Thank you for beta'ing, thecharmedwerewolf and nnicholsnlyonne! Note, if there's only little phrases or words in other languages than English, I'll say what it means up here, but if I'm writing a whole conversation in another language, I'll put the English translation right below it-kinda like how they have English subtitles while someone's speaking another language in the show :) oh and happy Election Day to any of my fellow Americans! #imwithher

The funeral turns out to be pretty depressing and they're all wearing black. Nobody really expects a young person to die. The school has been closed due to the event. The girls sit with Cal, Carol, Bill, and Celeste Chapman, while their own moms, Flaca's brothers, Lorna's sister, Maritza, Red, Gloria, Claudette, Poussey, Brook, Cindy, Janae, Blanca, Maria, Suzanne, and Maureen are in the back. Daya's mom has no idea of what happened. Piper's family looks so solemn, except for Carol who cheerfully greets them with hugs and hellos. Alex has no idea how she's keeping it together. It's so hard to look at the lovely picture of a fourteen-year-old Piper they put up next to her casket without crying. Tears prick at her eyes and Lorna squeezes her hand gently.

"You don't have to hold it in, hon."

"I know." Alex manages to say through a strained voice. "I'm just trying to be strong."

The minister then has everyone go around the room and touch or kiss the coffin. Alex walks slowly behind Flaca and whispers, "I love you," as she bends down and presses her lips to the top of the wooden box.

"I'm sorry," Lorna says softly behind her as she strokes the casket.

"Rest in peace," Alex can hear Flaca murmur.

Daya trails after them. She gazes sadly at where Piper's corpse is and sniffles while patting the casket.

The attendees go into another room and then the girls gasp when they notice Pennsatucky stroll in with a cropped-haired older lady in a tuxedo and glasses. Behind them, are Leanne, of all people, and her best friend Angie Rice, linking arms.

"Why are they here?" Alex asks nervously.

"They probably wanna taunt us," Lorna responds.

"Don't let them bother you," Maritza advises them while taking a seat next to Flaca.

"I'll try not to look," Daya mutters and Flaca rolls her eyes.

"I wonder if that woman with Pennsatucky is her parole officer," Flaca states.

"Yeah, maybe," Alex says.

The speeches start with Piper's parents and her grandmother, who take turns telling the crowd funny stories about her. They get everyone to laugh. Cal talks about how it's different not having a big sister anymore to tease and play with.

Alex swallows the lump in her throat and lets Flaca go up to the podium first. She would have, but she's afraid her voice will break too much in the middle of her sentences. She needs some time to breathe and practice keeping herself calm while speaking.

"The thing about Piper was that she was in control. She kept her head up high, even when times were tough. She wasn't scared of anything. She was cool with you, no matter what. That's all I gotta say." Flaca closes her eyes and sighs as she goes back to her place between Maritza and Alex.

Lorna shortens the microphone so her mouth can reach it. First, she reads a prayer from the Bible and then she continues with, "Friends are accepting, and Piper was that, like Flaca mentioned. She was also someone you went to when you needed tips about whatever...boys, clothes, jewelry, makeup, the whole enchilada, you know? She was my first friend that I made in school and I was so grateful for her. She got me my first real boyfriend-" The brunette stiffens and hands curl into fists, but then she composes herself. "Um...and my best girls. She was our leader, and a perfect one at that." She smiles and steadies herself as she walks down the stairs and returns to where she was previously sitting. "Alex, you wanna be next? She appreciated you the most out of all of us. I could tell."

"No, it's okay...I'll be last...Lorna, what was wrong? You kinda froze-was it stage fright or something?"

"Huh? I'm fine, don't worry."

"I guess it's my turn," Daya mumbles.

"Are you sure? You don't have to, I know you didn't have an easy relationship with her, and you're shy," Flaca whispers back.

"I was her friend too, though, it's expected." Daya stands and steps up to the podium. She makes the microphone a bit higher. "I can see why Piper was loved by everyone. She had that positive energy...and she made people better themselves. She was blunt...but that was okay. If you're friends, it really is. You want the truth, so that you can see where you went wrong. You couldn't pull the wool over her eyes, either. She wanted...no, needed you to talk to her about...anything, practically." Daya switches spots with Alex, who raises the microphone to where it was when Flaca had been there.

"Pipes was awesome, amazing, and beautiful. She made you feel really good about yourself." Daya raises an eyebrow at this. "She'll always be in our hearts. Her soul is watching over us...and I think we should build some kind of memorial for her. You know, like a plaque with her name on it, and it would be surrounded with pretty flowers. She'd love it. I know her...and she'd be smiling down at us as we sat there and thought about her. She craved attention, so if she was here right now, she'd be begging us to make that. All eyes were on her, and that shouldn't ever change." Alex bites her lip and looks up at the ceiling. When she gets back to her friends, they rub her back in soothing circles.

"Y'all did great," Flaca praises them.

"Thanks, so did you!" Lorna replies. "Hey, Alex, great idea about the memorial."

Alex grins proudly. "We've gotta honor our girl somehow."

They don't expect anyone else to talk, but Leanne smirks as she makes her way to the podium. She knows exactly what she's doing, and Alex hates it. The other girls sigh in disappointment.

"Piper Chapman was an enigma. I don't think there will ever be another human being like her. She was tough, but kind, as evidenced by her visiting me in the hospital. She just blew me away. We're all gonna remember her until we join her. She may be gone, but her spirit lives on forever."

"Mm..." Alex trails off.

"Not bad, but I still don't trust her," Daya comments.

"Me neither," Flaca agrees.

"Now I'm curious about what Piper said to her there," Lorna murmurs. "Why would she even go?"

"I dunno," Alex answers.

They glance over their shoulders and see Leanne hugging Pennsatucky and Angie, and then Alex's phone buzzes. She hides it from Maritza once she sees who it's from, and she's filled with dread.

You better make sure nothing bad happens to your precious little memorial once it's built. I'd hate to see it ruined :( xxx P


As the girls are sitting on a bench at the park, they discuss who they think could be P. They're in their regular clothes now.

"That bitch ain't gonna do shit, Alex, they should know it'll get them in trouble," Flaca says. "Leanne talks a big game, but she's a fuckin' wimp."

Alex twirls a piece of string from her ripped jeans around her finger. "I'm praying that you're right."

"Seriously, all she cares about is meth," Daya chimes in.

"I'd like to see her try destroying what we're gonna create!" Lorna declares. "I'd fight her! Oh, what if it's Pennsatucky? Her name starts with a P and everything! If someone got me in jail, I'd want revenge, too...just not on the friends of the person."

"We'd have your back," Alex responds and taps Lorna's shoulder with her fist. "Pennsatucky isn't P since you can't send texts from jail. Maybe Leanne is sending the threats, but Pennsatucky's carrying them out, like a little annoying messenger. We know she can be savage. She snapped my glasses right in half! For all we know, she could've gotten so angry at Piper that she killed her."

"She's definitely a suspect. We'll watch her like a hawk tomorrow and every day after that," Daya agrees.

"Have you girls considered Poussey Washington or Janae Watson? They didn't seem to care about Piper, with the way they were talking about her disappearance on Monday. I mean, Poussey seemed kinder about it since she backed off when I asked them to, but Janae was harsh!" Flaca points out.

"Yeah, Poussey wouldn't have done anything. She's too nice. She may not have liked Piper all that much and she's one of Janae's best friends, so of course, she'd be on her side, but she's not the kind of girl who would go too far," Alex says. "That dumb Baxter Bayley knocked her down one time in a crowded hallway and she didn't even have a furious reaction...she just told him to watch where he was going and called him a stupid klutz when Brook got her up off the ground. Maybe she and Piper weren't on great terms, but she's very peaceful. Janae, however...we'll have to keep our eyes on her, too. Poussey might have been at the funeral to pay her respects, but Janae could've been sitting there and silently cursing us for standing by Pipes."

"Huh, that's three so far...how about Suzanne? She's friendly most of the time, but we know how she can get when she feels attacked," Daya tells them. "Maybe in a fit of rage, she did something...like not on purpose, but she thought Piper was someone she was mad at...I heard that happens with people who have mental disorders. She's got a serious one. She used to be called Crazy Eyes, which really wasn't right at all, but now, more and more people are referring to her by her first name. She nicknamed Piper Dandelion and Piper would always reject her. A lot of bullying victims want to get back at their abuser. She has some motive, too, and she's easily influenced. P could get her to torment us."

"Oh, yeah...they're all very suspicious. I don't want it to be Suzanne, though, because I like her and want her to get help." Lorna murmurs. "She's in my drama class."

Suddenly, they see Mr. Bennett riding by them on his bike in a tank top and athletic shorts, and their seriousness fades away. Flaca waves at him and giggles. "Hey, teach!" He smiles back at them and goes on his way. She turns to her friends. "Wow, he's sexy!"

Daya tries not to blush with embarrassment. "Careful, his girlfriend might hear you!"

"It's not like I'mma go for him, but damn! That man can ride, if you know what I mean!" Flaca goes on, and Daya laughs too loud.

Lorna shakes her head. "Not as much as Christopher, though! Hey, I'm going to his house every night this week! My poor baby was sick today, so I'm going to make him soup and crackers. I'm such a good girlfriend, huh?" she asks enthusiastically.

Alex nods. "Yeah, you are."

The shortest one in their group squeals enthusiastically. "We're so perfect together! You should see us when he's better." She holds up her phone. "I'm always checking up on him. Look." She shows them the texts she's sent him. There's about fifteen in a row from her and Daya squints to see if there's really that many.

"Whoa! He hasn't answered you after all that?" Daya chuckles. "You're being so sweet, but I think you should wait for him to reply. He's probably sleeping. The ball is in his court. Stop throwing more of yours."

Lorna pulls her phone away sharply. "Can it, Daya!" she growls through gritted teeth, and the Latina holds her hands up in surrender.

Flaca takes out her small compact mirror to draw a teardrop under her eye with eyeliner. "Nah, she's right! If Ian was ignoring me, I'd do it right back! It just means he's either busy or doesn't like me. I can tell the difference."

"Well...then you'd never talk. One of us has to do it!"

"Yeah, but you can't be the only-" Alex starts.

"I'm not!" Lorna cuts her off. "So...did you guys get this?" She opens an attachment on her phone. "P said karma's a bitch."

Daya is shocked by her sudden change in topic, but she looks anyway. It's a picture of the girls staring at Daya's vandalized mirror. "Holy shit!"

"That's us," Flaca mutters.

Alex gulps. "Jesus, they were right there. They were at the funeral too, they threatened Pipes' memorial. Why did that fucking weirdo only send it to you, though?"

"I guess because I'm the only one who wears bright red lipstick and they don't know the brand name of mine."

"Well, this just proves that Aleida is as oblivious as shit!" Daya grumbles. "Honestly, I'm embarrassed that she's my mom. She was literally out there with P hiding in the bushes and they probably rustled or something, but she was focused on stupid Cesar!"

"We didn't see them either." Flaca adjusts her wrinkled plaid skirt and smoothes it over her black tights-covered legs.

"We weren't meant to," Alex contradicts her. "P is aware that she's like that. Everyone else would notice something weird on their own property."

"Yeah," Lorna agrees. "Hey...Daya, I'm sorry for snapping at you. It's just...Nicky. She came by the school and discussed the great time she and Alex had getting high!" Daya jumps.

"Lorna!" Alex exclaims.

"What? Nobody heard. I hissed that."

"I know, but-"

"I had to say it. We can wean you off it. I'm fine with keeping secrets, but not dangerous ones."

Alex rolls her eyes. "I'm not on anything, alright?"

"Wait, you did drugs?" Daya questions the girl in glasses. "I hope to hell you don't become my mother!"

"Oh my god, I won't!" Alex glares at the tiny Italian. "What's next, Lorna, are you gonna mention that I fucked Nicky, too?"

"No, that's your business! Quit frowning, by the way, it causes wrinkles."

"You did? How was it?" Flaca asks, leaning in with an intrigued expression on her face.

"Well, you've done it before, you know the feeling. It's just like...it, but minus the dick," Alex replies.

"Oh, like a pussy rub and a boob grab!" Daya realizes out loud and Lorna makes a grossed-out face.

"Please, no visuals of Nicky's hands on anyone!" she begs.

Alex chuckles. "She's not that bad once you get to know her."

"She never called you stuck-up when you offered your assistance."

"At least she apologized."

"Yeah, but it was half-assed. Sorry for being nasty to ya, kid, with like, no emotion. Also...I'm so not a child!" Lorna pouts.

"That's just Nicky, it's nothing against you. Maybe if you became actual friends, she'd be a little warmer. Also, snarling, gaze into my eyes when you say that, you cheap whore wasn't very nice either," Alex scolds her.

Flaca stifles a chortle and Daya side-eyes Lorna.

"Well, she is one!"

"Okay, yes, she likes sex, but you shouldn't say that. Hookups can be fun."

"Hey, Alex, I know you're her girlfriend and all-"

"I'm not, it was just a romp. We're besties. Why don't you apologize for calling her skeevy and those other names? Then you'll be even. I'm just trying to be a peacemaker here. You gotta work with me, Lorna. I know you have a lot of pride, but so does Nicky. It wasn't easy for her."

"I know I was wrong...and I'm glad she admitted how she was mean...but she makes me so...I'm not sure how to put it...like, she's badass, okay? She's fully aware by now that I'm an explosive girl and she pushes me just right! She stares at me with those big ol' brown eyes as we fight and she's always doin' that stupid smirk at me like she know somethin I don't...I mean, if she was a guy and she didn't reek of smoke or drugs, we'd be having wild hate sex all the time with her pulling my hair, I'm just sayin'." Lorna's face goes tomato red and she smiles as she confesses this. "You know, but that's me and Christopher. I bet he's an animal in bed! Is Nicky?"

"Well-" Alex begins, but then she, Daya, and Flaca burst out into peals of laughter. "Jesus Christ, Lorna, you're killing me! Oh my god, if she heard you say that...wow!"

"Please don't tell her!" Lorna blushes uncontrollably.

Daya covers her face and tears come out of her eyes as she leans against Flaca's shaking body. "I want to see them in action!" she breathes out. "Not the actual fucking, but-"

"Yeah, the bantering...it sounds hilarious!" Flaca says.

"You will, at your boyfriend's party!" Alex tells her.

Lorna huffs. "I'm glad y'all are getting a kick out of this. I didn't know we were so entertaining!" Eventually, she lets out a small giggle, but she's still very flushed.

"It's part of your charm, Lorna," Daya murmurs. She can't bring herself to look at Lorna without thinking of what she's just revealed and then busting her gut from cackling all over again. She hadn't even noticed she'd gotten a message from P until she sees her phone vibrate inside her purse.

I hope Mommy and Daddy don't see your doodles about Johnny boy yet...it would soooo prove them right! -P

Daya gasps. "Hey, I've gotta run...literally...can't leave my sister and brother alone with my mom and Cesar for too long, ya know?" She gives the girls quick hugs. "Bye!"

Once she bursts through her apartment door, panting with her hair stuck to the sides of her reddened face, Cesar asks, "How was your day, chica?"

"Fine," she says shortly and then heads into her room.

To her dismay, Aleida holds up Daya's sketchpad and starts laughing. "You fucking your teachers to get A's, huh? Whenever you get home, you're always glowing, so there's gotta be someone at school who's making you that happy! Besides, I found your stupid drawing. Look!"

"Give me-" Daya grabs for it, but Aleida pushes her away. She rifles through the pages carelessly and shows her a picture of two stick figures that resemble her and John with the caption, my favorite teacher over it.

"See? Your vagina got itchy again. Aw, don't pout, whoever this is, he'll make you feel all better, won't he?" Daya angrily wipes a forming tear away and wrestles her notebook out of Aleida's hands. "Cesar and I will be meeting him at, uh, Back to School Night, when is it?"

"Why do you even give a fuck?"

"I wanna see if he's Prince Charming like you think he is, or if you're just saying that because you're banging him...besides, you don't say much about school, so we gotta find out somehow, right?"

"Tomorrow at seven-thirty," Daya barks. "Don't forget to pack some heroin to share with everyone," she mutters sarcastically.

"Nah, I wanna be fully alert for this one. It's good."

Daya scoffs and rolls her eyes as Aleida finally leaves her room.


"It wasn't that funny!" Lorna protests as she and Alex board the bus to meet Nicky at Shake Shack. "I was being serious, okay?"

"Alright, but girl, you've gotta admit that you tried so hard to hate Nicky that you actually like her now, otherwise, you wouldn't be going with me to take Nicky to Red's for her intervention, and choosing to exchange witty comebacks with her, when you could just stay away from her instead and have someone else make sure nothing bad happens to me."

"Yeah, well, I'm your wingwoman. I gotta be there. It doesn't have anything to do with...Nichols. I've gotten used to our bickering, and I actually kind of enjoy it because of the thrill it gives me, but I don't love her. We're civil and the only thing we agree on is that we think each other is as dumb as they come. Hate sex is rough and without emotional ties, if that's what's been on your mind for a while. With Christopher, it would be slow and sensual, like it was when I dated Vinny, got it?"

Alex nods. "The two of you are just being silly, that's all."

"How? I've met my match, and it's her. It makes perfect sense, right?"

"Uh huh," Alex murmurs skeptically.

When they reach the fast food joint, they get off the bus and walk inside. Nicky waves at them and walks over to give Alex a hug. Lorna steps aside and smiles awkwardly at Tricia. She notices Poussey talking to another African American girl who's behind the counter.

Nicky stares Lorna down. "Morello."

"Nichols," Lorna shoots back at her.

"Wow, such sexual tension when you said my last name like that," Nicky murmurs and winks at her.

Lorna stands on her tiptoes to appear taller. "Fuck you!"

Nicky waggles her eyebrows and licks her lips. "Go ahead."

"What? Ew! Ugh, get away from me, you horny lesbian!" Stop thinking about her having a dick and pushing you into a wall while yanking off your clothes. No, stop it, right now, Lorna, she reprimands herself. She starts breathing heavily while raking her fingers through her hair and Nicky's smile gets impossibly bigger. "I can't tell which is grosser, you or the bus! When's the last time you washed yourself?"

"Oh, I think the bus beats me by a landslide, because many people like me get on it, so it'd be like if I passed gas three thousand times in a row before finally shitting my pants and stunk it up. I always make sure I'm clean, well, except for with my best girlfriend heroin, of course."

"Come on girls, you're giving these people a show," Alex says while placing herself in between them and ushering them out. "Nicky, you shouldn't tease her like that."

"Thank you!" Lorna says, relieved.

Nicky sneers. "Why not? Kid likes it. You think I don't know a turned-on girl when I see her?"

"This is called an anxiety attack!" Lorna retorts and tries to calm herself down. "You rile me up!"

"Oh, I do, huh?" Nicky's teeth tug on her bottom lip.

"Yeah, so...so leave me alone!"

Nicky shrugs her shoulders at the little brunette. "Fine, I will!"

No...Lorna doesn't mean that. She already misses Nicky's scratchy voice directed at her. Hearing her talk to only Alex is a lot different.

After going out for pizza and a movie, they take the bus to Red's house. Alex exits the bus first, followed by Nicky and then Lorna.

"You seem mellowed out now," Nicky tells Lorna. "What, you're not gonna complain that I smell and look like a sewer rat?"

"You already know that, I don't need to tell you again. I'm no bully! It's just...when was the last time you washed yourself?"

"Last night, I don't live in a cave!"

"Maybe I could give you, like, tips on how to take better care of your hair. It's a rat's nest and there were probably bugs living in it before you shampooed it." Lorna's hoping to get a rise out of her.

"Thanks, but no thanks. What's the use? It'll just go back to being like this." Nicky points to her massive hair. "Honestly, I've got better things to do with my time than worry about how I look."

"That would itch my face!"

"Good thing you're not me, then, huh?"

"Yep. Hey, you didn't call me names this time when I offered to help you!"

"I did apologize, you know." Nicky folds her arms across her middle. "Now, it's your turn."

"I was being honest! You were wrong!"

"Okay, you're right about me having been dirty the first day I came to your school, but you have no idea why I looked homeless."

Lorna rolls her eyes. "Enough with the sympathy trip, okay? You're hooked on drugs and that was your choice. Don't try to tell me you really do live on the streets-"

"I did until Vee took me in!" Nicky yells as her eyes fill with fury. "You know nothing! You're like one of those idiotic rich little trophy wives who wear polka-dot dresses in the kitchen and evening gowns on nights out, but oh shit, what dude in their right mind would wanna marry some brainless twit like you?"

Lorna pushes Nicky extra hard so that the blonde falls into Alex. "Shut up! I'm sorry, okay? I can't read your fucking mind! Apparently, you're just as dumb because you assumed that I was an ignorant, selfish brat who thinks she's perfect, simply because she can cook. I'm poor and my family lives in a small, crowded apartment! My sister does everything and I'm sometimes her right-hand woman! My dad is crippled and the only thing he can do is laze around and watch television with my brother! My mom is bedridden and probably is developing a bad form of cancer, which is what you'll have soon too if you don't quit smoking! I don't have money! I wear hand-me-downs and cheap makeup...coffee grounds make for really good eyeshadow...so life is kinda hard for me, too!" she screams breathlessly. "I know I don't have it as bad as you did, but I certainly didn't resort to drugs to make things worse. I'm more of an optimist. It's all gonna be okay in the end."

"You can't depend on what you don't know, but hey, everyone deals with their own shit in different ways to just escape from it all," Nicky responds in a calmer voice. "Do your parents love you, though, are you coddled and called cutesy pet names?"

"Yeah," Lorna scoffs, "if they've got the energy."

Alex knocks on Red's front door and she opens it. "Hello, girls, come on inside. Nicky, do you have any drugs for me? The girls told me you were selling. I'm Galina Reznikov, but you can call me Red. I just wanna see what you got. I might be interested."

Nicky scrunches up her face and her eyes flicker between Lorna, Alex, and Red. "No...what's going on here?"

The Russian woman's face hardens. "It's a good thing you don't, because I would flush them down the toilet and smack you upside the head for being so foolish! I want you to stop this habit and be healthy, little girl!" Red says in a no-nonsense tone. "Do you know that heroin, crack, meth, molly, and whatever else is out there can kill you at a very early age? In fact, you looked like death warmed over last time I saw you!"

"What are you, my mother? Jesus Christ, fuck off!" Nicky hollers while storming away. Lorna and Alex throw Red apologetic glances before running up to Nicky. "Did you two just toss an intervention at me? What's wrong with you, Vause, you bought my shit! Don't you want it anymore? Are you trying to stop me from giving you what you asked and paid for?"

"No she doesn't, and yes she is," Lorna answers for her. "She doesn't wanna be like you."

"Lorna, it's fine, she knows I'm not addicted." Alex turns to Nicky. "It's true. I don't want to become a junkie because it'll ruin my life. I only like it occasionally. I'm sorry, but we were just worried about you and Red's really good at taking care of people. I promise she won't tell anyone. Would you forgive me if I invited you to a fun party this Saturday? There will be great tunes! I'll give you the address when I get it."

"You had good intentions...I guess," Nicky admits. "I'll go, but I don't want Red to bother me again."

"Awesome," Lorna mumbles sourly.

When they take Nicky to where she lives, they exchange looks of pity for her and don't let her see how they feel. At least it's a shelter, although worn down.

"It...protects you from the elements!" Lorna says in a fake high-pitched voice.

"I will never say I live in poverty again," Alex chimes in.

"Believe it or not, I was born in a mansion," Nicky murmurs as the girls walk to the shack. "Ha, look at me now!" She spreads her arms out wide and then wraps them around Alex. She kicks at the door a few times until a polished African American woman lets her in. Nicky's foster mom peers out of it.

"Who the fuck are you?"

Lorna jumps at the lady's rough manner of speaking and then she hears a dog barking loudly a few trailer parks over. A siren wails in the distance and then glass breaks somewhere. A group of guys whiz by on skateboards. Even though she and Alex are holding hands and she's slightly behind her, she doesn't feel at all safe in this neighborhood. This is the kind of street where, when her father used to drive, her mother would tell everyone not to get out of the car, no matter what. There's a chill in the air and she shivers.

"Oh, we're...friends of Nicky's," Alex says calmly. "We were just dropping her off, we'll be going now. It's getting dark and we need to get home."

"Yeah...bye!" Lorna calls out as cheerfully as she can.

"Wait...you don't wanna eat with us?"

"We did, actually, but thank you for offering," Alex declines.

"You kids want any drugs?"

"No, it's fine, I've had my fill, and she doesn't even so much as smoke." The taller girl moves more in front of Lorna, probably wanting to conceal her completely, and Lorna hugs her while sneaking a peek at the scene before them.

"See you two later!" Nicky waves goodbye to them. "Vee, let them go." She reaches in front of Vee and shuts the door quickly.

"I'm glad the bus station is nearby," Lorna comments as she runs along with Alex.

"Me too."

Once they're on it, they can breathe easier. "She's so stubborn!"

Alex uses her black shirt to wipe her glasses and then puts them back on her face. "Who, Nichols?"

"Yeah. She's completely fucked up and I suppose, knows it, but doesn't wanna do anything about it."

"Well, you can't help someone who's refusing to take it, so Red's gotta get her at a time when she's really weak, like in withdrawal."

Lorna looks up at her friend with a curious look. "Have you experienced that yet?"

"I did, last night, and it was awful. I just told my mom I was having period cramps and I'd sleep it off. I also took a cold shower because I was sweating."

"I hope you threw the rest out."

"I want my money's worth, so I'll just stash it under my bed...I'll have it once in a while."

Lorna sighs deeply. "Your funeral."

"Hey, I need to get high, okay? It...it helps me forget that she's not here anymore."

"When it wears off, though...what do you do?"

"I hang out with you three gals and mourn Pipes." Alex looks out the window at Friendly's. "Oh...this is my stop. My mom told me to meet her here."

"Okay, say hey to your mom for me!"

"I will! Bye!"

Lorna hugs Alex, waves at her, and watches as she gets off and heads inside the fast food joint.


When Flaca gets home, she sees her favorite uncle on the couch, sitting between her brothers. "¡Tío Fernando!" Flaca exclaims and he stands up, grabs her, and kisses her cheeks.

"¡Mi sobrina favorita! ¿Cómo estás?"

My favorite niece! How are you?

"¿Estoy bien, y tu?"

I'm good, you?

"Bien, bien."

Good, good.

"¿Tienes regalos para mí? No, sólo bromeo." They both laugh and Theresa shakes her head.

Do you have presents for me? No, just kidding.

"Cenaremos pronto, prepara la mesa, chicos, deja que tu tío Fernando se relaje, lleva un largo viaje en autobús," Theresa announces.

We're having dinner soon, so set the table, kids, let your uncle Fernando relax, he's had a long bus ride.

During dinner, which is tamales with rice and beans, they talk about what they've all been up to. Theresa discusses her sewing business, which is going quite well, Uncle Fernando goes on about the different women he's met and how none of them are right for him, Marco and Pedro talk about video games and how they're going to beat their uncle, and Flaca's quiet, just giving them small smiles in response to what they're all saying, until it's her turn to speak.

"¿Qué he estado haciendo desde Navidad? Bueno, ya sabes que mi amiga Piper, que estaba desaparecido, fue asesinada, no saben quién lo hizo, pero espero que lo descubran pronto para que nosotros-Alex, Lorna, Daya, y yo-puedo obtener justicia. Ah, y Hot Topic tuvo una buena venta este mes y voy a ser un DJ en la fiesta de Ian este sábado. ¡Será realmente genial!"

What have I been doing since Christmas? Well, you know my friend Piper, who was missing? She was actually murdered. They don't know who did it, but I hope they find out soon so we-Alex, Lorna, Daya, and I- can get justice. Oh, and Hot Topic had a really good sale this month and I'm gonna be a DJ at Ian's party this Saturday. It'll be really cool.

Theresa and her brothers look at her sympathetically while her uncle says, "Siento tu pérdida."

I'm sorry for your loss.

"Gracias."

Thank you.

Flaca and her brothers help Theresa clean up dinner and then her uncle says they should honor Piper for Day of the Dead. "Dia de los Muertos, es importante," he mentions.

"Lo sé, voy a ponerle fotos de ella, flores y velas y preparar comida para ella."

I know, I'm gonna put up pictures of her and flowers and candles and set out food for her.

Theresa sends the boys up to bed and kisses the top of Flaca's head. "Me voy a dormir, estoy cansado. Fernando, no dejes que se quede despierta hasta tarde, por favor. Ella tiene escuela mañana por la mañana. Disfrute del partido de fútbol. Buenas noches, vosotros dos."

I'm gonna go to sleep, I'm tired. Fernando, don't let her stay up too late, please. She has school tomorrow morning. Enjoy the soccer game. Good night, you two.

"Noche, Mamá. ¡Te amo!"

Night, Mom. Love ya!

"También te quiero, cariña."

Love you too, sweetie.

After Theresa leaves, he looks at her quizzically. "¿Te gusta el fútbol? Eres una niña."

You like soccer? You're a girl.

Flaca chuckles. "Las chicas pueden gustar lo que hacen los muchachos. Además, los jugadores están calientes."

Girls can like what boys do. Besides, the players are hot. Duh.

Her uncle cheers and she admires the way the players' bodies move across the field. When the ads come on, she gets up to make them ice cream sundaes. As she's breaking up a cupcake for the bottom layer, he comes up behind her. "Hazlo picante, dulces mejillas...al igual que tú. Wow, usted ha crecido realmente."

Make it spicy, sweet cheeks...just like you. Wow, you've really grown up.

"¿Cómo estoy...?" She stops when his hands slither down her hips and into her undies, squeezing her butt cheeks. She grips the edge of the countertop, trying to keep herself steady enough to fight him off. "¿Qué mierda?" she yells, sick to her stomach that he would betray her like this. Her eyes burn with tears and there's a lump the size of a watermelon in her throat.

How am I...What the fuck?

He spins her around rapidly, forcing his groin into her crotch while staring at her lustfully. "No puedes hablar con tu tío de esa manera, Marisol."

You don't talk to your uncle that way, Marisol.

Flaca chokes when his hands wrap around her neck. "¡Bájate de mí, idiota, no vuelvas a tocarme!" It's meant to sound louder and reach her mother's ears, but it doesn't. She struggles as hard as she can and claws at his face as he pushes her down and lays her flat on the floor. He grasps both of her wrists and roughly tears her pants and undergarments off while tightening his knees against her waist on either side, trapping her under him. "No, no, no, por favor..." she begs, but he won't stop. He's slamming hard into her while calling her his puta and sometimes biting and twisting her nipples after lifting up her shirt or ripping strands of her hair out, and when he lets go of her wrists, she lets her arms fall limply at her sides. His hands grip her thighs and it hurts. Then, he gags her with his gross stick. She sobs and she wishes she could be stronger like she usually is, but she's trembling so much that she can't breathe. He's disgusting with his violent assault on her tender body and she feels like shit.

Get off me, dumbass! Don't touch me again. No, no, no, please...

After a few agonizing moments, he goes back to watching his lame soccer match and Flaca puts the ice cream away and takes the cupcake to her room so she can eat it when she's in a good mood again. She pukes in her sink, washes the bile taste of him and the vomit out of her mouth, scrubs her damp face with cool water, and lays in her bed until she can stop crying and muffling the sounds with her pillow. Then, she goes to her dresser, glances at her reflection in her mirror, pushes her wet bangs back from her forehead, and traces her tears, one under each eye, with her black liquid liner.

She reads the texts she's missed.

Where you been all night, girl? Missed you, mi mejor amiga xoxo, Maritza

P has now been around my property twice! ¡Ay, caramba!...fuckin' Aleida -Daya

I couldn't go to Christopher's house because I don't know his address and I'm really sad now, I miss him :'( -Lorna

Sylvia and I are having our first sleepover and she keeps flirting with me lol she has definitely improved my mood, I mean you chicks did too, but I really like her if you know what I mean...oh, and I'm wondering if I should invite Nicky over sometime or take her to Friendly's cuz I don't wanna hide my friends from my mom. She won't like Nicky's drug habit, but maybe she'll feel bad if I tell her that she lives in a horrifying neighborhood -Alex

I sold so much molly today it's insane! I'll make you a rich girl yet. -Ian

Maritza, Alex, and Ian all make her beam slightly with their messages and she feels sorry for both Lorna and Daya, but the last one causes Flaca to throw her phone across the room while shrieking.

God, you're such a whore for allowing that to happen! That was a good show, he's a beast! -P

Thank you to Imaginary City, Boris Yeltsin, cornedout, HannahMiley1fan, A Star In My Universe, LindaAndrewsfan, thecharmedwerewolf, nnicholsnlyonne, and ladyglorificus for reading and reviewing!