A/N A lot has happened in my life up to date and I apologize for my absence. I haven' given up on this story yet and I plan to see it to the end.
I appreciate all the kind words of encouragement reading them makes me literally feel like I can actually make something out of myself and be sucessful...so thank you all for that :')
Please read and review!:3
( I also would like to apologize for grammar/spelling ect. I got a new version of word basically and still getting used to it, plus I wrote it at 6 a.m, after not sleeping at all D: So my apologize ahead of time.)
Edit- My God, I severely apologize if you read the first published version. I glanced over it and noticed that my spell check doesn't work worth shit and slammed sentences together in places they should NOT be. -_- All fixed now though.
Chapter 12: Pay Off
Snow was falling and the beginning of December was perfect. The students of Bullworth all were in the festivities. Christmas was right around the corner. Stocking caps and scarf's littered the dorms.
I could barely keep my mind awake in Mr. Galloways class. It wasn't really necessary hough. I could have passed his class in my sleep. Finally the bell rang signalling that I had to go to Ms. Phillips photography class. It was a class that I actually enjoyed.
" Now class, I want you guys to bundle up and go out and take pictures of places that you consider scenic." She instructed as we all sat eagerly in our seats. We usually got to go specific places, but this...this was free reign.
There were a chorus of " Yea's!" and some groans. I huddled in between Jimmy, who for once was in attendance, and Petey, his pink undershirt barely visable peeking out of his slightly shorter jacket.
" where do you have in mind?" Petey inquired as Jimmy led the way.
" I was thinking we could get some shots at the graveyard, the pier, and maybe the town." he was saying, picking a far enough destination that it would be a chore getting to, his intent of stalling perfectly the pier...anywhere but there. Petey nudged me to get me to keep walking walkig. I followed closely behind Jimmy, trying not to slide on a patch of ice.
You know Petey, you should go on a legit date with Sophia."
Both Petey and I burned subconsciously realized that we had been walking close in an attempt to keep warm, but broke apart as soon as Jimmy said something.
I could never think of Petey like that...it was just too strange. The thin, lanky boy beside me was more like a brother than anything that He had.
"
N-n-no! Gary-"
" Fuck Gar, Petey. He doesn't care about Sophia."
I smacked at Jimmy in irritation. It was hard not to make a remark disagreeing with him. Knowing Jimmy, he wouldn't even believe me although it was the truth. Gary did care, somewhere deep inside that scarred body, he still cared about me...
Besides, no matter how hard Jimmy tried...it just wasn't like that with us. Gary knew it and Petey did too.
" It was just a suggestion...geez..." Jimmy coincided
" Great suggestion" Petey mumbled under his breath, rolling his eyes. What seemed like a half an hour went by before we were standing on a muddy slope that was neatly powdered with a touch of snow, as if no one had ventured down here in the weather to pay their respects to the waiting dead.
" You think Ms. Phipps would care if we missed second bell?" Petey's voice held an mistakable worry. Leave it to Pete to ask.
" Nah, it's last class of the day, so." Jimmy reminded him, as he looked around the graves.
We shot a few pictures of the snow covering the tombstones and a few of wilted flowers marking graves. The whole atmosphere was so somber. I was half expecting Jimmy to start making jokes about the dead or at least steal the flowers...but he said nothing as if his mind were on something, something that just so happened to be far, far away.
" Hey, look. I'm going to go to town to take a few shots, I'll meet you guys back at the school later after you get some shots of the pier."
I tried not to not to raise my eyebrows. By that he meant that he would be ditching us to go spend some one on one time with Zoe in town.
" Gotcha. I said grabbing Petey by the arm and wheeling toward the path that we had came from. The walk back was almost as silent as the walk to the graveyard. The silence was only interrupted twice. Once whenever Petey started coughing and the second whenever he spoke up.
" Gary still cares about you, you know. He might not say he does, but he does. I think it's eating him alive Soph."
" I know. He told me it'd be best if I stay away from him."
Petey looked surprised and mildly that Gary had left him out on the loop on that one.
" You don't want to go to the pier do you?" He asked softly. I shook my head. At least he got me. A stupid girl in love with a person that thought they were a monster. A stupid girl that was still dealing with a past pain and a new revelation. What a great person I was to be around I'll bet.
"Let's just go to the vale and take pictures-" We were already boarding the pier as we spoke. Might as well.
" Let's just get it over with..." I sighed. There had to be a point where I stepped up and stopped avoiding things that reminded me of Gary altogether. What was next, avoiding Jimmy and Petey because they used to all be good friends?
As soon as we got near the bottom of the bridge, I wished we hadn't. We weren't alone. A group of blue clad preppies were underneath the bridge, sheltered somewhat by the bridges tall protection against the wind.
" I say Bif, is that, that girl that Smith boy is infatuated with?"
Gord was begrudgingly handsome and posh in his Aquaberry sweater. He was also a little snot but that wasn't as noticeable as the first, at a glance.
He was walking closer now
"
You know, for a lower class female, you are not bad. Perhaps you'd go with me to the movies , it'd make mummy most cross and once again she'll raise my allowance-" he began.
Greedy, greedy bastard. Leave it to the preppies to say something like that though.
" I didn't think you even associated with 'low class females' let alone date them." I bemused.
" He sneaks around with Lola for God sake Soph. 'Low class female' can't get anymore low than that.
I couldn't stifle my laugh that burst forward. Since when did Kowalski start saying things like that in front of people?
" Why you little-"
" C'mon Gord. Calm down. I think it's best that we didn't date and if you don't mind, you can leave my best friend alone, alright?"
I nodded my head towards Petey to make my point.
Gord only shrugged, not missing a beat.
" I could buy you anything you wanted...oh well, I tried."
I could almost see Petey rolling his eyes even though I was standing in front of him.
" Come on Soph. Let's just take our picture and get out of here..." Petey mumbled.
" Maybe this all worked out, wouldn't you say Bif? After all, Smith did pay me to keep an eye on her. He'd probably hit me, that crazy loon-"
I hit him and I hit him hard...enough to make my knuckles crack. Bif's eyes were large in surprise and a few other preppies, one might have been Derby by the flash of blonde hair, were advancing.
" I'll make you eat your words you preppy douchewad!"
" Soph, C'MON." Petey yanked me away from Gord who was starting to tear up...and he was one that got in the ring? Could have fooled me.
" I will-" I began victoriously. I was tired of everyone pegging Gary as 'the loon' he thought so badly of himself already that he didn't need anyone else saying it.
" You won't." Petey said with finality.
" And what's this about Gary paying them?"
Petey sighed again. " He's been doing that ever since you, ya know...got pounded."
" Goddamn Gary-"
" Sophia...Shut up."
" Petey, fuck off-
" Let's play nice, ladies." Jimmy said coming upon us.
" Shut up, Jimmy." we both said in unison.
He raised his eyebrows. The look on his face was priceless. It was totally out of character for the both of us to get hot around the collar.
" Let's just go back to school." I managed pulling Petey along beside me, hoping that by taking his arm that he would take it to be the silent apology that it was. Petey and I never fought really, but for some reason he seemed really tense around Gord and the rest of the clique.
" Whatever you say ladies." Jimmy smirked at me.
" You've got hicky's on your neck, Jimmy."
" Well you would too if you weren't such a wuss." Jimmy berated Petey.
" By the way, you guys need to sneak me in the boys dorm, I need to tell Gary-" I interjected.
" I'm not helping you talk to that sociopath." Jimmy returned in disgust, it carried through his words and into his eyes. Before I had time to explain, he was already gone.
" Don't even other. Gary hasn't been hanging around in the dorm for a bit. I haven't seen him that much lately."
I said goodbye and headed for the observatory.
The fresh coat of snow was untainted by human marks there too. The darkening sky bullied the sun and stole the little bit of warmth that the sun had provided, leaving a frigid frost.
The observatory was drafty and big, though also seemingly empty.. My fingers stung from the chill of the big building so I crammed them into my coat jacket.
Gary had said not to talk to him unless I really needed him, but what would that constitute? Where was he? He seemed so far away, never had everything seemed so complicated to deal with, but with such simple words.
Gary Smith, where are you?
