Disclaimer: I do not own Recess or any of its characters.

Author's Note: For those wondering, this will eventually be a TJ/Spinelli fic, and yes I'm a shipper of TJ/Spin.

Chapter Two

*Spinelli and Lawson*

"Hey Spinelli, what do you think I should wear on my date with Vince Saturday?" Gretchen asked as the two of them lounged around Gretchen's house. Gretchen was at her computer, typing a paper while Spinelli was sprawled on her bed reading a Guitar Magazine.

"Well, I would say clothes," Spinelli said, "But the way you and Vince have been with each other lately you might be better off with no clothes."

"Spinelli!" Gretchen said exasperatedly, grabbing a stuffed animal from her dresser and throwing it at her best friend.

"What? I was just kidding," Spinelli said, relenting, "Except about the part about you and Vince, what is going on between the two of you?"

"What do you mean?" Gretchen asked, pretending not to know what Spinelli was talking about. Of course she did know what Spinelli was talking about. Ever since Vince had become the star player of the basketball team more of his time was devoted to the team and team things. To Gretchen she just found it merely jealousy and resentment towards him for leaving her out like he had.

"Oh please, you guys haven't been out on a date in, like, three months," Spinelli said, "But if you're unwilling to talk about an obvious problem, I need help to figure out what to wear on my date with Lawson tomorrow night."

"Spin, please tell me you're not going out with him," Gretchen said, pleading, "That this is some kind of sick joke."

"Come on Gretch, you yourself said Lawson wasn't that bad," Spinelli argued, "In fact, you said he was a pretty nice guy. And you said he was handsome."

"Not for you though," Gretchen said, moaning inwardly at her friend's stupidity, "Did you even think of TJ before you accepted this date?"

"No, I don't normally have a habit about thinking of my best friends before I accept a date," Spinelli said, confused, "I didn't think of you either."

"Come on Spin," Gretchen said, exasperated, "Everybody knows TJ has a thing for you. And you just accepted a date with his enemy, that's almost as bad as you accepting a date with his best friend."

"Well yeah, seeing as how if I accepted a date with TJ's best friend I would be double-crossing you as well," Spinelli said, "And come on, Teej doesn't like me. If he was that crazy about me he would have told me."

"Please," Gretchen snorted, "TJ is about the bravest person in the world. Except when it comes to love. Besides, you had a huge crush on him in grade school and you never told him."

"That was different," Spinelli protested, "Grade school is exactly for crushes. Not for true love. You know, I've grown up, and I'm sure TJ has to, he goes on lots of dates."

"Doesn't mean he loves any of them," Gretchen pointed out, "Come on Spin, you know how hard this is going to be for Teej?"

"Gretchen, I can't hide my feelings just because you think TJ has a thing for me," Spinelli said angrily, before stomping out of Gretchen's room.

Gretchen ran after her and stopped her in her hallway.

"OK, fine, I'll stop trying to convince you not to go, but can you please not tell TJ until you actually know what you feel for Lawson?" Gretchen pleaded with her friend.

Spinelli sighed as she looked at Gretchen. Gretchen was her best friend, but her and TJ had a special connection. A connection that enabled Spinelli to go to TJ with all the problems she had. And tell him everything that happened. And while she didn't believe that TJ could be in love with her, she wasn't special enough for that, she knew that she didn't want to hurt him in any way. And her just accepting a date with Lawson, whether or not TJ liked her, could be hazardous to her special relationship with TJ.

"OK, fine," Spinelli agreed, "I'll wait until I go on the date, then I'll tell TJ after, and about how I really feel. But I don't know if you can stop everybody else who's going to say something Gretch."

***

"Good evening Spinelli," Lawson said, opening the car door for her and letting her in. He then shut the door behind her.

"So, Spinelli, where would you like to go for dinner?" Lawson asked, getting in the drivers side of the car.

"Well, I really love Mexican," Spinelli admitted.

"Terrific, I know this great Mexican restaurant," Lawson said, "And they have great hamburgers, and that's what I'm craving."

***

"You know, I lost my place on the basketball team, thanks to your friend Vince," Lawson said, smiling at Spinelli as they waited for their food, "But it's good, because then I would've never thought of new hobbies, such as asking you out."

"Please Lawson, that sounds so fake," Spinelli said, her voice filled with laughter and teasingness, "Besides, everybody knows you're still trying to find a way back on the team."

"So, it doesn't bug you that I'm trying to take one of your oldest and best friends position on the basketball team?" Lawson asked, surprised.

"Nah, just cuz I know you can't do it though," Spinelli teased, "I don't think you could even beat me. And I'm nowhere near as good as Vince."

"That sounds like a challenge to me," Lawson said, his old competitiveness with one of his rivals from grade school rising up. But Lawson could sense it was a lot more of a playful competitiveness, "Are you sure you want to go through with that challenge?"

"Sure," Spinelli said, her eyes sparkling. To her nothing was better than competition, "How about we skip the movie and go straight to the courts to play a little one on one? To see who is really the master."

"OK," Lawson agreed, "Just don't cry when you lose."

***

"Lawson, you know you can always back out of this," Spinelli informed him, "You know, getting beat by a girl might be truly bashing to your ego. Then you may never be able to find your way back onto the basketball team."

"Why Spinelli, are you afraid to play me a little one on one?" Lawson asked, faking astonishment, "Don't want to admit that you got a bigger mouth than your skill allows?"
Spinelli snorted, "That's like the pot calling the kettle black there Lawson."

"Fine, well, girls first," Lawson said, tossing the ball to her.

Spinelli threw the ball at Lawson and said, "Check."

***

"Next basket wins," Lawson said. Him and Spinelli were tied at 40-40 and had been tied through most of the game. They were both sweating incredibly bad, yet Lawson still thought Spinelli looked gorgeous.

"And its my ball," Spinelli said, an evil grin on her face. She was to close to lose now. She went out of bounds and threw the ball to Lawson, "Check."

Lawson threw the ball back to her and she began to dribble down the court. Lawson thought about how he couldn't lose this basketball game. It meant a lot to him, so he went up behind Spinelli, picked her up by her waist, spun her around, stole the basketball away from her, and made the shot.

"That's cheating Lawson!" Spinelli exclaimed, "No fair, I call a rematch. I want a fair play!"

"There is no way we are playing another game tonight Spin," Lawson informed her, stepping close to her and kissing her lightly on the lips.

"Wow," Spinelli managed to say, before returning the kiss.

***

"Gretch, answer your phone, I know your awake," Spinelli said into Gretchen's answering machine, "Come on, I know you're waiting for Vince to call. I can take up all this time talking to your answering machine and you might miss Vince, or you can pick up the phone and listen to me for five minutes."

"Fine, Spin, what do you want?" Gretchen asked, hurriedly picking up the phone.

"I think I'm in love," Spinelli confessed.

"I'm afraid to ask," Gretchen said, "But is it Lawson?"

"It's Lawson," Spinelli confirmed, "He makes me feel so special, but do I really have to tell TJ?"

"Spin!" Gretchen exclaimed, "You have to tell him, he's gonna find out if you don't, and he'll be even more hurt. Tell him."

"I know, its just gonna be hard," Spinelli said.