Chapter 12: Getting Ready: TJ and Spinelli

Spinelli left the living room like everyone else. Sliding in her room Spinelli waited a moment for Gretchen to enter the room so that she could as for advise on what to wear. Normally Spinelli wouldn't care but now there was TJ's eye she wanted to catch. After Gretchen didn't show up Spinelli supposed that she had gone to Vince's room to talk about the baby. Spinelli was happy but also exasperated that Gretchen had chosen now to be the time to tell Vince about the baby when she had kept it a secret for a few weeks now.

Frowning Spinelli threw open her closet and looked at what she had to wear. Most of her clothes were for everyday wear; torn jeans, blouses, shirts, shorts. Most of them were in black or a dark color. 'I really need to get some new clothes.' Spinelli bitterly thought. What a time not to have anything good to wear. She did have a black cocktail dress that she wore to parties but it was far too early for that.

After musing over what to wear Spinelli reluctantly chose a red Chinese style dress her mother had given her. Sitting down in for of the big vanity mirror the girls shared Spinelli undid her ponytail and looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair flowed halfway down her back in waves of black and her bangs framed her face as it normally did. Not liking what she saw Spinelli decided to put up her hair again into a bun this time. After fashioning the ornamental chopsticks in her hair Spinelli put on some lip-gloss, the only sort of makeup she could stand to wear despite Gretchen's past efforts to get her to wear more. As a final touch Spinelli put on a sweet rose scented perfume. Going over to her tall mirror Spinelli gave herself a twirl to see the final result and allowed herself a small smile. She knew she looked good but would it be enough to get TJ's attention? Trying not to keep her hopes from going too high Spinelli started to make her way down to the living room.

TJ was ready and waiting in the living room long before anyone else was. He had put on his tank top, holster complete with gun, and shirt but had transferred his medals to his military coat, the one he wore to special occasions, and gotten out his hat. With nothing to do but wait TJ settled back down on the couch and turned on the TV. Wrestling popped up and TJ just let the noise blare in the background. His thoughts weren't on the match but on the girl in his pendent.

The last time he had really seen her was at that dance three years ago. 'Wow, has she changed a lot.' TJ thought to himself as he took out the golden pendent and opened it. Spinelli hadn't gotten any taller but she had filled out quite notably in certain areas. That was one of the first things he had noticed about her. She still had her creamy white completion and her raven hair was the longest he could remember. But then TJ hadn't been around for much of the last year before his enlistment so he had to draw on memories that were several years old. Lost in his thoughts TJ didn't notice that the girl he was thinking about was looking at him from the bottom of the stairs.

Spinelli leaned against the banister as she gazed at TJ. She was sure he had gotten a little taller at least and definitely more buff. TJ had lifted weights in high school but the army had clearly made him more muscular and fit. Though Spinelli supposed that TJ might have had a military buzz cut his hair was all combed neatly to one side. Spinelli's gaze dropped down to TJ's hazel brown eyes. They had a soft glow to them now, the same softness they used to have whenever TJ would talk to her all those years back.

Spinelli sighed at the memory but TJ was too absorbed in his thoughts to notice. Spinelli missed that look, the softness, and the kind-heartedness that TJ would add to the group before he had gone away. Spinelli also missed how TJ had made her feel different, special in a way. He had always reserved that look for her and had a slightly kinder tone and manner around her. He always was there for her and treated her nicely even when the gang was around but he would go about it in such a way that no one noticed or if they did they didn't say anything. Spinelli had missed that feeling the most, the feeling of being special. Spinelli's eyes continued their journey down TJ but stopped quickly to notice that TJ was looking at his locket which he had open. Whatever was in it had TJ's complete attention and he was giving it the look he used to only give her.

Spinelli couldn't help but feel a bit jealous. Whoever's picture was in that locket must be very close and special to TJ to get "the look." Then it hit her; what if it was his girlfriend? The possibilities started to race through Spinelli's mind and Spinelli came up with rational explanations to calm herself. 'It had been four years. He could have met someone while in Iraq. Women enlisted too, it was possible.' But soon reason broke down into pure panic and jealousy. 'But why? He belongs to me. I love him. Don't you see that TJ? I LOVE YOU! Whoever that bitch is I'll show her. I'll get TJ to finally see me as more then just a friend.' Spinelli promised herself. She didn't know if TJ was here for good or if he would leave again but she did know that she would make him see her in a new light or at least tell him how she felt about him if she could ever muster up the courage.

Still first things first, Spinelli had to find out who TJ was looking at in that locket. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Spinelli regained her mental composer and walked towards TJ with a little extra effort put into the swaying her hips.

Unbeknownst to her TJ had been watching her out of the corner of his eye ever since she had sighed. TJ had had to try hard to keep his expression the same when Spinelli noticed that he was looking at his locket. Spinelli's facial expressions always betrayed her showing her true feelings if only for the briefest of moments but TJ had learned long ago to read those expressions. TJ found it quite amusing to say the least when jealousy had flashed across Spinelli's oriental face. And now the extra sway in her hips as she walked towards the couch. TJ knew wanted to know who was in the locket and for a short period of time he considered it. Spinelli would be embarrassed and then mad and that could leave TJ in a position he didn't want to be in right now, forced into confessing it all. And then there was the coward's way out. Let Spinelli get close enough to almost see and then close the locket and dodge questions. TJ liked option number two better because he could deal with Spinelli being angry but not angry and embarrassed.

TJ waited Spinelli had seated herself down on the couch before closing the locket just as Spinelli tried to sneak a glace at it and tucked it under his shirts to join his dog tags.

Spinelli was annoyed to no end when TJ closed the locket just as she tried to sneak a peak at the bitch inside it. It mad her even madder when his eyes flicked, laughing at her though TJ's face wore only a small smile as TJ leaned back against the couch and closed his eyes.

"So, who was it you were looking at in that pretty little pendant of yours?" Spinelli asked in a soft, cooing voice right in to TJ's ear.

TJ was so taken back by the tone of voice that Spinelli had just used that he opened his eyes and turned his head so face Spinelli only to find her far closer then expected. They were mere inches apart, their noses just brushing, their eyes locked, their lips so close they could feel each other's breath on them. All TJ had to do was lean forward a little bit and he would be kissing his dream girl...

Spinelli almost couldn't breathe. TJ's movement had been so unexpected she hadn't moved and now she was staring into his eyes and found herself lost in the seemingly endless pools of brown. All she had to do was and lean forwards and she would finally have her first kiss with TJ as an adult...

All right kiddies, I'm back! So what you think of this chapter? Right, down to the dirt:

Noelle: How you ever ended up with those eyes and hair is a miracle. The only possible way to get blue eyes with your parents' eyes being as they are would be if they both had a recessive blue gene, which you got. As for hair color, I have two girl cousins with the same hair and their parents have brown hair. Their mother had blonde hair as a child but is now has brown. So I'm guessing that so whatever reason your hair will slowly go brown with time, kinda like a pipe rusting in effect.

Thanks to Clintronic Waldrop for the following; "I think the reason why fans believe TJ's eyes are blue is because I think in one scene (maybe even an animation error, but nevertheless) in the movie, instead of the animators putting just two simple dots for his eyes...they paint light blue around those dots."

Last but surely no least thanks to all for reviewing.