The Breakfast Club - Monday Morning

Chapter 6

(This is the last reunion chapter for awhile, after this we really dig into 1984 Shermer High School! It's also a rather short chapter - sorry about that!)

"Why would John ask about me?" Claire asked Allison. "He hated me."

"I don't think he hated you," Allison protested.

"No," Claire sighed. "He hated me."

"The last time I saw him, no hating was mentioned. He seemed genuinely interested in whether I'd heard from you." Allison peered intently at Claire. "Did something happen between you two after detention? I mean, you were obviously flirted with each other that day, but you never mentioned him after."

"No," Claire mumbled, the lie falling from her lips as easily as it had in high school. "And he wasn't flirting with me at detention, he was making fun of me for being popular." Allison still looked doubtful. "What did you tell him?" Claire asked, anxious to get Allison back on track.

"Nothing, really. I just gave him the basics of what I knew. Married, one kid, living in California." She shrugged and sipped her drink. "I didn't know about the divorce, sorry."

Claire waved her hand impatiently. "It's not important." She bit her lip in annoyance at her indecision, then grabbed another napkin from the holder and folded it upon itself a few times, avoiding Allison's eyes. "How is he?" she finally asked, angry when she felt her face flush.

"He's alright, doing better now than the last time I saw him." Allison glanced at Claire. "I don't suppose you know."

Claire shook her head.

"His wife died about three years ago. Breast cancer."

"Oh my god."

Allison sighed. "It was horrible. They had two little kids and she died within six months of being diagnosed. He was a wreck at the funeral."

Claire pressed a hand to her chest to contain the heavy feeling. "That's awful. Poor John. I didn't know. Why didn't anyone tell me?"

Allison shrugged. "I don't know. I should have, I'm sorry. It didn't seem like an email conversation and you and I never talk on the phone." She brightened a bit. "But he's doing better now. It was just a few months ago that I ran into him. He said it had been a rough couple years for him and the girls, but they were really starting to live life again. If I remember right, he owns a tire place or something like that." She paused for a moment then laughed. "He looks good, too. Stayed fit, unlike Bozo over there," she snorted as she gestured across the room to her husband. "Which is ironic, when you think about it. Andy was the Jock and he got a middle-age tire around the middle, John was the Criminal who smoked and he still looks really good." She startled a bit at her words. "Not that I think Andy looks bad, I didn't mean that, I'm just making a point..."

It was enough for Claire to loosen up, and she laughed. "Andy is a good looking guy, I knew what you meant." They grinned at each other for a moment before Claire remembered that John had asked about her and the flush crept back into her cheeks. Allison, thank God, took the cue and changed the subject away from John.

"So...it's been a few years since you and I talked. Tell me what you've been up to. You and Evan moved recently, right? Where to?"

"Not that recently, it's been about three and a half years. Laguna Hills. About an hour south of our old place in LA."