I DO NOT OWN THE BREAKFAST CLUB.
Saturday. March 31, 1984. Standish Family Home. Clarendon Hills, Illinois.
(Luke)
I was so drained after going back home to pack up my stuff. I was pretty quiet for the rest of the night. Claire kept trying to get me to talk to her, but I was admittedly being kind of an asshole. I didn't want to push her away, but my insecurities were eating away at me like a rat. After we got home, Gianni cooked a pretty tasty dinner. Gianni was the cook; and yes, the Standish's were so rich that they had a freaking cook. They had 4 servants in all: 2 maids, the cook, and a handyman who lived in a small shack on the Standish's property. I had never eaten puttanesca in my life. Usually, my mom just got take out from somewhere and that was it. It was very delicious, but it was hard to enjoy it because Claire and her dad kept trying to get me to open up and I wouldn't. Eventually, we all turned and although the bed was extremely comfortable, I tossed and turned all night. The next day, I spent most of my Saturday morning holed up in the guest room. I was doing my homework because I didn't really want to talk to anyone. Eventually, I got a knock at my door and Claire walked in, looking as beautiful as ever.
"Daddy's wondering when you were coming down?" she asked.
"Tell daddy that I'm trying to get my GPA up, OK Claire Bear?" I snapped. It came off way meaner than I intended it to, but at that moment, I didn't care. Claire gave me a sad look as she turned to leave, but then she closed the door and got right in my face.
"What the Hell is your problem Luke?" she yelled. "I am trying to help you and care for you and you just throw it in my face like an asshole. I'd expect this from Bender, but not you!"
"I didn't ask you for any for this!" I exclaimed.
"You didn't have to, I wanted to!"
"I don't need your damn charity!" I growled as I turned away from her.
"I'm not trying to give you charity!" Claire exclaimed. "I care about you and I thought you cared about me...but I guess that was pretty stupid of me." I looked back and I saw back was turned to me. I could hear her sobbing. I went over and wrapped my arms around her. She turned to me with ruined mascara on her face. She still looked beautiful.
"I'm sorry Claire," I said softly. "You're right, I've been an asshole. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."
"Than why did you?" she asked.
"Because...I'm worried that I'm just a charity case for you," I explained. "You know, like a stray dog that you find and beg your daddy to let you keep. I want you to be my girlfriend because you like me, not just because you feel sorry for me."
"That's not why I'm with you," Claire assured me as she caressed my cheek. "You're smart, you're honest, and you know how to make some great art."
"OK," I said as I let out a small chuckle.
"I mean it...you're real." Claire insisted. "And I want something real in my life; I am so tired of pristine."
"You are so beautiful Claire Standish," I told my girlfriend as I leaned in and kissed her deeply. That was one of the things that I loved about her: Every time I kissed her felt the same way it had when I first kissed her outside Shermer High on that Saturday. We fell back on the bed and cuddled up. I enjoyed having her in my arms as I ran my finger over her skin. Her skin was marked with freckles, but honestly, that made her look even more irresistible to me. I don't know if Claire would be embarrassed by people knowing this, but she loved Eskimo kissing. For those of you who don't know, Eskimo kissing is when you rub noses. Eventually, she looked up at me.
"There's something else that I wanted to talk to you about," Claire admitted. "Our family always goes to church on Sunday and daddy wants you to come with us." I groaned. I figured that a family of richies like the Standish's would be church goers.
"I guess there's really no good way to tell your dad that I don't really subscribe to all that God stuff," I replied. I ceased to have kind of religion a long time ago. What just God would allow me to live in Hell for years on end?
"I understand if it's not your thing," Claire assured me. "I usually just go to make my parents happy. It's the only time that they don't fight." I sighed as I planted a kiss on top of her cherry hair.
"I don't have to get on my knees, do I?"
"No, you just have to smile, sing a few hymns, and then it's done."
"I guess there's worst ways to spend a Sunday morning," I relented. Claire smiled as she pressed her lips to mine.
"Besides, Andy's family goes to our church so we'll get to see him," she offered. "And Daddy takes out for brunch after."
"The only thing is, I don't really have any church clothes," I admitted.
"I said that, but we still have some of my brother's old clothes here and my mom thinks that you two are about the same size." Claire explained. I wasn't thrilled about wearing a dress shirt and a tie, but a part of me did want to see what Claire looked like all dolled up. We kissed as she nuzzled up against my chest. No one in my life has ever made me feel as safe as Claire did and I loved her for it.
NEXT TIME, WE WILL GET ANOTHER SCENE FROM CLAIRE'S POINT OF VIEW. REVIEWS NEEDED AND APPRECIATED.
