Page 27 of The Freshman

Ryan stared at him for a few tenseseconds, then started talking again. He was a man that clearlyliked the sound of his own voice. All his observations of the dayshift could have been condensed down to five minutes, but insteadhe repeated himself and recapped everything he said. He waited foreach growl of thunder to subside, eyes raised to the swingingceiling light, then huffed and continued.

Alfie shot a look at Henry and noticedhe looked more alert than usual. His glasses weren’t held tightlyin his hand, but still in his top pocket.

Ryan clapped his hands together, asignal that his briefing had finally finished.

When Ryan finally faded from view,Alfie rushed toward the toilets with the trousers cradled to hischest. He finished climbing into them, just as the door next to hisswung open and clattered against the wall. He heard the squelch ofa sloppy kiss, followed by a wailed name—Glen.

Alfie rushed from the toilet, rubbingat his ears to rid himself of the disturbing tone of Marie’s voice.She sounded beyond needy, and the noises their mouths made remindedhim of gorging zombies.

“What’s up with you, fish?Look like you seen a ghost.”

He shook his head. “Not seen one, butit sounded like one. In the toilets.”

Henry raised his patchy eyebrows. “Oh,they’ve sorted things out.”

“Apparently.”

He hung his soaked trousers on theradiator and itched his neck where the damp collar rubbed. Alfiefrowned when Henry didn’t immediately put on his glasses. He stoodin the center of the room, repeatedly rocking from his heels to histoes with his hand linked behind his back.

“Something up?” Alfieasked.

Henry raised an eyebrow. “Were you notlistening to Ryan? Nate will be along shortly.”

Alfie swallowed awkwardly, and Henrywagged his finger. “Exactly. I can’t relax either when I know thatevil man’s not in his cell.”

“Where is he?”

“Skype call with his dearold Doris. He should be along soon.”

Alfie nodded at his lap, then beganhis own repetitive motion. He filled the silence by pickingnervously at his nails. Henry looked at him but didn’t comment. Thelights of the prisoner flickered, and their gazes snapped to eachother.

“We don’t want the powercutting out before he’s in his cell,” Henry muttered, “Where thehell are they...”

A gate clunked, followed by another,and they both turned their attention to the biggest, most securegate that led into the lobby. Nate came into view. He staredthrough the window of the office and pinned Alfie in his chair. Hecouldn’t even continue his obsessive nail nipping. The corner ofNate’s mouth lifted in a smile, and he narrowed his eyes slightly.It was the third time he had seen Nate in the flesh, and the sightof him robbed the air from Alfie’s chest and the moisture from hismouth.

“You’re right to benervous,” Henry muttered.

Two prison offices walked in Nate’swake, and when they caught sight of Henry their faces sagged withrelief.

“You two can handlehim.”

Henry bobbed his head. “Had a feelingyou’d say that.” He walked out the office first and exchanged smalltalk with the two guards.

Nate stayed by the door, eyesunblinking and smile growing. He wore another tight t-shirt, andhis arms were secured at his back.

Alfie swallowed awkwardly and got tohis feet. He moved with forced confidence toward Nate, but thebigger man smirked at Alfie’s attempt.

Alfie squeezed past him, took twosteps to the gate to H-wing, and then the building shook with therumble of thunder. The vibrations were felt deep in his chest, andall of the officers looked up to the blinking light. Alfie feltNate’s eyes still on him.

“Not scared of a littlethunder are we,” Nate mumbled.

Alfie turned back to the gate, shovedhis key inside, then all went dark. He pulled the key out withoutunlocking the gate and shoved it into his pocket.

Alfie blinked in the darkness of thelobby but couldn’t make out the shapes. The shock of the situationhad all of them falling silent, and it was Henry that finally brokeit.

“You got a hold of Nate?”he asked.

Alfie stuck his hand out, and heslapped a muscular chest. Nate didn’t make any noise, and he didn’tmove beneath Alfie’s hand. He allowed Alfie to wipe his hand acrosshis chest and grip his bicep.

---