Chapter Text
It was Autumn, the start of a new school year, a chance at a new beginning, and yet Bullworth was the same. Despite Jimmy’s brief efforts to make the school better, it seemed like nothing was changed. The Bullies were still terrorizing the younger students and the Jocks were beating the shit out of the Nerds. The only rivalry that seemed to be quenched was with the Preps and Greasers, surprisingly, since Pinky and Lola started dating, they’ve had to stop them from fighting as much.
Otherwise though? Bullworth was Bullworth.
Jimmy was laying on his bed, looking around his room, decorated with the various trophies of his Sophomore year, though Petey had convinced him to throw away the panties when he saw them. He smiled to himself and closed his eyes, he felt that this year would be leagues smoother than the last, he was staying in a school for a change, everyone respected him here, and no more Gary.
He remembered that night on the roof, he didn’t know how either of them survived, but they both only went away with bruises and shallow cuts. He remembered how when Gary became conscious he kicked and screamed at the orderlies dragging them to a van waiting to take him to Happy Volts.
He couldn’t lie, he felt a small pang of guilt at them sending him there, he knows how fucked up Galloway was afterwards and he wasn’t even there that long, Gary being in for three months was insane to think about, he was already unstable as it is…
His thoughts were interrupted by a quick knock on his door, he was about to get up and answer when they let themselves in anyways, the most he could do was sit on the edge of his rickety bed.
“James, I hope to God that you’re decent.”
Jimmy cracked a grin, “I mean not morally, but I have pants on, if that’s what you’re asking.”
Crabblesnitch sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose and quickly continued, “Yes, anyhow, you have two hours to clear a space in your room, there’s a storage locker in the gym waiting for you.”
“Whoa, whoa, I thought I was staying this year? Why do I have to get rid of my stuff?”
“You are staying, and you’re not getting rid of it, you’re putting it in storage, you just need to clear enough space for another bed and person.”
Jimmy was confused, “Am I understanding you? You’re giving me a roommate?”
Crabblesnitch smiled at that, “Ah, I’m glad you’re beginning to understand, boy. The bed will be delivered in approximately two hours, so I’d hurry.”
He began to walk out the door as Jimmy shot up from his bed, raising his arms to the sides “Well why the fuck am I getting one?”
“Don’t swear at me, boy. You’re getting one because we’re afraid he might get killed if he’s left alone, so you’ll watch him, and make sure he behaves. Now if you’ll excuse me…”
With that, Crabblesnitch left the dorm, leaving a distraught Jimmy Hopkins in his wake. He looked back in, sighing, there was no use arguing with him, in the past he would’ve stood his ground, but he couldn’t afford to be expelled now, after everything that happened last year. With a groan he started to pick out the things he’d keep and store.
_
It was four hours later, the delivery men had been late, of course, but the bed was there, a couple feet away from Jimmy’s. His room looked almost bare now, he kept his posters, and put the various shirts he took from the clique leaders in his closet, other than those, all that was left was the chemistry set on his desk.
Though through it all, he only now remembered what Crabblesnitch said, why would this new student be killed if he wasn’t with him? Was he like Jimmy himself when he first came to Bullworth, or was he just weak? A buzzing from his phone on his desk startled him and he picked it up.
_
Zoe: hey edgar wants to know if you want to come watch a movie with us, clint stole a projector from somewhere and we figured out how to make it work, u in?
Jimmy: HELL YEAH!!! ill be right over!!
Now THIS was the picker upper Jimmy needed after today, since Zoe and the other dropouts were starting school again, they wouldn’t be able to hang out as much after summer so this was a perfect end. He pocketed his phone and got some earbuds for the bike ride over and he was out the door.
_
It was almost midnight by the time Jimmy got back, he had to vault his way back in since the front gates were locked, luckily there were no prefects to drag him back to his room, he could just leisurely walk back to his dorm. The movie was great, well it was a horrible movie, but it was the kind of bad that had a charm to it, and Zoe seemed to enjoy it too. Even though they weren’t together anymore, they still worked great as friends, and hell, they were probably better than if they were dating.
He stretched his arms before opening the door to the Boy’s Dorm, he tried to give a bit of decency and not slam the door, he was in a good mood tonight. He started looking at his phone as he used his shoulder to open the door, completely forgetting he now had a roommate to deal with, until he saw him with his own eyes.
He couldn’t believe it, that familiar undercut, now slightly grown out, that relaxed pose he only saw on Halloween last year, and that scar on his new companions right eye, he thought he was seeing things until the figure looked his way and spoke.
“Hey, moron.”
Jimmy slammed the door, leaving himself outside his room.
“Why the fuck is he here?“