daisy

A bit of privacy was very hard to find in a rowdy, chaotic prison. But there were the rare days that people were a little too tired to cause fights and thus were a little calmer. Perhaps they were missing their families or were full on a large meal but regardless, it made the prison atmosphere a slightly less terrifying.

Absorbed in a book, Daisy found it easier to escape into a completely different world and forget about where she was altogether. Though she had a loving boyfriend and caring friends, being trapped inside the same stone walls would bring anyone's mood down.

But now, a smile graced her porcelain face as she read a new book, swaddled in one of Seth's spare sweatshirts with her legs crossed comfortably on the old leather couch. Loose strands of light brown hair fell from her effortless messy bun, touching her cold pink cheeks.

Unknown to her, Daisy's naturally angelic and calming aura would enhance when she was content. Somehow, it was enchanting, almost hypnotizing, to the other prisoners in the room. Because Seth was elsewhere for once, many didn't hide their stares. Though they carried on with their activities and friendly chat, it was as if, like Seth, they wanted to hide their violent and loud selves away from the little girl.

Seeing her jump at every loud noise like a frightened doe in a forest, any that threatened to cause a ruckus was practically escorted into the yard by Nate, Levi and even some of the other prisoners. They had taken a protective role to the girl who served them innocent smiles and desert akin to those of a gourmet restaurant.

Daisy, of course, was too engaged in her book to notice.

"Psst, hey Daisy?" Owen whispered next to her. He was hanging around a them more often now and sometimes, he'd even be brave enough to talk to her when Seth was there too.

She hummed in question, turning all her attention to her friend with a smile.

"What's the seven-letter word for clergyman's gown?" he asked, giving a wave his book of crossword puzzles.

A few days ago, a woman in a fancy looking suit was walking around with prison with a clipboard and shortly after asking Daisy what she thought could be improved, a large box of books arrived in the common room. They also started to play classical music over the speakers. It was supposed to be calming and apparently, it was working so Daisy wasn't complaining.

Tapping her chin in thought, she finally said, "cassock"

Owen's eyes widened as he scribbled the word down. "How are you so good at these?!"

Just as she shyly shrugged, Levi proudly stated, "our Daisy's a genius." She shook her head and blushed as Nate nodded in agreement.

Pointing to the ceiling, Owen asked, "do you know what song this is?"

They strained to hear the quiet melody of piano keys. Surprisingly, Daisy did know the answer because it was one of her favourites. "T-Träumerei by Robert Schumann"

"Genius," Levi stated matter-of-factly.

"Did you know the guy would plunge his hands into the entrails of slaughtered animals to heal him?"

Daisy shrieked and covered her mouth with her hands in shock, utterly grossed out by Owen's fact. Before anyone could respond, Dave made his appearance known. "You have a visitor, Daisy."

Her lips parted in brief shock, before quickly scrambling to her feet and excitedly following the prison guard out of the room and to her supposed visitor.

She had no contact with outside world in months so despite not wanting to see her family, she wasn't going to pass up the opportunity to bravely tell them that. In a safe, public area of course.

Only, when she saw who it was waiting for her in the visiting room, it wasn't her family. "Lincoln!" Daisy speed walked to the guy and all but jumped into open arms.

He was her sister's boyfriend and the closest thing Daisy had to a friend. Unfortunately, she wouldn't see him too often as Lincoln and Anna often broke up, only to make up again a week later. But whenever they were together, he'd make a point to tell Anna to be nicer to her sister and sometimes he'd bring her weird sweets from his travels. He was like a brother to her.

"Hey squirt," he ruffled her hair as she grinned at him.

"NO TOUCHING!" A prison officer yelled, scaring the both of them apart.

They sat across from each other while Lincoln had his worried eyes fixed on her prison sweatshirt and pants, a startling contrast from her usual feminine dresses. Prior to prison, Lincoln had only seen her looking her best because that was how her mother forced her to present herself to anyone with eyes. Mrs. Harrington would've had a fright if she saw her daughter's naked pimples and messy hair.

But of course, she wasn't here to see her daughter in prison.

Daisy also took the time look at her one and only visitor. He towered over her but was still shorter than Seth and a little less muscular. Although, Lincoln was still very handsome and was often featured in many magazines. If it wasn't for his grey eyes, they'd looked like siblings too with his hair the same light brown shade as hers.

"I'm sorry this happened to you, Daisy," he said with pity heavy in his voice.

She shrugged, still with a smile dancing on her lips as she'd missed him incredibly. "I-It's not too bad. I like it."

Lincoln stared at her as if it were more the most ludicrous thing she could say, which from an outsider it probably was. "Daisy, you're in prison. Do you not understand how serious this is? I would've visited sooner but I only just got home yesterday and I didn't even know this happened. Anna said it was all rumors when I asked because she didn't want to worry me apparently."

"Ooo did you bring any sweets? I want to see the pictures of the animals p-please Linc please," she was bouncing on her seat at the reminder that he had spent the last four months in Africa to start a wildlife reserve. His family was wealthy too so he could do whatever he wanted and fortunately for the animals, Lincoln was a kind-hearted, generous man.

"No I didn't bring anything. I rushed to see if you were ok and I'm honestly surprised you've lasted this long. Nothing... happened, right?" He stressed the word 'happened' with a mixture of emotions on his face, one being anger.

Not understanding his question, Daisy said, "l-lots happened, Linc. I'm in prison but I'm ok."

"I swear your family are ridiculous. I don't know what they were thinking, especially Anna. I'm done with her selfish ass." He shook his head in disappointment. "You've really not been hurt, princess?"

"I promise. Most people here are really nice," she ignored his questioning look as she bashfully whispered, "I've got a boyfriend."

Daisy tried not to take offence when his jaw fell in shock. "Y-you've got a boyfriend?!"

She nodded and giggled at the thought of her big scary Seth meeting Lincoln, who goes golfing on tuesdays and works in soup kitchens on sundays. "He's super handsome and really really tall. Oh and he's got a million tattoos a-and thousands of muscles but don't worry, he doesn't fight people anymore and- "

"Daisy!"

Embarrassment rushed to her cheeks when the lovestruck teen realised she had gotten carried away with the discription of her loving boyfriend. "Sorry," Daisy apologized sheepishly but quickly added, "I've got friends too. F-Four I think."

"I can't believe my innocent little flower got a criminal boyfriend." Lincoln leaned back in his chair, rubbing his hands over his face. He looked overwhelmed with bewilderment and exhaustion. "He's not forcing you is he? I don't care if he's the biggest guy here, Daisy. You tell me and I can help you."

She felt appalled by the idea that Seth could be anything but a cuddly sweetheart towards her. "No Linc! Prison is absolutely terrifying but he protects me from it all. He treats me so much b-better than I deserve."

"I highly doubt that." He gave a sad smile. "I'm glad you have someone looking after you but please promise me you won't let him take advantage of you. Promise me Daisy. I'm here to protect you too."

"I promise but you don't need to worry Linc. I love him a-and Seth loves me back."

It was an attempt to reassure him but instead his face paled and he sat up in his seat with urgency. "Seth?! Please tell me his name isn't Seth Knight," he begged.

"It is. How'd you know," she laughed but clearly Lincoln wasn't finding the situation as funny.

"Of all the prisons you could be sent to, why did it have to be this one? Why didn't I realize? Of course I know who Seth Knight is. Everyone knows Bluebird prison is the one he was sentenced to because everyone celebrated that the country's most notorious gang leader was finally caught. There was never enough evidence for years and then suddenly there was! He's bad news Daisy!" He yelled in a whisper, his eyes darting around the room as if expecting Seth to attack him at any moment.

Her mouth made an 'o' in amazement. She was in love with a celebrity!

"It's not a good thing Daisy!"

Quickly, she shut her mouth and nodded solemnly.

"I'm getting you out of here. I'll do anything and everything to prove you're innocent. I don't know all the details yet but I know you would never do anything to deserve a year in this place. It'll be ok. Trust me," Linc said with so much determination, Daisy couldn't doubt him.

"R-really? You'll get me out? Will you get Seth out too?"

Pleading eyes begged him not to say no but he eventually said, "he's a murderer. I doubt he's ever going to get out of here. Think about yourself, please Daisy. You should be happy you're going to be out of prison."

"B-b-but what about Seth! I can't leave Seth. He'd be so lonely and I-I love him." Her balled fists rubbed her teary eyes, sniffling pitifully. If Daisy didn't cry so easily she would've faked a few tears until Lincoln gave in but unfortunately, the thought of leaving prison without Seth was almost heartbreaking.

Lincoln's head whipped around the room anxiously as the girl looked a second away from bawling. "Please don't cry," he said, reaching out to comfort her but was stopped at the loud yell of the prison officer, causing Daisy to cry harder. "Ok, I'll try. Just stop crying. I hate it when you cry, princess."

Daisy wiped her wet cheeks with her sleeves, pouting as she realised she ruined Seth's sweatshirt. "Thank you, Linc." She realised it was highly unlikely that her boyfriend would be forgiven for his crimes but with Lincoln saying he would try, it gave her hope. "He's not a b-bad person," she said in an attempt to ease Linc's inner turmoil that evidently displayed itself on his frowning face.

He hummed, nodding absentmindedly. "Just don't get in trouble. If I can't do anything, you can at least get out earlier on good behaviour." When she agreed, he began to stand up as he had to leave. He was a busy man.

"Will you visit soon?" Daisy asked sweetly with hopeful eyes.

"Of course and I'll bring you sweets next time to celebrate your stutter getting better. How did that happen?"

She smiled shyly at his proud expression. "Seth makes me read to him everyday so I guess that helped. I d-didn't really notice."

"Maybe he isn't so bad." Lincoln didn't sound like he believed his own words much. In goodbye, they hugged until the prison officer made them stop and Linc kissed her affectionately on the crown of her head. "Stay safe, little Daisy. Love you."

"Bye bye Linc. Love you too," she replied sadly and watched as he walked out of the room until Dave told her it was time to go back to her cell. However, tattooed arms and stormy eyes caught her attention at the entrance of the visiting room.

"Who was that?" he asked in a hard voice as soon as she reached him, surprising Daisy with the hostile glare in the direction Lincoln went.

"He's my friend. Do you have a visitor too?"

"I have to go," he replied gruffly, still not sparing her a glance, and walked to away to sit with a blonde man. Tattoos peaked from under his suit, making her wonder who he was. When she noticed the guy watching her in a curious way, she quickly turned and left to her cell.

Daisy spent the next few minutes waiting for Seth, fiddling with her fingers in anticipation of his reaction to the idea of leaving the prison. They hadn't talked about what would happen when it'd be the end of her sentence, mostly because she refused.

While Seth wanted to be realistic about the situation yet comfort her with words of reassurance, Daisy preferred to be in blissful ignorance.

But now, she had a little hope that everything really would be ok. Perhaps she was just naïve but she didn't care. With Lincoln doing whatever he could to get them out, they'd have the highest chance possible and she would be thankful for any reduction in Seth's sentence, knowing she'd wait for however long it took.

People were going back to their cells for the night and Seth shortly followed, striding in with angry footsteps and a clenched jaw. At first she thought he was just in another one of his mood swings but then realised it was serious when he didn't greet her and instead climbed to the top bunk.

Daisy balanced on the edge of her bed, standing on her tip toes and peaking her head over the side of his bed to ask, "w-what's wrong, Sethy? Did your visit not go well?" He was glaring at the stone ceiling with his arms behind his head. It was awfully hard not to admire his impressive muscles but she had to focus on the topic at hand.

"It went fine," he answered sharply.

In an attempt to get his mind off whatever was bothering him, Daisy said, "my friend Lincoln visited me today. I have good news"

His frown intensified. "So that's his name. Since when did you get visitors?" He asked harshly.

Daisy lips pursed, fed up with his grumpiness. "Since now, mister. Now do you want to hear the good news or not?"

Her tough act failed as soon he looked at her. It made her want to cuddle into his chest just to hide away from it. "You never told me you had a boyfriend outside."

"Huh?"

"I saw you with that guy, lovey dovey and sh*t. My friend even heard you saying how much you loved each other. F*cking heart eyes and everything!"

She gasped and shook him as if trying to wake him up of his delusion. "What are you talking about? Is it drugs? Are you doing drugs? He's just my friend and he's going to help us get out of prison-"

"F*ck that!"

Daisy jumped away from him and stood on the other side of the small cell as he sat up, looking at her angrily. She wasn't sure if the anger was directed at her or what she just said or Lincoln but either way, she didn't like it.

"He's going to take you away from me! Who the f*ck does he think he is?" He breathed heavily as she stayed quiet, just waiting for him to calm down before saying anything that could possibly make it worse. "You wanna leave with him?"

"N-no. He's g-going to get you out too," she whimpered.

"F*ck this. You never mentioned a Lenny. I was feeling guilty about that nurse while you've been getting visits off some guy you apparently love." His voice with filled with so much disgust it shocked her. She was hurt that Seth would think so low of her. Where did her cuddle buddy go?

"You're b-being mean. His name is Lincoln and he's like my brother," she said quietly.

"If he's like your brother then why did you never mention him? You never mentioned him at all and yet you're a bit too f*cking touchy aren't you," he laughed without humour.

Daisy sighed in exasperation. He's being ridiculous. "We just hugged Seth! I told you about my sister's boyfriend."

"It's just too f*cking suspicious! I knew I couldn't have anything good. Am I not allowed to be happy for once in my life? God knows I don't deserve it and I don't deserve you but f*ck Daisy you blinded me. You're just too god d*amn perfect and I should've known it was too good to be true."

"I didn't do anything wrong though." Her voice was barely audible and her eyes stung with tears at his words. She didn't know if the sadness she felt was for herself or for him.

There was a pregnant pause before he finally asked, "did they send you?"

"W-what? Who?"

Seth groaned in frustration and turned his back to her. "I'm done with this. Just leave me alone Daisy."

Did we just break up? Daisy didn't want to ask, afraid for the awkwardness and heartbreak that would follow if the answer was anything less than she hoped.

She was confused, hurt and unbelievably sad about what had just happened. This wasn't the Seth she loved - the one that was kissing her awake that morning and telling her bad jokes until she begged him to stop.

Giving up on trying to understand, she just replied with a soft okay and went to cuddle up in her sheets that still smelled like her Seth.

This time, she wasn't ashamed to be crying herself to sleep. She didn't muffle her sobs because she wanted him to know how much he hurt her. And he deserved to lose sleep over that.

~~~

Thank you for reading!

I'm back! I hope people still like this book haha. Was so nervous to post the new chapter on Inkitt. Anxious to see if my writing has changed too much.

How long have you been waiting for an update?

I've posted the synopsis of a book I had in the works years ago. Let me know what you think. It's called Psychotic Little Killer.



Read ahead for free on Inkitt. Chapter 18 is now available! x

WORD COUNT: 3160

Much love <3

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