For the sake of context: years ago, I wrote a lot of mini JimmyXTrent stories for an unknown reason. But again, I don't know why I didn't publish or back them up and when the computer they were on crashed and burned it took them all away and ruined a chance of me writing for the game itself.
But I remembered some details after all this time. Not all, so this story will be all over the place... I might make a sequel or something to flesh out the idea. Just know that this is based off multiple mini stories and attempting a single narrative. I hope that it's alright.
Also, I have someone else out there ships JimmyXTrent because if not... This will be kind of awkward otherwise.
Two Steps Back
( A Bully fanfiction typed entirely by The Chosen Storyteller )
The door to the boys' dorm flew open at eleven PM in a wind that triggered a dust cloud and the smell of potato chips. Pete tried to stop Gary from making a scene everywhere they went, he truly did. But from feebly grabbing his sleeve to constantly looking over his shoulder on the walk to and from the movie he was no match for the sociopathic energy.
No guilt about dragging him to and threatening to spread embarrassing rumors if he didn't accompany him. Because Gary didn't have real friends, let's be honest.
No guilt about taking a little girl's box of candy. At least there was some karma in Gary very briefly choking on a handful.
No guilt about loudly babbling when a couple sat in front of them, even after they took their baseball caps off.
No guilt about claiming Pete was the real loser for staying.
No guilt about casually strutting back to school when both would be very visible to the police in obvious school uniforms.
And now Pete desperately attempted to shush Gary as he stretched his arms, groaning as if fatigue finally caught up. Prefects didn't have to overhear; anyone would be able to bust them, and Pete didn't want Gary to drive his life into hell any more than he already had.
"I just returned alive from the worst movie experience of my life, and you're not getting me in trouble." Pete whispered, again, swatting at his lowering arm.
"Could've stopped me any time, Petey. That's your fault." Gary said between a large yawn, going from strutting to stumbling down the hall.
Pete caught up to him, at least stopping him from tripping over a pile of empty soda cans though he definitely deserved it. The medication, if he had any at all, must have kicked in because Gary had been much livelier when the movie insisted on many scenes of the female cast getting their clothes torn strategically or trying to seduce the male cast in exchange for protection from the killer...s. God, that twist didn't help a horrible movie.
Gary swiveled, red eyes begging for sleep but was determined to put his hands on Pete's shoulders and look at him actually seriously. "Do you normally go out with guys, or am I the exception? Because I couldn't help but notice you not giving a damn about the soft porn we were basically given at that ticket price. Not a bra in sight. And what were you doing?"
"Respectfully rebelling against the porn industry?"
"You make me sick-"
Before either of them could continue this "conversation", strange noises filled the dorm. Moans, Pete and Gary seemed to agree on exchanging shocked glances. Of course, a lair of hormonal teenage guys was going to have some of that behind locked doors, but this was coming from their sacred spot. The holiest spot, the closest thing they had to home. The couch.
They were both too startled to look, they seemed to be silently communicating effortlessly. The movie, the porn industry that probably had nothing to do with said movie if we're honest and heartfelt sexuality chat was all washed away now. Even though their wasted time would never be returned.
Gary's fatigue? Healed in an instant as he practically sprinted into the common room. Pete followed, wanting to cover his eyes or at least keep running until he hit a wall, but someone had to try reeling in Gary.
It was easy to see the head of blond hair first, followed by the distinct stained attire all the bullies were identified by. Trent. Pete wasn't too familiar with him when he was shoved in a locker or wastebasket for breathing his air, but the same couldn't be said for Jimmy pinned beneath actively encouraging Trent with arms around his waist and deepening their kiss as if their lips weren't already fused.
Pete wasn't even aware he was still gawking when Gary snapped out of his own trance to applaud even louder than he did when the surviving female character in the movie used her handcuffs to stop one killer.
The sound instantly had Trent's attention, making him sit up and eagerly look for the source. Never mind he was straddling a cursing, otherwise speechless Jimmy who ended up kicking his stomach just to rise from the compromising position. It was too late.
Chaos promptly ensued, voices mixing. If properly organized in chronology, it would have sounded like...
"Trent, you don't surprise me. Jimmy! I'm disturbed by that display!"
"That was worth applauding? Do you think I have a shot at romantic roles?!"
"You couldn't stay out just five more minutes?!"
"I just wanted to finish my homework and get an hour of sleep! I'm sorry!"
There were some muffled complaints from the rooms about all the shouting, which must have been music to Gary's ears especially as he stood there happily watching Trent get his hair back in place and Jimmy wipe his sleeve across his mouth as if to suggest this wasn't his idea.
"Didn't mean to interrupt, you crazy kids." Gary suddenly said, putting on a slightly deeper voice and reaching for Pete's shoulder to yank him closer. "Me and the wife really were on our way to bed, which you two really should be doing right now. By the way, James, clearly you can't keep it in your pants but have a little more discretion."
Pete didn't know who wanted to drop dead more. Oh, the fun never stopped for Gary and Trent was lost in his own fantasy land but... Jimmy seemed to be the last to notice his own arousal. But when he did, Pete wanted to dismiss everyone and let him escape but no one would have listened.
With Gary cackling, Pete trying to hide his face and Jimmy grabbing the nearest greasy pillow a light seemed to finally flicker in Trent's head. It was slow progress, and Trent was obviously not as accustomed to ending a problem without his fists but he tried to overcome the urge to get up and bash Jimmy's "friends'" skulls in by placing one of those hands on his shoulder comfortingly.
Jimmy was finished with everyone. He reeled from the touch, jumping to his feet seemingly unable to decide who to try looking at or who to try telling off. His words were barely coherent anyhow, but he obviously didn't want to look like he was fleeing although everyone knew. When he bumped into his room door, he didn't hesitate bursting inside to the tune of Gary's maniacal laughter.
"Jimmy, can we talk tomorrow-" Pete's hopeful request was cut off by the thunderous slam of his door.
In the aftermath of Gary wiping tears his eyes managed to genuinely produce while Trent appeared to misinterpret them and asked for an evaluation of his kissing technique Pete's heart sank.
Maybe he wasn't the brightest, okay, neither was Trent and they agreed curfew was the perfect time to meet up because the school sucked enough going to bed early and getting through the year was preferable than savoring this hell.
Of course, they had no plans to go at it on the couch, hell, Jimmy initially questioned if all the fights had done more damage up there than the doctors were willing to admit because when Trent was just sitting next to him with an arm pulling him close and rambling about... Musicals or dancing? Something fruity. Turns out when the guy's face didn't have that constipated expression mid-brawl, he was actually tolerable to look at.
And his arm was cozy.
And his delusions about being famous were charming.
And his attempt at seduction, direct unblinking eyes, was so sad it was funny Jimmy couldn't look away.
This was the same guy who wanted a fight the moment he stepped onto school grounds. It wasn't personal, but still.
Clearly, his head and crotch couldn't function at once. Trent should not have had him eagerly grabbing his shirt as he'd done in fights before, smashing teeth before their lips found each other. Was it Trent or just being horny? Jimmy would have been okay with the latter, not wanting to think anything else about Trent except he was obnoxious and strangely attractive. Obnoxiously attractive.
He woke up that morning with a welcome lack of dreams, so hopefully the "date" with Trent didn't have long-lasting effects. However, Jimmy gladly locked himself in his dorm as long as he could. He was going to get lectured for missing the morning classes, but he figured he could make up for them later once he could think clearly. Right now, all he could think of was whether to use violence or denial to stop the rumors Gary might cause. Jimmy wanted to include Pete, but there was a reason he hung out with the two of them. If he was cast away, he'd truly have no "allies" anymore.
Pete was independent and didn't need a clique. Yeah, no one believed that.
It was a few minutes shy of noon when Jimmy's growling stomach was impossible to deal with anymore. It had been trained to want food at this hour, damn it. He thought the back of stale chips by his bed would help, but no. No, he had no choice but to seek out something that kind of looked like food.
The cafeteria wasn't Jimmy's first choice for finding food, but when he poked his head in the stench from the kitchen didn't totally make his stomach shrivel so he decided to be risky. And hey, if he died on campus maybe the bad look for the academy would make it change its ways. No, they'd only care if some prep with a politician dad died. Scrap that plan.
Even at noon there wasn't much of a crowd, just nerds hovering around a game and jocks hollering about strategy. Jimmy managed to have himself a decent enough late breakfast of some off brand cereal that barely tasted better than air, but it was food, so he didn't complain. The cafeteria was almost peaceful.
And then Jimmy heard footsteps behind him, froze with the spoon halfway to his mouth as nervous breathing struck his ears. He knew who it was, felt a twitch in his eye already. But maybe it was best they talk... He would have preferred violence, but talking wasn't always a pain in the ass if things went his way.
"You can sit down." Jimmy told him, forcing his gaze to the deeply interesting rippling milk.
"I... Can?" Pete sounded like he expected to get thrown across the table, so Jimmy gave a creaky nod in return.
Don't make a big deal out of it, Jimmy thought, there wasn't a big crowd here and he was only gaining a reputation but still...
Pete made even creakier steps to the other side of the table, though Jimmy didn't look up though from the corner of his eyes he saw him seat himself kind of ladylike, honestly. But Pete was obviously not trying to be confrontational, and Jimmy tried to take another bite, but his chewing was agonizing sensing the friendly smile aimed at him.
No one knew how to not make it awkward, so Pete reached into his bag and withdrew a book. Jimmy had seen fists connect with his face, but an unexplained dark blue book with a snot green marker by a mass of string attached was close to sending him into fight or flight.
"God, can't you just say you don't want to be seen with me anymore instead of giving out books?" Jimmy didn't mean to groan as loud as he did, but with pushing the bowl away as he suddenly lost his appetite.
"No, I can't- No!" Pete groaned as well before explaining himself softly. "This is my dictionary; I marked the definition for a word that describes what's happening to you. I thought if you could see it's a real thing, you won't have to be embarrassed about what happened last night."
Jimmy let two fingers slide on the sides of one eye, hoping it collected all the disgust that Pete should have felt for him and was blazing with it.
Pete seemed to get the message immediately, frantically waving his hands. "Okay sorry for misinterpreting, Jimmy. I'd just returned from the death of film with the devil himself; give me a break!"
After a moment, both exhaled exhausted already. Jimmy dropped his arms on the table, leaning over risking a sore back as Pete flipped open the dictionary. At this point, Pete didn't officially say whether he was still going to spend his precious free time with him but the atmosphere around them was almost chill as the dictionary's page was revealed in the B section.
"Bisexual." Pete murmured when his brain sparked at word overload.
"'Having both male and female'- Pete!"
"This definition!"
"'Sexually attracted to'-"
This time his brain sparked like light returning after a blackout. Jimmy never had the patience for solving a puzzle, but he imagined this was the feeling of conquering the damn thing. And he knew it shone on his face; Pete's own lit up and made him suddenly deeply self-conscious.
He wanted to flip the table and storm out of the room, but not with witnesses around.
"And you might think Trent's gay and just talks about girls to throw everyone off, but he's probably bisexual too. There's no way to know how many students at this school are." Pete sounded like he discovered a cancer cure the way his tone instantly changed to happiness.
"Nah, that doesn't fit me." Jimmy said, attempting to subtly rise from the chair. His feet were ready to bail any moment, but Pete didn't seem to notice as he stared at him blinking confusedly.
Pete would wait for the rest of the school year, but he would have that very logical and straight explanation as to how Trent of all people got him hard. The fact Pete was too much of a prude to actually say it like that was no comfort. Jimmy had to provide some kind of BS though, not run away because he was no coward.
"There's no way in hell Trent would pull me out of the closet even if I did like guys. Besides, I've never been confused about liking girls even if they only sometimes felt the same. Off the top of my head, I can think of a lot more I'd like to do with boobs than... Which part would you- Dick?"
The fact he was even talking about that casually in the middle of the cafeteria wasn't what cut off his denial, let alone his cheeks burning and making his case for not caring about what happened blow up in his face.
"You don't have to prove anything right now. I just wanted you to know you're not alone, that even if the whole school knew... So? If we have a very bisexual student body, that just means more romance opportunities if you're into that." Pete said obviously unrehearsed but still giving his honest opinion.
"I've only ever heard of straight or gay." Jimmy admitted. "Not picking a side sounds kind of slutty, to be honest."
"I wouldn't say-"
"Don't. I'll rip the pages out and stuff them down your throat."
Pete nodded to that, but the atmosphere felt... Light? Jimmy was surprised to not want to run, like it did help to talk about it and the other tables were so obnoxiously loud they didn't care what the outsiders were talking about. Jimmy mentally threw the word around, still not sure what it meant but not finding it offensive. Still, he didn't want to be interested in the wrong people-
"There you are!" Gary's voice erupted across the cafeteria before he stormed over. "Thought you two could have a meet up without me?! You're making me lose faith in our brotherly bond!"
There was nothing to do but let Gary twirl a chair, sit in it backward and looked between them with an obnoxiously smug face. Jimmy slowly sat down, slouching to not look phased by his presence even though they both knew what he was capable of doing with last night's memory. Pete was willing to let his disgust be obvious, though Gary wasn't targeting him today.
"So, about last night..." Gary made sure he drew out the words, no soul behind his eyes. "You wanted Trent to-"
"Gary, you don't even have to say it." Jimmy snarled, making Gary's eyes brighten and Pete shake his head grimly.
"Why don't you give me the details, Jimmy?" Gary asked, hand resting on his cheek ready for his story time.
"Jimmy, he doesn't deserve-" Pete attempted to speak up.
"The adults are talking, Petey." Gary interrupted, carelessly making a zip motion his way and ignoring the middle finger in return.
Jimmy knew he was slow to understand, but in this case he immediately knew not to let Gary know he willingly set it up with Trent. That they had been having almost friendly moments lately, moments that had him feeling sickeningly fuzzy. It was better he think this was some kind of weird romance.
Weird as in you probably won't have the healthiest relationship with someone you had to throw on the ground first meeting. Though a concussion could explain Trent's willingness to put that in the past.
"There's nothing between me and Trent, never will be. I thought he looked okay in dull lighting, and he couldn't complain about my face with our eyes closed. We needed the same thing, we got it." Jimmy explained as calm as possible, even with fists curling under the table prepared to swing at any time. When he saw that Gary was still giving him room to speak and even Pete was listening curiously there was pressure to go on. "So that's how it happened. If he was a girl, it wouldn't have been any different. Just empty... Making out. Nothing complicated."
Jimmy would have added even more, but he heard his voice falter and realized his eyes kept avoiding theirs. They probably didn't believe when he said it wasn't complicated, was he in disbelief?
Gary eventually nodded solemnly. "So, when you're desperate enough, boys get you excited?"
Pete looked done with this, but Jimmy gave him a signal to stay. The dictionary would come in handy, nice and heavy.
"What do I possibly gain lying about that?" Jimmy snarled back at Gary as he leaned closer. "What do you want me to tell you? I would have gotten him to blow me if you didn't interrupt us? Maybe I would have. You think you humiliate me with that information, but you can't. No one gives a damn what or who I'm doing since you're stuck on my back."
"Humiliation might be fun for you, though. Ever consider that?"
Pete was frantically saying something, probably scolding Gary and begging Jimmy not to listen.
But Gary was only focused on maintaining eye contact, and Jimmy couldn't look anywhere else. Gary went on to grab his chin with a stranger's gentleness.
"But you won't get humiliation from me; I'm your friend even if I make you nervous being such a hot piece of ass."
Pete collapsed or something... Jimmy only heard ringing and Gary's stupid rambling.
"I want to help you get what you want, though it's not with me." Gary told him, giving a sleazy smile. "I already had a productive meeting with Trent myself, nothing like the performance last night but he's just as easy to win over with charisma like mine. So, any time you want to arrange something better, maybe even go all the way... Let me know; I'll get back to him."
Jimmy didn't even try saying anything, knowing all that information needed to set in. Gary couldn't help but see that, used the opportunity to finish with a simple question.
"Did I get you hard?"
Gary got his head slammed to the table with as much force as Jimmy could muster.
He heard a faded voice, unsure if it was asking him to wake up or chase the darkness. The terrible movie had clearly damaged his sanity, but Pete forced his eyes to crack open before he let out a raspy gasp while some grimy calloused fingers forcefully peeled it the rest of the way.
"I've got brain trauma!" Gary's voice boomed much more clearly on the other side of the musty off-white room. "How did I get here-"
"Hopkins, cover him with the curtain while I step out." The nurse nonchalantly said halfway out the door. "Darkness works on my sister's loud-ass parakeet."
"Can do."
There was a rustle of curtain, and Gary's suspiciously coherent ranting about his injury was instantly silenced.
The lighting was as terrible in the nurse's office as anywhere else, but Pete finally focused his attention on Jimmy and wished he could be unconscious again seeing the stormy expression. He sat up best he could, however, trying to ease tension with a forced smile. He was going for casual when he asked for the time, but Jimmy flopped down at the foot of the bed as if exhausted with everything.
"Jim-"
"Pete-"
Their eyes awkwardly landed on each other, not leaving because both had something to say. It was just a matter of who was passive enough to let their chance to speak pass them by, of course it was Pete.
Jimmy was slouching on the foot of the bed, hesitating before he got the words out. "You know you slammed your head under the table? Nurse said you're probably not having 'brain trauma' for real, but you should stay to make sure."
Pete nodded slowly, certain that after head injuries the memory should be tested but... He wasn't surprised a meeting with "friends" disguised as the nurse wanting to get away in general was the Bullworth method. Still, he definitely knew who sat on the bed and who was more than likely completely healthy in the other. He vividly remembered what led up to this; he hoped Jimmy wasn't letting Gary undo the slight progress.
The door whooshed open before they could have a low budget sentimental talk, causing Pete and Jimmy to look up at the visitor together. The blond hair trying not to look intentionally styled and stained uniform from dirt and maybe even dried blood of fights long past gave him away easily. And for some reason... Pete didn't believe he would receive so many visitors even if his last breath was ripped out of his lungs.
He thought that, but Trent gnawed on the inside of his cheek nervously and could barely meet either pair of eyes as he approached the other edge of the bed. Pete couldn't help thinking it was notable he chose to be able to see his face while the back of Jimmy's head was obviously unreadable for him.
Jimmy didn't make it easier moving into conversation, glowering at the floor as if it were therapeutic. "Pete's fine, Gary's... Gary. I know you just followed me here like a damn stalker."
"What if I care about them?" And now that he voiced that retort, Trent put his acting ability to the test instantly leaning over to Pete with unfortunate placement of his hand on his thigh. "I'm glad you'll live, Steve. Also, I need your help to talk to a certain stubborn someone in this room."
Pete looked between Trent's impassive face and the hand on his thigh, realizing it had been a while since he felt nothing at all. Everything was drained, leaving him slumping against the pillows giving the two some space especially when Jimmy suddenly twisted to see them with flaring eyes.
"You're such an ass, you know?" Jimmy had to take a moment to sort out of his thoughts, obviously. But the hesitation didn't make his snarl less damaging to what should have been a soothing atmosphere even they were still on Bullworth property.
Trent joined Pete in looking to Jimmy, rolling his eyes with a huff.
Jimmy was leaning forward too, avoiding crushing a quick thinking Pete's crotch with his elbow alone as it instead pressed deep into the mattress between his legs. "Why can't we just stay away from each other?"
"Do you want me to stay away or do you want to talk? I can't read you!" Trent spat, fuming equally.
Pete looked between them helplessly, but also quickly losing comfort with his back and neck badly supported and legs spread. He would have been happy for Jimmy if they could work out their problems right then and there and upgrade their nonexistent relationship.
When Jimmy hesitated to reply, Trent broke the silence with a genuinely exhausted sigh. "I don't want the bullies to get all those gay jokes like the jocks, so I... You know, I'm not going to let the world know what I do with guys. I had a feeling someone would find us at the dorm, hopefully get scared and not tell anyone."
Trent's eyes fell to Pete, making him flinch to his dismay. When he saw narrowing eyes as if to intimidate him, he wasted no time flailing his hands back and forth hoping to assure him he was just a bystander.
Jimmy grabbed Trent's shoulder, redirecting his gaze to him. There was no aggression in his touch, flickers of hellfire in his eyes. He just needed his attention where it should have been; Pete found it difficult to believe it was a move to remove him from this awkward confrontation but wanted to.
"You can't read me?" Jimmy had reason for disbelief; he never claimed to be the most perceptive in the room. His face was scrunched with displeasure of where this visit was going.
He would have been fully convincing if a strained beginning of inappropriate laughter escaped.
"Trent, you're the one practicing for freaking Hollywood every mirror you can find. Yeah we've noticed, get over it. I'm the one suffering when you come around!" Jimmy might have said more than intended, given the outburst at the end. But he didn't react to it, just waited for Trent's response.
It came fast in a self-conscious whisper, frustration from earlier entirely cooled off. "Hey, I don't want you to hate seeing me."
Jimmy fought off self-consciousness from his own face. Badly. His own words were exaggerated with huffs. "You're okay to put up with."
Pete exchanged a glance with Trent, noticed his eyes positively shine with all the information he needed from one comment.
"Just okay?" Oh no, it went to his head immediately.
Pete braced himself to dodge a punch, breaking out in a sweat seeing Jimmy's hand twitch and gather the blanket in his fist.
Trent really, really had no idea what he was doing leaning in to bat his eyes in his face.
And Jimmy, well, his facial muscles were in the fight of their life not to reveal anything positive. Look angry, disgusted, bored...? Just don't smile, because one little lip quirk would be enough to send a goofy lovesick grin and Trent's inability to read him would be firmly established as just... Low intelligence.
"You... Exist. Guess I don't... Not like that."
"Yes?"
"You... Don't suck at kissing, we got that out of the way."
"Yes?"
"And we... I don't know..."
No one but Trent could have held so much hope in their eyes, so much so Pete was amazed realizing it wasn't acting. He could have easily denied interest just in case Jimmy wasn't on the same page, just in case slurs were thrown around.
"I don't know." Was Jimmy's final comment before he reeled away, not just off the bed but he turned and exited with as much composure as possible.
Pete knew he crossed the line of overly invested when he joined Trent in calling out for him. Like they'd all been swept up in an afternoon soap.
He hadn't counted the days since he actually talked to Trent- No, more like Trent coming out of nowhere and clinging to him until he was done rambling about his hopes for getting into some production that would never realistically pick up stray students. Like... He cared about the guy's hopes and dreams. Trent never asked what he wanted in life. So, what if he wouldn't answer, anyhow?
He didn't care if he was spending most time alone. Suddenly, people were actually curious enough to talk to the new guy. It would take Gary screwing off to do that, wouldn't it? In the end, Jimmy was all alone again since he certainly couldn't look Pete in the eye after that terrifying close call with feelings... Leading back to Trent.
Well. Well, he really was fine. Did he look pissed? That's just the face he was born with. Did he slouch a lot? Yeah, some kicks and tackles on the spine every other day would do that. If he stole glances at Trent, that's because Trent was being a total asshole and getting in the way when he only wanted to look in a certain direction. But of course, he was the stupid one if you asked half the teachers and Gary while Trent's head was screwed on backwards okay so that's how it was. Ahem.
In the end, smashing Russell's head into the wall a few times with the occasional speech included meant the bullies had accepted Jimmy. And he hated that his mind immediately went to Trent making guest star appearances, waiting outside the dorm just for a chance to see him or leaning over his shoulder when he attempted homework and actively turned on the charm in his own head.
It felt like Jimmy had been almost making friends out of the rest of the group. It felt like Trent was drifting, whatever that meant. It took too much energy denying he was hoping to see him even in passing outside the school. There were too many close calls of his mind wandering when left alone in his room with nothing to do. Trent stopped sounding like a damn real name because of how often he thought of it.
One day, Jimmy just happened to be around the movie theater when Trent was there... With Kirby. Maybe it should have been a bigger thing than it was, in the moment at least. It happened so suddenly that Jimmy really couldn't process what he was looking at, with Trent and Kirby being dumbasses running away like the closet at this school wasn't big enough to hold them.
And that was the last Jimmy saw of the guy. Again, the other bullies kept coming around just to talk like they'd been friends for life up to now. He hated the idea they knew the history; it was better off assuming they just didn't have anything better to do. And when Jimmy swore he caught Trent in the corner of his eye, he made sure not to check for real.
There was no loss here. Experiments were made... Science shit. Just like this science homework, not to mention various other subjects he couldn't be bothered to pretend to care about that needed to be done. If learning distracted him from Trent, so be it.
There was never a relationship.
There was never going to be a relationship.
It was just an experiment.
This didn't bring him any comfort.
It wasn't until Jimmy had gotten a row of A grades that the fog lifted long enough for him to realize something was wrong. He'd accidentally dropped the card revealing the "self-improvement" he was expected to have when he first arrived. Then the fog returned, making him not give a shit if anyone knew he could kind of speak English every now and then or avoided blowing up the school when offered chemicals. He didn't care... Until he reached down for the card that landed at the bottom of the stairs until a sneaker stomped on it.
"Hey."
Just one word. Jimmy couldn't believe the instant effect on his chest, a sickness like he might barf on his shoes. That would have been a perfect end to this encounter, but it wasn't meant to be...
Trent swooped in and took the card before he could since he hadn't answered. He didn't say anything else, didn't even read the grades out loud as if there was another Hopkins he hadn't met.
Really, just seeing his face made him tired. Jimmy cast his hand out, ripping the card from his grasp and pushed past him. He didn't have anywhere to be right now but locking himself up away from background noise sounded okay.
"Jimmy!"
Hey, the actor couldn't tell he was pretending not to hear. Honestly, Jimmy didn't mind if he followed after like that... Hearing him sound stressed out while they both speed walked across the yard was slightly annoying but not awful. It was just fair to give back some of what he'd done, whether the goddamn idiot even realized why he wasn't so eager to talk.
If anyone wondered why they were making a dramatic scene across the yard, they kept it to themselves for once. Welcome change of pace.
There was no break until Jimmy arrived at his dorm room, having held back words this entire time. He wasn't stopped from stepping in, and there wasn't even a hand on the door to stop him from slamming in those eyes that had no business being so worried. Worried about what? It would have been best not to know. Jimmy had much more aggressive words on the mind, but that's not what he finally breathed.
"Why can't you go away?" Jimmy hoped the question just sounded tired rather than... Anything else.
Trent's eyes lit up, making him stupidly cute for a second. He world was in order when he was back to just looking like a jackass, breathing all the air in his doorway. "I just wanted to know if you saw anything at the movies the other day. You know, Kirby and a guy with fantastic hair dressed kind of like me."
"Yes!" Trent stepped back at his tone, enough for a space to show Pete in the background looking up from a notebook confusedly.
If Pete was there, it was safe to assume the dorm wasn't totally empty right now. But from Jimmy's eyes, his own mind, only Trent stood caught up in a red filter like the blood that'd shoot out his nose if he didn't exist somewhere else. Anywhere else. And Jimmy was well aware of his fist holding the door rather than taking a swing and getting this over with.
Jimmy's other hand reached for and successfully caught a bunch of the lower half of Trent's shirt to pull and hold him close. And they weren't eye to eye, not even close. But given Trent's uncomfortable cringing looking down into what Jimmy assumed to be crazy eyes it worked out.
"I've got so many fucking things I could do with my life than gossip about you and Kirby. If it's okay with you, and I don't give a damn if it is, let's just never talk about it again. It doesn't matter, really, nothing does when you're around. The bullies aren't the worst I could spend my time with, except for you. I think we've got no reason to ever talk again. So just... Just..." The rant began so heated, and Jimmy heard his deceptively calm tone fade as it went on. Until no more words came out. Because... He didn't know how he would tell Trent to fuck off without saying just that.
Jimmy's hand reeled before he was ready, clumsily reaching for and missing the doorknob before he stepped back and gave a good slam to end this already.
Was he frozen? Not really. There was no reason for standing there in the stoner-like trance as if he actually expected Trent to burst right in or maybe even knock.
"Good." Came a muffled reply that had Jimmy's blood boiling by the second. "If people spread rumors about me and Kirby, the person I'm really into might get pissed."
There was another stretch of silence where Jimmy was convinced he finally left, but no.
"Um, this person... It might be a relief to know I'm available?"
Jimmy didn't have the patience nor desire to deeply question why that made him want to punch a hole through the door. Shockingly, without the intent to strike Trent. Perhaps, basically, advertising he and this other person weren't official was salt in the wound. If someone actually wanted that guy, they definitely had all the time in the world to try.
The next stretch of silence was too agonizing to even try describing. But there was improvement when Trent let out a long sigh.
"Well, if you ever want to come around-"
"I had no plan to."
Trent made an offended huff that time.
"If we don't see each other much, for whatever reason, I want to make it a graceful ending-"
"Interesting how you say that; you've avoided me until now. When any chance you're straight falls apart."
Silence all over again.
After a while, Jimmy risked cracking the door open. The face on the other side was concerned, but it was also Pete's.
"Are you-"
The door slammed.
Jimmy honestly didn't know what the hell to do after that. There was one emotion he didn't want to admit existed, another had the room boiling in a way he could safely deflect and say that was just anger. Yeah, he was used to that. He didn't have an outlet, but at least he acknowledged it.
"I wish you'd let me have a one-sided conversation, at least!" Pete tried to get through on the other side. "Trent left, but no one else is around. I might not know anything about romance, but-"
"If I let you in, you can't say shit like that!"
"Okay!"
More silence, but this time because Jimmy stumbled his way across the room to a mirror and couldn't help thinking the angry mug many have so kindly pointed out wasn't necessary.
"Okay... What, you're going to stand around while I cuss out Trent? What do you get out of this?" It was stalling, but he didn't know if his tone stayed firm enough to get away with it.
And Pete's response was quick with a strained laugh. Jimmy caught his reflection again, sure not to let him or anyone into this room as long as he was going to be so fucking nervous. Never mind the instant flush definitely from rage.
"It's just like I said: I don't know anything romance, maybe I don't even want to. But I'd like to think we're still friends, and even if you don't like talking about your feelings at least have someone to 'cuss out Trent' to." Pete had no business sounding meek when those words were like inner thoughts shit, in Jimmy's mind at least. That would get a guy kicked in the kidney, surely.
The door cracked open, but Pete didn't overreact to it. Jimmy pretended to be annoyed he was so comfortable with coming in, politely shutting the door and everything, before awkwardly standing in the middle of the room in front of him.
Jimmy peeked from the hand he'd tried to bury his face into.
Pete smiled at him in a hopeless attempt to break the tension.
Well, it was never going to be easy.
In the end, Jimmy got a grasp of his sleeve and dragged him to the bed. That would sound unusual for their relationship out of context, but at least they shared knowledge it was the most cringe-inducing platonic shit of Jimmy allowing him to have a seat and get cozy for a rant from the very beginning.
For all of Jimmy's attempts to hate every moment of this, he didn't.
And, surprisingly, Pete seemed glad to be of use. If all he could do was listen to rants about other people's struggling love lives, he was on a good path. He was no fairy godmother to get him out of this hell, but the listening was actually appreciated. The future was so unclear, would probably get worse from now on...
But if it didn't, were they even attending Bullworth? Best remember what they were caught up in, be realistic.
Fin