Page 39 of The Freshman

“Jesus, Nate,” Queenieyelled. “You’re getting me worked up.”

“Shut it, Queenie. I’mtalking to Freshman.”

The snappy tone woke Alfie from hisdaze. He shook his head and cleared it of sexual thoughts. Heforced a cough and spoke as confidently as he could.

“Not really into the wholepizzeria restaurant, I like my pizza greasy and delivered to mydoor, so no. It doesn’t do it for me. Thanks but nothanks.”

Alfie ticked Nate off the list thenturned to leave before he said anything else sexual. He heard Nategrowling words at Queenie, and Queenie’s higher tone arguing back.Alfie had won that game, and it was another twenty-four hoursbefore they had another sparing session of words. Alfie couldn’twait.

The next night, Alfie straightened,lifted his chin, and stepped up to Nate’s cell. “Inmate150.”

“Tsch, that’s a bit harsh,Freshman.”

Alfie shrugged. “You’ve got a nicknamefor me, I’ve got one for you.”

“How original, my cellnumber, like no one’s ever called me that before. You on the otherhand, bet no one else calls you Freshman.”

Alfie turned to leave but stopped atNate’s sudden question.

“So, was it your dad thattaught you to punch?”

The lustful tone was gone, and Natesounded normal, not the prowling sex pest that lurked in theshadow.

“Nope” Alfiesaid.

“Stepdad? Fosterdad?”

Alfie clutched the clipboard to hischest. “Some girl in the care-home.”

Nate hummed at the information. “Nomum or dad figure then.”

“Nope, I could walk pastthem in the street and wouldn’t know.”

“That bothers you?” Nateasked.

Alfie rocked on his heels. “It did,but not so much now.”

“Now you pretend you’re ahard nut that doesn’t care, but really you crave someone to takecare of you.”

Alfie hugged the clipboard harder.“You know nothing about me. I’m not some kid still crying thatmummy and daddy didn’t want me.”

“No, you’re eighteen,never had a family. I doubt you’ve had a boyfriend either. You actolder than you are, but that’s all it is, an act.”

“Whatever,” Alfiegrowled.

“Most of the guys in heregrew up in care. They went down a different route than you. Bet youwouldn’t be surprised if someone you knew walked in,huh?”

“No, I wouldn’t,” Alfiemuttered.

Nate hummed as if considering. “Thoserough kids give you a hard time in the homes?”

Alfie shifted from foot to foot. Theygave him a hard time, but it wasn’t the only reason Alfie hated theother kids in care. They scared away anyone genuinely interested infostering, gave the good kids a bad name that wasn’t deserved. Madethem lose out on a chance of a family.

“All roads lead back tomum and dad, or the lack of them,” Nate mumbled.

Alfie took a step closer to the cell.“You don’t speak to yours?”

Henry said Nate had a sister and hadskype calls with his Nana Doris in Canada once a month, but hedidn’t say anything about Nate’s parents.

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