Chapter 3: Tears of Pain.
Gus was the first to speak up, "but..." "But nothing, I said go on without me," Spinelli interrupted. Her voice was still low; and she wouldn't even look at them. They walked away, all except for T.J, he didn't want to leave her, something was wrong and he knew it. "Excuse me Detwiler, I believe she said go on without her," Randell said, venom in his voice.
"No, I'm waiting for her," he said, throwing Randell's venom right back. "Teej, please just go on without me," she was practically begging. "All right, but I'm going to call you around 5:30 p.m.," he said. She nodded and he walked around the corner, but she didn't know that he was listening to their conversation. "So for now on you call me Randy-pie and you let me walk home with you everyday and you hang out with me everyday at recess," Randell said smiling.
"What about the gang? I can't leave them hanging, they'll get suspicious," Spinelli said in her low voice. It was like all the life was sucked out of her, T.J didn't like it one bit. "Remember the deal? You do what I say or T.J will be in danger, we wouldn't want that to happen now would we?" Randell said holding her chin up so she had to look at him. Then, he kissed her on the lips, hard enough to re-open a cut on her lip. T.J watched in horror as the kiss went on for seconds.
"Oh Spin," he whispered softly looking away. Spinelli was horrified and wanted to kill him, but if she did that T.J would be in danger. ' I'm doing this for you Teej,' she said mentally as Randell ended the kiss. Spinelli shut her eyes in defeat, she wouldn't win this one, either Randell would rat her out and T.J would be in danger or he wouldn't and she'd have to everything he said. A few tears slid down her cheek.
"Don't cry my dear, you'll get to see you're friends in class," Randell said, his smile growing into a grin. When T.J heard that Spinelli was crying, he almost jumped out and tackled Randell to the ground. "All right you win, Randy-pie," she said, her voice void of emotion. T.J couldn't believe it; the Spinelli he knew was gone. "Good, now it's time to walk with me home, come," Randell said walking towards T.J.
T.J heard Randell's footsteps, and he hid behind the trashcan. He prayed for them not to see them. He watched them pass and followed them. He wouldn't let anything happen to her, they were best friends. They had always defended each other, always been they're for each other and now he knew that she needed a friend more than ever but was trying to push him away so he wouldn't get hurt.
"What a friend," T.J said in a whisper. Randell stopped and looked around, T.J hid behind a tree. Spinelli just looked at the ground; she was ashamed of herself for letting this happen; but even more ashamed of herself for bringing T.J into this. The one she cared for most, her best friend in the whole wide world, her secret crush, T.J, was in danger because of HER. "I thought I heard someone," Randell said in a low voice, "come Spin, you must take me home."
Spinelli nodded and continued to walk. T.J looked from behind the tree to what would happen next. But once again, Randell stopped. Spinelli looked at him, and was greeted with his fist and she fell to the pavement. "You're supposed to say yes Randy-pie!" he yelled.
Now T.J's blood was boiling, how dare that scum hit HIS Spinelli! He jumped out from behind the tree and ran up to Randell. Before Randell knew it, T.J had punched him and he was on the ground next to Spinelli. "Get up Randell, you don't deserve to be near Spinelli, get up and go home, never and I mean never come near her again, or you'll have ME to deal with!" T.J yelled. Randell got up slowly, "Detwiler, you don't know what you've just done."
"I said get lost," T.J said in a low dangerous voice, helping Spinelli up. "Spinelli, the deal is off, spend what little time you have left with him," Randell said in a mocking tone. "Now!" T.J yelled. Randell ran home, not because he was afraid but so he could call Spinelli's Uncle Dean and tell him about T.J Detwiler. This would be fun.
Spinelli was off the ground, but was refusing to look at T.J. "Spin, what's going on?" T.J asked. Spinelli looked T.J in the eyes. T.J gasped, her eyes weren't normal, they were dull and lifeless. " Spinelli, please snap out of it, it's me T.J your friend," T.J pleaded with her.
"Teej," she said in her low, lifeless voice. "Yes, now please snap out of it," T.J said, worry showing in his voice. "I have to leave," she said. " Please tell me what's going on, why am I in danger? Why was Randell blackmailing you? Why did he kiss you? How did you really get that shiner? Please tell me!" he begged. "I can't tell you," her voice quivered.
