Natalia sat at the picnic table watching the women play basketball. The cool breeze of the ocean calmed her as did the smell of salt which had become very familiar. Things were better, even though Olivia still wouldn't talk to her and Doris wouldn't shut up.
"Hey Rivera." Gail, a member of the Mafia gang, ran over to her table. Ever since Natalia had gotten back from her second trip to the hole the women had started to show her some respect. Even Winslow had stop playing with her food. Two months into her sentence and everything was settling down.
"Hey we need a fourth for spades, you want to…oh that's okay. Didn't mean to disturb you." She backed away from Natalia like she was contagious.
Natalia was confused until she saw who was standing behind her, just a few feet away. She didn't want friend or to join a family but she didn't want to spend five year like a leper either. If anything she just wanted to be accepted and invited to play cards or basketball or even jump rope. She was nice and she deserved to socialize with other people. That was never going to happen as long as she allowed this to continue. She had to put a stop to it even if she secretly loved it.
Natalia balled her fist ready to exploded. She stomped from her seat to Olivia. She got right in her face. "What is your problem?"
Olivia stared at the brave woman, with a blank face.
"Look if you don't want to be my friend that's fine but you have to stop hovering, running people away." All week she had noticed Olivia's presence had been running people away. She was sure it had been happening for the last month she just hadn't recognized it.
Two perfectly arched eyebrow raised higher at Natalia's tone.
"Yea, I said hovering. Every time I turn around your there. Standing all silent. I know your not mute so give up the act."
A crowd of women gather around the two. Natalia was on a roll she couldn't stop if she wanted to. "You said you didn't want me around so stop following me. And back to this silence act. Sure it was sexy at first, but now its annoying. So either say something or leave me alone." Natalia walked away through the circle of women.
Olivia looked at the crowd, they all scattered away from the green eyed woman. She could still hear some of their mumbling.
"Did you see that?"
"New fish just check Spencer."
"Spencer is going to kill her in her sleep."
A little embarrassed Olivia went back to her cell. She laid on her bunk fuming until she realized what Natalia had said. She said I was sexy.
"Oh my god tell me didn't just talk to Olivia Spencer like that." A group of women came to sit at the same picnic table as Natalia.
"I did. I don't know why everyone is afraid of her anyway." Natalia shrugged her shoulders. She was starting to feel bad about yelling at Olivia.
"You haven't heard. Word is she's been to six different prison in the last two years. No one can hold her."
"I heard she shanked a guard."
"I heard she killed her roommate for snoring too loud."
"No your both wrong she shanked her roommate cause she looked at her funny."
Natalia's eyes bounced from woman to woman as they spread the gossip about Olivia.
"You know she killed her husband and his dad in cold blood."
"No she blew up their car."
"Yea as she was still standing there laughing when the police came."
"I heard she got the mob to blow up the car."
"No she did it after she shot both of them then blew up the car to make it look like an accident."
"Wait." Natalia interrupted her gossip. "Who told you this?"
"We just heard it." They said together.
Natalia left the group headed back to her room. Last week Olivia and Doris had been moved down stairs right across from Natalia's room. Natalia looked across the to find the room empty. She gathered her personal items and headed to the showers. When she got there Olivia was already occupying the last shower.
Natalia stepped back behind the wall watching Olivia. God she has a gorgeous body. I stare at it all day. Natalia got so caught up in her day dream she hadn't realized Olivia had finished and was standing right in front of her wrapped in a towel. Olivia's green eyes were filled with anger.
"Its not what you think." Natalia voice shook with fear, staving off the impending storm.
"I think you were watching me shower." Olivia stalked forward until Natalia's back hit the wall, effectively pinning the other woman with her stare.
"Okay it is what you think, but I just wanted to talk to you."
"Look I don't owe you anything..."
"That's not what I was talking about." Natalia interrupted Olivia.
"No one told you to take the fall for that stuff." Olivia said defensively. She angrily shoved her legs into her jumpsuit.
"I know but it wasn't right what he was doing and D.W. told me how much your visits mean to you. I didn't want you to miss it because of him. He was only messing with you cause I was there." Natalia replied, hoping Olivia would calm down.
"Don't flatter yourself he does it to everyone who doesn't see things his way." Olivia dressed in her whites to quick for Natalia to catch another look.
"I just wanted to tell you that my son put some money on my books so I can pay you back for the food you gave me." Natalia eyes shifted to the floor.
"We're even." Olivia turned and left the shower room.
Natalia stood shocked from the events that just took place. I can't believe she caught me staring, I'm such a perv.
Last week.
Natalia , Doris and Olivia sat at the picnic table. Olivia and Doris played cards while Natalia watched afraid to ask to join.
Officer Winslow walked over to their table hovering over Olivia.
"You want something Winslow?" Olivia didn't even turn around.
"Spencer your going to the hole."
Olivia jumped up from the table getting in his face. "What! You can't do that I have a visit."
"Well its canceled. Look what I found." He held up a pen. "You know you're not allowed to have these pencils only. That's two days in the hole."
Winslow grabbed Olivia arm but she pulled away.
"Hey what's going on here?" Frank ran over to the table, it was his job to protect Olivia during the day from Winslow.
"Spencer, here, is resisting, I found this pen."
"Spencer is this yours." Frank knew Winslow was lying. Planting evidence against people was his partners specialty.
"Cooper he's lying I've never seen that pen before in my life." Olivia argued.
"Its your word against mine and mine is law around here." Winslow threw back at Olivia.
"You heard him Spencer that's two day…."
Natalia interrupted the dispute. "Officer Cooper it was mine. I didn't know we couldn't have them. It won't happen again."
"Inmate Rivera are you sure this is yours."
"No Spencer had it." Edmond whined.
"She was just telling me it was contraband. I didn't know we couldn't have pens." Natalia put on her best innocent face, staring Frank in the eyes. "She was just telling me about the rule."
"Alright Rivera two days in the hole. Lets go." Frank escorted Natalia back into the building and to the hole.
Winslow stood ready to burst with angry. "This isn't over Spencer. I don't care who your fucking." He stomped away from the pair.
"What the hell was that about?" Doris said gathering the cards from the table. "Are you two together and didn't tell me?"
"NO! I don't know why she did that."
"Maybe she likes you." Doris said in a singy songy voice.
"Shut up." Olivia stared at the door where Natalia and Frank had disappeared.
Natalia ran out of the shower room after Olivia.
"Wait Olivia!" She caught up with Olivia in the middle of the unit with everyone's attention. "I want you to know how thankful I am for you and Doris helping me."
Olivia looked around at the women peeking out of their rooms.
"It was hard at first but you really helped me." Natalia lost herself and threw her arms around Olivia's neck, pulling her into a tight hug. "Thank you."
Olivia stood stunned with Natalia hang off her. She awkwardly patted the woman back before pulling away for Natalia.
"Oh god, I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me."
"Look Rivera just forget about it okay. We're even." Olivia whispered too low for the spying ears. She quickly walked back to her room, listening to the chatter. That woman is...I don't know what, but she is. Olivia disappeared in her room for the rest of the day.
When night came Natalia was no where near sleepy. She lay in her bed peeking across the floor everyone in awhile. She could tell Olivia wasn't sleep, but she was pretending. Natalia threw her covers off and sat up in bed.
Just as she was about to jump down Officer Lewis walked to Olivia's room. He and Olivia walked outside to the activity area. Natalia peeked out of her room at the guard station. Office O'Neil was sleeping leaned back against the wall. She snuck to the window to the yard at the pair who stood too close. She had heard rumors of Olivia and Lewis.
Olivia leaned against the outside post. Josh stood in front of her leaning in close whispering in her ear.
"As you know there was a delay in the plan. Something about paper work."
"So when are they coming?"
"Should be sometime in the next three weeks. They've been trying to keep it under wraps."
"I found out whose working with Winslow."
"Foley right?"
"No the inmates. Maria in 102. She meets him in the kitchen every Wednesday for drug negotiations. I don't know if he gives her the stuff but I know they meet."
"Yea well that's going to change when Davidson gets here." Josh sighed leaning closer to Olivia. "I'm going to take you out tomorrow for a meeting with Cooper."
"The gangs already know they're coming. I heard F block is going to join the Angels. The Queens are waiting for their leaders. Mafia is undecided."
"I'll look into it."
They stood in silence. Olivia not wanting to go back in yet.
"So what's up with you and Rivera." Josh blurred out. He had heard about most of the happening with the pair from Frank.
"What?"
"You two together or something?" He smirked as a pillow fight between the two played in his head.
"No why would you say that?" Olivia furrowed her eyebrows.
"She went to the hole for you and because she looking at us." Josh looked out the side of his eye at Natalia.
Olivia saw Natalia too. "See this is why I don't get involved with other people. Wolfe convinced me to help her now she won't leave me alone."
"I think you kind of like it or you would have done something about it. Or have you already done something and got her hooked." Josh winked elbowing Olivia.
Olivia fought a smile. "You wink that eye one more time its going to be shut permanently."
Natalia ducked when Olivia turned the her way.
"You better snatch her up before some one lays claim to her."
"They can have her. Did you hear she was watching me in the shower today." Olivia left out the part were they hugged in the middle of the floor.
"Tell me you gave her something to think about."
"NO!"
"You want to give her a show?" Josh almost wink then thought better of it.
"Office O'Neil might have something to say about that."
"So would Winslow's spies."
Natalia wasn't the only inmate slinking around the unit at night.
"What do you tell him about me, anyway?" Olivia looked out the side of her eye at Natalia hiding.
"You're okay. I've had better." Josh shrugged his shoulders.
Olivia pinched his side, pretending to be hurt. "Your better come up with something better than okay! On second thought, don't. I don't need him slobbering over me."
"You want to surprise her?" Josh laughed as Natalia peeked her head back up.
"Hell yea." When Natalia ducked back down, Josh and Olivia ran for cover behind the door.
Natalia peeked back up only to find the pair gone. "What the hell?" She whispered, looking around the yard.
"BOO!" Olivia jumped from behind the door, scaring Natalia. The younger woman jumped back landing on her butt.
"You know I'm starting to think your stalking me." Olivia looked down at Natalia.
"No I just wanted some fresh air." Natalia dusted herself off standing in front of the pair.
"Right and I'm superman." Josh laughed then grew serious. "And if I find you two out of your rooms again I will charge you with escape now move."
Office O'Neil walked over but turned around when Natalia and Olivia headed back to their rooms.
"Olivia? Are you with him?" Natalia wondered out loud.
"I don't see how that is any of your business Rivera. You jealous?"
Of him, yes. "No your right its not my business." Natalia walked back into her room watching Olivia lay back in bed. After an hour of playing solitaire Natalia found sleep.
Natalia woke up at headcount to find Olivia missing. As soon as they were able to move she walked over to Olivia's and Doris's room.
"Hey D.W. where's Olivia." Natalia leaned against the doorway.
"Court or something, left early this morning." Doris's eyes lit up as Blake approached.
"Hey I need a favor."
"Sure what can I do?" Natalia stood at attention ready for orders.
"Switch rooms with me."
"What, no. Olivia would be mad and your just trying to get next to Blake." Blake walked up to the two when she heard her name.
"I'll make it worth your while." Doris winked at Natalia.
"I'm not switching rooms with you. Me and my cell mate have just begun to get in sync." They had just gotten into a routine of who was in the cell at what time for alone time.
Blake's eyes widen to the size of dinner plates when she heard Natalia. She waved her hands mouthing the word 'no'.
"Please. I'll give you my breakfast tray for the next month."
"Does Olivia know about this?"
"Don't do it Rivera." Blake said but Doris ignored her.
"It's a surprise. Please, help me out here." Doris smiled at Blake who rolled her eyes.
"No!"
"Pretty please with sugar on top. Plus you two can sex in here instead of the middle of the unit." Doris begged pulling on Natalia's white shirt.
"We did no such thing, it was just a hug." Natalia defended herself.
"What ever you say but I'll keep asking until you say yes." Doris poked her lip out like a chastened child.
Natalia sighed, already seeing the stupidity of this, and weighed her options. Olivia will be mad. Not long, maybe we could be come friends. Olivia will be mad. I'll would be on top of a gorgeous woman. Olivia will be mad. We'll be so close.
"Okay, but if Olivia tries to kill me I'm coming for you."
Blake huff as she walked away, "I'm going to the hole."
"Follow me." Doris pulled Natalia to the guard station. "Hey Cooper."
"What Dark Wing?" Both Frank and Winslow laughed.
"It's D.W. and I need you to move me."
"Where to the hole?" Winslow chuckled elbowing Frank.
"No, me and Natalia want to change rooms." Doris looked at Natalia for support.
"Why?"
"Me and Olivia aren't getting along any more. I'm scared for my life." Natalia's jaw dropped at Doris's accusation. "Natalia feels the same way about her roommate. So we thought we could change to prevent any problems that might arise."
Frank looked at Natalia who gave a weak smile. "Fine. You got two minutes."
The two inmates walked away, Doris with a big smile, Natalia in a daze. This is a bad ideal, the thought ran through her mind on repeat.