Hello, all! Back again with another long chapter, but first, let's get some review responses in!
Justine: I can't spoil it for you, you'll have to read and see what will happen to Kubra. I hope you enjoy this update, thanks for reviewing!
Miiki Clayton: I like Stella and Poussey too, but there's just something about Vauseman that drags me in. Hope you enjoy this next bit, thanks for reviewing!
RR Fan: I'm glad you're enjoying, I figured if I couldn't find a story involving Stella, I'd have to write it myself! Enjoy this next bit, thanks for reviewing!
Guest: Well, we all know Piper is impulsive and rash but she's trying to behave, I swear! Love, love, LOVE Nicky and couldn't see this story without her! Thanks for reviewing, hope you enjoy this next piece.
As usual, I own none of the characters, I am just bending them to my will. Read and review, and enjoy!
Four
Piper spent the next week avidly avoiding Stella. She would wake up a whole hour earlier than usual to shower. She took different routes to work and the cafeteria and was even scolded by Gloria when she took too long hiding in the kitchen.
"For fuck's sake, Chapman, you look like a pendeja. You supposed to be running this freak show, so handle your freaks instead of hiding from them!" Gloria snapped as she stirred some mush in a pot.
"Excuse me?" Piper asked, standing up straight to look at Gloria.
"You heard me. Handle your business," Gloria said shortly, waving Piper out of the kitchen where she promptly ran into Stella.
Damn you, Mendoza, Piper swore internally.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were avoiding me," Stella smiled, but it wasn't the friendly smile Piper had come to expect from her. It was cold, unforgiving, and Piper glanced at Gloria, who gave her a knowing look. Piper said nothing, but stood up straight, narrowing her eyes.
"I have to get to work. Excuse me," Piper said, but Stella stepped directly in front of her.
"Well, aren't we working together? Or have you been removed from the sweat shop?"
Goosebumps raised on Piper's arms and she shoved her way past Stella, down to her bunk where she woke Alex up with a gentle pat on the butt. Red was already gone for the morning.
"Mm, hi," Alex mumbled sleepily, looking up at Piper with heavy lidded eyes.
A lot of the bruising was fading on Alex's face, and she would have a couple of scars, but Piper thought there was no one on earth more beautiful than Alex. Except Stella.
Jesus, Chapman, get your shit together, Piper thought to herself.
"Good morning," Piper said softly, brushing Alex's hair away from her face. "Do you think we should kill Stella?"
"Jesus, Piper," Alex said, eyes widening as she sat up straight. "What the fuck?"
"She gave me this smile, like a revenge smile," Piper explained sheepishly.
"Piper, I'm pretty sure you can handle Justin Bieber if anything were to happen… wait, are you late to work?"
"Yes, because I think we're going to have to kill Stella."
Alex didn't know whether to laugh or scowl, and she settled on an expression of confusion. She didn't know where this new Piper was coming from, and she wasn't sure she liked it. Is that what she was like, always worrying about Kubra? Was she still like that, paranoid that Aydin had survived?
"Alex?" Piper said, snapping her fingers in front of the brunette's face.
"Yeah, sorry… what?"
"I'm going to work. I'll see you at lunch? Please?" Piper asked.
Alex nodded and placed a kiss on Piper's lips then watched as the blonde walked away. At work, Piper was fidgety, and she had come to the realization that without CO Babyface, the panty operation wouldn't work out. She believed that the other girls had realized the same thing, but she was still held in power, trapped on the throne by herself. She sewed her finger and swore under her breath, ignoring a genuinely concerned glance from Stella.
"Fuck you," Piper huffed to no one in particular as she sucked the beading of blood off her finger and resumed her work.
"Hey, you okay?" Flaca asked across the table.
"Yeah, I think I'm just tired," Piper lied, rubbing her forehead before stitching another pattern of panties.
"Gloria knows how to make this tea to help you sleep," Flaca continued, "You want me to ask her for you?"
Piper contemplated that for a moment before saying, "Yes, I'd appreciate that. Thanks."
Piper could still feel Stella's gaze, and it was further confirmed when Flaca snapped, "Yo, can I help you or something? Mind your fucking business."
"Hey, no need to be so rude," Stella laughed, standing up, "I'm merely concerned, same as you."
"Bullshit. You're loving this," Piper snarled under her breath.
"Loving what, you stabbing yourself due to insomnia?" Stella chuckled, "You really might be losing it, Chapman."
"Yo, back off before I make you lose yourself," Flaca snapped, stepping up to Stella.
Piper watched with wide eyes. She had seen many forms of loyalty in prison, but most of them ended horribly with the 'leader' being selfish. She thought Stella could wipe the floor with Flaca, but she couldn't say that out loud.
Time to step up, Piper thought to herself. She placed a hand on Flaca's shoulder, and Flaca sucked her teeth before sitting back down.
"Stop provoking my girls, and leave me the hell alone," Piper said through gritted teeth as she took her seat once more.
"You're hot when you're angry, did you know?" Stella asked with a grin.
"Fuck you," Piper muttered, returning to her sewing machine. There was a boulder-like feeling in the pit of her stomach, but she couldn't quite identify what emotion it was, exactly. All she knew was that she was going to go insane if she couldn't get rid of Stella.
She also had the issue of Kubra to deal with. She would be lying if she said she wasn't worried there would be another attack on Alex. Aydin surely wasn't dead, but he was locked away. Kubra, though, he had many indispensable men at his feet. He could send anyone and Piper would never know the difference. How long could she keep up the "Head Bitch In Charge" title before someone realized she was just as terrified as when she first arrived? These girls, they smelled weakness, and the only reason Piper was still in power was because she was a kind and fair leader with compassion. Surely that would be enough to get by until she started something else to make money? Piper rattled her brain all through work until they were relieved for the day. She quickly gathered her things, avoiding eye contact with Stella as she went, but that didn't stop Stella from walking alongside Piper, all the way to the cafeteria.
"You know, I'm not mad at you," Stella said as she joined the dinner line with Piper in tow.
"Great," Piper said shortly.
"I'm not one to hold grudges. I wronged you and I accepted my punishment. I still like you."
"Oh, what is this, high school?" Piper snapped as they moved along the line.
"I just thought you should know. They added time to my sentence so I'll still be here if you need a, uh… distraction."
Stella winked at Piper and Piper responded by snatching her tray and storming off to her regular table. Alex was already sitting down with Nicky and Lorna, and Piper promptly pressed a firm kiss to Alex's lips, despite the CO's sharp warning.
"She following you?" Alex asked wearily, beginning to pick at her tray of mush.
"She's acting like we're seventeen. She doesn't hold grudges."
"Right, because that would make her… likeable?" Alex said.
"She's fuckable at the very least," Nicky said with a grin, glancing at Lorna to see if she had raised a reaction.
Lorna put her head down, and it was obvious the two weren't as physically close as they used to be, since Nicky had discovered Lorna was married.
"She is not fuckable. She has a ninja turtle tattoo!" Alex said, repeating words Piper once spoke.
"I like ninjas and I like turtles, sue me," Nicky grinned, and Alex rolled her eyes.
Piper ate her dinner quietly, her mind overloading with various thoughts. Kubra, Alex, Stella, money, the business, her sleeping arrangements (she slept directly across from Stella, who enjoyed staring at her throughout the early evening), even her parents were on her mind.
"I need a break," Piper said aloud with a sigh.
She shared a glance with Alex and before Piper knew it, they were making love in the chapel, hidden away from the rest of camp. Piper found it hard to keep her voice down until the very last moment, and when it was all over, Piper lay against Alex with a lazy smile, all thoughts of Stella and every other form of stress forgotten. Tomorrow was another day full of stress, but at least they had each other in here.