Page 32 of Freshman

“I know he is,” Nate mumbled, “but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t jealous Freshman’s lips were around yours first.”

Alfie lifted his chin, smug with himself. He moved along to Nate’s cell, knowing an inch of steel and a chunky cell lock separated them. “First, and last.”

Nate hummed in amusement. “Maybe I’ll shove teabags down my throat till I pass out. Then you’d have to kiss me too.”

Alfie shrugged. “I’d get Henry.”

Queenie howled with laughter and hit his fist to the wall.

Alfie grinned so hard it felt tight on his face.

“That’s not nice. How evil are you?” Nate whispered.

The lightness to Alfie’s chest vanished. The word evil… Henry used it to describe Nate all the time. Pure Evil, not just the crime he committed, but the man through and through.

“You’re okay though, right?” Nate asked.

Alfie swallowed. “Me? I’m not the one who flat-lined.”

“No, you’re the one that performed CPR and saved a prisoner many would’ve let die. It must have taken a lot out of you.”

Alfie’s shoulders throbbed in response to Nate’s words. “Nothing that a few painkillers can’t fix.”

“You’d better be taking care of yourself, Freshman.”

“I’m fine.”

“I’d like to see for myself,” Nate mused.

Alfie didn’t reply.

“You did amazing yesterday.”

“Did I?”

He hadn’t meant to say it out loud, but Alfie’s insecurities leaked out of him. He shouldn’t have needed validation, but it stemmed from being in care and never having anyone in his corner. Never having anyone to say something good about him.

“Of course you did. Don’t listen to Ryan. He has no idea how special you are, but I do.”

Alfie bit his lip and let the words soak in.

“Open the hatch…”

Alfie jerked to attention, turned and rushed away from Nate and Queenie, wondering what the hell was wrong with him.

Flirting. Was he flirting or just passing time?

The glasses had slipped from Henry’s face and dropped in his lap, but it hadn’t woken him. He couldn’t lie and say he was awake when all five of them stared at his eyelids. Alfie never realised how small the office was until they were forced in it for hours at a time. The oppressive atmosphere between Marie and Glen didn’t help and killed any conversation starters. One of the twins shoved earbuds in his ear, and the hiss of rock music clashed in the silence. The other twin watched his brother for a few minutes, then retrieved his own phone and headphones. The music that escaped his was operatic, and Alfie raised his eyebrows. They weren’t clones in every way after all.

“You live ten minutes away, don’t you?”

Alfie turned to Marie, then checked over his shoulder to make sure it was him she addressed. “Me? Yeah…not too far.”

“I could give you a ride home. It’s on my way.”

Glen muttered something under his breath, and Alfie looked at him.

“Erm, I’m all right. I like the walk.”

---