Chapter Three - [ Grateful ]
{ j.a.t }
My nerves were beginning to calm down as I took in the surroundings of this place. I felt more relaxed. Maybe I was going crazy.
I didn't expect dinner to be as nice as it was. There were tables and chairs around a small room with concrete walls. There were more people, I guess they stayed in during Social. I looked around, trying to find a possible place to sit.
My eyes cast upon the boy who saved me in Social. He had a disgusted look on his face as he sent cold stares at anyone who looked at him. I would be crossing the line if I went to sit with him.
The line was crossed, as I pulled out a chair and sat down. Once I placed my tray down, he turned to face me. "What are you doing?" He asked. I shrugged, "you, uh...you looked a bit lonely."
"Surprised you haven't run off," he spoke in a very attractive voice. I smiled. "Considering you...protected me from that big fella, I wanted to thank you," I said sincerely. "Seriously, I'm not really good at defending myself."
"I can tell," he agreed, picking at his food. "I'm grateful, really," I continued, leaning on the table. "You have no idea. If it wasn't for you I probably would have been knocked out." I laughed to lighten the mood, fading off when he raised an eyebrow.
"Are you in here for talking too much?" He question, a bit of humour in his tone. I shook my head, giving a sly smile. "I'm in here for a misunderstanding," I explained. "I never got to graduate or get married or go to prom or do anything in life."
"That's sad," the boy said softly. "You shouldn't be in here."
"Why are you in here?" I countered. He shifted uncomfortably, looking down at his food. "I've been in here for four years," he whispered. "And I don't think you want to know why."
Goosebumps appeared on my skin as soon as he said that. I decided not to pressure him and change the topic. "I'm Jade," I introduced myself. Might as well try to make friends in this living hell, right?"
"Louis," he looked away. I slouched a bit, taking a breath. "Nice to meet you, Louis," I said, withdrawing the hand I held out (which he did not shake). "Wish I could say the same," he chuckled. He stopped when he saw my hurt expression. "If you didn't realise, that was a joke, not a dick. Don't take it so hard," he spoke quickly.
A grin made its way onto my face. His sassy and clever remark relieved me. "Ehm, so has it always been like this?" I queried. He shrugged, "I guess. Nothing really changes."
"I see," I nodded. "And Chastise? What's that?"
He tended closing his eyes. "Don't act up like me. Chastise will beat you till you're almost dead, but they will leave you with unbearable pain," he explained. My mouth fell open; wasn't he just in that?
"They do that?" I gasped, suddenly frightened.
"What do we have here?"
I looked up, beginning to sweat at the sight of Officer Styles smirking down at Louis and I. "Louis and the new girl? Interesting," he laughed. Louis looked down, ignoring the statement. "Hey, Tomlinson. I'm talking to you, you're an inmate and I'm a guard. You'll fucking reply when I address you," Officer Styles said, pulling Louis' tray and throwing it on the ground.
"I was eating that!" Louis protested. Officer Styles grabbed me by the arm, "watch your tone or your friend will go into Chastise. You might not be scared of it anymore, but I can tell she is."
"Settle down, Harry," another officer, whom I didn't know, spoke. Officer Styles released his grip on my arm and I let out the breath I was holding. "Just let him continue being an ass. This one won't stick around," he gestured to me. "She's very pretty though."
I blushed, shifting uncomfortably. "Don't talk to her like that, it's perverted!" Louis snapped. "Shut up," the other officer growled. "Are you forgetting what happened in Chastise only earlier? Learn some respect."
"Let's go, Payne. Let these two cuddle before he kills her," Officer Styles laughed devilishly. Louis banged his fist against the table, breathing heavily, making me jump. The two officers walked away and I turned to Louis. "A-are you okay?" I asked, worried about the way he was acting.
"Look, just...just forget it."
"What?"
"Forget it."
I didn't say anything after that. Instead, I walked over to him and embraced him. He didn't hug me back, which I could understand. I could tell how startled he was. When I pulled away, he raised an eyebrow. "What was that for?"
"Just to see if you're okay."
A siren sounded and my heart dropped. "Alright, inmates! Back to your rooms before we put you in Chastise! Hurry up!" Officers yelled. Louis stood up, "thank you."
"I'll see you tomorrow, right?" I said, grabbing his forearm before he could walk away. He looked down at the contact momentarily before meeting my gaze. "Yeah, I'll see you at Social."
He walked away after that. I was quickly ushered in the opposite direction, a sudden feeling of loneliness taking over my body. When I was locked in my room, I laid down and closed my eyes, wishing this was all a dream and that it would all fade away.
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Im so bad OMF
