CHAPTER THIRTY THREE

Zoe had skipped lunch because she was still asleep, so Frieda bought some food for her from the commissary cart and went back to their desk. She opened up the puzzle book (which was actually Zoe's) and tried to concentrate on a Sudoku puzzle but her mind kept going back to their past.

She recalled another particular scary time but this happened after when Zoe realised she still loved Frieda and they got back together. They had both thought Zoe was going to get transferred to another prison and that Frieda was going to lose her for good.

Litchfield Penitentiary
2013

Frieda sat up, letting the blanket fall to the floor and glanced over at the other woman on her cot and smiled. It was a week-a week since they got back together and it had been bliss. A strand of brown hair had fallen in Zoe's face and Frieda brushed it back. Zoe opened her eyes and smiled, " Hey. Did we fall asleep?"

" No, you did," Frieda said as Zoe sat up. " I've been watching you sleep."

Zoe made a face, " That would have been attractive. I hope I didn't drool." She went to stand up but Frieda grabbed her arm.

" We have plenty of time before dinner," she told her and their mouths met for a passionate kiss. After a while, Zoe pulled away breathless.

" Instead of acting like two mature-aged women, we're acting like a couple of horny teenagers," Zoe chuckled, pushing Frieda away and standing up.

Frieda looked up at Zoe. She had a great body even at fifty-four years of age. " We're two people in love," she corrected her. She stood up and pulled Zoe in for a hug. They got dressed and headed for the cafeteria.

On their way, Joe Caputo stopped them, " McKenzie, you got a minute? I need to speak to you,"

" Okay," Zoe replied exchanging a look with Frieda. Frieda disappeared inside the cafeteria and she followed Caputo into his office.

Caputo picked up several sheets of paper, " McKenzie…I have some news for you," he paused, " You're being transferred."

There was a long silence in the office, finally Zoe said, " I'm sorry. I don't think I heard you right-did you say I'm being transferred? Where? Back to Max?" The colour drained from her face. She couldn't go back to Max. She'd die down there.

" No, to a different minimum security prison." Caputo replied.

" Where? And why? Have I done something wrong?"

" Ohio and no you haven't. It's nothing personal. This prison is becoming overcrowded and a few random inmates are being transferred." Caputo handed over a list, " Here."

She saw her name on the list as well as Piper Chapman, Maria Ruiz, and Yoga Jones. They did seem totally random but still. She couldn't help but feel like she'd done something wrong. Maybe Mr-I-Hate-Lesbians-Healy found out about her and Frieda and decided to transfer Zoe as punishment?

" I'm going to Ohio," she whispered. And she will never see Frieda again.

Frieda glanced over at Zoe worriedly. Zoe had been quiet ever since her meeting.

" Are you okay?" Frieda whispered to her, putting a hand on Zoe's thigh.

Zoe glanced up, " Does it look like I'm okay?" she snapped. She took Frieda's hand off her thigh and stood up. She stormed off, bussed her tray and left the cafeteria.

Gina glanced over at Frieda, " What's up with her?" she asked, noticing Zoe's storm out.

" Hell if I know," Frieda replied. After lunch, Frieda found Zoe in her cube. Zoe quickly wiped her eyes.

" So, what was with the big storm-out?" Frieda demanded, sitting down next to her.

Zoe was silent.

" You bit my head off just a few minutes ago and I think I deserve to know," Frieda added.

" I'm being transferred," Zoe finally said and Frieda stared at her.

" Being transferred? Where? Back to max?"

" No. To a prison in Ohio,"

" But…why?" Frieda frowned.

" Caputo said it was because of overcrowding. They're choosing random inmates to be transferred to Ohio. It's nothing personal."

Frieda took her hand, " It sure feels like its personal. Nobody knows about us do they? They aren't separating us as punishment?"

" I don't think so," Zoe shook her head, " I'm not the only inmate who's being transferred. Chapman, Ruiz, and Jones are all being transferred too."

" Fuck. That's random," Frieda breathed. She sighed, " I only just got you back and you're leaving. Did he say when?"

" I forgot to ask but I have a feeling it's soon."

" Shit," Frieda swore again, " This is so fucking unfair,"

" Not unless we think up a way to stop the transfer," Zoe said and they fell silent. " C'mon Frieda. You're the master schemer."

" And so are you," Frieda retorted. She thought for a while, " I have nothing." She admitted.

" Then I'm screwed."

Zoe went to the bathroom and Frieda went back to her own bunk. She couldn't believe. This week had been bliss and now everything has been turned upside down. She was never going to see Zoe again. And how was Zoe going to cope in a new prison? She didn't make friends easily. She made a whole lot of enemies when she first came here.

A few days later, Zoe was sent back to Caputo's office and he gave her the best news. He was stopping all transfers.

Zoe stared at him stunned. She had accepted the fact she was moving. She and Frieda had spent every minute of every day together. " Why?"

" The assistant warden was the one in charge of the transfers. I'm the one who's stopping them," Caputo replied and Zoe started to smile.

" Thanks Mr. Caputo."

" Look, we've know each other for nine years. You can call me Joe-when there's nobody around that is." Caputo said.

" Okay-Joe," Zoe smiled and left his office. She couldn't wait to tell Frieda the news.

On the way she passed Jones, " Isn't it great?" she exclaimed to her.

" Isn't what great?"

" That we're not being transferred."

Jones stared at her in confusion, " Well, I didn't know I was being transferred…but good to know that I'm not."

Litchfield Maximum Security Prison

" Earth to Frieda!" Zoe's voice broke into her thoughts and Frieda looked up and smiled.

" Evening. How are you feeling?"

" Much better," Zoe climbed out of bed, " I've been trying to get your attention the last few minutes."

" Oh sorry. I was just thinking about stuff."

" What kind of stuff?" she joined Frieda on Frieda's bed.

" Just stuff. Our past. Do you remember your first night here?"

" Just like it was yesterday." Zoe smiled and kissed her, " And I remember falling in love with you at first sight too. Remember when I crashed into you in the hallway?"

Frieda chuckled, " After that, my life was never the same again."

Nine and a half years ago

Yoga Jones lead the new inmates down the hallway and to the dorms. She lead the petite brunette into one of the cubes where new inmates stayed before they were assigned into dorms.

" Hey Jones," Anita DeMarco sat up as Jones showed the new inmate the bed above DeMarco.

" Hey DeMarco." Jones reached into her jacket pocket and handed Zoe some soap and toothbrush, " Here you go. I better scoot. Got another van run," she disappeared.

" You from outside or Max?" DeMarco asked Zoe McKenzie who had thrown her stuff ontop of her bed.

" Max." Zoe replied, " You?"

" I'm from Max too. I'm DeMarco," the older woman introduced herself,

" How long you got kiddo?"

" Ten years. I've already done one year in Max. I'm McKenzie."

" McKenzie?" a gruff voice from the next bunk with a Russian accent piped up, " Zoe McKenzie is that you?"

Zoe turned to see someone she hadn't seen in a while. " Miss Rosa. It's nice to see you again!"

" You two know each other?" DeMarco asked.

" We were bunkies in Max before she got transferred here." Zoe told her, " How you doing Rosa?"

" I got cancer," Rose replied, " I just had chemo."

" Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," Zoe leaned down and hugged her impulsively.

DeMarco was astonished to see Rosa smile. Rosa didn't have many reasons to smile lately. " It's good to see you too," Rosa told Zoe as Zoe plopped down at the end of Rosa's bed, " So how did you get your transfer down here?" Rosa asked her.

Zoe just shrugged, " I have my ways."

" I'm sure you do," Rosa said, " C'mon, how did you get it? I know you Zoe McKenzie, you probably schemed your way in here."

Zoe just smiled, " A girl has to have some secrets right? Now, can one of you show me to the bathroom?"

Rosa shook her head and smiled again as DeMarco lead Zoe out of the cube. " I've never seen Rosa smile so much before. It looks like she has a real soft spot for you." DeMarco told Zoe.

" We were good friends. We looked out for each other. " Zoe shrugged and followed the older woman to the bathroom. On the way, she bumped right into somebody who was turning the corner.

" Watch where you're going," Frieda Berlin said gruffly as the two women collided. She reached up to steady Zoe who had lost her balance.

" My fault. I wasn't looking," Zoe said frowning. She'd seen this woman at the fence when she first arrived at the prison.

Frieda walked off, " Who is that?" Zoe whispered to DeMarco.

" Frieda Berlin. She's one of the lifers here." DeMarco replied.

Zoe nodded and glanced back over her shoulder at the departing Frieda Berlin.

Her heart thumped as Frieda's stern face flashed in her mind. Long brown hair tied in a ponytail, big blue eyes. I can't have a crush on her do I? Zoe asked as she washed her face in the sink, I just met her and don't even know her.

But it was more than just a crush. She had fallen in love with Frieda Berlin.

" What has got you in a melancholy mood?" Zoe asked as the memory faded. Frieda stood up and stood in the doorway and watched the common area. Zoe joined her.

" I just have this weird feeling," Frieda replied as Zoe took her hand, " Changes are coming and neither one of us are going to be prepared."