Thanks to "political princess", "Levioooosaaaa52" or "attitude_chick", "MasterMarik", "NotAContrivance", "goofy monkey child", "LilVickiRyan" or "MissPsycho", and "Aaweth".  LOL, I know, I know….lol…sorry for keeping you guys waiting for sooo looong, but unexpectedly the holidays and finals are keeping me busier than I've anticipated!  I wanted to post this up before the real insanity of exams begin! LOL        So here is the final chapter…

Chapter Thirty Four:  The Ultimate Confrontation...

Location: At Spinelli's home, it's about 10:40 PM that Friday

Spinelli spent all of her time since 9 PM to prepare for the confrontation.  She tried to mentally psyche herself over and over again...not knowing what to expect.  She put on her black jacket and wore black leather gloves.  She turned all the lights off in her room and slowly cracked the door open.  She peeked through the crack and looked down the darken hallway to see if her parents were still awake.  Her parents were both fast asleep since they had to do some shopping early in the morning.  Spinelli began to carefully tip-toe down the hallway and down the stairs.  Spinelli knew that her mom was a light sleeper and so leaving the house felt like 'Mission Impossible' trying ever so hard not to make a creaking sound as she was going down the stairs.  The dark, starry, moonless blue night was the only light that lit up the house and she had to feel her way though the house wherever the midnight blue light did not shine.  She slowly took the house keys and soon was out the door and locking it.

As Spinelli walked down the sidewalk her mind was filled with uncertainty on what Ashley X would do.  Uncertainty for herself, the school, and most importantly her friends...   Everything was coming back to her:  Tyler, the fight on the jungle gym, T.J. and Ashley X, Ashley X's threats, the bracelet, and more...Spinelli slowly paced down the sidewalk while the orange street lights created an eerie glow over the darken, unlit houses.  The cold, harsh November wind was stripping the colored leaves off the trees and hit Spinelli's chest in waves of bitter cold rushes but Spinelli's determination kept her warm from the cold.

Spinelli arrived at the playground leaning on the wall of the school looking back and forth for Ashley X.  The orange-colored floodlights shining from the entrance of the gym and cafeteria barely illuminated the blacktop and could not penetrate into the dark abyss of the oil well field.  The oil wells created an abandon, unmaintained industrial factory atmosphere.  The darkness around Spinelli made her fearful of what could be lurking and hiding in the shadows.  The wind would cause the hanging steel pieces of the oil wells to randomly slap against each other creating a rush of adrenaline for Spinelli every time she heard a slap of metal.  Spinelli could hear nothing for minutes except for the random slamming sounds of metal and the violent cold winds.  After a few minutes she finally could hear something from the tetherball courts, but the sound was muffled and mumbling.  She couldn't see exactly what was there because of the dimly lit floodlights but she could see four shadowy figures.  She slowly and cautiously tried to approach but she suddenly heard footsteps around the corner.  Spinelli whipped her head around and her heart rate accelerated expecting something….but what?  After a few tense seconds, the sound came into light.

It was Ashley X.  She was dressed similar to the other Ashleys except her clothes were all made out of black leather and she wore leather, knee-length high boots.  Spinelli's mind was frozen seeing how Ashley X was dressed.  It looked as if the clothes of the Ashleys and Spinelli's were mixed together.  Spinelli took a more detailed look than ever before, at Ashley X's black flowing hair and features.  She looked at Ashley X as if she was a long lost twin.  If it wasn't for the different clothes and hairstyles, no one could tell them apart easily.

Ashley X began in a cold voice, "Well what do you think Spinelli?"  Spinelli did not even answer since she was still in shock.  Ashley X continued, "I know....it can be so easy for people to confuse us...that's why I dyed my hair light brown after the first day so that people would not confuse us.  But I knew today, I had to show you who I really am!"

Spinelli questioned while Ashley X circled around her, "Who in the heck are you?!?"

Ashley X snapped back, "You don't remember?  Four years back....in 1st grade?"  Spinelli raised her eyebrows and was not able to remember who she was.  Ashley X continued, "I used to be in the same class as you and your friends you jerk!"  Spinelli showed Ashley X her fist but Ashley X showed Spinelli her cell phone as a warning that she could shock Spinelli again.

Spinelli remembered and said, "Oh yeah....you were that girl who was always quiet in class.  You never really talked much to anyone after the first couple of months.  You were always more quiet than Cornchip Girl."

Ashley X sneered, "Oh I had a lot to say, but anyways…are you gonna help me or what?"

Spinelli shifted her head and more confused than ever, questioned, "WHAT?!?  Help you?....WHAT?!?"  Spinelli tried to understand what Ashley X meant by 'help'.

Ashley X did not even reply but she led Spinelli to the tetherball courts.  Spinelli was approaching the four shadowy figures she saw earlier and when she was finally able to see them, Spinelli was taken back by what she saw.  Her eyes bulged out and the four Tylers were all handcuffed to one of the tetherball court poles while they were muffled by the duct tape placed around their mouths.  The Tylers struggled to shout out and getting freed was impossible without unlocking the handcuffs since their arms were wrapped around the pole behind each of their backs.  The chains that hung on the tetherball court poles hit and rattled against their poles reminding Spinelli how tightly locked these handcuffs were against the Tylers.

The Tylers were just as shocked as Spinelli to see her there.  They were silenced by observing the conversation between Ashley X and Spinelli and stood there frozen.

Ashley X smirked, "I mean help me in ransoming the Tylers…Spinelli.  Right?  You always wanted some money and you wanted to get back at the Ashleys….here's a chance….I'll give you one-quarter of the ransom money if you help me out…."

Spinelli was plagued by the memories and flashbacks of remembering her past history with the Ashleys and how Ashley X betrayed all of her friends.  Ashley X noticed Spinelli's face clenched up remembering all of this, and Ashley X slyly commented, "Is this too good of an offer Spinelli?   I guess, I should say….do you have a choice in all of this? He he he…"  Ashley X grabbed her cell phone several times reminding Spinelli of her power over her.

Spinelli was torn inside, but in an instant she foxily answered, "Sure, I've been waiting for this chance for so many years!"  The Tylers froze up again, and then looked at Spinelli in deep, bitter anger.

Ashley X delighted that Spinelli would be working with her and replied, "Now that's an Ashley I know of….he he he…"  Ashley X turned around, her back facing toward the tetherball courts, and she walked several steps while talking to her cell phone.  Ashley X was getting ready for Big Rob to pick them up and take them to plan out the ransoming.  Ashley X smiled and soon began talking seriously about the entire plan.

Spinelli observed Ashley X talking for several long minutes and she searched in her black, leather jacket for anything.  Her fingers stumbled against a hair pin that she had taken with her.  Spinelli was attentive to every move Ashley X made…making sure that she didn't turn around.  Spinelli caught how Ashley X finally stood still and looked upward into the dark blue night sky during her phone call and that's when she made her move!

Spinelli quickly but silently approached the Tylers and began unlocking each of the four pairs of handcuffs.  The Tylers at first were hesitant to allow Spinelli to come close to them, but after they saw what she was doing they immediately adjusted themselves to make it easier for Spinelli to release them.  Due to Spinelli's experience in unlocking locks, she was able to release all four of them within a minute and she was able to carefully rip off the duct tape off of their mouths.  Meanwhile, Ashley X was oblivious to all of this as she was arguing over the phone.

Ashley X yelled, "WHAT THE?!?  What are you saying Big Rob?!?  Uh huh…WHAT?!?  How could you or Tyler let those business brats get a hold of the extra copies?!?  THEY'RE DESTROYED!?!?!  YOU IDIOTIC SWINE!  All of the evidence against these businesses is destroyed and the binder I took with me to school is mysteriously missing?!?   So someone just broke through my school locker and took it?!?"

Spinelli gulped in nervousness, and the blood rushed to her ears focusing on every word, knowing that it was her and her friends that took it.

Ashley X ranted on, "DANG NABIT!  YOU REALLY KNOW HOW TO CRAP EVERYTHING UP, YOU KNOW THAT?!?  You're supposed to be keeping on eye on them all the time!!!  And some how these business criminal weasels slipped by, by destroying the evidence secretly?!?"

Back at the tetherball courts, all of the Tylers were freed and they looked at Spinelli with worry about her.  Tyler A began, "You should come with us and escape before she notices…"

Spinelli kept on looking at Ashley X and didn't even look at them saying, "Uh….guys I can't…remember?"  Spinelli shook her wrist reminding them of the bracelet she still had on and couldn't take off.

The Tylers didn't have a clue about what the bracelet was about and Tyler Q nervously and hurriedly asked, "Could you elaborate?"

Spinelli became frustrated and wanted them to leave quickly before Ashley X could stop them.  She grinded her teeth and still kept track of Ashley X's behavior.  In a hushed voice, she said, "Just get out of here you little snots!  Right now!"

Tyler T eloquently began, "It wouldn't be gentleman behavior to leave a lady in a perilous situation.  We will combat against this miserable excuse of a woman!"

Spinelli was becoming furious of how stubborn these Tylers were.  She threatened them, "Okay….if you won't leave…then I'll beat the heck out of ya!  One way or the other Ashley X or I will beat the tar out of you if you stay!  GOT IT?!?"

The Tylers looked at each other and they got the message.  They whispered back to Spinelli and sincerely spoke, "Thanks…for really helping us…"  They left immediately but before they could make a running start, Tyler B tripped over the unlocked handcuffs that caught Ashley X's attention.

Ashley X whipped her head and was instantly infuriated over what she was seeing!  Her last chance toward gaining any money or blackmailing power was running away with the Tylers.  Ashley X felt that everything she had worked for was falling and crumbling apart all around her.  Her blackmailing power toward the businesses were vanished Ashley X tried to dash and grab onto one of the Tylers, but they scurried off like mice into the night.  The Tylers continued running throughout the neighborhood and toward their mansion homes.

Spinelli just stood near the tetherball pole and sighed harshly in a mocking attitude.  Spinelli would have run away also but because of the bracelet and Ashley X's threat to harm her friends, Spinelli couldn't go anywhere.

Ashley X was seething with anger seeing the little Tylers run off into the mysterious darkness of the night and robotically turned toward Spinelli.  Ashley X silently commented to herself, "I should have expected that from an Ashley!"  She walked up to Spinelli and as angry as Ashley X was, she wasn't going to give Spinelli the satisfaction of her frustrations.  The cold, dry winds picked up and their ears were red and stinging with the deep, penetrating raw chilliness of the air.  Ashley X grinned evilly and harshly said, "Well…you wanted to know why I was so quiet it was because of you and those other Ashleys!"

Spinelli squinted her eyes, in suspicion, over Ashley X.  "What are you talkin' about?"

Ashley X was peeved and harshly sighed, "Oh c'mon Spinelli!  Don't act so stupid!  We, Ashleys, are cleverer than that!"  Spinelli just continued to look at Ashley X critically, but Spinelli was unprepared hearing how Ashley X grouped all of the Ashleys and themselves together.  Ashley X went on, "If I have to spell it out for you!  I can't believe you're so ignorant Spinelli about T.J.!"

Spinelli did not think much beyond her small crush and seemingly crazy claim Gretchen said back at the hospital whenever it came to T.J.  Spinelli sank further into her confusion, "T.J.?  What do you mean?  What does he have to do with this?"

Ashley X in disgust said, "Really Spinelli....you have to open your eyes more.  Haven't you ever noticed how T.J. looks at you?  He always seems to be a dream land whenever he looks at you now.  Back in 1st grade, I did everything to get his attention from toys and balls to giving away candy!  But no matter how close of a friendship it would be with him...I could never....NEVER...get him to look at me like he did to you, Spinelli!"

Spinelli slightly smirked and laughed, "WHAT?!?  T.J.?!?  Falling for me?  Yeah, right...."

Ashley X angrily yelled, "Okay, back then, it may have not been as strong as it is now.....but he had a puppy love look in him whenever he saw you!"  Spinelli's laughter was settling down and she was observing how angry Ashley X was getting.  Spinelli knew that Ashley X had to be somewhat serious about this.

Ashley X took out her cell phone in front of her and was about to start dialing the shock commands.  Ashley X violently said, "I've been waiting 4 years to get back at you!"

Spinelli noticed Ashley X dialing her phone and Spinelli kicked the phone away from her right hand.  The cell phone flew up in the air and landed 20 feet away from Spinelli's left side.  Ashley X immediately gave Spinelli a left handed punch to her stomach.  Spinelli held her stomach for a few seconds and quickly focused back on Ashley X.  Ashley X tried to give Spinelli a front left kick, but Spinelli blocked her kick by counteracting her kick by giving a front right kick.  Ashley X's left boot and Spinelli's right boot both pressed against each other between them.  They were trying to lunge their weights forward to bring the other person down. Both of their teeth were clenched up and grinding against each other.  Ashley X whipped her hips in a clockwise direction that pushed their feet to Ashley X's right side.  Spinelli turned counterclockwise and Ashley X spun clockwise.  They quickly faced each other and were in a fighting stance.  Spinelli gave a boxing stance while Ashley X gave a martial arts stance.  They looked into each other's piercing black eyes not mindful of the coldness around them which was in the lower 40s.

Spinelli angrily but curiously asked, "And what part do the Ashleys play in this?"

Ashley X gave a bitter, cold stare back, "Those prissy little she-devils!  Those Ashleys are always thinking they're better than everyone else!  Back then, I did not wear their styles and so they teased me and insulted how I gave the name 'Ashley' a bad name.  They continuously pranked on me day after day.  Finally, one day when I started dressing better than them they treated me like an outcast.  When it was time for picture day, I was dressed up better than anyone of them!  But before I could have my picture taken, the Ashleys dumped cafeteria trash all over me when I went to the restrooms.  I'll never forget that day....I ran out of there and the class took the picture without me...that's why no one remembers me at all."  Spinelli couldn't help but feel a little sorry for Ashley X, but Spinelli did not think about it much since she was in the middle of a fight.

Ashley X ran toward Spinelli and gave a right punch but Spinelli blocked it.  Before Spinelli could react, Ashley X side kicked Spinelli on the chest and Spinelli fell down to the asphalt and slid for a few feet.  Spinelli's chest and stomach were throbbing with intense pain.  Spinelli's spirit made her to get up fast despite the pain and with anger boiling out of her she ran up and gave an upper cut punch to Ashley X.  Ashley X fell down forward in pain while she was holding her stomach.  Ashley X glanced up while her head was down and noticed Spinelli coming closer.  Ashley X took her left leg, in a 'hook-like' position, and spun it completely around herself that made Spinelli lose her balance right from under her and she fell down backwards.  The back of Spinelli's head hit the hard, merciless asphalt and the pain radiated throughout her skull and backbone.  Spinelli and Ashley X both got up on their feet and faced each other again.

Spinelli commented, "Dang!  How do you all of these moves?!?"

Ashley X replied, "Ever since you had to lure T.J. away from me....I practiced martial arts for 4 years....isn't it…scandalous?"  Ashley X started to snicker.  They both walked in a circle path facing each other with spiteful hatred.  Ashley X had her reasons to cream Spinelli, but Spinelli knew that Ashley X was no friend watching T.J. being beaten up by Tyler and doing nothing.

Spinelli questioned, "What's with you and Tyler anyways?  Who is he really?"

Ashley X furiously admitted, "I knew that you, Spinelli, would be so easy to fall for a bad boy like Tyler.  You're so predictable!  I had the perfect plan that you would fall for Tyler and that T.J.'s heart would finally come to me after seeing how happy you were with my brother!"

Spinelli was even more upset and shocked, "Predictable?!?  ME?!?  Yeah, so I admire tough guys...so what? Even if I ever was to fall for anyone, it would be more than just the same interests!"  Spinelli shut her mouth and couldn't believe the words coming out of it, she would have never spoken to anyone about her love life much less to any kid.  Spinelli realized that her emotions took over her whenever she yelled back to Ashley X about T.J.  Spinelli quickly tried to change the topic, "What even made you to come to Third Street in 1st grade?"

Ashley X smirked teasingly about how Spinelli just talked about falling for someone.  Ashley X tried to not make it noticeable and answered back, "My stupid Uncle constantly wanted me to go to Third Street.  He kept pressuring my parents to make me attend this school...He such an idiot!  Just because he was fired from this school in the late 60s, he wanted to know what was happening at Third Street."

Spinelli was standing thinking about who would be fired from Third Street.  She mockingly said, "I'm sure the teacher deserved it...looking at the family tree."

Ashley X could care less about what Spinelli was saying to her uncle.  She corrected Spinelli and tried to brush the issue off, "Principal actually..."

Spinelli stood there frozen, "PRINICPAL?!?  WHAT DO YOU MEAN PRINICPAL?"

Ashley X was getting tired of explaining her uncle to Spinelli.  Ashley X sighed and rudely said, "My uncle was the last principal here....Dr. Benedict.  Hello!  Spinelli!"  Ashley X commented silently, "Such a fool!"

Spinelli could not believe it.  The girl she was fighting was the niece of the insane man they fought against last summer.  Spinelli loudly but slowly questioned since she found it hard to believe, "DR. BENEDICT IS.....YOUR UNCLE?!?  You mean, the madman that took over our school, built a lab in the auditorium, wanted to end recess and summer vacation....JUST LAST SUMMER?!?"

Ashley X relaxed from her fighting position and sighed, "Yeah Spinelli.   That's him!  Are you gonna act all stupid or something?!?  It's soooo boring hearing about my uncle all the time.  He was such an idiot!  He planned to build a base in the middle of suburbia and tried to get rid of recess.  He was so stupid in his planning!  Of course, there was gonna be opposition.  He did not know how to befriend anyone.  At least I knew how to befriend and win over people, back in the playground, but if it wasn't for T.J. and you Spinelli that had to take him away from me!   EVERYTHING WOULD HAVE BEEN PERFECT, YOU LITTLE...."  Ashley X enraged, with all of her energy and with her scorching hatred that lasted for 4 years, charged toward Spinelli.  Before Spinelli could snap out of her shock, of what Ashley X was admitting, Ashley X punched Spinelli's cheek and Spinelli's head twisted to the other side while blood came flinging out of her mouth.

Spinelli was knocked out for a second or two and tasted the salty, thick running flow of blood from inside her mouth.  Spinelli's injuries reminded her of what T.J. must have faced when Tyler beat him up.  She soon thought about how Ashley X threatened her friends earlier that night, and she knew she had to beat the heck out of Ashley X in order to stop her.  To not only stop Ashley X to protect herself, but to protect the school, friends, and T.J.  Spinelli was now overwhelmed with rage toward Ashley X, much much more so than their earlier fight, not because her life was in danger but because Ashley X was threatening the friends she cared about so deeply.  Spinelli got up and as Ashley X tried approaching Spinelli again it felt like time stood still.  Each of their emotions were completely over taking their minds and senses.   Spinelli lying down on the blacktop kicked Ashley X on the right thigh.  When Ashley X tried to hold on to it, Spinelli took her big boots and clamped it around Ashley X's left foot.  Spinelli moved her legs quickly to the side and made Ashley X to lose balance and fall on her back.  They both crawled toward each other and grabbed each other hands as tightly as they did in the last fight.  They rolled around trying to put the other below them so they could hurt the other more easily.

Ashley X grunted, "I guess all of us Ashleys are all the same......we can be deceitful, manipulative, and cunning..."

Spinelli did not give much thought to it, but replied, "Yeah...whatever..."

Ashley X finished, "But we are always stubborn and fighting for what we want....and we never self-doubt ourselves."

Spinelli was finally starting to think about what Ashley X was saying.  Spinellli's mind was thinking back to how the Ashleys tricked Spinelli into entering the beauty pageant last year, how they jinxed Gus, and more.  Spinelli then related to how she easily became frustrated and angry just like the Ashleys; when she became volatile before making her 'blacktop masterpiece' when she lost a basketball game and how annoyed the Ashleys were when her friends got her out of the Ashleys' club.  Spinelli also remembered how sneaky she was when she tried to plan with Vince on getting the Third Street Treasure before everyone else.  Spinelli then refocused her mind on the events around her and began looking deeply into Ashley X's face again and it looked like she was almost fighting a mirror image of herself and it creeped her out.  As Spinelli's mind was wondering of the similarities of not only between her and Ashley X, but with the other Ashleys, Ashley X kicked Spinelli off of her and Spinelli fell back on the blacktop while Ashley X got up.  Spinelli landed on her tailbone and it was hurting badly.  Ashley X saw this as an opportunity to get her cell phone and ran toward it.  Spinelli got up with her anger despite the overbearing pain of her stomach, chest, backbone, skull, and bleeding mouth she ran to tackle Ashley X down before Ashley X could reach it.  Ashley X quickly slid out from Spinelli's grip and stood up.  Ashley X took all of her weight into her right heel of her boot and brutally forced it down on Spinelli's right thigh.  Spinelli cried and screamed in pain…a scream that pierced the dead, cold, dark night silence of the neighborhood.  Spinelli's right thigh bone was broken...

Spinelli tried to get up and fight but it was useless...She felt like a helpless animal that was crawling back away from Ashley X as Ashley X continued to pace closer and closer toward her.  Spinelli was up against the hard, brick wall of the school and was cornered by Ashley X.  Every single breath and move Spinelli made, intensified the already excruciating pain.  Spinelli was spitting and coughing up blood and the blood was already running down past her cheeks, past the neck, and staining her red shirt.  As badly as she was hurt and as pointless and even detrimental to continue, Spinelli was not going to back down....she wouldn't!

Ashley X looked at Spinelli's thrashed and beaten up body but mostly into the still warrior-courageous eyes of Spinelli.  Ashley X threw off Spinelli's orange ski cap and grabbed Spinelli's black hair with her left hand.  Ashley X held it tightly as if she was going to rip off Spinelli's hair.  She slipped off a diamond gold bracelet off of her right hand and 'weaved' it between her fingers.  She then took this hand with the bracelet, and formed a fist with it.  Her right hand squeezed the bracelet painstakingly tight between her fingers because she wanted Spinelli to feel the wrath and animosity she held for 4 years and with everything that had gone wrong so quickly.  Ashley X was about to do the unthinkable as she used the bracelet as a brass knuckle to smash Spinelli's face with...and silently said to her, "You pathetic loud-mouthed little girl!  When will you ever learn to never mess with an Ashley....especially one that can..."

Out of the silent darkness, they heard a voice.  A voice that caused them to immediately stop and freeze whatever they were doing.  The voice was soft and caring, but yet familiar.  The voice was calling out for someone.  The cold, skin penetrating wind and loud metal sounds made the voice unclear.  Ashley X wanted to continue beating up Spinelli but the voice rang throughout her body.  Spinelli was groggy, but still knew what was going on and the voice rang throughout her body too.  They both looked at Ashley X's right side from where the voice was coming from.  It was an anticipation of something they knew that was heart-warming....yet they could not put a face or name to it...

Out of the darkness and into the barely lit blacktop a figure appeared.  It was the size of kid.  The figure accidentally stepped on and smashed Ashley X's cell phone in the distance but neither the figure, Ashley X, or Spinelli noticed.  Ashley X and Spinelli stared at it wondering what has made them to stop everything and completely shatter their hatred focus toward each other.  The figure approached and it was......

....T.J. Detweiler.  Ashley X and Spinelli could not believe that T.J. had such a powerful affect on them.  As T.J. approached even closer, he could see Spinelli and Ashley X clearly, and was mortified.  T.J.'s eyes were looking all around in panic and rushed to ask, "WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?!?"  T.J. saw both Ashley X and Spinelli bruised up badly in several shades of purple.  He saw Spinelli's front side of her neck covered in blood.  Ashley X was still holding onto Spinelli's hair tightly and the two girls still stared at T.J.  T.J. saw that Ashley X was beating up Spinelli.  T.J.'s was suddenly filled with anger seeing how Ashley X had relentlessly beaten up Spinelli and being reminded of how Ashley X threatened to harm Spinelli.  Ashley X finally was back to her senses and ran away from Spinelli and toward the other side (the kindergarten play area side) of the playground.  T.J. saw Ashley X escape into the darkness but he knew he could not go after Ashley X because of Spinelli's condition. 

T.J.'s immense anger emotionally polarized into extreme worry and sadness seeing Spinelli beaten up.  He rushed behind Spinelli to support Spinelli's head and back.  It seemed like and felt like deja vu all over again for T.J., seeing Spinelli injured and helpless.  His heart seemed to fall endlessly in an endless tidal wave of emotions seeing how Spinelli was.

Spinelli trying to catch her breath and hacking on the blood softly said, "Teej, what are you doing here?"

T.J. rushed to pick up Spinelli and knew that Spinelli needed medical help badly.  T.J. noticed Spinelli's broken leg.  T.J. tried to calm Spinelli down, "Spinelli, don't worry about it now.  You need help right now!"  T.J. carefully helped up Spinelli and slowly tried to help her walk on her good leg while T.J. supported Spinelli on her other side.  Spinelli's home was about 3 blocks away but he saw Spinelli's condition and knew that he could not give up on Spinelli.  T.J. heard a car start in the direction of where Ashley X had ran to and he saw Ashley X with Big Rob speed away in the car into the dark night.  T.J. quickly tried to attend to Spinelli's injuries as best as he could while his emotions rushed on endlessly.

Spinelli noticed T.J. doing everything to help her and tried to reassure him, "Teej, I can take care of myself....I've had worse..."

T.J. worriedly replied, "Spinelli, your body is bruised, your leg is broken, and your mouth is bleeding!  I gotta do something!"

T.J. and Spinelli soon walked out of the playground and T.J. was always careful of Spinelli taking each step.  Spinelli this time was more observant about T.J.'s caring behavior.  Spinelli had not really noticed T.J.'s behavior toward her but what Ashley X said about it earlier stuck out in Spinelli's mind.  Spinelli noticed how worried, caring, thoughtful, and concerned T.J. was toward her.  Spinelli decided to gradually open her 'steel wall' of emotions, which she would normally always keep hidden, and through his soft, warm touch she could feel his overflowing tender kindness.  She hesitated to go beyond the surface of T.J.'s feelings and immediately stopped because she worried about being open and vulnerable to feelings she never experienced.  Spinelli looked into T.J.'s soft, big, baby blue eyes and, in an instant, knew exactly what Ashley X was saying.  Spinelli now understood that T.J. was deeply caring about her injuries more so than if one of their other friends were injured.  A feeling of comfort and caring that Spinelli knew went beyond friendship...

As they continued to walk down towards Spinelli's house, T.J. gave another look of deep concern and warm affection.  The look seemed familiar, but she could not pinpoint it.  Spinelli closed her eyes for a few seconds and it came flooding into her mind.  T.J.'s eyes now reminded her vividly of what happened in the last fight with Ashley X during the storm.  Spinelli closed her eyes again for a few seconds and visualized that stormy day....the cold drenching rain, the gushy mud of the ground, and the pain of the lightning...      Spinelli made her mind press on.     She realized, while visualizing, how T.J. caught her and how close and intimate T.J. was that day.  She was a bit hesitant to go on, but she had to find out the truth.  She visualized how weak T.J. was and how he sacrificed himself to make sure she was okay.  She then heard the soft, spiritually touching words that would forever change any doubt she had on T.J. having a crush on her......her mind continued and she remembered him say, 'Spinelli you just gotta be strong!  You're the strongest one among us!  We all need you in our lives Spinelli!  Please don't go and leave us!  I don't know if I could I ever live without you Spinelli....I love you...'

The last 3 words echoed in her mind while she was still concentrating.  'I Love You'.....Spinelli's mind was paralyzed in disbelief, everything what Ashley X and Gretchen said was absolutely right.  T.J. really did have a crush on Spinelli as much as Spinelli may have tried to deny it.  Before Spinelli could notice her surroundings, T.J. and Spinelli arrived at her home.

T.J. was about to take Spinelli's house keys to open the door and alert her parents to take her to the hospital, but Spinelli gently grabbed T.J.'s arm to stop him.  T.J. wondered what Spinelli was doing but waited for Spinelli to speak.  There was a moment between them where they were absorbed looking into each other.  They both knew something was going to happen and they stood still for a few seconds.  They felt the cold, brutal wind rushed into their jackets now and then but they were somewhat desensitized to the weather…to their surroundings….Desensitized and not aware that their ears and nose were bright red from the harsh icy cold.  T.J. was eager to get Spinelli inside since she was bleeding and in unimaginable pain but he knew something powerful was going to happen.  They both could feel the rushing and beating of their hearts over the anticipation…

Spinelli reflected on that stormy day, what happened tonight, and put together all other events of how warm, caring, thoughtful, and affectionate T.J. was.  Spinelli looked up from the outside stairs and faced T.J.  She looked into his big, loving, caring baby blue eyes again and she summoned all of her energy on what she was going to say.

Spinelli softly and slowly began, "Teej, I don't know how to say this but...."  She sighed and she was fearful of what to say....she was always tough but this was something she never had dealt with before.......emotions.  Spinelli began again, "Teej,....I want to say thank you truly for always being there for me.....I mean you've always there to help my reputation, if I'm in a fight, if I need help, anything...."  Spinelli did not know what else to say as she was breathing hard because of the emotions.  She added, "I'm more thankful than you'll ever know...."  Spinelli gave T.J. a quick kiss on the cheek and then tried to run (even with her broken leg) inside to get her parents.  T.J. could not understand or believe what had just happened, the tough girl he knew since kindergarten gave him a kiss.  It was a natural, heart-felt kiss that was not pressured or embarrassing like when Gretchen conducted the experiment between him and Spinelli.  T.J. just stood outside the front door thinking about it.  The kiss may have been only a second, but the impression on T.J. would last much, much longer....

Reflective Recollections After A Weekend (A Conclusion):

Spinelli's Thoughts:

            My parents took me to the hospital soon after I woke them up.  My mom, of course, screamed in horror and fright seeing me bruised up and bloody...hehe...then again she never really saw me after a real wrestling match!  Hey!  How come I got all bloody in a small fight but on TV wrestling they don't lose a drop of blood after slamming and creaming each other?  Hmm…

Anyways, Teej was with me all the way that night...through the ride, at the hospital, the X-rays, making the cast.....my parents finally took him home at around 3 AM.  He was right by my side....I never saw him so concerned before...  The next day, Teej, came right to my home as soon as he could in the morning even though I told him I could manage.  T.J. helped me with daily activities like getting up, getting food, you know...that type of stuff.  That weekend, our friendship became closer where we began to open ourselves a bit more.  We shared and talked about some personal problems and worries, but we also had a lot of fun watching wrestling matches, playing video games, whatever I could do with my broken leg.  As worried as I was about opening myself a little to T.J., it weirdly felt more comfortable.  I mean he's a friend I can always trust, but it's kind of weird to explain...

            As for Ashley X....No one at Third Street ever heard from her after that fight Friday.  I never thought I would see an Ashley like her....ever.  I did not tell T.J. or the rest of the gang what Ashley X said that night about her being related to Dr. Benedict, how us Ashleys are the same, her entire plan about trying to get T.J. to love her, and there was no way I was gonna tell them about what Ashley X said about T.J. having a crush on me!  Though I did explain to T.J. that there was nothing going on between Tyler X and me.  Every Ashley I have ever known until Ashley X came was prissy, uptight, you know like the Ashleys at Third Street.  I never thought that the Ashleys and I could have similar personalities, as Ashley X pointed out, we both can be sneaky and pull pranks but this was an Ashley who was beyond pranks.  She was way too sneaky...probably sneakier and more manipulative than any kid I ever know.  I mean the way how she used Vince, Gus, T.J., the school, …and even me… dang!

            Speaking of which, Vince is almost back to his own…well, almost cool self I guess.  (Spinelli lightly giggles.)  Gus is feeling better now.  I think we all knew how….well…."unique" Ashley X was and all six of us decided to put this all behind us.  Good thing too because there was no way I was going to allow Ashley X's mess to destroy all of us from being great friends!

            The Ashleys were somewhat…thankful…if you can believe that!  For saving their younger brothers… and they gave me season tickets for any wrestling events that come by in town!  But just when you thought they were nice, in a few days….huh…they were back to their own prissy selves again.

I don't know exactly why Ashley X just moved to a new school so quickly, but Ashley Q told me how they are trying to find where Ashley X is so they can begin a court trial!  Dang!  I guess she must be on the run or something…   

            Hey!  Whoa!  I didn't know I was still wearing this bracelet Ashley X gave me.  (Spinelli immediately takes the bracelet off.)  This stupid bracelet reminds me of Ashley X and all of those mean things she did.  Man!  I wish my fist could see her face again!  (Spinelli is about to throw it out in the trash, but stops.)  Well...if it wasn't for Ashley X and this whole thing....would I have ever known or been open to T.J.'s feelings for me?  I can't believe how much T.J. cares for me…and that I care for him the same way.  (Spinelli thinks deeply.)  It's weird…Ashley X was so determined to destroy T.J. and me but it ended up strengthening what we had for each other.  Whoa!  Dang!  (Spinelli starts shaking her head to shake off the emotional sensations throughout her body.)  I guess all of this… made T.J. and I more aware of how we felt toward each other…  Whoa….

            (Spinelli loses track of the bracelet and it ends up near her backyard fence.  Around midnight, when everyone sleeps…the bracelet mysteriously jumps and shakes around while making a silent buzzing sound…but then it stops permanently…)

T.J.'s Thoughts:

            Okay! Okay Guys!  (T.J. laughs.)  So it wasn't the most romantic ending you grownups were wanting!  (T.J. thinks about how many movies have had a kissing romantic scene in the end.)  But hey!  We're still kids!  Man!  I never thought last Friday I would see Spinelli so beaten up before!  Something told me to check on Spinelli that night and I tried climbing on her backyard tree to see her, but she wasn't there.  So I was just frantically running and calling for her around the neighborhood and finally checked the school. 

            Later on, I asked Spinelli about what she and Ashley X were doing and why they fought.  But, knowing how Spinelli is, she just brushed it aside and never really told me anything about it.  I tried to call and find Ashley X about it but I had no luck.  It looks like that night was the last of her.  I hope so…

            That same night with the fight, Butch said…. Yeah, Butch…(T.J. sighs) said there was a group of guys that tore down several locker doors trying to find something important.  Something that was really important…hmmm…could it have been the binder?  I guess it explains why everyone in school was surprised seeing a lot of the lockers doors broken off on Monday.  As for that binder…the one that could destroy the world…we burned the binder in the school furnace.  I think we all knew that this was something bigger than any of us could decide, even Gretchen didn't know what to do with it, because…well, it could destroy the world…and so many lives…

Principal Prickly kept his word in changing the school back.  The school district removed the oil wells and put everything back on the playground.  The jungle gym, Old Rusty, the kickball field, the Cheese Box, and yeah.....even the Ashley's Clubhouse (T.J. smiles that things are back to normal.)  The SAL 4000, the entertainment room, and the other rooms for the kids were taken apart because it was too much money to maintain without the oil.  So, yeah!  Everything is back to normal in Third Street!  Ms. Finster and Randall are still trying to catch us causing trouble and the Ashleys are…well, being an Ashley…  (T.J. laughs a bit.)  King Freddie is back ruling the playground and the kids of the playground couldn't be any happier to have our old playground back!

            Well...hee hee hee...everything is back to normal except between Spinelli and I.  Spinelli surprises me sometimes how different she can be, like, when she took care of me after I fought against Tyler X and of course that kiss!  I never expected that!  I knew, before Ashley X came, that I had a small crush on Spinelli but after all this I had no idea of how big my feelings were for her.  (T.J. teasingly giggles)  Is this normal for a 10 year old kid?  Whompin' Bobbula!  Is Butch right about boys kissing girls and girls kissing boys?  (T.J. sighs and thinks deeply) It's just seeing Spinelli so hurt those two times really shook me up about everything I felt for her.  I never knew that I felt that way for her before... 

Both of their (Spinelli and T.J.) small puppy love crushes for each other had turned into something far, far deeper than what they could grasp or conceive for each other.  Their relationship and feelings would take on a whole, new dimension of emotions…and there would be no turning back on where their young hearts wanted to take the naive two…

The End

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Thanks so much everyone, for taking this Recess fanfiction story journey with me!  I really appreciate it how you guys have really stuck with me throughout these past few months!  Now I know I don't normally ask this…but if there still is anyone who has not reviewed yet or recently…after 60,000 words….c'mon now… LOL.  It's just that I'm curious to know how many people really are reading this???

Tell me what you guys think…the good and the bad.  (I don't mind anything bad as long as you explain it and not go off for no reason because it'll actually help me to become a better writer.)  Did you like the story and the twists in it?  The whole Ashley X thing?  Did you like the ending?  LOL…should I continue writing any other Recess stories or even a sequel to this?  Sorry if it seems like a survey, but it's just rereading and reediting this several times again and again….and AGAIN…LOL…with this length makes it difficult to see from the reader's perspective.  LOL, keep in mind that this is my very first fanfiction story ever!

Again, guys, thanks!  Thanks a lot!  It really means a lot that you have taken time to read and review my story.  Best wishes!

*Thanks to "Shadw", "Peaches", "Levioooosaaaa52", "goofy monkey child", "DramaQueen110", "MasterMarik", "NotAContrivance", "Amanda", "LilVickiRyan", and "political princess" for reviewing the earlier version of this story!