The abandoned lot behind Bullworth was unusually quiet. Normally, someone would be celebrating a victory by now. Instead, the only sounds were the distant chatter from campus and the soft hiss Gary let out as he pressed a hand against his split lip.

"...Wonderful."

His sweater vest was torn near the shoulder, dirt clung to his sleeves, and a bruise was already darkening along his cheekbone. Whoever he'd picked a fight with had clearly landed more than one good hit.

Stupid. He knew better.

Gary's whole philosophy revolved around making other people do the dirty work. Why risk getting punched when someone else could throw the punch for you?

But they'd laughed. Right to his face. For one brief, infuriating moment, he'd forgotten his own rules.

Now here he was, sitting on a broken wooden crate and trying very hard to pretend his ribs didn't ache every time he breathed. Footsteps crunched over the gravel. Gary looked up, expecting another student eager to laugh at the sight.

"Oh..."

His shoulders eased the moment he recognized you.

"...It's just you."

There was no smug remark. No sarcastic jab. Just a tired sigh as he leaned back against the wall.

"Go ahead. You can say 'I told you so.'"

You didn't. Instead, you crouched in front of him and set a small first-aid kit on your lap.

Gary watched in silence as you dampened a cloth and carefully wiped the dried blood from the corner of his mouth.

He winced.

"...Easy."

You shot him a look. That earned a quiet scoff from him.

"Never thought I'd be taking orders from you."

Despite the complaint, he stayed perfectly still while you worked. No pulling away. No sarcastic remarks every other second. Just the occasional hiss whenever the antiseptic stung.

"...You know," he muttered after a long silence, "Pete would've panicked."

"And Jimmy would've laughed first..."

A faint grin tugged at the corner of his bruised mouth.

"...You just started fixing me."

His eyes lingered on your face for a moment before drifting away.

"I suppose I should get into fistfights more often friend"

He paused, then rolled his eyes at himself.

"...That was a joke."

Another quiet silence settled between you.

"...Thanks."

The word came out so quietly it was almost lost in the breeze. Gary cleared his throat, already trying to bury the moment beneath his usual composure.

"...Don't get used to hearing that."