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Disclaimer: Don't own, just the plot.

~paperbackwriter9

"John, I can't jump- " He grabbed my hand and I was in the air, scared for my dear life.

I landed safely on the ground; the worst damage was the mud on my shoes, and on my jacket. John landed on his feet, gracefully, and I looked away brushing myself off, in embarrassment. "Claire, Claire!" I looked at him and he motioned for me to follow him. If we crept low to the ground and moved through the small trees, we could jump out on the path below and safely be out of the dealer's views.

They made noises, and laughter trickled down and into my ears, alerting me that I could be in danger any minute. John crawled through the leaves, and I followed as quiet as a mouse. I couldn't help myself but glance at his… backside… once. As the danger rose, and the minutes went by, I felt myself find John increasingly attractive.

"You okay back there Cherry?"

"Yes," and I winced as I placed my hand into mud. This was no time for being a stuck up girl, but I hated… hated mud. Then the shouts from above grew louder and my body froze. John crawled ahead and I lay there in the mud, fear in my throat.

"I said you owe my fifty bucks. Now if I don't get paid, I'm going to-"

"Are you trying to get killed?" John whispered and I jumped. Shaking my head no, I quickly followed him through the declining slope of bushes and leaves. Finally I saw a stone ledge, which meant we were at the path below, and we were out of view from the men above. John jumped down and brushed himself off, and then I waited for him to be a gentleman, but he stared at me, waiting.

"I guess you don't have many manners."

"Hey, Cherry, I just saved your ass, so I would be thanking me if I was you," and he looked at me. I rolled my eyes and brushed myself off. The tears prickling in my eyes wanted to fall so badly, but I blinked them back. Here I had thought that John was actually serious with the whole kissing scene earlier, and then trying to protect me. Maybe I was wrong.

John took out a cigarette and tried to find his lighter. "Damn, it must have fallen out."

"Good."

"Wait, wait, I found it." I had never been a fan of anyone that smoked. And when I had met John on Saturday, I didn't care for his health. But with these feelings that had suddenly grown, I did care.

"John, please, don't light it. The people up there could smell it."

"Don't worry Cherry, the wind will carry it in that direction," he pointed and lit the cigarette and blew smoke and watched it get carried away towards the beach in front of us.

"Well, I don't want to smell like smoke. It's disgusting."

"Then hold your breathe," and he sat down and looked away from me. It was awkward with him sitting and staring at the beach, while I stood with my hands on my hips, waiting for him to put it out. When I saw that I was not going to get my way, I decided that I did not care for John Bender. It was a foolish idea to come here.

Brushing off my coat once more, I started to walk down the path. "Hey! Cherry! Where are you going?"

"Away from that horrid smell," and I kept walking, his voice becoming softer and softer with the distance. I did not even turn back because I knew he would not follow.

The beach finally appeared, and the wind caused the sand to fly into my eyes, making them sting. I was hurt that John had not followed me, and I was also confused. Did I like him or was it to get my mind off my parents and their divorce? As my thoughts twirled in my head, very much like this sand in the wind, I heard a shout from behind me. So John thinks I'm going to apologize? Well he is wrong.

Turning slowly, I folded crossed my arms and sighed. John was running and he looked crazed. "Claire! They- they-" He paused and bent over trying to catch his breathe. "The dealers saw you on the beach, they're coming down." I froze once again in terror and he shook me. "Now listen, I'm sorry Cherry but I've got to do this." The dealers had appeared on the beach and John shouted. "Here! I've got her!"

"John? Are you mad?"

"Don't ever! Tell me what to do," and the dealers were around us. I was being grabbed and pushed and pulled, and I struggled and I wanted to live!

"Wake up!"

Suddenly I felt freezing water splash into my face, and I opened my eyes. John stood above me with his hands cupped with water from the lake. "What- what- happened?" I asked coughing and I realized that I was shivering and lying on the cold sand. It was all a dream, there were no dealers. I was alive.

"When you didn't come back," he sat down next to me, "I went down to the beach and saw you just lying on the sand. I thought you were sleeping, but then I thought you were dead," and he rubbed his neck. "I guess you fell asleep… How the fuck did you manage to fall asleep on at a freezing cold beach after the excitement from hiding from drug dealers, I will never know," and I was about to yell at him but he looked at me smiling.

It was funny, and I sat up, and looked at the water ahead. "I didn't sleep at all yesterday. With my parents and all… I couldn't," I whispered and felt the tears that I had been holding back fall. The excitement from the day, and my confusing feelings were just too much for me to handle. I hated to admit it, but I wanted to cry on John's shoulder. And damn it, that's what I was going to do.

My eyelids dropped slightly, and the sand, wind, and tears made my eyes burn. I sniffed, and John looked at me. "What is it Ch- Claire?"

"I'm just so fed up with my life. John… how do you…" I was so afraid of letting him into my mind with all the vulnerable and depressing thoughts that I thought while everyone saw an image that was squeaky clean.

"You can say it," and he looked at me, not with a smile, or a taunt expression, but with seriousness because he was truly listening. I wanted this side of John to stay forever because for once, he was not judging me, and he did not have a reason to.

"How do you deal with your parents?"

"Act out, smoke, party, get detentions. Claire you don't want to deal with life the way I do. And I don't want you to hang out with me."

"Why?" I asked and hurt rang out in my voice.

"I don't want you to have to see me at my worst," and he sighed. "I can't change my life; I can't give up all I've known so that I can fit your image. This is what I am."

"John, I'm not asking you to! I don't want my image, and I don't want to have yours. I'm fine with being in the middle. I can help you!" He stood up and I reached to grab him but he walked away.

"I'm not worth helping."

"Yes, you are!" I looked at him and he stared right back at me.

"Claire, I-"

"My life is boring, and it was too perfect. If I made one mistake, everyone would think I had gone crazy because I had made it that way. John, I want to be with you, no matter the ups and downs that are going to happen. If we fight, we fight."

As I tried to continue, he leaned down and kissed me. John only needed someone to believe in him, and I would, no matter how much pain it could cause me.

We sat there next to one another for along time, watching the wave's crash onto the beach. "John?"

"Hmm?"

"You don't like me just for… sex… or someone to be with…"

"No, I already told you, just one guy and one girl," and he kissed the top of my head. "Let's get out of here," and we rose to our feet.

"And go where?"

"I'm hungry, why don't we go to your house?" I looked at him and laughed and then raised my eyebrows. "Are you serious?"

He placed his hands on his stomach. "My stomach has been growling for the last hour. I need food! And I'm, well, I'm broke."

"John…"

"I don't own shit Claire! This is what I mean by not wanting you to-"

I sighed and shrugged my shoulders, "John, we can go, no one is home, I wasn't going to yell at you about money," and he smiled.

"No one is home? That's good," and he laughed, causing me to want to hit him, but having butterflies explode as well.

Thank you for reading! =)