Why did everything have to be so complicated? Allison thinks, cursing herself for saying anything at all because now she's screaming at him and he's looking like he couldn't care less whether she's dead or alive but she knows, oh she knows, that he wants to be with her.

After that conversation in the junk yard, an argument had broken out about the direction of their relationship, the both of them feeling frustrated and alone in the world. They'd both said horrible terrible things about one another and now she's telling him that she hates everything about him, from his mess of hair to his dumb boots.

His nostrils flare in anger and he lunges forward. A squeak of surprise escapes her lips and she wonders what he's going to do. A thrill of excitement and fear sends a shiver down her spine, but before she can ask him what he thinks he's doing, she's cut off by his lips on hers.

One part of her wants to yell at him, to scream, "What are you doing?" because she's just so mad right now, but the other part of her wants to just let this happen and to see where it's all going. She gives into the latter side of her, her knees weak and wobbly. Her eyes watch carefully at first, looking into his deep brown eyes. Her eyes close, losing herself in the moment and the realization that he's the only person that she really has ever wanted to trust with her secrets and life.

Before she even realizes it - she's lost in the wonderland of her own thoughts too deeply to notice reality - her jacket is on the dusty ground, her arms still wrapped tightly around his neck. He watches as his hands grapple at her shirt and then that's on the ground next to her jacket in a little heap of darkness. Now she feels just so exposed to the elements, her alabaster skin almost shimmering in the half light of the late afternoon. Her arms disconnect from behind his neck and she hugs herself, almost shivering though summer isn't over and the sun is giving an orange glow to the sky.

Though his crude comments to Claire and his use of innuendo in almost every situation, Allison breathes a sigh of relief when John acts like the perfect gentleman. Well, as perfect as anyone could expect from a teenage boy. "You don't want to?" He asks. There's no anger in his voice, no disappointment. Allison shakes her head, and he doesn't know if that means no, she doesn't want to, or no, that's not right. Allison almost feels disappointed herself, simply because he sounds so indifferent.

Has he been with so many girls that he doesn't really care if I won't do it? Allison thinks. But then she looks into his eyes, sees him removing his own coat and draping it over her shoulders. He doesn't see the cogs working in her mind, he only sees the shivers running down her spine and the little frown forming on her features. A smile spreads across her lips and she leans in, placing a short kiss on his lips. It catches him by surprise but he pulls her in closer anyway.

"John Bender," Allison says seriously, a small smile hidden on by the sleeve on his coat. "You are the sweetest boy I've ever met."

Allison stares ahead, her head on Bender's shoulder. Her eyes rummage through the junk, seeing if there was anything she could use for her projects. Both teenagers sit on the floor, Bender with his long legs stretched out in front of him, Allison cross legged. Her head snaps up as she hears the sound of footsteps and an argument and they both jump to their feet.

A familiar face turns round the corner and Allison's face lights up, a radiant smile stretching over her features. "Brian!" Allison cries, grinning at him. She hadn't had much of a chance to see him since that very first detention, and she felt bad about it. He really was a sweetie. While he was in the middle of an argument with his little sister, who hangs off of his free hand, he stops to smile at her.

"Oh hey, Allison! Bender?" He asks, craning his neck to see Bender, who stands behind Allison. "I know Claire joked about you taking her to see some heavy metal, but I don't think this is what she meant." A goofy smile spreads over his face.

"Yeah..." Allison says awkwardly, not quite knowing what Bender would want her to say about their relationship. She shakes her head, still smiling. "Anyway, what are you doing here?"

"I thought you'd be volunteering somewhere, perfecting your college applications." Bender says dryly. Brian shrugs, juggling the mess of wires and metal he holds in his hands.

"I-I was clearing stuff out...had to get rid of this lamp." He trails off. "Lizzie kept trying to play with it," he frowns, throwing it down on the floor next to the other junk. The little girl tries to grab it from the floor, but Brian pulls her back gently. When she's standing next to him again, she grins at Allison, tugging at Brian's hand.

"She hasn't got any clothes on!" Lizzie yells, throwing her head back laughing. Allison's cheeks glow red, her eyes widening as she pulls Bender's coat around her tighter.

Brian's eyes widen as well, and he starts to stutter. "Um-Lizzie, I-I'm sure that's not true." He points to a clear spot about three meters away. "Go play over there for a minute." When she's out of earshot, Brian scratches the back of his neck. "So I um, better leave you two alone."

"No!" Allison says. "We'll go to a cafe or something. I want to catch up. You come too, John," she smiles.

"You might want to put a shirt on." Bender says, smirking. "You know, no shoes, no shirt, no service? Though I'm glad that's not your policy," he says, throwing her her shirt. She blushes and swats at him.

"Shut up." She smiles at Brian, turning around and slipping her shirt over her head. "Let's go!"

A/N:

Hey guys! How are you? I hope you like the chapter. I'm going on holiday soon so I'm going to try and write a chapter before then to upload while I'm there or I'll write it on the plane but no promises. Anyway, I hope you like it and tell me what you think. Also, tell me what you want to happen. Someone asked if Brian would be coming into it - sorry, can't remember a name - and I thought now was a nice time to include him.

Have a nice day!

~ Caitlin