Branded Read Online Saffron A. Kent

Categories Genre: Alpha Male, Angst, Contemporary, Dark, Virgin Tags Authors: Saffron A. Kent Advertisement

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Or rather something embarrassing about myself.

So this assignment? It’s not a regular assignment. As in, I’m doing this for extra credit. Because I just got my midterm grades and they’re bad. They’re so bad that I’m failing and my professor provided me with this option as a last-ditch effort.

So there.

Can I tell you another secret?

Or again, simply a fact. This time, non-embarrassing, though.

My professor gave me a list of inmates in the pen pal program and I chose you specifically because in your profile you mentioned that you liked to read. So I figured we’d have something in common.

So what’s your favorite book?

For me, it will have to be Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. The rocky moors; the hero in love and driven by revenge.

Have you read it?

I read somewhere that the library at Montana State Prison is in need of a major overhaul. That makes me sad, because reading should be as accessible as breathing, in my opinion.

In any case, I hope I hear from you but if not, that’s okay too.

Hope you have a great week!

Until next time (hopefully),

Peyton

PS: Okay, I have one more thing to confess and I’ve been thinking about it and I just didn’t know—still don’t—how to bring it up except to just bring it up so: I googled you. Well, I googled all the names on the list my professor gave me but still. For full disclosure: I typed your name in the search bar, clicked on the first article that came up. It was just a short piece in the Post. I didn’t cyberstalk you, and I won’t. I understand what an absolute violation of privacy it is and just because you are where you are, doesn’t mean that I can poke around in your life. But I… I don’t know how to put it delicately, but I just wanted to make sure that you were, for the lack of a better word, safe. Or rather your crime was (as safe as any crime can be). I realize that I could’ve just asked you but then… I mean, it just makes good sense to be careful, right? Not to say you’re a bad person, or that the crime you were found guilty of defines you. It doesn’t.

Oh gosh. I’m not making much sense, am I?

Forget what I already said. All I’m trying to say is that I was doing my due diligence and I’m sorry I violated your privacy.

To: Peyton Turner

From: Bo Porter

Peyton,

I can’t remember the last time I received a letter.

Or sat down and wrote one.

And now that I am, it makes me feel like I’m back in school or something but anyway.

First, you don’t need to address me as Mr. Porter. That makes me feel a little too old and if I had to choose between being back in the classroom and lying on my deathbed, I’d rather be passing notes during lessons.

Second, what kind of a moronic professor encourages their student to make contact with a convict?

But then again, you don’t sound real smart either if you think a drug bust is safe. Just because it doesn’t sound as awful as aggravated assault or attempted murder doesn’t mean you want to meet a junkie in a dark alley.

Or maybe you do.

I’ve got no idea what college kids are up to these days.

I will say though that whatever you’re up to doesn’t seem to be all that good for you, seeing as you’re failing and your last-ditch effort—as you called it—is asking for help from a convict that you stupidly think is safe.

Bo

To: Bo Porter

From: Peyton Turner

Dear Mr. Porter,

Did you call me and my professor stupid?

It looked like you did but I’m still giving you a chance to rectify your mistake before I go ahead and call you rude.

Or worse, an asshole.

Because I believe in reserving judgment and second chances. I believe in reformation (what a coincidence, given I’m writing a paper on that). Which means just because someone is stuck behind metal bars on a drug charge doesn’t automatically mean he’s a rude asshole.

Even though that rude asshole also implied that somehow I’m the one making wrong life choices because I failed one class.

For your information, I happen to be a straight-A student and this is the first time I’ve gotten anything less than an A-minus. Not that it’s any of your business.

I can’t believe I was all broken up about violating your privacy. Clearly, I wasted my apology.

A piece of advice: If writing letters makes you think you’re in school, then maybe you shouldn’t sign up for the pen pal service.

I’ll find someone else for my assignment.

Have a good life.

Sincerely,

Ms. Turner

(Yeah, that’s right. It’s Ms. Turner to you.)

To: Bo Porter

From: Peyton Turner

Dear Mr. Porter,

Maybe there’s something in the water at Montana State Prison.

Or maybe all of your fellow inmates are as rude as you because after weeks of writing letters to them, I have yet to receive a single response.


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