So this chapter is very late and I'm soooo sorry about that. Well here it is, please don't forget to review! Enjoy :P


Spinelli's birthday really had taken a turn for the worse. It started out great; her best friend really out did himself with multiple heartfelt surprises for her, turning a run of the mill school day into a day for the ages. There were a few minor annoyances; The little tiff with the Ashleys and the cupcake incident while annoying weren't enough to ruin the day, in fact it got better from there. She was surprised by a visit from her brother Joey who invited her along to go visit her other brother Vito in prison a rare treat. The day went down hill when they were told that Vito had been placed in the Shu- the "Special Housing Unit", thus cutting the Spinelli family reunion short. Other than the incident that landed him in prison Vito was never much of a trouble maker, so this shocked and concerned his siblings greatly to hear that he was placed in solitary confinement.

Spinelli felt hopeless as she watched the exchange between her brother and the prison warden. They were just out of earshot so the only information she could get out of the conversation was from the expressions on their faces. The warden all though short, slim, and frail looking did not respond emotionally to any of Joey's fist shaking, jabbing, or death glares. Instead he continued to nod his head like a bobble-head. After twenty minutes the warden handed Joey a business card and offered a hand to him. Joey ignored the gesture and yanked the business card, he made his way back to his sister and friend with his head hung low.

"Joey?" Spinelli stood up preparing herself for the news.

Joey just closed his eyes and shook his head.

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"Thank you for the ride Joey... and I'm sorry about Vito." Tj extended his hand towards Joey.

Joey returned the handshake an added in a single armed bro hug. "Thanks kid. Do me a favor and look out for Ashes will ya?"

"Heh I don't think she needs anyone to take care of her, but I'll always be there for her."

"Ha I guess you're right there. Well have fun at school. Later." Joey waved and drove away from the school.

Tj wondered why Spinelli had been so quiet, it didn't take him long to realize that she ditched him. He caught her walking towards the school exit and towards the center of town.

"Spinelli wait up!"

When he caught up with her she was about to enter Kelso's. He grabbed hold of her jacket stopping her in place.

"Hey I don't think that's a good idea. Mundy and his crew are probably loitering around here, we don't wanna get in anymore beef with them."

"Well where else can we go?"

He let go of her jacket and put his hand on her back leading her back towards school. "Eh I don't know, let me think..." He threw on a quizzical face and rubbed his chin. "How bout school? We still have 2 hours of it left you know."

She didn't appreciate his sarcasm though. "Pass."

"Man we're ganna be in so much trouble later." He sighed "Okay birthday girl what would you like to do?"

"We can't go back to my house my mom will probably be home any minute now, what about your place?"

"Can't my mom has the day off, we could go sit by the pond till we think of something better to do."

Spinelli shrugged and the two turned in the direction of the pond.

"So... how are you doing?" Tj asked shyly.

"How am I doing!?"

Tj instantly regretted asking her that.. He knew she was going to blow up into a fit of rage at some point, he was just hoping she wasn't going to take it out on him. He covered his ears to prevent the possibility of his ear drums bursting.

"Terrible." She said in a hurt tone. Tj felt heartbroken, he'd would much rather see her in a fit of rage than to see her upset. Tj pulled her into a hug.

"Like Joey said, your parents will call the warden and figure it out... I'm sure it's all just a big misunderstanding."

"Teej the SHU is not something they accidentally throw you in, it's a big deal. It's for when people get into fights or harm others."

"But you said Vito's not like that."

"He's not! He's not a fighter like me and Joey, he is the good kid." She sighed and buried her face into Tj's chest.

Tj squeezed her tight. "Come on let's go find you a big ole pile of skipping rocks." Tj broke the hug and lead Spinelli down the path to the pond.

Relief came over upon their arrival, they were ready to blow off some steam and end this day. They passed the last few trees in the path and Muddy Bottom Pond came into clear view- as did the faces of their four ex best friends.

All six former friends were speechless. This was the first time in over a month that they were all together and no one was prepared for this awkward reunion.

Spinelli thought for sure that Tj would be the first to speak up seeing how he was the leader and typically the voice of reason in the group, but he stayed silent.

Tj expected and hoped that Mikey the sweet souled gentle giant would beg everyone to end the fighting and become friends again in an embarrassingly poetic manor, but Mikey also bit his tongue.

Gretchen wanted to say something, anything but didn't know where to begin. She was still a bit peeved at her friends for what they did, but she had also been missing them like crazy.

Vince's thoughts about the little reunion were pretty similar to Gretchen's. Earlier that day he would've killed to have Tj by his side to help him out when he was being peer pressured to smoke weed, but he also still felt betrayed by Tj's actions at their first football game.

Gus and Mikey exchanged looks and whispered amongst themselves. Gus turned to Gretchen and Vince and signaled them to leave. The four of them glanced back at Tj and Spinelli one last time and headed for the path.

Mikey followed behind them at a much slower pace. He stopped in front of Tj and Spinelli and gave them a half smile. "Are you guys going to the Halloween dance?"

Spinelli nodded. Tj was taken aback at this, he had no idea that she wanted to go.

"That's nice, I guess I'll see you guys there." Mikey waved and called after the gang to wait up for him. After a few seconds he stopped and looked back in Tj and Spinelli's direction. "Oh yeah Happy Birthday Spinelli!"

"Thank you!" Spinelli shouted back. She grinned ear to ear.

"Hey I didn't know you wanted to go to the dance."

"I really didn't want to, until Mikey mentioned it. You think he asked cuz he wants to hangout with us at the dance?"

"Possibly. I guess we will have to go to find out." Tj wrapped his arm around Spinelli's shoulders and looked at her shyly. He opened his mouth to speak but chocked on his words.

"Teej?"

"Umm Spinelli... do you want to go to the dance?"

"Well yeah I kind of just said that I wanted to go."

"Right... I just meant with me..." Tj pulled his arm away from her and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Obviously dude I'm not going alone and you're my only friend, but hopefully that will change at the dance and Mikey will talk to us again."

"Uh..."

"And who knows, maybe the others will follow suit! Oh man this is so exciting!" Spinelli hugged Tj. He returned the hug and although he was feeling slightly rejected at that moment he too felt excited about the up coming dance and the possibility of reconciliation.