I do not own Recess.

Chapter Nine: Bethany

TJ stared at his cell phone on the table, an angry look on his face and his arms crossed. He had been waiting all week for this phone call and now she wouldn't even call at the time she was supposed to!

A knock came from the front door and TJ shouted a "Come in!" while he kept his eyes on his phone. Spinelli walked inside, wearing a hoodie and an old pair of skinny jeans. She gave TJ a smile and walked towards him. "Are you having a staring contest with your phone, Teej?" she asked curiously.

He shook his head, "I'm waiting for an important phone call."

Spinelli nodded, "Where's Christopher?" she asked curiously. TJ nodded towards the hallway behind Spinelli, "His room."

Spinelli nodded, "Well, after you get your phone call, I was wondering if you and Christopher wanted to do something?" she asked. He gave her a curious look, "You drove all the way out here for that? You could have called." He told her.

She nodded, a small blush creeping up to her cheeks, "I know, I just thought maybe if I came out here in person I had a better chance of you saying yes."

TJ smiled at her, "I would always say yes to you, Spin. You're my best friend, after all."

She gave him a curious look, "I am? We just started talking again two months ago."

TJ nodded, "Of course. Just because we haven't seen each other in sixteen years doesn't mean I'd go and replace you or the guys. All of you are still number one in my eyes."

Spinelli blushed slightly and then looked at the phone, "Someone's calling." She pointed out. She saw the caller ID read "Bethany" in all capital letters. TJ quickly snatched the phone up, "I'll be right back." He said quickly, running down the other hallway towards his bedroom.

Spinelli raised an eyebrow and then her eyes got wide. What if that was Christopher's mother?

Without even second guessing, she slowly got up and tip-toed down the hallway, and gently pressed her ear against TJ's bedroom door.

"Ugh, what is it?" She heard TJ's muffled voice say. "No, no I can't wait that long! CJ's class is going on a field trip and he needs the money for it by next week."

There was a long pause before TJ groaned, "Don't you dare say that to me! And I am so!"

Spinelli bit her lip. She wondered what this Bethany woman said to him. Whatever it was, it made Spinelli a little angry too.

"You know I'd rather just ask your grandparents to wire me the money since they care about him more than you." He hissed.

There was another long pause. "Don't give me that, you liar. In a few years you're gonna wish you were nicer to me because I won't let you see him when you actually want to meet your son." There was another pause and TJ laughed annoyingly, "Whatever, Bethany. You better get your stuff together! And send me that money!"

"What are you doing?"

Spinelli jumped and slammed her body against the door, staring behind her as she clutched where her heart was.

Christopher was staring at her curiously and she quickly realized TJ had stopped talking and she had just slammed against his door. She picked up Christopher and ran back towards the kitchen table, sat down and placed Christopher in front of her.

TJ emerged from his bedroom quickly after and gave them a curious look, "What was that that hit my door?" he asked.

Spinelli laughed nervously "What? What hit your door?" she asked, pretending she knew nothing. She gave Christopher a look and he nodded, "I think you're hearing things, dad."

TJ gave both of them a look before he took back his seat at the table. "Anyway, I'm sure CJ and I would love to spend the day with you."

Christopher nodded, smiling and Spinelli grinned. "Perfect. I was thinking we could watch a movie at my place. I Red Boxed like eight movies yesterday without thinking and they aren't due back until 9 tonight."

TJ grinned, "Great! Are they PG?" he asked. Spinelli nodded, "I got the good PG movies. Nowadays kid's movies are so bad, I vomit every time I have to play one in class. So, hopefully Christopher likes them." She said, looking down at him.

Christopher shrugged, "As long as there aren't any talking animals."

Spinelli raised an eyebrow and TJ sighed, "CJ says talking animals are impossible and he doesn't like movies that portray animals as talking." Then TJ mouthed to her "And he's freaking 6 years old."

"I can read your lips, dad. You make it really obvious." Christopher muttered, causing Spinelli to laugh. TJ rolled his eyes and began making his way to the door. "Alright, alright, are we going or not?" he asked, pouting. Spinelli continued laughing and her and Christopher hurried out the door.

TJ sat on Spinelli's couch, leaning against the armrest while Christopher sat between him and Spinelli. She had found, my pure coincidence, the Peter Pan movie at Red Box. She said it had been a complete miracle since she wanted to watch it so badly but almost all the video stores had gone out of business within the year.

Christopher had never seen the movie so he was completely engrossed by the film. It had surprised TJ, since Christopher was hardly ever engrossed by an animated film. He knew this movie used to be a favorite of his and Spinelli's as a child, but his mind just wasn't into it. He kept thinking about his talk with Bethany earlier that day.

"Hello?!" TJ answered hurriedly.

"Hey." A female voice said boredly, "My grandma called and said you wanted to reach me?"

"Yes! I need to know when you're going to be sending me the money you owe me?" he asked annoyed.

Bethany sighed and groaned. "Ugh, what is it?!" He asked annoyed. "I'm going on a road trip with my friends to Palm Beach. Can't I give you your money in, like, January?"

TJ's mouth fell open, "No, no I can't wait that long! CJ's class is going on a field trip and he needs the money for it by next week!" he argued back.

She groaned again, "Gosh, TJ you are such a baby! If you can't pay for a dumb little field trip, on your own, for a six-year-old maybe you aren't even a good enough dad to have a kid right now."

TJ's mouth fell open again, "Don't you dare say that to me! And I am so!"

"Whatever, Teej. I don't have the money and I already paid for my hotel room with the girls. Either weasel up the money yourself or the kid just doesn't go on his field trip. Besides, he's six. I doubt he'll remember it in ten years."

"You know I'd rather just ask your grandparents to wire me the money since they care about him more than you." TJ spat.

There was a low growl and then a shout, "Don't you dare go to my grandparents you asshole! The only reason they give a crap about CJ is because he's their first great-grandchild! You were the one who wanted to be a dad so badly, even though it was probably the most stupid decision of your entire life! I feel bad that CJ is being raised by a complete idiot like you when he could be in a loving family that can afford to send him to stupid field trips!"

"Don't give me that, you liar. In a few years you're gonna wish you were nicer to me because I won't let you see him when you actually want to meet your son!"

She scoffed, "I think it would have been better if we both met him when he was eighteen, and had an actual good life growing up! Raised by someone who could actually handle it!"

"Whatever, Bethany. You better get your stuff together! And send me that money!"

A bang was heard against the door and TJ glanced over his shoulder, a panicked look in his eyes. Had CJ heard him? "I have to go. Have fun on your stupid trip, Beth."

"I will, Teej." She hissed, and TJ hung up his phone and hurried out of his room.

He shuttered, blinking his eyes closed and opened them up quickly, causing little black spots to obscure his vision.

He looked at his son and Spinelli and saw Christopher was on the edge of his seat. Spinelli was grinning, inwardly chuckling at the scene that was playing. Probably because of how she reacted when she saw it the first time at TJ's sleepover.

Peter was digging Tinkerbell out of the debris. Spinelli looked over at TJ and he grinned at her. "I do believe in fairies, I do, I do." TJ whispered to her. She grinned, and whispered back "I do believe in fairies, I do, I do."

TJ beamed and stretched his arm along the back of the couch, his hand landing just behind Spinelli's neck. He liked this feeling of watching a movie with his kid and best friend. He wondered if this was what it was like for married couples with kids; whispering to each other during the movie and smiling at each other, the child oblivious to the actions.

TJ felt his heart drop after thinking this. He wasn't married to Spinelli. They weren't even dating! He shouldn't feel like they felt like an actual family. Spinelli was focused on paying off bills and becoming a High School Art Teacher, she had no time to date, especially to a Tire Salesman.

While Spinelli's attention was caught again by the movie, TJ slowly withdrew his arm back and crossed them across his chest. He was stupid to get that feeling. After only talking again for two months after sixteen years, he would be a complete idiot to peruse a relationship with her. He wasn't even comfortable telling her about Christopher's mother Bethany. How was he supposed to be in a relationship with her when he couldn't even share that big part of his life?

A/N:

sorry it took forever to update. I have been so sick it's unreal. I know you're thinking I could still type while I was sick, but I couldn't. I had really bad Pink Eye in both eyes and Bronchitis. My parent's don't have insurance for me (i think only my mom has it for herself) so they refused to take me to a doctor for like a week and a half. Finally when it got to the point I couldn't even open my eyes I was taken to a doctor. (i seriously thought I was going to go blind or something. I was so scared.) and I thought it was just Pink Eye. After I went to the doctor I found out I had Bronchitis. Blahhh.

And I have gotten over it but seeing as I have two stories I'm really focused on I didn't know which to write up first. After a day or two thinking it over, I wrote my HP chapter first. Sorry!

But to make up for it you get to have a look at Christopher's mother, Bethany!

and I haven't seen the animated Peter Pan movie in forever, but I feel like the line "I do believe in fairies, I do, I do." was in there somewhere. If it wasn't and I'm going insane, I'm sorry. I just thought it was a cute line to whisper to each other.

Anyways, tell me what you think! I've missed hearing from you all :) Bye!