"Inmates!" the sudden noise causing me to jolt upright, "You are out of bounds, back to your bunks or it's a shot."
"Yeah okay, Sergeant Dick," I replied with a quick salute. He flashed me an evil eye as I sauntered past him, making sure to walk slower than my normal pace.
"Hey," I turned back to see if the other inmate I was with was following, "Can you walk any slower?"
"Shut the fuck up, Carmen," she replied, tucking a long strand of black hair behind her ear.
"Watch your mouth Vause, wouldn't want another shot," I winked at the guard. Seeing the annoyance on his face gave me a rush of excitement.
Vause jogged up to my side, elbowing me as she giggled. I got lucky this time, we both knew this. Normally I would have gotten pushed against a wall and groped by the guards, but Coates was a pushover ever since he started screwing Pennsatucky. He had at the very least human decency and an understanding that we were actually human beings. Not somebody's sex toy or throw pillow.
"You are one lucky son-of-a-bitch kid," Alex offered.
I let a hearty laugh bubble out as I pushed a fistful of my bangs out of the way of my glasses, "Yeah, but we both know that Coates is a push over so…"
She jokingly punched my forearm, "Hmm, have you been working out?"
"Yeah for the last ten years actually."
"Maybe I should get on your workout regimen?"
"Sure Piper would love that, nothing like a 6 foot tall butch ass lesbian."
"Well… Could make for some interesting sexual positions," Alex couldn't help but laugh halfway through her own sentence.
We finally reached the door to the prison, Litchfield. The minimum security prison for women only, like the Ritz but fucking horrible as my friend Nicky would put it.
My name is Hannah Carmen. I am 26 years-old. Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. I have been in Litchfield for 4 years now. When I was 16 I met a drug dealer at a school football game, he talked a good game and got me to sell pot to the local kids. It brought in a good profit, but I always found myself wanting more. Around the age of 10 my parents died in a 6 car pileup on their way to Gatlinburg on their way to a chalet to spend their wedding anniversary together. Leaving my sister and I at the mercy of our wonderful family, I ended up moving to Clifton to live with my aunt Phyllis and uncle Mark. My mothers relatives. Bella, my younger sister went and lived with our uncle Eddie and aunt Jamie. My father's relatives.
My aunt had a very nice home, old, but nice all the same. Our entire family was raised in this house, my grandfather and all 7 of his other siblings lived here with my great grandparents years ago. The house had been passed down to my aunt Phyllis, technically my great aunt, but I never paid much mind to that. She was simply aunt Phyllis and is still just aunt Phyllis. Well she took me into her little house and raised me until I was 18, then sent me off to the Air Force where I served for 4 years.
Everything was shaky for the first couple months after the accident, with the move and all of the apologies from friends and other relatives. Even the people at school that hated me were sympathetic. I never quite fit in at my school, only had three friends and I never spoke to them much because they all had other friends. So moving to Clifton wasn't such a huge deal to me. I loved being around my aunt and uncle, they gave me my own room and bought me what I didn't have. They both worked at the Christ Hospital in downtown Cincinnati. Phyllis was an anesthesiologist technician and Mark worked in the laundry room. They weren't rich but they certainly weren't poor either.
I never felt right about barging in on their lives, costing them more money than they could always afford, but every time I would offer to help out with money they would get weird, almost defensive. They always told me that they wanted me to have the best life possible, that I deserved everything they got me or else they wouldn't have gotten it for me at all. Still I always had this nagging feeling that I should help out, so I would clean the house, cut the grass, and do any little thing I could to make life easier. Phyllis always said that they were lucky to have me, but I was really the lucky one.
My life there was nice, almost as nice as living with my parents. I attended school at the SCPA, School of Creative Performing Arts. It was an audition only school, I got in for drawing media and theatrical lighting. The school itself was gorgeous and not all the people who went there were self entitled ass holes, some were but most weren't. I actually graduated from there. So most people thought that I was an entitled ass hole becasue I went to school there and because I came out as a lesbian. Big whoop! My aunt and uncle were very supportive of my coming out, which was around the time I turned 14. So it wasn't weird for me to bring girls home because I had a 'no dating girls you go to school with' rule that I took very seriously. I only ever had one girlfriend while I was in school. Her name was Dani. Dani was from a smaller part of Ohio about 25 minutes from the city. We met at the WEBN fireworks when I was 15.
Every year since I was 12 my grandpa Eddie, my dad's dad, took me and my older cousins to the fireworks. It was one of the ways we bonded together, since I was around my mom's family so much it was hard to get away to see my dad's. Bella wasn't allowed to come with us because she was younger and beyond the point of naive. When mom and dad passed she was externally worse off than me. I had my own ways of dealing with the pain, drawing and playing guitar were my outlets. Bella just wore her heart on her sleeve, I always knew better.
The day I met Dani at the fireworks was one of the best days of my teenage life, she was beautiful, I mean drop dead gorgeous to me. Her hair was blonde and swept down to the small of her back, she had glowing green eyes that swept me away, she was 5'7 with a curvaceous figure. I remember that she always called herself fat, it wasn't true, she was beautiful.
I was sitting on a park bench next to the public restrooms waiting for my cousin Eddie to come out, but the line was so long that I knew it would be a little while. It was a hot summer day, maybe around 98 or 99 degrees, hard to tell, but I could feel the sweat dripping down the back of my neck and covering most of my body. The white t-shirt I wore had patches of moisture around the collar and clung to me, you could see my black sports bra through the thin fabric. I was slightly worried that I might smell like sweat or BO but I was wearing a very strong perfume and clinical strength deodorant.
Just now realizing I haven't really given you a description of myself yet. So I had shoulder length dark brown hair with sideswept bangs and my hair was pulled back in a ponytail, I have blue green eyes with speckles of light hazel close to my pupils which were protected by a pair of black framed glasses. Weighing in around 195 pounds with an oddly muscular build, standing at about 5'7 but I always wore shoes that gave me a few inches. That day I wore a white t-shirt, a pair of tan khaki shorts with way too many pockets, a pair of high top converse that I wore a size bigger than my size so I could fit height extenders in the soles. Yes, I'm slightly resentful and embarrassed of my height.
It wasn't my intention of meeting any girls that day, just planned on spending time with my family before I headed back to Phyllis's house. She never seemed to care if I spent time with my other family, she was very adamant about me not drifting away from them. My cousin Eddie stayed with me every once in awhile at my house, we had became closer since the accident. His father wasn't in the picture anymore so we would talk about what we felt about our situations a lot. We were our own support system, leaning on each other when we felt weak. Eddie's about a year and a half older than me, but the age difference was small enough that it never got in the way. He was a very important person to me and still visits me frequently while I've been in prison, he thought what I did was dumb at first but soon came to realize where I was coming from. Eddie was truly my greatest support.
I was still waiting on the bench for Eddie in the sweltering heat of mid afternoon. Kids were running around, chasing one another, weaving through the huge throngs of pedestrians that walked leisurely across the park. No particular place to be kind of vibes were everywhere, mixed with cigarette smoke and sunscreen fumes. The noise was like a constant buzz around me, people laughing, yelling, all kinds of music playing from either loud speakers or the live bands down at the stage in the middle of the park. I leaned back against the park bench and let the bustle and noise consume me, it was days like this that I loved. Days where I could just melt into the background, nothing I did mattered, I could just kick back and forget for a little bit.
A hand lightly tapped my shoulder, causing me to stir from my daydreaming. I figured it was Eddie finally out of the bathroom so I said, "About time you got out of the shitter." I turned my head towards where the hand had tapped me but It wasn't Eddie that had touched me, it was some girl, maybe 6 or 7.
"I'm sorry to bother you but my family told me to meet them by the lemonade stand and I can't seem to find them," she had a tear rolling down her cheek and I could tell she was lost by the way her eyes kept darting around.
"Um, yeah I know where that's at," I stood up and kneeled down so I was at eye level with the younger girl, "Do you need me to take you there sweetie?"
She nodded at me fervently, "Thank you."
I gave her a quick smile and pulled my phone from my pocket. I needed to tell Eddie what I was doing, I figured he'd still be waiting in line while I took her to the lemonade stand, but I wanted to be safe.
'Taking a lost little girl to her family up at the Hubert's lemonade stand, don't wait up if you get out before I get back. Text me what's up.'
The little respond bubble started up as soon as my message sent.
'Kk, still waiting in this damn line. If I get out and you aren't on the bench we can meet back at Pepaw's Hummer!'
I sent him a thumbs up before locking my phone and sliding it back into my pocket. The little girl was still at my side, I started to walk but she wasn't following me. "Hey, are you coming?" I cooed making my voice softer than I usually talked. Her face was streaked with tears and fear was written across her face. I walked back over to her.
"Do you want to hold my hand?" she shook her head no, "What about a ride on my shoulders?"
Her expression changed to one of curiosity and excitement as she shook her head furiously up and down. A wide smile plastered on her small face, "Okay, come here."
She lifted her arms up over her head, waiting for me to pick her up, she was very eager. I obliged and lifted her up over my head, she squealed when she plopped down on my shoulders.
"You're really strong miss."
I smirked, "Nah, you are just really light kid."
She kicked her feet against my chest and wrapped her short arms around my forehead. When Bella was younger she used to do this to me, except she would pull my hair and try to blind me by sticking her hands between my glasses and my face, over my eyes. It'd been so long since I had seen Bella, she called me on my birthday 2 months back to tell me she loved me, but that lasted all of 5 minutes before the call got awkward and she hung up. Mine and Bella's relationship had crumbled after Mom and Dad died, she was my reminder of what had happened and I was hers. Mom and Dad would have kicked my ass if they knew that I had let our relationship fall apart, but it was just too hard. I saw her on major holidays and I always went to see her on her birthday, but other than that we didn't have anything to do with each other. Some people would have called it sad but we had a certain understanding for each other.
After a few more minutes of walking through the crowds we finally made it to the lemonade stand. There were people standing in line waiting to get a bottle of free lemonade, but there was one girl who looked out of place. From far away I couldn't really see her all that well, just could make out very long hair and a light blue t-shirt with some sort of decal on it. We were getting closer and the girl atop my shoulders was getting fidgety.
"Do you see any of your family up there?" I started to speed up my walking. My calves were burning from the hill we walked up.
"The one with the long hair," she extended her arm to point towards the same girl I had seen 50 yards back.
Coming into view I could see the decal was an Aerosmith logo, I smirked to myself. From 30 yards away she looked cute, but when I was close enough to make out every detail I could see she was gorgeous.
"Dani!" the little girl yelled out, "Dani! Over here!"
I quickened my pace a bit more until the girl, Dani, turned her head. The look on her face switched to relief when she saw the small girl upon my shoulders. Confusion flashed across her face as she noticed me, I felt myself blush as I came up on her.
"Dani!" I lifted the girl from my shoulders and set her down as gently as I could on the ground. My legs were slightly shaking now, but I wasn't sure if it was from the walk or her piercing gaze.
"Sarah!" she pulled the girl tightly to her chest, "Mom and Dad are over there," Dani held her at arm's length.
"Over where, Dani?" the girl sounded so innocent.
"There," Dani said as she extended her arm in the direction of an older looking couple sitting down at one of the round plastic picnic tables. The girl exploded from Dani's grip and bolted towards the couple. I turned my attention back to Dani for a split second before spinning on my heels, time to head back to the restrooms. Maybe I got 10 yards away before I felt someone lightly grab my left shoulder, stopping me from walking. That warranted annoyed stares and half ass shoves directed at me, but I turned around to see who decided to bring me attention. My gaze was met with that long blonde hair and piercing green eyes, my heart skipped a beat. 'What the hell Hannah, why do you keep freaking out when you see her?' I thought to myself.
"You aren't just gonna bring a little girl back to her family and up and out walk away," she had a playful smile tugging at her lips.
"I have places to be," I said.
"Come on, let me buy you something to drink?"
"Sorry, I'm only 15 hun."
"Well I'm only 16 so… Does a soda or tea sound good," she was trying harder now, she was running her fingertips up and down my right arm.
"I drink water," my breathing started to become off and I was sweating harder, I knew it wasn't from the heat now.
"Okay then two waters it will be."
She started to walk away from me, but I was stuck to the spot. I watched her blonde hair sway from the slight breeze coming up off the river. Her head turned back to look at me, "Hey, what's the hold up?"
I started after her, lightly pushing people from my path to catch up with her, still wondering how my legs didn't give out yet. All of the composure I had before was gone, somehow my words were the only things I could keep straight.
We waited in line for a few minutes waiting to get the water's from the concession stand. She choose a table that wasn't so crowded around, actually it was oddly quieter over here than anywhere else but the parking lot.
"It's quiet over here."
"Yeah, I don't like big crowds," Dani opened up her water bottle and sipped, I watched her lips.
'You need to get ahold of yourself before you say something stupid, Carmen.'
"I don't mind large crowds, easier to lose myself in," I opened my bottle and gently wet my lips before taking a gulp. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Dani staring at me, a darkness covering her eyes as she bit her lip.
"So you are one of the people who hides in the background?"
I brought the bottle from my lips and sat it down on the white surface of the table. "Hun, I am the background."
'What the hell was that!? She's gonna get up and leave your stupid ass.'
She didn't hold back the fits of giggles that I brought her, they were adorable, made the butterflies in my stomach start to flutter harder. "Okay, are you trying to impress me? Because it is actually working."
"I… umm… sorry I'm an idiot," I smashed my face into my palms, careful not to hit my glasses.
My phone started to vibrate in my pocket, the Walking Dead theme playing at full blast pulled me from my idiotic stupor. I reached into my pocket and slid the answer button across the screen before actually looking at who had called me.
"Hello?"
"Hey, where you at? I finally got out of the bathroom."
"Oh, I'm kinda held up with something, do you just want to meet at Pepaw's car in a little while?"
"Sounds good, have fun."
"I will."
"Hannah."
"Yes?"
"Before you go, how big are her boobs?"
"This is why I don't tell you anything."
"I love you cousin."
"Love you too asshole," I hung up the phone and slid it back into my pocket.
Turning my attention back to Dani who had somehow gotten closer to me without me realizing. Her arm was a few inches from mine and her left hand grazed my right hand's knuckles.
"So what's your name?"
"Oh, I haven't told you that yet have I…"
"No, so fess up anon."
"Hannah, my name's Hannah Carmen."
"Well I'm Danielle Ross, but most people call me Dani," she reached her right hand over to me as if to shake it, "Nice to meet you Hannah."
"Likewise," I brought my right hand from the table to shake her outstretched hand. As soon as our fingers touched I felt a jolt of electricity run through me, if we would have been standing I would have fallen over I felt it so strongly. Not realizing that I was squeezing a bit too tight until I saw Dani wince. "I'm sorry," I drew my hand back and wiped it on my shorts, trying to absorb the sweat that gathered on my palm.
A consistent blush pinched my cheeks while I chatted with her over our water bottles.
"So, do you live here, in the city?"
"Yeah," I took a swig of my water, "I've lived here with my aunt and uncle for going on five years now."
"What about your parents?"
I felt the color drain from my cheeks at that question and my heart started to sink. No one ever asked me about my parents, because everyone else already knew. But here I was with this gorgeous girl that had no idea who I was or what I had been through, we just met by chance. Dani's eyes lightened, she must have noticed how tense I had become. She reached her hand out to grab mine, her skin came in contact with mine and I felt a sort of safeness like that. Her skin was so soft against mine, it was like touching a freshly washed duvet, soft and smooth.
"I didn't mean to strike a nerve Hannah, I'm sorry," she pulled my hand closer to her until she was able to wrap her right hand around it as well.
"You're fine," I let a small laugh pass my lips, "It still is fresh in my mind."
"Do you mind if I ask what happened?" she was running her thumb over my knuckles, her gaze causing my insides to scramble.
"They died in a car accident 5 years ago," her lips parted a bit.
"I'm sorry."
"No need, it has gotten easier over the years. I don't talk about it much if at all, actually," I used my free hand to rub the back of my neck.
The sounds of kids laughing and adults chattering had become nothing but a low hum over the sound of my heart beat. Some sort of perfume filled my nostrils, not realizing that it was Dani's perfume. I lightly sniffed the air, "You smell nice."
'Okay, you are a weirdo. You just told her she smelled nice, of every compliment ever created you said that?"
My internal argument was halted by the sound of Dani's voice.
"Thank you," she moved her head towards me, her cheek incredibly close to mine, "You smell nice too," she whispered.
'Okay maybe not as bad as I thought.'
Dani's hands were still wrapped around my right and I could feel the sweat start to form on our palms, but Dani held them there. I needed an out before I tried to kiss the blonde, I knew I could only sit here so much longer before I gave into that thought.
"Want to go for a walk?" my voice cracking slightly.
This elicited a slight smile from her, "Would love to."
"Cool," I tugged my hand slightly to let her know I needed it back.
We walked around the park for an hour or so before I got a text from Eddie. He told me that dinner was almost done and I needed to get back so Pepaw wouldn't get upset. Dani and I exchanged numbers before I left, we promised to keep in touch since she only lived 25 minutes away. She kissed me on the cheek as we parted ways. I stood planted to the spot, trying to make sense of what had happened. Met a cute girl, got drinks with cute girl, talked to cute girl, walked with cute girl, and got kissed by that cute girl. I pressed my fingertips to where her soft lips had touched my skin, trying to preserve the feeling in my mind.