Chapter Text
The air of the car was almost nauseous.
It felt like the whole car ride had been like that, to be honest.
“Jimmy, I think this is gonna be a great opportunity for you, Hon.”
Jimmy’s eyes finally flicked up to look at his Mom’s face. Thankfully, it was just the two of them in the car, and not another fake Stepfather who would only last a month or two.
They had been driving for almost 2 hours now to some 'Vacation’ that his Mom was going to drop him off at.
Jimmy didn't take his earbuds out, but did take the left bud out just enough to listen to what his Mother was either scolding or yelling about.
“Y’know, maybe this School will even improve that bad behaviour of yours a bit!”
A little scoff left Jimmy’s lips.
“Yeah, sure it will, Ma.”
“Now, don’t be like that. I just want the best for you.”
His mom always said that before she sent him off to another shitty school. It was really, really getting old.
With a small nod, Jimmy plugged his earbuds back in, and started blasting another song.
He knew where they were going. He knew why they were going, too.
After all of the Bullshit that had happened at Bullworth with Gary and all that jazz, he got to go back home with his Mom. As expected, the cruise hadn't gone well with her new husband, and he was already gone.
A few days ago, while going to pick up Jimmy, she had caught him making out with a boy at the skate park, and made a pretty big deal about it, to say the least. Hell, she even threatened to make him start going to Church every Sunday.
Jimmy knew she wouldn't. She would just forget.
As he recalled the events of how this all even began, his mind went back to Bullworth.
Bullworth was Hell. But surprisingly, a good type of Hell. (Like that even existed.)
Through all of the Cliques, fights, and detentions he had gotten, he had enjoyed his time at Bullworth Academy. He made friends like Pete, Russell, and Edgar. The times he kissed Girls and Boys were probably over 100.
And how could Jimmy forget the greatest of them all?
He basically saved the school from a future dictator.
The dictator in question?
Gary Smith.
God, just hearing that name made Jimmy roll his eyes.
Gary Smith..
The last time he saw Gary was when he was dragging him out of the Principal’s office, watching as the boy got taken away by the cops. He remembered how he looked at Jimmy before the door shut to the Cop car, shutting off all outside contact as the dark, tinted windows made it look like nothing was inside.
Everyone else was cheering as the Cop car drove away. Pete cheered Jimmy on, congratulating him as Zoe pecked another kiss to Jimmy’s freckled cheek.
But Jimmy was silent.
He was supposed to want this. He had wanted to defeat Gary. He had wanted to be the hero that won.
So why had he been yearning to just run after that cop car to see Gary one last time?
Oh well. He couldn't decide anyways.
“Jimmy, we're here.”
As Jimmy had been in a daze, recalling events and things, they had finally arrived.
Once his mom parked the car, he pushed the car door open and stepped out, stretching a bit before he looked around.
It was a forest surrounded area, but there was a lake, at least. Lots of cabins too.
As Jimmy looked at the Cabins, he noticed how all had a large, wooden cross hammered in above the door, and had the number of the cabin in the middle of the cross.
Wait a minute.
Jimmy took another look around, noticing how a lot of adults were holding books. Not just normal books, but Bibles. Many of them were wearing cross necklaces, too.
Finally, he looked above at the largest building of them all to confirm his new surroundings once and for all.
Oh god.
It was a church.
Jimmy was at a Christian Summer Camp.
Looks like his mom hadn't forgotten her words for once about sending him to church.
Jimmy turned to his mom who had been grabbing his duffel bag and backpack out of the trunk, an irritated glint in his brown eyes.
“Ma, did you seriously sign me up to stay at some Vacation Bible School place?”
The woman sighed, already expecting this, before she finally pulled out his backpack and set it on the ground, before shutting the trunk closed.
“Jimmy, don’t start. I just think it’s a perfect opportunity for you to improve your.. lifestyle for a week or two, okay?”
“Is this because you caught me kissing a guy at the Skate Park?”
He knew why she sent him here. He knew her answer.
His mom was silent for a bit, before she nodded, and ran a hand through her short, ginger hair, before she turned to face her son, trying to avoid saying her real answer.
“Look, why can’t you understand that this is gonna be a great opportunity for you to get some lessons in how to act better? Just..”
She paused, gazing at Jimmy again.
“..try to behave?”
Jimmy cocked an eyebrow, looking around again at the prim-and-proper church.
“Sure. I guess I’ll try, Ma.”
With a little smile, she nodded and leaned in, giving him a hug, before she pulled away and walked around to the other side of the door.
“Now, you’re gonna be here for 2 weeks, okay? I’m going on a few more dates with this guy I met, so I may pick you up late on the final day.”
Of course she was looking for a new guy again.
“Love you, Jimmy.”
Jimmy looked at his mother one last time, before he nodded and murmured a soft ‘love you too.’
Finally, the car drove off, leaving Jimmy in the hands of god. Ironic.
Once he slung his backpack over his arm, and let the band of his duffle bag sit on his shoulder, he started to walk to the 'Registration area.’
This was going to be a long, hard two weeks.
…
After about an hour, one of the councillors got on a megaphone and announced everyone to line up near the lake for some ice-breakers. Typical.
There was a pretty even mix of boys and girls, most either being Christian, or people who probably just went to the camp to be with their friends.
Jimmy was silent, still looking around even as the councillors tried to regroup everyone together.
“Welcome to Riverside Bible Camp, everyone! For two weeks, we’re all gonna get to know each other, and most importantly, the Lord.”
Jimmy scoffed, crossing his arms as he heard the councillors announce a ‘Group Prayer.’
He tried to be respectful as he ducked his head down for the prayer, but still looked around.
He examined each girl and boy like how he used to disect the random animals and amphibians in Biology with Dr. Slawter.
Girl, boy, girl, boy, boy, boy, girl, girl, boy.
Jimmy counted the genders, as well, before he stopped himself. Jesus, he was starting to act Paranoid like Gary when-
Oh god, Gary. He wondered what the other boy was doing right now.
Gary was probably sitting in a white, rubber room, wearing a straitjacket while he had to forcibly listen to Happy-go-lucky music over, and over, and over again.
Did Gary truly hate him? Would Gary probably attempt to murder Jimmy if he saw him again?
As Jimmy wondered what felt like hundreds of questions, he hadn't realised that the prayer had ended, and someone was already getting scolded.
“Excuse me, you, young man- right there? Please take off your hood so we can see your face.”
The councillor ordered, the voice having an annoying tone of politeness.
Jimmy’s gaze flicked up, looking at who the hooded individual was that had been getting yelled at already.
With a sharp tug, the hood fell down, and the boy ran a hand through his dark, messy clumps of hair.
Wait.
Jimmy recognised that hair.
And that scar over the boy’s eye.
And those slightly healed bruises.
Wait a minute.
“Gary?”
His voice was under a whisper, but was no doubt shocked.
Of course, the other boy had heard him.
The two locked eyes, both intrigued at the sight and appearance of each other being in the same spot, at the same time.
“Hopkins..?”