Thanks everyone for the awesome reviews and PMs! I was surprised that so many of you love The Breakfast Club as much as I do! :) Just a reminder that this story will be different from the movie, although a detention scene with similar players is coming up!

Also, this is AU! That means that the characters may act a little different than canon! For example, Carlos is still pretty open, not so jaded by life experiences. Also, the role of Frank Plum will be played by my dad. He's a quiet guy, too, but he would never put up with the crap that Frank does! When it's important, my dad speaks up, and it's usually something worth listening to. ;)

Chapter 3

Bobby drove me home, and a feeling of dread began growing in the pit of my stomach. How was I going to explain Carlos bringing me home tonight? Especially when I had left with Dickie?

Carlos noticed when my shoulders tensed. "Something wrong, Babe?" he whispered in my ear.

I shook my head. "Just not sure how to explain tonight to my parents."

Carlos squeezed my shoulder. "Just tell them what happened, Babe. I'm sure they'll understand."

I sighed. If only it were that easy. I was pretty sure that they wouldn't understand. Well, my dad might, but my mom would most definitely have something to say about the whole situation.

Bobby pulled into my driveway, and Carlos opened the door and climbed out. I could see my mother peering out from behind the drapes as he reached in and helped me out. "Here goes nothing!" I muttered as he walked me up to the porch.

Carlos squeezed my hand. "It'll be alright, Babe."

We climbed up the steps, and my mother opened the door. Her mouth was set in a thin line, and she glared at the both of us. "Stephanie, what is going on? Where is Dickie?"

Carlos was still holding my hand, and I squeezed his for a little courage. "I don't know where Dickie is, mom."

She ushered us into the living room. "What do you mean you don't know? The two of you were supposed to be going out for dinner and a movie."

"And we did."

"So then why isn't he with you? Why is this boy dropping you off again?"

"Because Dickie left me at the movie theater." My dad had wandered into the room in time to hear my last comment.

His brow furrowed and his eyes narrowed as he looked over at me. "Did you say that Dickie left you at the movie theater?"

I nodded.

My dad crossed his arms across his chest. "Why did he leave you at the movie theater?"

"Because I asked him to." My heart was beating so fast that I was pretty sure it was going to pop right out of my chest.

My father raised his eyebrows. "And why did you ask him to leave you there?"

I bit my lip. I wasn't sure what to say. The whole thing was kind of embarrassing. How do you tell your dad that your date was trying to feel you up in the middle of the movie?

My mother let out an exasperated sigh, and my father looked between me and Carlos. "Someone had better tell me what the hell is going on around here! And right now! I want to know why that boy left you at the movie theater!" he demanded.

I took a step closer to Carlos. I knew that I hadn't done anything wrong. I knew that my dad wasn't angry at me, but I was still afraid to tell him what had happened. No, not afraid. Embarrassed. I swallowed, but I couldn't make my throat work. Carlos looked down at me, and I gazed back with pleading eyes.

He cleared his throat and looked at my dad. "Well, sir, it seems that Dickie was a little forward with Stephanie tonight. She turned him down and walked out of the movie theater. He followed her out and offered to drive her home, but she didn't trust him to bring her home. My friends and I were there to catch a movie as well, and I happened to overhear part of the argument. I offered to bring Stephanie home, and she told Dickie that he could leave. We all watched the movie, went out for a bite to eat, and brought her home."

My dad looked like he wanted to punch something. His fists were balled up at his sides and a muscle near his jaw was jumping. "Did he touch you, Pumpkin?"

I buried my face in my hands. "I don't want to talk about it, dad!" I was absolutely mortified.

Carlos put his arm around my shoulders. "She assured me that he hadn't hurt her, sir."

"Is that true, Pumpkin?"

I nodded, my face still covered.

My father let out a sigh. "Fine. We can talk about this some other time."

I let out a relieved breath.

"I don't want to see that Dickie boy around here ever again! Do you hear me?"

I nodded.

"But Frank!" my mother interjected. "She's supposed to go to Homecoming with him! She can't cancel now! She'll never find someone else to go with!"

My dad looked at me. "You will not be going out with that boy again, do you hear me? Not to Homecoming, not to dinner, not to the movies, not anywhere."

"Yes, daddy." I managed.

"But Stephanie! You already have a dress and everything!" my mom was twisting her hands, anxious.

I couldn't believe that my mom was more worried about whether or not I had a date to Homecoming than whether or not my date was a decent human being. "It's fine, mom!" I interjected.

"But it's your Senior year! You can't miss Homecoming your Senior year! You've gone the past three years!"

I blushed. "Maybe I can find someone to go with. Don't worry about it."

My mom tossed her hands up in the air. "For heaven's sake, Stephanie! Homecoming is two weeks away! Where are you going to find someone who doesn't already have a date?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know. If I can't find a date, maybe I'll just tag along with Mary Lou and Lenny. I'm sure they wouldn't mind."

My mother put her hands on her hips. "Well of all the ridiculous ideas!" she ranted. "Really, Stephanie! You're going to tag along to Homecoming with another girl and her date?"

I bit my lip. "I don't know, mom, OK? Maybe I just won't go! I can always save the dress and wear it for Prom."

My mother shook her head. "Prom is formal, Stephanie. Your dress is semi-formal."

"Maybe we can take it back?" I suggested.

My mother started rubbing her forehead. "It's been altered. It can't be returned."

I could feel tears pricking my eyes. "Sorry, mom." I whispered.

Carlos cleared his throat. "I'd be happy to take Stephanie if she needs a date."

I looked up at him with wide eyes. He would?

"You would?" my mom echoed my thoughts. I could practically see my mother's brain turning at warp speed. She didn't know whether to be upset or relieved. I knew that she would be relieved because I had a date, but this was not the charming future lawyer from the Burg that I was supposed to be going with. This date was less than my mother's ideal.

Carlos grinned at me. "Sure. Would you like to go to Homecoming with me, Stephanie?"

I gave him a watery smile back. "Yes, I would!"

My father nodded his head. "Then that's all settled."

My mother looked like she wanted to say something else, but my father herded her in the direction of the kitchen. "I'm hungry for a little snack, Helen. Would you make me a sandwich?"

Like a good little Burg wife, my mother snapped right to attention. "Of course!" she walked through the kitchen door with my father right on her heels.

When they disappeared through the door, I let out the huge breath I had been holding and collapsed into Carlos's chest. "Thanks." I whispered, wrapping my arms around his waist.

He wrapped his arms around my waist and rested his cheek on the top of my head. "No problem, Babe."

I took a step back, my arms still around his waist. "You don't really have to take me to Homecoming if you don't want to." I offered. I didn't want him to feel like he had been pressured into asking me. "If you want to ask someone else or just not go at all, I understand."

His hands rubbed up and down my back, and he grinned at me. "Oh, no! There's no backing out now! I asked you, and you said yes. You're obligated to go with me now!" he teased.

I bit my lip. "You just don't really seem like the type to go to a school dance."

"I'm not, Babe. This will be my first."

I was shocked. "You didn't even go to our Junior Prom last year?" I asked.

He shook his head. "Nope."

"Why not?"

"There's never been anyone that I wanted to ask before." He said, looking me straight in the eye.

I blushed. "You do realize that Homecoming is only two weeks away right? That doesn't give you very much time to find a suit and everything."

He cupped my face in his hands. "I have a suit. Quit trying to give me an excuse to back out. If I didn't want to go with you, I wouldn't have asked you. Now I'd better get going or the guys will kill me for making them sit scrunched up in the car all night."

I grinned and walked him back to the front door. I stood up on my tiptoes and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "Good night, Batman!"

He brushed a soft kiss across my cheek. "Good night, Babe. I'll see you tomorrow at work." He winked at me and walked down the porch steps. I waved as the car backed out of the drive and chugged down the street.

I walked into the kitchen, a huge smile plastered on my face. My mother looked up and narrowed her eyes ever so slightly. She leaned over and patted my dad on the arm. "Frank, let Stephanie and I talk about what happened tonight with Dickie."

My dad nodded and stood up, walking out of the kitchen. As he walked past me, he patted my shoulder. My dad wasn't very demonstrative about his feelings, and I knew that was his version of "I love you."

I heard my dad's heavy steps move from the kitchen to the dining room and through to the living room. The old recliner protested as he flopped down into it and turned the television on.

I turned to look at my mom, curious about what her reaction to tonight's events would be. I knew that she was desperate to pair me up with a good Burg boy, but even my mother would be appalled at Dickie's behavior tonight, right?

"Now, Stephanie. What happened with Dickie at the movie theater?" she began.

My face flamed a bright red. "Like Carlos said, mom. He was a little forward."

"What happened?"

"He was rubbing my leg. Then he started kissing me, and I was so distracted that I didn't notice his hand moving up under my sweatshirt and bra. I had to push him off of me."

My mother let out a sigh. "Stephanie, sometimes boys and men have needs and they get a little carried away."

My mouth dropped open in shock. "So you want me to sleep with Dickie?"

My mother sat up straighter in her chair. "I didn't say that! Although if you were to sleep with him, I am sure that he would make an honest woman of you and propose."

I shook my head. "I can't believe this! All of my life you've preached to me about what behaviors are appropriate and what behaviors are inappropriate. Do this, don't do that. If you wear this, you'll get a reputation. If you talk to that boy, you'll get a reputation. And now you're telling me to sleep with Dickie?" The last part came out high and screechy as my disbelief mounted.

My mother placed her hands on the table and replied in a huff. "Honestly, Stephanie! Calm down! For heavens sake, I did not tell you to sleep with Dickie!"

She smoothed her hair back. "But I am saying this. I am exceptionally proud of the fact that you have been saving yourself for marriage all of these years. It is, after all, what a good girl does. But, now that you're almost 18, I think it's time that you and I had a more realistic talk about the birds and the bees than the one we had when you were 12."

I rolled my eyes at her and snorted. "Mom! I'm pretty sure I know what sex is. Insert tab A into slot B. Seriously. Not that difficult. And I know about birth control and how babies are made."

My mother narrowed her eyes at me. "Don't get flip with me, young lady. You will listen to what I have to say!"

I sat up straighter in my seat and crossed my arms over my chest. I couldn't wait to see what enlightening information mom thought she was going to drop on me. Maybe that there was no stork! Gasp!

"You are getting to an age where it might be OK to start loosening your boundaries, Stephanie. You don't want to give away the milk for free, but a little taste every now and then to get your way won't hurt. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

My mouth dropped open. "Are you telling me to use sex to get my way with boys?"

My mother sniffed. "Well you don't have to put it in such a crude way! I just mean that sometimes it can be a good bargaining chip. Especially when high stakes are involved. For instance, this whole mess with Dickie. What you should have done was play shy, coy tonight. You act embarrassed. You tell him that you've never done something like this before. You really like him, but you're just scared. You hint that maybe he could help you to feel more comfortable about trying these kinds of things. Then each time you let him go just a little bit further before you ask him to stop. It becomes a challenge to him, and guys like a good challenge."

"So you want me to be a tease." I stated dryly.

My mother continued on as if I hadn't said a thing. "And by the time Prom comes around, he would be willing to propose so that you would…" she fluttered her hand around in the air meaningfully.

"Sleep with him." I supplied.

"Well, yes." My mother admitted.

"So you're saying that I should let my date feel me up a little further every week or so until he wants sex so bad that he's willing to marry me to get it."

My mother looked a little annoyed with my summary. "Well, basically." She admitted.

I looked at her thoughtfully. "Well, Carlos has brought me home twice now. And Homecoming is two weeks away. I'll probably see him a few more times at least before that. So how far do you think I should let him go that night?" I knew I was being a gigantic smartass, but I just couldn't take it anymore.

My mother slammed the palms of her hands down on the table and stood up. "Stephanie Michelle Plum!" she raged. "You will not do anything with that boy! This advice is meant to help you land a good husband, not some foreigner from the wrong side of the tracks!"

I slammed my hands down and stood up, too. "Well, I don't appreciate your advice! I'm 17 for crying out loud! I still have a whole year of high school to go! I'm not even thinking about getting married right now! Maybe I want to go to college. Did you ever think about that? Maybe I don't want to get married weeks after graduation and start popping out babies nine months later! Geesh!"

My mother stuck her hand on her hip. "There's no reason why you and Dickie couldn't have gotten married and then gone away to college together. You could have kept house for him, supported him while he worked his way through law school."

I threw my hands up. "You've obviously given this a lot of thought mom. Sorry to spoil your plans, but I'm not a big fan of arranged marriages!"

"Sometimes parents know what their children need better than the children do." My mother replied, glaring at me.

"And sometimes they don't!" I retorted.

"Mark my words, Stephanie. If you keep hanging around with that Carlos person, you are going to end up in trouble. And one day you'll look back on this conversation and realize I was right. You'll wish that you had taken my advice and tried to work things out with Dickie. But it will be too late."

"Highly unlikely." I ground out.

My mother softened her tone. "Stephanie, be reasonable. Look at the family Dickie comes from. They're wealthy, well-respected members of the community. You would be well taken care of for the rest of your life. All you have to do is call him. Apologize for overreacting. Tell him that you were just nervous. Invite him over to dinner tomorrow night. We'll work everything out with your dad."

I took a deep breath. "Mom, I don't want to date Dickie. It wasn't even just the groping that made me uncomfortable around him. It was the way he acted all night. He didn't take my feelings or requests into account all night long. He talked about himself all during dinner. He picked a movie I didn't want to see and then tried to hide it. He was sneaky about putting his hand up my shirt, and then when I asked him to stop, he was nasty. He wasn't understanding. He wasn't apologetic. He was downright rude. Why would I want to be with someone like that for the rest of my life?"

"Sometimes you have to put up with the bad traits too, Stephanie." My mom reminded me.

"I know that, mom, but I shouldn't have to be miserable for the rest of my life either."

My mom let out a big breath. "No, you shouldn't."

That was as close as my mom was going to come to admitting defeat, and I knew it. I walked towards the door. "I'm going to do some homework, then I'm headed to bed."

"Good night, Stephanie."

"Night, mom."

I walked out of the kitchen, through the dining room, and into the living room. I stepped over to my dad's chair and give him a kiss on the cheek. "Night, dad."

"Night, Pumpkin. Everything OK with you and your mother?"

I sighed. "As OK as it ever is."

He nodded. "Your friend Carlos seems like a nice boy."

I smiled. "Yeah, he does, doesn't he?"

TBC