Chapter Text
“Bye mom!” Peter waves his hand goodbye to his mother for the 10th time as she waits in her car for her son and his best friend to disappear into the college campus. Pete sniffles a little as he walks with Jimmy by his side, feeling a wave of melancholy hit him right in the chest.
Jimmy on the other hand smirked and gave Pete a little shove as they walked to the guy’s dorm building, “Relax Pete, you’ve done this before, not much different from Hellworth.” Jimmy spoke as he put his hands in his jacket pockets. Pete shivered in discomfort at even the thought of that school, “Don’t even get me started…” Jimmy chuckled at Pete’s remark as they reached the double doors, to which he politely pushed one of the doors open for a hands-full Pete.
In reality, they were both hoping for the complete opposite of their high school experience. This was a new beginning for them. Bullworth was in the past, and Jimmy Hopkins and Peter Kowalski were all on their own now. Jimmy had told himself that focusing on his studies and having the time of his life would probably help to wash away the bad memories that still often came back to him in the quietest of nights when he was alone.
Pete and Jimmy eventually reached the right door to Pete’s dorm which had a blank white board hung on the front of it. “At least our dorms are close.” Pete smiled as he glanced over at Jimmy’s dorm door down the hall, “We only have one room between us!” Jimmy glanced at his own door too, giving a small smile as he reached in his pocket to grab Pete’s keycard he was holding on for him, “Right on. Just don’t go knocking on my door in the middle of the night cause you’re lonely.” Jimmy teased as he unlocked the door and pushed it open. “Shut up man…” Pete sighed and brushed it off, carrying his things in.
Inside, they were greeted by an underwhelming, empty dorm room: plain walls, bare bed, and clear desk. Pete placed his stuff on his bed, “Home sweet home I guess.” His voice still had a sad, mopey tone to it (except it usually always did.) “I’ll get my essentials out and unpack tomorrow…” Pete sighed before checking his watch with wide eyes, “It’s already nine!” Jimmy glanced at Pete, then at the dark window that was covered with half-shaded blinds. He walked over to it, closing them completely. He then turned abruptly and clasped his hands together, plastering a big smile on his face, “Let’s order pizza!” he exclaimed before walking over to his bag, grabbing his phone and continuing, “Watch some TV, play some games… get comfortable! We’re officially on our own Pete. We’re like… real adults now!”
Pete blinked and stared at Jimmy for a moment, “I guess… but I don’t have a TV yet. Plus, we start classes tomorrow and we’re gonna be super tired by morning.” Jimmy rolled his eyes and sighed, “Lame. But nah, I bet you half of the whole college won’t show up to their first classes on the first day. Don’t worry, midnight tops.” he promised as he went over to Pete’s bed and sat on the edge. Pete let out a heavy sigh and went over to join Jimmy, sitting next to him. “Alright fine.” Pete quickly caved as he often did when it came to his best and only friend Jimmy Hopkins. Jimmy in turn grinned and began dialing on his phone.
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They eventually acquired their food and sat together at Pete’s desk, Pete sitting in the chair while Jimmy sat on the edge of the desk. They chat as they ate, going over some of their summer events they haven’t yet discussed or forgot to mention to the other but they also reminiscing about positive memories they’ve shared together, in high school and outside of it.
As they talked more however, Pete seemed like he wanted to say something, like he was holding back on an uncomfortable subject. Jimmy, of course, picked it up like he usually did since Pete was sometimes quiet and needed help speaking up for himself.
“What’s on your mind?” Jimmy asked as he let his feet sway a bit under the desk. After a moment of patient silence, Pete spoke “Uh… nothing, it’s— it’s kinda dumb.” He tried to brushed it off, hoping Jimmy would just change the subject but the other had the urge to know, “Now you HAVE to tell me, Pete.” Jimmy gave a small smirk. That was one of his favorite lines to get Pete to tell him something. Pete looked down, his fingers picking at each other, “I just thought like— What if we see Gary or something? I mean— I don’t know if he even goes here but tons of people we know are going here so… it might be possible.”
Silence fell.
Gary Smith. Every time Jimmy heard that name out loud or even in his own head sometimes, he could feel his cheeks start to burn. His stomach always twisted uneasily and his vision blurred for a split second, similar to the rush of adrenaline and anxiety he sometimes felt before doing something big. He never bothered to question it to himself because for so long, he’d been shoving these strange and unfamiliar feelings he and his body felt for even the mention of Gary down. Did his body buzz with heat and emotion at the mention of Gary because he tried to ruin his life or was it something different and deeper?
Again though, Jimmy felt like he didn’t have the time for that right now. Gary was a maniac who did anything and everything for attention— even if that meant dragging someone down to the bottom of a pit and leaving them there. But… now? He wasn’t quite sure. Hell, he hadn’t seen him in years, just heard rumors, and Jimmy was never one to delve into rumors. Except when it came to Gary though.
“Maybe he’s changed.” The words slipped right out of Jimmy’s mind and through his throat. Pete’s eyes widened a little, “For real? You think so? He’d have to be put on a shitload of medication and go through some serious therapy to have ‘changed!’” He seemed to look at Jimmy like he was crazy. Shit. Now he had to play along with his own words he let slip.
“Look, I know. He wasn’t well in the head at all and I was the biggest victim of his psychotic schemes, but it’s been what, around four years now?” Jimmy mentally sighed as he finished his sentence. Pete glanced at the cold pizza box, lost in thought before speaking, “I guess you’re right. And I sure hope you are cause I’m not letting that happen again. Not to either of us.” Jimmy glanced at Pete and gave a small smile, speaking after a small moment of silence, “Hey, you’re stealin’ my lines here.” Pete’s eyes darted back to Jimmy, a warm smile forming on his face at the comment.
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Eventually, midnight rolled around as Jimmy and Pete lazed on the floor, Pete reading while Jimmy used his PlayStation Portable. Pete checked his cellphone as he yawned, announcing the time, “It’s twelve twenty-three Jim.” Jimmy paused his game and set it aside, sitting up to stretch, “Alright… I’ll head out.” He stood up, grabbing his things and packing his bag before heading over to Pete’s door, “G’night Pete, see you tomorrow.” Pete gave a sleepy wave before Jimmy pushed the door open and left.
He turned left and skipped the door next to Pete’s and opened his own door, unlocking it with his keycard. Stepping inside, he closed the door with a heavy sigh. He opened his eyes after a moment and mumbled to himself, “Thank god I moved in yesterday.” He took his shoes off and set his bag down, grabbing what he needed to get ready for bed.
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Jimmy stood in front of his bathroom mirror, brushing his teeth and changing into his sleep clothes for the night. He didn’t require much so his routines were short, and he liked that.
After Jimmy’s first year at Bullworth, He didn’t feel like moving back in with his mom and her weird husband for the summer, so he ended up staying with Zoe. It went great at first, but their relationship started to feel a little awkward and strange when Zoe turned 18. She was ready to move on, and while they both still loved and respected each other, they decided to just be friends. From then and til Jimmy’s senior year, he stayed with Zoe every summer and their friendship continued, Jimmy being immensely grateful. He was happy to live by himself now though.
As he left the bathroom, he stopped in his tracks as he heard the handle on his door struggling to open. It frightened him at first until he realized it was someone trying to get into his room using the wrong keycard. He knew it wasn’t Pete because he definitely would’ve just knocked, so probably just someone who had the wrong room. It was late after all.
Jimmy groaned in slight irritation as he walked over to the door, his hand reaching for the handle and opening it. He stepped into view, his body blocking the gap to the inside of his dorm the now open door created. His eyes focused on the guy in front of him and his heart suddenly dropped.
Gary Smith was standing at his door.