Okay, so I haven't updated in over a year, but my computer has not been able to work since last fall, so I haven't been able to write since then. But I got my computer back yesterday, so I am just buzzing to write. As a way to make it up to all my faithful readers, I will take request on which deviant art story I should continue first, and upload here on .

But I will say thank you for the reviews. I know I haven't written in a while, but I am back now, so bear with me.

Now, onto the reviews.

Bladekerr: yes, her friends are all very supportive, and willing to help her. I'm glad you enjoy my story so far.

Gdog90: I'm glad to know that you enjoyed the chapter. We'll see whether Aggie will be impressed by what Spinelli has learned so far. Bob as her escort is an interesting choice.

Now onto the chapter.

Chapter 9: Ashleys

The rest of the week passed by as slowly as the first two days of the week had. Every day of the week was the same. Spinelli had her pageant training every day, and her friends were all helping her. Of course, the Ashleys' had only increased their teasing of her, and it became harder to ignore them. God, how she just wanted them to disappear. Menlo was also coming by every day, to help her improve her grades. She also had to do her hair and makeup every day and pick out an outfit consisting of either a dress or a skirt and blouse. At least no one in school was paying attention to her anymore. Most of the looks and comments had disappeared around day 3, but that also meant that she was no longer viewed as the tough girl in school. No one who saw her would think that she was actually into wrestling and fighting. They would see a girly girl who was hanging out with the wrong people, and should be hanging around the Ashleys'. Speaking of the Ashleys'; they were the only ones at school

Today was Friday, which meant that tomorrow was teatime for all the contestants in the pageant, in which they would each have to answer individual questions for the pageant, and Sunday was the dance rehearsal. As per usual, she was woken up by her grandma, and once again morning exercise, then shower, and the picking out an outfit. She looked inside her closet, and still didn't like what was in it, but had concluded that she just needed to get through the next few weeks, and then she could go back to being herself. She sighed before picking out a high waist casual white dress that went just down to her knees with a square cut on the front, sleeveless with thick straps, and a scoop neckline. She picked out a pair of black wedges to go along with the dress, as well as the A necklace that she would hide as soon as she was out the door. No need for the Ashleys' to find out that she had a necklace similar to them. She knew that if they did, they would surely push her to join them. Her grandma looked at the outfit and nodded in approval. That was another thing. She had to get her grandma to approve of her outfits before she could wear, and she was tired of wearing tight fitted dresses, and shoes that could kill her feet. But her grandma just kept saying "Beauty is pain."

After picking out an outfit, she went to go put on her makeup and comb her hair, and then style her hair. In her hair, was a white scarf that worked as headband. She had finally gotten the hang on putting on makeup and styling her hair. It was enough to satisfy her grandma.

After putting on makeup and styling her hair, her and her grandma went down to make breakfast. Her grandma eventually started speaking. "Oh Ashley, I hope you thought about who your escort should be, because you should bring him around for tea, so that I can meet him. How about this afternoon." She wanted to meet the boy for herself, and determine if she believed he would be a good escort for her granddaughter.

"Oh, uhm, I haven't thought about who my escort should be just yet."

"well then, in that case, I will just find someone for you. How about that nice boy who tutors you."

"Uhm, no thanks. I will ask someone today, and hope that they're available for tea this afternoon, after school." Oh crap, now she had to find an escort in just a few hours. She might as well ask one of her guy friends if they could do it.

"Very well then. I will be looking forward to meeting him. Oh, and I am pleased to see that you are already making progress in your pageant training, and you have yet to get into any sort of trouble at school." Eventually, they finished making breakfast, and Spinelli's parents came down to eat. Her mom had her usual reaction to Spinelli being dolled up, loving it. She knew that her mom would most likely want to keep her in these outfits and makeup, but not if she had anything to say about it.

Eventually after breakfast, she said her goodbyes and left for school, leaving the adults to talk, with Flo being the first to speak up. "You know mom, Bob and I have been talking, and we agreed to go on a business trip soon enough. We can earn a little extra by it."

"Hm, I see. So, when would you be leaving, and how long would you be gone."

"We would have to leave first thing in the morning, and we would be gone for a couple of weeks." Bob said.

"Yes, but we will be back in time for pageant. And we can use it to see how well you'll handle Ashley with us being gone." Flo said.

"Well then, if you must, and honestly, I have Ashley completely under control. Trust me, by the time you'll be back, your daughter will have learned to behave, and kept her grades up." Aggie stated. "Though, sometimes I think that a month is not enough time with her. Sometimes I think she would benefit from staying with me all summer, or moving in with me permanently,"

"Well, let's just take these couple of weeks as a test run, and see how things go. If you feel like the month is not enough after the pageant is over, then we can talk about a lot longer. Perhaps summer with you would be good for Ashley, and maybe you can move in with us. Would certainly make things easier for us if we have to go on business trips, and we wouldn't be taking Ashley away from her friends." Flo was honestly considering it. They could make more money, which would go to Ashley's future, and her mother had a good handle on Ashley. Ashley was finally becoming the daughter she always wanted her to be.

Meanwhile, Spinelli was walking to school with her friends, and started talking. "Hey guys, remember when you all offered to be my escort to the pageant. Well, I kind of need one of you to say yes right away, and meet my grandma for tea."

"Sure, Spin. So, which one of us do you want to be your escort."

"Maybe you, Teej. Can you do it." Spinelli asked. Honestly, as much as she liked all her guy friends, T.J would be the one she'd be most comfortable with."

"Of course, Spin. Anything for a friend. So why do I need to meet your grandmother for tea."

"I think she just wants to meet you and check you out, so please be on your best behavior. No jokes and maybe feeble about your grades. And maybe you can quickly go home to change before you show up."

"So, you want me to pretend to be someone I'm not."

"Only in front of my grandma. She's very old fashioned and strict."

"Okay, okay. But only for you." Truth be told, he's had a bit of a crush on her since at least middle school, but never told her.

"Thanks, Teej. I am so grateful to you."

"Hey, don't mention it. Oh shoot, looks like we have to hurry if we want to get to class." And with that, they all split up to find their classes.

Of course, Spinelli's first class was English, with none of her friends, but all of the Ashleys were in that class. Another day, another teasing by the Ashleys. And of course, just as she had sat down, the Ashleys all walked in, and sat around her, with Ashley A next to her.

"OMG Ashleys, look. It's the former Spin-ugly. Five days in a row." Ashley A said. She was getting even more curious for every day that Spinelli came to school looking like an Ashley. Perhaps it was time reconsider getting her to join them. They had tried and failed back in the fourth grade, but here Spinelli was, in school wearing Ashley approved outfits.

"You're, like, totally right Ashley A. Perhaps she, like, really did crack her head or something." Ashley B said.

"Yeah, maybe she, like, finally realized how embarrassing her hooligan behavior was." Ashley Q sneered.

"Yeah, like, I would have, like, been totally embarrassed if it was me." Ashley T said.

All while they were talking, Spinelli just wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear, even more so than she wanted

"Or, like, maybe she finally came to her senses, and, like, totally decides she wants to join us." Ashley A stated, before turning to Spinelli. "Did you, like, finally senses after all these years, and decided to join us. Well, we're here welcoming you with open arms Ashley S. I, like, always knew you'd come to your senses."

"Uhm, no thanks. I think I'll pass on joining the Ashleys."

"Well, we'll see. Eventually, you'll come around."

The teacher eventually showed up, to which Spinelli was grateful for. It was just so typical. Now, the Ashleys wanted her to join them again. That couldn't be good. At least they couldn't force her like they did back in the fourth grade.

Next chapter: T.J comes over for tea, and Spinelli's parents break the news.

So, that was it for Ch. 9. Hope you all enjoyed it.

Okay, so I'm considering writing a sequel to this story, but I haven't decided yet on what I should do about Aggie. Should Spinelli go stay with her for the summer, or maybe move there, or should Aggie move in with Spinelli and her parents, or should she get a place in third street where Spinelli moves in. I do however, have an idea on how I want this story to end. Let me know what you think.

As always, please R/R, and let me know what you think

And as always, I do not own recess or its characters.