Bullworth: A Series
Part One: Summer Not So Endless
Author's Note: A follow-up series to Bully. Published years ago on this account but re-written by a revitalized author.
Chapter One: Moving Out and Into Your Life, Part 1
Peter Kowalski sat in his dorm room, his hands absent-mindedly playing with a string that had sprung from his pants sometime during the course of the school year. He wanted to congratulate Jimmy for taking down Gary, but he just couldn't. No matter how hard he tried when Jimmy emerged from that building victorious and the student body cheered, in that moment forgetting about the all out chaos that had plagued the school. He wanted to feel good that he was the reason Jimmy took Gary down, but his stomach was tying itself in knots and his brain kept asking one question over and over: What if you were wrong?
Pete snapped out of his thoughts when he heard knock at the door. "Mr.-oh what the devil is his name Hopkins? Well?" Pete heard Dr. Crabblesnitch's voice and wondered what he could want, then he looked across his room; the other side of it trampled and ransacked by angry teenagers because of who that side of the room belonged to, it occurred to him they only wanted to speak to him because he was Gary's roommate. Like anyone would want to talk to you otherwise, Petey. Pete's brained snarked in a voice that sounded a bit like Gary's.
"It's Kowalski, sir," Jimmy said with an air of fake pleasantry Pete only assumed would win him a Golden Raspberry Award one day if hell froze over and he decided to pursue acting.
"Right, of course. Mr. Kowalski, if you're in there I have something very urgent to discuss with you," Crabblesnitch proposed, his air of fake pleasantry obviously more well rehearsed than Jimmy's.
"Y-yeah, come on in," Sometimes Pete really hated the sound of his own voice. In some ways puberty was kind to him, but what he lacked in acne he made up for in a short stature and a voice that cracked when he was nervous. Crabblesnitch walked in like he owned the place, which Pete guessed was right since he was the headmaster after all, and Jimmy followed with an expression that could only be described as a cat that caught the canary and washed it down with milk.
"Oh dear, I trust this room was not in this state before today's events," Crabblesnitch drawled with an accusatory tone. It was obvious to Pete that Crabblesnitch wasn't doing this of his own accord, he was internally fighting tooth and nail to not have to and as a result was looking for an excuse for a hasty exit.
"No! I mean, no it wasn't. Some guys got in here about an hour ago and completely trashed G-" the name stuck in his throat and a sound that would have been akin to a sob would have escaped his throat if he didn't have the self-control. "Gary's side of the room. I ran them off though, they had started going through my stuff," Pete recalled Trent Northwick running out of the room with a pair of Pete's underwear sticking out of his pocket, Pete had been too dumbstruck by the day's events to call him out.
"Well, given the circumstances I don't think I'm going to hold them accountable for their actions. Hive mentality and so forth," Crabblesnitch said, looking at Pete's desk and picked up a copy of The Lord of the Flies they were to read for English class. "How appropriate," He chuckled.
"Yeah yeah, we get it. The book is similar to what happened here today, so can we please get to the point of the visit?" Jimmy burst out impatiently, bouncing on his heels. Pete, surprised by this outburst, thought it rude but he quickly squashed the feeling when he remembered Jimmy's lack of patience with authority figures. Crabblesnitch turned around and the two stared at each other for a long while. Crabblesnitch finally backed down, and cleared his throat.
"Quite right. My reason for this visit is to inform you that you have been appointed to the position of Head Boy next term if you choose to come back to our fine school," Crabblesnitch said, beaming like he had just given Pete the keys to the city.
Meanwhile, Zoe Taylor sat in the secretary's office with apprehension. Ms. Danvers was drawing up papers for her to enroll in the Summer School program while radiating an aura of disapproval as she typed away on her computer. Zoe wanted so badly to say something to the nasty hag but held her tongue, knowing she might not get back into school if she did.
"I just spoke with your father about tuition costs, he has agreed to put it up for the summer semester as well as the upcoming school year," Ms. Danvers stared at her through a pair of rather hideous coke bottle glasses, and Zoe couldn't help but marvel at how judgmental her stare was for a woman who pined after a married man day after day.
"Thank you, Ms. Danvers," Zoe said, trying not to sneer.
"But I did have to dig into your school file to get this information. On your application you only list two names on your emergency contact information. The first is, of course, your brother and the second is an Amy Barkeley? Is she a relative? I do have forms that need to be signed," Miss Danvers asked in a very matter-of-fact tone. Zoe knew she was trying to provoke a reaction out of her, but she wouldn't give her the satisfaction.
"No, Ms. Danvers. I became legally emancipated after I was kicked out of school last year. I got a job at a clothing store in New Coventry. To be perfectly honest I'm surprised my dad is paying my tuition at all."
"...Oh. Well then, I guess I won't need those signatures after all."
Zoe took the paperwork and sat back down, pulling a pen out of her bag and quickly scribbled down her own signature on the forms. After she finished, Ms. Danvers took the paperwork back from her and spoke.
"Classes start next Monday at nine sharp every morning. Mrs. Phillips will be your, excuse Mrs. Phillips-Galloway will be your instructor, you will be meeting in the art room. Do you remember where that is or do I need to give you the room number?"
Zoe forced a smile. "I remember, thank you."
Ms. Danvers pushed her glasses up her nose then slid the paperwork into Zoe's folder, looking down.
"Well, I guess I will see you on Monday, Ms. Danvers," Zoe turned to leave but Miss Danvers spoke, her tone uncertain.
"Ms. Taylor," Ms. Danvers began.
"Yes?" Zoe said, turning around just as she reached the doorway.
"Your father asked me to tell you that he wants to see you soon. He says his number hasn't changed."
Zoe nodded and was about to head for the stairs when Ms. Danvers spoke again.
"Also, about...Mr. Burton. Will you be pressing charges?" Ms. Danvers was unable to meet Zoe's eyes.
"I haven't decided yet. I know Dr. Crabblesnitch fired him," Zoe replied, unsure of Ms. Danvers' intention.
"Well...if it were up to me, you would," Ms. Danvers finally met Zoe's eyes with a smile in her eyes.
Jimmy Hopkins walked out of the boy's dorm with his luggage as Zoe made her way down from the main building, meeting in the middle of the expansive campus. Jimmy gave her a full on grin and they clasped hands, turning around and walking towards the gate. The silence was pleasant, with a dash of the awkwardness a new relationship can bring. They reached the gate and stood silently, a warm breeze that warned the beginning of summer floated through the New England air. They both began to speak and then laughed quietly, Jimmy motioning for Zoe to go first.
"Your mom picking you up?"
"At the airport, I'm taking a bus to Liberty City to meet her and the new Rockefeller at the airport, then we're going home," Jimmy replied. Zoe squeezed his hand reassuringly.
"It probably won't be that bad. Those news cameras were all in your face, you're gonna be national news as a hero by tomorrow. Maybe it'll go viral."
Jimmy laughed, "Maybe, I didn't exactly make a good impression on the stepmonster. What about you, did everything go well? Registered for summer school?"
"Yeah, and get this, my dad is actually paying my tuition for the year. He wants to meet me which I'm not looking forward to but if I want to get back into school…" Zoe trailed off, Jimmy looked concerned and she didn't want to go into more detail so she changed the subject, "Ms. Danvers might not be as awful as I remember which was weird but still, how can she act like she's so much better than everyone else? She's been wanting to hop on Crabblesnitch's dick for ages and has like...no shame about it."
"I thought I was the only one that noticed that! Sadly that's not the sleaziest staff relationship in this place. Edna and-" Zoe kissed Jimmy awkwardly, cutting off his remark about the cook's new squeeze. Zoe pulled away looking more bashful than she would ever admit, and Jimmy had a dopey grin on his face.
"Sorry, I just..." Zoe began but faltered.
"Didn't want to hear about who Edna's boffing?" This reply earned Jimmy a playful shove to the chest.
"No-well, yes I didn't want to hear that, but...God this is so embarrassing," Zoe said, turning away from Jimmy.
"What is it?" Jimmy said, putting his hand on Zoe's shoulder. She shrugged it away.
"It's just...that's the last time I'm going to get to kiss you for three months. September is a long time away, and I guess I'm...shit I'm worried you'll meet someone else, okay! Go ahead, laugh at me! Well?" Zoe turned around and stared at Jimmy expectantly.
Jimmy chuckled and instantly knew it was not a good way to react because Zoe's eyes went wide and she started backing up, Jimmy quickly grabbed her shoulders.
"No, no, no. I didn't mean that, I laughed because it's ridiculous, Zoe I'm crazy about you. I'm not going to meet anyone else," Jimmy put his arm around Zoe's shoulder and they began the walk towards Bullworth Town.
"Besides, I'm coming back here in three months. How stupid would it be to meet someone else three hundred miles away and come back to see you every day," Jimmy said with a smirk, and was hoisted by his shoulders by Zoe trying to shove him in front of a car. He hooked a leg in between hers to trip her to prevent this, and the two fell, Zoe landing on top of Jimmy.
"Jerk."
Zoe got up first and pulled Jimmy up roughly, "Come on loser, what time is your bus leaving?"
"Seven, Petey said he was going to see me off but he hasn't finished packing I guess. I sent Beatrice after him, just warning you now, I know you don't like her," Jimmy rushed that last part out and Zoe glared at him.
"Really Jim? Why her? You told me she writing all sorts of stuff about you in that pervy little diary of hers. You want that bunny boiler still following you around next year?"
Jimmy smiled. Zoe looked at him, confused.
"I took care of it. I think she's got a thing for Petey now. It'll do him some good to get a girl this summer, make some new friends," Zoe shook her head at Jimmy's explanation as they continued their trek towards the town.
"I dunno Jim. Did you see how Pete looked when they took Gary out on that stretcher? Dude looked worse than that Edgar that time he thought huffing paint was a good idea".
"I know, Zoe. His attachment to Gary was just creepy, he needs to get away with that. Besides, if he isn't interested in Beatrice, I could always set him up with someone else.
Back in the boys dorm, Pete zipped his suitcase up as Gary's parents walked into the room. Normally move-out day would be a happy occasion. Pete had pictured it many times; Gary would be bouncing around the room, excited about some prank he'd leave behind for some unfortunate maintenance staff member to find and be possibly injured. Pete would be smiling quietly, looking forward to seeing him next year. That wasn't the case this time.
This time, Gary's parents cleaned out his stuff, with Crabblesnitch and a police escort. Gary's mother started crying when she discovered the word 'PSYCHO' carved into his desk. Gary's father's face was cold, it reminded Pete of Gary's face when he was angry. There was obviously something wrong just under the surface.
Pete averted his eyes from the scene in front of him, it being the polite thing to do. His eyes fell on a photo tacked inside the wardrobe, one of happier times. It was Gary and Pete at the carnival, Gary's arm slung around Pete's shoulders. Pete could still remember how intimate it felt, the warm feeling in his stomach rising to his chest when Gary touched him like that.
Gary's parents took his clothes out of the wardrobe and stacked his schoolbooks on the desk, Gary's mother still shaking. Crabblesnitch picked up an item off the desk, and showed it to Pete. Pete stared at it, a bronze plaque that read 'Head Boy'.
"It looks like this belongs to you now. I was wondering where this was, during all this chaos I had forgotten I had appointed Smith to the job," Crabblesnitch said. He handed it to Pete, who took it with some apprehension.
"G-Gary, he was...Head Boy?" Mrs. Smith had a glimmer of hope and it crushed Pete inside.
"For a little while, Mrs. Smith. He had manipulated all of us into believing he was a good kid," Crabblesnitch replied. Gary's dad finally lost it.
"How did he do this? He's a fifteen year old boy for Christ's sake! Why wasn't someone making sure he was taking his meds! We left strict orders for that. He's been here long enough for you to know what can happen when he doesn't take them," Mrs. Smith broke down in tears again and Mr. Smith put his arms around her.
"We found his medical files, someone had altered them to take out the information that said he needed to be supervised when he took his meds. Mrs. Smith, sometimes kids fall through the cracks here. We had no idea he would be capable of something like this, and on behalf of the Bullworth School District, I am sorry we allowed this to happen," Crabblesnitch said, an obviously rehearsed line.
"Fallen through the cracks? That's your excuse? Unbelievable you son of a-"
"Patricia," Gary's dad cut her off, "This isn't going to fix anything. Obviously the man has a difficult job and is rather incapable of doing it. We'll be in touch,"
Patricia Smith composed herself. "You're right, Charles. Dr. Crabblesnitch, Officer, Peter," Her eyes locked on Pete and he turned bright red. She had Gary's stare as well, apparently. She turned to the wardrobe to see if there was anything missed, and her eyes met the photo. Pete's heart leapt to his throat.
"I'm sure you'll want to keep this," Patricia began, taking the picture down and handing it to Pete.
She took his hand and smiled sadly, "You were always such a good friend to our son."
"Thank you, Mrs. Smith," Pete said. Patricia dropped his hand and Charles picked up Gary's bags.
"Goodbye, gentlemen," Charles said, and Pete didn't know why he spoke up.
"Wait, Mr. and Mrs. Smith-" They stopped and turned around.
"Yes, Peter?" Patricia questioned, both her and Charles' eyes boring holes into him.
"Where...where is Gary?" Pete said quietly, hating the sound of his own voice.
"He's at Happy Volts Asylum for the time being. He's in a seventy-two hour psychiatric evaluation then we'll discuss if he needs to be treated there further with the doctors afterwards," Charles replied curtly.
"After the...evaluation," Pete started and almost stopped speaking, but he knew he needed to continue, "Will he be allowed visitors?"
"Now Mr. Kowalski I don't think that's very appropriate-" Crabblesnitch started but Patricia cut him off.
"It's a very appropriate question Dr. Crabblesnitch and I would appreciate it if you didn't speak for us," Patricia snapped, glaring at the offending man. She turned her gaze back to Pete and smiled warmly, "It all depends on how the evaluation goes. If it goes well, I'm sure he'll be allowed visits. Supervised visits of course, and I'm sure he would be very happy to see you. It would probably do him some good to see some friendly faces."
Pete smiled, "Thank you, Mrs. Smith. And I am so sorry this happened. If I would have known it would go this far-" Patricia raised a hand to cut him off.
"We don't blame you, Peter. You're just a kid, and believe me, there are others that need held far more accountable for their actions," And with that, the Smiths exited the room with the police escort.
"Well, I never," Crabblesnitch started, then he looked at Pete like he had forgotten he was there. "Despite what they said, I don't think you need to associate with the Smith child. It would be unbecoming behavior of the Head Boy."
Pete glared at Crabblesnitch and picked up the plaque, handing it back to him. "Then you should probably hold that until September, but I can guarantee if you try to find a replacement for me nearly every kid in this school is going to do far worse this summer then visit a mentally ill friend."
Crabblesnitch opened his mouth to say something and closed it, then looked down at the plaque in his hands. He walked out of the dorm room, and Pete heard a frustrated scream outside that sounded a lot like an f-bomb. Pete smirked, maybe Jimmy was rubbing off on him after all.
Pete looked down at the photo in his hand, and let the memory of that day overtake him.
The flash went off and Pete tried not to blink. Gary's arm around him felt uncomfortable, but really nice at the same time. Pete didn't want to admit to himself how much he enjoyed it, mostly because it was Gary's arm of all guys...people.
"Alright, I got it," Jimmy said, looking down at the Polaroid camera. He took the picture out and handed it to Pete, but Gary snatched it out of Jimmy's hand, smirking at Jimmy's look of disapproval.
"Well, it looks like the gorilla might find an occupation outside of pumping gas one day after all. This is pretty good, Hopkins," Gary smirked. Jimmy stepped forward and raised his fist and Pete stepped between them.
"Jimmy, you should know by now that's the closest thing to a compliment you're going to get from him. Now both of you, stop," Pete looked at both of them when he said this, and for a moment it seemed like the tension was going to culminate in a fight, but Gary finally backed off and slapped the picture to Pete's chest.
"Hold onto that Petey, would you? It better not go to your spank bank though," Gary said, already walking towards the Ferris wheel. Pete made an indignant noise but pocketed the picture. He slumped his shoulders and started to follow Gary but Jimmy's hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"Why do you put up with that?" Jimmy asked, his brow furrowed.
"Put up with what Jimmy?" Pete asked, not wanting to have this conversation, shrugging off the offending limb and continuing on his path.
"Don't act like you don't know. He treats you like shit, Pete. He's always saying shit like that to you. It's not cool," Jimmy replied and Pete turned around.
"Why do you put up with it, Jimmy? You just got here. You could get other friends easily but you're still hanging out with losers like me. Everyone acts like I can't stand up for myself but I can when I need to. It's just easier with him when I don't," Pete said. Jimmy stared down at the shorter teen.
"That's really screwed up. And you know what, Pete? The only reason you're a loser is because you're letting him treat you like one. Maybe if you'd stop taking care of him you could get yourself some real friends," Jimmy was right and Pete knew it, but he didn't want to
"Whatever. Let's just go ride the damn wheel," Pete said quietly, and walked over to Gary who instantly began picking on him.
"Awww, what's wrong Pete? Lover's quarrel?" Gary mocked.
"Shut up Gary, give it a rest already," Pete huffed, handing a ticket to the ride attendant.
"Ouch, Pete, your words cut-" Ironically, Gary's words were cut off by Beatrice Trudeau bounding up to the pair. Jimmy smiled and walked behind her, a smug look on his face.
"Hey Petey! Gary," Beatrice said, smiling at Pete then glaring at Gary. Gary was about to say something when the attendant cleared his throat.
"Is anyone going on the ride anytime soon?" He asked, frustrated with the ride being stopped for so long to let the teenagers argue.
"Sure, sure. Come on Pete, I'll hold your hand if you get scared," Gary said with a wink. Pete glared at him and looked at Jimmy who cocked his head towards Beatrice. Pete understood immediately.
"Who says I'm going on with you? Beatrice, would you like to ride with me?" Pete asked the overeager bespectacled girl.
"Sure! I'd love to," Beatrice about shouted, latching to Pete's arm and handing the attendant a ticket for her to ride as well. The two made their way to the available car and sat down, waiting to be secured in.
"Okay, finally. Anyone who isn't riding the ride, please step the hell back," The attendant said, then walked over to the car and roughly secured the safety bar. He took a long gaze at Beatrice's chest as he did this, and she cleared her throat. He looked at her face and she pouted, her bottom lip scabbed by a cold sore. He made a noise of disgust and hurried to the controls, quickly turning the ride on.
Pete jumped as the ride lurched and looked at Beatrice to see if she had done the same, and Beatrice lifted a hand to her lips. Pete watched as her lip became suddenly blemish free. They had been working on a project together since school started, and this was it.
"Press on cold sores were such a fantastic idea, I can't believe you got the adhesive formula to work! Ever since mom went a little overboard after that 'Take Back the Night' course she was taking she's been looking for something cool like this. That's my rape whistle Mandy Wiles blew during the last pep rally. After she sees me with one of these, what do you bet it ends up at the bottom of her locker?" The pair laughed and Pete shook his head.
"This really was a stroke of genius, Beatrice Trudeau," Pete smiled and took Beatrice's hand. He looked down at Gary who was openly glaring at the two, and Jimmy was smirking at Gary's discomfort.
"I really can stand up for myself," Pete said, still staring at the picture. A knock on the opened door shook the memory away and Pete turned around, Beatrice's smiling face greeting him in the doorway.
"Bad time Kowalski?" Beatrice asked. Her normally stiff, hair-sprayed coif hung in soft curls around her head and her normally pristine and starched uniform replaced by a sundress, the press-on cold sores absent as well.
"Um...no, no it's fine," Pete shook the thoughts of Gary fully out of his head and got a good look at the drastically different Beatrice.
"Wow, you look, w-where did you go?" Pete jokingly stammered while looking around Beatrice to find the old incarnation of her.
"I was hoping you would like it. New year, new look, new Beatrice. I was spending too much money on Salon Selectives anyway," Beatrice replied, walking into the dorm room. After plopping down on Pete's bed, she noticed the picture of Gary in Pete's hand and felt a pang. Pete was the first person to see her new look for a reason, but his rather unhealthy obsession with his former friend worried her. Was Pete even into girls at all?
"It looks great. Are you retiring the cold sores permanently?" Pete said and after noticing the look on her face he quickly stuffed the picture into his suitcase.
"Until college," Beatrice smirked.
"You might have to step it up for the Ivy League," Mandy Wiles' voice floated in from the door. Beatrice jumped up, embarrassed having been caught flirting.
"Oh yeah? And just what do you have in mind exactly?" Beatrice challenged, sizing up her verbal opponent.
"I dunno, maybe genital warts? That is if someone actually decided they want to see you naked, which I doubt," Mandy stepped towards Beatrice, expecting the smaller girl to back down but Beatrice wasn't having it.
"Well the entire town has already seen you naked and I don't think it's a coincidence Trent dumped you right after that happened. What are they calling you now? Mandy Pepperoni Nipples?"
"You little cu-" Mandy raised her manicured fist to smash into Beatrice's face but it was quickly grabbed and forced behind her back roughly.
"I don't think so, Pepperoni Nips. Now get the hell out of here before I break your arm," Zoe said calmly, holding a huffing Mandy back from smashing the smaller girl into oblivion. A tense moment passed as Mandy weighed her options and, letting out a frustrated sigh, hung her head in defeat. Zoe quickly backed off and Mandy threw her arms up and walked out of the room.
"So this is where have you two been? I sent you to get Pete like...twenty minutes ago, Bea, what have you been doing to my boy here?" Jimmy said teasingly. Beatrice and Pete both blushed for completely different reasons.
"Never mind, I don't want to know. Let's get out of here. My bus leaves at seven and I'm not gonna be late because of teenage hormones."
"Jimmy!" Pete exclaimed, turning redder than he had previously.
"Give it a rest Hopkins. Lets get the hell out of this place. It's giving me hives," Zoe said, motioning from the doorway. Jimmy gave her a dopey grin as he followed her out.
"We should probably follow them, Pete, Zoe's kinda scary when she's impatient. You ready?" Beatrice asked. Pete gave the room a once over and smiled.
"Yeah, I'm ready," Pete picked up his suitcase and took Beatrice's hand, a gesture that surprised them both. The pair walked out the door, Pete stopping to close it. He gave the room one last look and he shook his head, closing the door to his old room, and his old life.