Page 31 of Birdy

I’mthe one with the mass drug charge in B Block, meaning any substance found in here is automatically assumed as mine, hence Mack’s adamant commentary this morning.

I don’t get to respond, though. CO Rodriguez is out of the guard box before I can so much as blink. He doesn’t rush her, but he’s got his sights set on her defensive form from the door, hands clasping his belt. “Better cool it, Kovitz, before you get yourself sent for lights out early.”

“Yeah, better cool it, Kovitz,” I parrot, resting my chin in my palm as Quinn flips over all the tiles to reshuffle. “Or you might find yourself missing a few teeth before bedtime. I amnotthe one; you should know that by now.”

Kori squares her shoulders and lifts her chin assertively. “I am not af—”

“I’d take her word for it if I was you,Koko.” Selena’s voice comes out of nowhere. Ten seconds later, she’s dropping into the other empty space beside me, steadily eyeing Kori. “Check yourself before you wreck yourself,blanquita.” White girl.

She and Koko have never gotten on too well. In fact, when I told her I was letting Kori bring different shit in from her connect on the outside, she was quick to voice how she didn’t think it was a good idea. And yeah, maybe it wasn’t my best idea, but here’s the thing: old habits die hard, and where there’s a possible profit involved, I’m there. The girl has potential, too, and with her history, she’s got the exact hustle we need to make more than a few bucks.

Besides, it’s not like there aren’t consequences she’s fully aware of.

“Last time I checked, this conversation was between Birdy and me, Lena, so why don’t you go back the way you came and mind your damn business.”

Lena chuckles quietly, scoffing a little laugh through her nose. “I don’t know? Maybe because I don’t feel like it? Contrary to what you seem to be thinking right now,this,”she motions around the table, “has to do with all of us. You weren’t the only one who got swept, and if I’m remembering correctly, your turnout was a hell of a lot easier than ours. So why don’t you settle the fuck down, have a seat, and listen to what B has to say before you end up in medical.”

Silence.

Well, as silent as it can be with other conversations still going on around us. Koko’s stare bounces around the table, mostly between Selena and me. Gia makes a few comments under her breath, tucking a wayward dark strand behind her ear, and Quinn snickers, as do a few of the other girls not too far away. The tension continues to rise, especially as more and more eyes fall on us. Rodriguez is still watching, and I’m more than positive the other guards are, too, from behind the one-way glass.

“Sit the fuck down, Koko,” I grit through my teeth. “You’re drawing unnecessary attention over here for no reason other than you don’t like being called out. They’re gonna start putting two and two together in about three minutes, and then I’ll really be fucked. So unless you’re looking to lose those teeth… Sit. The. Fuck. Down.”

“She might as well let you even that grill out. Shit’s a hot mess in there. Then again, that’s what happens when you like the hard shit,” Selena quips amusedly.

Kori’s reaction is instantaneous. Her cheeks heat in what I can only assume is a combination of rage and embarrassment. Next thing I know, she’s flying at the table, whacking her entire arm across the domino tiles. “Man, fuck you! All of you!”

More than half of the pieces clatter onto the gray silica floor as she whirls around to take her leave, but Quinn’s too quick, taking her by surprise. What’s funny is she’s often underestimated as the quiet chick.

Quinn’s not quiet; she’s selective.

With lithe movements, Quinn flies from her seat and fists the back of Kori’s uniform, yanking her backward with such force, her head smacks against the floor upon landing.

And I meansmacks.

That shit echoes, painfully so, dotting my skin with ice-cold goose bumps as the other inmates jump onto their feet and authoritative hollers from the guards erupt.

“Holy fuck, she’s out!”

“Is she dead?”

“Damn, Dennings, you didn’t even have to lay a finger, girl!”

That’s just a few of the comments that meet my ears as Rodriguez skids to a stop and hurriedly drops to his haunches beside Koko, pressing two fingers to her neck. “She’s alive. We need to get her to medical, though. She’s definitely going to have a concussion,” he voices over his shoulder just as Mack and Jordan come rushing up behind him.

Jordan joins him on the ground while Mack points his hard gaze around the table. When it lands on me, he crooks a finger and tips his head toward the box. “Let’s chat, Villanueva.”

Wonderful.

?She Is My Dream - The Tads

From my spotinside the box, I catch Mack andherambling this way while Rodriguez does his best to get Kovitz off the floor and keep the other inmates contained. I’d be out there assisting however necessary, but Mack told me to clock out and go home before he ran out the door. So, here I am, watching this shitshow unfold as I punch out on the computer, my knee bouncing restlessly.

It’s taking forever.

The damn server keeps glitching, playing on my impatience all the more. Knowing Mack’s got Benni alone put me on an immediate edge after what Rodriguez shared with me during lunch—aka Mack’s not-so-lowkey obsession.

“C’mon, c’mon,” I mutter, repeatedly clicking the mouse over the “End Shift” button, but the hourglass just keeps spinning and spinning and fucking spinning like the Zipper at the fair.

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