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“It’s killing me!” Red sighed, she didn’t normally show any emotion in prison, mainly to keep her reputation from falling, but with Healy, she made an exception.
“I’m sorry, Red, but I can’t have you jumping from one job to another. I’ve already pushed my luck getting you back into the kitchen!” Healy replied, hurt inside by her devastated expression. “I can’t push Caputo any more than I have done.”
Red stared at him for a minute, before hardening her expression and storming out of his office, leaving her jacket screwed up on the floor.
“Red, wait! Red, your jacket!” Healy called after her, but it was no use, she wasn’t turning around.
He went to go and pick up her jacket off the floor and as he did, he put it to his nose. It smelled of her cooking and her natural scent. He breathed it in deeply, wishing he could just have her in his arms to comfort her.
Behind him, Berdie walked in, she stood for a minute, watching him questionably before she asked, “What are you doing?”
Stunned, Healy turned around, “What?” Berdie nodded towards the jacket he was holding, “Oh, some of the inmates have been sneaking cigarettes, so I’m just smelling them to make sure, anyway, what did you need?”
“Oh, it’s just about Soso. She said you have put her on anti-depressants?” Bernie asked, having already forgotten the situation with the jacket.
“Yes, she has been feeling a little blue.” Healy replied.
“Well you can’t just put her on them until you have talked through her emotions with her! And you told her that nobody likes a sad person. How is that counselling?”
“I did talk with her! She has been moping around, and she feels like she has nobody. No one will approach her if she’s looking depressed!”
Meanwhile whilst they were arguing, Red had reached her cube, only to be caught by one of the new guards, “Inmate! Where’s your badge?”
Red had left it on her jacket, damn it. “Oh, officer it’s on my jacket, I left it in the kitchen. I’ll go and find it now.”
“Ah ah. Not so fast. That’s a shot, next time don’t forget it.”
Red rolled her eyes and walked away. They give out shots for nothing nowadays. She hated this new management, they ruined her food, her cube and most importantly her girls were being mistreated.
She stormed over to Healy’s office, hoping he wouldn’t make her stay again.
“Look, I think if I was Soso’s councillor, she would feel a little better, you know woman to woman?” Berdie said.
“No, I am perfectly capable, look I’ll speak to her again. But I think the anti-depressants will really help her and-“
Red marched into the office, “Healy, I need my jacket, I just got a shot. Ridiculous if you ask me!”
She turned her head and saw Berdie standing there, looking a little shocked by the fact that Healy had just let her storm in here.
Healy grabbed the jacket he had put on the shelf behind him and handed it to Red, “Here, next time, knock!”
Berdie suddenly remembered how he had found Healy when she first walked in, “So you think Red has been smoking?”
Red looked between Berdie and Healy, “What?!”
“No no, I never said-“
Berdie interrupted him, “But you were smelling her jacket, and you said you was checking to see if you could smell smoke?”
Red glanced to Healy and met his eyes for a second. God what was he thinking! He was gonna get himself caught, even though she wasn’t sure what was actually going on.
“I didn’t say Red was smoking, I said I was just making sure no inmate was. Her jacket happened to be there so I though I would check.” Healy answered quickly.
“Right… well I should be going, I have a meeting with one of the inmates. See you later Healy, Red.” She walked past them both, still confused but she had other things to focus on so she let it slide.
“I should go too.” Red said, snatching her jacket. “Don’t want to get another shot, I bet that officer is waiting for me.”
She turned to walk out when Healy called out, “Red, wait. Sit down and shut the door.”
“Ah come on Sam, haven’t we already spoke enough today?” Red said, leaning against his door.
“Please.”
Red sighed, walked in, closing the door behind her. She took a seat on the chair in front of his desk.
“I’m sorry I can’t do anything about the food Red. I really did push for you to be back in the kitchen so I can’t ask for anymore favours.”
“Sam, that food is barely edible. The other girls will never say it to my face but they hate the food. It’s killing me!” Red said, showing her vulnerable side once again as she let a tear escape her eye. She quickly wiped it away and breathed in deeply, sucking her emotions back inside.
“Red, please don’t get upset.” He said, standing up, walking slowly towards her. He gestured towards the couch and she got up and sat next to him. “I can try and push again, but I have an even better idea…”
“What? Tell me!”
“Your garden, there’s plenty of fresh produce!”
“Yes, yes I suppose your right. I’ll get the girls in the garden group to start picking the veg right away!” She said, getting up to leave.
Healy grabbed her hand.
“Hold on a minute” he said, pulling her back down.
“What now Sam?” Red said, a little agitated. She really didn’t want to talk anymore, especially because she was becoming too soft and weak with him.
“Did you plant those rose seeds?” He asked.
“Yes, yes I did. They are already blooming. Must be magical seeds!” Red said whilst letting out a laugh.
“Well I did pick the best packet!” He paused for a moment before saying, “How is your back?”
Red smiled and said, “Usual, old bones that ache. The gardening is helping me though.”
“Well I have these heat patches that might help soothe it. I can bring you some in.”
“Well, the other girls might object to that, Healy. I’m not the only one with back pain.”
Healy smiled, “It can be a little secret, besides you can’t see it under your clothes. And you can put them on in here so no one will ever know.”
“I love secrets.” Red chuckled. “Thanks you, Sam. That’s very… kind.”
Healy smiled and stared at her for a while. Red looked back him and they let their eyes meet, lighting fires in them both.
It was Red who broke the eye contact, “Well, that officer will still be looking for me. Bet he can’t wait to give me another shot. I’m sick of these new guards.”
“Your just used to me letting you get away with everything!” Healy said whilst smirking.
“Well, I didn’t ask you to let me get away with everything… that was your choice, Healy.” She said with a smirk on her face as she stepped a little closer to him.
Healy’s face flushed as she got nearer. “Well, I’ve known you a long long time. We have a… special kind of relationship. A true… friendship?”
Red smiled as she said, “If that’s what you think it is, then yes, a friendship.” She said, touching his arm slightly, as if to comfort him.
Healy smiled at her touch. “I’m sorry we fell out for a bit before.”
“I’m sorry, I was horrible! I played you, it wasn’t fair to do that. I just needed my kitchen. It gives me purpose in this place. Don’t get me wrong I love the garden, but my place is in the kitchen. And I was willing to do anything to get it back, even if it meant toying with your emotions.”
Healy sighed, he knew he shouldn’t ask this next question but, ah well, screw it, “Red, did you actually feel any of those… emotions?”
Red looked straight up at him, she thought for a long while, she wasn’t actually sure herself what was happening between the two of them. Had she always felt this way deep down, or were these emotions new? “I… I did.”
She looked down but could still feel Healy’s gaze burning into her. As she looked back up he put his hand to her cheek, pushing a piece of hair away from her eyes. He put his other hand on her cheek as well, contemplating on what he was actually doing.
She didn’t pull away, she probably should have but she enjoyed his embrace. His hands warmed her face. “Sam, what are we doing?”
“I don’t know…” he said, taking his hands away, but she wasn’t ready to let go. She pulled his shirt closer towards her and gazed up into his eyes.
“Galina, I-“ She cut him off with a kiss. It was only small, she quickly pulled away.
“I don’t know what we are doing either!” She admitted, letting the heat rush to her face. “I did my hair and makeup differently for you, I helped you with Katya, I let you into my feelings even though I never show them!”
“Well, you’ve seen my feelings, I left them out in the open for you. I was hurt when you played me, but I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I honestly think I’m in lo-“
She cut him off by putting her finger to his lips. “No, don’t speak like this. We don’t know what’s happening okay. And if we start saying things like that then other people will catch on.”
He nodded and then said, “you’ve been in here for twenty minutes, that guard is gonna be pissed.”
“Oh shit. Well I guess I must go.” She took his face in her hands. “Goodbye… for now.” She smirked as she turned around and walked out of the door.
Healy sat back in his chair and no longer felt angered or saddened, he felt like he was in love. He felt he was loved and for once in his life, he felt like he had met his soul mate.