An Old Friend

Jimmy was dumbfounded by the sight he was witnessing. He was seeing Gary walking up the steps. He walked over to the boy and tried to wave his hand through him, he ended up karate chopping the boy's shoulder.

"Ow, watch it you bi-. Well, well! Look how lucky I am! Found you a lot easier than expected.", Gary proclaimed.

Jimmy was frightened by the fact that a psycho was loose and he happened to be right in front of him. Gary just stared at him for a bit, studying the expression he had on his face.

"What? You act like you've seen a ghost, Jimmy-boy!", Gary was acting as if they were old friends. Which, in a sense, they were.

Jimmy took two steps back and rubbed his eyes, trying to test and see if this was all a dream. Gary giggled at Jimmy and walked up to him.

"Boo."

Jimmy nearly ran into a nerd that was lingering behind him, pushing the kid away after he regained his balance.

"Y'know, Jimmy, you really helped me realize something. You helped me realize that I needed to be locked up for a while, to think. You've broadened my horizons, Jimmy Hopkins.", Gary extended his hand,"What do ya say, friend?"

Jimmy hesitated. Was it safe? Did he have a concealed needle that would inject him with a deadly virus? What was Gary thinking?

"I..er..see you've calmed down, Gary. A bit out of character, if you ask me."

Gary withdrew his hand from the air and scowled at Jimmy.

"I'm trying to make amens, and you shun me like some hunchback freak with one eye? Jesus, Jimmy, I can't believe you!"

Gary turned as if he were going to storm off into the distance, but he paused after a step and turned around, smirking. He saw the astonished look on Jimmy's face and burst into laughter.

"I'm kidding, Jimmy. Just kidding."

Jimmy now became worried that he had drifted into a slumber he wasn't going to wake up from. Gary was different. A lot different. Had the loony bin actually changed him? Jimmy pondered to himself for a few moments, and dismissed the thoughts from his mind.

"Look, Gary. I'm not trying to insult you or anything, but I have to go. See ya later..."

Gary was now a little ticked off and turned to face Jimmy after he walked past him.

"You're not gonna ask me why the Hell I'm acting so damn friendly, or do I have to be the assertive one here?", Gary called after Jimmy.

Jimmy turned around and came back up the steps.

"OK, I'll play your little game. Why are you being so friendly, nice, and out of character, Gary?"

"Well, I'm glad you asked!", Gary commented sarcasticly,"I'm a free man now, Jimmy! A year of rubber walls and therapy can do that to you. You just don't know what it's like, being released after so long."

"Released? I thought you were dead not ten minutes ago!"

"Oh, so you saw that..", Gary looked away, shyly.

"Yeah, so how the Hell did you do it, Gary?"

"It was a going away present, really. I found a crash test dummy in the rec room, don't ask, and I'm very artistic, believe it or not, so I made it look like ol' Petey and put my name tag on the dummy before I left. I was going to be released today anyhow, I just thought I'd screw with their heads a bit."

Gary then took in a very big breath and began again.

"And, here I am!", he had his arms stretched towards the sky.

"Aren't ya happy to see me?", he asked.

Jimmy stood silently for a moment and finally answered.

"No, not really, to tell the truth."

Gary frowned at this and proded him with a finger.

"Why not?"

"Well, let's see..", Jimmy started to yell,"You turned everyone against me, mad me look like a madman, got me expelled, and nearly killed me! Tell me, how would you have acted in a moment like that?"

Gary twidled his thumbs a bit and then looked back up at Jimmy.

"Jimmy-boy, I'm sorry..I didn't take my meds for a long time, you should know that!"

Jimmy could tell Gary was kidding.

"But seriously, you had it coming, ya lil' sociopath, you!", Gary punched at Jimmy playfully.

Now, Jimmy really did believe he belonged in a loon house. He just sighed and took Gary's hand and shook it.

"That's more like it! Our clique will ride again!", Gary started laughing like a madman.

"How'd you ever brainwash Petey, anyways?"

"Jimmy, my boy, that's another story for another time", Gary said as he put his arm around Jimmy's shoulders.

Jimmy had a feeling he was going to hate the rest of his time at Bullworth, the soul reason being Gary's release. He knew in the pit of his stomach he shouldn't trust him.