Page 80 of Rat

Ollie had lost interest in Rory trying to kill himself on the running machine and had left to find Teddy, which was perfect. Ollie was part of the reason he was tearing the fibres of his muscles to shreds. Out of nowhere, Ollie had called Rory his best friend before blushing and explaining he’d never really had any friends before and changed his statement to ‘only friend’ and ‘first friend’, and Rory had never wanted to disappear right there and then before, but he’d smiled, clapped his hand on Ollie’s back and tried to argue he had other friends in prison, not just Rory.

Ollie heartedly disagreed, which made Rory feel ten times worse.

He felt like a fraud, a liar, and no matter how things turned out with the assignment, he was going to hurt Ollie. He didn’t hurt people, he wasn’t cruel or malicious, but he was going to hurt one of the sweetest humans on the planet.

“Hey…”

Rory turned his head to look at Sebastian and almost lost his stride. “What?”

Sebastian had strolled in only minutes after Ollie had left, wearing a white tank top and gym shorts. Rory had avoided looking at him for a number of reasons.

“You’re done,” Sebastian said, reaching over to stop the machine.

“I don’t think so,” Rory said as he wiped his brow. He reached to restart the machine, but Sebastian caught his hand. It shook in his grip, for once not from Sebastian being Sebastian but from the shakes that had overtaken Rory’s body.

“You’re about thirty seconds away from collapse.”

“Thanks,Dad.”

Sebastian narrowed his eyes.

“What’s going on?” Sebastian asked.

“Nothing,” Rory snapped. He tried to pull his hand from Sebastian’s, but he gripped on tight. Sweat ran down Rory’s forehead and itched in his eyebrows. “I was working out.”

“The speed you’ve got this machine set to, and the gradient…” Sebastian shook his head. “You can’t keep it up.”

“Watch me.”

“No,” Sebastian said firmly. “I won’t. Get off the machine.”

Rory gritted his teeth.

“Now.”

Rory’s shoulders slumped, and he stepped off, only for his knees to almost give out. Sebastian caught him under the armpits and helped him stand up.

“I’m fine,” Rory said, pushing Sebastian away.

“You’re not.”

Rory ignored him and made his way back to the wing. His weak legs had enough strength to carry him, but they felt spongy, sluggish. Sebastian pursued at a close distance despite Rory repeatedly growling over his shoulder he was fine.

Back in the cell, Rory tried, and failed, to clamber onto the top bunk. He clutched the bed frame, panting while black spots danced in front of his eyes.

“Deep breaths,” Sebastian said, rubbing a hand against Rory’s back.

“I’m fine,” Rory said, squeezing his eyes shut.

“Not once have you convinced me of that.”

“I didn’t… I didn’t think it would be this hard.”

“What?” Sebastian asked.

“Being in prison.”

“It’s supposed to be a punishment.”

---