Hey sorry I haven't been able to post, midterms, but bear with me I have spring break in a week and a half, and I'll be able to update several times during that time. Thank you for reading and reviewing, I'm really enjoying writing this story, I hope there's some enjoyment on your end. Review more, give me some tips to prevent writer's block from ever happening.
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At 7:35 AM Tuesday morning, Brian got out of his father's car, bid him farewell, and walked up the front steps into Shermer high school. It had not been a particularly eventful ride to school. His dad complained a little bit about traffic, mulling over the solutions Shermer should implement to reduce traffic congestion. His father offered to help him with his Shop projects from now on, he was trying to be empathetic toward his son's plight. His father was likely to be almost as horrible at building things as he was.
He walked over to this locker, entered in his combination, and opened his locker. Looking at the contents of his only private space in the building, he remembered the large grimy brown paper bag that Bender retrieved from his locker days before. He looked through his locker; considering all the possibilities of where he would hide the substance in those grimy brown paper bags. It was a perplexing situation; on one hand he would never risk keeping the contents with him at all times, but on the other hand, they check lockers all the time for this kind of thing. For someone so academically incompetent and apathetic, Bender seemed pretty bright for such a burner.
"Hey Brian," Brian heard Allison quietly say from behind him. "Oh hey Allison, good morning," Brian said uncomfortably. "Do you have class soon?" Allison asked. "No one has class for another fifteen minutes actually," Brian said dully. "Oh, I guess you're right," she said about to turn and walk away. "Have you talked to Andy lately?" Brian added quickly before she walked too far. He wanted to find out what happened yesterday at lunch. "Yeah, I talked to him yesterday at school," she answered inconsequentially. "Well, what happened with him at lunch?" He asked, she looked almost shocked by his question. She went on explaining the story with a frustrating indifference to what was going on. She let him know why they fought, what happened, and that he had been suspended from his wrestling match.
"Wow," was all Brian could say about the story. He was so surprised about what Andy had done, he had given up something that he had valued so highly. His wrestling, his friends were all put on the line to stand up for Bender. He was disheartened to hear that Claire had left Bender out to dry, he hoped that they would be fine, and that she wouldn't do something like that to him when they're interaction finally happened.
"Poor sport was pretty upset when I talked to him," Allison said sounding a bit more cheerful. "I'm sure everything will work out, he's not missing a big match, I think it's against Lyons," Brian assured a relaxed Allison. "Yeah, I invited him to an art show on Saturday," She said giggling. "I'm sure he'll be really into that," Brian laughed.
Brian liked the thought of them spending time together, maybe they'd want to hang out with him sometime. "Hey, uh Allison, do you think that sometime in the near future, it would be fun for us all to get together or something?" Brian asked her insecurely. "What for drinks or something?" she joked. "Yeahh, something like that, or just lunch, I don't drink." Brian informed her, but she probably assumed he didn't drink. "Yeah, we'll have to do that, if not all of us, then at least you, Andy, and I," Allison said while walking away as the students around Brian began filing into their classes.
Andy trudged through the halls, shoulders slumped, looking at his feet as he walked. He had never walked through the halls like this in his life. The Andrew Clark right then was the antithesis of the Andrew Clark of last week, or even yesterday before lunch. He was afraid, he was almost embarrassed to be himself. He sensed people's eyes on him; the scathing feeling he had as their gazes tore through him. Perhaps he was thinking to deeply into this. Maybe people weren't constantly judging him. Maybe they were. Maybe people hadn't heard, this was extremely unlikely.
He was afraid to be at Shermer High School today, there were probably a few members of the offensive line gunning for him. He had no idea if anyone would back him up. Bender would feel compelled to back him up, he would also feel compelled to punch anyone who owned up to being a varsity lettermen. He had fought his own friends, but not in the way it would be acceptable. Had he gotten drunk, and called someone's girlfriend a bitch he could have punched those guys and gotten away with looking like a jerk, but he had taken the side of the enemy: John Bender.
He looked up and saw a few of his old pals standing by their lockers 'screwing around,' as his father would call it. He approached them a bit too fast for his own comfort. They were getting closer, he shifted over so he was walking down the middle of the hallway. As he walked by them he tried to say something, to turn and talk to them, but he froze, he was a walking stick. They all stared at him meanly, some of them even stood up form leaning on their lockers. He didn't know what was going to happen, but he was nervous. He saw a big football player name Ted Brady shrug forward, clenching his fists tensely. He tried staring Andy down, but he wouldn't give up that easily. He knew there was going to be confrontation soon, but he was hoping to at least attend a class before he had to stand up to his friends.
Andy did not tell his body to stop walking, but it did. He stopped almost right in front of Ted and stared back at him. They were in lock down, Andy was not in a good position, but years of acting tough and being a 'winner' kept his composure. Ted breathed loudly, began to step towards him when they were abruptly interrupted by a stern but playful voice.
"You alright Andy?" John Bender asked from behind him. Speaking of the devil, Andy thought recalling how he just thought about Bender having his back. "Yeah, I'm good." He answered, not breaking his stare. "Let's go to class," John said, beginning to walk. Andy reluctantly followed him, not really caring about what those guys thought; however, he didn't want to concede anything to someone like Ted Brady. Walking away he heard one of the athletes mutter 'you guys don't go to class' or something, and he heard someone say "You wouldn't know what to do if you went to class, jock strap."
Andy looked back and surprisingly, there had been three or four of John's friends with him. John Bender sure paid his dues quickly; he even bought support. It had definitely been complete luck that they showed up. He never knew he would be walking down the halls with a contingency of delinquents like these guys. He wondered how many concealed weapons and containers of illegal controlled substances were carried by these guys. He was kind of embarrassed to walk with Bender and his friends, but he had to be grateful. They had his back when no one else had been there; and he didn't even know any of these guys' names. He worried about the reaction people would have to the standoff, people were probably stupid enough to think he was a burner now.
"Thanks Bender, that was a pretty tight spot," he said plainly to Bender. "I owed you one, so don't mention it. Hey boys this is Andy, he may smell of the locker room but he's cool, Andy this is Spencer, Jack, and Christian." "Good to meet you guys, but hey, I'll see you all around, I gotta get to class." Andy said as he headed over to his locker retrieved his books and went to class. Who would of thought that people like Ted and his friends would hold grudges like this. They were all assholes. But even though he knew they were all assholes, he wished he could at least try to be friends with those he was closest with before Saturday detention.
Claire walked over to her locker after leaving her first period class. She went through her books replacing the ones she had used, and retrieving those she needed. She thanked god that she wasn't grounded for that evening. Her parents lectured her a bit, argued a little bit, but were too concerned with their own personal lives to formulate a punishment for her. She went to bed exhausted and grateful that her parent's self-absorbed dispositions prevented her from being punished, for once.
Her Tuesday night was free, so if John's was free, they were hopefully going to a hockey game. She was excited, but weary of getting her hopes up, John was in trouble for fighting, it wasn't likely he would be able to go. To be safe, she refrained from putting together an outfit, something she would have normally done immediately after being invited. Well, she hadn't physically put it together, but had mentally concocted the perfect look for this occasion. She even asked her father what colors the Blackhawks wore, and after asking if the boy she was kissing on Saturday was from Canada, he said they wore red and black. She wondered if he would pick her up, or if she would have to drive. She knew how proud he was; and so he would likely arrange for transportation.
"So Claire, what was all that yesterday? I thought you just had your period?" Claire heard her friend Jackie say from behind her. Claire turned to look at her friend, who was standing further away from her than natural, almost like Claire was dangerous. "I'm sorry I blew you off yesterday Jackie, but-" "But what, Claire? Are you just gonna blow off your friends now, for a boy? You didn't even bother to call and explain. I was worried. We were all worried." "Jackie, I'm sorry I blew you off, I had a bad day, among other stuff," Claire said, trying to calm down her friend. "Claire we don't want to see you ditching us for no reason," "What do you mean?" Claire asked, starting to get defensive. "Claire, that's John Bender, okay, I'm not sure you know that, seeing how you're all lovie dovie with him," Jackie said scathingly. "Okay, Jackie, I am not ditching you for a boy, John is a good guy, and since when do I need to listen to you about who I date?" Claire blurted. Jackie stood there, stunned, hurt. "Jackie, all I mean to say is that I want to be friends with you, and John. I'm not making a choice between you guys, unless you're gonna go ahead and force me into that situation." Claire explained, hoping this would smoothen things over. "Claire, you're like, one of my best friends, your friendship is like major, I'm just worried, okay?" Jackie said admittedly.
"Jackie, I am friends with you, of course. Let's go shopping tomorrow and get dinner or something, and we can talk about this more, okay? Invite the girls if you want." Claire said sounding friendly. "Well what are you doing tonight?" Jackie asked, sensing something was up because Claire would normally ask to go shopping sooner. Claire smiled, Jackie was so cunning in the ways of north-shore teenage conversation. "Well, he invited me to go to a hockey game," Claire answered admittedly. The both smiled at each other like they normally did when something happened with a boy, Claire had her. "Oh Claire, that's the funniest first date you or I've ever been on," Jackie said laughing along with Claire. The conversation had taken a turn for the better, Claire's negotiations seemed to work; for now. As they concluded their conversation, they hugged and separated. Claire knew how fake and fickle her friends were, but they weren't horrible. Jackie would likely talk behind her back, and she would never like John, but they were friends and that was that. Claire, was relieved, if Jackie was okay with her, than they all were, that's how much her friends thought for themselves.
She went to her class smiling, she hoped she'd see John soon so she could find out if he could see her. She entertained the idea of buying a hockey jersey after school to fit in more. She hoped John wouldn't make her drink beer tonight, well that wasn't entirely true.
Allison sat down next to her locker at the beginning of her lunch period. She and Andy had arranged for them to eat lunch at her locker that day. Allison put her knees to her chest and rested her chin, she was tired. She seemed just to scrape by with the bare minimum in terms of sleep needed for a human being to survive. She had a meeting with her guidance counselor later that day, he was concerned that she wasn't getting enough extra-curricular activities to put on to a college application. That was so typical for her high school, the Shermer area was notorious for preparing their students for college. It was by far the preppiest place in the world, she thought. She hated the thought of college, she didn't need that to get away, she needed herself to get away.
Allison's thoughts were interrupted when John Bender sat down next to her boisterously. "Sorry if I'm disturbing your lunch as a hermit, but do you mind if I enjoy a meal with you?" John asked merrily. "You've already sat down, and you don't have a lunch," Allison said reservedly. "That's very perceptive of you Allison, and thank you for reminding me, if you will observe, I will demonstrate how one is to solve this problem," John told her.
Allison sat there quietly as she watched John sit and scope out each passerby, all with bagged lunches. She noticed him spot a small squirly freshman with a standard bagged lunch approach him. The unnoticing pipsqueak was passing them when John swiftly and masterfully snatched the bag out of his hand. "What the, HEY, that's my lunch!" The kid exclaimed but not making a move, cause if he did, he'd be toast. "Ohh, I'm sorry, this is your lunch? I could have sworn my mom packed it for me this morning. Please, I don't want any trouble her guy, I just want to sit with my friend here and eat my lunch in peace, please go find your own," John said in mock exasperation. Allison laughed, she knew it was mean, but they shared a common interest, and talent: pilfering.
The defeated kid was just about to turn and walk away when they were interrupted. "John give the kid his lunch back!" Claire said as she sped over to John. 'Oh come on!" John could hardly say before Claire grabbed the lunch returned it to the kid and pushed him forward to escape "Claire that was my lunch!" John said complaining. "Shut up, you big baby. Why do you have to steal everything?" Claire lectured putting her jacket down before she sat next to John. This was probably the first time Claire had sat down in the hallway, Allison could see it on her face.
"Claire, my personal chef from home is on sick leave today, what am I supposed to eat?" John asked her. "You can have some of my lunch," Claire suggested, with a devilish grin, she knew what was coming. "For heavens sake, I'll starve before eating your lunch, what have you got raw fish eggs wrapped in lima bean?" John joked. "Actually fish eggs are caviar, and it's delicious. "You can have some of my lunch if you want," Allison offered before one of John's melodramatic refusals. "The two people from Saturday that HAVE to be offering me food are the two that eat the weirdest shit," He laughed. "Where's sporto, and his seven course feast when you need him?" John said.
Allison had forgot all about Andy, she looked at the clock and read that she had been waiting for a few minutes. She looked glumly, she hoped he would be there soon. She tried to keep the thoughts of him ditching her out of her head. And right when a little bit of doubt trickled in to her mind she heard him. "I only have three sandwiches today bender but maybe I could lend you one, hey Allison, look who I found," Andy said cheerfully walking toward them with Brian at his heels, trying to keep up.
They all greeted each other and they sat to eat lunch. Sitting in a circle the five of them, together, for the first time since Saturday in the library. Allison tried to think how this was a bit different now, but it wasn't at all. She smiled at them, and they all smiled back. "This is nice," Claire said quietly. She waved at a couple walking down the hall together, they seemed to notice the five of them, but they didn't jump out of their skins as it had been prognosticated.
John sat next to Claire for the first time since yesterday, he couldn't believe how much he had missed it. He was so whipped, but he would deal with that later. He was picking at her salad for the chicken she didn't eat. He looked around happily at his surprising group of new friends. It was so mushy, but he thoroughly enjoyed sitting with them. Brian had called them the breakfast club after the nickname for detention, John guessed it fit.
"Sporto here, has recently joined my gang," John said as he and Andy laughed. None of the others really understood, but this information was probably being spread to half the school by now. The dweeb and Allison were talking about something that had to do with teachers and Andy was following along with the conversation, leaving him and Claire, picking at her salad together. She leaned towards him, he was surprised by this, but he didn't mind on bit.
"Are you grounded?" Claire asked him worriedly. John laughed, "Does it look like I get grounded?" He asked rhetorically. "Well, I was just wondering if you were still going to take me out tonight," the princess asked. "Yeah, I'll still take you on a daate," John said playfully. Claire perked up at his answer looking excited, she couldn't resist. "Okay, what time should we go? Where is it? How will we get there?" Claire asked twenty more questions before John could answer any of them. "I'll pick you up, I think," John answered, unsure of where he was going to get a car. "Okay, what time?" Claire asked, John hoped her laundry list of questions wouldn't go on like this. "I don't know, hmm 7 o'clock game, uh, how about 5 45," John answered. "Okay, It's a date," Claire said excitedly. He never remembered her getting so bunched up on Saturday over anything. "It's not a date, it's a hockey game," John reminded her. "Okay, Mr. tough guy, it's a hockey game," Claire said in a mock boy's voice.
The newly reunited "Breakfast Club" sat, ate, and talked for the rest of the lunch period. They seemed to get along really well. They didn't get all emotional, they joked around, made fun of each other, and John and Andy ended up having a food fight. Brian had mustard all over his face, Claire was halfway down the hall in a flash trying to avoid getting her blouse dirty, and Allison was in the bathroom for the rest of the period cleaning up. and Andy and John almost got detention together again. John thought about how dangerous of a combination Andy and him were. They were even more trouble than John and Spencer. Sizing them up he decided Andy was bigger and thus easier to get 'out of trouble' with. It was a good lunch period, and it was a good group of people.
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Hope this was okay, I think it might have been a bit tacky, sorry It's been a while since I last graced the halls of high school. Read and Review, give me some good ideas for plot. And if you don't I'll cut Bender's hair off. I'm warning you.