35. ♞ NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS

       PHOEBE AND MICHAEL were sitting in silence in their cell, each one on a bunk. Michael had taken his place again on the top bunk, while Phoebe stayed in her bunk on the bottom. Michael was reading a book, while Phoebe was braiding her hair, the duo unable to work on escaping at the moment since they had been informed that Sucre would be moving back into their cell, and they feared an officer would peek into the cell at any moment and catch them in the act of digging.

       "You know, I actually kinda missed having Sucre around." Phoebe suddenly said as she tied one of the braids with a small rubber band. "He's a nice guy. And he's funny." She said. Michael hummed, not looking away from his book.

        "You're not trying to make me jealous, are you?" He asked quietly and calmly. Phoebe blushed, chuckling.

        "Why would I? I'm serious." She said. Michael chuckled.

        "I know." He responded. Phoebe bit her lip as they sat in silence again, wondering if Michael would be comfortable enough to be affectionate with Phoebe in front of Sucre, or if he would pretend like nothing ever happened. She also wondered if he would mention anything to Lincoln about them. So many thoughts plagued her overthinking mind, but she was snapped out of her thoughts at the sound of their cell door buzzing and sliding open, and in walked Sucre with a large plastic box, carrying his things with a smile.

       "So, the gang's all back together again. Well ain't that swell?" Bellick mocked as he stepped into the cell, and Michael hopped off the bunk quickly, standing in front of Phoebe in a protective manner as Bellick approached them. Phoebe knew Michael was always protective of her, but for some reason, after what had happened the night before, it felt different now. "Told you not to go around me to the Pope. But you just keep making waves, don't you?" Bellick suddenly murmured to Michael, which luckily, Phoebe had managed to hear. She furrowed her brows in confusion as to when that conversation had happened and why Michael hadn't mentioned it to her.

       Bellick suddenly turned on his heels and left the cell, walking away as another officer pulled the cell door closed. Phoebe finished off her second braid, pushing herself off her bunk as Sucre placed his box beside the bunk, on the floor, and smiled widely at Michael.

       "Good to be back, man." Sucre exclaimed happily. Michael smiled.

        "Good to have you back." Michael responded, holding his hand out to Sucre for a handshake as Sucre held his hand out for a fist bump. The two awkwardly switched positions, not sure what to do, earning a laugh from Phoebe as they awkwardly hugged instead.

       "You guys are so awkward. Why can't you just hug like normal people?" Phoebe teased as she laughed, earning a smile from both men, but with different emotions towards her. Sucre turned to face her and pulled her into a tight hug.

       "Don't think I didn't miss you, mami. I missed your jokes. You always know how to make people laugh." He said with a chuckle as Phoebe hugged him back with a smile, looking at Michael over Sucre's shoulder. Michael simply stared at her with a smile, which Phoebe mirrored.

       "Awe, we missed having you here Sucre. We didn't have anyone to make the beds anymore." She teased as Sucre pushed her away playfully, the two laughing as Sucre looked between the two friends.

       "So, when do we get started?" Sucre asked. Michael looked down at the slightly shorter man with a small smirk. "There's something I need to do first today when I go to the infirmary. Then, we start." He said with a nod. This made Phoebe nauseas, thinking about Michael flirting with Sara. It made her sick. It's just an act. Calm down, Phoebe. It's part of the plan. You don't care. Sucre nodded and furrowed his brows.

       "And you guys are sure this escape plan will work?" Sucre asked doubtingly. Phoebe nodded.

       "As sure as my name is Phoebe." She said with a chuckle, as Michael grinned at her and Sucre sighed.

       "Alright. I trust you, mami. I trust you, fish." He said. "Let's get out of here."

—

       "YOU'RE NEXT, BALDWIN." An officer said as Phoebe sat outside the infirmary, waiting for Michael to exit. She hadn't even dared to look inside. She didn't want to know or see what he said or did with Sara. Michael stepped out of the infirmary and walked past Phoebe almost as if he didn't know her, but she knew that was part of the plan. She entered the infirmary and sat down on the examination bed, staring at Sara.

       "How are we doing today, Phoebe?" Sara asked as she looked through her files, as usual. It was starting to annoy Phoebe that every time she came, Sara had her face stuck in the many pages on her clipboards and folders.

       "Fine." Phoebe said with a nod. Sara hummed and nodded.

       "I heard you had a problem with your previous cellmate." She said. Phoebe wondered if Michael had told her, but she shrugged, pretending like it was nothing.

       "Yeah. He was a creep." She said with another shrug, responding dryly to Sara. Sara sighed.

       "Look Phoebe, I know you don't like me, but—"

       "What makes you think that?" Phoebe asked seriously, staring at her. Sara shook her head and sighed again, avoiding eye contact.

       "Look, I know it bothers you that Michael says things to me, but I don't—"

       "He says things to you?" Phoebe asked, seemingly unaware of everything happening with them. "Look, he's told me he likes you. I don't know what things you think bother me about it, but he's a grown man. He's his own person. I'm just his best friend. He is free to be with whoever the hell he wants, as am I. He likes you, and well, I'm in love with someone else." Phoebe said with a shrug. On the outside, she looked relaxed and unfazed, but on the inside, her own words were eating her up alive. Sara cocked a brow.

       "In love with someone else?" Sara asked in confusion. Phoebe nodded, her mind racing.

       "I'm in love with my ex boyfriend still. Stupid, I know. But after seeing him here again every feeling just... came back to me. And I want him." Phoebe said, cringing at her own works. Sara's eyes widened in shock.

       "You have an ex boyfriend here?" She asked in surprise, to which Phoebe smiled and nodded in faux excitement.

       "Cameron Connors. He's... my everything." Phoebe said, faking a dreamy look on her face when in reality she was even making herself uncomfortable. She couldn't deny that she did still have some feelings towards Cameron, but it wasn't like that anymore. Not like when they were young. Sara hummed and nodded.

       "Good guy, it seems." Sara commented. "No wonder I've seen him stare at you so much." She said, causing Phoebe to blush.

       "Really?" She asked quietly, this time sincerely. She wasn't expecting that. Sara nodded, and Phoebe quickly regained her composure. "Is it that obvious that we're secretly dating?" She suddenly blurted, unsure of what to say. "Ugh, I just... I thought we were being secretive enough! I didn't want anyone to know because... Lincoln doesn't like him at all, and I didn't want him to get angry with me... So we decided to date in secret." Phoebe word-vomited, hoping she'd been convincing enough. Sara's eyes widened.

"No no... I had no idea you were dating. I just noticed him staring, is all." Sara said. Phoebe mentally slapped a hand to her forehead. She shouldn't have said any of that. But she was in too deep now to back out. She'd have to talk to Cameron later. "So, you really don't like Michael? You don't want to date him?" Sara asked with a chuckle. Phoebe smiled and shook her head.

"God no. Never in a million years."

[ DEDICATED TO aguacate_en_tanga & vaperv ]