Sorry it took so long! Well, I'm back! it's bit short but im jsut still trying to bring everyone into the story. Feedback is welcome.


Chapter 2: Daddy's Little Princess

She lightly pressed her smooth fingers to her lips but, she still couldn't believe it. She, Claire Standish, had actually kissed John Bender. Her first moments in the car with her father were silent and typical but minutes after pulling away from the spot which stood the detention fiend did it really hit her. Claire's father, driving his silver BMW with ease, reached for the volume knob on the stereo and turned it down to a low murmur.

"You've seem to have made some new friends in detention," he broke the silence between the two.

Claire, too busy staring into the reflector mirrors, did not respond quickly. She stared long enough to see a blurred looking Benderwalking in their direction as the car began to come to a slow stop at the light; a mirage. The slight jerking motion form the car summoned her to reality. Her stern looking father was not a very warm welcome.

"What did you say daddy?" she asked in a dazed manner.

Mr. Standish shot a concerned look in her direction just before the light turned green.

"I was just asking about the boy you seemed so intrigued by. I didn't know you had any sort of attachment to troublemakers."

William Standish did not take too kindly to different crowds of people lingering around his daughter. He knew money was a factor and despite his efforts, he couldn't use his one source of power to help his daughter that day. If he couldn't buy her out of detention, he would at least see to it she wouldn't get tangled up in the wrong group of people. However, he knew his daughter to be the sensitive type, easy to take offense. Thus, his predictions were correct.

After the comment was made, Claire's face became buried in her well cared for hands, as she turned as red as the hair on her head. She was hurt by his words yet strangely embarrassed about what her father had seen earlier. Claire did not know if things were going to change or if this whole day was going to be filed under mistake or brushed aside and forgotten like an old bottle of nail polish.

Muffled by her hands she explained, "Why does it matter? You couldn't get me out of it so, what does it matter? Sure, she thought, making a promise to John freaking Bender and the rest of them, a big matter."

Mr. Standish looked confused, "You couldn't go shopping today so as an alternative you start mingling with the rejects in detention? Your choice in getting even with me is different from what I'd expect."

Fists if rage curled up beside her, "There not ALL rejects. Besides, Andy was there. He's going to get a full ride to college! It was all just a mistake and mix up with some of us. He and I don't really belong there."

The Princess refused to be clumped into the reject pile with others. Yet secretly, she didn't want to see the rest of them as rejects, just mixed up kids, slightly screwed up, that was all. She wasn't one hundred percent changed by her experience. She merely found herself something new; a curiosity brewing within her, maybe not approved by her father but, different nonetheless. The one thing that kept her interested was the kiss of John Bender. He was an enigma for sure. The equation just didn't add up in her head; bad boy + rich, good girl fun, excitement, romance? Her enticement was real but was he interested? Claire decided she wasn't going to let it go, she wanted it but where was the price tag? Without daddy's credit card, could she afford to get close?