John

Having kissed Aleksandra felt, wonderful. She tasted like gummy worms, and if it was just because she had some for lunch or she just tastes like that, I was willing to find out. I ran down the halls, my little German girl on my thoughts as I belted out 'Airborne Ranger', just for her, just to make her smile. She doesn't smile enough. I know what her father does to her now, I know all the terrible things that happen in that house. I can only guess what else she's hiding from me, but I don't want to think about this. I have to get caught to make sure Aleksandra is safe. Damn, when have I turned into such a sap? Something answered, 'Since you met Aleksandra'. Damn, the voice is right. I treat her better than anyone at this school. Better than my own friends, better than the girls I sleep with. She's just different. I met her on her first day, when she went up to me and asked where the music room was. I only knew because I passed it on my way to shop and its a good place for a smoke. Instead of telling her to 'fuck off', I actually brought her there. I'm fucking insane.

I ran down the hall, pulling at the posters knowing it's piss Dick off even more. As I passed the Gym, a thought crossed my mind and I smirked going inside. I went in, tossing off my jacket and grabbing a basketball off the ball cart. Then, I noticed a lone sneaker and thought, 'Why the hell not?'. I kicked off my left boot and tossed it by my jacket before putting on the white sneaker. I bounced the ball away from the wall and turned to the hoop a scream releasing. "ARGH!!" I yelled. "3! 2! 1!" As I counted down I ran towards the hoop and dunked it with a yell. I grabbed the ball and fist punched the air. "We won! We won!"

"Bender!" Dick's aggravated voice came into the Gym. Awe? Did I piss him off? Good. "Bender! What is this?! What are you doing in here?! What is this?!"

"Hi," I said before crossing the ball between my legs continuously.

"Out!" Dick growled. "That's it Bender! Out! It's over!"

I spun the ball on my finger. "Don't you wanna hear my excuse?"

"Out!"

"I'm thinking about trying out for a scholarship," I said.

"Give me the ball, Bender," Dick said surprisingly calmer. "Give me the ball." Well, we can't have Dick calm now can we?

I bounced the ball before faking a throw to him. He flinched, I did it again, and he flinched. Then, just to piss him off, I rolled the ball to him. Damn, that got him even more pissed. He fucking kicked the ball at me, I jumped loosing the white sneaker, and walked to my things. Dick walked in front of them. Surprise, surprise. So, I went around him and grabbed my stuff before leaving with only one shoe on. I smirked, Aleksandra's gonna have a laugh with this.

Aleksandra

I bit my lip as we waited, it was agreed upon that we were going to stay seated till John and Vernon got there after John was caught. I used my paper to write John a little note and sliped it in his jacket pocket, along with his knife. I kept silent. No one asked what happened between Bender and myself, though I think Alison knew. I kept fiddling with his scarf, I plan on kidnapping it later, tugging of the strings and pressing my face into it. It smelt of cigarettes, weed, and ... John Bender. I guess it's becoming my new comfort zone, he better not plan on taking it back anytime soon. The door opened and I looked up. John was looking straight at me when he came in. He smirked to me, which I promptly returned.

"Mr. Wise-guy here had taken it upon himself to go to the Gymnasium," Vernon said as Bender sat in his normal seat in front of me after moving his jacket. "I'm sorry to inform you, you are going to be without his services for the rest of the day."

"B-O-O-H-O-O," John spelled out.

"Everything's a big joke, huh, Bender?" Vernon said. "Like the false alarm you pulled Friday," Oh, so that's why he's here today. "False alarms are really funny, aren't they?" He paused. "What if your home," Nope he won't care. "What if your family," He cares less about them than his home. "What if your dope was on fire?"

"Impossible sir, it's in Johnson's underwear," he said. Brian's eyes went wide, but he said nothing. Andy snickered at the truth. The truth is always the best thing to give especially if it was incredibly funny. I was taught to always tell the truth, and I do, in my own smart mouth way. And, apparently, so does Bender.

"Oh you think he's funny?" Vernon asked. "You think this is cute? You think he's bitchin, is that is? Let me tell you something, look at him. He's a bum." I opened my mouth the yell at Vernon, but John reached over and took one of my hands that was lying across my desk. He gave it a quick reassuring squeeze before letting go so Vernon didn't see. "You wanna see something funny? You go visit John Bender in five years, you'll see how god damn funny he is." He walked to Bender. "What's a matter John?" he asked. "You gonna cry?" There was a long silence that I wanted nothing more than to interrupt but one look from John made me stay quiet. Damn it, he's making me do as I'm told. I never do as I'm told that I'm so strongly against. Vernon grabbed John's arm saying, "Let's go."

John sung his arm while standing growling, "Keep your fucking hands off me!" He moved past Vernon saying, "I expect better manners from you, Dick." As they made a move to leave, Bender stopped next to Andy and placed his sunglasses besides him. "For better hallway vision." He slapped Andy's arm as they walked away. Bender gave me a look that read 'I'll be okay' before leaving. He pushed things off the Librarian's desk and slammed to door behind him, which Vernon had to re-open to follow. We all watched in silence as the strongest one of us left.

John

I sat on the table in one of the supply closets. Dick came in and slammed the door behind him. "That's the last time, Bender," he said. "That's the last time you ever make me look bad in front of those kids, do you hear me?" I didn't look at him. "I make 31,000 dollars a year and I've got a home and I'm not about to throw it away on some punk like you. But someday, someday man, when your out of here and you forget all about this place and they've forgotten all about you, and your wrapped up in your own pathetic life, I'll be there." What? I looked up at him. "That's right." he said. "And I'm gonna kick the living shit out of you man, I'm gonna knock your dick in the dirt."

No fucking way. "You threatening me?" I asked.

"What you gonna do about it?" he asked. I glanced away. Fuck I can't do anything! "You think any-body's gonna believe you? You think anybody is gonna take your word over mine? I'm a man of respect around here, they love me around here, I'm a swell guy. Your a lying sack of shit. And everybody knows it." He paused. "Oh your a little tough guy." He pulled off his coat. "Hey, hey. Get on your feet pal! Lets find out how tough you are! I wanna know right now how tough you are!" He's fucking insane. "Come on I'll give you the first punch. Come on man, right here just take the first shot." He came towards me, causing me to lean away from him. I wasn't ever gonna breathe on him wrong, knowing him he'll say I punched him if I did. "Come on I'm begging you. Take a shot right here. Come on! Just take one shot, that's all I need. One swing." I just stared at him, he is the fucking craziest person I ever met. He moved away and then faked a punch at me causing a small involuntary flinch to escape me. "That's what I thought," he said. "Your a gutless turd." He turned and began to walk out of the room but stopped. "You know, Johann (Yo-han) would love to find out where his daughter got that new scarf," he said causing me to automatically look at him.

Something inside me snapped. "Don't you even fucking think about her." I growled. I didn't even know I said it till Vernon spoke again.

"What are you gonna do about it huh?" he asked trying to draw me in again. "You gonna hit me?" He was trying to bring me in again, but I wasn't gonna fall for his shit. Dick snorted. "That's what I thought." He then grabbed his jacket and left. I heard the subtle click of a lock when he left.

My hand fisted as I tried to block out the thoughts of Aleksandra getting hurt because of that bastard. I touched my jacket besides me and felt something inside the pocket. I pulled out my pocket knife, huh I thought I left it in the library, and a note. I unfolded the note and read what was written in delicate hand writing.

Hey John = )

I guess its not the time for smily faces ... John, don't take anything Vernon is going to say to you personal, though it may seem that way; don't believe it. But, if you cant help but believe it, know that Im with you 100%, okay? = ) I don't want you to stay locked up in where ever the hell Vernon put you ... so I gave you your knife back to escape. I'll be waiting for you to come back, I'll be sitting next to Andy if you'd like to know. He and I have some talking that needs to be done.

3 Aleksandra

I smirked at the note. Guess Aleksandra wants me out of here as much as I want to get out. I flipped open the knife and said, "I better not disappoint."

Aleksandra

When John left I went to Andy and asked if I could talk to him. Claire choose that point to get up and move to talk to Brian, since Alison isn't the most talkative person to new people. Andy and I talked about what he knew about me, and apparently he didn't know that much. All my father said about me was that I was 'a good money making slut'. Andy connected some dots, and figured out that I was just used as a personal punching bag, seeing as my father called every woman a slut. Punching bag, yes. Personal, not so much. "Zo you vont tell anyone?" I asked from my spot on the table.

Andy shook his head saying "No" just as a loud scream of "Oh Shit!" and a crash sounded. All of us looked to the noise. We looked to the stairs and Bender walked down them causing me to laugh.

They looked at him as though he grew a second head. "Forgot my pencil," he said with a smirk in my direction. He walked to his desk, where Brian was now sitting with Claire, and retrieved the forgotten pencil.

"God damn it!" Vernon's voice cried. I quickly ducked into a seat and Bender ducked underneath the desk Andy and I were sitting at. Vernon came into the room, slamming the door behind him. "What in god's name is going on in here?!" he demanded. We shrugged. "What was that ruckus?"

"Ah, what ruckus?" Andy asked.

"I was just in my office and I heard a ruckus," Vernon exclaimed.

Brian spoke up, "Can you describe the ruckus sir?"

"Watch your tongue young man, watch it," Vernon growled.

Underneath the table, I felt Bender move and the he groaned when he slammed his head against the table. To cover it up Andy slapped the table a few times, and John answered with two bangs. It actually sounded like Andy asked 'You okay?' and John replied with an 'Im fine'.

"What is this?" Vernon asked. Andy made a zipper noise as a better cover-up. "What is that? What-What is that? What is that noise?"

"What noise?" Andy asked.

"Really sir," Claire said. "There wasn't an noise."

I felt John trailing his hands up the sides of my thighs, I tried to push them away by pushing my legs farther apart. Big mistake. He pushed his face in between my thighs, kisses trailing them. I took in a deep breath, my body stiffening. I stayed still for a moment before slamming my legs closed against his face as it got closer to my core. He made a groan in pain which I covered up by coughing. The others joined me in this little coughing fest we were having. Throughout the coughing, I was kicking him making him groan in pain and try to stop me by holding onto my calves.

"That noise?" Claire asked. "Was that the noise you were talking about?"

"No, it wasn't," Vernon said crossing his arms. "That was not the noise I was talking about. Now I may not have caught you in the act this time, but you can bet I will." In the back Alison began to laugh. "You make book on that missy," he growled. "And you!" he said pointing to myself. "I will not be made a fool of." He turned and left, one of those sanitary toilet seats stuck in his pants.

When he left the whole room, save myself and Bender since he didn't see, began laughing. I began kicking John under the table, my anger growing as he tried to grab my calves to make me stop. "Aleksandra stop it!" he growled.

Alison jumped up and ran to me, pulling me into a stand. "Beruhigen Sie unten. Es ist nur John. Niemand möchte Sie verletzen." she hissed. 'Calm down. It's only John. No one wants to hurt you.'

"Ich weiß, ich weiß. Ich dachte nicht. Ich weiß, dass es nur John ist." I muttered. 'I know, I know. I wasn't thinking. I know it's only John.'

"Is she alright?" Andy asked Alison.

I pushed away from the hug I had pulled Alison into and glared at them all. "Im fine," I growled. I shook my head of the thoughts, the memories before saying in a softer voice, "Im fine."

"Aleksandra," John said. He had gotten out from under the table and, though his face didn't show it, I saw in his eyes that he was terrified for what had happened.

I walked past him and punched him in the shoulder. I smirked saying, "Don't do zat again."

John smirked back at me, realizing that I wasn't angry at him like he thought I was. It just ... I wasn't used to those things meaning anything other than pain. Bender took my hand, interlocking our fingers, and went to Brian asking, "So Ahab, kivon my doobage?" I rolled my eyes, only a freak like Bender would do that. It took Brian a second but then he realized what John wanted him to do and pulled the dope out of his pants.

"Yo wastiod," Andy growled. "Your not lighting up in here."

As John lead me away I turned to Andy and said, "Ja 'e iz." Bender squeezed my hand and brought me to sit down with him to light up and have an oh-so-wonderful high.