AN - okaaaaaay, so I missed the 30th anniversary to the breakfast club only by a few days! But, happy anniversary? I want to thank the people who have been reviewing, I don't know how much you know, but it's definitely a big boost to the confidence, especially a first timer who has no idea what she's doing. ;) I appreciate the people who read it, period, to be honest.

At the moment, I'm just trying to get a feel for these characters, writing them, how I want them to develop - basically I'm playing this by ear, so please bear with me. Again, reviews make me a better writer and I always welcome constructive criticism, so if you have any suggestions don't be afraid.

Disclaimer - I own nothingggg.

It wasn't until Thursday that she saw John again. Between Student Council, her English paper and everything else that consumed a seventeen year old girl's time and energy, there wasn't really much of it left to do anything else.

To be fair on herself though, it wasn't like he had sought her out either. And her whereabouts was always known. In fact she didn't even know if he had been at school, period.

She used that possibility to ease her thoughts...but then it didn't ease anything when she thought of all the reasons he wouldn't be at school. Was he okay? Was he hurt? She bit her nails impatiently as she fretted.

Most of her thoughts were consumed by him in the days she hadn't seen him, and someone was always pulling her out of them. At one point, Samantha asked her what she was daydreaming about all the time – to which Claire had blushed profusely and shook her head, blaming it on lack of sleep from the night before. It was becoming a problem. And Samantha hadn't looked convinced.

She'd seen the back of his head at lunch time, and it was all that she needed to send her body into a fucking circus trick again. She was beginning to wonder if there was something wrong with her. Did other people ever act like this? It wasn't like she could ask any of her friends, certainly not her parents, definitely not John.

Once the bell rang to signal school had finished, Claire decided quickly and easily that driving home, diving into bed, and not coming up again until she got her shit together was the best idea she would ever have.

This boy had winked at her for crying out loud. That's all it had taken for her to get flustered. To blush, and think of all the naughty things a virgin could think of, which only made her blush all over again. She needed to get a grip. Her body needed to get a grip. It was like a magnetic pull. Was there something actually wrong with her?

"I didn't know you were a Stones' fan, Princess?" came a husky voice from behind her.

She was late walking out into the car park, having had to talk to a supervisor about the prom committee members, the place was pretty much deserted by the time she reached her car. She couldn't deny this fact relieved her.

John took a drag of his cigarette lazily, breathing it out into the air before flicking the butt away.

"Wot?"

"I overheard you were into Mick Jagger," he snickered.

"You'd be surprised at what I'm into."

"Sex, drugs and Rock 'N' Roll then?"

Her traitor body blushed at his words. John laughed.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I just like the music..."

He gave her a pointed look. This was No Bullshit Bender she was talking too.

Still, a girl had to have her pride.

"Yeah, whatever. S'not all I heard you liked about good 'ole Mick."

"How do you even know I like The Stones anywa-" She stopped her sentence, narrowing her eyes as she looked at him.

It dawned on her then he must have heard her conversation with Samantha, or at least about it. Was that what Allison and Andy were laughing about? How had she not noticed him? Or had Allison told him? Or had Samantha actually gone around telling people what she had said when Claire wasn't around? She couldn't have, the girl had agreed with her.

He laughed harder this time while she became redder.

"Well, uh, I mean, y'know, with the hair and the smile..." She eventually just groaned into her hands, embarrassed he had caught her.

"The smile, huh? You like my smile? What else do you like, Cherry?" He leaned closer, one eyebrow raised challenging.

"Stop! I can't believe you were eavesdropping on me. What else have you heard?" her face dropped as she quickly thought back to any other compromising words she might have said.

"Why? What else have you been saying about me, hmm? All naughty things I hope."

"In your dreams."

"How did you know, Cherry? Have you been dreaming the same ones too?'

"No!" but the word came out to quickly, too defensively. She bit her lip. "Of course not, I wouldn't."

"Uh-oh! What do we have here? Does the virgin queen have not so virgin thoughts about the stable boy?" he asked suggestively, backing her into the door of her car. Her heart fluttered – he smelled so... so John. Cigarettes and musky pine. Jesus Christ, could he get anymore attractive? She bit her lip again, eyes flickering between his stare and his mouth as if she were unable to help herself – which really, she wasn't.

"I think someone's lying. What's in those dream's, huh Princess? You know, I can make dreams come true..." His face was inches away from hers.

"Where were you this week?"

"Why? Did you miss me?" He laughed, "Miss me enough to have dirty dreams about me...?"

"No. Yes. I mean, y'know I just like, noticed you weren't around and stuff. Wondered why things seemed so quiet." She was rambling. A bad habit Claire had when she was nervous, and with his mouth so close to hers, she was hell fucking nervous.

She became momentarily distracted by something that caught on the sun. To the left of her, eyes flickering to what it had been when suddenly her mouth pulled into a toothy smile. Claire giggled.

Her hand went up to the side of his face, and when their skin had touched it was like electricity, all hot and buzzing like currents beneath the surface of their flesh. John never took his eyes off her as she ran her hand over, pushing back his hair to reveal the diamond earring that pierced his lobe.

She looked so damn fucking happy at the sight of it. All red curly hair blowing in the breeze while nimble fingers smoothed over it as if he had passed some unspoken test.

Claire's gaze danced back to his, her hand still not moved from the side of his head, and his slowly moving to the side of hers. She heard more than felt the quick intake of breath at his touch. This man had such power over her body, it was beginning to worry her.

"You kept it. I'm glad you kept it. I'm really really really gla-"

She didn't get a chance to finish her rambling this time either. She spoke too much for his liking.

On a Friday afternoon, in the middle of March, 1984, John Bender kissed her for the second time

Claire could officially say this kiss was better than her first one. His lips were warm against hers. They were surprisingly soft too. Warm and soft as they caressed her own, teeth grazing across her bottom lip, the redhead sighed into him. One of his hands wrapped around her waist, holding him to her tightly, the other tangled in her hair at the back of her head. He tasted like the cigarette he had just thrown away. She tasted sweet, almost fruit like. You could almost say, cherry like.

He was gentle with her which she was grateful for because she was beginning to tremble at his touch. She was cherry to all of this, and it made her nervous and excited, and more than anything wanting more. Claire opened her mouth slightly, eyes closed, back pushed up against the car and waist pulled up against his own, John reached his tongue out to touch against her bottom lip first, but her hand came to the back of his head almost impatiently, and she felt more pressure this time. She let him into her mouth, meeting his tongue with her own somewhat shyly at first. He stroked it tentatively, and she made a quiet noise into his mouth.

That made him grin.

"I knew you missed me."

She could only giggle in reply.

"Maybe, y'know, a little..." she blushed, he placed his forehead atop of hers, glancing at her mouth, her lips all plump from the sudden use, made him only wanting to do it again. She had such perfect lips. Oh god how perfect would they be wrapped around his-

"I've been dreaming about that." She finally said. His eyes glanced from her lips to her stare in surprise at first, before realising what she meant. Haha, damn – he had been dreaming about that.

John chuckled quietly to himself. She was so pure, so innocent in every way that he couldn't help but be completely turned on by it. It was endearing to be around someone who was so cherry. She had dreamed about this, and if truth be told, he had too, but they usually led to such more... intense activities.

He felt her shiver under him, he noticed the goosebumps crawling up her flesh. Around the curve of her neck, he wondered what it would be like to taste that part of her.

"This your hotrod, Princess?" It was a different car to the one that picked her up on Saturday.

"Nah, it's my mum's. But she's out on a business trip." Supposedly. Her father was still home but since there was no one to fight with over her, she didn't play high on his priorities. Still, he let her drive the car.

"Did you... want a ride somewhere?" As much as she was enjoying this, Claire was beginning to shiver, her brown leather jacket only doing so much to block out the wind.

"Nah, Princess. If you were offering to ride me though, I'd definitely take you up on it."

She shoved him away, hard. "You're a pig, John Bender!" she replied, tone not quite getting the amount of bite she would have preferred, too affected by his words.

"And you're one hell of a tease, Cherry."

She scoffed, opened her car door. "Only if it get's you hot, right?"

He laughed, running a hand through his hair. "If you only knew," he replied gruffly.

She blushed.

"Will you be here tomorrow?" Claire asked quickly after a moments thought. He never did tell her where he had been. She frowned.

"Yeah, Princess. So don't worry your little crown too much."

"I wasn't worrying," she stuttered back. Bender rose an eyebrow in question. "I was just thinking that you would probably get more detentions, if you were caught... y'know, ditching. Or whatever. It would go into the summer and stuff..."

"You are such a bad liar."

"I'm not lying! It would!"

"Mhmm, I wasn't ditching. I was here."

That stopped her. "Oh." She bit her bottom lip. She had looked around for him though. Not, hop down to the bleachers, or behind the car park look for him. But, well, she had wanted to see more of him. She didn't even know where he hung out anyway. Had he been actively avoiding her? His words from Saturday echoed through her memories - As for you and me walking down the halls? Forget it! It's never going to happen. Though hadn't she said the same thing. Jesus Christ, what was she playing at?

"I didn't see you."

"Are you pouting?"

"No, I'm not. Whatever. I'm glad you're not going to get any more detentions."

She wasn't going to be needy. She wasn't going to try to change him. That was one of the first things she had decided on. And he had waited for her now hadn't he? And even if he hadn't, he still had come up to her. Had kissed her the way he had. He still wore her diamond earring.

He was looking at her like she was halfway to crazy. Claire smiled genuinely. "I'm being silly, don't worry about it. I will see you tomorrow though."

He leaned in. "It's okay if you missed me, Princess."

Claire laughed in his face, even if his words were true, kissed his lips quickly and teasingly, and hopped into her car.

She drove off, laughing.

It was late night at the mall. Claire, Samantha, and the two other girls in their group, Jessica, and Ashley were making their turns around the stores.

She wondered what had changed. A week ago she wouldn't have thought twice about spending her father's money. It was the least he could do for her really and Claire never actually asked for it. They just got into a habit of her coming home, and him slipping money into her purse. Or her mother asking Claire to tick off what she liked in the new Vogue magazine, and getting it mailed to the door. She was so used to getting everything she wanted without asking for it, that she never actually wanted for anything.

And though she still didn't care all too much about the expenses her father paid for, there was something different about shopping this time. About being around girls that were her friends since junior high. About the topics and issues that raided their everyday lives.

"You haven't bought anything tonight Claire, is something wrong?" Jessica asked her, rearranging some of the bags that littered her arms.

Claire shook her head, inspecting at her nails instead of her friend. "I'm fine. There's just nothing around that catches my eye."

The three girls gave Claire an odd look.

"They haven't brought out anything new, I mean. I got most of this when I skipped school last week."

They nodded with understanding then, accepting her answer.

"Oh, yeah," started Jessica, "I still can't believe you got a Saturday detention for that. How come your dad couldn't get you out of it anyway?"

Claire shrugged. "Because I had too many absences. They wouldn't let me get out of it again." She made a face, "I just really hate having to go to math."

Math was her worst subject. She just didn't understand it, regardless of her effort, and she couldn't stand the fact that her teacher made her feel so specifically stupid when she didn't understand. Honestly, Claire failed to see what point there was in trying anymore.

"I mean, it's boring you know." She covered.

"Mhm, totally. Plus Mrs Gale's voice is such a drone," Ashley laughed. Claire nodded.

"Still Saturday detention is harsh – to have to spend all that time with those freaks."

Claire frowned, did Jessica know who she spent Saturday with?

"Well, Andy was there so it wasn't so bad." How many times had she repeated that line?

"Yeah, but that's where he met her isn't it? Sam said she was weird as fuck. I can't actually believe he started hanging out with her, when he could have had me. And to think I thought he was actually interested – I guess I should consider myself lucky..." There was venom in Jessica's voice that caught Claire off guard.

She gave a weird look to Sam, who simply shrugged. They were the exact words that she had used but it was different when Claire said them. It was okay when Claire said them because it was a part of Allison that she liked, and besides which, Allison knew that Claire thought that.

"You've met her Claire – what do you think? I wonder if she put some kind of voodoo witch spell on Andy." Everyone laughed. Claire smiled weakly.

"She was okay. I mean she is weird, but that's just kind of her, I guess. Like if Andy's happy, what's the problem, right?"

She swore Jessica almost snarled, but she recovered quickly. "I didn't even know her until this week. Andy definitely didn't. He's probably just playing her." She laughed, making Claire uncomfortable, "He'll show her. Whose she to think Andy would just drop everything he knows to be with her?" Ashley laughed with her now.

"Did you see what she was wearing today? She had two different coloured socks on," Ashley's voice dropped down to a whisper, "and I'm pretty sure they were men's." The two girls broke into giggles again.

By now, Claire was starting to feel physically ill. Was this the way she spoke about people? Had she not cared about anyone to such a depth that this was the result?

"Would it be so bad if Andy genuinely liked her?" she asked quietly.

"What is wrong with you, Claire? Are you like this girl's new best friend or something? What did you guys do on Saturday?"

Claire frowned. When it came to hierarchy, Jessica wasn't as popular as Claire. She was a follower – a sheep – that did what everyone else told her too without a second thought. It was how she got into their group in the first place. She was a backup – a sure thing, but she had always been snide with Claire. Always fuelled by her jealousy.

And if she thought she could put Claire back into her place, she had a whole other thing coming.

"We didn't do anything. I'm just saying if Andy chose Allison over you, I think that says more about you than it does about Allison. So just cut it out."

No one spoke. Claire didn't back down. This is what happened when you messed with the Queen Bitch. Be careful what you wish for.

She smiled sweetly, "Come on. Lets go get some sushi. I haven't eaten all day."

She wasn't surprised that once they were alone Samantha didn't stay quiet for long. Claire started the car.

"Sooo... that was pretty harsh to Jess."

Claire scowled, "Because everything that ever comes out of her mouth is perfectly nice."

Samantha hesitated, like she thought any moment Claire would bring up her repeated words to Jessica.

"Is everything alright? You've been acting pretty strange since last Saturday. Like, you didn't buy anything tonight, and you haven't really been all there this week either, and it's not like you to snap at Jess because she's upset about Andy."

"Those things don't mean anything Sam. I didn't buy anything because I don't need anything at the moment. I've been distracted this week because my parent's have been fighting more than usual and my mother suddenly just up and left for this 'business trip', and I wasn't about to let Jessica walk all over me for reasons no one can control. She was being a bitch, you know, I know it – I'm not going to put up with it. She's only in our group because we liked Ashley. At least I know Allison enough to make a judgement against her – that's more than I can say for anyone else." Her last words weren't meant to come out as such a bite against Sam, and she instantly regretted them.

She did like Allison – but she wasn't prepared to lose all her friends for her.

Samantha didn't say anything for a while, she looked guilty, which in turn made Claire feel guilty.

"I'm sorry, I just – y'know. I've been really stressed lately I guess."

"No, it's alright Claire. It makes more sense now. I'm sorry too. And Jessica was being a bitch. It's pretty brave of you to call her up on it. You're right – you're totally right." Samantha smiled, which made her feel better.

The car parked right outside of her house.

"I thought all of this was about some boy." Samantha laughed flippantly.

Oh god, if only she knew. If that was their reaction to Allison.. Claire paled.

"Haha, nah – I didn't even go to Stubby's party. Plus there's no one in our group that really even interest's me." She scoffed.

"Yeah. I thought it was weird that you didn't tell me who!" she giggled again, one hand dismissive of the fact.

Claire smiled feebly, "Yeah, 'course Sammie, we have no secrets."

Samantha reached over and hugged her briefly. "I think Jonah's having a party Saturday night. Are you still grounded? You might even meet some men of interesting natures."

"Nah, I'm not. A party sounds good – you better not ditch me though."

Samantha laughed, long distracted from the contents of their night with the thoughts of upcoming social events - boys, parties, boys, alcohol, boys.