Notes: Sorry this chapter is a bit long and dialogue heavy, but I think most of it is relevant. Again, thank you so much to everybody that's reviewed. Although according to the hit counter over seventy people read each chapter and most of them don't review. If you like, or don't like what you read, let me know. I love to know what people think. And again, sorry for not much happening in this chapter, but I promise more John and Brian soon, and more action (In every sense of the word). Thanks. I love you all.

The doorbell echoed throughout the living room and Andy and Allison abruptly stopped kissing and froze. Looking at each other for a brief moment they were both rendered speechless.

"Shouldn't you answer that?" Said Andy breaking the silence.

"You'd have to get off me first" replied Allison with a sly grin. Andy's cheeks reddened slightly as he sat up, freeing Allison to go and answer the door. Andy sat and watched as she opened the door to reveal a distressed looking Claire, who rushed straight past Allison without an invite, sat herself in a chair and immediately began firing questions.

"What took you guys so long? I thought I had the wrong house for a minute there!"

Claire knew exactly what they doing, it wasn't exactly hard to guess, but it was still kinda fun to watch them squirm. They both looked at each other frantically searching for an excuse, until Claire let them off the hook.

"Don't worry, I can guess. So are you guys like a couple now?"

Allison looked at Andy, she too was keen to hear the answer to that question.

"Yeah, we are," Andy said looking at Allison "If that's okay with Allison"

"Its okay with Allison" she replied smiling broadly.

Claire studied the two of them and a pang of loss and sadness washed over her. She would give anything to be as happy as those two seemed to be.

"you guys are lucky," She told them "John and I managed one lousy morning before it went to shit."

"I saw John" Andy told her. He noticed Claire's eyes widen in surprise.

"What did he say?" She asked.

"Just that the two of you cut class this morning, and got caught by some of your friends.

"Is that all?" Claire looked desperate. Andy decided it wasn't fair to torture her, she didn't look in the mood to be teased.

"He was under the impression that given the choice, you would choose your friends over him" Andy braced himself for the explosion, but none came. Claire answered him with a sad low voice.

"He never gave me that choice."

"I know" said Andy quietly. "From what he told me, that much was obvious"

Allison sat silently listening to the exchange. She didn't really know any of this, it was so obvious that it had all been a misunderstanding. Sometimes she didn't get why people can't just work stuff out. She watched as tears started to fall from Claire's eyes.

"Oh great," Said Claire, wiping her tears away "I swore I wouldn't cry again today."

"Its okay to cry," Said Allison softly "Its better than keeping it all inside."

"Yeah, I know that, I'm just sick of it. It seems like it's all I've done today" Claire managed a small smile and turned to Andy;

"Did he say anything else?" She asked him

"I tried to make him see that he didn't give you much of a choice. Its obvious he feels something for you, he looked a mess."

That gave Claire some small satisfaction. At least she wasn't the only one suffering. She had envisioned John being over her by lunch, hanging out in the parking lot and getting high, looking for his next girlfriend.

"But did he say anything?" She pressed Andy

"Yeah. He asked me what he should do, and I told him he should talk to you. He didn't throw it back in my face either, so I think he wants to make up. I tried to help, but the rest is up to you guys"

"That's good news right?" Allison asked Claire

"I guess" Said Claire hesitantly

"You guess?" Asked Andy

"Well, you know John, he's a stubborn guy. I'm upset, but why should I make myself vulnerable, and give him a chance, when he was so ready to give up on me."

"You owe it to yourself," Allison spoke quietly, looking Claire in the eye, "If you just leave it like this, you'll always wonder what might have happened. John is very complicated, but what he did was more about his insecurities than anything you did."

"Maybe" Said Claire

"No not maybe," Allison spoke a little more firmly, and Claire eyed her in surprise. "You need to find him, and find out where you guys are. After all we learned Saturday, You'd be stupid to give up on him now."

"How would you know?" Asked Claire "You and Andy worked out fine. What would you know about it?"

"Nothing. I just think that you made a connection, and to throw it away without even talking to him, would be letting yourself down."

"I don't know," Allison heard a bitter tone in Claire's voice "All relationships turn to shit anyway."

"what do you mean?" Asked Andy

" You remember Saturday when I told you about my parents?" Claire asked him.

"Yeah" Said Andy hesitantly, he didn't want to upset Claire further but he could sense something major had happened.

"Well I told you their relationship was doomed, although to be honest I couldn't ever really see him splitting up. I could see them being at each other's throats until they were ancient. But I was wrong," She paused and then looked at Allison.

"I got home early right, and neither of them knew I was there. I sat at the top of stairs and listened to them rip each other to shreds," She stopped as her voice started to waver with emotion.

"What happened?" Allison asked, although she thought it was pretty obvious.

"Well before they would just shout, but this time plates were smashing and my Dad sounded furious. He never sounds furious, usually he just takes it. Long story cut short, he told my Mom he wanted a divorce."

"Oh Claire" Allison spoke softly "Are you alright?"

"I should be, I mean it's been coming for a long time, but it's still a shock"

"You can't use your parents as an excuse to not find John. Your not your Mom." Andy spoke up. He knew he might upset Claire, but felt it was important that she knew that.

"I might be someday. Remember what you said Allison?" Claire looked at Allison when as she spoke "When you grow up your heart dies. Unavoidable"

"Perhaps it's avoidable if you know it might happen" Andy tried to inject a bit of optimism into the conversation.

"It happens too gradually to notice," Started Claire. "You go to College, you leave, you get a job, a house, a mortgage, a husband, some kids. All that responsibility will just suck the fun out everything. You get stressed, you get resentful that you're not young anymore and you never will be again. I can't name one adult I know that that hasn't happened to. Look at Your dad," She addressed Andy "His glory days are over and he's trying to relive them with you. Brian's parents push him because they want him to have success they may never had. Its all bullshit."

A depressed silence hung over the room. Claire continued

"I get scared. Really I do, you think there's something's you can rely upon, but nothing ever stays the same."

"We all get scared" Said Andy "Me, you, John and Allison graduate this year. I haven't heard back about my scholarship yet. If that doesn't happen I don't know what I want to do. But even if it does, I feel like maybe I'll be pushed into something I don't really want to do. Wrestling is fun and all, but as a career, I'm not sure about it."

"I haven't even applied to any colleges" Allison spoke up. Claire and Andy looked at her in surprise. Allison smiled at their reaction. "I just didn't know what I wanted so I didn't bother. I'd like to make something of my art, but the guidance councillor told me that wasn't a realistic goal. So I didn't bother."

"That is so wrong. You shouldn't have been put off. I've seen your work and any college would be lucky to have you." Claire was appalled at what Allison had said.

"My parents couldn't really afford to send me college anyway. Not that we've talked about the subject or anything." Allison tried in vain to explain her reasons to Andy and Claire, not that it was working. She tried distracting them instead, and turned to Claire.

"What did you apply to study?" she asked her

"English Literature" Said Claire "I've always loved books, plays, everything. Moliere, Shakespeare. People always seem surprised when I tell them that. I get written off as some kind of bimbo. I haven't applied to anywhere that far away, but the sooner I escape the nightmare that is my parents, the better"

"What are you going to do about your parents?" Allison asked

"I don't know. I guess I'll just go home and keep out of their way. I'm guess my Dad will buy me something new to overcompensate. The usual bullshit."

"And what about John?" Asked Andy, grinning at her

"I really don't know. Maybe I'll track him tomorrow. I'll have to think about that tonight."

The three of them stopped talking and sat I comfortable silence. Andy and Allison were sat side by side on couch, holding hands, Claire noticed. Claire figured that she ought to leave, they were obviously dying for some time alone, and although she didn't really solve any of her problems, she felt better just talking about them. She had been thinking about John, and decided that if she were to show him that she was serious, then she would need to stand up to her friends. And the first thing, would be not to rely on them for anything. She addressed Andy

"You don't live too far from me right?" She asked him

"I don't think so, no. Why?" He eyed her curiously

"Do you think I could get a ride to school?"

"I thought you rode with that girl, what's her name? The brunette?"

"Ruth. I did, but I might be about to do something she might not like, and I'll be stranded."

"No problem" Andy smiled, knowing exactly what she was talking about. Good for her. "Do you want a ride home now?" He asked her

"No," Said Claire, getting up and heading toward the front door, "I think you guys want some time alone. Besides, I stole my Moms car," she grinned mischievously. "See you guys tomorrow."

Claire let herself out the front door, and closed it quietly behind her, glancing once more at the loved up couple. She got into the car and began driving. She hadn't quite reached the dizzy heights of a good mood, but felt better about going home.

Arriving home, she put the car into the garage and quietly let herself in the back door. The house was dark and silent, walking past the living room, she spotted her Mom passed out the couch. Claire stood for a moment in the doorway watching her sadly, she dreaded to think what the future held for her Mom. Claire went in the room and gently placed a blanket over her sleeping mother. She then crept to the kitchen and grabbed some leftovers to take up stairs with her. She didn't really feel like eating, but her grumbling stomach told her otherwise.

Entering her room Claire sat in the bed and picked at the food. It was past 11pm and she could actually feel the tiredness in her eyes. She ate what she could manage, then climbed into bed fully clothed. She started to drift into sleep anda warm feeling filled her as she thought of John. She didn't have much to look forward to, but she had him. Or at least the thought of him. She would have to wait untill tomorrow to see if se had him for real. Until them, dreams would have to do.