Page 219 of Fragments

“Alright, you filthy perverts,” Dash sighs. “I gotta get going. I’m almost out of pesos for this payphone. And I promised Kemper I’d stop at the fruit stand to get him some mangos. He’s been making these smoothies every morning, they’re fucking bomb.”

“I love that your life is all sex, fast cars, and tropical fruit,” I say with a grin, and he giggles a raspy thing in my ear.

“I miss you guys…” he hums, sounding suddenly a little less joyous. “Like,somuch. More than words.”

“Uh oh…” Ren grumbles.

But it’s too late. I’m off.

“Sayin’ Iloveee youuuis not the words I want to hear from you…” I sing, chuckling at the wide grin on Darcey’s face.

“Oh, here we go,” Dash chirps, joining in. “It’s not that Iwant younot to say, butif you only knew…”

Ren rolls his eyes. “How easy it would be to show mehow you feel!”

And now we’re all singing it. “More than words… is all you have to do to make it real…”

Even Darcey is swaying across the table. “Then you wouldn’t have to say…”

Ren and I are motioning for Kang to join in, and he’s scowling, obviously trying hard not to break. But when we start pouting, he concedes. Maybe just mouthing along, but still. It’s awesome.

“That youlove me… ’Cause I’d all-reaaadyy knowww!”

“Yeaaa!” Dash cheers.

I’m leaning into Ren’s side, laughing hysterically. Darcey is clapping.

Even Kang is finally breaking a smile.

“Prison sing-along!” I cackle.

Ren’s hand grips my thigh under the table as he kisses my neck. “You’re fucking adorable.”

I’m blushing as I exhale slowly. “Okay, now we really have to go. Everyone in the caf is staring at us like we’re mental. Definitely drawing attention.”

Kang’s face shifts subtly over his shoulder to where the new guy is sitting by himself.

Trevel is already looking this way, and when their eyes meet, Kang whips his face back, fiddling with his fingers on the table.

I still don’t know how to feel about thisTrevel Fenwickcharacter… Or the fact that he and Kang seem toreallylove staring at each other.

It’s been a few weeks since we met Trevel in the showers, and because Ren insists there’s somethingoffabout him, we don’t interact with the mysterious, strikingly attractive newbie. But according to Darcey, his boyfriend, Lem—also known as Dr. Love, the world-renowned psychiatrist who’s apparently become Alabaster Pen’s resident shrink—used to treat Trevel as a patient. And, I guess Dr. Love is also responsible for Trevel coming here, and he might be harboring some bad blood over the matter.

The whole situation is odd. I’ve never actually met Dr. Love—I’ve seen him in the halls once or twice—but it’s understood that he and Manuel Blanco are pals, which is a little shady. I guess Trevel was something of a gift, or a bargaining chip, to allow Dr. Love to stay onboard here now that he’s fucking The Carver.And rather unapologetically, I might add.

I don’t know what any of it means, but Idoknow that if Dr. Love is the reason Trevel is here, then I would assume Trevel is probably not a fan of the gorgeous doctor, and as an extension, his boyfriend.Felix. And Felix is one of us now, despite how much Kang protests.

It’s all becoming very Bloods versus Crips, the Capulets and the Montagues… Team Edward versus Team Jacob.

Oh God… Ren and his Twilight. He’s gotten under my skin.

When we saw Kang talking to Trevel yesterday at dinner, it made us a bit nervous. Kang claims there’s nothing going on between them, that they’ve exchanged very few words, and we’re overreacting. At the same time, it’s clear that he’s upset about us welcoming Darcey into our group, which could be part of the reason he’s been drifting.

As fun as it is to sit here and have sing-alongs like a bunch of goofballs around a campfire, at the end of the day, we’re still inprison. And when you’re locked up all day, every day, with nothing but time to sit and stew, it can be tough to let go of grudges.

With someone like Kang, no relationship to preoccupy his mind and body… I don’t foresee him forgetting what Darcey did to his friend anytime soon.

He’s tolerating him for us, which has gotta stand for something. Still, I can feel the rifts developing just beneath the shore.