That one Saturday detention had saved their lives. Literally. Especially Claire. Claire lived in a perfect world. She was pretty, rich, and was the most popular girl at Shermer High. She skipped school to go shopping then got Saturday detention for it. There she met Brian Johnson- the school nerd, Andrew Clarke- the school jock, Allison Reynolds- the school basket case, and John Bender- the school criminal. And to top that all off she, Claire Standish- was the school princess.

Bender had made her his target of the day. She couldn't stop thinking what he said which was on her mind since then.

"You are a bitch!"

"…..just stick to what you know, shopping, nail polish and you poor rich drunk mother in the Carribeans"

"You really are pushing maximum density"

He was right. She was a bitch. She only cared about herself and her status in school. That was over now. She changed. Monday came around and she knew what to do. She got dropped off as usual by her father in her silver BMW.

"Bye princess, have a good day at school. Who was that boy you…"

She quickly slammed the door before he could say anything else and walked quickly to her so-called friends. On the way she saw John leaning on a tree giving her his infamous stare. She caught his eyes. Then she remembered looking into those wonderful eyes when we had kissed her at the end of detention on Saturday. It was her first real kiss. Yeah she kissed a boy before but never like that.

"Claire!" Jenifer called and quickly got her attention as got out of the clouds thinking about John.

She stopped in her tracks as she saw John putting out his cigarette with his boot and walking over to her.

"Morning Princess did you miss me?"

"Yeah John, but actually I did."

A look of surprise beamed in his eyes. He could tell something was different about her already. She was carrying a lot of books in her arms and was struggling. He reached out and held all her books in one arm and held them to the side. Claire was in surprise.

"That was a nice jesture" she quickly said.

"Well I wouldn't want a princess like you to break a sweat before going to school." He smirked.

Jenifer started walking over to them in disbelief. They threw each other glances. John quickly whispered, "I better go, I might ruin your image." Just as John was drifting away from her, she grabbed onto his arm and intertwined her fingers with his.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"I thought of what you said to me during detention. I don't need those stupid bitches telling me what to do or what to think."

Jenifer was finally in talking range. She analyzed the situation here. "Claire hand in hand with … John Bender?"

"Claire what the fuck is going on? Why are you holding hands with this fucking loser?"

"...Ouch, that hurt." John said sarcastically

"Jen, John isn't a fucking loser. Why are you judging him and you don't even know him?"

"I know that he is a burner and is in Vernon's office more than Vernon himself."

"Jen, I choose who I wanna be with of who I don't wanna be with. And I choose to be with John not you. And if that bothers you or any of those other bitches over there that USED to be my so-called friends, the you can kiss my fucking ass. Later."

John and Claire started walking over to another tree where they saw the rest of the club.

"Damn…" John said with a smile on his.

"What?" Claire asked looking at him.

"How you told her off. That deserved a standing ovation."

"What deserved an outastanding ovation?" asked Brian.

All three of them were eyeing Bender waiting in anticipation like hungry dogs. John began eyeing Claire wanting her to tell the story.

5 minutes later…….

"WOW Claire! I'm so proud of you!" Andy said with his face looking like a ball of sunshine.

More and more compliments later….

"Well Claire's done her part. Who else has to talk to their friends? Lemme rephrase that. Who else has the balls so stand up to their friends?" Bender shouted out.

Andy, Brian, and Bender raised their hand high in the air.

"I would raise my hand up but I don't have guy parts." Allison replied.

They all started laughing. Everything was good from there. Bender and Claire was a couple and so were Andy and Allison.

When Claire came home she found everything a mess. Her mom was drinking again. And the maid was on vacation.

"Clarie darling, want to drink with mommy?

"No thanks."

"Well you don't have hafta be such a bitch about it sweet heart." Her mom spat out.

Claire ran to her room and slammed the door. She couldn't take it anymore. She couldn't take the fact that her like was slowly spiraling downwards. Tears were pouring outta her eyes. She sat on her dresser and pulled out a knife. More like a switch blade. It was her brother's and he gave it to her when he went away for college. Slowly ever so slowly she ran the knife across her wrist. Again and again she did this. She watched the blood drip down to her skirt that she was wearing. Her tears stopped as she felt a release of pain balled up inside of her.

"This felt good…." She thought. She got up and decided to clean up the mess she made. She ran her wrist in cold water and watched the blood go into the drain. "I shouldn't do this in my room anymore. It makes too much of a mess." "SHIT! This skirt is dry-clean only…."

SCHOOL

"Hey have any of you guys seen Claire?" asked Bender

"Well I saw her over there by the tree near your bleachers…" replied Allison.

"Alrighty then catch you losers later" Bender said with a smirk.

Bender took a nice casual walk near his bleachers where he usually smokes under. He spotted Claire sitting down next to a tree with her back against it. "Wonder what she's doing…" he thought

"Is that a …… a switchblade?" he said squinting his eyes.

"Fuck." He started running towards her. Ok now sprinting.

"Claire….CLAIRE! Put the fucking knife down!" he shouted at the top of his lungs. Knowing that no one would hear them because they were on the football field. He grabbed her by the shoulders and picked her up off the ground making her drop the knife from shock. Now looking into her eyes he was trying to read her face for an explanation. None.

"Claire what the hell do you think you were doing with thatswitchblade?"

"I wasn't doing anything…"

"Don't fucking lie now… not now. Tell me the TRUTH!"

Tears began to appear in her eyes. She didn't know how to answer John for he was about to explode.

"John , John I …"

"What? What Claire?" with anger in his voice.

Claire was having a major break down. She couldn't stop crying and John could see that. He picked her up in his arms and held her for a moment. The heavens opened up and let out a shower. "Claire, do you somehow control the weather?" John said softly to her. He carried her to the nearby bleachers and sat underneath them where the rain couldn't reach them. There was a blanket already there for when he smoke he had something to sit on. Still holding her, her carefully sat down and put Claire onto his lap.

"Claire, sweet heart, please stop crying." John asked almost begging.

He wrapped his arms around her trying to keep her warm. He made himself comfortable know that he would probably be here for a while, he leaned onto a post. He felt as though he was useless because he sat there with her knowing he couldn't do anything to help but hold her.

"Claire, please stop you're breaking me in two…" he felt a tear escape from his eye.

He felt her wrap her arms around his neck. Her face buried in his neck. She stopped crying and kissed him on the next just like when they were in the closet. She leaned in more too trying to keep warm. He rubbed her back and brushed the flyaway hair from her beautiful face. The kissed her on the forehead. He could feel her breathing on his neck. He got the knife from her pocket and looked at it.

"This is one hell of a knife. Only a richie would buy this." He thought.

He took his glove off with his teeth and carefully pulled out her right arm. Nothing. Wait, she was wearing a wrist band. He slowly took off the wristband with his teeth. His eyes went wide as they could go. Long cuts were made on her soft pale skin. They weren't old cuts either. They were new. Like they were made yesterday. He put the wrist up to his lips and kissed them ever so gently. He could feel her eyes flutter on his neck but not open. He let out a small sigh of relief. Then he placed the arm back around his neck. He looked at his watch. "Its only 2:30. School gets out at 3. I have to wait for everyone to leave." Bender thought.