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It was a Saturday morning at Bullworth Academy. Pete Kowalski had been finishing homework since 7 A.M. A perfect routine he had created ever since he came to this school.
The issue was, his perfect morning routine was usually disrupted by his lousy roommate, Gary. He’s always telling Pete that homework was useless in the real world. Constantly attempting to drive him away from schoolwork. Pete never understood why.
Unfortunately for him, Gary decided to do just that and ruin his fine morning.
“Petey. Peteyyyy… Pete!” Gary calls out. He’s laying on the floor with his legs against his mattress.
“What?! What do you want, Gary? Can’t you see I’m busy?”
Gary gets up and starts walking towards Pete and places his hands on top of his shoulders. “I’m bored.” He states simply while smirking.
“Okay, what do you want me to do about it?”
“Dunno, maybe start by realizing that there’s more to life than staying stuck inside, doing homework 24/7?”
Pete rolls his eyes and shoves Gary’s hands off him. “Leave me alone Gary. I couldn’t finish any of this last night due to you annoying me the entire time and making me join your weird shenanigans.”
Gary scoffs and crosses his arms. “Fine! I’ll go find someone else to hangout with then.” He stomps out of their shared room.
“Great. Have fun.”
Gary slams the door as he leaves.
Pete sighed in relief. Finally, no more pestering. Just peace and being able to complete all of his homework.
Come to think of it, if this was Gary before going to the asylum, he’d probably never finish his homework at all. Actually, he’d probably get a good beating or so. Whatever, no more thinking. Finishing his homework was his number one priority right now. He’d deal with Gary later.
Gary was angry. Angry that the only person he usually hung out with was busy, actually trying to do something successful with his life. He couldn’t say anything because he was taught to be good and keep quiet. Arguing back would result in getting sent back to that horrible place again. He’d rather be lonely and stubborn than deal with that.
Okay— but, Gary wasn’t lonely. He had other friends, of course. It’s just, Petey was the only one willing to hangout with him and do whatever he was told. Not the fact he was a lonely, loser that had nobody. Gary had friends, lots of them actually. They were all just… busy. Yeah, busy.
At least, that’s what he kept telling himself.
Whatever, he didn’t need anybody. Gary was perfectly capable of hanging out by himself. Who needs friends anyway? Not Gary Smith, that’s for sure.
For the next few hours, Gary wandered around Bullworth Vale with nothing to do. He walked with his hands in his pockets. His mind kept going back to Petey. ‘Why was Petey so busy these days? Has he always been this busy? He couldn’t at least just give Gary some time?’
“…stupid, stupid, stupid.” Gary mutters as he kicks a rock.
He returns to the Academy right before curfew but decides to stay out of the dorms for another hour, so he wouldn’t have to confront Petey. He sat lazily on the cold concrete steps in front of the boys dorm.
He was still angry over what happened. Gary knew this was silly to be upset over, but he couldn’t help it. He was going to be petty over this because he had the right. If Petey’s going to avoid him to do homework, then he can do that too. Even if it wasn’t for the same reason.
The thing that hurt the most though was that Petey has been through everything with him. Be it the first day of school, or when he had to go to Happy Volts. Petey stuck with him throughout everything. He’d visit him almost everyday when he was stuck in that crappy asylum.
Petey was part of the reason that made Gary want to get better.
His cheeks flushed thinking about it. Petey. Stupid, little Petey.
His nose scrunched in disgust. He gripped his hair and twisted his fingers into the roots, trying to rip his thoughts out.
Gary groans. His dad was right, he’s the worst person to ever exist. Maybe he was gay. Maybe he did like Petey. Maybe he should be sent back. Maybe he’d never get better. Maybe, maybe, mayb—
“…Gary?”
It was Pete. Pete Kowalski. The one person that could calm his thoughts. He drops his arms and looks toward him.
“What?”
“I’ve been looking for you for the past hour! Have you been out here the entire time?” Petey looked guilty now. The kind of guilt that made Gary feel ashamed. It made him feel like he made Petey feel this way— like it was his fault.
“No. I was out doing other things…” Gary turned back to stare at his shoes. He wasn’t one for eye contact. Especially when Petey looked at him like that.
Pete finally sits beside Gary and sighs. “I’m sorry we didn’t hangout today. I know you hate it when I’m busy, but I needed to finish my homework. I can’t always hangout with you Gary.”
Gary nods, carelessly. He learned to just accept things by now. No more arguing or getting angry. Just nod and go on with your life. Not like anybody cared what he thought anymore.
He gets up to leave until Petey grabs his hand. Gary furrows his brows. “What? You still have more to say? ‘Cuz frankly, I don’t care what you have to say anymore.”
“Oh come on Gary. Don’t be like that, man. I know you’re upset, but I said I’m sorry.” Pete frowns. “Could you at least forgive me?”
God. Gary forgot how insufferable Petey was. He was always insistent on being forgiven. But it was Petey. The sweetest boy ever. Okay, maybe that’s too cheesy, but seriously! It was Pete for God’s sake! He deserved nothing but kindness after how Gary had treated him in the past. Also because Petey wouldn’t let you live without forgiving him.
“Okay, okay! I forgive you. You’re so annoying sometimes.” He rolls his eyes.
Petey smiles. Genuinely smiles. Gary feels his heart skip a beat. Was this idiot seriously smiling? Gary quickly looks away and fixes his expression. He walks into the building immediately.
“Hey— wait for me!” Pete rushes to follow Gary.
Gary enters their shared room and collapses onto his bed. His right arm covered his eyes as he lay stretched out on the bed.
Petey soon walks in a bit later, him being slow and all. He was out of breath from just a bit of speed walking. Gary couldn’t help but internally laugh at that. Stupid Petey. Of course he’s still slow.
“Gary? Are you sure you’re alright? You don’t have to lie to me. I get it if you’re still angry at me…”
Gary lets out an exasperated sigh. “Can you seriously not stay quiet for a minute? I told you, I’m not mad. Calm down.”
Gary knew why Petey kept asking. He was still scared of him. After a year and a half of bullying, it still affects Petey. Gary never understood why Petey forgave him so fast. He messed Petey up so much. Didn’t even give him a proper apology, yet Petey’s always treating Gary with kindness that he didn’t deserve.
“I know, you just…“ Petey fumbles with his words. A habit he still had after all these years that Gary found stupid.
“Just what? Spit it out.” Gary removes his arm to look at Petey.
“You seem mad, still. I-I dunno…” Petey shrugs. His eyes look somewhere else due to his nervousness.
“For the last time Pete, I’m not mad. You’re such an idiot. Now can I please sleep? I’m really tired.”
Petey nods. “Yeah, sorry.”
He gets no reply.
15 minutes later, Gary perks up. “I lied.”
“Hm?” Petey turns around in his desk chair. He had been drawing while Gary was ‘sleeping.’
Gary sits up on his bed. “I’m still mad. I hate that you never hangout with me anymore. I hate that you’re always busy and you never have time for me. I hate that I sometimes wish you were still the same, old Petey. I know it’s bad because I was just a manipulative piece of crap toward you, but at least you hung out with me! And I know it’s selfish. I know life won’t stay the same forever, but sometimes— I…” he felt tears start to form. His throat was getting dry.
“I just want life to be like it used to be.” He sniffles. “I regret everything I did and I still don’t get why you forgave me. I’m not deserving of it, Petey. Why’d you have to forgive me? I can’t live with this guilt…” Gary starts to cry. It’s ugly and real. Something Petey never thought he’d see.
“Oh Gary…” Petey runs to comfort and soothe him. “It’s okay— it’s all gonna be okay.” Petey wraps his arms around Gary.
He harshly wipes his tears. “Get off, this is embarrassing. I don’t want you to see me cry.” Gary mutters.
Petey laughs and hugs him tightly. “Gary, you don’t have to be embarrassed. Everyone has the right to cry.”
“Whatever.” He wipes his eyes, trying to act cool.
“I didn’t know you’ve been feeling that way. You should’ve told me sooner, Gary. I’m sorry you’ve been feeling like this.” Petey runs his hand through Gary’s brown hair. It’s a beautiful mess.
“Life’s never going to stay the same. Change is always going to affect us, but it’s not a bad thing. It may seem scary at first, but eventually, it’ll all get better. No matter what, I’ll always be here with you throughout everything, Gary. You don’t have to be scared. I’m here.” Petey smiles against Gary’s temple.
Gary shoves Petey away, embarrassed at this whole situation for starting in the first place. “Shut up… you sound like my mom.”
Petey laughs. “Is that supposed to be a bad thing?”
“I also hate how confident you’ve become. It makes you more irritating.”
Petey crosses his arms. He rolls his eyes. “Hey! I’ve been nothing but nice to you! How come it’s bad that I’ve gotten more confident?”
Gary sighs. “It’s not. I’m sorry.”
Petey drops his arms and smiles again.
That stupid smile. It was going to be the death of him. He’s hoping it’s not soon, though.