Before long T.J. found himself in a place most familiar. The playground of 3rd Street Elementary. All the elementary students had long since gone. The red capped boy sat on a swing, next to the one swinger girl use to use. Reminiscing about playing on old rusty, playing games like four square, kickball, or maul ball with his friends. Smiling at all the times Mikey would stand up for justice, or how happy Vince was beating Lawson at anything he could.
Or how Gus always took the time for the kindergarteners, showing them kindness. Almost a big brotherly figure for them. Gretchen would always drag them into her experiments, like the one with… Spinelli… That was all by chance though. Of everyone in the gang, he had known Spinelli the longest. They met even before kindergarten. Living three houses down from each other, their parents often babysat for the other. Until T.J's older sister Becky was old enough to watch them.
"T.J. Detweiler?" A familiar voice called out amongst the silence. T.J. snapped from his thoughts.
"Principal Prickly?" T.J. was shocked seeing his old elementary principle still around. He would never have admitted it then, but he held great respect for the guy.
The older man sat down on the swing next to him. "You look like something's eating you boy, care to talk?" Principal Prickly asked with father-like concern.
"I dunno, highschool's just…. Weird." T.J. stated plainly.
"Ah, highschool. The start of many new beginnings, and hardships." Principal Prickly reminisced to highschool days.
"Principal Prickly… Can I tell you something?" T.J. cautiously questioned.
"Sure, T.J." Principal Prickly's answer was short and sweet.
T.J. went on to explain his highschool experiences so far, briefly talking about how the Ashley;s told him he should desert his friends. He mainly focused on today's events though. About how mad he got when that 11th grade jerk hitting on Spinelli, and how Spinelli go upset with him for trying to defend her. How later at lunch he met a girl named C.J. that he had surprisingly much in common with. That he was starting to really like her until Spinelli got upset and left, and C.J. started bad mouthing her.
And when the group went to find her, Spinelli and Gretchen were in the girl's room his other three friends started insinuating… things… things that couldn't possibly be true… There's no way he could have a crush on Spinelli. They were just great friends is all.
"I… dunno, I guess I've just been feeling differently around her lately." Principal Prickly chuckled at T.J's confusion. "I'm sorry sir, but I fail to see what's so funny here." T.J. was a little annoyed at the response he got.
"Son, I never would have admitted this while you were attending 3rd Street. But, you're group of friends had the strongest bond I'd ever seen among you kids. And you, and Spinelli, always seemed more in tune with each other than the rest. And don't think I don't know about that little experiment Gretchen had you two do behind the dumpster. His Principal voice came out at the last part.
"I think you liked her even back then, but were maybe just not old enough to realize it. These kind of feelings can come without warning, and in the most unexpected of times. I think you know what you want." Principal Prickly concluded.
"Do I tell her, sir?" T.J. asked.
"While you have the chance to." Principal Prickly stood up. "Oh, and T.J?" He continued.
"Yes, sir?" T.J. curiously awaited.
"You should come by for a visit sometime." Principal Prickly walked away.
"Yes, sir!" T.J. called out, bearing a big smile.
Spinelli walked down the street, finally spying a familiar pink sports car. She knew she arrived. Knocking on the door, waiting patiently. With a click the door swung open, a heavy set lady with curly grayed hair answered the door.
"Spinelli!" She started excitedly. "Didn't expect to see you, come in, I was just getting dinner started. Horse liver and onions!" Her raspy voice echoed with eagerness at the company.
"Thanks, Ms. Finster, but I was hoping I could ask you something." Spinelli forced the words out as she entered into the Finster household.
"Sure thing, whatever it is you need." Ms. Finster was in no way an angry or bad person, she had her own version of the tough girl reputation is all. Spinelli never thought about it like that in elementary, nor would she have admitted it. She had a great respect for her former teacher and had come to really enjoy spending time with her.
"Well… you see it goes like this." And she begun explaining her day. The incident with D.J. and how T.J. stepped in, how upset, more than upset he seemed. She had a strange vibe from him in that situation, she never felt something quite like that coming from T.J. before. She continued on to the incident with C.J. how her openly flirting grosser her out with all the mush. And the talk with Gretchen, where she enlightened on the subject that T.J. would have defended any of his friends like that. Then she proceeded to suggest that she might like T.J. Bu, that was impossible, they're just really close friends is all, right?
"Ah, highschool, they can be tricky times indeed. You know Spinelli, now that you're older I must admit something to ya." Ms. Finster opened.
"Yeah? What's that?" Spinelli asked curiously.
"Of all my years of teaching, never have I seen a group of kids so genuinely close as you six. You and T.J. always seemed to have more of a… special bond then the rest. And, don't think I don't know about that little experiment Grundler put you two up to!" Her teacher voice came out briefly.
"It's pretty clear to me, Spinelli, that T.J. jas ,pre o,portance to you than simply just a friend. But, it's up to you to decide if you want to stay close friends, or become more than that. And, I will say that a few years down the line, when marriage becomes a possibility in your life, that you will want to find someone that will be your best friend for life." Ms. Finster concluded.
"What if we do go further, and only ruin our friendship though? I… don't think I could handle losing him as a friend." Spinelli stated sadly.
"Sit tight, Spinelli. I've got something to show you." Ms. Finster wasn't getting any younger, but she could still move with the same zest she remembered from grade school. Spinelli leaning into the couch as she waited for Ms. Finster to return. She came back only minutes later with something in her hand.
"Spinelli, my first love was with a man named Gregory Smithin. We were the best of friends all through middle and highschool. We eventually started dating. Oh, those were good times." She sighed dreamily. "Anyway, long story short, we broke up, but he promised me something… That we would always be best friends, even with the whole break up thing. He gave me this." She held up a simple pendant with the word "Always" engraved on the front, and Muriel and Gregory carved in smaller letters on the back.
"We've been best friends since then, up until he died about 30 years ago that is. Spinelli, I want you to have this." She handed the younger highschooler the locket. "Maybe it'll serve as a reminder, not to be scared of love. I think you should talk to him about this. It'll help you feel better, if nothing else." Ms. Finster finished.
"Yeah, I guess so… thanks Ms. Finster." She gave a small smile. Spinelli stood up and walked to the door, ready to leave.
"Oh, and Spinelli?"
"Yes, Ms. Finster?"
"You should come by and visit sometime." Ms. Finster spoke plainly, as if trying to hide the fact that she's been lonely.
"Sure thing, Ms. Finster. Promise." She walked out the door after that.
The sun was setting, dusk was approaching. She sent a quick text to her parents before starting her way back home. A few locks into the walk, she took her phone out again, aiming to text T.J. asking if they could talk. Smiling when she saw he beat her to it. She was so lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice the car pull up behind her.
I'll never understand how weird uploading can be on here, like... I might just be a complete idiot though.. so yeah.
I could pace the chapters out more, but Recess is so old I don't really expect many, if any readers or reviewers. Always nice though lol
I think one more chapter after this anyway? I could potentially split it up into two... but I think one should be fine. I'll decide as I'm typing lol