Unwavering devotion [Complete, 18+]

CHAPTER 6: RESTLESS

GETTING BACK INTO THE BLOCK, I DIDN'T INITIALLY FIND DERRICK AND I    didn't know which cell he was in either. Not wanting to potentially get into any further disputes I decided against searching for him cell by cell, heading back to my own instead. Greeted with the depressing sight I made the bed, fitting the plain duvet cover with the thin duvet and lumpy pillows in their cases being particularly therapeutic when having to force them into shape. Leaning against the open door I analysed my fellow inmates from afar trying to ascertain who could be a problem. I dismissed most of them as many were content cleaning, writing or socialising in the common area. I didn't notice Philips or any of his men but then again they might not be back here yet or on this side of the cells so I couldn't see them from this angle. I lay down on my bunk and closed my eyes. I tried to come up with a way to get Belle to let me in but as I lay there the minutes ticked away as the moon rose higher and higher in the sky. A familiar scent caught my attention and I sprang up from my reclining position. Exciting the cell, I caught up to Derrick's retreating figure grasping his shoulder stopping him in his tracks. 

He didn't turn around though and as I moved around him to face him front on I saw a rapidly forming black eye which he tried to hide behind his hair. 

"What happened?"

"Nothing-"

"It's not nothing. Was it Philips and his lot?"

He shook his head, still avoiding my eye. "No. Not them but the results the same. It doesn't really matter who it was, just that it happened in the first place."

"Are you alright? I'm sorry that I wasn't ther-"

"You said yourself though, you wouldn't have done anything. What would you have done if you had been there, stood and watched?" He interrupted snatching his arm out of my gentle grasp. "You probably would have joined in, to fit in and avoid conflict-"

"No you've got it wrong I would never do that."

Our shouting drew attention that had me hastily regretting confronting him out in the open. I tried to get him to calm down but it didn't work if anything he spoke louder.

"Do what? Watch or join in, both are bad."

"Join in, I wouldn't join in. You know why I can't fight back: I need to get out of here, no matter what." I said quietly though many had turned towards us trying to hear our conversation. 

This wasn't the kind of introduction I wanted to give, having a fight and loud shouting on my first day but then again first days never turn out great, at least it wasn't any worse.

"Whatever. Just leave me alone," he said storming off. Knowing that he needed to cool off, I let him go noting the cell he turned into, just a couple doors down from my own for future reference. 

Glancing over the barrier, many eyes quickly averted their gazes and I sighed just imagining what kinds of rumours were being invented by the second. Heading down the steps I took an uncomfortable seat near the back of the seating area, turning my gaze to the rugby game on. It was a repeat that I had watched before but I needed something to do so I sat and watched the game unfold, not reacting as I would if I had watched it for the first time like a lot of those also watching. Thankfully I was left alone and as my eyes stared at the screen, what they were actually seeing was much more beautiful.  

Hard footsteps not belonging to the rubberised trainers we received moved towards me ripping me out of my wonderful daydream until a guard stood before me. He looked to be in his late thirties with a receding hairline and a beer belly well on its way. He had a kind looking face though and on his lapel the word Lawson was stitched. Deducing him to be the block guard I waited for him to speak as he must have had a reason to walk over.