Chapter 2 - Claire's Day

March 24, 1984 Saturday

I sat in the car, my father pulled away. He was on his car phone, arguing with his assistant. "Bill I sent those documents to the office. Make sure you file them."

I was looking out the window seeing the passing shops, houses and trees. With what I'm sure looked like I got the best present in the world, type of smile.

My dad was off the phone, "Claire?" I turned to look at him.

"Yeah!

"I promised I would make it up to you. Did you want to go to the mall?"

"Sure dad." it was the only way I could keep my dad's mind from wondering.

And asking who was that boy? Not that he would be mad, just curious. I really didn't want to talk to my dad about John Bender. We got to the mall and I went shopping on my own while my dad went to the business suit store. Probably to get measured for a couple of new suits.

I just really wanted these new ankle boots; I had seen them with the clique that day we reason they looked like the type of boots John Bender's girl would wear, and he was used to dating girls that didn't have that pristine look in there appearance.

I could not believe I was shopping now for a pair of shoes just to impress a guy. 'John Bender'.

"Really Claire?" I told myself.

He saw you put on lipstick with you boobs! I dropped my face into the palms of my hands. I felt so embarrassed now more than ever. How was this ever going to work?

I started thinking, Would he even notice? None of the guys at school had ever noticed something new I bought. Why would John? I was now at the counter holding my shoes debating whether really to take them or not. The clerk interrupted my thoughts. "Miss are you going to take those?"

I looked at her, and all I heard was; 'do you really want those boots to impress John Bender.' I said; "Yes!" I laid them on the counter with absolute certainty. "Thank you!" I said to her being so grateful for her unsaid question.

She smiled and said the total is $114 Dollars. I handed her my card. I was thinking what was I going to wear with my boots; I grabbed my card and receipt.

I walked out with my boots and met my dad. We were leaving the mall.

"Claire!

"Yeah dad."

"Who was that boy at your school?"

Damn! I thought. I was almost free from this awkward conversation. I'm sure I looked a little startled with the sudden interest my dad had taken.

"Well I had detention with him." My dad looked at me worried.

"He is really a nice guy dad." I was honest about that.

Bender was really a decent guy, apart from being a perv sometimes. I laughed at my thoughts of detention today. I liked him a lot when we were alone, especially. He really was open talking to me when no one else was around.

I started was thinking of what John would do if he found out he was described as a 'nice guy'.

"Well I can't wait to meet him." I smiled nervously.

"Yeah me neither dad!" I had to hold back from reminding him this wasn't the 60's.

We drove to Chianti's it was already dark. We met my mom in restaurant. We had diner. We really didn't talk a lot after that.

We drove up our long drive way passed the code controlled gate. Dad parked the car in the garage. We got down I made sure to grab my boots. We walked in the house my mom was looking at the my bag in my right hand.

I looked back "Well I am really tired. Goodnight." My mom looked at me and said "Night honey." I ran up to my room hearing my mom telling my dad. "Did you let Claire get new shoes?" She was probably feeling like she lost this round.

I went into my room, closing the door behind me. My ikat headboard as the centerpiece of my room, my baby blue and peach comforter bed set. Mocking me well at least it wasn't pink. I had posters of like Duran Duran, A-ha, Bon Jovi.

I wondered "What would john think of my room?" Oh no what was I talking about John in my room. What universe did I travel to? I started realizing now what John thought meant a lot to me. My long gold mirror closet had captured my reflection as I passed. I turned to look into it. Did John really like me? What was going to happen on Monday?

While I was staring at myself I saw that I was going to have to call and reschedule my appointment tomorrow. If I wouldn't have gotten in trouble on Friday, I would now be a blond. I was tired of being the only red head in school. I got so much crap for it. Even from John "Cherry!" The first time he called me that was I'm sure because of my hair.

My phone rang. I jumped a little at the sound. I answered "Hello!" Thank goodness for my privet line.

"Hey Claire!"

"Hey Stacy!"

"Are you coming out tonight?"

"Damn Stace, I can't I am grounded." She was happy thinking that I was all cooped up in the house. While all my friends were having fun at Stubby's party.

"Oh that's a drag. I'll tell everyone you said hi"

"Okay Stace. Thanks!" I said,

"Talk to you later." I could hear her smile through the phone.

How was the Clique going to react to my being friends with 'The Breakfast Club'.

I went into my bathroom changed into my pajamas and took off my makeup. It was a really long day.

John Bender would still consume my thoughts as I rested my head and shut my eyes to the glow of the moon seeping through my curtain sky windows.

March 25, 1984 Sunday

Earlier in the morning, I had remembered to call the salon. My new appointment was this Wednesday. I loved my hair. I was going to miss it like crazy. But it was time for the jokes to stop.

It was Sunday Afternoon I had spent the whole morning in bed watching TV or listing to music. I still hadn't changed out of my pajamas.

I was lying on my bed rubbing my ear lobe that was bare. I had given John Bender one of my 14k certified diamond earrings. It was only worth $240 dollars. I laughed thinking of what he would do if he knew the price of them.

I was remembering seeing him yesterday in the review mirror he was putting it on. I really couldn't believe John 'burnout' Bender, was wearing one of Claire Standish's earrings. I rolled over to giggle into my pillow. John Bender made me giddy. I loved this feeling. I really couldn't be any happier knowing he had something to remind him of me.

My mom had come up to my room. I heard a knock at the door, "Claire honey!"

"Yeah mom".

"Your father and I are going out. Can I come in?" I rolled my eyes.

I really didn't want to talk right now. "Sure".

She walked in and stayed right at my doorway. "Claire, I have decided you're not grounded any more. I guess I understand you have already been in enough trouble as it is. You having to be in detention all Saturday. Matter of fact you can borrow the car again".

They had told me I couldn't use the car anymore because it was the object helping me ditch school. "I am sure you've learned your lesson though. Right?"

"Right!" I said sounding eager for the car.

But I really wasn't. I didn't care, I had my friends to pick me up. But a show for my mom was all she wanted.

"Thanks mom". I said smiling grateful.

She smiled, and said "sure thing sweetie, I knew that would make your day. Maybe now you can get ready." I was probably scaring my mom by me not being out with the girls today.

But I knew she was doing it out of desperation trying to gain the upper ground now more, due to the fact I stayed in and listened to her and not my dad. But I really didn't want to go out with my friends last night. Stubby's party was going to be wild. As Andrew put it.

My friends were the most popular girls in school being called the clique. Kimberley, Lauren, Stacy, and Jenifer, were my friends since Jr. High.

We were always going out to the party's. I seriously was known as a prude in the clique. Really one could not be proud of having that reputation like that. But one reason I never hooked up at any of those lame ass party's. I never cared about what my girl friends thought about me being a virgin. First of all it wasn't there business. But I quickly changed my opinion about people knowing about me when John asked. I remembered him saying. "Are you a virgin? I'll bet you a million dollars that you are! Let's end the suspense!"

My phone rang grabbing me from the trance I was in seeing bender in front of me. "Hello!"

"Oh my god Claire. You should have been there last night it was crazy."

"Kim?"

"Yeah!"

This was when I noticed how was prior to my social awakening. I Claire Standish going to be brave enough to tell my friends about him. I had my friend Stacy who was the one I always felt trying to compare to me.

"Brandon Davis was asking about you!"

"What?" I said only hearing his name mentioned.

"He wanted to know why you weren't there. We told him you turned into a criminal". She started laughing.

I couldn't say a word paused by her description of me, all I thought of was John.

Brandon had been really sweet. He was always a big part of our conversation in the days at school. One of the richest boys in school and handsome, I knew he liked me. But I never saw him as a guy I would like to be with.

Every time we talked he was always talking about something his parents wanted to buy or had already bought. It was always a very dull conversation. I hated when the girls would throw me in an uncomfortable situation's with him. To talk, Lauren would always say, I so see a prom king and queen in the making.I would smile and nod.

The scale the clique created for rating guys he was defiantly always a ten. Guys like Brian, were more like always a zero. Right now I could switch the two. Brian was an awesome guy. I laughed thinking he would probably pass out knowing Claire Standish put him as a ten. John he was never even consider on the list. But that I would still agree with. John was so mush more then a number on a scale. He jumped the scale.

"Claire are you listening to me?"

"Yes I'm sorry I have a lot of home work to catch up on. Can I talk to you tomorrow at school?"

"Sure." she said sounding a little irritated that I didn't want to know more about what Brandon had to say.

I wanted to know Allison's number. I missed talking to her. She was probably with Andy. I got sad. I wish I could be with John. I wish I knew what bender was doing right now. What if he was with a girl? I looked up at the clock it was about three. I wonder if Allison was listed. I grabbed the phone book and started looking up Reynolds. I saw one that looked familiar. I dialed and some man answered. "Hello".

I stammered. "Uh, hi yes, is Allison home?"

I heard him put the phone down. Is Allison here? Then some lady say, I don't know.

Then I heard a yell, "Allison Phone!" I was getting nervous. I heard the phone lift. Then I heard a blunt, "What?"

"Allison? Hey it's Claire!''

"Claire?" She sounded happy. "How did you get my number?"

"Phone book!" I said jokingly.

"Hey what are you doing today?"

"Nothing you know that."

"Do you want to hang out?"

"Sure." She sounded excited.

"Okay see you in fifteen." We hung up.

I got out of bed and got dressed. I was wearing jeans with my Adidas and a plain white t-shirt. I knew the clique would kill me for wearing this outfit. It was a relief not having to live up to everyone else's expectations. I walked out grabbing the keys to the BMW.

I got to Allison's she came out of her normal suburbia home. She was still wearing her overly baggy clothes.

"Hey!" I said as she got in the car.

I pulled from the curb and surprisingly, I was able to talk to Allison, as if I had known her forever. We talked about Stubby's party. She was wondering if Andy had gone. I was telling her I could find out. She said no. I was kind of relieved knowing that Allison and Andy hadn't spoken since Saturday.

This was so much fun; we were heading toward Grand Park. I told her I wanted to stop at Casey's Style Shop. She was okay with that.

I would never pick Allison for a shopping type or partner. Her drab and black colors made me underestimate my new friend for a shopping friend. I looked at her and said "please don't put anything in your bag." She shot me a glare. We got out of the car she leaned into me pushing me with her shoulder. "I will try my hardest."

We past a popular bar called Dillon's. It was already loud in there. It was raining now. The clothing store was another two doors down.

We turned to go into the store, Allison was asking me, "What was the color of eye liner I put on her yesterday?" The bell rang as we opened the door.

I stopped at the doorway, I had felt like someone was looking at me. I looked at Allison and she looked back at me as I stopped. "What?" she said.

"I don't know I felt something weird, kind of like someone was watching me." She looked at me serious, then leaned in and whisperd."Oh my gosh, Maybe it was Bender!"

I gave her a funny look and said "Shut up!" We started laughing.

We spent the next couple hours in the store shopping. I told Allison to get some tops. She was reluctant. Then I threatened her I was going to get her tops weather she wanted or not. And they were going to be bright pinks and yellows.

She turned and said "Okay".

It was already getting dark. We went up to the counter. It was less than I expected. The shops were always cheaper than the mall. They always had stuff I liked to.

The clerk was eyeballing Allison's bag. Allison looked at the young girl and said; "Are you checking me out?" The girl looked shocked with such a random question. I think now she just wanted to get us out as fast as possible. She said "$72.65." I gave her cash.

I and Allison walked out of the store laughing so hard. I told her, "I can't believe you did that."

She knew how to make someone feel like they did something weird. We got to the car. We put our things in the back seat. We began driving back to Allison's.

I was telling her she was going to blow Andrew's mind with her new clothes.

She started talking about Bender. "You know Claire he isn't the most outgoing steady guy in school." I was feeling uneasy now.

But then she reassured me that she knew he like me a lot. That made me feel better. We got to her house; "So I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah tomorrow!" I said with a nerviness in my tone.

She closed the door running into her house. Tomorrow was the biggest test I was going to be taking. I hope I pass with flying colors. I really liked my new friends. But could I change? I drove away, thinking of the day to come.

March 26, 1984 Monday

I woke up pretty early anxious. It came down to Monday, This Monday. I felt like there was going to be a book written about the history that was going to happen behind the walls of Shermer High School. I took a shower, did my makeup. My ears were priced twice I had my diamond earring on the right through the top hole and I had my gold hoops through the bottom holes.

I was walking out of my room and my mom saw me. "Oh Claire I like those shoes. Thanks mom." My mom did have great taste in clothes though. She was a stylist for vogue. I trusted her opinion, for sure when she didn't have a wine glass in her hand.

I walked down stairs, "Claire have breakfast" my dad announced from the kitchen.

"Oh thanks, but I can't I am late for school." I really wasn't but I wanted to get there a little early hoping to see him.

"Okay bye sweetie!" My dad looked back down to the paper and drank his coffee.

I was on my way to school feeling so anxious and scared I felt like I could throw up. It was almost the end of the year. I shouldn't be nervous. But I wanted to see 'The Breakfast Club'. I really wanted to see him. I wanted to see John Bender!

I pulled into the parking lot. I saw my friends through the rear view mirror as I parked. I got down, grabbing my books from the backseat. When all I heard was some guy call out his name. "Bender". I saw him turn his head from my direction.

Was he looking at me? I smiled.

This Monday was going to be interesting to say the least.

Please don't forget to review. I hope you're enjoying this story. Hugs~