Thanks for all of the reviews, subscriptions, and favorites. I appreciate them a lot, which is why I decided to continue on with this story. ^_^ And, just a random thing, the "Mr. Lange" that I mention was actually included in the original Breakfast Club script. He just got cut out. Poor Mr. Lange.

DISCLAIMER: No. I don't own Breakfast Club characters, settings, etc. Though I did come up with some of my own characters. AKA Julie.

Chapter 2: A Conversation Out Back

Claire strolled out of math while Julie chatted away, oblivious to the fact that Claire wasn't paying any attention at all. Julie was a decent person to have around, always up-to-date on the gossip going around Shermer High; if you wanted to know something, she was your go-to person. Though she was pretty much useless if you were looking for someone to talk to. Claire had figured that out pretty quickly in ninth grade when she'd mentioned that she liked one of the football players and it took less than a week for the entire student body to be aware of it.

Claire made her way to her locker, which wasn't too far from the math classroom. Just as she started to put in her combo, she felt someone not-so-gently brush her shoulder. She looked up and, seeing nothing, decided that whoever it was had just been shoved into her or something. It happened all the time, with the hallways being as ridiculously crowded as they were. Obviously, whatever architect the school had hadn't guessed that the population would reach over a thousand kids.

Just before she turned back to continue opening her locker, Claire saw the back of John Bender's head as he walked in the opposite direction. He glanced back over his shoulder, looking directly at her, before continuing right on. Claire rolled her eyes in irritation, assuming that he'd only tapped her arm to confuse her. That was the kind of thing that he'd do for fun. Anything to get some kind of reaction.

Then, she glanced back in the direction that he was headed. Oh. There was a door that led out towards the back of the school, just down the hall. Students weren't supposed to use it unless there was a fire or something, but Vernon had never bothered to actually install some sort of alarm. Either he was stupid enough to trust the kids at his school, or he just didn't give a shit if they ditched because it didn't make any difference to him.

"Julie?" Claire interrupted, seeing an offended look cross her friend's face. "Sorry. I just…have to go see Mr. Lange. I think that I bombed his test yesterday."

"How? Social studies is the easiest class there is. Even that one guy, Jake or whatever, he passed Lange's class. He's the one that had to re-do tenth grade a few…" Claire tuned Julie out, already having heard the story. Finally, when Julie took a breath, Claire mumbled some excuse about not wanting to be late for her next class, even if it was because she needed to talk to a teacher. Really, it was a pretty lame excuse. Claire had never had a problem being tardy before; she'd accumulated a number of lunch detentions because of it.

Not missing Julie's bewildered look, Claire rushed off after Bender. As she fought her way through the sea of people, she started to realize how stupid she was being. How did she even know that Bender wanted her to come talk to him, after the way he'd acted that morning? Hell, she wasn't even sure if he'd been the one to tap on her shoulder. Her head really was screwed up. Maybe if she just turned back around, it would go back to the way it was before…

The minute bell rang and Claire sighed, knowing that she wouldn't make it to English on time, whether she went to class that second or not. She might as well go and see what Bender wanted…if he'd even gone outside in the first place. Now that she thought about it, she hadn't actually seen the door open and then close again.

Throwing caution to the wind, she shoved the door open. Claire was both surprised and not to see Bender leaning against a tree, taking his coat off and then chucking it in a heap on the ground near him. She opened her mouth to greet him, but closed it again, remembering their encounter that morning. Why had she followed him like a dog when he didn't do shit for her? It wasn't like she owed him anything.

"Hi," Claire muttered bitterly.

He looked up at her, a smile dancing on his lips. "You actually caught on to that."

"I'm not stupid," She retorted, slightly insulted. When Bender just laughed in response, she began, "You know how I saw you this morning? In the hall?" She pressed as Bender acted like he hadn't heard her, focusing all of his attention on a pack of cigarettes that he'd just pulled from his pocket. Sarcastically, she said, "Yeah, thanks a lot. You really showed that…" She paused, searching for his name. "…Mike guy up." Nothing. Still.

Fuming, Claire spun around, heading back towards the door. She really hoped that it wasn't locked from the outside. Then she'd be screwed.

"You're just being pissy," Bender called after her. "If I would've helped you out, you woulda gotten pissed off then, too. Probably told me you could handle it on your own, right?"

She turned back to face him, wondering how he could possibly find a way to blame her for his lame ass friend's behavior. Sharply, she answered, "No."

"Then you'd find something else to whine about. Something about how, if I'd have helped you, someone might've seen and then…" Bender whistled, throwing a thumb over his shoulder. "…There goes your rep."

"No, that didn't even—" She began furiously, her voice rising. She'd thought that he'd figured out that she wasn't just some shallow, self-absorbed bitch like he'd always thought. Apparently not.

With mock seriousness, Bender cut her off. "So you'd rather have me protect you from my big, bad friend than save your face." He sucked in a breath, then growled, "Are you shitting me?"

Claire opened her mouth and closed it, too indignant to form a coherent response. Defensively, she said, "You're just trying to let yourself off the hook. You didn't help because you didn't feel like putting your face on the line."

"Wow, Claire, you know you know me so fucking well! Nine hours and then you just get me! Queenie's perfect and psychic," He said, almost yelling, his voice seeping with false enthusiasm.

Reaching the end of her patience, Claire turned and stalked back towards the door, muttering to herself, "Why I ever though you were worth dealing with all this bullshit…"

She took a hold of the handle, pulling expectantly. Nothing. She gripped it tightly and pulled harder. Still locked. Damn door.

With an exasperated sigh, she started heading around the school towards the front. It didn't look like there was any way in besides the main entrance, which didn't work out too well for her. She wasn't exactly sure how she would explain why she was outside the building to the people in the office. It really sucked that the front door was in the secretary's plain view.

She heard Bender's footsteps behind her. "You know, sweets, it isn't nice to walk away without saying good bye," He said seriously.

"Good. Bye," She replied coldly, not slowing down.

"Don't extend yourself, Claire. You might actually make me think that you don't want me to go jump off a bridge." Claire unsuccessfully attempted to fight back a smile at his words. So he did know just how much of a pain in the ass he was being. Bender caught up to her and noticed her grin. "I knew it."

Claire's face fell, assuming that he was going to say something to piss her off again. Suspiciously, she asked, "Knew what?"

Bender beamed, almost proudly. "You want me to go jump off a bridge."

Claire snorted. She shrugged, nonchalantly saying, "Maybe."

They were both silent for a few seconds, until Bender abruptly asked, "You want to go somewhere?"

In surprise, Claire stopped. "Like where?"

"I don't know," He replied. Indicating the school building, he added, "Away from this hellhole. I'm not in the mood to get another lecture from that fat lady who works at the front desk about my I-don't-give-a-shit-if-I'm-late-or-not attitude."

"I don't know…" Claire trailed off hesitantly, biting her lip.

"Oh, come on. What the hell are you going to miss? A lecture about some dead person who started a war? An assignment about the parts of speech, or useless shit like that?"

Claire thought it over, seeing his point. When she'd ditched to go shopping last week, she really hadn't missed anything. "Fine."

Bender grinned triumphantly, taking her arm and leading her back in the direction that they'd just come from. In response to her bewildered expression, he explained, "There's a road back here. Leads to some stuff we can do." He chuckled under his breath, then turned to her and said, "And hey…you might even get another detention with me."

Claire just groaned.

END CHAPTER 2

This is actually pretty fun to write. I like it ^_^ And now that I finished with my Twilight story, I should actually have some time to work on this one. Anyways, please review! I'll give you…COOKIES! Yes, cyber cookies, but cookies none-the-less.