My Cold Days

Ch. 7

The next day I sat in was in bed staring at the ceiling, creating more stories. Jack Davis was getting exercise. All I ever did to relieve my boredom was sketch or make stories on the ceiling. I thought what he was doing was... interesting.

"What's the point of doing this? It's not like we're going to leave here any time soon."

"You never know. Besides, it's a good way to pass the time," He said while doing sit-ups.

"I do know. I've been here for years with no change. Any chance you have of leaving should be gone forever."

"You're so negative. Do the vigils give you guys any social time at all?"

"No. They're not idiots. Putting a bunch of psychos in the same room together? Bad idea." He completed his sit-ups and sat up on the ground. And looked me straight in the eye.

"Every time I look at you I feel like I've seen you somewhere. Have we met?" Jack Davis questioned.

"So you do have a memory, huh? We went to the same school as kids." His eyes widened with realization. He seemed to remember perfectly who I was.

"I remember now! You weren't very social," He stated excitedly.

"Thanks just what everyone wants to hear," I countered sarcastically. He laughed a bit. I smiled softly with my hair in the way so he couldn't see. I don't know what it was, but I felt comfortable talking to him. It was almost immediately too. I wanted to talk to him more... about anything, really.

"Why don't you move your hair out of your face? I've barely been able to look at you," he implored suddenly. I was surprised by such a question. Why would he care about something so unimportant?

"I don't know. I just don't really care about being seen, I guess. I've barely seen people I care about in a while," I replied not even looking at him.

"Oh, so I'm someone you care about, huh?"

"You know that's not what I meant!" I couldn't help but laugh that last statement out. I had been looking and the ground the whole time so I didn't notice when he placed his hand on my face. I was startled and my first instinct was to move away, but I remembered that he was wearing gloves. I looked up and made eye contact with him. He moved my hair out of my face and placed it behind my ear. I wasn't sure what my face looked like at that moment, but I felt happy that he had done that. No one has wanted to approach me like that in a long time.

He backed up and smiled proudly like he had just finished a work of art. "Much better, now I can see your face." His smile loosened and went back to its relaxed state. He bent down looking me in the eye. His face seemed so sincere. He began to speak in the softest most gentle way I've heard him speak since he's been here.

"You are really beautiful, Anne,"  he crooned. I could feel myself blushing.

"You really must be mad, Jack Davis. I'm not beautiful at all," I said matching the low volume of his voice.

"You're the mad one, then. How could you not believe that?" I didn't know what to say to that. Only then had I just realized that his face was gradually moving closer to mine. He was now breathing through his mouth softly. I could feel his warm breath on my skin. Ruining what seemed like a sweet moment, I backed away from him. I sighed deeply and moved my head to the side. The time following what had just happened was awkward, but I couldn't let him make contact with my skin.

Jack Davis moved away as well. He was now on the opposite side of the room leaning against the wall. He was looking to the side with his head in his hand. He seemed angry. I felt bad, but at the same time, I barely knew him.

"You can call me Jack, ya know," He said abruptly and irritated. I didn't like the thought of calling him that before, but now, I liked the idea. It felt personal. After all, we would be together in this cell for who knows how long.

"Ok," I said softly, weakly smiling at him. He seemed to appreciate the effort and smiled back at me, like any anger that was there before had just melted away. Trying to break the tension I started a conversation.

"Aren't they going to bring you a bed or something?"

"They said later today. Hopefully soon, I'm sick of this stone floor."

"Maybe while we're gone. Today is bathroom day."

"What?" He seemed confused. I guess it was my job to explain things to him.

"Once a week they let us out of our cells to use a real restroom. Shower, brush teeth, stuff like that." He seems astounded by that statement. He corrected his posture and stood up straight looking at me confused.

"So you're telling me that you only get to shower and take care of yourself once a week?"

"Yeah. They let us out a cell at a time so we don't interact with other prisoners." Jack seemed funny overreacting like that. I didn't let him know that though.

"That is just ridiculous if you ask me."

"I agree." I smiled wider than I had before when looking at him. I laughed and tried to hide it, but he noticed. He started laughing too. We were both laughing together soon and I felt not so alone at that moment. I was grateful that Jack was with me. Maybe things in that prison cell would be better from now on.

A bell sounded interrupting our laughing. "What was that?" asked Jack curiously.

"Bath alarm. Stand by the door," I replied quickly. As I stood to wait in front of the door and for a guard to escort us. As I stood there, Jack came up to me from behind and hugged me. I was caught off guard by this but he hadn't touched my skin so I let him. I didn't push him away. I liked it. I wish I could have been a little more cheery in my response, but all I could do was cry.