Chapter 11

Alex

I woke up at 7:00am and groaned. I did not want to get out of bed. Not only was Piper leaving town but I had to go see my probation officer for the first time. I talked to him briefly on the phone. He was gruff and straight to the point. I got the feeling that he was pretty jaded about his job. It wasn't a long phone call.

I drug myself out of bed and into the shower. I turned on the water to warm up then stripped out of my tank top and boy shorts and got into the shower. I adjusted the temperature of the water as hot as I could stand it. After prison, I would never again take hot water for granted.

I dressed quickly and did my hair and makeup. I probably left earlier than I needed to but I needed to find the building and his office. I did not want to be late, I wanted to make a good first impression. I took the subway and found the building with little problem. I grabbed a coffee from the shop across the street from my P.O.'s building before heading over.

His assistant greeted me and asked me to wait. I sat down in a chair against the wall and waited. As I sat there I told myself that this was something I have to do to stay out of prison. I would do what I needed to do to not screw up. If this guy was a jerk I had to just bite my tongue and suck it up. The better I did the quicker I would be done with probation. Screwing up meant not only going back to prison but also being away from Piper—something I knew would kill me if it happened.

A rather large man with a large stomach appeared from the hallway, "Alex Vause?"

"Yes sir that's me." I replied

"Come on back."

I nodded and followed him to his office.

The office was small and cramped. The big man with the large belly's desk was covered with file folders and papers.

"Please take a seat Ms. Vause." The older man said to me as he sat behind his desk.

"Ms. Vause my name is Andrew Rivers and I am going to be your probation officer."

For the next 45 minutes, P.O. Rivers went over all of the requirements of my probation; weekly drug tests, random drug tests, weekly meetings with him, possible random home evaluations. He also informed me that I needed to be at least looking for a job or be employed in a 'legal' job. Finally he reminded me that I was not to leave the state under any circumstances unless I was cleared through him. I told him I understood the requirements and that I was going to do my best to abide by his regulations.

He asked me where I was living and what my address was. I immediately realized he's going to question how I got an apartment so quickly in such a nice part of the city. I quickly try to come up with a good explanation. I tell him that I knew someone from the property management company that cut me a deal and that my aunt and a friend were helping me with the rent. He seemed to have bought my explanation because he didn't question me any further. I gave him my cell phone number and he gave me his office and cell phone number reminding me that I was to make all my appointments with me and to contact him if I was unable to make the appointment. I immediately entered his numbers into my phone showing him that I was taking all of what he said seriously; and I was. I didn't want to go back to prison. Ever.

The hardest part of the entire visit is when he pulled a urine specimen cup out of a drawer of his desk. I had to pee in a cup. To me this was humiliating; I had not done any drugs in prison or since I had been released and did not intend on doing them ever again. I guess when you're convicted of a drug related crime, drug tests were a logical requirement. I took the cup from him and asked where the bathroom was. I felt that being under probation was going to be one of the most trying times of my life.

After I gave him the specimen, we scheduled my next appointment with him. It was for next week; I was not thrilled by this. He must have seen the look of displeasure on my face and explained to me that if my probation went well and I followed all of his requests that our meetings would become fewer and further between. After that he told me I was free to go. I quickly left his office and the probation department. I needed out of the building and to replace what had just happened with something good in my mind.

When I exited the building I took a deep breath inhaling the scent of the city. I really did miss New York City. I had travelled all around the world and seen many beautiful places, but for whatever reason I loved New York the most. I didn't care that sometimes people were rude as they pushed past you, or that during the summer sometimes it smelled like rotting garbage. I didn't care that it snowed here or that sometimes the city was buried under a blizzard. I loved the eclectic city with people from every walk of life. It was amazing how so many different people could coexist in such close proximity. I walked for a while then hailed a cab. I decided I had a bit more shopping to do and I wasn't quite ready to head back to my empty apartment. I know I should be ecstatic to be out of Litchfield and back into society, but there was something about being alone that I didn't like.

My first stop was the Apple store. I wanted to pick up a new computer and some other electronic related stuff. After talking with the sales associate I decided that I would get a MacBook Air. I got a shell for protection of the computer and also a computer bag. I also bought a pair of wireless headphones and a new case for my iPhone. The associate at the store also talked me into this awesome, wireless home speaker system that light up and moved with the music. I decided music in my house would be a good thing. Now that I had a computer I could access iTunes and download new music to play on my system.

Next I stopped at an appliance store and got some of the smaller necessary appliances such as a microwave, toaster oven, coffee maker, food processer and a few other things. I bought some cutlery, knives set, pots and pans, dishware, and other kitchen utensils. I bought a few sets of glasses; a couple different sets of everyday glasses, wine glasses, tumblers, and a martini set. I knew I would need some items but for now this would do. With my hands already full I asked the store manager if there was a way for these items to be delivered to my apartment because I did not have a car. He told me he could have them delivered by the end of the day. Perfect I thought. I paid for all the items. I wrote down my address and apartment number, I also and gave them my phone number in case they had trouble finding the place.

As I headed home, I stopped at a Thai restaurant and picked up some lunch. I didn't eat anything before I met my P.O. and it was now nearing 1:30pm. I hauled everything into the elevator, then into my apartment. I set the computer and accessories on the couch, walked over to the counter and put the food on the counter. I took my boots off, grabbed a bottle of water out of the refrigerator and the food off the counter and headed over to my new table. I realized that I didn't have any plates or cutlery yet so I was relieved when I saw the restaurant had put a fork in the bag for me. I ate for a few minutes before I realized just how quiet it was. It was too quiet. I grabbed my cell phone and found a music app to download so I could listen to something; because right now, the silence in my apartment was deafening.

As the app downloaded I decide to text Piper.

Alex: Pipes, I hope you made it to Florida ok. Good luck with your meeting. Thinking of you…

I put my phone back down on the table and continued to eat. Only a few minutes past before I got a return text from Piper.

Piper: Thanks Alex. I'm a bit nervous—this is a big step for PoPi…Fingers crossed! I'll let you know how it goes.

I smiled knowing that I'd be hearing from her later. I couldn't help but chastise myself. Piper had been back in my life for a total of three days and I was already constantly thinking about her and hanging on her every word or text. I was already pussy-whipped; it was truly pathetic.

As I sat there and stared at the remnants of my lunch it hit me that when it came to Piper—I had always been, and probably forever will be, inexplicably drawn to her. I will find myself absorbed with anything and everything having to do with my beautiful, blonde, ex-girlfriend. I wanted to be her girlfriend again. I wanted to take care of her every want and need. I wanted to treat her like the goddess I always thought she was. I want to make her happy until we were old and gray.

After I ate I grabbed all the stuff I bought at the Apple store and sat back down and the table. I spent the next few hours setting up my computer, downloading music and eventually I figured out how to work the Bluetooth speaker system. (After reading the directions twice—damn new technology!)

While I sat downloading more music I got a text from Piper,

Piper: Al—we got the company! We are celebrating when I get home Friday, my treat. I can't wait to see you…

I felt a huge grin spread across my face, and I quickly replied.

Alex: Congratulations Piper. I am so happy for you. This is just the beginning of big things for you and PoPi. If you get a chance and don't mind—give me a call. I can't wait to see on Friday either.

In that moment, I was so happy for Piper. I was happy and proud that she landed the manufacturing company. Never for a moment did I doubt she wouldn't. She was a well educated woman. She could be driven and focused when she wanted to be, to the point of stubborn if needed. Just from what she told me about her company in the two times we met I could tell she had poured herself into PoPi after she was released from Litchfield.

I was so relieved that prison hadn't ruined Piper. It was my fault that she ended up in prison in the first place. I really hoped that Litchfield hadn't broken her spirit. As I watched Piper through her time in prison—I gathered that she had discovered strengths she didn't know she had. Some she expressed to me, others I observed from a distance. I also was able to discern that Piper also made some not so savory discoveries about herself as well. Prison gave her a good idea of who she really was. I think anyone in prison gets a good glimpse of who we really are. For the most part, I didn't like looking back at the person I was before prison.

Before I was incarcerated, I really didn't think that importing heroin was all that hurtful or harmful. I felt like my hands really were not dirty; I wasn't the one shooting it up their veins. I just facilitated their requests/habits. However, after I was locked up in Litchfield and witnessed what drugs did to some of the women, physically, mentally, emotionally all of it hit me very hard. Not to mention what the choice of doing drugs and them being prosecuted for their crime meant for their families and children.

As I sat there in deep thought I heard my intercom buzz. The appliance store was here to drop off my stuff. I turned off my music and quickly buzzed them up. They unloaded my new purchases quickly and I thanked them for being so accommodating. After they left my apartment was eerily quiet; all that I could hear was the hum of the refrigerator and the muted noise of the streets below my apartment.

I stood up and walked over to the big window in my living room and looked out over the small park adjacent to my building. It finally hit me that this was now my home. I realized I wasn't going to wake up from a dream and find myself back in my bunk in Litchfield. If I went back to prison, it was no one else's fault but my own. I got myself into this mess, (importing and prison) and I needed to get myself out of the life I have lived for the past 15+ years.

This was my chance to start fresh. I knew that getting back on the path of the straight and narrow would be long and arduous. I knew that achieving "legal" success was something I was not accustomed to. Importing was relatively easy money if you were smart and could think a few steps ahead of the law; which I was really good at. Well, until I wasn't. I know I jumped at the chance for easy money after I saw my mom work three jobs and still barely be able to put food on the table and clothes on our backs. However, my career success then failure/prison was all in the past now. All I can do is look forward.

I was broken from my reverie when my cell phone alerted me that I had a text. I checked it.

Piper: Headed out to dinner and have myself a celebratory drink. I'll call you when I get back to my room.

I was happy she was going to go celebrate. She deserved it. It killed me that I wasn't there to celebrate with her and that she had to go alone. I just wanted to be with her tonight and spoil her. I texted her back.

Alex: Celebrate you should! Enjoy dinner and I'll talk to you later. –Al

I walked into the kitchen to grab something to drink. I opened the refrigerator and saw that it was empty baring some water and a few beers. I must go get some groceries.

I pulled out my cell phone and started making a list of things I needed to get from the grocery store. I hated grocery shopping but it was a necessary evil tonight. I grabbed my phone and coat and decided to head out to the neighborhood store. As I walked the few blocks my text alert went off again.

Piper: Sitting in an Asian Fusion restaurant and thinking of you, good food, and the good times of our past…P

As soon as I read the text message, I was instantly transported back to the time that Piper and I had spent together. She was right we did have a lot of good food and good times together. Most of the best memories of my life were with Piper. I stopped to reply to Piper—I had an idea.

Alex: What restaurant are you at? What did you order?

I continued towards the store while I waited for Piper to reply. Just as I approached the store I got Piper's reply. She told me the name of the restaurant and what she ordered. I typed a quick reply before I set my plan in motion.

Outside the grocery story I opened up my browser and looked up the restaurant Piper was at. I found the phone number and called it.

"Hi yes, can I please speak with the maître d' or manager?" I asked who I assumed to be the hostess.

"Yes Ma'am, can you hold please?" she replied sweetly.

I pulled out my wallet and grabbed my credit card while I waited.

"Good evening, this is Joshua I am the maître d', how may I help you?"

"Good evening Joshua, I was wondering if you could assist me with something. I have a friend who is currently sitting in your restaurant waiting for her dinner. A blonde woman in her early thirty's who unfortunately is eating by herself. Her name is Piper. I would like to buy her a Bellinitini and pay for her dinner and anything else she would like this evening. Can you help me make this happen?"

"Of course Miss, I am more than willing to help. How would you like to pay?"

I gave him my credit card number and made sure he knew Piper's name. I also made sure to tell him to tip Piper's server and the bartender at 25%.

"Will do Miss. Is there anything else I can do for you?" He asked me.

"Yes, can you please congratulate her on her deal today and that I wish I could be there with her. Please let her know that I paid for her dinner and anything else she would like tonight."

"Yes Miss I will. I'm sorry, but I didn't catch your name. Who should I tell her bought her drink and dinner?"

"Alex. My name is Alex."

I hung up my phone and felt a shit-eating grin spread over my face. I could just see the flabbergasted look on Piper's reddening face now when the waiter brought her the martini and let her know her dinner was paid for already. I couldn't help it! I wanted to spoil the woman I have loved for the past twelve years. I only wish I could have been there with her to celebrate. I headed into the grocery store and started getting the items on my list while I waited to hear from Piper.

Not more than 15 minutes later while I was walking down the dairy aisle, did I get a text from Piper.

Piper: Al—Thank you very much for the drink and dinner. As always, you've outdone yourself. I can't believe you remembered my favorite martini. You are one special woman Alex Vause.

I texted her back right away.

Alex: You are most welcome Pipes. It's the least I can do to celebrate with you from hundreds of miles away. Of course I remember your favorite martini. I also remember you trying almost every martini under the sun before settling on that one. And no Piper—you are the special woman.