Claire trudged through the snow staring down at her boots. She sighed heavily thinking about how much she had paid for them, and to think they were getting ruined in the snow. She rolled her eyes, one of her trademark moves, and carried on through the snow. "Really, dad?" she thought angrily. "You had to forget to pick me up, today? The day that it snows? Really, dad?" Lost in her own thought, Claire was absent-minded to the snickering behind her. A snowball hit her right in the back of her head, sending chills down her spine.

She spun around to see the perpetrator. It was none other than John Bender. Claire tried to keep a stern face but a smile broke through. "Why, you…" She picked up her own ball of snow but just as she was about to throw it, another one came soaring her way. She dropped the one she was making. "John!" she squealed. "You're getting me covered in snow!"

"Oh, am I?" he remarked.

"Yes!"

John rushed towards her and pushed her into a pile of snow. He sat down in the snow beside her as she lay laughing. "Now I am," he grinned. Claire smiled up at him, her brown eyes twinkling with delight. John tilted himself so that he was nose to nose with her. He leaned in to kiss her but turned at the last second. He started to get up but Claire grabbed him by his leather jacket and pulled him back. This time when he leaned in he stayed and kissed her. He ran a hand through her bright orange hair. She looked into his brown eyes.

"You weren't at school today," she stated.

"I skipped. I tried to find you beforehand to see if you would fancy skipping with, but you had already gone to class."

"I don't skip. We can't all be rebels, John."

"It's a shame... Well, hey. We should probably get you home." John and Claire started walking up the sidewalk, brushing snow off of themselves. John reached down for Claire's hand. She squeezed his leather covered hand. "By the way, when will I finally get to meet your old man?"

Claire laughed. "How about when I meet your parents?"

John shook his head. "You and I both know that you don't want or need to meet my parents. Your parents on the other hand- I should meet your parents."

Claire grimaced. "And why should you do that?"

"Look, you're the first girl that I've ever truly cared about. And, oddly, I want to follow through on all the things that a good boyfriend should do. And one is meeting their girl's family. They do know you have a boyfriend right?" Claire hesitated. "Claire…?"

"Well, yes… Sort of… They know I've been going out on dates…"

"That's it? That is it? That you've been going out on dates? Claire… Even my parents know I have a girlfriend. My parents, damn it."

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah, and my dad gave me some advice. Wear a condom. And damn it, I plan on following that advice- you know, when we have sex."

Claire punched him lightly in the arm. "You're a pig, John."

"And you like it." John turned in front of her. "Well, here we are. The usual drop off. A block away from your house so that your parents won't question and most of your friends won't see." The corners of Claire's lips turned down. "It's okay. I get it. I'll see ya, babe." John kissed Claire goodbye and watched as she walked away, towards the biggest house in the town. He turned around and headed back to his own house, on the poorer side of town.