rockin' chair. (john bender).

Chapter Nine: An Unlikely Saturday

Music began to play loudly throughout the library as Brian put a record on. Everyone had gathered back in the main area. Allison started dancing around the statue, eventually moving all over the place, while John, perched on the statue, was messing around. Brian goofed off alone in the record room, Claire danced on the staircase, and Andrew sat on the stair railing. Allison and Beth began to dance together, their bodies moving wildly to the rhythm.

John jumped down from the statue and joined Beth and Allison on a bench top as they shuffled across it. Then, he, Andrew, and Brian performed a silly dance in a line, causing Beth to burst out laughing. Next, Claire, Allison, and Beth twisted their bodies to the music. Soon, everyone was dancing like maniacs all around the library. They were having the time of their lives, not caring what anyone else might think—it was the most fun Beth had had in a long time.

Unfortunately, it was time for John to head back to the storage room before Vernon realized he was missing.

"See you later," Beth said with a small smile.

"That you will," John replied, placing a soft kiss on her lips, making her chuckle slightly.

He pulled away slowly, smiling at her before disappearing up the stairs. Beth then made her way back over to the others, who were all seated on the wooden railing, and took a seat next to Brian.

"Brian?" Claire looked over at him.

Brian hummed in response, glancing back at her.

"Are you gonna write your paper?" Claire asked.

"Yeah, why?" Brian sat up, curious.

"Well, it's kind of a waste for all of us to write our papers, don't you think?" Claire pointed out.

"Unless you're me, who wasn't even going to bother," Beth quipped with a bright smile, making Allison laugh quietly.

"Oh, but that's what Vernon wants us to do," Brian replied.

"True, but I think we'd all kind of write the same thing," Claire added.

"You just don't wanna write your paper, right?" Brian tried to hold back a smile, knowing exactly why Claire had brought it up.

"True," Claire admitted, "but you're the smartest, right?"

Brian laughed and scoffed at the same time, looking a little flustered. "Well..."

"We trust you," Claire assured him.

Andrew, Allison, and Beth nodded in agreement when Brian looked to them for validation.

"Alright," Brian nodded. "I'll do it."

"Great," Claire said, clasping her hands together with a smile. She then turned to Allison, staring at her.

Allison slowly turned to face Claire, staring back, causing Claire to laugh.

"Come on," Claire said, gently pulling on Allison's arm.

"Where are we going?" Allison asked softly.

"Come on," Claire repeated, dragging Beth along with them.

The three of them walked silently to the other side of the library, with Allison and Beth unsure of what to expect. Beth leaned against the wall, watching as Claire pulled out a makeup bag. She observed as Claire began to use an eye pencil on Allison's eyes.

"Don't be afraid," Claire soothed when Allison flinched slightly under her touch.

"Don't stick that in my eye," Allison warned.

"I'm not sticking it in, just close—no, wait—just close...like that," Claire replied, closing her own eyes to show Allison how.

Claire began to apply the eye pencil again as Allison made strange noises.

"You know, you do look a lot better without all that black stuff around your eyes," Claire commented.

"Hey, I happen to like that black stuff," Allison defended herself.

"This looks a lot better. Look up," Claire directed.

"Please," Allison laughed. "Why are you being so nice to me?"

"'Cause you're letting me," Claire smiled back.

"I'm just gonna leave you guys to it," Beth said with a small smile, excusing herself. She left the library and wandered the halls, eventually making her way to the storage room where John was hiding out.

Beth opened the door slowly, closing it behind her. John looked up with a raised eyebrow.

"Couldn't stand being away from me, huh?" he smirked.

"You wish," Beth scoffed. She walked over to him, wrapping her arms around his neck and leaving a lingering kiss on his lips.

"Why'd you do that?" John asked.

"Because you're hot," Beth replied, trying to act serious but bursting out laughing afterward.

He playfully rolled his eyes at her before pulling her in for a longer kiss. They lost track of time, but eventually, the door opened again.

"Alright, Bender—" Vernon started but stopped short when he saw Beth.

"Surprise," Beth said with jazz hands.

"And that's another detention for you, Miss McCartney," Vernon informed her.

"I already have what? Nine?" She shrugged. "What's one more?"

John chuckled as they made their way out of the storage room, his hand clasping hers. They returned to the library to gather their things, then left with everyone else. As they walked down the hallway, they passed Carl, and Brian gave him a small smile.

"See you, Brian," Carl nodded with a smile.

"See you, Carl," Brian replied.

"See you next Saturday," John grinned.

"You bet," Carl responded with a small laugh.

Outside, a couple of cars were waiting. Claire gave Brian a kiss on the cheek and handed him one of her diamond earrings before climbing into her dad's car. Brian stood there, stunned, before getting into his own dad's car. Allison and Andrew shared a kiss, and she ripped one of the patches off his jacket before opening her car door and getting in. Moments later, Andrew's dad's car pulled away, leaving John and Beth alone.

"Your mom picking you up?" John asked.

"No, she's at work," Beth replied, and John nodded.

He grabbed her hand without another word, and they walked across the football field. Halfway across, John thrust his right fist into the air, shades on, in a gesture of triumph. Beth laughed as he put an arm around her shoulder.

Who knew a Saturday detention could be this entertaining?