I hugged my jacket closer to me, still keeping a grip on the box. I brought more cookies, chocolate chip this time, along with the shiny new chain wrapped nicely in the jewelry store packaging.

The Warden snatched the box from my hands, getting really close to my face.

'YOU again? SON, you're a persistent one. It's hard NOT to be suspicious.' He looked at me, squinting.

'Uhm, I'm just visiting my cousin sir.' The lie sounded so much like the truth. He let out a sigh and handed the box to a nearby guard, whilst I was led into the visitation room again. This time, I was so early that only two other prisoners were chatting to their visitors. I sat down at the usual booth, phone in hand, waiting for Yancy to shuffle out of the corridor. He was pulled along by a guard, his head down. Silently he sat in the chair, staring holes into the counter top. It was like he was refusing to look at me.

I couldn't hear anything until he picked up the phone. He looked like a kicked puppy. It slipped out of my grip as the guard practically tossed the nicely wrapped box onto the bench, letting it rattle about. There was nothing I could do. I hoped that nothing was broken.

He picked up the phone, hand shaking slightly.

'I wasn't expectin youses.' He said quietly, voice more gravelly than what I remembered it being.

'Why wouldn't I? A deal's a deal.'

'Yeah. Is this, for me?' He looked down the at present, still refusing to meet my eyes.

'Yes Yancy.'

He slowly put the phone down and opened the box. His eyes lit up and glazed over slightly at the cookies, but a single solitary tear trickled down his face and into his beard once he opened the jewelry box. He looked up, with the smallest smile on his face. He had a black eye! That entire half of his face was bruised!

I dropped the phone, letting it dangle for a second, murmuring apologies to the guards around and the other visitors who all seemed to stare at me at once. Yancy picked up the phone with a confused frown

'Sorry.' I muttered, as I placed the phone to my ear.

'What was that all about huh?'

'Nothing, I just. Do you like it? The gifts?'

'I aint tellin youse nothin, till you tells me what that was all about.' He said firmly, a playful edge returning to his voice.

'Uhm I just. Dropped the phone?'

'I may be in prison, but I ain't stupid.'

'Sure,' I chuckled, 'It's just your face, it surprised me. What happened?'

Yancy let out another chuckle, 'Oh that. It's nothin.'

I blinked in disbelief but just decided to go with it. I had to try and progress a little further with the persuasion to get Dark off my back if I wanted to go home anytime soon. Why did that make me feel guilty?

'Are you cold?' I asked as he kept shivering.

'Prison may be luxury, but it's luxury without much heatin. I'm used to it. The others really liked the cookies, so they'll be happy that youse brought more. And uh,' he used his free hand to scratch the back of his neck. 'And ah, thanks for ah bringin me the necklace. I'd thought youse woulda forgotten.'

'How could I forget? And just one second.' I put down the phone, smiling as he looked at me in confusion. Shimmying off my denim jacket, I pulled off the black and white sweater, leaving just my grey henley underneath. It would be cold on the walk home, but it was still better than a tshirt. I gestured for a guard to come over, which he did. An eyebrow raised.

'What is it? Is he giving you trouble sir?' He growled, turning his head towards Yancy who was suddenly a lot more pale.

'No. No. No.' I shook my head rapidly, 'Can you give this to him?' I handed over the sweater. The guard huffed, before walking back through the locked door and throwing it at Yancy. I waited for him to put it on, watching as he sighed happily. It certainly fit him a lot better than it did me.

'Sorry the design is a bit feminine.... I liked it but,' the shop attendant's words rang through my brain. What if he hated it?

'No! It's great. I haven't had something like this in years!' He looked so happy.

'Well, it's no big deal. Keep it! What did you want me to bring next time?'

'Oh! Really! Well, I jus wanna get one thing straight. Why do you want to bring me gifts?'

'Like I said, a deal's a deal.' I couldn't really say that I was being held hostage and in order to go home properly and return to my old life he had to leave prison. Why did I feel a pang of guilt?

'But that's it? Youse do a deal for me, I helps youse out. The friend of youses gets off youses back. Is that it? Just a deal?'

'Well, I guess. But,' I added quickly as his face fell, 'There isn't enough time to explain fully. Can, would you, uh. Sorry. Can I write to you?' I mumbled, hoping that I hadn't overstepped any boundaries.

Yancy's brows shot up, 'Really!?' He couldn't hide the excitement behind his frown, 'Youses keeps givin me stuff and, youse sure? Youse want to write to me?'

'Yeah. So I can explain. So you don't hate me.'

'It's hard to hate youse. I jus wanna know why. The whole truth.'

'Okay. Do I give my address to the warden?' I asked curiously.

'I think so. I uh,' he rubbed the back of his neck, 'haven't really had anyone do that. So, I uh, I dunno. But I hate feelin like youses usin' me.'

'I'm not! I swear!' His eyebrow was raised and conversation was going south. He was kind of right. I suppose I was using him. Why was I so selfish? So stupid. 'I'm sorry.'

'I don't wanna hear it. Thanks for the gifts. And the sweater, youse didn't have to do that.' His smile was bashful.

I let out a small laugh. 'See you next third Sunday?' I offered. A peaceful goodbye.

'Yeah. Somethin like that.' I was just about to put down the phone when he said, 'Youse take care alright?'

I nodded giving him a small wave as he was escorted by a guard back down the hallway. Standing up from the desk, I headed off to the small windowed service desk. The female guard looked up at me, brows raised.

'Can I help you?' She asked, just looking so done with life.

'Yes, I need to give my address for letter writing? To Yancy?'

'Okay. I need I.D, write the address on this form.' She continued, monotone. I slid my I.D under the window and began filling out the form with the pen that refused to work. 'Here.' She handed my card back after I returned the form. 'Procedure is that he'll write to you first. No exceptions.'

Nodding in thanks I headed out of the prison.

I really was a selfish idiot. Yancy hadn't had a visitor in years, then I turned up bribing him with incentive to be free, just so I could free myself. Was that selfish? What was the point of being free at this point? Sure, I'd return to my old routine, my old life, but in a strange, sick and twisted way, the house and it's inhabitants would always be a part of me. Yet I'd have to pretend they didn't exist. Isn't that dehumanising? I was being selfish.

Yancy wouldn't write to me anyway. He knew the truth, so I could only hope that he didn't hate me. I'd hate for anyone to hate me...

Shaking my head, I stuffed my earphones in my ears and tried to ignore the loneliness creeping in. I did have a life to return to. That was the important part. I nearly dropped my phone when it started ringing.

'Hello?' I expected it to be Dark or Wilford.

'Hey! How did you go on the date with Natalie? She seemed to think positively, but I wanted to give you some space, see how it developed!' Reyna's chipper voice rang through my ears. Shit, think of a lie. Another lie.

'I uh, to be honest,' farewell to the idea of lying, 'I didn't really like her. She was a bit snide but also obnoxious and uh, we didn't get on.'

'Oh.' Reyna sounded disappointed, which made me feel guilty, 'You know, this is the fifth date I've set you up with that hasn't worked. Is there something you want to tell me?' She asked gently.

'No!' I denied, 'No! There is absolutely nothing.'

Why was I panicking?

'Are you sure? I won't mind.'

'No, it just uh,' I tried to think of a joke. Something else to say. 'Maybe you need to brush up on your matchmaking!' I chuckled.

'You've got me there! See you in class tomorrow?'

'I'll be there!'

It was going to be a long walk home, no. To the manor. I turned up my music until it almost hurt my ears, bouncing along to the happier songs as I pulled my jacket closer. I almost regretted giving Yancy my sweater, almost. My heart fluttered like a hummingbird. Maybe he wouldn't hate me?