Thank you for beta'ing, A Star In My Universe!
Ms. Basara is still Allison's mother and the preschool teacher for Emiliano and Julio, but I changed her last name because I had it as Hassan's previously, forgetting that he and Allison aren't actually married in this fic! My bad lol
You're also gonna see some euphemistic backronyms in this chapter, which is basically a series of words that have first letters to form one single word that one doesn't want to say in public, whether it's a crude word or part of a secret. For example, Winners Have Obeyed Rules Every Second could stand for whores.
Warning: Islamophobia
Fun salsa music flows throughout the dance studio as Aleida comes inside after her night class. She takes yoga in that room as a way to relieve stress because Lourdes had said it would help with her recovery process. Aleida had forgotten her multicolored beanie in a cupboard and only remembered it now because it's getting cold. The song is playing as Gloria and Leon are dancing together around the otherwise empty room in an almost sexy manner. Aleida doesn't say a word since she's majorly pissed off. They don't notice her since they're moving incredibly fast and it's so loud that the floor is vibrating. Instead, she just storms out with her heart and stomach in knots, even though half of her had wanted to interrupt them and ask why they would do this without her knowledge.
She waves at her ride home, who is Lourdes, and then runs towards her beaming headlights and goes around to the passenger's seat, and she suddenly feels like a teenager being picked up by her mom after school. It's usually her friends carting her around, but Lourdes is much older and could be mistaken for her mother. Aleida tries to hide her bubbling emotions and compose herself enough to stop tears from coming on, but Lourdes seems to see right through her. It doesn't help that Aleida is struggling with her seatbelt and swearing when it keeps getting stuck or twisted. She gives up after a while and huffs as she folds her arms firmly across her chest.
"Aleida, déjame ayudarte." With ease, Lourdes fixes the seatbelt for Aleida and puts it across her, seeming to be careful that she doesn't invade too much of her personal space. "You should be good now."
Aleida, let me help you.
"Gracias," Aleida mutters shortly.
Thanks.
"¿Qué pasa, cariño?"
What's wrong, sweetheart?
"¡Nada!"
Nothin'!
"No, dime, por favor. ¿A quién debería matar?" Lourdes asks protectively. She places her hand over Aleida's and squeezes it comfortingly. "¿Alguien te está haciendo pasar un mal rato en la universidad?" The affection that Lourdes is showing Aleida warms her heart. She wonders how Gloria's aunt just knows and doesn't ignore her loved ones' feelings. It makes Aleida want to open up more to the elder woman, so she decides she will at home.
No, tell me, please. Who should I kill? Is somebody giving you a hard time in college?
"Nah...no es nadie!"Aleida turns on the music and begins grinding in her seat to it while singing along to the radio edit of Wannabe by the Spice Girls. "Yo, I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want..."
Nah...it's nobody!
"Está bien...hablaremos más tarde si todavía estás preparado. Realmente me gustaría ayudarte en todo lo que pueda."
Okay...we'll talk later if you're still up for it. I really would like to be of assistance to you in any way that I can.
"Claro." Aleida gestures to where the sound is coming out. "¿Te unirás o no?"
Sure. You gonna join in or not?
Lourdes chuckles. "Claro, cariño."
Of course, honey.
"...If you want my future forget my past.
If you wanna get with me better make it fast.
Now don't go wasting my precious time.
Get your act together we'll be just fine.
I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want.
So tell me what you want, what you really really want.
I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna really really want is to get get down.
If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends.
Make it last forever, friendship never ends.
If you wanna be my lover, you have got to give.
Taking is too easy, but that's the way it is..."
Once they pick the toddlers up from Farah's house and the kindergartners up from Michael's, they go to the Diaz-Mendoza apartment and get the children settled in bed once again and down for the night. Aleida expects Lourdes to go home right away, but she doesn't. Instead, Lourdes guides Aleida to the couch and examines her nails that she'd done herself. "Dios mío, ciertamente tienes talento, cariño. ¿Te importaría darme una manicura algún día?"
My goodness, you certainly have a talent, dear. Do you mind giving me a manicure someday?
Aleida beams proudly. "No, en absoluto. Llegará un día en el que te acusaré a todos en mi salón."
Not at all. There's gonna come a day where I'mma charge y'all in my salon.
"Lo sé, y valdrá la pena ya que haces un trabajo tan hermoso. ¿Cómo está la escuela?"
I know, and it'll be worth it since you do such a beautiful job. How's school?
"Gracias." Aleida beams at the praise. "La escuela es dura, pero estoy manejando. Um...¿cómo estuvo el trabajo?"
Thank you. School's hard, but I'm managing. Um...how was work?
"Muy bien, pero quiero hablar sobre ti," Lourdes plays with Aleida's hair a little and her hands are so gentle as she makes her a braid. Aleida leans back against her and sighs in content. She'd never gotten this kind of treatment from her own mother growing up, and Lourdes is replacing her quite well. "¿Qué tienes en mente, hmm?"
Very good, but I wanna talk about you. What's on your mind, hmm?
"¡Ese hijo de puta puta que pensé que me amaba...y esa puta mentirosa a quien llamas sobrina!" Aleida hisses. "¡Se están enganchando a mis espaldas, al igual que Lourdes les dijo que deberían hacerlo!"
That son of a fucking bitch who I thought loved me...and that lying whore you call your niece! They're hooking up behind my back, just like the mean Lourdes said they should do!
Lourdes raises an eyebrow and pauses in doing Aleida's hair. "¿Gloria? ¿Mi Gloria?"
My Gloria?
"Oh, sí...¡tu preciosa niña y Leon estaban dando vueltas como si estuvieran en una jodida competencia de baile de salón!" Aleida gripes. "No solo eso...he tenido mis sospechas por un tiempo, empezando cuando Mean Lourdes abrió su estúpida boca. Los miro con mucho cuidado...incluso retomé el consejo de Lorna, que era seguirlos cuando iban a lugares juntos sin mí, como a la tienda o cuando él le mostraba la mierda que construyó para sus hijos y la mía...y Gloria hablando con él realmente suave cuando creen que no me doy cuenta." The lump in her throat chokes her up and she bites back a sob. "Tengo esta pesadilla recurrente de que León me está engañando con ella. Cuando se lo conté, siempre me asegura que me ama, o me gusta mucho, y nunca me engañaría. Todavía tengo que asegurarme de que él me dice la verdad ya que todos mis novios me han dejado o han engañado, y me han dicho que también me amaban." Her voice breaks and she tucks herself into Lourdes' arms for comfort.
Oh, yeah...your precious girl and Leon were whirling around like they were in a fuckin' ballroom dance competition! Not only that...I've had my suspicions for a while, starting when Mean Lourdes opened her stupid mouth. I watch 'em extra careful...even taken up Lorna's advice, which was to follow them when they'd go places together without me, like to the store or when he would show her the shit he built for her kids and mine...and Gloria talkin' to him real soft when they think I don't notice! I have this recurring nightmare that Leon's cheating on me with her. When I told him about it, he always assures me that he loves me, or likes me a lot, and wouldn't ever cheat on me. I still gotta make sure he's telling me the truth since all of my boyfriends have either left me or cheated, and they've said they loved me, too.
"Sé que Gloria, ¡ella no traicionaría así a su mejor amiga! ¿Ella no siempre ha sido buena contigo? Él solo tendrá que ser constante y demostrarlo," Lourdes murmurs and strokes her hair.
I know Gloria, she wouldn't betray her best friend like that! Hasn't she always been good to you? He'll just have to be consistent and prove it to you.
Aleida sniffles. "Sí, ella tiene. Me temo que me dejará por una mejor actuación debido a mi equipaje emocional. Lo malo es que Lourdes tenía razón, él y Gloria estarían bien juntos."
Yes, she has. I'm afraid he'll leave me for a better acting girl because of my emotional baggage. Mean Lourdes was right, he and Gloria would be good together.
Lourdes scoffs. "Oh, cállate, he visto cómo él está a tu alrededor. Ese joven está enamorado de ti, y de nadie más." She tips Aleida's face up with her knuckle under Aleida's chin so they can look at each other. "Olvida lo que ese puta te dijo, ¿está bien? Está tan equivocada como la basura que sirven en las cárceles en estos días!"
Oh, shush, I've seen the way he is around you. That young man is in love with you, and nobody else. Forget what that puta told you, okay? She's as wrong as the slop they serve in prisons these days!
"¡Eeew!" Aleida wrinkles her nose at the imagery and then giggles. "¡Ahora que es hella bruto!"
Now that's hella gross!
"Sí, bueno, ¡ella también debía arrojar esa tontería!" Lourdes insists.
Yeah, well, so was she to spew that nonsense!
"Lo sé, pero ella puso ideas raras en mi cabeza y básicamente las estoy acechando y no quiero que estén solas juntas."
I know, but she put weird ideas in my head and I'm basically stalkin' 'em and I don't want 'em to be alone together!
"Es comprensible. Creo que deberías hablar con Gloria sobre esto y yo manejaré a tu hombre."
That's understandable. I think you should talk to Gloria about this and I'll handle your man.
¡Sí, gracias! Hablaré con ella."
Yay, thank you! I'll talk to her.
"De nada," Lourdes tells her and then kisses the top of her head sweetly. She continues with Aleida's braid and Aleida is all smiles again. She understands now why Daya was so close to Gloria before and now, still. Aleida had failed in motherhood, just like her own mother had, and Lourdes is so similar to her niece, in the way that she's taking care of Aleida. Gloria is to Daya what Lourdes is to Aleida, and for that, Aleida is grateful for her. Gloria stepped up and really changed her life for the better. Because of her, Daya now has a decent mom. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for Aleida, because her own mom can't change, but she feels extremely lucky to have Gloria's aunt as a stand-in mom.
You're welcome.
"You told me you was shoppin'!" Aleida starts out angrily as Gloria and Leon come through the door together and separate. "You in the same fuckin' car as my boyfriend!"
"Hey, mama, relax!" Gloria shouts. "Where the fuck this comin' from?"
"I saw you...when I got my hat from the dance room earlier tonight. You was doin' the salsa with Leon!" Aleida glares at her.
Gloria sighs and puts her hand on her forehead. She had tried her best to keep that a secret from Aleida, since she knew the other woman would be jealous, even if she shouldn't be. "Ay dios mío...he ain't even my type and I ain't interested in him as more than a friend! Not only are we loyal to you, we're kinda like brother and sister! We don't feel comfortable with that ho trying to set us up together! Just because she made that stupid suggestion don't mean I'mma follow it, and neither will Leon!"
"Why were you both groovin' so provocatively like that, then, huh?" Aleida folds her arms across her chest and she and Gloria both take a spot on the couch.
"I was teaching him those particular moves so he could do 'em with you tomorrow night like a pro," Gloria responds. "It was supposed to be a surprise."
"Oh...now I feel silly." Aleida lets out a light, awkward laugh. "I'm sorry, then."
"It's okay."
"You really just wanted to amaze your girlfriend with your fancy steps you were learning from my niece?" Lourdes questions Leon.
He nods. "Yeah. I'm so sorry for any confusion...I honestly do love Aleida. I feel bad that she thought I was cheating on her!"
"Well, good," she says sternly. "If you fuck with either of the girls, you'll be lucky if you come out of your coma in the hospital!"
"Yes, ma'am, I hear you!" he responds seriously.
Aleida comes into the room and her eyes glisten with tears. "I been eavesdroppin'. You really sweet, babe!"
Leon gets to his feet and gathers Aleida in his arms while kissing her lips. "I'd never hurt you, Lei."
"That's a relief!"
As Baxter opens the school's main door for Gina, Lorna squeals. "Oooh, the dance hasn't even started yet, but there's already romance blooming over there! My heart flipped!"
Taystee presses her lips together to keep from chuckling and shakes her head. "Nah, girl. He probably just bein' polite so he don't seem like the typical bourgeois gets-away-with-anything white boy. Besides, ain't he with Jessica? P told me they goin' steady."
Lorna frowns. "Yeah...but it looked romantic."
"Lots of things do, but it ain't always the case. They ain't even cute together. I hope you still takin' your meds."
"I am, don't worry! Maybe I should ask her, just to be sure...or warn her that he's got a girlfriend."
"She does, too, she a lesbian!" Taystee calls after Lorna, but the smaller girl has already sprinted away. "She came out on Facebook just this year..."
"Who did?" Ouija asks. She's walking through the halls with Flaca, Maritza, Allison, Pidge, Alana, Maria, Blanca, and Pennsatucky.
"Gina...you know, Gina Murphy, uh, Norma's foster daughter or whatever."
"Oh yeah. Why you talkin' to yourself?"
"Lorna mistakened Gina and Baxter for a budding couple just because Baxter let Gina through the door before he walked inside, and I tried explaining it all to her, but Lorna got away before I could finish. Sister sure can run."
"Yeah, like how the fuck is she faster than me if we're both pint size?" Pidge wonders aloud.
"Uh, maybe because she skinnier and two inches taller than you," Taystee points out, and the girls all giggle together, even Pidge.
"Well, our girl's always been a hopeless romantic, so I can totally see her doing that!" Flaca exclaims. "It's hella adorable."
"Mm-hm. She's also super optimistic, despite everything that's happened to everybody so far," Maritza chimes in.
"I am, too!" Alana pipes up.
"That's an amazing quality for a person to have, it shows strength," Allison says, and they all nod their heads in agreement. "Anyway...Hassan's decided to take both me and Sahar to homecoming, he'll dance with me every other song, so we each get half the time with him. That's better than nothing, though, right?"
"Of course, but it sounds like you're trying to convince yourself to believe that," Maria states.
"I may have complained about it before," Allison admits. "I'm more focusing on the fact that he loves both of us equally now and we're a happy family with Farah, and that's what's important. Uh...where's Nicky? I thought she'd be with her band people."
"She and Alex are having a saltine cracker eating contest," Pennsatucky lets her know. "Nicky's record is five, she says six is impossible!"
The girls chuckle. "That's funny!" Blanca comments.
"I know. So, what about you, Ouija? Still goin' stag?"
Ouija scoffs at Flaca's question as they walk through the halls. "Hell no. I'mma get that fuckin' Backstreet Boy no matter what."
"Who are you talking about?" Alana wants to know.
"You know, Barney Butt. Dude who wears purple briefs every day," Pidge answers.
"That's my nickname for him! Josh is mine!" Ouija stresses.
"Captain America don't even like you, bitch!" Cindy snaps as she passes them, and Ouija gives her the finger. Taystee doesn't even want to get involved. Cindy stops in her tracks suddenly. "Yo, but if you wanna get into his Facebook account and mess with him a bit, his password is six, like just the number itself, then P-K-A-B-S. I wanna see them things." Taystee and Allison guffaw at this, remembering how she, Cindy, Allison, and Janae had teamed up, cornered the school board member, and tricked him into sharing his password. He had since then stopped posting stupid things on Facebook, but Ouija doesn't need to know this.
"Uh, thanks...I guess." Ouija pauses in her step. "So you hacked into his account once?"
Cindy is already gone, but Taystee continues to explain. "Nah, it's not even active no more...see, we was so mad at him because he on the school board and we caught him talkin' to Caputo about sending Poussey to juvy for having barely half an ounce of weed in her possession, while Baxter, who had been full-on smokin' marijuana with whiteys one, two, and three, was gonna get away with it...like just get off with a warning! Also, he didn't punish Bayley for playfully putting Poussey in a chokehold, we wanted to make a video about it and post it on his page. It didn't really get nowhere, but he and Caputo learned their lessons. I punched the motherfuckin' principal, man...gave him a bloody nose, too! That's the other part of why I flunked senior year...I got suspended for protecting my best friend. So did Allison, Cindy, and Janae. It was worth it, though."
"Wow! Bad ass!" Maria compliments her and they all give Taystee hi-fives.
"Yeah, and that pretty boy, Josh...he thought she was adorable. That fucker is like thirty years old!" Taystee exclaims. "He got no right to be lookin' at pictures of a girl who's fifteen!"
"Gross," Maritza says. "Not only he look like a douchebag, but he one inside, too."
"His buddy Zach was real lucky that he left before we got our asses over there," Allison points out.
"Oh man, this is a story for our other crew," Flaca murmurs. "Can we share it, please?"
Taystee smiles. "Hell yeah, for sure! I'm real proud of us! Poussey was over the moon when I told her."
"I bet," Alana murmurs while beaming.
"So, uh, who'd you vote for to be homecoming king and queen tonight?"
Poussey scoffs at Nicky's question. "Girl, please, like you don't know! My best friend T, of course! As for the dude...Clarence. I feel bad that his ex is a methhead ho, he's cool and he deserves happiness." The two of them, along with Daya, Alex, Flaca, Maria, Blanca, and Lorna are in art class, chattering away as they're making ceramic pots that they will later paint.
"I'm rooting for Taystee and Clarence to win, too, even if I don't really know him. I saw Angie mackin' on some heavily bearded white guy and completely fucking up her lipstick." Nicky rolls her eyes. "She looked like a damn clown when she was done. Rumor has it, she's getting drugs from him. He doesn't attend this school, but he always visits her."
"Yeah, either that, or she's stealing nutmeg from the kitchen's backroom when the lunch ladies aren't there. I heard you can get seriously high off that shit. She and Leanne bragged about it to me once," Poussey mutters and the other girls shake their heads while rolling their eyes.
Alex pulls a face. "They're straight outta the Dark Crystal."
"Angie can't even pronounce congregating! First, she said congress, then conga, she's so stupid!" Maria exclaims softly and they all grin while trying not to snicker.
"Leanne would make a terrible lesbian, you know why?" Nicky asks in a whisper. Her friends appear to be interested. "I mean, first off, she calls her vagina a soggy box."
They stifle their giggles behind their fists. "Oh, dear," Lorna replies quietly.
"Secondly, and really the most important problem she's got...she has jagged nails since she has a habit of biting 'em." It takes a moment for them to get it, but then, they start giggling all together.
"Ouch!" Flaca squirms in her seat. "That'd be hella painful!"
"One time, they got so stoned that they started pantsing people...Taystee, Gloria, Stephanie, and Pennsatucky included," Daya chimes in. "Taystee kicked their asses...literally! They unfortunately succeeded in pulling the other two's pants down, even though Gloria told 'em to stop...they're such fucking babies! Gloria, Pennsatucky, and Stephanie felt violated and real pissed off. It ain't like Gloria can hit 'em, because she's a staff member. They ran away, cackling like hyenas, but Red and Miss Claudette caught 'em and took 'em to Fig's office!"
"Yeah, it was great seeing those stupid bitches get in trouble," Blanca murmurs and Poussey nods in agreement.
"Here, I'll get that for you," Fahri offers and takes a heavy stack of trays out of a cabinet that Gloria is standing on her tiptoes to reach. She relaxes instantly and stands with both of her feet flat on the floor again. Normally, Claudette would do it for everyone since she's the tallest and strongest out of all the lunch ladies, but Fahri wants to be a lot more of a help besides simply cleaning up. He realizes he's always assisting Gloria in that now, and other things, too. Every morning, he's excited at the thought of seeing her and he makes special trips to throw away something in her presence. He's also swept something into the dustpan that was by her feet, and it took him a few seconds to figure out that there wasn't even a little bit of a mess. He was just distracted and forgot what he was doing.
Gloria smiles at him. "Thank you! I really appreciate it."
"No problem!" He continues getting out trays as Gloria stands back. "So, chicken today? I see it's been seasoned with salt and pepper, which is my favorite way to have it!"
"Mine, too! Yeah, that and mashed potatoes and Red's special corn and leek quiche." She takes a pair of plastic gloves out from a box and hands them to him. "You gonna need this if you're gonna touch the food, you know." She winces. "Not that you have to, but...just if you wanted."
"Sounds good!" Fahri grins while sliding on the gloves. Claudette, Red, and Norma are shucking corn over a trash can while Aleida is mashing the potatoes in a separate pan. Gloria cooks the chicken and he passes her the pieces. Of course, he's noticed how beautiful she was before and all the time, but under the lights, she's glowing. Not only is she pretty on the outside, but she is on the inside, too. She's kind, intelligent, and is a great friend and an excellent mother to her children. He's really looking forward to dancing with her tomorrow and he feels like he has a stronger connection with her than he does Vee. That's when he knows he should ask Diane and Alex how to break up with Vee and call off the marriage without hurting her feelings.
"Hey, girls, just wanted to let you know there's a Halloween party at my pad!" Eddy, Daya's lab partner, announces. Two guys are behind him, including Three-D and a boy they've never met.
"Cool, you hostin' this thing, I bet," Daya tells him.
"Yeah, and so's Three-D here."
"Oh, that's neat y'all struck up a bromance so you could both throw it without nobody fighting over the leader position," Michelle points out.
"Just warning you, there's drugs, Morello, so I'd miss out on this if I were you," Three-D recommends.
"I can still go! It ain't like I gotta take 'em. Oh, but maybe my girl Nicky shouldn't come with us since she used to be an addict."
"Mm-hm," Alex agrees. "We'll just have to keep away from the weed brownies and heroin...we'll distract her." She turns to Lorna. "It'll be okay, promise!"
The unknown kid with them gestures to Lorna. "I think I've seen you somewhere...uh, in a pink and white striped dress?"
"I was a candy striper nurse at the hospital...ring any bells?"
He nods. "You took care of Rosa and Anita, right?"
Lorna smiles at their names. "I did, and Jimmy too! Um...are you one of the staff members' kids or another volunteer?"
"Neither, I'm a patient...or was. I had cancer, but I beat its ass. My name's Yusef Miremadi."
"Lorna Morello," she informs him, and they shake hands. "Congratulations!"
"Thank you. I just wanted to make you aware of the fact that Rosa is in remission, she'll probably be fine for another fifteen years, but nobody has a clue about anything after that."
"Oh, that's fantastic!" Lorna beams. She hugs him and he returns the gesture. "I appreciate you telling me so I can get back in touch with her."
"Sure, no problem. Anyway...you don't need drugs to have fun."
"I'm with you on that!" Lorna switches her attention to the bald African-American boy. "I heard you're doing homecoming with Janae...could ya maybe try to steer her on a better path? Vee, her mentor, is a bitch and it's like she's running a cult. I know we're not really friends with her, but I get kinda scared of her sometimes, and maybe if she was nicer, I would feel more...comfortable...in her presence."
"Yeah, definitely. I mean, that stunt she pulled with Dante was fucked up, but I think she was tired of the good girl image...it's just...she don't gotta go full-on gangsta."
"I know, just regular," Daya says.
"Do you know if Pidge is single?" Eddy asks. "Not for me, Little Frank's asking. She's like, one of the only four shorties at this school and not taller than his five feet five ass. Plus, he says she's fine."
Michelle grins widely, as do the others. "He could ask her to dance...she ain't really lookin' for nobody, but they'd be cute together. He can be a dumbass, but maybe he'll wise up around her. She's real good at gettin' dudes to stop bein' douchebags."
"That's great!"
"We'll let her know he's asking, just to prepare her in case she says no," Alex tells Eddy.
"Cool, sounds good. See you 'round."
"Bye!"
"Yo, one time, when I was in Newport, I mugged this lady...I stole her shoes and her matching purse! I then found out they belonged to Linda Ferguson, the cunt on the school board who was responsible for hiring those motherfuckers!" Pidge announces proudly after Brook has talked everyone's ear off about how she's never been in a limo and that it's so cool. Daya notices Suzanne and Maureen watching them all and probably judging them, but she tries to ignore it. The new subject change is a pleasant distraction. Pidge shows off her black high heels while smirking. "Fuck yes, bitches!"
"Please watch your language!" Fahri says from the driver's seat.
"Oh, I love those!" Blanca exclaims as everyone laughs out loud while rolling their eyes at Fahri's request. "They're cute."
"Thanks, girl!"
"God, she's so annoying!" Alex high-fives Pidge. "Good job."
"Thank you!"
"I don't understand how Boo can still like her, after what she did," Pennsatucky grumbles. "Or Caputo, for that matter."
"They might just think it's teens hating on authority figures, and that Linda didn't really wanna wreck our lives," Nicky mutters.
"She even acts like she better than the staff members she ain't dating!" Maria states.
Michelle snuggles into Alex. "She's such a see you next Tuesday!"
"Just say cunt!" Ouija whispers between snickers, and the others join in. She spreads her freshly curled hair out and over her shoulders, showing off her dangly fake diamond earrings nicely.
"Nah, we can't disrespect my uncle Fahri's wishes," Allison says.
"Okay, then, she's a hang over!" Lorna adds as Nicky kisses the top of her head, and everyone cracks up.
"Yeah, or a Princeton University Top Alpha!" Flaca and Maritza shout together, and this gets them all to cackle even louder.
"I think she really was a top alpha," Stephanie tells them. "At least after she let her big sister in her sorority freeze to death! She became a complete effin' boy in the cottage house after that."
They all gasp. "Where did you hear about that?" Alana wonders aloud.
"You don't think I investigate shady people who work at our school?"
"I think that's more Blanca and Red's fortes," Maria pipes up.
"Well, it's mine, too!" Stephanie insists. "Hey...I don't mean to change the subject, but who's hungry for some Burger King?"
"Meeeeee!" everyone choruses.
After getting cheeseburgers, they continue on to homecoming. "So...any of y'all had a standin' up to teachers moment?" Poussey wants to know.
"Or even the principal? Like, besides the big ol' cafeteria thing," Taystee chimes in.
"Even get a little violent, 'cause, you know, the white dude can't always win!" Cindy adds.
"Ours was glohhhrious!" Janae sings.
"Flaritza told us, we know!" Daya informs them cheerfully. "I myself have actually done that...like I was constantly called Lumps by Humps, just so he could name us Lumps and Humps while winking at me and pointing out my chubbiness at the same time," she says in a sour voice.
"I'm sorry he did that, he's so disgusting," Adarsh tells her, and the others verbally agree.
Daya exhales a deep breath. "I never got it as bad, but after knowing what he did to y'all...like, the day before he got thrown into prison, I got in his face and slammed the beaker full of blood up into his crotch...I didn't even give him a chance to tell me whether or not it was Gloria's. He was in so much pain since it broke against him, he had to get it stitched up that day! I got small cuts on my hand, but they were so worth it!"
The girls giggle while the guys guffaw. "You go, girl!" Lorna cheers.
"Why you never tell us, you badass?" Flaca asks while nudging Daya.
"Nah, more like Sexy Ass Diaz!' Maritza chirps. "Ain't nobody wants their ass to be bad."
"That don't sound tough...Cold Ass Diaz is better!" Flaca retorts lightly. "Maybe The Dominator?"
"She ain't a porn star," Maritza points out.
Daya rolls her eyes at their silliness. "I don't need a nickname, I was tellin' my story!"
"Oh, I have an idea! Cold Hard Diaz!" Alex raises her eyebrow at Daya. "Huh? You like?"
"Yes, I love that!" Daya squeals and squeezes Alex's hand. "Everyone in favor, say aye!"
"Aye!" the large group responds.
"Daya's actually warm and soft," Adarsh murmurs while gazing into her eyes and she bites her lip. He begins to go in for a kiss and their friends are laughing and cheering for them. Daya blushes while giggling when they pull away from each other. "Like I'd ever do that without your permission!"
"Aaaawww!"
Daya squeals with amusement. She kind of wants to know if they have a spark if they kiss, but at the same time, doesn't want to fall in love and get her heart broken in the same month. "Keep it in your pants, dude!" she shrieks and then giggles.
The students, chaperones, and Mr. Caputo are very impressed with Daya and Nicky's artwork of a bee, accompanied with the words Bumblebees at Homecoming, Buzz On Over Here and they compliment the two girls, who seem very proud of themselves, as they should be. "Thank you!" Nicky tells the crowd, and she and Daya bow dramatically. Then, they all go inside. Loud, thumping music makes the floor vibrate and the disco ball starts spinning colorful dots around the room. There's also a large glow ball that turns the space different colors. The theme is Party Like It's Ninety-Nine, and the first song that plays is Mambo Number Five by Lou Bega. They all take pictures and Nicky isn't shy to groove with Red, who has decided to chaperone, along with Diane and Gloria.
It turns out that Pidge does seem interested in Little Frank as she's grinding on him flirtatiously in her black dress with long, see-through sleeves. She's wound her hair into a bun on top of her head. The girls had told Ouija to stop obsessing over Josh, since he's never going to return her affections and she's coming on a bit too strong. Lorna suggests she dance with Yusef, so Ouija does. Her off-shoulder, cleavage baring navy blue dress goes great with his dark blue tie, and Flaca wonders if Lorna had arranged that all along. Ouija's hair is down and tightly curled and her silver earrings are dangling from her ears. Zirconia, who's wearing a red strapless dress, and Alonso, Maria's cousin, who's in a fancy suit like all the guys are, start grooving to the hip hop music. Cindy, dressed similarly to Ouija, but her hair in a topknot, is back with her on-off boyfriend, Martin. Janae and Three-D appear to be more than friends, as their moves are making all the students form a circle around them while Have You Ever by Brandy plays.
"Look at Janae and my man Three-D!" Little Frank hollers, and Pidge cheers them on, along with everyone else.
"Yeah, we just dancin' the night away!" Janae points out cheerfully,
A lot of the girls seem to be wearing their hair up, except for Alex, Nicky, Ouija, and Alana, from their crew, at least. Even the methheads and the weirdest couple in school had cleaned up nicely. Leanne had chosen a yellow dress while Angie has on a black pantsuit, Suzanne is in pink, and Maureen is wearing a black dress, and the four of them look nearly unrecognizable. The students and chaperones dance to Unpretty by TLC without a care in the world. They're all glowing with happiness.
All the couples sway to the next song, Don't Let Me Be The Last To Know, by Britney Spears. Maritza places her hands on Flaca's shoulders and Flaca holds the shorter girl close to her. They make out a few times while holding each other's faces.
My friends say you're so into me
And that you need me desperately
They say you say we're so complete
But I need to hear it straight from you
If you want me to believe it's true
I've been waiting for so long it hurts
I wanna hear you say the words, please
Don't, don't let me be the last to know
Don't hold back, just let it go
I need to hear you say
You need me all the way
Oh, if you love me so
Don't let me be the last to know...
"You're so pretty...I love your hair up," Flaca murmurs to her girlfriend, and Maritza smiles adorably. "You were right...light blue is totally your color! It's perfect on you."
"Gracias, babe. Your hair's fantastic, too...and in the same style as mine, which is super cool! The tiara with your pink flowy dress really makes you look like a princess, which you are!" Maritza compliments her back, and Flaca beams. "This is a lovely song, by the way."
"Thanks, sweetheart. I know! It kinda relates to us."
"Yeah..."
Your body language says so much
Yeah, I feel it in the way you touch
But till you say the words, it's not enough
C'mon, and tell me you're in love, please...
"I should've told you sooner," Lorna admits to Nicky as the blonde spins her around slowly.
"No biggie. You had to figure out your feelings, even if they were obvious to most people." Nicky leans down to touch Lorna's lips with her own. "I love your dress, it reminds me of a fairy...rose gold with the sequins...kinda similar to Flaca's, did you two get 'em together?"
"Thank you, hon!" Lorna shakes her head. "No, hers is more feathery. I'm glad you like it, though."
"Anything on you is beautiful," Nicky tells her while fingering a fake diamond earring, and Lorna grins up at her favorite girl.
"Your black off-the-shoulder dress is stunning," Lorna murmurs.
Nicky smiles cherubically and strokes Lorna's cheek with her thumb. "Thanks, baby."
Don't, don't let me be the last to know
Don't hold back, just let it go
I need to hear you say
You need me all the way
Oh, if you love me so
Don't let me be the last to know...
"You're a dream in white," Michelle says against Alex's chest. "It's so sparkly and shimmery...and your earrings...your hair down and slightly curled...your emerald green eyes goin' well with your dress...gosh, you're too pretty for words. Then again, you always are."
Alex beams. "You're too sweet, babe, thank you."
"I mean it!"
"I know. Well, you in royal blue is enchanting. It really brings out your eyes."
Michelle presses her lips together and glances at her black shoes while blushing. "Janae's wearing the same color, but I have a different style dress. I've never worn a wrap dress before. How'd I do?"
"Wonderful." Alex lifts Michelle's chin up and green eyes lock on brown. Their mouths connect and Alex picks Michelle slightly off the ground, making the shorter girl giggle.
"Gracias, princesa."
"Oh, this is another great slow song!" Alex exclaims as I Knew I Loved You by Savage Garden begins to play. "My mom enjoys dancing to it with Charles!"
"Yeah, it is," Michelle agrees. "That's cute!"
Maybe it's intuition
But some things you just don't question
Like in your eyes, I see my future in an instant
And there it goes,
I think I found my best friend
I know that it might sound
More than a little crazy
But I believe
I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life...
Daya had just been dancing with Adarsh, and she seems like she's having just as much of a magical night as everyone else is with their significant others. He treats her so well that Flaca's heart bursts with joy and she swoons for one of her best friends. Daya's gold dress is absolutely fabulous with Adarsh's black tuxedo. She has a low ponytail that makes her straight hair appear longer, if that's even possible, and it displays her long gold hoop earrings.
There's just no rhyme or reason
Only the sense of completion
And in your eyes, I see
The missing pieces I'm searching for
I think I've found my way home
I know that it might sound
More than a little crazy
But I believe...
Flaca's eyes trail over to four other straight couples-Pennsatucky, Nathan, and Maria, all in black, Yadriel, who has a white suit on, Blanca, who's wearing a long-sleeved, high-necked white sequined dress, and Diablo, sporting a white suit and black bowtie underneath his black tuxedo. Allison is in Hassan's arms as he rocks her gently. Her black sheer long sleeved top looks so fantastic over her strapless satin blue gown and her black and blue patterned hijab matches her outfit. His blue suit and black tuxedo and slacks go well with what Allison is wearing. Each pair looks so much in love.
I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life...
In another corner of the room, are Poussey, Brook, Gina, and a girl Flaca doesn't know. Poussey is in a black sequined gown, while Brook has on a bluish-gray dress that's puffy at the bottom. Gina is wearing a black pantsuit with a white polka-dot tie while her date is in a teal green skirt and top. Flaca sees Clarence take Taystee's hand and start dancing with her, making her sparkly black and red dress fan out around her. She looks extremely happy and then Flaca gloats at Angie as Maritza chortles.
A thousand angels dance around you
I am complete now that I've found you...
The row of single people sitting in chairs is the saddest thing ever. Alana, having chosen to put on a red dress, and Stephanie, dressed in navy blue, had been together, twirling each other around, but now, Alana is apparently determined to dance with a guy and doesn't want to be with Stephanie, so naturally, her best friend is a little ticked off at the moment.
"Fine, I'll dance with someone else!" Stephanie snaps. She eventually finds a girl named Randolita, but Alana still appears to be incredibly lonely.
Spend all your time waiting
For that second chance
For a break that would make it okay
There's always some reason
To feel not good enough
And it's hard, at the end of the day...
Daya goes up to her just as a soothing melody begins to play, Angel by Sarah McLachlan. "Hey, Alana...I get what you're going through. Not really being with a special someone sucks."
"Yeah, it does...Steph doesn't really understand. She thinks all you need is your girls," Alana says within earshot of Alex.
"Well, that's true, but it's also nice to have someone to hold you and kiss you all night long and shit."
"Try telling her that!"
I need some distraction
Oh, beautiful release
Memories seep from my veins
And maybe empty
Oh, and weightless, and maybe
I'll find some peace tonight...
"Hey, Michelle, is it cool if I go over there and comfort Alana with Daya?" Alex wonders aloud. "I'm pretty sure she needs some company from girls who have also been rejected."
"Oh yeah, sure, go ahead!" Michelle nods encouragingly.
Alex makes her way over to the other two girls and she and Daya both hug Alana, one on either side of the shorter girl. It's a good thing that Michelle isn't jealous or doesn't get that way easily. She would never intentionally make her girlfriend feel bad.
In the arms of the angel
Fly away from here
From this dark, cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here...
"The o-only person w-who I did like turned out to b-be some f-fucked-up teacher...R-ratman," Alana mumbles shakily, and the girls only squeeze her tighter between them while moving from side to side slowly. The fact that she's calling him by his deserved nickname at last is significant. She's finally realizing how horrible he really is. Her chin quivers and she bites her lip to keep from crying.
"I know, we went through the same thing...being into idiots who aren't equally attracted to us, but there's still time for you to find someone, that fucker isn't the only dude in the world!"
"He broke my heart, though," Alana insists glumly and brushes a stray tear off her cheek and puts her arms around Daya's and Alex's waists.
"I'm well aware on how that feels," Daya sympathizes with her. "Mr. Bennett was such a wimp that he left me when I was pregnant and wanted to keep my baby, like killing him or her is somethin' I could ever do."
"Aww, I'm sorry," Alana replies and then sniffles. "How far along are you?"
"Like, four and a half weeks."
"Oh, I see. Well, he was a jerk."
"Yep..."
So tired of the straight line
And everywhere you turn
There's vultures and thieves at your back...
"Piper was a bitch, not because she didn't love me back, but I hated that she had to lead me on," Alex mutters.
"I apologize...but I'm glad for you that you have a girlfriend who's much better than Piper. Daya, you and Adarsh would make the sweetest couple ever, if you wanted to go for it. You guys were so cute in the limo, and I can tell he's genuine with you." Alana sighs wistfully as Daya and Alex smile at each other sadly. "All I want is a hundred flowers from a guy who truly loves me."
The storm keeps on twisting
Keep on building the lies
That you make up for all that you lack
It don't make no difference
Escape one last time
It's easier to believe in this sweet madness
Oh, this glorious sadness
That brings me to my knees...
After the song ends, they scope out boys for Alana and eventually find Richie, who is the designated driver in his group. Janae had recommended him, and it turns out that he's perfect. He compliments Alana and respects her, from what Daya can tell, and she and Alex hi-five each other on a job well done.
Everyone dances wildly to Jennifer Lopez's If You Had My Love. Allison and Sahar seem to be both vying for Hassan's attention, grooving next to each other and grinding on him. Allison senses that they're actually fighting over the guy. She can't take Sahar being this close to her man anymore. It breaks her heart just thinking about it, but seeing them act like a couple is worse.
If you had my love
And I gave you all my trust
Would you comfort me
And if somehow you knew
That your love would be untrue
Would you lie to me
And call me baby
Now if I give you me
This is how it's got to be
First of all, I won't take you cheating on me
Tell me who can I trust
If I can't trust in you
And I refuse to let you play me for a fool...
"You did two slow songs with him already!" Allison protests. "You are not rubbing your ass against his crotch!"
"We agreed on every second song," Sahar insists.
"Technically, it is Al's turn," Hassan agrees, and Allison chuckles in victory. He glances at Allison. "I did promise Sahar a couple fast dances after I had some with you, though, Masha-Allah...my princess, as pretty as a picture."
You said that we
Could possibly
Spend eternity
See that's what you told me
That's what you said
But if you want me
You have to be
Fulfilling all my dreams
If you really want me, babe...
If you had my love
And I gave you all my trust
Would you comfort me
And if somehow you knew
That your love would be untrue
Would you lie to me
And call me baby
Allison glares at him. "Don't try to be sweet and call me cute names. I've told you before that I'd rather be described as smart and strong." She faces Sahar with fire in her eyes and pokes her chest. "As for you...you're way too involved in mine and Hassan's life with our daughter. I am so sick of this polygamous relationship!"
"Farah is already attached to Sahar-" Hassan starts, but Allison puts her hand in his face as means to silence him.
"She didn't give birth to her!" Allison turns to Sahar, who is quirking up an eyebrow. "That's right, I said it! You're not her biological mother! I want you the fuck out of my life! She ain't even gonna remember you since she's only one year old!"
"Yes, you go, sister! Tell 'em!" Janae encourages her, and her friends cheer loudly.
You said you want my love
And you've got to have it all
But first, there are some things you need to know
If you wanna live
With all I have to give
I need to feel true love or it's got to end, yeah
I don't want you
Trying to get with me
And I end up unhappy
I don't need the hurt
And I don't need the pain
So before I do
Give myself to you
I have to know the truth
If I spend my life with you...
"Well, I'm not the one who got knocked up at fifteen!" Sahar shoots back at Allison, and almost immediately, the anger that Allison is feeling is replaced by hurt. She never thought Sahar would be that rude.
"Ohhh!" a few people shout.
"Oh, hell no, she didn't!" Cindy exclaims.
"Oh, shit!" Daya murmurs. "She really went there."
"Somebody lookin' to get her ass beat," Maria comments.
"How'd you like our fists in your face?" Ouija challenges Sahar.
"That was a low blow," Hassan tells his other girlfriend. "She didn't get pregnant by herself. You should probably apologize."
"What?! She's treating me like I'm your side whore, when I'm clearly not! You love us the same!"
"No, I'm his favorite!" Allison links arms with him. "Right, dear?"
"Honey, I could never choose between the two of you," he responds, and her heart twists in pain a little more.
Sahar smirks. "See? Now stop being such a whiny baby and get over yourself!"
Allison raises a hand to slap her. "Yeah, I wanna see a couple terrorist cunts smack each other down!" Anders, Kasey's disgusting, snaggly-toothed, redneck boyfriend, jeers. His new girlfriend, Corinne, snickers at his horrible comment. It makes Allison put her hand down. She doesn't want to hit her rival and encourage the stereotype that Muslims are dangerous terrorists, and the Nazi couple bullying her about it doesn't help either. Instead, she shoves past Sahar. "Bitch," she mutters under her breath while walking away. The girls she came to homecoming with are trying to comfort her, especially Alex, Taystee, Poussey, Janae, and her fellow teen moms. "Leave me alone!" she cries, so they do. She's glad they understand she needs some space for the moment, as she's very overwhelmed with emotion. Hassan isn't following her, to her dismay, but at the same time, she wants him to think about the problems he's causing between them and eventually choose either her or Sahar. She really hopes it's her, though, and he dumps Sahar politely.
She doesn't sob her heart out until she reaches a bench outside the building. Allison falls onto it and hugs her knees to her chest as she wails helplessly. She wishes Hassan could hold her, but of course, he deserves to have a break from this drama, too. He could also be breaking up with Sahar at this very moment, but Allison doesn't want to get her hopes up too high.
"You got Anders thrown out because of you calling attention to yourself, terrorist! They're accusing him of hate speech, when he was just expressing his opinion! I'll blast you with your own bomb and string you up by your fuckin' headdress!" Corinne snaps and Anders goes to snatch Allison's hijab off her head when she sees Alex, Michelle, Taystee, Janae, and Cindy throwing punches at him and Daya, Maria, Pidge, Ouija, and Poussey warding him and Corinne off until they're far away from her and can't touch her anymore. She's still shaking at the thought of them violating her like that. The terrible former teachers would always remove her hijab in a fast, messy manner, even pulling at her hair underneath it, and hit her with it while sniggering and calling her Osama Bin Laden's wife. She's crying so hard that she doesn't notice someone standing in front of her, until they begin to talk.
"May I sit here with you?" Allison recognizes the warm voice as Gloria's. She looks up at the older woman and sniffles while wiping her nose that's dripping with snot. She silently nods at Gloria's question, and the Puerto Rican lady takes a spot beside her. Allison puts her head on Gloria's lap, throws her hijab off when another one of those Nazi assholes call her a terrorist one last time, and bunches up the fabric of Gloria's pink dress as she whimpers into it. She glances up at Gloria, who's giving Jennifer a dirty look. "Shoo, go away!" Thankfully, the bigot mumbles to herself about it not being the right time, and exits the area.
"I-I'm sorry for getting my germs on your dress," Allison apologizes through her tears. "You like, barely know me..."
"Honey, it's okay. You're allowed to be upset...I mean, you're being harassed by these motherfuckers and to top it all off, your boyfriend's bein' a two-timing bastard!" Gloria picks Allison's hijab off the ground. "Here...don't let their ignorant taunts stop you from wearing this. It's important to your religion, and you don't deserve their blatant disrespect. They're fugly, you know."
"Yeah, I do," Allison mumbles through a slight giggle. She shakes her head no. "I refuse to put it back on, though."
Gloria sets it next to them. She lovingly strokes Allison's dreadlocks. "I never knew your hair was red."
"Yeah, nobody did, really. It made some of my girls laugh and tease me when they first saw it, Cindy and Janae, especially. They said it reminded them of Little Red Riding Hood, Raggedy Ann, Ariel, and a fireball."
"Well, it's a nice color for ya."
"Thank you."
Gloria continues stroking Allison's hair and the side of her wet face comfortingly, then rubs her shoulder in the same soothing manner while humming to her. It's such a sweet lullaby, that it causes Allison to manage a smile.
"How do you know that word...fugly?" she asks and then snickers to herself.
"I've seen Mean Girls with Daya and Aleida. I know some shit, I'm not that old!"
"Oh, yeah, I know! To some high-schoolers, thirty might seem over the hill, but not to me. I ain't tryin' to kiss up to you, but I just get a cool adult vibe from you."
"I appreciate you sayin' that. Daya sees me as a hip to the times aunt, or a second mother figure."
"She's lucky. I've never been that close to any of my aunts, and they're biological." An urge to ask Gloria to take her uncle out of Vee's grasp swims up inside of Allison, but she holds it back because she thinks Gloria should hear that her uncle is engaged to Vee from the man himself, and he should be the one picking Gloria over Vee without anyone else's influence. Allison just wants to hang out with Gloria a lot more after this, so they can become closer. It could also help her uncle realize that Gloria is much more nurturing and kind than Vee, who seems like the evil aunts from James and the Giant Peach.
"My tía's like my mama. That's the Spanish word for aunt. She raised me since I was ten...my parents were killed in a bad car accident."
"Oh...I'm sorry, though, it's great that you have her. Uncle Fahri said you were into this neat thing called Santería and your tía taught you it."
"He talks about me?" Gloria sounds a bit nervous.
"Yeah, sometimes, but nothing bad! Don't worry." Allison has the energy at last to sit up and just lean into Gloria while putting her hijab back on. "If you'd like, will you educate me a bit on your practice?"
Gloria composes herself. "Oh, that's good. Sure, I'd love to! I'm real proud of it. You can teach me some Islam things as well, as long as you're okay with doing so."
"I am."
"He tell you we going dancin' tomorrow night with our couple friends?"
Allison grins slyly. "He might have mentioned it once or twice. He's real excited. My uncle is a hella good dancer, trust me."
"I am too, not to brag."
"Oh, really?" Allison raises an eyebrow while smirking.
"Yo, I'm 'bout to have a little dance-off with Diane in there, to Let's Dance by David Bowie!" Gloria tilts her head towards where homecoming is. "You ain't so bad yourself." She nudges Allison's chin teasingly.
"Thanks, Glo." Allison closes her eyes and opens them to check if Gloria is offended. "I'm sorry, that just slipped out...I've heard Aleida call you that, and we all kinda refer to you as Glo now."
"It's fine. It makes me feel young."
Allison pushes Gloria playfully, but not enough to hurt her. "Girl, you're already young!"
"Aww...you're a sweetheart." Gloria pats Allison's cheek and squeezes her hands. They both beam at each other.
"I could say the same for you." A few seconds of quiet pass. "Um...we could arrange a playdate for Farah and Julio, if you're comfortable with that."
"Of course! I can't believe he remembered my kids' names. They never been that important to my previous boyfriends."
"Oh...I'm sorry to hear that. Your children should always be treasured by the important people in your life, otherwise, maybe they don't deserve a place in your heart. They're just motherfuckers."
"You're right, cariño. That was probably the biggest lesson I've ever been smacked with." Gloria's eyes have a darkness in them, as if she's haunted and far away, but then she comes back to the present. "Anyway...our two little ones can chill at yours tomorrow, perhaps, while I'm out...I'll pay you whatever to babysit, if you're alright with that?"
"I totally am! Only, I'm not charging you if our kids are just chillin' together. I'm only Julio's friend's mother. You can give me cash if my baby or my mom isn't there."
"Okay, if you're sure."
Allison nods. "I am." She hugs Gloria. "I'm so grateful for your support."
Gloria returns the gesture. "It was really no problem. You come to me anytime, okay?"
"Mm-hm."
"Hi, Gloria! Allison? You alright, champ?"
"Hey, Uncle Fahri." Allison lifts her head from Gloria's shoulder to face him. "Yeah, everything's good."
"I notice tear streaks...have you been crying?" he asks in deep concern.
"Yeah, but I'm fine now! Gloria was taking care of me."
His attention turns to Gloria. "That was nice of you! Thank you for being there for my niece."
"Hey, it was my pleasure. Have a seat." Gloria gestures to the place beside her and Allison.
"Sure!" He plops down next to Allison. "Wanna tell me what happened, Al?" he asks.
She had almost forgotten, because of her bonding with Gloria. "Oh...just dude problems."
"If the father of your daughter is making you upset, I'll straighten him out!" he says protectively and wraps his arms around her while pecking her temple. "Or was it those Hitler freaks? I got no problem making sure their parents kick their asses!"
"It's okay, Uncle Fahri. I can handle it, but sometimes, the strongest people break."
"Ain't that the truth," Gloria mumbles.
"Well, I'm glad that Gloria was here." The two adults exchange a smile.
"Yeah, me too."
To Allison's delight, Hassan comes back to her. "So, your friends talked some sense into me...bopped me upside the head, too...and I want to say I'm terribly sorry for not simply accepting that you had changed your mind on polygamous relationships. I love you more than Sahar, I honestly do. She'll be in our lives, but just as a family friend."
She stares at him quizzically as he helps her stand up. "Really? Are you positive she's okay with that?"
"She doesn't want to lose her connection with our daughter. She's not a horrible person, Allison...she just said mean things out of jealousy, and she knows she was being nasty. She went home, but she left you an apologetic voicemail."
Allison sighs. "Okay. I'll listen to it later." She waves at Gloria and her uncle. "Bye, guys! See you in a bit!"
"Bye!" they call out in unison.
Allison and Hassan walk back into the building while making out heavily, and their friends cheer them on.
"Okay, that's enough! Get a room!" Taystee hollers, and the others laugh out loud.
"Bring it on!" Diane challenges.
"Oh, girl, I'll bring it!" Gloria replies.
"Ready, judges?" Daya asks her friends and Red.
"We're ready!" Nicky calls out.
"Go!" Red says, starting the music, and Flaca and Maritza begin to film the women's dance-off.
Let's dance
Put on your red shoes and dance the blues
Let's dance
To the song they're playin' on the radio
Let's sway
While color lights up your face
Let's sway
Sway through the crowd to an empty space
If you say run
I'll run with you
And if you say hide
We'll hide
Because my love for you
Would break my heart in two
If you should fall into my arms
And tremble like a flower...
The students and other chaperones clap and cheer them on as they gyrate against each other and do fancy spins around the floor, back to back, and then facing each other. They appear as if they're having more fun than competing for first place.
Let's dance
Let's dance
For fear your grace should fall
Let's dance
For fear tonight is all
Let's sway
You could look into my eyes
Let's sway
Under the moonlight, this serious moonlight
And if you say run
I'll run with you
And if you say hide
We'll hide
Because my love for you
Would break my heart in two
If you should fall into my arms
And tremble like a flower
By the time it's over, Gloria and Diane fall down, laughing and panting, and they're so sweaty from dancing.
...Let's dance
Let's dance
Let's dance, dance, dance...
"You are both exceptional dancers," Lorna compliments them. "It's a tie!"
"Yeah, and I'm not even embarrassed that you participated in this, Mom! You're really good!" Alex lets Diane know, and Diane grins proudly.
"Whoohoo!" Gloria and Diane exclaim together and hi-five. The homecoming dance continues until the end of the night, and the girls are delighted to see that Allison is back on good terms with her boyfriend. Then, it's time to see who are the winners for homecoming king and queen.
Thank you for reading and reviewing, CoffeeWritingAddiction, A Star In My Universe, MinervaSnape394, and Johanna002! I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day, whether you celebrated your mother (or grandmother, or aunt or any woman really that you look up to) or if you're a mother or aunt yourself!
Also, I started a new story, Keep Me Safe, if you wanna check that out.
Summary: Nine years ago, a woman and her young daughter vanished. After being tortured for so long, she gets rescued and returns along with the dark secrets she's harboring, as do her child and eleven other missing girls a while later. She's afraid to love again and new complications arise because her best friend is keeping a deadly secret from everyone, which may just destroy the strongest bonds between friends and lovers. The parents will go to great lengths to protect their kids. Very AU, ships: Nichorello, Flaritza, Alex/Michelle, Daya/Adarsh, Maria/Yadriel, Blanca/Diablo, Pennsatucky/Nathan, Poussey/Franziska, Aleida/Leon, Gloria/Fahri, Diane/Charles, also includes Taystee, Ouija, Pidge, Alana, Margarita, Red, Lourdes, Frieda, Claudette, Tricia, Allison, Zirconia, Cindy, Janae, and other parents of the kidnap survivors. Very dark and OOC, the Litchfield ladies aren't in prison.
