Prologue
"John Bender report to the principal's office," blares the school announcement system. Bender sighs. It figures, just when he is occupied. Behind the gym, he finishes a long, delicious kiss with Claire. He hates to leave a task undone. The office can wait. She's looking beautiful in a suede skirt and incredibly soft sweater. He knows exactly how soft from personal investigation. Leave no stone unturned is his motto. There, no one can say he has no principles or work ethic.
Claire is giggling now, pulling him towards the school entrance.
"What are they going to do, give me a detention?"
"C'mon, John, it's almost home room anyway," she says, giving him a yank.
This will actually be it- the whole school will turn their heads in amazement when John Bender and Claire Standish enter the halls holding hands. He knows his friends will take it in stride. He's been with every kind of woman you could think of, what would be the difference with his latest conquest? He knows what their reaction will be and wishes, for once, he didn't have that reputation. They won't believe him when he says she is different..
And Queenie... He assumes the asshole activities people will be just that, assholes. How much will that hurt her? Only she knows.
Now he pretends they are on stage and gives the audience something to excite them... kissing Claire just inside the front doors. A chaste kiss. He doesn't want to tarnish her pristine reputation any more than it will be tarnished simply by being seen with him. She's a good girl and he plans on treating her like one. In public, at least. Who knows what they might get up to in private... He relishes the idea of longer, more intimate kisses, off stage.
"See you in biology," he says. She squeezes his hand.
He takes the stairs two at a time, basking in the wave of whispers and stares. He loves being the center of attention.
He doesn't get to say goodbye to Claire. She'll be in biology, wondering what happened to him.
Principle Gossman expels him in person. Vice Principle Vernon is standing one step behind the principle, giving him that stupid hand signal... don't mess with the bull, you'll get the horns. Well shit. Vernon finally achieved his goal. It was the fallen ceiling that put the last nail in his coffin. It fills him with impotent rage to give Vernon satisfaction. In fact, his hatred is all-engrossing while signing the papers and being told he is forbidden the school grounds. A security guard walks him to his locker. He grabs his carton of cigarettes. He leaves everything else. Damn thing doesn't have a lock on it anyway.
As he is escorted off the school grounds, the real situation starts to come down on him. He had 3 months til graduation. Damn. Not that he will miss the whole cap and gown thing, but fuck, he wanted a diploma. A diploma is prerequisite to anything at all even remotely good in the job market. He actually does care about that.
He'll show Vernon. He grits his teeth and swears he will.