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

Chapter Four

*Spinelli Tells TJ*

TJ looked nervously at his mirror. He and Spinelli almost always went to go bowling on Saturday nights. Sometimes the rest of the gang would come along. But Gus and Mikey had mysteriously said they couldn't come and TJ didn't know whether it was because he was going to tell Spinelli how he felt tonight, or if there was something else going on. And Vince and Gretchen hadn't joined them for months, they'd always been at parties that TJ knew must bore Gretchen to death. And tonight was their one year anniversary, so they were going to dinner to celebrate.

TJ had been practicing all day on how and what to say to Spinelli when he told her how he felt. He hoped that even if she didn't return his feelings, that she would think about it. He had gone through at least thirty different ways of telling her. But then he had just settled on a way, knowing that no matter how hard he tried telling her in the bowling alley over fries and hamburgers wouldn't be the most perfect way. Yet, he had no other way of telling her without her getting suspicious.

So, he had settled for a dozen roses to give to her after they had bowled their first game and were eating supper, then he was going to tell her the truth. He had spent the last twenty minutes getting ready for this, practicing what he was going to say in the mirror.

"Spinelli, we've always been friends," TJ began, practicing one last time, "And we've always had a special friendship were we could tell each other everything and always be there for the other. Well, there's something I have to tell you. That I probably should have told you long ago. I think I'm in love with you. Ever since we met in kindergarten I knew you were the one for me. I didn't really want to admit to myself how much in love with you I was, but the other day I was talking to Vince and he made me see that I should tell you how I feel before I miss my chance and you end up with Lawson. So, I sit before you, to tell you how I feel."

"Then I just wait for her reaction," he muttered to his mirror, "I just hope its a good reaction."

TJ took a deep breath before grabbing his jacket and the keys to his car to pick up Spinelli.

***

Spinelli looked into her mirror. Lawson had called her earlier and asked if she would like to do something, but she had told him she already had plans to go bowling with TJ. And he had asked her if he was going to tell him about the two of them. She had responded that she was planning on it, but that it was going to be hard.

Lawson had said he understood. But Spinelli thought nobody could understand. If it actually came down to a choose between staying friends with TJ or Lawson, Spinelli wasn't sure what her decision would be. She could feel herself falling in love with Lawson, but love can come and go, but her and Teej had been friends forever. She didn't want to sacrifice that all now, just because of Lawson.

"Please TJ," Spinelli whispered, "Please understand."

***

TJ watched with a smile on his face as he saw Spinelli bowl her last frame, ending with a score of 212, leaving her 10 points behind TJ, who still hadn't bowled his last frame yet. Usually the two were pretty evenly matched, but tonight Spinelli seemed careful and not as good, as if she wanted TJ to win. But TJ didn't understand that. Spinelli never let anybody just win.

TJ walked up their to bowl his last frame, ending with a score of 234, beating Spinelli by 22. The two always had a habit of playing one game, going to eat their traditional hamburgers and french fries and bowling one or two more games afterwards. So, they went to the concession area, where the cook, Fred, already had their order ready, he knew them so well. As TJ grabbed the food Fred winked at him, letting him know he would bring out the roses at the arranged time.

"Teej, there's something I have to tell you," Spinelli said, taking a very deep breath as she chewed on a fry.

"Come on Spin, don't look so nervous," TJ said, "You know you can tell me anything."

"Well, TJ, you see, I kind of went out with Lawson last night," Spinelli quickly said.

"What?" TJ asked, stunned.

"I went out with Lawson, I think I might be in love with him Teej," Spinelli hurriedly said, "Look, I'm really sorry, I know he's your enemy and everything ..,"

"But, I mean, how could you?" TJ asked.

"Look, I know you guys hate each other, but Teej, can't you just be happy for me?" Spinelli asked, a pleading look in her eyes. TJ looked at her and realized that she did seem in love. With Lawson. Of all people. But he just wanted her to be happy.

"OK, look, Spinelli, I can't say I'm thrilled about this," TJ said, "But I'm willing to accept it. Whatever makes you happy makes me happy."

"Thanks TJ, that means a lot to me," Spinelli said, "Come on, let's eat this food so we can go back to bowling and I can kick your butt."

But then Spinelli's cell phone rang. She held up her finger to TJ, to inform him she'd be back in a minute and she walked away from the table, flipping open her cell phone in the process.

Just then Fred came out of the concession, carrying a dozen red roses, but TJ quickly shook his head at him, saying no, I don't need them anymore. Then Spinelli came back, looking worried.

"Hey Teej, that was Gretchen," Spinelli said, "She said Vince just left her at the restaurant after breaking up with her and asked if we could pick her up."

"Um, yeah, let's go," TJ said, surprised.

***

"Gretch!" Spinelli said as she walked into the restaurant and her best friend got up, tears streaming down her face. Then she hugged her best friend.

"Where's TJ?" Gretchen asked, looking around as if expecting him to appear out of nowhere.

"He's outside on the phone, calling Vince to chew him out," Spinelli said, "But I told him, and he said he was okay with it."

"Really? That's great," Gretchen said, knowing how much it meant to Spinelli for TJ to approve of her and Lawson, but was still weary of TJ's real reaction and of Vince's and TJ's conversation.

"Come on Gretch, let's go," Spinelli said, putting an arm around her best friend and leading her out of the restaurant, "You can stay the night at my house."

"Thanks," Gretchen weakly said as TJ joined the two girls. Both exchanged sympathetic looks with the other, both having lost the ones they loved in that very night.