Just a quick note,

Major thanks to Mina-Nel for review! It was greatly appreciated :D. Anyways, onto the Third Chapter!

---------------------

T-Bag…rather odd name. Of course it couldn't be his real name I knew that. But even for a prison nickname it still struck me as…odd.

Three inmates walked across my line of vision, they glanced over and leering grins snuck across their lips as they looked between the wiry and devious inmate and the slender freshman. I didn't like that look, what did they know that I didn't?

"Ya look a little stressed Jacko. Somethin' on your mind?" The way he kept slowing down his words sent shivers down my spin and in response I balled my hands into fists. I didn't like feeling frightened, didn't like having my back up against the wall. I was used to running into fights swinging…I didn't like mind games.

"I'm in prison, course I've got something on my mind." I replied.

"Ahhh, I get it." Tension increased as T-Bag slid closer. "Nasty little place we have here, filled with big bad guys. Now I ain't sayin' you ain't strong, but you is just a little squirt and you could get yerself into an awful predicament." There was a pause. "But if ya stick with me…I'll look out for ya." There was a pressure on the inside of my knee and I looked down. A hand. There was a bloody hand on the inside of my bloody knee!

I practically flew off those benches, and whirled around, my face beet red and my hands clutched so tightly together the knuckles were turning white.

"KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF ME!" I roared, and I know I may be a shrimp but when I'm mad I'm mad, and my voice sure carried then. T-Bag raised his hands in a-would-be calming manner.

"Wow, wow, easy! I'm your friend."

"Ha I wonder how long that'll last." I growled, rolling my eyes. I could feel the blood pounding in my ears, and my whole body was shaking with rage…and embarrassment.

"Aw com'on Jacko-"

"Stop calling me Jacko!" I fumed

"Alright. Alright." T-Bag let his hands drop to his sides, "Look why don't ya just take it easy, sit back down and stop tryin' to give me the death glare cause it's maken' ya'll red in tha face." I was silent for a moment, shifting uneasily. It would be ridiculous to agree…but I was also in no position to disagree unless I wanted to end up ally-less. I'd just…wait around until a better opportunity came by, I could look after myself if I wanted to…but having friends would just make things easier. That's all.

"Fine." I said after a moment. " But just stay there; move and I'm off."

"Fair enough." There was another pause before I moved to the other end of the bleachers and sat down, my nails digging nervously into my palms.

"Ya afraid Short-Stuff?"

"I'm not afraid T-Bag…and don't call me Short-Stuff either." I growled back.

"Good, ya can't show fear in this place, otherwise ya'll end up like Cherry." I couldn't believe I was going to ask this, couldn't believe I was actually going to have a bleedin' conversation with this guy…but curiosity got the better of me.

"Who's Cherry?"

"A decomposing corpse now."

"Oh."