Whew! I'm on a roll with this story. I'm updating rather quickly. It helps when I'm passionate about a story. Thank you so much for the reviews! I'm honored. I hope to continue making the story an enjoyable read. Still, point out any issues there may be. I still occasionally struggle with switching from one tense to another-fair warning.
I still don't own anything...sadly.
Chapter3 - Gretchen
"Oh dear. This is not the desired outcome."
Gretchen looked on at the chaos before her. Chaos she created. She had been experimenting in her basement, one of the side rooms her parents had allowed to completely dedicate to her passion-science. It was the best thing her parents had ever gotten her, and she used it to its fullest extent. However, sometimes she can get carried away. Or distracted. The latter is far worse than the former. Today's mess proved just that.
Green solution had spilled over and collided with another reactive chemical that caused the green solution to become sticky. It now coated the surface of her work area. With a heavy-hearted sigh, Gretchen began to clean it up. She really should know by now not to work in here when her mind is on other things. The current predicament is proof of just that. Thanks to a particular basketball player, Gretchen's thoughts were elsewhere when she had knocked over the solution.
It was only yesterday that Vince had asked her out. It wasn't as if she didn't have her suspicions, but Gretchen was honestly surprised when he managed to talk to her about it. She had gotten Spinelli to be something of a sneak for her when the facts seemed to back up her theory. Spinelli, being the good friend she was, did just that and kept it under wraps from the others. However, before Gretchen could get the much needed data from her female friend, Spinelli's family took off for Italy, taking the answer with her. With Spinelli's limited phone access, she could not find a good, private time to relay the information either. So Gretchen was caught off-guard and at a loss of what to do when Vince approached her.
Gretchen sighed. She had gotten half the mess cleaned up, and it had taken nearly an hour. Gretchen's arms were getting sore. From what she deducted about the substance, it will not stain the counter or be any more difficult to clean later so there is no harm in taking a break. Gretchen shed her lab coat and went to take a walk outside.
"My, what a lovely day," Gretchen couldn't help but say when she stepped out into the fresh air. It was not too hot or cold, there had been light showers the night before so everything had a smell of freshness, and a slight breeze offered some sunshine relief.
Gretchen tried to clear her mind as she walked, but it was more difficult than anticipated even with the beautiful weather. That is, until someone shouted her name. The young genius glanced across the street to see the owner of the voice come barreling towards her. Gretchen barely had time to register that it was a friend before having said person collide with her, engulfing her in a bear hug.
"Hiya Gretch!" Spinelli exclaimed as she clutched one of her best friends. "How's it going?"
The force that is Spinelli often catches Gretchen off-guard. Sometimes she doesn't know her own strength-rarely but it does happen-and when that does, even her friends suffer. Hence the gangly girl's ribs being crushed. "Spinelli-breath-please!" Gretchen gasped.
The tough girl immediately released her hold and took a step back, looking extremely sheepish and a little guilty. "Sorry. Sorry, Gretchen. Just-happy to see ya, you know?"
Gretchen took a couple of deep breaths before straightening her glasses and addressing her friend. "Completely understandable." Gretchen smiled and again went to Spinelli for a hug. This one was much tamer in which both girls benefited from it. "I've missed you."
"Missed you too," Spinelli said as she pulled away. She frowned when she saw Gretchen staring at her friend's clothes. Spinelli didn't even look down at her outfit, knowing nothing was wrong with it but rather her friend stared from sheer surprise. "Don't mention it," she gives the warning about her purple blouse and black pants with matching heels. "My mom took a liking to all my new outfits and demanded I still wear them. I woulda worn my real clothes but she hid them. Hid them. I mean, where does she even hide them? I checked all the prime present-hiding places and still didn't find anything. I'm starting to suspect my parents have more skills than I know...so don't judge or comment 'cause I'll comment right back-like on the fact that you're still tall." Spinelli paused. "Am I any taller? Did you know that squirt Gus passed me up?"
Gretchen chuckled. "Yes, I had heard. He seemed quite proud of himself when he relayed that information. Don't worry, though. Your height does nothing to undermine your ability to appear quite ferocious."
Spinelli shrugged, seeming less thrilled at that fact than Gretchen anticipated. "Yeah. Suppose so." Then the shorter girl shook her head. "That doesn't really matter anyway. How was your summer? What's going on? Anything interesting happening?"
Suddenly, Gretchen's shoes were quite fascinating. She stared at them while keeping herself from voicing the predicament that arose yesterday instead of telling her friend the truth straight out. It still seemed a little surreal to the teen, and she didn't want to touch it yet. "Oh my summer has been wonderful. I updated Galileo, used my telescope nearly every night to observe the star changes, took an extra class in order to take that advanced physics college course early next semester, and figured out that math equation that went along with the solution I had told you about before you left. Remember? The one you said was 'longer than the law should allow math to be'."
"Oh yeah. That looked like a doosey."
"Quite. But enough about me. How was Italy? I heard they have a wonderful-"
A long, drawn-out groan from Spinelli stopped Gretchen's question. "I don't wanna talk about Italy. I already told you guys all the interesting stuff about it. I'd still rather have been here. I want to hear about you."
Gretchen could have sworn Spinelli's look held mischievous intent. She brushed off her suspicions and tried continuing on the current path of conversation. "I've already told you about my summer. It has been nice."
"How about the others? Hung out with them much?"
"Some, yes." Gretchen smiled. Spinelli frowned again. Spinelli had an uncanny ability to pick up when her friends were covering, especially since hitting puberty. When asked about it, Spinelli claimed she knew her friends so well and could see the changes that they tried to make in themselves since high school. The one thing she will always fight against, she claims, is fake friends. She will not have them become what society wants to mold them into. Spinelli is trying to impose just that right now with her nervous female friend.
Gretchen, however, tried to continue with the facade, but spoke only part of the truth. "We have been less...spirited as of late, however. Your absence has taken a toll on us, Spinelli."
"So I've heard," Spinelli said. "Is that all? You guys just missed me? Anything else happening?"
This time, Gretchen knew that look was pointed at her. "...Yes?"
Spinelli's victory grin made Gretchen again look at her shoes. "It's Vince, isn't it?"
"Is it obvious? I've been trying to hide it. Successfully, I had hoped with the others. You seem to have picked it up rather quickly."
The shorter teen rolled her eyes. "You had me spy on him, remember?"
"Not spy! Just...watch."
"Yeah, yeah. Well, I came to the conclusion that he likes you."
"Yes, I am aware. He...he asked me to the movies yesterday."
Spinelli's response was calmer than Gretchen anticipated. Then she saw Spinelli's own sneaky expression underlying her approving smile.
"That's great, Gretch! I thought you'd-"
"You knew." Gretchen's incredulous accusation hung in the air between the gal pals created an air of fear mixed with anger from the taller teen.
Spinelli's surprised face turns to one of guilt. "Heh. Yeah."
"How? I mean, he asked me out only yesterday?"
Spinelli rubbed the back of her head. "Well, ya see, I sorta met up with him the other night. Totally unplanned. We got to talking, and I weaseled his feelings for you out of him."
"You talked to him yesterday? What time yesterday?"
"Right before he asked you out?" Spinelli's apologetic smile was not enough to quell Gretchen's sudden flair of anger.
"And you didn't tell me? You didn't warn me? I have been driving myself crazy over this all summer, counting on your spying skills, and you don't even tell me that he's planning-"
"Because he wasn't planning on it!"
This brought Gretchen up short. "What do you mean?"
Spinelli let out a frustrated sigh. "I talked to him and found out he liked you-like, really, really liked you-but he wasn't sure about actually doing something about it. He...we talked about some of the things he wasn't sure about. He hasn't even told T.J. he likes you so he felt kinda stuck. But then we talked. His reasons to not ask you out were really stupid. I told him he doesn't deserve you if he allows crummy reasons like those to get in the way of what he wants to do. Don't be mad. I just wanted to...I think you two would look good together."
Gretchen absorbs the information provided by Spinelli and processes it as Spinelli stands in front of her, scuffing her perfectly good heels against the sidewalk, ensuring that her mother will yell at her later for the damage. Gretchen feels like she should be mad, but she wasn't mad. Logically speaking, Spinelli simply brought Vince past his fears, giving him permission from the group to pass through the door already open to him. She didn't interfere with Vince's love life selfishly, leading him the way she wanted to, but rather pulled him along the path he already wanted to go. Spinelli's to be given credit, not blamed.
"Thank you, Spinelli," Gretchen said. It sounded formal at first. Then it really hit her and she spoke again with genuine sincerity, again enveloping her friend in a hug. "Thank you so much!"
Spinelli let out a sigh of relief. "You're welcome." When the two broke apart, they took one look at another and burst into giggles. It was very out-of-character for the both of them, but with the entire summer of anxiety lifted off of their shoulders, their relief was allowed to come out in an unexpected way.
"Hey, what are we standing around here for? We should head to the mall!" Spinelli exclaimed. She immediately began the somewhat long trek towards the outlet mall at the edge of town.
"The mall? Spinelli, are you alright?"
Spinelli rolled her eyes. "I'm fine. Don't give me that look. Listen, I'm happy for you and all. And I think you are drop-dead awesome, but one thing I learned in Italy is that a new outfit for a special occasion can do wonders for confidence."
"You are talking to me about clothes? But you always say-" Gretchen asked incredulously.
"Clothes mean nothing. Yeah, yeah-preaching to the choir. I'm not saying it will make you any better; I'm just saying, if you feel pretty, you'll stand a little taller. Not that you aren't pretty now. Ugh, you know what I mean!"
"I thought you said I was too tall."
"I said you were still tall. Big difference. You are not too tall. Especially not for Mr. Basketball Player." Spinelli winked at Gretchen. The implication made the smart teen blush. "A new outfit for your date will do you some good."
"Careful, Spinelli, you're starting to sound like an Ashley," Gretchen joked.
Spinelli shivered. "I never want to hear that again. But desperate times call for desperate measures. What do you think, semi-formal? Casual?"
"Well, I suppose that depends on if we are doing something beforehand."
The girls continued to discuss the pros and cons of the outfit, the movie selection, and the day of the week the date should be on as they walked towards the mall. Gretchen felt more at ease during that walk than she had the entire summer. Spinelli's self-assurance and confidence were infectious. Gretchen could feel herself feeling stronger already. She had always looked to her female friend for a reassuring word, and she knew Spinelli looked to her for a steady hand. The mutual beneficial relationship made them closer than they should be according to statistics, Gretchen concluded. They are very different, but they complement each other so well.
They were just outside the first store when Spinelli suddenly stopped, pulling Gretchen to a halt as well.
"Wait!"
"What? What is it?"
"Did you say yes?"
"Did I...what?"
"Did you say yes?"
"To what?"
"To him! For the date! Did you say yes, you would go out with him?"
Spinelli's wide eyes and slightly-horrified expression struck Gretchen's funny bone. She began laughing, much to Spinelli's annoyance.
"What's so funny?"
"Spinelli-" Gretchen tried to regain her sense of calm and somewhat succeeded. "-of course, I said yes. Don't you remember when you interrogated me before this summer about it? I've liked him for a while and am pleased of the developments so far. I would love to pursue this. I believe I am going to enjoy it."
"Darn right you are." Spinelli's satisfied look also made Gretchen laugh. Spinelli's unimpressed look at being laughed at was less funny. "Let's just get shopping, ok?"
"Sounds good."
Two and a half hours later, Gretchen is walking back home with two bags in hand. What an invigorating time! Spinelli was right, clothing does occasionally do some good for confidence. New clothes always have some form of excitement; they hold promise. Hopefully, this time around, the promise will be fulfilled.
The best part of this day for Gretchen-besides seeing Spinelli again-had to be when a few guys neither Gretchen nor Spinelli knew began hitting on them. Gretchen was flattered. So was Spinelli, but neither really was interested. Spinelli had told them to back off because Gretchen was taken (oh, how she had loved hearing that phrase). However, the boys were rather insistent. That's when Spinelli slammed her heel into one boy's foot then elbowed him in the nose that they finally retreated. Spinelli had then turned to Gretchen and declared that no friend of hers was going to go behind another friend's back. Even unintentionally. They had both laughed at the absurdity of the thought that Gretchen would ever cheat. Then they simply went back to talking about Vince-well, Gretchen talked and Spinelli listened, offering her opinion and words of encouragement when necessary.
Spinelli seemed surprisingly supportive. Almost more mature than before. Yes, she was still Spinelli-tough as nails and extremely strong-willed, but also more understanding and willing to listen. Strange but not unwelcome. Especially not when Gretchen had gotten her first date and was, admittedly, obsessing over it. It was good to have someone there to gush with.
Gretchen giggled to herself. She was very excited now. All doubts about this endeavor have been squashed thanks to Spinelli.
"Gretchen! Hey!"
Gretchen turned to find T.J. jogging towards her. Gretchen paused in her walk to wait for her friend.
"Hello T.J.," Gretchen greeted when her friend caught up to her. "Is there something you need?"
"Nah, just saw you walking by and thought I'd say hey. How's it going? What's in the bags?"
"Oh, nothing really. Just...I did some clothes shopping."
T.J.'s smile turned slightly mischievous, reminding Gretchen of Spinelli's equally mischievous grin earlier that afternoon. "Let me guess, for your date?"
Gretchen blushed. "Perhaps. Did Vince tell you?"
"Yep. Seemed pretty pleased about it too."
"He did?" Gretchen's blush deepened. She couldn't help it.
T.J. chuckled and nodded. "Uh huh. I'm happy for you two. Vince finally got the guts to ask you out."
"You knew he liked me?"
"I had my suspicions. Turns out I was right. And you like him back."
"Yes I do."
"Also right about that." T.J. nodded his approval of both his ability to be right and at Gretchen's happy smile shyly being pointed at the ground. "Glad you two got together before the school year started. I was pretty sure that Arnold Reynard wanted to ask you out. Coulda been an issue if school started. Better to avoid drama the Ashley's would gossip about."
"Funny, Spinelli said the same thing. Well, more along the lines of ' One of those nerds will have-'"
"You talked to Spinelli?" T.J. asked, his attention immediately drawn to his absent friend.
"Yes. I went shopping with her. She just-"
"Aw man!" T.J. smacked both palms against his forehead in agitation then threw his hands up in frustration. "This whomps! It's as if everyone else has seen her but me. I go by her house-she isn't there. I take a walk-she's not around. I walk by school-she disappeared! Then you guys have all talked to her, and I'm still going by her house every other minute to see if she's there and not dead asleep."
Gretchen put a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder. "Please don't despair. She is eager to see you-to see us all."
"Do you know where she is now?" T.J. asked hopefully.
Gretchen gave an apologetic look along with a shake of her head. "No. I'm sorry. She said she thought of some places outside of her house that her parents could have possibly hidden her clothes and was going to go check. She didn't say where."
T.J. sighed. His look of extreme disappointment tugged at Gretchen's heartstrings. She searched for words of encouragement but came up short. T.J. and Spinelli were close, rivaling T.J. and Vince's tightly woven friendship. Gretchen always wondered if T.J. and Spinelli's childhood crushes on one another survived and grew into their later years. That look of sadness on T.J.'s face certainly was an inclination toward a positive outcome. Perhaps...but Gretchen would like more evidence before making a conclusion.
T.J. shrugged. "Ah well. I'm bound to see her before the end of summer. We're all going to hang out together before school starts even if I have to drag you each individually out of your homes."
"I will certainly be there. Just give me the time and the place. I'm sure the group will benefit from having everyone together once more."
"You can bet your science on it, Gretchen."
"T.J., that's not-"
"Not how it works. I got it. I'm more than just street smart, Gretch. Just like you're more than book smart."
Gretchen smiled at her long-time friend. "Thank you, T.J."
"You got it. I'll see you later, alright? Mom sent me on some errands, and if I stay out too late she'll get suspicious. You'd think I'd get more trust after not breaking it for years."
"But T.J., what about that time three months ago-"
"Alright, alright. So nobody's perfect. Can't say that I'm not trying, though."
Gretchen chuckled. "I suppose you are trying. Have a good evening, T.J."
"You too, Gretchen. Later."
For the rest of the evening, after Gretchen put away her new clothes, she cleaned the mess in her lab with a smile on her face and a light heart.