Author's Note: I don't really see Hustler Kid as a drinker, but I did need somebody, so I just chose the first one that came to my mind that I could use in this chapter also. So, happy reading and I probably will not be updating for a week now.

Chapter Fifteen

TJ Has A Surprise

"Blind, blind, freakin' blind," Spinelli muttered to herself as she attempted to brush her hair the next Monday. She didn't really care so much about being blind, she had had a feeling that was going to end up happening, and she could accept that. But, the school had told her that she was going to have to switch schools to this one in the next town over that helped people that needed environment adaptations. She couldn't be with her friends.

Which meant for the first time since kindergarten she wouldn't be with TJ. She had known eventually she wouldn't be with TJ anymore, in the same school, but that was far off, a long time away, like when they went to college or something. But now she wasn't allowed to be with him at the time when she most wanted and needed him.

So, in Ashley Spinelli's mind the blind, blind, freakin' blind phrase seemed to cover it all.

Spinelli quietly walked down the hall of her new school, being guided by the person who had been sent to be her mentor. To show her around school. To show her how to walk with using a cane to feel your way around. To show her how to become independent again. So, Spinelli was trying to keep her cool because she wanted her independence, but this lady had some serious issues. Not to add onto Spinelli's already bad mood.

"Spinelli," she heard a voice behind her.

"I must be hearing things now," Spinelli muttered, "I thought I heard TJ."

"Spinelli," another voice behind her said.

"And that sounded like Gretchen," Spinelli muttered again. Suddenly, she heard people running to her and her guide turned around, looking at the people as if she were afraid.

"Do you know these people?" the guide asked Spinelli in a stage whisper.

"Of course she knows us," TJ snapped, "We're friends from her other school."

"Teej?" Spinelli asked, "What are you doing here?"

"Well, I spent a lot of time thinking over the weekend," TJ started, "About how all I want is to be with you, and for you to be happy. And I knew that you weren't happy about having to start this new school without any of your friends there, so I talked them into switching over into this school district with me.

"But don't you have to have the principal's permission?" Spinelli asked, "You couldn't have gotten it that fast."

"We had to go get our transfer papers from the office early this morning," Gretchen attempted to explain, "They all realized that we needed to be with you. Where you were."

"Wait, who's all here?" Spinelli asked.

"Everybody in our group," TJ answered, "Vince, me, Gretch, Gus, Mikey, and even Ashley T."

"But Vince, what about your basketball career?" Spinelli protested.

"Well, I realized my friend needed me more, besides you do know there are basketball teams here too, because this is this town's school. They just also help others," Vince said, "I know I won't be able to play this year, but I still have my junior and senior year."

"Anyways, we have to go to the office to give them our transfer papers," Gus interrupted, reminding the rest of them, "So, we'll catch up later with you Spin, ok?"

"OK," Spinelli said agreeably, "Thank you guys. You're the best."

As her friends walked off the guide looked behind them and shook her head, forgetting that Spinelli couldn't see it, "You're very lucky. In all my years here, no one has ever had friends just appear like that. Their friends think they're too good for them anymore."

"I know, they really are the best," Spinelli said, a smile crossing her face for the first time in days.

"Why don't you just ask Ashley T out?" Gus asked Mikey as they headed towards their lockers after going to the office.

"Because she'll say no," Mikey simply said, "Do you know what kind of guys she's used to dating? Suave, smooth ones."

"And do you know what type of people she's used to hanging out with?" Gus asked, "Not us."

"Maybe we could make it a double date, me and Ashley T and you and ..," Mikey started, but Gus then ran into somebody.

"I'm really sorry," Gus apologized as he bent down to help pick up the stuff that had went flying from the girls arms when he had ran into her. The girl quietly took Gus's face and turned him towards her, signaling him to talk again, "I'm really sorry."

"That's ok," the girl said, in a flat tone. Gus took a really good look at the girl. She had long, brown hair and caramel eyes. And she had the sweetest smile.

"Hi, I'm Gus," Gus greeted.

"I'm Mandy," the girl greeted, in the same flat tone, "You guys must be new here."

"We came with a new friend," Mikey answered, "I'm Mikey."

"Oh, so neither of you have anything wrong with you?" the girl asked.

"Well, I do have things wrong with me, but not any that this school can fix," Gus said.

"Oh, well, I'm deaf, if you couldn't tell, I can read lips though," Mandy said, "But I've got to get to my Art class, so I'll talk to you later."

"Wait," Gus said, grabbing her arm, "Um, I have Art too, could you please take me in that direction?"

"Sure," Mandy said, with a surprised smile.

"Hi Spinelli," somebody that sounded familiar, but Spinelli couldn't quite place the voice greeted as they walked into the room that she used when practicing with her guide.

"Um, hi," Spinelli said, "I hate to sound rude, but I can't tell who you are."

"It's Hustler Kid," he announced, "I have something I need to talk to you about."

"Okay," Spinelli said, evenly.

"The alcohol prevention program wants you to become a spokesperson," Hustler Kid informed her, "When they found out about you, they wanted me to ask you if you would help."

"What?" Spinelli asked, "Why?"

"Because you're the perfect live model of what can happen to you drinking and driving," Hustler Kid answered, "Besides, your brother died in a drunken car accident."

"I don't know Hustler Kid," Spinelli said, warily, "I mean, I'm just getting used to the fact that I'm blind."

"But it might help you," the Hustler Kid urged her, "It really helped me."

"I'll think about it," Spinelli said, then added, "Hustler Kid, can I ask you a personal question?"
"You can ask, but I won't guarantee I'll answer it," Hustler Kid answered her honestly.

"Why did you start drinking?" Spinelli asked him.

"Oh, that I'll answer," Hustler Kid said easily, "My parents were alcoholics, they loved to drink and they would fight and argue and hit me and my brothers when they would drink. Now, a lot of people would think that would make me turn away from drinking, but I guess alcoholism runs in our family's blood on both sides, so one night I just took one drink, one and I was hooked. I saw alcohol as my escape from my family, from my life, and from everything. But now I have therapists who are helping me deal with the alcoholism in my family, along with my problems, and they got me and my brother's out of our house."

"I thought you quit cold turkey," Spinelli asked, confused.

"I did, but I still need the therapy so I don't have a relapse," Hustler Kid said, he then patted Spinelli on the back, "Think about the offer. I'll be back in a week to see what you have to say."