Monday

Claire couldn't help but feel nervous driving up to school on Monday. She had been arguing with herself whether she should pretend Saturday never happened or risk being judged by her friends being caught talking to Brian or Bender in the halls. Bender.. what will happen with him?

'Even if I don't ignore him, it doesn't mean he'll do the same..' Claire was sitting in her fathers car, delaying as much as she could, thinking of 5 different ways of what could happen as soon as she walked through those school doors. Never had she thought so much about school. Everyone loved her, she never had to worry about anything but her grades, and even then, she was getting 80's and 90's with the spare 70 here and there. She looked at herself in the rear view mirror to reapply some neutral lipstick and a bit of mascara. She replayed the Kiss Bender and her had shared in the closet on Saturday. He had said something about using him to get back at her parents and wondered what that all meant. She breathed out heavily, hoping to get rid of some nerves, and got out of the car.

'This is just any other day what is wrong with you' she thought to herself as she walked effortlessly through the crowd, keeping an eye out for Alison. They had done a bit of shopping yesterday to buy Alison a new outfit, and had made plans to meet before first period.

Alison was waiting outside the ladies washroom, leaning against the wall and Clair almost walked right past her.

"Alison?" Claire asked, confused and a bit disappointed to see Alison with hair in her face and wearing a black jacket two sizes too big. "What happened I thought we agreed you'd wear the new outfit? And whats with the hair can you even see me?"

Without saying anything Alison opened her jacket to reveal the red fitting top and blue jeans Claire had helped her pick out yesterday. "I chickened".

"Come on" Claire tugged her by the oversized jacket sleeve and went into the girls washroom. "I can't do my hair like you did Claire, without the headband I don't know how to style it"

"Well lucky for you I always come prepared" Claire was rummaging through her bag to retrieve a headband. "Here" she said, holding it out to which Alison reluctantly took it and carelessly put it on.

Claire sighed "you need lessons" she said while she fixed Alison's hair. "Are you busy tomorrow after school?" Alison gave Clair a look as if to say, 'look who you're talking to, of course I'm not busy' . Claire smiled and took a look at her self In the mirror. She was wearing a denim jacket with a pale pink sweater and denim jeans. Not something she would normally wear. "Come over tomorrow and I'll help you with a few styles."

"Okay" Alison agreed with a smile.

Clair crossed her arms and looked at the jacket Alison was wearing.

"What?" Alison questioned feeling judged.

Claire rolled her eyes. "that jacket is way too big for you. And it looks like a mans."

Alison closed it more tightly around her. "Well I like it, you can't expect me to start wearing pink and dressing like a prom queen." And then she added, "No offence."

"Well alright" Claire said, "the hairs a start. Meet me tomorrow after school by the front entry. I have prom

Committee for half an hour after if you don't mind waiting. I'll see you before then though."

The girls left the washroom and parted ways.

Claire was thinking how glad she was to have met Alison, while retrieving her books from her locker. Claire didn't feel as nervous as she had earlier, but she was still unsure what she'd do when it came to Brian. She would feel terrible blowing him off. She couldn't. But Bender? She couldn't think of that right now, she was running late and needed to hurry. Her friends were already in class and there wasn't many students left in the hall. She turned to head to class but stopped abruptly and her heart sped up. Bender was with his friends, walking in her direction.

She couldn't move and couldn't look away. There he was, saying something she couldn't quite hear, cigarette behind the ear which carried the earring she had given him. Her hand went up to feel the empty space where it use to be on her ear.

Their eyes met and her heart went faster and had trouble breathing. Bender gave Claire that smile- the one he gave her when she snuck in the closet to see him. And then she was just thinking of how badly she wanted to kiss him again. She gave him a stifled smiled back, biting her bottom lip and they didn't break eye contact once.

'Oh, my god'. Claire was still biting her bottom lip after he had past, and she jumped at the sound of the bell. "Shit". She muttered under her breath, and it wasn't because she was late. Her fingers were tingling and her heart wasn't slowing down, and she thought, 'John fucking Bender'.