Author Note: Some swearing in this chapter.
Lexy POV
As I walked back to the building I thought about how lucky I was that Piscatella was nearby. I don't know what would have happened if he hadn't seen them harassing me. I see why inmates are afraid of him. He seems to be everywhere at once; this was the third time I encountered him in four hours.
When I got back into the prison I saw everyone walking in the same direction and figured it must be time for dinner. I tagged along with the large group of people to the cafeteria and stood in the line. Once I was up I looked at today's dinner and was shocked to see that it didn't even look like actual food. I turned to the inmate next to me, a tall woman with long black hair and secretary glasses, "Hey, do you know what that stuff is?" She looked at me. "Slop." 'Oh well, can't really say I'm surprised. After all, nearly the whole staff walked out just yesterday, and I don't blame them.'
I took my tray and scanned the cafeteria looking for a place to eat. Tables appeared to be sorted by race. "Is it your first day in prison or something?" I turned around and saw the person I spoke to in the lunch line. "Yea, I've never been in prison before." The woman's eyes softened and she took on a friendlier demeanor. "Tough break. I'm Alex. You can sit at my table if you have nowhere else to eat." "Sure, thanks Alex. By the way, my name's Lexy Grant."
I followed behind Alex as she led me to her table.
She stopped and motioned for me to sit down. I sat down next to an older woman. I glanced around the table to see if anyone I recognized was there. "Guys, this is Lexy Grant. She's new here and doesn't have anywhere else to sit." Alex introduced me.
"Hi there! Come on, sit down, sit down. You're gonna fit right in with us." An older lady with blue eyeshadow greeted me enthusiastically. "Let me introduce myself and the other gals that usually sit at this table. I'm DeMarco, she's Chapman," the eccentric old lady pointed at a woman sitting next to Alex with dirty blond hair who looked like she was in her thirties. Chapman waved at me. "Lorna Morello," this time she pointed at a younger woman with curly brown hair and bright red lipstick. "Hi Lexy, you can call me Morello." Her smile grew even larger if that was possible. " I just got married a few days ago, right here in this prison! The world is a wonderful place..." She trailed off and looked lost in her thoughts with a smile stuck on her face. "Big Boo," I could've guessed who Big Boo was just from the name. A middle-aged, overweight woman with short, black hair didn't even look up from her conversation with somebody else at the table. "...And next to her is Nicky Nichols." Nicky Nichols had frizzy, wavy, unkempt dark blond hair and wide eyes. She appeared to be in a deep conversation with Big Boo on who could make a woman have an orgasm the quickest. 'This table will definitely be entertaining'."Hello everyone. Thanks for letting me sit with you guys, you all seem really nice." Big Boo laughed. "Believe me, sweetie. No one is nice in prison. Better know that now or you'll learn the hard way later."
After that, I decided to keep my head down and try to keep myself from vomiting the revolting slop all over the table. Nicky noticed the look on my face. "I wish I could tell you that you'll get used to it, but honestly, it'll always taste like shit no matter what. Sorry, kid." She smiled sympathetically.
"Yea... I wonder what this is suppo-" I got cut off by Piscatella's booming voice from the center of the cafeteria. "Attention prisoners! Anyone caught throwing food will eat it from wherever it lands and receive a shot! And if any of you try to sneak food out of the cafeteria, that will be a day in solitary. Am I clear?" When no one responded I saw him reach into his pocket and hastened to cover my ears knowing exactly what was going to happen. The blaring air horn echoed in the cafeteria along with the startled screams of the inmates sitting at the tables closest to Piscatella. I would have found this to be hysterically funny if I weren't also in the cafeteria. "Am I clear?" This time he was met with the unenthusiastic grumbling of prisoners and was apparently satisfied with that because he left the center of the cafeteria and began talking with another CO.
As I watched Piscatella interact with the CO, Stratman, I think somebody called him, he seemed to calm down immediately. He talked in a hushed voice and looked like he was speaking amicably with him as if nothing happened at all in the last two minutes. I guess he was pretty popular with the guards because he took his job seriously and was a problem solver.
I turned back to my table and noted that three more people have sat down. I was happy to see Red, who was conversing with two people I hadn't seen before. Thankfully, DeMarco noticed my confusion and introduced them to me. "That's Gina and Norma. They work in the kitchen with Red. Norma is mute, so don't feel bad when she doesn't talk to you."
After finishing her conversation, Red pointed at me. "You. Staying out of trouble today?" She inquired.
"Not really. Two bald women with a ton of tattoos on their faces came up to me and were about to beat me up when I refused to join their movement in 'cleansing the prison' whatever that means."
"Ah, those are the nazis of the prison. How in the hell did you get out of that?"
"CO Piscatella came up and scared 'em off. It's a good thing he always seems to be on the prowl for troublemakers."
Red looked at me like I was insane. "Good? Nobody can breathe in here without getting threatened and berated. Just wait until you're at the other end of his wrath. Unless you're one of those 'goody-goody' kiss-ups." She looked at me accusingly.
"Don't worry. I'm not a snitch or a 'goody-goody'. I just want to do my time and get out of here without getting into trouble." I spoke earnestly.
Chapman spoke up now. "We all do, but sometimes trouble will find you and there will be no one there to get you out of it."
The COs began signaling the end of dinner. As if it were choreographed, everyone moved at once and began dispersing to the exit of the cafeteria.
The rest of the day was a blur. I followed Piper and Alex around while they gave me a tour of the prison. Piper explained everything like a tour guide would, while Alex made sarcastic comments. By the end of the day, I had laughed so hard my sides hurt. I didn't expect federal prisoners to be so normal, or have good senses of humor. By now it was almost lights out so we had to go back to A-Block for night count. COs McCullough and Coates were doing the count so it went smoothly and without a hitch.
Once I was in my bunk, I finally met my fourth bunkmate, Hapakuka. This was my first time seeing her. She looked tired and only muttered a quiet "goodnight." before laying down. Piper Chapman climbed onto the bunk above her and just lied there staring at the ceiling. Lastly, Red came in, obviously exhausted, and fell asleep the second her head hit the pillow.
End of Chapter
Note: Let me know what you guys think of this chapter! I hope meeting the other characters didn't seem too rushed or forced. Also, please let me know if there are grammatical errors so I can fix them.
