Hi guys! I'm back with a new fic! I've told a few of you about this, its a lot more challenging than my last fic, and involves the entire gang rather than just TJ and Spinelli (however, as they're my two favourite characters, the story may proportionately spend slightly more time on them.

I hope you like my first chapter, it's a very long chapter in comparison to what my others will be. The story itself will also be longer than my pervious fic!

I used to write under the name 'big cliffy meanie' but couldn't remember my log in details! So here I am, with this new account!

A little key to my writing

"Speech"

'thoughts'

Chapter 1: Reminiscing

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"I can't believe we're starting our sophomore year of high school tomorrow" said TJ, sitting up after being stretched out on the grass. The gang were at Muddy Bottom Pond (A/N: unsure if this is the actual name, read it in another fic –they're basically at the pond that we saw TJ at in Recess: Schools out), making the most of their freedom before their return to school.

"Alas, life is passing by so fast" cried Mikey dramatically "It seems like only yesterday we were here, worrying about starting high school!"

"You're right Mikey" said TJ smiling as he thought back to the previous year "and we didn't need to worry, freshman year was a breeze and sophomore year is going to be even easier!"

The gang all nodded in agreement, blissfully unaware of the challenges they would all be facing during sophomore year.

"Time has gone by fast" said Gretchen thoughtfully "I can't believe me and Vince have been dating for just over a year and a half"

Vince smiled and kissed Gretchen.

"What I can't believe is how you haven't killed each other!" exclaimed Spinelli "and please don't start that, we really don't want to have to watch you playing tonsil hockey again!"

"Oh Spinelli, why must you be so cynical? It's so romantic, it's like watching a romance story right before our eyes, they're just like Noah and Allie from the Notebook; a real improbable romance. They fight like cat and dog, but the one thing they have in common is that they're crazy about each other." Mikey continued with a dreamy expression on his face "Sometimes the best love is one between those who have fire in their hearts; that's what Gretchen and Vince have, an ever burning firey love in their hearts, it may erupt fairly often, but it's forever there and it works so well"

"Please! We don't fight that often!" said Gretchen, separating herself from Vince.

"Well, we kinda do" disagreed Vince.

"NO WE DON'T! YOU'RE TALKING RUBBISH VINCE!"

"YES WE DO GRETCHEN!"

"NO WE DON'T! WE DON'T ALWAYS FIGHT!"

"THEN WHAT DO YOU CALL THIS?" Vince shot back.

"A HEALTHY DEBATE!" retorted Gretchen

"You're stubborn, pigheaded and quite often a nightmare" said Vince, a grin spreading across his face as he pulled Gretchen toward him "but I like that, you're so sexy when you're angry"

"Just like Allie and Noah in the Notebook" repeated Mikey in a confirmatory tone, as though the display between Vince and Gretchen settled the matter. The couple began yet another passionate make out session; this they always did after any disagreement, the bigger the argument, the bigger the make out session.

"Ugh! Would you please stop dry humping each other!" snapped Spinelli.

"Spinelli's right, it's gross!" agreed Gus, sounding disgusted "We DONT want to see it"

"Jeez man, we're just kissing, don't you and Theresa kiss? You actually remind me of us in the fourth grade, when Spinelli and TJ did the experiment" replied Vince.

Spinelli and TJ grinned at each other, both remembering that day, neither admitting that they enjoyed it at the time, or admitting that the often thought back to it right to this day.

"Now that seems like it was only yesterday!" sighed Mikey, a dreamy expression on his face.

"Apparently for Gus, it still is" teased Vince "He still always seems pretty disgusted at the sight of a couple making out"

"Shut up!" snapped Gus, as his cheeks flushed red.

"We've changed a lot since then Vince; I was even disgusted at the idea of kissing" said Gretchen smiling, and kissing Vince again.

"Was it really that bad?" Gus asked, looking at TJ and Spinelli, who as usual were sat next to each other.

Both fell silent, wandering what to reply. Neither wanted to make their friendship uncomfortable by admitting the truth, but at the same time, they didn't want to lie, or risk hurting the others feelings; however, they were saved by giving a response by Mikey.

"Oh how I miss the fourth grade" wailed Mikey, "we were all so innocent and carefree! Do you remember when Gus moved into the jungle gym?"

"I remember that!" giggled Gus, "I thought we were moving with Dad was talking about 'operation relocation' it turns out he was only moving me into a bigger bedroom!"

"Mikey, you we're so devastated when Gus told us" remembered TJ chuckling "And Gus, you turned into a proper bachelor!"

"You're so right Teej!" agreed Spinelli begining to laugh "It was like seeing a mini Hugh Hefner, what with the robe, slippers, sun glasses, and don't even get me started on the bubble pipe!"

"Oh my god, you're so right Spin!" said TJ laughing even harder and turning to Gus "Ashley A was like one of your playboy girls, telling you seductively that she was suddenly into you, because you then had your own place!"

Gus shuddered as TJ said this.

"Are you remembering how that ended Gus?" enquired Gretchen. "It must have been embarrassing"

"Gretchen's right, that cool act didn't really last long, didn't you seriously freak out when we all left?" asked Vince.

"Well all the lights turned off, and it was really windy! Then my dad turned up, but he looked like this huge silhouette, that's pretty scary when your only nine years old!" said Gus defensively "Anyway, I wasn't the only one who was a bit goofy back then, do you guys remember when Gretchen took up yo-yoing and won the Yappy Yoyo Proexpo?"

"Oh yeah" said Vince smiling "You wanted to find a sport you were good in, I've got to say it's a shame you retired, even back then I thought you were cute in a tracksuit! Definitely not goofy!"

Again the couple began making out.

"Are the two of you incapable of leaving each other alone?" asked Spinelli rolling her eyes "It's probably a good job you retired at that Gretch, you wound up getting seriously irritable and assy"

"No change there then" said Vince, ducking as Gretchen tried to slap him.

"You've both changed so much since then" said TJ smiling, "heck we all have"

"D'ya think?" asked Spinelli "I mean Gus, you're still small and skinny and kinda wimpy, no offence or anything"

"Well thanks a lot" snapped Gus "and I am braver than before, I even asked Theresa out before the summer" (A/N: Corn chip girl)

"How are things between you guys? I mean are you even still together, I never see you guys kiss or even hold hands?" asked Vince.

"Yes, we are Vince. Just because we don't feel the need to dry hump each other in public, does not mean we're not an item!" replied Gus narrowing his eyes "I happen to respect Theresa, and therefore I'm waiting until she's ready for that sort of stuff"

"Sure, you're doing it for her" replied Vince sarcastically.

"Her Dad happens to be very strict, I wouldn't expect you to understand waiting to take these steps Vince. I'm just glad her Dad is letting her come to our school this year-"

"-this year?" Interrupted Mikey "But she's two grades below us!"

"She was put forward a year when she got into middle school Mikey, remember?" replied Gus, before glancing over at Vince "Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing more of her, you guys well see that just because we're not always all over each other, it doesn't mean we're not serious about each other"

"Oh really? Well that reminds me, I'm going to ask Kirst out on a date to that all you can eat place" cried Mikey dramatically.

"But Mikey, you're gay!" pointed out Gus

"So what?" retorted Mikey "its only you guys that know, and I can still have a friendly date with someone without it meaning something more!"

"Well you do that. We're all very happy for you!" snapped Gus.

"I think I well, thank you Gus!"

"Speaking of fourth grade memories" said TJ loudly, cutting over Mikey and Gus who were starting to bicker "Do you remember when we all realised Chad was a geek?"

"I was so gutted when I realised" said Vince smiling as he remembered his horror at finding out his 'cool' older brother was actually a geek "Do you guys remember the Chad-mobile?"

"What? That goofy bike thing?" asked Gus

"Yeah, I've got to admit, I kinda liked that thing" said Vince smiling "back then I was so scared at the time about becoming a geek"

"And now you've embraced your geeky side. I've got to admit, I never I thought this side of you was possible" admitted Gretchen fondly. Although Vince was the same competitive sport lover, as he'd gotten older, he'd shown more interest in the sciences, and had taken up chess; admittedly Gretchen was probably a big part of contributing to Vince's more academic side. "But I do love our late night chess games"

"Oh, is that what you're calling them is it?" asked TJ, raising an eyebrow at the couple, who were grinning at each other.

"Oh my god" said Spinelli suddenly laughing "I've just remembered Mikey's 'Bonkey' faze"

"That stupid dinosaur thing?" asked Vince "Yeah I remember that"

"Bonkey was not a stupid dinosaur!" said Mikey "He was comforting, I was scared about turning ten, and found Bonkey very helpful!"

"Comforting maybe, but you progressed to a preschooler; you had a Bonkey sippy cup, you hid Bonkey books in your text books and wound up throwing proper tantrums" replied Gus.

"Man, I remember the tantrums" said Vince shaking his head.

"It was classic behaviour, Mikey was fearful of what turning ten years old would mean, he was fearful of growing up, so he reverted back to a simpler time in his life" said Gretchen, pushing her glasses up her nose.

"So lamb chop" teased Spinelli, using Mikey's nickname "Where is Bonkey now?"

"I gave all my stuff to the kindergarteners" he replied

"Now I think about it, what sick fuck decided to call the dinosaur BONKEY? It's rather perverted!" observed Spinelli "The fact children were running around screaming that they wanted Bonkey? Very disturbing!"

"Man, you're right Spin" said TJ "Very creepy"

"It's almost as disturbing as the time Spinelli's mum called TJ, BJ" replied Vince.

"When was that?" asked Gus laughing

"Parents night" replied Vince, unaware of Spinelli's growing embarrassment, as this was when her mum revealed that she had a crush on TJ! She wandered if he remembered, but didn't dare to meet his eye to find out.

"You never did bring your parents to any form of event again" observed Gretchen "but then again, they did embarrass you a lot. At least you stopped telling those outrageous lies to cover for them not being there"

"Didn't you say they were having dinner at the white house?" asked Gus frowning "and then you PAID some couple to pretend to be your parents"

"Wanna shut up Griswald?" snapped Spinelli.

"Now, what is our favourite childhood memory of our beloved TJ?" asked Mikey.

"It has to be the time he made all those handmade joke valentines cards!" said Vince laughing "Man, I thought all the girls were going to kill you!"

Spinelli shifted away a little from TJ as she remembered this. When she'd gotten a card from TJ she was over the moon, she thought the card was genuine; he'd even dotted the 'I's' in Spinelli with little skulls. Even then she had a crush on him, and she'd thought the card had meant he felt the same way, Spinelli sighed a little as she remembered how hurt she actually was.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Flashback:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

"Hey Teej! I've been lookin' all over for you man!" I said, hurrying up to him, completely unsure of what I was going to say, my heart pounding.

"Oh hey there Spinelli, listen, I gotta run" he said nervously

"Wait a minute Teej, I wanna thank you got the special valentine you gave me" I said holding up the card and observing it fondly. I felt terrified at what I was about to do, after last week's kiss, I was so sure he'd hated it, but apparently not, this card told me that he liked it too! I could see TJ was nervous too, so I took it slowly, continuing to show my admiration for the card he'd clearly put a lot of effort into "I mean you even dotted the 'I's' in Spinelli with little skulls"

"Yeah well, let's just keep it between you and-'"

"-there you are TJ" interrupted Gretchen "I've been working in the science lab all day, and I've just got the chance to open my cards, and oh my! It's just beautiful!"

"Hold on! You have a card to Gretchen too?" I asked angrily, in reality in that moment I felt crushed.

"Well uhh"

"Gee, here I thought you put a bit of extra bit of elbow grease into mine... sorta like I was... I dunno... first string on your team?" I probed, doing my best to hide how upset and hurt I really was.

"You are Spinelli! You are!" cried TJ, for a split second, my heart lifted slightly, before...

"Well then what about me TJ?" enquired Gretchen

"You're first string too Gretch, after all a team is made up of many people, isn't that right Vince?"

"I know nothing about these cards" said Vince, holding us his hands.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::End of Flashback::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Spinelli huffed and shifted even further away from TJ at this memory, unsure why a very very small part of her still felt hurt and angry.

"What's up Spin?" asked TJ, sadly eying up the distance she'd put between them.

"NOTHING!"

"Girls!" said Vince rolling his eyes "You guys really are crazy, Mikey, your life is so much easier being gay! Are you sure you want to ask Kirst out though?"

"Yes I am, she's a good friend" said Mikey, before smiling "Maybe we haven't changed as much as we think we have"

"I think your right there Mikey" said TJ looking around at his friends "Gus, you're a little braver, but you're still the smallest boy, its only been this last year that you've grown taller than Spinelli. Other than growing taller, and being brave enough to ask Theresa out, you're still the same guy, heck, you even dress the same, I bet your dad still checks your look over to make sure you're smart before you leave the house"

"Still the Gus we all love" said Mikey fondly.

"Mikey, you're the same, your still the same big, gentle and peaceful guy" replied TJ "I couldn't imagine you being any different"

"But you dress differently now" observed Gus, "You always wear stylish stuff, even if it is a little out there! And you spend a lot more time on your hair now"

"Gus is right there Mikey, you spend more time on your fashion and appearance than I do, I don't even straighten my hair like you do! Its like hanging out with Gok Wan" said Spinelli.

"I guess, but Spinelli, you too now take more consideration over your appearance than you did back in Third Street" replied Mikey "We all change as we get older, and thats the point"

"I guess" shrugged Spinelli.

"Mikey's right Spin, you have kinda changed, you may still be the same tough, feisty person, but you are a lot less aggressive" said TJ smiling at Spinelli, observing how her appearance had changed, since the fourth grade she'd lost the boots, hat and jacket. Now Spinelli's black wavey hair fell several inches below her shoulders, and she'd started to wear black eyeliner and mascara that flattered her chocolate brown eyes. Spinelli seemed to of taken a slight 'alternative' form of dressing that reflected her passion for rock music. She often wore black flared jeans, and a top –usually red- that would flatter her curves, TJ often pretended not to observe her curves and general change in appearance, but in reality, he found her sexy.

"What?" snapped Spinelli unsure why she was acting angry with TJ "Why are you gawping at me? do I have something on my face?"

"Nothing. Gretch, you've changed too" said TJ, trying to cover for checking out Spinelli.

"You're right there man" said Vince "You're even cuter now Gretch, the horn-rimmed classes suite you a lot more than those old huge ones. Still tall and slim, very sexy, just like a cat walk model"

"Except cat walk models down wear knee length skirts and blouses like I do" replied Gretchen "I've got to admit, I'm glad I got those braces, they worked wanders, my teeth were awful in school."

"Vince hasn't changed much either" Gus pointed out "apart from coming more academic, he's still the same tall sporty guy."

"And lastly there's TJ" said Mikey "Still the kind, gentle and loyal cap wearing leader that we all cherish. You still dress in a similar manner, baggy jeans and a t-shirt; but you have changed, I admire than you lost that puppy fat and built up some muscle, I couldn't do it."

"uh thanks Mikey" said TJ, feeling a little uncomfortable, before continuing as he noticed Spinelli starting at him "very funny Spin, point taken!"

"What?" asked Spinelli, sounded confused for a moment, realising she'd been staring at TJ and hurriedly adding "Oh right yeah, see, not nice being stared at is it?"

"We're heading home now, see you guys tomorrow?" asked Gretchen, as her and Vince had surfaced from yet another long make out session; they hurried off as the rest of the gang called out their goodbyes.

"I'd better get back too" said Gus standing "Dad is going to want me home to prep ready for school"

"I'll walk with you" said Mikey jumping up to walk with Gus.

"Bye guys" called Spinelli.

"I guess we should get back too" said TJ

"Yeah" agreed Spinelli, however neither moved, instead of getting up, she stitched back onto the grass, putting her arms behind her head.

"Although there's no hurry..." said TJ lying back next to Spinelli

"Can you believe Gretchen and Vince have been together that long?" Spinelli asked thoughtfully.

"No, I remember when Vince was really nervous about asking her out for Valentines, I knew he liked her."

"Do you think it's strange that two of our group are a couple now?" asked Spinelli, watching TJ out of the corner of her eye, truth be told she felt rather jealous of what they had; she'd love to have that with TJ.

"No, I actually think it's nice that two people that clearly liked each other so much could take their relationship further" replied TJ, who likewise was rather envious of that his two friends had, he too really wanted that they had, only with Spinelli.

"Really?" asked Spinelli turning her head toward TJ, realising how close they were lying.

"Yeah" said TJ, turning to look and Spinelli and smiling at her. They looked at each other for several moments, their faces probably only inches apart; TJ had just plucked up the courage to lean over and kiss Spinelli (hoping he hadn't misread the situation) he was about to make his move when Spinelli's phone started ringing.

"Hello?" she answered, sitting up quickly and brushing her hair out her face "Ok Mum, I'm coming back now"

"You gotta head home?" TJ asked, he continued when Spinelli nodded in response "I'll walk back with you"

They set off together, both still living on the same street.

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Well there it is, my very first chapter, I hope you guys liked it!

Apologies for any bad gramar or spelling, I'm dyslexic, so although I've done my best to proof read, I may have missed something!

Please read and review! Constructive criticism welcome!

Big Cliffy Meanie x