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“Its on days like these where I wish I had my camera,”
Zoe smirked as a small crowd formed around the front gates. Here's Jimmy trying to prove he can grind down the rail as if this wasn't the same spot he constantly eats shit in.
“I've done this countless times, you beacon of positivity,” Jimmy said while he carried his skateboard up the stairs. Zoe leaned against the wall as the various younger students murmured about if they should call the nurse or if they can keep his skateboard if he dies.
Jimmy started kicking for momentum. With each push, Jimmy's skateboard roared with determination. As his feet hopped back onto his trusty board, his confidence and arrogance grew. The underclassmen gasped quietly while Zoe raised her eyebrows.
Maybe he could pull this off?
“JIMMY HOPKINS TO THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE IMMEDIATELY,” Miss Danvers voice screeched through his thoughts, causing him to stop last minute and fall on his back before he could even reach the rail.
The younger students quickly ran off, making excuses or going to tell Mrs. McRae (not like she would have made it a priority).
“That's what we call 'divine intervention', Jimmy,” Zoe hovered over him but nevertheless, offered her arm. Jimmy stumbled to his feet, cracking his back as he looked up to Dr. Crabblesnitch's window.
“Is he really getting on my ass for skateboarding, after I made sure his dumb school didn't burst into flames,” Jimmy sneered.
“Yeah, I always assumed he'd just sick the flying monkeys onto you and call it a day,” Zoe watched as he dusted him off, gesturing to the Prefects currently chasing one of the bullies who caught Pedro.
“Whatever,” Jimmy scoffed, picking up his skateboard and wounded pride as he stalked inside.
While Jimmy sulked upwards to the second floor, his eyes traced the halls. Not much had changed other than the visible burns on the curtains and the faint graffiti that couldn't get scrubbed out. Business as usual, he supposed.
As he made it to the office, Miss Danver's looked up from her tea set, the joy on her face vanished when she saw Jimmy.
“Crabblesnitch called?“ He asked, shoving his hands in his pockets.
“That's 'Dr.' to you, boy” She hissed. “And no, the headboy wanted to see you,”
Jimmy could hear the disdain in her voice, as if being the head student were in no way comparable to the glory that is Dr. Crabblesnitch…barf.
“He's in the empty classroom, the third one down the hall. Get to it,” She waved him off and immediately turned to pour the headmaster's tea with a soft hum, her agression vanishing with each twirl.
Jimmy opened the door to be greeted by Pete looking out the window. His custom new uniform tailored to him perfectly: the standard button up and a commissioned waistcoat that screamed “I'm untouchable,” (of course out of all the choices, he'd pick pink).
Pete glanced at him briefly before rubbing his face and turning away.
“Close the door,” Pete ordered, not taking his eyes from the window. By the grip of the windowsill and his tense stance, Jimmy knew whatever he had to say wasn't as simple as just catching up.
Yet as the door clicked closed, Pete practically launched himself into Jimmy's arms. Jimmy stumbled to keep his balance as Pete squeezed him tightly, burying his face into his shoulder as if he could hide from his troubles.
Pete was one of the few people freely allowed to touch Jimmy without a swift kick in the groin or an elbow to the stomach. Sure his conquest of the day would embrace him with a kiss but something about Pete's simple touches made the smog of Bullworth ease into air he could finally breathe.
At least he hadn't changed that much.
“Being Headboy sucks, I can't take it anymore!“ Pete gripped Jimmy's vest in an ironclad hold. His body trembling as he squeezed his eyes shut. Maybe if he kept Jimmy close, all of the building chaos could dissapear…if only for a moment.
“Woah, woah, what happened?“ Jimmy begrudgingly yet carefully pried him off, gripping his shoulders so he could face him.
“I tried to have a meeting with the clique leaders about next semester and it was a disaster,” Pete pulled off to pace back and forth.
“Russell was asleep for the entire thing, I had to keep Johnny from jumping across the room to get to Derby, Ted kept picking the mud off his sneakers right on the desk, and if I have to hear Earnest whining about the bathrooms being a biohazard one more time—” Pete gripped his hair as a stressed yet manic smile forced its way onto his face.
“Pete,” Jimmy called out sternly yet not unkindly, snapping him out of his rant. “One thing at a time, dude”
Pete let out a deflating sigh as he turned away from him, his head resting into his awaiting palms.
“I don't know what I'm doing…” Pete whimpered. “One minute people look through me, the next they look for solutions that I don't have. The only benefits to this stupid label are that I can walk the halls freely during class, no more being dunked into trashcans, and I could be first in line at the cafeteria. That last one is a punishment, Jimmy, not a reward,”
Jimmy hummed in acknowledgedment but made no move to comfort him, at least not yet. He wasn't the best with emotions, he was a problem solver through and through. From the various trainwreck adults and rage filled teens, the only way he knew how to help was let Pete get this off his chest first.
“I swear, its like raising a bunch of- of—”
“Toddlers?“
“Morons!“ Pete's flash of anger retreated as he smushed his head against the window, his shoulders sagging pitifully as he looked out into the courtyard. A never ending food chain of smaller kids beaten by bigger kids and bigger kids beaten by adults.
“I'm not cut out for this,” He mumbled. “I'm not a leader, I'm a follower. A shadow…someone's pet,”
Jimmy's permanent frown softened. Even if Pete said it, Jimmy knew those weren't exclusively his words.
He finally felt feeling in his legs as he walked over to the window Pete stood, sitting on the edge.
“It's been a month, no fires, no riots. You did better than I ever did, that has to count for something” Jimmy nudged him, frowning slightly when he didn't budge. His hand sunk as the two sat in silence. Jimmy rubbing his knuckles as Pete bit his trembling lip.
After a few seconds, Jimmy spoke up:
“You know they're doing it on purpose, right?“
Pete looked up, his eyes glistening. Jimmy didn't give him time to ask questions before he continued:
“They can't handle that they don't have power over you and are trying to see how far they can push. They think they're so smart,” Jimmy grumbled that last part to himself.
“They listened to you because you kicked their asses, they know I can't and they think I'm a dork. Yet another reason why I'm not cut out for this,” Pete's eyes retreated back onto the glass
“They really are sneaky bastards. If I let them win, I probably would have ended up in Juvie, or become one of those townies,” Jimmy crossed his arms.
“Oh and I'm sure Town Hall had nothing to do with that,” Pete scoffed.
“Yeah well, I would have lost everything if it wasn't for you,”
Pete fully pushed himself off the window to look at him. Jimmy still wasn't looking at him but he had a fond smile on his face.
“You reminded me to fight, to not give those losers the satisfaction of getting to me. Now you're the one giving up after one set-back?” Jimmy slumped down. Pete followed until he sat next to him on the hard tiles.
“God, I sound whiny, don't I?“ Pete chuckled wetly as he wiped his eyes.
“Dont forget dorky, but you're probably used to that,” Jimmy shrugged, getting a shove from Pete.
Pete hugged his knees and stared forward until he felt Jimmy's calloused hand on his shoulder, his thumb rubbing soothing circles.
“No matter what happens, we're still those two social outcasts from before. You have my back and I have yours,” Jimmy nodded to him. Pete smiled fondly and laid his hand on top of his. “I know,”
“Need me to kick their asses again?“ Jimmy offered, taking his hand back.
“Nah, it's just going to make it seem like I can't fight my own battles,” Pete frowned, burying his head back into his knees.
His tightly knit brows quickly unraveled as he sat up.
“But I have an idea,”
Pete fidgeted with his tie as the clique leaders flooded in: Russell stretching and popping his knuckles, Derby sauntering in like he expected bows, Johnny stomping inside with his hands balled inside his pockets, Ted wiping his face with his sweat soaked jersey, and Earnest recoiling at the stench of body odor.
As each of them pulled up a chair, Pete cleared his throat to speak.
“Now I know last time wasn't…productive, but—”
“Why is he here? You need your boyfriend to hold your hand just to talk to us?“ Ted gestured to Jimmy sitting with his arms crossed in the corner of the room in his own separate desk.
“Yeah, I thought this meeting was for people who actually matter, Not has-beens,” Derby said, pushing back his cuticles.
“You'll quickly learn while he's here. Now this is your only warning, don't interrupt me,” Pete crossed his arms as he spoke.
“Or what? Little ma—” Before Ted could finish, an egg splattered directly onto his face. The others blinked before turning to see Jimmy armed with a carton of eggs and his trusty slingshot.
“I just combed my hair, you punk!“ Ted sputtered angrily.
“Every time you disrupt what I have to say, Jimmy has permission to throw an egg,” Pete said as Ted picked pieces of shell from his hair. “Understood?“
“You can't be serious,” Earnest scoffed “Not only is this a primitive solution, and a waste of eggs, all it does is cause a me—” Another egg shattered into the side of Earnest's head. “My ear!“
“Understood?“ Pete challenged, hearing their acquiesced murmurs.
As the meeting went on to establishing territories and boundaries, the others became more mindful. Sure they had to throw in their snide remarks and audible disapproval, but at least they waited their turn to speak.
Halfway through the meeting, Russell fell asleep, leaning in his chair with his head thrown back. Jimmy got up from his spot and gently shook his shoulder: “Hey, Russ,”
Russell snorted awake and sat up.
“Pete's talking,” Jimmy gestured, his tone much more respectful than if it were directed at the others.
“Oh, sorry,” Russell mumbled as he rubbed his eyes, leaving Ted amd Earnest to blink in bewilderment.
Johnny glanced over to see Derby with his hands folded. He wasn't exactly thrilled with what he was hearing, but his expression showed whatever he wanted to say, he was at least holding back.
“Nothing smart to say, fancy boy?“ Johnny leaned over to whisper.
“You can't afford to dirty my Aquaberry, and I can't wait for a payment plan in government assistance,” Derby whispered back, causing Johnny to stand up
“Watch it, you little—!“ The snap of Jimmy's head brought Johnny to return to his seat, still scowling as he crossed his arms.
“Anyways,” Pete spoke, his annoyance barely contained.
“Here are the following compromises I'm willing to work on. For starters, from 9:00 to 12:00 the downstairs bathroom is considered a safe zone. Bullying is off limits until the janitor cleans it, then it's free game,”
“Are you kidding me? That's the best time for swirlies,” Ted interjected, oblivious to Earnest's smug grin.
“Forgive me for questioning how you do things, but you don't want everyone thinking the jocks are one trick ponies, right?” Pete shrugged
“Ponies? You calling us gay?“ Ted stood up, Jimmy shooting out of his chair as well, ready to fight in case he tried something.
“Well—” Pete quickly shook his head to stop himself. “What I meant was you need some variety from time to time. There's always the lockers or trashcans,”
Ted eased back into his chair, nodding his head as he conceded. Earnest went to retort before an egg was launched square at his glasses.
“I haven't even said anything yet!“ Earnest whined as he furiously wiped his face.
“I know, but Petey says I can throw one free egg at whoever I wanted,” Jimmy responded, leaning back on the wall as he struggled to hide the amusement creeping onto the corners of his mouth.
Pete cleared his throat to hide his chuckles.
“Next, Derby, I can't make promises but I'll talk to Crabblesnitch about the Preppies officially being pardoned from shop class next semester,”
“Father is very persuasive, I'm sure Crabblesnitch will see reason. After all, I don't want to take away the opportunities from the poor. Lord knows they need every chance they get,” Derby grinned smugly, lifting his nose high as Johnny burned holes into the back of his head.
Before Johnny could think about throwing a punch, Pete spoke:
“And Johnny, we dont know what happened to that homeless guy but since his spot is in your territory…”
Johnny's anger deflated into intrigue, countless ideas rushing in his head. Maybe he could make a skatepark, or a rage pit, or even a secret date spot for just him and Lola.
“Wait, what about bullies?” Russell spoke up.
“Well, what did you want?“ Pete asked. Russell opened his mouth to speak before shrugging and sitting back down, mumbling a small “I dunno,”
Pete shook his head slightly before his eyes met Jimmy's. He gave Pete a slight approving nod and gestured for him to keep going. Pete returned the subtle nod before turning to the rest of the clique leaders.
“Well, does that work for all of you?“ Pete asked. They looked at each other, a silent debate amongst themselves before turning back to Pete.
“You know what, sure,” Ted leaned back in his chair.
“It will suffice,” Derby said, adjusting his sleeves.
“Works for me, Boss,” Johnny nodded, kicking his feet onto the table.
“I suppose,” Earnest grumbled, still trying to wipe yolk from his frames.
“Okay, Petey,” Russell gave a thumbs up.
As the bell rang, the leaders quickly left to their lives, leaving Jimmy and Pete alone. Pete's professional facade crumbling as he braced himself on the desk.
“Oh god, I felt like I was going to faint…but in a good way. I swear I thought one of them was going to sock me because of the egg thing, but they actually listened! And I didn't cave or let them boss me around. And I—” Pete turned around to see Jimmy grinning at him.
“What?“ Pete asked. Jimmy only responded by walking over and lightly punching his arm.
“I knew you had it in you,”
Pete smiled fondly. Among the brutes and schemers of Bullworth, one thing remained the same: there was at least someone he could rely on.