Page 104 of All Your Firsts

I rush past him and snatch my phone off the nightstand, my fingers trembling with urgency. Prepared to sprint the entire distance back home if necessary.

“Please don’t go. I can’t lose you.”

The desperation in his voice is clear, but I don’t care. I can’t.

“You just did.”

As his head falls forward and his gaze stays fixated on his feet, I seize the opportunity and dash through the house, my footsteps reverberating against the walls until I burst into the chilly downpour outside.

Twenty-Four

Vic

Why do I always fuck shit up?

Fifteen Years Old

The clink of bars sounds, and I open my eyes from the bottom bunk. A kid walks through with bedding and an extra pair of clothes. He looks around the same age as me. Haunted-ass eyes with the look of pain and vengeance. A heady combination, one that will ultimately lead to destruction.

Welcome to thefucking club, man.

The door closes behind him in a haunting noise that always makes me anxious and gives me claustrophobia.Trapped, locked in, caged.

“What’s up, man? I’m Vic,” I say with a head nod.

“Gage,” he says, looking around.

“You can take the top bunk.”

“Thanks.”

“You get more letters, man?” I ask Gage.

We’ve been cellmates for a couple of months now. Thankfully, we get along a lot better than the last fucker. I put him in the hospital for stealing my shit. I got time added and was in the hole for two weeks, but it was worth it.

Gage is cool, though. Quiet, clean, and someone I’ve learned I can trust. He’s honest, which is hard to find in people.

“One from my sister,” he says, holding up a letter and a photo.

I reach to take the photo with a wince. My side is still tender from the shiv that was embedded in my ribs when I tried to save Gage in the day room a week ago. He had five on him, and blood was fucking everywhere. I’ll always remember the sight of him rising from the ground, his body covered in crimson wounds, yet he held his head high even though I’m sure he was in a fuck ton of pain. He earned my respect and many others’ that day.

My attention is instantly seized by a girl in the photo. Her dark hair, captivating green eyes, sun-kissed complexion, and beaming smile make it impossible for me to look away.

Just the sight of her makes my pulse jump.

“That’s Alexa, my sister, Ro, and my douche of a brother, Marco.”

“That the Alexa you’ve been talking about?” I ask to take the focus off my looking at the brunette, who’s unfortunately his sister.

“Yep,” he says, taking the picture back and looking at it longingly. The poor fuck is hopeless when it comes to her.

“You think she’ll wait for you to get out?”

“She doesn’t have a choice. She’s mine,” he says with unwavering confidence.

He hops back on his bunk, probably to stare at her picture more.

I’ve never met a girl who has had a hold on me like his girl has on him.

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