Chapter Two

Morning assembly was an arduous ritual that every student within Shermer High hated. The droning of Vernon about litter, and drugs and school examinations coming up was no teenager's idea of a fun way to start a Monday morning. The second Vernon released them it was a race to get out the door and getting lost in the crowd bustling to get out the door often occurred. Andrew and Alison were pushed against one another in the doorframe. The look of shock that came into his eyes when he saw her appearance caused her to flinch away from him and she almost missed the look of admiration that followed. But she could be no means ignore the small squeeze of her hand and the small smile that followed.

In the hallway rush to homeroom immediately following the assembly Claire spotted Bender. As their eyes met as small gasp of sympathy escaped her lips. She crossed the width between them quickly and pressed her hand to his eyes. The gentle coolness of her hand against the fiery pain of his eyes sent a shiver through Bender's whole body. Her whispered words 'John, what happened,' however caused him to steel himself against her touch. There was no way he could tell her what had really happened. He couldn't hurt her feelings by telling her it was her gift to him that had got him beaten up.

'Nothing. I talked back to my old man. Shit happens'

'But John, it shouldn't be allowed to happen. If he's capable of doing this to you, he's capable of killing you…'

At that moment one of Claire's friends came and hooked her arm into Claire's shooting John a dirty look. Claire flinched and took a step back from Bender. His facial features hardened at the obvious dismissal.

'Don't worry your little head, Princess. It's not as if anyone at this school would miss me.'

He then turned and stormed away from her, as he did so he could hear Claire's friend asking her,

'Why were you talking to the criminal? You'll ruin your reputation.'

Brian had been lucky enough to miss the assembly. If lucky was the right word. Sitting in Mr. Dean's office in the beanbag placed there for comfort he remained stonily silent. As the guidance counsellor fired question after question at him, Brian turned his head to stare out the window. This time last week, had he been in this situation, Brian would have answered all Mr. Dean's questions as fully and logically as he possibly could. But Bender especially had taught him teachers were not always in the right, and he had a power over them that he could use to his advantage. If he knew how. To block out the ramblings of the old man, Brian went over the events of Saturday and wondered if there was any way to keep the bond with the other four that had been created.