Two days had passed since Daya had dropped the bombshell on Alex that she could no longer dance. Two days of girls coming down the stairs with their hopes high and then leaving with their dreams broken, off to attend the next audition. Two days of Alex's cold becoming worse and her words harsher. All those that worked at Litchfield were tiptoeing around her, trying not to unleash the anger of the Vause. Even Nicky was surprisingly obedient, only grumbling and swearing about her boss when she was absolutely certain that she was not within ear shot. It seemed that everybody knew to stay away from Alex when she wasn't feeling particularly well.

Piper, on the other hand, was growing tired of feeling on edge all the time. This wasn't the Alex she knew and she'd be damned if she was going to be talked to so badly simply because the woman ran this place. And, although she would adamantly deny it if anyone were to ask her, she was pretty sure that she had a little bit of an advantage over the other girls due to the kitchen-kissing-bed-sharing incident. Alex clearly felt something for her – surely she'd be more open to talking to Piper?

As Piper set up the bar for the evening, she eyed Alex out of the corner of her eye. The boss had barely moved from the barstool over the last two days unless she had had to. Instead, she'd demanded that her whisky glass never be empty and Piper, the one time she had failed to top it up, had been the subject of quite a rant. Just keep the whiskey coming, okay? It kills bacteria and viruses. I want to get better as soon as possible. Piper wasn't entirely sure that slowly sipping whiskey continuously through the day was going to be the cure that Alex was after, but who was she to say no? So the glass always held the amber liquid and Alex always stayed on the stool. At the moment, Alex was watching the girls rehearsing for the nights show. Nicky had reblocked the dances as she had been asked to, but they still needed work and Alex wasn't particularly happy about them. She watched with a small frown between her brows and occasionally shouted out instructions, much to Nickys annoyance, but other than that she seemed very much in her own thoughts. Piper wanted to talk to her – she had since the beginning of the auditions – but she hadn't quite struck up the nerve to do so. Taking a deep breath, she decided that it was time.

"What is it, Piper?" Alex asked, throwing Piper completely off balance.

"Wha – huh?"

"What do you want to say? You're too fucking easy to read" Alex drawled, eyes still on the dancers on the stage. Piper took another breath.

"I, um, was just wondering if… Well I know the auditions aren't exactly going great and I was wondering –" Alex's sigh and over-the-top eye roll halted her words. Alex spun her stool around so she was looking directly at Piper.

"Are you going to ask me if you can audition again" Piper didn't say anything. Alex let out a small huff of unbelieving laughter which turned into a painful sounding cough. Groaning, she looked back to Piper.

"Oh my god, how badly do you want to dance here?! I don't think I've ever had anyone want to be on that stage so much" Piper nodded and shrugged.

"Then let me. Let me try, Alex"

"You can't dance"

"I can! I've really been practicing, you just haven't seen. Jesus, Alex. Just give me a chance. I just want one audition. Just give me one go. I can –"

"Oh my fucking god, shut up" Alex interrupted, holding one of her hands up to stop the stream of talking. Taking a deep breath, Alex rubbed her temples and sniffed.

"Please" Piper added quietly. Alex looked up and met her eyes and in that moment, Piper was positive that she had blown her chances. That one word had tipped Alex over the edge and her chances of an audition were truly over. But a small smile snuck across Alex's lips.

"You never give up, do you? It's not enough for you to work her even though I'd never even seen you before. You blag a job and now you want a promotion over all the girls that have worked their asses of for years in dance classes"

"I'm better than them. You know I'd fit in here. You know I already do" Alex laughed and shook her head in what appeared to be disbelief.

"You know what Piper," she said, leaning forward on the bar "I don't give a shit anymore. I don't want you in my ear for the next three months begging – actually, I do but that's not work related" she winked, making Piper blush slightly. "So I'll tell you what, if there is no one that I like by the end of the auditions, you can give it a go, alright? I'm telling you right now, you probably won't get it, but you can try. Deal?" Piper squealed and gave a little jump of happiness.

"Thank you, Alex! You won't regret it"

"I'll probably find someone before you get the chance"

"I'm a much better dancer than I was!"

"I'll almost definitely never see that"

Alex and Piper looked at each other for a moment, silence falling between them before being broken by their laughter. The laughter turned into coughing on Alex's part and Piper just watched as she held one hand to her chest and the other over her mouth. As she stopped, she looked back up to Piper and simply picked up her glass, shaking it slightly. Piper rolled her eyes and made her way over to the whiskey bottle.

-x-

"She seems fucking stuck up to me" Piper could hear Nicky grumbling as she came down the club stairs the next day. It was Pipers day to come in a bit later, leaving Larry to set up the bar and make sure everything was stocked. They had come to an agreement that they would take it in turns and Alex had said she didn't give a shit who did it as long as it was ready each day. She'd enjoyed a lie in and a day of rest and was now ready to work through the night, but Nicky's words made her ears prick up.

"I'm sure she's fine, Nick. You have to give her a chance" Lorna added, quickly followed by a scoff from Taystee.

"She already pisses me off, comin' in here and tellin' me to hurry up with her drinks" Taystee huffed "Don't know who she think she is". Piper saw Nicky nodding in agreement as she approached the three women sat bitching at the bar.

"Who?"

"Congrats, you're not the new girl anymore, Newbie" Nicky told her, clearly far from impressed with the new addition.

"Alex found a dancer," Morello explained "and she's not really come across great, so far"

"Stuck up little bitch" Nicky added quietly.

"Girl sure can dance though" Taystee said with a raised eyebrow and a small shrug before sliding off her stool and disappearing backstage to get changed for the night. Piper felt her heart drop. She knew that Alex was still auditioning and her chances of getting a go were slim, but there had still been the small hope that she would be able to prove her worth and get the job that she so wanted. She guessed that chance was gone.

"She can" Lorna nodded in confirmation.

"Doesn't mean we have to like her though," Nicky moaned "She's already bonded with 'Tucky and you know there has to be something messed up with her to do that". The three women all made their way backstage to get into their clothes for the night. Sophia had promised Piper something new and Piper was pretty excited to see what it was the woman had come up with. Every so often, Sophia would put something new together for Piper and, despite her initial doubt about the skimpy and clinging clothes she had been handed, she had grown to love them and her confidence had definitely been boosted.

Walking through the sea of glitter and sparkles, the new girl was easy to spot. Huge blonde hair that had been back-combed to hell and back was piled on top of a pretty, petite face. She was wearing a miniscule silver costume that Piper had never seen before.

"She brought it with her" Piper heard muttered in her ear. Turning she saw Sophia, hand on hip and an eyebrow raised. She clearly wasn't impressed with the new girl's wardrobe.

"What's her name?"

"Lily" Piper nodded.

"And you don't like her either?" there didn't seem to be much for the new girl and Piper wondered if the girls had reacted in the same way when she had started working.

"Oh no, honey. I didn't have a problem with her until she started bitchin' about my costumes," Sophia said, inspecting her nails, an action that Piper had come to learn was one of extreme irritation for Sophia. "But she wanna wear that classless little number, I ain't gonna stop her" Piper smirked. She knew it was terrible, but knowing the new dancer wasn't well liked stopped her being so bitter that had gotten the job.

"Hurry up, ladies. We're gonna go through the numbers one more time so Lily can make sure she knows exactly what she's doing" Nicky called out, clapping her hands together to hurry the girls along. Lily looked up, a frown on her face.

"We've been practicing all day. I've got it. We don't need to go through it again". Silence fell across the dressing room and all the girls looked between Lily and Nicky, now with her hands on her hips and an eyebrow raised. Poussey let out a small 'ohhh' which set most of the girls off smirking. Nicky took one small step towards Lily and tipped her head to one side, puzzled.

"And yet you're still fucking it up" Nicky said cooley. Lily picked up her blusher and began sweeping it over her cheeks.

"Ugh. Whatever" she muttered. Piper could see why she wasn't so popular with the girls so far. There was more than enough attitude here already and they didn't need someone new coming in and screwing up the delicate balance. She must be a god-damn amazing dancer for Alex to hire her, risking arguments galore.

"Whatever, my ass," Nicky snapped back. "Get your makeup done and get out there. You're not gonna fuck up Vause's show, alright?"

"Calm down, Nichols" Alex told her, a tissue to her nose. "Lily, get back out there and polish it up, alright?" Alex's tone left no room for argument and the dancers all trudged back out to rehearse, all at different stages of the getting-ready process. Piper was pretty sure Pennsatucky only had one eyelash glued on, but she couldn't be quite sure.

The music the girls were practicing to was loud and hit every corner of the club, particularly backstage where Piper was squeezing into the new clothes Sofia had handed her with a grin. An emerald green bra with matching short shorts, complete with short black bustle had not been exactly what Piper had imagined, but she had learnt not to question and she was pretty impressed with the results. Giving a spin so she could show Sofia her creation in full glory, Piper grinned.

"It's so Burlesque'y" she cooed, not able to take her eyes from herself in the mirror. Sofia nodded with approval.

"Vause really does know how to design for each girl" she agreed. Piper wasn't sure if Sofia noticed the smile on her face growing even bigger, but she suspected she did from the small eyeroll that she received.

A loud fucking HELL could be heard from the stage, stopping the admiration for the new outfit. The music stopped and the sound of it being rewound screeched through the building.

"We're never gonna get this done" Flaca moaned and Piper could almost see her, arms crossed and unimpressed look on her face.

"Start again. Go, Boo." Nicky groaned. From what could be heard, rehearsals were not going well and the dancers were all beginning to lose their patience.

"Can't I just change it so I'm –"

"No you fucking can't" Nicky interrupted Lily. "I said to change it earlier and you got shitty with me, so now you can fuckin well do it right. Two, three…"

The music started again and Piper snuck back out to the bar to watch the car crash on the stage under the pretence of working.

-x-

The dim lights and sultry music had become home. Musky perfumes and excitement hung in the air, building with each customer that paid their money to Bennett and took their seats. The cymbals and the drums built as the show opened and Alex appeared on stage, hips swinging and heels stamping over the stage. Every time Piper saw her opening number, she watched in awe and Larry had pretty much accepted that little work would be done by her in the first couple of minutes of the night. She more than made up for it through the rest of the night, anyway, flying around the floor and pleasing all the customers she served.

All the staff were intrigued about the new girl, wondering if she'd pull off the numbers well and how the customers would react to her. It was always exciting to see who would be accepted and who wouldn't – you could usually tell how long a person would remain at Litchfield within the first week of them working. It was easy to spot the weeds amongst the flowers.

Lily seemed alright. She wasn't fantastic and she was definitely off by quite a bit in some of the numbers, but by the interval, Piper had concluded that she was obviously a good dancer but she had struggled learning the routines. Nicky wasn't going to be pleased with the mistakes that she had made, that was for sure.

Loading her tray up with the usual drinks plus the extra shot of Sambuca for Lily, Piper made her way backstage to provide the girls with their scheduled injection of alcohol. Stepping behind the curtain, Piper was both surprised and unsurprised to find Nicky looking none-to-pleased. The slinky music blaring easily covered the noise from the dressing room, or the customers would have definitely heard the barely-hushed argument that was taking place.

"You were off the entire last number!"

"No I wasn't"

"Yes, you were!" Martiza and Flaca nodded in unison, agreeing with Nicky. "You would have known it if you hadn't decided going over it wasn't beneath you" she spat.

"I know it! There was no point in going over and over and over it. I was fine. Give me a break, alright. I've had a day to learn this shit" Piper had wondered if the early ending of practice would take it's toll. After going over each number once, Lily had declared she was done with rehearsing and she would be fine. It was pretty clear at that time that Nichols was done arguing with the new girl but was preparing to rip her a new one if she dared make a wrong step during the show. Which she had.

"You've had to learn four numbers. And they're not that complicated, Lily! I distinctly remember you saying you can pick up dances like that" she said, snapping her fingers. Lily simply rolled her eyes.

"I do actually remember you saying that" Alex piped up. She had been sat at one of the stools leant back against one of the mirrors stands, observing the argument between her staff. Lily looked surprised, seemingly having forgotten that Alex was even in the room.

"I'm doing my best" Lily grumbled, suddenly doing a very good impression of a petulant child. Alec stood up and took a couple of steps over to the two women, taking her glass of whiskey from the tray Piper held as she did so.

"Well I'll tell you what, you have another chance. Get out there and do it all right and prove to me that you really can pick up 'that shit' easily. You're a good dancer. Prove it" Lily nodded, clearly not happy at having her abilities challenged.

-x-

The second half of the show was going well. Nothing remarkable had happened, but the show was running smoothly, the bar was working well – Piper had tried to ignore the look of approval from Larry as he drank in her outfit – and the customers were enjoying themselves.

Lily had, to her credit, been flawless in the next number. It wasn't the most complicated of dances, but she'd been in time and Piper admitted, she looked damned good up on the stage. The thought that she could actually be the right choice for the job saddened Piper, but she knew that she wouldn't give up on her dreams of making it to that stage.

The show was drawing to a close and the opening notes of the last number began to play. The girls slunk on stage, hips out, shoulders low, eyes sultry. It was one of Piper's favourites – a slow building song that ended with high kicks, cymbal crashes and sharp flashes of light. It left smoke hanging in the air and the audience in a frenzy wanting more, knowing the only way they could get it was to return the next night.

Nicky and Lorna circled each other slowly, then threw their heads to one side in unison, hair flying. Poussey, Flaca and Maritza came forward in a triangle formation, kicking and stamping, butts out and faces fierce. With a bang of the drum, Piper felt her hip thrust out with Lily's before the girl on stage dropped down into a split. Jumping back up again, Lily span across from Poussey and Piper knew too well the high kicks they were supposed to aim at each other, their legs just missing each other in the air as they crossed to make an 'X'.

Except, that wasn't quite what happened. Falling out of the spin, Lily tried to continue with the routine and kicked her leg out. But instead of recovering from her fall, she threw herself off balance and tumbled to the floor eliciting a huge gasp form the audience. Piper stood watching the stage with eyes wide and jaw dropped.

Shit shit shit shit shit.

The dancers on stage all froze, unsure of what to do. This wasn't something that happened. This never happened. Lily, chest heaving and eyes welling up, scrambled to her feet and tried to get back into the routine but all memories of the dance had been thrown from her head with her fall and she turned to the audience, eyes wide.

"Drop the curtain. Drop the fucking curtain" someone hissed from backstage and so the curtain fell, music still blaring, leaving everyone unsure of what it was that had just happened. Piper couldn't move. What the fuck had just happened?!

"Drinks. Now. Go" Larry whispered to her, already half the girls drinks stacked onto a tray before Piper could process what was going on. "Extra for Vause. Extra for Nichols. Don't let Sofia see the state of the costumes yet, they're gonna be destroyed with all that tension" Larry quickly and calmly instructed. The tray was shoved into her hands, Taystee and Black Cindy having helped load it up and before she knew it, she was being pushed across the floor, behind the curtain and into a warzone.

"I just fell!"

"You 'just' fucked up the show!" Nicky yelled. The look of horror was gone from Lily's face and replacing it was one of absolute fury, matching the one on Nichols. Alex stood with a face of thunder between them, arms crossed and glaring at Lily. The other girls, wisely, were trying to ignore the whole thing, frantically removing their makeup, peeling off lashes, pulling sparkling outfits from their bodies.

"Alex, it's her fault!" Lily shouted, a finger pointed at Nicky who scoffed loudly.

"How, exactly, is it her fault?" Alex asked. The calmness in her voice was a sign of extreme danger.

"She…She kept shouting during rehearsal and I couldn't concentrate" Lily snapped. Nicky threw her hands out, palm up.

"Are you fucking kidding me?!" she screamed. "You'd have been absolutely fine if you had listened to me! You were the one who didn't think you needed any fucking practice!"

"Not true"

"Yes it IS!"

"STOP" Alex yelled, one hand held up to each of the fiery women in front of her. An eerie silence fell across the room and all eyes were firmly fixed on the three women in the middle. Piper stood with her full tray and she was pretty sure that had not felt this uncomfortable in a long long time.

"Nicky, I told you to train her. You clearly didn't, she's been out all night" Nicky opened her mouth to protest, but a quick look from Alex quickly put an end to her protestations.

"And Lily, if you'd have done what I asked and gone over each number more, you'd have known what you were doing and this might not have happened and show might have ended perfectly, just as it has every single night since I opened this club".

"I'm sorry, Alex". Alex shook her head and sniffed.

"I'm sorry Lily, I don't have time for all of this. You're a good dancer but you don't fit in here and I can't have someone causing so much trouble. I've got enough on my plate already". Lily looked at Alex, eyes blazing and indignation oozing from her.

"You can't do that. I've been here one day!" Alex nodded and shrugged.

"And it was your last" Nicky smirked.

"This is bullshit," Lily cried, planting her hands on her hips and tipping her chin up defiantly "you don't have another dancer. You have no choice. You need me". Alex laughed shortly.

"Like a hole in the head, sweetheart." Eyes still firmly fixed on Lily, Alex crossed her arms across her body and shifted her weight to one leg. "Piper, you know the dances, right?" Pipers heart skipped a beat at the sudden mention of her name in the tense conversation.

"Er… erm, yeah"

"And the girls like you?" Piper looked around at the women who were dotted around the edge of the room.

"I think so?" There were nods in agreement and a quiet 'mmmhm' from Sofia, all of which were very much appreciated by Piper.

"Well there we go," Alex concluded "I think you're services are no longer required, Lily. We have all the dancers we need"

"Her?! The waitress?" Lily cried, looking Piper up and down with hatred in her eyes.

"The waitress" Alex confirmed. Piper felt her heart hammering in her chest. Was this…did this…was she a dancer?! No audition? Nothing? Jesus fucking Christ. What the fuck had just happened?!

Lily stomped her foot in frustration, much to Nickys amusement, and snatched up her makeup bag from the side.

"This is bullshit, you know that Vause? Absolute fucking bullshit". Alex simply smirked, looking down at the girl in front of her, and nodded.

"Mhmm. Please leave". It isn't entirely possible to slam a curtain shut, but Lily's attempt had all of the girls laughing as she left, her stamping feet audible as she slammed up the stairs of the club.

"Alex… am I?"

"I swear to god, Piper. You thank me once and then have done with it" Alex turned to her, a serious look on her face but the tiny smile on her lips giving her away.

"Thank you" Piper breathed. Alex winked. Before she could say anything else, an arm was thrown around her and Nicky was screaming in her ear.

"Whaaaayyyyyy Newbie is the newbie again! Better hope you can fucking dance, Blondie" she grinned, finally taking a drink off of the tray in Pipers' hands.

"Better make the most of these, girls" Piper beamed, indicating to the drinks "They're the last ones I'm gonna be serving you!" she laughed, her heart still pounding in her chest. Laughter filled the room and Piper was slapped on the back more times than she could count.

Jesus H. Christ.

She hoped her dancing was good enough. She had a feeling there wasn't going to be any room for mistakes.

-x-

Oh my god, I am in shock! Thank you all so much for the lovely response this has gotten! I really wasn't sure if I should carry this on, but you've all been so incredibly amazing, how could I not?! Big thank you to everyone who favourited and followed this fic since my last update. It is so appreciated and you've all kept me smiling at my email inbox like a madwoman.

I hope you all enjoy the chapter. I'm sorry for any mistakes! Silly me.

Extra big hugs and kisses and thanks to excedrinpersonality, DA15Y, endofeverything, ThatGayDork, webbie1988, ejm137, Vauseismylife, moanzs, patalano, Osu12, mielsita, NightsLightss and the 10 guests who took the time to review. I love you all.

MBRB'xoxo