Spinelli smiled. She had used this trick once before, when she and Lawson had wanted to go home and make out instead of going to class last semester. When they were outside the nurse's office, she threw her arm over TJ's shoulder and whispered in his ear, "Open the door and play along," and slumped weakly against his body. TJ looked at her oddly, but did as she said. When they walked in the door she began to moan as though in extreme pain, and TJ lowered her delicately into a chair. The nurse looked up from her trashy romance novel and gasped. Spinelli curled up in a ball and tried hard to look pitiful, which was difficult for her.

"Goodness child, what's the matter?" the nurse asked, looking over her glasses. "You look worse than you did last time!" Internally Spinelli laughed. Last time she'd had a broken ankle from gym class. Externally however, she simply winced and whimpered, "Cramps." She even managed a few tears.

Mrs. McClain looked at her oddly. "Really that bad?" she asked suspiciously. After all, Ash Spinelli was not known for tears, unless she was the cause. "Ash, if you're playing me..." she began sternly.

Spinelli blinked innocently, then sniffled and curled up in a tighter ball. "Please, Mrs. McClain," she gasped, "it hurts!"

TJ put his arm around her, and she buried her face in his hoodie. Mmmm, essence of Teej. With her face hidden Spinelli took a moment to fangirl, then breathed deeply and whimpered again. He leaned over and whispered into her hair, "shhh..." Then he looked up at the nurse. "Can you do anything for her," she heard him say in a serious tone.

"I can send her home," Mrs. McClain told him, "if someone can take her." Spinelli nudged TJ hard, to let him know that this was his chance.

"I can take her," he said. "I drive her to school every day anyway, and I know her parents can't come, they work."

Spinelli peeked, and saw that the nurse looked skeptical again. She moaned and grasped TJ's shirt, and saw McClain's face soften. "Take her home," she told TJ softly. "I'll tell your teachers."

Without warning, there was suddenly no chair beneath her. TJ set her on her feet on the floor and wrapped an arm around her waist. She blushed, then threw an arm around his shoulder, trying to seem faint and miserable. The nurse wrote them a pass and shooed them out. As soon as they were down the hall and out in the parking lot Spinelli pulled away and giggled.

"I'm a wizard!" she giggled, twirling in a circle giddily. Freedom tasted amazing, like fall air, leaves and smoke and a crisp chill. She grabbed TJ's hand and ran to his car, dragging him like a big muscular rag doll. "We're freeee!" TJ laughed at her, then got in the car and started the engine.

"Get in, crazy. Let's go home." she smiled at him and got in, opening the window a crack. October was so beautiful, with red leaves spinning outside the car in swirls and spirals. She bounced in her seat to TJ's iPod, humming vacantly along to One Headlight. Then she started to feel eyes on her, and turned to find TJ smiling at her slightly.

Me and Cinderella, put it all together we can drive it home...with one headlight...

She stared out the window for a few minutes, then realized that TJ was staring at her strangely. "Um...Teej? Is there somethin' on my face or what?"

TJ visibly shook himself. "Sorry dude, spaced out a little."

Her eyes widened. "TJ, you're DRIVING." He chuckled, embarrassed. "Don't space out, man. And eyes on the road."

She glared at him until he turned away, then sighed and propped her boots up on the dash. TJ cleared his throat, but she ignored it.

"Spin, are you...like, doing anything Saturday night?" TJ asked her all in a rush.

And in that moment Ashley Spinelli's heart almost failed.

See, Saturday was two things. For one, it was Halloween. The most totally awesome, completely perfect, 110% rad day of the year. Just the thought of it made Spinelli nearly drool. But it was also something much more sinister: the Homecoming dance. And Spinelli had a sinking feeling TJ wasn't asking her to go out and score some free candy together. He quickly confirmed her fears.

"I need a date for the dance, I'm on Homecoming Court. I know you weren't planning on going, but come on Spin! I'm desperate!" he looked at her with pleading eyes, then quickly turned back to the road.

Spinelli sighed deeply. "Look man, I'm not freakin' goin' to homecoming. Not for you or anyone. I'm sorry, dude, but seriously? Me? Homecoming?" she shook her head hard. "I'm celebrating Halloween right, ok?"

She saw TJ's knuckles whiten on the steering wheel, then added quickly, "Come with me Teej!" He shook his head, but she was suddenly set on this spur of the moment plan. "Please Teej, it'll be wicked! Just like old times!" He turned her way, and she took advantage of his gaze to make a cute puppydog face. "Come onnnnnn!" As he pulled into her driveway, he shook his head and she grabbed his arm. "Seriously man!"

He threw the car in park and turned it off. "Spin, I'm on homecoming court. What if I'm voted king? Besides," he added in response to her dubious look, "I'm on the football team. Do you know how bad that would look?"

Spinelli snorted. "Man, since when do you care about what people think of you? Just come! We'll dress up and get into trouble and just have a good time!"

He looked at her thoughtfully, then nodded. "Ok Spin, but you owe me."

"Bring it Teej. What do I owe you?" she smirked.

"Half your candy," he answered instantly.

She glared. "Try again."

He grinned his lopsided grin and shrugged. "I'll come up with something," he laughed. "But you definitely owe me." Then he got out of his car and started heading for her house. "Dude, you comin'?" she grinned and nodded, and followed. I win again. Checkmate baby.