The Brat Pack

Early Wednesday morning, April 4, 1984. Shermer High School, Shermer, Illinois.

"Shit!" Claire yells as she rummages through the last notebook in her bag, stomping her foot and groaning. Quickly she grabs her soy latte off the top shelf of her locker and shuts it, hurrying down the hall.

"Ella!" she cries when her best friend's locker comes into view. "Ella, quick, can I borrow your French notebook? I forgot mine at home and – oh. Hello, Patsy."

On the other side of Ella, Patsy G. smiles. The G is because there's a less popular girl in eleventh grade with the same first and last name, and clearly one of them had to change. To mix them up is social suicide. Claire empathizes.

Ella turns to Patsy. "Patsy, mind giving us a sec?"

Patsy reaches out and touches Ella's arm, a false look of concern crossing her face. "Of course. I'll be right down there." She smiles at Ella. "Chat with you later, Claire," Patsy snorts, sliding the strap of her purse up her arm as she walks off.

"Okaaay," Claire says slowly, pointing her thumb over her shoulder in the direction Patsy went. "What was that all about?"

Ella shakes her brown hair from her shoulder, fixing her shirt before she looks at Claire. "I had to go to Springfield last night," she begins, not answering the question. "Aunt Trisha fractured her ankle."

Claire gasps. Ella's aunt Trisha, like the rest of Ella's family, is a wealthy woman who loves to take the girls shopping. A true sweetheart.

"Oh my gosh, Ella! I'm so sorry, why didn't you call me? I totally would've came with."

"Well from what I understand, you've already been to Springfield once this week, haven't you Claire?" Ella pops the top off a stick of lip gloss, using the mirror hanging in her locker to delicately apply it.

"I don't-"

Ella forces the lid back on, almost rubbing her two lips into one as she stares Claire down. She gives a coy smile, crossing her arms. "You look confused, Claire."

And then Claire remembers. Bender. Springfield. Bowling. OH.

"Ella-"

Ella sticks a hand up, turning her head the other way. "Save it, Claire. It's fine. You want to lie and keep secrets and hang out with..." Ella throws her hands around, scrunching her nose as she tries hard to think of a good word for Bender, "well, him, that's fine."

Ella reaches over and snatches the soy latte from Claire's hand, replacing it with a notebook. "Take it, Claire, so at least I know I'm a good friend."

Ella starts walking away as Claire reaches out for her. "Ella, please!"

Ella stops, standing forward for a minute before turning back to Claire. She takes one step closer. "Your social suicide is your own, Claire. But you won't be taking me down with you." She smiles again. "I'm gonna need that back in Chem."

She turns around again and walks off, leaving Claire alone to wonder what the hell just happened.