Inmates

Chapter 9.

My eyes passed rapidly between Shawn and Lauren who was sitting behind the boy. My conscious was shouting at me, telling me to confess what I'd done with Lauren but looking at Shawn, he was so fragile right now. So scared. This would break him. Send him over the edge.

Again.

'I- I met someone' I whispered

'And?' He moved his hands for me to carry on.

'I did something...'

My eyes were locked onto Lauren's, she wasn't paying attention to the woman in front of her that was still talking passionately with hand movements and everything. The whole room started to slowly melt away as she tilted her head, analysing me. I could see it in her eyes. She was daring me to tell him. Taunting me.

'Babe?' Shawn reached forward and touched my hand that was tapping nervously on the table. I looked away from Lauren and down at Shawn's hand that was resting on mine. He had given me love for most of my life, he was always there for me. No matter what. But why didn't that seem like enough anymore?

I said 'It's nothing'

'Are you sure? You don't really seem like yourself'

'I'm in prison Shawn. I don't even feel like myself'

'I know baby' he whispered, his eyes softening as he brought his other hand up to cradle mine.

'No touching inmate!' A big bald man shouted from the other end of the room with a pissed expression on his fat greasy face.

'I hate it here' my voice was muffled as I dragged my hands across my face in exasperation 'I hate that I can't touch you, I hate that I can't even reach across this fucking table and touch your face'

'I know babe, I know'

'Tell me something' I rushed 'anything. Just something about the outside world'

'Ok' Shawn chuckled 'lets see... I visited your parents a few days ago'

'And?'

'Your dad threw me out'

'Of course he did' I sighed. My parents have never approved of mine and Shawn's relationship. The whole town knows that Shawn used to make all the wrong choices when he was growing up. And by all the wrong choices I mean doing drugs, getting drunk every night and even hiring prostitutes. But he's moved on from all that. He grew a pair and sorted his life out.

'I'm sorry Shawn'

'It's ok' he shrugged his shoulders with an understanding smile.

'Guess who I met in here!' I said excitedly

'I don't know who?' He laughed while flashing his million dollar smile.

'Lucy Vives!'

Shawn's smile dropped slightly, his eyes dropped down to his hands that were now squeezing the edge of his seat tightly. I would of noticed if I wasn't so focused on Lauren's flawless figure. She was leaning with her arms crossed on the table making her biceps look even bigger and her  tattoos more prominent.

Fuck me.

'Lucy as in the Lucy that went to school with us?'

'Ya!'

'That's, great babe' He tried to smile widely but I could tell it was forced.

'Are you ok?' I asked concerned.