A/N: Here's chapter two. Thanks for all of the reviews; they really brighten up my day (especially since I've gotten all nice ones so far, yay!). I hope everyone has a Happy Valentine's Day, and enjoys the new chapters!
Disclaimer: See previous chapter. I'm lazy like that.
Chapter Two – Alarm Clock
It was only in the light of the restaurant that Claire saw how much of a beating Bender had taken.
"John!" she gasped. "You have a black eye!"
"Don't forget the fat lip."
"Doesn't it hurt?"
He shrugged and looked down at the menu. "So what are you gonna get princess?"
"A salad."
"That's it?"
"Considering everything else on here either has meat or is filled with grease…yeah."
"Are you saying you don't eat meat?"
"Yep."
He gaped at her. "You're gonna die. Don't you need protein?"
"Vegetables and fish have protein."
"Doesn't fish count as meat?"
"Not really."
"It crawls around, it's alive…I'd say it's meat."
She rolled her eyes. "So what are you going to get?"
"I don't know, I'm not very hungry."
The waitress strolled up to them. Her name tag said she was Betty. "Are you two ready to order?"
"Just a salad," Claire replied. "And…a side order of fries."
Betty made a few notes. "And you sir?"
"I'll have a double cheeseburger, well done, with a large order of fries and a large strawberry milk shake." He handed over the menus. "And please, Betty, tell them no pickles."
Betty laughed and walked off.
Claire swirled the straw in her coke. "Not very hungry, huh?" she asked wryly. "So why haven't you been in chem lately?"
"I had better things to do." He leaned back against the booth and began unrolling his silverware. "Like sleeping."
"You should come back sometime."
"You miss me, princess?"
Bender was surprised at how much he longed to hear her say yes. He glanced up at her; her cheeks were still flaming. That was a good sign.
"You could say that," she said at last, grinning mischievously.
Bender fought back a smile. Butterflies were tumbling about his stomach. He'd never felt this way about a girl before. He'd never let himself feel this way about a girl before. Why he'd let Claire get to him so much, he couldn't say. Maybe it was because he thought she would ignore him, like she had, and never speak to him again, which she had not.
"You know, you haven't been a jack ass all night," Claire wondered out loud. "Except…" She stopped and looked down, biting her lip.
Bender could have kicked himself. He'd been such a jerk. He deserved that slap she'd given him. It took a lot of guts, going up there and talking to him like that, guts that he had given up hoping Claire had. He still questioned her motives. But it didn't change the fact that he'd done to her exactly what she had done to him, and he knew how shitty that felt.
"What I said…I didn't mean it," he confessed.
He could tell she didn't believe him, but she didn't disagree. He clenched his fist and tried to convince himself it was good she didn't trust him, good that she wouldn't, and good that nothing would change after tonight. It was good that she would pretend he didn't exist the next day…
If it was good, why did it piss him off so much?
But it was good that he was pissed, because now he could pretend he hated Claire and stop feeling all warm and fuzzy like he had been.
"So," he began. "So. I hear you're going out with Jake Thompson."
"It's just a rumor. I mean, I did go out with him once, but nothing really happened."
There he went again, feeling all warm and fuzzy, like he belonged on Winnie the Pooh. He'd spent the last month doing everything he could to piss off Thompson. That same day Bender had pulled a chair out from under him. But it was only because Thompson was a stuck up dick; it had nothing to do with Claire. No. Nothing to do with the fact that Thompson could talk to her, put his arm around her, kiss her. And Claire had nothing to do with the fact that Bender was so relieved now.
But Bender couldn't help but admit that he'd been strangely possessive over something he didn't possess. Bender had been tripping with a friend in the back of the library, watching Claire study, when she'd bent down to pick up a pencil. His friend said something, he couldn't even remember it anymore, and Bender had let loose on him. The librarian had kicked him out for being too loud.
Then he had cussed out the librarian and earned himself another detention.
"So…are you seeing anyone?"Claire asked coolly.
He thought about messing with her, saying he was. But she knew him better than that. "Not really."
"Considering anyone?"
"I'm considering considering someone," he replied with a smirk, "but I consider all of them."
"Don't you ever get sick of that?"
"What do you mean?"
"Don't you feel alone? All those girls, and equally close, or not close, to all of them."
"But that's the beauty of it."
He didn't get to explain it any further, because they were interrupted by Betty brining them their food. Bender suddenly realized that he wasn't hungry, he was starving, and he dug in ravenously.
He watched Claire pick at her salad. He wished he could have taken her somewhere nicer, instead of this two-bit diner.
"Where's your favorite place to eat?" he asked between bites.
"Yamato, definitely."
"Yama-what?"
"It's a Japanese restaurant."
"The sushi place?"
"Mhmm."
He shook his head, giving the impression that he considered her a lost cause.
"How about you, where do you like to eat?"
He grinned dreamily. "Buffets."
"But the food sits out there all day, and people breathe on it, and flies land on it…" Her nose wrinkled. "It's gross!"
"So what? You can eat as much as you want to for one price. They always bring out complimentary rolls, and they'll keep filling up the basket for free, too. We should have gone to a buffet."
She laughed. "No thanks."
"Whatever you say, Princess. But you're missing out."
They finished eating quickly, Claire because she hadn't ordered much to begin with, and Bender because he ate his fries three at a time. He sipped at his milkshake aimlessly, until it was three fourths of the way gone.
"You want the rest?" he offered.
"No thanks, I'm good."
"Come on Cherry, you only ate a whole piece of broccoli. At least share it with me."
She rolled her eyes and took her straw out of the coke glass. "All right."
"It's good, isn't it?"
She laughed. "Yeah, I guess."
When the glass was empty, Betty brought them the check. The amount made Bender's wallet hurt.
"I've got it," he said when he saw Claire reaching for her purse. It took all of the money he'd made last week, but he didn't mind.
"What now?"Claire asked when they stepped outside. She shivered in her short skirt. Bender liked that skirt.
"Dunno." He was sleepy. He wanted to stretch out on the couch, watch some crap TV, kiss Claire's neck slowly and indulgently…
"Where's your car?" he asked.
"Honestly…I don't think I remember anymore."
"You're something else, Cherry. Do you remember which direction you were coming from when you went to Ferguson's?"
"The same direction you were going in."
"All right. Let's head up that way and see if we can find it."
They were both silent, but it wasn't a strained silence. It was a comfortable, intimate quietude. Bender knew she was thinking about the pool hall; Claire knew that he was thinking about chemistry.
She spotted her gleaming BMW. "There it is!"
Bender's eyes were as wide as saucers. "This yours?"
"Well…my dad's. He's gonna kill me."
"What's wrong with it?"
"It won't start."
"Let me see the keys."
She handed them over obediently. Bender opened the front door, put the key in the ignition, and turned it. He grinned at her.
"You're outta gas."
"You're joking."
"I wish. That's classic, Claire. They always say rich girls are lacking in brains, but this…"
"Shut-up and give me my keys." She was trying not to smile. "It's not my fault I didn't notice, I had to drive around this creepy neighborhood…"
"Does your dad keep any gasoline in his trunk?"
"I don't know why he would."
Bender took the keys from her again and went to check. "You're in luck!" he called.
Claire felt like dancing. "He has gasoline?"
"I think so." Bender came back around with a jug in his hand. He opened it and sniffed. "Yep. He does."
He opened the cap on the side of the car and began to pour the gas in. Claire watched and had an inexplicable urge to wrap her arms around him. She opened the door and sat down in the driver's seat, trying to get a hold of herself.
Bender appeared at the open door and tossed the keys back to her. "You should be good to go."
"Yeah, I should probably get going. My parents are going to wonder where I am." She said this not for his benefit, but so that she could convince herself it was true. "Do you need a ride anywhere?"
"Nah." He thrust his hands in his pockets. "I don't have anywhere I need to be."
Claire hesitated. "John, I have no idea where I am. Do you think you could come along with me, just to help me get out of this place?"
He shrugged. "I don't have anything better to do."
Claire felt a small thrill while he went around the side of the car and climbed into the passenger's seat. Although they had been physically closer that night, there was something more personal about being with him in the enclosed space of the car.
"Well?" she asked when he was beside her. "Where to?"
(Space)
"This music is shit."
"Then change the station."
He did. "This music is shit too."
"What, you don't like Dead or Alive?" she teased.
"That guy's prettier than you, Claire."
Claire's heart pattered. Had he just called her pretty?
She hadn't driven straight home. Instead, they had pulled up in Shermer High's back parking lot, and were sitting with the car partially on so that they could listen to the radio. She could see the bleachers glimmer in the silver light of the moon. It was eerie, but she was still glad to be there.
Bender had his seat leaning all the way back, his feet on the dashboard. Despite her complaints, he was smoking. He was the perfect picture of relaxation.
"Let's play a game," Claire said suddenly.
"What game?"
"Truth or dare."
"What are we, in kindergarten?"
She giggled. "So…truth or dare?"
"Dare."
"I dare you…" She paused, trying to think of something clever. "I dare you to come to chemistry tomorrow."
He chuckled. "That was real creative Claire."
"Well, let's see if you can do any better. And keep it PG."
"All right. Truth or dare."
"Truth."
He took a drag. "Who was your first kiss?"
"A guy from camp in seventh grade."
Bender gazed at her thoughtfully. "Who?"
"You already had your turn," she reminded him. "Truth or dare?"
"Truth."
"Have you ever been in love?"
"No."
She tilted her head, taken aback. "Never?"
"Never." He flicked ash out the window. "I've said I was a couple times though. Now, truth or dare?"
"Dare."
"I dare you to…" He grinned devilishly.
"Be nice, please?" Claire begged, slightly nervous.
"Oh, all right," he groaned. "I dare you to stay out until three o' clock tonight."
"As long as you promise to be at chemistry tomorrow."
"I'll be there."
"Okay…truth or dare?"
"I don't know…Dare."
"I dare you to kiss the girl that you've considered considering."
He sat up. "That's not fair."
"How's it not fair?"
"What if she doesn't want to be kissed?"
"Has that ever stopped you before?"
"Yes," he said angrily. "All right, I will. But I'm not gonna tell you when."
"That's cheating!"
"No it's not. You didn't specify a time frame. So, truth or dare?"
She glared at him. "Truth."
"Did you like Andy?"
"What?" she exclaimed, unsure if she'd heard right.
"Did you like Andy?"
"Andy Clark? What do you mean?"
"Did you like Andy," he said slowly, "during detention?"
"Well…maybe a little. Like just to flirt with. But not really. So, truth or dare?" she asked before he could say anything.
"Truth."
"Why did you want to know if I liked Andy?"
"Because…This music is shit," he mumbled, leaning forward to mess with the radio. "Michael Jackson?"
"John, don't change the subject."
He scowled at her. "Because…Because I thought maybe you did."
"That doesn't answer the question."
"I didn't want you to like him, okay?" He leaned against the door, his face drawn into adorable agitation. "Does that answer the question?"
"Yes." The corners of her lips twitched.
"Okay Cherry. Truth or dare?"
"Dare," she decided, since his questions were getting a little too close for comfort.
"I dare you to go up to the bleachers with me."
She laughed. "Easy enough."
(Space)
She shivered beside him. They had climbed to the highest level of the bleachers. Claire was surprised she could see the stars so clearly.
"Here." Bender slid out of his trench coat and spread it out over her. "Wouldn't want to take you to the hospital for hypothermia."
"Thanks." She made sure he wasn't looking, then held the coat close to her nose and inhaled. Nicotine and the same unknown intimacy.
"Truth or dare, John?" she asked when they'd sat together in silence for a few minutes.
"Are we still playing that?" he whined. "Truth, I guess."
"Do you come out here a lot at night?"
"Yeah. It's quiet. Close to my house, too." He tugged at his gloves.
Claire could only imagine what it was like to live in his house.
"Choose a card, Cherry."
"Ummm…Truth."
"When you date a guy, what's the one quality he has to have?"
"I don't know…I guess, he needs to accept me for me."
"That's interesting."
"What makes you say that?"
"Your friends don't accept you for who you are, do they?"
She fell silent and leaned her head against the bleachers. "No…I guess they don't."
The next turns were all truths, innocent questions that didn't invade anyone's comfort zone. What's your favorite color? When's your birthday? What's your middle name? What would you do with a million dollars? Time passed quickly, they watched the stars twinkle and shift positions.
Somehow Claire's head was on Bender's shoulder. She yawned. "What time is it?"
"Two fifty."
"I haven't stayed up this late in months."
"You've been missing out."
"So Bender. Truth?"
"Yeah."
"Who's that girl you've considered considering?"
He let out a deep breath. "You want the truth?"
She nodded.
"She doesn't exist. I don't consider her at all…because I can't."
"What do you mean?"
"I can't consider her for anything. Not even for consideration. She's…She's fucking perfect and then I'm…" He stretched his legs out with a sigh. "Truth or dare, Claire."
"Truth."
"Why are you still out here?"
"I want to be. I don't want to go home. And…I want to be with you."
She felt him stiffen.
"Truth," he said, without waiting to be asked.
"Why do you still wear that earring?"
His hand went to the diamond stud instinctively. "Because you gave it to me."
"Dare," she whispered.
He cracked his knuckles. She could almost hear his frustration, or tension. Maybe it was anticipation.
"Don't you forget about me," he said at last, his voice soft and tender.
She sat up. "John, you know I couldn't, even if I tried."
"Damn it Claire," he growled. "Don't say shit like that."
"I mean it, John. You know that, don't you?"
"You mean, that if I walked by you, you'd call my name?"
"Yes."
"You'd walk away."
"No, I wouldn't."
He leaned close to her. His hair swung down and tickled her nose. She felt his breath on her cheek. He opened his mouth, in preparation to do what she could only hope he would. Her breathing sped as he leaned closer to her ear.
"It's three o' clock."