Nichols:
Nichols watched with curiosity while Vause tapped her fingers lightly against the lunch table. She couldn't help but be intrigued by the woman's sudden lack of an appetite. She'd skipped breakfast this morning and for some reason was also skipping lunch. Of course that didn't stop her from going through the motions of getting a tray and picking through her bologna sandwich and chicken soup.
Alex had been weird today but Nichols knew enough than ask questions. Alex didn't answer to anyone. Well almost anyone. If Chapman were to ask what was wrong she'd surely get an answer. Something short most likely, something witty to announce to anyone within earshot that she was still angry with the blonde, but still, she'd answer. If Nichols asked she'd get something snarky, a sassy way to say that she should be minding her own business.
"Vause, on your feet, come with me." Someone said firmly. Bennett. Bennett wasn't what Nichols would consider a ball buster but he was using his business voice to convey to everyone that he meant it. Vause stood right up and began to gather her things without complaining.
"Ramos you too," Bennett continued. Maritza DID complain. She grumbled and mumbled and asked questions that were left unanswered by Bennett. Instead of feeling the need to answer he used his outside voice. "Just pack it up before you end up in the SHU for insubordination."
Down the table somebody had thought this funny because they laughed. Nichols snuck a peek and saw that it was Morello who'd laughed. A knot built up in her stomach when she realized that Lorna wasn't paying any attention to Bennett and the young Hispanic girl. She was busy playing with Chapman instead. Or better yet, Chapman was playing with her.
Morello's arm was outstretched on the table and Chapman was running her finger up and down it, a look of mischief on her face.
"Okay, so say Sydney's right here," Chapman said running her index finger lightly along Morello's inner elbow. "The Tasman Sea would be here," she said brushing along the woman's wrist. Morello giggled like a school girl. "So the resort would be here," Chapman finally said running her thumb down Lorna's inner forearm.
Morello was gazing into Chapman's eyes like a love sick puppy. Nichols felt something inside her stir to the surface. What was Chapman doing now? Was she trying to bag Morello? That wasn't cool, Morello was a sweet girl. Pretty and delicate. Chapman would only ruin her if she sunk her claws into her.
"Hey Lorna how's Christopher?" Nichols wasn't sure where the question had come from. One moment she was fighting off the urge to vomit and the next she was talking about Christopher and she NEVER talked about Christopher.
Nichols watched Morello's girlish smile fade. Her face twisted into something weary and suddenly without explanation she snatched her arm away from Chapman and practically jumped to her feet and stormed away. She wanted to gloat with satisfaction for having broken up the love fest but one look at Chapman killed the smile threatening to form on her lips. Chapman had gone back to eating and didn't seem to be at all concerned. If Nichols wasn't crazy she'd swear she saw her fighting back a smile of her own.
Diaz and Mendoza:
Diaz looked over the wall of her cube and spied Flaca asleep in her bunk. Maritza her ever present partner in crime was also napping in the bunk across from her and for the first time in months things seemed back to normal. She wasn't sure what the deal was with Flaca and Maritza these days but the girls had been spending a lot of time with Chapman and Vause. Whatever was going on it was clear the girls had taken it upon themselves to offer protection to Litchfield's infamous drug lords. It was ambitious but Diaz couldn't help but think it was also a bit selfish. They hadn't even offered to spread the wealth.
"What they up to," Mendoza asked quietly? She was skimming a magazine, likely looking at the pictures because Diaz knew for a fact she didn't read all that well. And by all that well, she meant at all.
"Sleeping," Diaz said softly.
"Did you hear about lunch?"
Diaz hadn't heard about lunch. She knew earlier today Bennett had dragged Maritza out of the cafeteria before she had a chance to sit down and eat. Maritza had complained the whole time but she'd gone without putting on too much of a show.
"What about it?"
Mendoza tossed her magazine carelessly to the bed. "I heard from one of our girls in the kitchen that Vause surprised her with lunch."
Diaz shrugged. It was lunch time, that wasn't a big deal.
"Okay."
Mendoza leaned across the tiny space with wide eyes. "From the outside. She had food snuck in so they could have like a lunch or something. I heard it was steak, mashed potatoes and German chocolate cake for dessert."
Diaz's mouth began to water at the mention of steak. But rumors were a bitch in prison. She didn't quite believe it.
"No way," she said not bothering to hide her disbelief. Mendoza had a tendency to exaggerate at times.
Mendoza only nodded. "It's true. Remember a few weeks back when Luschek dragged Chapman and Flaca out during lunch?"
Diaz did remember that. She'd found it strange at the time but hadn't given it much thought since. It was also during lunch and also before Flaca had a chance to sit down and eat. When she'd returned she hadn't complained about being hungry once. Maritza had been unusually quiet today when she'd returned too as a matter of fact.
"I remember," Diaz uttered cautiously.
"Chapman had McDonalds snuck in for them. She bribed Luschek to handle it. Vause went through Red though. She had Red sneak the steaks and shit in and she made it up special for them. She had some extra steaks sent in but Red gave them to some of her girls. Murphy and that mute bitch."
"Why?" Diaz had heard all sorts of stuff inside. People did crazy things inside the walls. Sneaking in special lunches wasn't a big deal but it was expensive. You had to bribe guards, or delivery men and nobody did anything for cheap. It was always hundreds of dollars in expenses.
"Our girls in the kitchen said it's like a gift. As long as they work for Chapman and Vause they want them to feel like the risk is worth it. When they hire you they celebrate by having food sent in. Real food. I guess it's like a perk or something," Mendoza was choosing her words carefully but Diaz knew she was feeling her out to see if they should be offended or not.
"That's fine and shit but how come they didn't tell us?"
Mendoza shrugged. "I don't know, I wanted to ask them but I wanted to talk to you first."
Diaz wasn't sure how to play it. First off she didn't frown on anyone trying to make ends meet. Maritza didn't have anybody on the outside and her commissary account had been empty since she'd gotten here. Flaca always seemed to have cash in her account but she rarely bought anything besides the essentials. This lunch thing was just the sort of thing that rubbed everybody the wrong way so it made sense they'd keep it to themselves. Still, eating steak while everyone else was eating cold sandwiches wasn't cool.
"We'll ask them what's up when they wake up," Diaz said finally relenting. Mendoza was waiting to see how she'd handle it but she wasn't going to let it go. Her bringing it up was her way of saying she wanted something done. Diaz wasn't sure if this was actually the sort of thing there should be trouble over but better to get things out in the open than to let it fester. Jealousy would eat away at the other girls.
"We should wake them up now and ask what's up," Mendoza started to say but was cut off by the weird new lady guard Fischer.
"Your commissary's in ladies." The guard said with inappropriate enthusiasm. Diaz wasn't sure if the guard was crazy or just one of those happy people who always got up on the right side of the bed. Even after all this time working inside the prison the woman was still all smiles and hellos.
Mendoza looked over at Diaz and shrugged her shoulders. "I don't have any commissary coming."
"Me neither," Diaz hadn't bought anything in weeks. She usually stocked up on essentials when money came in so she wouldn't piss it all away on potato chips and Pepsi and forget to buy toothpaste and tampons.
"You guys, Daya and Ruiz all have commissary in. Gonzales and Ramos took care of it. Lots of necessities but a few goodies too. Merry Christmas ladies," Fischer said before disappearing again out of sight.
Diaz looked across the cube at Mendoza with an arched eyebrow. "Maybe we let them do their thing. They know where home is, they haven't forgotten about us. We could all use the extra cash floating around and Ruiz could use something good in her life. Even if it's bullshit commissary."
All Mendoza could do was agree. "You're right. They're looking out for us. We should let them go do their thing. I still think not telling us about the food is fucked up."
Diaz nodded. "A little." Actually it wasn't. Hoarding cash and not spreading it around was selfish. Not rubbing everybody's nose in the fact that you'd had steak for lunch while they ate sandwich and soup wasn't fucked up. It was considerate. And now that the girls had used their newfound wealth to take care of their crew Diaz knew nobody would complain. She knew that had to be Maritza's idea. The girl had always been sharp when it came to dealing with people and sniffing out trouble. Thank God for small favors. They didn't need beef right now, with Ruiz still sad over letting go of her little one and Daya looking at the same thing they needed unity, not bullshit. She'd have to remember to give Maritza a kiss on the cheek later.
Piper and Alex:
Piper stepped into Alex's cube and stared at her with pretty blue eyes and a frown. Alex could only guess what this meant. Piper had that sad yet pouty thing perfected. The moment Piper's lips pursed Alex knew she was on the losing end of a rout.
"What?" She tried to force the word out hard and cold but she could feel it soften in her throat against her will.
Piper shrugged. "What do you mean what? I heard about your lunch with Maritza."
Alex had only followed Piper's lead on that one. If one of them did something it was a whim, if they both did it, it was a trademark.
"I had lunch brought in for Maritza, you took care of Flaca so I did the other one. I figured it would be our thing when we employ someone's services."
Piper didn't look convinced. "Everybody's talking about it. Steak and German chocolate cake? I only did McDonalds." She shook her head playfully. "God you're such a snob, you drew tons of attention."
"I was only building our brand. The Blue Octopus. You know that's a thing now. The moment you said it the whole thing was bound to spread like wildfire." Somehow when Alex had called and spoken to 'Not really Rosalie' the woman had already heard about the name. If she heard about it that was a subtle way of letting her know the guys in the cartel knew about it too. Alex often pondered how the men got their information. A few dollars slipped to the right person usually gave you access to anything. Still she found herself wondering what warranted repeating. Did they hear that she was sleeping with Nichols? Did they even care? The questions often kept her up at night because one day they were bound to hear something that they didn't like.
"Really?" Piper was unusually naive for somebody so self-absorbed. The woman was a complete narcissist and despite her savant like knack for business and branding she sometimes found herself saying the most absurd things. You didn't threaten somebody the way she'd threatened Doggett, eloquently and effortlessly with flair and drama fit for Broadway, and expect the story not to spread. It was all anyone talked about for days, prisoners and guards.
"Yeah, people know about that Piper. Important people."
This seemed to confuse her. "What? How?"
All Alex could do was shrug. She didn't know. "I have no idea. They always know. There's lots of money involved Piper. They always know what we're doing. Remember that, they're always watching us. They have spies. Even in here. My friend Rosalie even knew."
"Rosalie. You mean your supermodel sex friend," Piper said the words with a smile but it was anything but a joke. Alex could see the jealousy in her eyes.
"My 'help me pass the time' friend you mean. Yeah, she knows, and if she knows they know."
"What's her story again? You guys used to date, then what?" Piper asked. She was already way off track. Alex had forgotten this side of her personality. The jealous and insecure side.
"We didn't date Piper. I met her for the first time in here. She's paid to visit me, and answer my calls, and write me letters, otherwise nobody else would. If not for her I'd be all alone in here. Now stop it already and be serious. This Octopus gimmick is our thing now. It's how we'll be known on the street. The cartel's likely already spreading the story."
Piper's face scrunched. "Why?"
"Because the only thing the Cartel likes more than money is urban legends. The head of the Cartel has a nickname, El Garuda. He has statues of the things all over the place."
"What's a Garuda," Piper asked?
Alex rolled her eyes. "Look it up. That's not the point anyway. The point is they like that sort of thing, nicknames. They believe it gives you some kind of street cred or something. It's totally insane but they all give themselves these little nicknames. And your Blue Octopus story fits right in."
"It's a Blue Ringed Octopus and the story isn't true, you know that. I made it up, we've never even been to Australia."
Alex shrugged. "And the boss isn't really half bird-half man, who cares. It's true if you say it's true. This business is results and reputation Piper. If people think you're a badass then you are. All you have to do is maintain that reputation. It's a job, like an acting job. I was considered a shrewd, cold, manipulative bitch, so that's what I became. If I start behaving any differently I'll probably get my head blown off."
"So what am I? What do people think I am?"
Alex leaned back on her bed and rested comfortably against the wall. "A smart, sneaky, self-serving, opportunist. But don't feel bad, in this world that's a good thing. You're a criminal now Piper. All those things you pretend not to be so people will like you, you don't have to hide now. Just be Piper. Unapologetic Piper and you'll be fine."
Alex could see the hint of offense in Piper's face. She was so used to thinking of herself as the hero of the story that she'd somehow forgotten that she actually wasn't. We were all heroes in our own story but the villain in somebody else's. Her mother had told her that once when she was in junior high and the rich girls used to pick on her. They don't realize they're bitches, she'd say. To them you're the bitch.
"I'm not a self-serving opportunist," she said defensively.
"So that stunt with Morello wasn't specifically designed to piss of Nichols."
Piper shrugged. "What stunt?"
"That flirty, this is the sea, bullshit you pulled during lunch. I was there for most of it."
"I was proving a point," she finally said.
"What, that you can be mean and spiteful? Well, mission accomplished. You really showed her."
Piper shrugged and like a bag of bricks dropped her self-defense plea. "She started it."
Piper was delusional. Nichols hadn't done anything to her at all. She was just angry, and jealous. "How Piper? What did she do, dare to breathe your air?"
Piper closed the distance between the two of them and leaned into Alex resting both hands on the bed to brace herself and blew soft breath on her neck. Something inside Alex's body went into gear and she found herself reacting without prodding. Piper could always get her motor running. Alex couldn't help herself around her.
"She took what I love from me, so I'm going to take what she loves from her."
Alex's heart jumped to her throat. "What you love?"
Piper nodded. "What I love. And want. And will do anything to get back. I don't want Morello, I want you. And Nichols knows that, and she's in my way. So if I have to crush her spirit to beat her into submission so be it."
"Piper Nichols and I aren't," Alex started to say but Piper kissed her softly on the neck and pulled away.
"Until you forgive me, I'm going to keep fighting."
Alex forced a frown to her face. She had to force it because she couldn't possibly be more turned on right now. "Dirty fighting."
Piper smiled. "I'm not a good guy anymore remember, I can fight dirty if I want. And I can do all sorts of other dirty things for you if you were so inclined."
Alex took a deep breath and sighed. "Piper," she began to plead.
Piper only smiled. "I'm here with you, so you'll never be alone. But I understand the thing with Rosalie. I just wish you weren't so angry with me. I'm ready to make it up to you."
"Do you think you can just smile at me and expect things to go back to normal? You've hurt me Piper. Many times. You show up and make me love you then you kick me in the dirt and run from me. You put other people, other things, before me. I can't live with that."
"You won't have to. As soon as I get rid of Nichols I'm going to make you love me again. But this time I won't run. This time I'm going to plant roots. You're mine Alex Vause. And I'm yours. We both know it. Together we're Voltron."
Alex couldn't help but chuckle. When they'd first started dating Alex was secretly obsessed with the 80's cartoon of five space defenders who joined together to form a super powerful robot named Voltron. It played constantly on TV in Malaysia and Alex had watched every episode at least a dozen times. She was surprised Piper remembered that.
"Maybe, but you have to leave Nichols alone. She hasn't done anything."
Piper shook her head no. "Nope. Not until she stops seeing you. If she thought today was bad, wait until tomorrow."
"Piper," Alex began to plead but it was too late, she was already gone. Alex stopped fighting back the smile she'd been holding in. She'd always enjoyed when Piper was being naughty. Seeing her unabashedly open and plotting evil made her smile. Despite it all, this was the Piper she'd loved. The Piper who whined and moaned and spent her money and didn't bother trying to impress anyone. The selfish petty ego centric girl who put herself above everyone but pretended not to notice. This was HER Piper, the real Piper Chapman, warts and all.
Nichols:
Nichols watched Chapman lean over Morello's left shoulder and slide a red checker across the board. She'd done it a total of seventeen times now, that lean. That sexy, inappropriate, feel my tits on your shoulder lean. Nichols hated the lean.
Chapman didn't let up. "See this is your final line of defense. You have to leave these in place until the very last possible moment but when you move them you have to attack. Always attack."
Nichols wanted to gag. What did Chapman know about checkers anyway? She'd watched her play Poussey and she'd gotten her ass kicked. Now all of a sudden she was Bobby Fisher. She couldn't help but wonder if she knew how silly she looked? What a tramp.
"What you thinking about?"
The question whipped around her head like a boomerang. She hadn't heard Vause sneak up on her but the woman wasn't at all trying to hide. Nichols had just been so wrapped up in Chapman and Morello that she hadn't noticed her. She was off her game.
"Nothing, what's up?"
Vause took the seat across from her and stared. She looked like she wanted to say something reassuring but that wasn't exactly her style. Vause wasn't soft and fluffy. She was hard and distant, almost cold.
"We need to talk about Piper," Vause said. They both looked across the room as Piper brushed a loose strand of hair away from Morello's face.
"What about her," Nichols asked trying, and failing, to disguise her feelings.
"She's doing this to bug you."
Nichols had guessed that much but she didn't know why.
"I figured that but why? What did I ever to do her?"
"Me," Vause said softly. "She's doing this because of us."
Nichols scoffed. "What US, we play Scrabble together. I mean we fooled around once, months ago but we both decided we wouldn't any more. She's pissed about that?"
Vause shrugged. "I know, but she's possessive. She does this sometimes. Stakes her claim on me. I can back her off but it'll require me and you taking a break from our Scrabble games."
Nichols wanted to protest but she caught sight of Chapman doing her sexy lean again and faltered. "Fine. Do whatever you need to do. Morello's a sweet girl. Chapman shouldn't be using her in some sick game of one-upmanship. If she stays away from Morello, I'll keep my distance. At least until you convince her we aren't a couple." Nichols chuckled at the thought. "As if we'd work. Who'd have to be the delicate little flower waiting to be plucked?"
Vause chuckled and gave her a wink. "I've already plucked your flower. It was fun."
Nichols wanted to laugh but she could see Chapman in the background over Vause's shoulder. She didn't want to risk annoying the woman any further. Sure it was a petty thing to do but Chapman seemed the petty type at times. The way she'd immediately gone after Morello was a testament to her mind set. She was ruthless and mean when she wanted to be. Nichols had heard Crazy Eyes tell someone that Chapman wasn't actually a nice person, just somebody pretending to be one. Nichols had thought that absurd at the time, now she wasn't so sure Crazy Eyes wasn't a little bit sane after all.
"Tell her she wins," Nichols finally said accepting defeat. There were battles you fought, and battles you didn't fight, this was one she knew she had to wave the white flag on. She wasn't sure how far Chapman would take this but she got the feeling the blonde would go all the way if she had to. And Nichols knew herself, if Chapman slept with Morello without actually being in love with her she'd punch her in the face. Of course that would end badly for her because the Mexican girls would chop her up into Taco meat.
"Don't worry about Piper. A butterfly, or a bottle of new shampoo will catch her attention and she'll forget why she was even mad at you."
Nichols finally laughed. "I'll tell her you said that after we've kissed and made up."
Vause smirked and looked over her shoulder without bothering to turn her body. "Hey Piper, want to take a walk with me?"
Chapman jumped up on the balls of her feet totally ignoring the fact that she was inappropriately leaning against Morello less than a second ago.
"Let's go," Chapman said eagerly. The eagerness in her voice made Nichols want to jump for joy. She didn't want Morello, she wanted Alex. Thank God for small favors.
"I need to borrow Piper for a while Morello but Nichols would love to play checkers with you, wouldn't you Nichols?"
Nichols did her best frustrated face and said, "No," with all the annoyance she could muster. Still she didn't think anybody bought it because she was already half way across to room to Morello's table.
If you've been reading you may have noticed that the facts don't always mesh from character to character. That's not a mistake, it's by design. I imagine, and this is just my opinion, that the worst part of gossip is the assumptions we make without having all the facts. I love how one rumor spirals so out of control that Piper is a full fledged drug dealer by the end of the tale. And I like how a few well told half truths can result in fear and intimidation as with the case of Flaca. Who clearly is a bit off, I mean who beats somebody with a baseball bat? But still, she isn't necessarily a bad person. Anyways, I have one more wrap up chapter to complete and this sordid tale will be done. Thanks for reading, I forgot how fun it was to upload and watch for reviews and alerts. Even though I don't always respond to reviews know that I read them all and appreciate the recognition and would like to say thank you to all of you who took the time. Your comments always make my day!
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