A/N: So I don't own any of the characters, they're not mine.
This is my first fanfic and I'm not great with the differences in the English/American college/university thing so if there's anything that doesn't make sense I apologise.
Have at it guys, let me know what you think...
Chapter #1...
It was 9am on a bleak Monday morning when Alex Vause strode into her first lecture of the semester. The twenty-three-year-old, followed in tow by her group of friends consisting of Nicky, Lorna, Sylvie and Big Boo, climbed up the steps of the lecture theatre before sliding along the back row leaving enough room for them all to be seated. Alex pulled off her black leather jacket, placing it into the empty seat to her left, revealing the faded band shirt she wore underneath. She slung her slender, denim clad legs over the chair in front leaving her worn biker boots to rest on the worn upholstery. To her right, Nicky was combing her fingers through her wild and bedraggled hair, trying to fix it into some sort of style after getting caught in the morning rain, while the rest of the group relaxed and contributed to the gentle murmur of the lecture theatre.
At the front, Sam Healey stood from behind the small offset desk. His large stomach protested against its imprisonment against his cheap shirt pulling and stretching at the material as he strode purposefully to the front.
"Welcome ladies and gentleman to the second year of your degree in English literature. My name is Sam Healey and I will be taking you for the next six weeks of lectures in this 'Studying Poetry' module".
Healey's gruff and rugged voice boomed throughout the room, completely hiding the creaking of the door as a drenched, huddled form crept in, pulling tightly at the drawstrings of the hoody clamped over their head, silently sliding into the first available seat at the front.
Alex, completely oblivious to the latecomer, had her sparkling emerald eyes, hidden behind thick framed secretary glasses, fixed firmly on Healey, hanging off his every word. During her poor, single parent upbringing, Alex had enjoyed the release from reality that books and poetry had provided her with, deciding from an early age that it was a route she wanted to pursue. After being accepted into Smith to study English literature she'd ploughed all her efforts into succeeding and making her mum, Diane, proud. She'd aced her first year of study, receiving the highest grade out of the whole year group before returning home to New Jersey for the summer, allowing her to relax and spend some quality time with Diane. Now that Alex was back in the teaching environment, she couldn't wait to progress her knowledge of the subject, of which poetry was her favorite.
XxX
After an hour, Healey announced that it was time for a break. Boo lead the group out of the room, down a corridor to the right and out behind the back of the building into a shelter and away from the bouncing rain. The women, except Lorna, proceeded to pull out cigarettes and began to light them each in turn with Nicky's lighter.
"Man, I thought your arm was gonna drop of with all that writing you were doing Vause, it's only the first lecture, they don't expect you to take notes yet".
"Fuck you Nichols" Alex responded with a smirk as she leaned her back against the cold brick wall and inhaled another mouthful of smoke.
"Some of us actually wanna pass this year y'know Nicky, I've no idea how you scraped by and got to second year" Sylvie piped up from her position leaning on the wall next to Alex as she prized the cigarette out of Alex's red lips and placed it between her own taking a long, slow drag.
"Well what can I say, I'm a woman of many talents Sylvie" Nicky winked while bringing her fingers in a V shape to her mouth and waggling her tongue though the gap. "Isn't that right Morello?" Nicky turned to face Lorna sending a tidal wave of red blush up the shorter woman's cheeks.
"And a trust fund that you need a degree to claim" Sylvie shot acidly at the wild haired woman. Nicky glared at Sylvie, looking to Alex then back again, deciding on holding her cutting remark on receiving a pleading stare from Alex.
"I was hoping for some fresh meat this year, maybe a couple of foreign transfers or something to interest me but it seems to be the same old WASPs from last year, we've gotta get out some more guys, I need me some pussy" Big Boo cut in, hoping to clear the heavy tension.
"We'll sort you out Boo, c'mon let's head back, I don't want that pig Healey on my back already" Nicky responded halfway past the group and leading the way back to the lecture theatre.
XxX
As the second half of the lecture drew to a close, Healey pulled up the final slide of his presentation.
"So, lastly, your coursework for this module has been set and you all need to pass to stand any hope of getting your degree" Healey glared up to the back row, eyes boring straight into Nicky who squirmed uncomfortably under the piercing stare of Healey's piggy eyes.
"I've already assigned you partners based on your first year grades so you should be paired with someone at an equal level to yourself. I will release the list of pairs now and you should find and introduce yourself before you leave this lecture hall, am I understood?"
The universal groan from the students seemed to have answered Healey's question as he reveled in the student's disappointment at prearranged groups. Marching over to the computer he quickly opened the document containing the list of names.
"Yes, Morello!" Boo boomed as she reached over and high fived the small brunette.
"We are gonna smash this Boo" Morello replied, happy to be paired with someone she knew and liked.
"Aw Sylvie"
"Nicky" The pair said in unison upon realizing their names were next to each other on the board.
"This is gonna be a fucking riot" Nicky groaned through gritted teeth as she climbed over the others, grabbing her jacket and storming towards the room's exit.
"Who you working with stretch?" Boo called over to Alex, who turned to Boo, confusion clouding her features.
"Never heard of her... Piper Chapman" Alex replied shrugging towards Boo.