Chapter Two-Hundred and Two

"Have you seen John Bender's scars?" One of the popular girls whispered in her friend's ear, her eyes flitting over the lunch room as the group known as the Breakfast Club walked in with John at the front of the pack. "They're awful. I think his foster parents are hurting them."

John settled into his seat, taking his sandwich from his lunch bag as he listened to the hushed whispers going through the cafeteria. "Fucking scars…" He mumbled, jumping when Claire slipped her hand under his t-shirt to touch the longest scar running down his spine.

"I like them." She smiled, kissing the one around his neck with tender lips. "They tell your story." She brushed his hair back behind his neck, leaning her head on his shoulder. "And a lot of ours."

He breathed a laugh, kissing her head. "You just think that scars are sexy."

"They are." She smirked, pushing on a pressure point just above his waist.

He jumped slightly, coughing as he inhaled a crumb from his sandwich. "God… damn… it." He hacked, letting Brian hit him on the back. "Don't push on that one, Sweets." He gulped down air like a fish out of water, slowly blinking until he was able to continue speaking. "That one hurts."

She nodded, scratching his back with her nails. "Sorry Babe."

Clarissa wrapped John in a tight hug, noticing something odd in his pocket. "John? That better not be a box of pills." She slipped her hand into his pocket, pulling out the velvet-covered ring box. "Is this…?"

He nodded, taking her hand as he pushed Thomas's home office door open. "It's Claire's engagement ring." He smiled, sitting her down across from Thomas and taking the ring from her. "Clarissa Maya, and Thomas Lewis Standish, I would like to formally ask… for your daughter Clarity Penelope Standish's hand in marriage." He showed them the ring, his heart racing as they examined it. "I know… that you wanted us to wait until we were both eighteen, but… I want to make it clear that she's going to be my wife."

Clarissa beamed, handing the ring to Thomas as he was shocked into silence. "Look, it's the diamond from the earring." She stood to hug John, kissing his cheek as she held his hands in hers. "Johnny, this is so sweet."

Thomas laughed, patting John on the back as he shook his hand. "When are you planning to ask her?"

"At the Thanksgiving concert." He smiled, taking the ring back and placing it in his pocket. "I've just gotta talk to our agent about what I want to do first."

"That sounds wonderful." Clarissa kissed Thomas's lips, gasping as she realized that they'd have to start making plans for the wedding soon. "I've got to call Caleb and Aurora! It'll take them a while to get over here from France." She rushed from the room, leaving the boys together.

"You had to tell her about this didn't you?" Thomas laughed, shaking his head at his wife's excitement.

"Wouldn't be right if I didn't." John lifted Amelia onto his hip as she rubbed her eyes. "You ready for our after-school nap?"

"Uh huh…" She mumbled, closing her eyes as she snuggled into his chest.