Thank you for beta'ing, A Star In My Universe! Warning, attempted sexual assault and some racist insults.
Feelings of shame swarm around inside Lorna, and she wants to puke her guts out and die. "I...I brutally assaulted a girl with a medical heart condition! You all have every right to hate me forever!" She hadn't noticed it before, but some of Nicky's teeth were knocked out, and Lorna fears that some may have gone down the blonde's throat and she's unable to cough them back up.
"No," Red tells her fiercely. "She will wake up from this, and nobody is furious with you. This was all Humps! I'm going to call Tricia so she and Taystee can come to the hospital." She dials Tricia's number on her phone and presses it to her ear. "Hi, honey." There's a pause. "I'm so sorry to pull you away from your friends, but this is important. Nicky has been horribly wounded and needs urgent care...we're about to get her medical attention...well, she's in pretty bad shape."
"Tell her I viciously assaulted Nicky, I want her to shoot me in the vagina," Lorna mumbles, but Red shushes her. Not now, she mouths.
"We hope she'll be fine. Will you ask Taystee to bring you to the Lincoln Hospital? Alright, bye, Trish."
"What'd she say?" Lorna asks instantly after Red hangs up.
"She was crying and wondering if Nicky was going to be okay, and she'll be at the hospital shortly."
Since they don't want to wait for any paramedics or an ambulance, the women and Nicky's friends lift her up and put her on Flaca's lap sideways, and the girl in the wheelchair holds her upright since she's deadweight. Lorna knows it's not the time to be jealous since it's too serious of a moment. Then, after she, Alex, and Blanca get into the backseat of Red's car, the other girls help the women take Nicky from Flaca to the three who are in the backseat so she can sit up against one door and have her legs stretched out across their laps, and they buckle themselves in. Maria is in the passenger seat besides Red. The ladies take them all to the hospital, but in two separate cars, with Maritza between Flaca and Daya in Gloria and Aleida's vehicle. Poussey and Pennsatucky had opted to take the bus to where they're going since there's not enough room and they're not too close to anyone except Nicky, really.
As soon as they get there, everyone frantically lets the receptionist know that Nicky needs a cot and to see a doctor right away. When one finally arrives and brings in a cot for them to assist Nicky onto, Dr. Brooks tells them that only family is allowed to visit right now. Since Nicky doesn't have any, she lets Red, who says she's Nicky's foster mother, stay with the injured blonde. Lorna begs to go in, too, just to hold her hand until she comes out of her coma, and the doctor gives in, probably because of Red staring her down. Tricia and Taystee come in with tears in their eyes, and Lorna starts sobbing all over again, apologizing profusely. Dr. Brooks doesn't believe Taystee is Nicky's sister and has her stay in the waiting room with the other girls, Gloria, and Aleida, but Tricia follows Lorna and Red where they're wheeling Nicky into a room with a cot.
A steady beeping is the first sound Nicky's heard since Lorna knocked her out because of Humps. She opens her eyes slowly and it aches so much. Her entire face is raw and it burns when she tries to move it. She gazes all around the white room, or it could be a cloud, for all she knows. "Ah," she whimpers softly. "Maybe I made it into Heaven." She feels a hand wrapped around each of hers and from her blurred vision, she sees Lorna and Red on either side of her and Tricia perched on the end of her bed. "It's not Hell 'cause you three are here. Wait..." She knows she'll go from what she loves, and it'll definitely be heroin, since it obviously wasn't Lorna. "I'm fuckin' alive," she slurs quietly.
"Thank goodness!" Lorna cries.
"How long I been out?"
"About forty-five minutes," Red lets her know. "You gave us quite a scare, little girl."
"No wonder I had time to meet Jesus," she tries to joke, but nobody laughs. "He sent me back down here, I guess I get a lotta love from that dude."
Tricia crawls up next to Nicky and nestles into her. "Praise the Lord, for the first time ever."
"Nah, this is my third time almost dying, and it's different because it wasn't from heroin, so yeah."
"I thought I was gonna lose you forever," Lorna murmurs, and Red tenderly kisses Nicky's forehead and cheek.
"I'm still here," Nicky says nonchalantly.
"I'm so glad," Red tells her while threading her fingers through her matted blonde curls.
"Me, too!" Lorna and Tricia agree in unison.
"This wasn't supposed to happen," Lorna mutters. "I'm such a fuckin' bitch...I can't say it enough, but I'm so sorry, Nicky."
"Wait, what..." Tricia starts to ask.
"I'm the one to blame for the condition Nicky's in," Lorna admits.
"We're both at fault here...I got a bit carried away with what I said to you." Nicky turns to her little sister. "First off, though, that evil Humps instigated it...he's one of the teachers who are just plain sadistic, like Lorna and the others had tried to warn me, but shocker, I didn't take 'em seriously. He took advantage of the fact that we were having a little go at each other and turned it into a huge smackdown in our bras and underpants."
"I even saw him jerking off behind us," Lorna adds and shivers visibly. "I'm so disgusted with myself...I should've done something...to stop him...before I...I..." She trails off into hysterical sobs while shrinking into her chair and hiding her face with her hands. "You shouldn't ever be alone with me again! I don't trust myself at all..."
"It's okay...I know that he provoked you. Right now, though, we don't have anyone egging us on to be in a war with each other. He forced us to physically fight each other by gunpoint, kid," Nicky attempts to convince her. "Those bitch fellow students of ours...they were riling you up and he was kicking you like some animal, so no wonder why you were already furious. He coerced me into saying hurtful things so you'd have a reason to...bash my face in a dozen times." She groans weakly because talking causes her incredibly sore face to move. "That was his goal...he wanted you to do his dirty work so the sting would be even worse." Nicky gasps sharply and it feels like a truck has just rolled over her. "Ow...fuck..." She twists around in agony, nearly squishing Tricia underneath her and crushing Lorna's and Red's hands as the excruciating pain takes over her body. Warm tears trickle down her cheeks as her head pounds. "I need...I..." She despises appearing so fragile in front of Lorna, Red, and Tricia. She hopes they won't treat her like glass now.
"Painkillers?" Lorna guesses. "I'll get 'em for ya, honey." She begins to go, but Nicky keeps a strong hold on her hand.
"Stay. Please. I can get through this. It's just like a thing I gotta deal with when I'm worn down."
"It's my job anyway..."
"I'll fetch a nurse," Red pats her unscathed cheek gently and stands up. Nicky clings onto her arm like it's a lifeline and pulls her back down into her seat.
"I don't want you to leave either, Red."
"Okay, then I will!" Tricia decides aloud and exits the room.
"It would've only been for a second, sweetheart...and you know Lorna isn't going to hurt you."
"Yeah, and it's not that. See, Marka...the cunt who gave birth to me...she would always blame me for getting sick...I brought it on myself. I don't even remember her being at any of my appointments...she just handed my nanny a wad of cash and instructed her to take me to the doctor's," Nicky remembers bitterly. "It takes a lot more effort to be a mom, and all she did was give me life."
Red strokes her hair and she hums contentedly in response. "Oh, Nicky, I'm always going to come back to you, I assure you of that!"
"It's deep-rooted mommy issues, just roll with it. Sorry."
"You don't need to apologize."
"Alright, not sorry," Nicky mumbles, and Red chuckles softly.
"I apologize," Lorna speaks up, and Nicky glances over at her. "I...I'm not sure why I'm allowed to be here. I'm dangerous...I don't deserve to be near you again."
"Hey, stop. Really, it wasn't you at all. It's like...you were possessed because of that monster." Nicky sighs heavily. "Quit being hard on yourself before I start making bad Exorcist jokes," she attempts teasing Lorna, but the brunette still appears to be very upset.
Lorna sniffles. "Okay, The Exorcist was not real. That's one thing I know. I don't have a demon inside me."
"Look, you had that piece of shit twisting your mind all around. I want...no, I need you with me. You're just as important as Red. I mean, so is Tricia, but I need those damn pills, and you two are already by my side." She doesn't want to mention that she wishes Red wouldn't pick up Tricia just to take her to the mall when the younger blonde can go with her newfound friends and instead, watch Nicky at cheer practice. It's selfish and immature of her to think this way because decent parents must love all their children equally and not have favorites, she's well aware, but that's how she feels.
Tricia returns with a nurse who gives Nicky a cup of water and painkillers. She takes it in one gulp.
While Lorna, Red, and Tricia are visiting Nicky, and it's Alex, Taystee, Poussey, and Pennsatucky's turns next, then later, Daya's, Maritza, Blanca, and Maria completely destroy the house that Humps and his cronies live in since they're not home. They all smash bricks through the windows, paint it with red and black graffiti, and run away, cackling, as they jump into Yadriel's car. He blasts music as he drives off.
"Yo, that was awesome to see!" Flaca exclaims. "I wish I coulda done it too, but my wheels can't go over these sticks very well!"
"Stupid rotten yellow cottage!" Maritza grumbles, wrinkling her nose in repulsion.
"I know, just as disgusting as they are!" Blanca agrees, and she can see that her boyfriend and Yadriel are proud of them.
"It felt so good fucking it up!" Maria says.
"Yeah, especially after what they did to y'all and Nichorello!" Flaca gestures to everyone except the driver. "Maybe they never touched me nor Yadriel 'cause we got teardrop tats. They scared of us, dude!" At this, Yadriel smirks.
"I wish we set that fuckin' place on fire!" Maritza tells them. "Or, um...threw all of those gross dead creatures into it so they'd have a bug infestation!"
"Next time, this was just an impulse thing 'cause we're fed up, ya know?" Blanca asks, and Maritza nods.
"We should bring Daya, Alex, and Nichorello," Maria suggests.
"Yeah!" Flaca and Maritza squeal together.
"I thought you didn't like Alex," Blanca whispers to her while she's leaning forward so Flaca and Maritza don't overhear.
"I'm keeping the peace. It's just hard when she really loved your bully. I always got you, girl. I don't let nobody mess with you no more."
"Neither do I. Dude, you know me, I'm tough as nails." Blanca sits back into her spot and watches as they pass an area she recognizes.
He'd tricked her into going to the bad teachers' cabin, or whatever they call it, and now there's a rumor going through the grapevine that she's fooling around with all of them, even though the students know that Piscatella's gay. Sickness swirls around in her belly and the lump she's trying to swallow is stuck in her throat. Piper chortles behind her. "Oh my god, if it isn't Blanca the Beast! This is classic! We caught you red-handed, you little slut!" The girls surrounding the bitch just stand there, appearing to be extremely uncomfortable, but they don't say a word against their Queen Bee, as Blanca expects. She turns around and takes off into a sprint.
Kasey Sankey and Jennifer Digori trip Blanca as she's racing through the woods, so she falls to the ground, skinning her hands and knees, and throws up. She scrambles around to find the perfect branches to cut herself with, but Joey comes up to her with a camera. "I'm happy you found a nice place to live! You'll fit in with the other wild creatures!" She wipes puke off her chin and crawls away, wishing she could call Maria or run to somewhere safe, but she feels too weak to move. It's dark and she's not only humiliated and heartbroken, but she's terrified.
"Leave me alone, please..." she begs him quietly as tears leak out of her eyes and slip down her cheeks.
"Sure, after you repeat my words. I am a freak. Go ahead, I'm waiting."
"I'm a freak," she mumbles.
"Yeah, you are." He walks away and catches up to Kasey and Jennifer.
"Get up, beastie," Piper commands. "You're such a loser!"
"I can't..."
"Are you paralyzed or something?"
"No, I-I just...I'm physically sick." She chokes up the leftover bile and spits it out.
"Ew, you're disgusting!" Piper shouts, stepping a few feet back from her, and Alex trails after the leader. "Girls, we're all gonna get germs! Why aren't you following me and Al?"
"We'll be there in a minute," Lorna snaps impatiently. "Remember how sad you were over Mike Powell not returning your love? It fuckin' hurts! Not to mention, Joey is shit on a stick for what he did to me, and now, her!"
"Maybe we should at least help her get back home?" Daya asks shyly.
"Yeah, she could use some comforting...the girl did just get duped," Flaca murmurs.
Piper scoffs. "She really should've known she was way out of his league, come on!"
"Pipes, straight guys can be idiots!" Alex points out.
"Uh, you're talking about me like I'm not here," Blanca mutters, mostly to herself.
"Just walk away, girls!" Piper orders them, and they obey her, but spare Blanca sympathetic glances.
"Dios, Maria, I wanna die!" Blanca shrieks into her phone after they finally leave. "They turned me into a laughingstock!"
"¿Que pasó?" Maria asks, her best friend's voice almost deadly, and Blanca tells her everything, starting with how living with her parents who had no fashion tips whatsoever didn't help her at all socially and finishing with her only friend advising her not to give a fuck about what people thought of her. She'd tried that, but it's embarrassing to be a pariah just because of something anyone can easily fix.
What happened?
"Yo, what's up? ¿Estás bien?"
Are you okay?
Blanca smiles when she feels Diablo rubbing her thigh affectionately. "Sí. Now I am."
Yes.
"I'll never let anyone do that to you again, baby," he murmurs and then pulls her in for a hot kiss.
"Get a room!" Maritza complains, but she and Flaca are grinning.
"Blanca, Maria, and I trashed Humps' tiny house where he rooms with Dickman and Piss-cuntella for what he did," Maritza announces when Red goes outside the room to talk to the doctor.
Nicky and Lorna both snicker. "Fantastic job, kid!" Nicky praises Maritza.
"You're such real good friends," Lorna puts in. They hi-five Maritza, and she beams with pride.
"Yeah, that was super cool!" Flaca chimes in. "Yo, there's somethin' we wanna tell you, Lorna. Only thing is, I dunno if you'll be okay with it, Nicky."
"Just say what you gotta say to her, it'll make her happy, and I'll feel better," Nicky answers her groggily. She's starting to fall asleep, so they let her.
"Fahri should come to the school somehow...or we'll ask Alex where he works and bring Gloria there," Maritza says.
"We gotta like, It Takes Two this shit," Flaca informs them.
"Oh yeah, that movie was real cute!" Lorna gushes.
"We'd need to ride horses with them in the same place and do something to Gloria's so it makes her freak out and then he saves her before she gets badly injured...that's how they'd start to get to know each other!" Maritza exclaims.
Nicky grunts. "Animals are unpredictable...you don't wanna put her in danger. Movies are different from our actual lives...of course they wouldn't kill off or seriously harm the main characters," she mutters while her eyes are still closed. "If something awful were to happen to Gloria because of a matchmaking plot gone wrong, Daya and her mom would fuckin' murder you."
"I thought you weren't interested in this plan of ours," Lorna mutters remorsefully. "I'm sorry...we ain't gonna carry it out 'til the ninth, a month of Gloria bein' free from that mean man."
"It's alright...you kinda need me for this anyway. In fact, you'd probably wanna involve all of us in your plan, Red included, and your moms and Franny, if they so desire."
"Oh, wait, I got it...we'll go to the ocean, and we'd be there with her, Daya, and Aleida while you two-" Flaca gestures between Nicky and Lorna "-take Fahri, Diane, and Alex out for a day at the beach. We'll get her into the water, not where the sharks are, just when the current is strong enough to make her struggle and big waves will crash down on top of her...then we'll run out of the water as she's goin' down. When he hears her screaming for help, he'll rescue her! We'd do it right in front of you guys, though, of course."
"Yes, that sounds perfect!" Maritza gushes.
"Swoon!" Lorna agrees.
"No! What, you want her to drown? Why would anyone assist a perfect stranger when her whole family and her friends are there to do it?" Nicky wonders aloud. "I don't like this suggestion at all. Even though I'd sometimes like to suffocate in the sea, I wouldn't want Gloria or anyone else to risk their lives by doing that, even for a few seconds."
"Okay, you got a better idea?" Maritza asks, and she, Lorna, and Flaca look offended.
Nicky scoffs. "You three have never been in near-death situations, that much is obvious."
"How about something safe so she doesn't panic because she thinks she's gonna drown?" Lorna offers up meekly, just to please Nicky. "Um...one of us could pretend to be hurt...and they both gotta help. They could accidentally brush hands or look up into each other's eyes!"
"That'll be super adorable!" Flaca exclaims and she and Maritza giggle while clapping their hands eagerly. "Even if they don't strike up a romance at first sight, they could at least get a glimpse of each other and talk and shit."
"Yeah, but only thing...who would our actress be?" Maritza wants to know.
"Why me?" Daya asks over the phone as she sits against her dark wooden bed frame.
"'Cause you're pregnant. You may not even have to fake your distress," Lorna replies.
"How would we even make sure they're in the same place at once? When Gloria took me to his apartment, she didn't go in..."
"Gloria would be at school, in the kitchen, right? Diane works after and Alex could save money by asking Fahri for a ride to Friendly's instead of taking the bus. She'd tell him to meet her in the cafeteria's backroom and then she'd say she forgot something in one of her classes and needs to get it before the teacher leaves and run off. You'd faint or whatever, and they'd assist you in getting back to your feet," Flaca tells her. "¿Comprende?"
"What about you or Nicky? You guys are actually hurt!" Daya points out.
"Nah, 'cause Flaca needs a reason to get out of her wheelchair, she wouldn't do it in the kitchen, it's not believable, and she can't just fall out of it...and Nicky would be with Red, taking her out of the kitchen, leaving Gloria by herself with you and Fahri," Maritza explains.
Daya sighs. "Hmm, alright, I'm in."
"Yay!" the three girls on the other line cheer happily.
Besides Lorna, Red, and Tricia, Nicky's visitors had come in pairs throughout the day. She enjoyed Lorna taking care of her, even though she had to anyway because she was on duty. From wiping up the bloody mess on Nicky's face and getting ice for her bruises, black eye and fat bottom lip to regularly giving her painkillers and water, she'd been the absolute sweetest nurse Nicky ever had. When Lorna had to help other patients, Taystee and Poussey came in, after them were Pennsatucky and Boo, then Alex and Daya. Blanca and Maria were next, and Flaca and Maritza arrived last. Gloria, Aleida, and Diane check up on her at the end of the night when parent-teacher conferences are over. During her stay in the hospital, she'd gotten flowers, balloons, and get well cards. Lorna's still there, even after her shift is finished, and so is Red. As the evening turns into late night, Lorna calls Franny and tearfully lets her know where she is. Red informs her roommate that she's dealing with an emergency and won't be home until Nicky's back at Lorna's house and the pain isn't too bad anymore.
While Lorna is finishing up her call and Red goes to the bathroom, Stella strides in and pulls up a chair next to Nicky. "I came in earlier, but you were sleeping."
Nicky turns away from her since she doesn't even want to look at her, let alone hear her. "What're you doin' 'ere?" she rasps out.
The tattooed Australian slithers her fingers through Nicky's hair and down the side of her face. "Get off me, man, stop," she groans, but Stella keeps at it, trying to kiss her, until Nicky jams her knee hard into the idiot's chest while spitting at her. "Fuck this sexual harassment!" she grumbles, as the EKG machine starts beeping rapidly along with her speeding heartbeat. She attempts to get her breathing back to normal, but it's difficult.
"I just wanted to say feel better soon." Stella wipes the saliva off her chin. "I guess I'll return some other time..."
"Out!" Lorna orders Stella while stepping up to her. "Nicky thinks you're gross!"
"You're sick! You could've killed her! Meanwhile, she was hollering my name and then I got heroin from her. Damn, if I could go back to that moment..."
Lorna glares up at Stella darkly. "Stay the hell away from her unless you wanna catch these hands, you whore! In fact, touch her again, and I'll tell everyone that you buy drugs for sex!"
Stella grabs Lorna by her shirt and pushes her aside. "They all know, so it's not like some embarrassing secret. Don't threaten me, o nutty bitch. I've got seven inches on you! Sure, you got rough with Nicky, but that was only because Humps provoked you and she's practically your height."
"I'm protecting Nicky, ya fuckin' kangaroo! I ain't gonna hurt her no more. You just wanna molest her like the creepy slut you are!"
"You gotta admire the kid for defending my honor like she does," Nicky cuts in, interrupting their stand-off. "Look, she's right. All you ever were to me was a customer who's really bad at finger-banging and cunt-licking. You just didn't have it. Thanks for the cash, though, I really needed it. Other than that, I don't need your slimy hands near me anymore."
Lorna cackles. "Well, how 'bout that? One hookup, and then what? Did you even try to get to know her?" She scoffs while rolling her eyes. "We're so done here."
Stella appears to be mortified as she hurriedly leaves. Lorna goes to Nicky's side and curls up next to her. "I thought she was gonna force me...to do more...with her...if you...if you didn't..." Nicky tells Lorna through panicked gasps of air. "Oh my...oh my god...Jesus fuckin' Christ, Lorna..."
"Shh, you're safe now," Lorna coos while toying with Nicky's curls and lightly stroking Nicky's cheek with her thumb. "I'll make sure Red does somethin' real nasty to her food on Monday."
"Thanks..." Nicky sighs elatedly and leans into Lorna's warm, loving touch.
"Anytime."
"I ain't really sure how to do this...I never confessed to nothin' before," Aleida says to the priest behind the latticed curtain as she kneels on the step.
"That's okay. Just recite whatever sins, or wrongdoings in the eyes of God, that you have committed, and then you'll need to do some prayers, such as the Hail Mary a few times."
"I don't know any..."
"You can do it with me after."
"Alright." Aleida sighs deeply while clasping her hands. "So, um...a good mother, I was not. I got into heroin packing, and I brought my children into a home filled with smoke and weird odors, you know, from drugs...they were exposed to it. Not only that, I, uh...treated 'em terribly." She begins to choke up, but she knows it's a horrible time to cry. "I was always insincere. I never put 'em to bed or...or kissed their boo-boos...I put all my boyfriends' needs before theirs. I was blessed with beautiful babies...and I ain't ever...ever...told 'em I love-loved 'em before," she murmurs, trying to keep her voice from cracking so much. "Instead, I...I made my oldest, who's fifteen, be in charge of her kid sister and brother...I even gave her the idea that one of her guy friends was real into her, so she flirted with him, humiliating herself since he and her other friend were together...and I drove around with my son, who's only three, in the...the trunk of my car...and my youngest daughter...I called her s-stupid." Aleida allows a few whimpers to escape and she looks up at the ceiling, shaking her head while pressing her lips together. "Like, I actually said that to a four year old's face...but my best friend is so great with 'em, they think of her like their-their tía. She's much better than I am." Aleida sniffles and blinks back tears. "I s-slapped my high schooler because she...my latest man...that motherfucker had sex with her...and I was so envious...and now, I'm dating someone else, but I can't make a decision between the two." She loathes being so insecure and needy of love that it's reduced her to this. "I r-really do adore my k-kids and have-having them w-with me. I just...I haven't been able to show it much."
"Okay, well, after your penance, you can let me know how you are planning to improve."
"Sure..."
While Aleida is giving her confession, Gloria sits on the steps outside to wait for her. She sees Alana praying on the steps with her eyes closed. Then, she opens them. "I'm still getting used to being an orphan. My father put a gun to his head and my mother overdosed on pills in the same week this summer. I made calls to everyone in my family since I discovered both their bodies. My aunt is making life easier for me, she's the best...but it's difficult to wake up and then over and over again, realize they're not ever gonna come back."
"You have my condolences. I lost my parents at an early age, too...and I also had a tía who took me under her wing. She and I are extremely close."
"Oh...that's nice. You should always value her, is my recommendation, because you never know what you have until it's gone. I was arguing with my aunt about trying to find this teacher I had a thing for...and she got into a bad car accident. I have no idea if she'll make it...but I need to go to the hospital now. My bus to it is almost here."
"I'm sorry, I hope she'll be okay."
"Thanks," Alana mumbles over her shoulder as she leaves.
Gloria knows she should've gotten in touch with her aunt a long time ago, like when she'd first started living here, but she's just been so caught up in everything that it had completely slipped her mind to tell Lourdes where she is now. The woman had only left her a voicemail that she couldn't attend Benny's birthday party because she couldn't afford the plane trip to visit, and Gloria kept forgetting to call her back. She finally has a second to herself now, so she dials Lourdes' number and waits for her to pick up her phone.
"Gloria?"
"Hola, lo siento por no notificarlo antes..."
Hi, sorry for not notifying you earlier...
"Está bien, pensé que tal vez estuviste huyendo o escondido... Supongo que encontraste un lugar donde no te encuentre..."
It's okay, I figured maybe you were on the run or in hiding...I assume you've found someplace to stay where he won't find you...
Gloria smiles. "Sí, lo hice, estoy en el Bronx, con mi ahora mejor amigo y todos nuestros hijos. Ella trabaja conmigo en la cafetería donde su hija va a la escuela. Me siento muy segura aquí. Su novio incluso consiguió una alarma de seguridad instalada. Nadie puede entrar sin que se apague."
Yeah, I did, I'm in the Bronx, with my now best friend and all our kids. She works with me in the cafeteria where her daughter goes to school. I feel so safe here. Her boyfriend even got a security alarm installed. Nobody can break in without it going off.
"¡Eso es increíble! Estoy feliz por ti, cariño."
That's amazing! I'm happy for you, sweetie.
"Yo también. Bueno, si alguna vez quieres vernos o cuando tienes el dinero para un vuelo, puedes venir aquí. Los chicos y yo te extraño ... y estoy seguro de que Benny le encantaría contarle todo sobre el jardín de infantes!"
Me, too. Well, if you ever wanna see us or when you have the money for a flight, you can come out here. The boys and I miss you...and I'm sure Benny would love to tell you all about kindergarten!
"Voy a intentarlo muy duro, Gloria. Lo prometo."
I will try very hard, Gloria. I promise.
"¡Bueno! ¡Te amo, tía! Gracias por todo, en serio."
Okay! I love you, Auntie! Thanks for everything, really.
"Eres muy bienvenida, mi chica."
You're very welcome, my girl.
"¡Adios te quiero!"
Bye...I love you!
¡Yo también te amo!
I love you, too!
Aleida walks out of the church while Gloria closes her flip phone. "I'm done...I suppose some higher power up there has forgiven me for my sins, but I still feel awful. It's like...I told a stranger about the different ways I've fucked up, but they don't care. My kids deserve someone who's not me...those prayers or whatever, they didn't absolve me of guilt."
"Hey, listen. You gotta learn how to forgive yourself and take pride in the progress you've made so far." Gloria puts her arm around Aleida as they walk to the car. "Who stood up for Daya against Cindy's dad?"
"I did."
"That's right. Who went out and bought her new bed stuff and a fuckin' goldfish?"
"Me."
"Yup. Who does Christina's hair every morning and makes motor sounds like vroom, vroom! when playing with Emiliano's toy vehicles?"
"You, or Daya."
"Not only us, you do as well. You also take part in helping Daya through her pregnancy, you play Barbies with Christina even though you hate that shit, and you never skip your turn for changing Emiliano's diapers. You spend quality time with the children, just like Daya and I do. You and her are getting along real good, by the way...watchin' Judge Judy while snackin' on Doritos! Y'all got me into it, too."
"That was our tradition when she was little, but then everything kinda...disappeared when the others joined us. It's cool to be getting into the show again."
"Well, even if you don't see it yet, you're turning into a decent motha...day by day, you learnin'. I ain't even had to reprimand you lately or nothin', or heard shouting matches between you and Daya. I ain't sayin' I ever expected you to be perfect, 'cause nobody is, but you're pretty damn close." They get into the car and Gloria starts driving them home.
"I noticed the kids are still withdrawn and shit...and I can't let go of Cesar, no matta what."
"I know, he was a big part of your life...it'll take a while...and that's what happens when they've been around one scary guy after another. It'll take years for them to heal, or maybe they never will. I ain't gonna say don't blame yourself, because you should. Own up to your mistakes and then fix 'em."
"I will...I already apologized to Daya, but the other little children won't understand my words."
"You'll have to show 'em you're sorry, then. You don't gotta call 'em cutesy names, but at least tell 'em you love 'em, kiss 'em and hug 'em, play with 'em...kinda what you've been doing these past three weeks."
"Okay."
As everyone helps her move all of her things into the nursery so Daya can have her own room, Gloria comes across a picture of her and Lourdes on vacation in Cabo with the boys. She'd enjoyed hearing her aunt's voice an hour ago and she wishes Lourdes could come and see them, but she'll just have to be patient. She and Aleida put the youngest children to bed and kiss them goodnight.
"It's on!" Daya calls out just as Aleida is getting the Doritos and putting them into a huge bowl. They sit on the couch and Gloria joins them. Benny takes a spot in her lap and Christina squeezes in between Daya and Aleida.
"Can you do my hair?" Christina asks Daya as she pops a chip into her mouth.
"Ask Ma," Daya mumbles while chewing.
"I will," Aleida volunteers. "Your sister's hands are dirty with crumbs!"
"Okay, Mommy. I want braids."
"What's the magic word?"
"Pwease?"
"Alright, braids?"
"Yeah! Thanks, Mama!"
"You're welcome." Aleida situates Christina directly in front of her and begins to arrange her curly black locks into two plaits on opposite sides of her head. Daya looks pleased, and Gloria feels like she's finally fixed Aleida.
"Morning, hon," Lorna murmurs when Nicky rubs her eyes open, but not so much that it's painful. She's a bit disoriented but then realizes she'd stayed overnight at the hospital, and Lorna is nestled into her side. Red's still sleeping in a chair next to Nicky's cot.
"That's gonna make her bad back worse," Nicky worries aloud.
"I know, I told her that last night, but she insisted upon staying in here."
"I should wake her." Nicky stretches, but she can't let out a good yawn. "God, all my injuries are killing me!"
"I'm sorry," Lorna apologizes while twirling the ends of Nicky's hair around her fingers. She gently kisses Nicky's cheek and pulls back, smiling sadly through her tears.
"You don't need to say that, kid. I'm the direct cause of all of this...I chose to do drugs and therefore, get myself arrested, which made Piscatella hate me...and Humps just wanted to get a rise out of both of us. I almost died from heroin twice before...and last time, I was so smacked out of my gourd that I crashed a cab in Chelsea, Manhattan. I am no stranger to the bright white light waiting for me upstairs."
"It's a miracle you're alive."
Nicky chuckles while taking Lorna's hand off her cheek and pressing her lips to it. "I appreciate the sentiment, kid, but maybe Jesus keeps rejecting me because I belong in Hell."
"There's no way you do! I'm definitely going there, though."
"Nah, babe. You're sent from above."
Lorna grins and shakes her head. "I didn't save your life or nothin'...I almost destroyed it!"
"Only thanks to Humps." Nicky reaches over and taps Red. "Hey, Lorna and I are both up!"
The older woman startles herself alert. "Oh, good morning, girls! How was your sleep?"
"Awesome!" they answer her in unison.
"I'll go and tell a nurse so hopefully, you can be released soon." She groans and massages her back and neck while standing up. Nicky wishes she could do it for Red, but she doesn't have the strength. "I have a bit of a kink, but I'll be fine."
"I'll get the sore spots," Lorna offers.
"Thank you, Lorna, but first, I'm going to notify a nurse that Nicky is up." She winces as she starts to bend over, so she instead kisses her own index and middle fingers and places them onto Nicky's cheek.
After they go home with the instructions of what times Nicky should take her painkillers and change the bandages on her face, Lorna runs into Franny's arms and sobs out the whole story, why Nicky was really in the hospital. Her sister seems understanding and ready to murder Humps. Meanwhile, Nicky takes a first glance at her reflection. She barely recognizes the chick in the mirror. She still has her disheveled hair, but one whole side of her face is smothered with gauze and the other is dotted in angry blue and purple marks. She has two black eyes, a few missing teeth, and her bottom lip is busted wide open. There's several band-aids- under her nose, on her chin, and her temple. She can't stand looking at herself anymore, so she grabs a pack of ice from the freezer and puts it on her bruises while laying on her bed.
"How's Nicky?" Gloria asks as Daya comes into the kitchen, closing her phone, while the women are cooking breakfast and the kids are playing on the floor.
"She's back home!" Daya cheerfully informs Gloria and Aleida. "Lorna's so relieved...the rest of us girls are, too, of course."
"Oh, that's wonderful!" Gloria exclaims, and Aleida nods in agreement.
The doorbell chimes, so Daya checks to see who's there by peering through the peephole. It's just Leon, so she lets him in. They'd been expecting him.
"Hey," Daya greets him pleasantly. "My mom's making chilaqueles with Gloria."
"Daya, hello, thank you," he says politely.
"Hey, mister!" Benny calls out, and Leon waves at him while squatting down to his level.
"Hi, buddy. You gonna beat my butt in another video game today?"
"Oh, yeah! I'm a champ, just like Mama says!"
Everyone has a chuckle at their exchange. Christina slowly walks up to him. Her mouth is moving, but nothing comes out.
"What is it?" Leon asks her in a soft-spoken voice. "I'm sorry, I can't hear you..." He smiles sheepishly at Daya.
Christina backs away slowly and her eyes dart all around where he is, searching for something. She runs into Daya's arms and her little sister buries her face into her shoulder. "Are you trying to say something to Leon, baby?"
Christina barely nods and cups her hands around Daya's ears. She whispers, "I want a playground like in school and at the park, and he can do it, since he made me and Benny bunk beds."
"Oh...okay. Should I tell him, or you wanna try speaking up?"
"Yeah. You." The tiny girl taps Daya's nose.
"Alright." Daya bounces Christina in her arms for a few seconds. "She's asking if you could build a play structure in our backyard."
"That'd be awesome!" Benny says excitedly while jumping up and down. "Can you, mister? Puh-leeeeeease?"
"Sure, no problem-"
"Bennett Park is sixteen minutes away from here...we always take you kids...for free!" Aleida insists.
"I used to bring the boys to Bennett Park in Washington Heights, New York City, and now it's a regular thing with Christina and Emiliano, too." Gloria informs them. "Aleida, it might be nice if he could, that way, we don't gotta drive all the time, and besides, it's completely barren out there." She gestures toward the huge empty area where Daya would play hopscotch as a child while her mother and grandma smoked together on the steps while watching her. There's a wooden fence next to a chicken wire fence surrounding the big space.
"I'd love to build one on the house and lay down some rubber mulch since a pavement with cracks and a tiny amount of grass isn't safe to fall on. I could also install a swimming pool if there's room."
"Yeah, maybe next to the swings so we can jump off them and into the water!" Benny says happily, and Christina beams.
"We gotta teach you how to swim first, baby," Gloria points out.
"Mm-hm," Aleida agrees. Leon stands up and walks over to her. While the children aren't looking, he kisses her. "Are you sure you wanna? That's a lotta work for no pay," she tells him.
"Of course I do. You're my girl, and your family's important to me, too."
"Well, thank you."
"Can you paint it red and green?" Benny requests. "Me and my brother love those colors!"
"Gween!" Julio repeats.
"Sure, kid."
"Purpur," Christina mumbles quietly.
"She'd like purple, it's her favorite color, and Emilio...you like blue?"
"Boo!" he echoes.
"Okay, I'll get to work!"
"Have your meal first, babe," Aleida says and plops the combination on a plate. "Breakfast is ready!"
"Thank you."
"So, college, how's it going so far?" Leon asks.
Aleida groans and stretches herself out on the steps. "My brain is fried! I can't fuckin' stand trig and calculus. It's gonna take me so long to get my GED...I feel like I never will. I gotta study once a week for eight months...it ain't easy at the Bronx Adult Learning Center."
He pauses in his labor and makes his way over to her. "You got this, baby," he assures her and then squeezes her hand as he takes a spot next to her. "Gloria, Daya, and I will help you."
"I don't even know if I should try anymore...Cesar is making fun of me for doing this, so...maybe he's right, it's silly." Aleida stares down at the ground, but Leon tilts her face up and locks his eyes into hers.
"Don't listen to him or anyone else who doesn't believe in you. To achieve a dream, you really need to go for it. Do you want to have a career in painting nails?"
"Yeah..."
"Well, to reach your ambition, which you truly deserve, focus on you. One asshole's opinion doesn't count, even if he was your boyfriend."
"I'mma tell that motherfucker!"
"I have the urge to straighten him out!"
"I'll do it, don't worry...anyway, how tall are you?" Aleida questions Leon. "I only come up to your neck!"
"I'm six feet two. How 'bout you, shortie?"
"Five feet three...well, I love our height difference." Aleida can't stop running her hands down his broad shoulders and strong chest. "You look so tasty when you're shirtless."
"You do as well," he flirts back with her. He wraps her in his arms and slides his hands up her shirt, cupping her breasts as their mouths join together. Still making out with him, she puts her legs on either side of his waist and finds that he already has a tent in his shorts. "Shit, I got a big boner..."
"Mmm, yeah, you're so fuckin' hard," Aleida moans through their steamy kiss. "Oh my god, these muscles...I'm already wet...too bad you got another hour of this!" She points at his unfinished project. "Remember, the kids are countin' on ya."
They pull away from each other. "I know."
"All the chicks at Martin Van Buren High think you're hot and some of 'em even call you Mr. Mackadocious. It annoys me!"
"I didn't like it either. You're the only one allowed to call me that nickname."
"Good, then I will, Mr. Mackadocious." Aleida winks at him. "I'm so hungry and horny for you, but we'll wait 'til tonight."
"I want you just as bad, but yeah..."
"I'm glad Nicky's doing well, but I feel bad that she's in so much pain," Diane comments.
"Me, too," Alex agrees. "She doesn't wanna leave Lorna's house for a while until she can hide her wounds with makeup."
"I can understand that!"
"Do you have another date with Charles tonight?"
"It's not a date," Diane reminds her daughter. "We're just hanging out and getting to know each other...taking things slow, like you recommended. I'm not telling him anything about my past until I know for sure how he'd react. Sometimes, I don't feel like I'm good enough to really go out with a cop."
"Do what you want, Mom, it's not like you have to tell him anything you don't want him to know about..."
"That's what I thought you'd say. I'm going to Starbucks with Charles, Aleida, and Leon, like a group afternoon outing."
"Oh, have fun!"
Alex's phone chimes. Get all the girls together, you know which ones I mean...the cripple, the mommy-to-be, the deranged little girl, and yourself, the Piper lover, I've got more of that video I want to show you. It's been sent to your computer since Mommy's leaving soon! If this doesn't happen, you'll all be next -P
She shoots off a text to each of the girls and asks them to come over because P has threatened their lives.
Okay, I'll have Maritza stay with Blanca and Maria. -Flaca
I just got done feeding Nicky, so sure, I'll first need to ask Red to take care of her before I go. -Lorna
I'm on my way! -Daya
In about half an hour, the girls show up at Alex's trailer park and she lets them inside. She rushes them to the laptop she shares with Diane and opens the file with dread creeping around her entire being.
The people in ski masks are pushing Piper down onto some wooden table, holding her right forearm over the fire, and the girls gasp while covering their mouths when someone stamps some kind of tattoo onto her right forearm. Then, it cuts off and switches to Piper's bedroom. Alex still hasn't gotten over the shock of Piper being so tormented, and it's possibly how she died. The scene keeps replaying in her mind, haunting her.
"¡Dios mío!" Flaca exclaims when the camera pans across a group of skeevy men. "There's Humps, Dick-man, Ratman, Cesar, his cousin Duardo, Mendez, and some white guy with a pedo mustache I don't know."
"What is this, a club of predators who preyed upon Piper?" Alex wonders out loud in disgust. A shiver goes up her spine and she senses Lorna shaking next to her.
They converse about watching the girls undressing through Piper's bedroom window and the fact that they were all in the same fraternity. They close the meeting with "Vemos todos!" which Flaca translates to we see all.
"Where you hidin' that bitch?" Aleida demands to know while storming into the room, and the girls' jaws drop to the floor. "Imma get her first! She broke up me and Rick, and now it's time for her punishment!"
"That was a different time, she's good now," Daya snaps, closing Alex and Diane's computer quickly. "My mom never really liked her, no secret there. Did your moms or Franny?"
"Mine was indifferent," Flaca responds. "She wasn't really fond of her much, but she also had no idea how to deal with her, and she couldn't control her."
"Same with Franny," Lorna continues.
"My mom was quite patient with her, and they had a fine relationship. Daya, if yours did anything-" Alex starts to say.
"She didn't! She'd never stoop that low, even though she was stuck up and bitchy too. I guess she just saw her own bad traits in Piper...and why are you blaming her when there were like, seven other people who were perfectly capable of it?"
"Okay, fine, I won't accuse your mom."
Franny and three other girls whose name tags that read Ouija, Pidge, and Brandy, are busy behind the counter. Ouija takes their orders. Aleida and Leon get vanilla lattes while Diane and Charles have cappuccinos.
"Are you sure you two don't want the white chocolate mocha?" Brandy asks while gesturing between Diane and Charles.
"I'm positive," Diane answers.
"Same here," Charles says.
"Ignore her, she can be racist," Pidge mutters.
"Shut up, spic."
"Hey, one more rude word from you, Brandy, and we'll notify the boss!" Franny snaps. "We treat customers with respect."
"That's right, cracker," Ouija adds.
"My dad's the manager. He hates anyone who's not straight, white, Christian, and able-bodied. I, however, can deal with 'em."
"You gonna suggest I get the caramel macchiato, gringa?" Aleida asks Brandy sarcastically, but the white girl doesn't respond. She seems to be embarrassed as she works on their drinks, and Aleida smirks, proud of herself. "Y'all can laugh."
Diane smiles and bumps fists with Aleida while Leon snickers. Charles gives Aleida a thumbs up.
"This is America, we speak English. Here." Brandy hands them all their coffees and Aleida rolls her eyes and gives her a dirty look as they walk out.
"This is a free country, we can do whatever the fuck we want, except use inappropriate slurs!" Diane retorts. The four of them go for a walk around the area.
"You think this will actually be successful?" Aleida wants to know.
"My best friend with yours?" Diane wonders aloud. "I dunno, I'm hoping so."
"Don't you think the rest of us should meet him first?" Leon asks. "He could be deceitful like Arturo...and Gloria's becoming almost like a sister. I'd hate to see her be hurt again."
"Sure, but I know him. He's not an abuser or any kind of douchebag. When I met him in my early twenties, I probably would've gotten with him had he not been fifteen."
"Okay, we'll go visit him later, if that's alright with you?" Charles glances over at Diane questioningly, and she nods.
A little while after getting back from Starbucks, both men are under the weather and their faces turn ashen. However, the women feel fine. Charles appears close to passing out as Diane helps him into his house, and Aleida puts the back of her hand against Leon's forehead. "You all sweaty...you got a fever?"
"I'm sorry...I can't work anymore today...or drive..."
"It's okay, I'll take care of you. We'll switch seats and you can lean back." She starts to leave the car, but Leon sluggishly gets out and then throws up. Aleida rushes over to him with a ratty towel and wipes up the mess around his lips. "Oh, my poor baby!" she cries. She takes him back to her house, has him rinse out his mouth, and gives him water when he's propped up against pillows on top of her bed. He falls asleep, and she lays down right beside him.
"I'll let Alex know I'll be home later," Diane tells Charles as she places an icepack on his forehead while he's on his couch. She keeps a puke bowl and a bottle of water on the coffee table in front of where he's sprawled out.
"You don't need to..."
"Shh...let me be your nurse."
He grins a bit. "Thanks...you're the best," he mumbles.
"No problem. This is the first time I've seen your place...it's nice!"
"I'm glad you think so." Charles gazes up at Diane. "You're invited anytime, and Alex is, too."
"Awesome, I'd love to swing by, and I'm sure Al wouldn't have an issue with it either."
"I gotta call in sick at Dave and Busters," Poussey lets Taystee know as they follow Alex to Lorna's apartment where Nicky's staying. "I hope Carl will understand..."
"I'm sure he will! You even sound sick, and not in the good way. It's funny...my belly aches, too. You think it's somethin' we ate?"
"Maybe it's an epidemic, yo. Cindy, Janae, and Suzanne been complainin' how they all got the stomach flu from Starbucks. I know caffeine does shit to your stomach, but...this is weird, man. Like...all of us?"
"Alex said her mom's boyfriend was ill, too, which is why she couldn't go to my uncle's house," Allison tells them. She knocks on the Morellos' door and takes down her hijab, revealing a head of red hair, but they don't have the same reaction as last time. "What? This made y'all feel better before."
"Everyone knows Lorna's daddy's a real bigot," Poussey explains. "That's why you gotta..."
"I try not to let it bother me."
Alex knocks on the door. "I'm sorry about this."
"Why, because African Americans are being targeted? This a fuckin' hate crime, if that Nazi follower Brandy poisoned our drinks! Somebody gotta watch her ass next time!" Taystee exclaims. "I'm real nauseous..."
"Me too..."
"Maybe Red could take Ms. Ginsberg there, since she's Jewish. Hitler hated them, Brandy is a huge fan of him, so...and Red is excellent at watching suspects like a hawk! Plus, we could talk to her co-workers."
They seem to like Alex's idea. It's Lorna who lets them in, and she ushers them upstairs to where Nicky is. Since Poussey weighs about ninety pounds, Allison carries her on her back, and she, Lorna, and Alex guide Taystee all the way to the brunette's room. The two African American girls stagger in. "You both look like hell," Nicky murmurs.
"So do you, sister." Taystee plops down next to the blonde and Poussey's on the other side of her, and Taystee hugs the girls close to her.
Thank you for reading and reviewing, cornedout and A Star In My Universe!
