you still do?" Spinelli quietly asked. "But, you can lose your job as the king."
"I'm going to lose it anyway. It isn't really something that can be stopped." He murmured. "So, it isn't your fault at all."
"How do you know, then?" She questioned.
He had this sad look in his eyes, but didn't show any facial expression. "I heard some people talking about how as soon as your suspension is over, they were going to try and get everyone in school to make a new king, because it isn't right for a King and fourth grader to be supposedly 'sucking face' in a R rated movie, as quoted by Ashley. They wanted you here to see it. Basically, they can do that because all of the kids can run the king over. It's almost happened before with the whole 'pyramid' problem."
"What? Did Ashley start it?!"
"No. She's too scared of you now to do anything involving either of us." He explained, and the bell rang.
Spinelli was glad to know that he liked her, too, but for now wasn't exactly thrilled with what those people were planning to do. She'd help him. "I can't see you until my suspension is over. I'm grounded, too," she sadly said.
"Really?" He, too, asked sadly.
She nodded. "Bye." Spinelli slowly said, and walked away to climb the fence. Turning around while about mid-way up the fence, Bob was gone. She continued climbing, and began to run home as soon as she touched the cement.
Once there, she tried to sort everything out. At home, she started to play music by a band called 'Dark Tranquility' and sat on the floor. Okay. so now the whole playground is going to try and make a new king because of what she did. Going to the theatres was slightly worth it, now that she knew he also liked her. But now, he might lose his job as the king. To other people, it might sound something like 'I lost a quarter,' or something, but she knew just how much being the king meant to him.
Half of the year was over, and she already knew he couldn't survive an hour being treated like an 'everyday nobody.'
Spinelli looked at her wrestling calendar on her wall. She had been keeping track of her suspension. She only had six days left, and had to help him somehow.
- -
The suspension was over, and Spinelli stood in front of the school, her knees very close to shaking she was so nervous. She took a deep breath and walked down the cement sidewalk, with eyes following her. Finally, after six days she could finally tell Bob what her plan was. But first, she still had to go to class. She walked in and was greeted by Mikey. "Hi?"
"Why, hello, Spinelli! I missed you so much!" Mikey cheerfully greeted her.
She was confused. "Aren't you disgusted at the fact I like King Bob?"
"Oh, so you WERE denying it all along. Anyway, no I am not. I think it's beautiful! Like birds on a bright, warm morning frolicking about in the skies -"
She smiled. Good old Mikey. "It's good to know you aren't mad and all, but you REALLY have to stop all that mushy stuff," she informed him, and the teacher stepped on in.
"Hello there, Spinelli. It's, um, NICE to have you back," she said, stumbling on her words. Spinelli gave her a real cheap grin, which she had to painfully force.
She sat down in her assigned seat, next to TJ and tried not to look in his direction. It was hard, because every time she would even take the smallest glance, he would be staring at her like she was a venomous snake. She paid no attention to whatever Miss Grotke was trying to teach them, because she was still busy trying to rehearse what she could say to Bob. After all, the thing she thought of was just about the only way out.
Finally, it was recess. Miss Grotke once again had to talk an extra five minutes before finally letting them out. Spinelli practically leaped from her chair and went running down the halls. She doubted it, but now since she was back something might have happened in those five minutes. She ran out of the doors and skidded to a stop, checking to see where Bob was.
He was sitting in his throne on the jungle gym and she immediately sensed something was really wrong as made her way over. The guards immediately parted to let her through. They seemed to be the only people other than her who weren't plotting against King Bob, and she assumed that they knew just how important to him she was right now.
Spinelli went to the top and walked over to King Bob. "I know how to make them stop."
"I hope it's good, because someone even said that they were going to make sure there would be a new king today right in my face." He dully replied. As they spoke, a group noticed them and began collecting as they started to walk over.
"Well, you have to tell them to just accept everything."
"WHAT?! You know I can't do that!" He protested.
"Why not?" she asked. He replied, "Because I just can't talk about everything in front of people like that. Sure, it can be about someone stealing something or sentencing someone to the dodge ball court for blackmail, but there is NO WAY I can just talk about 'accepting people' like it's an every day issue!"
"What do you want? Me to do it?" She asked sarcastically, glancing at the crowd. It now grew to being close to the whole playground and coming their way.
"You'd do that?" He asked, with a hopeful look in his face. She couldn't bring herself to let him act like an idiot in front of everyone and she would just stand off to the side watching. ".Fine. You owe me BIG time. At least going to the next ten horror movies to come out with me and sneak in."
"Deal!" He proudly said, glad to know he wouldn't have to say anything he never said before.
The whole playground, aside from Spinelli's friends who stood off to the side, was now underneath the jungle gym. Luckily, they weren't mad enough to try and climb up.
"Do you know what this is all about?" Someone asked, and Spinelli immediately recognized the voice belonging to Ashley Q. She snapped her head in her direction, and Ashley immediately silenced. Bob was being smart and waiting for them to say what they wanted to do, even though he knew what they had planned.
"I know, we can vote! Whoever here thinks that King Bob shouldn't be king anymore, because is associated with a fourth grader, and it's probably an association too horrible to think of, say 'Aye.' " Some random person shouted. This was probably all part of the scheme.
As planned, everyone excluding Spinelli's friends said 'aye.' Spinelli immediately felt Bob go really tense and nervous. "So, now that the majority of the playground had said 'yes' we can crown a new king. You just lost your job. Are there any rules against THAT?" The same person asked.
Spinelli could see that the person was no other than Randal. She bet the only reason why they let him talk for everyone else was because he had Ms. Finster on his side.
". . .No." Bob said, barely loud enough so people could here.
"So, you're pretty much over your job as being a king, now, aren't you? I guess that's what you get for having bad judgment." Randal sneered.
Spinelli decided it was time. "You know what? You're all really blind right now to that fact that not everyone has the same exact opinion on everything."
"But ours actually matter!" Lawson shouted, and Spinelli shot him a dirty glare that could make a grown man cry.
"Now, onto my point! All of this started just because of a rumor that says we were. you know! You guys are acting really stupid by going far enough to actually try and let a rumor take away something important to another person. And I think you all have enough sense to know people would only 'suck face,' as you friggin call it, if they liked each other. I'll have you know that even your best friends could like someone. THEN would you treat them like this? You might not even now if they liked the person, for heavens sake!"
There was a slight murmur of agreement in the crowd, and King Bob smiled.
Spinelli continued, "You were treating them the same without even knowing that they liked the person. And it isn't like during that time they turned into the devil or something. So then when you DO figure it out, all of the sudden you act like they have the power to kill everyone and everything on earth! Another person liking another one doesn't make them evil, or make them hate you or something! Sometimes, it lightens people up, and it isn't like a friend would NOT want their friends be happy, right? Even though King Bob isn't exactly a friend to every single person, the same things goes for him AND me. Now, I think I made my point so I'll stop now."
Once again, people talked amongst themselves. They couldn't come up with a decision at the time, because half of the playground felt bad, and the other half didn't care about what she had just said at all. "Alright, then! We'll get the most important people to decide whether or not you still deserve to be king!" Lawson said, and Spinelli and Bob gave each other a glance.
"Who are those people?" Bob asked.
Lawson looked around him. "I don't know... But just wait until tomorrow! Then we'll see if you deserve your job or not!"
They walked away, Lawson cackling (and then he stupidly tripped) and some leaving since they knew that they were no longer involved. Bob let out a relieved sigh and leaned back in his chair. "I was so nervous."
"You? You didn't have to give the embarrassing speech!" Spinelli said in disbelief.
"Oh , yeah. Thanks a lot." he gave her one of those smiles, and she slightly blushed.
"Um, I'm gonna go see my friends. They must be really messed up right now." She said, and left. Passing by the guards, they stared at her like she was the new god. They could practically hear the 'Hallelujah' music playing.