“What?” Her face screwing up in confusion.
“Nine days in a box, with nothing but my own brain chewing itself up. Thoughtful of you.”
Her brows furrowed at me, “What the—?! I didn’t make you do anything!”
A grin started to play on my lips, “Sure you didn’t. But you’re the reason I was getting this shit in the first place, stopping them from making true on their little threats.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t owe you anything. What you did was off your own back,” she snapped.
“Maybe I should let them have at it then…. From what I overheard, there’s plenty in here that would love nothing more than to bring you down a peg or two.”
She stepped closer. “You threw the punch. That’s not my fault.”
“And I enjoyed the punch,” I said.
Misfit’s eyes narrowed. Her hands curled like they wanted to be fists, but she didn’t raise them.
“What is this?” she asked, “You trying to intimidate me?”
“Nah,” I smirked. “But I do like the way you twitch when I talk.”
She scoffed, “Fuck you, Screech. You’ve gone off the deep end.”
I leaned in, voice a whisper. “And you’re right there with me.” We were close now—breath close, eye-to-eye like two boxers before the bell.
“You think you scare me, don’t you?”
“I think I live rent-free in that head of yours. Dangerous to let someone take up that much space.”
“I’m not scared of you, Screech.”
“Come play with me then,” I said, tilting my head. “See who breaks first. Could be fun.” My voice dripping with a menacing undertone.
We stood there, locked in something too electric to name. Not quite hate, but it wasn’t safe. Then a guard’s voice barked down the hall, breaking the spell.
Misfit stepped back, eyes still on mine, “Keep your games to yourself.”
“Spoil sport.” She turned and walked off, but I knew I’d gotten under her skin. Could feel it in the way she didn’t look back. And as I leaned against the wall, alone again in silence, I felt it, that grin still stuck on my face like a mask.
It had been weeks since I’d last heard Nate’s laugh behind me. I figured they had separated us for a while to let things settle.
Little did they know that ever since throwing me in solitary, my desire to end the cunt had only amplified. I glanced out into the corridor as he passed my cell, clutching a towel in his hand. He was heading for the showers.
The light was already dimming through the windows, which told me this was outside the usual shower time slots we were given. Bribing one of the guards no doubt, allowing him access without an escort.
A steady smirk appeared on my face as I placed my magazine down on my bunk and pulled myself up.
Typically, one of his boys would tail him, all fake-smirks and shared cigarettes. But tonight, the hallway was quiet.
The second the shower room door clicked shut behind him, I felt it—that slow, steady burn in my gut.
The guards were halfway through shift change, which meant lockdown would soon be upon us. If I wanted to make my move against him, this was my best chance at doing so.
The hum of the overhead lights buzzed like a warning as I pushed open the door. Steam was already curling in the air, thick and wet, clinging to the cracked tiles. The shower hissed as the water slapped onto the floor, echoing around the room, making him unaware of my presence.
Nate was hunched under the far spout, back turned, his shoulders flexed as he ran his hands through his dark hair, smugly humming something tuneless.
Sticking to the shadows of the room, I waited patiently for him to finish. I leaned myself against the side of the adjoining cubicle, arms crossed tightly across my chest. Even just seeing this fucker’s face made my blood run molten in my veins. Water was still dripping from him as he grabbed his towel, wrapping it around his waist. It wasn’t until he exited the cubicle and stood next to the sinks that I revealed myself from the shadows.
