Thank you for the review. Shout out to bladekerr for leaving a review. Yeah, living with Aggie alone will not be easy on Spinelli, and no doubt Aggie will most likely not want to leave Spinelli to her own devices. As for how she responds to T.J, you'll just have to read to find out. Sorry for not updating sooner, but I've been busy. But I am updating now.

Now, onto the chapter.

Chapter 10: meeting and breaking the news.

After finishing school, T.J. and Spinelli walked home together. Spinelli was the first to speak up. She needed the meeting between T.J and her grandmother to go well, in order for him to be her escort, and if that meant, T.J. being on his best behavior and lying about his grades, then so be it. "Okay, so just remember. 4 pm, and not a minute later. Oh, and please remember, no jokes, no pranks, no backtalk, always be polite to her, feeble about your grade, and maybe wear a button up shirt tucked in your pants."

T.J. Rolled his eyes, "Okay, I get it. I will be the opposite of myself when meeting your grandmother. I still can't believe that you are letting her run your life like that."

"Yeah, well it's only for a few weeks, and it was either the pageant, or stay with her for the entire summer, and enter a debutant ball. It's not like I had much of a choice. I picked the lesser of the two evil. As soon as the pageant is over, she'll be gone, and I'll have my freedom back. Just have to stick it out for 3 more weeks."

"Okay, well then, I'll see you at 4 pm, and don't worry, I'll be on my best behavior."

Spinelli sighed in relief before walking in the front door, but not before putting her necklace outside her dress. She knew that her grandma would expect to see the necklace outside the dress. She herself just didn't want the Ashleys' to find out about it. They would view it as a sign for her to rejoin them, which was just about the last thing that she wanted. Her friends were the only people she could voice her frustrations to. Her grandma was controlling every aspect of her life, in belief that she would become a powder puff. She knew that her grades had been slipping, and that she had gotten into fights at school, but that was who she was, and it didn't mean that she had behave like an Ashley.

She was lost in her own thoughts when she was interrupted by her grandma. "Oh, Ashley. You're home. Good. You can go get changed into a new dress, and then you can help me set up the coffee table for tea."

"Why do I need to change. Is this dress not good enough?"

"It is, for everyday use, but you need something else for teatime. Now hurry up, and change. Your escort will be here soon enough." Spinelli didn't bother arguing with her grandma, as she knew that she wasn't supposed to ask questions or talk back. She went up to her room, to pick out a dress that she hoped would be good enough. She still hadn't gotten used to the pink room, or the furniture, or the clothes. She just hoped that once the pageant was over, everything would go back to normal, including her room and her clothes. She honestly had no idea on what to look for in her closet. She didn't view the dress she wore now as everyday wear, but apparently it was, according to her grandma. She looked around in her closet for something that would please her grandma, and found a red dress with a white cardigan, as well as a white headband, and white flats. When she looked herself in the mirror, she felt like she looked like an Ashley. Ashley A to be more specific.

She walked down the stairs, and her grandma nodded in approval. "Very well, Ashley. Looks splendid on you. Now, come along, and help me set up for tea. It's almost 4 o'clock."

She went into the kitchen to help boil water, and prepare the tea, as well as the cake, and put it all into the living room, just as the doorbell rang. She went to go get it, and it was T.J. standing outside the door. He was wearing a blue button up shirt, tucked inside a pair of jeans, and had even combed his hair. No hat, or beanie or cap.

"You look nice." She stated.

"Had to look good to impress your grandmother. You don't look so bad yourself."

"Thanks. Are you ready."

"Sure, let's get the meeting over with." And with that, he followed her into her living room, and was introduced to her grandma.

"Grandma, this is T.J. Detweiler. He's going to be my escort for the pageant."

"Hello, ma'am. It's nice to meet you." T.J. said, as he took out his hand to greet the elderly woman.

"Nice to meet you too. So, what does T.J. stand for."

"Theodor Jasper." He usually hated it when people referred to him by his full name. There was a reason why he went by T.J.

"Well then, Theodor. Mind having a seat, so that I can get to know you better."

"Uhm, yeah. Sure. What would you like to know."

"How do you drink your tea,"

"Oh, I never drink tea." T.J. said, before Spinelli elbowed him. "Ow. "He voiced quietly, before continuing his sentence. "What I meant was, I never drink tea without milk or sugar. If you can reach me that, please." And he was passed the milk and sugar.

"What are your grades like. Are you a good student. Do you always pay attention in class."

T.J looked at Spinelli, before answering. "I would say that I do well in school. A solid A-student, and I think I do pay attention in class."

Aggie nodded in approval, before continuing. "And what about extra-curricular activities. Do you have some of them."

"Uhm, yes. Debate club is an interesting club."

"You're in debate club."

"Why, yes. I am."

"That must keep you busy. What about friends, girlfriends."

"I have Friends that I enjoy spending time with. Spine-er Ashley here. She and I enjoy spending time together, along with four of our other friends."

"And what do you and your friends like to do."

"Oh, you know. Just enjoy spending time together."

"Are any of them in debate club with you."

"Oh, yes. Some of them are. Gus Griswald in particular, are. The others have their own clubs."

"And what would those clubs be."

"One of them is on the baseball team, another does the school play, and one is on the science team."

"Hm, I see. So, do you enjoy theater and the opera."

"Yes, I enjoy the theater, but I've never been to the opera."

"Hmm, well I see. how do you like your tea."

"Yes, Ma'am. It's very nice."

And so on, Aggie would continue to ask him questions, to which he answered as politely as possible, until they had drunken all the tea.

"Well, I must say. I have been very pleased with you, Theodor." Aggie looked to Spinelli and said, "Ashley, I approve of your choice of escort. He can be your escort to the pageant." Which made Spinelli sigh with relief. At least some control over her life.

"Well, how would you like to stay for dinner, Theodor."

"Oh, I would love to, but I promised my parents I'd be home for dinner." He had been on his very best behavior all afternoon and had even lied about his grades. As much as he wanted to help Spinelli out, he wasn't sure if he wanted to spend more time with the elderly woman, and pretending to be someone he wasn't.

"Very well then, how about tomorrow, then."

"Oh, well. I'm not really sure." T.J was about to say, before Spinelli elbowed. "Actually, I would love to come over for dinner tomorrow. Should be fun."

"Wonderful. We'll see you tomorrow."

"I guess we will. Oh well, I should get back home."

"I'll walk you to the door." Spinelli said.

They reached the door, and Spinelli's grandma was out of sight, when Spinelli begun to speak. "Oh wow, I can't believe it. We pulled it off. You actually managed to impress her, and now you can be my escort to the pageant."

"Yeah, okay. But why do I have to join you and your family for dinner tomorrow. It was bad enough having to pretend to be someone I'm not for a little while, but this is dinner."

"Well, how do you think I feel. Every day. It's just one dinner. How bad could it be."

"Okay, okay. I guess I can pretend to be Theodor and not T.J for another day."

"Thanks. It really means a lot to me."

She closed the door, and her grandma was waiting for her in the living room, so that they could continue the pageant training.

"Well, he was a polite young man, Ashley. Are you two going steady."

"Why, yes. We are dating, grandma." Spinelli lied to her grandma. It seemed as if T.J had truly impressed her grandma, and perhaps it would mean that her grandma would ease up on her. And it was just for a few weeks. It would just be their little secret.

"Well, how long have you two been a couple?"

"Oh, just for a few days, but we've been friends for years now."

"Well, I think that's wonderful. Now, I can't let you go out with him until the pageant is over, unless its pageant stuff related. But how about, we have him over for dinner once a week."

"That sounds great, grandma." Okay, great. Now she had to convince him to come for dinner once a week, and not as T.J; jokester, and prankster, but as Theodor; straight A-student, and member of the debate club. But at least no one in school needed to find out.

Her grandma eventually told her, that they should get back to the pageant training, and then make dinner.

Eventually, it was time for dinner, and Spinelli's dad spoke up. "Listen, pookie. There is something that we need to discuss with you."

"Oh, okay. What is it."

"Your father and I have to go away for a while. On a business trip. We had to say no in the past, because we didn't want to leave you all alone, but you're not alone now. Now you have someone to look out for you. And your grandma has done a good job. And we couldn't say no this time. It's good money, that will go to your future."

"Well, how long will it be." She asked.

"Around 3 weeks, if not longer." Her dad said.

"But don't worry. We'll be back for the pageant." Her mom said.

"And when do you leave."

"First thing in the morning. I know it's all so sudden, but it was all so sudden for us as well. And don't worry, we won't be gone for too long." Her dad said.

"Oh." Spinelli said. She wanted to scream internally. So now, her grandma had full control of her life. Her parent would be gone for 3 weeks straight. And if it was longer, then that would mean that her grandma would not leave after the pageant. She just hoped that it was not going to be longer than that.

"But don't worry, Ashley. We cannot wait to come back for your pageant. Besides, your grandma just told us, that you have a boyfriend, so you'll at least have someone to keep you company."

"Wait, what."

"Yes, Theodor. Whom I met earlier today. Nice boy."

"Yeah, I guess, he is my boyfriend."

"Well, that's wonderful, Ashley. He's always been a nice boy, and you always had a bit of a crush on him. Guess we should begin to invite him and his parents over for dinner after we come back."

"Oh, that eh won't be necessary. It's really too soon to invite his parents over for dinner."

Eventually, the rest of dinner passed, and she had to deal with her parents going away first thing in the morning. It was almost all too much to bear. She was close to cracking, but just had to remind herself that it was just until the pageant was over, and then she could fake break up with T.J.

Next chapter: First activity begins, and T.J comes over for dinner.

So, that was it for Ch. 10. 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.