Disclaimer: I don't own rights to the Breakfast Club. I make no profit. This work of fiction is strictly written for the amusement of my black little heart.

Chapter 10

Saturday morning found Cliff sitting with Andy's friends beside the local soccer field. Claire had laid out a blanket, and they were drinking coffee from a thermos that she had brought with her. Cliff, as he had left his house that morning, had remembered that he used to like eating a few orange sliced at the half time when he played soccer, so he had brought those along as well. Claire had informed him, in no uncertain terms, that she thought that was the "god-damn cutest thing" ever.

Cliff watched the field, trying to pick out Andy. It had rained the night before. When Cliff expressed his concern over the condition of the field, Andy had just laughed.

"This is rugby, sweetie. No such thing as a match being called on account of mud."

So now, here they all were. Cliff tried not to be nervous. He knew that, when he was, he would stutter, and say foolish things. He glanced over at the young couple on his left: Brian and Allison, if he remembered correctly. They were adorable, sitting together, fingers intertwined. If you didn't know any better, you would think that they were heavily into the first stages of puppy love. Cliff had been surprised when Andy had told him the night prior that they had been together two years.

The two that sat on his right were a conundrum, though. He watched as the boy (Benton? No, Bender) leaned his head in and mouthed something into Claire's ear. Claire giggled and responded with a light smack to his arm and a softly murmured "Jerk". Quite the difference from the interaction he'd witnessed only a week ago.

He recalled Andy's terse explanation that they had dated in high school, and things hadn't gone well. Things certainly seemed to be going well now, Cliff noted with a small smile. His brief interactions with Claire had already left a mark on him. The simple fact that she seemed to have a rabid defense of Andy's heart showed that she would be a loyal friend. The fact that she had accepted his sexuality without question showed that she really could be as kind as Andy had painted her.

The man next to her, though, he made Cliff wary. One look in his eyes had shown him a completely different side than the affable front he put on. There was danger there, and a great potential for destruction, both of himself and those around him. Cliff made a note to tread very lightly where Bender was concerned, and to watch over his interactions with Claire in Andy's stead.

"So, now the wrestling's starting to make sense. Rage issues too," John murmured low in Claire's ear.

"Jerk" she responded with a light slap to his arm.

John just smiled at her. No one in the world had ever been more surprised than John Bender had been when Claire invited him to join her at Andy's game at the end of class Friday. Was it a date? Obviously not. Was it an excuse to spend some time with her where they weren't yelling? Yes indeed. And for now, that would have to be enough.

"So, what can you tell me about this?" he asked, gesturing towards the field.

Claire bit her lip, frowning, eyes still on the field.

"I don't really know all that much. I've never been a huge fan of sports, so I don't totally get the rules. I know Andy plays as a forward, and that their job is pretty much to get the ball and run it down the field. Beyond that…He's tried to explain it, but sports rules just make my brain hurt," Claire shook her head, knowing how stupid that statement sounded.

John nodded. "It's alright. I was just curious. What's this that they're doing?" He pointed at a huge huddle in the middle of the field. It looked like every player from both teams had suddenly just pounced on each other.

"That I do know," Claire said, sounding relieved. "That's called the scrum, and it's pretty much a fight for the ball. That's one of the ways they can start the game back up when it stops. Someone must have violated one of the smaller laws. I didn't see which one," she murmured. I was too damn busy looking at you remained unspoken.

They watched the field, remaining quiet for a time. Suddenly, Claire jumped up, shouting, as did all the other people on their side of the field, some wearing United shirts. Something good must have happened.

"What was that about?" John asked when Claire resumed her place beside him.

She glanced over, wanting to keep her eyes on the field, not wanting to keep her eyes on the man who'd broken her heart so easily. She sighed, and gave in, facing him.

"That was a try. It's kind of like a touchdown in football. They just picked up five points because they were able to get the ball to touch down in the Breakers side of the field."

John nodded, staring at her lips as she spoke. He could really give a rat's ass what the game was about. He didn't go much for sports outside of football, basketball, and occasionally hockey. He really just wanted to keep Claire talking so he could keep watching her lips do something, even if it was just form words.

Even the thought of Claire's lips doing that simple task brought him right back to a dream he'd woken from that morning, and he shifted uncomfortably in his now-tight work pants.

John was sitting with Claire in the library as they worked on a project for class. Other than the occasional shuffle of papers, the scratching of pens over drafts, there was no sound. They were alone in the microfiche room, legs just touching under the tables as they worked.

Suddenly, Claire looked up, catching John's eyes with her gaze.

"I can't even tell you how much I've missed you, Bender," she murmured huskily. His tongue flashed out to lick his now dry lips as she stood, crossing around the table. Her hands on his shoulders were surprising, but then there was no room left for shock.

Her lips came crashing down on his, biting at him, her tongue wrestling his for control. John loosed a growl and pulled her down to him, fisting his hand in her hair as his other hand grasped her hip. Claire straddled his lap, making soft sounds against his mouth as her hands ran over his body, nails dragging down his arms, up his shirt, scratching down his back.

Her mouth released his as she dipped to attack his throat, laving her tongue over the pulse point there, nibbling along his collarbone. His hands roamed over her, finding their familiar place on her thighs, hiking up the skirt that she wore. Her own hands ran down, tugging at the buckle over his jeans…

And then, he'd woken up, cursing out his alarm for screeching just as things had gotten good. Now, here he sat, next to the girl who had once again featured in his dreams and left him breathless and swollen come morning. Unfortunately, he didn't see these lips being anywhere near the places they'd been in his imaginings. As a matter of fact, John Bender was quite sure that he was completely screwed when it came to Claire. Not in the good way either.

He looked down at his watch, noting the time. He had to be at work for 11:30, and it was already 10:45. If he rushed out, now, he'd make it to the job site on time.

"Well, Cherry, this has been a wonderful education about the physical arts," he drawled sarcastically. "But it looks like you'll be doing without my conversational services for the rest of the game."

"Oh, you have to leave? Work?" Claire questioned. John simply nodded. If he spoke, he'd have to think. If he thought, he'd have to not do what he was about to.

Kneeling up, he rested his hand on the side of her face, locking his eyes with hers. Not giving her time to agree, or disagree, he leaned in and brushed her lips with his, holding himself back from making it anything deeper. Friends kissed friends all the time, right?

Yeah, that's why he was up and running not ten seconds later, afraid that he'd just made a huge mistake.

A/N: Sorry for the length of time between updates. I've been writing a couple of other fics (one of which is currently up – The Legacy Chronicles) as well as working on my own personal novels. This chapter made me…nervous. It's necessary for later chapters, but feels almost like filler at first. So please, review and let me know what you think. As always, a heaping load of thanks to my reviewers. Every time I read a review, I do a happy fan-girl dance.

See you next chapter,

Nifty