A Taste of Desire

Disclaimer: I do not own The Breakfast Club.
Date Posted: May 24
Warnings: characters portrayed as I see them-- I did my best to keep them in character, a little bad language
A/N: I apologize for the long wait. I really do. And it's short. I'm horrible; I know I am. But you won't have to wait as long for chapter two. That I can promise. Anyway! Thank you to everyone who reviewed the prologue, and I hope everyone enjoys chapter one! Happy reading.
xXx

It's amazing how much you can forget over the course of a day, and how much you realize you never noticed before. So when I saw her again that morning, fresh and smiling like some fucking flower, I was hit– a quick flash, a second glance. Before then, she had been out of my mind. I had changed– one day and already I had forgotten. But then she smiled... And damn if all if the clouds hadn't already started to recede.

Chapter One: Visions in my Eyes

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There was– and had always been– an undisputed structure to things. No one liked to move outside their little sphere– there were plenty like-minded students to associate with, so few ever considered quitting the comfortable standards that had always governed them.

But on Monday, March 26, 1984, there were five students who were suddenly dying to break free.

"Claire? Claire, darling, are you alright?"

The girl turned her head, a bit startled by the voice. "Wh-what? Oh. Oh yes, Mom, I'm fine." She smiled and nodded slightly.

Her mother was still worried, but she didn't press the issue. She handed her daughter her purse and smiled kindly. "Have a good day, dear. Do you have your house-key? Your father has to go on a business trip and I'm going out with a few of the girls for lunch, so I'm not sure if anyone will be home."

Claire nodded. "Yes, I've got the key. There's no need to worry." She sighed and looked out the window at the front of the school. Her mother glanced at her wonderingly. She nodded and grabbed her bag from the back seat. "Goodbye Mom; I'll see you tonight."

Her mother smiled. "Yes, see you then honey."

She slammed the door and watched as her mother drove off. She sighed and clutched the strap of her small bag tightly. It was Monday morning– a new day. The first school day after everything that had happened Saturday.

And she was completely dreading it.

Trying not to think about Brian, Andy or Allison, she confidently walked up the steps and through the double doors, ignoring all the streaming students in her way. If she saw them, then she saw them. No big deal. And if she had a chance to speak to them, well... Of course she'd speak to them, wouldn't she? Claire wanted to believe the best of herself, she really did. She wanted to believe that they all could be the best of friends, totally independent of the opinions of the student body. But that was unlikely at best, and totally impossible at the worst.

With a sigh, she realized that she'd just have to wait and see what happened. Maybe she wouldn't even run into them. At that thought, she perked up. Maybe everything would go smoothly and she wouldn't have to make the decision at all.

But then, of course, there was John.

'Oh God,' she thought, her stomach falling to her feet, 'What the hell am I going to do about John?'

Brian swallowed nervously. Was it worth it? Would he really be able to handle the rejection he was nearly certain would come? Andy's friends– the jocks– were all around him, laughing and screwing around before class started.

He swallowed again.

With one last look at Andy, he turned around and began walking down the hall again, right back towards where he had just come from. But after only three steps he ran right smack into John Bender.

"Oh, I'm... I'm sorry," Brian said nervously, stepping back. He looked down and started to walk away.

But Bender stopped him. "Whoa, whoa, whoa," he said, pulling hard on the other boy's shirt. "Hold on there, big Bri," he said. "Not even going to say hello?"

"Um, well I just thought, because we're at school– and everyone can see, you know– I thought that if I said something or greeted you, then–"

"Why don't you just shut the hell up for a minute," Bender snapped, growing impatient and interrupting him. "I got something to say." He looked at Brian, his face hard. "Hi."

"Um... Well..." Bender let go of his shirt and Brian looked up at him, smoothing out the wrinkles from the fist in the fabric. "H-hi."

Bender slapped him on the shoulder. "You see her... Tell her she was wrong." And putting on a pair of plain, black sunglasses, he walked away from the other boy, whistling something as he swaggered down the hall.

Brian scratched his head, wondering what had just happened to him. "Huh. Well that's... That's something I wasn't expecting. I guess being the brain isn't so bad after all."

Wearing a sudden grin, he started back down the hall, feeling less self-conscious than he ever had before. He saw Allison standing against a wall, watching Andy and the other sports. His grin widening, he waved. "Hey! Allison!" She looked up, startled. He waved. "Morning!"

She made a sound that sounded like a "hello"– or a nervous squeak– and his smile broadened even further. He had made new friends– they did care about him. Or, even if care too strong a word, they hadn't forgotten about him. He, in some little way, was finally acknowledged as a person and not just another face in the yearbook. That made his day better– somehow, just a little better.

Andy had noticed Brian, too, but he hadn't said anything. If Brian had come up to him– and oh God, was he glad he hadn't– then of course he would have said something, but... It would have been too much to explain to his friends if he had walked over to the geeky boy on his own. Someday, it wouldn't be a problem; he would be able to do what he wanted, talk to who he wanted, and not give a shit what anybody else thought. But that someday would take more strength than he thought he had then. Someday, though. Someday.

He was laughing at a crude joke some random football player made when he noticed a familiar female body leaned against one of the old, dirty walls. It was Allison. She looked confused– he knew she was wondering if it was alright to come talk to him. He glanced around the circle he was in nervously. Alright? Was it alright? What would they all say?

Allison was both relieved and disappointed when Andy smiled at her nervously and waved feebly. She smiled back. He was with all his friends, laughing and joking and acting superbly indifferent to everyone else around. She didn't dare approach him– he had all but told her it could lead to unfortunate repercussions. Either her hopes would be crushed or he'd stiffly say hello and embarrass them both.

Allison shuffled forward, keeping her eyes away. She wouldn't look at him and then nothing would happen. It wouldn't be positive, but it certainly wouldn't be negative either.

Suddenly, though, she felt a hand on her arm. She twisted fiercely, ready to snap out at however had touched her. But she stopped herself, shocked. It was Andy. He smiled, looking sheepish. Across from them his friends were gaping, staring openly at the pair. "Hi."

She chewed on the inside of her cheek nervously, unsure what to say. "Hi."

Claire was nearly ecstatic.

Contrary to all her fears, she only saw him once the whole day.

They had been across from each other in the hallway– he with his friends and she with hers. They weren't close enough to even try to speak. He raised an eyebrow at her almost invitingly and she tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled shyly.

Was that it? Just a look? Would he not try to humiliate her, would she not snub him shamelessly?

They were apart less than a second later, but she couldn't forget him. After that one, quick look he had totally invaded her mind. A relationship of any sort between them would never work. She didn't think she'd let herself be involved with him unless it was in some form of relationship, so that cut any contact right out of the picture. A "them" would never work.

But she still couldn't forget him. He was cute– a fine male specimen if she ever saw one. And even though he was probably failing every class (she wasn't sure, but it certainly seemed as though that would be the case), he did drugs (she still wasn't sure if she really minded, though), and he had probably gotten some from half the girls in school (or was she over-estimating him? Surely they found him just as attractive as she did.), she just couldn't get him out of her head. It seemed as though she didn't even want to. And in addition to that, in that brief moment between them she noticed something that made her heart pound and her palms start to sweat–

He was still wearing her earring.

chapter end

End A/N: Thanks for reading! I hope everyone liked this chapter; I know it took a long time but I did work hard. It basically just sets things up and gets the story ready before I really jump in. If you have a comment or concern, please review. Hey, if you'd just like to tell you liked it review! Anyway, chapter two should be up soon. Thanks again!

ILB

(-Chapter title is a line from "Sunglasses at Night". Prologue title was line from "Pictures of You".)