CHAPTER ONE
Frieda woke up late that afternoon, her mind still foggy and her limbs heavy. She sighed looking up at the bottom of the top bunk-where Zoe used to sleep. Some of the time. Most of the times, they shared Frieda's bed and had never gotten caught.
Guess our luck run out, Frieda thought sourly. She closed her eyes again and fell back to a fitful sleep, plagued by dreams.
2013
Before the riot
The following morning, after Zoe's encounter with Red, Zoe found her lover in the garden, planting some sunflowers. She looked up and smiled at Zoe who sat down next to her. Zoe didn't have a job as she was exempted due to chronic health issues. And Frieda had been exempted from the gardening crew for a few years now. Gardening for Frieda, was really just a relaxing hobby.
" You know what I've always wanted to do?" Frieda asked her.
" What?"
" We've got the cornfield pretty high now. We could-" Frieda raised her eyebrows.
" Frieda! What if we get caught?" Zoe glanced around her. It was just her and Frieda at the greenhouse today. It was a sunny morning but it was very brisk.
" We won't," Frieda assured her, " It's still pretty early," she took off her gloves and stuck them in her pocket and lead Zoe to the cornfields.
Frieda was right-the cornfields were pretty high now and shielded them from view. Frieda pulled her in for a hug and her mouth settled down on hers for a long and searching kiss.
Nicky and Alex Vause walked through the cornfields and stopped in their tracks when they caught sight of Frieda Berlin and Zoe McKenzie. Frieda had one arm wrapped around Zoe's waist and Zoe had her hand wrapped around the back of Frieda's neck and they were kissing.
Nicky cleared her throat and the two older women sprang apart guiltily. Nicky quickly hid the equipment behind her back but it was too late, Frieda had already seen.
" I suggest the two of you leave," Frieda said to them, " We were here first."
" Anyone can use this cornfield." Nicky retorted, " Right Vause?"
Alex shrugged.
" Frieda, just let them stay," Zoe began but Frieda shook her head.
" No. They should leave-and I won't tell Red what you have behind your back Nichols." Frieda raised her eyebrows, her eyes cold.
" Alright already. We're leaving. Jesus." Nicky grumbled and stalked away with Alex close behind her.
" Did you know about the two of them?" Alex asked Nicky. " I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the fact we just saw old Frieda Berlin, kissing hottie Zoe McKenzie. McKenzie might be in her fifties, but she's still beautiful."
Nicky smiled wistfully, " I know. Berlin has all the luck and yeah I did know about them. Red told me. Zoe went back to Frieda after Red and Zoe broke up."
" Hang on a minute- Red and Zoe were together too?"
Nicky sighed, " It's one big drama between the three of them. It's a long story…but it goes like this…."
Meanwhile, Frieda shook her head and pulled Zoe into another hug and titled Zoe's chin up to kiss her again. Zoe returned the kiss with equal fervour, then she sat down and pulled Frieda down with her.
Their mouths met for another passionate kiss as she started unbuttoning Zoe's khaki shirt and threw it aside, without breaking the kiss. Zoe pulled away briefly to take off her long-sleeved shirt as Frieda got undressed herself. Zoe put her arms around Frieda's neck and pulled the older woman down on top of her, kissing her hungrily. Frieda undid Zoe's bra and tossed it aside before taking a nipple with her lips.
After a while, Frieda rolled off Zoe. A cold wind had whipped up and Zoe shivered as goose bumps appeared on her skin. She felt exhilarated and spent, lying completely naked in a cornfield.
Frieda propped herself up and traced one of Zoe's nipples with a finger. Zoe looked worried though, " Maybe we better head back."
" There's no one around," Frieda assured her as she caressed the nipple.
" I know-"
" We've been lucky so far. Not once have we been caught together. Except for that one time with Black."
" Well, what we've done in the past was tame compared to this," Zoe pointed out, " We could get in big trouble if we're found. And one of these days our luck will run out."
Frieda sighed, " Sometimes you worry too much." She sat up and grabbed her clothes.
The two got dressed and headed out of the cornfield and towards the garden when the alarm from the prison sounded. Both women dropped to the ground and Zoe gave a I-told-you-so Look.
" That has got nothing to do with us," Frieda said as she saw a guard walking towards them. " As far as they know, we've just been gardening."
Frieda and Zoe headed back to the dorms for count and went their separate ways. Before their breakup, they had been bunkmates but after they got back together, they hadn't been allowed to be bunkmates again. They had a big fight in front the assistant warden Natalie Figueroa, embarrassing Mr. Caputo. He had never quite forgiven them for that and as punishment he had separated them by giving them new bunkmates. He put Frieda in with Leanne Taylor and Zoe in with a new inmate named Piper Chapman. Zoe has had several bunkmates since Chapman and her latest was Gina Murphy who she's became good friends with.
Zoe missed being bunkmates with Frieda but knew it would never happen again. As she headed towards her bunk, she was stopped by Alex. She didn't have much to do with the tall girl. She was friends with Chapman and Chapman and Zoe didn't get along.
" Hey, what's up?" Zoe asked.
" I wanted to ask you about Frieda," Alex said.
" Oh, yes we're in a relationship if that's what you're wondering. But it is really none of your business and-"
" No, I mean, Frieda saw what Nichols was hiding. She really won't tell Red will she?"
" Not unless you give her any reason to," Zoe replied.
" Okay. Thanks," Alex gave her a half smile and went on her way.
" What did Vause want?" Frieda asked suspiciously as they headed for Frieda's bunker to have some alone time. She had watched them from her cube, Vause and Zoe barely had anything to do with each other before. Vause was Chapman's friend and Chapman was no friend of Zoe's.
" Oh, she's just apologising for interrupting us earlier and for Nicky being disrespectful," Zoe lied. Well, Nicky had been disrespectful so it wasn't a total lie.
Frieda nodded not saying anything.
Frieda and Zoe stayed in the bunker most of the afternoon and weren't allowed back in the dorms because new beds were being installed. So they took advantage of this and just enjoyed being together. They lay on Frieda's cot after making love. " I wonder when the new beds will be finished being installed." Zoe said.
" I don't know," Frieda reached for her again, " We should enjoy this time while we can," she captured Zoe's lips with hers before kissing along her jawline, and collarbone. Zoe put her arms around Frieda's neck and drew her closer to her as Frieda's mouth found her breasts. Zoe moaned, clawing Frieda's back. Awhile later, Frieda found herself underneath Zoe as Zoe's hand disappeared between Frieda's thighs and slid a finger inside her. Frieda found herself moaning as Zoe worked on her and soon the bunker was filled with their cries of passion.
A few hours later, Frieda and Zoe walked into the cafeteria to an invasion of new inmates.
" Christ on a cracker," Frieda said.
