Zoe rose from her bed half asleep, taking a moment to yawn loudly. She hit the nearby alarm clock with far more force than necessary and paused to take in the silence. It was her first day back as a student at Bullworth since she had been expelled the year before. Rising from her bed, she began her morning ritual: a shower, getting dressed and two slices of toast with coffee. She always had her toast with butter, and it was always in that order. The past year of her life had been chaotic, and she had learnt to cherish her never changing morning. In no time at all, she was ready to leave. After lacing up her boots, Zoe left the house, taking out a packet of cigarettes and a lighter from her pocket. Zoe paused on her front porch, attempting to work her nearly broken lighter. She succeeded, and took her first drag of the day, allowing a short sigh of relief as the warmth of nicotine flooded her body. Once the ecstasy of her first cigarette of the day had passed, she began to walk to Bullworth Academy, deep in thought.
Zoe liked her neighbourhood best early in the morning. It was half past six, and the streets were empty. The industrial plants wouldn't be open till nine, and all the locals were either sleeping off a hangover or still high from the night before, doing god knows what in their trailers. Zoe could zone out, knowing she wouldn't be disturbed, leaving her body on autopilot to do the walk she had done a thousand times before. With nothing to concentrate on, her mind quickly began to race on the thoughts that had been keeping her up late for weeks – months even. Zoe rarely paid attention to the date during the summer, making it difficult to tell; her sense of time had been further warped by the regular insomnia and oversleeping. Her brain now fully awake, her thoughts centred around the one problem they always were – how unhappy she was. The year before, she had been unhappy, but it was easily explained. She was kicked out of school for reporting a paedophilic gym teacher, and left to live at home with an alcoholic mother who barely even knew what day it was, much less how to support her only child. Forgotten by her friends, with no father and a barely functioning mother, she had turned to the local gang made up of losers and outcasts. Drugs, violence and anonymous sex were a brilliant solution to filling the void left by the loss of her future. But it had changed now. She was back at Bullworth, back on track to make it to a decent college, and had met him. The constant empty feeling she had spent the last year running away from was supposed to have gone now. Zoe couldn't understand why she either spent half the night awake or slept in till 3. Why she wanted nothing more to get on a train to anywhere, just to get away from herself - from everything.
Depersonalisation had ravaged her once vibrant personality. When she was at Bullworth she knew who she was. A romantic deep at heart, covered well by a robust exterior built by years of a hellish home life. She was extremely bright, acing every test her school had pushed her way. She wanted to be someone, to go places, to make her impact on the world. Her fighting instincts and impressive toughness weren't her - they were defense mechanisms to survive on the rough side of Bullworth. She had always known as a child that she was different from all the other children that loved to fight and break the rules. Zoe was intelligent enough to act tough to fit in, to survive as just another rule breaking kid. When she was at Bullworth she knew this and could separate the tough rebellious exterior from the truth underneath. But now, she wasn't so sure. Had she acted for too long, lost touch of who she really was? Had the drug taking violent slut she had become destroyed the innocent and naive girl she was once? Or was she always that rebel, destined to live as a loser for the rest of her life, all her earlier dreams and desires just an illusion. If she really was the young woman who wanted to make it to an elite college and write for a living, why was she not happy? When Jimmy had saved her, she expected everything to be better. She was ready to treat her year as an outcast as a life experience, something to put behind her. But as she walked towards Bullworth for her final year of school, the empty feeling that had followed her ever since she had been expelled was as strong as ever.
Zoe stopped dead on the pavement. Stood halfway into greaser territory, she spoke out-loud.
"Jimmy did not fucking save me!"
The only person in earshot, a middle aged woman on the other side of the road, gave her a puzzled look mid stride. Slightly embarrassed, Zoe continued her journey. Jimmy was another problem. They had kissed at the end of the last year, and had seen each other regularly throughout the summer. He was strong and kind, but not especially funny or charming. Zoe almost felt as if she owed him something, owed him her affection for everything he did. Because of him, she was now back at school and hadn't missed a year: she was accepted into the senior year thanks to her incredible test scores. The pair had agreed to meet this morning, having not seen each other for nearly two weeks. Zoe crossed the bridge leading to Bullworth and attempted to stop her incessant thinking. She was now at the academy, and had to be alert. Even after Jimmy had pacified the school, it was not the place to enter with your guard down. The prefects were starting to make their morning rounds, so she slipped by quietly on her way to the boys dorm. Bullworth was actually a beautiful place without all the screaming violent teenagers charging around. As she opened the door to the boys lodgings a short spotty boy appeared, looking confused as to why there was a girl stood in the doorway. He opened his mouth to say something, but soon checked himself, and went about his day without questioning it. It was now 6:50, ten minutes before she had agreed to meet Jimmy, giving her the perfect opportunity to wake him up. She grabbed the nearest book and threw it at him, making him sit up in shock.
"Rise and shine Jimmy!" Zoe said laughing at Jimmy's prison like reactions. After realising it was only her, and not some suicidal boy trying his luck with the 'king', his scowl turned into a smirk.
"Listen Zoe, if you wanted to get my attention so bad you could have just gotten into bed with me." Zoe laughed and rolled her eyes.
"And that would get your attention would it?"
"Sure would," Jimmy replied "complete and undivided." Zoe shook her head, and began to move for the door.
"Get dressed, let's go do something." Zoe muttered, making her way into the common room. Jimmy, in a stereotypically male fashion, was ready within a couple of minutes. He joined Zoe on the sofa, and they both began to watch the recently fixed television.
"So how have you been?" Jimmy asked, turning his head towards Zoe.
"Oh you know, surviving," Zoe replied, flicking her hair out her face, "How about you?"
"Not bad. I've been helping Petey out with head boy things, but otherwise, life is easy when you're the king," Jimmy boasted. He knew that word irritated Zoe like no other, and he cocked his head sideways to watch her reaction. Zoe said nothing, raising one eyebrow at him. Before she could speak, he added, "And you know, you could always be my queen." Before he had even finished Zoe had hit him with a somewhat playful punch to the arm. Instinct taking over, Jimmy dived on Zoe, landing on top of her in a slightly suspect position. Before anything more could happen, a voice interrupted from the entrance.
"Jesus, I mean, your room is literally over there."
The pair bolted up. Zoe, who was dusting herself off, looked across at Pete stood in the doorway. "Trust me, it's not what you think," Zoe said, pushing Jimmy back to his original position, "I just had to teach Jimmy a lesson in manners."
"Yeah, I'm quaking in my boots over here," Jimmy replied, turning to Pete, "How's it going Petey?"
"I'm okay. What are you guys up to?" Pete asked, glancing toward the TV.
"Nothing really. Zoe, what do you want to do?" Jimmy said, clearly getting bored of staying inside.
"I need to get another lighter soon, this one's nearly broken," Zoe explained, tossing it to one side, "why don't you see if something's good on?"
Petey left to go look for the new student, leaving Jimmy and Zoe alone on the sofa. Jimmy had found a swimming channel, and was intently watching the half naked women. Zoe, bored after only 10 seconds, told Jimmy to change the channel. Before long, a play-fight had begun.
"Don't you two have lessons to go to?" A voice broke the silence, and both Zoe and Jimmy sat up.
"Hey, get off Jimmy, we've got company."
A couple of minutes after Rupert had appeared, Zoe had left the Boys Dorm to go buy a new lighter. After only a few minutes, she was bored with Jimmy. He was great for smashing up cars with, or scoring some booze to take to a beach hut, but he was no conversationalist. Zoe often thought that she wanted to like Jimmy more than she actually did. Still, for the time being, he was the closest thing she had to a best friend. By now it was less than an hour till she had to be in registration, and was just leaving the convenience store. She decided to find somewhere to sit down to smoke a cigarette and read. By now Jimmy would be pacing around the grounds, reminding everyone on the first day back who was in charge, and Pete would be busy with that English kid. Zoe decided to visit one of her favourite spots down the dirt track next to Bullworth. She had often slipped away there when skipping lessons to smoke and meet with friends. Zoe passed the now slightly busy entrance to Bullworth, ignoring the frequent looks of the former classmates who recognised her, obviously wondering what she was doing back. Marching at a quick pace to a hill halfway down the dirt road, she sat down, pulled open a book, and lit a cigarette.
Zoe was deep inside a fictional world when she first heard something. Her cigarette, long finished, now lied as a butt beside her on the grass. Coming ever closer was the sound of somebody sprinting, and Zoe stood up in anticipating. A boy raced round the corner, before buckling over, hands on knees, trying to get his breath. He was wearing a bright blue Bullworth uniform, however Zoe couldn't tell who it was. The boy sat down on the opposite side of the small forested area she was sat. She could hear him light a cigarette.
"Way to ruin the peace and quiet" She said, judging him to not be a threat. The boy looked up in surprise, revealing himself as the English boy she had ran into earlier. "Didn't see you there. What are you doing here?" he asked, watching Zoe walk over to where he was sat. She sat down on the opposite hill facing him. His face was a flushed red, and he had fighting marks all over him. Zoe let out a laugh, and said, "that didn't take you long." She gestured towards his face, and asked, "how did that happen?"
"Some fuckers jumped me. I managed to get them back alright but I think I might have hit a prefect." Rupert explained, trying to act casual but showing his fear with his voice. Zoe's eyebrows went up, showing some amazement.
"I actually think you might have broken the record there. An hour in and you've already nailed a prefect. Nice one ..." Zoe's voice trailed off as she racked her brain for his name, "err, Robert?"
"Rupert. But I prefer Finchy."
"Ah. Rupert it is then." Zoe, said grinning. "So did you lose them?"
"They actually gave up quite easily." Rupert explained, releasing they gave up their chase far sooner than he had expected. "Do you think I'm in deep shit?"
"This place is crazy. If they don't catch you at the time, they probably never will." Zoe replied, laughing at Rupert's newness. "Give it a week, and you'll be used to the constant violence."
Rupert had a look of concern on his face, but decided to change the subject, "So you're Zoe right?"
"Sure am. Nice to meet ya Rupert." Zoe said, smiling at his reaction to the name.
"It's Finchy." Rupert insisted.
"Listen, you can be Rupert, or you can be Limey. But I'm not calling someone a name as stupid as Finchy." Zoe teased, enjoying the opportunity to speak to someone newer than herself. Rupert smiled at her.
"Alright ginge, Rupert it is. So what are you doing out here?" Rupert asked, testing the waters with this nickname. As expected, Zoe was having none of it.
"Call me ginge one more time and the prefects will be the last of your troubles." Zoe threatened, squaring up to the new kid. As she stood in front of Rupert, she felt a weird sensation. He was smirking at her in a non threatening way, eyes fixed on her own. For the first time Zoe had a proper look at Rupert. He was tall, fair haired and quite handsome. Not exactly model material, but he possessed an extra something special, something she couldn't quite put her finger on. They stood face to face for what felt like minutes but what couldn't of been more than ten seconds. Zoe, now trying to suppress blushing, moved away. Rupert decided to break the silence, sitting on the grass by him.
"Don't worry. You don't seem like the kind of girl I should be messing with." He said, retaking his seat on the grass. They sat in silence for a few moments, Rupert finishing a cigarette and Zoe fumbling around with her bag and a book. After stubbing his smoke out, Rupert commented on her book.
"Is that a book on the British romantics? Keats and Burns and all that?" He asked, having seen half of the front cover.
"It's for my English class." Zoe said bluntly.
"Have classes started already?" Rupert asked.
"No, but I know what will be on the course." Zoe explained, moving her bag next to her. Years at Bullworth had taught her to not admit to actually enjoying anything remotely 'nerdy'.
"I don't know too much about poetry," Rupert explained, rubbing his head, "I do like that Ode to a Mouse poem though, I think that's Burns." Rupert scratched his head, trying to remember some verse. It had been some time since he had read any.
"The best laid schemes, o' mice and men..." Rupert trailed off.
"Often go awry." Zoe finished, "I've just read that one."
"No that's not it, it's in Scotts..." Rupert said, finally remembering, "Gang aft agley."
"That's not what it says in mine." Zoe said, continuing, "The Scottish have their own language?"
"Not anymore, but they used to, sort of." Rupert explained, "I'm not sure if it actually counted as a language or just a dialect."
Zoe said nothing, but was quietly impressed by his willingness to talk about something serious. She knew it would no doubt get him into trouble, branded as a nerd and a loser, but she couldn't help but admire him for it. He didn't know that much, but at least he tried. Zoe decided to help him.
"You do realise if you go around talking about poetry you're going to get your ass kicked, right?"
Rupert nodded his head, the corner of his mouth lifting up into a wry smile.
"I'm not exactly going to go around talking about poetry y'know," he replied laughing, "I've already run out of things to say about it. Rupert cleared his throat and tested his luck, "Besides, you're the only poetry buff around this place."
Zoe looked at him with a scowl on her face, "I am not a poetry buff! It's for a class." She insisted. Rupert laughed at her frustration, earning him another mean stare. Despite giving him a look that if looks could kill would certainly do so, Rupert kept his slight smile and direct eye contact. Once again, Zoe found herself dropping her frown and felt unable to do anything but return his look. Unlike last time, she looked away quickly, soon changing the conversation.
"So how did you end up in America? You're a Brit, right?"
"Yeah, it's a long story." Rupert said, brushing the subject to one side. "I'm only here for a bit anyway. One year of this and then I'll go to university in England."
"So you're in your senior year," Zoe thought outloud, receiving a nod from Rupert, "me too."
"Oh nice. Good to know I've already made a friend to sit next to in classes." Rupert said, smiling at Zoe. She giggled uncharacteristically, and rebuffed him.
"I'm not sure about friend yet, try acquaintance." Zoe stood up, gesturing Rupert to do the same.
"Come on Limey, let's go to the hall. We need to go register for classes."
The two collected their belongings and began to walk back towards the school. It was a beautiful morning, and the pair were both in good spirits.
A/N:
Not sure if there are any of you out there, but I think I'm going to finish this story anyway. I can already see where it will go, and if you pay attention to this chapter, you might be able to figure it out too. It's been 2 years since I wrote the first chapter, but I promise the next one will be far sooner (definitely within the next week). So please review to let me know you're reading. Not that you have to say much, just a hi to let me know you're there! If one person enjoys this, then it will be worth it.
Until next time, take care.
- MJR.
