Page 221 of Fragments
“Please tell me you don’t actually like this guy,” Ren scoffs.
“So what if I did?” Kang’s head cocks. “Would that be aproblemfor you?”
“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me…” Ren puffs, shaking his head.
“Lighten up,Dad,” Kang grunts. “I’m not fucking the dude or anything. I just don’t see why talking to him is such a big deal.”
“He’s not one of us, Byron,” Ren hisses.
“You know whowasone of us??” Kang snaps. “O’Malley. But this preppy little monster killed him. And now you guys are hanging out with him! Welcoming him into our group with open fucking arms… Like he just swooped in to take O’Malley’s place!”
Kang is simmering, vibrating in a way that I can feel from across the table. Darcey is just sitting quietly, calm gaze framed by his glasses. Entirely unaffected by the drama he’s caused.
I get where Kang is coming from. Loyalty is very important, to all of us. But I also happen to like Darcey. I know it’s fucked-up, and we should be supporting our friend, who’s been a big part of our lives foryearsnow.
But Felix Darcey has no one else. Without us, he just sits alone down in the East Wing with his doctor boyfriend. He hasn’t said it outright, but I know he appreciates us befriending him. I can’t see taking that away just to honor the memory of a guy I’m certain wouldn’t have batted an eye if we died.
Tension hangs over our table like a storm cloud as Joy finally stalks over to get her phone.
Goddamnit… We were so busy arguing, I didn’t even think of using it! I could’ve been Googling things or playing Candy Crush instead of listening to all this Mob Wives bullshit.
“Everything good?” Joy asks us on a breath, stuffing her phone away.
“Yup,” Ren grunts.
“Fan-fuckin-tastic,” Kang mumbles.
Joy’s eyes scan all of our faces, most likely picking up on the disgruntled mood. She stares at Kang for a few extra seconds before placing her hands flat on the table, leaning in. “You wanna know what we haven’t done in a while?”
We all gaze up at her, and she lets loose a small grin.
Oh… shit. Rec time?!
It’s been so long!
We haven’t been down there since the day Dash beat the crap out of Ren. Kang’s gone with Joy alone a few times to spar, but the rest of us haven’t been allowed, especially with the lockdown. But I guess timeout is officially over.
Yeaaa! Thug life!
“For real??” Ren gasps.
“Hell yea.” She straightens. “We’ll go now. The whole bunch of you. Killer bee, you wanna join us for some mediocre recreational activity in a moldy basement?”
Felix peeks at me and Ren, then looks back to Joy, a tiny smile forming as he nods gleefully.
Kang does another one of his blatant scoffs, to which Joy cocks her head. “Don’t be salty, gwiyeoun sonyeon. It’s bad for your health.” She winks at Felix.
“Fine,” Kang huffs, standing up. “I can coexist…”
I show him an appreciative smile. “Thanks, fam. It means a lot.”
“So long as you guys can do the same.” He smirks, hopping over his seat and sauntering off…
In the direction of Trevel Fenwick’s table.
“Is he fucking serious??” Ren snaps, shooting up out of his seat.
“Oh God…” I mumble, watching Kang strut right up to Trevel.
