June 1st, 1996
It was Twelve years after that day in the library. It was strange how their lives really did change. Friendships were formed and friendships were broken. Now, ten years after graduation, they had no time for petty childhood quarrels.
After Claire left the library, her life drastically took a turn. It was hard to believe she would be attracted to someone like John bender, but he was the one she gave her virginity to. Of course, her parents hated him, but when Claire got pregnant that summer, they hated the both of them. Claire forfeited all of her money for right to have that baby.
John was determined to not be like his father. He stepped up to his responsibilities. He was going to provide for his family. When they returned to school after summer vacation, all of Claire's friends were shocked to see the swell of her stomach. Claire became a social outcast. It was hard at first, but when their daughter, Courtney, was born the following March, she didn't care. John and Claire graduated with Courtney between them.
The first year of being parents and college students were hard, but John and Claire were determined to make it. When their second daughter, Tiffany, came, they got married and it was as if everything came into place. Determined to make his life great, John decided to go to law school to defend children of families like the kind he grew up in. When Claire got pregnant with Tyler, their third child, she got a job as a personal shopper. She had a fantastic time doing that. It gave her a chance to be home with her three children.
After the day in the library, Andrew wasn't sure he could stand up for himself, but Allison helped him. She stood by his side as he stood up to his father. Doing that made Andrew fall head over heals in love with Allison. It was strange for Allison to not be a social outcast anymore. Being Andrew's girlfriend got her more friends than she could handle, but that wasn't what she was looking for. She enjoyed being at the park, painting more than going to socials. But she was there at every wrestling match, cheering him on.
After graduation, Allison and Andrew decided to move in together. They wanted a family and they wanted each other to be their family. They had found a beautiful little house out in Deerfield, about forty minutes away form Chicago. Andrew went on to college, of course with a wrestling scholarship. Allison stayed home to paint and give birth to their first of three daughters, Adria.
Now, Andrew taught wrestling in the local high school. He loved it more than doing wrestling its self. It wasn't the best money in the world, but it was a paycheck. Allison was a stay at home artist mother. She really enjoyed painting abstract art. Allison sometimes put her pieces up in a local gallery and when they sold, they did sell for a good price.
When they left that library, Brian had been worried about not keeping friendships. He didn't realize how good friends he would be with Allison and Andrew. They had been really good friends until after graduation, but Brian fell of the face of the earth. He was the one who moved the furthest. After graduation, Brian moved to Florida to go to college there. It was there in his AP Chemistry coarse, he met his future wife Zophia. She was the most beautiful woman he had every laid eyes on. Her long flowing brown hair and her large chestnut eyes made his blood pump. Of course, he learned that she was a model.
There was no way she would like him, but it was she who made the first move. Right before their college graduation, Brian and Zophia had their first son. It wasn't until their second son was born, when they decided to move back to Chicago.
Brian loved being back in Chicago. He loved showing his wife where he grew up. It was there; he helped Zophia set up a modeling school. He ran the school and Zophia taught twelve girls every semester how to walk, talk, and act like a model. Brian wasn't sure it'd bring in any money, but he was wrong. The school was a booming business for them.
Claire got out of the car with a grunt. Her hand caressed her stomach. The baby was obviously not napping. He was kicking her bladder big time. Claire looked up at the beautiful house in front of her and walked up the steps. She rang the doorbell.
"Coming!" Allison ran to the door brushing the flour off of her hands. She opened the door and stared at Claire. "May I help you?"
"Don't you recognize me?" Claire smirked. Allison's face wrinkled as she went into her memory. Soon, her face softened.
"Oh my god, Claire! Look at you!" Allison laughed hugging Claire tightly. "How are you?"
"I'm terrific." Claire said, "You haven't changed a bit."
"Twenty pounds heavier." Allison snickered, "And same with you I see." Claire blushed patting her belly.
"Baby number four." She said.
"Oh that's great! I had number three last month." Allison stepping away from the door, "Come in, please."
"Thanks." Claire walked into the house with a waddle. She looked around the house glancing at all the pictures, "Andy hasn't changed."
"No he hasn't." She chuckled, "Come into the living room. Can I get you a drink?"
"Water would be great." Claire said going into the living room. She saw a very tiny baby sleeping in a swing. So gorgeous, she thought easing herself down into the house.
"When are you due?" Allison called out.
"August 2nd." Claire said. "Deerfield is beautiful."
"I love it. It's a wonderful place to raise a family." Allison walked back out and handed Claire a glass of water.
"Thanks." She said as a little girl ran into the room. She was so pretty with light brown curls and large brown eyes.
"Momma, Adria says when I got to kindergarten I'll need to eat bugs." She said. Allison chuckled.
"You don't need to." She said, "Asia, meet Mommy's friend, Claire. Claire, this is our middle child, Asia."
"It's a pleasure." Claire said.
"Yeah." Asia waved and ran off. Allison chuckled.
"She's very kinetic." She nodded to the baby, "That's Audrey and the oldest one is Adria."
"Very cute." Claire said, "You remember Courtney. Tiffany and Tyler are home. This little guy might be a John Jr or Conner. We haven't decided yet."
"John Bender." Allison chuckled, "How is he doing?"
"Perfect. He's going to open his own practice." Claire beamed with pride.
"That's wonderful." Allison leaned back looked at Audrey. "We need to keep in touch. Our kids are so close in age."
"I know." Claire said. "Life just got hectic."
"I understand." Allison looked up when she heard the front door open and Andrew walk in.
"Honey, I'm home." He walked into the living room and stopped in his tracks, "Oh my god. Claire?"
"Hey, Andy." She chuckled.
"A blast from the past." Andrew smirked, "is John here?" She shook her head.
"Someone needed to stay with the kids. Trust me. A forty-five minute drive with a Ten, eight, and five year old sucks." Claire said, Andrew chuckled softly.
"I bet." He gave Claire a quick hug. "You meet my girls?"
"Two of them.. Thankfully they look like Alli." Claire winked.
"Yeah, I'm happy about that." Andrew said, "Heaven forbid they look like me. So what are you doing in town?"
"Well, actually John and I are looking for a bigger house. There was one out here we read about so I came in to look at it. I remembered you were here so I looked you guys up." Claire explained to him.
"Oh you moving out here?" Allison asked.
"Yes." Claire smiled, "The house is beautiful. Five bedrooms. It's utterly perfect."
"Is it on Lilac Terrace?" Andrew asked. Claire nodded.
"You know of it?" She asked.
"Yeah, that house is amazing." He said.
"Oh I know." Claire said rubbing her stomach. "We just fell in love with it."
"So we'll be neighbors." Allison smiled, "I love it." Claire nodded. She hoped she would love it. It had been a very long time since she had been around these people. She hoped she could do it.