(What do you think the chapter title means?)
Jana-
The morning of the hearing was far more stressful than Jana thought it would be. He knew that he wasn't getting out. Had that idea solidified in his head, but the discussion he had with Domino the previous night was getting under his skin. He'd always loved trying new things. Especially if he wasn't familiar with them... but that was when he was younger. Before he was broken.
Now I want nothing but my routine. He thought as he stared down at Tera, who was sniffing at a patch of weeds that had sprung up in the field. She seemed determined to get into a good position to pee on them, but couldn't quite find one.
"You are the strangest dog." He mumbled, even though he really had no idea what dogs acted like to begin with. He'd never had one growing up. Never really wanted one, either.
When Tera finally relieved herself a few moments later, Jana began walking the perimeter of the yard, not quite feeling up to running right then. Tera pranced around him as his mind began to wander. He knew that the hearing would be for parole thanks to Domino, but that didn't help him get ready for it. He'd never even been briefed on what that meant. Sure, he knew that it was basically getting a chance to leave the prison, but he had no doubt that there would be stipulations.
You're not getting out anyways, so don't worry about it. He thought as he turned.
Still, he couldn't just push aside the stress that was building. Shaking his head, he felt an ache in his forehead begin to throb.
"Hey Jana?"
Looking to his left, Jana saw Domino waving him over toward the doors leading back inside. He really didn't want to go back in yet, as he still had at least thirty minutes, but when Domino kept waving, Jana relented and headed toward him. Tommy realized that they were heading in early and followed, picking up Tera's bag.
"Sorry, I know you like being outside, but I wanted to ask you something." Domino said, making Jana stop in the hall and give him an annoyed look. He always did that, ask if he could do something, instead of just doing it.
"Right, sorry. Don't ask. Anyways, I wanted you to uh, possibly use your phone call..."
Phone call? He needs it? Has he even used his? Jana wondered.
He didn't care if Domino wanted to use his, though. He had never used a single one, even though they got them once a week and could earn more for good behavior. Who would he call?
Domino gestured for him to follow as he continued to move. Jana did, though he didn't bother answering the man. When he figured that out, Domino shrugged and continued walking until they were near the telephone cubicles. All calls were monitored and recorded, but again, who the hell was he going to call?
Turning to him, Domino gave Jana a weak smile and picked up the phone, then offered it to him after he dialed a number. "Here. I already talked to him, so he's expecting you to call. He's uh... a friend, and I think he can help you out with what you're going to have to go through during the hearing. You seemed really stressed, so I uh, used my phone call to set up a time you two could talk."
I don't want to talk to someone, let alone someone I've never met or know. Jana thought as he stared at the phone. He could hear the person on the other end pick up and reply with the general hello? but refused to take it.
"I know you don't like talking to people and you have no clue who this guy is, but I think he'll be helpful. If you don't like him or the conversation, you can just hang up." Domino said, keeping the phone extended to him.
Jana licked his lips and narrowed his eyes on the phone. He'd only ever used one a few times, and that was only when someone higher-up couldn't come and see him personally... and usually when he was in trouble while he was younger. As he got older, most people stopped caring completely.
Clenching his teeth, he grabbed the phone and slowly walked over and sat down in the chair provided within the cubicle. The chord retracted as he settled, then lifted the phone to his ear.
"Hello." He stated simply, honestly hoping that the other person had already hung up after not being answered.
"Good morning, Jana." The voice on the end replied. It was oddly calming, even though Jana couldn't pick out why it was any different from any other person's.
Also, considering he'd been brought inside early for the phone call, Jana wasn't too sure that it was a good morning anymore. Still, he remained sitting, waiting for the man to continue since he didn't believe that he needed a response yet.
"I've been told that you have a hearing later today but I wanted to ask you things that don't really relate to that. Answer whatever you'd like, but if you don't want to answer something, just tell me no, okay?"
More questions. Just want I wanted to today. Jana thought as he mumbled a bored "Yes."
"Alright. Oh yeah, my name's Orion, by the way. So, what's something you like doing?"
The question was simple and didn't bother him like most of Christopher's did, so Jana leaned back in the chair and kicked his feet up on the desk portion of the cubicle before answering. "I lift weights and run."
"Oh? How much weight?" Orion said, honestly sounding like he was interested.
Jana was trying to figure out why the man even cared as he replied, "Around three-hundred."
There was a coughing sound on the other end of the phone and Jana removed it from his ear, stared at it, then put it back.
"Sorry, that's pretty impressive. I can only do about two-fifty, on a good day." The man said with a chuckle, then added. "No wonder you have Domino under control."
Somehow, Jana's lips twitched up slightly, a laugh right behind them. He refused to let it escape, however. When he didn't reply to Orion, the man continued, not missing a beat.
"So, what was your favorite subject in school? Mine was gym, believe it or not." He said, chuckling.
Jana felt himself stiffen at the man's question. He didn't like thinking about his past. Especially not the one he had with his parents, but when Orion continued, giving his own favorite first, he managed to relax his grip on the phone and take a deep, calming breath.
"Chemistry."
There was a sound of dislike on the other side of the phone and Jana rose an eyebrow, even though the man couldn't see it.
"How can you like that stuff? I swear I failed that class twice before they gave up and just gave me a C-." Orion said, then added. "Did they make you memorize that terrible periodic table?"
Leaning forward after setting his bare feet back on the floor and placing his right elbow on the desk, Jana said, "No, but I memorized that because I wanted things to be easier on me at the beginning. Turns out that I was good at the class anyways. You can't tell me that it isn't incredible to be able to show how different elements can change each other and react under specific circumstances."
Orion made a sound of agreement, though it still sounded half-hearted. Okay, they would agree to disagree on chemistry.
"I'll let you keep your love of chemistry and I'll keep pretending that I was good at basketball in high school," Orion said. "Anyways, Domino told me that you actually have a dog there? How is she? I've never had one, mainly because of the hours I work, but she sounds really amazing from what he's said about her."
Jana tilted his head to look down at Tera, just then realizing that her head was resting in his lap as she stood beside the chair he sat in. He unconsciously reached down with the arm he had been leaning on and pet her on the head as he replied to the conversation.
"She's a good dog. I don't like them, but she let's me be outside a lot more than I used to, so I do appreciate having her here." He said, finding it odd that he really did want the dog.
"That's great. Domino told me that she was a retriever. If I could get a dog, that would definitely be a breed I'd look into. Very loyal, even when they're young and rambunctious."
Jana nodded. "She has her moments, but a... a good friend trained her very well."
Jana thought Orion would pick up on the catch in his words or the sudden drop in his temperament, but the man didn't seem to notice either as he pressed on cheerfully. "That's great! I have to get going soon since we're opening early today at my work, but I just wanted to let you know one thing before then that my friend wanted me to tell you."
Tilting his head, Jana looked up at the clear glass in front of him. The booths were used for visitors as well as phone calls, but he knew that no one would ever sit across from him behind the glass.
"If you bite Domino's ears right around the edges, especially the left one, he'll get harder than a brick and sometimes his legs even buckle."
Unable to help himself as the line went dead, Jana leaned back and laughed up at the ceiling. His chest felt weird from the unfamiliar sensation but he refused to stop until a few seconds had passed. He then stood, turning to see both Domino and Tommy staring at him, trying to hide their own smiles. He knew that they would have listened in on him, especially Tommy, since it was his job, so he just shrugged and tossed the phone down on the table.
The two then started turning to walk back to the cell, since they had at least another hour before the hearing. Jana began to follow, feeling oddly relaxed after the simple conversation. When he caught up to the others, his mind replayed the last thing Orion had told him, and without really thinking, he leaned over and clamped down on Domino's ear.
The man immediately yelped and dropped to his knees, hands going to his crotch as he growled over his shoulder. "Dammit, Jana! I'm gonna kick that bastard's ass, then yours!"
Jana snickered, then started laughing as Tera ran over to Domino and began licking his face, finally giving the man the attention he'd wanted for weeks. She picked the perfect time to take pity on him.