Page 72 of Birdy

“Wake you up for what? I was nauseous, my head was throbbing. There wasn’t anything you could’ve done to help me that I hadn’t already tried before I called for the guards, and they took me down to medical,” I lie, hoping I sound more legit than I feel.

Selena’s expression softens a bit, hand reaching out for mine. “You know I would’ve stayed up with you even if I couldn’t help,” she vows, making me feel like absolute shit in two point five seconds.

Don’t do it. Don’t tell her.

It’s right there on the tip of my tongue, waiting to be unleashed so we can gush together, but I force myself to swallow down the words and squeeze her hand instead. “I know, but I didn’t want to wake you. You were sleeping so peacefully and—”

“Please tell me it was Bala who took you down to see Gomez,” she interjects, waggling her eyebrows like the Lena I love.

It makes me wonder what’s going on with her thatshehasn’t told me. She’s been so hot and cold...

“He did, yeah.” That’s the one and only bone I’m throwing, but like anyone fishing for information, you give them an inch, and they take the whole mile.

“Aaand? What happened?”

“Nothing.” I shrug noncommittally. “He walked me down, and that was it. I think the poor dude was half asleep. You know he’s not usually third shift.” Shoveling a spork-full of bland mashed potatoes in my mouth, I watch Lena’s brow quip curiously.

“So you mean to tell me that you two were wandering the dark-as-fuck hallways, and he didn’t try anything after all of your nightly conversations?”

“Yup.”

She looks astonished like genuinely astonished. “Wow.”

I shrug again, thankful she doesn’t seem suspicious. “I mean, I was sick, Lena. I doubt he wants to catch whatever germs I have.”

“Yeah, but…. I don’t know. I guess I just figured he’d make a move. It’s not like you guys didn’t already cross the line.” Leaning forward, she flicks her gaze around us to ensure no one’s listening in before she whispers, “He snuck you in a phone, for fuck’s sake.”

“Shhh!” My eyes widen. “Shut the fuck up. Shit’s getting hot as fuck in here.”

Lena’s face contorts, lips curling and all. Clearly, she’s out of the loop. “What are you talking about?”

My gaze flicks to Franca’s table. Only her twin freaks surround her. Koko’s over at the addict table, shooting up more red flags in the depths of my mind. They’ve been sitting together since Quinn sent her ass to medical, and now, suddenly, they’re not.

Fuck.

“Ryker got caught, and now he’s under investigation,” I explain, taking a sip of my water.

“Whaaaat?” she drawls. “When the fuck didthathappen?”

“Like two weeks ago, I think.”

“How did you find out?”

“Bala.” I swallow, bracing myself for a reaction when I dish out the rest. “This is bad, Lena. Really bad. From what it sounds like, he wasn’t just caught. My gut is telling me it’s out of spite, and if that’s the case, I could be going down alongside him, Koko, and Franca. I could lose everything I worked so hard for.”

“Wait...lose everything?” She's confused, all right, staring at me like I’ve grown three more heads.

I nod, glancing around like she did just minutes ago. You can’t just go around telling these bitches you got early release. A lot of them will do anything to fuck it up for you and ensure you don’t get to leave them behind. It’s all out of jealousy, of course. Everyone here wants to leave. “I got my early release.”

Her initial silence is concerning, but when I glance up to gauge her reaction, her face is lit up in what I would consider excitement. “You did? When did you find out?”

Here comes the blow…

“Almost two weeks ago.”

Lena flinches the moment it sinks in. She seems hurt, surprised. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I haven’t even told Noely.” And it’s true, I haven’t. Why get her or Ma’s hopes up if it can get taken away at any moment? “The same day Judge gave me the news is the same day Andrés told me about Ryker over FaceTime. I had to act like nothing was wrong.”

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