A/N: Hi guys! I hope you're doing well. My name is Bambi and welcome back to the seventh chapter of, "The Gossip Around Shermer". I'm so happy you guys are here. So, I have a confession. I almost didn't upload this week. I know it wouldn't be a big deal if I took a break but I'm particular about uploading and making sure everything stays on track. That's why this is such a late upload. I'm not gonna hold you guys any longer. As always, I do not/ have not/ probably, nor will I ever own the rights to "The Breakfast Club" or any of its characters and themes. I do own Xia Hart. Now, onto the chapter. Enjoy.
Ch. 7
While Andy had been stretching out his legs on a nearby railing, Bender was sitting on a countertop, ripping pages out of a book. "That's really intelligent." Andy scoffs at Bender. "You're right. It's wrong to destroy literature. And Molet really pumps my nads." Bender gripes with an eye roll. "Molière." Claire corrected him softly. Xia bites down her tongue as she watches them exchange warm looks. Yeah, they really don't like each other. The one to break up this moment is Johnson. "I love his work." he gasped in surprise.
Bender, most likely annoyed with getting caught, throws the torn out pages at Johnson, causing him to stumble back. He then proceeds to grab a box of library check out slips and put them all out of order. "Big deal. Nothing to do when you're in a vacancy." Bender shrugged. "Speak for yourself." Andy murmured. "You think I'd speak for you? I barely even know your language." Bender mused. The room is quiet, until Andy and Claire start talking amongst themselves. "You grounded tonight?" He asks. "I don't know. My mom said I was but my dad said just blow her off." Claire explained.
"Big party at Stubby's. Parents are in -" He's cut off by Xia. "Stubby? That's who you let throw the parties now?" Xia asks. "What's wrong with Stubby?" Andy wonders, tacking on an exasperated sigh for good measure. "He can barely spell his own name and isn't he like a fifth year senior?" Xia asks. "So what? He's fun to be around." Andy shrugs. "It's just weird." Xia replied. "Anway, Claire. Can you go?" Andy asks as he turns back to Claire. "Doubt it." Claire shook her head, "How come?" Andy grilled her. "It's like a monster deal. It's endless. Like at any minute, divorce." Claire sighed. Xia looks on sadly at her former friend. Mr and Mrs Standish are two people who probably should've never had kids.
They've always been so selfish towards their children. Claire, most specifically. She always seemed to get the short of the stick when it came to them. It was for that very reason, Claire stayed with the Hart's for the entirety of seventh grade. In Spite of all that, Claire always seems to come out fine in the end. Xia never really understood how she did it. "Who do you like better?" Bender asks, pulling Xia out of her thoughts. "What?" Claire asked him. "If you had to choose?" Bender further elaborates on his question.
"I don't know. I'd probably just go live with my brother. I don't think either of them give a shit about me. They just use me to get back at each other." Claire admits. "HA!" A loud voice sounds off from the back. Five heads turn to locate the sound. They were surprised to figure out that it was the quiet girl. "She talks." Xia gasps. "Shut up!" Claire shouts at the girl. "You're just feeling sorry for yourself." Andy brushed off. "Andy." Xia called out, surprised at how quickly Claire's feelings were dismissed.
"If I don't, nobody else will." Claire defended herself. "You're breaking my heart." Andy replied sarcastically. "Sporto? Do you get along with your parents?" Bender asks as he leaps from the counter and onto the floor. "If I say yes I'm sort of an idiot, right?" Andy griped. "You're an idiot anyway, but if you say you get along with your parents, then you're a liar too." Bender taunts. Xia turns to look at Claire's face. She has major eyes on Bender. She looks like a love sick cartoon character.
Bender had been trying to walk away but Andy decided to shove him. "You know, if we weren't in school right now, I'd totally waste you." Andy warned. Bender looks almost amused by Andy's threats. "Can you hear this? Want me to turn it up?" Bender asks as he's flipping Andy off. Johnson, not wanting further incident, steps between the two of them. He's quickly rebuffed by Andy. "Fellas, I don't get along with my parents either, Their idea of parental compassion is just" he's cut off by Bender. "Dork, you're a parents wet dream." Bender dismisses him. "That's the problem." Johnson sighed. "Look, I get you're all upset at them for making you wear these clothes. But you're a Neo Maxi Zoom Dweebie." Bender explained.
"Why do you always have to insult everybody?" Andy sighs. "I'm being honest, asshole." Bender shrugs before turning his attention to Claire and Xia. "Big mouth, you've been real quiet. You get along with your mommy and daddy?" Bender taunts. "First of all, it's just mommy. Daddy's doing a ten year bid in Pontiac. Secondly, no she and I don't." Xia explained as Bender looked at her in surprise. "What did he do?" Bender wonders. "Grand larceny." Xia admits.
Andy, wanting to take the heat off Xia, goes back to Bender and Johnson. "He's got a name you know?" Andy points out to Bender. "Oh really? What is it?" Bender asks. "What's your name?" Andy asks Johnson. "Brian." Johnson introduces. Bender looks between Andy and Brian. "My condolences." Bender rolls his eyes and walks away from the pair. "What's your name?" Claire asks. Bender turns to face her. "What's your name? You too, big mouth." Bender asked.
"Claire." she broadcasts. "Kuh-Laire?" Bender repeats. "It's a family name." Claire explains. "It's a fat girl's name." Bender informed her. "I'm not fat." Claire denies. "Not at present time but I could really see you pushing maximum density." Bender teased. "You already know my name." Xia reminds him. "No I don't know." Bender denies. "If you read my column, then you know my name." Xia replies arrogantly. Her name was plastered under the Hartblast title card. How could he not know?
"Look, I don't read your fucking column, alright? People just tell me the shit you write about me. I only know your face. That's it." Bender snaps. "Xia." Xia replied. "Xi-uh. The hell kind of is that name?" Bender asks. "It's Chinese. It means ``glow of the sun." Xia noted. Bender now has a look of pure confusion on his face, "You're not fucking Chinese." Bender shouts. "Yeah, I know. My mom saw it in a book, and she liked it." Xia shrugged. Bender just shakes his head. He's had enough of Xia for a minute. His focus goes back to Claire. "Are you a virgin?" He asks her. "What kind of question is that?" Xia asks but she's ignored as Bender continues. "I bet you a million dollars you are. End the suspense. Is it gonna be a white wedding?" Bender presses Claire further, even doing a Billy Idol impression for good measure. "Shut up." Claire snaps. "Ever been felt up? Over the bra? Under the blouse? Shoes off hoping to god your parents don't walk in?" he continued.
Xia is disgusted. How does Vernon not hear this? No way the door is THAT thick. Turning to her notebook, Xia scribbles, "BENDER IS A SKEEZE… SHOCKER!" When Xia looks back up, Bender is still at it. "Over the panties. No bra, Calvin's in a ball on the front seat past eleven on a school night?" Bender asks creepily as Claire starts to look uncomfortable. "Not to ruin your weird ass fantasy but could you back up?" Xia asks as she's trying to pull Claire's chair closer to her table.
"I'm just trying to help her." Bender shrugs. "No, you're not. You're being a creep." Xia noted. A hand is put in front of her, as if to tell her to stop. "Leave them alone." Andy commanded Bender. "You're gonna make me?" Bender asked. The two boys get up and start standing chest to chest. "You and how many of your friends?" Bender glares. "None. Just me and you. Two hits. Me hitting you and you hitting the floor." Andy explained calmly. Xia's eyes widened in delight. It was a very hot threat. Bender goes to take a swing at Andy, but he puts Bender's arm behind his back and takes him down to the floor near Xia's feet. Xia gets goosebumps as she and Andy make intense eye contact. "Hey superstar." She greeted with a nod. "Hey." he nodded back before letting Bender off the ground. "Let's end this right now. You don't talk to them, you don't look at them, and you don't even think about them. You understand?" Andy listed. Just then, the doors open up to reveal Carl the janitor.
Xia sinks into her seat and decides to keep quiet. "Carl, can I ask you something?" Bender questions. "What?" Carl asked, staring at Bender unimpressed. "How does one become a janitor?" Bender wonders. "You guys think I'm just some peasant? Or some untouchable peon? Maybe so, but eight years of pushing a broom behind shitheads like you has taught me some things. I go through your letters, I read your stories, listen to your conversations, look through your lockers. None of you know that, but I do. I am the eyes and ears of this institution. By the way, that clock is twenty minutes fast." And with that, Carl was gone.
"Shit!" Andy yells.
A/N: Thank you guys so much for reading. I know it was long. I really hope you enjoyed it and I'll see you guys next Friday. Bye guys!
