Special thanks to "goofy monkey child", "Aaweth", "NotAContrivance", "Swiss Army Knife", and "alo" for taking the time to review my story! I appreciate it!
Chapter Sixteen: T.J.'s Enters A New, Dark World That Shatters His Conceptions
Location: Somewhere in the city, It's Tuesday around 1 AM
T.J. slowly opened his eyes and felt dizzy and nauseous; he woke up in an unlit, dark, abandon, moldy, deteriorating room. The only light was the midnight blue light which bathed the room in an eerie glow of unfamiliarity and fear. T.J.'s vision finally cleared up and he could see around the room clearly. He saw several metal desks, filing cabinets, and chairs all around the room. He ran to a window and looked around; he gasped looking downward noticing that he was 5 stories high. He looked around the city's skyline to see anything familiar, but nothing he saw was familiar. He was surrounded by the buildings of the blighted area of the city. The unmaintained and abandoned buildings around him presented a sense of pessimism since no one was really there to hear him cry out for help and that it could possibly be more dangerous to go outside where crime could be lurking. T.J. ran to the other end of the room to open the heavy oak doors, but it was useless. The doors were locked and would not budge. T.J. quickly looked around for any doors for his escape, but he could find no other ones. He checked every window to find a fire escape stairway, but there was only one that already fell down to the ground since it was greatly corroded. T.J. suddenly heard a loud snore behind one of the metal desks. He carefully approached the noise since he was already stuck with heart racing fear. When he crept around the desk, he sighed in relief because it was only Ms. Finster snoring and sleeping away.
T.J. tried to tap on Ms. Finster's shoulder for her to wake up. He gently said, "Ms. Finster, it's time to wake up! C'mon!"
Ms. Finster not aware of the situation and still sleeping just mumbled, "Five more minutes Mom....please...."
T.J. shook Ms. Finster.
Ms. Finster got up with several snorting sounds and hacking coughs. She woke up crabby and said, "Who dares to wake me up from my nap?!? WHAT THE Heck?!? Where am I? This isn't my home!"
T.J. explained to Ms. Finster, "Do you remember what happened last time? Last time I remember.... SAL 4000, back at school, closed off everything and we got shocked. When I woke up around 11 PM some guys opened the door, but I got shocked again. Now we are in some type of old, unused office building. I tried to find an escape but the only way is through those locked heavy wooden doors."
Ms. Finster carefully walked around the entire room to understand their situation. She finally approached the doors and tried slamming into the doors, but the doors still would not budge. Ms. Finster grumbled, "Blast these bones and my osteoporosis! If I was young again I could knock these doors down easily!"
Immediately they heard a rush of footsteps up a stairway from the other side of the wooden doors and a man yelled at them, "STOP BANGING THE DOORS! Otherwise, you can expect something more painful!"
Ms. Finster and T.J. both backed away from the doors and their bodies clenched up not knowing what to expect. After the men rushed downstairs, T.J. and Ms. Finster tried to think of what to do to escape. T.J. crept to the wooden doors and placed his ear next to them. He could hear a discussion going on downstairs but he could not clearly hear the words. T.J. saw an air vent just to the right of the doors and 3 feet above him. He instantly devised a plan to listen in on the conversation downstairs. T.J. pushed a chair toward the wall just below the air vent and took away the metal cover. Before Ms. Finster could say anything to stop him, T.J. crawled through the air vent. It was completely dark and immensely dusty inside and he felt like lab rat going through a complex maze of tunnels. Luckily, after 2 minutes his eyes caught a bright light seeping though an air vent. As T.J. slowly and carefully walked closer, he could hear the voices from the discussion getting louder. He approached the end of the air vent as quietly as he could and tried to silence his breathing so that the group of men would not notice his presence.
One of the men said, "I can't believe that little girl!"
Another guy criticized, "If I wasn't being blackmailed, I would absolutely destroy her!"
Then another man complained saying, "Not only do we have to worry about the crimes of our businesses, but also about kidnapping!"
Big Rob soon came into the meeting and slammed his fist on the table to silence the group of men. His thunderous and ominous voice said, "Silence you pathetic worms! You all know that Ashley Xxxchapwicco has the information to destroy your businesses!!! if you girls keep complaining, get ready to hear bits and bits of your crimes on the news! Also, you can expect for me to beat the heck out of ya!"
The business men were silent. They knew to keep quiet after his threat.
Big Rob continued, "So, Mr. Dimaggio how is the oil pumping at Third Street School?"
Mr. Dimaggio, a business man, nervously replied, "It's going great. The oil is pumping, the money is coming in, and the Principal is keeping quiet."
Big Rob smiled and chuckled, "That's great! You can always depend on money to shut people up!"
T.J. was mentally blown away and he was no longer aware of his filthy, dusty condition in the air vent. He was 'glued in' listening and watching to what was happening.
One business man dissented and angrily yelled, "I had enough! Why are we trying to help some immature girl trying to win popularity from some stupid elementary school?"
Big Rob approached this man and before the guy could react, Big Rob punched his nose so hard that blood splattered on the wall. Big Rob furiously yelled back at him, "You little worm! Don't you dare question Ashley's authority! Next time, you won't have teeth to say a thing!" Big Rob then kicked the man hard in the stomach. The man was already curled up in fear on the floor.
Mr. Dimaggio softly and cautiously questioned Big Rob, "Sir...uh...what do we do with T.J. and Ms. Finster?"
Big Rob harshly responded, "I don't know yet! Ashley did not say a word yet!"
T.J. was starting to feel a sneeze come on because of the layers of dust in air ducts. He tried everything to stop it, but then suddenly he let it out. The sneeze echoed throughout the old ventilation system. Big Rob and the men turned toward the air vent and noticed T.J. Big Rob tried to send a signal to shock T.J. from his hand-held controls but T.J. wasn't receiving anything. T.J. crawled, as fast as he could, back toward the office room where Ms. Finster was.
Big Rob cursed his controls, "This stupid piece of garbage it's not working!" Big Rob then got a quick glance of T.J.'s wrists as he was quickly leaving. He noticed that there was no bracelet on either wrist.
Big Rob yelled at the business men, "You idiots! What have you done with their bracelets?!?"
One of the men cowardly said, "We....uh...took them off...."
Big Rob became enraged and his eyes were bloodshot. "ARRRGGHHHH! JUST WAIT 'TIL I DEAL WITH ALL OF YOU! FORGET IT! I'M JUST GONNA BURN THIS PLACE DOWN! ASHLEY'S NOT GONNA NEED THEM ANYWAY!" Big Rob took his cigarette lighter and let its flames burn the wall of the meeting room. Big Rob and the men quickly ran downstairs and outside to escape the fire. The fire was quickly overtaking the chairs and table of the meeting room. T.J. crawled faster upon hearing what Big Rob said. His knees and wrists were throbbing with pain and he was coughing more heavily than Ms. Finster ever could because of the heavy amounts of dust that were entering his mouth while he was panting. Just before T.J. could get out of the air duct and onto the floor, he sprained his left wrist since he was flustering to get out.
When T.J. got out, Ms. Finster complained, "What in sam-heck are you trying to do boy?!? It's not time for one of your shenanigans!"
Before T.J. could explain that a fire was approaching, the wooden doors were suddenly engulfed in flames.
Ms. Finster yelled in terror, "Heavens To Betsy! This place is on fire!"
Ms. Finster frantically looked out of the windows for any type of escape, but just as T.J. noticed earlier, there were no fire escapes. Ms. Finster complained, "Out of all things! This has to happen!"
T.J. was clutching up to the windows because the fire had over took about one-half of the room. The heat emitting from the fire felt like the heat when one opens a hot oven. His body tensed up feeling the excruciating, skin burning heat in front of him and the cold, drafty air behind him from the windows. The fire was consuming the room at such a fast rate that the wooden door frame fell through past the five stories and into the basement. Ms. Finster knew she had to think of something fast. T.J. was just mesmerized looking toward the gaping, seemingly bottomless 20- foot wide hole where the wooden doors used to be. T.J. was terrified, yet transfixed of the merciless fire that raged on.
Ms. Finster shouted out to T.J. despite the loud cracking and falling pieces of fire, "T.J.! T.J.! C'mon I found a way to get out of here!"
T.J. did not even realize Ms. Finster was shouting; much less know that she was still there. T.J. stared into the hole noticing every floor below it was an inferno. The fire had completely consumed everything on the floors below. T.J. looked at it, as if, down below was the vortex to a fiery, continuous fall to one's death.
Ms. Finster grabbed T.J. and took him to an edge of windowsill. T.J. immediately snapped back into reality and noticed the 5 story drop. T.J. exclaimed, "Whompin Bobbula! Are you off your rocker, Ms. Finster?!? We'll die, if we jump down!"
Ms. Finster, though, knew what she was doing. She snapped back, "Look boy! There is no other escape! We have to jump down and hopefully that huge dumpster below will break our fall." The fire was creeping up closer to the two and it was only 6 feet away from them.
T.J. knew Ms. Finster was right; there was no other way.... The two grabbed each other's hands, closed their eyes, stepped onto the windowsill and fell. The fire's flames immediately exploded out of that window just after they left. The fall felt like an eternity, T.J.'s stomach rushed up to his chest and he could hardly breathe. This was a fall he never experienced in any ride of any amusement park. SPLAT!!!! T.J. felt okay and so did Ms. Finster, but they looked around and to their disgust they were sitting on rotting food and garbage. A stench that made them almost 'throw up' since the dumpster had not been emptied all summer. They were quickly reminded of their peril with an explosion on the 4th floor of the abandon office building. Tinder and flaming debris were spewed out of the windows like confetti. Ms. Finster and T.J. quickly jumped out and ran down the darken alley. Just then another blast shattered the glass windows of the third floor as the structure of the building was becoming more unstable. An eight-foot steel metal filing cabinet, charred and blackened, soon fell out of one of the windows and fell into the dumpster…it crushed the edge of the dumpster like foil.
They ran down 2 blocks to avoid not only the fire, but to avoid any suspicion of others thinking that they caused it. T.J.'s eyes searched everywhere wherever they were running since the consuming shadows of the alleys lurked with the potential of unknown danger. From around the corner of a bleak, graffiti-covered industrial storage facility, they were approached by a motorcycle thug who had a violent temper and was short on patience.
Ms. Finster yelled, "What do you want buster? The kid is with me!"
The thug replied, "Are you sure about that? You better give me your money, granny!"
Ms. Finster turned around to T.J. and snapped to him, "Detweiler, I want you to turn around and not observe this! I don't want to set a bad example to a student." T.J. turned away, but he was reluctant doing so knowing that someone at Ms. Finster's age would need help.
The thug mockingly laughed, "Awww! A teacher, you better discipline me too because I've been a bad boy! HA HA HA! But then, I never really liked teachers..." Before the thug could punch Ms. Finster in the stomach, Ms. Finster grabbed his fist and turned it around so fast and hard that his wrist snapped. Ms. Finster then gave an upper cut to the guy's chin and left elbowed his stomach. The thug fell down and moaned in pain.
Ms. Finster cockily said, "What else do you got dirt bag?" Ms. Finster then took her right foot and smashed his nose with her heel. The thug slowly, like a snail, tried to get on his motorcycle and knew Ms. Finster was a mama not to be messed with.
Ms. Finster waved her finger, "No no no....I'll be taking that!" Ms. Finster gave him her crabbiest look and the guy ran off down the street. T.J. had his hands over his eyes and was looking away from Ms. Finster. Ms. Finster called to T.J., "It's okay now Detweiler he's gone!" T.J. turned around and could not believe it. There wasn't a scratch on her.
T.J. stuttered in disbelief, "But..wha...wha...wha...what about....?"
Ms. Finster sat on the motorcycle and offered its helmet to T.J. Ms. Finster replied, "Forget about it Detweiler! Don't tell anybody at Third Street what just happened! Now, let's get out of here!"
T.J. just stared at Ms. Finster, who was revving up the motorcycle while offering T.J. its helmet with her right hand. It was an image he never thought he would see. He slowly approached the motorcycle, stuffed his red cap in his jeans pocket, and took the helmet. He sat behind Ms. Finster.
Ms. Finster warned T.J. "Now Detweiler hold on to my waist while I ride us out of this place! Just do not hold me too tight; otherwise, I'll have to make a pit stop." T.J. sighed and he reminded himself that this was....Ms. Finster. Ms. Finster revved up the motorcycle and yelled with a motorcycle mama voice, "Let's get this hog on the road!" Ms. Finster yelled with an energy and vitality that she was alive again. Ms. Finster made the motorcycle tires screech, pulled the motorcycle back on one wheel and when the front wheel landed back on the ground......THEY WERE OFF!
T.J. held onto Ms. Finster with all he could despite his sprained wrist because Ms. Finster was zipping though the city roads. T.J. was in shock all over again. Ms. Finster was speeding past cars, weaving between lanes, and going through all sorts of traffic. The two were speeding down the busy, crowded downtown areas of the nightlife of the city. T.J. felt the whipping of the wind against his face and his jacket flapping madly behind him. T.J. was shutting his eyes tightly fearing there might be an accident, but when he slowly opened them he was surprised to see Ms. Finster completely in control of the motorcycle. T.J. was fascinated, just like when the pale kids showed him the huge comic store, seeing the sights of the city at nighttime and it was a world he never saw before. From the depressing, bleak blight of the city…T.J. was now seeing the energy and excitement of the city's downtown nightlife. He was captivated seeing grownups enjoy a night on the town, the dance clubs, the music, and the brilliant colorful lights. His mind, transfixed on a new world he never knew since being a kid he would be naturally secluded away from these things.
Within an hour, they finally arrived on the freeway from the gridlock traffic that would lead them toward home. T.J. took a look back to see the condition of the abandon office building. The 30-story building was covered in flames; it was a pillar of fire in the skyline of the city. The immense light from the fire covered half of the city into a deep red hot color despite the puny, yet numerous glowing street lights. He could hear in the background the sirens of fire trucks rushing over to the building and the metal groaning and straining under the pressures of its own weight. The sounds of the wailing building rumbled throughout the city. While T.J. was staring back thinking over what they just escaped from, Ms. Finster was focused and engrossed on the road in front of them. They sped further down the freeway toward the beginning of a sunrise where the eastern sky was already appearing purplish...
Chapter Seventeen: Back To The World of Third Street, And Back With A Vengeance
Location: It's Tuesday, around 11:30 AM at the cafeteria of Third Street School
Ms. Finster drove the motorcycle all through the night and early morning. She secretly dropped off T.J. back at his home where he arrived around 6 AM. T.J. lied to his parents about what he did last night knowing his parents would over worry about what happened and get Ms. Finster in trouble. He knew it was the least he could do knowing how Ms. Finster saved and helped him many times last night. T.J. did not even tell them about his sprained wrist. After his parents lectured him for about a half-hour, he did his best to attend to his sprained wrist with a first aid kit, cleaned up and went to sleep. After his parents made sure he was well rested, he went back to school to reassure his friends and the school that he was okay. He also planned to tell his friends all about Ashley X...
T.J. arrived at the doors of the cafeteria for lunch and opened them. Gretchen, Vince, Spinelli, Gus, and Mikey all ran toward T.J. They were all happy and relieved to see T.J. after not hearing anything from him last night. The 5 ran to T.J. and gave him a huge group hug.
Vince excited, asked, "Teej! What happened to you Wednesday night? We and our parents went all looking for you!"
Gretchen commented, "Indeed! I tried using my scientific equipment and Galileo's help to find you but we had no such luck!"
Gus worriedly questioned, "Did something bad happen Teej? I mean my parents would be all over me if I was gone all night!"
T.J. saw all of their enthusiastic and happy faces and thought about what happened that night. He wondered if he should really tell them what happened. Could they really believe all of the danger and heroism of Ms. Finster? T.J. knew it was the only thing that could convince them that they needed the playground back. T.J. slowly began, "Well guys...you are not gonna believe this....." T.J. took the group to a corner so that SAL 4000 could not listen in.
T.J. quietly continued, "When Ms. Finster took me to her classroom, SAL 4000 closed everything off and we received electric shocks and went unconscious. We were taken to some old, useless office building to the big city and I was able to listen in on a group of guys saying that Ashley X has constructed these oil wells and is bribing Principal Prickly so he won't say a word. Before I knew it, the place was on fire and we jumped and safely landed on a garbage dump and Ms. Finster fought with a motorcycle guy, and we were off back home on that motorcycle. I think Ashley X not only planned to take over the playground...but the school too!"
The other five just looked at each other. They busted out in laughter.
Vince laughed saying, "Aw man! That's the greatest story I ever heard Teej! HA HA HA! Man, that's a good one!"
Spinelli added, "Yeah! HA HA! I mean come on Ashley X? A kid planning to take over the school? I mean I could understand last summer with Dr. Benedict but a kid.....my throat is hurting, Teej! HA HA!"
Gretchen pointed out, "We did hear that some businesses were 'donating' money to Principal Prickly through Menlo, but a kid with an average IQ the head of it...That's outrageous, T.J.!"
The five continued to laugh so hard that their stomachs were hurting.
Gus commented, "Ms. Finster, on a motorcycle?!? HA HA HA!"
T.J. was frustrated for them not believing him, "C'mon guys! Do you really think I would make this up?!? I mean remember last summer I told you about that huge tractor beam and it was true! What's different now?"
Spinelli responded, "Sorry T.J. but we got to go back to each of our activity rooms..."
The rest of the four agreed one by one, "Yeah Teej....sorry." The 5 walked away from T.J. T.J. cried out to them to listen, "But guys....I'm serious, Ashley X is behind all of this..." T.J. sighed in disappointment. Randall sneaked behind T.J. and surprised him. He loudly said, "What do you want Randall?"
Randall whispered back to T.J., "Shhhh! Keep it down! I heard about what happened to you and Ms. Finster that night."
T.J. was in disbelief, "What do you mean?!? I never told anyone. How do you know?"
Randall slyly answered, "Let's just say....with Ms. Finster's napping you can find out anything...hehe..."
T.J. disregarded Randall, "A snitch snitching on his own partner....hmm....what do you want anyways?"
Randall proposed a deal, "Well...I told Menlo about the situation and he thinks he can help you. If you help Menlo revise the playground kid rules, you could have the playground back and I can finally have my dear old Ms. Finster back to finally get Ashley X. What do ya say, Detweiler?"
T.J. knew, with their past history, to never trust a snitch but the offer was too good to pass up easily. He could save the playground, bring back his friends, and end Ashley X's rule. T.J. gathered his thoughts and confidently said, "Okay Randall let's do this!"
T.J. with Menlo's help was able to change Third Street's rules about any type of government on the playground. The rules were changed that limited the power any student could have over the playground. T.J. delighted in knowing that this could finally limit Ashley X's power. The bell rang, and lunch time ended…class would begin again.
T.J. arrived last to Ms. Finster's classroom and Ashley X's eyes bulged out. She did not even think T.J. could survive the fire that Big Rob had told her about early in the morning. Ashley X ran up to T.J. and gave him a big hug, but T.J. did not give a hug back to her. T.J. just remained callous and cold toward Ashley X.
Ashley X asked T.J. how he was as if she had no idea of what happened back at the office building, "T.J.! How are you? We were so worried!"
Ms. Grotke interrupted the two and questioned, "Is there something you would like to tell us that happened Wednesday night?"
The gang and Ashley X did not inform the school about T.J. missing that night. Ashley X gave T.J. a quick glance to his eyes and so did he toward her. They knew that they had to keep whatever happened that night a secret from the school. Ashley X dismissed the question, "Oh nothing Ms. Grotke! I just haven't seen T.J. in the morning." T.J. and Ashley X quickly took their seats.
Ms. Lemmon came though the classroom doorway before Ms. Grotke could close the door. Ms. Lemmon with her usual crabby voice said, "I need to give this detention slip to Ashley X."
Ashley X read the detention slip and it was about her violating the school rules about the playground. Ashley X gave a mean look to T.J. and T.J. just smirked back at her.
Ms. Lemmon walked out the door and complained, "You kids need to start behaving! Making me get up again and again!" Ms. Grotke then began to teach the class.
Spinelli whispered to Ashley X, "Hey Ashley! Are you gonna join us at Kelso's tonight? It's gonna be great! We got enough money for all of us to have banana splits!"
Ashley X looked at her detention slip again and was upset with T.J. She calmly replied back to Spinelli, "Uh...sorry....Spinelli. I would really like to join you guys, but I got some business to attend to...my parents are taking me to a party. It's important." Gretchen, Gus, Mikey, Spinelli, and Vince all were disappointed.
Ashley X quietly and harshly whispered to T.J. while facing the front of the class, "T.J. Detweiler! I'm gonna see you only outside on the playground just after the bell rings. Right behind the dumpster!"
T.J. knew whatever was going to happen…it was going to be big.
Chapter Eighteen: T.J.'s Fight
Location: It's just after school has ended on Tuesday, behind the dumpster on the playground
T.J. told his gang of friends to leave for home without him while he impatiently waited for Ashley X near the dumpster. When all the students left, the parents were gone, and the faculty was busy inside the school, at around 4PM, Ashley X walked through the doors, down the stairs, toward the playground, and toward T.J. The playground was deserted except for Ashley X and T.J. Ashley X was ready to deal with T.J. once and for all.
T.J. harshly spoke with Ashley X, "Well, what is it you want?"
Ashley X sneered, "You know exactly why I'm here! You little brat! I told you not to get in my way!"
T.J. spoke louder, "I should have seen it all along! I knew you were behind the oil wells, the money given to the school, the improvements, and what happened that night!"
Ashley X mockingly said, "So whatcha gonna do about it? Huh? Tell me... You think they are going to listen to a kid like you? You and your pals may have gotten away with destroying Dr. Benedict's plan last summer since he was insane. But you think they'll believe a kid is behind this?" Ashley X begins to laugh and snicker. "T.J. you really are a piece of work."
T.J. angrily replied, "You won't get away with this!"
Ashley X questioned, "Oh really....? You think I can't.... You forgot that I have the leverage..."
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Meanwhile, the rest of the 5 were about 2 blocks away from school.
Spinelli cursed herself out, "Aw man! I totally forgot about it!"
Mikey asked, "About what Spinelli?"
Spinelli answered, "I forgot to get my science text from school. I'll call you guys later about Halloween."
Vince shouted to Spinelli as she ran back to school, "Spinelli! Call around 7! See ya later!"
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Back at the playground, Tyler walked out through the playground doors.
T.J. did not understand why he was here, "Tyler, what are you doing here? How come you're not at home?"
Tyler walked toward Ashley X and stood behind her. Ashley X said, "Teej, you just don't get it. You may have your bracelet off, but Spinelli doesn't." Ashley X quickly opened her cell phone and dialed the code to give Spinelli a shock. When T.J. noticed Ashley X dialing the buttons, he had flashbacks of Spinelli back in the hospital and how serious her injuries were. T.J. violently ran toward Ashley X to stop her, but before he could reach her Tyler blocked him and lifted him off the ground by holding his shoulders.
T.J. could not comprehend what was going on. T.J. questioned, "What's going on here Ashley X? And you, Tyler! What are you doing!?! How come you're not stopping Ashley X?"
Ashley X teased T.J., "Let me let you in on another little secret T.J. okay?!? Tyler, here, is my older brother..."
T.J. was shocked again that there was another twist to Ashley X's plan, "WHAT?!? What do you mean older brother?!?"
Ashley X became disgusted with T.J. She sighed and harshly continued, "Look T.J.! I offered you to rule the playground with me. I had feelings for you Teej. But you threw it in my face!"
T.J. furiously replied, "Look at the playground?!? Where is the playground?!? You may offer kids all of these cool things inside, but you can't replace outdoor playground fun Ashley X! Every kid needs that! And as for feelings for me....yeah, right! One of your guys tried to burn me up while I was trapped!"
Ashley X shouted louder, "That idiot Big Rob tried to burn it himself! I did not ask for it!" Ashley X continued to finish dialing the shock code to Spinelli's bracelet. Ashley X went on, "I warned you not to mess with my rule! Now Spinelli shall suffer the consequences....finish him off Tyler."
Spinelli just arrived back on the block where Third Street was and she fell down on her knees in pain from the shock. Spinelli did not notice the 3 back on the playground. Spinelli shouted, "What the heck is going on?!? Where is this pain coming from?" Spinelli realized it was from the bracelet, but when she tried to take it off she received a greater shock. She knew she had to run back to school where someone could help her.
Back near the dumpster, T.J. tried to reach toward Ashley X but after Ashley X told Tyler to 'finish him off', Tyler punched T.J. on the chest that made T.J. slide down the blacktop for 7 feet since the blow was so hard. T.J. got up and tried to defend himself but Tyler was stronger, and 4 inches taller than T.J. T.J. tried to punch Tyler in the right cheek, but Tyler moved aside quickly and with one swipe of his foot caused T.J. to fall down on the hard blacktop. T.J.'s sprained left wrist was now in greater pain because it helped to break his fall somewhat. Tyler then used his elbow to try to slam it into T.J. stomach, but T.J. tried to push back with both of his hands and all of his energy. Tyler then immediately used his other elbow and quickly slammed it into T.J.'s stomach. T.J. felt like his insides were about to come out of his mouth. Tyler then punched T.J.'s face twice. T.J. was losing focus on the fight since he was being beaten mercilessly. T.J.'s nose was bleeding badly and a couple of his ribs were sore. T.J. then looked at Ashley X and he then thought about what Spinelli is facing. T.J. could not bear to see anything happen to Spinelli again. Not again! T.J. knew he couldn't go down. He wouldn't! In a sudden rage of energy, T.J. pushed Tyler off with his two legs and Tyler was catapulted 10 feet away from T.J. T.J. jumped onto his feet, pushed his coat sleeves up, and quickly ran to finish Tyler. He was going to do everything his 10 year old body could do to save Spinelli. Just before Tyler and T.J. could fight again.....he heard a familiar voice that completely extinguished his rage...
"Hey guys! What's going on here? And could someone help me...this bracelet is shocking me!" Spinelli loudly said.
Ashley X stopped the shock commands and Tyler stopped fighting with T.J. Ashley X knew that if she continued the commands, Spinelli would connect that with her bracelet and make Spinelli be suspicious of her. The 3 (Ashley X, Tyler, and T.J.) just froze, in silence, and stopped whatever they were doing and just looked at Spinelli in shock wondering why she was there.
Spinelli continued, "Hey Tyler! What's going on?!? AND HOW COME YOU AND TEEJ ARE FIGHTING? What's going on? What are you doing here Ashley X?"
The 3 just looked and glanced at each other. The 3 knew that Spinelli had no idea of what was really going on.
Spinelli loudly continued again, "C'mon I don't have all day here!.....Hey! My shock pain is gone!" The bracelet stopped giving shocks to Spinelli. Spinelli felt like she was beaten up a bit, but being the tough kid that she is, she decided that she didn't need help anymore since the electric shock ended.
Ashley X and Tyler quickly ran away from T.J. and into the neighborhood. Spinelli yelled at them, "Hey! Whatcha guys doin' huh? What happened here?!?" Spinelli all the while was oblivious to T.J. injuries, but when she took a second look her heart sank and her body felt a rush of panic. Spinelli ran to T.J.'s side. She had never seen T.J. so beaten up before...all she could think about was helping T.J. even though she was in pain from the shock.....
Spinelli worried, asked, "Teej, what happened to you? You look more beat up than some wrestling shows I seen before..."
T.J.'s blood from his bloody nose was running down his mouth and chin. His cheeks were bruised up. T.J.'s sprained wrist was exploding with pain and his ribs bothered him, like a heavy weight pressed on him, every time he breathed. T.J. was lying down on the blacktop and his mind was swirling with the intense bodily pain. T.J. was trying to summon the effort and energy to explain to Spinelli about how Tyler was Ashley X's brother, how he was beaten up by him, and how Tyler was helping Ashley X. But before he could say a word, Spinelli softly commented with concern toward T.J., "Sheesh! How could Tyler, do this to you? I mean I never thought he would go this far.....especially to you Teej!"
T.J. took a second thought and thought about the time in the hospital. He did not know whether Spinelli and Tyler were close, or if Spinelli was really interested in Tyler but he knew that Tyler was a friend of Spinelli's and that now was not the time to start bad mouthing Tyler especially since Spinelli opened up to Tyler. T.J. just simply said, "We just had a fight Spinelli that's all...." His eyes rolled back in agonizing pain.
Spinelli knew that T.J. was bluffing and she loudly snapped back, "Just a fight?!? Just a fight?!? How can you say that?" Before Spinelli could continue on, T.J.'s mind was not focusing on Spinelli anymore. T.J. rested the side of his head on the blacktop and T.J. just closed his eyes.
Spinelli's upset temper snapped back into extreme worry. Her eyes wildly moved around trying to absorb what had just happened and how much T.J. had suffered but it was too surreal… She lifted his head up gently with the palms of her hands and called out, "Teej! Teej! Listen to me! Please!....Teej! TEEJ!"
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To Be Continued…