I don't own Recess. But I do own Vivian van Gogh and Jack Fitzgerald, along with Tranquility and Nostalgia, Miss Finster's marriage, and the way people see Spinelli.

I know, already, that this week could very well be the worst one in my life, but I had no idea how bad it would be. So here I am, hustling to Art once more. Why am I always hustling somewhere?

Anyways, the art room's really crowded for some reason. And no one's painting or drawing or sculpting. Matter of fact, more than half of these kids aren't even in my art class. Wonder what they're looking at.

"Hey! Outta my way!"

I manage to push myself through to the front. They're looking at stuff I've done. Uh oh. Who did this?

And there's Miss V, that's just great. Crazy old bat. She's walking up to me, and, hugging me? Oh brother.

"Oh, Spinelli, dear, I'm so glad you could make it. So, I see you've noticed our display, then? Which work is your favorite?" Miss V rambled, pretending to be nice.

I roll my eyes. I'm not buying her crap for a second. And just then, when I thought it couldn't get worse, it did. Boy, did it.

"Well, I don't know about either one of you, but my favorite's the black and white photo. It reminds me of this huge mural a friend of mine did out of chalk in grade school. It took her about a week to do it, and she worked without ceasing. It's a shame that it washed away in the rain, really it is," A very familiar voice says.

I don't even have to turn around to know that it's T.J. Miss V smiles some more.

"Spinelli, dear, your little boyfriend here likes Nostalgia. I personally like Tranquility because of the cool tones and curvy shapes," Miss V continued obliviously.

I'm pretty pissed off now, actually. I mean, she didn't even ask me if I wanted my artwork displayed. Okay, I would've said no anyways, but still, I'm no Rembrandt. And then there's the fact that T.J.'s here. Remember that painting I did yesterday? Well, I'm feeling about ten times the rage of that one. So, before she can even say that I'm the genius behind all that crap, I'm gone as soon as she looks away.

As a matter of fact, I'm so annoyed that I've decided to just cut out right now. I could seriously use a burger...Or a winger-dinger or something. I'm briskly on my way outta this dump when, naturally, Miss Finster pops up, grabbing me by the arm and dragging me into the lunch room.

"Ugh, what is it now?"

Miss Finster rolls her magnified eyes.

"Well, Spinelli, I'd like to know why you were illegally leaving the premises for a start," Miss Finster sneers.

Sheesh. I can't even ditch properly.

"Actually, Miss Finster, about that. You see, well, there's been a family emergency. My grandmother, Agatha, kicked the bucket this morning. About five minutes ago, to be exact. Really tragic, a heart-attack, it was," I lied elaborately.

Miss Finster rolls her eyes.

"Spinelli, cut the crap," Miss Finster says bluntly.

I rolled my eyes.

"Fine. I've got to get my hair dyed blonde for the prom," I muttered sarcastically.

Miss Finster so doesn't buy that. Which is why I'm still sitting here.

"Spinelli, what's up with you and Detweiler?" She asks quickly.

Okay, this is really not a welcome conversation on my end. I'm not going to answer. As a matter of fact, I'm gonna leave. But of course, as soon as I try and get up, she pushes me back down.

"Look, Spinelli, I'm really not one who usually makes bargains, but if you answer my questions truthfully, and, trust me, I WILL know if you're lying, then I'll let you go, all right?" Finster argues.

I might as well tell her. There's not much to tell anyways. And I'll get out early too. She's practically conspiring with a felon here. Well, I'm not a felon yet. Hopefully I won't ever be. But here, you know, they treat me like I'm from the wrong side of the tracks. They've got this really annoying I'm-superior-to-you-you-little-crook attitude down. It gets pretty annoying after what, six, seven, eight years? I dunno, it's a stupid load of crap. Just like them.

No, seriously, they REALLY want to pin me for something. If something goes missing, they automatically think I stole it. I don't really steal. Except for that one thing back in the sixth grade. This town's small, and everyone's waiting for me to screw up.

It's enough to drive anyone insane, this whole juvenile delinquent aura I've got going here.

"Okay, shoot."

Mrs. Finster's eyes narrow and I'm beginning to feel like I'm being interrogated by the coppers again. That was no picnic, especially for a nine-year-old. Or for a fifteen-year-old. An experience I wish I never repeated and hope that is never again repeated.

"Okay, why are you acting so weird around the boy?"

Okay, what does she mean by weird? I've been acting weird around the guy since like, forever. Wait, that might just be me being weird, like I always am, y'know?

"How do you define weird, Muriel? Because, see, I think this whole conversation's weird, as is the you-being-nice-to-me-spiel, but who am I to complain?" I retort.

A scowl crosses her face, lines creasing deep wrinkles into it. She leans forward, and ugh, I can smell her breath. It smells like that liver she gave me when I had to stay over at her house. Ugh, the memory alone's gonna make me puke.

"Well, Spinelli, see, the teachers here are quite captivated by you. They seem to enjoy talking about you in the teacher's lounge. It's something I've really never quite understood about you. Sad thing is that they don't even know the half of it. Anyways, Jack happened to mention something about him being at your track practice, and distracting you a heck of a lot. I think Vivian mentioned something about him being captivated by artwork you've done, or was it that your artwork featured him in some way? I can't remember. And Randall, well, he's got lots of stories about you that can't be proven. And the Ashley A and Johnny V incidents. Something wrong with that, awful suspicious. A new nose and two missing front teeth. Has your name written all over it," Finster threatened sneakily.

Whoa. Weird. Okay, this is feeling like those stupid F.B.I. agents who go around like crazy using force or something. It's really annoying the way that they push civilians around. I mean, she's giving me that treatment, only in words.

"Okay, I don't understand why teachers have these pathetic obsessions with me, 'cause I'd really hope that they'd have something better to do with their time, like, oh, I dunno, plan lessons or grade homework? Anyways, okay, T.J.'s been kinda up in my face lately, and well, it's been really pissing me off. We've got a history, and all those crappy memories are bein' dragged up again. He's got an impeccably bad sense of timing, if you get my drift, and thus, manages to show up at the worst possible times, like when I'm doing hurdles, for example," I explain, annoyed and crossing my arms over my chest.

She gives me a weird look.

"Spinelli, why's he all up in your face? And what happened in the past that ruined that nice little thing you had going?" She asks sincerely.

That's a creepy tone. Reminds me of her newlywed days. It's so sad for Prickly that she got married to Hank. He kinda had a thing for her. Prickly. Petey. Whatever they called the little weirdo.

"We're involved in something. Not something illegal, okay, we're just trying to make it so we don't have to constantly see each other. Well, at least, I am. Stupid twerp wants to be friends. As if I'd ever be that stupid again! I mean, do I look like some dumb fourth grader again? 'Cause I'm not one! The past is the past, and I'm still annoyed about it. I hold grudges and don't let go very easily," I rant, almost forgetting about Finster for once.

She hmmms, and it strikes me that this is winding up like me having some crazy chat with a psychologist again. I see that weird lady every month, for my "anger issues". I don't say a word, and I mostly skip out of them or go have a smoke during that one. Either way, I'm not telling her anything. Well, that lady.

I guess that I can talk to Finster. I mean, she did help me outta that lame crush I had on the moronic Johnny V. Didn't manage to talk me outta going out with the sleazy slimeball, though. Meh.

"What are you doing with him? You in love with the kid or something?" Says Mrs. F bluntly.

It always comes down to that question, doesn't it? Why is it that question? Always. That friggin' question pisses me off so much. How many times must I say no? How many?

Wonder why no one believes me? Prolly 'cause I lied a lot about my parents. I swear, it's pathological. Some days I'll just lie for no reason to everyone I meet. I'm sick that way.

Ugh. I'm doing the silence thing again. I hang around guys too much. I'm having problems with my multi-tasking. As in I can't think and talk at the same time. Or walk. Ugh. I need sleep.

"No way! Why would I be? I regularly beat the crap outta the kid." I exclaim angrily.

Smoke is totally coming out of my ears. Black, black, black industrial-type smoke. Okay, well, it isn't, but whatever.

And she's giving me this "Yeah, right, I believe that like I believe in the Loch Ness Monster." Look. Amazing. It's always me, isn't it?

"Do you know if he's in love with you?"

I say the first thing that comes to mind. Something I should avoid doing.

"He'd better not be!"

She hmms again, rising to her feet.

"Keep on cruising down De Nile, Spinelli. Just keep on cruising. Time to go," She says tiredly.

She doesn't need to tell me twice. I fly outta that room as if my pants were on fire. Actually, I'm wearing shorts today. Whatever.

- Loren ;

Oh, and just in case you don't remember, in the episode where Ms. Finster babysits Spinelli, they say that her grandmother's named Agatha. And I can't remember the episode where they say that Joey's in jail... So when she refers to being questioned by the police at nine, that's what she means. And, finally, the thing about the psychologist... I can't remember which episode it's in, but I think it's in the one where Spinelli gets really pissed off and starts drawing that huge chalk mural, which I believe is called Spinelli's Masterpiece, and T.J. tries to stop her from hitting Lawson or the Ashleys or whoever made her so mad in the first place, and he says something like: "Do you want to go to that district counselor again on account of your anger issues?" And I think that they talk about the Loch Ness Monster in one episode, though I can't remember if it's the one where Lawson's Gang rules for a bit, or if it's The Experiment...