Thank you for beta'ing, A Star In My Universe! Warning, rape and some transphobia. Happy 420 lol
When the girls get themselves settled at the cafeteria table, Nicky between Lorna and Alex on one side and Flaca in the middle of Daya and Maritza on the other, they begin eating. "You should've climbed on top of me when you had the chance last night!" Nicky teases Lorna.
"Shut up!" Lorna groans while she's shoving her ketchup and mustard covered chili cheese dog into her mouth and taking a huge bite of it. "I've already got Christopher...I'm pretendin' this is his dick." Their friends stare at her as if she's grown two heads.
"You are one fucking weird bitch!" Nicky exclaims.
Lorna winks at her. "You bet your ass I am, but at least I'm not a pervert!" The girls cackle at this.
"Hey, knock it off! I'll have you know that I've seduced many a chick, and I give such powerful orgasms that she forgets her name or how to move when I'm done!" Nicky brags. She jumps when she feels someone put their hands on her shoulders. "Jesus, Red!" she shouts in surprise after looking to see who it is. She thought for a second that Vee was standing behind her, ready to strike.
"Sorry for scaring you, honey. Are you two bickering again?" she asks Lorna and Nicky.
"Yeah, you gonna make us wear a get-along T-shirt or somethin'?" Lorna questions the older woman, and Nicky fails to hide her laugh. The others just shake their heads while smiling.
"I might!" Red says jokingly.
"I really thought you were finished with your ongoing witty banter!" Alex points out.
"It never ends!" Nicky responds.
"You started it!" Lorna insists.
"Alright, well, I was just wondering how your first day's going. I know you have three of the worst teachers, but are the rest of them okay?" Red wants to know.
"Uh-huh."
"Let me know if those rotten fiends do anything to you besides their usual comments. Do not take their abuse lightly. They are cruel!"
"It was fine today, except for Piscatella hitting me, like here." Nicky touches the crown of her head.
"How hard?" Red glares at Piscatella from across the cafeteria. "You didn't fall and get a concussion, I hope."
"No, I'm okay. It was just a little slap...kinda like getting smacked with a basketball."
Red feels around Nicky's hair. "No bump...did you put ice where it hurt?"
"I went to the nurse after class. He also kinda shoved me, but I regained my balance. I haven't had Humps yet, and Dixon just insulted my hair and made gross comments about our bodies, and I was about to flip him off, but Daya wouldn't allow me to. Apparently, they can do what they want to us, but we're in huge trouble if we defend ourselves."
"That's correct," Red affirms spitefully.
"Why can't you just call the police on 'em or whatever? Corporal punishment and sexual harassment, especially against minors, are illegal...and I was doing what they said!"
"They don't leave physical injuries, there's no proof, they're friends with the...wait a second...Mendez was arrested by his own co-worker for being corrupt, you may have seen that on the news." Off Red's statement, Daya physically shivers while nodding. "His mother bailed him out and he's awaiting his trial, but he is going to prison."
"Good, I hope they hurry up with it!" Lorna mutters.
"Me, too. I'll talk to that nice officer about the menaces to this school," Red tells them, a pleasant smirk growing on her face. "Enjoy the rest of your lunch, girls."
"Okay, thanks!" Nicky replies eagerly.
"You're very welcome."
"Who would've thought a good cop existed?" Alex inquires.
"My mom could be our lawyer!" Maritza squeals.
Nicky chuckles at the irony, knowing full well that she and Lorna are already Ms. Ramos' clients because they're the ones who had committed crimes. "Awesome."
"Hey, you wanna see what we did yesterday?" Flaca asks Nicky.
"Sure!"
They quickly finish their lunch and begin walking to the girls' bathroom. "So last year, school started in mid-August, but the bad teachers forced everyone to stay 'til June. Everyone did a protest so they'd allow us to begin in September from now on. That way, it would be fair to have it end in June. Piper also worked out a compromise with Fig, who loved her, and she got Fig to make our school public instead of Catholic, and stop teaching about the Bible as a required course. She was a kiss-ass, though...she did that shit for herself and maybe us, but we were never quite sure. She got along quite well with the creepers, but the five of us had a much better idea," Daya explains as she opens the door. "Holy shit!"
Nicky's eyes widen as she glances around the walls, mirrors, stalls, and sinks that are covered in multicolored and black written complaints about Humps, Dixon, Stratman, and Piscatella, ranging from feeling slightly uncomfortable in their presence to having a panic attack by just thinking their names. "You did all that?"
"No, more girls came and added stuff...but we didn't think there'd be this many since it's only been twenty-eight hours..." Lorna trails off in disbelief. "See, everyone hates them!"
"Whoa! It's amazing," Nicky murmurs.
They lead Nicky into the handicapped stall and point out what they'd said. "We started an uproar," Alex says, pleased.
"They can't erase the words...it would take too long!" Maritza continues.
"We'll definitely put this in our article for Yearbook and Journalism class...quiet riot!" Flaca beams.
"Great job!" Nicky compliments them. "I'll squeeze something in." She pulls a blue pen out of her bag and scribbles, Piscatella's a violent motherfucker, Dixon needs his penis cut off, and I haven't had a Humps encounter yet, but I want to kill him for tormenting my friends! How the fuck dare they make our lives miserable like this? She puts it right underneath Lorna's sentence, and the girls give her hi-fives.
The bell rings, signaling the end of lunch. "Okay, we're gonna take Maritza to her cooking class now and then disperse, and then we'll get her after it's over. I took cooking with Flaca and Daya last year!" Lorna announces. "We always walk to classes together if we can, and hold someone's hand if they're feeling nervous."
"Oh, cool!" Nicky comments.
"My sister is such a worrywart...she's skeptical that Arturo might choose a different name for himself!"
"Yeah, Red mentioned that, too. Well, we should be careful of the strangers we encounter."
"What are we supposed to do, lock ourselves away and not talk to anyone?"
"No, but we should kinda travel as a group when we're out in the world, or at least not alone," Alex replies.
"Yeah," the Hispanic girls agree all together.
Nicky's French and History classes are uneventful, but not boring since she's already found a friend in Poussey and is a whiz in both subjects. She goes to Biology and Daya passes her on her way out of the classroom. There's a horrible stink emanating from it, and Daya appears as if she's about to puke.
"Oh god, what is that?" Nicky wonders out loud while wrinkling her nose.
"I'm not sure I'm interested in finding out."
"Hey, Alex and I just dropped Maritza off in the cafeteria's backroom," Lorna whispers. "She's done for the day, lucky girl!"
Daya coughs. "Cool...sorry, I've gotta run!" She literally zooms down the hall and Nicky holds her nose and breathes out her mouth as she and Lorna go into the dreaded class. Humps is blending something black and Nicky senses that it isn't a food or drink. He pulls handfuls out and smears it across each desk.
"Cockroaches," is all he says as the students file in.
"Fuckin' shit..." Nicky mutters, and she and Lorna take their seats. They back away from the goo as far as they can.
"Where were you yesterday?" he roars at Lorna, and she yelps when he gets way too close to her face.
"I...I had an emergency...at home..." she says shakily.
"Hey, get out of her personal space!" Nicky shouts.
"Shut up," he hisses. "I know I won't be letting you two team up against me, so from now on, you will be divided."
There's a new girl in class today, with untamed hair, big eyes, and an outfit that Pennsatucky adores. Humps pairs them together, as he's assigning lab partners for the rest of the year. She's surprised that Lorna hasn't noticed her yet, and they've been in the same class for a week now. Everyone is nervous around her, but the teacher is scarier. They should be more cautious of him, rather than Pennsatucky. When Lorna is aware that Pennsatucky and Nicky are going to work with each other, though, shock and dismay cross her face.
"You look like you've been sparked with electricity," Pennsatucky mentions when Nicky plops onto the chair next to her. "Not an insult, just an observation."
Nicky smirks. "That's what people always tell me."
"Really?"
"Nah, I've never heard that one before."
"Has Lorna talked about me yet?"
"No...should she?"
Pennsatucky shrugs. "I was just wonderin'. It's just almost the whole school despises me 'cause of her and her friends, but it was mostly Piper Chapman, who could defend her damn self, by the way. She punched me twenty-three times in a fight...knocked out all my teeth, too. Of course, I lost some from doin' meth, but it cost Boo, my foster mama, a fuckin' fortune to get me a good dentist and new teeth."
"How come her name's Boo? Does she scare people away or somethin'?"
Pennsatucky chortles. "A bit, but she's cool once you get to know her. She's one of them butch dykes."
"Huh...I've heard stories about this Piper...not very positive ones. She's dead now, so I guess she's some other being's problem."
"Yeah..." Pennsatucky chuckles. "I didn't kill that bitch like everyone thinks...even though I wish I did, but I did use to tell her she belonged in Hell."
"You had a right mind to wanna murder her. Do you still believe that her soul should be swallowed by flames?"
"I dunno anymore...because that would mean there's a Heaven and God, but I doubt there is, because He woulda never let me get raped in jail for somethin' I never fuckin' did..."
"Mendez? I'm only askin' 'cause he was real rapey when he arrested me for sellin' heroin."
"No, another guard...Coates," Pennsatucky says icily.
"I'm really sorry..."
When CO Coates' hands go to the bottom of Pennsatucky's shirt and start to lift it up, she gently pulls them off. "Please, not now." Her voice is already thick with oncoming tears.
"Baby, I'll make you feel good. The sight of you has got me all hot and bothered," he slurs, his hands going to the waistline of her skirt and leggings. She snaps out of it and slaps his hands away roughly. "I said no!" she says, trying to sound more forceful.
"Come on, I love you," he pleads. "Baby…" he groans as he pulls her into his lap. "I want you," He inches his hands slowly up her back under her shirt to undo her bra. She squirms to get away from him and looks him in the eyes. "Look into my eyes and tell me that you love me."
"I love you, but your makeup is running down your cheeks, so I can't look into your eyes," he says smugly, his eyes flickering from her eyes to her chest. "Now let me have you. I need you, you're like a drug to me." He grins in triumph as his hands find her nipples and starts grunting and kissing the back of her neck and shoulders. He massages her breasts while she tries to get him off her.
"But I'm not ready, and if you truly and honestly loved me, then you would wait!" she hollers, pulling her legs out from under her and pushing him away by kicking him in the chest with both her feet. He groans in pain, but keeps at it, licking his lips.
"Damn, you're so hot and feisty! Relax, dear one, I won't hurt you!"
"He was no different than Abe, this guy at the party I went to this weekend...Boo dragged him to an empty alley when I told her what he did, and she beat the shit out of him until he was dead, and then, she burned the body!"
"Wow...she sounds great!"
"She is! You could come to my house after school if you wanna meet her."
"Okay, I will, after I finish community service at eight!"
"Gloria has their shared car...it's like her casual way of making sure Aleida attends the classes. She's taken over paying for her schooling...all of ours, actually. She takes morning and noon classes on Tuesdays and Fridays at the Bronx Adult Learning Center, and only evening ones for the rest of the week," Daya lets the girls know as they stroll to the kitchen.
"How can Gloria prevent Aleida from taking a bus or somethin' or walkin' somewhere to skip? She could also go to the library to hang out on the computer instead of attending class...or get herself kicked out for bein' crass," Flaca mentions.
"We'll just ask her what she learned about in class."
"Lorna...you've been quiet lately," Nicky points out.
"Oh, yeah...I just got nothin' to say at the moment," Lorna mumbles.
"You were like that in drama class, too, and you always talk in there!" Alex tells her.
"Why the fuck were you speaking to Pennsatucky?" Lorna asks sharply, purposely bumping into Nicky. "If I'd known she was in Bio with us, I would've warned you!"
"What?! Who are you talking about?"
"Her real name's Tiffany, but we all call her Pennsatucky 'cause she's originally from Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. I can't believe I didn't realize she was there...I was focusing on Humps and making sure he didn't do anything..."
"Uh, well, we were working together, for one thing, so I had no choice. She says you four think she's a murderer?"
"Yeah, so don't talk to her! I'm only sayin' this for your protection," Flaca advises Nicky.
"She actually seemed pretty nice, and she told me she didn't kill Piper."
"Oh, that's great, I trust her completely now!" Daya's voice is filled with sarcasm.
"She hates gays," Alex chimes in. "You wanna be friends with a homophobe, cool."
"Look, I'm just gonna test her out, okay? If she tries something, I can take her...and I'll tell her I'm into chicks, just to see what she says. Some lesbian named Boo is in charge of her. That doesn't seem like a name for a straight-up asshole who judges people!"
"Maybe it's her meth dealer," Lorna snaps. "You're the one who said I shouldn't talk to people I don't know!"
"She's informed me that she's been through shit in jail...like more than the usual...she was violated by one of the CO's. I don't think you'd attack people after that...or lie about such a thing."
"Alright, you be her pal, then," Flaca says.
"I really hope she's being truthful," Daya puts in.
"Me, too," Lorna agrees.
"Same," Alex adds.
They all go their separate ways-Daya, with Gloria, Alex and Flaca to band practice, and Lorna, Maritza, and Nicky to the football field for cheerleading since the players aren't out there today and they need to do pyramids on the grass in preparation for the big game next Friday, not the one coming up. Nicky's joining the squad, along with a tall chick named Ines. An African American girl is sprinting around the track.
Nicky walks past a short, cute, curly-haired Asian girl. "Hey, what's your name?"
"Brook Soso. Oh-em-gee, you're new? That's so cool...I remember starting here, and-"
"Nicky Nichols." She slaps Brook's ass, attempting to flirt with anyone to make Lorna envious, and the brunette glares at the blonde.
"I saw that!"
Nicky smirks. "Jealous?"
Lorna rolls her eyes. "Of course not. No! It's just inappropriate behavior...sexual harassment."
"She seemed to enjoy it!" Nicky gestures to Brook, who's acting giddy and chattering away about how she's never had a girl interested in her while they were sober.
"Did you even try out?" Lorna asks Nicky.
"Yeah, it's easy."
"Okay, girls, I'm going to split you into two groups of six," Ms. Jones announces. "You can pick who you want to be with, and then we'll choose flyers. It's all about trust!"
Since Lorna's team captain, she's first to gather up Maritza, Nicky, Ella, Tiff, and Tia. "Okay, I'll be on the top since I'm the smallest, and I'll stand on Ella and Maritza's shoulders. The bottom girls are Tia, Tiff, and Nicky. I hope y'all are strong enough to hold us steady! Let's do this!"
Brook is already directing Lily, Kay, and Ines to hoist her and Liz up, and then they help Caitlin to the top. After some giggling, screaming, and toppling over into each other's arms, the team is finally ready to toss Lorna and Caitlin in the air.
Nicky had never thought she'd like cheerleading, but she certainly does now. After practice, she takes Brook to the back of the gym for a quick romp.
"So, when Ethan and I broke up, I tried to hook up with Oren," she says between pants as Nicky rapidly licks her vagina up and down, quickly finding this super boring because Brook's been rambling nonstop for the last three minutes. "It was an unrequited crush, which totally sucked because I was into him, but we're friends. I wish we were a couple, though...but don't worry, I like girls, too, which is why I agreed to have sex with you...ohh, you're good at this!"
"Yeah," Nicky grunts and stands up. "Now do me."
When Brook plants her wet mouth on Nicky's breasts and starts rubbing her fingers along Nicky's core, the blonde finally gets the release she needs-but no one will ever feel as good as she imagines Lorna does.
"How was school today, what'd you do?" Gloria asks Aleida.
Aleida shrugs. "Nothin', just boring shit..."
Gloria rolls her eyes. "That don't mean jack! I hope you're really goin'!"
"I am!"
A customer comes up to the counter of Gloria's bodega and places a bag of Chips Ahoy and a package of peanut butter M&M's on it. "Can you do your thing?" she whispers.
"I don't do it no more," Gloria insists. "Go someplace else, or just buy it here, full price."
"Yeah you do, with the candles and shit! I need to light one for good luck."
"Okay, one sec." Gloria goes to the backroom where Daya's hanging out. Aleida quickly follows her.
"What's that all about?"
"Food stamps I bought...but then I make the government pay for shit that wasn't ever sold...so, fraud," Gloria explains in a hushed tone, but loud enough so Daya can hear.
"Really?" Daya asks, her eyes widening.
"Oh, you fuckin' hypocrite...also, a dumbass, you could've been taken to the slamma!" Aleida hisses.
"I was gonna use the cash to run away from Arturo!" Gloria fires back.
"Ugh, whatever...you can't do it around literally anyone!" Aleida tells Gloria.
"You don't know who could be watching!" Daya chimes in.
"I know, Red said the same thing. I just sell candles, herbs, and other stuff here, but we could use the extra cash and I wanna make sure hungry kids eat. Did you see somebody?" she asks nervously.
"Some old guy with gray hair...just stick to your..." Aleida responds.
"Santeria?" Gloria supplies.
"Uh-huh, that."
"Thank you."
Someone pounds on the window of the backroom, making Gloria shriek and clutch her heart while spinning around to face Francisco, an unsatisfied customer. Aleida jumps, uttering, "Oh, Jesus!" and Daya drops her sketchpad and pencil in surprise.
"¡Eres un maldito fraude!" he yells, and Gloria angrily shoves open the door.
You're a fuckin' fraud!
"Sólo porque usted era demasiado estúpido y no podía conseguir un trabajo por no darle al empleador su solicitud, no significa que usted puede llamar a mí un fraude! ¡No tienes prueba! Pégame. ¡Te desafío a!" Gloria challenges him.
Just because you were too stupid and couldn't get yourself a job by not giving the employer your application, does not mean you get to call me a fraud! You have no proof! Hit me. I dare you to!
"¡Llamaré a la policía!"
I'll call the police!
"Is there a problem?" a security guard asks while folding his beefy arms and giving Francisco a stern glare.
"He's trying to get me arrested when I didn't do nothin'."
"¡Es un fraude! Ella tiene que pagarme!" Francisco keeps hollering. "Take her to prison!"
She's a fraud! She needs to pay me back!
"Sir, I need you to calm down-"
"No!" he booms.
"I'm going to have to ask you to leave the store."
"I refuse!" He grits his teeth and points at Gloria. "¡No saldrás con esto, perra!"
You won't get away with this, bitch!
He's soon forced out in handcuffs, and Gloria breathes out a sigh of relief. The panic on Aleida and Daya's faces melts away. Gloria returns to the backroom, grabs a candle, and gives it to the waiting girl with a friendly and apologetic smile. "Sorry about that."
"It's okay."
"So, these are Mercy, Neri, Allie, Grace, Brad, Cal, Marco, and Pedro," Tricia introduces while gesturing to each of her new friends. "Guys, this is Red, my..." She trails off, not sure what to refer the Russian woman as. "She gave me a ride to school and is picking me up."
"Hi!" everyone says in unison.
"It's very nice to meet you, kids," Red greets them.
"You too," Mercy responds.
"Are you the super cool babysitter who prefers a color over her real name?" Neri asks.
"Oh, in a way, yes. I'm actually Galina, but I like Red better."
"Wow!" Allie turns to Tricia. "Can we hang out at your place, Trish, the girls at least, if Red's okay with driving us?"
"That's fine," Red allows.
"Yeah!" Tricia pauses for a second, realizing she doesn't even have a home, unless she counts Nicky's high school, and averts her eyes away from the group in embarrassment while pulling on the hem of her green flannel shirt. "Uh, so here's the deal...my apartment is hard to get around since we just moved in and there's boxes everywhere...so let's just chill at the mall."
"Oh, okay, sure!" Grace says, and the other girls nod excitedly in agreement. They say goodbye to the boys, Grace kisses Brad, Neri and Cal share a long hug, and then Red leads the girls to her vehicle.
"My car can only fit five people, so two will have to squeeze into a seatbelt in the back and one can ride with me in the passenger seat," Red informs them.
Mercy has been on Tricia's mind all day. She doesn't know what it is about her-whether it's her piercing brown eyes, cute smile, and long brunette locks or her sweet and cheerful personality that makes Tricia feel welcome in her company, even when they're not speaking a word to each other. All of Tricia's new female friends are like this, both beautiful and kind, but Mercy is who she can't stop looking at. The others are straight anyway, but she has an inkling that Mercy isn't, really, the way she talks about wanting to get with older chicks. "Yo, Mercy, why don't we share a spot?" Tricia asks.
"Okay!" Mercy agrees, much to Tricia's delight. They get in first, followed by Allie and Neri, and then Grace is next to Red. Tricia's pressed up against Mercy as they drive, and she's loving every second of it.
The five girls giggle as Red turns on the radio and keeps changing the stations until she finds one they enjoy. They sing along, gyrate in their seats, shake their hair all around, and make wild hand gestures to Drop It Like It's Hot by Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell.
"I should not be letting you girls listen to this," Red grumbles, "but it's much better than drugs."
"So, ducks, a pond, and Trudy's Donuts are triggers for ya...anything else?" Nicky asks Pennsatucky as they ride the bus to her house.
"Well, jail, obviously...but not double fudge chocolate ice cream. That's my favorite, and I ain't gonna let no one spoil it for me!" Pennsatucky unlocks her front door with her house key. "Big Boobs, I'm home!" she calls out.
A woman with cropped dark hair, various tattoos on her arms-including stars, spirals and the word butch in all caps- and a green one below her ear, walks into the foyer with a grin. "Hey, son...who's this sweet young thing?" she asks, smirking.
"Nicky Nichols, she's my lab partner and possible friend from school."
"Oh, well, then I won't embarrass you or make you feel uncomfortable."
"You're not my type anyway, Boo...I prefer femmes my own age!"
"Ohhh!" Pennsatucky exclaims in surprise. "Do you have a girlfriend?"
"Nope..."
"I don't either. I'm competing with Penns-a-fucky here, over who can get someone the fastest. The criteria is to stay with them for at least three days," Boo informs Nicky.
"So far, I'm winning!" Pennsatucky says happily. "Nathan from English seems real interested in me!"
"Oh, hold your horses, kid. There are millions of ladies who'd love to ride the Boo-mobile! You wanna join our game, Nichols?" Boo asks.
"Hell yeah, I'm up for a challenge!"
"Perfect! Well, I'm in the process of making tea. You two want some?" Boo offers.
"It's delicious," Pennsatucky adds.
Nicky beams at their hospitality. "Sure, why not?"
"Awesome! Grab a tea bag of your choice...they're in that jar." Boo points to where Pennsatucky is taking one for herself. "We got mint, chamomile, Earl Grey, green, black...and that's probably it. Then, a shit ton of candy afterwards."
"Okay, thanks, man." Nicky chooses to have mint tea. They drink from white mugs while discussing how terrible their birth mothers were, Pennsatucky beginning her period when she was just ten, being raped once before she was arrested, and having such ugly teeth that she required an oral surgeon to fix them, Boo obsessively gambling and stealing things, but never getting busted, and Nicky's experiences from being homeless.
"I should've done that when I was starting to not be accepted into my own family," Boo mutters regretfully. "I was invisible...so it wouldn't have mattered."
"Why didn't you?"
"I could entertain myself in other ways, I guess. Anyway, I run a tattoo parlor...so swing by if you wanna get one."
"Yeah, she's excellent at her craft. See, I got an owl here," Pennsatucky points to her left shoulder, "rainbow," she shows off her left wrist, "and a unicorn!" She gestures along her forearm.
"Pretty," Nicky murmurs. "I'm definitely gonna get inked!"
The tasty aroma of cheeseburgers, fries, shakes, and sundaes wafts through the air and hits Alex's nose as she walks into the restaurant where her mother will be working until eleven tonight. She'd just eaten at Sylvie's house, pretending to be Sylvie's new friend, since her girlfriend's straight-laced parents had asked if they could meet her. Alex feels as though she'd made a positive impression on them. She'd even dyed her blue strands black and plans to change the color back to normal later. As she tells Diane all of this, plus the fact that Sylvie's parents suggested she should go to church with their family and seek out Jesus because she accidentally swore out loud when she bit her tongue, Diane just smiles at her sympathetically. "That poor kid! How'd you decline?"
"I just said no thanks, and I told them all my great points, that I help my mom whenever she needs it and I'm a wonderful friend. I also talked a bit about Piper, so they felt bad for me then. At the end of the meal, I offered to assist her mom with dishes. I won their approval!"
"Alright, thatta girl! Up top!" Diane holds up her palm and Alex slaps it with her own. "Down low!" Alex and Diane share a low-five, and then a hip bump when Diane comes out from behind the counter. "You do know, that if someone doesn't accept you, that's tough shit for them, right?"
"Mm-hm, but I don't want her parents to hate me so much that they don't let us hang out. We could sneak, but she might not be up to lying to them, in fear of getting caught."
"I understand."
"Want me to do anything for you?"
"Nah, it's fine, sweetie."
"Okay," Alex murmurs with a giggle while sitting down and taking her phone out of her purse. She gapes at her new message in shock. Guess where your bestie is right now? Under a photo of Pennsatucky on a couch between some large tattooed woman and Nicky, is the caption, What's she doing with the enemy? Some friend...Kisses, P
It looks like it had been taken from the outside of Pennsatucky's house, through the window. "Hey, Mom?"
"Yeah?"
"Have you ever had beef with someone who was also your best friend's pal?"
"Well, sure, but that's life, baby. Even if you don't like them, she or he does, for some reason or another, but you don't need to make a stink about it unless they're horrible...why'd you ask?"
"Nicky's becoming buddy-buddy with Pennsatucky, and you remember how she was so anti-gay when Piper was still alive." Diane nods and frowns in concern. "We all warned her of this, but she went on some spiel about how that rude bitch did a three-sixty over the past year and is now a decent human being...they work together in Bio, and they had a conversation, apparently. I'm worried that something will happen to Nicky because I don't believe that religious freak bigot for a second! Even if she may not have been Piper's killer, she'd make dangerous threats and she snapped my glasses in half! Well, she did that because I made out with her, only to shut her up about Piper. I just really don't know what to do."
"I think Nicky is a very good judge of character. As soon as she senses she's in trouble, she'll bolt. Lorna and Maritza told me she immediately started hating those evil teachers when they showed her their nasty ways. Also, Nicky's street smart. She always has a weapon handy if someone dares to attack her. Maybe being in prison really did shape up Pennsatucky. There are bigger girls there who could've beat her up when she was fuckin' mean, and she figured out that she should be nicer to everyone. We all deserve a second chance, Allie."
"Oh, so Gloria should take back Arturo? Daya can bail out Cesar now?" Alex wonders aloud sharply.
"Not like that, and you're fully aware of what I'm saying! Pennsatucky didn't hurt anyone. She was an immature bully and ignorant, yes, but she was put away behind bars for a crime she hadn't done and blamed for a dangerous prank-gone-wrong that Piper pulled. That can break a person. She was raised by a shitty redneck mother who thought asshole men could do whatever the fuck they wanted with women. Why don't you let Nicky see how she is? I'm curious to find out, as well."
"I don't think we had a problem with her until Piper decided we hated her, and then, we accidentally burned her best friend," Alex mumbles. "That's when their war had gone too far...and we were there..."
"You girls were innocent in this. Possibly since Piper is no longer here, Pennsatucky has another reason to be kind. Piper had always been a pressure point for her, and now, nobody makes her angry. Has she done anything to you or your friends lately?"
"No..."
"There you go, then. Be cautiously optimistic, as Red likes to say."
"Fine, I will."
As she stares sadly at her vision board, Lorna receives a text. I have the worst news ever! Christopher and Angela are going to Atlantic City this weekend. They're getting pretty serious...unless you find some way to stop 'em. xo, P
Lorna kicks her chair into her desk angrily and takes a few shuddering breaths while closing her eyes and clenching her jaw. She stands up quickly and then skips into Franny's bedroom, cackling as she conjures up a plan B. "Hey, sis! Let's go on a road trip Saturday...all the way to New Jersey...Atlantic City, to be exact! I would take a train, but that's a three hour and eighteen minute ride. If you drove us, it would be two hours and twenty-four minutes of songs, laughter, and car games!"
Franny chuckles as she folds the laundry. "Okay, that oughta be fun! I'm glad to see you in brighter spirits, Lorn." Her sister hugs her and then has her help put the freshly washed and dried clothes away. "It's time for bed! Good night!" Franny kisses Lorna's cheek.
Lorna doesn't want anyone's love right now, just Christopher's. She wants him to come back to her so badly it hurts. She hates Angela with a passion.
She moans his name in her sleep and dreams of them together and doing it on a big white bed. She sighs and closes her eyes tighter as she keeps the dream alive. She misses Christopher so much.
"I love you, Christopher MacLaren," Lorna mumbles in her sleep. She continues dreaming of kissing him and having his baby. She wants to stab Angela with a knife, and she dreams of doing that too. If she were dead, Lorna could have Christopher. That's her answer, right there.
She reads her text from Christopher over and over again and it says one word, hi. They were just getting to know each other, and Angela had to ruin it.
"I'm glad our kids are starting to be friends," the taller one of the two dark-skinned women says to Gloria in a deep voice on Wednesday. "My son's goin' through a rough patch...we're tryin' to get him to adjust to me being transgender. I'm Sophia Burset, by the way, and this is my wife, Crystal."
"Nice to meet you," Gloria replies. "My name is Gloria Mendoza."
"Aleida Diaz," Daya's mother introduces herself stiffly.
"Benny, Christina, and Michael, what a nice trio!" Gloria says brightly.
"How would you explain that to a five-year-old?" Aleida wants to know.
"We just said that sometimes, people don't like being girls or boys, so they can change their gender if they want," Crystal answers.
"That's great, keepin' it simple. So, where you from?" Gloria asks.
"Yonkers," Sophia tells her.
"Are you on your way to Queens or anywhere near there, by any chance, for work?"
"Yeah, what are you getting at?" Crystal wonders aloud.
"I was thinkin'...we should do a carpool, if you don't mind. We live in the Bronx, and after this, we're going to Martin Van Buren High, which is in Queens. It would be fun for them and save me time on Tuesdays and Fridays since I have to go to four different places, but I could take Michael, along with Benny and Christina, all the other times."
"Sure, we'd be glad to help. We'll come down from Yonkers and either drop Michael off at your house or pick your kids up," Sophia lets Gloria know.
"Okay, awesome, thank you!" Gloria beams.
When they leave, Aleida hisses, "Did you just agree to have our children ride with a he-she?"
"Ma, don't be fuckin' transphobic!" Daya lectures Aleida. She hates how it's one step forward, but two steps back with Aleida.
"That tranny still has his dick!"
"Who cares? You don't know that, but it's not your business what body parts she has!" Gloria exclaims. "Sophia won't do shit! The correct pronouns are she and her!"
"Yeah, 'cause Crystal will be with her...they probably just stayed together for Michael."
"Why don't you keep your thoughts to yourself," Daya suggests harshly.
Aleida sighs as they all get into the car. "Fine."
"I was listening to this song called Almost Paradise the other day and you came into my mind, Christopher. I don't care how many people try to stop us from being together, but you are mine, for eternity. So, here goes." Lorna takes a deep breath and blows it out. "I thought that dreams belonged to other men...'cuz each time I got close...they'd fall apart again..."
She'd seen him this morning, with Angela, and it only made her sing louder.
"I feared my heart would beat in secrecy...I faced the nights alone...oh, how could I have known...that all my life I only needed you..."
Mrs. Lorna MacLaren. Mrs. Lorna MacLaren. That will be her future name, the most wonderful name that she can ever have.
"Almost paradise, we're knocking on heaven's door, almost paradise, how could we ask for more? I swear that I can see forever in your eyes...paradise!" She's close to crying as she pours her heart out to him.
"It seems like perfect love's so hard to find...I'd almost given up...you must have read my mind..."
Please God, find a way for us to be together. I love him more than anything else in the world.
"And all these dreams I saved for a rainy day...they're finally comin' true...I'll share them all with you...'cus now we hold the future in your hands..."
Damn Angela to hell! Lorna thinks as she balls her hands into tight fists.
"Almost para-wait, Nichols, I wasn't done!" she protests as Nicky grabs her away from the loudspeaker and pushes her out of the room.
"You are now! What the fuck, Morello? You're embarrassing yourself!"
Lorna shakes her head in denial. "No, I ain't...what you doin' here this early?"
"Red's gotta be here before everyone else, remember?"
"Oh...yeah, you got a ride to school from her. Uh...do the rest of the girls, Red, or Gloria know? I don't wanna be in trouble for my passion again."
They walk to the cafeteria, Lorna with her arms folded across her chest and angrily clenching her teeth because Nicky had stopped her. "The girls and Gloria aren't here yet, and Red just arrived when I came in. Hey...I understand you wanting revenge on that jerk, Vinnie...heartbreak stinks. Of course you'd desire someone else after that. I know, because I'm kinda screwed up in my own way. I see people for who they are, though. I can see right through you...you're broken, like me."
"No, I'm just Looney Tunes Lorna. You've probably heard that around school, and then laughed when people said it. It's really not nice..."
"Well, it's not a joke, so I didn't find it funny. You're just afraid to be alone and imperfect. That doesn't make you looney tunes."
"I'm terrified of it," Lorna mumbles, surprised how far Nicky's words had reached into her soul.
"I know how that feels, by the way...thinking I'd never find someone. Red, Gloria, the other girls, and I can see the good in you...not just the outside that everyone else sees...and I really...I care about you, so I'm trying to make you feel better," Nicky tells her gently. The way Nicky's looking at her, is like the blonde has love in her eyes. For the first time, Lorna isn't sickened by it, probably because it's actual affection instead of sexual need.
"Thanks. Can you keep that Angela whore off my back at school?"
"Sure."
Nicky Nichols-something about her, Lorna can't quite put her finger on. Something's there, a connection between them. No...She shakes that idea out of her head because she cannot be in love with two people at once. Lorna and Nicky are barely friends. She has to believe that Christopher is her man to keep Nicky from entering her mind.
"I thought it was Maria, Ouija, and Blanca who killed Piper, too, but they said they weren't around at the scene of the crime," Alex whispers to Lorna, Flaca, and Daya while Nicky is busy talking to Ms. Fischer. "One of them could be P, though, since they hated Piper and the only thing on their mind would be revenge, and we didn't stick up for them once when she treated them horribly. Then, I talked to Stephenie Hapukaka in history class, who said Piper was very demanding, and Stephenie was afraid to even get her order wrong on the menu...so she's out. My bets are still on Pennsatucky as the killer and Leanne being P."
"I was paired up with Polly in Bio...and it turns out that she and Piper were best friends, but we didn't know her at all. Apparently, she and Piper's former boyfriend, Larry, are hooking up behind Pete Harper's back. Anyway, we started talking about how we were shocked that Piper never introduced her to us, and she said Piper's murderer was probably Suzanne, if not Pennsatucky, Leanne, or the Spanish girls," Lorna informs her friends.
"Maybe it is...you could ask her in Drama," Flaca murmurs.
"She could've lost her temper, who knows," Daya tells them.
"Ian drove me to the school late at night on his Vespa. I got revenge on Fig by going through her desk, but then, I found out she's stealin' money from the school! I told Caputo everything, and he fired her ass! He's the principal now...and he was grateful for my help and relieved that I didn't make too much of a mess, but I have detention this week for breaking and entering!" Flaca announces at lunchtime.
"Wow, great job!" Maritza compliments her. "Everything feels so different now 'cause you done that and all the bad teachers are on trial."
"Yeah, I'll never forget the look on Humps' face when they dragged him out!" Lorna squeals.
"He was yelling, demanding to know who the fuck turned him in! Everyone was laughing, it was so hilarious," Nicky chimes in.
"Dixon kept insisting he never did anything wrong," Alex reports. "No one believed him, of course! He also demanded the police get off of him and he called them racist names, but he was ignored!"
"Flaca and I don't have Piscatella for Physical Ed, but we did witness him get arrested! It was fantastic...he tried to tell the cops what to do, but they forced him into handcuffs," Daya adds. "Y'all should've been there!"
"As for Stratman, I haven't seen him lately. People are saying he quit," Maritza says.
The girls giggle and cheer quietly. Flaca's phone buzzes in her pocket, and she takes it out while everyone is distracted from eating and conversing. He's fuckin' dead, thanks to me. xoxo, P
"Wouldn't that be cool? Flaca?" Maritza is asking.
"Sorry...what?" Flaca manages to tear her eyes away from the haunting photo of a dead and bloodied Stratman.
"If I stole a car from some rich white guy who was gonna buy it, and drove it across the country when I turned sixteen and got my license!"
"Oh, yeah! That would be an easy way to make quick money!"
"Hey, if you want cash so bad, I'mma have you work at my store! You girls betta not be trying to break the law, 'cause you gonna get caught and sent to juvy, and then moved to a federal prison!" Gloria interrupts them. "Ay dios...your mothers would be disappointed in you!"
"Right, I was gonna say that I got my rich mama to bail us both out, but never mind that...I'd be down with helping you out at your bodega, Gloria," Maritza tells her.
"Yeah, me, too," Flaca says quickly. She feels ashamed that Gloria had to hear about their crimes they'd want to commit, even though Gloria herself had almost been busted for food stamp fraud. The difference is that the girls wanted to do illegal things for fun, but Gloria had to, for survival.
"Great, I'm pleased that I smacked some sense into you two! You can come with me after school."
They smile. "Okay, we will!" Maritza lets Gloria know.
"See you then!" Flaca puts in.
"One more thing before I head back...how y'all doin', in general? I bet you're feelin' better now that those motherfuckers ain't here no more. I know I am!"
"Yeah, it's awesome!" Daya exclaims.
"I hope they never come back!" Lorna continues.
"Same," Nicky agrees.
"It's like a weight's been lifted off my chest," Alex says.
"¡Bueno!" Gloria squeezes Flaca and Maritza's shoulders fondly and waves goodbye to the rest of them. She goes into the cafeteria, and the six friends continue eating.
"We've always respected them, even when Piper made fun of their hairnets, so that was embarrassing," Flaca mumbles.
"You girls are close to Red and Gloria...how could you be nice to them when Piper wasn't?" Maritza wonders out loud.
"We kinda had no choice 'cause my mom would always have 'em over and we found out the lunch ladies aren't so bad after all," Alex replies. "Red would bop Piper upside the head if she was really rude to us or other students." At this, Lorna snickers, and Flaca bumps forks with Daya.
"I can see her doing that!" Nicky says. She winks at Alex. "You're looking good today, Vause."
Alex smirks. "If Sylvie and I ever call it quits, you're my girl, Nichols."
"This is random," Lorna states.
"Need I remind you, we have history!" Nicky points out. "Anyway, I hung out with Penns last night. She and Boo seem pretty awesome...they gave me tea, which I know wasn't poisoned, since Boo prepared it in front of me, and they both had some. I'm perfectly fine!" Nicky starts out. "Why don't you listen to her story? I shouldn't tell it, because it's personal, just like I didn't spill your secrets to her. I'm trying to be a peacemaker here, if you couldn't already guess."
"Yeah, but it's gonna be real hard to trust her," Daya mutters.
"Would it be alright if I invited her to eat with us tomorrow?" Nicky wants to know.
"She's always with her lackeys, Leanne and Angie, and they're meth heads, so I'm warning you, don't go near 'em. They're bad news and could get you high, and I don't want that, if I'm gonna be good friends with you," Lorna replies.
Nicky rolls her eyes. "It's called self-control, kid, which I have."
"My mom basically said I have to roll with it and tolerate her since she's friends with you, so sure, whatever," Alex says.
"If she's willing to make amends, we'll be mature, too," Flaca agrees.
Maritza lifts her shoulders up and down. "Okay..."
"Cool, thanks!"
"I killed her, I killed her, I'm sorry, I did it!" Suzanne freaks out after Lorna and Alex ask her if she'd been around the area where Piper was murdered. "I got super duper mad and thought she was my mommy and started attacking her..."
"You did not, that's impossible!" Cindy bellows as she and Maureen stop Suzanne from hitting herself.
"Poussey and I were at the store where you work at the time Piper vanished, remember, and we saw you?" Brook asks.
"Yeah, I was there, too," Maureen says and then turns to Lorna and Alex. "Lily confesses to things that aren't true...she doesn't know if she's done it or not and she confuses herself. Her name is actually Suzanne, but her parents told me she was diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder, and Lily is one of her alters when someone turns her down nicely, treats her like a child, or talks down to her. Be careful not to bring out Mara by pissing her or me off, though."
"Oh, well, we weren't thinking she was the culprit...Polly said she may have been, and we just wanna get to the bottom of this, rule people out," Lorna mumbles. "I apologize."
"I shouldn't trust someone who used to call me Supercunt anyway," Alex mutters. "That fuckin' Holly Hobbie..."
"Yeah, she was kinda terrible, bitchy, manipulative, and disloyal, just like my mother," Gina cuts in. "Norma adopted me, though. She gave Polly the scariest look when that girl poked fun at my burn scar."
"Oh, that's nice," Lorna mumbles.
Suzanne appears to be in happier spirits when she announces, "Did you know there's a copycat shower pooper? It's a guy, and he used it for his signature in the evil dragons' mailboxes!"
"Ew!" everyone exclaims and then erupts into giggles.
When Lorna sees Suzanne in the bathroom after class, she asks, "Suzanne, is that you?"
"No, baby, it's Randi! I'm so drunk and you're really pretty!" Suzanne, or Randi, slaps Lorna's butt. "Give Mommy a kiss!"
"What if Maureen comes in here? She's Suzanne's girlfriend and she ain't gonna be too happy to find you makin' moves on another girl!"
Lorna wishes Alex had come in with her, since she's feeling very uncomfortable under Randi's predatory gaze. Thankfully, she reverts another version of herself-the childish one-and pouts. "Sorry, I didn't mean it, don't get mad at me!" Lily starts wailing, and Lorna cautiously hugs her.
"It's okay."
"Are you Aleida Diaz's professor?" Gloria asks the young man who looks to be in his mid-twenties. It's a few minutes before Aleida's class begins, and she's speaking to him on the sly while Aleida is distracted on her phone.
"Yes, my name is Professor Blake. What do you need?"
"Aleida's my friend, and she's been struggling lately in life...I'm not positive she stays in this room."
"She does, physically, but her mind is in some other place. I can't have her waste our time if she's not going to pay attention."
"Can you do me a favor, please? Will you make sure and encourage that Aleida actually goes to class and is fully engaged in the lessons, because she needs it! I really care about her and want her to get her GED and her nail salon job."
"That's nice what you're doing for your friend, but she's an adult. This is college. I can't force her to do anything."
Gloria's heart sinks as she looks over at Aleida, giggling on the phone after yelling, "Oh, that mothafuckaaaa!"
"She may be thirty, but she acts like a high-schooler, as you can see. It would hurt to see her self-destruct by neglecting her studies and resorting to drugs because she thinks she can't do anything worthwhile. She needs people who believe in her. Her boyfriend, family, and I are at home...we can't help her in here."
"She could fuck me and pass." Gloria narrows her eyes at him. "Sorry, I was kidding! My buddies are idiots and it rubs off on me sometimes. I forget that some people can't take a joke." He gulps. "I'll assist Aleida as much as I can."
"You better...even when she's rude, you teach her good."
"I will."
Gloria's pleased that he seems to be a bit fearful of her. "I suggest you make new friends, ones that won't influence you badly, or get a mind of your own, otherwise, no woman would wanna be with you. That's just my advice. I don't take men's bullshit any longer."
"Okay...I'll leave my frat boy days behind."
"Glad to hear it."
Thank you for reading and reviewing, HannahMiley1fan, cornedout, LindaAndrewsfan, and A Star In My Universe!
