Page 71 of The Rat

“Thanks,” he mumbled.

“No problem. Stretch sorteditself out?” Ollie smirked.

“Yes,let’s not mention itagain.”

“No, let’s. It’s hilarious. You got a thingfor Sebastian, and he’s got a thing for you, a massive thing by thelooks of it.”

Rory groaned, “There’s no ‘thing’between us.”

“You think he’s hot, and he thinks you’rehot. I’m not seeing a problem. Sex is sex. You’ve got no one on theoutside. Does he?”

“No.”

“Then what’s theissue? Get stuck inor let him get stuck in you.”

Rory looked down at his feet. “I can’tcross that line.”

“Why not?”

“I just can’t.”

Rory tried to pass Ollie, but hestepped in his path. “Because he’ll be gone in a fewmonths?”

Rory closed his eyes and sighed. “Somethinglike that.”

“But you could enjoy yourselveswhile he’s here, have… fun.”

“It’ll endbadly.”

“I know you’ll miss himwhen he goes, but you’ll still have me.”

Teddy grumbled and shook hishead. He looked pointedly at Rory, then to Ollie.

“Not in the sameway,” Ollielaughed, “but all I’m saying is, enjoy Sebastian, and yeah, you’llmiss him once he goes, but you’ll still have me, you’ve got me foryour whole eight years.”

The knife of guilt twisted alittle more, andRory grimaced. “Yeah…”

“You don’t look very happyabout that.”

“No, I am…I—I stink, I need a showerthat’s all.”

Ollie wrinkledhis nose. “Ican’t smell you … wait, I get it…”

“Get what?”

“Sebastian will still be inthere…go get him, tiger.”

Rory forced asmile and rushed outof the gym. He didn’t glance towards the showers, but went straightback to the wing and slammed the cell door. It bounced back, and heonly just avoided it when it swung at him.

Rorybraced himself over the sink andlooked in the mirror. He didn’t like the liar looking back athim.

ChapterThirteen

Rory peeked over Ollie’s shoulder.“Show off.”

Ollie laughed and attempted to hide what hewas drawing. “I’m sorry that I’ve progressed from stickmen, but youhaven’t.”

Roryflapped his sheet of paper. “Mystickman battle is epic.”

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