Chapter 4- oh do tell

I walked straight into my science lesson still grinning, the class didn't know I came in but I really didn't care. Seeing that face of TJ put me in a wonderful mood. I mean his total shock and disgust displayed was priceless- it was truly something I wanted to draw over and over and over again. I went up to the teacher who looked at my papers clearly unimpressed. Sure I wasn't much academically but I wasn't that bad.

'Ok, I'll pare you with Grundler; she always refused to have a partner though...' I looked to the only spare seat on the room next to the girl with the tight pony tail.

'No prob.' I walked straight to the back of the class. A smirk was playing on the girl's lips as I sat next to her. She had grown to be rather pretty. Very tall and extremely thin, almost worryingly thing. but she had defiantly grown into her looks, her hair had grown and instead of having twin plats down the side of her head she tied it back into a tight knots with two long wavy bangs framing her face. Instead of the large glasses that used to take up about half the space of her head she now wore small round oval glasses that sat on her nose elegantly. She would have been an adult but something about her said otherwise. It might have been her freckles or her pleasant smile that met mine; she was still no better or worse than me.

'I see you still have the same old fashion statement.' she grinned as I pulled my bag up next to me. She even sounded the same. I mean, she wasn't snorting or anything and her nasal problem was (almost) gone but it was defiantly her!

'Well when you're small you have to have some bark.' I relaxed. She looked me up and down clearly inspecting my growth as I did to her.

'Indeed you're still small; I guess all the weight lifting didn't help with the growing.' she rested her head on her hand. 'I presume you still do that?'

'Yhea but not overly, just to keep in shape.' I scratched my head. 'So how are you doing?' I copied her movements. She looked really, really thing. It was like she was going to break.

'I've been working. None stop actually...in lessons here though it gets terribly boring.' she sighed 'I suppose you know that the gang split not long after you left, I've got reports of you meeting, fighting and then actually talking with Detweiller the other day.' I nodded. 'Good, so I don't have to explain everything. I normally have to and it get's so boring.' she complained, the teacher looked up. 'You know he knows I'm better than him. I've more degrees than him to yet I'm stuck in high school because of age and convenience.' she glance at me.

'What grades are you getting?' she said calmly.

'B's...and A's in gym and art.' I frowned remembering what TJ had said. But she didn't act like she was better than me, she just seemed bored and that was all she knew about. 'How long have you just been about school work? I mean from what I've heard you must have passed collage exams and everything.' she nodded.

'Done it all. But no collage want's a professor that's younger than the students and I can't work in a lab because I'd still be treated like a kid. The world is cruel...but you know that.'

'What?' I sat up straight. What did she know? Did she have tabs on me as I travelled? I wouldn't put it past her. It was Gretchen after all.

'You left all your friends and gave up everything just because of a whim of your parents. No matter what's happened to us all back here must be nothing compared to the stress you had to go through moving constantly...I got all you letters right till last year.' I nodded folding my arms.

'Yhea, thanks for not giving them to the guys back then.' she nodded in return. 'But you're the smartest person I know so I thought if anyone could be trusted it'd be you.' she smiled wrapping her arm round me.

'Want to skip class?' she whispered picking up her bag I looked up at the teacher. 'He won't stop me. I've got some dirt on everyone here.' she grinned standing up. I nodded flowing her to the door and we slipped out as easy as that. In all my life I would have never thought that I'd have Gretchen Grundler sneaking me out of classes.

We went straight to the end of the lockers where Gretchen stopped me. She was staring at the locker at the end of the row.

'Never tell anyone about this.' she muttered putting her hand on the locked and putting in the code. I nodded just as she opened it. She walked straight into the locker turning to look at me. 'No one.' I raised my hands nodding again.

'I got it, you don't have to worry.' he nodded turning again to knock at the wall. 'But I don't really get...' I stopped talked and she pushed on the back wall of the locked. The wall swung open to revile a large room covered with computer monitors. 'Wow.' I muttered following her and closing the locker after us.

'I know right? You have no idea how much talking I've have to do to get permission for all this. Everyone that knows just thinks it's for a monitoring a social experiment.' she flicked a switch on the wall and the room suddenly had light, the monitors flickered on to show images of the school. Every room, corner, hallway was monitored by Gretchen. I looked at her.

'But what is it for?' I narrowed my eyes.

'Gathering information.' she smiled. 'I've told you I get bored with school now. Lessons mean nothing when you're smarter than the teachers. I look at every person and study them.' she giggled to herself. 'The look on people's faces when you tell them what they did the hour before. It's funny. But mostly I just spend my day in here reading, trying to starve of the boredom.' she sighed again nodding to a large couch and rug in the centre of the room.

'I wanted to write to you but you said not to. What were you up to for all these years?'

I gave a weak smile remembering all my letters. I just told them all when I moved schools and what I did on Christmas and holidays. Generic stuff purely because I didn't know what to tell everyone. I couldn't tell them all I was miserable and hated my life...well I could have but they would have done something stupid. Long ago I told Gretchen not to give my letters to the guys anymore and that the few ones I send were just for her. Telling her a little more about what had been happening to me. The only one who wouldn't try doing something unneeded or silly.

'Well Mom and Dad told me to stop writing. You know...they said it was for safety reasons but they never fill me in fully. All I know is that we moved because something went wrong but now its fine, it's all over.' I sighed. And that was all I knew. They never said why we kept moving but I did end up knowing something was up. I wasn't stupid. A kid picks up on things. I sat down on the couch with Gretchen lying back to relax.

'You sure? I mean...you look tired, pale, ill I guess...' she stopped to put her hand on my head. 'You've got a fever.' she got to her feet rummaging round the room.

'No, don't make a fuss. It's just a little cold or something like that.' she joshed back with a blanket throwing it over my shoulders.

'You should go home.' she said quickly folding her arms sitting back down. I copied her and stared back at her.

'Hey, I'm not about to be told what to do by someone who hides away all day. I bet you're never outside long enough to get a cold.' even so I hugged the blanket round me. 'I thought you liked going outside too. Kick ball and just running round, you were not the average geek.' she smiled again.

'Things change. You know that. The gang will never get back together, so I'm stuck here. I have no reason to go out to them when I have no friends or even associates.'

'Well I have a proposition for you.' I smiled leaning in towards her. 'I have a plan to get the gang back.' she raised her eye brow. 'Don't be so quick to judge. I just think it's petty you all split because of such trivial reasons.'

'They weren't trivial.' she said quickly. Her face was much like TJ's. It was like a shadow fell across her face even with the glowing of the monitors in every direction. Her glasses reflected the monitors as she turned her face down. 'I guess Detweiller didn't explain things properly after all.' at those words my heart sank. There couldn't me more. More details meant that it'll be harder. I bit my lip to keep myself form arguing.

'Ok then, tell me what really happened.' she nodded pushing her glasses up her nose.

'It all really kicked off a year into middle school when Vince got a girl friend.' she began; I turned to fully face her on the couch. 'I was beginning on the exams that would soon take up all the remaining time of my childhood. We were beginning to feel the strain school had on our friendship but we were still together, barely. Vince brought back a girl, Megan; she started off fine and nice. But she turned out to be a big mistake. She tried to get too involved with us; I think she liked the idea of being surrounded by guys to be fair. So I became her first victim. She began talking to the others about how I was studying so hard. I snapped at her a few times, I thought it was all natural and consulted the others. TJ in particular didn't like her. She was always hanging over Vince who was TJ main friend after you left. He mentioned that she was trying to take your spot. I think to some degree he kept thinking you'd come back and so he always get defensive around her. Vince didn't like that and so I was pushed out of the group for no reason, Vince soon left with his girl friend because of all that drama.

'During this time TJ was having troubles at home, his Mom getting ill and all so he didn't have time for everyone to talk to him. Mickey was getting picked on all because he was larger than everyone else and because he didn't have anyone to consult or turn to he acted out.'

'Yhea, I was told that much. Well about Mikey, but I just can't see him as a Bully and wasn't Gus there for him to talk to?' she shook her head.

'No, by then he was taken ill. I tried visiting him a few times but he wouldn't see me. He thought he was going to die.' she nodded as I showed my shock. 'He was that bad. It was terrible; no one should have gone though it and then Mikey just went power mad. It was crazy. I told myself I wouldn't get involved after that. Gus came into school a few times and Megan started to get everyone call him a Zombie, Vince went to talk to him but Gus wasn't going to have any of that. His pride was hurt and Vince ultimately too his girlfriends side.' she cleared her throat. 'Then one day TJ came into school a little different. None of us know what really happened to him. He just came in and saw Mikey fighting with some guy from the year above. He freaked out and started punching Mikey and Gus and Vince had to pull him off the guy. I was walking past and went to help Mikey; TJ got a few good blows in there. There was blood and everything.' she shivered looking away. 'Well after that we all agreed that it was best that we didn't try to meet up again. And that was is. It was mutual and it worked out. I mean I didn't recognise TJ when he took that swing at Mikey.' I nodded, under those circumstances I fully understood why they all split up.

'Still want to try and get us back together?' she asked after a while of sitting in silence.

'Yep.' I stud up looking at the monitors, people were heading to the next classes. 'Don't you think that's its wrong that you all just broke up? For what because of a girl who turned out to be a bitch and a little fight? I used to fight with everyone all the time.' I walked to the door. 'You could help.' I stopped to look back at her. 'I'm not letting you go as a friend.' she smiled back at me as I folder the blanket up and threw it back at her.

'Well I wasn't about to give up my only friend.' she folded her arms looking at the monitors. 'But the others...I don't know. I washed my hands of those guys long ago.' she sighed.

'I didn't. Still a muddy little kid, see.' she groaned rolling her head back.

'You can use the monitors. But that's all the help I'm giving...it sounds almost fun.' I gave her a wink heading out through the locker.

'I'll hold you to that.' I stepped out into the hall way. A boy was standing next to the locker staring at me. I closed the locker after me brushing my dress down.

'Wha-why?' he looked just a tad confused.

'Urrr...' I looked round trying to see anything that could possibly be used as an excuse. 'The toilet defiantly isn't in there.' I said stiffly before shuffling off fast. Why did there have to be a randomer outside?

'Smooth.' I jumped as TJ leant over my shoulder. 'So what? Did you get stuffed in a locked for being the new girl?' he straightened up to walk next to me.

'No, I honestly walked in there believing a bathroom was on the other side.' I didn't catch his eyes. 'I mean in a few places I've been the decorate the doors to look like anything. There was one place that made the doors look like giant slippers. It was crazy, really...' I trailed off as I actually looked in him in the eye. 'You don't happen to be buying this...are you?'

'Not a bit, but I'm willing to look over it if you tell me what you're playing at?' he turned to push me to the side of the hallway. I folded my arms thinking fast of how to get out of this.

'I don't ask you why you didn't want to go home when you were angry, I didn't ask why people call you Jasper. I think I don't have to tell you anything.' I nodded defiantly. Yes, that sounded very true. I strengthened my gaze at him. He did look stumped on what to say now. 'Now, I have a lesson to get to.' he moved in front of me.

'What?' I growled impatiently.

'So you have a makeover and come into school acting very suspicious and I don't get to know what it's about?' he didn't sound too pleased about that. He glared down at me hands balled into fists.

'No, you don't.' I said simple moving past him. 'See you later, Jasper.' I called over my shoulder as I strolled off to my next lesson. Gym. I was actually waiting for this lesson.

I changed with the rest of the girls; never does a girl feel more alone than in the changing rooms alone. Girls talking and chatting with each other was the one point I never got. Everyone was so happy and loud. I just got changed as quickly as possible and headed out to the gym.

'Oh god.' I muttered meeting the boys in front of me. On a portable board read the worst words ever to appear in school. "Monitory dance lessons" I looked at the boys opposite me and saw at least two faces I really didn't want to see- one, a shaven head of a very tall lanky disappointed face, Vincent LaSalle and then TJ Detweiller. I looked back to the girls changing rooms wondering if I could quickly run back in and escape but the teacher was already here. a woman with short brown hair loomed over me.

'New girl, hu?' she barked down at me grinning. 'Tiny little thing...well it says on your papers that you've been dancing for years so this should be just your thing.' she tapped her clip board. 'Small one always dance.'

'I'm better at running, tennis, and wrestling. Anything would be better than dancing with those boys.' I whispered, pleading with the woman. She just smiled down at me.

'Don't worry. Just get talking to them they won't eat you.' she patted me on the back almost pushing me forward onto my face. I looked up at TJ smirking down at me. I really didn't want to be here. Death was better than this.

'So you still dance?' he strolled up to me smirking. I folded my arms turning away. Was he just going to annoy me till he gets what he wants? 'And here I was thinking that you're some kind of warrior goddess.' he circled to face me.

'Just call me Zena.' I growled crossing my arms. 'It's none of your business anyway. Just back off.' I sighed staring down at my feet. Why did life hate me? What did I ever do in a previous life to deserve this? TJ didn't leave though he stayed round me just staring me down. I clenched my fists ready for him to say something stupid again. All he needed to do was give me a reason and I'd break his jaw. I could even see myself doing it; the crack from the connection of fist to bone would feel so satisfying. But soon the girls filtered out of the changing rooms giggling and chatting still, I mean, it's not like they already did that back while changing. That would just be a silly thing to say.

'Jaspers here!' a girl squeaked.

'We're going to be dancing with him!' another squeaked. I relisted my fists, looking up at him. He looked pretty happy with himself.

'You have a fan club.' I folded my arms, I felt my voice shaking slightly, and so now he was some kind of ladies man, well it did make sense. He was always charming his way out of trouble, and he was also chatting up a teacher in this school so really anything could be possible. He was still smirking down at me.

'Well not all girls are scrappy midget girls.' he leant down to my ear. 'most girls actually try to be elegant and graceful, I'm surprised you're still acting like a child, I guess growing up round lods of mismatched schools and those insane parents of yours did a number on that head of yours.' I glared up at him.

'You keep your mouth shut about my family.' I growled up at him. He was still smiling. Constantly smirking at my reactions.

'But I remember you being really embarrassed about them before, what's changed?' I wanted to punch him; I could feel myself tense up ready to make that first strike.

'Spinelli!' a large arm came round my shoulders; I looked up to see a very bright smile. 'Why didn't you tell me you were back?' I felt myself get picked up and spun round. I hugged back just so I wouldn't get thrown to the other side of the gym. I got put on to my feet so I could look up at the boy. Deep brown eyes and skin, the he had grown, sprouted way too much but all the old features were here. He stud there in a loose basketball shirt and track suit bottoms but this wasn't anything new, it was just Vince.

'Vince.' I smiled letting myself relax again. 'Oh my god, you're like a giant.' he nodded letting his arm drape over my shoulders. 'You look amazing.'

'Same to you, but not the giant part.' he looked up at TJ. 'So you've had a chance to catch up with her too, hu?' I looked up to TJ, he was still smiling but now it was completely aimed at Vince. He was grinning back just as brightly.

'Yhea, we were having a nice little chat.' I could feel the static flying between them. This was no nice talk. Sure, they were smiling but boy were their faces stiff.

'Yhea, because you always know what to say, good old Jasper.' Vince wasn't moving his arm from my shoulders.

'It's alright, it's not like he could do anything. It's always been talk. Hasn't it Teej?' they both looked down at me as I shrugged Vince's arm off me. I walked away and stud amongst the girls, I sat on the floor biting my thumb. This was going to be hard, really hard.

I put my head in my hands, I felt dizzy, really dizzy. My head had been spinning ever since Vince picked me up. But the fever wouldn't beat me yet, I was to observe and talk. There was no time to waist now. Even though I wasn't there anymore they were still there talking to each other. Now there were no smiles, it was all serious.

'Vince is talking to Jasper again.' I looked up at the girls muttering to each other.

'That's never a good sign, I wonder if they'll start fighting again.'

'No, we're dancing; they won't have the chance to fight.' I snapped my attention back to the boys, they were getting closer.

'They look more fired up then they did before.'

'Yhea I wonder what happened?' I got to my feet as the teacher blew the whistle.

'Ok! Dancing time!' she called and the boys snapped the attention to her as if they weren't even talking. I still watched them, so there was something more to their relationship. They just didn't spilt up mutually. And Mikey didn't seem like he wanted to leave the group either.

'New girl!' the faces snapped to me. 'Front and centre.' I sighed standing next to the teacher looking at everyone. I was defiantly the shortest person here...great. 'This here is Ashley Spinelli; she transferred in yesterday so play nice. She's also a dancer so you'll be lucky to get partnered up with her today.' the teacher grinned down at me. 'Any takers?'

'Me.' Vince raised his hand fast glaring over to TJ as he stepped forward. 'She's an old friend too.' he turned his head grinning. The teacher nodded pushing me forward.

'Good, well now that that's over I'll get the rest of you together.' I walked over to Vince sheepishly still all too aware everyone was still looking at me.

'Well isn't that the little beauty queen I've missed so much.' he wrapped his arms round me again.

'You're such a dweeb.' I groaned. 'I wish you would have turned out like Chad.' I pushed him back. 'And what was this with Teej? It looked like you were about to rip out his throat.' he straightened up scratching his face.

'Well to be fair it looked like you were about to yourself. But since you're new and all I don't think it'll look too good. He's pretty popular with the girls and you don't really want to be targeted by them. Girls are crazy now. But if I fight with him it's nothing unusual.' I folded my arms looking over to TJ. He was partnered up with a blushing tall girl.

'I just don't get why girls like jerks, I mean they've never spoke to him and the ones that do always walk away crying.' Vince complained following my gaze.

'It's because girls like rebels and by not talking it doesn't ruin the image they have of him.' I sighed. 'That and he do have an annoyingly rugged look there.' I looked at Vince. 'I bet I could have torn that face up nicely if you hadn't have butted in.'

'No doubt and but you can't go along beating people up here. I don't know if you realise but it's almost like a prison in here.' he lowered his voice. 'High school is very restricting.' I nodded in agreement turning away from TJ. I didn't need to focus on him for a while. it was all about Vince for a whole hour.

the teacher started talking, instructions and then the music came on, the typical one two three for a waltz.

'I know it's old fashioned but the school wants you to know how to do this for some reason, only for this week then we can go back to kicking each other.' the teacher said walking to the side. 'Dance!' she commanded and instantly as all tried getting into position. Vince turned holding his hands out almost perfectly.

'I'm I doing it right?' he asked leading me round watching his feet. I smiled following smoothly.

'Yhea, you're a natural.' I grinned more remembering him walking gracefully in heels the time he trained me to be a lady. Now he was actually asking me on this kind of thing.

'What?' he nudged me as a small laugh escaped me.

'Oh, nothing. Just picturing you in heels.' I put my hand to my mouth stopping the laughter. 'You don't happen to still have those do you?' he nudged me again.

'You Dance, SPINELLI dancing is still more unusual than that.' he looked up over my head.

'Guess who's looking at you.' he whispered as I stopped giggling. I didn't need to guess. I took control turning us so I could stair at TJ following our every move. I turned away fast staring at Vince's chest.

'I don't care.' I muttered feeling anger boil up again. 'He should be focusing on his own bloody dancing. The little slimy twat.' I spat almost standing on Vince's foot.

'You know he never stop thinking about you.' Vince muttered still keeping his voice low. 'It got to the point where he was using your name to make us all feel guilty. But then in those letters you sent to us all you sounded happy so that lost its effect. Still I think he had some major crush on you. You know, puppy love.' he grinned. 'I'm loving the fact he's still looking, it feels like I'm winning. And his face it's exactly that of a jealous loser for sure.' I stomped on his toes. He jumped snapping his head down at me.

'Come on; stop picking a fight across the room.' I felt dizzy again. He stopped moving putting a large hand over my forehead.

'LaSalle, what's wrong?' the teacher came to us. I closed my eyes feeling myself swaying.

'She's burning up.' I opened my eye to see the teacher half supporting me.

'I'm fine.' I insisted getting back into position. 'Look, I'm still standing.' the teacher glared at me.

'Don't be stupid; take her to the nurses office.'