for what seemed like forever we locked eyes, waiting for the other to break contact. finally, brandan broke the contact, streching his arms and letting out a yawn. i sighed in relief.
"so," he began, rubbing his eyes, "Baker is it?"
"yea, well u can just call me zacky."
"zacky?" i dont know why he did, but he found this funny, laughing loudly. whats wrong with my name?
"alright, zacky it is" he chuckled. "so zacky boy, what are you in for?"
"something i didn't do."
"aren't we all?" he grinned. i looked at him, shaking my head as he sat there smiling. he wasn't so threatening when he smiled, and as i looked at him i realized his eyes weren't black, actually just dark brown. i know it sounds strange, but seeing that made me feel less afraid of him.
"well, i'm in for armed robbery and murder," i told him with a shrug. he seemed pleased.
"nice, nice" he nodded.
"yea, but i didn't do it, honestly." he laughed again. "no, i'm serious. the police got a call that a guy in the same car as mine killed a liquor store cashier, and my luck i was on the road at the same time the call got put in. so here i am, while the real killer is out there."
he looked at me for a bit, studying me carefully.
"alright, i guess i believe you. wish i could say the same as to why i'm here." and he let out another yawn.
"why are you here?" why was i asking him this? i didn't really want to know.
"well, i shot a cop" he said very nonchalant. how could he say that so calmly? he must have sensed how shocked i was, his mouth forming a smirk.
"well i had a good reason." still shocked. "this asshole pulled me and my wife over and decided to check us for 'concealed weapons'. he got a bit too touchy-feely with her, so i shot him. there was his mistake: checking the wife for weapons before the husband."
i just stared at him in awe. he laughed again. just then the guard arrived, the same bald man who threw me in here earlier.
"alright ladies, lunch time." he snickered, opening the cell door. brandan walked out ahead of me, very confident in his stride. i on the other hand must have looked like a terrified little schoolgirl. there ahead of me was the lunch hall, filled with some of the worst criminals california has ever seen. i gulped, and felt a hand on my shoulder.
"hey, don't sweat it too much. just don't make eye contact and stay by me. i'll give you the low down on everyone once we get some grub" brandan said, putting his hand back at his side. i guess he wasn't so bad after all.
