Torture
It was torture for TJ having to put up with Byron for two whole hours. Watching him put his arm around Spinelli and call him 'his little princess' made him sick. Spinelli wasn't 'his'.
TJ hated the way Byron bragged about everything, too- from his designer clothes to how popular he was at Long Lane Middle School, the school he went to. Until he couldn't take it anymore.
"I'm going home," TJ said. "I have some- um- homework to do."
His five friends frowned at him.
"Teej, since when do you do homework?" Vince said.
TJ shrugged. "I guess I need to improve my grades. Bye, guys." TJ said, and he was out of there quicker than a bolt of lightning.
All night, TJ couldn't get the image of Spinelli resting her head on Byron's shoulder while he spoon fed her ice-cream out of his head. TJ despised Byron. He couldn't see at all what Spinelli saw in him.
What did Byron have that he didn't have? Why did Spinelli like him so much anyway? Why couldn't Spinelli like him?
TJ sighed. He climbed into his bed and opened a Senior Fusion comic book. But even though Senior Fusion was his favourite comic book of all-time, he still couldn't focus on it. He couldn't stop thinking of Spinelli.
TJ threw the comic onto the floor in frustration and picked up his laptop. He signed onto a chatroom and his heart started racing, Spinelli was online.
ToughTomboy: Hey Teej, why'd you leave Kelso's early?
SeniorFusionRocks: I told you. If you weren't listening, that's not my problem.
ToughTomboy: Alright, quit biting my head off!
SeniorFusionRocks: I wasn't biting your head off! It's just you being a drama queen!
ToughTomboy: ME being a drama queen?
BigGuy: Why the arguments? Why the conflict? Why the cruel words?
ScienceGirl: Mikey's right. There has been little point to the argument you just shared.
Basketball4ever: Yeah, so quit it!
SeniorFusionRocks: OK. Sorry, Spin. Guess I was a bit out of order. Hi Mikey, hi Gretchen, hi Vince.
ToughTomboy: It's OK Teej. I'm sorry too.
BigGuy: Where's Gus?
(NothingSpecialJustGus has just signed in.)
ToughTomboy: Speak of the devil!
(NothingSpecialJustGus has been added to the conversation.)
NothingSpecialJustGus: Hey guys!!
Basketball4ever: Yo Gus!
NothingSpecialJustGus: What you all doin'?
ScienceGirl: Talking to you guys, and playing chess.
ToughTomboy: Talking to you guys and watching wrestling.
SeniorFusionRocks: I'm just talking to you guys. I can't do two things at once. I'm not a woman.
NothingSpecialJustGus: I sure hope not!
Basketball4ever: Lol.
ToughTomboy: Lol.
BigGuy: Once again, TJ has amused us all.
ToughTomboy: OMG!!
NothingSpecialJustGus: What?!
ToughTomboy: Byron's online!!
Honestly, thought TJ, anyone would think he was the president or something.
NothingSpecialJustGus: You mean the guy who was at Kelso's with us earlier?
ToughTomboy: Yeah! Can I add him to the conversation?
ScienceGirl: Of course you can!
(ImTheBest has been added to the conversation.)
ImTheBest: Ashley?
ToughTomboy: Hi Byron!!
ImTheBest: Oh. Hi Ashley!! x
SeniorFusionRocks: It's Spinelli.
ToughTomboy: I think I can speak for myself, TJ.
ImTheBest: Who are all these people?
ToughTomboy: My old friends. The ones we were hanging out with earlier, at Kelso's.
ImTheBest: Oh, right.
ImTheBest: I love you, Ashley. 3 xxxxxxx
ToughTomboy: I love you MORE, Byron! 3 xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ImTheBest: No, I love you WAY MORE!! 3 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
SeniorFusionRocks: Um… I gotta go.
ImTheBest: Don't be a stranger.
I wouldn't want to go anywhere near you, TJ thought. And I'm not too happy about you going near Spinelli either.
(SeniorFusionRocks has signed out.)