Disclaimer: I do not own the song, The Reason, that's Hoobastank's.

Chapter Eighteen

Vince's Embarrassing Moment

"Look at TJ and Spin," Vince said to Mikey as they were in the lunch line to get their food, "They're so happy together. And you and Ashley, and Gus and Mandy."

"You had that," Mikey pointed out to him, "But you gave it up for popularity."

"But I apologized, more than once," Vince protested, "I don't know what to do beyond that. I mean, I still love Gretchen, she just can't forgive me."

"Well, we may need to enlist some help to win her back," Mikey said, "Somebody who has great schemes. Somebody who thinks well on their feet. Somebody named your best friend, TJ."

"You want me to help you win back Gretch?" TJ asked Vince as he, Mikey, and Vince sat in Vince's bedroom after school. Vince's room was covered with sports posters.

"I really screwed up," Vince admitted, "And you're a great schemer Teej, so I turned to you."

TJ thought for a moment, then said, "I have an idea, but its really from a movie, so its not very original."

"What is it?" Vince asked eagerly.

"Well, you embarrassed the girl," TJ said, "So, you have to sacrifice yourself at the altar of dignity."

His two friends looked at him in silence for a moment, before Mikey spoke up, "Um, Teej, where did you get that? It sounds like something I'd say."

"Have neither of you ever seen 10 Things I Hate About You?" TJ asked the two of them, looking amazed at them.

"I think the bigger issue here is that you have," Vince said to him delicately, looking at his friend like he was crazy.

"It was one of Spinelli's favorite movies," TJ shrugged. Mikey and Vince sniggered quietly.

"Teej," Mikey said, putting an arm around his friend, "You do realize that you were whipped, before you even went out with the girl?"

"Wait, Spin liked that movie?" Vince asked, sounding surprised.

"Yah, but anyways," TJ said, "We're getting off of subject. In the movie, whoever Heath Ledger plays, sings a song to embarrass himself so the girl will fall madly in love with him. And I have just the modifications to make it work for you."

"Teej, you do realize that I can't see?" Spinelli asked her boyfriend calmly as they sat down, "So, why are we here? At a talent show."

"Because you have to be here," TJ informed her, "You're a sophomore that formerly attended here. Besides, Mandy's here with Gus and she's deaf, so she can't really hear the talent. Between the two of you, you can have everything done."

"Attention, attention," the voice of their former grade school principal, Mr. Prickly, filled the auditorium of Third Street's school. Gretchen was sitting in the aisle seat, then Spinelli and TJ, then Gus and Mandy, then Mikey and Ashley were at the end, "Welcome to the 4th Annual Talent Show at Third Street School."

"This ought a be fun," Spinelli muttered under her breath as the talent show started.

"OK," Principal Prickly announced an hour later, "We only have one more act to do. Now, this act is very special because its the act of a former Third Streeter. So, please welcome Vince LaSalle."

"Did he just say Vince?" Spinelli muttered to TJ as Vince walked across the stage. As Mandy spotted Vince her eyes opened wider. She turned to Gus.

"What is Vince doing?" she asked.

"Actually, I'd like to know too," Gretchen announced, leaning over Mikey and Ashley, before anybody could answer Vince nervously spoke out.

"Um, hi," Vince said, looking extremely nervous, "I'm going to sing a song, and I would like to dedicate this song to somebody who's very special in my life. Somebody who this song is perfect for. That somebody is Gretchen Grundler."

"I'm not a perfect person," Vince began to sing as the music filled the auditorium. He slowly began to walk off stage and head towards Gretchen, all the while singing, "There's many things I wish I didn't do. But I continue learning. I never meant to do those things to you."

Gretchen buried her head as Vince approached her. TJ put his arm around Spinelli and whispered in her ear what was going on while Gus quickly tapped in the sign language he had learned pretty fast what was going on to Mandy, "And so I have to say before I go, that I just want you to know. I've found a reason for me to change who I use to be. A reason to start over new and the reason is you."

Vince then stopped where Gretchen was sitting and got down on one knee, taking her hand,

"I'm sorry that I hurt you,

It's something I must live with everyday
And all the pain I put you through
I wish I could take it all away and be the one who catches all your tears
That's why I need you to hear

I've found a reason for me
To change who I use to be
A reason to start over new
And the reason is you.

And the reason is you.

And the reason is you.

And the reason is you."

"I'm not a perfect person
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know

I've found a reason for me
To change who I use to be
A reason to start over new
And the reason is you.

And the reason is you.

I found a reason to show
A side of me you didn't know
A reason for all that I do
And the reason is you."

"Are you done?" Gretchen whispered to him as he finished. Vince grinned slightly.

"Do you forgive me?" Vince asked, "I can sing another round for the masses if I have to."

"No, no, no," Gretchen assured him hurriedly, "I forgive you."

"OK, good," Vince said softly, grinning at her, "May I take you out for a lovely pizza, milady?"

"That sounds good," Gretchen said, a goofy grin appearing on her face. The two walked out of the auditorium, avoiding most of the masses of people because of their perfect bliss of being together.

"10 Things I Hate About You," Spinelli accused TJ as soon as she could hear the last of the footsteps leave the auditorium, making the two of them the only two left in the entire auditorium.

"You got me," TJ admitted, "I got the idea from the movie. Vince didn't know how to win her back. Man, that guy is very sad when he's very desperate."

"You better be glad he has a good singing voice," Spinelli informed TJ, "If he had had a bad singing voice and got up there and sung that to Gretchen? She probably would've killed him. Then, she would've come after you for giving him the idea."

"The song does suit their relationship perfectly though," TJ pointed out, "Look how much both of them changed for the other. I mean, I know Vince tries to pretend he switched schools to be supportive of you. But we all know that that's just a small reason. He was really trying to make Gretch fall back in love with him."

"I'm glad he came back," Spinelli honestly said, "I knew he would be the first one to leave, if any left at all."

"Me too," TJ admitted. He then looked around the auditorium, "So, when's your first speech?"

"Monday," Spinelli said, "And honestly? I'm so nervous it's not even funny. I'm so afraid of screwing up. But, now that I've heard what's got to be Vince's most embarrassing moment, I feel like I can face anything."

"So, there was more than one good use of Vince's lovely singing talents," TJ mused, putting his arm around Spinelli and guiding her out of the auditorium.

Author's Note: OK, I know that was really, really cheesy. But I like cheesy. And me and my friend were talking one day about how great that would be to have somebody sing that song to us. So, that's how I decided to put Vince and Gretchen back together, I didn't want to make Vince a jerk forever.