"Claire speaking," Claire Standish said into her telephone. It was light pink and sat on a stand next to her bed, and the only people who had its number was her brother and her best friends. Claire wasn't surprised when she heard Steff's high pitched voice speaking back to her.

"Claire! It's Steff!"

"Hey, Steff," a smile sprung to Claire's face.

"I have so much to tell you about last night."

"Shoot."

"Well, like, after you left, I totally got it on with that hot guy. Like, all the way fun in Stubby's parent's room. Kind of gross when I think about it now, but he was good."

"You had sex?"

"Well, it's not like, you know, he made me finish, but he definitely enjoyed it. So I took that as a compliment. He gave me his number but he said he's a college student so he has to go back soon."

"Steff, it's not even break for college students yet. Christopher would tell me if it was."

"Oh, shit, you're right. Well, either way, I don't think I want to see him again. He was a little bit touchy feely, you know? Too clingy for me. I almost gave him my room number back but then I didn't want him calling me at random times in the night. Or, what if he had the house number, and my dad picked up the phone and asked him how he knew me? Could you imagine!"

Steff burst into a fit of giggles, and didn't speak again until she had recovered. Claire took the time to get comfortable on her bed, laying back onto her quilt.

"So where did you end up going off to last night after I saw you?" Steff said.

"I'm surprised you remember."

"Shut up! I really wasn't that bad."

"You spilt vodka all over the carpet. God, I hope Stubby has a good maid."

"Quit changing the subject, where did you go?"

"Well…uh…I went to see Heather, and basically confronted her, because she called me frigid. I feel like she has a problem with me for some reason. We're supposed to be friends, though."

"I think she's just jealous that your Prada backpack totally cost way more money than hers and it's so obvious."

"Well, she denied it when I asked. Like she would tell me to my face, though, right? So then I left, and bumped into Andy again, and he wouldn't let me go and he sort of scared me."

"So it's a no-go with him?"

"Yeah. I'm really not into him."

"That's a shame. But fair enough, you know, there are even cuter guys out there."

"Well, that's what I'm getting to. After that I went outside and saw that guy I had been talking to. And God, Steff, he's so rude! But so cool at the same time. Like every time he was mean to me, I wanted to talk to him more. It was so…so…endearing."

"Endearing?"

"You know, like, loveable. It made me like him more."

"But he was being a dick?"

"Not exactly. Just kind of, I don't know, commenting on things in an honest way. And he walked me home, and Steff, he said something about how I probably wouldn't remember this in the morning and I was like, I will, and I'd still like to talk to you, and I kissed him!"

"Wait, you kissed him?"

"Yeah!"

Steff let out a squeal down the phone line and Claire couldn't stop herself from smiling.

"Tell me about him," Steff said quickly, "What does he look like? Hair colour? What was he wearing—ooh, does he have a good body?"

"He's got like long dark hair and dark eyes. And tanned skin. And he's like…broad. Like a football player build."

"Is he a football player?"

"I doubt it, he's not the sort."

"Wait, so what sort is he then?"

"I guess he's…kind of like a rebel. Like the burners who hang out on the field."

There was a small pause between the conversation. It didn't last longer than a few secods, but usually in Claire's calls to Steff there was never a moment of dead air.

"Is that bad?" Claire asked.

"No…I don't think so…it's just, those guys are kind of…low lives."

"Not him! You just have to talk to him and he's not at all like that. He's funny and nice when you give him reason to be. And a very good kisser."

"I just don't think it's a good idea, Claire…they're into, you know, drugs, and smoking. It would seriously damage your image."

"Who cares about my image?"

"You should! What would your AP teachers think if they saw you hanging with someone like that? Or your parents?"

"You have a point."

"I know I do. Like, I'm so happy and proud that you made out with this guy, but he might be bad news. Or he might not be. You know, that bad boy look is totally in right now, actually. You could even start a trend! Every girl will want a bad boy boyfriend if Claire has one, you know?"

Claire pulled a face, knowing Steff couldn't see it. She was talking about John Bender like he was a new item of clothing, something to be advertised and marketed. That was the only way that any of her friends would understand him.