Here I am, updating so quickly. Can't even believe myself. I think this story will have four chapters. That could still change though, so stay tuned.

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On their way to lunch, Claire and Beverly were still discussing John and last Saturday's detention.

Beverly laughed in that peculiar but very attractive way of hers, pushing her hair away from her face. "Wait, so Allison didn't do anything and just sentenced herself to detention?"

Claire laughed. "Yep."

Bev solemnly shook her head. "I like that girl. I admire people who know they are weird and own it. That's something our crew needs to learn to do. Stop being so damn identical."

"Definitely."

They turned the corner, and Claire realised that there was only one corridor left to walk – in a minute she'll either embrace a huge change or live despised by the Breakfast Club. And herself.

Bev must've noticed her worry. "You've decided where you'll sit?"

"I think so. You still with me?"

"I might be part of our clique, but they don't own me. I can sit with whomever I want, and if sitting with you weirdos promises a good conversation, I'm up for it. Sort of tired discussing boys and manicure all the time."

Claire never even realised before how brave Bev was. She did whatever she wanted, and still remained popular. Maybe Claire could do the same. Or maybe that's what being popular meant. Being yourself no matter what people think of you. Bev never even attempted to hide that she was Christian and a virgin, she always answered any questions honestly and with a calm face that would make anyone who'd want to laugh at her feel stupid. Because, what's there to laugh at?

They entered the cafeteria, and Claire once again wiped her sweaty palms on her skirt. If she was about to lose all her friends, then at least she'll have the Breakfast Club. And Bev. She wouldn't care about Claire's social status, even if she was going to commit social suicide.

Claire looked over to the centre of the cafeteria – where the popular crowd usually sat – and noticed that Andy was there, eating his sandwich. He didn't seem happy though, wasn't talking to anyone, blankly staring in front of him or at the wooden surface of the table. Madison and Julia waved at both Claire and Bev, as if neither of them would know how to find their usual seats. Beverly waved back with a smile, Claire did the same – albeit a little hesitantly.

She looked a little to the left – the seats by the windows were usually the area of nerds and social outcasts, and just like she expected, Brian was there, sat at a huge, almost empty table with… Allison. She retained the makeover Claire gave her last Saturday, putting her hair away from her face and wearing some makeup. She looked good.

And then she saw Bender. He sat by the bins with all other burnouts, they were throwing food at each other, some of them were smoking, and one guy had a girl on his lap, whom he was kissing passionately. Claire crunched up her nose for a second.

"Shall we?" Beverly spoke to Claire, waking her up from the stupor.

Claire was about to nod, but then realised she couldn't do it. She was terrified of the consequences. She shook her head at Bev and, without saying a word and already hating herself for being such a chicken, started walking towards the central area to join her shallow but popular friends. She heard Bev say something to her, but didn't pay attention. She tried to keep her head down as she walked. However, when she felt (rather than noticed) John watching her, she stopped in her tracks. She could live with self-loathing, but if John hated her – actually hated her, and not because she was rich or pretty or popular, but because she was a bitch by her own choice – she wouldn't be able to live with that. He had known she would do something like this, that she'd never have the courage to stand up to her friends.

Suddenly, she wanted to prove him wrong. She turned to look at Beverly who was hovering behind her, "Actually…"

And Claire changed her route, walking up towards Brian's table.

"Hey," she offered sheepishly to Brian and Allison. She could see Brian was surprised, his hand had frozen mid-air, the sandwich not having quite reached his mouth. Allison didn't seem baffled, she was smiling at Claire, and somehow that smile felt like the best reward in the world. "This is Beverly," she motioned to her, who was now stood to Claire's right. "She's my good friend, Captain cheerleader."

Bev set her things on the floor and sat next to Brian, facing Allison. "Claire told me so much about you guys."

"Hey," Allison and Brian said in unison, baffled by whom they were talking to.

Claire took a seat next to Allison, trying desperately to ignore the fact that her 'friends' were whispering vigorously on her account, and smiled at her real friends.

"You're Brian, right?" Bev asked. "I heard you're real smart. And in the Latin club?"

Claire saw Brian blush deeply and put his sandwich down. "Yeah- I'm uh- In the Latin club. Yeah."

Beverly gave him a huge, but sincere – Claire could tell it was – smile. "That's so cool. I've actually wanted to join for a while now. I want to be a lawyer one day, and you know, there's lots of Latin in legal terminology. But I'm kind of scared to join because I don't have that much knowledge and I'd honestly seem so stupid compared to all of you guys there," Beverly opened her lunch box and got a fork – she always ate salads or something as healthy as that, this time it was a Caesar salad.

"You mind moving over?" somebody asked Claire on her left, and she turned around to see Andy who finally decided to join them and obviously wanted to sit next to his girlfriend.

"Welcome back," Claire said, giving him a smile that showed she was happy he was here, and moved a seat over.

"Well, you know, you don't need to know that much- um- there are other people who are just learning-" mumbled Brian, looking at Beverly who listened intently, eating her salad, all elegant and sophisticated. "I- well, could tutor- You. I mean, if you want-"

Bev nodded. "I'd love that. You're so sweet. Having that kind of knowledge would look really impressive on a college application."

As Claire listened to them talking (while Allison and Andy were making eyes at each other), she looked to the right – where John sat, and now he resembled Andy a few minutes ago. Not talking to anyone, looking down at his hands, obviously worried and maybe even hating himself. He did that a lot – something that Claire had learned after spending a day with him. He pretended to be all brave and invincible, but behind all his bravado he hid a very sensitive personality. Maybe he just needed help?

"I'll be right back guys," she told them, noticing how Bev was offering Brian to try some of her salad before she left, and feeling her knees shake as she decided to be brave. For John. For herself. For her friends, real friends.

When she walked up to John, all of his friends stopped talking, and all eyes were glued to her. She took a deep breath and moved the weight of her body on one foot – she read in Cosmo that a position like that could demonstrate confidence. And that's what she wanted all of those people to see. That she wasn't worried or afraid, she knew what she was doing. Even though she really didn't. John could easily tell her to get lost right now and leave her humiliated in front of his friends. But she really hoped he wouldn't.

"You lost?" John asked, making her breath stop in her throat, as she remembered their little encounter in that closet.

"I believe you're at the wrong table, John," Claire said, loud and clear, purposefully avoiding calling him Bender to show that their relationship was more personal than that.

She looked him right in the eye, hoping he wouldn't be a jerk about this whole thing because she was pretty sure her whole clique was watching her right now. But to Claire, John was way more important than anything her so-called friends might say. They didn't need to know any details of their relationship, but she wasn't going to pretend not to know him.

He got up, surprising his friends (and Claire, but only a little bit), and said, "Lead the way, Cherry," giving her that signature smirk of his. Come to think of it, most of the things he did she would call his signature things. Claire took his hand and did as he asked.

"Who's the prom queen?" he asked Claire as they were walking up to the table to join others.

"That's Beverly," she said, still holding his hand. "She's real nice."

"Head cheerleader? Nice? That's something I've never heard before."

"Well, come see for yourself."

This time Claire sat next to Bev so that John could sit across from her, next to Andy. "Funny guy, dork," Bender greeted Andy and Brian. Claire rolled her eyes at his words. As always, nothing trivial. "Weirdo," he nodded at Allison, who was now in the process of making her sandwich (she gave him a huge smile), and then looked at Bev, "and prom queen."

Beverly nodded and gave him a sweet smile. "The famous John Bender. I like your earring," she said, making everyone look at him. Claire blushed and stared at the table. She didn't tell Beverly about the earring. She was just always so damn observant.

"Thanks. It was a gift."

"Nice gift."

"Yeah."

They were interrupted by the sound of Allison pressing two slices of bread together to hold the cereal in the sandwich. Then she bit into it.

"Oh my life," Beverly said, everyone glancing at her. She never said God's name in vain and always used substitutes proudly, no matter how 'uncool' by their friends' standards they sounded. "Is that a Captain Crunch sandwich?"

"Yep," nodded Andy, since Allison was occupied by chewing her food.

"I love Captain Crunch with bread!" Bev exclaimed. "I had to cut back on it because of cheerleading, but sometimes I make sandwiches like that. It's diabetes in a sandwich, and I love it."

Claire smiled at that. Bev seemed to fit in more than Claire had expected. As Bev was explaining the best way to add chocolate and peanut butter to a sandwich like that, Claire felt John lean in and whisper into her ear, "Not sure how nice she is, but she's definitely as weird as Allison."

That made Claire laugh.

Everyone was laughing at something Brian had said, and Bev's laugh was the loudest. Claire noticed that Brian was looking at her a lot, no doubt crushing. She didn't blame him. She's known Beverly for almost four years now and was used to the sort of reaction she caused from guys. She was wondering now whether introducing her to John was such a good idea.

"That's exactly what my father used to say," Beverly laughed, putting her hand on Brian's shoulder. She was flirting. Claire could tell. But this time she was doing it sincerely – whatever she needed from Brian he'd do for her anyway, she didn't have to flirt to get it. Brian was nice, unlike Mason Fallon. So Bev actually wanted to flirt with Brian. And that wasn't something Claire would ever expect.

"So," Allison said, looking at Bev, "Have you done it?" in her usual unceremonious manner, raising her eyebrows. Something Allison seemed to do quite often was ask random question without any reason behind them or without their conversation leading up to it. That's probably what made them so random, anyway.

Bev stopped laughing, but a smile remained on her face. She didn't seem baffled. "You mean sex?" she said simply. "No, I haven't. Still a virgin."

Everyone at the table paused, watching her. Claire already knew the answer to that question, but she was still impressed by how calm Beverly was. She didn't seem to care if people knew. Maybe that's why everyone thought she was so cool.

"Because you're a Christian?" asked Brian. She looked over to him. "I noticed the crucifix," he explained, pointing to the pendant on her neck.

"No, not because of that. I don't believe in the whole 'no sex before marriage' thing," she showed quotation marks with her fingers. "I guess it just hasn't happened for me yet."

Everyone was quiet, then Brian spoke again. "Me neither." Everyone simultaneously looked at him. "I mean, I- I'm a virgin too."

Beverly gave him a smile, "That's cool of you to be able to admit it like that. Guys usually lie about that stuff." Everyone was quiet for a few seconds, but then Bev continued talking like what she'd just heard was nothing. And it probably wasn't. To her, anyway. "But are you guys excited to see A Nightmare on Elm Street in November? I heard it's going to be insane…"

Everyone picked up their conversations, but Claire stopped listening. She moved seats once again, so that she would sit next to John. He looked at her in surprise, but she gave him a smile that she hoped wouldn't show she how worried she really was. She moved her lunch over, picking up the chopsticks with her right hand and putting her left hand under that table so that she could take John's hand. When she first touched him, she felt him freeze for a second but then he seemed to relax and wrap his hand around hers, their fingers intertwining. His thumb caressed the back of her hand, and Claire found she couldn't eat now, she was too concentrated on his touch.

He leaned in. "Have I told you how much I love that skirt?"

With that question, Claire almost forgot how to breathe. Her cheeks felt too warm, and there was also a weird feeling in her stomach. The same feeling she had when John first kissed her after she gave him her earring.

"Did you wear it for me?" he asked, his breath on her ear.

"No," she managed to say.

"Liar."

He let go of her hand and she felt him touch her knee. She, once again, froze, hoping to God that no one could tell what was happening by the expression on her face. Sometimes she could be like an open book.

If somebody asked her, she could never describe what she felt when John's had slowly moved up her thigh. Whatever was happening turned into a giant blur that felt like nothing she had ever felt before. Truth be told, boys had tried to put their hands on her knees before. But it never caused anything but annoyance from her, and she always pushed their hands away, calling them pervs or pigs or whatever it was she usually called them. But John's hand felt like fire on her skin. She was finding it hard to think about anything, to concentrate at all.

Somewhere far, a voice had reached her mind, and she tried to snap out of the fog her brain was in at the moment.

"Claire?" she heard Brian call her name, and something told her this wasn't the first time because everyone at the table was watching her now. John's hand remained on her thigh; he was smiling to himself, no doubt enjoying her embarrassment.

"Yeah?" she said, trying to sound nonchalant.

"You're not eating at all. Are you okay?" Brian asked, and Claire saw worry on Bev's face, but then her eyes travelled down, stopping where the wooden surface of the table cut off the view to what was going on under it, and she smiled, looking down. She understood what was happening. Claire never felt more uncomfortable.

"She's okay, Brian," Beverly said.

"But she-"

"So when are you going to start tutoring me?" Bev interrupted him, purposefully and considerately changing the subject. "I'd like to join the club pretty soon."

Brian was once again preoccupied with his conversation with Bev, so Claire turned to look at John. He looked smug. Claire picked up a sushi roll from the plate in front of her and lifted it to John's lips so he would try it. As he ate the food, her fingers lightly touching his lips, she pushed his hand off her thigh under the table.

"Not here," she said quietly, so that he would be the only one to hear.

John chewed the roll, looking pretty content with the taste. "Where, then?"

Claire smiled. "Meet me by the gym after school. I'll think of something."

After lunch there was homeroom again. On the way there, Claire suddenly looked at Beverly, "Hey, you don't happen to have a spot on the squad for me, do you?"

"I mean… We're full, but I could make one more, I'm Captain," she eyed her friend suspiciously. "Since when do you want to be a cheerleader?"

Claire rolled her eyes, "I don't."

Bev looked up to the ceiling, mockingly-hurt. "How dare you?"

"I mean, it just isn't my biggest dream at the moment. But I could use it as a cover."

"What cover?"

"To see John three times a week after school. And that would also mean that my dad would pick you up with me to drive you home every day?" she gave Bev a mischievous smile.

"Right, you'd just wear the uniform around the school, but never appear at any pep rallies? That's ridiculous, Claire. People will ask questions. Your cover will be blown."

"Did you forget that I did gymnastics for ten years of my life? I don't think learning your routines would be that difficult."

Bev chewed on her bottom lip, thinking it through. Claire hoped she would agree because that would be a perfect opportunity. She would quickly learn the routines, rehearse a little with everyone, and then spend 45 minutes with John before getting picked up by her dad after the practice. All she needed was to find an empty room where no one would disturb them.

"Fine," she finally said. "But don't expect me to put you in any leading positions."

Claire jumped in her spot a little and gave Bev a hug. "Thank you so much. I promise I won't let the team down."

"I'll get you the uniform between fourth and final period – there are spares in the girls' locker room. But you'll have to wear it every day – school spirit and everything," she said it like she didn't believe in it herself. "It should be pretty easy to find your uniform size, you're pretty skinny."

"Thanks," Claire nodded.

"Is Brian sophomore, do you know?" Bev suddenly asked, completely changing the topic.

"Yeah, sophomore like us. You like him? He seemed to like you a lot."

Beverly was silent for a few seconds, looking down and smiling, with a blush creeping up her cheeks, "He's sweet. But I don't know if I'm ready to really like anyone yet."

"That's okay," said Claire, solemn. "Because Brian would wait for you forever," she said, laughter evident in her words, and Bev pushed her shoulder in a mock gesture. But Claire didn't fail to notice that her friend's smile got wider, her eyes shining with laughter.

In the break before the last period, Claire put on the cheerleader's uniform, and Beverly quickly taught her the routine they were going to practice that day.

"Just make sure you come in for like the last fifteen minutes of the practice. Just to do it with everyone, so that I know what everything looks like and where to put you," instructed her Bev.

"Deal," she agreed readily, and went off to her final period which was actually independent study, and so she could use it to think about the room she should find for herself and John. She spent some time thinking about it, but then realised that the solution was simple. For an hour after school, Vernon would be supervising detention in the library, and in case of short detentions he usually sat in the library rather than in his office across the hall. That meant that the closet not far from the teacher's lounge wouldn't be supervised – Vernon was the teacher who stayed in the longest. And even if any other teachers remained at school after teaching hours, they usually stuck to their classrooms. Claire had been staying after school many times for the student council meetings, so by now she knew the place's routine.

That closet would be the best place to hide in. The only person who could find them in there would be Carl, but something told Claire that he wouldn't be a problem. Especially if she offered him some money.

Right after the final period Claire dropped off her stuff at the girls' locker room and left to find John. As she left, Bev gave her a parting encouraging smile. "45 minutes, Standish!" she reminded Claire, always serious about her cheerleading squad.

Claire found John by the entrance to gym, only around the corner, so that the cheerleaders in gym wouldn't see him. He whistled when he saw her.

"What's up with the masquerade?" he asked, looking her up and down in a way that she would consider offensive, had it been someone else. He seemed impressed. Claire gathered it was mostly due to the length of her skirt. This was one of many benefits of her idea – she could wear the shortest skirts in the world with a legitimate excuse. No one would judge her – cheerleaders weren't judged, not usually anyway.

"No masquerade. I'm a cheerleader now," she put her hands on her waist proudly, smiling at John.

"Since when?"

"Since two hours ago. Trust me, this is a great idea."

"Oh, I'm not arguing about that," John said, looking at her legs near the hem of her skirt – which wasn't that low down, Claire had to admit. She was a lot less shapely than Beverly, so her skirt did appear a little longer, but not that much longer. It was still very short.

Claire smacked his shoulder, "Shut up," but she thought he could tell that her cheeks turned pink with pleasure. She liked the idea of being liked by him. She liked the idea of being wanted by him even more.

Claire looked around and, making sure they were alone, stood on her tiptoes and carefully kissed John. This was harder to do – without the heels she wore on Saturday, the difference in their height was more pronounced. He responded almost immediately, leaning into her with enthusiasm, like he didn't quite know how to do anything else – like he did when they kissed for the first time, in the parking lot, in front of her father. She lifted her arms and touched his face, brushing the stubble on his chin and enjoying the feel of his skin.

When he was about to go in with the tongue, she moved away – just like she did last time – and he followed her by inertia, but then opened his eyes. "Such a tease," he told her.

Truth be told, she had never kissed anyone in that way. And it's not like she didn't want to do it with John. It's just that if she did it here and now, they could be easily interrupted. Or seen. Neither should happen.

"Not here," she smiled, unconsciously looking at his lips and thinking of kissing them again. She then lifted her eyes to meet his and rubbed his shoulder tenderly. "Come with me."

She took his hand and led the way. John obeyed.

I know there's a lot of Beverly in this story. I just felt like I wanted to show that popular people aren't all shallow, and Beverly is a good example of that. Back at school, I know plenty of popular people who are actually nice. But tell me what you guys think.

Thank you so much for reading, and please review!