Thank you for beta'ing, A Star In My Universe!
koshmar-nightmare
The walk to English class is more somber than usual. Even though they're eager to search all over the city for Gloria's perfect man, Lorna and Maritza can't stop thinking about Nicky having to sprint in the gym for the whole period, even when she was splashing through her own puke. "Because of that fuckin' Chewbacca, she threw her guts up! My heart sank to my knees and I felt empty all of a sudden when you and Alex told me. Damn that awful piece 'a shit!" Lorna hisses. "I really wanna report this to Caputo...and also let him know that she had to stay after so the monster could do God knows what else to her...and he didn't let you or Alex in his office or nothin'. Only thing is, we can't, because he'd use the heroin addict thing against her."
Maritza sighs. "I figured. That really sucks...well, why don't we inform Caputo that he's killed somebody?"
"He would just deny it," Lorna says, and by her tone, Maritza senses she's lost all hope. "The only thing that's keeping me from having a complete mental breakdown, is Nicky constantly reminding me that she's okay enough to attend the rest of school today. I'm gonna give her a hug right when I see her next period!"
"Me, too."
They stroll through the door of Diane's classroom and sit at the front. "Hi, girls," Alex's mother greets them kindly.
"Hey," they respond in unison.
Lorna smiles at her phone and then shows it to Maritza. There's a text from Nicky. Woodshop is so entertaining right now...they're all lifting my mood tremendously, and I wish the rest of our group, namely you, was here! Maritza's own phone vibrates and she sees that it's Flaca messaging her a video of Ouija standing up on a table. She'll have to watch it later when it won't bother her fellow students and Diane. The caption beneath it reads, She sounds exactly like them! Maybe she can show off her talent when we vlog!
Apparently, Lorna had gotten it too, but she's viewing it on mute. She pauses it when the camera focuses on Nicky's lit-up face. Lorna's not aware of this, but Maritza notices how smitten Lorna appears to be as she strokes the side of the screen, where Nicky's dimpled cheek is. She keeps replaying Nicky giggling and she only puts her phone away when Diane announces that they're going to start with some iambic pentameters and Shakespeare.
When their lesson is over, Maritza and Lorna join Nicky and Flaca before art. They'd probably gone out of their way to avoid any of the lethal teachers. Lorna throws her arms around Nicky. She looks so delighted to see the blonde. "I'm glad you're still standing!"
"Of course I am..."
"What'd he do to you?" Maritza asks as they take her to Ms. Ginsberg's cooking class.
Nicky pushes up her sleeves enough to expose red handprint-shaped bruises wrapped around both her wrists, accompanied with fingernail indents full of blood that had already dried, and it reminds Maritza of what she thought she'd seen on Gloria before. She, Flaca, and Lorna gasp.
"Oh my goodness!" Lorna cries and kisses the area where it looks the worst. "Honey...you need ice on those..."
"Frieda already gave me some. That fuckin' demon made me get down on my hands and knees and beg for his forgiveness. He wouldn't let me out of the room until I cried and acted pathetic."
"Oh, I hate him!" Flaca exclaims.
Lorna grits her teeth. "Killing him seems too nice. I'd like us all to torture him instead."
"Our in-class assignment for the day is going to be pairing up and painting each other," Ms. Fischer instructs the class, and she grins as Lorna sits still next to an easel and Nicky starts to sketch her. "Nice job, girls!"
"Thanks," Nicky says. She takes time with her work and enjoys admiring every one of Lorna's features. It's really the only time that she can really stare at the tiny Italian without feeling like she's wrong for it. However, when Lorna draws Nicky, the blonde is antsy, and she keeps smiling so much she giggles.
"Hush, you're gonna mess me up!"
"Sorry, it's just weird that your eyes have been on me this long."
"I gotta concentrate!"
She looks so cute when she focuses on this task.
Alex and Daya are partners, and same with Blanca and Maria. Flaca talks about music to Poussey as she draws her. This environment, along with Woodshop, is calm and peaceful. Her past two periods, along with second, have definitely soothed the burns of first and third. Dixon hadn't wounded her physically, but she's sickened by the comments he makes.
"Hey...where's Aleida?" Leon asks when he doesn't notice his girl serving lunch.
"She's kinda hiding in the backroom," Gloria informs him, tilting her head in that direction.
He immediately grows concerned. Aleida Diaz doesn't conceal herself from the world-he knows her. She shines with confidence. Something must really be wrong. "Alright, thanks."
"You're welcome."
Leon goes through the double doors and sees her curled up in a corner. "Aleida? Baby, are you okay?" He squats down next to her.
"Oh...hi, Leon," Aleida mumbles while sniffling. "Um, sorry you gotta see me like this. Yeah, I'm fine."
"You sure? It doesn't look it." He tucks some of her hair behind her ear and sees a tear crawling out of her eye and down her cheek. He catches it with his thumb before it can slide off her jaw. "What's the matter, honey?" His lips touch her hair as he runs his hand through it a few times. He wraps his arms around her. "You're shaking."
"How'd you know I was here?"
"Gloria told me."
"Of fuckin' course she did." Aleida rolls her eyes. "One threat from some motherfucker and she thinks I'm delicate. I got feelings, but I'm not broken, ya know? I can handle this shit...whatever they throw at me." He can tell she's covering up her fear with bravery, just by looking at her.
"Yeah...wait, who threatened you?" he asks. "What'd they say?"
"There I am, right, stickin' up for my girl 'cause these two punks are demeanin' us...then one pulls out his gun, I get it away from him...then their bigger, nastier co-worker gets all up in my face and he's like, I'mma turn you into Norma. That's the one who don't talk, so...he gonna take away my tongue somehow."
His protectiveness goes up a few hundred notches. "I won't let 'em touch you, Aleida! Where are these goddamn thugs so I can take 'em all apart?"
"It's impossible. They're not like regular human beings...you punch 'em, and they'll shoot you or kill you with their bare hands. Even the police...they don't do shit. I just wanna stay in your arms until you gotta go back to work."
He holds her tighter against him and kisses her tears away. "Sweetheart, I'll keep you safe, always."
She buries herself in his chest. "Help me stop crying. It's ugly."
"Okay, I will, but I think you're beautiful either way."
"No, I just can't afford to be weak...in front of anyone..."
"You're not. If you didn't show emotion, that would be strange."
"Wow, I guess Mama Lourdes was way off!"
"Mm-hm."
"Ugh, there was gum on the floor and now, it's on my shoe," Blanca complains as she joins the girls at lunch. "It's sticky whenever I walk...I'm gonna have to scrub it off later when I get home."
"You know who's I bet it was? The boogeyman's," Nicky grumbles. "He was chomping on it in the middle of class. I kept praying for him to choke. He probably spit it out when he was in line."
Blanca gives her a slight nod and gets her food. Lorna explains what Nicky had been through, so everyone around them can hear. Then, Blanca lifts up her shirt slightly and shows them a dark bluish-black mark on her right side. "Courtesy of Godzilla," she mutters sarcastically. "He shoved his foot right there...I thought he broke my rib cage."
Daya feels so bad for her friends who are being abused by him. "God, that motherfucker deserves to die!" she growls, and Alex nods in agreement.
Gloria shakes her head. "It needs to happen soon! Even your motha's scared of him now, Daya...he threatened to cut her tongue out, basically...she's in the backroom, being consoled by Leon."
Daya gasps. Even though Aleida can be annoying, she would never want anything like that to happen to her mother. "What the fuck? Why is he so hellbent on terrorizing all of us?"
"He's torturing you because he hates me and wants to see the people I'm close to suffer," Red informs them as she hands Nicky her meal. "I'm so sorry, sweetheart. You're not weak, no matter what he does or says...and yes, it was his gum."
"I know," Nicky murmurs.
"Life was easier when I was a preschool aide and factory worker!" Red grumbles.
"Why?" Alex wants to know.
"Piscatella and co weren't around and I knew Nicky when she was just a tiny tot in the classroom!" Red holds up a white notecard that reads, Do not ever speak of the mafia or the mob, that is a secret between you, me, and the lunch ladies. If you don't want those criminals to hear what you're saying, write it down. This necklace records everything. I cannot take it off.
"Aw," Lorna coos while she and the girls nod slightly. "No wonder you had such a pull to her!"
No, it was yours, and if you value your life, you need to own up to it, bitch! Since I love kids, it would be after your baby is born. Kisses, P
Daya scoffs at the text and sighs. She retrieves her lunch from Gloria and goes to where Blanca is. "Hey...that was mine...I'm always chewing on it, and I guess it fell out, but I had no idea. I'm sorry!"
"That's why it's not allowed in school!"
"Red just told us it was the horrible person's," Alex lets Blanca know. "She would've seen him do it, too. Why are you believing Daya? She doesn't get the blame here."
"She chews gum," Blanca says weakly, like she's not sure that she's right.
"Everyone does!" Lorna snaps, rolling her eyes. "You don't even sound certain."
"Well, I'm accusing her."
"Hey, stop being a puta!" Maria shouts.
Blanca sighs. "Okay. Sorry."
"Yo, what's goin' on with you?" Flaca questions her.
"Yeah, you got Aunt Flo visiting soon?" Maritza whispers.
"I have no idea. It's nothin'...I was an idiot. I do that sometimes."
An uncomfortable silence passes over the group, and Daya gets a sinking feeling in her stomach. Blanca may not be P, but she does work for him. It all makes sense now. Even his last name starts with the letter P, and he assaults her, like the Joker does to his minions. He basically gave himself away. She has to make the other girls aware of this.
It can't be him, though, because he would never make it this easy. He's just another villain in their lives. Blanca is also a bit gullible and stubborn in her thinking-she refuses to be wrong. Daya can't see her under someone, not after last year. She'd demand to be in charge. After all, she is second in command to Maria, over Ouija, Pidge, Michelle, and Zirconia. She's pretty powerful.
If Daya thinks Blanca is P, she's probably not. It's too obvious. Plus, she doesn't really adore children that much, and Piscatella doesn't seem like the kind of person who would. All this thinking is giving Daya a headache, so she's relieved when Lorna changes the subject.
"Anyway...I've never talked about my volunteering at the hospital, right?"
"Oh, nah, how is that?" Maria asks.
"It's nice, when the people are sweet, and they are, even the usually grumpy ones."
"Do you have favorite patients?" Blanca wants to know.
"Yeah...three women...Miss Rosa, who's got cancer and no hair, Anita, who has Morton's neuroma and sleeps with a CPAP that helps her breathe at night, and also this poor old lady named Jimmy with Alzheimer's. She kept thinking Red was her daughter and when I showed them all pictures of me and my friends to cheer them up, she kept referring to Piper as Roberta. It makes me sad to know we're all out here, but they're stuck in there with no family, just waiting to die."
"That's hella depressing," Maritza agrees.
"I bet you do a great job of cheering them up," Alex tells Lorna, and it makes her smile.
Daya pats Lorna's hand. "Yeah..."
"Of course she does," Nicky says. Lorna brightens up even more and thanks them.
"Guess who won class president?" The small Italian points to herself proudly. "Moi!"
The girls start bidding her congratulations. "I knew you had it in the bag when you recited your speech for me," Nicky tells Lorna, who grins happily.
"Yay!" Blanca and Maria cheer in unison.
"That's so cool!" Flaca squeals.
"Yo, totally," Maritza agrees.
"I'm really proud of you!" Alex says.
"Yeah, great job!" Daya adds.
"Thanks!"
"That goes for the thing you three wrote in The Beeline, too," Blanca tells Lorna, Daya, and Flaca, her glance shifting between them. "You did great!"
"You're all terrific writers," Nicky compliments them.
"Mm-hm," their other friends agree, and a surge of delight goes through Daya. Flaca and Lorna seem to be satisfied at their accomplishment as well.
"Gracias!" Flaca responds.
"Yeah, thank you!" Lorna says.
Daya smiles. "I'm happy y'all liked it."
"Nicky, I've been meaning to tell you this, but your sister is kind of annoying me...she always calls me stretch and at Maria's party, she and Mercy were scolding me for drinking at the dance-a-thon! It's like the kid wants to be a pain in my ass on purpose!" Alex complains. "Why would you tell her? It's not her business!"
The blonde girl snickers. "Well, after you teased them during their date at Friendly's, I think they're just doing a little payback."
"Dude, I can't believe you're taking her side!"
"Hey, she's my sister. We're like a team, Vause. Of course, if she continues to do it, I'll have to stop her! One tiny comment is enough."
"Okay..."
"You know how we say Flaritza when referring to Flaca and Maritza?" Lorna asks. "Nicky and I mashed up our last names, so you can call us Nichorello!"
"It's got such a neat ring to it," Nicky adds.
"That sounds awesome!" Alex says.
"Yeah!" the rest of the girls exclaim in unison.
After they watch Ouija's accurate impressions of Nicky, Flaritza, and Polly, Pennsatucky comes up to them. Daya looks down at the table awkwardly, as do Lorna, Flaca, and Alex. "Hey, y'all, how's it hangin'? Sorry I'm late, I got held up-"
"There's this thing called exclusion," Lorna mutters. "You're not invited."
"What you talkin' about?"
"No, of course you're welcome," Nicky says, scooting over to make room for her. She gives Lorna a puzzled glance. "Don't be rude!"
"It doesn't feel like it. You Piper lovin' cunts will never accept me, no matter what. See ya 'round, Nichols." She stomps off, pulling her hood up and over her head.
Daya sees that Flaca's received a text from P. You're the dumbest bitches alive, no wonder you were flattened...and keep accusing the wrong people.
"What is this all about?" Blanca asks sharply.
"Why you bein' cruel like Piper?" Maria wants to know.
"You can't just dump her!" Maritza protests. "She's part of our band, for one thing! We need her!"
"Nah, we don't...she ain't trustworthy."
"Without us, she got nobody."
"I'm still her friend," Nicky declares.
"That's exactly her goal...to get into your good graces!" Lorna states. "She's not close to anyone except you and Boo! That's very weird!"
"I didn't have friends last year either, besides Maria. We just had each other," Blanca says.
"That's different...Nicky has other pals, Maria didn't," Alex mutters.
Maria gives Alex an icy glare. "I thought y'all weren't like this...you better than her. Fuck this shit, man." She gets up and starts walking away, and then Blanca does the same. They stop and turn around to face the table. "Nicky, Maritza, you comin' with us?"
Nicky appears to be disappointed. "Looks like you're still a stone-cold bitch, Morello."
Maritza folds her arms across her chest and frowns. "Really, Flac, Piper made you feel bad about yourself, now you're being just like her? Not cool, dude."
"Hey, it wasn't my idea!" Flaca shoots back at Maritza. "Y'all can holler at Lorna...she had the suggestion...and Alex loved Piper, so of course she'd loathe people who were super mean to our former Queen Bee!"
"Okay, umm...how else would Boo know about something very private that I did, huh? Pennsatucky is not God, even though she thinks she is! She would obviously tell her foster mother everything, right? She knows my secret-one that I won't tell nobody, but she is well aware of it!" Lorna yells at the top of her lungs. Everyone stares at her in confusion, but the girls who aren't getting P messages start giggling. "What?!" she shrieks hysterically, almost in tears.
"Oh, shit, fuckin' Boo with the big mouth," Alex hisses under her breath, but Daya hears it since they're right next to each other. "I have to confess." She takes a deep breath. "Lorna, settle down! They heard it from me."
"You told them?!" Lorna practically shrieks at Alex.
"Yeah, she had to, it was a bet," Blanca tells her, and Nicky laughs.
"Ugh!" Lorna throws some of her spaghetti at Alex's face. "That's for blabbin'!"
"Oh!" Alex gasps as the noodles drip down her face and the sauce soaks into her hair. "What the fuck?!" She takes off her glasses, wipes them off with a napkin, and stuffs a handful of fries down Lorna's shirt.
Lorna screams while trying to get them out of her bra and brushes off the greasy crumbs. "You're lucky those weren't covered in ketchup!" She tosses more of her pasta at Alex. "Take that!"
"Hey, you stained my shirt!"
"It would've come out eventually," Nicky tells Lorna while smirking.
"This is for not taking the situation seriously!" Lorna flicks a meatball off her fork and at Nicky's forehead, and Nicky retaliates by wiping spaghetti sauce on Lorna's face.
Their friends giggle at the mini food fight they're having, and Flaca and Maritza decide to escalate it, getting all of the students in the cafeteria involved. Gloria, Red, Norma, and Claudette dodge it by ducking behind the counter. The teachers, even the cool ones like Diane and Ms. Fischer, are trying to stop it, but they keep getting hit with food, too. Luckily, Piscatella, Humps, and Dixon aren't there to ruin the fun.
"Look at Angie, kissing Clarence like nothing at all is wrong," Lorna grumbles as she and Nicky pass Angie with her boyfriend. "Everyone knows she's just dating an African American guy to rebel against her racist parents."
"Well, that's not fair to him."
"I know, right?"
"Maybe he's passing her drugs."
"I feel like telling him she shits it out and takes it!"
"Does she really?" Nicky shrugs. "I took some from her once, and they didn't smell or taste bad at all."
"What?!" Lorna shrieks with her hands on her hips. "She's best friends with Leanne...you shouldn't be associated with neither of them!"
"Leanne and I talked about how cool dolphins were...she loves them! I mean, I don't think she's that bad. The poor girl got her finger shot off and she was burned. Of course she's gonna have some issues. She apologized for being rude to me about my sexuality."
"I would not associate Leanne with the word poor. She is a cunning bitch, just like that man-rapin', Oxy-lovin' Angie!" Lorna hisses. "Obviously, she'd lie to get you back on her side."
"Hey, Piper was also that way, and you, Alex, Daya, and Flaca were friends with her."
"She had her good moments. They don't. They're like stupid little children who run around, messing up everything in their path." Lorna huffs. "The only things I can use against them is that Angie's afraid of skeletons and Leanne has never had an orgasm, but that's the same with many people...ugh, they stink!"
"I don't like Angie because she said I was gross for hitting on her, when she, with the meth teeth, is a disgusting cunt, but I just think Leanne's...pathetic...like, she calls her own vagina a soggy box. Like, who does that? Didn't anyone ever teach her Sex Ed?"
"Maybe not, but still, you don't wanna be trustin' her or nothin'. In eighth grade, she bullied Brook to the point of trying to kill herself by overdosing on Benadryl, and even if I don't like Brook, nobody deserves to have their hair unwillingly cut off or be pushed to suicidal thoughts! That's the only reason I was okay with her being on the squad. It's also why I hated Piper when she was so mean to Blanca, just because of a fashion don't."
"Okay. I take your word for it."
"Thank you."
They go into Humps' classroom together, linking arms in solidarity. He just scoffs at them while a snide expression crosses his icky face. Pennsatucky is setting up her desk and a pang of guilt shoots through Lorna. "Hey...you should formally apologize to her," Nicky says. "Being in the middle is annoying. I like my friends to get along with each other."
"I know, I was about to." Lorna wrings her hands while walking up to Pennsatucky. "Hi...um, there was a misunderstanding, and I'm really sorry. You can be in our group anytime."
"Alright, if I feel like it."
"I understand that."
"You can't disrespect me. That's why I got into fights with Piper."
"Okay, well, again, I'm sorry."
"I forgive you, but I'll never forget this."
"Did someone say something about a fight?" Humps asks behind them in a weirdly excited tone. "I'd love to see one!"
"We're not gonna throw down in the middle of class!" Pennsatucky snaps. "Take your creepiness somewhere else, dude."
"Very well, then...I'll be looking forward to it in detention tomorrow." He winks at them. "Back to your seat, shortstack!" He kicks Lorna aside, and she sprints towards the front and practically falls into her chair, gasping a few times.
"How did he hear your nickname for me?" Lorna whispers to Nicky. The answer is simple-he must be P and is clearly stalking Lorna and her friends. There's no other way.
"Fuck if I know. He was most likely listening too hard to one of our banters and wanted to get some enjoyment out of it. Typical frat boy behavior, right? I've got revenge up my sleeve, never you fear!"
"Pennsatucky and I have to beat each other up!" she worries.
Nicky rolls her eyes. "No, you don't. He probably forgets half the shit he says. May I remind you that this little man was a high school loser? He's doing this to compensate for it."
"Oh, he remembers everything. He is as sinister as they come, just like Dick-son and Piss-cuntella."
"Clever!" Nicky stifles a chuckle while discreetly hi-fiving Lorna. "Those are good."
"Thanks, but you're not getting the point-"
"Ladies, do you have something to share with the class?" Humps cuts Lorna off, and she freezes.
"Actually we do, sir," Nicky tells him politely, and nods at Lorna. This is her cue to let her frog out of its container that's sitting on her desk. "Ribbit and hop free, little froggy!" The rest of the class follows along. Lorna squeals as the frogs roam around the room, and Nicky bursts out laughing. "Don't you just love frogs, Humps? They're pretty cool, but I wouldn't get so many of them and show them off to the class!"
"I used to be called the toad boy! Put those away, please!" He flails about, stepping over the many frogs. "Come on, I was picked on mercilessly for it!" Lorna chuckles softly at how wimpy he's being.
"Humps the toad boy!" Nicky shouts. "You've got a weakness, asshole! That is hilarious!"
"Nicky, shhh," Lorna begs her, but the whole class has him under their control, so she just goes along with it.
"You're in big trouble with Dana!" Nicky guffaws while leaning back in her chair and slumping. "Fuckin' idiot, this guy."
"Nichols, that's enough!" Humps thunders. "I am your teacher! You will not disrespect me!"
"Why? You don't show that you give a damn about us!"
"Each one of you will start digesting a frog, unless you'd all like to do lions!"
"He doesn't have a lion in his closet," Nicky mutters to Lorna, but the class ends up obeying Humps. The blonde goes along with it, probably not wanting to entice him any further.
"There's the slut! Hey, Angela Cooze-nick!" Lorna growls after school and runs at her, tackling her down from behind before the girls can blink. She does what P has instructed and simply presses her fingers into her enemy's throat, gagging her as she tries to scream. She attempts to get out from under Lorna, but Lorna isn't moving. "Tell me you won't even so much as look at Christopher again!"
"Get...off...me..." Angela struggles to say, and Lorna senses some people pulling her up to her feet. "You psycho bitch!" she hollers at Lorna, and Nicky stops her before she can slap Lorna.
"Are you asking to go to prison?" Nicky hisses as Flaca, Maritza, Alex, and Daya force Angela away from them.
"Don't be dramatic! The most I'll get is another detention like everyone else!"
"Were you actually gonna kill her?" Alex wonders out loud.
"No! I just wanted her to stay away from Christopher! She knows what'll happen now."
"Alex and I gotta go to band practice," Flaca mutters.
"Yeah, and we have cheerleading!" Maritza says.
"Gloria and Aleida are waiting for me," Daya lets them know.
"Bye!" Lorna calls out to them cheerfully. She skips after Nicky and Maritza. "I'm going with you, just to tell Ms. Jones that I quit!"
"Ma, I can't believe he said that to you!" Daya exclaims in a hushed voice as she, Aleida, and Gloria leave the school as fast as possible, in order not to be seen by the humongous bear.
"What?!" Aleida snaps. "Gloria, you want Europe to hear about this, too? You goin' around tellin' the world this shit? Fuck!"
"I'm sorry, it just came out...but I was more giving her an example of who else he's been ferocious to. It just shows her how much more human you are."
"It's embarrassing!"
"No it's not, Ma...I don't shame you for being frightened of the piss monster. That means you're smart."
"Yeah," Gloria agrees with Daya.
"That was supposed to be a secret...but whatever. Just don't tell nobody else! Let me say it first if I wanna," Aleida tells them.
"Okay," Daya and Gloria reply in unison.
"Well, that's too bad you're leaving us, Lorna. You seemed to really love being part of our squad!" Ms. Jones says.
"Not anymore...I'm sorry."
Nicky steps up to Lorna's side. "It's fine if you don't wanna do cheerleading because you're no longer interested in it, but don't you dare drop it for some jock who doesn't even like you!"
Ms. Jones gives the brunette a curious look. "I'll give you a few days. You can take a short break and then see if you wanna come back."
"I don't need a bit of time away...this is forever."
"You should really think about it," Maritza recommends.
"I already have! Either you or Nicky can take my spot as captain."
"Wow, are you serious?" Nicky asks while folding her arms across her chest. She rolls her eyes. "What, would you die for him, too? Fuck me alive!"
"Is this about a boy?" Brook questions Lorna. "I thought this sport was all about girl power, no guys allowed! You are totally killing that vibe!"
"Yeah," the others murmur while nodding their heads.
"You shut up!" Lorna growls at them. "I don't feel like being here, that's it! Goodbye, Nichols, I'll see you at home! As for the rest of you...stay outta this!" She storms off, and there's a horrible pang at Nicky's chest. She feels like she just got dumped, even though they were never actually together. She had joined this team all because of Lorna.
"Whatever, we don't need her, right?" Nicky shouts.
"Who are you trying to convince?" Ella wonders aloud.
"Mm-hm, everyone knows you like her," Caitlin adds.
"Well, you're wrong."
"We can all tell that you're hurt by her decision," Tia lets Nicky know.
"She'll be back, probably once she figures out Christopher hates her guts," Tiff assures Nicky.
"I dunno why she's not getting the picture that he wants nothing to do with her!" Brook mutters.
"I'm super pissed at her. She let us all down," Maritza says sadly.
"Yeah, for fuckin' dick!" Nicky snaps, kicking the railing of the bleachers slightly.
"I know you're angry, but could we please not damage school property?" Ms. Jones asks.
"Fuck your hating violence bullshit! You were about to shoot a kid because you were piss-poor drunk, or did you forget?"
"Miss Nichols, I understand why you're acting out, but you need to stop, or else I'll have you sit out for the rest of the day," Ms. Jones tells her calmly, but firmly.
Nicky puts her hands up in surrender since the coach is being more than fair. "Fine. Now can we practice?"
"Yes, if you promise to behave yourself."
"I will. Sorry, I shouldn't be taking my rage out on you or anyone, really." Nicky hangs her head in shame. "I just have a temper."
"You should learn to control it," Brook whispers, and Nicky flips her off when the coach isn't facing them.
After Nicky and Maritza both lead a few cheers, they notice Lorna watching them from a distance, appearing to be extremely upset. There are even faint mascara streaks under her eyes and trailing down her cheeks. Nicky scoffs in disbelief. "Look at her," she mutters to Maritza. "She really did this to herself!"
"She's making me depressed. Let's not stare. Hey...I got somethin' to ask you, since you already done it with a straight girl," Maritza whispers when they're all resting and drinking water or stretching.
"Uh...yeah?"
"How do you deal with it? Like...listening to her stories about dudes she's into when it's like, hello, I'm right here to give you the true love you deserve!"
"I'm a lesbian junkie...she will never go for me. Yes, we...comforted each other...but she wants the perfect life with a husband and child. I'm not part of that equation...so I basically am just happy that we're very close friends. She frustrates me at times, like right now, but I won't ever stop loving her, whether it's in a romantic way or not."
"Say you've already kissed...twice...and you feel sparks...like nothing tastes better than she does." Maritza closes her eyes and sighs deeply while blushing. "Her lips are like a mix of vanilla spice and hot sauce. You want her to touch you, just one more time...and we sleep together, so it's real tempting-"
Nicky gasps and chuckles a bit. "Holy shit, are you talking about Flaca?"
"What? No!" Maritza sits up and opens her eyes. "She ain't into me like that."
"You can't get anything like that past me. The hot sauce part gave it away...but I've kinda suspected you had a crush on her ever since her ex's party! It was sorta confirmed when you got jealous of her saying that Alex's friend was cute and you were tired of her always making comments about guys. Why don't you feel like that about Lorna? I mean, she's worse, she actually pursues the boys she's into."
"Okay, you caught me."
"Aha!" Nicky points at Maritza. "She admits it!"
"There ain't nothin' I can do about it, though. The first time we smooched was when we were both drunk...she was heartbroken at camp because Ian was bein' a jerk and ignoring her by not sending her letters, even though she sent him a postcard a few times until I advised her to give up. The second...I initiated it, intending to pass it off as a joke, but she didn't do it back, only 'cause she was depressed that day. She only thinks of us as besties."
"That really sucks. Maybe you could ask her-"
"Nah, that would be hella weird! I know the difference between a kiss under the influence and a real one. She's never started it when she was sober."
"Invite her to the homecoming dance," Nicky suggests. "She cannot say no to slow dancing with her best friend! It gets people into a romantic mood. That's what Lorna always says. If she pulls you in close until there's no space between you two, well, that's kinda flirty."
"We did that at the dance-a-thon...nothin' happened! I ground against her, she went along with it, but she's just touchy-feely like that. I don't wanna make a fool of myself!"
"Look, I get it...but to be honest, I don't have any better ideas. You could flirt with her, in the same way you'd do with a guy, like compliment her...or take her to a scary movie and cuddle up with her...even if you're not afraid. Ya know, fake it. Uhhh...go out to candlelit dinners, bowling, Dave and Busters...like dates."
"Oh...okay, then! Thanks!"
"You're welcome!"
"There we go," Lorna murmurs to herself. "That should do it!" She steps back from planting her homemade explosive device into Angela's car and then runs away while cracking up. She makes sure nobody has seen her, and then she passes the cheerleaders again. "Snooty bitches...I'm glad I'm not in that crowd! Christopher is turned off by those kinds of girls!" she says under her breath. Even though she misses it, dropping out was worth it. There's no way Christopher would reject her this time. If an average chick is what he wants, then that's what he'll get. Her phone pings and she pulls it out of her purse as she trembles with excitement.
Hey, excellent job! I have really high hopes for you! It'll work this time, I'm sure! xoxo, P
"Lorna..."
She jumps while turning off her phone when she hears Red say her name. "Huh? Ooops, I didn't notice ya there. Sorry, Red!"
"It's okay, dear...time for us to go."
"Oh, community service, right!" She chuckles nervously while breathing hard and then hiccups a few times.
"You seem a little...off."
"Um, no, I'm...I'm doing quite well, actually. I don't wanna be late!" Lorna skips to Red's car and tugs on the passenger side door. She groans. "It won't open!"
"Yes, I haven't even gotten my keys out yet." Red pulls them from her purse and unlocks her vehicle. Lorna jumps inside and bounces on the seat. "You aren't usually this happy."
"Uh, have you met me? I am a bundle of joy...a total optimist, even with all the shit we go through all the time in school!" Lorna taps the steering wheel impatiently. "Now please, hurry."
The older woman raises her eyebrow skeptically, but steps on the gas pedal and begins to drive anyway. Lorna calms down during the drive and hugs Red goodbye before walking into Miss Rosa and Anita's room.
"Hello, ladies!" she chirps kindly. "How are we today?"
"Out of breath," Anita mutters, and Miss Rosa vomits into a plastic bowl. Lorna frowns and her heart goes out to them. She quickly helps Anita sit up more so she can get more air into her lungs, and wipes the puke from Miss Rosa's mouth and hands her a glass of water. "Oh, thank you, honey."
"You're welcome."
"I used to be so much more badass when I was around your age, kid," Miss Rosa says. "Now I got cancer...I didn't want to pass away in a hospital bed in my fifties."
"I never thought a heart attack would do the trick," Anita tells Lorna dryly while squeezing her hand.
"Just take it easy," Lorna advises them. "Hey...where's your makeup? You look a little sad without it."
"It wore off."
Lorna plucks some black eyeliner, blue eyeshadow, and mascara out of her purse. "I got some right here. I don't mind sharing. I'll put it on you."
"Sure, thank you for your sweet offer!"
"Anytime!" She turns to Miss Rosa. "Would you like some?"
"No, I could do without it."
While giving Anita a makeover, she asks Miss Rosa, "So, what'd you do when you were young that was so badass?"
"Oh..." Miss Rosa smirks. "I always loved the dinero. In nineteen-eighty-two, I robbed the Old First National Bank in Tribeca, Manhattan not once, but two times, and I got away with it, too. I didn't go the third time, in order to not press my luck."
Lorna's mouth pops open in surprise and she lets out a belly laugh. "Holy ravioli!"
"She tells me the story all the time," Anita confirms. "Once, she and Yusef, who's now in remission, stole money from an alcoholic nurse."
"Did ya get busted?"
Miss Rosa scoffs. "No, she was as clueless as they come!"
"That is so fascinating! How old were you...back then?"
"Twenty-eight. Now, I must tell you, there is a curse attached to this...each time I did it with one of my husbands, they died...Marco, by gunshot wound, and Andy via heart attack. Don survived...but we never married."
"That's too bad."
"You know how I want to leave this earth?"
"Mmhm?"
"Speeding off in my car, with the tires squealing...then I'm gone in a blaze of glory."
"That sounds amazing," Anita comments.
"It is!" Lorna agrees.
"I've got three to six weeks left to live, kid. My dream will never happen."
"I can help you escape when it's almost time! I'll uh...get someone to pretend they're your daughter...take you out of this lonely place, and then you gotta drive as quickly as you can!"
Miss Rosa looks shocked. "You are a very bright child!"
"Thanks!" Lorna beams.
"How do you come up with these ideas?" Anita wonders out loud.
"I'm not sure. I'm a big dreamer...that's how I ended up here."
"You wanna be a nurse when you grow up?" Miss Rosa questions her.
"Somethin' like that...but we'll see. My mom's in the same state as you. We dunno how long she'll last."
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, hon," Anita says sympathetically.
Lorna nods and then sits on a chair between the two older ladies, holding both their hands in a moment of silence.
"Thank you for letting me stay, Shelly," Red tells her new friend as she takes her suitcase inside the blonde woman's small home. "Once again, I'm sorry for inconveniencing you like this. Everyone else's houses are too full of husbands or children...or both! I'll help out with rent."
"I appreciate that...and really, it wasn't a problem at all! I could use the company anyway!" Shelly Ginsberg helps Red unpack her suitcase in the guest room. "I made the bed as comfortable as possible, you know, for your bad back."
"Oh, yes, I'm very grateful. Do you mind if I use your bathroom?"
"Not at all...but I have to show you this." Shelly leads her into the tiny space. "Don't use my decorative soaps, please. I crafted these myself. You can look, but not touch."
"Wow, they're beautiful."
"Thanks. The regular soap is fine, though."
"Okay."
After Red finishes washing her hands, she and Shelly begin making dinner for themselves. "So...do you have any favorite students in your cooking class? I know teachers shouldn't pick, but...they do."
"Cindy's a silly one...she's trying to become Jewish like Rhea Boyle and I, but by the way she acts, I'm not sure if she's serious about converting to her desired religion. I guess she'll wise up if she really wants it. She and I do get along well, though. How about you? I always notice the same girls going into the kitchen's backroom, Maritza Ramos being one of them. They seem to really love you."
"Nicky," Red says without a second's thought. "We keep each other grounded. I always felt like a different, better person around her." She hurriedly scribbles, even when I was a mobster's wife on her notepad and shows Shelly.
"That's great!"
"I worry about her...in that koshmar's classroom. He's extremely dangerous...he only pushed me down once, worked me to exhaustion, and stole my dignity...but he has physically attacked that little girl so many times. He tried to actually kill Blanca and her boyfriend, Diablo...he pushed Lorna down, but nothing else...he most likely got bored of her because she just took it...and I think Nicky is next on his list. Seeing her so timid...it breaks my heart." A chill goes up Red's spine as she imagines Nicky dead at the hands of that dragon. "Alex is very close to being his fourth victim. He caused Gloria to have a panic attack after he threatened Aleida. They cook in the cafeteria with me."
"Whoa, that's scary...and I thought him taking my fancy soaps was bad! I'm so sorry."
"He treats some better than others, I suppose. He's never injured Daya, Maria, Flaca, or Maritza...probably because Maria, Flaca, and Daya aren't in his class, and Maritza isn't worth his time since she doesn't bite back. I should consider that a good thing...only half my girls are affected. Terrible, isn't it...that I have to be lucky that this worthless hulk doesn't harm some of them? The worst thing he's done to Maria is give her detention for selling drugs."
Shelly gives Red a sympathetic grin and rubs her back soothingly. "I sincerely apologize."
Spring was never waiting for us, girl
It ran one step ahead
As we followed in the dance
Between the parted pages and were pressed
In love's hot, fevered iron
Like a striped pair of pants
"I want the cliches. I wanna watch the sunset with a beautiful girl. I wanna not be able to take my eyes off of her, despite how much I love the sky. I want the soppy letters, the texts and to hear the love in her voice when she talks about me. I wanna be the person she calls when she's drunk but more importantly, when she's sober. I want to giggle during sex because it is awkward and clumsy. I want people to tell me that they wish they had a love like ours. Maybe that's naive or conventional of me, but what's the point in love if you don't show it?" Flaca swears she can see tears glimmering in Maritza's eyes as they're listening to their favorite song, MacArthur Park, by Donna Summer, while laying on top of Maritza's bed after having just applying their apricot facial scrubs. She had no idea her smaller friend was needing a girlfriend so badly. "As much as I want those things, I want the rest, too. I wanna be the shoulder she cries on when she's had a shit day at school. I want to be the person she needs to look after her when she's sick. I want to be the person to look after her when she's anxious or depressed and just can't get out of bed. I want everything. No, it isn't fucking easy to always be there for someone, but it's worth it for the right person. One day she will be the right person. I'm sorry, Flac...I don't mean to ramble, but..."
MacArthur's Park is melting in the dark
All the sweet, green icing flowing down
Someone left the cake out in the rain
I don't think that I can take it
'Cause it took so long to bake it
And I'll never have that recipe again
Oh no!
"Yo, it's fine, Mari. I totally agree with you...that shit's so romantic! Isn't that kinda like what we have, though...except the sex thing? People even call us Flaritza! It's amazing!"
"Yeah...we're friends, though. We ain't like, a couple or nothin'. I just...is there really nobody out there for me? You into this guy, that guy, and the other guy, too...but I can't find my other half anywhere!"
I recall the yellow cotton dress
Foaming like a wave
On the ground around your knees
The birds, like tender babies in your hands
And the old men playing checkers by the trees
"It don't mean they like me back!" Flaca smoothes Maritza's hair back from her face and plays with it a little. "Hey, don't worry...you will, I'm sure. You're so pretty...I'm sure whoever you choose is just gonna love you! How could they not?"
"There's the whole bein' straight part."
MacArthur's Park is melting in the dark
All the sweet, green icing flowing down
Someone left the cake out in the rain
I don't think that I can take it
'Cause it took so long to bake it
And I'll never have that recipe again
Oh no!
"Oh yeah, well...we thought Lorna was only into dudes, but I think somethin's brewin' between Nichorello!"
Maritza shakes her head from side to side. "Nah...fucking don't mean shit."
There will be another song for me
For I will sing it
There will be another dream for me
Someone will bring it
I will drink the wine while it is warm
And never let you catch me looking at the sun
And after all the loves of my life
After all the loves of my life
You'll still be the one
"Have you seen the way they stare at each other? I dunno how I never noticed it before! Lorna may have an unhealthy obsession with Christopher, but she has eyes for Nicky, like in her heart."
"They are pretty cute together when they flirt!" Maritza points out.
I will take my life into my hands and I will use it
I will win the worship in their eyes and I will lose it
I will have the things that I desire
And my passion flow like rivers through the sky
And after all the loves of my life
Oh, after all the loves of my life
I'll be thinking of you
And wondering why
"Mm-hm."
"I can't wait 'til she gets over his dumb ass."
MacArthur's Park is melting in the dark
All the sweet, green icing flowing down
Someone left the cake out in the rain
I don't think that I can take it
'Cause it took so long to bake it
And I'll never have that recipe again
Oh no!
"Me neither. Hey...let's go out sometime soon, like by ourselves. I'll pay."
Flaca smiles excitedly at Maritza's invitation. "Sure! That'll be fun."
Oh no
No
Oh no!
"Well, I'm glad you had a nice time!" Fahri tells Diane after she'd talked to him about her date with Charles as they smoke outside on the porch. "He seems a lot better than Lee, that's for sure."
"Oh, he is! I'll have to have a girls' night sometime soon and spill the deets. There's just not much time in school..."
Their conversation fades as Alex takes her shoes off and wanders through Fahri's apartment. It looks over a gorgeous view of the city, and his furniture and paintings on the walls are nice. While listening to music, she makes herself comfortable on his white couch and turns on the lamp. For about the fifth time in a row, she reads the article Lorna, Flaca, and Daya had written for The Beeline, their school newspaper, and beams with pride. It includes everything-direct quotes from students, teachers, and the ladies in the kitchen, who had been harassed by Piscatella, Dixon, and Humps and how stupid and unfair it was that they still work there, despite them being lethal creeps, and the oppression of minorities, such as anyone who isn't a straight white male.
"Hey, Uncle Fahri!" Alex hears a female voice shout happily from outside, so she peers out the window to see who it is. She had no idea he was related to Allison-he had only mentioned her as his favorite and only niece, who always came to visit, and that name is pretty common. She comes in with Taystee, Poussey, and Brook. "Oh, hi, Alex! Nice to see you!"
"You, too!"
"I brought half my clique...Cindy, Janae, and Suzanne are busy with more important things." Allison does an eyeroll. "At least these cool chicks are here, right?"
"Yeah!" Alex waves at the girls. "Taystee, check out this section of The Beeline! Sophomores got game!"
"Oh right, it's hella good! I showed her already," Poussey says.
"How could I forget, you two are the best of friends!"
"That's okay, I'll read it again!"
Allison turns on the television and flips channels until Poussey yells for her to stop.
"A cooking channel?"
Poussey grins. "Yo, it's Judy King! She my idol, man!"
"Okay...we'll learn how to make...whatever that is," Alex murmurs.
"Judy seems so nice...Jennifer and Maureen are also huge fans of her, but Ms. Jones and Red, not so much. Red thinks she's better," Brook says. "I've never tasted her meals, so I wouldn't know...but her southern drawl is neat. Plus, I bet she's never put any bad stuff in people's food."
"You can thank yourself for that, Soso. If we act ungrateful, we can expect shit. That's how the lunch ladies are, okay?" Alex tries not to sound too mean, even though she does want to poke fun at the annoying idiot.
"Got it. I admire Norma, though. She's kinda like my mom. The others are a bit...I don't wanna say scary, because we have the three musketeers who are even worse, but more intense."
"That's cool. My mom is close friends with Red, Gloria, and Aleida, so..."
"Claudette thinks I'm awesome!" Taystee sings.
"They're all great!" Poussey exclaims.
"I get along with 'em pretty well, too," Allison says.
"Same here," Alex tells them. Suddenly, her phone lights up on the coffee table and she grabs it before anyone can see the text. You're welcome! -P
She's confused as to what this means until Diane comes in to tell her that someone anonymously submitted a clue to the police that would help them in Piper's murder investigation, and they needed her and her friends at the station. Alex gets up, waves goodbye at Allison, Taystee, Poussey, and Brook, and Diane takes her to meet Lorna, Daya, and Flaca there. Her mother stands outside with Red, Gloria, and Theresa while the girls sit across from Charles. Alex is pleased that he seems to be leading the case. He slides a cassette into the slot under the television set and presses play.
Piper's standing outside a door, but she doesn't appear to know that she's being filmed. She's there for a total of two seconds, and they jump when a black gloved hand clamps over her mouth and drags her inside a dark room. There's no sound, but they can tell that she's screaming. Alex doesn't want to see it anymore, but she knows she needs to, if she wants to get some answers.
"Why can't we hear it?" Lorna asks Charles.
He tries turning up the volume, but it doesn't work. "I think it's been rerecorded and set on mute."
A black gloved fist slams into Piper's face and she staggers back, looking bewildered and frightened. Five figures are behind her, dressed all in black with ski masks over their faces, and one of them is talking while covering her mouth with a white cloth and tying it around her head. The video is grainy, so they can't really tell the eye color of anyone, but they're all shorter than Piper. Charles pauses it when the camera goes to Piper crying. Alex breathes in and out raggedly and sobs into her hands while shaking her head. She can't be mad at him for showing them this, since he's only doing his job. It's just extremely upsetting. She senses Lorna and Daya rubbing her back, probably attempting to calm her down.
"I'm so sorry, Alex...I know she meant a lot to you girls, but could I ask you some questions?"
"Sure," Flaca answers.
"Do you know where this was?"
"It looks like the makeout shed in the garden near the cornfield," Alex responds, and then her voice catches.
"Yo, she was wearing those clothes the last night we saw her," Daya adds.
"Mm-hm, I would know that purple sweater from anywhere!" Lorna continues.
"She was so secretive about her life that didn't involve us...and she may have gotten mixed up with the wrong kinds of people," Flaca says.
There's something strange about how Lorna was watching it-almost like she'd viewed it before, since she looked completely at ease with seeing Piper get beat up. Alex knows that Lorna had her problems with Piper, but she's not a cold-blooded bitch. Even Daya and Flaca were distressed, and they had more reason to hate their deceased friend.
Lorna may not be guilty of anything, but from immediately placing the blame on Pennsatucky to her jumping Angela, and not to mention, her punching Piper in the tiny bit of footage that P had sent to them, makes her look extremely suspicious.
Thank you for reading and reviewing, A Star In My Universe, LindaAndrewsfan, and HannahMiley1fan!
