Dear Mr. Vernon,

We accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was that we did wrong. What we did was wrong but we think you're crazy to make us write an essay telling you who you think we are. What you do care? You see us as you wanna see us. The simplest terms, the most convenient definitons. What we found out is that each of us is a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess and a criminal.

The day of prom had swiftly arrived; it wasn't technically until 6pm however Claire was awake at 11am getting ready. "Claire, I'm off out. I should be home in time to see you go to prom." Matt gathered some things from the kitchen counter and patted Claire on the shoulder as he walked past her.

"Don't worry about it Matt, it's only prom, eh?" Claire laughed. Before she met John Bender her attitude towards school and prom was completely different – she used to live for prom, it was her baby, her pride & glory. But now, very different. She just wants to get it over and done with so she can live the life she wants to live, with no regrets and no peer pressure. Live the life she has chosen but now with John Bender too.

"Enjoy yourself, Claire. Make sure that guy you're seeing, Bender, whatever he's called, looks after you. Tell him I know who he is." Claire looked towards her brother and laughed once more. "Bye Claire!"

Claire ran up the stairs and went into her bedroom. She went towards her bedside table and opened the top drawer. She pulled out some pills. "I guess I really am growing up now. No regrets." Claire observed the box of birth control pills. She didn't want to get pregnant, no way but she also knew that now she was dedicated to Bender she would need to be the woman she had tried to convince herself she was. Hey, she'd already slept with him that wasn't the issue. Now, she had to commit. She had decided that tonight was the night she'd show everyone how much John means to her, no hiding and no regrets. She wasn't going to be seeing half of her high school year ever again, so what did it matter what they thought of her? Her outlook had changed significantly and that was all thanks to Bender.

Claire ran herself a bath and lit some candles. She lathered herself up and relaxed after her ever so stressful few weeks. Thoughts and memories came rushing back… her absent mother, her new found courage and strength, her new friends replacing her dishonest friends, her relationship with John; first kisses, first arguments, sleeping with him. His mother's death and his father's arrest. His strength. Claire smiled as she recalled all the things she'd learned ever since meeting 4 others in detention weeks ago; Brian Johnson, Andrew Clark, Allison Reynolds and John Bender. It's true – each of us is a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess and criminal. She's definitely learnt that.

It was sometime later and Claire's doorbell rang – it was Annie. "Come on in." Annie came in and her prom dress in its protective bag was hanging over her shoulder.

"Are you getting excited now, Claire?"

"I guess so." Claire went up the stairs and headed towards her bedroom as Annie followed her up.

"You should be excited! You've got a date!"

"So have you!"

"I'm only meeting him there, Claire." Annie dumped her bags on the bed and hung her dress over the door.

"You didn't have to do that…just because I didn't want to travel with Bender. I'm sure someone else would've gone with me instead."

"I don't mind driving us to prom, Claire. You're my friend. Besides, I want to get ready with my best friend before we are officially adults…"

"It's too scary to think about, Annie."

"Are you really going to hang out with Bender at prom?"

"Yeah." Claire looked down, as if she wanted to avoid the topic. "Why do you ask?"

"Well, last time you were seen with him you kinda freaked out Claire…"

"That's exactly why I'm going to be seen with him this time." Annie smiled at Claire and put her hands on her hips.

"Enough of talking, we should be getting ready!" Claire and Annie giggled and began to get themselves ready.

Claire and Annie were frantically sorting out their hair, and makeup ensuring they looked their best for prom later on that evening. "How does my hair look? Too much with this massive flower, Claire?"

"No, looks really good to me!" Claire ran into the bathroom and slipped her dress on. The pink floaty dress was not only on trend with 1984 fashion, it flattered her figure. She felt pretty, she looked pretty. She looked in the bathroom mirror, puckered her lips, applied some final lip gloss and adjusted her hair. She was ready. Just need to add her shoes and she was ready. Claire walked out of the bathroom, she looked towards Annie who was looking at herself in Claire's floor length mirror. "Wow, Annie. You look so beautiful!"

"Gee, thanks Claire." Annie went all flustered and readjusted the dress out of awkwardness. "You look amazing too."

"Thank Annie. Let me grab my shoes and I think we're ready to go..."

"Sounds good to me."

"I'm a little nervous now…are you?"

"Yeah I am too."

Claire and Annie approached Shermer High School in Annie's car. This had been the car that had got them to school for so long; their long bitchy chats about people in their friendship group, Savannah in particular, were frequent. Their long shopping trips that followed the end of school. And now prom, the last time they'd travel to Shermer High School before they graduated from school forever.

"Thanks so much for everything, Annie. You've been such a great friend to me." Annie found a parking spot and turned the engine of the car off.

"No worries, Claire. You've been brilliant. I'm so glad I got to spend my high school years with you." Annie leaned in for a hug and Claire wrapped an arm around her. "Enough now – I don't want to mess my hair up or yours for that matter!" Annie and Claire giggled and got themselves out of the car.

"Let's do this."

Claire and Annie approached the entrance of the gymnasium where the prom was being hosted. Groups of people were outside – either choosing not go in, waiting for dates or simply not having anyone to hang around with. That's when Annie found her date and took his arm and went in leaving Claire outside, alone.

"Claire!" Claire turned around, somewhat hoping it would be John Bender but it was Brian.

"Brian, how lovely to see you." Brian was looking dapper in a black suit – he'd even styled his hair. "You look great."

"As do you, Claire. Can you believe it's prom already?"

"It's gone so quickly. These past few weeks have been crazy stressful. Will be nice to have the whole summer off now."

"I agree. You got a date tonight?"

"Kinda, I guess."

"Bender?"

"Yeah. Not sure where he is. I didn't want to travel here with him…"

"I've not seen him yet. Do you want to walk in with me, Claire?"

"Sure." Brian offered his arm out and Claire took it. They walked in together. Claire didn't care about anyone. She needed to find Bender, she needed to show him how much he meant to her and how much she didn't care about anyone else's opinion. Claire and Brian walked into prom – balloons everywhere, music booming an awkward high school students mingling for one last time. "This whole design is Savannah's. She clearly didn't like any of my input!"

"Doesn't look to bad to me, Claire."

"I guess so." Claire unhooked her arm from Brian's and looked around. No Bender. "Oh, look who it is." Andy came bowling over in his tuxedo, looking not too shabby.

"Claire, you look amazing."

"Thanks, Andy." Claire blushed.

"How're you doing Brian? You look good. Not seen you for a while." Andy and Brian had a catch up whilst Claire continued to look for Bender. Which was when she found him. He was walking towards her, with Allison right by his side. Allison was wearing a black dress with diamonds on the top with her hair pushed back like that time Claire did it for her.

"Hey Claire, you look really good." Allison smiled and looked to Andy and Brian who had now stopped chatting.

"Thanks Allison, as do you." Allison blushed and looked down; she was still wearing her converse, just like her.

"Fancy that, we all made it to prom." Brian laughed and looked over to Bender who only had eyes for Claire. He was correct, The Breakfast Club had all once again reunited at prom.

"Claire, can we have a chat for a minute?" Bender offered his hand out to Claire and she placed hers gently in it and walked away from her new friends with him. "You look simply amazing, Claire. Wow."

"Oh stop. It's nothing really." Claire was slowly going red faced. She looked at John in his suit. He looked so hot. He looked so tall and muscular. He looked so smart and sophisticated. He looked like he was any normal guy she could go out with. "You look very nice yourself."

"I do scrub up well you know."

"I can tell."

"People shouldn't under estimate me." John gave Claire a cheeky smile. "Let me say it again, you look amazing Claire."

"You said. It's embarrassing. But thank you, John."

"My pleasure, sweets." Claire beamed. "It's my duty as boyfriend to remind you how good you look on a day to day basis, isn't it?"

"I guess so, John…" Claire gave him a cheeky smile this time.

"So when can I hug you? Or kiss you?"

"You don't have to ask, you know."

"Are we a proper thing now? Can people know about us? I'm just thinking of you and your wishes, Claire. No disrespect."

Claire smiled at John and stepped towards him. Simple Minds "Don't You Forget About Me" began to play throughout the gymnasium where fellow high schoolers began to sing and dance.

Claire put her arms around his back and leaned in for a cuddle; John slowly put his hands gently on her waist and bent his lips towards hers and passionately kissed her. That meant yes. John Bender got the girl, he definitely got the girl.

Does that answer your question?

Sincerely yours, The Breakfast Club.