"Some devil, some angel, has got me to the bone 3"

Early mornings were not TJ's strong suit. He was a night owl, and spent hours at night reading and texting Spin. He regretted it every morning, but never enough to start going to bed at a "decent" hour. He couldn't figure out how she was such a morning person when she was talking to him until three in the morning. He picked her up for school every morning and she always looked alert and fresh.

These musings were occurring as TJ waited in Spinelli's driveway Friday morning. He was early, and she was late. Just as he was about to honk the horn AGAIN, his passenger door opened. He jumped slightly, then got a good look at her.

And tried hard to collect his eyeballs, as they had popped out of his face.

Yes, today was the pep rally, and yes, their school colours were purple and silver, but no, he had not expected her to dress for the occasion. Although, come to think of it, she ordinarily did. But silver fishnets and a short purple dress that looked like a long tight tee shirt were unexpected, even from her.

"Once you pick up your jaw out of your lap we can leave," she said scarcastically. TJ shook his head and blinked.

"Sorry Spin, you caught me off guard too early in the morning," he mumbled, feeling his face redden.

She laughed, and he looked back up at her, and grinned sheepishly. Now that his eyes had left her body, he noticed that she was still wearing her hat. His eyes swept down. Boots, too. Good old Spinelli. Tomboy even when she was being flat-out sexy. Hell, she didn't even know she was being sexy. Or she wouldn't have done it. Spinelli wasn't interested in sexy. She did functional.

As they drove to school, TJ worried silently. At the pep rally they would announce him as a homecoming candidate. He would have to admit that he wasn't going to the dance. And he would have to come up with some kind of costume.

They pulled into the parking lot, and TJ suddenly realized Spinelli was staring at him.

"You good, man?" she asked, a touch softer than her usual gruff demeanor.

He smiled at her. No need to make her feel bad. "Just tryin' to think of a costume. What are you dressing as?" he asked, casually steering the conversation away from himself.

She laughed again, and shook her head. "No way Teej, that's a surprise," she said, giving him a playful shove and getting out of the car. "Now hurry up and get to the locker room, your jockstrap friends need you."

TJ laughed and waved her off. "Get to homeroom, degenerate," he tossed back.

The day of the homecoming game was one of the best all year for students. They came to school, sat through homeroom, watched some videos about drunk driving and discussed them, then were called down by grade, highest to lowest, into the gym for a pep rally, after which lunch was served and the whole school went home. Football players, cheerleaders, and the marching band missed the videos and practiced being peppy in the gym, along with the king and queen candidates. As TJ headed for the gym to meet up with the rest of the team, Menlow grabbed his arm.

"T.J., you haven't bought your homecoming ticket yet," Menlow informed him.

"Actually, Menlow, I'm not going to the dance," TJ told him.

Menlow gaped at him. "But you're on the ballot!" he said in shock.

"I know. But I have somewhere I have to be. Besides," he added with a grin and a wink, "do I actually have to be there to win?"

Menlow smiled at him. "Technically, you don't. It just might start a scandal."

TJ grinned even more brightly at the prospect. "Scandal? Tender..."