Chapter Two: Will You Recognize Me? Part One
Claire woke to the sound of rain pelting down on the roof of her house. Rolling over she looked out at the gray sky as water rolled down the window pane. "How appropriate," she thought, pulling the covers around her tightly. "Maybe if I just stay here..."
"Claire. What are you doing? You're alarm went off over half an hour ago."
Groggily Claire squeezed her eyes, then opened them, trying to focus on her mother. "Mm. Sorry Mom. Guess I fell back asleep."
"Well I guess you better get up. We're leaving in twenty minutes."
"Twenty minutes? But that hardly gives me any time to get ready."
"Well you should have thought of that earlier. It's bad enough you were in detention this week. How am I supposed to explain my daughter turning into a delinquent? Now get up. I won't have you getting in to school late."
'Yeah, how do you explain?' Claire thought to herself. Her mother's concern had nothing to do with wanting her to do well. No, it was all about maintaining her image as a socialite with a perfect home and family. Never mind the fact that her father hadn't even bothered to come home the night before. 'He's probably off with some other woman, and I can't say I blame him.' Claire mused. She glanced up at her mother who seemed to be waiting for an answer.
"I'll be ready in twenty."
With a quick nod her mother was gone and Claire sat up. Not eager to get to school anytime soon she moved deliberately slowly, making sure to use every second of the twenty minutes she had been given.
Stepping into the tub for a quick shower -she hated to rush in the shower- she let her mind dwell on the questions that continued to plague her. She had already spent so much time worrying about what this day would bring that it seemed silly to put any more time into it, but it was the only thing she could think about.
After about fifteen minutes she shut the water off and stepped out, pulling on a pink terrycloth robe. She headed back into her bedroom and sat down, glancing at her open closet. Too distracted to pick out her clothes individually she chose one of the outfits her father had bought her on his last business trip.
"Claire! It's time to go!"
"Yeah!"
Quickly drying off she threw on her clothes and grabbed her bag. Not wanting her mother to start arguing with her she ran down the steps to make it seem like she'd actually been rushing. She quickly stopped at the bottom to pull her shoes from the rack they were resting on.
"You're going like that?" Her mother questioned critically.
"I'll do my hair in the car." She answered. "And I can do my makeup at my locker."
Sighing, Mrs. Standish opened the door and left the house, Claire following behind.
They ran quickly to the car and got inside where it was still chilly from the night before. Shivering a bit because she was still wet, Claire buckled her seat belt, then opened her bag. She shuffled through it's contents until she found her brush and began working on her hair.
"What happened to that travel blow dryer your father got you?"
"I dunno. It's packed away somewhere. I don't really need it anyway."
"Nonsense. Your hair will be a mess all day if you don't dry it."
"Well it's too late now, isn't it?" Claire snapped back. Exasperated, she put her brush away and stared out the window.
Shermer always seemed like an isolated little town, rather than a part of a big city. On days like today it seemed even smaller and more desolate. They passed by mostly empty streets. A boy ran by, his dog pulling him along. Up ahead a figure was walking, slightly hunched over in the rain. As they drove by Claire caught of glimpse of a man wearing a gray coat that seemed very familiar, though she couldn't make it out clearly through her fogged window.
'Was that...?'
Turning around she looked out the back windshield. His hair hung wet, blocking out his face. She squinted as if it might make his face clearer, but gave up as he faded out of sight. Not wanting to draw her mother's attention, Claire turned back around to face forward.
The rest of the ride went by in stilled silence. When they arrived at the school Claire got out wordlessly. She was about to walk away but a twinge of guilt hit her and she turned around.
"Good-bye Mom."
"So long Dear. Don't do anything to embarrass either of us today."
Claire straightened up and backed away as the BMW drove off. Had her mother really just said that? Thinking on it she realized that little comments like those had been commonly spoken, she just hadn't noticed them before. She had simply accepted them as the norm, until she was finally able to tell someone what her life was like, and accept that it was so different from others.
Turning back again she faced the front steps of Shermer High School. Looking at it's bland exterior she couldn't help seeing it differently than she had on the Friday before, but the familiarity of it was also overpowering. Everything was as it was before. The same students and teachers she had walked passed hundreds of times went by as they normally did. She wanted so much to be among the masses again where she could move through school comfortably. She wanted to walk up the steps and greet her friends as if nothing had happened but she couldn't do that. Even though she had so casually stated that she'd ignore the friendships born in detention, it made her stomach ache to think of doing that; being a total bitch to the only people to look past her exterior to see who she truly was. A pack of football players rushed past, a few waving hello to her and some of the other more popular students in the area. She waved back timidly. It felt strange to be the only one to see things so differently.
Realizing she was still standing in the rain,Claire ran up the stairs and down the hall until she reached her locker. She quickly opened it and looked in the mirror she had hung inside the door.
"Ugh. I'm a wreck." She pulled at her limp hair and watched it fall flat. On what felt to her like an important day back, she did not want to look like this. She pulled a makeup kit out of her locker, then slammed it shut.
Doing her best to avoid being seen, Claire made her way to the bathroom and proceeded to rebrush her hair and put her makeup on. When she was done her face looked as it always did, and her hair, though still flat, was at least styled. Taking a deep breath she ventured back out into the hall and to her locker. There was a good deal of students standing around the hall by now, including several of her friends; Mary, Ashley and Katie.
"Hey Claire." They greeted. She smiled back at them halfheartedly.
"So how was it being in The Breakfast Club?"
The Breakfast Club. It was a term a lot of students in the area used for morning and weekend detention. She had never even spoken those words prior to the past weekend, but now they held such meaning.
"It wasn't bad. Mr. Vernon wanted us to write a 1000 word essay." Claire answered. She began to walk to class and the other three followed.
"Seriously? As if being in school on a Saturday wasn't bad enough. So did you do it?"
"Uh, no. Actually Brian did."
"Brian?" Her friends looked at her curiously. Claire swallowed hard.
"Brian Johnson."
"Hey I know him." One of her friends piped up. "He's this total dweeb in Jason's shop class. Jason told me he failed some assignment and actually started crying."
"Seriously?" Another friend interjected. "That is so lame."
While the three of them discussed Brian's faults and and Ashley's relationship with Jason, Claire remained silent. She wanted to defend Brian, and tell them what a great person he really was, but there didn't seem to be a point. It wouldn't change what they thought and he wasn't around to hear it either.
"So you actually got him to write your paper?"
"Uh yeah." Claire answered absentmindedly. Down the hall she could see Andrew and his friends approaching. He smiled as he passed and she smiled back warmly.
"Was that Andrew Clark?" Mary asked, falling back to walk alongside Claire.
"Yeah."
"Are you you like boyfriend-girlfriend?"
Claire almost stopped in her tracks, thinking Bender had suddenly joined the conversation. She glanced around to reassure herself that it was indeed Mary who had asked.
"No, we're just friends."
"Oh,good. I think Jenny would kill you if you went for him. She's been eyeing him for the past week."
Up ahead Jennifer, who had apparently joined the group while Claire was distracted, was giggling about how "her Andy" had smiled at her. Claire couldn't help laughing inside.
Reaching her class, Claire bid good-bye to her friends and went inside. She took her usual seat, three rows from the front, and pulled out her books.
While she waited for the teacher to arrive, she looked around at the other students. She mentally categorized them into the same terms she'd used before and couldn't help but notice how everyone stuck to their own group.
Then she started to notice other things she'd never seen before. A brain and a jock with the same Prince pin. Would the two acknowledge the similarity in tastes? Could a friendship be born from such a connection? She was certain it could, but she also knew it'd never happen. It took extreme circumstances to make she and the others break the boundaries of social status, and she wasn't even sure that change could be maintained.
Her teacher, Mr. Abramson, a lanky man with thinning hair, walked in holding a large stack of papers. "All right class." He called out, drawing their attention. "Put your things away and let's get this over with."
Claire groaned, having forgotten about having to take a test. She'd planned to study the day before but ended up being far too distracted. Hoping for the best she put her bag under her desk and pulled out a pen.
~~~~~
Allison walked towards her second period class apprehensively. No one had paid her any mind in her last class but she still felt nervous. She didn't look all that different than she had any other day. Her clothes were still dark and muted, and they hung loosely, hiding her from everyone. But she had pulled her hair back as Claire had done on Saturday, exposing her face to the rest of the world. She had also decided not to wear her "black shit" on her eyes today, since it looked decidedly odd when they weren't covered by hair.
She wasn't seeking the approval of her classmates. They'd never paid her mind before, and if they suddenly did now, it would be for the wrong reasons. But there was one person she hoped would see her. She'd pass by Andrew and his friends after fourth period. They always hung out near the stairwell to the gym and she'd walked past them dozens of times without a second glance.
"Allison?"
Shocked, she spun around and found Brian walking towards her. Suddenly embarrassed at having changed her look to fit the societal mold, she bit her lip and shied away.
"Are you on your way to class?" He asked nonchalantly. No one around seemed to notice the two conversing. She nodded silently. Realizing she was too uncomfortable to talk, Brian spoke again.
"W-what class are you going to? I have math right now, and after that I have English, then free study so I'm going to help Ms. Kralky set up the physics lab." He looked to Allison for a response but she only stared. "Uh, where's your class? If it's not too far we can walk together. My teacher won't mind if I'm a little late because I'm early every other day... Kind of lame, huh?"
Allison smiled and shook her head. "It's on the second floor... Above the cafeteria." Brian nodded and smiled back, then started walking. A few moments later she followed behind.
~~~~~
"What's up Dick?" Bender greeted sarcastically, giving his head a slight toss that let a few drops of water fly at the vice principal. Vernon wiped his lapel with obvious distaste.
"What's up is that it's nearly fourth period and you're just walking in now, soaking wet no less."
"What can I say? It was raining." He smirked and glanced down the hall to see if anyone else was around.
"Yes, well I'm sure the janitors will appreciate that observation. You can't keep this behavior up you know."
"What are you gonna do, add on another detention?" He glared at the man many would call his enemy. He was walking on thin ice and he knew it. The halls were empty and Vernon had already made it clear that he wouldn't be above attacking one of his own students.
"You better watch it Mister..." Vernon warned, shaking his finger at his by far least favorite student. Knowing he couldn't do anything, at least not on school property, he blew past Bender and disappeared down the hall. Moments later the bell rang and the halls were flooded with Shermer students.
John quickly took off down the hall, catching sight of his friends ahead. As he was about to greet them, another familiar face appeared.
"Hey John." Brian greeted.
Caught off guard Bender glanced at his friends before answering. "Hey."
"So how was your Sunday? Did your Dad like, punish you or anything? Because, you know, you can tell me."
Bender scoffed nervously, knowing his friends were close enough to hear as they approached him. "I don't know what you're talking about Man. My old man tries anything on me I 'd just kick his ass." A couple of his friends laughed encouragingly.. Brian stood confused.
"But you said... What about the burn?"
"You believed that? Nah man, old Sporto was right, all just part of the image." He gave a small laugh but felt his stomach clench as Brian's face fell.
"Yo Bender, what's he talkin' about."
"Nothin' man." He wanted this conversation over; now.
"Seriously." His friend continued. "What's up?"
"I told you it's nothing."
"He's got a burn... On his arm." Brian answered quietly. Realizing he couldn't get around it any longer, Bender slid off his coat and lifted his sleeve.
"I caught it on a fence." He told them.
"That ain't like you Man. I've seen you hop fences like nothing else."
"Yeah, well I had a cop behind me so..." He smiled while his friends laughed again. Brian stood stoically, obviously upset. Feeling bad, John turned to him. "Yo Bri, we're going out for a bit... You wanna come?"
Brian looked at the schools criminal in shock, as did the rest of his friends. Not willing to take no for an answer John put his arm around Brian and headed towards the nearest exit.
"What if we get caught? And besides, it's raining outside. I really don't think we should cut class like this fellas." Brian muttered nervously.
"Man, what a total dweeb."
"Hey, knock it off!" Bender shot back, throwing his friend a glare that told him he was serious. "He's cool, all right?" His friends nodded.
They walked silently out in the rain, crossing the football field until one of them, a taller student who looked less menacing than Bender, though just as rebellious, spoke up.
"So kid, what's your name?" Brian looked back nervously.
"Uh Brian. Brian Johnson." The other boy nodded. "Okay Brian, I'm Joe. This is Chris," he gestured to the larger of the other two. If it wasn't for his punk clothes and attitude, Brian thought he'd fit right in on the football team."And that's Nate." Brian looked over at the last guy, who was wearing a Van Halen shirt that had obviously seen better days.
So these were Bender's friends. They didn't seem too bad; granted that they were currently breaking more than a few school rules at the moment. Thankfully this was his free period, and while Ms. Kralky would wonder why he didn't show up to help this week, but he could come up with something.
Moving alongside Bender, he leaned in to whisper. "Why are you doing this, hanging out with me I mean."
"Because someone said I'd never do it, and I'm not about to be like her."
Brian thought for a moment then leaned in to Bender's ear so that no one else could hear. "You mean Claire?" Benders face tightened. "By the way, isn't that her earring? The one you were bothering her about?"
"Why, you wondering if I stole it?"
Brian shook his head. He was about to continue but something told him he should drop the subject. They reached the bleachers and followed Bender single file as he went around to the back and ducked under the metal poles. He weaved through a path he had obviously taken many times, leading them to a small white building of concrete. Brian looked at the square building he never even knew existed until then.
Bender nodded towards a wooden door that seemed to have been painted black many years earlier. The paint had obviously been peeling for some time, and the door itself was made of such a cheap wood it had begun to curve slightly in the years. He pushed the door open and waited for the others to file in before closing it again.
Brian looked around the only room nervously. It was dimly lit by a single window, though he reasoned that even if the sun was out at it's peak, it wouldn't do much to brighten the atmosphere. Suddenly it now occurred to him that he was trapped in a small space with four of the schools known thugs and criminals. Not only that but they were all the way across the field and no one would know to look there for him. He swallowed hard against his sudden panic. He trusted John, honestly he did. But what if his friends decided it might be fun to screw around with the dork who followed them without question? Would Bender give in to peer pressure and let them do whatever they wanted?
"Here."
Brian jumped back in shock as Joe's hand came towards him. The taller student couldn't help but laugh.
"You sure this guys all right Bender? I mean you hand him a joint and he's ready to take off."
Smiling nervously, Brian took the weed. 'Just calm down' he told himself. 'Just light it, smoke it and you'll be fine.' He was worried now too about what would happen to him, doing drugs in the middle of school. He'd tried it out of curiosity on the weekend and ended up having a blast, so he wasn't against doing it again, but what if he was caught? What if his teachers could smell it on him? Would they believe it if he told them he'd simply walked passed some burn-outs and gotten the smoke on his clothes? And in his undoubtedly panicked state, could he manage to lie convincingly? But at this point he knew if he didn't smoke it, Bender's friends would worry that he was a total nark, and they'd have to take measures to ensure he didn't rat them out. With all eyes on him he slowly lifted the joint to his mouth and leaned in to Bender for a light.