A/N: Last chapter of part one! Wow, can't believe this! Thanks for sticking with me here, and I hope you like this chapter!
Chapter 6, TJ
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The school hallway is crowded as always. TJ walks through without a second thought though. Compared to many others he didn't hate High School. He had so many friends here. From the kids from Third street, to the people he met Freshman year, and of course his best friends. That's seems to be the problem from him these days. He has no idea what to do next. No plan. That's pretty terrifying for him.
He walks into the classroom for his first class of the day, American History. He sits at his usual spot at the back of the classroom. He's one of the first ones there, for a change. He takes out his books and them his phone. No new messages.
Last night had been the night of Vince's big game, and they had done outstanding. The big win had caused a huge celebration party after, so no wonder people are a little late. TJ had not been in the mood to party, since he was just so worried, for his future. Everyone seems to know exactly what to do with their lives, and where to go from here. It's weird for him to be the one without a plan.
As his train of thoughts ends, his girlfriend walks into the room with another group of students. Everyone looks tired and hungover, but not her. She's really something else. Her long, black hair is looking perfect, her coaled eyes gleaming, and that smile, the one that makes him feel like she knows everything. And she probably does. She's really smart, he know's that. Not just book smart, but people smart, if that's even a thing. He looks at her ripped black jeans and floral Doc Martens, the grey SUM 41 t-shirt she took from him a while ago, and he just have to smile. He's seriously the luckiest guy alive.
She walks over to him, smiles at him and sits down in front of him. She turns around in her chair, and just as she's about to say something the teacher walks in and she turns back to not draw attention. TJ sighs, He really needs to talk to her about this too. He have no idea what she wants to do with her life either. They haven't really discussed it, being to busy parting and just enjoying their lives. But now it was time to get a little serious, and he knew she knew that too.
It was just not something he looked forward to do, since he had not idea what to do himself and it was dragging him down. He knows they don't have any more classes together today, and lunch won't be a good time since it's always spent with all their friends. He quickly writes a note to her, saying to meet him at his basement later that day.
—
TJ sighs happily as he steps out of his car, and sees his house waiting. It's a rainy November day and the lousy water isn't really helping with his bad mood and troubled thoughts. Since he knows Spin is finished earlier than him Thursdays, he hopes she's already in his basement. She has a key, so she can come and go as she likes. His parents don't know, but he knows they both love her, so they probably wouldn't make a big deal about it anyway.
Their house is built on a ground that makes some of the basement at ground level, so it has a door of it's own. TJ basically lives there, with the TV room, bathroom and a bedroom he doesn't really need to leave except for when he's hungry. It's really nice to have some privacy, and he knows he's luck.
As he enters the basement he doesn't hear the sound of the TV and feels sad, thinking that Spin isn't there yet. But as he walks into the TV room he sees her, sitting on the couch, crossed legged and bent forward. Her hair is falling in front of her face, so he can't really see what's she's doing. When she hears him, she looks up and smiles. TJ smiles back, seeing that she's drawing. She's really talented at that. He leans down to kiss her and sits down next to her. She puts the drawing away and looks at him.
«So, that note seemed serious. Anything up?» she asks. He shrugs. «The party last night, everyone was talking about what they're going to do next fall. I guess I just wanted to ask you about that to.» he says carefully.
She bites her lip and looks down. «I've been meaning to talk to you about that. My art teacher sent my drawings to a school that have an amazing art program. I never really thought anything about it you know, it's really hard to get in. But today she told me, I got an early acceptation.» She looks up at him with a unfamiliar insecurity in her eyes.
TJ stares at her for a while, before he grins and hugs her tight. «Spin, that's really fucking awesome! Congrats!» he smiles. But she doesn't.
«Don't say that. I don't think I'm going there. You see… it's in London TJ. I'll have to move to London.» She whispers the last part. TJ is stunned, trying to suppress the sinking feeling inside. He looks at her, and takes her hands. «Spinelli. You love London. You love art. You're amazing at it, and you got an opportunity here that won't come again. Nothing pains me more than to see you go, but I think you'll always regret it if you don't.»
She looks at him with broken eyes, kisses him, and whispers something about needing to think this through on her own. As she leaves, TJ turns and hits a pillow with all his might, trying not to scream of sadness.
—
At dinner that night it's just him and Becky. Fun TJ just sits and shove the Chinese takeout around at his plate. Becky's eyeing him, but she's not saying anything- After a while TJ get's tired of it and looks up her her.
«Why don't you just ask? I know you want to!» her burst out. Becky just raises her eyebrows at him calmly. «Well, I figured you'd just snap at me, but since you did that anyway, I might as well ask. What's brining you down bro?»
TJ sighs. «Sorry,» he begins. «But everything is a mess. Everyone of my friends knows what to do with their life, where to go, and i'm just stuck. And now I found out that Spin was accepted into an great art school in fucking London. It sounds stupid, but I just can't loose her damn it.»
Becky looks at him. «Well Dork, it does sound stupid. Because the solution here is pretty clear, at least to me.» TJ looks up. «Please, if you have a great idea, do tell sis.» He says, feeling defeated.
«Okay,» Becky says. «First a few questions. Firstly, do you want to go to college even though you haven't decided on a major?»
TJ shurgs. «Yeah, I gues. Yeah.»
«Okay, so, you really love Spinelli don't you?» Becky asks, straight forward.
«Yes.» No hesitation from TJ this time.
«Well then, why the hell don't you apply on the same Uni as her? Or any Uni in London, there is so many great ones there. You can just start out, and then maybe you'll find your way pretty fast. Not everybody knows what to do with their life senior year TJ.»
TJ looks at her as if she just grew a unicorn horn. He could do that? Of course he could. Shit, why hadn't he thought of that? It's weird how love can cloud your head, really. He gets up, the food long forgotten. He hugs his sister, and rushes out the door, he has to find Spin. he has to find her now. Becky just shakes her head, smiling at her brother. Stupid boys.
TJ is running to Spins house, knocking at her door before he even has time to think about what he's going to say. Her mom opens, TJ didn't even know she was back yet.
«Hi Mrs. Spinelli, is Spin is?» He pants. «Nice to see you back by the way!»
«Hello dear, it's nice to see you to! She's up in her room, just go up honey.» He thanks her and runs up to find Spin.
As TJ knocks on the door to her room he feels insecure. What if she doesn't want him to come? Shit, shit, sh-
His desperate thoughts end with her opening the door. She looks at him, relived. She's changed into her PJ's, just a big old t-shirt from him and some shorts, but she still looks stunning. She always does.
«Spin,» he nervously starts, «I want to to know I meant every word I said. You have to go alone. But… but you don't have to go alone. I really want to, if you want to that is, I mean… Shit, what I'm trying to say is, well, I want to come with you! I'll take some courses until I figure out what I want, but I really want to do that with you…» He looks at her, feeling sick of nervousness.
Spin just looks at him, and slowly, her face turns into a smile. So much relief is showing in her face and she throws herself at him, kissing him and hugging him.
«There is nothing I want more TJ. Fucking hell I love you.»
And with that, TJ knows. It will all be okay, because no matter what happens, he will have her. And really, for now, that's all he needs.
—
A/N: Oh dear, this was emotional. A lot of my friends are moving away to study this fall, so this was hard to write. But here it is. Part one. I hope you all like it, thanks so much for reading. I will start working on part two soon, and I will start posting when I have some chapters ready, so I won't fall to much behind. But until that, maybe I'll post some One shots or something, because I really like writing about these guys.
Until next time then!
-Emilie