the princess.

@clairestcndish

Not that he would admit it unless under direct pressure, but John Bender had learned to hate sleeping alone. After two years - more or less - of being with Claire, living with Claire, and spending most of his time with Claire, John was almost uncomfortable in the dorms. He had gone from living in what was, essentially, a palace to a place that reminded him of his brief dalliances with juvie. From sharing a fucking king-sized bed with a girl with the tightest ass this side of the Mississippi to having a twin bed in a room with some asshole from Decatur  - Oh, how the mighty have fallen. John thought as he stuffed a few clothes into his backpack. 

His asshole roommate - a douchebag named Tyler whose interests seemed to be only two things: skunk weed and girls - had gone off to another frat party. John firmly anticipated him coming in rip-roaring drunk at 4 in the morning, belligerent and loudly complaining about how he couldn’t get a girlfriend or even just a girl to bring home and fuck for a night. Tyler had given John bad vibes from move-in day. Claire had been there to help John get settled into his dorm room, all cute and excited… 

And in these hot little short shorts that John kept sliding his hands into the back pockets of. He could tell by the dumbstruck, glazed look on Tyler’s face exactly what Tyler thought about Claire. In fact, John felt certain that anything he said to Tyler right then would just go unheard because John could see every dirty thought Tyler had about his girlfriend playing across Tyler’s stupid face. Hell, if he didn’t have to live with the sick fuck for the next nine months, John would have pummeled the shit out of him. 

There was nothing good about dorm life for John, shitty roommate aside. The showers were gross and cold, the hall carpeting had assortments of mystery stains, and - due to his roommate’s affinity for it - his room always smelled like cheap, shitty weed. It gave John nausea and headaches. So, he’d begun keeping most of his shit at Claire’s apartment. He still couldn’t understand why she didn’t just let him move in. But, due in part to his current financial situation, he’d had to live in the dorms. That and Claire said it was something he should experience. Just this once… 

Damn her for just about hypnotizing him into it. Claire knew she could talk him into just about anything, more so if her pretty little hands were on his cock. But fuck he loved the shit out of her - and he loved fucking the shit out of her, too. That was what he was thinking about, as he was tossing his bag over his shoulder and beginning the walk through the brisk early fall night air to Claire’s apartment. He was grateful she didn’t live too far away, and grateful to have a key. 

Unlocking the front door, her lights were already out. John glanced at his watch, it was 10:30pm. She liked to turn in early. Fine by him. He flipped a light switch, on and off, calling out: “Claire?” He heard her affirming response and smiled, toeing off his boots near her door shoe rack before he headed back toward the bedroom. Dropping his backpack by the open bedroom door, he grinned at his beautiful girlfriend, who was sitting up in bed. “Hey, sexy. Mind if I sleep over?” Without waiting for her reply, he yanked his t-shirt up and over his head, letting it drop to the bedroom floor. 

Claire had known that life past high school would be very fast paced. This was that time in their lives where everyone wanted to be a someone by the age of twenty-five and well, to make that happen, you had to dedicate your time and basically everything else to whatever profession you wanted to be a part of. For Claire, that was public relations. More specifically for major fashion houses, which meant that she did a lot of work for basically nothing. Well, not entirely nothing because she got to raid the closets at work every so often, but it was still very much work.

And that work often kept her away from her boyfriend. Well, aside from the fact that they were no longer living together. Not due to anything negative, more so because they just were very busy and doing their own things. Tonight, she’d fully gone to sleep after texting him, expecting to spend the night alone. It wasn’t her favorite way to spend the night, especially after years of now sharing a bed with her boyfriend but it was a sign of the changing times. They were adults now. 

But she was pleasant surprised to hear the voice of her boyfriend, it appeared as if though he’d decided that they’d spent enough time apart. And even in her sleepy daze, she couldn’t agree more. “Hey,” She said, the smile on her face only growing bigger as she watched him make his way towards her. “As if you even had work.” Claire said with a playful scoff before noticing how he just pulled off his shirt and no matter how many times she’d enjoyed the sight of him shirtless, it never got old.

Her laughter is a beautiful sound. And something deep down inside of him that he’s not ready to admit to yet knows that it’s a sound he hopes to hear for the rest of his life. John follows her hand as it matches her corsage to her dress, and shrugs, still a bit fuckin’ clueless about the how and why flowers and dresses are supposed to match. “I mean, Allison helped us out by sending along a picture of you in your dress because I honestly barely remember going with you while you tried on dresses.” He admits. “Because all I could think about was how much I wanted to go in there and fuck you.” Of course, they’d fooled around a little. “Granted, I was grateful that you let me sneak in there and at least feel you up, but…” He lets his words trail off, knowing he’s already embarrassing her enough with his frank discussion of their sex life.  

John grins when she tells him he cleans up amazingly. “Thank you. It’s all for you, girl.” He leans in a little closer to press a kiss to her cheek. “’Cause you know I’d rather be back in my ripped jeans.” He can’t help but tease, reaching up a hand to touch her face when she pouts. “Aw, babe. I’m sure Andy or Bri has some photos of it. Especially with how I got pissed off when the tailor dude got too close to my junk, but… You know why I’d get pissed off about something like that…” He was, of course, alluding to how he had been sexually abused by his grandfather when he was young. It was something that had irrevocably changed him and it had been a hard discussion when John felt comfortable enough to reveal the abuse to Claire. It had been hard to see her cry and be surprised and anguished about his past, but he knew that Claire didn’t think of him as less of a man despite the abuse, as that was his fear: to be seen as less of a man because someone who was supposed to take care of him had mistreated him. 

Shifting his mind away from that unpleasantness, John focused in on Claire and making her happy. He pressed another soft kiss to the tender skin of her neck, nodding a little. “Yeah, baby. You know I love your perfect ass.” He mumbles before pulling back a little as the Warrant song begins to end. “I’m only ever mushy for you. God forbid anyone else think I’m freakin’ mushy.” He shakes his head, dark hair flopping into his eyes briefly before he brushes it away. “Alright, yeah. That’s cool. But whenever you’re ready…” He dips a hand into the inside pocket of his suit jacket, showing her the white keycard before tucking it away again. He narrowed his eyes when the music changed from the 80′s ballad to a song about “staying in Paris” that he didn’t recognize. “What the fuck? How in the hell is anyone supposed to dance to this song?” 

“Bender...” She chastises him playfully, although she sort of expected that from her boyfriend. He was very attentive, he was but not when it came to things such as clothing and the run of the mill drama at their high school. But that was fine with her as he more than made up for that with how attentive he was towards her and her needs. Claire nodded as he spoke about how much he’d wanted her, a grin on her face as he didn’t care to just say how much he wanted her. While it was crude at times, it was flattering in a way to know that her boyfriend loved her as much as he did. “Well, how could I not?” She asked him. While Claire was more shy when it came to discussing their sex life, she made up for it when things happened. Just because she was a lady in the streets did not mean that she wasn’t a “freak” in the sheets. Although she hated such a term, she preferred sexually confident.  

His kiss to the cheek brought a light blush to her face, she enjoyed those small displays of affection from the man she loved. “I know, but can I just enjoy the sight of you all dressed up for just a bit longer?” She asked him, as she really loved this look on Bender. There was nothing like a man in a well tailored suit to get a woman going. This was a fact. “Yeah.” She nodded, not wanting him to dwell on what’d happened in his past. To her, John had survived a number of horrible ordeals and now was his time to celebrate his life. Tonight, being just that. A night to celebrate that he was going into his senior year of high school, despite all the nay sayers who thought he’d turn out to be a drop out. No, he was proving them wrong. 

Orion wrestled the baby carrier out of the backseat of the chauffeured car that had ferried himself from his baby mama’s penthouse to this community center with a sigh. He glanced down at his six-month-old son, Rocket, who was gazing up at him with the same blue color of his own eyes, intensely curious. “I know, mate. But your mum says it’d be good for us.” He tells the infant, as Isobel has stressed the importance of the father-son duo bonding. 

Iz had been coming to the place for the best Pilates class in the city to burn off the baby weight and seen the flyer advertising a “daddy and me” group specifically meant for young fathers. At just barely 20, Orion certainly fit that bill. He wasn’t going anywhere fast, unfortunately, despite having many opportunities to do whatever he wanted for education and career. His mother was a brilliant American fashion designer who gave him and his siblings the freedom to do whatever they wanted while his father was back in Norway, working as a high-up television executive. And yet, he bides his time, not in college, but also not doing anything real with his life… Until he got a girl who was using him as a sidepiece pregnant. That’s right, Isobel Blake was never really Orion’s girl to begin with, nor probably would she ever be. But they were in each other’s lives for good now, thanks to the blond and blue eyed mini-Orion named Rocket. 

He shot a sheepish grin to a woman who held the community center door open for him. “Thank you, ma’am.” He thanked her before continuing to the front desk, asking the secretary where the group meeting could be found. She was a younger woman, pretty, but Orion knew better than to flirt when he was already running behind schedule. He followed her directions to the letter, down the hall, to the second left. Pressing his shoulder to the door, he already saw the other young dads and their various kids were already settled in a circle on the floor. “Oh, shi…” He stopped himself short of swearing, knowing Isobel would be pissed as hell if she knew. “Sorry, I’m late… Er, we’re late.” He slipped into a seat next to a guy already holding a child in his arms. “Hey.”

Brent looked down at his son, baby Yale. He would never refer to his son as a mistake, as he was everything but that. But was he unexpected... certainly. Why? Because he’d come from a lapse of judgement. A moment of fun between three consenting adults had ended with him being the father of the baby before him. Don’t worry, he’d been just as shocked as just about everyone involved that he’d ended up being the babies father. After all, he was the strictly dickly member of that devil’s threesome but yeah, he was now a father. A father stuck at some bullshit daddy and me class. It had been his mother’s idea.

Great. As if he hadn’t had enough on his plate, now he had to do this as well. He looked down at his little man, a small smile working at his lips. He was lucky he was so darn cute, he was the only reason he was endure this torture. Because that was exactly what this was. He was already knocked to his kid, they shared DNA. How much more close could they be? 

Brent’s attention snapped back at the opening door, at it.... a guy. A really cute guy. With a baby. Of course. He looked back at their new wave, hippie dippy instructor although he was tuning her out to pay attention to his son and his cuteness. Well before said cute guy sat down besides him. “Hey.” He told him right back, flashing him a small smile before focusing back on his son. 

There was something about this moment. Standing with Claire and going into their first prom together. John smiled back at her in response to her words, nodding his head in understanding. There’s no one I would have rather saved than you. Her words bounce around in his head and he feels almost… Light. Her words mean more than he could ever speak to and he knows she knows just how much it all means to him. He kissed her back gently before meeting her gaze when she pulls away. “I promise.” He says, just as softly. And he means it. “You’re my home.” He whispers, in return. 

He grins, a bit bashful. John couldn’t help that flowers made him sneeze. “Yeah. Andrew, Brian, and I went over there, after I’d popped a Benadryl to stave off the sneezing. I almost fell into some bush of flowers because it knocked me out, but it was worth it.” He tells her with a laugh, remembering the moment. He’d smelled like motor oil from a long day at work, but Andrew had given him the allergy medication to help him. It had helped so much that the next thing he knew, he was in Brian’s mom’s minivan again, waking up to staring up at the van’s stained ceiling. “I don’t really remember helping pick out the flowers, but, um, I’m glad the corsage came out well.” He admits with another laugh, this time more sheepish. 

The compliments she gives him in return make him grin. No one has ever made him smile as much as Claire does. “I mean, I do clean up pretty nicely. And the boys and I went to, like, a suit store. It’s all.. Tailored and shit. Big Bri surprised me with that detail… Well, he paid for it, I mean. I was gonna, but… He just wanted to make sure that even if it was the cheapest suit there, it still would fit me well.” He admitted, having not known about that detail until later on. He had assumed he’d have to pay for the alterations, but when he’d gone to haggle with the clerk about price, he found it was all paid for. He grinned even more as Claire guided one of his hands to her perfect ass. “Mmm, that’s nice.” He hums, playfully squeezing. “I know you like this mushy side of me, but I think you like the, ah, sex machine part of me even better.” He teasingly hums a few bars of the James Brown song before kissing her neck. “I hope you’ll save some energy for some sweet, sweet hotel room fucking.” He murmurs against the skin, unable to stop himself from grinning. He looks at her again, nodding in affirmation. “Hell yeah, I did. I thought you might like it. We can go up any time you want, get naked, and order a pizza. I hear they’ve got really nice jacuzzi tubs in the rooms here…” 

It meant the world to her to hear him say that to her. That she was his home, that he thought that highly of her. It only confirmed to her what she already knew. She loved John Bender. She loved him so much, she should probably be scared at just how much she loved him. How much she needed him but he loved her just as much. They managed to make homes out of each other, they were happy with each other. 

“Bender!” She said, with a small laugh. The hijinks he found himself involved, they would ever not be outrageous. At this point, she just accepted that Bender would bring plenty of laughs, headaches and headaches but she loved him all the same. “Well, whoever picked them out for you did a great job.” She held the assortment of flowers against the fabric of her dress, the attention of detail was stunning. That led her to believe that this was entirely put together by Brian, Andrew didn’t possess the taste level needed to put something like this together. 

John chuckles, a firm hand finding her waist. “Yeaaaah, yeah, I’m the worst, but you love me.” He smiles, happy that he’s made her so happy. He holds her close for a long moment, pressing a sweet kiss to the top of her head. Her soft hair smells like her favorite perfume and hairspray. He rests his cheek briefly against her hair, closing his eyes and soaking the moment in while it’s still just the two of them. “Yeah, but… I don’t know if I’ll ever feel like I’ve thanked you enough.” He says quietly, eyes opening as he pulls back to look at her. “You…” He huffs, finding it temporarily hard to find the words, pressing his lips together before his gaze softens briefly. “You saved me.” It’s something he’s surely said before, but it bears repeating. “And I don’t think I could ever repay your kindness… And your… Your patience and love.” He had never truly felt comfortable at the Bender home, it was just a fact. His father liked to get drunk and scream at him and beat the shit out of him and his stepmother thought him an aberration of nature. He’d been molested, had his ass kicked, and been simply ignored many times in his life. There was none of that in the Standish household. Sure, Claire’s mother traveled a lot for work, but when Mrs. Standish was home, it was an environment that was novel to John. 

Novel, in that there was nothing but love and compassion and care. It was the closest thing John had experienced to what a family should be. 

He grins, admiring his handiwork in her corsage. “I had some help.” He admitted. “Allison told me the color of your dress and Brian helped me figure out what flowers would look good. So, not all my idea. I’m fuckin’ clueless about flowers, which is why I rarely ever get you any.” He chuckles a little, but it’s true. Flowers are an anomaly to him. A heavy scented plant that makes him sneeze more than he figures it’s worth the twenty bucks he could spend on other shit. Like condoms. Which reminds him that he needs to mention the hotel room he’s got for them. But he’s distracted by posing for the photo with her, watching her fix her hair even though there isn’t a single strand out of place. He knows when he wraps his arms around her that he wants this for-fucking-ever. A word he used to avoid like the plague, but… Claire’s changed him in a way that he didn’t think would be possible. And it’s all for the better. 

As soon as the flashbulb popped, leaving spots in John’s vision, he rubbed his eyes before taking her hand and pulling her close to him as they headed for the dance floor. Standing in the light of the disco ball, his gaze refocused in on her and without saying a single word, he cups her face in his hands and plants a tender kiss on her lips, ignoring everyone else in the room. When he pulls back, he tells her, simply: “You’re so goddamn beautiful. I’m so in love with you.” There, between them, is his heart. “Maybe it’s all this prom shit already making me all warm and fuzzy or whatever, but… You’re my fucking everything. And I want you to know…” He pauses, slipping her arms onto his shoulders as his hands lecherously come to rest on her hips. “I want you to know that I have another surprise in store for you.” He leans in close, nuzzling his nose against her hair as he whispers: “I got us a room.” 

“I do” She told him, in a moment of seriousness considering the nature of their conversation before she’d said that. But she needed him to know that, She did  love him. She loved him so much, that she couldn’t imagine her life without him. Moments like this, they only cemented that belief. “Baby.” Claire shook her head as she didn’t want him to think that. Bender had thanked her enough for her hospitality, there wasn’t anything more she could ask for him to do. Claire cupped his face as he spoke, her thumbs running against his cheeks as he got the words out. “Well, there’s no one I would have rather saved than you.” Claire said, a small smile on her face. Bender deserved so much more than what he’d been given in life. He deserved happiness and love. He deserved what her mother and herself tried to give him. Claire pulled him in, their lips meeting again. If only he knew that him being there for her and loving her, that was enough for her. “Just stay with me. That’s enough.” She whispered as she pulled away slightly, their eyes meeting. “That’s all I want.”

“You don’t say.” Claire teased him, as she knew this hadn’t been all Bender. Bender sneezed in the presence of flowers, so him going to a shop full of them seemed like a task for him. But she was flattered to hear who had helped him get the gorgeous arrangement of flowers that sat on her wrist. Allison and Brian. “Well, remind me to thank them later.” Claire told him, already working up some way to show them her gratitude. Maybe a post Prom after party brunch on her? That seemed appropriate. 

When John saw her reaction, he knew it was all worth it. Those perfect lips, trying to hide a smile, the flush blossoming on her cheeks. He immediately wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her in close to him, kissing her back eagerly. “There’s no problem with the dance,” He said softly so only she could hear, a rare smile settled on his own lips. “It was a ruse to surprise you. But I think you know that by now. I know, I’m the worst, but… I had to do this. For you.” He hugged her for a moment before pulling back to look at her. “You’ve done so much for me since we got together, and I can’t thank you enough for it. But I’d like to hope that this, going to prom together, is at least a start.” 

He kept his words soft, not wanting anyone to overhear their personal business. But he meant every word he said. And gazing back at her, he knew that Claire was well aware of the gravity his words had. “I’m glad you liked the corsage I sent over earlier.” He said, moving to offer her his arm so they could walk in together. “I had to call in a few favors to make sure that got to you in time.” John joked with a grin before his dark eyes drifted to the photographer currently photographing Andrew and Allison in the classic prom clinch. 

“Do you… Wanna go get our photo taken?” John never felt like he ever looked too good in photos, as generally he just wasn’t too familiar with it on the whole. His father wasn’t much for documenting anything and his stepmother was only insistent on wedding photos despite his father’s disdain. But since being with Claire, he’d been brought into a social media driven world of selfies and Snapchat. He reluctantly would be in photos if Claire asked, but Snapchat still was a bit mystifying. He nonetheless preferred using that app to send Claire photos of his abs… Or of his dick. 

But, game for whatever the night would bring, he cuddled up to Claire for a photo. Wrapping his arms around her waist with his girlfriend with her back to his chest, John didn’t even need to look at the camera, instead gazing at Claire, who was smiling happily. Pressing a kiss to her cheek when they were done, he smiled at her. “You’re the most beautiful girl here, Claire.” He told her, certain that it was true. They had just paused at the table that was to be theirs when the song changed from a pop song he didn’t recognize to a slow song he did, in fact, know: A song by Warrant. Turning to Claire, he offered her a hand. “May I have this dance?” 

“You don’t say.” Claire said after him, with a playful roll of her eyes. “You are the worst.” She nodded in agreement. “And I’m really grateful that you did.” She told him, this was the best surprise he could have given her. Claire laid her head against his chest as he hugged her, he was there in her arms at their senior prom. This night could get better. “You’ve thanked me enough in your own way.” She shrugged, as she didn’t want Bender to think he hadn’t done his part. He did plenty not just for her but for the Standish women. He was a welcomed member of their home, of their family. This wasn’t just some relationship to Claire, no. She’d met someone who she loved in Jason. She met someone who she wanted a future with. 

“How could I not? You put together a corsage. You, John Bender. This will surely be a Shermer artifact by the end of the night.” Claire teased him, as she grabbed a hold of his arm. She looked up at him, smiling brightly as they walked back into the venue. Finally, Prom felt perfect. “Yes.” She nodded, she would have loved nothing more than to get those stupid pictures with Bender, Not just to remind people that she’d been the girl that drove John Bender to come to Prom. But because he deserved these pictures just as much as she did. This was a guy that’d endured so much during his four years at this school and look at him now, he was graduating along with her. He was going to a good university with her by his side and he was loved. He was loved.

@clairestcndish

John knew he was playing with fire.

Considering how much he’d made a big deal about how much he loathed the very idea of prom – showing up to the fancy Drake hotel in Chicago, dressed in the cheapest suit that Men’s Wearhouse had to offer, fiddling with his cuff-links (which he still wasn’t sure served any real purpose but that of decoration) – it would really fuck things up for Claire to be royally pissed when he did actually turn up to prom.

(further reading here)

Once it was time to go, John Bender looked at himself in the mirror and was proud of what he saw. He knew he looked good, albeit being pleasantly surprised at how well he could clean up for a guy who’d been spending a lot of time up to his elbows in grease. Slipping his phone, keys, and wallet into his pockets, he was ready to go. The drive to Chicago was quick, but that was mainly because John was so nervous that he sped, even catching up to a limo bound for the same location. He parked his truck and waited for the limo to disembark before getting out of his truck and meeting up with his friends. Allison looked beautiful in her red dress that fit her form perfectly, her hair swept up and away from her face that bore an uncharacteristic smile as she gazed up at Andrew, shifting his weight from foot to foot in his black suit. Brian had opted for a slate grey suit with an tie decorated with small disco balls and dancing silhouettes and his signature beat-up white high-top Converse sneakers. Brian saw him first and lit up, “Thank God you made it. We were worried you weren’t gonna show.”

John ran a hand over his slicked back hair. “Well, here I am.”

“You clean up nice, Bender.” Allison stated, smirking as she looked him over.

“Thanks, Allie-cat.” He retorted, earning him an eyeroll from her as Brian opened his suit jacket, rummaging around before he pulled out a white envelope, removing the singular ticket from the envelope before handing it to John, who accepted it. “Thanks for hanging onto that for me, dude.”

“Of course,” Brian responded, inclining his head forward. “Knowing you, you would have lost it by now if I didn’t hold onto it.”

John chuckled, patting Brian on the shoulder. “Sorry that the date fell through, but you look sharp.”

“Yeah, there’s probably a bevy of single girls in there, so, who knows, you just might get lucky.” Allison quipped, causing Brian’s face to flush.

“I-I don’t know about that, Allison.” He managed to stutter out as Andrew chuckled, wrapping an arm across his shoulders.

“Just don’t bring up Star Trek or quantum algebra.” Andrew advised, causing Brian to shake his head.

“I think you mean quantum physics, because quantum algebra is something else entirely.” Brian corrected, only for Andrew to briefly noogie him, messing up the other boy’s hair.

“Alright, boys, can we go in now? I’m fuckin’ freezing out here.” Allison said, breaking the moment and rubbing her hands over her arms. Breaking away from Brian, Andrew didn’t hesitate to remove his blazer, wrapping it around Allison’s shoulders, causing her to beam at him as the foursome walked into the foyer where they were collecting tickets.

“Are you guys sure that Claire is already here?” John asked as the older woman stamped his hand and took down his name from the student ID he produced.

Allison nodded. “I told her to save us a table. That we’d hit traffic.” Stuffing her hand into the pockets of Andrew’s blazer, she pulled out his phone and showed him the text: Here! Can’t wait to see you! xoxo “See?”

John nodded, stuffing his hands into his pockets, nervous. “You guys go in first. Just tell her that there’s, like, I dunno, a problem with something. That some prom committee person wants to talk to her out here. Please?” There must have been an edge to his voice that made Allison and the other two nod their heads vigorously. “Yeah, yeah, sure. I got you.” Allison responded, putting a hand gently on his forearm. “I’ll send her out. She’ll be so happy to see you.”

“You really think so?” John asked, his voice soft so no one would think twice about overhearing John Bender being vulnerable.

Allison smiled, nodding. “Yeah. I know so.” She gave him a wink and, taking an arm of both her dates, the trio disappeared into the darkened grand ballroom entrance. And then, John was all alone, waiting for her. And suddenly, there she was. And goddamn she was still so beautiful. “Surprise.” John breathed, spreading his arms wide. 

Claire was obviously excited, she was at her senior prom. 

She’d thought of this moment for quite some time, in fact she’d had a scrapbook of what she wanted her prom night to look like. She would be wearing a stunning dress, which she had definitely checked off. It wasn’t as over the top as she’d imagined her gown being when she was nine but it complimented her beautifully. She would arrive in a horse and carriage, which she’d actually done because while her dress might not have been dramatic... Claire Standish still had to make a statement. That she’d definitely done but the one thing she didn’t have that evening?

Her Prince Charming.  In her scrapbook, she was always accompanied by a handsome man.

Tonight, she was walking into prom solo. Which wasn’t the worst thing in the world. She knew that there were bigger problems in the world than who she arrived to prom with, but a part of her really wished that she would have had that someone. Her someone being John Bender. 

But as with most things, their opinion on prom differed wildly. She thought of it as a magically night that celebrated the fact they were soon going to be going their separate ways and Bender thought of it as a giant wank fest. So that was why she was alone on one of the bigger nights of her life. But she had no time to dwell on that, because he was the one missing out on a night of fun- that she’d helped put together. Not just that, but she wouldn’t be entirely alone. She would have Allison, Andrew and Brian to keep her company... who were oddly nowhere to be found yet. 

Their limo couldn’t have been that plagued with problems. There’s no way. Just as she was about to call them once again, she caught sight of her favorite trio. She scolded them lightly, explaining the difference between fashionably late and just plain late before they interrupted her to let her know that the prom committee needed her help with something outside. 

Even on her night, she had to work. She stepped out to find not a problem, but a John Bender. A very handsome John Bender in a very well put tailored tuxedo. Claire shook her head, her lips trying their hardest not to break out into a big grin as she made her way towards him. Her hands cupped his face, pulling him in for a quick kiss. 

John grinned down at his girlfriend, running a hand through his dark hair that had fallen into his face before he repeated himself: “You’re so hot.” He leaned down into the kiss she offered, his fingers toying with the soft ends of her hair briefly. When they broke apart, he said softly, “You know, I always thought you were beautiful. I can’t believe you’re mine.” He punctuated the statement by pressing a soft kiss to her tender lips. 

He observed how her breath hitched when he touched her, and chuckled darkly. “Like that?” He inquired, his fingers rubbing her firmly, but not too hard. He could feel that she was getting wet and, knowing that they were going to finally have sex, John could feel his dick ache in his boxers, more than ready for action. But he wanted to get her off first. To prepare her, of course, and to also taste her again. Sure, they’d fooled around the night before, but there was something just so significant about him going down on her. Maybe it was because he knew she had never experienced that before him, but maybe it was also just that John really enjoyed the look on her face when she came. 

Pure bliss.

Slipping her thong off, he tossed it off his shoulder casually, not caring where in their room it landed. When her hand found his hair and dragged him downward, John laughed. “Mmm, someone’s excited.” He murmured, reaching up with a hand to steady her on her abdomen as he brushed his nose against her inner thigh playfully. “Good things come to those who wait, right?” He teased, dark eyes glimmering as his fingers gently probed her entrance, groaning with pleasure when his fingers came away wet. With another final glance up at his girl, John finally pressed his tongue to her wet slit, tracing it slowly. 

“That’s what I thought you said but I just wanted to make sure that I caught that for myself.” Claire playfully batted her eyelashes, smiling into his kiss. “Always?” She asked him, one of her eyebrows raising. “And here I thought you just thought that I was some kind if pompous rich bitch. Or was beautiful also included in that descriptor?” She asked, smiling brightly as he spoke. He wasn’t the only one in shock of what they’d become. But she couldn’t have aksed for anything else than what it was what she had. 

“Yeah, something like that.” She said, actually more like she moaned out as Bender was doing what it was that he did so well. Get her to that place in record time. Not that she could really compare him to anyone else, but she felt bad for anyone else who tried to do what it was that he did for her because they would be competing against the best. “Oh my god.” She let out as he continued to rub his fingers against her clit, record time.

John chuckled darkly when Claire playfully nipped at his fingertips. “God, you’re so hot.” He stated with a shake of his head. He listened to her response to his idea, and knew immediately that she wasn’t so keen on the idea of him coming in her mouth. She was a spitter, and that was okay. All that mattered to him was that she was sucking his dick in the first place. Sometimes, previous to his relationship with Claire, girls were completely not even willing to try to go down on him. The size had left some of them very daunted. John reckoned that Claire liked the challenge. 

He rolled his eyes when she teased him, one of his hands dropping down to rub her through her panties. “Tell you something you don’t know?” He echoed, a playful grin growing on his lips. “How about… that you have the sweetest pussy I’ve ever tasted?” It was true. He liked eating pussy, but Claire’s tasted better than anyone else’s ever did. Maybe it had something to do with being so in love, but either way… He sighed when she touched his abs - the abs he worked hard for, often in the gym with Andrew or sometimes with Brian - and bit his lower lip when her fingers skated close to his hard-on. 

Smiling, he eagerly kissed her back. “I love you so much.” John admits, before he presses his lips to her neck, his fingers continuing to play with her through her panties. “Can’t wait to taste you.” He mumbled before dripping his kisses down her body until he was kissing her hip and pulling down her panties. 

“What was that?” She asked her boyfriend, as she enjoyed hearing him complimenting her, It was a nice reminder of how far they’d come from those two people who really couldn’t stand to be next to each other. Look at them now, they were as close as two people could be. Claire brought her lips back onto his, her way of saying I love you. Because she did love him and she loved who they were today.

“Uh huh.” She nodded, her breath hitching up as his hand rubbed at her core. "Well, I take pleasure in hearing that. that’s what comes with having a great diet.” Claire said, her words staggering and small moans leaving her lips in between words as he continued to rub at her, her hips moving to catch the rhythm of his hands as she’d wanted this so badly at this point. 

John’s dark eyes flash with lust when she mentions sucking his cock. “Goddamnit,” he growls, low in his throat, gazing at how she kisses his fingertip. Now, all he can think of is her mouth around his cock and how fucking good that feels. He’s almost painfully hard, but he has a plan that he doesn’t wish to be deterred from. “Maybe,” he proposes, his voice light and playful. “I’ll come in that pretty little mouth of yours then, if that’s what my girl wants… Just pull out and let you suck me off once you get yours, princess.” 

Dirty talk is nearly an art form to John, and he likes how it makes Claire blush or squirm. Like how the other day, at lunch, when he whispered in her ear about how he’d rather be eating her pussy right then, considering it tasted infinitely better than anything the Shermer High cafeteria had to offer. She gave him a punch to the shoulder that still felt a little sore, but it was worth it to see her cheeks turn bright pink. He glanced up when she nudged her head with his, giving her a small, rare soft Bender smile. 

Her quiet moan urged him on, and he grinned when she laid back, red hair splaying across the bedspread. He took in this moment: how the flush was spreading over her soft pale skin, the rosy-tipped nipples on perfect breasts, and those damn panties - he recognized them as a pair he’d bought her for Christmas. “You’re so gorgeous. So fucking gorgeous.” John stated, his voice husky with desire. He reached down, undoing and slipping off his jeans, leaving himself in just his boxers - with his erection standing proud underneath, pointing like a compass to true north. 

John was quiet, marveling at her beauty, tracing his hand over her body, starting with her collarbone, between her breasts, circling around her belly button before his fingers grasped the side of her underwear, slipping them down a little to take a glimpse of her, causing him to grin and move in closer, propping himself up on an elbow above her. He wrapped one of her legs around his hips before he leaned in for another kiss, mumbling against her mouth: “I love you.”

Claire bit on one of the tips of his fingers playfully at the expletive that  left his lips. Hear him say that was like music to her ears. weirdly enough, she ‘d be the first to say it. But she enjoyed how Bender didn’t keep his emotions to himself. He was unlike so many around them. He wore his emotions on his sleeves. If he was mad, he let you know he was mad. If he was sad, he was a bit more protective of that one but he would still let you know in his own unique way and if he was horny, he also let you know. “Maybe...” She repeated after him, narrowing her eyes wondering where he was going with this one. “We... can consider that if and when the time comes.” She said, putting a little stop to the cum talk as he knew that she wasn't yet a fan of it. A spitter she definitely was. Although, she had started to put him on a strict diet of fruit in the morning and according to all her friends, that made it more appealing. 

But her inner thoughts on the taste of scum came to an end the moment she saw that smile. That smile that would make her do whatever it was that he wanted her to do. That smile was all John. The man that held her heart close, the man that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. 

“Tell me something I don’t know.” She teased him as he commented on her beauty in that moment if only to make him smile some more. She didn’t want to sound conceited but she knew she was beautiful. She’d heard it her entire life bit in this moment, with John... she felt her most beautiful. Because she wasn’t some piece of meat to him, she was his end all, be all. Her hands reached forward, running down the ridges of his midsection. A small laugh leaving her lips as he pulled off his pants, leaving him in just his boxers which showed how badly a certain part of him wanted to get out of them. 

John chuckles when she rolls her eyes. “I know you know I’m not kidding.” He teases, brushing his fingertips along her chin, jaw, and lips. “You and that pretty mouth of yours know your way around it, if I do say so myself.” The very thought of her lips on his cock makes him even harder. She’s given him head a few more times since the first time she did it, and each time, it still feels as mind-blowing as it did the first time. The glimmer in her eyes is promising to him, it gives him hope that she’ll enjoy herself enough to want to do it again, and again, and again… 

His lips curl up into a smirk before he states, “More like two weeks if I get my way.” It’s been months since he’s had actual sex - what he considers the ‘good old fashioned penis in vagina’ stuff - not that he’s complaining. Being in a relationship with Claire has been the best thing to ever happen to him. But god, he’s missed sex. Jerking off just… Wasn’t the same.

Nodding his head slowly, John’s head tips back slightly when she tugs on him. “Mmm,” he moans, gazing at her as she takes off her top and her skirt. There’s something about how she looks when she’s almost naked. There’s always something still so… innocent about her, even when she is looking at him with so much desire in her beautiful blue eyes. His dick is already basically out of his jeans, but he slips himself back into his boxers so he can focus on her first. John eagerly kisses her back, an arm slipping around her back to easily undo her bra, hearing the quiet click under the music somehow still playing. He helps her slide the bra off her shoulders, pressing a tender kiss to her shoulder as a hand moves to cup one of her freed breasts, brushing his thumb over a pert nipple. “Lay back.” He urges, his voice soft when he presses another sweet kiss to her lips. 

“I do, don’t I? You know, it’s been awhile since my mouth has gotten acquainted with your cock, hasn’t it?” She asked him as she kissed his finger tip, smiling bright as her eyes looked back up at his.Bender allowed for a side of Claire to come out, a side she’d never explored much. Given she was the prim and perfect princess of Shermer, but with him... she was allowed to be a bit devious. A bit of a troublemaker and if she was being honest, she really enjoyed this side of her.Not that anyone else would be seeing it, no. But she wouldn’t mind doing this more often. 

Claire smiled, enjoying the sight of him enjoying what she did to him. There was a satisfaction in knowing that she could do that to him. But even with her confidence with this situation, those nerves were ever present. More with each piece of clothing that came off. She kissed him deeply, her nerves being drowned out some but she heard the click of her bra coming undone and she knew that it was just one step closer to this bg moment. She lightly nudged his head with hers as he pressed a kiss on her shoulder, a small moan leaving her lips as she felt his thumb against her nipple.

John smirked when she repeated after him. Exhaling through his nose, he dropped his shoulders, relaxing into the moment. Because there was this beautiful girl underneath him and she, for some godforsaken reason, loved him and wanted him. So, of course, he was going to make this day even more special for her… Hell, for both of them. 

He chuckled darkly, rolling his eyes. “It honestly was. I was, ah, preoccupied There’s always a lot of options and I don’t remember them having a 12 count box that would fit.” His smirk deepened. “You know,” he continues, his tone light and mock-casual, “my big cock won’t fit in just any condom. Gotta be specific.” John is surprised at how she takes the initiative to touch him, slipping down to the front of his pants. 

Kissing her back, his eyes closed, letting himself get wrapped up in the moment. John moaned into her mouth when she slipped her hand into his boxers. “Oh my god.” He rears back, pulling his shirt up and over his head, tossing it away. He reaches for the hem of her shirt, lifting it up and trying to get if off her. “Fuck, just… Take it off. Your shirt and your skirt. Please.” He asks of her, a desperation entering his voice. “I just wanna see you.”

“Oh right, of course.” Claire playfully rolled her eyes, although she knew he wasn’t joking. She’d come face first with what Bender was hiding in his pants and it was just as big as he was making it out to be. And she’d heard rumors, of course but she hadn’t been nearly as ready to see it. And a part of her was a bit nervous, what if he didn’t fit inside of her? Or what it if hurt? But she wanted to do this and she was going to do this. She was ready. “Well, I’m happy to know we won’t have to worry about getting you any condoms for what? The next three weeks?” She said with a devious glimmer in her eyes.

John was quiet for a few moments, taking what his girlfriend had to say in. The air was still, but he heard the mix CD start playing again. “Caught Up In You” by 38 Special, he noted, before looking down at this beautiful, gorgeous woman underneath him. His hand moved to support the back of her neck as she spoke. He nodded, showing that he was listening and engaged in the conversation. When she pressed that tender kiss to his cheek, he felt a tingle run up and down his spine. 

It was no secret that John Bender had been around the block a few times… Well, more than a few… Suffice it to say, he’d had his fair share of sexual partners. But, all things considered, John had never truly had any real feelings for any of those women. Sure, some had been ‘girlfriends,’ women he saw regularly; but most were just hook-ups, no-strings-attached sex where the other party often caught feelings. Before Claire, that was just how John rolled. No feelings, he figured, meant that he had nothing to lose. But the way he felt with Claire was different. He loved her, that much was clear. Which itself meant for a whole other set of vulnerabilities and other trappings. 

And thinking about all of that scared the ever-living shit out of him, and although his instinct told him to just run, he stayed. He wanted to stay, that much he was sure of. Something, much further down in his heart, wanted him to stay. To stay and to be with this young woman who saw more in him than anyone else ever had before. “Yeah,” he finally managed to utter, his voice coming across as almost hoarse. “Yeah, okay.” His fingers brushed across her lips, her jaw, the line of her throat, and grazed the tops of her breasts swelled from the lower neckline of her shirt. 

He gazed at her again, following her gaze to the condoms, smiling sheepishly and letting out a soft chuckle. “Oh, uhm, I just… Grabbed the 24 box on accident.” He brought his gaze back to hers, lips curving up into the typical Bender smirk before he added, “I think they’ll get us through about a week.”

“Yeah.” She repeated after him, that yeah meaning more to her than she could put into words. That yeah let her know that she’d managed to calm whatever nerves or fears he had towards this situation. She didn’t know why Bender didn’t consider himself worthy of being her one and only but she was going to do her part whenever she could to remind him that he was exactly who was worthy. “Okay.” Her lips formed into a smile as his fingers ran across her lips, before exploring various parts of her body. 

“That was on accident?” She asked him, not at all believing that. The smirk on his face only made her want to kiss him that much more. She truly loved the man hovering above her, she loved him like she’d loved no one else before and probably would never love someone again as she couldn’t see herself with anyone but John Calvin Bender. Her hands found themselves making their way down his body much like he’d just done before they found the button at the front of his pants. 

John chuckled at her telling him to shut up. “Why don’t you just make me?” He quipped, reaching up to brush his fingers over her blushing cheeks. He grins even further as she continues, “Mmm, I am going to take you up on that and then some.” He states, playfully nipping at the soft skin of her neck. “You are delicious. Especially your pussy. That part of you just… Tastes so damn good.” He hums pleasantly at the memory. “My god, now I just wanna eat you out.” 

“I’m glad you didn’t forget.” He responds, squeezing her butt again as he smiles. “And I agree, it’s nice.” When her tongue flicked against his lips, he growls playfully low in his throat. “Mmmm, you and me both. I don’t know why you’re worryin’ about calories right now when there’s a good possibility that we can burn those calories off.”

Always was a hard word for him to have gotten out, but it was the truth. He couldn’t picture a life without her and he didn’t want to have to. She was his, and he hers.

Goddammit his heart was about to beat right out of his chest and it didn’t help that now she was offering to have sex with him. He blinked, his own face flushing a little. Despite having prepared for this, hoped for this, he didn’t expect her to be the one to offer out right. “A-Are you sure? You… You want to…” He pauses, licking his lips before he continues. “You’re ready? You want me to… To take your virginity?” He casts a glance toward the condoms, just out of reach. “I mean, I bought condoms… And some lube, but, ah, I wasn’t sure… I didn’t want to, ummm, pressure you at all… But I was hoping we could.” He reaches down and runs a hand through her red hair. “But only if you’re sure. And I’ll make sure that it won’t hurt. I’ll take good care of you. Promise.”

Claire definitely enjoyed those moments when she managed to do to Bender, what Bender always did to her. Which was make her nervous. Her super suave, too cool for school boyfriend was nervous and that made her the happiest. That let her know that she could do what he did and doing it to the most badass person in their town, that was jst an added perk. “Yes.” She told him, because she had no doubt when it came to this decision. “Definitely.” She let him know as he continued to speak. She didn’t know why it was such a shock for him, given how close they were. Who else would she want to do this with? No one. 

And had you told her that months ago? She would have looked at someone with utter disgust but that’s how life worked. You find love in the strangest of places and her love was John Calvin Bender. “You’re not pressuring me, Bender. I want to do this with you. I want you to take my virginity.” She told him, hoping to calm those nerves in him like he’d done for her plenty of times before. It was her moment to do for him what he always did for her. “Okay?” She asked him as she leaned up to press a kiss on his cheek, before she ran her fingers through his jet black locks like he was doing to hers.