Thank you for beta'ing, thecharmedwerewolf and nnicholsnlyonne!

"Can I try some?" Tricia asks for the third time as she and Nicky take the bus to Martin Van Buren High.

"No, damn it! I'm not changing my answer. You're a kid!" Nicky responds in an exasperated tone. "I already told you, Vee only forced me to take you with me so I'd sell more heroin. Like she said, kids are cute enough to lure in customers. I didn't wanna do this. You should be learning...whatever sixth graders are doing in school."

Tricia gives Nicky an annoyed look. "I wanna get high! Besides, you had some!"

"I'm older!"

"Some big sister you are, fucking hypocrite," Tricia mumbles and folds her arms across her chest.

"Hey!" Nicky turns the other blonde around to look at her. "Do you want to overdose?"

"I won't, jeez!"

"You don't know that for sure. See...I'm an addict, but I know to take it in small amounts, just to give myself a bit of heroin. I've almost died a couple of times, but you know, I took less and less until I stopped being so close to the big man upstairs...or burning in hell, wherever I'm going. You cannot take that chance...you're smaller and skinnier, so it might be more serious if you take too much."

"Can't you just like, give me a pinch or something?"

Nicky chews on her lip in thought. "It'll make you feel really good and then you'll become addicted. Then, when you come down from your high, you'll be sweating and shaking like crazy. I'm not going to be held accountable for your self-destruction. I'm already responsible for my own."

"You're not able to predict the future. It's my choice!" Tricia growls.

"I'm not arguing about this with you anymore. You're acting like a brat!" Nicky slouches down, slips on her headphones, and listens to her music while Tricia sulks in the seat next to her.

"She should be here any moment now," Alex mutters. "Really, Lorna, you don't need to stay with me."

"Yes, I do. Besides, what if your mom comes by?"

"Oh yeah, thanks for being on the lookout."

"Anytime." Lorna squints at two small figures walking down the street and disgust runs through her. "Did she really bring her kid sister? That's terrible! I told you she was a bad influence!"

Alex rolls her eyes. "Maybe she's walking her to school or something and I'm her first stop."

"I hope you're right."

"One of us has to stall her while the other gets Red."

"I know," Lorna murmurs.

"You're a big softie deep down with a gentle heart. Why don't you just let Nicky in? You don't have to be cold to everyone you meet."

"I'm not! She just makes me mad. Who's side are you on, anyway?"

"I like both of you, so I'm Switzerland."

"Okay, then."

"Hey!" Nicky greets them. The blonde girl next to her has a sour look on her face. "Cheer up," she says through gritted teeth. "Alex and Lorna, am I correct?"

"Yep. Here's your moolah," Alex says and hands it to her.

Nicky gives a bag of heroin to Alex. "Put that in your backpack or something. Meet me in the cornfield at three to do crack, yeah?"

"Sure thing. Holy shit, where did that bruise on your face come from?" the raven-haired girl asks.

"What happened, did you get in a fight with someone you were a total bitch to?" Lorna coughs to cover up a laugh.

Nicky scowls. "No. I'm not tellin' you anything. It's personal."

"Is she being mean to you?" Lorna asks the sad girl, and she nods. "Nichols, you are a jerk!"

"What are you even doing here, Morello?" Nicky snaps. "What we're up to is none of your fucking business, so scram!"

"I'm protecting my best friend from getting hurt, duh!" Lorna glares at Nicky.

"Are you serious or just plain dumb? We're on public property! Even if we weren't, how are you, a girl of only five feet, going to protect your much taller friend?"

"Is that a threat?"

"Nope, just an honest question. Surely you aren't strong enough to physically defend her. The assailant would kick you aside like you're a toy that's in their way!"

"Do you want me to jump up on you from behind and choke you to death, because I can do that!" Lorna snarls and shakes her fists at Nicky. "How old are you, anyway, five?"

Nicky chuckles bitterly. "If you hate me so much, why are you talking to me? How come you don't just snitch on my ass?"

"Oh believe me, I want to, but-"

"You're not going to, because deep down inside your fickle little heart, you care," Nicky interrupts the brunette.

Lorna frowns. She doesn't want to admit it, but it's true. As annoying as Nicky is, she feels a bit sorry for the girl. "No, it's just that I don't wanna get Alex in trouble and I don't want people to know I'm associated with a dirty, stupid junkie since I'm the it girl. Everyone here loves me! Drugs are bad and you should stop. Get yourself an education or something."

"Aw, see, I knew you cared about me!"

"Shame on you for letting your...whoever she is...tag along!"

"Her name is Tricia and she's eleven. She's my foster sister. Our guardian instructed us to come together."

"She won't let me have anything," Tricia says grumpily.

"Good, you're a child," Alex responds. She raises her eyebrows at Nicky and Lorna. "Are you two done with your banter?"

"I am," Lorna replies.

"No way, kid, this is fun," Nicky says.

"Okay, I'll let you battle it out," Alex answers.

"If you're finished, why aren't you leaving?" Nicky wonders out loud as Alex walks away from them. "How about you introduce me to more customers since you're so popular?"

"I'm not going to help my schoolmates get stoned."

"Come on, there's gotta be a few druggies around here! I need the cash, okay? I really do! One person isn't enough."

Lorna folds her arms across her chest and sighs heavily. "Why are you so desperate? Just...apply for a job!"

"This is my job."

"Well, it's illegal! Does your foster mom know you're doing this? I mean, you're minors, so she should be the one paying the bills."

"We gotta help out with rent, yo," Tricia cuts in. "Vee wants us-"

"Shh!" Nicky hushes her sister and claps a hand over her mouth.

"Okay, I'll organize a bake sale, but I'm gonna have to follow you around to see that you don't use the money I earn for you, on smack or whateva," Lorna offers.

"A bake sale, how cute!" Nicky mocks her. "You really are a stuck-up prissy bitch, thinking she can do everything and be a little housewife. Dude, unless those goods have pot in them or prostitution is involved, I'm not interested! Just give me the green!" she demands. "I don't even mind licking your pussy for it or grabbing your tits."

Lorna makes a disgusted face and backs away from her. "Get this through your fuckin' head, ya smelly loser. First and foremost, I am straight, which means I am in no way doing anything like lesbian sex, and certainly not with you. Number two, ya need cash. I have a way to make it. I'm very good with my hands and everyone's gonna buy my food. Take it or leave it!"

"There you go, bragging again! Look, I was nice at first, okay? You were a complete asshole, callin' me sketchy and all that! You don't know who I am!"

"I'm trying to help you even though I think you're a no-good slob and now, a pervert!"

"I was kidding, you dumbass! I wouldn't pressure anyone into fucking. I think the kids here just like you because you're pretty on the outside only, but not really so much on the inside."

Lorna gasps deeply. "How dare you! I am the sweetest girl you'll ever meet! My insides are mushy like jello!"

"Really, then how are you able to keep yourself upright?" Nicky asks with sarcasm dripping from her tone. "Cuz if you were literally filled with jello, well, you wouldn't have bones and muscles and shit."

"Stop pushing my buttons!"

"No can do. Hey, you've got big lungs for someone so small."

"Shut up, you moron!" Lorna shouts at her even louder.

"It's okay, right, Nicky? We don't need some schoolgirl helpin' us. We get by just fine," Tricia interrupts their squabble.

They glare at each other for a few seconds.

"Lorna's out there with them," Alex is saying to Red.

"Them?"

"Nicky and her younger sister, Tricia."

Red wipes her hands on her pants. "Thank you." She follows Alex to the back of the school and gasps softly when she sees the girls across from a furious Lorna. Nicky looks so familiar with her big chocolate brown eyes and frizzy, wild blonde hair. The girl next to her is a few inches shorter. They have tough stances about them, but they appear to be around ten and fifteen. They're wearing clothes that sag on their bodies and beanies cover their heads.

"You don't want to participate?" Red asks three-year-old Nicky in the preschool classroom. They have a close bond since Red is Nicky's favorite aide.

The little girl shakes her head no and pouts. She reaches her arms up for Red to hold her, so the woman picks her up, sits in an adult chair, and rocks her in her lap gently.

"Now, what's wrong? Are you having a bad day?"

Nicky begins to cry. "Mommy doesn't love me! She went bye-bye before I got up."

"Oh, sweetheart...I'm sorry. Grownups can be busy, but a mother must always make time for her child. She should've woken you up with hugs and kisses."

"Can we snuggle?" Nicky asks while wrapping her arms around the lady, and Red nods while kissing the top of her head.

"Of course, honey."

"Sometimes, I wish you were my mommy."

Red's heart warms at hearing that. "Well, thank you, malyshka." She sings You Are My Sunshine silently to Nicky and it calms down the child in her arms.

Just hearing Nicky's name yesterday had struck mother's intuition into her, which is why she tore out of the cafeteria so fast. "You shouldn't be doing this!" she reprimands them. "Why aren't you in school?"

"We were just joking about the drugs, we'll be on our way. Bye!" Nicky says and she walks away quickly with the other blonde following her.

"Oh, it's too bad I can't follow them because it's against staff policy to leave the campus during work hours." The first bell rings and the girls run inside the building with Red behind them.

"Hold on, do you actually believe her?" Lorna asks quietly.

"Not one bit. Those little girls need help and lots of it," Red declares.

"They were begging me for money...well, Nicky was doing most of the talking, and she said she really wanted my help in selling drugs to the junkies here. I told her that I wasn't gonna feed their addictions...and if I just give her cash, she'll just use it for heroin or whatever she's on next. Trust me on this, I know, because that's what Franny's ex-boyfriends always did before she dumped 'em. Apparently, the girls' foster mom, I think some lady named Vee, she encourages it...and when Tricia mentioned that, Nicky looked really scared, or mad, I wasn't sure. Maybe it was a mix of the two. Then, our fighting got worse because she started making fun of me for being able to cook and basically calling me a bragger...and I wanna be friendly, but what, was she raised by wolves? She's awful! I wanted to slap her so hard! Also, her sister refused my help, too...should we just forget them if they just don't give a damn? God helps those who help themselves, right?" Lorna asks.

"Yes...you tried your hardest, but they turned you down. You can't do anything about that. However, they haven't spoken to me yet, and I will unleash the fear of Red onto them, I assure you."

"Could you see them after school?" Alex wants to know. "I'm meeting Nicky to hang out then today, but I just want us to trust each other before bringing her into an intervention with you. That's the one way I won't gain her friendship. On Thursday, you can speak to her. Wednesday is Piper's funeral, as you know."

"Mm-hm. Okay, I will," Red tells Alex.

"Thank you," Alex says.

"Hold on, you're still gonna hang out with that girl by yourself?" Lorna asks.

"Yeah, but you don't have to come. I'll be fine."

"Okay!"

"All set, Pennsafucky?"

"Yeah, Big Boobs. Thanks!" Tiffany Doggett leaves her foster mom's car and slowly strolls to the school. She knows she won't be accepted here since everyone thinks she'd committed homicide, so she just plans to keep to herself.

She hopes Leanne Taylor and Angie Rice are still her friends, though. The three of them shared a love of meth and preaching to God, but right now, she doesn't believe in Him anymore. If He was real, she wouldn't have been accused of killing that damn Piper Chapman and stuck in a prison for kids.

Carrie Black, or Boo, as she liked people to refer to her as, had done Pennsatucky a whole lot of good. She'd been a witness and told the court that the kid wasn't even in town that day and although Piper and Pennsatucky did have their squabbles and physical fights at times, actually stabbing the stuck-up blonde to death just wasn't worth the jail time. She'd wanted to end Piper many times because she'd pissed Pennsatucky off, but she didn't want to get caught and Boo, her legal guardian, had talked her out of it. Even though she wasn't the best role model, she was way better than Pennsatucky's biological mother who never raised her right. It's like living with one's older best friend. Boo won't let Pennsatucky go to drugs, harm people, or tell her bad advice when she's going through puberty. Pennsatucky's brother is in jail, and Boo doesn't want that to happen to her.

Pennsatucky has gotten her hair cropped to just under her chin when she'd finally been released because she thinks it will make her into a new person, different than who she'd been before. Still, as she walks to her first period class, the students steer themselves away from her and some call her a murderer. Piper's friends look on, frozen in fear. Truthfully, they don't need to be afraid of her. All she's done was break Alex Vause's glasses out of anger for kissing her because of her own homophobic comments.

"Oh no, Pennsatucky has returned!" Alex whispers.

"Do we think she's P?" Lorna asks in the same hushed tone.

"We never said she didn't torch Leanne. She totally has a motive," Flaca answers.

"Yeah, we're probably dead meat to her," Daya chimes in.

"Look at you gossipmongers...I dunno, maybe Piper's not dead after all," Leanne says in passing.

Lorna growls under her breath and her hands clench into fists. She starts forward, ready to punch the bitch, but Alex pulls her back. "Hey, I wanna beat her up too, but then that's just encouraging more drama. She wants a reaction, and we're not gonna give her one!"

"Fine..."

The girls go to their respective classrooms. Flaca and Daya sit next to each other in their English class like they had yesterday. All of a sudden, Flaca's phone goes off and they jump.

"It's just my boyfriend," Flaca says in a relieved voice. "He's throwing a party this weekend, so I'mma tell him I'm so down and I'm bringing some friends!"

"Awesome!"

"He said I can invite whoever I want!"

"Did someone say something about a fiesta?" They glance up and see that Maria Ruiz is the one asking. Beside her, is a made-over Blanca Flores. She'd straightened her wild, frizzy hair, waxed her unibrow, and is now barely recognizable. Daya and Flaca have to squint a few times to see if that's really her.

"Oh, yeah! Her boyfriend's hosting it," Daya responds while jerking her thumb towards Flaca.

"Is it okay if we come?" Blanca wonders out loud. "I'd love it if we can be friends."

"Sure!" Flaca answers.

"Gracias!" Maria says.

"Okay, ladies, that's enough talking," Mr. Bennett says, and the other two Latinas take their seats. "Thank you. Now today, I'm going to separate you into groups of three to five for your book reports. You can choose who you want to be partners with."

Daya grins, knowing she's put him in a good enough mood to not care if the students work with their friends. She and Flaca hi-five each other and then Maria and Blanca excitedly join them.

"Mr. B is the coolest dude ever," Flaca comments.

"Yeah, he is," Blanca agrees.

"Don't you think so too, Daya?" Maria asks.

Daya tries to hide her blush. "Oh, yes! Definitely."

At the end of class, the teacher tells Daya to come home with him after school for their first date, and she gladly says yes. She doesn't need to be at her own apartment until five anyway.

Alex is glad that her mom is working at Friendly's at the moment because then, she won't have to think up a lie as to why she's not going to come home with her. If her mom asks how things are going at home, she'll just say she's with her friends. She goes to the cornfield and follows the sound of Nicky's laughter. This is where she used to go with Piper and sometimes the rest of the girls, so she knows the area pretty well.

"Good afternoon, Vause!" Nicky calls out. She's already smoking crack.

"Man, you started without me?"

"Sorry, I couldn't resist!"

Alex runs over to where she is and plops down. "Are you high yet, Nichols?"

"I don't think so. Am I slurring my words or anything?"

"Nope. Where's your sister?"

"I dropped her off at Shake Shack where our big sister, Taystee, works. I figured she'd be more effective in stopping Tricia from wanting drugs. Let's get to know each other a bit better," Nicky says while handing her a pipe. Alex pulls the heroin out of her backpack. "Shit, that's been there all day? You're lucky nobody saw that!"

"There was no good time to take it."

"Sucks, dude. So...you're into girls, right?"

Alex almost chokes on the pipe. "What? How did you..."

Nicky rolls her eyes and smirks. "Puh-lease, you've got sapphic written all over you. Don't ask me how I can sense it, but...let's just say it's a talent of mine."

"Yeah, I just came out."

"Sweet. How'd your peeps take it?"

"Pretty great, actually. My mom and my friends are extremely supportive."

"Lucky kid you are. I didn't even bother telling my mom and her boyfriend that I was a lesbian because they never loved me. Then, I was homeless for a while and now I'm selling heroin."

"Oh, jeez, that's rough."

"No, it's cool...I don't need people who don't give a shit about me. So...what's your story? You never mentioned a father. I don't know mine."

Alex fiddles with some pins on her backpack."Yeah, me neither...but I think he was famous at one time. It's weird. Anyway...where do I begin? I was bullied in middle school and just last night, my best friend was found dead on my neighbor's property."

"God, how awful."

"Yeah."

They sit there in silence while smoking crack. Alex inhales the heroin. "I'm gonna hide this under my bed."

"Nice!"

"So, like, this is mamazing!" Alex gushes after a half hour.

Nicky bursts out into fits of giggles. "You're totally stoned!"

"Is that dancing rainbow real?"

"This is hilarious! I think it is!" Nicky exclaims.

Alex wrinkles her nose and adjusts her glasses. "Hey...after this, let's get some Pizza Hut."

"Sure, I got the munchies too. Are my eyes red?"

"Yeah, man!"

"Dude, did you know that like, as a lesbian, you cannot accidentally get knocked up?"

"Oh, totally! It's cool. It's so cool!"

"You know what else is cool?"

"Yeah?"

"The sky is blue and it's above us and there's a giant fireball up there that could kill us if we got way too close to it!" Nicky informs Alex.

"I know! I know!"

"When's the best time to get high?" Nicky asks between guffaws.

"Four-twenty!" Alex responds with a knowing smile. "Was that like, a riddle, did I get it right?"

"Yeah, okay, we are officially best friends now!"

"Fuck yes!" Alex holds her middle and ring fingers inside her thumb while pointing her index and pinky fingers up in the air on both hands while falling down into the weeds. "We rock!"

"Okay, okay...so there's a bush that's telling me to finger you, and I think it's right, because you're so pretty!"

Alex giggles while undoing her pants. "Mm, yes, you are too!" As Nicky's fingers pump inside of her, she moans in ecstasy. "That feels so good..." Her vaginal walls tighten around the blonde's digits and she claps her hands over her mouth as she screams through her orgasms. "Ohhh...ohhh...mmm!"

"Man, your pussy's soaked!"

Alex stares up at Nicky, panting heavily. "Thank you! I needed that!"

They start pulling off each other's shirts while scooting closer together. Nicky scoops Alex's breasts out of her bra and sucks on each one while Alex laughs a few times. The girl in glasses takes this chance to fist Nicky, who's straddling her. Nicky puts her hand over Alex's and rubs harder against herself. "Yeah, get me really wet!"

"I'm going as fast as I can!"

Nicky gasps and her eyes roll back inside her head. "I'm comin'...fuck! Aaahh!"

"How did I do?" Alex asks as Nicky's juices drip down her arm.

"Oh, excellent! You tasted delicious, but I'm still starving!" Nicky groans. "Let's get something to eat."

"I wanna have like, seven pieces of pizza...and maybe five hamburgers!"

"Yes, girl! Preach! Also, a big, fat burrito!"

"Mmm! Now we're talking! Ooh, how about an ice cream sundae with whipped cream, sprinkles, and a cherry on top for dessert?"

"That sounds amazing!"

After putting their shirts back on, they walk to Pizza Hut and order an extra large cheese, pepperoni, and sausage pizza to share. Their next craving is the ice cream place and then, they're too tired to venture anywhere else. They don't have money for a cab or the bus. They just rest against the side of the building until they sober up.

"Look, man, all that shit I said to your friend...it really wasn't cool...and if you knew me, you'd probably wanna punch me too since I tend to run off at the mouth at times and go a bit too far...I'm just surprised you didn't rip me a new one for it...unless she never told you."

"Nicky, it's-"

"Anyway, just say sorry to Lorna for me, alright? She probably is an excellent chef...and I might have the same reaction if some weird girl stumbled up to me and tried selling me drugs like they were Girl Scout cookies and begging for cash. I didn't really think about it in her perspective, you know? I probably came off as creepy! Oh, and that's the best way to win over a girl! Not!" Nicky winces and scratches the top of her head.

"Actually-" Alex sighs as she's stopped again by her new friend's babbling.

"I was just trying to get revenge on her from yesterday. Also, how was she to know that I don't come from a good life? It's not like I didn't automatically assume that you two were rich with the best parents in the world. I mean, I'm aware you just have your mom and I'm not sure about her...but are you both okay financially?" Nicky pauses. "Oh, I'm sorry, I have foot-in-mouth disease. That was personal, wasn't it? I'm just asking because I don't wanna take money from poor people...not that having a single mom makes you poor-"

Alex grabs onto Nicky's shoulders and shakes her. "It's okay! No more rambling! I totally understand! Yes, I'm poor...but we have some money. I wouldn't mind loaning you a twenty dollar bill every now and then. Lorna...you're gonna have to find a way to get along with her if you want a peek into her life. I don't share personal details about anyone unless I ask them first and I know her. She wouldn't want me to tell you anything about herself until she's completely forgiven you. I can let her know that you apologized, but she'd most likely want you to say it to her face and be sincere about it."

"Okay, I respect that."

"Thank you. Wait...do you have a crush on her?"

"I never said that."

"You kinda did...when you implied that you were trying to impress her."

"I don't know enough about her to like her. She's pretty, in general...but she's got a boyfriend and she told me she's strictly interested in guys, so there's no chance. I just wanna make a few things clear, okay? I don't commit to one girl." Nicky looks down at the ground and nudges little pieces of gravel around with her shoe. "I hate showing my feelings, so I'm unable to. I've never even cried in front of anyone. That thing we did in the cornfield...it's one of my other pleasures besides heroin. We can be best friends with benefits if you want. I swear, I didn't use you and toss you in the Dumpster like last week's garbage."

"I know. I should feel that way, but I don't," Alex says honestly. "I should be happy...now I can say I finally have experience. I think I have feelings for my neighbor and she might like me, too."

"Wow! Awesome!"

"Oh, I need to get home!" Alex realizes out loud.

"Tell your mom I said hi!"

"She hasn't met you yet. Are you proud of yourself for corrupting me?"

Nicky winks at her. "I sure am! You're seriously not gonna go sobbing to her of a broken heart caused by me?"

"No, I promise! You're not that special," Alex teases Nicky. "Hey...let's chill on Thursday, same time, but maybe a different place?"

"Anywhere you choose, it's your turn to decide! See ya then!" Nicky waves at Alex while getting up.

"Where are you going?"

"Shake Shack."

"Okay, bye!"

"Bye!" The girls hug.

On Alex's way home, a new text comes in.

You're dishonoring me by letting yourself get fucked by another chick. Also, you got super duper high! Dirty, dirty. Xo, P

Daya takes a cab to her boyfriend's place and waits until he goes inside. A minute later, she joins him. His apartment is much nicer than hers, as expected.

"Hey, John!" she greets him with a wide smile while locking the door.

"Hello there, stranger." He brings her to the couch and they start kissing passionately. Her knee crashes into one of his legs, which is as stiff as a board.

"Oh, I apologize," she mumbles, ashamed of herself.

"It's okay...it's fake...I lost my real one in some filthy bathtub."

"I'm sorry. Do you want to stop?"

"No, keep going, Daya!" He continues to touch her everywhere.

She gets so hot over him that she takes off her shirt and begins to unbutton her jeans. "I want you to fuck me."

"What? Really?"

"Yes," she breathes out.

"Is this your first time?"

"Mm-hm," she lies. She can't have him knowing she'd done it with Cesar before, just to get under her mom's skin.

"Okay, let me just...hold on."

This is one of the times Daya is grateful for the weight she'd lost. Last year, a guy would've been numb under her. She undresses herself.

John comes back with a condom. He peels off his own clothing and slips it on. Then he slides into her easily and it's the best sensation she's ever had. He makes her forget all her worries and she loves him for it.

She returns home on the bus with her insides still tingling and reads her new message.

Wait til your mom finds out about you banging your teacher. How jealous will Cesar be? You really are a cheating slut, Daya. Kisses, P

She whirls around to see who could've sent that to her, but everyone is on their phones, so it's hard to tell.

"Have the Chapmans decided on a date for Piper's funeral?" Franny asks.

"Yep...tomorrow at four! Hey, I got a date tonight! Christopher MacLaren and I are going out for coffee! He's the football quarterback."

"That's wonderful! Have fun!"

She's soon ready in a purple dress that has a gold chain design on it. She thinks the rest of her looks perfect. When Christopher honks, Lorna shouts excitedly, "That's him!" and runs outside to meet him. She opens his passenger car door and gives him a hug.

Christopher plays music in his car and she tells him all about her day, except for the stuff to do with Leanne and P, of course.

"Mendez sounds skeevy," he comments.

"Oh, he is! He should drop off the face of the earth! At least I've got all my girls back. They're gonna be my bridesmaids, you know."

"That's good."

They get out of the car and walk into the coffee shop. He orders them drinks and they sit down to chat as they wait for their coffees.

"So, how was football tryouts?" she asks. "I bet you made the team! I did really good in cheerleading! I might be the captain!"

"Oh, they went well, I think. I don't have to invite you to my games since you'll already be there!"

Lorna reaches across the table and squeezes his hand. "Oh, yeah, I'll be cheering on my man! We're gonna be high school sweethearts, you and me. After college, we'll get married and have four children. That's my dream!"

"We're not in a relationship yet," he mutters.

"Of course we are! We love each other passionately, but we just haven't kissed yet, that's all."

"How do you know that we're meant to be? You're not inside my brain."

"Well, yeah, but...I just got this feeling in my gut. I don't know how to explain it, but we're connected." Lorna can't stop staring at him, even when he looks down at his phone. "I'm very smart about this kind of shit. You are exactly the kind of man I want in my life. I...I love you."

He goes up to the counter to get their coffees. "Here's yours."

"Didn't you hear what I said?"

"Yes, you're a freak."

"No, really, I am falling for you! I'm mad about you, sugar. So...what names do you like for our children?"

"I have to go. Sorry." He gets up from his chair and leaves, but she chases after him.

"Wait! I don't have a ride home."

"You can call someone."

"No, I want to be with you. I'll miss you so much," Lorna says as tears form in her eyes. "Stop playing hard-to-get!"

He goes into his car and drives away, leaving her standing by herself on the sidewalk. She has no idea what she did wrong, but she's going to apologize tomorrow.

She returns to the coffee shop to finish her drink. "Hey...I'm not sure why you look so dejected over some guy who was not nice. I'm sure you'll find someone better than him," a voice comments from next to her.

Lorna turns to face Suzanne Warren from their drama class. "You're very kind, but I'll get him back. We're destined to be together forever. Where's your girlfriend?"

"Oh...she's using the restroom."

Lorna throws her empty cup into the trash. "Oh, my bus is here. I'm taking it back to my house. See you tomorrow!"

"Bye!"

As soon as she's on it, her phone chimes. You can't expect to keep a man if you're gonna go insane, Looney-Tunes Lorna. Love, P

Flaca gasps as she receives a new email from P. Alex got laid while Lorna was ditched! Two pictures are side-by-side, one being of some girl rubbing Alex's bare crotch and the other was of Christopher leaving Lorna stranded at the coffee shop. Flaca isn't sure who she should call first for details. The strange thing was, none of the girls had talked to each other today because at lunch, Maria and Blanca had joined their table and they couldn't really discuss what Pennsatucky's return meant for them.

She decides to ring them up on a three-way and they each pick up, one after the other.

"Hi, this is Alex!"

"Lorna speaking!"

"Daya's on the line!"

"Girls, I'm sorry that we haven't talked much since this morning. Maria and Blanca sorta barged in on our lunch, but they wanted to work on the project that Daya and I are doing with them. Besides, with Maritza being my bestie and all, she's always gonna eat with us, so we can't exactly talk about P. However, P is targeting all of us, so we need to stick together and not drift apart!"

"Yes, preach!" Alex agrees.

"That's so true!" Lorna chimes in.

"We should have meeting sessions at our houses and Pizza Hut whenever and wherever we can," Daya adds.

"Great idea!" Flaca says. "Did anyone get a message from P today? I did."

"Mm-hm," the others say in unison.

"Well, I think we should start sharing more with each other. P is using our secrets against us, right? What happens when they have no truths to uncover? Everything we told Piper, it comes out into the open between the four of us. I dunno, that's just my theory. It can't do any harm. We never did anything behind each other's backs and no one will judge anybody because that's true friendship!"

"Okay...so when's the first hangout gonna be?" Lorna asks.

"How about your house?" Alex suggests.

"Who are you talking to?" Daya wants to know.

"Flaca. Our places are the quietest."

"Sure, Alex!"

"When we get ready for a party or a dance together though, my room would be best!" Lorna exclaims.

"Yeah, same with mine," Daya puts in. "A red or black room is cool, but not when you need to see!"

"Ooh! Y'all wanna come to my boyfriend's party this Saturday? You can help me spread the word!" Flaca tells them excitedly. "Maritza's gonna be in charge of drinks and I'm DJ'ing!"

"Nice! I've already got a dress in mind! I'm totally making Chirstopher lose his virginity to me!" Lorna squeals.

"Why was P saying that he dumped you, then?" Flaca asks. "Sorry, I didn't mean to sound so harsh."

"Oh, P is a liar! Honestly, whoever it is, is just jealous they can't get some. He adores me."

"Can I bring Nicky?" Alex wonders aloud. "I mean, my new friend. I'll also take Sylvia as my date. She's my neighbor."

"Of course! Ian said anyone can show up who likes a good time!"

"I hope Nicky bails," Lorna grumbles. "I can't stand her."

"She told me to tell you she apologized for the way she treated you this morning."

"She's gotta show me she means it! Can you pass that message along to her for me, please?"

"Oh, I will."

"How do you two know her?" Flaca asks.

"She was selling drugs at school and Alex bought some. I was there as her bodyguard," Lorna informs her.

"I wanna go to Ian's bash, but who will watch the kids? My mom and Cesar will probably also attend a party at that same time," Daya says. "Your moms and the lunch ladies work until late."

"How about my sister?" Lorna offers. "I'll see if she's available."

"She's a college student. She should have her own fun," Daya answers.

"We'd love to have you there!" Flaca insists.

"I'll think of something," Daya tells them.

"Yay!" Alex cheers. "See you ladies tomorrow!"

"Bye!" Lorna says cheerfully.

"We'll watch Pennsatucky and Leanne for any kind of P behavior," Flaca instructs them.

"You got it, sister!" Daya tells her.

"Oh sure, and don't forget, people are starting to vote for class president and I'm running against Brook. We gotta give our speeches on Thursday," Lorna announces.

"Yep, and Piper's funeral...we should each say something meaningful about her," Alex puts in. "Adiós for real, though!"

"Good night!" everyone says at the same time and then hang up.

Thank you to Boris Yeltsin, HannahMiley1fan, A Star In My Universe, cornedout, haleypadilla229, nnicholsnlyonne,thecharmedwerewolf, ladyglorificus, peanutbrained, and Imaginary City for reading and reviewing!