Chapter Fourteen
Alex stopped her work and walked closer to Piper. Piper looked down, continuing to wipe down the serving line. She was avoiding that knowing gaze. Her heart twisted and hurt. Piper thought that maybe she would have a panic attack. She scrubbed harder.
" Nicky already wiped most of it down. What's going on Pipes? You weren't supposed to return to your work crew yet," Alex asked softly as she reached out to stop Piper's frantic wiping by placing her hand on Piper's. Chapman looked up to see the guard turned out to the hallway, walking to another guard completely unaware of their touch.
She took Alex's hand in her own for a moment, then she looked again at the guard and quickly kissed Alex. She was surprised by the bold gesture and when the fast kiss was over, Alex craned her neck backwards to check on the status of the guards. Piper took her hand and pulled Alex back towards the kitchen.
" Hey, Red will have my ass if I leave that in the floor, I got to pick up my trash," Alex said laughing quietly as she let Piper pull her into the kitchen. As she passed Gina snatched the broom and told Vause she'd pick it up. "Um Thanks," she said in a timbre of voice that told Piper that Alex realized she didn't know something. She didn't want to tell Alex where guards were watching. It was fucking difficult to do anything in there as of late without guards watching. Red made a grunting noise then motioned to the side door entrance. Piper darted outside..it was dark but she knew if they went down on the dock, by the huge compactor, they would be out of the guard's view for at least fifteen minutes. Red would stall anyone looking and come up with a chore they were doing outside for her if pushed. Piper knew she would because Piper knew she was family now. It hurt her stomach to think of facing the world without seeing these women daily.
She got all the way to the side porch and Alex pulled her back. "No, any further they can see us from the dining hall side door," Alex whispered. Piper nodded and then slowly turned. She lifted Alex's hand as she did, looking at it...at their hands entwined trying to swallow the lump in her throat.
She had all the bad ideas...her need to avoid...to intellectualize or analyze the moment in a way that would piss her off. She could see all of her younger self's bad habits etched in their older, work-worn..hands. She looked up at Alex and smiled. She remembered how fucking gorgeous she was standing with water running down her body after she followed her off that waterfall years before.
"I'm getting out tomorrow. No parole, just supposed to be driven to a precinct in New York, processed out and picked up. Told to pack out...this time tomorrow I will be hundreds of miles away from you alone, scared and so very frightened for you," Piper murmured. She stopped talking because she knew she was going to ramble more, become more self centered and forget that Alex was the one that was going to be left there.
Alex's face paled but she grabbed Piper and hugged her so tightly..perhaps too tight. Piper relaxed into her and ran her hand up her back like she knew Alex liked. "Aww Pipes, I thought you had...oh fuck. ..you're going to be safe," Alex murmured into her hair. Piper knew she was crying...her own tears were hot in her eyes, yet she fought it tooth and nail. She'd never stop if she started. Alex turned their bodies and pressed Piper against the side of the metal casing. She reached and held Piper's face in her hands, it was dark and Piper couldn't see her as well as she would have liked. Her eyes though...they seemed to glow with genuine love and relief.
"I will get you out of here."
"Of that, I have no fucking doubt." Alex replied then she kissed Piper like she was drowning and her lips were her only source of sweet air. Her legs went weak and Alex used her thigh, wedged so expertly between Piper's thighs to hold her in place. They fit so perfectly like this...it brought back memories of clubs and trails….places they would relieve the ever present ache they had for one another then. The need to inhale each other's scent...the need to relieve passion that always rolls under the surface with them. Alex ravished her, making her cry out too soon...too fast..she was surprised as her lover shuddered, moaning against her lips. They held each other for a moment. Piper tried to calm her heart and imprint her scent..the feeling of her body as she quakes. Piper moved her thigh, moving it up to press against the sweetest of spots where Alex grind. It felt amazing to feel her quiver again.
"I'm going to miss you Pipes...but I'm happy for you kid. Come on...Red will have our heads," Alex murmured against her ear. It was almost a year ago she first saw Alex again and now her life was forever changed. Prison had changed her. Loving Alex again had changed her.
"I'm fucking terrified Alex. Not just for you but for me. I have no plan...I have nothing but the prospect of living off my parents," Piper began. Alex stroked her hair some as they moved back towards the kitchen.
"You will thrive Pipes. Just give them the benefit of a doubt, they have been through alot, " Alex reminds her. Piper feels immediately awful that she hadn't even considered how her coming home would help her father's health. She nods and gives herself a break. Prison makes you selfish, Red always told Piper. Alex is holding her hand when they walk back inside. The kitchen is full when they walk inside. There is a hastily strung up banner written on the back of styrofoam plates that reads "Adios Chapman' hanging over the doorway to the cafeteria. Flaca, Taystee (which surprised her because she has been on strict lockdown) and a quiet Suzanne is there but the rest are all from Red's family. Boo and Tiffany are there as well. She looks at Piper and smiles a bit- as if to say, " Hey sorry I tried to kill you and then gave you a concussion". Piper nods back and feels tears come to her eyes. Red has a cake. " This is Claudette's recipe, I think I did it right. Nicky brought it back to me from Max," she explained. Piper couldn't believe she had time to bake a cake. She oos and ahhs over it all. They play some music and drink fruit punch with their meal. Piper whispers to Alex about her radio. Alex nods agreeing and then she goes about dividing up some things.
"Boo, you get that blanket okay?" She starts as she eats a piece of cake. She pushes down her fear and regret about leaving Alex in the morning. She wants to give everyone her things so she can bring comfort to them as well.
"Cool Chapman thanks," Boo replies with a toast from her plastic cup of fruit punch. Piper splits her books between Gina and Norma. They seem pleased. She gives other items away and then tells Flaca she can have her radio.
"You shittin' me Chapman?" she replies. Piper shakes her head.
"You have the best and most eclectic tastes in music. There is a great local college station that you can pick up if outside on the track. I was a fucking jerk to you and I'm sorry. Just let Watson use it now and again as she runs- is up to you though," PIper adds quickly. She gives Lorna what lip gloss she has left and her tweezers. Lorna starts to cry some and Piper gives her a hug. She gives Red all of her letter writing supplies. Piper can be really expensive in the commissary so this is a treat.
"So you can write a letter to a certain ex of yours. Maybe clear the air so you get more visits from the boys?" Piper says quietly to her. Red gives her a look then hugs her tightly. Everyone is quiet for a moment. She tells Suzanne she has a few more pictures of the beach her brother sent her and asks if she'd like them.
"Yeah Dandelion, I'd like that." She says back to her. They hadn't really talked much since her crazy prison girlfriend attacked her. Hearing her voice...and her calling her Dandelion- is what makes Piper cry again. She asks her first but she gives her a big hug.
"You are such a good person inside, Suzanne. I'm sorry it took me so damn long to see it," she whispers in her ear. "I hope you will write to me." Suzanne just nods but Piper can see the tears in her eyes. She hugs Taystee next, which takes the woman by surprise. The guards are in the cafe part and say nothing about the contact. Piper realized that Taystee had been denied touch of a long while. She didn't have her best friend to help her anymore. "I have three fairly new movie magazines. I'll ask that they go to C block with you. After all, that was my first home here. You were very nice….thank Black Cindy too for me." She looks over her shoulder and the guards are talking and ignoring the party. She leans in closer anyways, "I will not let her be forgotten. You wait, I'm going to fight them all."
"That article Chapman…." Taystee started. Her voice breaks some and when she looks up at Piper her eyes are so sad and haunted. Everyone gets quiet to listen to what Taystee had to say. "You already helped. Her dad knows what happened….he knows she died trying to help a friend."
Others mumble behind her and Piper is surprised to see that all of them aren't pissed at her for keeping their phone privileges from being reinstated on time. "I'm not stopping. I will get the truth out and make sure the fucking company that runs this place….pays."
"You were brave Pipes. Just remember to take care of yourself too….this free walk out of here could be a trap. So be very careful," Alex warns. Piper looks over and sees Alex exchange a heavy glance with Red. The guards come up though and tell them to clean up, time is up. Everyone protests but they quieten down when threatened with a Shot. The kitchen group cleaned up and Piper hugged Taystee, Flaca and Suzanne head back to their dorm. She notices one of the guards escort them back. She tells Alex that the rest of her stuff, her extra hooks, shower items, shoes...some contraband comforts, even her fan- all for Alex. She nods as they walk and has a look on her face that tells Piper that she would rather have her there.
Piper always said that Twitter has nothing on Prison. The entire dorm knows the is leaving. Many stop her to talk so it takes her awhile to make it down to her cube. It is almost lights out and she stands for the next to last check. Donaldson is the guard on duty and he gives her a small smile as he clicks. There aren't many guards left at the prison that she knows so it was nice to see him this last night.
Alex is quiet as they get ready for bed. Piper stays close to her as she divides up her stuff, making sure to give away everything she can. She gives Tiffany a notepad. It isn't much but Piper didn't want to leave her out. To her surprise, Tiffany hugs her quickly and walks off. PIper shakes her head at how far things have changed. She will walk out of that prison with the clothes on her back and that is it. She knew she was blessed….that she had a place….a family. She was a lucky one.
Her heart didn't feel lucky. Her heart felt like a stone pressed down on her chest every time she thought about having to walk away from Alex. She watched Alex climb up on her bunk and smiled she she dropped her hand over the side. Piper took it and squeezed it. Lights out was called and everyone tried to settle down in their bunks. She couldn't believe this was her last night there. She was really scared.
"Alex?"
"Yeah Pipes?"
"I think I understand how hard it was to leave me in Chicago now. Please don't yell my name and cuss me as I leave," Piper added with a small laugh.
"Well shit, there goes my plans for tomorrow," Alex quirked. "Don't worry Pipes, we can do this. You've walked away from me before, you can do it again."
Piper feels her heart squeeze and she knows…..Alex is right.
***Hey my wonderful readers. Here is another one. Sorry for the delay again- I write in my profession and those deadlines must take priority. June 9th! Woohoo! And I am so thrilled for Samira and Lauren! I"m so thrilled a lesbian wedding made the news! Please, please, Please, please review- Peace, love and slutty thoughts- Fae***