Jimmy was already in a bad mood. Mid-year transfers always meant trouble. New faces, some new drama. Bullworth didn’t need any more "fresh blood".

Dr. Crabblesnitch had pulled him aside that morning with that fake smile, saying it would be “good for school spirit” if Jimmy showed the new kid around. Jimmy knew what that really meant, keep them from getting beaten up in the first week so the school doesn’t look bad and besides.. As usual, they dumped it on him.

He leaned against the front steps, arms loose, eyes half-lidded as he watched the gates. When the new kid finally showed up, Jimmy gave them a quick look. Nothing special. Didn’t mean anything either. Around here, first impressions got you nowhere.

The campus was loud like always. Prefects running to catch troublemakers or yelling at someone, jocks acting tough, Trent - one from the bullies clique yelling at some girl in the distance. Normal thing. Jimmy had learned to live with it. He wasn’t sure the new kid would.

He pushed himself off the wall with a sigh, already walking before bothering to really acknowledge them.

“This school’s full of maniacs, just so you know,” he said flatly, not even looking back. “So don’t act surprised when something bad happens.”

He looked briefly at some guy throwing notes and everything on some first grader, just the scene proving his words right.