Page 37 of Butterfly

It was Ollie’s wishful thinking.

They left the cell for afternoon association.

Despite their relationship changing inside the cell, Teddy kept his distance outside of it. He no longer showed Ollie any affection on the wing and would often separate himself. The tables comfortably fit four inmates.

Ollie sat with Jack, Green and Jonesy, and Teddy sat with Captain, Zeke and Braden.

Teddy no longer attended any classes with Ollie either.

When Ollie asked him about it, he said it was good for them to have space from each other sometimes. His words landed like a blow, and Ollie curled in on himself, only for Teddy to frantically shake his head and pull him into a hug.

He’d taken it the wrong way.

But he didn’t know how else to take it.

Teddy wanted what happened in the cell kept secret. Again, Ollie had pulled away from him, only to be shushed and reassured.

What they did was private, personal; Teddy didn’t want the whole wing knowing about it. In a way, Ollie understood, but then he worried Teddy might be ashamed of him—

No.

Ollie looked away, but Teddy caught his face and turned him back.

Never, never, never.

“But I don’t understand.”

Teddy used the dictionary.To keep you safe.

“You think someone might use me against you somehow?”

Teddy nodded.Just in case.

Ollie wasn’t sure who would be foolish enough to cross Teddy, but he agreed anyway.

They still shared fleeting smiles and secret looks across the wing, though.

“Hey, Ollie…”

He turned to the inmate tapping on his shoulder. Ian had his long black hair tied up like he always did when he was working. He delivered the mail, and there was pure joy in his blue eyes when he held a letter out to Ollie. Delivering the mail, he also knew who didn’t get it, and this letter was a first for Ollie.

He knew Captain got letters from Rory, and Rory had asked for him to pass on his address to Ollie so he could write if he ever felt like it.

Ollie hadn’t.

He wondered whether Rory had finally lost patience.

“Thanks,” Ollie said, taking the letter.

He could feel both Teddy’s and Captain’s eyes on him from the other table.

“Aren’t you going to open it?” Jonesy asked when Ollie stayed staring at the white envelope. He thought he recognised the handwriting, not Rory’s, but…

He shot to his feet; Jonesy caught his chair before it hit the floor.

“Is it a guide to being the perfect Jack-in-the-box?” Jonesy asked.

Ollie frowned. “Huh?”

---