Lunchtime had arrived. The detainees took out their lunches. Claire's was a fancy silver paper bag with handles, which contained a fancy black box.

"What's in there?" Bender asked, looking over her shoulder.

"Guess," she replied, then looked at him. "Where's your lunch?"

"You're wearin' it," Bender responded with a lecherous grin.

"You're nauseating," Claire said disgusted.

Claire turned her attention to taking out her lunch form the black fancy box. It appeared to have some strange items inside it. It had rice in it with some weird pink in the middle and wrapped with something black. There was a strange smell coming from the box. She poured out a black sauce delicately into a cup.

"What's that?" Bender asked.

"Sushi," Claire answered.

"Sushi?"

"Rice, raw, fish and sea weed," Claire explained with a giggle.

"You won't accept a guy's tongue in your mouth, but you're gonna eat that?" Bender replied disgusted.

"Can I eat?" Claire snipped.

"I dunno. Give it a try."

Andrew had a giant shopping bag that looked like it came straight out of the grocery store: he took out a huge supply of food.

Sheila heard slurping sounds behind her and Brian, making her turn around. The mystery girl in the back was slurping her Coca Cola on the can at first, then on the desk. Brian even turned to watch in confusion. She watched as she took the sandwich apart, wrinkling her nose in disgust at the olive loaf. She tossed the olive loaf over her shoulder, which landed with a slap on the sculpture. Then she started grabbing a handful of pixie sticks and poured sugar on the bread, catching some sugar in her mouth. Then she scooped a handful of cereal onto the sandwich. Sheila stared with raised eyebrows. Soon Claire and Andrew and Bender turned around to watch the basket case create her own unique sandwich. She soon took a big bite out of her sandwich, making loud crunching noises.

The rest of the detainees turned back around, completely weirded out by what they had just seen.

Sheila looked at her classmates lunches, feeling kinda odd since she only had a tin lunchbox; it had Indiana Jones On the front: Harrison Ford as his iconic role with his signature fedora. Brian had a plain paper bag. He observed the redhead's lunchbox and made a note she was a fan of the action hero.

"Nice lunchbox," he said timid. "You like Indiana Jones?"

Sheila smiled. "Thank you," she replied. "I wanted to start the new school year with a new lunchbox. I picked it because it was either this one or Fraggle Rock."

"Good choice," Brian said with a nod of approval.

"Aside from his usual attire, Indy is pretty sexy for a teacher," Sheila said.

"College professor," he corrected. "He's a college professor of archaeology."

Sheila's face expressed surprise as she learned this. Then let out an embarrassed giggle.

"Oh!" she said. "Good to know." After a beat, "I remember seeing Raiders of the Lost Ark when it came out. It scared the shit outta me. I had nightmares for a month.

"It's definitely a good movie," he said with a nod.

"I heard there's another movie coming out soon. Maybe we can see a show together."

"T-together?" he stammered, his cheeks turning slightly pink. "You want to see a movie with me?"

Sheila nodded. "My treat. Maybe I won't be so scared next time."

"Y-yea. I'll have to ask my parents first."

"Same with my grandpa. Hopefully he'll lend me his car...provided if I get my chores done like take care of his chickens."

"Your grandpa has chickens?" Brian asked curious.

"A few of them," Sheila said. "It's a project he does since he retired. He sells eggs to his neighbors for a little bit of money as well. Honestly, I find them annoying and they stink, especially the rooster. He wakes me up at 4 AM in the morning and he attacks me. I nicknamed him Lucifer because he's a fuckin' devil."

"A devil? In the form of a chicken?" Brian said incredulously.

"You'd be very surprised. Look what that savage little asshole did to me yesterday," she said.

She propped her leg up on the desk, pulling up her pant leg; there were scratches and a few small puncture wounds. Brian winced at the sight.

"Sounds like he must really hate you," he said.

"Weird thing is that he's cool with my grandpa. He said that it's probably because the rooster doesn't know me very well."

"Well, once you get to know each other better over time, it'll get better," he said with optimism.

After a beat, he decided to ask her some questions.

"So what else do you like...other than marveling over Indiana Jones?"

"Well...aside from my love of jokes, pranks and comedies," Sheila said. "I like comic books like Captain America, Wonder Woman..."

Brian's face lit up as he heard what Sheila had told him. He looked at her with hopeful eyes to find out what else she liked.

"Really?" Brian said. "What else?"

"I like Star Trek and The Twilight Zone as well."

Brian nearly fell out of his chair with excitement. He couldn't believe a girl would be interested in things like this! If he wasn't madly in love with her yet, he was now. The fact that she shared a interest with him, especially a interest that he was so passionate about and that most other girls judged him for. No girl would show the slight interest in sci fi or fantasy. He had so many questions.

"Ever play Dungeons and Dragons?" he asked.

"I have thought about giving it a try," she said. "I just never got around to it. Can you teach me?"

Brian nodded. "Sure." After a beat, he said, "Did I mention I'm in the Sci Fi club? It's kind of an exclusive group, but I can put in a word with the manager."

Sheila smiled. It was nice to be invited to social activities since she didn't know anyone at Shermer. While she had not much interest in clubs, it was nice to be included at a new school. Perhaps she could develop more interests at Shermer.

"Sure," Sheila said. "I'd like that."

Brian was about to open his mouth to ask another question when a voice whispered in his ear, interrupted their conversation.

"So..." Bender teased. "Were you getting a little preview of your dessert, Brian?"

Bender made kissing noises. Brian made an embarrassed hiccup and turned red, looking away. Sheila scoffed, annoyed by Bender's intrusion.

"Can we help you?" Sheila said annoyed.

"Oh I'm so sorry you girls were having a moment," Bender quipped. "Were you two going to braid each other's hair?"

"Can you NOT be an eavesdropping pervert every five seconds?" the redhead responded with a scoff.

Sheila began to unpack her lunch. Bender chuckled as he saw the redhead's lunchbox.

"Is that seriously Indiana Jones on your lunchbox, Teacher's Pet?" he taunted.

"And so what?" Sheila shot back.

"That's more proof you're a bigger dweeb than Dork here."

"And? Maybe I LIKE Harrison Ford. Did it ever occur to you that I might have interests other than stirring shit up?"

Bender plopped himself lazily between Brian and Sheila, handing them Cokes. He grabbed Brian's lunch sack, looking it over.

"What are we having?" he asked.

"Just your standard, regular lunch, I guess..." Brian said humble with a shrug.

"Where's yours?" Sheila asked with a frown.

"Don't have one," Bender said.

"You didn't bring a lunch?" the redhead replied incredulous.

Bender ignored the question and inspected the contents of Brian's lunch bag. He plopped a giant orange and yellow thermos on the desk.

"Milk?" Bender asked.

"Soup," Brian responded.

He went to reach for his lunch, only to get slapped away by Bender's gloved hand. The nerd rubbed his hand with a frown. Sheila rolled her eyes. It was BRIAN'S lunch. What gave Bender the right to pry through it like he owned it?

"Apple juice," Brian said when Bender examined a juice box.

"I can read," Bender retorted.

He continued to examine the rest of Brian's lunch.

"PB and J with the crusts cut off. Well, Brian, this is a very nutritious lunch...all the food groups are represented. Did your mom marry Mr. Rogers?"

"Uh...no, Mr. Johnson."

Sheila leaned against her fist, looking at the geek.

"What's your life like at home, Brian?" Sheila asked.

"Are you kidding? It must be like a 1950s sitcom over at the Johnson residence," Bender answered.

"Not quite..." Brian said.

"Yea. OK." said Bender cynical.

"I'm serious. My life is no picnic."

"Here's what I imagine Life at Big Bri's House..."

Bender stood up and began to do a skit of what he imagined Brian's family as a 1950s sitcom. Even giving Brian dimples in his cheeks. Brian watched. He only wished his home life was like that. When Bender finished, Brian swallowed a lump in his throat and lowered his head, humiliated.

"And the winner for Asshole of the Year award goes to..." Sheila announced like she was on an awards show. Then pantomimed opening an envelope, then gasped in surprise as she read it, "John Bender for his performance of "Days of Our Family Life". YAY!"

She did an impression of a crowd cheering. Andrew and Claire sniggered as the Comedian ridiculed the criminal. Brian felt a little better, mildly grateful that someone stuck up for him. Bender just made a mock surprised expression.

"Oh! I am so touched!" Bender quipped, pretending to cry joyfully. "I am so honored to win this award." He pretended to accept a trophy. "I would like to thank everyone for being so inspirational!"

The criminal studied the comedian intensely. While he had gotten her to accidentally reveal that she was a slut, the one thing he couldn't get out of her was about her home life. He made careful notes on how she would react when the subject was brought up. He decided to push her buttons.

"So what's your home life like, Teacher's Pet?" he asked.

"Why? Are you going to do another skit?" Sheila retorted.

"Sure! I can do one of your family," he said, then commenced the skit. "Today's episode of Life of Sheila: The Child of Divorce."

Bender stood up and imitated her mother, "Darling! Time to go to your father's!"

Then imitated Sheila, flipping her hair, "Oh cool! I can't wait to spend the weekend with Daddy!"

Next he imitated her stepfather, "You have such a cool Daddy, Sheila. It's GREAT we are such pals, willing to share you and be your daddies!"

Then imitated her father in a deep jolly voice, "Hiya, princess! What would you like to do today? Get some ice cream? Go shopping?"

"Oh YES, Daddy! I would LOVE that!" Bender said in Sheila's voice, clapping.

Sheila let out a derisive laugh. "Wow! Sounds like a dream! I only WISH that were true!"

"Oh yea? Show me!" Bender challenged.

Feeling uncomfortable by the subject, Sheila decided to push back.

"What about your family?" Sheila deflected.

"Show me yours. I'll show you mine," Bender challenged, crossing his arms.

Sheila got up out of her seat. She pretended to be running in place. Then imitated her stepfather, the Army drill sergeant douche bag poser.

"MOVE THOSE LEGS, DONOVAN!" she shouted in his voice. "You're not gonna be a lazy bum like that deadbeat, Irish bug of a father of yours!! Next, you're gonna go upstairs and clean that PIGSTY you call a room! I wanna see hospital corners on your bed!"

Soon, she pantomimed her mother coming home from work. "I'm home!" she chimed in her mother's voice.

Then Sheila switched to fake Chris, "Oh! Hello, dear! Sheila and I had a very productive day. She did all her chores on time. Right, Sheils?" The. imitated Chris shooting her a dirty look as if to silently tell her to go along with it.

"Oh yes!" Sheila said as herself, plastering a fake smile. "We had a great day, Mom!"

"Oh Chris!" she said, switching to her mother, fawning over her beloved, god of a husband. "You are so sweet!"

Then pantomimed her mother hugging him, then switched to her stepdad, facing her...making the shh expression and then a throat slitting gesture while he hugged her mother.

The library was quiet as the detainees watched the Comedian show her home life. Even Bender was taken aback by this. Sheila crossed her arms, glaring at the criminal.

"You happy now?" Sheila said. "I showed you mine. Now show me yours."

"Oh that's real easy..." Bender answered.

Bender stood up and launched into a skit by doing an impression of his father laying into him.

"Stupid, worthless, no good, goddamn freeloadin' son of a bitch!" Bender said, pointing a finger. "Big mouth, know-it-all asshole jerk!"

Then switched to his mother. "You forgot lazy, ugly, and disrespectful..."

Then his father slapping his mother. "Shut up, bitch! Go fix me a turkey pot pie."

Then Bender shifted back and forth playing himself and his father.

"What about you, Dad?"

"Fuck you..."

"No, Dad. What about you!"

"Fuck you!"

"No, DAD! WHAT ABOUT YOU?!"

"FUCK YOU!"

Then he mimicked his father beating him. There was an uneasy quiet in the library as everyone realized how worse the delinquent's life was.

"Is that for real?" Brian asked.

"Wanna come over sometime?" Bender offered.

"That's bullshit!" said Andrew with a scoff. "It's all part of your image. I don't believe one word of it."

Sheila had listened to Bender's demonstration about his family. She had no doubt in her mind this was real. She dealt with this kind of abuse at her home with her stepfather. Maybe not as physical as Bender's, but his constant belittlement, his barking orders at her, his insistence of perfection like the Army way. She glared at Andrew.

"Andy, I think Bender's telling the truth," Sheila said.

"Well, I don't buy it," Andrew argued.

"Did you believe anything I said?" Sheila questioned with a frown.

"I don't believe a word of it unless there's proof," he said.

Sheila glared at Andrew. "So you wouldn't believe either of us?" she said getting angry. "Our word isn't good enough?"

"So you don't believe me, Sporto?" Bender added frowning.

"No." Andrew shot back.

"No?"

"Did I stutter?"

Bender looked like he was about to explode. He strode up to Andrew and pulled up his sleeve to reveal a circular-shaped burn on his arm. Claire glanced over at the scar, then lowered her head with pity. Brian stared wide eyed with horror. Sheila did too, clapping a hand to her mouth. Here she was, bitching about her stupid life at her house, having no fucking clue that Bender's life was far worse.

"Do you believe this?! Huh? It's about the size of a cigar...do I stutter?" Bender snarled, thrusting his arm into Andrew's face.

The jock glanced at it for a moment, then flinched and turned away as the criminal got in his face, feeling uncomfortable at the sight of it.

"See, this is what you get in my house when you spill paint in the garage," he seethed.

After a beat, he moved to the back of the room.

"Y'see, I don't think...that I need to sit with you FUCKIN' dildos any longer!" he spat, throwing his hands up in the air.

Bender headed towards a book-covered table in the back and threw the books onto the floor in a rage, then jumped onto the table and grabbed the railing on the stairs to the second floor. He pulled himself up and took a seat on the landing of the stairs, facing away from everyone.

"You shouldn't have said that," Claire scolded.

"And how did I know?" Andrew reasoned weakly, yet remorseful. "I mean, he lies about everything anyway."

"Y'know, Andy, I used to think Bender was an asshole," Sheila said disgusted. "But you just proved you're a bigger one."

Sheila got up and went up towards Bender with her lunch. After hearing about his home life and how he had no lunch, she felt sorry for him. Everyone watched the red haired comedian approached Bender.

She went up the steps. She could hear sniffling and heavy breathing coming from the criminal. She sat down on the step above the landing, seeing his dark eyes were wet. Bender glanced over to see the Teacher's Pet, sitting on the step above the landing next to him. Embarrassed that he had been crying (or at least, trying not to), he swiped away his tears quickly. He glared at Sheila.

"What do you want, Teacher's Pet?" he snarled, sniffling.

Sheila shrugged quietly.

"Just beat it, Teacher's Pet!" he said gruffly. "I want to be alone."

"Bullshit! Nobody does," Sheila argued.

"Well, I do. Fuck off, you ginger Amazon!"

"No!" Sheila answered, ignoring his lame insult.

"No?" Bender exclaimed in disbelief that the girl remained unmoved.

"Did I stutter?"

Bender frowned, annoyed by Sheila's unwillingness to leave. He decided to fire a few more insults in hopes it would make her go away.

"I said FUCK OFF, you fire bush twat!" he raised his voice.

"Make me!" she challenged, crossing her arms.

Bender scoffed with disbelief. This bitch was so annoying and he was too exhausted to fight her after throwing a rage filled paroxysm when Andrew dismissed him.

"Stubborn bitch!" he spat.

"So I've been told," Sheila retorted, still unaffected by his insults. "Are you hungry?"

Bender was cynical. He wasn't used to kindness. He was regarded by others as this juvenile delinquent with no feelings. Someone who disregarded the rules and disrespected authority.

Why would some lame Teacher's Pet offer him food? Usually he got food by trading, stealing it from the cafeteria or store, out of the trash or simple threats to the weaker kids. Nobody gave it to him willingly. Why would she give him her food? Did she want something? Did she feel sorry for him? Sensing these were all the reasons, he put up his tough guy act.

"I don't want your pity," he replied.

"Kindness isn't pity," Sheila said. "Try being a little more open to it sometime. Are you hungry or not?"

While Bender was used to going without food, his stomach growled painfully. He was in no position to refuse. He looked at the turkey sandwich and chips hungrily that was in the redhead's lunch. She carefully divided it up so they could share it equally. Sheila looked at Bender, offering her food out with an extended hand.

Bender stared at the redhead. The green eyes that shone with understanding. A seemingly permanent smirk on her lips. The freckled face that expressed kindness, despite her argumentative and stubborn nature. A girl who was equally hurt as he. While he could hide his scars under his clothes, she hid hers with a mask of comedy, sarcasm and deflection.

He had so many questions. Why, of all people, would the Teacher's Pet want to sit with him at lunch? Why did she believe his home life, but nobody else did? While he sure as hell didn't believe anything that Sheila had said about hers, she was the only one who believed his. She stood up to Andrew when he shot down his credibility. Swallowing his pride, he softened his stance and accepted the food.

"Yea. I could eat," he said softly.

He hungrily bit into the turkey sandwich. While it was delicious, he was disappointed to find it was plain.

"What? No mayo?" he said with a frown.

"Blame my grandfather," Sheila said with a shrug. "He doesn't believe in condiments."

"Condiments aren't like God. You don't really have a choice to believe in them or not."

A snigger came from the redhead. "No. He thinks they're a luxury."

The criminal shook his head, continuing to eat the sandwich. Then began to eat the chips, sipping the coke in between.

"How come you didn't bring any lunch?" Sheila asked, after sipping her Coke.

"Outta cash," Bender said, wiping a bit of crumbs off his lip. "Besides I'd rather spend it on other things."

"Such as?" Sheila asked, flicking a strand of hair out of her eye.

"Extracurricular activities," he answered with a smirk.

"You mean the Physics Club?" she said sarcastically.

Bender laughed. "No."

"So what are you talking about?"

"What else? Sex, drugs and rock n roll."

Sheila shook her head with a small laugh. "Figured."

"What are you into?"

"I like rock music. Joan Jett, to be specific."

The delinquent nodded with approval. "Nice. Maybe I'll sneak you into a show someday."

"Really?" Sheila said, feeling a flutter of excitement to see her idol.

"If you pay me."

Sheila half laughed and scoffed. The delinquent was unbelievable. She should've know he would say something like this.

Then he became serious. "So what really made you come over here?" he asked.

Sheila shrugged. "Your story...it really got to me. Is it really that bad at home?"

"It's not awesome," Bender answered with a frown.

"How can you live like that?" Sheila asked sad.

"Don't have much of a choice," Bender answered with a shrug.

"I'm sorry, Bender. That really sucks."

"Yea. Well...gotta play the cards you're dealt," he said dismissive. "So...is that how it really is at Fort Donovan?"

Sheila wasn't sure if she wanted to talk about her life. Given Bender was an asshole, she kinda could understand how he felt. She could ignore the ragged clothes and scent of body odor, motor oil, cigarettes and dope. She saw a scared little boy in those dark eyes who tried hide his fear and vulnerability with that tough guy image. He was like a dog that had been beaten in the street and was scared of the first act of kindness offered.

"My grandpa is strict," she said. "Other than that, my parents and stepdad are fucked up in their own way."

Bender leaned forward with interest. He noted she hated her stepdad with a passion. He sounded like a real asshole from what she described in her little skit.

"Is your stepdad really like that?" he asked.

"Yes, he is," Sheila said.

"What's his deal anyway? Dick seems to be kissing his ass."

"Like I said, he's a ten times worse version of Dick. That's all I wish to say."

"Sounds like Big StepDaddy is a long lost brother of Dick."

"Perhaps. Or a clone of himself."

Bender laughed. "Do you get along with your mom?"

"She couldn't care less about me," Sheila said bitterly. "She's has no interest in me. She prefers a hedonistic, carefree lifestyle—I'm just in the way. And she is so in love with Chris to see any problems with him. She acts like he's this fucking god."

"Why'd she marry Big Stepdaddy anyway?" Bender asked.

"I think it was for money," Sheila said. "Status."

"Ah. Mommy's a gold digger?"

"You could say that, but not exactly. Chris makes decent money, but not enough to live luxuriously. And she still goes to work. She's a housekeeping manager."

"And your old man?"

Sheila shrugged. That was a subject she didn't want to share with Bender. She didn't trust him enough. It was painful. She feared he would mock her and use it against her later.

"Haven't seen him when I was 10." she answered nonchalant.

Bender looked at the redhead; it was pretty obvious she was trying to conceal her feelings about her father. While they shared a similar hatred for their abusive male parents (his was physical, hers was emotional), she still wouldn't open up about this. He guessed he left.

"Ah! Went to the store for cigarettes and didn't come back, huh?," he said.

"Something like that," Sheila replied with a shrug.

After a beat, the criminal looked away for a moment and then back.

"Listen, thanks for the food. I appreciate it...I guess."

Sheila chuckled. "Don't mention it."

For all his bluster, Sheila could tell Bender was genuinely touched. The two of them sat together and finished eating their lunch.