Page 71 of Butterfly

Teddy flapped the dictionary. He fanned the pages and smacked the cover, all to get Ollie’s attention, but he curled into a ball in reply and hid his face in a pillow.

Teddy sighed and stroked his back.

“Get off me.”

He missed the touch as soon as Teddy took it away.

Oh, Ollie.

He didn’t have to spell that out, and Ollie didn’t have to see his face. He felt it in Teddy’s sigh, in the way he lingered by the bed, wanting to touch but needing to respect Ollie’s wishes.

Teddy stayed standing by the bed until unlock. Ollie gave him the silent treatment as he dropped down from his bunk and got ready for the day. He tried to avoid the dictionary being held up to him at any opportunity, but it was instinctual, almost subconscious the way he looked for Teddy’s words.

He caught the wordSafe.

“Are you serious right now?” Ollie asked, whirling on Teddy. “Safe? That’s what you’ve gone for?”

Teddy nodded.

“I’ll be safer outside?”

Teddy kept nodding, waving his hands, trying to keep Ollie’s focus on him.

“You have no idea,” Ollie murmured, pushing his way past and out of the cell.

He marched over to his usual table and sat down heaving.

Jonesy soon joined him. “Trouble in paradise?”

“Shut up,” Ollie snapped. “Just shut up!”

Jonesy leaned back in his chair, eyeing Ollie through a squint. The prison ground to a halt around them until Green came over and announced to everyone, “Nothing to see here. Kindly fuck off.”

Jonesy slid his full breakfast tray in front of Ollie.

“What are you doing?” Ollie asked.

Jonesy flashed a smile. “I’ll get another.”

“But…”

He was back in the queue before Ollie could say any more. Green took the seat opposite, then Jack sat down beside him. They both watched him with concern.

“I’m fine,” Ollie said, staring resolutely at his breakfast.

“You don’t look it,” Jack said. “Want to talk about it?”

Yes, Ollie did want to talk about it; he opened his mouth to start but stopped himself.

Everyone inside wanted to getoutside.

Everyone except him.

They’d side with Teddy and put pressure on him to appeal.

An inmate being released was like a victory for the whole wing.

“Ollie?” Green pressed.

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