Page 50 of Birdy

Yeah, you read that right.

The sick part is, they still fuck around, even without daddy around. Like right now, they’re holding hands, swinging their arms back and forth as they follow behind Franca, their flaming pigtails flapping around behind them. They remind me of those creepy little bitches fromThe Shining,their frilly blue dresses replaced by cherry red prison uniforms.

They’re too far for me to make out a word of what they’re saying, but it looks like Koko’s over there having the time of her life, all smiles and shit. I can’t believe this hoe is really gonna try to fuck me over. I should’ve listened to Lena when she told me it wasn’t a good idea, but of course, me being me, I had to give the chick the benefit of the doubt, thought her particular skill set could work well in this equation.

Obviously not.

That’s all right… Like I told Mari, I’m not going to say adamnword. Let her think everything is just peachy. I wanna see what she’s gonna do when I come to collect.

“Villanueva.”

That voice… Eyes widening, I gasp quietly as my entire body locks up tighter than Fort Knox at the unexpected sound. Every inch of my skin prickles, my feet rooting to the ground beneath me, and I think the only reason I’m able to move is the girls watching this go down. I love them, I do, but I don’t plan to tell them about Andrés. Lena knowing is one too many people already, and I trust her with my life.

My heart stops for a beat when I get a good look at him, longer still when he crooks his finger at me. “Come with me.”

“For what?” I question, nearly choking as that traitorous thing in my chest restarts and shoots up to my throat.

“Counselor. He wants to see you.”

The counselor? What the hell does he need to see me for?

“Okayyy,” I drone, brows cinching together in the middle of my face as I miraculously start toward him.

Two minutes later, we’re back inside the building, wandering the hallways en route to Judge’s office. Other than calling my attention and asking me to come with him, Andrés hasn’t said a word to me. I’m trying not to take it personally or overthinking what it could mean after our last exchange two days ago, but my stomach’s in knots, heartbeat galloping wildly in my ears. Still, I don’t dare open my mouth, biting my tongue to keep from saying something I shouldn’t. I don’t think the security cameras can pick up sound, but just to be safe, it’s probably best I don’t say anything anyway.

Not even when I catch him peeking at me from the corner of his eye.

The nerve-wracking silence continues as he locks a hand around my arm and yanks me around the corner toward the South wing. I’m too caught up wondering where the hell we’re going to realize what’s about to happen.

Until my back hits the wall of D Block’s bathroom, and I find myself caged with nowhere to go.

Andrés brings his face inches from mine, tongue peeking out to wet his lips as he stares at mine. “I need you to listen to me, and I need you to listen really well, understand?”

Ho-lyfuck.

My throat bobs, head nodding by way of response as I nearly swallow my tongue.

“I got you the phone. It’s stashed in B Block’s bathroom. I’ll tell you where exactly, but you have to promise me something first…”

I swallow again, harder this time. Feels like a jagged boulder scraping down my throat. “A-and what would that be?”

He reaches up, hesitating only a moment before he’s tucking my hair behind my ear. “Don’t get caught,please.I can’t go down for this. Promise me we’re gonna be good.”

I know what he means, but the way he sayswemakes my stomach flip. “I got this,” I assure him. “And evenifI do get caught, I promise they won’t know it was you who got it in for me.”

That wicked dimple of his comes out to play, a hushed laugh shooting out from his nose. “If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I’m not a snitch.”

My lips twitch at his reply. Those were my words, what I wrote in that first kite. “Damn right, I’m not.”

Andrés’s smile widens. “I believe you, I do, but just promise me, Benni… Please?” He steps closer still, invading my senses.

His proximity.

The way he smells.

How I can feel he’s using every ounce of restraint he knows tonotput his hands on me right now.

I wish he wouldn’t, wish he’d just do it so I could stop warring with myself. If we keep it light, this could be so fun.

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