Don't You

Chapter Eight: In The Dark

Claire sat with Ashley and Katie in their math class, pretending to pay attention while they passed notes back and forth. Each wrote with a different colored pen, passing a notebook between them each time the teacher turned her back. Together they were putting together the image of the perfect outfit, and planning out their shopping strategy to find each of the articles as efficiently as possible. Cost was no object to them, but they took pride in their shopping prowess and ability to get anything they wanted from anywhere they went.

Briefly, Claire found herself sketching out an outfit for Allison, a combination of modern fashion and her oversized dark style. Once she realized what she was doing she scribbled it out with a quick note about the picture being ugly so that her friends wouldn't question the scratched out image.

Brian knocked on the physics lab door with an awkwards smile. Ms. Kralky looked up and he had to stop himself from laughing when he caught her face in profile and was reminded of Allison's description of her. Truly, he had to admit, her nose was long and curved into something that resembled a beak.

"Can I help you Brian?"

"Uh, yeah. I know I haven't been helping you as much lately so I thought maybe there might be some extra credit work I could do again."

His teacher smiled and rose from her desk to stand a few feet from him. "I had noticed that you've been more quiet in class. Is something wrong?"

"N-no. Nothing really I mean. I just haven't been focus. Or focused as much rather. I'm still very much focused on school, which is why I'm here." Brian closed his mouth and tightened his jaw. Whay did he always talk so much when he was nervous?

"As a matter of fact I do have something you could work on." She walked back to her desk and shuffled through her papers until she found what she wanted. "It's intended for advanced physics students looking for AP credit. Since you're only a junior you aren't eligible for the credit, but it would be good practice for when you can take the class. Why don't you look it over and tell me what you think on Monday?"

"Sure." Brian took the paper and nodded quickly before leaving the room. Sixth period had already started and Allison was probably in the lunch room already waiting for him. Once he went into the cafeteria he wouldn't be able to leave, but more than anything he wanted to get some studying in. His entire routine had been thrust into chaos that week and he wanted to get back into it.

Luckily, Allison saw him before he went in and he was able to beckon her over. Somehow she lacked any fear of the guards and simply walked out un-noticed. Together they headed down to the library where he set up to work on what Ms. Kralky had given him while Allison spent the period flipping through old school newspapers.

For Andrew, it was a day or hard training and slaps on the back as the wrestling team prepared for their next match. He was pulled out of class for an additional pep-talk from his coach, explaining to him how important a win was the next day. He'd heard the same speech a half dozen times that day, starting with his father that morning, so he managed to tune it out and watch what was going on outside the gym office. At one point he caught sight of Bender heading out the fire exit with some friends and he briefly wondered if Bender knew what kind of freedom he had.

That night Allison decided to try eating with her family again. None of them spoke to each other about it, she simply sat in one of the empty dining room chairs and waited while her mother silently brought out a plate and silverware for her.

She'd read in the school paper that there was a wrestling match being held the next day, and apparently Andrew was expected to be the star of the show. Since she was considered making a leap and actually attending a school function, doing something "small" like eating at home seemed like a good step. As she made her way through her small portions, she was surprised to hear her father's voice.

"Your mother and I are going away again."

Allison looked up and found both of her parents focused on their food. For a moment she thought she'd imagined it until he glanced at her quickly.

"Where?" She managed to ask, trying to clear her throat which always seemed to get dry in situations like these.

"The Phillipeans. For work."

Short; to the point; but he was speaking. She considered questioning him further, but the fear that it might bother him and keep him from talking to her in the future made her hold back. No one else said a word for the remainder of the night, but at least it was a start..

Bender crushed a walnut over the top of his dresser, flicking the crumbs off of the smooth wood and onto the old musty carpet of his bedroom. Through the door he could hear the TV on downstairs and the sound of his father yelling at whoever was playing to get their defense in line. It seemed like no matter what the season, there was a football game or something on every night. It didn't matter to him personally, since it kept the old man busy for a while anyway.

Suddenly he heard his mother calling down the hall into the livingroom.

"Hon. Tommorow's the last day of the month, so we have to put out the recyclables." His father growled something and John listened as her mother gave up eventually and did it herself.

'Last day of March? So then Sunday's April 1st.'

April Fools Day had become a major event for he and his friends over the past few years. In fact he was surprised no one had mentioned it during school. It was their one chance to torment Shermer's upright citizens who got off way to easy for the rest of the year. With a grin he thought of the perfect girl to target this year and rolled off his bed.

Out in the hall he could hear the television even clearer, along with the new sound of tin can and glass bottles clinking together. He walked slowly into his parents room, careful to avoid the creaky plank of wook by the bathroom, and went in to use their phone.

"Yeah Nate? What's up? Who's over there?"

On the other end he could hear a series of laughs and whispers. The bastards were getting high and hadn't bothered to invite him. From what he could tell there were a few girls with them too.

"Yeah." Nate finally answered. "Joe and Craig came over and everyone else showed up after. You should come by man. Michelle is here and she's looking for you if you know what I mean."

Bender laughed and pictured the dark haired girl, decked out in leather and chains, trying her hardest to be more punk than anyone else around. "Hey, tell her she's gonna have to find some other guy to hook up with. I gotta go hang with Vernon at seven tomorrow."

"Right. The record breaking two month detention. Have fun with that."

"Whatever asshole. Look, I'm in that shit all day tomorrow but we gotta hook up on Sunday, right?"

"Yeah, definitely. You got something in mind?"

"Absolutely. We're going straight into preppie town to have some fun."