Page 48 of Rat

Ollie slipped into the chair opposite Rory—Captain’s chair.

Rory raised an eyebrow. “And you’re sitting there because?”

“I can see the gate.”

Rory glanced over his shoulder. “There’s nothing going on at the gate.”

“Teddy comes back on the wing today.”

“Has it only been ten days?” Rory groaned.

“What?”

“Feels like months have dragged by.”

“You’ve got to get used to it; you’re here for eight years.”

“Kill me now,” Rory muttered.

“I forgot to tell you; I signed us up for art class.”

“What?”

“Art class.”

“Why the hell did you do that?”

Ollie gestured to Rory slumped in his chair. “You’re always moaning you’re bored; I took the initiative. So, we’re doing art class. It’s once a week, Friday after lunch, unless the prison is in lockdown, which is a strong possibility.”

Pauly paused at their table. “Art class, sweetheart?”

Rory sighed. “So what?”

“I know what to sign up for now, that’s all.”

“Do what you want.”

“That an invitation?”

“Go away,” Ollie hissed.

“I will, but I’ll see you at art class. Maybe you can be the nude model, Rory, but for my eyes only.”

He winked, then carried on to his table and sat down with his group of friends. They’d all started wearing red bandanas, and when Rory asked Sebastian about it, he said not to worry.

Rory spotted Sebastian coming down the stairs. He threw a venomous glare at Pauly and walked straight to Rory and Ollie. He placed the chessboard he’d been holding on the table, then sat on the opposite side of the table to Rory.

“What did he say to you?” Sebastian asked.

“Said he was going to sign up for art class.”

“Art class?”

Ollie nodded. “Yeah, I signed me and Rory up. It’s that or another hour locked in our cells.”

Ollie had a point. Four out of twenty-four hours they were allowed on the wing, but unless you had a prison job or went to one of the classes, the rest of that time, you were locked into your cell.

Sebastian sighed. “I guess I’ll be doing that class too…again.”

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