“So, you do understand, Mr. Smith; if you miss one lesson, or medication it will be an automatic expulsion?” Gary Smith nodded, biting his bottom lip. “Now run along to your dorm, and get your uniform on boy!” Dr. Crabblesnitch gestured to the door, and sat back down at his desk. As soon as Gary had left the office, he heard all of the not-so-quiet whispers of everybody in Bullworth...

“What is Crabblesnitch thinking, letting a sociopath like that back into the school!?”

“Why is he here?”

“I bet it was Gary who said that stuff about my mom and barnyard animals!”

“SMITH! What the HELL are you doing back!?” Roared Jimmy Hopkins, his eyebrows furrowed into a ferocious glare.
“I’m simply completing the rest of my school years, James. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” Jimmy stepped in front of him, blocking the double- doors to and from the school. In result, Algernon tried to come into the main hall, and walked straight into Jimmy, his glasses falling off and being stomped on by a passing Kirby who saw the vulnerable nerd and threw a wild punch. Suddenly Bucky had leapt onto his back, pulling at his hair and Juri, watching from the side-lines yelled encouragement to Kirby. Jimmy sighed with exasperation. “Cut it OUT you guys!”” He yelled, before turning back to Gary who was silently chuckling to himself. He was on the brink of saying a smart-ass comment, when the bell rang and Jimmy’s frown increased. “I’ll deal with you later, Smith.” He hissed threateningly, before turning around and running to lesson.

“Looking forward to it, James.” Gary yelled back, in retaliation. Deciding that getting called a scum-bag from prefects for not wearing the appropriate uniform was by far better than being expelled for not turning up to lesson because he was getting dressed and unpacking. He ran up the stairs, towards the art room... “I hope you all brought your sketchbooks with you,” Ms. Phillips said, smiling around at everybody. “And let’s all give a warm welcome back to Gary Smith!” He stuck his head in his book bag, his too-long brown fringe falling into his eyes. Then, he looked up and saw the person in front of him ...their shoulders had stiffened at the sound of his name. Gary could recognize that shirt anywhere. “Petey?” Gary said quietly. Everybody had started working. Pete jumped; he’s been in deep concentration.

“Gary! What’re you doing back her!?” He said, not looking exactly happy. In fact, he looked down-right scared.

“I’m cured Petey, I swear! I’m okay!” Pete didn’t look very sure. He just turned around, and began drawing the selection of rotting fruits Ms. Phillips had placed in front of them, from the canteen. Gary sighed, and started to draw.

“Eep!” Squealed a little girl, pointing at her plate. “There’s a maggot in my salad!”

“Congratulations.” Jimmy said, turning to face the girl. “You’ve found the only edible part of Edna’s lunches.”

“I heard that you little earth-worm!” Came the cry from the kitchen. Petey laughed and took a sip of his after. Then, suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind and he began choking. Gary would be in his dorm-room. Their dorm-room. Jimmy stared as the small boy suddenly stood up and raced away. “What’s with Petey? He mumbled into Zoeë’s ear.

Meanwhile, in his dorm room, Gary was busy unpacking his things. He perfectly arranged his clothes into the right-hand side of the closet. Just like they were before he got taken away… to Happy volts. He shuddered, and sat down on his bed, the springs creaking. ‘Yeah, it’s good to be back.’ He thought, looking around the room. ‘even though practically everyone wants to kick my head in.’ suddenly, the dorm’s door burst open, revealing a red-faced and slightly sweaty Petey, who was panting a little, his pink shirt clinging to his arms. “Gary- read- No! – Don’t – Did - Argh!” Pete flopped onto his own bed, breathing heavily. Gary smiled at him. It was a proper smile too, not a grimace, or even a mocking smile. Petey stared at him, his chest heaving up and down. Gary swung himself off of his bed. “Jeez, Pete, you look like you’ve just run a marathon, why’ve you running so fast?!” He asked, pacing the room; he couldn’t keep still. Pete’s breath began to steady, and his face left the colour of his shirt. He just shook hi head.

“It’s … not important.” Gary raised an eyebrow.

“Well, it must’ve been important for you to come racing over here like freaking Speedy Gonzales!”

“No! It’s just…nothing. It was nothing. So, how are you?” Pete’s eyes swivelled around the room, searching. Just in case Gary had found it.

“Oh, I’m fine, Petey. Apart from being hated by the entire school. Even Chad’s dog hates me!”

“I don’t hate you.” He pointed out, “And anyway, Chad’s dog hates everyone apart from Chad!”

“Ah, touch€ femme-boy! You just really dislike me then, huh?” Gary said, his eyes glittering. Pete laughed, though he wasn’t too pleased to get his old nick-name back. He’d never seen that glitter before. Last year, it would have meant he was plotting against someone. This time however, it was because he was laughing, but not at Petey. With him. Petey’s eyes rested upon a small, red, notebook underneath a pile of text books, and let out a sigh of relief. Gary saw where his gaze was, and made a mental note to look at it.

“Peter Kowalski, please report to the main office, immediately.” Pete jumped off of his bed, an exhausted look on his face. “Bring Gary smith along, as well please. Thank you.”

“Well, here you go, Petey. This is my leash, here; I’ll show you how to clip it on.” Gary said, mockingly, pretending to hold a dog chain in his hand.

“C’mon Gary, I haven’t got time for this!” Pete groaned, opening the door. Gary suddenly felt guilty, but he shook it off and followed after him.

“So, I hope that that’s cleared things up a little for you Mr. Kowalski.”
“Yes, sir. It has.”

“And you, Mr. Smith? Is this arrangement okay with you?”

“I suppose so … sir.” Gary added the ‘sir’ hastily, looking up at Dr. Crabblesnitch.
“Well, run along now boys, it’s almost time now.” Petey nodded, and Gary groaned. Meds. He had to take them if he wanted to stay at the school. Yuck. He hated them.

“Open wide, Mr. Smith. Here comes the choo-choo train!” The nurse said; a red and blue pill in her hand. Gary snatched it from her, and then the white one, and then the yellow one. He looked at them sitting in the palm of his hand. He closed his fingers. Petey leant forwards in his chair, sighing a little. Ah, Petey. The only student in the entire school who didn’t want to beat him to a bloody pulp. It was probably because he couldn’t, but Dr. Crabblesnitch had realised he was the only one who could stand being in the same room as Gary. His hand started to shake. He didn’t want to take the pills. He didn’t need them! Why couldn’t anybody understand that? If he didn’t take them, all that would happen would be … expulsion? No. He couldn’t risk it. Gary closed his eyes, and rocked back and forth. Then, he felt somebody prising his hand open, and inserting the pills into his mouth. He didn’t protest. Even though they tasted disgusting and felt like they were burning a hole in his throat he didn’t care. But didn’t know why. Gary opened his eyes slightly, and saw Petey filling up a glass of water for him. He took it and swallowed the pills; all in one go, growling, as the pain in his mouth was unbearable. Petey sighed, but not with frustration, with sympathy, and started to rub his back. It was like being touched by a healer. One moment, Gary was feeling the raw stinging in his throat, and the next, all he could focus on was the tingling sensation in his back and chest, when Petey touched him. What was going on? Gary went to stand up, and almost fell over. Petey caught him, and put Gary’s arm over his shoulder. “They’ll make you drowsy for a while.” Petey said, leading Gary down the steps on the way to the dorm. Petey hauled Gary more securely over his shoulder, and put his hand around his waist. Again, Gary felt that tingling sensation, but this time in his hip. He mumbled, and let his head droop onto Pete’s shoulder. The pills were making him woozy. Petey stared talking to him. Gary didn’t focus on what he was saying, just on Pete’s warm breath on Gary’s neck as he spoke, and his voice…even though he wasn’t listening to the words stumbling out of his mouth., Gary knew that all he wanted right now was to listen to him, and feel his warm breath on his skin. All too soon, it was all over, and was put into his bed by Petey, who put the covers up to Gary’s chin before leaving the dorm room so that ‘Gary could get his rest.’

When Petey had left, all that Gary could think about was Pete, and when he would come back as he drifted off into a deep sleep.

Petey rolled over, sighing. He couldn’t get to sleep knowing that Gary was in the room. He’d got used to sleeping without Gary’s little snoring noises, or murmurings in his sleep. Pete leant for his little red notebook, he hadn’t written in it for a while... Flicking on the bedside lamp, he looked over at Gary, who had started talking in his sleep. “Ha ha! No, Petey!” He said, stretching his arms out. Pete’s eyes widened and he dropped his book onto the covers. He stared back at Gary. Perhaps he … had changed? Petey hated to admit it, but, since Gray had been back he’d seemed…well… friendly towards Petey. He stood up, and walked over to Gary’s bed. Carefully, so as not to wake him, he leant over and ran his finger down the long scar on the sleeping boy’s eyebrow. Gary sighed, and his right eye twitched. But he didn’t wake up. Petey stroked his cheek and then jumped back into his bed. For some reason, he couldn’t take his eyes off of Gary... He’d never noticed how innocent and gullible he looked whilst sleeping, and how the moonlight which was shining in over him caused shadows to form in just the right places, quickly, he snatched up his red sketchbook again, and began to draw Gary. This time, not by memory.

"Get to class, scumbucket!" A prefect yelled, waving a fist. Gary sighed, and slunk towards chemistry.
Setting out his equipment, he glanced in fron of him, where Pete was stood. Gary's legs suddenly felt like they'd melted. 'What the hell's wrong with me?' Gary whispered, punching himself in the arm.
"And..begin, class."
Gary lit the burner, placed the tripod and fetched the beaker. Now all he had to do was pour the boiling hot water. Just as Gary tipped the beaker, Petey cocked his head to one side, bit his lip, and turned around to grin at Gary. Then, the water spilt everywhere. "Ouch!" He yelped, clutching his fingers. 'Damn that kid for being so cute! Curse his little snubby nose, and his fluffy hair and his -' Gary could've continued these thoughts, until he was interrupted by Petey, tutting over him like a mother hen, a crease inbetween his eyebrows as he worried over Gary's burn. 'Even that little wrinkle is cute!' Gary yelled inside his head.
"Pete... just let it go, it's only a little burn!" He protested, backing away from Petey and his tube of healing cream.
"Gary... " Petey began, and he grabbed his arm and spread the cream over his fingers. "There, done. Okay? what was your fuss all about?!" gary shrugged, feeling that same tingling sensation in his hand, and a swooping sensation whene pete had smiled at him.
"No slacking, Smith. Start again!" The chem teacher said, interrupting Gary's thoughts.

4 o' clock rolled round again, and, once more, Petey had to take gary to the nurse's pffice. At first, Gary pondered on whether to take them or not. But then Pete had walked over, and rubbed his back since it had helped last time, which convinced Gary to take the pills. he had to do it, for Petey.

After the pills, Petey lugged him back down the steps, talking about nothing in general until a tall black shadow loomed over them. Gary's head drooped a little, and Petey had to hitch his arm more securely over his shoulder. "Ah, Petey I was just looking for you," Jimmy began, until he saw who he was with. A look of disgust flashed across his face. "What the hell do you think you're doing hanging around with that sociopath!? He tried to kill me!!"
"He...he wasn't taking his medication, jimmy. he is now. he's better!" Jim snorted.
"Whatever, Pete." he snapped, "I thought you wouldn't get sucked into this pathetic little act. I must've thought wrong." Petey nodded, a sour look on his face, and half-carried Gary, who had started laughing, into their dorm room.

As he sat ont he bed, Gary's head started spinning. "Hey ... Pe-ety!" he shouted, even though he was just a metre away, "C'mere!" Pete walked over to him, and recieved the biggest hug he'd ever had (Apart from that time Eunice hugged him...) around the kneecaps. Gary nestled his head into Petey's pelvis, and Kowalski turned bright red. "Thank-you, petey." Gary said slowly, before letting go and giggling very loudly. Pete smiled.
"You've gotta get some rest, Gary."
"Noo...I don't!" Was all he could get out, before he started giggling like a little schoolgirl again. Pete sighed. quickly, he held Gary's legs, and laid him down on the bed, taking off his shoes for him. then he pulled the covers tight up to his chin again. gary frowned, still laughing. "Thanks, Mom." Petey laughed. Had that Nurse slipped him something!?

He woke up at midnightwith a banging headache. staring at the luminous green digital clock numbers were no help. Gary glanced over at Petey. he was fast asleep, a red book clutched to his heart. Pete was a very deep sleeper. gary knew this from the time he sparayed a moustache on him with silly string in their first year, and then shaved his eyebrows off a few weeks later. He stood up, and softly crept over to the bed, beside him. Slowly, Gary leant over, and picked up the notebook. He opened it at the last page. It had a picture in it, of Gary, sleeping. Pete had put in every sloping line, shadow and crease in his face making it as realistic as possible. Gary smiled slightly, and placed the book on his chest. Then, before he knew what he was doing, he leant over again, and kissed Petey's forehead. He stalled once, thinking he saw Pete's's eye twitch. Gary carried on, kissing his cheeks, his nose, until he reached his lips. And then, very carefully, he kissed Petey. On the lips. Then, he slunk back into his bed with a sloppy smile on his face.
As soon as he heard Gary's quiet snoring, Pete opened his eyes, sat up, and touched his lips in disbelief. he'd been awake since Gary had taken the book from him. he stared at the boy in the other bed, then lay back down and fell to sleep, wondering what would happen.

Petey casually sauntered past the table Gary was sat at, flicked a little folded-up piece of paper onto his lunch tray, then went to join Jimmy and Zoe over in the corner.

Gary looked from the note to Kowalski sitting and messing around with James and 'the townie.' Jimmy seemed to have forgiven him for helping Gary take his pills, and was taking like nothing had happened, except for occasionally glaring at the back of Gary's head/

To Gary, the note read, in its painstakingly neat handwriting;

Meet me at our dorm room at half past 1.

Don’t bring anybody, okay?

Love,

‘’Femme-boy’’

Gary snorted with laughter for 3 reasons:
A: Petey had addressed himself as ‘Femme-boy’

B: He’d signed it with love

C: Who the hell would want to go to his dorm-room with Gary except for Petey?

Sitting on his bed cross-legged, with his thumb keeping the page he was on, the sunlight streamed in and poured into Pete’s eyes and he held up an arm, shielding himself. Suddenly, the door opened and in came Gary, who was sporting a black eye, busted lip and was walking with a limp. “Gary! What Happened!?” He shouted, horrified.

“Let’s just say; I’m not going to the football field any time soon.” Gary replied coolly, and went to lie down.

“Oh no! Let me look at that eye!” Pete demanded, grabbing his arm and pulling him in unexpectedly. Their noses were almost touching. Petey narrowed his eyes, and started to look at his eye. “Ow! There’s no need to prod it!” Gary protested, trying to pull away. Petey ignored him, and fetched a bottle.

“Now - this is going to sting a bit…”

“Just get on with it, Femme-boy.”

“O-Okay.” Petey dabbed some of the bottles contents onto a cotton-wool ball and placed it underneath Gary’s eye, dismissing the femme-boy remark. After all, he was badly hurt.

“Ow! What the- Jeez! Freaking … Argh!” Gary pulled away, nursing his hand.

“I told you so” Petey said, putting the bottle’s lid back on and lying down.

“Ha ha ha! I see you got your ass kicked, Smith!” came a shout from the hallway. Gary peered out and saw Jimmy there, smiling with glee. “Who was it!? Hmmm let me guess, was it Algie!? Or did Bucky do it!? Ha ha ha!”

“Close the door, Gary.” Pete said quietly. Jimmy stared at him in disbelief.

“You’re sticking up for this sociopath, Petey!?” He screamed, going red. “You’re pathetic! Both of you!” Gary shut the door quietly, and sat back down on his bed. They could still hear Jimmy pounding on the door. There was an awkward silence between Gary and Petey.

Pete shuffled uncomfortably on his bed. “I-I-I was awake, last night, Gary… I… saw you … and, erm, felt you … Kiss me.” Gary’s eyes widened, and his hand fell form his mouth; he’d been biting his nails. Petey hung his head. “I know it didn’t mean anything, Gary. I’m not going to tell anyone …” Gary stares at him, raising an eyebrow. Then, he slowly stood up. “What-what are you doing?”

“I’m doing what I should have done a while Go, Petey.” Gary said, and stood in front of him, Pete’s face level with Gary’s chest. Suddenly, before he knew it, Gary had leant down and Kissed Petey full on the lips. “It didn’t mean anything, Pete, because I thought you weren’t awake. But now it does.” Petey’s eyes widened more, if that was physically possible. He touched his lips with his hand, and looked at Gary.

“What do you want me for, Gary? I’m just …. I’m just … Femme-boy.” Gary laughed, nicely, and sat down on the bed.

“You can be my femme-boy if you want Petey.” Gary answered, and looked deep into his eyes.

Pete swallowed, and kissed Gary back. Oblivious to what Jimmy would say, or anyone else for that matter. All that he cared about … was Gary.