Bully: Attempt To Rise
Chapter I: Arrival
Assignment 1: The Beginning of The Beginning
At only sixteen years old, he stood at six foot five and two hundred and fifty pounds. He was looked at as his school's '(not so) gentle giant'. Those less kind had deemed him 'Sasquatch', and even among friends the nickname stuck. Most stories start out like this; 'but (insert name here) had a secret. He was no ordinary boy. He had powers.' However, sadly, Seamus, a.k.a. Sasquatch was an ordinary red headed boy with glasses and acne. He had no powers. He could not fly, nor could he shoot flames from his fingertips, nor was he a vegetarian vampire. He was simply an unpopular boy with a slight Irish accent from a small town in Michigan. He did normal things with his ordinary friends and was average in school. He was in a band, but his guitar playing was mediocre, as was his best friend's bass playing. The only thing I can really say for him: he was a damn good fighter.
At fifteen-going-on-sixteen Sasquatch's best friend Noah, A.K.A. Loki was, how you say...short and fat. He had long brown hair down to his chin, and occasionally a bad case of lazy eye. He was five foot four and two hundred-ten pounds. Sadly, he was not a vegetarian vampire either. In fact, he was proud to say that the taste of blood disgusted him. He was...well, he wasn't a bad fighter either...I guess.
Well, I am he. And Sasquatch is my best friend.
I wish we could say we were victims of what happened that fateful day, and that we didn't have what we got coming to us. But then, I'd be a liar. And liars suck. We deserved everything that led us to Bullworth, Massachusetts, as well as the worst, most despicable boarding/reform school in the country: Bullworth Academy. We deserved everything that led us there, and nothing that happened to us once we got there. But if there's one thing we've learned. It's that life isn't fair.
It started with on the first day of the school year, 2014-2015; the start of our sophomore year. Sasquatch stepped out of his crappy antique 1976 Chevy Nova SS, keeping his wits about him. I climbed out of the passenger seat, sticking close by his side.
"I'm surprised that crap heap still runs. After all, it is almost forty years old." I said.
"Things last when you actually bother to take care of them" he said. I was about to retort when I saw a blond guy in a red Aquaberry sweatshirt
"Shit, there's a prep" I whispered. We ducked behind Sasquatch's car, until he went by. Then we slowly inched out.
We looked around for any sign of anybody else wearing Aquaberry. When we saw no one, we darted from the parking lot, toward the entrance of the high school. Sasquatch opened the door, and went in first.
"The hallway's empty, except for a few girls. Lets go." He said.
We bolted in and ran toward the staircase that lead to our first period Algebra class. However, a tall blond boy in bleached out jeans and a white dress-shirt stepped out from the shadows and looked down at us from the top of the stairs menacingly. He was blocking our path
We turned and saw two brown haired guys in Aquaberry shirts blocking the only escape. We got into our fighting stances, back to back, Sasquatch facing the two behind us, me facing the one at the top of the staircase. Then, their leader, Christopher Masters walked out from the hall and stood at the top of the stairway with the blond. His short Ivy League platinum blond hair shone and his evil cold blue eyes sparkled dangerously in the artificial light. He wore his trademark Aquaberry tuxedo, which was as usual, spotless.
"It's Chris," I said nervously. "He doesn't look happy to see us."
I had a reason to be frightened of Chris Masters. He was just four inches shorter than Sasquatch. His muscles bulged in his tux, and if looks could kill, his stare would've killed me years earlier. And even though he was only a sophomore, like myself, he was the most feared and respected student in the school. Sasquatch assessed the danger and switched positions with me instantly. I turned to face the two brown haired preps, and my fingers twitched toward the back pocket of my skinny jeans nervously.
Chris spoke in a smooth, manly voice. "You can go old chap. It's only Seamus we care about. Get out of here and save yourself some bruises" I didn't leave, but my hand inched closer to my pocket.
He waited a second. "Alright then. But remember. I gave you a chance to save yourself. Seamus, you made a big mistake when you decided to tag the side of my house last week. I'll give you two choices, since I know that one more fight will get you sent to Juvie."
"How generous!" his boys said in mock surprise.
"Indeed my boys, indeed I am. It just so happens Darren here has brought a video camera. We've been itching for something new to watch. We can record you begging for mercy, or we can record you getting pulverized. Your choice."
"Fuck you" Sasquatch spat.
"You'd better hold your tongue, lest it get ripped out" Chris replied. "You forget. I'm head boy. Every teacher here loves me. You lay a finger on me and I'll have you behind bars so fast it'll make your head spin."
Sasquatch stared hard at him.
"Beg us to forgive you for being a filthy vandal. Say, please sir, forgive me for being a filthy vandalizing pauper."
Sasquatch bared his teeth. I could tell he was thinking hard. He had already knocked out two of the preps this month in plain view of faculty, and had gotten a warning from the police about Juvie. He knew if he didn't beg, he was finished. I hated to see him like that. His dignity stripped away. My fingers inched ever closer to revenge, but I stopped short in awe when he got down on his knees."
"Start filming" Chris said. Darren, the blond prep in the dress shirt held up the camera, and started recording. Chris descended gracefully, walking with a dancer's step, ever closer to Sasquatch. He stopped at the bottom of the stairway, just four feet from Sasquatch.
"While you're down there..." Chris said trailing off. Sasquatch's eyes burned with hatred.
"Say it" Chris said smirking.
"Please...sir. Forgive me for being a filthy vandalizing pauper."
"Oh Seamus. I am touched by your apology. But I'm afraid it's not quite good enough. Say 'I'm sorry that I am a pig-ugly reject with a faggot for a best friend, whose idea of fun is vandalizing my superiors' houses."
"Fuck you, you arrogant prick" Sasquatch said, rising to his feet. He stood, inches away from him, glaring hatefully into his eyes.
"Careful Seamus. Unless the idea of being raped in a prison cell appeals to you, It would be wise to swallow your pride."
Sasquatch cracked his knuckles menacingly.
"On your knees maggot" Chris snapped.
He twitched, and complied. "I'm sorry that I am a pig ugly reject with a faggot for a best friend whose idea of fun is vandalizing his superiors' houses."
Chris smiled, and turned around, putting his backside in Sasquatch's face. "Good little pauper. Now, just give it a little kiss, and be on your way. You don't want to be late for your class."
The dam broke approximately two point five seconds after Chris finished that sentence. Sasquatch got up, grabbed Chris' shoulder, turned him around, and slammed his huge fist right into his pretty little porcelain face. And just like a porcelain doll, he shattered. He grunted weakly and crumpled to the floor. The blond boy called Darren dropped the video camera, ran down the stairs and leapt at Sasquatch. Sasquatch dodged and the kid fell flat on his face. He began to get up, but Sasquatch picked up his face, and slammed it into his gigantic knee. There was no response after that one.
Chris rose unsteadily, and the two brown haired preps started forward to assist him. I pulled my trusty switchblade out of my pocket and pressed the button. A five inch blade emerged and I held it at them threateningly.
"This fight is between Sasquatch and Chris. Unless you want to be cut to ribbons, back the hell off."
They both took a step back.
"You really shouldn't have done that" Chris said.
"What, did you honestly expect me to kiss your ass? Get real. You can only strip me of so much dignity before I decide Juvie is worth it."
Chris pulled back, and punched Sasquatch in the stomach. Then, when he was hunched over, kicked him in the jaw. He fell to the ground.
Chris picked him up and punched him in the face twice, then let him drop, kicking him in the stomach on the way down.
"Done yet" He asked?
Sasquatch spat a bit of blood out of his mouth. "Not even close."
He sprung to his feet and grabbed Chris by the hair. He began punching him senseless. He tried to fight him off, but Sasquatch took every punch and gave two back. I think he must've hit him about twelve times before he dropped the broken Prep at his feet.
And that was when Principal Hattrick came around. I tried to hide the knife, but it was too late. We had been caught.
The fat old gasbag looked furious.
Twenty minutes later, we were both in his office, with our parents beside us, equally as furious.
"I can't believe this Noah. We raised you better than this. There is no reason to bring violence into the school system" My mom scolded.
"I'm sorry, but are you serious? One: I didn't start the fight Two: Without the knife we would both be in the hospital right now, and three: the only reason they aren't down here with us, is because they paid Hattrick to keep them out of trouble.
Hattrick glared at me, but remained silent.
"What are our options? I can't bear to allow my son to become a common thug," my dad asked.
"I think Noah may still have a chance, but as for Seamus, I'm afraid he is beyond repair. Juvenile Detention Center may be the only option. As for Noah, there is a reform/boarding school in Massachusetts called Bullworth Academy. I used to work there as a mathematics teacher. They would probably be able to help him turn his life around before he becomes the troublemaker his friend is. We've confiscated the knife, and it was above three inches, so I have no choice but to expel him. However, it was not used, so we don't have to get the police involved. Bullworth is a fine institution, and the new head was one of my finest students. He was head boy by the end of his freshman year. His name was Mr. Peter Kowalski. Since he took over for Humphrey Crabblesnitch, Last year, the school has never been in better shape. If you wish, I can have him enrolled immediately."
My parents looked pleased. "Well, at least there's a plausible solution to all of this." My mother said. "I've heard a lot of good things about Bullworth. I mean, if you'd asked me nine years ago, I would've said you were insane. Especially after the riot. But, after that Smith kid was put in the nuthouse, it turned into a very respectable school." She then turned to face me, and in a deadly whisper, added "If you screw up at Bullworth I am going to knock the shit out of you" she growled.
"Ah, yes. Smith. I was sad to see him go. An insane little freak, but extremely intelligent. His mind was stronger than any other at Bullworth. Unfortunately, he knew it. He could've done great things. He wasted his intelligence all because he had a god-complex, and thought he could take over the school. Such a shame. Anyway, enough of an old man's reminiscing, would you like me to have Mr. Kowalski enroll your son?"
"Well, even though I'm extremely disappointed in him, I'd rather see him in reform school than prison."
"Whoa, Whoa, Whoa. Why Can't Seamus go to this school instead of Juvie?" His dad asked.
Mr. Hattrick sighed. "Well, he could be enrolled. But he would have to be separated from Noah at all times, to avoid another incident."
"I have no problem with that," his father said.
"Nor do I" my mom said.
"I do" Sasquatch and I said simultaneously.
"Too damn bad!" My mom and his dad shouted in unison.
"O...kay. I can get Mr. Kowalski to enroll your children soon. They can be there in a week."
"That's fine," my mother said.
"I agree." His dad said gruffly.
Sasquatch and I looked at each other grimly.
And so it began...