Page 130 of Shadowman
“Why would that be a favor he’d want from you?” My consternation is evident as I watch him touching my stuff.
“You’d have to ask him that.” Trevel takes a seat on my bed and bounces. “The mattress in my cell is much better. I wonder if Kent will bring it over…”
“That’smybed.” I step up to him. “You’ll have to take the top.”
His already elated expression shifts to one much more wicked. “I have no problem doing that for you, Byron. You just have to asknicely.” He smirks, and I scowl.
I stand over him, muscles stiffening. “Let’s get one thing clear, alright? Just because we’re sharing a cell now, doesn’t mean we’ll be, like…” My voice trails as his smirk widens. I gulp. “Whatever. Just… act normal, okay? I’m happy to have you here as mycellmate, but that’s it. This isn’t gonna turn into some damn cuddlefest.”
Trevel purses his lips to tone down that crooked smile. “Fine. Apparently,youcall the shots in here, Raph,” he sneers, and I squint. “I promise, I’ll be as platonic as I can manage.”
Exhaling a sigh of defeat, I rub my eyes, already exasperated by him. He chuckles wickedly at my expense.
I really don’t want to think about it right now… But this dude is shockingly similar to Ren.
Maybe that’s why Ren hates him so much. We all know Ren hates himself.
The irony of all this is tripping me out.Every time I lose a Michelangelo, I get one back.
Blinking down at my new roomie, I push that thought away.
He’s not Michelangelo. Because Michelangelo doesn’t exist anymore.
And neither does the version of me I was when I was with him.
“Get off my bed,” I growl, frustrated by all of this overthinking.
I’ve been so bored and lonely since O’Malley left. It’s been months, and now Ifinallyhave a cellmate again. I should be happy. But instead, I’m stressing, and I can’t pinpoint why.
Well, I’m sure Ican. But like most things, I’m choosing to bury it.
Trevel gets up and climbs to the top bunk while I flop onto my bed. I can feel him moving around up there, the rickety frame shifting as he tosses and turns.
Jeez, I forgot how much the bunk rocks.
“Byron…” he mumbles once he finally stops wiggling around.
“Yea?” I sigh.
“I’m happy to be your cellmate too.” The grin in his voice is audible.
I roll my eyes, nestling under my blanket. It’s pretty early, but for the first time in a while, my eyelids are heavy. I think I might actually get some sleep tonight.
“Byron?”
If my new cellmate ever shuts the hell up.
“Yes?” I answer impatiently.
“Would you mind if I used our toilet to make some good old-fashioned prison hooch with the rest of my fruit?”
A disturbed expression covers my face. “That sounds disgusting. I’ll have to insist that you don’t do that.”
He chuckles. “Fine. I’ll use the sink.”
I huff, closing my eyes.Silly bastard.
Eventually, Trevel’s shimmying begins rocking me to sleep. I’m fuckingexhausted.
