When Cherries Fall | Kingston Prisoners

CHAPTER 11 INTERLUDE - THE NEIGHBOURS (MADDOX)

       "Daph! I can't find that dark navy shirt I had on yesterday," I yell as I search through the closet.

       "Keep it down!" Daphne says in an angry whisper as she emerges from the bathroom with a small towel around her neck. Her bright red hair makes the room feel brighter.

       "You're going to wake up everyone in the dormitory and the guards are going to be pissed if they hear any noise this late into the night," she says angrily.

       "Listen. I'm sorry, but I can't find it," I sigh.

       "It's right behind you," Daphne says as she gesture to the chair behind me.

       "Well, would you look at that?" I guess what you're looking for is sometimes hidden in plain sight, huh?"

       Daphne just shoots me a glare.

       I smile and give her a pat on the arm as I walk over to our bunk.

       I sit on the edge of the lower bunk, watching Daphne pace back and forth in the middle of the room.

       A few moments pass before Daphne speaks.

       "Do you think that girl who passed out today on the field is alright?" Daphne asks.

        "Quit worrying about it Daph. I'm sure she's fine. Besides, I think I heard Reed unlocking the door a couple of hours ago. He probably brought the girl back with him."

       "I thought the faculty stopped trying to place roommates with Vaughn?"

         I shrug. "I guess he didn't have a choice anymore. I mean the Insitute doesn't have enough rooms and they're broke. They don't care who bunks with who as long as the rooms are filled. How do you think we ended up as roommates?"

         Daph laughs. "It's just ... I've never seen Vaughn act like that. He's always been quiet and kept to himself. I don't know, something seems off ..."

       "You're worried about Vaughn?" I say incredulously. I don't know why the thought of Daph worrying about Vaughn bothers me. She's been my only support system in this hellhole - my best friend. Maybe, it's because Reed is an ass. Reed and I go back. Not in a good way by any means.

       Daph scrunches her face. "No! I'm just worried about what he's going to do. He lost his cool on that field Madds. What if he takes it out on someone? His charges ... they're hard to ignore."

        I nod. I feel better knowing the real reason why Daph is so interested in this whole situation. "Reed does seem a little unstable. I wonder what the girl has got to do with it though?" I let out a groan. "Just forget it Daph. If they cause any trouble, you got me." And I'm serious when it comes to Daphne.

           Daphne gives me a big smile. "You're right, I'm reading too much into it. The girl seemed nice though, Cheryl right? I guess I shouldn't worry too much about her either. Vaughn seems to care about her."

       I realize Daphne is right, Reed does seem to care about the girl. A lot by the looks of it.

        That's out of character. Especially for him.

       Now that I think about it, the type of information she has could be valuable. A lot of people in here have an axe to grind with Reed. And by value, I mean monetary. Information in the Insitute sells around here. God knows we could definitely use the money.

       Daphne doesn't know I have an axe to grind with Reed and I'll keep it that way. She worries too much.

       Daphne sits down beside me. "What's going on in that head of yours?" Daphne chuckles as she points to my head.

       "Absolutely nothing," I say with the most innocent smile I could muster. "Just don't worry too much about it Daph. As their neighbours, we'll have the inside scoop."

      I playfully nudge her shoulder.

       Daphne rests her head on my shoulder. "You're right, you're right. The way he lost his cool on the field like that today, plus his charges - it just has me on edge. But it's probably nothing."

       We look at each other and smile. Daphne's head is still resting on my shoulder.

        I have a plan. But there's no way in hell I'm going to involve Daphne in it. I can't risk her.