"Get away from me." Piper pushes Stella away

"Oh so now you want to be a little bitch? You're alone here. Alex isn't going to save you. She's probably out there fucking someone else as we speak."

"Don't you dare talk like that about Alex. What is wrong with you? And I thought I had issues." Piper attempts to step beside Stella and leave the bathroom but in the process, Stella grabs Piper's wrist and squeezes it until Piper can't handle the pressure any longer.

"You stupid bitch. You realise all you do is cling onto people and make them fall for you and just push them away after you don't need them anymore. I hope Alex figured out how worthless you are. You best be careful, because you know what I could do Piper? Rumours spread like wildfire in here right? For all they know, you cheated on Alex again. With me."

"You fucking wouldn't."

"Oh but Piper, you created a lie that got me thrown into max, and now I'll create a lie that will get you thrown out of your relationship. I think it's pretty fair."

"Is this how you handle denial Stella? I'm dedicated to Alex... Is that so hard to comprehend? I already apologised to you and believe me, I felt like shit when I put you in max but I thought we were past that. Every fucking time Alex and I finally start getting back on track something has to come and ruin it." Piper stars to tear up as she pleads to Stella with her eyes

"Maybe it's a fucking sign. You two were never meant to be together. You should end up alone."

"You don't know our relationship. You don't know Alex. And you don't even know me. So why don't you just shut your mouth. Let's pretend like this never happened because I can play this game too, even better than you can."

"You've got nothing on me baby."

"Don't call be baby. You want me to scream right now? Show the guards my wrist? These kinds of marks funnily look like you tried to rape me. Rape will send you back down the hill in two seconds flat. If you want to play games, I'll play games Stella."

"Fucking Cold War all over again." Stella stares down Piper with vindictive eyes as Piper leaves past her in a panicked state

Inmates start to roll back into their dorms as lunch begins to wind down. Piper walks to her bed and for the first time in a long time, she hides under the covers and clings to them in a hope that no one will see her.

"Hey, you're back." Due to slop being the new addition to the kitchen, Red is able to spend a lot less time in there and let's the Spanish girls clean up without her. This is the first time Red has seen Piper after she was in hospital.

"Yeah." Piper is blunt and borderline rude

"What's the matter honey?"

"Just fucking everything." Piper's voice breaks as she covers her tears behind her blanket

"I know I haven't been the best of people in here lately but you can tell me what's wrong Piper. Are you missing Alex?"

"I miss Alex and I'm going to get killed by Spanish bitches and my family hates me and Stella is going to ruin my relationship with Alex." Piper sobs hard

"Why is Stella suddenly in the picture again?"

"I was in the bathroom and she tried to kiss me. I pushed her away but rumours have a way of making it seem like it's the truth. I don't know what her problem is. I'm so selfish Red. I'm such a horrible person. All I want is for Alex to be here with me."

"That Stella is no good. I knew it from the very beginning. I guarantee you she won't be saying anything. If she does, she'll have my kitchen knife up her ass. And Piper, we are all missing people in here. My boys are out there fucking their lives up and I can't do shit from in here. Don't think that you have it any harder in here than anyone else. You don't understand how much people need their loved ones and how much it hurts to be away from them."

"I'm sorry Red."

"I'm not one you have to be sorry to. Stop drowning in your tears and do your time so you can get out and be with her."

"Stella said that Alex and I should never be together and that Alex should realise how worthless I am."

"What does that bitch know? You're going to let her dictate your life? If you're that weak, don't bother standing up for anything. Especially your relationship."

"They cut deep, that's all."

"So do stab wounds. But look at you now all stitched up."

…...

The inmates that came back from the max facility have finally gotten their khaki sign of approval and have their designated bunks and job assignments. Through a shuffle of people, Nicky was surprisingly bunked with Lorna.

"Hey kid." Nicky walks into her new bunk and can see Lorna who is lost in some form of letter. Lorna glances up as Nicky enters.

"You're in here?"

"Yeah, you're going to just put up with me." Nicky gives a playful wink at Lorna

"I've been meaning to talk to you Nicky."

"Oh fuck, here we go." Nicky rolls her eyes

"About what you said before, did you mean it?" Lorna places her letter down and puts her undivided attention on Nicky

"Of course I fucking meant it. I wouldn't just say it."

"Did you mean it in a friend way?"

"Wow, you sound like you're seven years old again and you think boys have germs." Nicky sends out a echoing laugh

"Seriously Nicky." Lorna turns increasingly serious

"It doesn't matter." Nicky turns away from Lorna in an attempt to avoid eye contact

"Yes it does."

"Rule number fucking one." Nicky whispers to herself

"What did you say?"

"I said this bunk smells like asshole."

"Nicky, you have so many feelings just shoved down inside you. It's not good. From one ex fuck buddy to another, talk to me." Lorna pleads

"You were never just a fuck buddy ok?" Nicky sighs as she realises her protective barrier is falling down

"Then what was I?"

There is a long suspense filled silence in which Lorna keeps her eyes locked onto Nicky.

"You know Chapman's back?" Nicky says in a bland tone, with the direct attempt to get the conversation away from her deep feelings.

"You change the subject of a conversation more than anyone I've ever met Nicky. Out of all the people in here, I thought I could be the one you open up to."

"I don't need to open up to anybody. I'm fine. I'm a fucking lone wolf. Look..." Nicky lifts up her prison pants to reveal her tattoo to Lorna.

"I'm not even going to ask how you got that, but Nicky even lone wolves aren't alone forever."

"What are you trying to play at Morello?"

"I'm just saying you need to find somebody in here. Someone real. I wasn't fair to you and I left you. I'm going to set you up with someone you deserve."

"Oh my god. Thanks but no thanks." Nicky smiles as she leaves the bunk

…...

Alex has built up the courage and disregarded her pride as she walked down to the local café. Feeling extremely embarrassed and foolish, she handed in her job application with a forced smile and a forged resume. Alex's first impressions of the manager are horrific. In less than ten seconds flat, Alex knows that she hates her and her snobby rich girl attitude. Alex smirks at the fact that this girl thinks she is top shit working in a café. If only Alex told her what she did for a living before she went to prison. That would shut her up.

Alex walks the two blocks back to her apartment and is surprised to see her probation officer Kevin waiting at the door. She wasn't aware that he was due this early in the day. With the dangling of Alex's keys, Kevin turns around in surprise and gives Alex a warm smile.

"Guess what I was doing for you." Alex still can't comprehend the fact that she is actually putting in effort to find a job.

"What's that?"

"I put in a job application." Alex opens the door and let's herself in, with Kevin closely following.

"Good job Alex. I'm so glad. But getting a job is more for your benefit than mine. Believe me."

"Why are you here so early? If I would have known I would have stayed home."

"There's just something I need to do."

Kevin stands with his back on the door and turns to lock it shut. He walks over to Alex slowly and sensually until he is at arms length away. Kevin pushes Alex against the wall hard, jolting her head back to hit the plaster. With one giant, powerful motion, Kevin raises his fist and hits Alex across the cheek resulting in a scream and a purple bruise the second his warm fist leaves her skin.

"What the fuck."

Author notes:

Piper retained her dedication to Alex and their relationship even though a surprising opportunity arose in the bathroom. Stella and Piper now both have the power to ruin each others lives with the single term of 'rumours'. Will either one of them dare to start this prison war?

Nicky is having an extremely tough time coming to grips with her own emotions and efficiently turns deep conversations into nothing more than small talk with Lorna, which in turn, gets her frustrated. Will Nicky share her emotions with Lorna? Or will she have to participate in horrific dates within the prison?

Kevin Milano isn't the nice guy that Alex presumed he was. She had never put her walls down, but comfort has allowed him to put Alex in a torturous position once again. Why is Kevin doing this to Alex? What does he want to achieve?

All for you to find out in the upcoming chapters.