Disclaimer: I don't own Recess or any of its characters.

Author's Note: I think I used the word jerk in here at least fifty times, but I guess that's ok, since I am describing a jerk.

Chapter Five

*Monday At School*

TJ walked into World History and set his books on his usual desk. Man, this had to be one of the worst days of his life. It seemed that news about this weekend had spread everywhere. About both Vince and Gretchen's breakup and Spinelli and Lawson's getting together. That's all anybody was talking about. He was looking forward to being in this class with Gus and Mikey, who, hopefully, had something else to talk about.

Just then Gus and Mikey walked into the room, looking happy, and sat in their usual seats, Gus then said, very loudly, as if hoping someone would hear him, "Hey Teej, we signed up for a dating service Saturday night."

"A dating service?" TJ asked, cocking an eyebrow, "Isn't that just for losers who can't find their own dates?"

"Teej, when was the last time I went on a date by asking the girl for myself?" Mikey asked his friend.

"Good point," TJ said, "Good luck, hope you find somebody better than a bunch of loser chicks."

"You should join too TJ," Gus suggested, "Because now that Spin has Lawson, you need something to take your mind off of her."

TJ groaned. He didn't know that his feelings were this obvious for Spinelli. He had had at least two dozen people come up to him saying they were sorry and could set him up with their cousins or sisters if they wanted. He had also got even more sympathetic looks than TJ had ever gotten, including when he had broke his leg in the seventh grade and had to be in a wheelchair for two months. But the worst thing of all was the first two hours of the day his teachers had kept him behind in class to say they were sorry and they thought that Spinelli had chosen the wrong person.

TJ had spent all of Sunday fuming over Spinelli choosing Lawson. He would have told Spinelli exactly how he felt about her and Lawson going out, yet she had begged him to understand. And he didn't want to have her make a decision between her friend and Lawson. And as much as it hurt him, and it really, really hurt him, to think of her with Lawson, much less see her with Lawson, he knew she was happy with this scumbag, so he was willing to accept it.

At least when she was around. Gretchen had called him yesterday to see if he was really okay. And they ended up talking for two hours. Fuming over how stupid their friends and the people they were in love with were.

Just then Vince walked into the class. Without even glancing at TJ he walked back behind Gus and sat down by his basketball buddy, Kyle.

TJ felt really bad about the way he had treated Vince. Of course, he had done so at the exact moment that he needed Vince most. Vince knew him almost like the back of his hand and would know above everybody else, well, except for Spinelli, what to say to him. But of course, Saturday night he hadn't been thinking straight. Not that Vince didn't deserve a chewing out. Vince deserved to be griped out more than once, but TJ shouldn't have been the one to do it. TJ was his best friend, he was supposed to stick by him, even when he was being a stubborn pain in the ass.

But TJ knew that Vince probably needed to hear it from his best friend, even if TJ didn't want to betray him like that. And he knew that he had probably hit home with Vince, because there is nothing worse than a best friend telling you you've been acting like a jerk and spent too much time wanting to be popular. He just felt bad about telling him there, on the phone. He should have waited until Sunday when his emotions weren't so ran over and then calmly told Vince that Gretchen was right about him.

Then Gretchen and Spinelli walked in and took their seats. Gretchen pretended not to notice that Vince wasn't sitting behind her anymore. But when she turned around to receive an encouraging smile from Spinelli, TJ could see a tear in her eye. Then all of a sudden it was okay with him how and when he had chewed Vince out.

******Flashback: Saturday Night: Outside the Restaurant*******

TJ quickly dialed Vince's cell phone number. He wanted a chance to tell Vince exactly how he felt about him before Spinelli came out with Gretchen.

"Hello?" a slurry voice answered. TJ barely recognized it as Vince's.

"Vince?" TJ asked disgusted, "Are you drunk?"

"I might have had two or three beers," Vince said, still slurry, then when TJ snorted he added, "OK, I had six. But, man, Gretch and I got in this huge fight at this restaurant and I needed a drink."

"Vince, for one, you're too young to be drinking, especially six beers in, like, one hour, and for two, I know you and Gretch got in a fight because Gretchen called Spinelli's cell phone for Spinelli to come pick her up because moron, you left her here," TJ said angrily.

"Dude, I'm so sorry," Vince said, sounding a little sorry, but TJ couldn't tell if he was sorry or if he was just about to hurl, "But you should have heard what she said to me. She said that I was trying to hard to be popular and fit in, and, dude, I'm not like that, right?"

"Um .., well, um ..," TJ said, then he decided to be honest, "Well, actually yeah, you do try to hard to be popular. You've been a real jerk to everybody in our group, but me, lately and quite frankly, it does get kind of annoying."

"So, you're saying I'm a jerk?" Vince asked, sounding a lit more sober, and a little more angry, "Well, at least I'm a jerk who's not in love with a girl who has problems. I heard that Spinelli is in love with Lawson. Not you, Lawson."

"Well, Vince, I hope you have a fun time with your basketball buddies and if you're that concerned with being a jerk and being popular to give up the best thing that ever happened to you, then you can go screw yourself," TJ lost his temper, "Or worse yet, go screw an Ashley because they're perfect for you now."

TJ then hung up the cell phone, just as Spinelli and Gretchen were walking out of the restaurant doors.

****Present****

"Hey, Teej, the teacher's talking to you," Gus whispered, poking him in the back. TJ quickly looked up to see the teacher staring at him.

"Mr. Detweiler, I would like to see you after class," the teacher said, looking down at him. He nodded his head, groaning inwardly.

After the bell rang everybody else got up and left the classroom while TJ just sat in his desk. He hoped that Ms. Wereen didn't know about Spinelli.

"Look, TJ, I'm very concerned about you," Ms. Wereen said, "Everyday since you set foot into my class all you do is stare at Miss Spinelli. And now she has a boyfriend, so I'm afraid your schoolwork may suffer even more than it already is."

"Ms. Wereen," TJ started, "I'm very okay with Spin having a boyfriend, really I am. And my schoolwork will not be affected, so do you mind if I go to Geometry now?"

"Fine, fine," Ms. Wereen waved him off, "But just know this TJ, teachers know a lot more than you give them credit for."

As he walked out of the classroom he saw Vince waiting outside for him. Vince looked extremely nervous, but TJ just ignored him and walked on by him.

"Look, Teej, I want to apologize," Vince said, "I was a real jerk Saturday night on the phone. I know how hard it must be for you to not be able to have Spinelli."

TJ turned and looked at him, "Vince, I do accept your apology about Saturday, but you're way off line. Yes, you were a jerk when you said that about Spinelli, but you were also a jerk about everything else you did Saturday night. Down to drinking six beers, and especially leaving Gretch at the restaurant. What I said to you was really harsh, and looking back on it now, I might have tried to rationalize it some, but for the most part what I said was right, you've been acting like a jerk. You didn't even stand up for Mikey when that stupid basketball friend of yours called him gay today in World History class. So, the only thing you deserve is to really screw the Ashley's. Maybe after that you'll realize what a real jerk you've become."