Page 95 of Butterfly

Sebastian nodded along.

“And you’ve got me to lean on too now,” Captain said. He squeezed Ollie’s knee. “It’s not out of guilt or because I feel I have to. I want to be there for you, Ollie.”

“I don’t deserve—”

“Of course you do,” Rory and Captain said together.

Ollie whispered, “Do you remember when we met in the booking-in area at Hollybrook?”

Rory and Captain both nodded.

Ollie looked at Rory. “You smiled at me, a small smile. It wasn’t creepy; it was warm.”

“I remember.”

“No one had smiled at me in weeks. I thought I’d hate the look of everybody’s smile, but I didn’t. I liked yours. I liked Captain’s, I liked Green’s, Jack’s and Jonesy’s even though he could be a prick. But do you know whose I liked most of all?”

“Teddy’s,” Captain said sadly.

Ollie shook his head. “Teddy’s a close second. I liked my smiles most of all. I hadn’t smiled in years. It’s the weirdest thing to forget what a smile feels like, but I asked for your name, Rory, and you told me so freely, and I smiled at you.” He looked at Captain. “I smiled at you too when you told me your name, but you had your back to us.”

Captain hung his head. “I’m sorry I missed it.”

“You don’t need to be; you’re looking at it now.” Ollie’s lips shook. “Going to prison was the best thing that ever happened to me, and being out of it is the hardest.”

“You’ve got us,” Captain said. “You’ve still got us.”

“And Leo too,” Rory added.

“I know, and I should be grateful—I am grateful, but why couldn’t I keep him too? Why does he have to stay a memory in Hollybrook when he doesn’t have to?” Ollie wiped his eyes. “Fuck. Today isn’t about me.” He glanced to Captain. “Sorry.”

Captain shook his head.

They were all staring at Ollie, not knowing what to say.

“Do you remember when Rory got stabbed?” Ollie asked, just to change the subject.

“Yes,” Captain growled. “And I still don’t know which arsehole did it.”

“Well, this is going to get awkward,” Rory muttered, turning to Sebastian.

Sebastian sighed. “I didn’t stab you; I justaskedStephen to do it.”

Ollie’s mouth dropped open as he felt Captain tense beside him.

“You got your boyfriend stabbed?” Ollie asked.

“He wasn’t my boyfriend at the time, and it’s not like I’d do it now, although…every time he mentions me needing glasses…”

Rory raised an eyebrow. “Not funny.”

“What happens in prison stays in prison,” Sebastian replied.

They laughed, and Ollie forced a fake one good enough to convince his friends.

What happens in prison stays in prison.

He was beginning to suspect that might be true.

---