Page 24 of The Freshman

The gate to the lobby slammed shut,and Alfie peered over the railing.

Marie stood one side, and Glen theother. He had his hands at his sides, fiercely whispering at herfor slamming the gate on him.

“What’s that about?”Queenie asked.

Alfie rubbed at his skin, watching theargument unfold. They had the awareness to argue in hushed voices,but their exaggerated arm movements and posturing lookedfunny.

“I think there’s been abreak up,” Alfie muttered.

“Poor old Marie,” Natewhispered through his door. “Another one bites the dust. She’ll beafter you next, Freshman.”

Alfie snorted and moved in front ofhis door. “Told her she’d be barking up the wrong tree.”

He ticked Nate’s name off, thenrealized what he’d just said. His face had cooled after speaking toQueenie, but the heat returned with a vengeance.

Nate hummed into the gap of the door,a pleasurable sound, almost a moan. “Music to my ears…”

“God, I hate you,” Alfiemumbled.

“No, you don’t…” Natechuckled, then exhaled into the gap of the door.

Alfie knew he couldn’t feel the rushof air, but he shifted and rolled his shoulders as if fighting acold breeze. The jittery feeling returned to his stomach, and hepressed the clipboard into his chest. Another barrier between himand Nate.

“So, you’re not straightthen?”

Alfie cocked his jaw left to right,then levelled his expression. “None of your business, isit?”

“No, it’s not, but I’mcurious. Do you have a boyfriend, Freshman?”

“Would it bother you if Idid?”

Nate snorted, but didn’tanswer.

Alfie waited, then sighed and turnedto walk away.

“Yes,” Nate hissed. “Itwould bother me. It would make me jealous, veryjealous.”

“Then no, I don’t have aboyfriend.”

Nate groaned, a long low rumble thatmade Alfie shiver. He knew Nate was about to say something crude,or ask him to open the hatch, but he didn’t give him thechance.

“I don’t haveaboyfriend. I havetwo.”

He stomped hard as he left, and themetal of the prison vibrated and rang in his wake. It deafened himto anything else Nate said, and he smiled smugly tohimself.

Chapter Seven

Alfie tapped his knuckles to Nate’sdoor with a smile growing on his lips.

“How are you this morning,Freshman?”

He shrugged and ticked off Nate’sname. “Can’t complain. I’ve just spoken to Queenie, afterall.”

Nate tutted, and Alfie rubbed hismouth to halt his laugh.

“I was wondering,Freshman, what do you drink?”

Alfie frowned. “Why do you want toknow?”

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