inspired by The Breakfast Club

"I can't believe you can't get me out of this."

Claire complained in the front seat of the car and I watched over her padded shoulder at the other cars dropping the other kids off this Saturday morning. 

"I mean it's so absurd I have to be here on a Saturday!"

Claire exclaims towards Dad, who sits back and takes all the punches with a sympathetic face.

"It's not like I'm a defective or anything!"

She continues to scream and shout and I watch from the back seat with a closed mouth. I haven't said anything to either of them this whole car journey, just listening to Claire bitching about all the other losers she'd have to share the room with, including me. 

"I'll make it up to you. Honey, ditching class to go shopping doesn't make you a defective," Dad replies to her as always tiptoeing around her as if she's made of glass, afraid she'd shatter at any moment. 

As if pleading innocent to a guilty crime, Claire huffs out of the car giving the door a slam. Her boots trudge towards the entrance where she meets Andrew Clark who was walking the same way. Huh, why was he here?

"Y/N?" 

I leant dad's way, humming. 

"Look after your sister, she's in a fragile state. She shouldn't be somewhere like that so just- show her how to belong. Good girl."

With a smile as fake as Claire's bra size, I got out of the vehicle glad to finally get a moment to myself in the fresh air away from this suffocatingly toxic relationship that people call 'family'. 

---

A minute in and people were starting to realise the two sisters in the room at opposite ends that genuinely despised each other and not just for pettiness or for show. Claire was constantly trying to one-up a weird kid like me in front of her friends and people who would be valuable witnesses for her popularity.

 It was nauseating. 

It started with an informal complaint to Vernon. 

"I know it's detention but I don't think I belong in here..." she cringed at the different walks of life glaring at her apart from Andrew who just ate her up like a cheesecake beside her. 

I thoroughly enjoyed watching Bender dissect my sister's patience as if he was peeling a cheese string. I watched with my head in my hand and an amused smirk. 

"Well you wouldn't know, you don't even know any of us apart from my mistake of a sister over there. She's so easy to read you don't even have to look," she spat over her shoulder, not even bothering to look at me despite me being in clear view sitting opposite to Bender who she was currently facing with open legs and a drool. 

What a hypocrite. 

"At least I don't cash in on pitiful 'no one understands me' bullshit, Claire."

---

An hour in and things got a little more heated so people started to remove their jackets. Vernon had already yelled to quieten my sister's screams but I added to the noise while laughing. She tore me apart with those veil brown eyes of hers. Her little comments were the most frustrating, coming out of nowhere just to prove a point that wasn't actually there.

"That outfit today, really?" she sneered as soon as I took off my jacket, it wasn't even halfway off yet. 

"Sorry I didn't become a delinquent to dress to impress, Claire," I blabbed her name to make it sound as lame as it actually was.

---

Things flatlined in a good way. No more jabs were made until we shuffled over to the books and the statue, a movement I honestly did not remember making. 

I sat on the ground near Brian just in case I forgot to smile at him smiling at me in sympathy every time Claire said something mean and unfair like she always did. 

"You grounded tonight?" Andy asks Claire, side-eyeing me with curiosity. 

Claire twiddles her merry little thumbs and considers the story she could dramatize. I knew if she drew me into this, especially if she mentions our brother, I couldn't bite my tongue this time and I'd have to bite back. I could guarantee that it would be too hard to not start some shit in detention I'm afraid. 

Bender did some digging into our family tree, noticing the imbalance between Claire's perfect life and what she was describing. I don't even remember the last time my parents asked me how I was without mentioning Claire once in a sentence. 

"I'd probably go live with my brother. I couldn't choose between them and they can keep her with them."

"You're just feeling sorry for yourself," Andy adds, making me adjust a little in my seat as the sporty boy bites back. 

"You know for a fact mom and dad would cry if their baby Claire left. I'd be the one to go with Daniel and you know it! He always preferred me and you hated it. You could stay here with the fashion police and your posse of Paris wannabees."

Bender smirks between us, eager to see the outcome but at this point, I didn't care about an audience. Andy was hesitating in his place, ready to step in if need me. Brian hugged himself while gazing at the scene before him in awe. Allison was...well she was there alright. 

"I'd rather have all those things than be by myself Y/N. You haven't had a friend since the fifth grade," she leaned against the statue in a moment of teenage angst ready to be filmed for a sketchy coming of age, only moving quickly when her anger took over her at the disgusting excuse of a sister that stood before her. 

Even Bender looked at her with faint hurt and disbelief but I knew he liked her soo it faded quickly. Love works in mysterious ways and blinds you even harder. 

---

There was a tense moment when John Bender's obsession with making people feel incredibly uncomfortable took an unexpected term. 

He began towards Claire's table saying vulgar things about her and her non-existent sex life that made me squirm in discomfort. He asked and pressured over and over if she was a virgin or not and yet there was still a twinkle of amusement in her eyes. 

That twinkle grew the size of Russia once his lightbulb moment came. He knew that the only way he could impress Claire at this moment was annihilating me and by drawing his focus from Claire to me, he would succeed in doing so. 

"Do we have two cherries on a stalk in the family?" he leaned over my table, so close I could feel the ends of hair tickling my forehead. 

I looked over nervously to Claire, for the first time seeing a little remorse in her eyes that soon turn into a mischevious glint. 

"Is it hard having such a beautiful sister? I bet you're tired of turning the music up so loud so you don't hear her in the room next to you. I bet you're tired of mommy and daddy not listening to you because Claire is talking. You know what, I think you deep down dream of being prom queen and watching Claire cry on the side. Guess what honey, it's never going to happen. Let's face it, she's better and you're weird."

Tears come, they burst into the room without knocking or even ringing the doorbell first. I don't have time to think or react as a blurry blue figure bursts to their feet and start towards the crouching Bender in front of me. 

A hand grabs Bender's collar, forcing him to his boots. He may be towering over him but Andy is below him, standing strong and tired of the commotion. He was probably just bugging that he was gonna miss that meet because of all the noise. Still, i was in shock at his balls. Big balls. 

"I am sick and tired of your bullshit Bender."

Bender's eyebrow lifts in amusement and I need more, although I didn't really fancy either of them getting hurt at this moment in time. i didn't want to spend another Saturday, which I'd usually love since I was usually alone, with Claire Standish. 

"Oh it's the truth Clark and we all know it in this room."

I bite my lip and Andy catches me looking to the ground. 

"I think that's disgusting and anyone who thinks that should see me outside no problem. But for now, just me and you bud. Two hits, me hitting you and you hitting the floor. Anytime you're ready pal," Andrew throws up his fists and they circle around together while Bender keeps an unbothered and vacant frame against the professional. 

I knew he was gonna get crushed.

I stand up. 

"Andrew, you don't have to do this. It's not worth it! I'm not worth it!"

He glances to me for a second, knowing Bender's dirty tricks to win would tackle him as soon as he took his beady eye off the target. Something told me that if they weren't fighting he wouldn't even blink while looking at me or glance way for a second. Why? 

"You are worth it Y/N and if I have to knock out every bastard in this school to prove it, I say bring it on!"

He points towards Claire, nerves rattling in his breath and he continues to eye up his opponent. Why wasn't anyone doing anything?

"And don't think I've forgotten about you, missy. I don't hit ladies but I say you should start acting like one Claire until you walk out of here like a man. You're constantly picking on her and she hasn't done anything to you. You're the favourite, you get the attention, she stays in the shadows. Stop being so jealous of the fact that Y/N doesn't have to try desperately for people to like her. Grow up!"

Quiet. 

Perspectives and realisations are hit and thrown. 

And, when I was about to thank him Bender lunges at him before being tackled to the ground by a wrestler who he made fun of for wearing tights and taking it so seriously. How the table shave turned. He was in his vest top, which also happened to be blue, arms bulging as he forces Bender's face to the ground. I rush over, pulling Andy off of a struggling and grunting Bender but not before laughing a little at his helplessness. 

I wrap my arms around his tense waist for behind, lunging him back until we're both in an embrace away from the enemy. I let him go and whisper a thanks. He nods, not tearing his gaze away from the heaving criminal opposite him, who refuses to admit defeat despite going down like a rock. 

Andrew drags me away from the crime scene, hopefully not to discuss the situation that had just played out. Looks like the universe was not in my favour as he zipped up his hoodie, crossed his arms and searched my eyes for the true story.

"You should never just sit there and let people like that walk all over you."

It takes a lot to rip my eyes off of the ground but the hint of actual caring kindness in his honey voice manages to do it with ease. 

"Standing up to someone who lives in the same house as you is a lot harder than what you think it is Andrew, especially when everything they're saying is based on some truth..."

"Hey! Don't ever say that about yourself. As far as I'm concerned you're the way better sister. Fuck what they think. Bender will be thinking the exact same thing come Monday morning, he's just thinking with his dick right now. You're amazing Y/N and don't you dare forget it. I don't think I have it in me to take out any more for you," he chuckles while gripping my arms at each side with a comfortable harshness. 

I don't think and I just hug him, praying that my thanks were enough and that I wasn't stupid enough to make yet another awkward moment that I'd regret later on in life. 

And then he hugs me back and suddenly all the trouble, the violence and the bickering seemed worth it.