Sorry for the long wait! University is getting busy with assignments and things plus just got a new dog to look after he needs a lot of walks :)
But here's chapter 7 anyway.
Disclaimer: I own nothing of The Breakfast Club or the characters etc etc just the plot.
Claire sighed as she heard more whispers down the corridor. She decided to ignore it and just walk home alone so she could forget about everything. She walked outside Shermer High just as the heavens opened.
"Typical." She said looking up at the sky. She moved her bag further up her shoulder and wrapped her arms around her tightly as the wind and rain picked up. 'Of all the days I don't drive' she thought. She picked up her pace walking for some reason thinking she wouldn't get as wet but she realised it didn't matter how fast she walked – she would still be a drowned rat. She shivered as she walked along thinking of a nice hot bath she could have when she got in. But her thoughts suddenly drifted to John and if he was ok. She hadn't seen him in the corridors at school since lunch and she had begun to worry. Yet she had also heard he had gotten into a fight with Ben. A tear rolled out of her eye but with all the rain you wouldn't have known. She heard some footsteps running behind her.
"Claire!" A voice shouted over the hammering of the rain. She turned round to see John running towards her soaked to his skin just like her.
"Where's your coat?" He asked.
"My closet." She said simply carrying on walking. He stopped her as he took his coat off.
"I know it's wet but I can't let you walk home like that." He looked her up and down. She was wearing shorts and a tee.
"Well if you recall this morning it was sunny!" She shouted over a rumble of thunder and flinched. She threw on his coat the arms too long as they flapped over her hands and the bottom reaching her knees. He just nodded as they walked on in silence. He suddenly stopped to which Claire looked at him frowning.
"Erm.. This is my stop." He said pointing to a house. She looked at the house. It seemed worn down with all the curtains shut; Paint chipping all over the place and roof tiles missing - to her it could have been a black and white photo it was that plain. She jumped and shut her eyes as another rumble of thunder shook the air.
"Do you want me to walk you home?" He asked. She shook her head opened her eyes and looked at the sky.
"No, I don't live to far from here don't worry." She said unsure. He nodded and turned on his heel marching up the path towards his house. She saw there were no cars parked in the drive.
"Can I come in?" She shouted running after him. He turned back round and looked at her strangely.
"I don't think that's a good idea." He said looking awkward. Another rumble of thunder made Claire run up the porch steps.
"Please!" She shouted eyeing up the sky like a scared child. He sighed sensing she was frightened.
"Fine. But don't expect it to be a castle Claire or clean for that matter I try but my dad messes everything up!" He said annoyed. Claire couldn't tell if he was irritated by her or talking about his dad. He opened the door and invited her in. Claire immediately smelt smoke but she was used to that from John anyway. And he was right – it was no castle. The sofas were worn and had tears all over it. Plates were piled up in the sink that seemed to go on for miles to her. Bottles littered the place along with wrappers, papers and more plates. John stood there looking at her as she looked round.
"Told you Claire. Feel free to run whenever you like." He said with a sarcastic smile. She shrugged.
"I don't care this is your home and this is how you like it."
"NO, I don't." He said emphasising the no. "I hate it. I try my best to clean up if I can but my parents just don't care." He shrugged and pulled out a cigarette to smoke. She decided to change to subject.
"Where are your parents then?" she asked. He looked up and blew his cigarette smoke in the air.
"Work I guess from nine till seven is the only time I get alone and don't have to deal with them." He said smiling to himself. He suddenly disappeared upstairs leaving dripping wet Claire stood on the welcome mat staring blankly at where he'd just been.
"Up here cherry!" He called down. She rolled her eyes.
"That name." She said under her breath as she walked up the stairs. She saw him stood on the landing of the stairs and gestured for her to follow him as he finished smoking his cigarette. He shut the door after her. She looked around John's room and saw it was covered in posters of bands some of which she had seen at Alison's. A mattress lay on the floor although the bed was made up neatly and the room was spotless. There was a desk with work on and a radio and some shelves with pictures of him as a child on.
"What happened to your bed?" She questioned. He handed her a towel as she thanked him.
"Me and my dad had a fight and well the frame broke as he pushed me on – Guess I'm pushing maximum density." He said rummaging in a set of draws in the corner. She snorted.
"Thought I was?"
"Well you are." He said as he looked at her in a way that said I'm kidding. He pulled out a tee shirt and handed it to Claire.
"Sorry it's not Gold fabric but it's the best I can do." He said sarcastically. She rolled her eyes.
"I get the point you think I'm high maintenance." She said annoyed and looking down. He looked taken aback.
"Claire, I'm joking I know your not anymore." He said holding his hands up. "Sorry I haven't got any pants you can borrow." He said raising an eyebrow and smirking. "Feel free to underwear it." He smirked.
"Har Har, now can you please remove yourself while I change!" She said agitated.
"Yeah sure. Gonna change myself." He said coolly and leaving the room. She quickly took her top off and got into his warm tee as she was paranoid he would just walk back in. It was huge on Claire but she liked feeling dry and even so it was John's tee. Sitting on the desk chair she wrapped the towel round her legs feeling goosebumps rising with them being so cold. John returned fully changed before folding his arms and leaning in the corner.
"So, Can I ask why you were so desperate to come inside?" He asked one eyebrow raised.
"I don't like thunderstorms and well I was worried." She said looking down at her hands.
"I see." He said simply.
"Plus I heard you got into a fight." She looked back up and straight ahead.
"Wow, news travels fast huh." He said shrugging.
"Look Ben's a nice guy you don't need to go around threatening him." She said annoyed.
"I've heard he plays around with girls." He lied "I was sticking up for you."
"Look John, keep out of my business like I keep out of yours." She said glaring.
"Fine cherry! But don't say I didn't warn you." He said sternly. She just shook her head. She knew he was lying but what she didn't get was why he was so upset about it. She stood up and looked at the photos on his shelf smiling.
"Can't believe that's a little John on there." She laughed.
"Yeah well believe it alright." He said sounding a bit harsher than he meant to.
"I don't mean to be rude but I think you better go my parents will be back soon they sometimes get home before seven. Shit will hit the fan if he sees you here." She just nodded and grabbed her tee off the floor.
"Do you mind if I keep this on?" The storms stopped I just don't wanna walk home completely wet, I'll give it you back of course." She said pointing to the tee shirt John had gave her. He nodded as he followed her downstairs.
"Well… cya around." She said awkwardly smiling and turning letting herself out of the house. He looked around and began to pick up all the litter that was surrounding the house.
Claire walked home as fast as she could. The night was drawing in and she hated walking alone in the dark. She stepped inside her home and the fresh smell and warmth hit her.
"Claire what is that you're wearing?" Her dad said pointing to the plain grey tee she was wearing.
"Oh I er.. Stopped off at Brain's I was soaked from the rain before and he gave me something dry." She lied.
"That tee shirt looks a bit big for Brian?" He said tilting his head and frowning. Her mum looked up above her magazine.
"Yeah well he likes them big." She said shrugging and looking round. Her mum looked at her as if to say 'yeah right' and her dad just simply like all men do assumed that was the case. She walked straight into the bathroom to avoid any more questions before she started to run a bath. She stood at the sink and looked at herself. She looked so withdrawn, tired and thin. It upset her to see herself this way as she shut her eyes tightly finally letting the exhausted tears she'd been holding in for days leak freely. She relaxed in the bath for half an hour before finally deciding sleep was the best option. She walked out of the bathroom in a dressing gown hugging her clothes to her as she left to put in the washer.
"Claire, Alison called." Her mum shouted. She ran to her room and dialled Alison's number.
"Hello?"
"Hey it's me." She said and yawned.
"Spill." Said Alison. Claire knew what she meant and sighed. It was going to be a long night.
