The Brat Pack

Early Tuesday morning, April 10, 1984. Shermer to Quincy, Illinois.

The morning finds Claire and the others at an empty gas station at the edge of town. Claire sits in the driver's seat, applying a fresh coat of lip gloss in the rear-view mirror. Behind her sits Ally, picking lint off of her long black skirt. Next to her is Brian, wiping his sweaty palms on his pants, murmuring about being caught ditching school. Bender stands on the curb a few feet away, pacing slowly as he smokes a cigarette. Inside the little store is Andy, buying snacks and convincing the man behind the counter that yes, he is in fact in college and is here visiting his sick mother.

Claire pops her lips and honks the horn when Andy comes back out, signaling for Bender. He stubs his cigarette out on the ground, blowing out the last bit of smoke and shoving his hands in his pockets, walking over.

Andy climbs into the backseat, momentarily squishing Brian up against Ally. Brian grins at her nervously and she smiles. Bender puts the passenger seat back and climbs in, slamming the door as Claire starts the car. He turns around and stares at Andy.

"What'd ya buy?"

Andy peers into the plastic bag as Claire starts down the road, officially leaving town. "Got everyone a bottle of water, some small bags of chips, and candy bars."

Andy pulls the candy from the bag, passing one down to Ally and one to Brian, then hands one up to Bender, who snatches it up greedily. Andy stares at Bender a moment as he hurriedly peels the wrapper off, biting the chocolate in half.

"Uh. Want yours, Claire?"

"Not yet. Gross, Bender," she says as Bender chomps loudly.

"Some of us don't get to eat in the morning," Bender says, jabbing the other half of his candy bar in her direction.

Brian nervously plays with the candy in his lap. "So now will you tell us where we're going?"

Loud music suddenly fills the car, Bender thrashing forward and back quickly with the heavy metal. Andy grins as Brian cringes.

"Bender!" Claire shouts, reaching over and shutting the music off. Bender stares at her. "Do you mind? I'm trying to drive here!"

"What's a drive without any music?"

"Where are we going?" Brian asks again, this time a little louder.

Claire glances at him in the rear-view mirror, smiling. "Quincy."

"Quincy? That's two hours away!" Brian shouts with a panic.

"If the dweeb has a heart attack on this venture, we don't have to bring the body back, right?"

"I'm sure Quincy has many ditches," Andy agrees, grinning.

"What's in Quincy?" Ally asks, speaking for the first time that morning.

"My uncle's house."

"Your uncle's house?" Bender repeats.

"Bender, please put your seat belt on," Brian says worriedly.

Bender rolls his eyes, leaning back and snapping his seat belt on. "Happy?"

Brian gives a small nod.

"My uncle's house is huge," Claire continues. "I mean really big. And empty, as he is away on business with my aunt." Claire grins.

"So we're just randomly taking a trip to your uncle's house?" Bender asks. Claire nods. "What happens when your parents find out you ditched school again? Isn't that what got you in so much trouble in the first place?"

Claire shrugs. "I mean, I guess." She hadn't honestly thought about it.

"Do you want to know what will happen when my parents find out? And I say will because they will."

"No!" everyone in the car shouts. Ally gives a laugh.

"They'll kill me," Brian says, ignoring them all. "I'll probably have to sit and translate Latin poems until my fingers fall off." His eyes grow wide.

Bender turns in his seat, concerned, pointing at Brian. "They make you do that?"

"Do you think I took that language for my health?!"

Bender licks his lips. "With you, I wouldn't be surprised."

Andy nudges Brian's leg. "Just live a little dude."

With that, Claire puts the top down, her and Bender exchanging small grins.

"To Quincy!" Bender shouts into the wind.

Ally throws her arms up, and they all laugh.