Chapter 14

Gretchen's POV

I can't believe that she just did that. No girl has ever stood up to Lawson since he got the reputation of being a little rough with the female population.

Taking a quick look around I see that everyone else is still in shock and staring at Elli's back which is now to us all as she sits on the window sill looking out talking to God knows who.

She's so strange. She looks like she would break in a wind storm and then she stares down Lawson. She's happy one minute and the next calm, cool and collected on the phone like she's talking business. One minute she's talking to you like she's known you for years and then she clams up like you're a complete stranger.

I just don't understand her.

God she reminds me of Spinelli. I grin as I think of my feisty childhood friend. Now there was a girl who could take care of herself. She might have been small but nobody got in her way.

It had hurt so bad when she just disappeared. Suddenly I was the only girl left in the group which would have been fine in earlier years but we were all growing up and I had no one to talk to about girl stuff…. Not that Spinelli would have been very interested in any of that any ways, but at least she would have understood what I was feeling.

I guess none of us took her leaving with out a word very well. But I think out of us all TJ took it the worst. We were all best friends but TJ and Spinelli were always a little closer then the rest of us, probably because they were neighbors. They were by far the closest in the group. I think TJ liked trying to protect her from others and from herself; which I think was a bit of a hero complex since she was so small he automatically wanted to protect her. And although they had started out being best friends I was fairly sure that by the middle of that last year he had a fairly large crush on our dear friend.

I cried when my parents finally told me what had happened. I couldn't even imagine what Spinelli must have been feeling to lose her family like that. And then to make matters worse her guardians forced her to go to a school away from her friends who would have taken care of her.

"Hi Gretchen" startled I look up and find Mikey standing in front of me.

"Mikey?" I watch as he winces. I'm not sure if it's because I slipped and called him Mikey or if it was because of my tone which I'm sure was a little to surprised. But in my defense it has been a long time since we've actually engaged in conversation.

"Do you mind if I sit. I have group project and it doesn't look like the other are here yet and all the tables are taken" He's looking down at his shoes instead of at me which is why he didn't see me nod stupidly. He looks up at me finally a little hurt and turns to leave making my brain finally click in.

"Yeah sure Mike have a seat. Let me just move some of my books" he looks at me a little uncertain as I quickly move my books and Elli's things out of the way. I give him an encouraging smile and he finally sits down.

I look at him and smile again and he looks at me and then down at the table….. Awkward silence. How in God's name had we come to this point were we couldn't even start a conversation.

"Hey Gretch, Mike" I look up relieved to see that TJ is making his way towards us. He grins and takes a seat.

"Is Elli here yet?" nodding I point to the window were she's still talking on the phone; and looking more and more tired by the moment.

"Oh okay then" he answers looking little disappointed then perks up when Vince walks into the room with a huge grin.

"Where's Elli?" at my gesture he looks over at her and his grin gets bigger which makes TJ frown. "So tell me Gretch did she really do it? Did she really put Lawson in his place?" I watch as TJ looks at Vince in disbelief then turns to Elli and finally to me for the answer. Mike who for this whole time had directed his gaze towards his shoes looks up with a look of utter disbelief.

"Lawson isn't causing her troubles is he?" TJ grumbles. Yup he has still got that hero complex. TJ will always want to help save everyone.

"She couldn't do that she's too sweet" Mike says at the same time TJ was grumbling.

Sweet she practically bit our head off the other day when we tried to wake her!

Looking at all three boys I grin and slowly nod my head. "It was a sight to behold. She had him shaking in his shoes with a couple of words and a stare. It was an amazing thing. He had the same look on his face that he used to get when Spinelli was trying to cream him." This got them all chuckling as they thought back to those recesses so long ago.

"Do you guys remember when…." Mike starts out taking us back to one of our many adventures.

And just like that the years that have separated our friendship disappear. We're laughing and joking like we used to do. The only thing missing right now is Gus and Spinelli. A familiar laugh has me turning around almost expecting to see Spinelli but it's just Elli shaking her head almost like she remembered that story and couldn't believe they had done that. She shakes her head slightly. Then suddenly goes a little pale when she sees me watching her.

"What are you guys talking about? The warning bell just went and we have to get going. Sorry about not being able to work on the project but that was an important call. During English we should arrange another time to get together."

And with that she picks up her bag and walks away leaving us all a little dazed.

"We should all get together more often. This has been a lot of fun" I say as I stuff my books in my bag.

"Gus is coming home next weekend if you want I could get a hold of him and we could all meet at Kelso's for ice cream" Mike pipes in then looks a little startled at how he did just volunteer that.

"You've kept in touch with Gus" Vince says a little shocked then nods his head as he agrees to meet at Kelso's.

"Count me in" I smile at Mike which to my relief he actually smiles back this time. "TJ?"

"Yeah I'll be there" He says and begins to walk away. As he walks by me I hear him mumble "It will almost be like the old day's if only Spin were here"

I look in the direction that Elli had taken of in. Was it possible?