Chapter 10

Gary was taking in the sun shine from the abnormally warm day in fall with a light jog around school grounds, the sky was filled with fluffy white clouds, the trees were almost naked, Gary could hear his own feet smacking against the ground louder the people around him, between the steps he could hear birds tweeting. The grounds where pretty lonely as almost everyone was in class, he was with out Cats company for a bit as she was taking extra math. Every now and then he would wave to a passer-by, a strange action he wasn't use to before. As he made his way passed the library, Gary decided to jump the wall inside of making his way round the path. Walking across the dirty dorm court yard he almost tripped over a ball, kicked over by Dan and Trent. He tapped it back and gave them a quick wave as he walked back up the steps.

The fresh smell of the air disappeared quickly, it was replaced by a stale smell of prepubescence skink. He almost regretted closing the door behind him self. As Gary looked down the poor lit hall to the common room door, Gary noticed Petey leaning against the wall next to the Tv, Petey had his left hand hanging out of his pocket, his feet were crossed, his right hand reached in to his back pocket of his jeans, to Gary's surprised they had oil stains on and pulled out a scrunched up packet of cigarettes. He held them towards Gary as an offering.

"How are we all today?" Gary reached for one and sat on the back of the sofa, his grubby white trainers dug in to the scratchy sofa. Zoe was sat on the left hand side of him, holding a coushion to her stomach. Johnny sat on a chair back words, fiddling with a lighter between his fingers. He placed the cigarette in his mouth and motioned for Johnny's Lighter. He took a long slow drag and released it with satisfaction. "What ? no reply? No joy? No gossip? Jesus, you lot are boring this morning"

They all looked at each other uncomfortably, "by god people, speak. Who died?"

"Sorry, Gaz. We was just talking about what we saw the other week with Cat and Jimmy. We didn't know if it was something you spoke about yet." Johnny said lighting up himself. Watching Gary's actions, he raised eye brows and gestured his hands forwards towards him as if to say 'proceed with your conversation' Johnny was unsure how to explain and was worried about upsetting Gary. "Zoe, why don't you explain, you could probably do it better than me"

"Um, okay." She shifted slightly more towards Gary. She was pulled at the edges of the cushion she was holding. "Well, we was coming back over the bridge and I was on the phone with Petey to see if he heard anything but there was no luck. Johnny stopped just passed the sandy path, that goes to that little beach, you know the one. At first we didn't hear anything and then we heard shouting" Zoe tried to mimic shouting in a sort of hushed voiced, she tried to repeat what she heard from Cat's mouth. "she was shouting no, Jimmy. No I don't want this." Zoe teared up slightly. " as we got to her, he was on top and she was fighting as much as she could, she was crying her eye's out. I honestly don't know what would have happened if Johnny wasn't there to tackle him off of her."

Gary's face had gone cold, he hadn't moved his hands for a few minutes. They was clasped together and his knuckles where turning white. He just stared at the black tv in front of him, he surprisingly spoke. "How has she been since?" He said in a low growl.

"Honestly Gary, she's been terrible. When she wakes up, she's straight to the bathroom being sick. She'll be half way through a meal and she's heaving, she's been so emotional. She hasn't been her self at all."

Johnny threw another smoke towards Gary, he looked like he needed it. "My self and Petey, have been talking about the stuff he was shouting about when we was getting Cat out of there. Despite the scrum bah=g making claims that she wanted him" Gary looked at Johnny with fury, Johnny stumbled his words as he spoke. " ah, well, well. Mm he, he was trying to tell us that this means war between you. He's got this stupid idea in his head that you're still trying to take over, so he has declared war like some crazy dictator. Petey thinks he knows what he was on about" AS Johnny motioned for Petey to take over he noticed a prep by the common room door.

It was Gord, he had his back towards them but he was slightly turned. He had his phone out, Johnny couldn't see very well but it seemed like he was recording something, was it their conversation. Gord looked behind him slightly and put his phone away. He straightened him self out and made a swift walk towards the door. Johnny pulled out his phone and looked for peanuts number 'watch over the preps house for me, tell me if you see Gord and what he does. Spread the word.'

"Wait, if there's a juvie school in blue skies, how come we've never heard of it before?. I live there surely I would of known about it ?" Zoe said looking over at Petey with confusion.

"it's a little out the way though, I think jimmy volunteers there, prior to Crabblesnitches instruction. I don't actually know what he does there though, neither of them ever told me." Petey went to speak again but the bell rang. He watched Gary jump up. "where you off to Gary?" he shouted after him as he walked away.

Gary turned around and looked at them. "Look head to the football field, I'm meeting Cat then we are heading there to do some laps. We can talk more there. Maybe she will open up about what happened if she's got it out of her system." Gary juggled his grey jogging bottoms pockets for his phone. Tapping the outside, he could only feel his own cig packet and matches. As he opened the door and took a whiff of fresh air cleaning his nose of the staleness of the dorm, he remembered he placed it in his socks. Bending down to pick it out, he noticed Jimmy at the cross path. Anger grew inside of him. Forgetting his phone Gary decided to follow him inside.

He was quickly as not to bring attention to him self, he shoved students out of his way as he made his way up to the steps of the main building. He shoved Sheldon to his left and heard a prefect shout something at him. Gary didn't care, he wasn't even listening. The school was flowing with students. Gary almost lost Jimmy as he looked round like a panicked cat. He saw the ginger buzz cut head cut walk in to the assembly room.

Cat could see Gary standing amongst the students looking round, he was easy to spot in his grey Bullworth T-shirt and grey bottoms. She was trying to see what he was looking at as he wasn't outside her class like he said he would be. She watched him dart underneath the level she was standing on. Avoiding seeing her father, she made her way towards the large scuffed up stairs that lead to the large logo of the school. As her hand touched the sticky brown banister rail, she heard shouting from the door behind. She stayed a moment, looking through the wooden bars in front her, staring at the bottom of the trophy case. Taking in the dirty dusty floor, she turned around and headed to the balcony door.

Before entering she took a quick look around so she wouldn't get caurght, she slowly pushed the door open, she could hear Jimmy telling someone to get out and to leave him alone. She creep down the isle, the room was dark and it was hard to make out any features around her, it was almost suffacting. The only lights where on stage, to which Jimmy was standing. There was varis ropes and pullies around his feet, a couple of stage lights to one side and some stage speakers on trollies waiting to be moved. As she reached the golden rails that was wrapped around the balcony, she peered over. About fifteen feet away from the stage was Gary. She gasped quietly to her self. "what the hell is he doing" she whispered.

"Seriously ?! SERIOUSLY, your just going to tell me to go away Jimbo. I should be kicking your goddamn head for what you tried to pull" Gary shouted over to him.

"Well, Scarface. I'm right here. Ready to go" Jimmy raised his out and he stood to face Jimmy.

Gary laughed. "hooo ooohhh you'd love that wouldn't you jimmy?! You'd want me out the way. Because that means you could get to Cathryn easier, you predator" Gary growled.

"WOW, real rich coming from the guy who has his own room reservation in happy volts. God knows what she see's in you. Probably some stupid hussy seeking attention by dating you." Jimmy back down and started attending the ropes again.

"I may have gone a little out of control but I didn't try to commit rape you fucking dirtbag. You crossed a whole new line, I should fucking kill you" Gary took a step forward slightly.

"HA, she wanted it, she wanted me. I could see it in her eyes Gary. She had to fight. She couldn't have her precious pet dog think she was getting her jolly's else where could she." Jimmy laughed at Gary.

Gary clenched his fists, the anger inside of him was almost over whelming, he wanted to kill jimmy but on school grounds was not the place and it was his word against Jimmy's. "One day, your going to be by your self, away from anyone, where no one can hear you…but me, I'll be there waiting and that'll be it Jimbo. No more games. No more fights. That'll be it." Gary walked off leaving Jimmy with his final throught.

As Cat snuck back out the way she came In, taking in what she just heard she didn't see the figure standing In front of her. She landed on her rump quite hard, "damnit why didn't you warn me you was there you moron." She looked up and saw her father standing over her.

"Well, that's rather rude of you considering you bumped in to me sweetheart." He leant out his hand to help her up. "Are you okay?" he asked.

"Thank you dad, yes I'm fine. I think I'm more surprised if anything." She said dusting off her skirt. "Oh actually it's good I ran in to you. Did you speak to mum ?"

"No, I haven't why? We've not managed to catch each other on the phone." Crabblesnitch said squinting his eyes at his young daughter.

Cat started to play with her feet and mentioned to her dad to walk with her. " Well, Uncle Luca had an accident at work and he's in hospital, his wife, Lizzie is away. Her mom is on her death bed. So mums gone up to Delaware to look after their hoard of kids and help out with uncle Luca when he gets out of hospital" spoke with slight sadness as they reach the main entrance to the school. "Soo, mom wanted to know if it was okay if I stayed here for the holidays, she thinks it'll be better because of us getting on, with my friends and Gary being here to." She stood at a stand still looking up at her dad, awaiting his response.

"Just you, no mom? You'll be staying here with me for Christmas this year?" Crabblesnitch was a little shocked.

"Yeah, if that's okay of course?" she said looking hopeful.

"yes, yes. Yes of course. Its brilliant actually. We will get a proper tree, brand new decorations" Crabblesnitch was talking joyously.

"Oh wow, dad okay" she laughed.

"It'll be great and tell you want, just to sweeten the deal for you. Why don't you invite Gary's family and your friends. We will throw a party, this is a big thing" he placed a hand on her shoulder. " how does that sound sweetheart?" he smiled warmly.

"Do you know what dad?" she smiled warmly back. "That sounds really great. Does that mean Johnny and lola can come?" she asked with a little bit of cheek.

"Of course, I'm sure they're rough outing is just fashion." He chuckled at her. "Now, what are your plans for today? How are your friends and with Gary? Ms. Peabody mentioned she's seen you in the bathroom a few times being sick." He mentioned curiously.

"Everyone is good, Gary's great. He's been going to counselling but you know that. Erm, yeah. About that. I think I've just eaten something dodgy and it's taking a while to get out of my system. It's nothing to worry about. Anyway dad. Im meeting everyone at the football field. We're going to run some laps, do a work, healthy body, healthy mind and all that" she said starting to walk away.

"That's good to hear. I'll see you later sweetie" he waved her off then crossed his hands behind his back.

Cat looked around, the school grounds where filled with life. The day was beautiful. No clouds to be seen and the sun was lovely and warm, not even a touch of wind to leave a chill. she thought to her self as she walked around to the bull fountain that this will most likely be the last warm day before the holidays come. She stopped at the stone steps and took a deep breath of fresh air in.

She closed her eyes to bask in the sun a moment, but her peaceful moment was ruined by the sound of stomping cleets. "what the hell?" she said turning around, the entire football team, was in full gear running in lanes of three towards her. She stepped to the side as they came down the steps in numbers. "Kirby, what the hell are you guys doing?" she shouted towards the swarm of blue and white but no reply. The only sounds was grunting and in time running of their steps, she watched them go. They headed out of the car park, without breaking step, without looking round, not even tripping up their team mates. "Fucking jocks" she said turning towards the fountain.