Thanks to "spinelli woods, esquire", "goofy monkey child", and "lilvickiryan" for reviewing! It makes me really happy that you guys are enjoying it!
Chapter Seventeen: Silence Holds Weakness or Strength?
Location: Ms. Finster's classroom, just at the beginning of school on Thursday
Thursday approached and the gang reluctantly headed back to Third Street, yet Spinelli and T.J. tried to keep some distance between themselves. When they walked into Ms. Finster's classroom, they were surprised to see Stacey there since processing a class transfer usually took a couple of weeks.
Mikey walked up to Stacey quickly, since he was the most concerned, and since he saw Stacey's raw, exposed deep emotions at that music room on Monday. He asked eagerly, "My dear Stacey! Are thy destined to be here with us in this class?"
Stacey had a sleepless night with nightmares of her horrible past visiting her, but it wasn't a nightmare. It was dwelling over her mind constantly and she felt threatened and a little jittery. She looked down and back up, trying to be somewhat strong, saying, "Yeah...Menlo..." she lightly giggled, "...took care of that fast..."
Vince immediately questioned, "Things were okay that Monday evening right??"
Stacey just smiled, almost forcefully, sighing saying, "Yeah....it was okay..."
T.J. saw Stacey more downcast than usual and asked, "Are you okay Stacey? Did something happen to you?" It was plainly evident that something was bothering Stacey and making her anxious, as Stacey kept tapping her feet on the floor, or every few minutes noticing the time.
Stacey had heard that question so many times....'Are you okay Stacey?'....and for so many times she gave her usual answer. She tried to compose her behavior and said, "I'm fine...really guys....and thanks for taking me into your class!"
Spinelli knew that something was bothering Stacey too and she rationalized, "Hey Stace, I mean it's the least we could do!" Spinelli had seen Stacey so weak and fragile whenever she saw her and she tried to figure out what was so wrong with her. Spinelli being so tough couldn't really stand to see someone so weak and withdrawn from things especially since Stacey was a girl and knew how some guys could take advantage of that.
The gang quickly sat down in their seats since the bell was about to ring, but then both Stacey's and Ashley T's eyes bulged out when Ashley T arrived at the classroom doorway. Ashley T had spoke with her father to remember about those business details that day in Detroit yet Ashley T never spoke to her fellow Ashleys about the new business information or the details of the fight because this was way too personal to tell her other Ashleys. Ashley T looked at Stacey with disgust and slowly approached her seat that ironically was near Stacey and away from the other three Ashleys. Ashley T slandered Stacey immediately, "Like bringing your ghetto garbage apparel here again?!?" Ashley T referred to Stacey's sweatshirt and sweatpants that she normally wore. Stacey wanted to wear something more fashionable, knew how to, and could afford it, but her abusive past made her to wear subtle, mundane clothes that were not attention seeking because attracting attention usually meant attracting trouble and hurt for her.
Stacey just ignored Ashley T because she had other things to concern herself with. Ashley T snapped again, "What's wrong Stacey Reluve?!? Did you have to buy your clothes at the Salvation Army because you couldn't afford anything from Wal-Mart?" Ashley T snickered to herself.
Stacey was just sitting there wanting to disappear. She took a deep breath as the sensations of bring treated like an outcast crept on her spine and skin. Stacey's eyes were starting to water up but Ashley T didn't let up her verbal lashings.
Ashley T was relentless and went on, "Yeah, I remember now....My father should have like destroyed your tiny, shack business! I mean like, honestly, a recording studio and business in the middle of some ghetto crack city! Please.... As if your father's business will amount to anything. Huh!" Ashley T continued onslaught, "Dog's Pajamas deserved something like totally far better than what you could provide! Why the heck are you here anyways?!? In this classroom...in this city...? Go back to your drug infested alley where you belong, you guttersnipe!"
Stacey just sat there as Ashley T kept ripping and 'murdering' her heart and emotions. Stacey's heart was feeling overwhelming heavy and it was bringing back chest pains that caused her to breathe harder. She turned her face away from Ashley T while her left hand covered and held up her face. Stacey's tears were about to break like a dam, but she kept holding it in like she always did from everyone. Stacey wanted to yell and shout back at Ashley T for what she had to done to her father's business and family but her mind was recollecting how similar Ashley T's comments were to back at her old school.
Ms. Finster entered the classroom and unaware of the drama in the back of the classroom, since a lot of the kids were still talking, announced, "Okay hooligans! Calm down you monkeys! I wanted to announce that we have a new student transferred from Mr. Johnson's classroom named Stacey Shanice Reluve. Say hello to Stacey everyone." The class quickly turned their heads to face Stacey.
When Stacey heard the last sentence she immediately made her head to look down so that no one would notice her about to cry. She didn't want to make a huge scene and she just waved to everyone with her right hand while her head was down.
Ashley T sneered silently to Stacey, "Yeah...like a total spectacle you are! Shanice?!? What kind of name is that?!? Like Latafia or Shaniqua...one of those tacky ghetto names?"
Stacey with a broken voice, but then she tried to clear it to make it appear normal, asked Ms. Finster, "Um...Ms. Finster can I please be excused to use the restroom?" Stacey wasn't facing Ms. Finster or the class at all but just the wall on her right side so nobody would see her.
Ms. Finster grumbled, "Okay...fine! Just don't clog up the toilet like Grundler did."
Stacey answered, "Thank you Ms. Finster." She quickly walked up, and rushed out of the classroom door so that at least she wouldn't have to break down in front of everyone. She saw Gretchen come from the girls' restroom but she went by her. Gretchen just stood outside the door wondering what Stacey was up to, as Stacey kept on sniffling, but she had to go back to the classroom knowing how strict Ms. Finster was with her after the toilet incident on Monday.
Stacey ran past the empty restroom and she hated herself seeing herself in the mirror as if she was some type of weak, sissy girl. She could feel the tension, emotions, and sadness that was about to gush right out of her. She just went to one of the stalls and locked it. She took some of the toilet paper to get ready to dry her tears with. She quickly grabbed her sweatshirt hood and brought it around her neck and just bit onto it hard so that no one could hear her soon. In a moment, the 'dam of tears' broke and she started weeping endlessly as she bit harder onto the hood so that no one could hear her wailing and broken up voice. This was a trick she knew, that the hood, or some cloth in her mouth could muffle and subdue her voice so that no one in the girls' restroom could really hear her. It was a trick she eventually learned from those feelings that she was far too familiar with... The pain and heart wrenching sadness that had built itself under constant pressure inside of her heart was finally being released from the streaming of her tears. She leaned on one of the stall walls...physically weak from the breakdown and still weeping.... Other girls would come into the restroom now and then, and for the past 25 minutes when Stacey was there...no one could even get a hint or slightest clue of what was happening to some girl in the stall since Stacey hid her emotions well....probably too well....
Chapter Eighteen: Stacey's Past Visits Her Present
Location: On the Third Street Playground, during the First Recess
After Stacey cleaned herself up emotionally, she walked casually back to Ms. Finster's classroom as if nothing had happened. When the bell rang for recess, the gang tried to invite Stacey over with them but she explained to them that she had to see Menlo again for some 'last minute' details about transferring classes. After the swarming rush of kids left Third Street, she composed herself again trying to ensure her internal emotions were not exposed, she then slowly arrived at the secretary's office.
Menlo looked up upon hearing the opening of the door and welcomed Stacey, "Why Stacey! It's good to see you again."
Stacey wryly smiled and teased, "It's nice to see you to. Are you ready?"
Menlo straightened his clothes and his hair. Menlo enthusiastically replied, "I'm been preparing myself for hours!" Stacey had advised Menlo early Tuesday morning back at the library on how for Menlo to attract Ashley A. It was a long, arduous transformation but Stacey was happy seeing the results of her work. According to Stacey's advice, Menlo replaced his thick square glasses with sleek, thin stylish glasses, cleaned his hair style a bit more to give it a more professional look, changed his rough blue pants into brown dress pants, and his tennis shoes into leather classy formal shoes. Menlo took out a small mirror from his desk and smiled. Stacey looked at him through the reflection from behind him. She teased herself thinking how she 'made over' Menlo's style into a GQ style.
Menlo placed the mirror on his desk and looked at Stacey. Stacey brushed off some dust off of Menlo's left shoulder and teased, "Ready to woo Ashley A? I knew how structured you are and so I made this checklist to help you remember what to do when you come across her."
Menlo skimmed through the checklist Stacey had given him. Menlo smiled back and was appreciative, "I appreciate your help with everything Stacey. Your service and advice has been priceless."
In a few minutes, Stacey and Menlo waited for the Ashleys to come, specifically Ashley A. They noticed the Ashleys down the hallway and Stacey quickly ran to an empty classroom (with no teacher or students) and looked through the classroom door window while Menlo stood leaning against the hallway. Stacey was ever so hesitant to be even near the presence of Ashley T but she was going to help Menlo out, at least, and see if her hard work at paid off.
Menlo nervously read over the checklist and quickly stuffed it in his pants' right pocket. He cleared his throat and leaned back against the wall slyly looking at the Ashleys as they were approaching closer. Menlo smoothly greeted them, "Good morning ladies...how are you doing?"
The Ashleys didn't even notice Menlo but when they took a glance at him they were awe-struck seeing how Menlo had changed his appearance, but after a few seconds they quickly changed back to their prissy, pompous selves. Ashley B sarcastically groaned, "Better if you were, like, much farther away!"
Ashley Q added, "Yeah! Like don't bother us..... We sooo have enough mosquitoes that are already bugging us!" The Ashleys were becoming aware of Menlo's cologne and were secretly impressed by his selection.
Menlo politely flattered, "If you ladies want that then I shall leave you, but it's a shame that your beauty has to leave me so soon." Menlo knew he had placed the right moves.
The Ashleys were stunned hearing Menlo say that and they carefully turned around to face him. Ashley Q whispered to Ashley A, "Like, whoa! When did Menlo become such the smooth talker?"
Ashley B giggled, "Yeah, and like GQ?"
The Ashleys continued whispering and giggling to each other about Menlo but then unknowingly Ashley A's textbooks, in her hands, just slipped and fell on the ground. Ashley A cursed out, "Like I can't believe this!"
Menlo quickly walked up to the Ashleys and Ashley A and Menlo both grabbed her textbooks at the same time. The other Ashleys gasped in disbelief that Ashley A and Menlo were so close to each other when they tried to maintain an 'air barrier' between themselves and Menlo. Ashley A's and Menlo's eyes met, and Menlo made another move, "A pretty girl like you shouldn't be carrying such a load."
Ashley A, couldn't believe it but she was starting to blush, and she smiled back, "Thanks...but I can like...handle it." The Ashleys looked at each other in horror wondering what was happening between Menlo and Ashley A. Ashley A was finding herself becoming enchanted by Menlo's behavior. Ashley A gave a cute smile.
Menlo couldn't handle seeing such a smile and his powerful infatuation shattered his cool, calm behavior. Menlo cheered out loud, in his annoying tone, "WOW ASHLEY A! WHOOO!" He kept cheering and yelling out loud because he never received such a smile from Ashley A.
Ashley A snapped out of Menlo's charm and was back to her senses. She shrieked, "Like...EWWW! Totally disgusting!" She held her textbooks tightly and ran with the other Ashleys down the hallway. Ashley A cried out in disbelief, "I can't like believe I made that disgusting Menlo actually touch my textbooks! EWW!"
Menlo cheered on and threw his hands up in the air in celebration, projecting his voice throughout the hallway, "ALL RIGHT!!!! YEAH!!!"
Stacey just slapped her right hand on her forehead after seeing all of her work had just gone 'down the drain.' She sighed to herself thinking, 'Stace, you can only change the gift wrapping...not the actual gift inside.'
The school day later passed, and Stacey finally was willing to walk with the gang back to their homes. Stacey remained relatively quiet since they left Third Street and they were already halfway at their homes. The gang continued to laugh at some jokes but they noticed Stacey's silence. Stacey was still not completely comfortable being around the gang because of her past experience even though she was grateful to them for giving her CD player back. Any student would have thought that she was paranoid thinking that T.J. and his gang were somehow planning to manipulate her in the end, even Stacey beat herself up thinking that she was paranoid but her experience with friend-making was a scar on her heart that never seemed to heal. She could 'feel' the depth of this scar, and remembered the 'deep painful cutting' of that emotional scar when she received the phone call yesterday.
T.J. tried to figure out, for days, on how to get through to Stacey and make her more relaxed and open with the gang and him. T.J. tried ever so tactfully to not be too friendly to Stacey (which was difficult in itself since he was so willing to share and do things for his friends) because he could see that the more he opened himself up...the more reserved, and quiet Stacey would be. T.J. could always think up of a good plan to make himself a new friend and it always worked, well except with Gordy, but with him at least T.J. knew that Gordy disliked him from the start. T.J. could sense that Stacey didn't dislike him, but her emotionally neutral expressions made it impossible for T.J. to comprehend what was really happening with Stacey internally. He remembered speaking with Jimmy and Mikey about Stacey and how it appeared that Stacey had seemed to given up on friendship, but T.J. couldn't process that in his mind since he was so naturally good-hearted and kind. He thought to himself, 'What IS IT that made Stacey so distant?' The gang couldn't really understand Stacey's withdrawn attitude also, but dwelled on it somewhat less so than T.J. and Mikey. Little did all of them know....how clueless they really were to Stacey's hidden past...
T.J. could hear their footsteps stepping on the snow and cracking the frozen ice on the sidewalk. He tried breaking the ice, "So a Stacey...what are you planning to do for the weekend?" The sunny, cold winter day was a pleasant calmness compared to the onslaught of the storm three days ago.
Stacey took a deep breath and looked around for the guy, who called yesterday, around the block, she said, "Uh....some important stuff with my parents."
Gretchen, Vince, Spinelli, and Gus raised their eyebrows at T.J. and Mikey signifying that their constant pursuit to open Stacey up was getting pointless because it seemed to imply that Stacey didn't want to be near them. Spinelli and Vince were probably the ones most reluctant to continue the pursuit, but they knew that T.J. and Mikey were persistent and even if eventually Stacey did not want to be with them....at least T.J. and Mikey wanted to know why and what made Stacey to give up on friendship.
Stacey gave her classic smiles, that always masked her hurt, and said, "I'm going to walk home guys by myself....I'll see all of you later. Thanks again guys for the walk." She wanted to avoid the gang from knowing or meeting up with the guy that called her at all costs. She ran down jogging on block to the right of them.
When Spinelli saw that Stacey was out of sight, she tiredly asked as they continued to walk, "Hey Teej and Mikey when are you going to give this thing up? It's getting obvious that Stacey doesn't want to be with us!"
Vince added, "Yeah, I mean she doesn't really play with us, she tries to avoid us. C'mon Teej, Mikey....this is getting crazy now..." Gretchen and Gus silently watched the debate.
T.J. explained, "Guys, something is bothering deep inside her! I have to find out what it is!"
Mikey supported T.J., sadly reflecting over that day when Stacey was singing and crying at the same time, "How can we not support such a beaten down soul? To be so callous, to be so insensitive...."
Spinelli sighed warning, "Teeeeej, it better not be one of those plans again where you tried to be friendly with Gordy! You remember what a bunch of hooey that was!"
Vince off-handedly remarked, "She is nice but she's just weird man! I mean she doesn't talk with us at all after everything we done for her. Do you guys really want to keep doin' this?"
T.J. defended, "You remember how Gus was when he joined our 4th grade class! I mean how quiet he was...all I have to do is plan something out and work the ol' Detweiler magic." Gus didn't say anything and just blushed, hearing about himself.
Spinelli tried to knock some sense into him, "Teej, c'mon now! It's just that Vince and I don't want you to get all bummed out like you did with the whole Gordy thing!"
They were approaching near the block where Vince usually left them, and Vince interrupted, "Hey guys! I'll see ya guys later!" He looked at T.J. and Mikey ending and emphasizing, "We'll talk about it later! Later tomorrow! Okay, man?"
T.J. and Mikey looked at each other and nodded in agreement with Vince. The five of them waved and said goodbye to Vince as they continued to walk toward their homes. Vince was slowly walking, thinking, 'Man! What's wrong with Stacey? She's really messed up....she supposedly cries about not having friends, but when we're there she avoids us!' Vince kept walking alone down another block and he was already far from the school where he could see no other fellow Third Street students. Vince naively kept walking toward home not realizing that someone was watching him and keep track of his every move, but then again he couldn't really notice since only the whispering winds and occasional cars in the neighborhood made any noise. Vince was about to cross the street to reach the last block before reaching his home, and he saw a boy near his age walking in the opposite direction. Vince was disregardful to him as he eagerly anticipated getting inside from the cold.
Vince was about to cross the street but the boy deliberately slammed his shoulder into Vince's. Vince stepped back by the blow and turned around, complaining, "Hey man! What was that for?!?" Vince could feel that blow was meant for him for some reason.
The boy was wearing a black winter jacket with a hood on his head, and had on black basketball shoes and black sweatpants. The boy stopped in his tracks. Without facing Vince, he threatened, "Ya better stay away from Stacey, Vince! If you know what's good for ya boy!"
Vince's eyes bulged out upon hearing that the boy knew his name when Vince didn't even know him. Vince tried to understand, "How do you know my name?"
The boy still didn't face Vince and just continued, "Forget it Vince LaSalle! You and your other friends better bounce away from her, all 'ight?"
Vince angrily approached the boy and before he could see him face to face, the boy turned around and pushed him hard on the shoulders. Vince almost fell and could have lost his balance but when he looked back to see the face of the boy....it was Jamal! The same boy who made the phone call to Stacey yesterday. Vince became upset, and began, "What the?!? Man, who do you think you are?!? Shovin' me and all that!"
Jamal put his face up to Vince's and clenched his teeth, and went on in his slang, "Boy! Ya better watch your back! Cause I ain't playin'! You and friends better stay away from that girl! She's my bizness and not any of y'alls!"
Vince sneered back, "Who the heck do you think you are to just say that?!?" Vince saw Jamal as some insane boy since he couldn't understand how this boy was just getting angry with him right out of the blue.
Jamal chuckled to himself, "Dang boy! You're really messed up, stayin' in this neighborhood. Spoiled little kids you are...huh! You don't know a damn thang! What the heck I could do to y'all." Jamal sneakily punched Vince in the stomach and the wind was taken right out of him. Vince had an instant gag reflex, and he held his stomach tightly grunting in pain. It felt as he just vomited from someone pitching a fast ball on his stomach. Vince, baffled and appalled to what just happened, started gasping, "What are you saying?!? What's Stacey have to do with you?!?"
Jamal stood a bit away making sure Vince wouldn't attack him by surprise. Jamal shook his head in humorous disbelief; he figured out, "You ain't never been in the hood, have ya? Stayin' in this place....boy you really are trippin'. As for Stace, she and I have some unfinished business....got that? If I see any of ya six, messin' around with her....y'all better expect a Devil's Night here in Arkansas!" Jamal turned around and began to walk away.
Vince was slowly trying to walk away while he was holding his stomach, but Jamal noticed it in the corner of his left eye. Jamal ran over back to Vince, and whipped out a two foot metal chain from his jacket before Vince could turn around to see him. Jamal whipped the harsh, bone-scrapping chain around Vince's left knee. Vince fell on the hard, icy sidewalk as it grabbed his knee. His left knee throbbed in gut wrenching pain from the yanking pull of the chain that wrapped around it. Vince felt that his knee was hurt from someone who had smashed his knee with an irregular shaped metal baseball bat. Vince could feel his face against the skin numbing icy sidewalk that felt like tiny pins digging into his skin. Jamal quickly put his chain inside his coat and then finally gave a powerful kick onto Vince's stomach. Vince curled up in the fetal position with agonizing pain. Jamal looked down at Vince, like a pathetic beaten puppy, he quietly said with his domineering presence, "And that's just a small sample of the ghetto flavor boy...of what will happen if ya say anythin' to the cops, parents, or school 'bout this..." Jamal then quickly ran out of the scene.
Vince just rocked himself on the sidewalk, like a small child, trying to alleviate his severe, pulsating pain that seemed to be amplified more as he could feel his blood rush into his knee and stomach. All he could hear was his breath against the sidewalk and cold air, as the left side of his face began to now sting with the cool conductive sidewalk. His pain became worse since he was shivering from the cold...and trembling with fear.....
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To Be Continued…