Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews everyone, they are greatly appreciated.

Samantha Baker, Jake Ryan, Bryce, Cliff, and Ted are characters from Sixteen Candles. Andie Walsh, Benny Hanson, Steff, Blane McDonnagh, and Jena Hoeman are from Pretty in Pink. Hardy Jenns, Amanda Jones, Keith Nelson, and Watts are from Some Kind of Wonderful. Ed Rooney, Grace, and Ferris Bueller are from Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

Scared to be you

Living in fear

Expression is rare

I dare you

Expression (written by C. James)

Allison sat outside Mr. Hashimoto's office pretending not to notice the dozen or so eyes trained on her. A small crowd had gathered outside of administration, kids with their noses pressed against the clear plastic partition trying to catch a glimpse of the crazy girl who had walked down the hall naked.

"Was it because of a boy, dear?" Grace, the plump and perky school secretary asked.

Honestly … no, Allison thought to herself. Yes, she'd wanted to show Andrew that he hadn't broken her. But walking down that hall had been so much more than that. It had been her way of freeing herself from the shackles placed on her by her parents, her peers, and most importantly herself.

"Leave me out of this Ed," she heard Vernon say through Hashimoto's closed door. "You're vice principal, discipline is your job."

"C'mon Richard, I have Bueller to worry about. I can't handle him and this girl too."

"Well I have Bender. I'd take Ferris Bueller over John Bender any day."

"Guys," Mr. Hashimoto began but Rooney cut him off.

"I'm deputizing you."

"What?"

"You heard me. I'm making you a temporary vice principal, Hashimoto. You deal with the girl."

"But I'm a guidance counselor."

A few seconds later, Rooney opened the door and stepped out into the main office followed by Vernon.

"Grace," he said not bothering to look at Allison. "I want Bueller in my office now."

Vernon, however, stopped, a look of constipated disgust on his face. "Well, you've done it now missy. I hope you're proud." He turned, crossed the room, and opened the administration office door. "Either get away from this window," he shouted, "or face suspension. There's nothing to see here."

"Ms. Reynolds, come in," Mr. Hashimoto said quietly. Without a word, she followed him into his office where he promptly shut the door. He looked like she imagined Atlas must have felt with the weight of the world on his shoulders. It pained her a little to know that she was causing him so much trouble because she knew he was the only one who cared about her. With heavy steps, he walked behind his desk and sat down. Next, he took off his glasses and squeezed the bridge of his nose.

Mr. Hashimoto's office was small, the wall behind him lined with diplomas and certificates. He'd gotten his MA in education from the University of Illinois and he'd taken some childhood development courses at Northwestern. To Allison's right was a bookshelf lined with college handbooks, career guides, and books on education. In the corner of his desk sat a silver picture frame with a photograph of a boy and girl about twelve and eight in it.

After a few minutes, he sighed, putting his glasses back on.

"Why Allison?" he asked.

Her first impulse was to say nothing. What was the point? He wouldn't understand. No one would. But there was something inside her dying to let someone know the truth she'd discovered.

"I felt like it."

"Excuse me?"

"I felt like it. Ever since I was nine years old, I've been made to feel bad about myself - by my parents, other kids. But I don't care what they think anymore, and I like it. I am determined to be me, on my own terms."

"Allison," Mr. Hashimoto began.

"I'm tired of feeling ashamed. I'm not doing it anymore," she cut him off. "You just don't know how free I feel."

"You're right. Being introverted and quiet is one thing, but this … I'll have to call your parents and set up a conference."

"They're out of town."

Mr. Hashimoto sighed again. "When will they be back?"

"Some time next week."

"Allison, I really need to speak to a guardian."

"Well, there's Rosa, our housekeeper."

"What about grandparents?"

"Florida."

"Just great," Mr. Hashimoto said as his shoulders fell, defeat visibly creeping into his body. "Without a parent or suitable guardian, it makes no sense suspending you now. But make no mistake, you will be suspended. I'm supposed to expel you, but I know you're a good kid. Confused, but a good kid."

"Can I go now?" Allison asked defiantly.

Hashimoto sighed again. "Sure."

She rose. As she opened the door, he said softly, "Good luck Allison, you're going to need it. Those kids out there are the most vicious little bastards I've ever met."

Head up, she maneuvered her way through the main office until she found herself alone in the hallway. She didn't feel like going to class, yet she wasn't ready to face the cold, quiet dwelling she called home, so she headed to the auditorium. As usual, the room was filled with kids cutting class. Not looking at anyone, she made her way to a seat in the back and sat down.

She frowned as she looked down at her hands. Her nails and fingertips were red and raw from biting them, the skin of her hands lined and cracked from dryness. Tiring of this, she pulled out her sketchpad and began drawing. She'd been working on a portrait of "The Breakfast Club" – Claire in her expensive clothes, Brian with his doe-like eyes, Bender's angry stare, Andrew in all his muscular glory, and herself, her hair covering her face. Suddenly, she felt someone standing next to her. Looking up, she saw Brian Johnson shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot.

"What's wrong with you? I'm the one who just walked down the hall naked," she said in a tone she hoped was upbeat and reassuring.

Brian smiled hesitantly. "May I?" he asked indicating the seat next to her. "Go ahead."

He sat down. For what seemed like an eternity, neither spoke.

They heard a guy at the front of the auditorium scream 'naked' then the group surrounding him began laughing.

"Done anything exciting lately?" Brian asked.

"Mmmmm," Allison said pretending to think about it. "Now that you mention it.

"Brian, what do you want?"

He shifted awkwardly in his chair. "Why did you do it? Was it because of Andy?"

"Why does everyone keep asking me that?"

He shrugged.

"No it was not because of Andrew. I just felt like it, that's all."

"Weren't you scared?"

She thought about it for a moment. Truthfully, she'd tried talking herself out of it, but in the end, she'd said 'screw it' and ripped off her clothes. When she'd stepped out of the washroom, a heart-stopping fear had gripped her, but it was quickly followed by a rush of adrenaline, and finally a strange calmness. A calmness that said 'fuck you, I don't care what you think, I'm doing my own thing.'

"At first," she finally answered.

Again, they both went silent.

"Allison."

"Mmmmm."

"I'm sorry."

"Why are you sorry, Brian?"

"I'm sorry I didn't speak to you, you know, the Monday after detention. I spoke to Claire. It didn't go too well. I just didn't want it to happen again."

"Didn't I tell you I wouldn't treat you like that?"

He said nothing.

Andrew pulled his letterman's jacket closer to him as he crossed the muddy athletic field behind the school. Allison naked! Never in a million years for a million dollars would he walk the halls of Shermer naked.

She'd barely looked at him, but he'd gotten an eyeful of her.

"Glad you didn't kill yourself now, aren't you?" a voice said from behind him.

He didn't have to turn around to know who that was. He'd been avoiding the guy for the past two weeks. Needless to say, he was embarrassed that a tool like Bender had seen him at his lowest point. He blushed even now at the thought that he'd actually tried to kill himself. Yet, at the time, it seemed like the most logical thing in the world to do.

"So?" Bender asked sidling up to him.

"What?" Andrew asked angrily. He still didn't know what to make of the guy and it was screwing with his head. Even after detention, after all that they'd shared with each other, he'd still thought of Bender as an asshole. But … but, the guy had not only saved his life, but had kept it a secret.

"Sport, you're not fooling anyone and neither is Allison. You two have it bad for each other. Now she's put herself out there. What are you going to do?"

Andrew didn't know what he was going to do. So he sped up, hoping Bender would just go away.

"You can't hide forever you know?"

"Look Bender," Andrew said stopping and turning to face him. "Thanks for helping me out the other night. I was a little wasted."

"Liar."

Andrew's heart caught in his throat. There was no fooling Bender. "Look asshole, you don't know me. I said thanks. Let's leave it at that, okay?"

Anger flashed across Bender's face. For a second, Andrew thought he was going to deck him, but he didn't. Still, Andy couldn't help noticing Bender's hand flexing in and out of a fist.

"You're a pussy, you know that. People may think Allison's a freak, but she's too good for you. I think I made a mistake saving your sorry ass. You're hiding from a girl who obviously cares about you because you're so worried about what your friends will say. You're a real man, Andrew."

Bender's words cut like a knife because they were the truth and Andrew knew it. He also knew he had to do something. If he didn't, he'd end up on another railroad track so to speak and John Bender wouldn't be around to save him.

"You're one to talk, Cherry Forever," Andrew said. With that, he turned, continuing across the athletic field alone.