Page 205 of Fragments
“Who is it??” I whisper to him, but he’s paying me zero attention, fully immersed in whoever is speaking to him on the phone. I look at Joy, but she just grins, spinning away to give us some space.
He saidagain… Whose voice would he be excited to hear—
“Holy fuck, Dash,” I gasp, tugging Lex’s shirt over and over. “It’sDash, isn’t it? Dash, is that you?!”
Lex laughs out loud, nodding. “Yea, totally. Hang on.” He switches to speakerphone, lowering the volume. “Okay, you’re good.”
“Hi, guys!” the familiar voice croons through the phone, and I can’t even help it.
I’m freaking out.
Obviously, we don’t get phone calls in here.Ever. The one time I managed to score a cell phone, Byron’s dumb ass got it taken away. So the fact that we’re talking toanyoneon the phone is fucking awesome. But it being Dash just makes it even sweeter.
I’ll admit it. I miss the kid. He’s cool as shit, and we really started to bond towards the end there.
After he escaped, he called Lex to ask him frantic, confusing questions. But understandably, we didn’t expect to hear from him again. And now he’s calling from wherever he is to catch up, I guess.
The dude is fucking nuts, and I’m here for it.
“This is amazing,” Byron chuckles. “Miss you, buddy!”
“I miss you too, chingu,” Dash chirps some word in Korean. “Did I get it right?”
Byron cackles. “Close enough.”
“Dascha, how are you calling us right now??” I ask him, gripping Lex’s wrist as he holds the phone, beaming. “Are you alright? Have you grown your hair back?? Talk to me, Goose.”
Dash laughs. “Yea, I’m alright. I’m more than alright, actually. I’m on top of the motherfuckin’ world. And yes, my hair is grown out, and it’s pink. It looks hot.”
He sighs, and a quick pang hits my chest. Because Idomiss him, but also, he sounds great and I’m a little jealous. For the first time since I’ve been locked up in this damn prison… I kinda wish I wasn’t here.
I wish I was wherever Dash is right now. All of us, together.
“Homie, you have no freaking idea how glad I am that you’re okay,” Lex hums. “I’ve been worried about you since the last time we talked…”
“I get it,” Dash says softly. “I wasn’t in the best place when I called you. But I need to tell you something…”
“Okay…” Lex mumbles. “I’m nervous. Go on.”
“I’m seeing someone,” Dash whispers. “I, um… I have a boyfriend. And he used to work there…”
We’re all quiet for a second before I mutter, “I’m living for this right now.”
“I don’t get it,” Byron croaks.
“Oh myGod, Kemper!” Lex gasps.
“Mhm. Yea,” Dash murmurs, an audible grin in his voice. “It’s Kemper…KellanKemper.”
“How the…” Lex shakes his head. “How?!”
Dash chuckles. “We met up here. Where I am… It’s a long, complicated, confusing fucking story, but against all odds, we made it. And now we’re… together. And he loves me.”
I feel like such a loser right now, but I can’t stop smiling. “Do you love him?”
“Oh, fuck yea,” Dash rasps, and I cackle.
“Hold on…Kellan Kemper? The dude who used to work in solitary??” Byron sounds as shocked as we’re all feeling.
