John and I walked along in silence for awhile, but eventually I couldn't take it. Someone had to say something.
"So, that was really nice what you did for Brian,"
"Well, he told us how much his grades meant to him. I figured if I could help, I might as well,"
"But still, you didn't have to, and you did. That means a lot," I said with a smile.
"Well, what about you? He told me what happened at lunch. You didn't have to do what you did either,"
"I know, but someone told me I was conceited, and another person told me I was a bitch, and I thought it was about time I changed a little bit. I mean, who really wants people to think they are a bitch?"
John looked down and blushed. "I'm sorry I called you a bitch,"
"No, don't be. I really deserved it. Besides, if you hadn't then maybe we wouldn't be walking together right now,"
Then John Bender said something else that threw me for a loop. "Um…Claire, can I carry your books?"
I just stared at him in awe. No one had ever asked that; not even guys I dated. I smiled, and handed them over.
"Why are you being so nice to me?" I asked.
"Honestly, I don't know. I'm not really a nice person."
"I think you are, but I think you're too scared to get hurt by people so you make sure to hurt them first before they get a chance to hurt you,"
"Well, someone is perceptive. If that's true, then why am I not pushing you away?"
"Because you love me, of course," I said as a joke.
"That must be it," he said with a smile. "Why are you being nice to me? The Claire from Saturday morning would have never been caught dead walking with me,"
"Well the John Bender from Saturday morning would never have offered to walk me home or carry my books,"
"Touché," he said.
"I don't actually know what's going on. When I'm with you guys, things are different. It's hard to explain, but I don't have to be what everyone wants me to be. I don't have to worry about my reputation or saying the right thing. It's so liberating,"
"I think I understand. For some reason you guys aren't afraid of me like everyone else,"
"Should I be scared?"
"What do you think?"
"I think right now you are walking me home, and right now, this just feels right. You know if I told my friends about this, no one would believe me. They would probably asked if you drugged me or something,"
"Well, everyone at school is full of shit,"
"Well, you are too. I mean, come on Bender. You never come to school, and when you do, you have drugs in your locker. So which guy are you?"
"Well what about you? You're letting me walk you home and eating lunch with nerds. Everyone else thinks you are hot shit,"
"You're right," I said.
He just stared at me, not sure what to say, so I continued. "At school I have to be what people expect me to be, but for some reason, John Bender, you always call me on my bullshit. No one ever does that,"
"Well, no one ever stands up to me. I've never had a girl who hasn't just thrown herself at me. I never go for the respectable girls,"
I looked down at the ground and said the only word I could think of, "Oh,"
"But I'm trying this new thing where I don't act like an ass,"
I just smiled and hit him in the arm. "Well, I think you have a good start,"
We reached my house, and he handed me my bag. I gave him a hug, and we just looked at each other for awhile.
"Well, I better get home," he said, and he didn't try and kiss me.
"Will I see you at school tomorrow?" I asked.
"I think you will,"
"Oh, wait," I said. "Would you like to do something Friday night?"
"Like what kind of something," he asked.
"I don't know. How about a movie or something?"
"You want to go on a date with me?"
"I want to go on a date with you." I said with a smile.
"I'll be here around 8," he said, and he started to walk away.
I though to myself for the rest of the night about how I wished he had kissed me, and on his way home, he thought about how he wanted to kiss me, but couldn't because I was too respectable.
I Claire Standish have a date with John Bender. What is the world coming to?