I don't own these characters (and all that good stuff that comes with fan fiction's disclaimers) and despite the show being based on a true story, they are fictional in mine.

This story is more of just an experiment that I want to write. Gina and Tricia are my favorite characters and there isn't any fanfic including them as love interests that I've found so I wanted to put some out there. There are some hints to Spring Breakers in there as well- not sure where that came from but well, it fell in. Please forgive typos and grammar errors - I try to proofread and edit but sometimes you just miss it.

Feedback is greatly welcomed and enjoy! Will post more when I can!

Chapter 1: A Yogurt Cup Welcome

It was bad enough that she was entering prison, but to wear this orange outfit that made her stick out more than a sore thumb? Well, that seemed to be the cherry on top. Candy was only 18 and she was caught for robbery with a deadly weapon, possession of a deadly weapon, and drug dealing and possession. So much for returning to college for the remainder of freshman year. And she had worked so hard to get into Boston University. Now she got to spend the next few years at Litchfield, because it was "the better" low security facility.

Her long blond hair still had pieces of red in it that the guards said she could keep. On the drive to the camp, the guards commented that it was rare for an inmate to come in alone, but "business" was slower in the spring. She was able to converse with a very Brooklyn-woman in red lipstick who went on about her wedding and didn't ask too many questions. When they pulled up to the prison, Candy looked around once she stepped out of the van. It wasn't exactly what she had been expecting. All Candy knew of prison was from books and movies, and even then, those were all focused on men's facilities.

The nice inmate with the red lipstick, who introduced herself as Morello, showed her to her temporary placement where she could set down her few belongings. There weren't many other inmates around because according to Morello it was lunch time.

That was when the real anxiety kicked in. Entering the cafeteria full of inmates wearing beige while Candy sported orange was terrifying. It took a push on the small of her back by Morello to get her in the food line. She was certainly welcomed with glances and stares from every direction that she couldn't avoid. She knew being young and white meant she was fresh meat on a whole new level in this place.

Candy shuffled with the rest of them to the counter where they handed out trays. "Next!" And a plastic tray appeared. She watched the faces of the inmates going through the afternoon motions serving and eating whatever this was that they called food.

When it was her turn the short woman with the hairnet and eyes, that made Candy think she was angry, looked up, but not at directly at Candy, "Ne-" she stalled and that's when those eyes met Candy's. It was only for a moment, but it sent a shiver through her. One that could be translated more than one way with all the stress and anxiety of this place.

The tray was placed up in front of her, making a loud bang when it hit the hard metal. "Next!" The woman's eyes lingered on her even though her hands went back to work. Candy kept moving, but when she faced the small cafeteria and found that she had a new obstacle. Where to sit. Everyone already had their cliques and designated spots. She looked for Morello who might help her out but she wasn't there anymore and Candy was left standing near the trash cans with a tray in hand. This wasn't high school where she could just go eat in the bathroom as a last resort.

"I know you," a thick Russian accent was heard in her ear. Candy spun around and nearly hit a full woman with wild red hair. "You're Velma's girl." The woman's eyes gave her a one over. It was hard to tell if they were kind or judging her every move. Candy's parents had run a pizza restaurant in Chicago but the family had ties in the Russian mafia. Candy hadn't expected it to matter or help her in prison, but her parents business had taken her to New York several times a year. This woman looked familiar, but only because she was one of the few women involved in business. Candy couldn't place her name, but she knew her mother so she nodded.

"I remember you, when you were a little girl playing with the cats outside the shop." The woman didn't look thrilled to see her again. "What did you do to get in here?"

"I was on Spring Break-" She hated to admit that. Weren't you not supposed to ask people that?

"I don't want to know." Even though the woman had just asked, she cut Candy off. It must have been rhetorical. "I thought you would have been in college."

"I was-"

"Mm." It was more of a disappointed humf. Those eyes told her she expected more out of Candy. "Well now you're here so go eat." Even if the food wasn't a step above what you'd find in a dumpster, Candy didn't have an appetite. When she stalled the woman pointed past her. "You will over there." There was a group of white women who now that Candy looked their way realized they had been staring. "My girls will take care of you." Her girls? Were they with the mafia too?

"I didn't know you were like that, Red." A woman with wild blond hair and dark eyeliner addressed the older woman who escorted Candy to the table. Candy sat next to a larger woman with dark hair who was eyeing her in numerous ways.

Red didn't respond to the statement with anything that a hard glare than received a "I'm just kidding." From the younger blond woman.

"She's with me." Red announced to the group, a hand on Candy's shoulder. "Show her the ropes." The group of women nodded, seeming to be quiet out of awe.

When Red returned to the kitchen Candy was left with the gaping group. "What makes you so special, Princess?" The woman with the short black hair spoke first.

"Uh-"

"Red doesn't have people like that - you sort of get chosen when you do right by her - but not right off the bat." The blond explained as she leaned forward as if it would help her examine Candy.

"She knows my family." Candy managed to say as she began to eat, not caring what it tasted like or that she wasn't hungry, just then she didn't have to say too much. Or worse, the wrong thing.

"Nice!" A young white girl with her hair in corn rows and a strange tattoo on her neck grinned and bobbed her head. "Connections."

"Anyway- I'm Nichols." The blond with wild hair and a raspy voice introduced herself before nodding to Big Boo, Yoga Jones, Tricia, and 2 out of place looking women, Chapman and Vause. The cliques were explained to her and some of the basics as well.

"We were all new once." Chapman was kind to add. She seemed like the most likely to be helpful to anyone who asked for it. Candy itched to know what she did to get in there. Chapman would lean over with a loud whisper, "Just don't insult the food." This brought a laugh out of everyone as if there was some inside joke. Candy tried to laugh, but couldn't contribute much to the conversation.

Suddenly there was a small cup of yogurt on her tray. Candy looked up from the slim white arm and saw the woman with the hairnet and apron on from the line. However her angry eyes weren't angry when Candy's met them now. And in a second they were averted as the woman spun and quickly retreated to the kitchen. Candy watched her go and saw Red give her a nod. It was a welcome gift.

"See!" Tricia pointed to the cup of generic brand yogurt. "Connections, yo."