Aleksandra

The clock read 7:45 and I still couldn't let my mind wander away from what Bender had done for me. I want to ask, but I have a feeling its not the best idea to ask in front everyone else. I don't think he'd appreciate that at all. My head was resting in my arms, as I watched the others. John pulled out a cig and some matches, he lit his shoe on fire, yes his shoe, and used that to light the cig. Claire was in the same position I was staring into space. Andy played with the strings on his hoodie, in the same way I did when I had my hoodie, sadly I don't though. Brian was doing ... you know what I don't want to know what he's doing. Bender looked to me and then held out the cig, fire still going on his boot. I smiled softly and sat up taking a nice long puff before handing it back after he hit his boot, putting out the fire. I leaned my head back and blew out the smoke into a small steady stream of beautiful cancerous poison. I mouthed 'thank you' and he nodded before playing air guitar. I glanced to Alison and saw that she was tying a string around her finger tip and it was turning purple. I knew she wasn't going to let her finger like completely 'die' but it still freaked me out so I watched Bender. He was the most interesting person here, well at least that's what I'm telling myself. Five minutes passed and we were pretty much doing the same thing. Alison switched back to drawing, and Andy went to playing paper football by himself. Soon, my eyes closed and I drifted off to sleep. It's not like I got any at home.

---

"Wake up!" Ahhhh!!! The voice of Vernon was in my ... oh wait, right I fell asleep. He's not in my dreams, that'd be kind of, no, very creepy. I'm in Saturday detention. I opened my eyes, knowing they were shielded by my hair and gave a quick glance around. It seams everyone took a nap, I looked to Bender to see his face close to mine, his eyes also open. He smirked to me and I rolled my eyes. "Who has to go to the lavatory?" Vernon asked. All our hands went into the air, see bathroom is a much needed thing for teenagers after two or so hours. I really don't know what time it is, so I'm making it up.

---

Alright, clock reads 10:22. Great huh, it's really 10:02, but I'm not going to tell the three newbies. Bender sat on a desk, ripping out a book and Brian stood not far away reading one. Andy was stretching and Claire was painting her nails. Bender saw that I was watching him from my seat and chucked some paper at me. I rolled my eyes and flipped him the bird causing him to smirk.

"That's real intelligent," Andy said as John tossed around some more pages.

"You're right, it's wrong to destroy literature," Bender said in a monotone voice still ripping out pages. "It's such fun to read and…" He looked at book for the first time reading the author's name. "Molet really pumps my nads."

"Mol-yare," Clair said pronouncing it correctly with a smirk.

"I love his work," Brian smiled. Both of them smiled at one another. Bender threw the remaining pages at him. He picked up the card catalog besides him and started removing cards. "Big deal, nothing to do when you're locked in a vacancy," he said.

"Ah, speak for yourself," Andy said.

"Do you think I'd speak for you? I don't even know your language!" John said. I rolled my eyes and put my legs back on the table, everyone else was too far away too see or care about my bruises.

"Hey," Andy said to Claire. "You grounded tonight?"

She shrugged. "I don't know, my mom said I was but my dad just told me to blow her off," she said.

"Big party at Stubbies, parents are in Europe. Should be pretty wild," Andy said.

"Yea?" Clair asked.

"Yea, can you go?"

"I doubt it."

"How come?"

"Well 'cause if I do what my mother tells me not to, it's because my father tells me it's okay. There's like this whole monster deal, it's endless and it's a total drag. It's like any minute, divorce."

"Who do you like better?" I asked causing her to turn to me.

"What?" she asked.

I put my legs down and stood up walking to her. I stood besides Andy, leaning against the railing. "You like your old man better or your mom?"

"They're both screwed."

"No, I mean if you had to choose between them." I said. "Parents either get joint custody or full. So if you had to pick between the two, who would it be?"

She shrugged. "I dunno, I'd probably go live with my brother. I mean, I don't think either one of them gives a shit about me, it's like they use me just to get back at each other." Sadly, this is making me feel like Claire is actually, dare I say it, human.

"HA!" Alison yelled. We all looked to her and then I looked at everyone else, they were surprised at her outburst but Andy was smirking. Awe, he likes her! There was silence as Alison blew hair out of her eyes and then smirked triumphantly.

"Shut up!" Clair yelled angrily. I smirked and looked up to John, who smirked back at me.

"You're just feeling sorry for yourself," Andy said.

"Yea, well if I didn't nobody else would," she said. That right there made me forget all thoughts about Claire being human.

"Aw, you're breaking my heart."

"Sporto," Bender said.

"What?" Andy growled.

Bender got of the desk and asked, "You get along with your parents?"

"Well if I say yes, I'm and idiot right?" Andy asked.

Bender jumped over the railing behind me and I moved out of the way so the boys could have their glaring contest. "You're an idiot anyway, but if you say you get along with your parents well you're a liar too." I walked to were Brian had been sitting and sat on the desk.

John turned and walked to me. Andy paused before following and pushing Bender. "You know something, man, if we weren't in school right now, I'd waste you," he said.

Bender pointed at the floor with his middle finger. "Can you hear this? Want me to turn it up?" he asked as he raised his finger and flipped off Andy.

Brian came over and put a hand on Andy's shoulder and a hand on Bender's shoulder. "Hey fellas, I mean," Brian started as both of them pushed his hands away. He paused. "I don't like my parents either." Andy pushed past Brian and walked towards that big ugly statue in the middle of the library. "I don't… I don't get along with them… their idea of parental compassion is just, you know, wacko!"

"Dork," Bender said. "You are a parent's wet dream okay?" He slapped Brian's arm till he sat on a desk and walked towards Andy.

"Well that's the problem," Brian said.

"Look, I can see you getting all bunged up for them making you wear these kinda clothes. But face it, you're a Neo-Maxi-Zoom-Dweebie! What would you be doing if you weren't out making yourself a better citizen?"

"Why do you have to insult everybody?" Andy asked.

"I'm being honest asshole! I would expect you to know the difference," Bender said.

"Ya well he's got a name," Andy said.

"Ya?" John said.

"Ya," Andy turned to Brian. "What's your name?"

I groaned asking, "Are you all kidding me?" They turned to me. "Your telling me that none of you know any one's name other than Andy, Claire, and John?" I looked around. "Seriously?"

"Do you?" Claire asked.

I nodded. "Yes," I looked at all of them. "And I've been here for not even three months."

"Prove it," Bender said. "Say every one's names and how you know them."

"Why?"

"Just do it," he said.

I looked around and decided to start with Claire. "Claire Standish, we're in English. She doesn't pay attention, I should know I can't concentrate because she's always talking." I looked to Brian. "Brian Johnson, we're in Latin together. He's helping me get an A." Andy. "Andrew Clark, my..." I paused. "My dad knows his." Andy's eyes widen in realization and I shake my head at him. "John Bender, Saturday detention." I smirked at him. "Enough said." he smirked back and I nodded to Alison. "Alison Reynolds, she's my neighbor. We also have art together."

"And who are you Kale?" Bender asked.

I rolled my eyes. "Ich bin Aleksandra Kale." I said in German with my heavy German accent.

"German?" Brian asked causing me to nod.

"Ka- lair?" Bender asked Claire walking in front of her.

"Claire, it's a family name." She said. Alright, John please don't mess with her name. She's proud of it, just like I am of mine, please don't.

"Oh, it's a fat girl's name." Well, he just doesn't listen to my ... mental thoughts ... ... ... I'll just shut up now.

"Oh thank you," she said sarcastically.

"You're welcome…"

"I'm not fat!" she growled.

"Well not at present, but I can see your really pushing maximum density." I glanced around and ... holly fuck you have no idea how pissed Brian looks right now. "See," John continued. "I'm not sure if you know this, but there are two kinds of fat people. There's fat people that were born to be fat and then there's fat people that were once thin and then became fat. So when you look at them you can sorta see that thin person inside. You see, your gonna get married, your gonna squeeze out a few puppies and then," He made a motion of a balloon blowing up. Claire gave him the finger. "Oh, obscene finger gestures from such a pristine girl."

"I'm not that pristine," She growled.

I rolled my eyes. "Mein gott, Bender juzt leave 'er alone," my accent stayed now that they knew I was German. Vernon wasn't here to put it in my call, so I wasn't gonna hide it now that they know.

"Are you a virgin?" he asked her. He looked between Claire and myself. "I bet you a million dollars you both are. Let's end the suspense! Is it going to be a…" He switched to a Texan accent. "White wedding?"

"Why don't you just shut up?" Claire asked. I however said nothing, I just stared at the ground like it was the most amazing thing in the world. Thoughts whirling through my mind a mile a minute. Thoughts of Cassie and Emily, thoughts of what happened when they each had their first times, what happened after that which still causes nightmares.

"Have either of you ever kissed a boy on the mouth?" Silence. "Have you ever been felt up?" There was more silence so he began to list the ways. "Over the bra, under the blouse, shoes off… hoping to God that your parents don't walk in?"

"Do you want me to puke?" she asked in a small innocent voice. She's lucky she can talk, my voice is suddenly gone and I would give anything to tell Bender to shut the hell up.

"Over the panties, no bra, blouse unbuttoned, Calvin's in a ball on the front seat past eleven on a school night?" Past eleven, every night.

"Leave her alone." Andy said. Claire looked away but John caught her gaze and brought it back to his. "I said leave her alone!"

Bender looked up and then walked over to me. "Little Aleksandra," he mimicked my accent. "Hasn't said anything, now has she?" I didn't answer and continued to stare at the ground hair shielding my face.

Alison then made a loud noise drawing their attention to her. All but Bender looked. I quickly stood and pushed him away from me backing away around the desk. I felt myself shake and quickly glanced around, afraid my nightmares would show up and finish the job. The same nightmares that finished off Cassie and Emily. John's eyes were on me as I walked to Alison. I sat in the chair across from hers and she slid her purse to me. Sadly, it comforted me when I couldn't just snap out of it. I played with the straps as Andy and Bender began to talk.

"Ah," Bender said. "So I'm right." No, he's not. Oh god, he's not.

"Bender leave them alone," Andy growled knowing my past and seeing my distress worked for him, huh?

"You gonna make me?" he asked. One quick glance at him let me know, he planned on stopping because now he could see how fucked up I am.

"Ya," Andy said simply.

Bender walked to Andy and stood before him threateningly. "You and how many of your friends?"

"Just me. Just you and me. Two hits. Me hitting you, you hitting the floor. Anytime you're ready, pal."

Bender hit Andy playfully on the cheek. Andy grabbed John and wrestled him to the ground. I calmed down enough and began to watch them but I still played with the purse. "I don't want to get into this with you man."

"Why not?" Andy asked as he got up.

"Cause I'd kill you. It's real simple. I'd kill you and your fucking parents would sue me and it would be a big mess and I don't care enough about you to bother." Throughout his little chat, he backed up towards Alison and I.

"Chicken shit," Andy said rolling his eyes making a move to sit. The sound of Bender opening his switchblade made him stop and turn around. John stuck the knife into the chair besides him. "Let's end this right now. You don't talk to them, you don't look at them, and you don't even think about them! You understand me?" I had a feeling that this little speech was mainly for me, and a look from Andy confirmed those thoughts. I watched as Alison reached over and took the switchblade. I gave her a look, holding my hand out expectantly. Alison pouted but gave me the switchblade. I closed it and placed it my bra, seeing as I have no pockets and the one on my vest is fake.

"I'm trying to help her," Bender said before looking straight at me.