Bea woke to find Allie still in her arms, and her favourite red blank draped over them. Bea could not remember the last time she woke with a smile on her face. As the memory of last night's events returned, she did not feel like she woke up in prison at all. Yet, she knew that they must get up soon, as surely the morning count would begin.
"Allie, baby" Bea whispered. Allie started to stir. Bea took in the beautiful girl in arms, as she woke for the day. A sight she's only seen once before, but secretly hoped she would see again.
"Hey, Bea." came the reply from Allie, as she opened her eyes to see the brown ones looking back at her. "Morning, Alliecat." Bea put her hand on Allie's cheek and gave her a light kiss, knowing time was getting away from them. "We have to get up for the count." Bea said. "Ahh, I know but can't I stay here a little while longer? I like waking up in your arms." Allied replied, sooking but knowing that Bea was right.
Reluctantly Bea sat up, looking over Allie, seeing their clothes on the floor where they unceremoniously left them last night. Her shy smile and rosé cheeks, making Allie smirk. They both got dressed in silence, both lost in their own thoughts. Bea's first night with a woman and Allie's that she finally got to show Bea what real sex was.
As Bea stood outside her door for the count, she could not help but notice that the sun seemed brighter and warmer this morning. The sound of the gates opening and closing, the metal on metal seemed different. It didn't help that opposite her, Allie was smiling and looking like a child on Christmas morning. "Christ!" Bea thought, "I need to get my shit together. It was only sex. But it was sex with Allie…"
"Hey, earth the Bea" yelled Boomer, who had evidently been trying to get her attention. "Yeah booms, what do ya want?" "Do you reckon Kaz will be Top Dog now?" Boomer replied. This startled Bea back to her senses. That's right she had given up Top Dog yesterday. She knew it wasn't going to be that easy. She had lagged, and she admitted to it in front of the whole yard. "Fuck, Boomer, I've just got up" "Oh, geez, yeh right, sorry, yeah?" Bea knew it was fair question and but she certainly wasn't going to let on that Boomer was probably on to something. Bea didn't have the answers yet, she didn't really get a chance to think things over last night. A smile crossed Bea's lips.
The other girls had noticed the smile on Allie's face, not that she was doing anything to hide it. They were also slightly amused at the uncertainty and childlike nervousness in Bea's behaviour. Her normal strong and confident demander gone, but they were a little more diplomatic than Boomer. Maxine walked up to Bea and simply said "Ready for breakfast love?" "Yeah, let's go."
Bea lead the way, hand linked with Allie's. Her strong and 'don't fuck with me' strut back. As they walked into the dining room, the room went deadly quiet. Bea was immediately on edge. She let go of Allie's hand, stepping in front of her. Bea stood up straight squaring her shoulders, and glared around the room, daring anyone to try something, anything. No-one met her eye. Even Kaz, who seemed to be enjoying the reaction to Bea, wouldn't look directly at her.
After what felt like eternity, Bea felt someone tug her arm. She looked around to see Allie pulling her to flow the rest of the girls from H1 to get their breakfast. Their usual table was empty. Bea followed still on high alert. She didn't like the idea of having her back to the room whilst she was getting her breakfast. Maxine seemed to pick up on this, immediately without words. Maxine knew no-one would hurt her, whilst she was having chemo. She simply nodded, and said. "Hey, Booms why don't you go first, and I'll get mine after the girls are done." Boomer seemed a confused at first, looking from Maxine to Bea. The penny finally dropping. "Yeah right, well, I won't be long."
Bea sat at the head of the table, still taking in everyone around her. The dynamics of the prison had changed. She had changed them, by lagging. She knew she would be dealt with. But from who? Who would have the balls to attack her? Her reputation was legendary; everyone knew just how tough she could be. The thought seemed to ease her mind a little. Bea knew she was one of the fittest and strongest women in the prison. She wasn't Top Dog for so long without reason. But she had lost her position, she gave it up when she broke code, and announced she was done. As she looked around the table at her friends. They had become her crew first, then her friends and now they were family. Well maybe not Sonia, but defiantly Liz, Boomer, Maxi and Allie. She had never felt loyalty like this before, mutual and unconditional.
She looked at them with mixed feelings. She knew they loved and supported her, but she also knew that as a crew they were weak. With Maxi undergoing chemo. She was proud of Maxi, and how she was dealing with all the cancer treatment. She was still so positive and was a tower of strength to Bea as she figured out her feelings for Allie. Maxi was in no condition to fight, not that Bea would let her. Bea looked to Boomer, remembering the days she used to go boonter. She couldn't help but smirk. Boomer really was a strong and powerful woman when she wanted to be, loyal as they come, definitely reactionary rather than a thinker. But that was what she loved about her, her lion sized heart. Although, Boomer refused to help Bea last time she asked, Bea knew that she could persuade Boomer to be the muscle again, for her family. She just needed to be more persuasive.
Liz, oh mother Liz. The gentlest alcoholic mum you would ever meet. Bea was glad that Liz, had finally kicked her drinking days and had put it behind her. Having Sophie in here, really helped to sort Liz out. Well eventually. But Liz wouldn't be much help in a fight, but she could be helpful with her position as peer worker. Getting information back to Bea. Same with Doreen. Bea didn't quite trust that Doreen really was as happy and supportive as the rest of her friends for her and Allie, especially when she so quickly jumped ship to Kaz's crew. But they had history, and Bea had a long memory.
That left Sonia. Although, Bea didn't know much about Sonia. Other than Liz was her shadow and she was in for the disappearance of her husband and friend. Sonia was smart, really smart. She was observant and methodical in nearly everything she did. Bea thought there might be a lesson or two in that. Bea knew as she completed her breakfast that although she doesn't have the strength and muscle that she used to, she still needed to protect her crew, her family.