"True Friendships Come Only A Few Times In A Lifetime"
PG rating
Rated PG for: Contains intense descriptive emotions, violent fighting scenes, and discussion (but no experiences) of living in a crime rampant neighborhood
Author's Note: I do not own the Recess characters. These fanfiction stories are for simple non-profit reading enjoyment for all Recess fans. No copyright infringement is intended or should be inferred. This applies to the songs as well, I do not own the songs that appear in the story. These songs are merely used to heighten the emotional experience of the situation; no copyright infringement is intended or should be inferred.
Sorry for all the legal talk, but I had to just in case. Due to the length of this story, I made 'smaller' chapters within each 'posted' chapter to make the story easier to follow and in case you guys didn't get to read the entire posted chapter in one sitting. This fanfiction story is written a little differently where I incorporated almost a 'soundtrack' of songs into this story. I decided to choose a specific genre of music that is not presently popular in music today just like the Recess "School's Out" movie did, but I know I'm taking a gamble (could either interest or disinterest readers) with this because I know not all people will like this type of music, but I hope you guys will give it a chance.
I know this is a holiday fanfiction story, but a lot of things got delayed and pushed back where I could not finish this fanfiction in time. I guess its better late, than never, right? Sorry, in advance, for any spacing problems since does its spacing a little differently.
I hope you guys like it.
Summary: A new girl who NEVER experienced TRUE friendship in her life, who desperately wanted to be accepted and belong in her horrible past, enters Third Street. New revelations are discovered about how deep friendships can really be….but after years of teasing and mental abuse can she open her scarred heart? Can she give friendship…just one more chance?
This story continues after "Feelings Never Known That Existed For Each Other" in late November during the gang's 5th grade. You don't have to have read the first story, but reading it will help to understand a few references (not important in the development of the story) to it.
Chapter 1: Feelings Running Wild?
It was a sunny, crisp, cool autumn day in the playground. Ashley Spinelli was blindfolded and couldn't see anything through the blindfold. Spinelli was becoming more impatient and began tapping her foot.
"Well are we gonna start this or not?", Spinelli impatiently asked.
Ashley A snottily replied, "Okay, okay Spinelli! Like let me just get the guys ready. You totally have to know if this is the real thing or not!" The other Ashleys (Ashley B, Ashley Q, and Ashley T) all duct taped each boy's mouth on the playground to make sure they would not say a word.
Ashley Q yelled out to Spinelli and began to snicker, "Okay Spinelli! Like all the guys are lined up and are sooooo ready for you!" Ashley Q continued to snicker in silence.
Spinelli was nervous and uncomfortable about the whole situation, "Hey ya Ashleys? Are you...really...sure about this? That I have to do this?"
Ashley B answered, "Like totally! It's the only way to know if you can feel what you can't like always see!" The Ashleys silently giggled about the whole plan.
Ashley A talked loudly to Spinelli, "Ready Spinelli?"
Spinelli sighed and knew she had to do it to find out for herself, "Ready as I'll ever be...I guess..."
Ashley T called out and said, "Just tell us when to stop when you feel something special." The Ashleys would assist Spinelli, since she was blindfolded, in helping her to the next guy after Spinelli 'took care of business' with each boy. Spinelli, with a lump in her throat and a dryness to it that could not be rehydrated, was completely hesitant inside with doing this as the Ashleys took Spinelli by the hand to the first boy. The Ashleys couldn't help themselves but giggle.
Spinelli harshly called out and moved her head around, "What are ya Ashleys laughin' about?! What is it?!"
Ashley B knew how to play with Spinelli's mind, "Like, c'mon Spinelli! Don't be such a chicken about it!" The other Ashleys snickered at Ashley B's comment.
Spinelli angrily said, "Chicken!? You're calling me..." Spinelli suddenly stopped in the middle of her sentence and knew she had to face up to it. Spinelli mentally cursed herself out for being such a wimp about it. She slowly said, "I'm ready...I'm ready..." With one deep sigh, her face clenched up, and it was everything she was against. Her entire body clenched up trying to make her stop but she pressed on. Then finally in one quick second she gave the first guy a...
...kiss on the cheek. Spinelli snapped her head back and started spitting and wiping her mouth off. Spinelli cried out, "Man! That's gross! I can't believe I did that!"
The Ashleys giggled in delight, but Ashley A tried to stop herself and seriously ask, "Okay Spinelli...um, like how was it?"
Spinelli sarcastically answered while continuing to spit the kiss out, "Oh yeah...nothing like something disgusting to put in a person's mouth! ACK! ARGH!"
Ashley T slyly asked Spinelli, "Ready for the next boy?"
Spinelli sighed and couldn't believe this was happening. Spinelli simply said, "What do I gotta lose?"
The Ashleys took her down the line to the next boy, and the next, and so forth... Spinelli was finding it slightly more and more bearable as she kissed the cheek of the next guy, and the next guy. After she kissed the sixth guy, Spinelli grabbed the Ashleys' arms to stop her and calmly said, "Wait...wait a minute. I think there is something here. It felt...comforting..." The Ashleys giggled even harder than ever before during this event. Their giggles became louder and they quickly tried to muffle their laughter.
Spinelli faced the Ashleys with her blindfold still on and intolerantly said, "What's happening?! Who did I kiss? Tell Me!"
Before Spinelli could rip off her blindfold, the guy she just kissed took off the duct tape over his mouth and said, "Aww! Spinelli! Too bad that kiss wasn't extra moist! HA HA HA!" Spinelli heart stopped beating. She knew the only boy who used that word...when Spinelli lifted the blindfold, she saw her nemesis...it was the ultimate mortifying nightmare.
Spinelli had given Randall a kiss. Her vision started getting blurry yet she saw the line of boys rip their pieces of duct tape and the entire playground laughed uncontrollably. Spinelli frantically whipped her head back to the left and right to find her gang of friends or to see if any of her guy friends were in the line. Spinelli's heart continued to fall as if she had fallen into a bottomless pit. The emotions of embarrassment and humiliation surged into her body that were so powerful, where she lost all feeling of her senses. Everything she worked for in keeping her tough image was shattered in one move, one second ...in one feeling.
In an instant, Spinelli sat up on her bed and yelled out in fright... Spinelli was panting and sweating in terror. Spinelli looked at her arms and legs in disbelief, in the dark window-lit room, and thought to herself, 'What's happening to me?!' She stared at the dresser drawer mirror across from her bed. She saw her reflection and it scared the heck out of her. For the past few days, she had been having wild, bizarre, and terrifying dreams of her kissing students, on the cheek, from school. Ever since Spinelli kissed T.J. on the cheek, back when she fought the second time with Ashley X, her mind was running wild over what kissing was and it's emotions were because the kiss she gave felt natural, peaceful, and sincerely warm; the complete opposite of what she felt back when Gretchen created that 'experiment' last school year. She didn't even dare to think about kissing in the mouth-to-mouth way; that just petrified her knowing how horrifying her dreams already were.
Suddenly, her radio alarm clock clicked and a song played...
"Sweetheart, I can't stop thinking about you
You'll always be in my dreams
You'll always be in my dreams
You'll always be in my dreams..."
Spinelli was first shook up hearing the song suddenly playing in the silence of the night. When Spinelli began to focus in on the lyrics, her mind was racing over the timing this song was played and waking up from her nightmare. She panicked, thinking to herself, 'Was this a coincidence? Maybe, it's one of those dreams within a dream things...' She slid down the headboard of her bed in fright, as the song continued...
"Never in my dreams I thought I'd be with you
You're often on my mind I'll always love you
When I close my eyes just to see your face
I wish this were real but I'm just dreaming..."
Spinelli just hid herself in the bed sheets. Normally, hearing this song, she would care less about it...but, the timing of it being played and her mind-gripping nightmares caused her to be frightened. She desperately wanted this dream within a dream to end, yet the song played on...
"I can't believe that this is all...In A Dream
I'm gonna wait to be with you my love
I'll always love you and want you more
I can't go on without your love
In a dream my love...you will find my heart...
In a dream my love...you will find my heart..."
(Lyrics from Rockell "In A Dream")
Spinelli thought to herself while under her tent of bed sheets...she knew this was ridiculous and that she was being a sissy wimp about it. She rationalized that this was a dream and nothing bad was going to happen in the end. She snapped back into her tough, no 'bull yang' self and quickly slammed the alarm clock radio to stop it. She paused, waiting for the dream to end...seconds passed, minutes passed, as she noticed the clock. She finally tried to pinch herself and hit her arm, but no luck. She paused again...and realized that she was in the real world. She gathered her emotional mess up, sighed, and finally began to get ready for the day even though it was many hours before school would start.
Chapter 2: Did You Notice?
Location: Third Street Elementary School, Ms. Finster's 5th grade class, Monday 8AM in late November
Ms. Grotke had returned to her 4th grade classroom after substituting for Ms. Finster's 5th grade class since Ms. Finster substituted for Coach Kluge's classroom. Coach Kluge had been ill throughout most of November and finally came back. Everyone in the class was sitting in their desks except for the gang. The gang slowly arrived at the classroom door carefully assisting Spinelli with her broken leg. Spinelli's broken leg had a cast and she was using crutches to walk toward class.
"Sheesh guys! I'm okay, I mean thanks for your help...but I can manage." Spinelli said, trying to fend off her friends as if they were helping an old cripple woman.
"Spinelli, your leg is broken and someone has to help you carry your backpack." T.J. said softly and concerned.
T.J. gave that concerned look again that made Spinelli emotionally freeze up inside. Spinelli did not know how to handle T.J.'s warm, caring concern that seemed to pierce Spinelli's emotions by looking at his soft, baby blue eyes. Spinelli could easily lose herself by looking into them but she shook her head and forced herself to get back into the real world. The gang tried to help her to her desk.
Spinelli gently pushed her friends aside and snapped, "See I can handle myself!" Spinelli used her hands, which were pushing against her desk, to support her weight and gently lowered herself into her seat.
There was a moment of silence while the class and gang were waiting for Ms. Finster. The minutes passed and still Ms. Finster did not show up. Mikey interrupted the silence by talking about something, "Hey guys! Did you see the new student in our music class?"
Gretchen tried to clarify Mikey's question, "You mean the new student from Mr. Johnson's class? The new teacher? Since his class and ours both attend music class at the same time."
Mikey thankfully replied, "Why thanks my dear Gretchen! That's what precisely I was trying to say!"
T.J., Spinelli, Vince, and Gus looked at each other in confusion because they did not even know there was a new student in Mr. Johnson's class. Gus sighed in relief for not being the new kid anymore but was still confused, "Well...I never noticed any new student."
Gretchen added, "I too at first did not notice there was a new student, but I kept a record of the number of students in the classroom and finally noticed it myself." T.J., Spinelli, and Vince were all still clueless over the new student in Mr. Johnson's class.
Mikey worriedly began, "You mean all of you never noticed the girl who hides her voice? The girl who remains in silence and hesitantly sings? Alas!"
T.J., Spinelli, and Vince all rolled their eyes. Vince complained, "C'mon guys! I mean the music teacher we have now isn't the one you had like, Miss Salamone, where she brought out your voice Mikey! Heck! I get bored having to listen and sing to nursery rhyme songs."
Spinelli continued with Vince, "Yeah! Having to sing songs like 'Puff the Magic Dragon', 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star', and 'Ittsy Bitsy Spider'? She sings it to us as if we were kindergartners!" T.J., Vince, Gus, and Gretchen looked at each other in agreement since they could all relate to the embarrassment.
Mikey stood up from his seat and began to cry out, "But it is such a pity! That her soul is not moved, to at least, try to sing." Vince and Spinelli just sighed over how Mikey did not understand the humiliation of singing in class.
"Yeah, Yeah You little maggots!" Ms. Finster crabbily and sarcastically said, as she entered the classroom, "Yeah, I know all of you had missed me for so many months! HA! Rapscallions! Knowing how lax Ms. Grotke is...we'll just have to study even more material!" The class whined in disappointment and slowly opened their textbooks.
Meanwhile, back at Mr. Johnson's classroom...
"Hey Katie! Get your feet off your desk! And Steve stop writing graffiti on the desk!" Mr. Johnson yelled to his students, "Now shut up or any one of you get a detention you will never forget!" The class became instantly quiet and well-behaved. Mr. Johnson cocked his eyebrow and said, "Hmmm...now where is Stacey? Have any of you delinquents seen Stacey?" Mr. Johnson faced one of his friend's trusted spy.
Randall was walking through the halls and listened in and said, "Mr. Johnson I haven't seen Stacey at all this morning." The class looked at Randall angrily knowing that Randall always snooped into other people's business.
Mr. Johnson's ears caught the sound of someone running down the hallway and his head faced his classroom doorway quickly like a dog sensing a distant sound. Mr. Johnson just continued to tap his shoes in disgust over waiting for the panting of breaths to finally come into the classroom. The panting finally arrived at it was a 10 year old, African-American girl having pig tails, who was about as tall as T.J, and had a light brown complexion. She looked 'geekish' in her style of clothes by wearing thick glasses, like Gus did, and wearing a gray sweatshirt and sweatpants with brown boots. She had been running down the hallway, as fast as she could, with her heavy backpack to avoid the wrath of Mr. Johnson's punishment. She arrived and stopped just near the doorway and was panting over her running as if she ran for a marathon.
Mr. Johnson looked at the girl with a cold, heartless stare and quietly and mockingly said, "Ms. Stacey Shanice Reluve...do you know, oh...I don't know, perhaps what time it is?" Stacey didn't even dare try to answer that question since Mr. Johnson's blood-shot eyes focused in on her as if they were like guns. In one quick breath, Mr. Johnson yelled, "IT'S 8:20! YOU LITTLE BRAT! I'VE TOLD YOU AGAIN AND AGAIN TO NOT SHOW UP LATE!" Stacey quickly ran to her desk, opened up her textbook, and was shaking. Mr. Johnson continued, "I'LL SEE YOU AFTER CLASS!"
Chapter 3: Can't Break The Ice
Location: Mr. Johnson's classroom, it's later that day and just after Recess has begun
Mr. Johnson's class already ran outside to go to Recess, but Stacey remained in her seat still nervously watching Mr. Johnson while pretending to study. Mr. Johnson kept looking at Stacey suspiciously to see if she was really studying.
Mr. Johnson told her, "I suggest Stacey that you stay in your seat throughout Recess today! If you just so happen to walk out of this room or even touch my desk while I'm away, you'll be sent to Principal Prickly's office so fast you won't have a chance to complain! Got it?!"
Stacey looked down at her table in shameful fear and with a shaky voice she responded, "Yes, Mr. Johnson..."
Mr. Johnson grumbled and slowly walked out of his classroom and slammed the classroom door behind him. Stacey just sighed in disappointment and homesickness; she wanted to go back to her old home in Detroit, Michigan. Even though she may have had a horrible experience back at her old school that she never dared to remember, at least things back home were familiar to her. She sat there in the silence of the classroom and looked around her. She observed the posters and desks of the classroom and sighed in melancholy...how simple and innocent the lives of the students were...
"Hey Mikey, heads up!" Spinelli yelled from the bleachers.
"What the?" said Mikey in a sudden rush of confusion. Suddenly, the ball hit Mikey on the head. WHACK! Mikey held onto his head quickly. The pain from the kickball was more annoying than hurtful. Mikey was busy thinking about the new student, who was Stacey, and couldn't get his mind over it during the kickball game.
Vince was closest to Mikey and rushed in to help him. He kneeled beside Mikey and said, "Hey Mikey, are you alright?"
Mikey feeling groggy, he softly said, "I'm okay...I guess... I'm just gonna sit out for sometime." Mikey slowly walked toward the end of the nearby bench.
T.J. was a bit more concerned about Mikey since he was daydreaming more-so than usual. He slowly began, "Um...Mikey? Are you... okay? You seemed kind of out it during the game. You weren't even writing poetry like you normally do in the outfield."
Mikey reassured T.J. and the rest of the kids, "I'm fine guys. Go forth and enjoy the wonderful sport of kickball!" T.J. just raised his shoulders in confusion and continued on with the game. Mikey looked hopefully to see if Stacey was outside on the playground, but he couldn't find her. He noticed that the rest of the gang were busy focused on the kickball game so he snuck away from them and went inside of the school to find Stacey. He carefully tip-toed through the halls so that he wouldn't make a sound so Randall wouldn't catch him.
Stacey looked at the clock and the door to make sure no one would walk in soon. She carefully unzipped her backpack and took out her headphones connected to her portable CD player. She knew that CD players were not allowed in school and that Mr. Johnson would confiscate it in a second, but Stacey needed some type of music to lift her spirits. She was desperate to hear something nice in her melancholy state... So she put her headphones on and played the music. She closed her eyes and her mind was lost in the music...she began to quietly snap her fingers to the beats...
Mikey arrived at Mr. Johnson's classroom and, to his surprise, he observed Stacey enjoying and snapping her fingers to the music. He couldn't believe that the girl he thought didn't like music at all was enjoying it since she never sang in music class! He looked to see if anyone was nearby in the hallways and then he quickly opened the door, went inside, and closed it. Stacey's eyes snapped opened in fear from the sound of the door. Her senses stiffened up and her pulse became uncontrollable. She paused her panicked mind for a moment and looked at the doorway...it was just a student, but still her fear wasn't alleviated. Stacey quickly ripped off her headphones and stuffed it into her backpack. She put the backpack on the floor and her eyes bulged out waiting for whatever Mikey might do.
Mikey stood back a bit seeing how nervous Stacey was around him. He carefully and slowly started, "Hi...how are you?" Stacey still stared at Mikey and didn't say a word. In his friendly attitude, he started again, "My name is Mikey. What's yours?"
Stacey was hesitant to reply. She had a past with kids her age and was suspicious about any kid. Stacey warily said, "Stac...ceeey."
Mikey was confused over Stacey's behavior and just decided to continue speaking with her. "How do you like Third Street so far?"
Stacey still would not open up. Stacey was worried about Mr. Johnson showing up soon. She nervously replied, "It's...a...nice." She ended it with a small smile.
Mikey smiled back at Stacey; he was happy that at least he got a smile from her. He calmly asked, "How come you are not outside during recess?"
Stacey's eyes still kept a lookout at the clock and door. She slowly said, "Well...I arrived late in class today."
Mikey, being able to see people's emotions easily, knew Stacey was hiding something. He warmly questioned, "But you haven't been at recess since you've been here. Is something wrong?"
Stacey looked into Mikey's warm, thoughtful eyes but she just couldn't open herself. Her past had a powerful grip over her and she sighed heavily reflecting over it. Stacey made a fake smile while her eyes looked around the classroom saying, "I just don't think recess is for me..."
Immediately, the classroom door opened! It was Mr. Johnson! Mikey and Stacey froze and their heads robotically turned and faced Mr. Johnson in shock. Mr. Johnson noticed them and yelled, "Mikey Blumburg! WHAT IN THE HECK DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?! And STACEY! I told you not to do ANYTHING WHILE I WAS GONE!" Stacey and Mikey gulped knowing they were going to expect big time trouble.
To Be Continued…
What do you guys think so far? A good start? I don't mind good or bad comments because they will all help in improving my writing. Thanks for taking your time in reading my fanfiction story and for reviewing.