Thank you for beta'ing, A Star In My Universe! Warning, sexist and racist remarks, violence, and sexual harassment.

As soon as the girls get to school, Caputo's voice blares over the loudspeaker with the morning news. "Dayanara Diaz, Marisol Gonzales, Lorna Morello, and Alex Vause, please report to Mr. Healy's office for a therapy session," he announces afterwards.

"Healy counseled me wrongly, trying to separate me from my friends, so he's out! There is literally nobody else, Nicky!" Lorna panics.

"I'm sure that's not true! We'll find someone!" Nicky assures her.

"Come on," Alex grumbles, rolling her eyes while leading Lorna away from Nicky and linking arms with her.

"I don't need some fuckin' white man givin' me advice," Flaca complains, and Daya wheels her down the hallway. They're on the other side of Lorna.

"All he ever says to me is hola...I don't even speak the language," Daya chimes in.

They reluctantly go into his office. "Take a seat," he instructs Lorna, Alex, and Daya, gesturing towards the three chairs in front of him, and they do. Flaca stays in her wheelchair. "Your parents have entrusted me in helping you with this traumatic event you all have experienced."

"You've spoken to my dad?" Lorna asks uncertainly. "He doesn't really take care of me, it's the other way around..."

"I'm very good friends with your father, I've come over a few times to watch the game with him, but you aren't home when I'm there."

"You should talk to my sister, she's more in charge," Lorna recommends confidently.

"I'd rather speak with an older person."

"I doubt my mom thinks you're a reliable source, especially since you don't support our beliefs," Alex says.

"I've chosen to keep politics out of these meetings, and I explained that to her. She's fine with it, as long as I'm not prejudiced. As for the rest of you...Miss Gonzales, your mother approved of this, and Miss Diaz, yours said I better be good, so I will do my best." He gives them a half grin that Lorna thinks is probably fake. "Now...how did the four of you become so connected?"

"Piper was the leader of our clique...in seventh grade, she got us to become friends with each other. We all came from different backgrounds, and without her, we probably never would've even exchanged more than two words," Flaca responds.

"So, what happened when she disappeared, if she was the glue holding you together?"

"We kinda split up, but ever since we found out she died, we've turned back into a tight-knit group," Daya answers.

"I see. I've talked with your folks, and they agree that separating you momentarily is a brilliant idea. It seems to me, and them, that you four think it's perfectly fine to go against school rules and play hooky on the regular, even getting just about every student here to skip for an entire day, and you're so determined that Miss Doggett is Miss Chapman's killer, that you choose to ostracize her. I know she shouldn't have cut her hair, but you can't just place blame on people without proof."

"What the fuck?!" Flaca hisses.

"They never said we should stop being friends for a while," Alex snaps.

Daya huffs. "Yeah, we're not doing that bullshit!"

"Hey, shut up!" Mr. Healy snarls and bangs his hand against the desk. Lorna jumps sharply and her friends stiffen. He gives them a hard stare while pointing his finger in their direction. "That's right. Pay attention to me. You are not under anyone anymore...therefore, you're running wild. You're whining about how Mr. Piscatella, Mr. Humphrey, and Mr. Dixon are so mean to you...well no wonder! Together and without Piper, you're a mess, like tornadoes, blowing up everything in your path. She kept you girls controlled. Even when she was gone and you weren't friends, you never found yourselves in trouble with them until this year. You're getting ideas from each other, and that's not smart at all. It'll do you a lot better to divide and spend time with different people. If you're in the same classes, do not say a word to each other. Am I clear?"

"Yes," the girls mumble in unison.

"Good. I'll be watching closely. Now go to your homerooms," he instructs them while handing them each a pass.

Once they're back out in the hallway, they look around, hold hands for a moment, and then let go. "Maybe we should follow his orders...not because he's correct, but he could've made this deal with those nasty men and they're secretly following us around, or one of Healy's favorite students could snitch," Lorna advises them quietly. "I'm afraid to sneak! I mostly hang out with Nicky, anyway." She's trying to hide the pain in her voice as she says this to make herself feel better. Even though she loves being around her blonde best friend, she'll miss Daya, Alex, and Flaca, deeply.

Flaca shrugs and attempts a half smile. "Yeah, and I got Maritza at least."

"I'll just chill with the other teen moms, and Blanca is friends with all of us here," Daya whispers, patting her tummy.

"I need to focus on solving Piper's murder, because I'm apparently the only one who seemed to really give a damn about her." Alex salutes them and starts to walk away. "Detective Vause out," she mutters.

Daya and Flaca still head to English together, but they don't talk and even put more distance between them. Lorna quickly goes to History and looks straight ahead of her, not wishing to be distracted by her bullies. They're tearing her down, but she tells herself to put one foot in front of the other and keep moving. Damon and Katrina pass her, holding hands, and they both flip her off.

"Hey, dumbass, watch where you're going!" Ed Martin shouts and purposely knocks into her while boisterously sniggering. She stumbles in her step, but regains her balance and continues to her first period. The cold, dead feeling in her heart from being ripped away from three of her closest friends, is overshadowing the burn of being physically pushed around and verbally abused by her fellow students. When she gets into History, she gives Ms. McCollough the piece of paper and plops down into her seat.

Physical Education is unbearable with both Piscatella leering at her, Christopher joining the class, and almost all of the students mowing Lorna down as they run, or bouncing basketballs off of her body. She makes sure they don't hit her head since she doesn't need another concussion. Only three of her classmates, Michelle, Alana, and Stephanie, are really sympathetic to her, and Zirconia gets easily annoyed with Lorna, but she doesn't make fun of her to her face. Lorna decides that she'd like to sit with them and Nicky at lunch today.

"You're like some stupid kid who thinks they can run faster than their way older brother!" Christopher suddenly hollers, and she can sense him right on her tail. Lorna urges her feet to zoom farther away from him as her heart beats rapidly against her ribcage. "Pick up the pace!" Every time she stops to let out squeaky gasps of air, he chases her around the room. After a few long sprints, she gets dizzy and faints.

"Get up!" Piscatella yells at her, but she can barely move, let alone open her eyes. "What'd I say, you puny stalker? Don't make me repeat myself!" His booming footsteps make the area around her vibrate.

"Hey, gigante gay, she's too tired right now!" Michelle shouts.

"Just let her rest!" Stephanie adds.

"Come on, up you go," Alana whispers as they gently help her back to standing. "Thank god it's Friday, right?" The girls begin to stroll along with her, but Piscatella stops them.

"Excuse me? Did I hear you correctly? Carreras, I can make those scabby spider bites bleed! Dwight, I could break your nose this time! As for you, Hapakuka, don't try to protest against me! It'll never work! Mr. MacLaren, handle your side dish there! Her legs don't work, they're painted on!"

"Of course!" Christopher saunters over to Lorna and grabs her from Michelle and Stephanie, gripping the front of her shirt tightly in his fist. "I can see and feel how feeble you are compared to me!" He towers over her, creating a large shadow, and she shrinks away from him when he starts to walk her backwards, all the way to the wall. She continues to look behind her so she won't unexpectedly bang into it and attempts to slow down her movements, but he's using such great force against her, that she just about falls down when her heels smack against the wall.

"Why'd you...ask me out...the second time...if you...if you didn't like me?" Lorna asks in a frail tone.

Christopher smirks, and Lorna used to think it was sexy when he grinned mischievously, but now, it's just creepy to her, and she shivers in his grasp. "How else would you have been there to get your punishment?"

"Humps trapped Maritza in that closet...was that part of the plan? You wanna get back at me, fine, but don't you dare make my friends suffer for my actions," she growls, but he just chuckles.

"She just happened to be there, unfortunately, and we needed to get you alone. Mr. Humphrey knew that Flaca was around and would let her out eventually. They don't give two shits about you at all. If you've implanted it into your head that you actually sound threatening, or that you scare me in any way, you are going to be in for a horrible surprise."

"I know I don't...I'm not frightening. I thought I...I was," Lorna stutters.

"To me, you're not. Angela, however, is terrified of you. She can only handle tormenting you in the presence of others. She doesn't know when you'll strike. That's what you did to her!" He yanks on her hair and she whimpers in pain. "You have a hair-pulling fetish, huh? I'll rip out every strand 'til you're bald, then!"

"No..." A fresh round of tears make themselves known in Lorna's eyes and she sniffles. "Please just stop! I'm sorry!"

"Sure, now you are," he says bitterly. He releases her and kicks her to the ground. "Brainless bitch!"


"Yo, that sucks that you gotta be away from some of the girls," Maritza comments as she wheels Flaca to a table.

"It's just until things settle down here and we ain't on the news no more," Flaca mumbles. "We can sneak and shit...just not around school, and I don't believe that our moms were at all okay with this. Healy even involved Lorna's dad, who don't do shit to help nobody...and he didn't talk to Franny, who is like, Lorna's main caretaker."

"Still...he's such an idiot! Hey...speaking of Lorna, is she continuing to keep her rape on the DL?" Maritza asks quietly.

Flaca nods her head yes. "I don't blame her." She looks down at her phone when it vibrates and she angles it away from Maritza once she sees the unwelcome text. Damn, I was hoping you'd be complete loners after Healy cut your little posse into quarters. That's okay, I don't need him to do that figuratively...I've got a knife that can do some literal harm! mwah!, P

"Me neither. You get a message from Humps? You're lookin' a little...white as a ghost."

"Nah...it's nothin'." Flaca shudders at P's threat and notices the others on their phones, looking scared as well, but it only lasts for a split second before they put their phones face down next to their trays, except for Alex, who throws hers into her backpack and leaves the cafeteria. Then, Lorna dissolves back into conversation with Nicky and Daya quickly starts French-braiding Maria's hair. Flaca's surprised that P hasn't said anything about the assault on the Italian brunette, but then again, they seem to favor Lorna over her, Alex, and Daya, so it makes sense. She drinks from her cold water bottle and gulps down the cool liquid. "I guess I just needed some H2O. Bein' stuck like this makes me wanna pass out sometimes."

"Aw, man, I'm sorry!" Maritza squeezes Flaca's hand while pouting. "You're still a strong girl, though."

"Thanks!"

"You're welcome."

They smile at each other and start eating, but then Flaca pauses after swallowing her first bite of tamale. "Did you get in touch with your mom about your birth certificate?"

"Not yet...she's busy with her job. I'll speak to her when she gets home."

"Whoa...this is too big for her to miss!"

"I know...but I been thinkin' maybe the year could've been a typo...and nobody remembers shit from when they were three or younger!"

"Who types a seven instead of a zero? They're not even next to each other on the keyboard. You're actually able to drive and get a diploma if you skip three grades and start over as a senior! I'm kinda jealous."

"I might be," Maritza corrects her. "This is just...I dunno how to react...like, there is a possibility that I could graduate and take y'all on road trips according to my age, but I don't feel seventeen...mentally, emotionally, hell, even physically. I'm supposed to be the baby of the group, but now I'm older than you guys, even Nicky, and it's...weird, but cool, too!"

"I so agree!"


"Unbelievable, that motherfucker has the audacity to tear you guys apart," Nicky mutters after Lorna has told her everything at lunch. On the other side of Lorna, are Blanca and Pidge, and across from them, are Pennsatucky, Alana, Stephanie, Michelle, and Zirconia. "Did he do that to the rest of you, too, take you away from your best friends? Like, no offense, but Blanca, you and Maria are stuck together like glue, and Pidge, you and Ouija are so close, I don't think I've ever seen you spend a second without the other, unless you were in different classes."

"Nah, Maria wanted to conduct a meeting during lunch since Lorna, Flaca, and Alex couldn't hang out with Daya, so I'm not really part of that, since I'm not a mom or expecting," Blanca responds.

"Same," Pidge murmurs. "I do miss joking around with Ouija, though...like this one time, she slapped me because we both got so high off caffeine and had to shit...badly!" At this, everyone but Lorna chuckles.

"Oh, eeew!" Lorna groans, wrinkling her nose. "Not at the table! I got a queasy tummy."

"Sorry..."

Zirconia snorts and shakes her head. "Lorna la fuckin' loca...that was supposed to be funny!"

"Not cool, dude," Blanca chides her.

"What'd she call Lorna?" Nicky asks roughly while her hands clench and then curl into fists. "Also, what is this loco in the coco I keep hearing when you and your people talk about her?"

"Crazy," the four Latinas inform her in unison.

"I know what the fuck it means!" Nicky snaps and glares at Zirconia.

"I never knew who my friends were referring to, until Monday," Michelle says.

"You know what's loca, though, Cabrera, also known as Luscheck Lover, is bitches like you makin' fun of those with mental illnesses!" Nicky practically yells at Zirconia. The girl looks taken aback. "Mm-hm, you better back off, or you're not allowed to chill here."

"Jeez, settle down, I apologize!"

"I always have a reason to protest!" Brook is saying as she and Poussey walk by them.

"I know, baby, but just make sure it ain't illegal...like good thing I pulled you outta that tree when I did! How long would you have stayed there, eight months? Jesus..."

"I didn't want it to get cut down! Thanks for your concern, but look who's talking...you took a hit of marijuana, and you could get six years in prison for it if you were caught. I don't wanna lose you to prison!"

Poussey raises an eyebrow at her girlfriend. "Yo, seriously?"

"Yep."

"Got room for two more?" Poussey asks.

"Of course," Nicky responds and pats the spot next to her so she'll be between Lorna and Poussey. Brook takes a seat across from Poussey, besides Alana.

"Well, I heard the gossip, about the fab four...and I say we go to the backroom, before Flaritza, Alex, or the preggers clique takes it," Brook announces. "I do enjoy talking to Norma, and we all are aware that Red can make Healy do anything she says, including halt the breaking you all up thing."

Lorna glances around the cafeteria and sees Daya sitting with the other teen moms, including Polly, unfortunately, Flaca and Maritza chatting and giggling, and Alex is not present, since she's probably in the library, which is where she always goes for quiet time. "Okay!" The eleven girls walk to where the lunch ladies are, and they all begin talking at once about the situation currently taking place.

"Hey, one at a time, please!" Gloria tells them.

"Healy isn't allowing me, Alex, Daya, and Flaca to hang out, which is why we're all scattered about the cafeteria, besides Alex, who's somewhere else by herself," Lorna explains, and the women's faces grow concerned.

"That motherfucker said he was gon' do well for my kid, but that was just a bullshit lie!" Aleida snaps. "I don't see the point..."

"Yeah, and they can't risk releasing the wraths of Piscatella, Dixon, and Humps, because those nightmarish crap piles are like his fuckin' guard dogs or something, probably, for someone as evil as him!" Nicky goes on.

Red groans. "Oh, that man gives me hot flashes in between my regular hot flashes! Well, thank you for telling me! I'll certainly let him have it...I can assure you he's just as afraid of those monsters as we are. He isn't in cahoots with them."

"How would you know?" Blanca wonders out loud.

"I'm well acquainted with him, maybe not anymore, though, because I put him in the friend zone...he had a Russian mail-order bride who could barely speak English, so I was the translator. He's a nervous little fool, narrow-minded, and most of all, listens to me. Don't worry, I'll deal with him."

"Thanks!" Lorna says happily and hugs Red, who returns the gesture. "Can you also let that old fart know that my dad does nothin' for me, but it's Franny who I rely on from my family?"

"Sure." Red looks behind her. "Hold down the fort while I'm gone!"

"You know we will," Claudette answers, and Norma gives her a thumbs up. Gloria and Aleida wish her luck and stay close to the older ladies.

"I think that's pretty cool of you, Red, that you can get him back on his toes," Nicky murmurs while grinning. "So, uh...what's the first big thing you're gonna do in your new apartment?"

"I'm throwing a housewarming party soon and getting myself a cat!" Red tells the blonde excitedly.

"Oh, cool!" Lorna squeals, and she and Nicky beam as they hold hands. She and everyone she was having lunch with, follow the Russian woman to Healy's office.

Red doesn't even bother to knock. She storms in, her eyes blazing with anger. "Sam! Who the hell are you to tell this lovely young lady and her friends that they cannot see each other? What the fuck do you get out of it? How is this going to help them in their grieving process? Some counselor you are!" she yells at him. Lorna presses her lips together to keep from laughing out loud at Healy's semi-freaked out face. She doesn't dare look at the others, since she'll lose it.

"Cool your flames, Heat Miser! For your information, I don't know what they told you, but the four severely misinformed girls who were friends with Miss Chapman, have gone crazy. They're starting rebellions...teaming up against other students, accusing them of murdering Miss Chapman...and they need to be stopped. They're rudderless without her."

"Oh, and what was she, the queen? They have guidance...from my co-workers, the appropriate ones, of course, and I, their mothers and Lorna's sister, not her moronic father who doesn't know his ass from his elbow! They're trying to solve a mystery, what do you expect? We've already told them they can't just blame people without cold hard proof...and don't get me started about boycotting classes with those unfit teachers! They had every right to!"

"The police-"

"You mean those idiots who don't do anything but let my friend's abusive ex escape goddamn prison? Jesus, if that's who you think will find the killer, then you're out in left field, pal. These girls are more intelligent than you know. If they work together, amazing things can happen."

"Their parents-"

"Most of them are not aware of what you're like, and Diane must have been extremely hesitant in trusting you to give her daughter advice."

"I said nothing about Ms. Vause being a lesbian, however, I am worried about Miss Morello-"

"Yes, but this was a lousy thing you did, to pull them all apart. They'll find a better therapist in Ms. Rogers."

"Ugh, not her!"

"Now, don't let this threaten your fragile masculinity. They will be going to her. Goodbye."

The girls leave the room and Red lets the door slam shut behind her as she trails after them. A few seconds pass, and then they burst into cheers while patting Red on the back, hugging her, and giving her high-fives.


"I'm so relieved that Red got this taken care of," Diane says to Aleida as they both watch their daughters, Lorna, and Flaca reuniting in the hallway, and then go to one of their sixth period classes together with their other friends.

"Ditto, but Healy's still a dick...I ain't never gonna be trustin' him again!"

"Every time I see you with 'em, I wanna lynch 'em...you're just a couple of jigaboo lovers!" Dixon snarls as he stalks towards them. They don't even notice him until they hear his words that are dripping with menace. He spits at their feet and they jump back.

Aleida shivers as she imagines Leon being hung, especially after she thought he'd die from his drink last Saturday. She senses Diane squeezing her hand and trembling as well, but the slightly taller woman stands rigid and strong. "First of all, Lee, Charles isn't my boyfriend...but I care about him a great deal. If you touch him...or Aleida's man, you'll be arrested and put on death row. Murdering someone because of their race is a hate crime!"

"Don't try to threaten me," he growls while pounding his finger into the middle of Diane's chest. "They didn't give a damn in Afghanistan...they won't here, either. You chicks are sirens, though...I'd get into you any day. Gloria's got a bigger ass, but I need to get off when she's not around." He gives them a creepy wink and thrusts himself in their direction.

When he finally stomps off, Aleida lets out a shaky breath. "Motherfucker needs a swift kick in the nuts and then a giant blow right in between his eyes!"

Diane puts her arm around Aleida's shoulders as she guides her back to the cafeteria's backroom. "I know...we gotta return to work. I'm betting you wish your class hadn't been canceled today!"

"Nah, I'm glad it was...I always seem to miss big shit like this. Yo, at least we got one mothafucka taken care of...again."

"I hope they kill Arturo in Max," Diane says. "He hurt my daughter, and Gloria...and little Benny."

"Oh yeah, he gotta be on death row!"

"Definitely!"

"I tell ya Leon moved in with us?"

Diane laughs. "About a hundred million times, lady. You're fuckin' shining with happiness every time you talk about him."

"So are you, whenever you or anyone mentions Charles. How come you ain't never kissed yet if you so in love?"

"I want commitment, so I'm waiting to see if he does too. Maybe around Halloween, we can make things official, but I'd like him to spend quality time with Alex and I before anything like that happens. I'm so over useless bums."

"He don't seem like one."

"No, he doesn't...but I'm testing him for like, a month."

"Good idea."


"Happy one week anniversary of the two bitches fighting to the death!" Humps grins at Nicky and Lorna ominously. He snakes his revolting fingers through Lorna's hair and they turn into claws as he begins pulling something out of his pocket that looks like red string. "You won, sort of, so congratulations! Here's your prize." He puts it on over her head and she looks down to see that it's a necklace, made of human teeth, much to her disgust, and beads that read first place. "I thought you might be curious as to what happened with those after they fell out when you punched her!"

It's like the wind is knocked out of Lorna, and she can't speak, let alone gasp. Nicky sucks in a breath of air and covers her mouth with her hands. "What the fuck...you're so twisted..."

"She definitely is, huh?" He picks up a tooth and runs the point of it along Lorna's cheek. "Aren't you, my sweet?" Boisterous laughter sounds in the classroom.

"No...not Lorna, you asshole!" Nicky hollers while grabbing it from him. She quickly takes her scissors out of her bag, snips off the necklace, and steps on it hard while glaring at him. "I hate you! I hope you get eaten alive by your own shitty rats!"

"Such lovely words coming from you...no wonder Mr. Piscatella always wants to beat you...you're nothing but a bratty, no-brained dyke!"

Lorna sees red when he says this to the girl she truly loves. Using her no longer casted hand, she hurls Nicky's scissors right at his face without thinking and takes hold of Nicky's hand while standing up. They both storm out with their belongings and rush to Ms. Rogers' office, where Red has arranged the counseling sessions from now on. "I'm proud of you, baby," Nicky murmurs.

"I'm so fuckin' fed up!"

"Same here!"

As they wait for her until after school, they take a bus ride to Starbucks and back and the two of them buy Fruity Pebbles frappuchinos. They'd already warned Ms. Jones that they'd either be late to cheerleading practice or miss it just this once, because of Lorna's mental issues, and the coach had understood completely. Lorna then goes into her therapist's office with Nicky, as per her request. They plop on a couch directly across from Ms. Rogers.

"Okay, Lorna...what brings you here today?" the woman asks.

She fidgets nervously, playing with her hands in her lap and crossing and uncrossing her bouncing legs. Nicky puts her hand over Lorna's and strokes her fingers gently. "Umm...I...I'm unstable...upstairs." Lorna points to her temple. "Everything's junked up in there. For almost an entire month, I called...I told people that...that Christopher was my oh, so perfect boyfriend and said I'd marry him and have his children after one date...and he even showed that he wasn't interested, but I assumed it was his girlfriend or their parents holding him back from loving me, or the fact that I'm a cheerleader. It...it was a fantasy I created, but I believed myself. I lied...to all my friends...and my sister...and the ladies I look up to. I also...stalked him, all the way to Atlantic City and at his house, trashed his car and his lawn...spammed his phone with voicemails, Facebook messages, and texts...tried to seduce him and got myself in juvy...and attacked his girlfriend and...my bestie, who's sitting next to me. I'm nothin' but a joke now."

"Humps manipulated you into hurting me," Nicky corrects her. "Plus, those idiots have no right to be so ableist!"

"No sane person would give into that!"

"Lorna, it's very apparent that you do have a mental illness, because if you were on the spectrum, it would show at all times. This is nothing to be embarrassed of or mad at yourself about. You were born the way you are, and you can't control your violent outbursts that you don't choose to do. The first thing we need to determine is your diagnosis so I know how to assist you. Do these episodes happen at random and does it affect your daily life?" Ms. Rogers asks.

"I get 'em whenever I get real angry or pressured...but I don't...I'd rather I didn't. I wanna be a nice girl...and it was really only when people tried to stop me from getting Christopher...or when Piper hit on the boyfriend I had last year before she was killed. There's another thing...I dunno what I'm doin' at random parts of my life...and maybe, my brain has blocked out bad memories."

"Well, it sounds to me that you have erotomania."

"Eroto-what?! I knew my brain didn't work right...I'm batshit bonkers!"

"Erotomania," Ms. Rogers repeats. "It's a disorder where the person affected believes someone of a higher power or social status, whether it be a celebrity, complete stranger, a rich individual, or the most popular kid in school, is enamored of them. You have delusions and you think they're real. That's what made you stalk him."

"Oh...but Christopher ain't any of those. He's middle class, but I'm poor, so that could be it." Lorna glances at Nicky in confusion and panic. "I'm really...really...looney tunes, loco in the coco!"

Nicky rubs Lorna's thigh a few times and pats her knee softly. "Shh, Lorna, that's why we're here. She's gonna help you."

"That's right. Now, I'm going to put you on some antipsychotic medication so your condition can improve instead of getting worse, which will cause you to be in prison or killed for stalking."

"I almost was, but Nicky...she rescued me," Lorna mumbles. "Are you sure these are gonna make me better?"

"Yes, I am."

"Okay...thank you."

"You're very welcome. You may come to me anytime you need to, but let's schedule weekly meetings...how about every Saturday afternoon at three?"

"That sounds good!"


While all of her friends and her mother are busy doing their own things, Alex sits alone in the cornfield with a cigarette between her lips. She pulls it out and blows out a white cloud. She'd gotten the smokes from a random passerby, and she needed them badly. Sylvia had run away without telling anyone except Alex, and she considers calling her ex-girlfriend's parents about it. She decides to text them, but then Sylvie sends her a few angry texts in allcaps, even though Alex had just done this to protect her. Nicky and Lorna are currently with Ms. Rogers, Flaca and Maritza are together and she doesn't want to bother them, Daya is off at Gloria's bodega, Maria and Blanca are at one of their boyfriend's houses, and Alex is the only single pringle, it seems, in the way that her friends have their own lives that don't involve thinking about Piper. Diane isn't that serious with Charlie and he's a nice man and respectful of both her and Alex, but she still feels like a lot is changing because they're hanging out so much. Alex doesn't want to bug her mother for attention since she's well aware she has it. Her mother has finally found happiness in a man, and Alex isn't about to ruin things.

She's also the only one trying to solve the mystery. The others hunt for clues and make attempts at piecing things together, but they give up when they're tired of it or get scared off by P. Her friends are really burned out, and they rely on her because they think she's the smartest out of all of them, and also because she had the closest bond with Piper. Alex is disconnected with those close to her, in a vulnerable state at the moment, and just needs time alone to think about her next move. She doesn't know where her life is going now, and she wonders if she really has to be Detective Vause all the time. It's why she's startled when she sees a bald, hard-looking Arabian man heading her way. She instantly relaxes and conceals her pack of cigarettes behind her back when she recognizes him as Kubra, Theresa's boyfriend. "Uh, hey...I didn't see you there, sorry! I was terrified for a second..."

"I apologize for freaking you out." He casually sits down next to her. "You don't have to hide those from me."

"Oh, shit, don't tell my mom!"

"I won't. What's up?"

"Me, I'm higher than a kite," Alex responds and then they both laugh. She giggles again while looking up at the sky. "I wonder what it'd be like to fly, but at the same time, I feel as if...I'm floating out of my body. You seem pretty chill."

"Yes, I'm totally cool with underage drinking or smoking, as long as you don't go to extremes."

"I'm not an addict, so you have nothing to fear."

"You look bored, like you need something to do, Alex."

Alex nods her head yes while fiddling with her hair. "Mm-hm...they're all playin' with other people except me...not a lot of people appreciated Piper, so I'm the only one unraveling the exact details of her death. You've read about her in the paper, right?"

"I did. It's quite unfortunate, what happened to your friend. I'm deeply sorry for your loss."

"Thanks."

"I want to tell you about what I do...this is a secret, so you must not repeat this to anyone. I thought you'd be into it, since you enjoy smoking and doing drugs at times, hmm? I saw you once with your friend...crack?"

"Yeah...but she quit because she's hooked on it, so it's either all or nothing for her. I, however, am not much of a junkie, but I do enjoy it once in a while."

"Very well. Now...I am a bartender, but I keep my other business private. I'm also an international drug lord."

Alex chuckles, but he keeps a straight face. "Come on, you gotta be kidding...Jesus Christ, you're serious! Really?"

"I have cartels everywhere in the world. Clients deal my product, which is heroin, mostly, to many countries, and they have mules that pick up suitcases full of smack money. Your job, if you're interested, is to be one of my lovely clients and sell drugs, have a mule, or both. It's something to occupy your time with, and you'd earn cash...lots of it."

"I need that...my mom and I are poor, so...I gotta support us, too. Why not? I'd love to be your employee." She smiles, proud of herself. "I have a boss who isn't my mom! Cool."

"That's right. We'll see each other at this location tomorrow at three, perhaps?"

"Sure! I'm so excited to start. Uh...how can I not get busted, though? My friend did, and she got arrested, sent to juvy...I don't want that to happen to me."

"It won't, I'll make sure of it. However, you will be responsible for your mules and pick them up at the airport on time."

"Got it."

"I'm not joking. If you're late, they'll be caught, and you'll be in huge trouble. Do as I ask, and any problems will not exist."

"I understand, sir."

They exchange a firm handshake and he grins at her. "Awesome blue tips, by the way. Your hair, makeup, and style of dress are perfect for this occupation."

"I'm glad I could win you over!"

"Why don't we finish this pack of smokes back at my hotel room? There's gonna be tons of people there I want you to meet anyway. You gotta get to know your co-workers."

"Yeah, I'm cool with it."

As they begin walking, Alex receives a text. Oh, what a devious little girl you are. I'll keep Mommy and the girlies from finding out...only because I want you dead from a heroin overdose. xo (but not really), P

"Too bad you won't get your wish, I'm not even addicted," Alex mutters under her breath, so low that Kubra doesn't hear her, or more importantly, P.

Suddenly, though, she freezes when she sees a familiar face as she goes into the room later. She'd know the man from anywhere. He's dressed smart and a stern expression is etched onto his features. "How old are you again?" Fahri asks.

"Fifteen, but I wanna be involved! Please don't say anything!" she begs him with her hands pressed together, as if she's praying.

"This isn't appropriate!" he scolds her. "You're a teenage girl, my friend's daughter, in fact, you shouldn't be-"

"I'm just helping out my mom by adding more income...besides, you're not my dad!" Alex grumbles.

"Fahri, you have no power," Kubra cuts in. "You and Alex are my employees, so you, and the rest of the workers, all need to be accepting of each other. Is that clear?"

"Ha!" Alex says victoriously.

Fahri raises his hands in surrender. "Alright. Sorry."

"Very well!"


This time, Aleida is also in the car with Gloria when Daya and Adarsh go out. The younger children are at the Bursets. Daya is glad that Aleida is present, since she wants to show both her mother and Gloria that she can move on from John. It won't be simple, but Daya has an inkling that Gloria was speaking the truth the other night. He's certainly making it harder for her to miss him, by not even showing up anywhere. She feels strange, being with another boy, although Adarsh isn't her boyfriend. Since she's never actually had a boyfriend who was also in high school, she assumes he won't be sweeping her off her feet anytime in her life like Gloria and Aleida are hoping he will. She'd once tried flirting with a guy friend of hers, Paolo but he liked another girl, Claire, who also was Daya's friend and had told her she had a thing for him, all because Aleida had put it into Daya's head, that Paolo was into her, just based on the fact that he was a gentleman. She realizes now that Aleida was trying to be helpful, but it didn't work out, and it cost her two friends.

"So, how long have you been into manga?" Adarsh questions her.

"When I was little, I discovered a manga book in a trashcan, and it went from there. I've been practicing my drawing skills ever since then, and I think I finally got it down now."

"You do!"

Daya smiles brightly at his compliment. "Oh...thanks. I'm also doing a mural outside school with Nicky, but I gotta figure out how to do it without Piss-cuntella, Dickman, and Humps seeing that it's us!"

"Hey...you two ain't goin' paragliding after the arcade games, right?" Aleida wants to know. "She never did nothin' like that before..."

"No, just Dave and Busters," Adarsh says.

"Okay, good, because we want her to play it safe," Gloria says as she stops at the curb and lets them out.

"Enjoy yourselves!" Aleida calls out while she and Gloria wave goodbye at them. They grin at the women and wave back.

As Mommy likes to say, loose as a shoelace! You haven't even given birth yet, and you're already trying things out another dude because John broke things off with you. It's really hard to feel bad for a slut. kisses, P

Daya scoffs while rolling her eyes at her message, momentarily forgetting that Adarsh is right next to her. "Uh...one of my friends is just...being an idiot. I deleted it. Anyway...I'm ready to have some fun!"

"So am I!"

They both put money on their cards to play the games after Gloria and Aleida have dropped them off. "When they get old enough, I'll take my kid siblings here, along with their friends! I'm sure they'd love to go," she tells Adarsh.

"Yeah, it's a pretty cool place."

"It looks like Chuck-E-Cheese for adults. I only say that because it's got a bar, plus all the arcade stuff."

"That makes sense. Do you usually go here with your friends, you know, the girls?"

"Not really...it's expensive. We just go rarely. Uh...when Piper was...still here, she'd cover the cost."

"Oh, nice. My condolences."

"Well, it wasn't much of a loss, 'cause most of the time, she wasn't a good friend. She'd call me Daya the Dinosaur...like, that was her nickname for me."

"I apologize, again...I never knew she would insult her own friends! Sure, she was rude to just about everyone, myself included, but...how come she would be mean to you guys?"

"It's the way she was...also, I was plump back then, so...I'm gonna be that again soon."

"I don't think of you as plump at all. What she said was bullshit, and she was wrong!"

Daya offers him a grin. "Thanks...but you never knew me in my chubby days. That's why you weren't sure who I was when we met."

"No, I just wasn't aware of your name."

"I was never, like, Piper's fat friend, to you?"

Adarsh shakes his head no. "Maybe one of her followers, but nothing to do with your appearance. For the record, though, and I'm really not trying to make a pass at you, especially given your recent breakup...I just want you to know that I thought you were cute, especially with your smile. You still are," he says bashfully.

Daya's cheeks get warm at his compliment and she can't help but beam. "To be honest, no dude my age has ever told me that before...but thank you."

"You're welcome! So, your ex was..."

"Mr. Bennett. Yep...I seem to only attract older male attention, and I've never had a crush on a guy in high school." At Daya's statement, Adarsh seems to be shocked. "What? No offense, man, but high school boys can be real immature. I'm glad you're not, though."

"Oh, I understand that, but...wow, I thought Mr. Bennett was a standup guy. He was a good English teacher, but such a lousy boyfriend to you!"

"I know. Let's just, uh, play the games."

"Of course, yeah!"

After about three hours of winning numerous tickets, doing a few rounds of air hockey, with Daya mostly winning and giggling about it while doing a victory dance, and eating cheese, pepperoni, and sausage pizza, they collect their prizes. They go up to the counter where Poussey is working and get multicolored lava lamps, glow balls, and disco balls with their power cards. "Quite a stash y'all got there," she comments, and they smile at her as they put their stuff into plastic bags.

"Mm-hmm...I'mma use these for my sweet sixteen birthday bash!" Daya says cheerfully. "You guys are invited, obviously."

"Awesome!"

"That'll be fun," Adarsh tells Daya, and they go back to the bar and restaurant area to buy virgin piña coladas. "Hey, just wondering, when would that be?"

"Well, my exact birthday is December third, which falls on a Friday, so I'll have it that night. I haven't thought much about it, but I'm getting real excited about it now."

"I can understand! Are you gonna have it at your house?"

Daya chuckles. "Nah...it ain't big enough! Come on, I'm poor and I live in an apartment. My mom's probably gonna rent a not-too-expensive but still nice looking dance hall or somethin' and ask her boyfriend and Gloria to chip in. That's what she did for my quinceñera last year. There's gonna be many Drake songs...you've been warned!"

"That's cool, it's your party. He's your favorite singer?"

"Mm-hm...but more like, I love his rock hard abs. I've always wanted him to actually come and serenade me. It's silly, and I know I'll never meet him, but...a girl can dream!"

"I'm the same way about Beyonce, Britney Spears, and Ciara."

"That's mostly girly music," she teases him, but at his smirk, she rolls her eyes. "You like 'em 'cause they're hot."

"Guilty."

"Too bad you don't have a chance of knowin' 'em in real life!"

"Their voices are good, too, though!" he protests.

"Yeah, they always wanna make me get up and dance! You should hear my friends, though...like Nicky, Flaritza-that's Flaca and Maritza, by the way, Maria, and Pennsatucky...now they got such great pipes. Like, holy shit...them singing in harmony or by themselves, literally takes you to another world. I wish I could sound just as amazing."

"I'm sure you do-"

"Nah, I suck...I'm better at art, trust me...but I have sang my little brother and sister to sleep many times, and belted lyrics to my music out loud in the shower, but nothin' more than that."

They sip their drinks and sometimes glance at each other while smiling. "How old are they...your siblings?"

"Christina's gonna be five next Wednesday, and Emilio's three. Do you have brothers or sisters, or both?" Daya begins to sketch Adarsh on her napkin, just to show off her talent, but she stops when her drawing starts looking like John, and crumples it up before he can see it.

He shakes his head no. "It's just my parents and I. My dad's a doctor, my mom's a nurse, and I've always admired their choice of profession."

"Cool...well, you know my mom and Gloria are the lunch ladies. Uh...Gloria also runs a bodega...have you been there?"

"I think so."

"Ma's also searching for jobs in cosmetology and taking a college course in it...she's good at nails, like painting 'em."

"I guess art runs in your family, huh?"

Daya grins. "Yeah, it does. Oh...her boyfriend is building us an ultra-neat backyard! We might even get a pool!"

"That's nice of him!"

"It is!"

A couple walks by them while kissing and when they separate, Daya comes to the awkward realization that they're Claire and Paolo. "Aw, fuck, hide me!" she whispers while covering her face with both hands and peeking out at him between her fingers. "I was friends with 'em since the first grade, but we lost touch when I...when I made a bad move on Paolo, Claire was hella mad because she like-liked him, and I knew this, too...but Aleida told me to just go for him, because he acted as if he was diggin' me by bein' polite to her. I just saw 'em pass us..."

"I don't think they noticed you...look, they're not even here anymore!"

Daya breathes a sigh of relief since he's right, and she puts her hands back down on the table. "I tried to apologize, but they non-verbally told me to fuck myself, basically. It was so embarrassing, sitting alone at lunch...until I met Piper in seventh grade, of course. She got me some real friends, so she was good for that."

"I didn't have anyone to eat with either back then. I was kind of a nerd...I still am, I suppose."

"I'm the exact opposite. Like...stupid in school and I've been called a slut numerous times."

"I don't think of you as either of those. You're so brilliant and extremely talented-"

"Yeah, with art and English...but I can't get at least a B in anything else to save my life!"

"Also, you've just had really bad luck with guys. I think being street smart is more important than academically intelligent, to tell you the truth. Daya, I don't care if you get F's-"

"C's," she corrects him. "The lowest I've gotten was a D...I completely failed Spanish last year, but I maintain a C average. Ma says that's all I need to go to college."

"Well, she's right. The point I'm trying to make here, is you're amazing in so many ways. You're going to school while pregnant and working as hard as you can. However, if you'd like me to tutor you in subjects you're struggling with, I wouldn't mind doing it."

Daya smiles at him. "Thanks."

"Welcome."

"Careful with that one...she'll jump your bones the minute you act all sweet to her," Paolo mutters.

"Excuse me?" Adarsh demands. "You need to go...now!"

"It's okay," Daya mumbles and flips the bird at them.

"Fuckin' ho," Claire adds.

"You know what?!" Daya hollers at them while jumping to her feet. "I'm glad you two bozos showed me what true friends aren't. I didn't even know that he liked you back and three years have passed, get over it!"

"Whatever," they say while leaving.

"I'm sorry," Adarsh begins to apologize, but Daya shakes her head.

"I deserved to lose 'em, I made a huge mistake. I'm better off without 'em, though."

"This wasn't all on you...they don't understand forgiveness."

"I know. Hey...I had a blast tonight, even with them showing up!"

"Same here! By the way, I'll help you with your baby, if you ever need it."

"Sure, thanks...but I'm giving him or her up for adoption when he or she is born. We gotta start looking for nice people who wanna adopt, like a gay couple, or a woman who can't have kids. I'll make sure they're not too far from me, like I wanna visit 'em and everything."

"I wish you luck on that!"

"Thanks."

A bit later, Aleida picks them up, accompanied by Leon. "So, Adarsh, this is my mom's boyfriend, Leon," Daya introduces them. "Leon, Adarsh." She and Aleida exchange a smile when the guys shake hands. Aleida takes Adarsh to his house and then drives her and Leon back home, where Gloria and the kids are waiting.

"How was it?" Aleida wonders out loud.

"Awesome! He's sweet...like, as a friend!" Daya responds as they go inside.

"That's great to hear!" Gloria exclaims.

"I'm glad I don't have to kick his ass...yet," Leon tells her, and Aleida hits him jokingly. "It's unfortunate that John took off before I could hurt him."

It's weird, because Daya knows that's what dads say when their teenage daughters go out with boys. "Adarsh and I aren't a couple!" Daya protests but then chuckles.

"I'm aware of that, I'm just teasing you!"


After Lorna takes her first dosage, she locks her pill bottle in a cabinet so P can't get to it and mess with her medication. She opens the anonymous package and the clothes Piper had been wearing that night, are inside it and covered in blood. She jumps back in shock and plucks a little note out of the jeans pocket. Admit to the cops that it's yours, unless you want me to tell everyone that Franny did it with Mendez because you beat up Vinnie's car! I've already called them to comb your place for evidence. love, P

Lorna drops the box on the floor and takes a wobbly step back, panting heavily as her phone chimes. "No...that can't be mine...how'd they get my..."

Okay, let me help you out, Lorna. You did witness Suzanne bashing Piper's face in, but she wasn't the killer...so don't you and your little friends interrogate her yet. If you finished the job, congratulations! Anyway...you're welcome! He's about to drop if I spin him one more time! There's a attached photo of a dead Eric, literally strung up to a ceiling fan by his balls. It's grotesque, but Lorna's happy that he can't hurt her or anyone else again. She begins to wonder if P is actually a frenemy of hers.

She's also logged into MySpace on her computer, as she'd been searching for people who have the same troubles as herself, and a message pops up. It's from a Mexican guy named Juan. Oh I know bullying and rejection...first off, I was always called a beaner in middle school...and my fiancée broke up with me and is never gonna talk to me again...and I'm very lonely. We have lots in common.

Her reply is fast. That's awful! I'm so sorry to hear!

I'd like us to meet in person and become friends. It's not like I'm a stranger-I babysat you and your sister when you were children.

Lorna doesn't remember him, but she still wants to get to know him. Sure, how about a fast food place or the movies?

Tomorrow, let's see one of your absolute favorites in theaters and have hot dogs and popcorn!

Okay, are you good with First Daughter? It's real romantic!

Of course, whatever you want!

Yay! I can't wait!

Someone taps on her door from the outside and she closes the window, kicks the box under her bed, unlocks the door, and opens it. "Hi, Lorna...what's wrong?" Nicky asks.

"I just can't believe that Maritza's mom lied about her age!"

"Yeah, that's really weird...hey...do you wanna go to the mall tonight?"

"Like, right now?"

"Sure, it's a Friday night!"

The girls take the bus to the mall and start picking out clothes to try on. "Oh, that would look cute on you!" Lorna comments when Nicky takes a dark blue skirt and black blouse from the rack.

"Thanks, kid! I really love that dress you got...it kinda reminds me of the one you already have."

"Yeah, well it became too small for me, the pink was fading, and um...I gotta replace it, so...it's prettier, right?"

"Mm-hm."

"Ooh, and I got these high heels, too!" Lorna holds up the pair of Platform Pradas in purple.

"Nice!"

They go into the dressing room and it's empty except for them and the woman in the front. Just as Lorna is taking her clothes off in the mirror, Nicky casually walks in with her potential outfit. Lorna shrieks and quickly hides herself with the curtain, but it's too late.

She's already seen everything.

Thank you for reading and reviewing, HannahMiley1fan and A Star In My Universe!