When Cherries Fall | Kingston Prisoners

CHAPTER 10 - VAUGHN

I have my arms wrapped around Cherry's waist as I help her through the door.

I watch as Cherry carefully sits down on the lower bunk of the bed. She lets out a small sigh. 

       I set down her bag of medicine on the dresser opposite to the bed and stand in the middle of the room - taking it all in. It feels like my life has been flipped upside down in a matter of days and I don't know how to feel about it.

       "You know ..." Cherry starts. "I was wondering when you became such a big softie?" Cherry says with a laugh.

       "Helping people is considered soft now, huh?" I reply.

       Cherry laughs again and shakes her head. "You're just hard to read. One minute you're helping me, the next, you're telling me to stay out of your way." 

        Cherry watches my steps as I go to sit down beside her. I let out a sigh of my own. "I didn't tell you to stay away because I was embarrassed of you.  People aren't exactly Mother Teresa around here. But hell, they know to stay away from me. I just didn't want people to give you a hard time because you're my bunk mate," I say with a hard voice.

       Cherry sends me a warm smile. "I guess that means you are soft, huh?"

       I let out a laugh. I haven't laughed in a while.

I'm glad Cherry doesn't ask me to elaborate. I don't want to talk what landed me in this place. I do know that Cherry doesn't belong here. I just need to figure out how she got here in the first place. I'll deal with that another day though.

        Cherry tilts her head and gives me a thoughtful look. "I guess it's alright for tough people to be soft around their families," Cherry says with a hint of amusement.

       I didn't know what to think about this whole family thing. Hell, what type of person proposes something like that? But strangely enough, I've become comfortable with the idea that Cherry considers me her family. And that isn't like me at all. Fuck.

"I guess you're right," I say.

      Cherry looks down at her clothes. "We're still in our sweaty clothes! We'd better get changed. I'm just going to take my shoes off and head to the bathroom."

       I watch as Cherry struggles to bend down and take her shoes off. I kneel down and unfasten the laces, gently pulling the shoes from her feet and setting them down on the side of the bed.

       "I almost got there," Cherry says.

       "I know you did," I say with a small smile.

       "I'll head to the bathroom and you can change out here," I say.

       Cherry looks like she's about to argue, but instead nods.

I go to grab my clothes from the closet and head to the bathroom. After I've closed the door, I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and run a hand over my face. I hang my head down and find myself staring down the sink.

       I don't know what to do with myself. I've never had to take care of someone before.

       I head out of the bathroom and go to grab the medicine bag. Cherry is still sitting on the edge of the bed, but this time, with a different set of clothes. I remind myself that we'll probably have to get Cherry more clothes.

      I take the bottle out of the bag and turn it in my hand. "It says to take one tablet in the morning and one in the night." I pop open the lid and shake a pill into my palm. I go to grab a new water bottle from the dresser and hand Cherry the bottle and the pill.

Cherry takes the pill and sets the bottle down on the side of the bed.

"Don't even bother sleeping on the floor," Cherry warns. "These bunks are surprisingly big so I won't have a problem sticking to my side," she says with a smile.

Cherry scoots over to the side of the bed adjacent to the wall. I lie down and pull up the covers.

"I forgot about the cupcakes!" Cherry groans. "It's okay, we'll just eat them in the morning," she adds.

"Something to look forward, now go to sleep," I mumble.

"Goodnight softie," Cherry says through a yawn as she turns to face away from me.

"Goodnight Cherry," I reply.

I think about what tomorrow will bring before I drift off to sleep.