Page 28 of Shattered Pieces

“Donovan, you need to tell me what happened or you’re going to be punished for attacking Smith.” When I ignored her, she took a step back. “Have it your way. Assault will be added to your charges, and you’ll spend the next week in here.”

My jaw clenched, but I stayed silent and kept doing push-ups, even when I heard the door click shut and she’d left.

My body burned by the time I stopped and sprawled out on the floor, my back hurting from the pressure on the burn. It had only been four days since I’d been put in prison, and it had been boring as fuck. How long would the next week drag in here with nothing to do?

Dinner was brought to me some time later, and I happily dug in. I hoped my snacks would all still be in my cell when I returned, but I couldn’t do anything about it now.

I fell asleep well before lights out, waking to the sound of my door opening at breakfast time. It was the best sleep I’d had since I’d been napping with Diesel on Christmas day.

A pang of guilt hit me at knowing he was probably freaking out right now. Was Skeeter keeping an eye on him? He’d been on the edge lately and really needed support.

The warden arrived while I was eating, an armful of paperwork with her.

“Good morning. Get a good sleep?”

“Actually, yes,” I said brightly, picking at the sad excuse of scrambled eggs.

“I’ve been asked to give you these,” she replied, placing the stack of papers on the bed beside me, a pen alongside it. “Josie Holloway has a lot of pull. She’s managed to keep you enrolled at Ashburn Valley Academy, and all your school work will be sent here to avoid you falling behind. This should keep you busy this week. You can hand it in as you finish and I’ll send it off for you.”

“Why wouldn’t I stay enrolled? I’ll be out soon,” I said confidently, and she raised an eyebrow.

“I’m glad you hold onto some hope.”

“I didn’t do it.”

“They never do,” she huffed. “Ashburn Valley Academy has pretty strict rules about criminal records. Your current court case is huge, and it reflects poorly on the school. She must have pulled some big strings to stop you from being expelled.”

“Yeah, she’s pretty great,” I answered, my chest tightening at knowing I couldn’t see her this week now. “Do I get visitation next week?”

“As long as you behave, all privileges will return once you leave this room. I’ll inform your visitors of the change so they don’t drive all the way here for nothing.”

“Do I get to shower?”

“Of course you do. You’ll be escorted to the bathroom after hours tonight,” she confirmed, taking my tray when I finished eating. “If you don’t give the guards trouble, you’ll get some fresh air too.”

“I’m dying for a cigarette,” I grumbled, picking up some of the school work to look at it. “Thanks for this.”

“You’re welcome. Someone will be back with your lunch later,” she replied before leaving me alone, and I got busy going over some of the work.

Most of the day ticked by quickly now that I had something for my brain to focus on, having a break over lunch to eat before getting back into it. I didn’t stop again until dinner, deciding to call it a night so my brain would stop hurting.

I’d barely finished eating before Miss Jarvis appeared to take me outside, leading me into a small caged area with nothing but a bench to sit on.

“How is this supposed to be classified as fresh air?” I muttered, making her snort as she stood in front of the door to wait out my time.

“You just breathe it in, Donovan.”

“You smoke, right? I bet you keep them on you instead of your locker. Can I have one?”

“No.”

“I’m a lot more placid with nicotine. C’mon, I’ve been good,” I chuckled, and she eyed me for a moment before pulling her pack out and handing me one, holding the lighter to light it for me. “Thank you.”

She nodded, not saying anything else as I sat on the bench to smoke in silence, wondering what the girls were doing. I had no idea what the time was, but I assumed I got my dinner when the others did, so they were most likely in the common area watching TV or playing cards.

When my time was up, I was escorted to the shower block to shower and brush my teeth, being taken back without seeing a single person. They’d taken me through hallways I didn’t recognize, so they must have had alternative ways around the building than the main hallways I usually roamed.

Miss Jarvis left me alone once back in my cell, so I put my school work in a pile beside the bed and got comfortable, rolling onto my side to stop my back from hurting so much.