29. ♞ OPEN YOUR EYES

"HE'S NOT GOING TO WANT TO TALK TO YOU, MIKE." Phoebe said quietly as her and Michael walked through the courtyard, headed towards Sucre, who was walking around the courtyard. Michael sighed.

"It's worth a shot." He said as Phoebe walked beside him towards Sucre. Phoebe sighed and shook her head to herself.

"If you say so." She mumbled as they approached the man.

"Sucre," Michael called out to him, but Sucre continued to walk past them.

"I'm not even talking to you, man." Sucre responded as he walked past them and towards the main gate that allowed them into the courtyard. Walking past him came Haywire, who paused in his steps and stared at the duo intently, the soft wind blowing through his messy curls of brown hair, his mouth slightly agape as he stared at them. Michael sighed and turned around, his back facing Haywire as Phoebe also turned her back to the man that gave her goosebumps.

"I told you." Phoebe murmured. Michael shook his head and sighed.

"He'll come around." Michael reassured. Phoebe cocked a brow and tilted her head curiously, crossing her arms.

"How are you so sure about that?" She inquired. Michael grinned.

"He wants to be reunited with his girlfriend. He'll come around." He repeated. Phoebe sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.

"You trust him too much, Mike," She said. "We need to think about other options." She suggested. Michael nodded, opening his mouth to speak when Abruzzi approached them suddenly.

"What's the problem?" Abruzzi asked nonchalantly. Michael had a glare on his face, but relaxed his face when Abruzzi approached. What isn't wrong? Phoebe thought to herself sullenly, but decided to remain silent, biting the inside of her cheek instead.

"Nothing I can't handle." Michael said, his tone deep and confident. Phoebe's stomach seemed to do a flip at this for some reason, her insides fluttering as the tone of his voice seemed to tickle her brain. Something about it just got a reaction out of her, and deep down she loved it. She didn't know why she was having these feelings. She shouldn't. Michael was supposed to focus on getting Sara Tancredi, not her. Besides, Michael didn't even like Phoebe that way... Phoebe shook her head in attempt to hold back these feelings, awkwardly crossing her legs as she looked away from Michael.

"Well, I knew there was a problem. I could tell by looking at you two from across the yard." Abruzzi said, getting up in Michael's face with a smug yet annoyed smile. "Guys, didn't I say there was a problem?" Abruzzi asked his minions, who stood a few feet away from them. The men only nodded, but didn't say anything in response. Phoebe rolled her eyes, annoyed. "So, what's the problem?" Abruzzi asked quietly, getting so close to Michael that Phoebe thought they could kiss. She placed her hand over her mouth, hiding her smile as she held back a chuckle. She couldn't help but jokingly imagine Abruzzi falling in love with Michael and kissing him. Michael's voice brought her back to their harsh reality.

"You're looking at it." Michael responded as he tilted his head slightly in motion to Haywire, whom was still standing at the edge of the courtyard staring at them. Abruzzi cocked a brow.

"What, Haywire?" He asked in slight confusion. Phoebe nodded to herself, not wanting to speak to Abruzzi at all. The less she interacted with him the better.

"Yep. He's our new cellmate." Michael explained. Abruzzi shut his eyes and threw his head side to side, clearly annoyed as he sighed.

"That's a problem." He agreed. Michael nodded, putting a hand out and pushing Phoebe behind him ever so slightly. Phoebe had no idea why he'd done so, and cocked a brow at him, staring at the back of his head, but doing as he instructed anyways. Unbeknownst to Phoebe, Cameron had been staring at her from across the courtyard, and Michael had seen him from over Abruzzi's shoulder, clearly bothered by it. He didn't want Cameron looking at her, specially not that way. Like he still loved her. Michael's stomach churned uneasily as he tried to not focus on it. Phoebe still liked Cameron, after all. He couldn't get in the way of that.

"He doesn't sleep." Michael said. Abruzzi sighed, and Phoebe only reached up and grabbed onto the back of Michael's shirt as usual. Michael started to relax at the feeling of her so close to him.

"So when do you dig?" Abruzzi asked.

"I don't." Michael retorted.

"Hey," Abruzzi said, getting a step closer. "You two and I are in bed now. You made me a promise. You said, that we were gonna get out of here. You renege now, and I'm gonna cut you both." Abruzzi said as he grabbed the back of Michael's head gently, pulling him closer, and glaring down at Phoebe. "So you better take care of your business, or I will take care of you." He said to Michael before looking down at Phoebe. "Starting with her." He threatened in a whisper, earning a glare from Michael. Phoebe's eyes widened and she couldn't help but cower behind Michael again. God, she felt useless. "Have a nice day." Abruzzi said, patting Michael's cheek and walking away.

—

"ARE YOU SURE YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING?" Phoebe asked Grant as they sat together at a table during visitation hours. It was just the two of them. Grace no longer wanted to visit Phoebe. She said it was because she was busy with her baby, but Phoebe and Grant both knew it was actually because she had been a massive bitch to them and they were both quick to fight back, regardless of her feelings. Grant shook his head.

"I'm sorry, I can't. I don't have that much influence here, or that many friends that can help me with that. As far as I know, that fucker Bellick is the one in charge of the arrangements in the cells." Grant said, twirling a red lollipop in his mouth. Phoebe sighed, she herself twirling a blue lollipop in her mouth that Grant had gifted her.

"I can't take it much longer. He's always there and always staring and making everything uncomfortable." Phoebe explained, talking about Haywire being their new cellmate. "Michael and I can't talk in peace, or sleep, or do anything anymore. It's so... uncomfortable." She said with a groan. Grant nodded.

"I'm sure you'll figure something out. You guys are smart." He said with a chuckle, before grinning. "Hey, uh... I saw someone the other day." Grant said. Phoebe cocked a brow.

"Who?" She asked nonchalantly. Grant tilted his head.

"An inmate." He added, staring at Phoebe to see if she'd catch on. Phoebe cocked a brow, her heart racing.

"Yeah...?" She responded quietly. Grant smiled empathetically.

"Him." He said. Phoebe sighed, knowing who he was talking about.

"Cameron?" She asked. Grant nodded. Phoebe nodded and sighed. "Yeah, we've talked." Grant's eyes widened.

"About?" He asked curiously. Grant knew more than well the story of Phoebe and Cameron. He had been the one to accompany her in her time of need when she lost their child.

"He apologized for everything. Told me he still cares about me." She said quietly, looking anywhere but at Grant. Grant sighed.

"And?" He asked, popping the lollipop into his mouth again. Phoebe shrugged.

"And that's it. That's all we've talked." She said. "He... tried to kiss me I think."

"You think?" Grant asked in shock. Phoebe nodded.

"I was crying, telling him I hated him and stuff... and he hugged he and pulled me close and... we were so close to kissing..." Phoebe said quietly, blushing and looking down at the table. Grant nodded, scooting closer ever so slightly.

"But?" He asked.

"Michael walked in... We pulled away, Cameron left, and that was that. Haven't spoken since." She said with a shrug. Grant nodded.

"Was Michael pissed?" Grant asked. Phoebe cocked a brow.

"What do you mean?"

"Was he angry that you and Cameron were about to kiss?" Grant reworded. Phoebe shrugged.

"Why would he?" She wondered, her heart racing. Deep down she knew why, but she'd never admit it to herself. Grant rolled his eyes.

"You know why." He said. Phoebe shook her head.

"I don't." She said. Grant tilted his head at her in disbelief.

"When are you going to admit it to yourselves? Both of you?" Grant said in annoyance. "It's been so obvious to everyone ever since we were all kids. We all know it. The only ones that seem to not know it are you and Michael." Grant said in a slightly scolding tone. Phoebe blushed and shook her head.

"Know what?" She asked quietly, looking away again. Grant sighed, reaching over and grabbing her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"Phoebe... don't go back to Cameron." Grant said. Phoebe looked up at him.

"I won't..." She whispered. Grant nodded.

"And don't be stupid. Open your eyes. You're with who you're supposed to be."

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