Reunion

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

Claire had never felt this way about someone. She cared for John so deeply. They had been together for 5 days but it felt special. It felt very right. Claire was still standing in the doorway. She could tell from a distance that John was not ok. She saw all the cigarette buds on the table. He had smoked an awful lot. She approached him, being very quiet. "John, John. Wake up," Claire quietly said to him. He didn't stir. She repeated herself, "John, wake up." He didn't wake up. She placed her hand on his shoulder and tapped him. John immediately woke up, threw Claire's arm off him and stood up.

"What the hell are you doing? Don't touch me." Claire was shocked. He had never spoken to her with such a tone. Did he know it was her? She almost understood why he spoke to her like that. The way he reacted when Dick Vernon touched him last week and the events that had happened yesterday… it was understandable. Claire took a step back. She felt a few tears fall down her face. John was standing up looking at Claire. He had no expression. Claire noticed that John's face was red. Had he been crying? There was silence in the room. Claire took a step toward John and he took a step back. What was he doing?

"John, it's me." She was still looking at John. "Are you ok? Talk to me." John shut his eyes and rubbed them with his hands.

"Just go away Claire, leave me alone," John responded. Claire stepped closer to him. "Claire go away. Stay out of my shitty life. I don't want anything to do with you and your perfect life. Just leave me alone," he bellowed. Claire was taken aback. She knew he meant it.

"No I won't go, John. I'm here because I love you. I want to see if my boyfriend is ok. I am not leaving until you talk to me." John looked down. Claire was standing her ground. She knew he couldn't be left. He was too unstable. She was scared, but needed to be brave. "Talk to me John. Or do I have to tell you what I know? Do I have to go over everything that has happened?" Claire knew how bad that was to do. He could react in any way. She shouldn't torture him. He had been through so much… it was wrong of her to threaten to remind him of what happened yesterday. "Please John. Talk to me." She screamed at him. John looked up. Tears were falling down his face. Claire realised how fragile he was. "I'm so sorry John…" her words trailed off. Her tears kept pouring. Claire stepped towards him again. They were close now; Claire could feel John's breath on her face. She could hear how distressed he was. She could smell the cigarettes. Claire put her arms round John's back. He was taller than she was, he was more muscular. She squeezed him tight to reassure him. She was there for him. After a couple of seconds, John responded. He put his arms round Claire and buried his head in her neck. They hugged for minutes, no words were exchanged. Claire heard John exhale deeply. He removed his arms from round her and moved his head away. He wiped away the tears. Claire looked up. He wiped away her tears. "I'm so sorry…"

"Me too. It should never have come to this. I should have dealt with him sooner. It's my fault." Claire shook her head. She disagreed. She needed John to know that it wasn't his fault. They were looking each other in the eyes now. They both leant in for a kiss. Claire wrapped her arms round John's neck; he placed his hand on her hips. They kissed. The kiss was passionate, it was needed and well deserved. John looked at Claire. "You're beautiful." Claire went red. John had never spoken to her so nicely; his compliment meant a lot in his current situation. "I love you." Claire was shocked. It was the first time he had said that. She'd told Annie that she loved him, but hadn't actually told him how she felt.

"I love you too." They embraced each other and then kissed again.

Meanwhile, Andy, Allison and Brian had been out searching for John and had no luck. They all eventually met at the Jackman Estate.

"Any luck, Andy?" asked Allison. Andy shook his head. "I think he could be at school, like you said. It might be worth seeing if Annie's car is still waiting out front? If not, we can just walk back to Claire's. She gave me a key in case we got there before her." Andy, Allison and Brian agreed to walk to school. It was about 10pm on a Saturday. School was not in session, but they needed to find their friend.

"I really like you Allison." Andy shyly said. Allison looked up. She smiled.

"I like you too."

"Be my girlfriend. I really would love to be your boyfriend." Allison smiled even more. She leaped towards Andy and planted a kiss on him. That meant yes.

"You're so cute," Brian remarked. Andy and Allison looked at him, both grinning. Brian never spoke like that. He was really happy that his new friends were happy; that meant a lot to him.

"We know!" Allison exclaimed. They arrived at school after a 15 minute walk. It was cold and dark. It was raining lightly.

"Is that Annie's car?" Everyone looked to where Andy was no pointing. "I think it is." They all walked towards the car waiting outside school. Andy tapped on the window. "Annie?" The girl looked up and rolled down the window. "How long have you been here?"

"Probably over half an hour. I think John's inside." Annie looked around awkwardly, not sure what to do next. "Maybe you should go in and see if Claire's ok?"

"I think that's a good idea; John was not in a good place when I last saw him. You never know what he might do to Claire…" Brian acknowledged."

"He won't hurt her Brian," Allison bluntly said. "But you're right, we should go in and see how he is." Andy, Allison and Claire offered Annie to come with them, but she stayed in the car reading one of her magazines. The rain was getting heavier.

"It's awfully muddy along here," Brian shouted. He was in front of Andy and Allison and the rain was so heavy he was unsure whether they had heard him.

"The door is right there. Go in and head straight down. Turn left then left again. Go up the stairs and you'll be by Vernon's office," responded Andy. Brian followed Andy's directions and arrived at his destination.

"I don't want to talk about it Claire. It's too raw. I'm worried I might say…or do something I'll regret."

"Please John. You need to tell me how you feel. I want you to know that I'm here for you." Claire and John were sitting on the library floor against some bookshelves. John's legs were open, Claire sitting the gap with her legs over John's and behind his back. John was playing with Claire's hair. "John. What are you going to do about a funeral? Have you thought about it?"

"No. I don't want to discuss it. She doesn't deserve a funeral."

"You don't mean that."

"I do. Would you give a fucking funeral which costs a hell of a lot of money, which in case you forgot, I don't have money, to someone who abused you? Followed every command you father said. Hitting, smacking, beating?" Claire was silent. "I didn't think so. I know I tried to save her because of what he was doing to her, but I can't stand a man beating a woman. That's wrong, simply fucking wrong." John was angry again. "Besides, I have no one who would want to come to a funeral held by me. She'll have more people attending than I would. Dick would be dancing round my grave."

"I will." A voice said. John and Claire looked round. Allison, Andy and Brian were standing in a line, facing Claire and John.

The breakfast club reunited. 1 week after they met. They had reunited.