rockin' chair. (john bender).

Chapter Eight: Beneath the Surface

The group had now drifted into a somewhat comfortable silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Beth was still sitting on John's lap, his arms wrapped around her waist protectively. Brian looked around the circle of misfits with a sigh before speaking.

"I was just thinking... I know it's a weird time, but I was wondering, um... What's gonna happen to us on Monday, when we're all together again? I mean... I consider you guys my friends. I'm not wrong, am I?" Brian asked, looking as if he already knew the answer.

"No," Andrew quietly replied.

"So—so on Monday, what happens?" Brian repeated.

"Are we still friends, you mean? If we're friends now, that is?" Claire asked carefully.

"Yeah," Brian nodded, like it was obvious.

"Do you want the truth?" Claire inquired as a tear rolled down her cheek.

"Yeah, I want the truth," Brian told her without hesitation.

"I don't think so," Claire croaked, looking away from Brian.

"With all of us, or just John?" Allison quizzed. Beth snickered quietly, causing John to poke her hip.

"With all of you," Claire looked down.

"That's a real nice attitude, Claire," Andrew sarcastically confessed, nodding.

"Oh, be honest, Andy... if Brian came walking up to you in the hall on Monday, what would you do? I mean, picture this: you're there with all the sports guys. I know exactly what you'd do. You'd say hi to him, and when he left, you'd cut him all up so your friends wouldn't think you really liked him," Claire defended herself.

"No way," Andrew denied, though he knew Claire was right.

"What if I came up to you?" Allison asked.

"Same exact thing," Claire said, expressionless.

"It doesn't have to be that way. You can change it," Beth said, looking straight at her.

"No, I can't. You wouldn't understand," Claire shook her head.

"You are such a bitch!" John practically screamed at Claire, making Beth jump a little (and almost fall off his lap).

"Jesus," Beth mumbled quietly, eyes closed.

"Why? Because I'm telling the truth, that makes me a bitch?" Claire replied defensively.

"No! Because you know how shitty that is to do to someone! And you don't have the balls to stand up to your friends and tell them that you're gonna like who you wanna like!" John yelled.

Beth nodded slightly, agreeing with him. He did have a point, she thought. Although, she subtly moved off his lap just in case she did fall off.

"Okay, what about you, you hypocrite! Why don't you take Allison to one of your heavy metal vomit parties? Or take Brian out to the parking lot at lunch to get high? Or what about Andy for that matter? What about me? What about Beth? What would your friends say if they saw you both walking down the hall together? They'd laugh their asses off, and you'd probably tell them you were doing it with her so they'd forgive you for being seen with her," Claire yelled back.

"Rude," Beth scoffed. "If you ever do that, I will beat you up."

"I won't," John said quietly before replying to Claire. "And you, don't you dare talk about Beth that way! I know my friends would love her, she'd fit right in! Matter of fact, don't even talk about my friends! You don't know any of my friends, you don't look at any of my friends, and you certainly wouldn't condescend to speak to any of my friends. So just stick to the things you know: shopping, nail polish, your father's BMW, and your poor, rich, drunk mother in the Caribbean!"