Hello again. Another chapter for you and thanks for the great reviews so please keep them coming. Love you all.

JJ X x

I'm sitting on Allison's table, taping my foot impatiently on the chair. How long does it take to get a couple of sodas?

Claire is stood in front of me looking over her four hundred dollar manicure whilst I fiddle with my five buck rings "Claire, Mae...you wanna see a picture of a guy with elephantitis of the nuts? It's pretty tasty"

John smiles at us with a book in hand, Claire looks pretty grossed out "No, thank you" but I just shrug with a smile "you showed me a few weeks ago, it was gross then to!"

"How do you think he rides a bike?" he nods, because when Johns got something he wants to say, it was said.

Claire rolls her eyes and turns away in disgust while John decides he likes torturing her "Oh, Claire...would you ever consider dating a guy like this?"

"Can't you just leave me alone?" It's just a joke princess, no need to call the castle guard

I smile as he carries on, because seeing her majesty all ruffled is kind of hilarious "I mean if he had a great personality and was a good dancer and had a cool car...Although you'd probably have to ride in the back seat 'cause his nuts would ride shotgun."

Claire turns to stare off into her personal little unicorn land before drifting "You know what I wish I was doing?"

"Op, watch what you say, Brian here is a cherry." Because winding up one person at a time wasn't enough for John Bender

Brian looks pretty annoyed about it to "A cherry?"

"I wish I was on a plane, to France." Red decides to dribble on because if she wanted to, she could go to France; New York; India… some of us would be lucky to ever leave Illinois.

I shake my head with a bitter smirk to the girl as Brian swears "I'm not a cherry."

"When have you ever gotten laid?" John knows the kids lying before he even opens his mouth, because he's a dick like that "I've laid, lotsa times!"

Eyeing him in utter disbelief John says "Name one!"

"She lives in Canada, met her at Niagara Falls. You wouldn't know her." I bite my lip to keep from laughing because that is such a week-ass lie

"Ever laid anyone around here?" Brian shushes John and points at Claire whose back is still turned.

My gaze hardens then, what? No way, liar! Even John's tone indicates bullshit "Oh, you and Claire did it!"

Claire spins around when she hears her name "What are you talking about?"

"Nothin', nothin! Let's just drop it; we'll talk about it later!" Brian quickly tries to brush it off but I stand with a clenched jaw as Claire asks "No! Drop what, what're you talking about?"

"You little shit" I growl, because you don't go saying shit like that.

"Well, Brian's trying to tell me that in addition to the number of girls in the Niagara Falls area, that presently you and he are, riding the hobby horse!"

"Little pig!" Claire snarls and for the first time all day I'm on her team and by her side.

The brat quickly jumps in to defend himself "No I'm not! I'm not! John said I was a cherry and I said I wasn't, that's it, that's all that was said!"

"Well then what were you motioning to Claire for?" John asks, he seems amused

She folds her arms and glares "You know I don't appreciate this very much, Brian."

Punching my palm I snarl "you don't spread that bullshit around you hear me dweeb? Don't go thinking you can make yourself 'the man' by fucking up her reputation, her life"

"He is lying!" the kid all but screams as I look to the angry redhead "you want me to mash him up? Because I can do that" and honestly I was more than ready, I'd seen how the rumour mill could fuck shit up, hell, I learned a lot about myself I didn't even know through it, but the difference is I can take it because I don't give a shit, Claire is a whole different kettle of fish

"Oh you weren't motioning to Claire?" John keeps going, because he knows he's right

Looking at us almost pleadingly Brian asks "You know he's lying, right?"

I scoff loudly and bite "am I lying too because I saw you do it, fuck-tard!"

The kid looks like he might piss himself while John continues to grill him "Were you or were you not motioning to Claire?"

And finally he gives in "Yeah, but it was only...was only because I didn't want her to know that I was a virgin, okay?"

John just stares at him and I suddenly feel kind of bad for the whole about to pummel him thing. He looks like a rat in a trap: hopeless and cornered "Excuse me for being a virgin, I'm sorry..."

Give red her dues she laughs it off, probably just happy he wasn't saying he slept with her "Why didn't you want me to know you were a virgin?"

That would be because he's got a huge ass crush on you and figured it would lose him any points he even had, but he doesn't say that "Because it's personal business, it's my personal, private business."

"Well Brian, it doesn't sound like you're doing any business...ow!" I kicked him in the leg because that's just cruel. Guys are jerks

Claire looks between them for a second before smiling "I think it's okay for a guy to be a virgin"

John looks surprised; they both look kind of taken back actually "You do?"

Claire smiles and nods as I lean over to him as he hides his smirk in his knee "me too Bri. So you're a virgin, it's better than being a asshole who breaks girls hearts just so he can say he fucked her."

John looks at me with knitted brows before turning away, not meeting my gaze as Claire chirps "I agree and when it does happen at least you'll have the decency to respect her"

The nerd and the princess stare at each other for a moment until the door opens and I groan "Finally, what took you so long?"

We all take our seats again and my mouth is almost watering as I take out my lunch and pop open one of my Cokes, quickly downing half with a lick of my lips. Claire begins to take hers out of a small shopping bag and john leans over curiously "What's in there?"

"Guess, where's your lunch?" she had to ask didn't she? Hell, I didn't even know that, he just never had one

"You're wearing it..." wait, did I just growl? No, don't be stupid Mae

"You're nauseating" I mimic her silently as I unpack my food, a carton of strawberry milk, yum, two triangular BLT's, a salad and… wait? No! Aunt Jane's homemade star and heart shaped chocolate chip cookies? I thought she was pissed at me… looking in the bag I find a small note that brings a beaming smile to my face:

'Angel Mae

I put the salad in because I'm upset with you, but the cookies because I love you

Aunt Jane

P.S. you're still grounded'

Yeah, my Aunt kind of rocks!

I lift my head in time to see John grab a Coke and toss it over to Allison who catches it without even looking up. Wow, skill!

John then watches Claire set up a sushi platter. Yuck, I tried the stuff once and was hugging porcelain for a week "What's that?"

Like it's the most obvious thing she shrugs "Sushi"

"Sushi?" I'm not sure if John knows what Sushi is or if he just thinks it's gross by his tone

Claire laughs and explains the grossness of her meal "Rice, uh, raw fish and seaweed."

Everyone looks pretty disgusted as john recoils "You won't accept a guy's tongue in your mouth and you're gonna eat that!?"

The princess is annoyed and sighs "Can I eat?"

"I don't know...give it a try..." I smile then, what, it's funny!

We now all watch Andy take a couple sandwiches out of hisbag, a bag of potato chips, an apple, a banana, a bag of cookies and a carton of milk. If this guy ever stops sports he is going to get crazy fat!

I hear Allison opens her Coke and it fizzes over. She loudly slurps it up off the table and her fingers.

The blonde seems to notice the stares and turns "What's your problem?"

"Andy, you know this isn't a picnic retreat right?" I laugh because damn that's a lot of food!

I turn around as I hear a wet slapping noise, only to see a piece of meat fall off the sculpture and Allison open some pixie stix and pours the sugar on her sandwich and then puts Cap'n Crunch on top of that.

She crushes the sandwich together and loudly eats it, everyone turning slowly away from the crazy girl until I smile "Hey Ally-cat, can I try some?"

Heads snap back in shock horror as she swallows and leans over to look at my lunch "can I have a cookie?"

I smile and stand, the others looking at me like I've got a box of frogs on my head "sure, flaming balls of gas or a human organ, your pick"

She takes the heart one before offering me the sandwich, firmly in her hands so it doesn't fall apart. I take a loud bite and you know what, it's not too bad. I swallow the sweetie treat and nod "Huh, doesn't suck"

She smiles up at me and raises the cookie in thanks before I return to my own lunch, John leans back on his chair and asks "did you really just do that?"

I shrug with a smile and gulp at my Coke, taking a bite of my sandwich as he laughs, stealing a star treat before marching over and sits by Brian, John takes Brian's bag lunch, just to be a douche "What're we having?"

"Uh, it's your standard, regular lunch I guess..." the kid shrugs while I get stuck into my sandwich; mmm extra bacon is never bad.

John reaches in the bag and pulls out a thermos. He sets it on the table and points at it "Milk?

"Soup" Brian corrects him; I look over to see Allison licking her fingers. She shovelled that down quick

John goes in again and pulls out a juice box. Brian reaches toward the bag, probably because he's hungry and wants to eat but John slaps his hand "That's apple juice"

John takes obvious offence and snarls "I can read! PB & J with the crusts cut off...Well Brian, this is a very nutritious lunch; all the food groups are represented. Did your mom marry Mr Rogers?"

The kid doesn't get the joke and shakes his head "Uh, no, Mr Johnson..."

I giggle along with the others, before throwing my empty can at the trash can, damn it just skims the rim and john stands "Ahhh...Here's my impression of life at big Bri's house..."

We all stare, waiting for the show as he calls in a loud and friendly voice "Son!" then switching in a kiddie voice "Yeah Dad?"

Everyone smiles at him "How's your day, pal?" myself included as he pushes in finger made dimples "Great Dad, how's yours?" I look over at Brian, he has a wisp of a smile on his face, watching the life people thought he had "Super, say son, how'd you like to go fishing this weekend?"

"Great Dad, but I've got homework to do!" I pop open my milk as I notice Andy's smile fall. Taking a swig as I watch my makeshift friend "That's alright son, you can do it, on the boat!" I don't know why, but somewhere in his performance he lost the playfulness and got a glassy tone to his eyes "Geee!"

I look over at Allison, who is staring not at John but at the jockstrap upfront "Dear, isn't our son swell?"

Quiet and motherly John finishes "Yes Dear isn't life swell?"John mimes mother kissing father and then father kissing mother and then father punching mother in the face.

Suddenly it's not so funny anymore and Brian looks kind of upset

Andy looks from the boy to the criminal and asks "Alright, what about your family?"

My eyes widen tenfold, John and I have talked a lot in detention, but never about us, never about our life behind these walls. So yeah, I lean forward in interest "Oh, mine? That's real easy!"

John stands again beside my desk, running a sloppy hand over his cheek and points forward before speaking in a gravel filled voice "Stupid, worthless, no good, God damned, freeloading, son of a bitch, retarded, bigmouth, know it all, asshole, jerk!"

My mouth hangs open catching flies, heart in my throat as he impersonates his mother with folded arms "You forgot ugly, lazy and disrespectful."

John slams his hand back to slap his invisible mother and I can't look away "Shut up bitch! Go fix me a turkey pot pie!"

He seems to lose himself in it all "What about you Dad?" I knew what was next "Fuck you!" I'd never asked "No, Dad, what about you?" does anyone ever ask "Fuck you!" why doesn't anyone ever ask?

He screams and I can feel my eyes glaze over "No, Dad, what about you?"

"Fuck you!" I jump as he reaches out and pretend he's his father hitting him. Head flying back as I clutch my necklace so hard it bites into the skin, burying this feeling and batting away unshed tears

Brian looks at him curiously, hesitantly "Is that for real?"

"You wanna come over sometime?" he sarcastically offers and I notice a touch of wetness at the corner of his eyes

My head snaps up as a voice declares "That's bullshit. It's all part of your image, I don't believe a word of it"

John actually looks hurt; I don't think I've ever seen him look hurt before "You don't believe me?"

I feel the snarl on my lips as the Blondie answers "No"

"No?" John asks, wondering why he would think he lied about this

Confidently Andy says "Did I stutter?"

John comes over to Andy and rolls up his right sleeve to reveal a circular shaped burn. I couldn't see it know, but I'd seen it before, I'd never questioned it then "Do you believe this? Huh? It's about the size of a cigar..."

At least the prick has the decency to turn his head in shame "Do I stutter? You see, this is what you get in my house when you spill paint in the garage."

John begins to walk away, he's hurt, angry and I don't blame him "See I don't think that I need to sit here with you fuckin' dildos anymore!"

I turn to watch John walk over to a map table and throw all the maps on the floor. He climbs up on top of the table and then up to the second floor balcony.

I stand as Claire glares to her little boyfriend "You shouldn't have said that!"

"How would I know, I mean he lies about everything anyway!" he tries to defend himself but then I grab his short locks and pull them back, I hear the gasps of shock and his squeal of pain as I move my face an inch from his

Blue eyes watch me with a hint of fear as I growl through clenched teeth "How would you know? You don't know him! You. Know. Nothing!"

Letting go of his hair I march over to my table, grabbing the uneaten sandwich, milk and the bag of cookies before racing up the stairs. I don't care about the shameful glances following me as I bite my lip before taking a seat next to the boy who just bared his soul for the harsh world to see. We sit silently for a moment before I stare at my hands, the food in my lap because it was only fair right, a secret for a secret.

"Johnny?" I ask and he slowly turns to meet my stare, he looks so angry, so lost, so much like what I see in the mirror.

I close my eyes to prepare myself before turning my head away, fingers gliding through my curls before they meet across the smooth skin and shuffle my long hair to expose the back of my head.

"Shit…" I hear him gasp at the four inch spider-webbed scar; I feel his fingertips brush the hard skin before I drop my mismatched locks and swallow hard.

Turning to John I take a heavy breath, staring at his leather gloved hands because if I look at him I might not be able to say the words that leave my dry mouth "I was a clumsy kid and um…when I was ten, she'd told me before to be more careful but I…"

His hand takes mine then "Mae, Mae stop! You don't have to do this"

Nod with a bitter laugh before looking into those big brown eyes. I didn't have to, I know that, I do, but I wanted to "… I broke this crystal vase, Daddy bought it for their first anniversary and my mom was so mad. When I woke up I was in the hospital getting stitches with cigarette buds in my hair; she smashed an ashtray over my head"

He looks at me, searching my diamond blue orbs before smiling "at least you've got cookies!"

I laugh and nod, holding up the carton with a shake "and strawberry milk! But the milk is mine"

He laughs with me and I feel lighter almost as he playfully snatches the sandwich and a cookie that was for him anyway. I don't talk about my mom, sometimes people push it, the guidance counsellors and stuff, Aunt Jane leaves it alone because she knows I don't talk about it…

With a mouth full of BLT he nods "this is good, you know what else is good; the medicinal's in my locker"

He wiggles his eye brows and I bite into the sugary snack with a smile "hhmm sounds tasty"

Once he's finished his sandwich we bounce back down to the first floor, John grabbing his coat as Andy stands, head bowed in shame "Bender, listen man I…"

John puts on his trademark smile and shrugs "don't sweat it Sporto"

As we walk over to the door I hear Brian call "um, where are you going?"

Turning back I smirk "for a walk to Johnny's locker, any takers?"

We look at them and Claire asks "a walk to where? Besides Vernon's right outside"

"Trust me" John winks at her and I don't know why my hand instinctively teaches out to hit his arm

He looks at me for a moment confused as I smile innocently, why did I do it? I have no idea. We get close to the door and I hear the others rally round one by one as Vernon's voice seeps through the wood "Coffee...looks like they scrape it off the bottom of the Mississippi river. Everything's polluted; everything's polluted...the coffee…"

John pushes the door open to make sure the snide is gone before we all follow him out and quickly down the hall. John and Claire are walking next to each other up front, Brian and Andy are walking next to each other and at the end of the line; Allison and I are following.

I can hear snippets of the conversations ahead of us as Allison looks to me "you don't like Claire very much"

I shrug lightly before answers "she's a prep, why would I like her?"

"That's not why you don't like her" she says looking me straight in the eye, I don't know what she means. I don't!

I shake my head and smile, linking the girls arm as she lets out a small squeal of surprise "you know Ally-cat, I like you"

Her lips twitch into a smile, blushing almost with wide eyes "thank you. I like you too"

When we reach the locker scribbled with threats John opens it, making a guillotine fall and behead a freaking shoe, I laugh and unlink myself from Allison to stand by Brian as Andy bitches "Slob!"

"My maid's on vacation." John quickly quips as he pulls out a bag of marijuana, having triple-bagged it. Wait what is that? Is that…

"Drugs?" Brian all but screams but I just look at John kind of confused, because sat at the top of John's locker was a palm sized wooden book with a carefully crafted hand emerging from it, words craved into the wood. It had been stolen from the Wallflower display case a few weeks back with a bunch of other works. Why would John steal that? I wonder as Andy shouts "screw that Bender...put it back!"

Closing the locker John walks away, not taking any notice of the others as he smirks and puts his arm over my shoulder, pulling me with him as he pockets his dope. I can still hear the Brain bitching about it

As we walk, John lays out a plan "We'll cross through the lab, and then we'll double back"

John still has his arm around my shoulder as Andy glares "You better be right, if Vernon cuts us off, it's your fault, asshole!"

"No one forced you tag along Jockstrap" I snarl at the boy, still kind of pissed at him even if John had brushed it off.

As we walk into the Science Block we see Vernon, John arm letting me go and we race down to the Math Department, almost falling on our asses as we see him again, then again at the fountain… shit this guy can move quick.

Once we got down the stairs to the Language and Culture classes John shouts "Wait! Wait, hold it! Hold it! We have to go through the cafeteria!"

"No, the activities hall" Andy seems pretty adamant.

But like he'd said earlier 'John lives here' "Hey man, you don't know what you're talking about!"

"No you don't know what you're talking about!" Andy keeps freaking and Allison squeaks, telling us to hurry the fuck up "Now we're through listening to you, we're going this way"

Claire and Brian follow Andy down. I look at John as Allison grabs my arm as she stamps her feet with a squeal, her way of saying the same thing I ask "What do we do Johnny?"

"Fuck it" he growls and we race down the hall to catch up to the others and run into a hall closed by an iron gate, fucking moron

"Shit!" Andy groans and I want nothing more than to kick him in the nads

John grips onto the gate and growls "Great idea Jagoff!"

"Fuck you!" the jockstrap bites and I shake my head in utter fucking annoyance as Claire screams "Fuck you! Why didn't you listen to John?"

John? Since when the fuck did she start calling him John?

"We're dead!" Brian complains

I look up to find brown eyes staring down to me; he just looks at me for what seems like forever before saying "No, just me!"

Brian shakes his head, he doesn't get it "What do you mean?"

But I do "Johnny…"

He isn't listening to me, instead he's forcing his bag of marijuana into Brian's underwear "Get back to the library; keep your unit off it!"

He tries to run off but I grab his jacket "Johnny no… Vernon will fry you!"

He smiles at me, with all that sweet playfulness I've come to know and crave, his leather clad hand coming up to cup the back of my head, fingers digging into my hair gently "Don't stress Angel Mae, Johnny's got work to do"

What did he call me? He winks before running down the hall, loudly singing 'Airborne Ranger'. Only then do I realize he slipped something into my hand. A small piece of paper, my aunts note. I smile with a shake of my head "Cheeky fucker…"

I look to the others, standing there like fish in a barrel "what we waiting for? Let's get the fuck going!"

With that we race back to the library, praying to beat Vernon there and I hope Johnny's okay… because I'm going to kick his ass for looking through my stuff. Asshole