"So let me get this straight," Bender began, pulling the lettuce off his burger and flinging it across the table onto Brian's plate.

"Thanks John," Brian said, unimpressed.

"You're welcome, it's the least I can do to make sure your food pyramid stays intact," he nodded, seriously. "So back to the drama, boys and girls. Let me make sure I've got this correct. Klepto's mom did a moonlight when she was four, and was never heard from again, but then it turned out that she was actually sending a tonne of stuff which was being hidden in the bottom of Klepto's dad's closet."

"I am here you know," Allison commented.

"That's pretty much the short and long of it yeah," Andy nodded, tucking into the first of his two cheese burgers.

A pause.

"So… is your dad like, a klepto too? Klepto Senior?" Bender asked sincerely.

Claire hit him on the arm. "Don't be so freaking insensitive you moron."

"Sorry," Bender nodded, looking ashamed, before turning back to Allison. "So is he?"

Claire gave up, rolling her eyes and going back to her salad.

If Allison was offended by Bender's remarks, she didn't show it. Instead, she just shrugged her shoulders.

"I think he's just an asshole."

"Well… you know, perhaps he just thought he was doing what was best, sorta…" Brian began, diplomatically. "I mean, you don't really know her and I guess your dad does. Or did… once. And maybe he thinks she wouldn't be good for you or… or something."

Silence for a moment.

"Yeah, I prefer my theory. He's an asshole," Allison said.

"No. Big Bri here is right. I suggest you proceed with caution. I mean, your mom could be…. a stripper!" Bender declared.

"Why d'you always gotta make a joke out of everything?" Andy demanded. "It's not funny, Bender. This is her life that douche has been playing around with."

"Andy its fine," Allison said quietly, sharing a look with Claire (they always shared a look when Andy and John began bickering like a pair of sophomore girls).

"Relax Sporto, jeez. Don't get your tights in a knot," Bender snorted.

"Well, you know technically, Andrew doesn't wear tights anymore, since he quit wrestling and all," Brian interjected.

"Eat your greens!" Bender bellowed, gaining the attention of most of the other people in the diner. Sitting back, he folded his arms and scowled at them all. "He's a growing boy."

Casting him a glare, Claire turned back to Allison. "So what are you going to do? Are you gonna write back to her? Did she write a return address on any of the envelopes?"

Allison nodded. "Sure. The last one was about a year ago though so I don't know whether it's the right address."

"Is she living in Chicago?" Brian asked.

She shook her head now. "The address was in Los Angeles."

Brian whistled through his teeth. "Wow."

"Well, you could at least try and write back. What's the worst that can happen?" Claire pointed out.

"That's what I said," Andy nodded in agreement.

"You're not so sure?" she asked Allison, who just shrugged again.

"I just… don't know what to do."

"I'll tell you," Bender piped up, suddenly. "Don't write to her."

The four of them stared at him, all clearly wondering where his advice was coming from.

Seeing that they weren't getting it, Bender sighed dramatically and elaborated. "I think a more… face to face approach is what's needed here, you know what I mean?"

Silence.

"Not really," Andy admitted, eventually.

Bender shook his head, feigning disappointment. "It's sad, really. You can all graduate from high school, but not one of you has a brain cell between you. What I'm trying to say, is that I don't know about you ladies, but I've always quite fancied a stroll down Hollywood Boulevard."

"You're suggesting we go to LA?" Andy realized.

Bender clapped his hands. "Ten points to the guy in blue."

"Bender, do you know how much flights to LA cost?" Brian asked.

"Who said anything about flying, nerd? I'm thinking… roadtrip," he told them.

"We don't have a car," Claire pointed out.

"What about your dad's BMW?" Bender snorted.

She gave him a look that told him 'no chance.'

"Well Andrew has a car," he reminded her.

"Had. Past tense. My dad took it away when I ruined his pro-wrestling dreams. And anyway, it was my brother's really. I don't think he'd be too stoked about us taking it across the other side of the country," Andy said.

Bender shook it off, impatiently. "Never freakin' mind about the car. Leave that to me. Just think about it, dorks. We go LA, we find Klepto's mom, take in a few sights, catch some rays…"

Claire chewed her lower lip thoughtfully. "It would be nice to take a vacation. My parents just took off for three weeks in the south of France, and I didn't even get an invite."

Suddenly, Bender ducked under the table, rummaging around and checking under his seat.

"What are you doing?" Claire frowned.

"Looking for my violin," he smirked.

Picking up a menu from the center of the table, she hit him across the head. "Pig."

"You love it. So Cherry's in. How about you Einstein?" he asked Brian.

"Bender, do you know how long it takes to drive from Chicago to LA? That's like… thirty hours. There's no way in hell my parents would let me go," he told them.

"So blow them off. You're a college boy now," Claire reminded him. "What about you Andy?"

"Sure, why not? I mean, it'd be good to get out of the house over summer. But it's not up to us," he pointed out, turning to Allison. "What do you think, Ally? If you don't like the idea, you can say. We don't have to do this. If you're not comfortable…"

All eyes were on Allison now as they awaited her reaction.

"Well…" she began, after a few moments consideration. "It's not like I have anything better to do."

"Alright! ROOOOOOOOADTRIPPPP!" Bender whooped, fist pumping the air and knocking half of the drinks off their table in the process.

It wasn't long before the waitress brought them a premature check.

Only a short one I'm afraid, but things should get a little more interesting from now on. Hope it was okay :)