CLIQUES

Allison made a mistake.

I do not own these characters except any OCs that may stop by in this.

Chapter 1

Fraud

Allison Reynolds felt like she was in one of those old corny sci-fi movies where her old self was replaced by a zombie or pod person whose only goal in life was to be "happy" and not exhibit any negative emotions. Why did she let Claire make her over? Why did she let her whip out her father's American Express Card with the sky-high limit to finance Benetton and Junior Colony dreams? Why did she allow herself to be in a new social circle? She knew deep down before the "pod self" took over that she could and most likely would lose Andrew Clark as a boyfriend if she didn't "look" or "act" right. He never said a word about it, but, she knew the realities. You don't apply at the same colleges if you weren't expected to fulfill your part of the bargain. Her grades were better than they ever were, but it was high school. The Breakfast Club was something special, she couldn't find the words to describe it. But it was only John Bender who could rack up the detentions - and Allison knew he and Claire would never make it out of Shermer High School as a couple. Once the bubble burst, there would be no way. Society would never allow it. She didn't have the heart to tell Claire. She would not hurt her like Heather and Tiffany, the other girls in Claire's group. Not like those two hurt her on that Monday after detention. She was "a freak", "a schizoid", and a "psycho", the resident Basket Case, but Claire wasn't the Princess, she was the fucking Queen. So with a new wardrobe and a detailed speech that consisted of, "they aren't bad once you get to know them" over Sushi and Diet Coke. It was all lies. Not Andrew. She did love him. She really did. She was certain that he loved her too. He told her that he did after her cheerleading practice. It was Claire's idea as writing poetry and drawing wouldn't look good on a college application. But one thing bugged Allison. Did Andy only say that he loved her because she was conforming to these norms in their circle? She was tempted to ask Brian for advice, but word would get out, he would accidentally blab and she couldn't risk that. Despite that them, or the person that she used to be, were almost on the same school societal ladder. br /

She pretended to take notes in history class, but the only one who got what she really wanted was Claire. Bender on the school ladder was acceptable for Claire to date because she came from a wealthy family, and he was a like a pawn in this high school game for the Tiffany's and Heather's to consume like mindless gossip and to get the Chad's and Jeremy's ires up. Not that Claire didn't love John and vice-versa. Allison knew it to be true. But only in the confines of the high school bubble and come June the bubble would burst.

Claire,

This is NOT working out.

Allison

Realizing that, that sounded like a lesbian break-up letter, she crumbled up the paper that wse supposed to contain her useless history notes. She was suicidal before and the reasons then seemed mild compared to if she jumped out of the nearest window today. When the bell rang she mindlessly threw it in the trash as for the others not to take notice.

"I'm glad that's over, class was so goddamn boring!" Claire stated

Allison felt like she was going to suffocate and quickly tugged on Claire's silk blouse as not to make a scene.

"Allison, what's wrong, it looks like you are about to faint." Claire's instincts kicked in and they quickly went to the lav right across from the teacher's lounge, none of their clique used this bathroom which was an important unconscious point to the both of them.

"I can't do this anymore!" Allison wanted to scream and was surprised of that old familiar mousy tone that came back as if The Breakfast Club never happened.

"What?"

"This. The make-up, the new clothes, hair - cheerleading. I used to hate girls like you. Being part of a clique, which even you have to admit, most of the members are brutual. I'm a fraud! What do you lose, Claire Standish? Nothing. Your life is the same. It goes on. Same for Andy. And don't even start on him - or about us - because it's too damn fucking complicated to talk about. But me, Brian, and yes, Bender - your in-vogue boyfriend of the moment - our lives are the ones hanging in the balance!"

Claire was more confused than angry over Allison's rant. "I don't understand."

"No, you don't. Look, I appreciate what you've done - but remember I said that 'I let you' do my make over that day. Let it sink in, Claire. I'm NOT an experiment. And please think, and ignore the warning bell for next period, about your relationship with John - is he letting you? What does that mean for him? I'm sure that you love him and all, but it's not enough. I would still like to be your friend, but only if you can accept for me for who I am...and if not, well. C'est Le vive."

"Of course, I'll be your friend, Allison. Are you going to break up with Andy?" Whether intentional or not, Claire made it sound like it was a only a high-school thing, the irony was not lost on Allison.

"That's not your business. I have gained enough confidence to tell Mrs. Collins myself that I am off the cheerleading squad - and I'll be happy to give you all of these clothes back - maybe the stores will accept your returns. I cannot be this fradulant person anymore."

"You do what makes you happy. Like I said, I'll still be your friend."

Convenient Definitions

This was too important. Allison was scared shitless. It was funny. She wasn't a preppy schoolgirl, but somehow wearing all black didn't seem to fit herself anymore. It's like she was in some kind of purgatory. She wore a black t-shirt and jeans that she kept in her locker for a spare change of clothes. She didn't want to wear a headband or ribbons. She just wanted to wear her hair long. She skipped her next class just to get out of the new uncomfortable skin. She wasn't even conscious about it - she most likely would get detention for this. Who cared? She needed this. She walked out of the bathroom not even noticing another encounter that she had to have that day.

"Ally!"

Oh fuck. She wasn't ready.

"Andy, you must have talked to Claire - because your father is going to kill you if you get another detention." And then she'd have to spend another Saturday being introspective, fuck that shit.

"What's wrong with you, Babe?"

"There it is right there...something automatically has to be wrong. What's wrong? Me quitting cheerleading, getting out of that popular girl clique? How come you don't see that as right? Even Claire sees it as right - well in her superficial way nonetheless. You're worried about how this impacts you. It was fun, Andy, you're a cool guy. Nicer deep down then some of the other jocks. It's best if we don't see each other anymore..."

"Allison Reynolds and Andrew Clark how nice of you to have your own private conversations here in the empty hall instead of being in class, to my office now!"

"Fuck you, Vernon!" Allison bellowed, hoping that she'd get supsended so she wouldn't have to deal.

Allison ran in the other direction, leaving Andy alone with the Vice-Prinicpal. It was only when she got outside and past the school grounds that she was finally able to cry.

It was over.


Next Day

She ignored their calls.

The doorbell rang at 4:30pm yesterday, but she didn't answer it. Nor did she look out the window to see who it was. It was either Andy or Claire, it might have Brian, she kind-of doubted it was Bender and it was only because she didn't answer the phone. She was glad no one else was home. She couldn't ignore school entirely because it would get this part of her life involved, so she waited for everyone to be nestled in their first period classes when she stealthily went in the side entrance past the burned out kids and went right into the office.

"How nice of you to stop by, Miss Reynolds."

She didn't know if Bender would be coming out of Vernon's door or if it was empty, but it needed to be done.

She told a half-truth to the clueless VP. "I wasn't feeling well."

Covering his ass he asked her if she needed to see the school nurse.

"No. I feel better today." That was the lie because she didn't want to run into any of them.

"Good. Then you can have dentention today. Don't let this be a habit, Miss Reynolds." Everybody knew she was thee Basket Case of Shermer High.

She wanted to know if Andy was given detention. Maybe, he separated them and he had Saturday.

"Uh-huh."

They must have talked about her because no one bothered her today. The only one she saw was Claire and that was because of them sharing history class. Ignorning the Tiffany's and Heather's were easy. She would hide in one of the lavoratories during lunch. She knew what she had to do, it was crystal clear.

Detention

"They're not here." Bender gazed in the direction of the figure hiding behind the open door.

"Good. Claire didn't give you a list of questions to ask about me, did she?"

Bender knew what Allison was going through so he kept the sarcasm at bay.

"No. You okay?"

"I will be."

They were the only two that had Friday detention. She sat at the table and waited for Bender to doze off before Vernon came in to check on them.


2 HOURS LATER

Bender soaked from the pouring rain wound up at the Standish residence on the "good side" of town, Claire opened the door surprised to see him actually at her house. She was supposed to meet up with him for pizza later.

"John, you're soaked!"

"Princess, we don't have time for chit-chat - we have to find Sporto and Brianiac."

Instinctively Claire grabbed her purse and coat off the hook. She could tell by John's body language that something serious was up.

"Is it your folks - did your Mom snap and finally kill your Dad?"

"If only. Allison tried to kill herself today."

Claire's whole face went pale. She never felt more selfish than she had at this moment. The signs were right in front of her face. How did she NOT see them? "Oh, shit. Let's go..."


Brian was not afraid to cry infront of his new friends. Claire handed him tissues as he sat in the backseat of the BMW. They found him coming out of a comic bookstore when they were stopped at a traffic light.

"Where's Andy today? There were no school practices today and he's not at home." Claire tried to take charge, but realized that this was exactly the attitude that got them here. Maybe, she wasn't responsible, but she felt like she was one hundred percent responsible.

"I saw him yesterday after he and Allison argued. He went into protective mode. He wasn't going to tell me anything. I didn't see him today at all."

"He wasn't on the absentee list, I checked." Claire added

"I have a pretty good idea where he is." Bender didn't want to go into any big speeches, not when Allison's life was on the line. "Listen, it could have easily been me...and possibly you, Bri, but - drop me off here and don't follow me. I can handle Sporto." He surprised himself by kissing Claire on the cheek.


Bender made his way into Martin's Gym. He remembered seeing a blurb in the school newspaper that Andy would work out here when he wasn't doing so at Shermer High. There was a young receptionist at the desk who he hoped would not be power hungry like Vernon was. He just asked which way the weight room was and she pointed left as she was too busy painting her nails and most likely calling her friends on the office phone. He noticed Andy Clark, one of the many jocks of Shermer High lifting weights and in "the zone".

Claire and Brian might have meant well, and he was certain that they did, but only John Bender knew how to handle this.