Thank you for beta'ing and getting me my 300th review, A Star In My Universe!
Warnings: mentions of the KKK, racism, and abuse.
"I hope you had a lovely evening, folks. Now for the homecoming court," the senior body president announces over the loudspeaker.
"You gonna win, girl, I can feel it!" Poussey says excitedly to Taystee. She bounces on the balls of her feet while holding onto her best friend. Taystee crosses her fingers behind her back and closes her eyes.
"Our king is Clarence Johnson!"
"Bet he got a big one," Reema murmurs, and Taystee pushes her away while rolling her eyes.
"Ho, shut up!" Janae mutters as they all applaud for Clarence, who is going up on stage to get his crown.
"A king is nobody without his queen...and her name is...drumroll please!"
"Why the suspense, man?" Taystee asks rhetorically. "Just fuckin' say it!"
"Tasha Jefferson!" The screams are deafening and Taystee beams proudly while accepting hi-fives from her friends and others as she walks up the steps to receive her tiara.
"Fuck yeah! In yo face, white cracker and Oriental Tradin' bitches!" Cindy hollers and Taystee just chuckles to herself as she spins around dramatically. Her competition is indeed, all white and Asian girls, and they just glare at her while displaying their middle fingers, probably more aimed at Cindy than her. She's all smiles as she returns to her girls, who crowd her in a group embrace.
"Yaaasss, queen!" Maria shouts, and Taystee cackles victoriously. After she shares a lovely dance with Clarence and gets stars in her eyes from the way he'd been looking into them so sweetly and moving her around the floor quite gracefully, the rest of her friends hi-five her and then head back to the limo where Fahri had been chilling all night.
"My mom was so busy with work that she forgot to book a limo for some of us, so she couldn't get one. Sorry, guys!" Maritza announces.
"It's okay, luckily, Fahri's was big enough for all of us!" Alex exclaims.
Daya catches sight of Gloria and Diane. "Yo, wanna see Fahri's sweet ride?"
"Yeah, come ride with us!" Flaca practically begs them while waving them over.
"Alright, if you insist!" Gloria replies.
The girls who want Fahri to dump Vee and be with Gloria start squealing happily. Suzanne glares at her. "He's taken!" she snaps.
"Excuse me?" Gloria asks while raising a suspicious eyebrow, and Diane's eyes widen in alarm.
"Don't mind her!" Taystee cuts in. "She's just having one of her episodes again."
"Her alter ego, Mara, is totally into him, sorry!" Poussey adds.
"Mm-hm," Allison chimes in. She and Hassan restrain Suzanne from coming any closer to Gloria. "Shut up! Now!" she hisses through gritted teeth.
"Hey, check out our queen!" Diane exclaims quickly. "Great job, Taystee!" her English teacher praises her.
"Hell yeah, congratulations! Low five, girl." Gloria extends her open palm out to Taystee so Taystee can slap it lightly, and then, they bump fists.
"Thanks, y'all!" Taystee says proudly.
"You're welcome!" Diane and Gloria respond in unison.
"Holy shit, this is huge!" the Puerto Rican kitchen lady comments, obviously referring to Fahri's limo. She goes to where he's sitting behind the wheel. "You drive this thing?"
"Yep!" He leaves the long, sleek, black vehicle and presses a button that opens the doors on both sides. The girls get into the limo.
Gloria whistles and folds her arms across her chest. "Wow...color me impressed. Uh...would it be okay if we went with you? A lot of the girls really want us to...it's okay if you don't. We'll just go, but one of us gotta let Frieda know if you'd like us to join y'all since she drove us here."
"I don't mind at all! I only pull this out for special occasions where there's a large group attending the event."
"Oh, our dinner at La Fontana's was nothin', huh?" Gloria asks him teasingly, seeming quite relaxed.
Fahri smiles. "I didn't wanna freak anyone out." His eyes are only on her as he expresses this. Taystee can't help but admit to herself how natural they are together. If she didn't know any better, she'd think they were best friends, or maybe more than that. He's never come over to Vee's place, since she doesn't invite him, so Taystee has yet to see his relationship with her foster mother. As she thinks about it some more, she realizes that Vee hasn't gone out with him once, besides the time they got hitched in Las Vegas. They probably barely know each other. Taystee is shocked that Vee didn't even come with him to ride in the limo tonight.
Gloria turns to Diane, who is grinning brightly. "Have you been in there?"
Diane nods. "A few times, yeah. I'll tell Frieda we're going home with Fahri. Be right back!"
"Okay!" Fahri answers her. He switches his attention to Gloria."Where do you wanna sit?"
"The front, next to you, if that's alright. I got an urge to pick the tunes on the radio." A flash of nervousness passes over her. "Um, that's up to you, though. You can control your own music. I...I shouldn't touch it," Gloria stammers. "Sorry."
"No, please, don't apologize! Choose whatever your heart desires. I promise, it's okay."
"You gonna take us in this to the Monte Carlo Room?" she asks as he opens her door for her and closes it after she climbs into the passenger seat. She sounds much happier again.
"Would you like me to?"
"Sure, it'll be fun!"
"I will, then!"
She gives him a thumbs-up. "Awesome!"
Diane crawls in the backseat with everyone and starts to sit between Alex and Michelle. "Mo-om!" Alex whines, and they all chuckle, even Suzanne, probably because Maureen is distracting her with smooches. Although Taystee isn't too fond of Suzanne's girlfriend, Maureen is certainly making it easier for her and their other friends.
"I'm kidding! Jesus Christ! Like I'd ever separate you two." Diane tousles Alex's hair and takes her spot in the middle of her daughter and Lorna. "So...y'all wanna sing Ninety-Nine Bottles of Beer On the Wall?" she asks while pushing back her brunette locks with her fingers and letting it all go over one shoulder. She's one of the only four white women who Taystee doesn't make fun of with Poussey, because she's friendly, respectful of the students, and doesn't act like she's better than others.
Taystee enjoys how cool Diane is being. "Yeah!" everyone cheers and starts belting out the fun song. Flaca and Maritza giggle together as they converse while pointing towards Gloria and Fahri talking back and forth. Lorna, Allison, Daya, Alex, Michelle, Maria, Blanca, and even Diane appear to be intrigued as well. Poussey grins at Taystee and shrugs, and Taystee smiles back at her best friend. Brook, Pennsatucky, Alana, Stephanie, Ouija, Pidge, Zirconia, and the boys seem to be oblivious to the fact that Gloria and Fahri had met and became friends because some of the girls had wanted them to hook up.
"Take one down, pass it around, ninety-seven bottles of beer on the wall..."
Gloria turns the radio up, and then they begin singing along to the music on there. Cindy and Janae catch Taystee's eye and shake their heads in disapproval, but Taystee senses that even those two are having a good time. Vee would have a field day if she knew. Then again, it's not like Gloria and Fahri had started making out in traffic or holding hands over the seat divider. Vee has nothing to worry about, Taystee attempts assuring herself. On the other hand, Vee hasn't made much of an effort to be with him. Taystee just has no idea.
When homecoming is over, Alex and Michelle go to Maritza's guesthouse for some alone time. Alex needed some comfort from her girlfriend and she knows that her mom wants privacy with Charles. She and Michelle get ready for bed and dive under the covers together as soon as possible. They hold hands and scoot closer to each other while listening to "Let's Do It, Let's Fall In Love" by Ella Fitzgerald which is softly playing in the background.
"You know, um...on Monday, right?" Alex starts out.
"Mm-hm?"
"Well, I don't think I ever told you...but I was terrified when the bad men came into Friendly's, and I was afraid for my mom and friends' safety."
"I completely understand that." Michelle says while caressing Alex's cheek and then her hair. "I hope everything's okay now."
"It is. I'm glad we finally got 'em!"
"I know, me too! When I learned that you kicked Humps in the face, that totally turned me on."
Alex smirks. "You pulled a knife on Piscatella, which was so fuckin' amazing!"
"I felt totally powerful in that moment! I bet you did too, whackin' him with that crowbar!"
"Hell yes!"
As they stare at each other some more, the sexual tension between them builds until they can't take it anymore.
Birds do it, bees do it
Even educated fleas do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love
In Spain, the best upper sets do it
Lithuanians and Letts do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love
The Dutch in old Amsterdam do it
Not to mention the Fins
Folks in Siam do it - think of Siamese twins
Some Argentines, without means, do it
People say in Boston even beans do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love
They both start peeling off each other's clothes as they giggle in unison. Their pajama tops, pants, and socks, are soon strewn all around the floor as they roll around under the sheets in their undergarments. They both wear comfortable bras since it hurts Alex to move around with such big breasts and nothing holding them in place, and Michelle has the same reason. "God damn, you're beautiful," Alex murmurs as she removes Michelle's beanie.
"So are you. Behind your cute secretary glasses are the prettiest pair of emerald green eyes I've looked into, and then I'm gone."
Alex presses her lips to every part of the Latina's body, from her injured temple, down her cheek, jawline, neck, shoulder, center of her chest, over her bra while fingering the straps, continues to her belly and waist. She stops at the top of Michelle's thong and just takes her in. "Girl, I'm gonna make you come like you never have before," she promises Michelle. "That is, if you so desire."
Michelle stares up at Alex and bites her bottom lip. "Please...and massage my tits, too!"
"Gladly."
Alex undoes the clasp on Michelle's bra and tosses it aside. She slides the thong down and off Michelle's smooth legs and places a trail of kisses from her thighs to her ankles until Michelle is practically pleading with her to get to the most important thing.
Romantic sponges, they say, do it
Oysters down in oyster bay do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love
Cold Cape Cod clams, 'gainst their wish, do it
Even lazy jellyfish, do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love
Alex causes Michelle to have more than seven orgasms in a row, between rubbing her index, middle, and ring finger over Michelle's clit in a teasing motion which turns fast and has her twitching everywhere underneath her while nibbling on Michelle's exposed skin, leaving behind tiny love bites, and eating her out as the shorter girl clamps her thighs against the sides of Alex's face, thrusting herself into Alex's mouth with her eyes shut tight while she moans. Alex kneads Michelle's perky nipples with her thumbs as she flicks her tongue in and out of Michelle's vagina. "¡Ay dios mío! Alex, más, por favor! Más!" she screams while climaxing. "Ohhh! Ohhh...sí...sí...sí!" Her sweet juices slide down Alex's throat. "Mmmm!"
Oh my god! Alex, more, please! More!
"You taste so delicious."
"Fuck me again! My pussy's so wet for you!"
"Mine is too, baby."
"You look real hot on top!"
Alex's heart warms at Michelle's compliment. "Thank you. You're adorable on the bottom...I liked pleasuring you."
"I enjoyed it so much!"
Electric eels I might add do it
Though it shocks em I know
Why ask if shad do it - Waiter bring me
"shad roe"
In shallow shoals English soles do it
Goldfish in the privacy of bowls do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love
Other verses I've seen in print follow:
In old Japan, all the Japs do it
Up in Lapland little Laps do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love
As soon as Alex gets Michelle off again, they flip over so Michelle is on top. "Sorry, I don't have as much experience as you...it's my first time doing it...with anyone," she confesses. "Can you kinda...guide me to your pleasure zones?"
"Of course." Alex puts her hand over Michelle's as she directs her right to her g-spot. "Yeah, right there," she mumbles when Michelle starts fingering her. "Right there...mmm...yes! Yes!" she shrieks as ecstasy flows through her.
The chimpanzees in the zoos do it
Some courageous kangaroos do it
Let's do it, let's
Fall in love
I'm sure giraffes on the sly do it
Even eagles as they fly do it
Let's do it, let's fall
In love...
When they're too tired to carry on, they just relax in blissful silence, with Michelle cuddled in Alex's arms. Alex strokes Michelle's hair and rests her lips against Michelle's cheek. "I enjoyed spending time with you today and tonight," Michelle tells Alex lowly.
"I did, too."
Upon getting back to Charles' apartment, Diane smiles at seeing his cop car parked on the curb. She also feels a small twinge of guilt at how she'd refused to sleep by his side and even snapped at him to stop talking about what had happened with her parents. It's been twenty-four hours since they'd last spoken, because he'd left for work and then gotten home before she had, and she honestly misses him.
Diane is well aware that she needs Alex and Charles more than ever now, but she's tired of being the damsel in distress who always has her boyfriend saving her and her daughter is with her friends. She doesn't want to burden either of them with her problems right now. She'd covered the cut on her cheek with blush and doesn't plan to take off her makeup until everyone goes to bed. They checked on her, but she kept insisting she was fine.
"Really, what's going on, baby? I can tell you're upset, and it's because of your parents!"
"I just want to be alone!" Diane grabs her pillow off his bed. "Is that too much to ask?"
"No, it's okay, go ahead. I'm sorry..."
"It ain't nothin' you said or did. I just need space...and I'm stressed out about work. I don't want to say anything nasty that I don't mean. I'll sleep with you tomorrow night."
"Only if you want to."
"Alex's friends are sleeping over, so I'll have the couch."
Charles shakes his head no. "Don't be silly, I'll take it. You can sleep in my bed."
"I will, then. Thank you."
"You're welcome."
As he leaves, she kisses him good night to show him that she's not really mad at him, and they both grin at each other.
She lets herself inside the apartment. "Hey, babe, I'm home!" she calls out.
"Hi, honey!" he greets her cheerfully. He winds his arms around her and their open mouths touch a few times. She giggles when he checks her out. "Whoa! You're so beautiful. You can really rock the red lipstick!"
"Thank you!" Since he's said that, she feels a lot prettier in her black off-the-shoulder dress.
"Oh, before I forget, there was cake at my job site...it was somebody's birthday, and I saved you a piece! You like it warm, right?"
"Yeah, but you don't have to heat it up for me! I can do that. You're incredibly thoughtful, though."
He beams and leads her into the kitchen. He gives her a container with a slice of chocolate cake and white frosting on it. "Your dessert, ma'am."
"Thanks...again!" Diane sticks it into the microwave for thirty seconds. "How was work?"
"We finally caught Jack and his wife!" Charles' voice is full of pride, as it should be.
"Yay, great job!" They both beam at each other as Diane begins eating. "Oh, this is excellent!" she mumbles through a bite.
"Isn't it?" Diane nods happily. "You seem like you're in a better mood."
"I am! I was throwing myself into chaperoning to take my mind off it, but now, I'm ready to discuss it with you."
"Okay, are you positive?"
"Extremely!"
As soon as Diane finishes her treat, she gets changed into pink flannel pants and a loose, white tank top. He's already sitting up in his bed and she takes her place beside him. "Just so you know, my mom didn't really do anything to me except verbal abuse...I'm so sorry for what she and my dad said to or about you. My dad gave me this." She points to the scratch mark his ring had made on her cheek.
"Oh, my cupcake," he murmurs and then places his lips on it softly. "Please don't apologize for their inexcusable behavior. You are completely innocent in this. The racism was nothing new to me...I've had people come to my door dressed up as Klan members on Halloween as a sick joke." Diane's heart stops and then starts again after a few seconds, hearing that. "I had a stern talk with them right away and banned them from my property, but I will arrest your father for hurting your precious face."
"Thank you, but what the fuck? The actual KKK?"
"They were playing a stupid prank, it's nothing you need to worry about. They didn't hurt me, they just laughed at the freaked-out expression on my face."
"If it happens this year, I'll slit their fucking throats. How dare they do that?!"
"Diane, I appreciate you protecting me, but really, I'm okay. Now tell me everything that's wrong with your parents. I'll stay up all night listening."
"I was born in Northampton," Diane begins somberly. "My dad, Edward abandoned me at some orphanage in the freezing rain, but my mom, Phyllis, 'saved' me. I was soaked and shivering and immediately attached myself to her, until I found out that she wasn't very nice. She convinced him that they could make money off my beauty and they used me for my exquisiteness," she explains sarcastically and then scoffs while staring down at her lap and playing with her fingers. "They said that because of my pretty, unique eyes, I would be a good buy. I had to refer to them as Madam and Master, or Sir and Ma'am. They ran a brothel and forced me to train to be a prostitute and my older brother, Mitch, a pimp. We were basically in a cult with those assholes."
Diane exhales deeply when she senses Charles wrap his hands around hers, stopping her from digging her nails into her palms. He stays silent and his eyes are filled with concern as he frowns. "See, our horrible father never wanted a girl, but that cunt who gave birth to me, had the idea that because of my eyes, she decided she'd make me into her perfect little doll...and sell me when I became of age, and Edward would abuse me if I put on weight, or made a mess of my clothes. I was really only physically abused as a child, but then I saw girls my age doing everyday things in school and I knew it was wrong what my parents...excuse me, they don't deserve to be called that...Edward and Phyllis...were doing and I always rebelled. I guess they stopped since they didn't wanna murder me. They said they needed me, and I thought that was love. It wasn't. They just tried to put me through different hardships until I broke...even after that. Both of them used to hit me, but when I was older, they simply got out belts as warnings."
"They'd make me get breast enhancements or liposuction and wear makeup as a child. I grew up never going without it since I always believed myself to be ugly plain-faced. I had to have my acne removed...and that's why I'm hyper-aware of my own imperfections, even now, still! Also, I'm young at heart since I never had a normal childhood." She draws her knees up to her chest and hugs them there while resting her head on his shoulder. He goes from holding her hands to stroking her hair and running his fingers through it, which is just as comforting.
"Teachers would suspect, but nobody ever reported it. The Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act was passed in nineteen-eighty, and I was a sophomore in high school around that time. They usually would chalk it up to bad behavior since I was known as a troublemaker with no future. They often called me white trash, teachers and fellow students alike who weren't my friends! Sometimes, pedophile teachers and douchebag students would stare creepily and wolf-whistle at me when I came into class because of the tight shit I always had to wear, and they were so weak that they couldn't just ignore it. So, I'd go into the bathroom with a friend and change into an extra set of her baggy clothes, or I'd zipper up my jacket, even if it was a hot day. When one of the only few good teachers I had started getting suspicious and Child Protective Services showed up at our front door, we'd have to move." She stops watching his reaction to each sentence that spills out of her mouth because it's just heartbreaking how distressed he appears to be. She's never seen a man cry before, but it seems like he will pretty soon. She pays attention to the wall as she continues speaking instead. He massages her back and shoulders as she talks, and she melts into him.
"I suffered all four forms of abuse. There was physical, like pulling my hair when brushing it, making my head yank back too fast, or whipping me when I was a small child or forcing me into a corset to keep my stomach flat." Diane remembers flinching when Frieda would fix her hair sometimes and there's been a few moments in her life when she can't breathe because she thinks the corset is still pushing into her. "Then, sexual...Edward would watch me undress and they sent pictures they took of me to agencies and put me in Playboy magazines. I was never raped, but I still felt incredibly violated. I'd try to hide myself behind a curtain or in my closet, but then, he would always make sure my front was facing him and he would strip me naked himself. I...I can't tell you how many times I felt his..." Her breath hitches as her chin quivers. She squeezes her eyes shut and gulps down the lump in her throat to prevent herself from weeping. Her voice is shaky enough. She recollects always locking the door behind her in order to change her clothes if she was at anyone's house except where she used to live, even though her friends, some of her boyfriends, and Frieda respected her privacy and didn't demand to come in. She was surprised when they'd politely knock on the door if they needed to tell or ask her something. "Oh my god, it was so disgusting. I threw up so much. While I was well groomed and had proper hygiene and clean clothes, and wasn't deprived of sleep since they didn't want me to have black circles under my eyes, they made me feel stupid and worthless, which qualifies under emotional abuse, and they neglected my needs or any problems I was having with their parenting methods, and they'd lock me in a closet if I cried or went aga-against them. They fed me healthy food, but I was never allowed dessert. If I gained even one pound more than they wanted me to weigh, they'd make me puke until I passed out from the strain I was putting on my tummy. I had to run to the point of exhaustion." As her voice cracks, Diane presses her lips together and sniffles. Charles runs his hands up and down her arms and then squeezes her hands soothingly. She thinks him doing this is the only thing that's keeping her from sinking into a panic attack.
"I had to participate in ice skating, gymnastic and ballet competitions, cheerleading and dance competitions, beauty pageants, tennis and beach volleyball matches, and talent shows...whatever I needed a revealing outfit for, because that would earn them serious cash. I would be forced to model in skimpy clothes and bikinis to get 'em money...and if I didn't win over my fellow competitors, or I wasn't chosen to be on a front cover or even in the magazine at all, they'd yell at me about how lousy I was, they'd claim I was nothing until I really believed it, they would trap me in a cage that would fit a large dog until the next day, twelve hours later whether that was morning, noon, or night, and they'd shake it until I got dizzy and fainted. I begged the people to give me a gold medal or a first prize ribbon and I bawled like a baby if I didn't get it, since I knew what would happen. Everyone thought of me as a spoiled brat and a sore loser. You should've heard me...I sounded so pathetic. Any other sports were forbidden. In physical education, it was required for me to swim, play basketball, baseball, flag football, and do track and field. I had to shower with Edward so he could remind me that I was a girl, as if I didn't know already...and then he added, 'with a tight figure, and don't you ever forget it, bitch!' He may have used cunt, too, but I can't remember. I told Phyllis the first time it happened. I don't even know why I wasted my breath, I was really stupid at nine, which is when I started puberty and realized it was wrong. He would always 'help' me wash myself, but I didn't know he should stop when I became a certain age. She said at least he loves me after all, since he had dumped me on the stairs outside the orphanage when I wasn't even an hour old yet. He had 'really improved' over the years." Diane scoffs and she's suddenly cold and shivering from the goosebumps forming all over her. She takes the comforter and sheet out from under her and covers up with them so they're to her chin.
"I'd go crying to my brother about it, but it wasn't enough. Mitch was also afraid to tell anyone since we could've been separated and he thought he could protect me more if we were together. He also didn't know where I'd end up. He knew there were a lot of bad people out there and he was gonna wait 'til he was old enough to help me outta there, trying to make money to rescue me. Phyllis and Edward kept the child porn a secret from him and I was too scared to say a word about it. Other than that, they never did nothin' illegal. They'd arranged for him to meet a girl who he ended up falling in love with, but he kept that fact from them. They were happy together, and when Edward, Phyllis, and I met her, they acted perfectly normal and the woman said he was exaggerating! I was apparently a great actress, and so were they, because Elizabeth, who became his wife, she believed their performance, and I knew that if I messed it up, I'd only look like a brat who was ungrateful. He even thanked them at the end of the dinner for behaving themselves, and they said that they'd made me famous and I was estactic about it. They hid the abuse from Mitch and claimed that I enjoyed looking extra pretty. I nodded blankly in feigned agreement. He didn't want to show them that he knew I was lying and he was working on getting me out of their cult because then I would get badly punished if they discovered he was hatching a plan." She's openly sobbing and hiccuping now. "I...I was breaking down in the bathroom after they confronted me. Phyllis came in shortly after, she told-she told me that I'd always been a di-disappointment and I-I'm lousy at everything, I couldn't ev-ev-even prevent a rape from h-happening...m-my brother had to die doing it...a-and I was knocked up out of wedlock!" She takes a few seconds to calm herself. "I'm so sorry!" Diane wails. She scoots out of her self-made cocoon and nestles into his embrace, with her back to his chest.
"Oh, sweetie, you don't need to apologize," Charles murmurs while holding her even closer to him. "You don't gotta say no more." He sounds very sad as he traces invisible patterns on her shirt-covered belly. "I wanna kill those motherfuckers!" he adds angrily. "How could they hurt someone as precious as you?"
She inhales sharply and exhales as slowly as she can. "No...I wanna finish. It'll be okay. So...I reminded her that I'm an excellent mother, great dancer, and a wonderful teacher and she's the one who's a piece of shit. Edward came from outta nowhere and he slapped me so hard that a bruise started forming. I shrieked at the sudden contact. I didn't fall, though, I just stood upright, but I was in lots of pain...I stumbled back...and I ran to the nurse's office and told him I needed ice. Anyway, Mitch was so lucky that they let him go to college to play football, but after that, he was expected to become a pimp, a hunter of wild game, wrestling champion, and basketball and baseball star. Of course, he cut off all contact with them, like I did."
"They had no more control over our lives once we turned eighteen. I thought I'd be stuck under their rule forever, suffering from a life I didn't want and being on the cover of Playboy and Sports Illustrated, but my passion for dancing saved me. They were satisfied with just that one thing and decided I was good for that. They later told me they'd sent my photos and videos of me dancing to bad guys so they could get off to that shit. Edward and Phyllis were evil and had already been convicted of hate crimes, so they didn't wanna waste their time committing another felony by selling me to the black market and getting caught. They were so twisted in exploiting me the way they did." Her voice is thick with emotion, but at least she can speak clearly again. She really wants her boyfriend to hear her story. For a long time, she'd tried to forget her disturbing past and pretend that these strangers who had named themselves as her parents, had not destroyed her childhood, point blank.
"They always arranged my dates with arrogant rich guys. My school dances weren't fun in the least. I had to go to all of them with these idiots. If they weren't arrogant, they were just wealthy but not that attractive...they were nice, but old or boring...but if I liked them for more than their money or body and they were my age, our relationship would stop. If there was someone looking out for me, the cult I was born into and myself, would have to leave the area. I would get pregnant sometimes since the boys or men I went to prom or homecoming with, never used condoms. They'd push me into sex. Those sadistic motherfuckers blamed me, of course...told me they weren't surprised that he had his way with me, they used the word fucked. I was sexy, they said. They had a plan for me to marry either a rich old geezer or an arrogant, sexist rich guy my age! They picked a dangerous Nazi when I was sixteen, so I was gonna put a metal spoon in my underwear in case I had to move out of the country with this prick. I would then alert airport security that I was being forced into a marriage. My former suitors would try to get me in bed with them again, but I always turned them down. I avoided them at all costs and they eventually grew disinterested in pursuing me. Even though they weren't controlling me in college, I didn't have a boyfriend since I really just focused on my studies. Lee came after college, with him, it was the first time I ever let myself fall in love fully. I was always rigid about it before, acted like me and the guy were friends, even with sex or kissing, no emotional connection with him at all. Until my college years, I had only been on secret dates with rebellious boys and dudes who weren't that well off, but they were very cute. I never cried about potential boyfriends they forbade me to date because I taught myself not to, like it wasn't worth it. If anyone got too close, I'd push them away and break things off. I only dated for fun, I didn't want to develop feelings and I thought they only liked me for my body, but I didn't care. I could not deal with the drama of them finding out, or risk these dudes leaving because of them and not choosing to run away with me or whatever, so I just counted down the days to my freedom. The first time I ever felt special dancing with someone, was with you during our first kiss."
"I'm glad I could make you feel that way, because you deserve to be loved every day, for the rest of your life. I would've whisked you away had I dated you back then," he whispers against her neck and then kisses it gently. She closes her eyes and swoons at the nice feeling he's giving her. "You're too important to give up on, my girl."
"Mmm, I know you would have...I appreciate your kind words, but I didn't trust anyone to be actually head over heels for me back then, really, for something besides my outside appearance and how a bikini looked on me. I wouldn't have allowed you in my heart, not with them in the picture," she admits softly while shaking her head. "Senior year came around and by that point, I was just so broken and quietly accepting of the fact that they had successfully ruined all of my other relationships that I didn't think I was worth the hassle of anyone having to fight for me...and I was afraid that they wouldn't try hard enough, even if I did go against Phyllis and Edward, and then I'd be totally alone. I did once attempt standing up for myself, but they just threatened to sell me or punished me by leaving me in the basement while Mitch wasn't home. I was a hardened teen who only let my guard down and cried in front of Frieda. I met her when I was seventeen at a Prince concert, and later, I came up with an idea. I didn't rebel for a while and I talked about how I wanted to become a famous dancer and make them lots of money and marrying a Nazi while I was still in high school wasn't the way to do it. They could listen to reason up to a point...I even said I could be in Julliard and still be married to the Nazi. Of course, that was a lie, but you gotta do what you gotta do. I knew I had the upper hand once I became close to her. Frieda killed him, she knew his address since I was forced to write love letters as an alternative to marrying him out of high school. He always kissed me against my will, scared the fuck out of me a number of times, sexually assaulted me once without penetration, forced me to give him oral, digitally and anally raped me...and...and bit me down there..." Her breath trembles.
"I'm relieved he's six feet under and can't ever lay his cruel hands on you again!"
"Me, too! So, I wanted a good job. I only had experience at Hookers from when I was fourteen until I quit when I graduated. They forced me to work there so I could show off my growing body," she mutters in disgust. "Ugh, I'm so embarrassed...I keep telling myself, it was their fault, not mine. They lied to the boss about my age and diploma and for good measure, they made a deal with the boss and promised him I'd give him a...a blow job if he'd let me...have the position...of being a waitress. I had to wear...a white crop top and really short orange shorts." Her stomach churns just thinking back to all those perverts staring at her breasts jumping under her shirt as she walked around and them hitting her butt. "I got cat-called so many times, and I tried to slow down once...but then um, I was told to let those tits bounce by male customers, and they'd even complain to the manager about it when I ignored 'em. He got furious at me a lot and squeezed my boobs hard. 'Don't let this happen again, or I'll bend you over the counter naked and jam my hot dog into your fresh young buns. Now move along, sweet cheeks,' is what he'd always tell me. Edward and Phyllis didn't give a flying fuck. The only people who did, were ladies and girls there, who would slap the guy they were with and give me a pitying stare, or my co-workers. They treated me like their little sister, so that was nice."
"I never called the police, I just moved on with my life. I didn't wanna have to drag up the past and my demons, that would be way too traumatic. After all that torture I went through, I took self-defense classes and swore to myself that if I ever had a child, I would protect them to the ends of the earth!"
"You do. Alex has the best mom I've ever met," he compliments her.
Diane smiles at Charles' praise towards her. "Thank you." Her tone turns dark again. "I wanted to fucking kill myself," she hisses. "I probably attempted to a few times, but I can't recall what I did...probably something to do with sharp knives. I'm glad I never succeeded, or I wouldn't have you or Alex...but Mitch wouldn't have died."
"He didn't die because of you. He wanted to protect you, and something he had no control over, took his life. Do you know that I bless him every night? I say a silent prayer up to the heavens and thank him for saving you." He brushes her stray tears away and trails his knuckles down her unscathed cheek while pecking the other one directly on the spot where it's bruised and tender. "You mean so much to me, and if anything else happened to you, it'd be like I got stabbed. I felt sick at what you'd endured, my love, but what matters most is that you survived." She nods against him.
Her body and heart had endured so much pain that it's a miracle she'd never actually committed suicide. They're quiet as they cuddle, and then Diane curls up into his side so they fit like two pieces of a puzzle. They soon drift off to dreamland.
The next morning, Diane rolls over in bed, thinking of how wonderful her life is now, compared to when she was growing up. It's just a typical Saturday morning, like any other, but last night, she'd spilled just about her entire soul out to Charles. Showing her fragile damsel in distress side to others isn't her favorite thing to do, but she wanted to open up to the man she thought so highly of. She felt like she needed to, because she's testing if he can accept all parts of her, including her bleak past.
"Charlie?" she mumbles, half asleep. She's not quite sure if he's actually laying there next to her, stretching and yawning. She really hopes he isn't a mirage. She rubs her eyes to dispel any illusions, but he doesn't disappear. He never had, and with that thought in her head, she smiles.
"I'm still here, princess," he responds and ghosts his fingertips down the side of her face while kissing her slightly open mouth. "You sleep good, Di?"
"Mm-hm," she answers while nodding. "Did you?"
"Like a baby!"
"See, I don't get that phrase. They don't sleep well...they keep you up all night with their wailin' and fussin'. Trust me, I had experience with Alex! Kid was a handful, but of course, I loved her."
He chuckles. "I believe you."
Diane sighs heavily. "I'm still so exhausted."
"Say no more. I'll make you some breakfast in bed. Why don't you get more sleep, honey? It'll be about another hour."
"Okay," she murmurs while closing her eyes again and curling up on her side in the fetal position.
Charles gently nudges her awake a bit later and helps her sit up against the bedframe after she gets all of the sleep out of her eyes. On the nightstand, is a plate of chocolate chip banana blueberry pancakes, drizzled with syrup and topped with strawberries and whipped cream, and a glass of orange peach mango juice on a tray. A fork on top of a napkin is beside it.
"Oh shit, you're really spoiling me!" she notices aloud joyfully. "How romantic!"
"You deserve only the best, cutie pie." He gives it to her so she puts it on her lap.
"Thank you," she breathes out and then giggles at the new nickname he'd given her. After feeding her the chocolatey-fruity goodness, they make out a few times. "Mmm, this is good!"
"Made it out of love." He gazes into her eyes and she feels her heart skip a beat and then expand.
"Makes it even better."
Diane hears Alex come inside the apartment, and the moment is paused. "Hey, good morning! Something smells great!" Alex calls out. She walks through the open door of the bedroom that Diane and Charles are currently sharing. "Oh, breakfast in bed? Nice!"
"I'll make you some, too," Charles offers.
"It's okay. I'll do it myself!" Alex goes to Diane and kisses her temple while giving her a sweet hug. Diane beams and winds her arms around her daughter.
"Okay, missy, spill it," Diane tells Alex on the way to yoga.
"What?" Alex's mind flashes back to her time with Michelle and she blushes.
"That!" Diane pokes Alex's dimple. "The reason you're smiling real big and flushin' tomato red!"
"Michelle and I just had a great night, that's all!" Alex insists, but she can't resist giggling. "Why are you so nosy?" she asks jokingly.
"I didn't mean to come off as that, but...you know, I want you to feel comfortable talking to me about anything. I won't judge you or nothin', I'll listen, because you're my kid, and I adore you." Diane puts her arm around Alex. "You don't gotta be shy around me, I promise."
"Okay, fine. We had sex...me and Michelle," Alex confesses. "Don't get mad."
"Aw, sweetie! I'm not...in fact, I'm happy for you both. Making love is excellent, when it's with the right person...and you give each other consent...and I know neither of you will have to worry about getting pregnant! Unless...there were no sperm banks involved, right?"
"No! That's gross," Alex replies through a laugh.
"Good. Hey...going to home base is just another step in your relationship."
"You really are the best mom in the world. I can't think of anyone better."
"Thank you, my baby. You know I'll never hurt you, right?"
"Yeah, duh! I'm a good kid."
"Even if you were being a brat, I wouldn't hit you or shun you...we would talk it over. Nobody's perfect."
Alex beams at her mother's words, feeling tears come to her eyes at remembering how badly Diane had been treated when she was young. "I know."
"Oh, thank goodness you're still here!" Lorna cries as soon as she gets to yoga class with Franny and catches sight of Anita. She runs up and hugs the older Italian lady, who returns the gesture.
"Yeah, this Morton's neuroma can't keep me down for long!"
"I thought...I thought you...because your room was empty when I came to visit you a few days back! I freaked out, but a doctor told me you had just been released! You don't know how relieved I am."
"She really looks up to you," Franny adds while smiling. She shakes Anita's hand. "Hi, I'm Lorna's sister, Franny."
"Nice to meet you. Your sister is one of a kind," Anita murmurs to Franny and she pats Lorna's cheek. "I didn't know you still gave a shit about me, kid."
"Of course I do! I mean, you're the only other Italian lady I know, besides my mom, of course. Who could forget you?"
Anita's eyes twinkle as she grins at Lorna. "Please tell me Erica's still teaching. I haven't done yoga with her in forever!"
"She is! She'll be here soon."
"Who's that fine gentleman?" Anita glances toward the door where Leon is holding it open for a beaming Aleida to walk through.
"Sorry, Anita, he's unavailable! He's with my friend Daya's mother," Lorna responds.
"Oh, well. He's still hot," Anita comments and then wolf-whistles.
"Hey, keep your thoughts to yourself, Grandma!" Aleida retorts sharply. "Yeah, I know who you talkin' about. It ain't just you, everybody all over him these days. He's sexy, I get it! Shut the fuck up about it."
Anita rolls her eyes when Aleida rolls out her yoga mat and seats herself in front of them. "I ain't gonna touch him anyway! I'm just admiring his physique. Also, Grandma? Really? You're gonna be one in eight months!"
"At least I don't look like an abuela. How you know 'bout that anyway?" Aleida sighs exasperatedly. "Whatever, ain't like I care. He don't like the attention, so por favor, back off."
Anita scowls. "Okay."
Lorna presses her lips tightly together to keep from laughing and Franny does the same. "You shouldn't cause drama on your first day back!" she scolds Anita playfully. "You seriously wanna end up back in the hospital?"
"Please, that twig can't fight," Anita mutters while shaking her head. "One punch in self-defense, and she'd be down."
Aleida twists around to face Anita and glares at her. "I heard that!"
"You know, I was here first, honey."
"Oh, don't you dare start with me! You really don't wanna see my bitch side!"
"Ladies, this is a calm atmosphere, so you two need to cool it!" Ms. Jones interrupts their brewing fight. "I can't allow conflict in here!"
Aleida points to Anita. "Yo, she started it by makin' googly eyes at my man!"
Anita sighs. "Sorry, Erica." She stands up and embraces the tall blonde woman who's her age.
"Hey, I missed you, Anita! I'm glad you're feeling better. You should tell Aleida you're sorry, too."
"Alright." Anita sits back down. "I apologize."
"It's fine," Aleida mutters.
"You know who's more fun to yell at, anyway?" Ms. Jones asks rhetorically. "Judy fuckin' King!" Lorna's mouth pops open in surprise and Aleida bursts out cackling. "Seriously, that bitch is so stuck up with her seltzer maker!"
"Yeah, can't she just drink it from a bottle like everyone else?" Anita mutters. "Dumbass."
Aleida scoffs. "Nah, she too good for that!"
"I don't even know her, and she frustrates me already," Franny grumbles.
"Who are we talking about, because this conversation is delightful!" Alex points out as she joins them while hers and Diane's arms are linked.
"Judy King, the television chef," Lorna answers.
"Oh, her." Diane groans. "She did that racist puppet show with Chitlin' Joe. My...my parents would always watch that, and uh, show it to me for 'educational purposes'. They got a kick out of it, but I was never a moron in the eighties. I didn't believe in stereotypes. I guess that was Judy's problem back then, though...and theirs!"
"My ma's boyfriend, now husband, loved that segment," Aleida mumbles quietly, and the amusement is gone from hers and Diane's voices. They share a troubled glance and Diane gives Aleida's hand a squeeze. "Judy King was his celebrity crush."
"I'm sorry if I said something," Lorna tells them.
"It's okay, sweetheart," Diane mumbles. "You had no idea. Nobody did..."
Lorna glances curiously at Alex, who lifts her shoulders up and down while shaking her head.
"Yo, can we get on with the class?" Aleida asks Ms. Jones impatiently. "We're all ready. Let's do some yoga."
Ms. Jones nods at her. "Alright."
Thank you, Diane mouths at Aleida, and the Puerto Rican woman nods in response while displaying a tiny smile. Lorna can read lips since she's practiced from when she used to watch Christopher's every move. She can tell that Diane has a secret that's too sad to talk about, so she won't ask her or Alex for details, in order to respect their privacy. She assumes that Diane's childhood wasn't very pleasant.
Afterwards, Lorna sees Alex and Diane wrap their arms around each other tightly. "Oh, my little girl," Lorna can hear Diane telling Alex. "I love you so much."
"I love you, too," Alex replies, and Lorna beams at their cute interaction.
"Ay dios mío, tonight's gonna be huge!" Flaca points out excitedly. "Daya, you're going out with Adarsh, and Gloria and Fahri are gonna dance together for the first time ever!"
Daya, Maritza, Lorna, Nicky, Blanca, Ouija, Pidge, Alana, Poussey, and Allison smile at what she's just said, but Taystee frowns when she hears the news of Vee's fiancé going out with Gloria once again. It figures, since she's part of Vee's family. Daya just wishes that Taystee could figure out that Vee is a piece of manipulative trash. Red and the girls are at Friendly's. Tricia is with Mercy, and Michelle and Alex are ready to take orders. They keep beaming at each other like they're sharing a juicy secret. Daya reminds herself to ask them about it later. The men are at work, so Diablo and Adarsh are there to make sure nothing goes wrong, because even though the biggest snakes are in the hospital or kidnapped, in Stratman's case, there are still the high school bullies running around and causing all kinds of trouble. The girls are furthest away from the entrance, but the guys are the closest to it.
Since Diane is on a break from her afternoon shift, Red is currently showing her unsettling pictures of Piscatella posing with his weird collections at some Dutchess County Fair he'd participated in. The women are giggling at the three called Under the Sea, ArabianFantasy, and Christmas in Vienna. It helps everyone not be so terrified of him and a coping mechanism is making fun of him instead. Apparently, two of Red's friends, Anita and a lady she calls Gerrman, had come to her apartment and told her about the photos they'd found online, but Red had seen them previously, since she and Shelly Ginsberg snooped through Piscatella's desk immediately after he was fired. Red was the one to post them on the Internet, and the girls and Diane are proud of her for being so courageous. They also find the images to be hilarious.
"Yeah, I'm hella pumped!" Daya exclaims. "Also, my mom is spending time with my little sister and her friend today for a few hours. I'm real happy for Christina. I never thought she'd do that in a million years, but nowadays, nothin' surprises me. She totally did a one-eighty, and I'm on top of the world."
"I bet!" Maritza squeals. "I'm glad I feel okay coming back here...I suppose 'cause it's during the day and a whole bunch of you were chillin'. I didn't wanna miss out."
"Aw, okay, kid. Well, it's great you could join us!" Nicky tells her and then puts her arm around Lorna. Maritza nods while grinning.
"Yeah," Lorna agrees.
The girls then fill Ouija, Pidge, and Alana in on the whole plan of them hooking up Gloria and Fahri, and as expected, Alana is in love with the idea. "I hope they find romance with each other soon!" she gushes.
"No offense, but we never thought she was all that great," Ouija whispers, gesturing to herself and Pidge.
"Mm-hm, or any adults, really," Pidge adds. "Diane's cool, but Gloria seems hella strict, like a stick's up her ass."
"That's 'cause you dumbasses are always bein' rude to her!" Michelle states as she and Alex take their places next to Blanca.
"You just gotta learn how to get along with her, yo. She don't take shit from nobody, so don't give her any," Poussey suggests.
"Everyone else got mad respect for her," Taystee continues. She points to Pidge and Ouija. "You hos are weird."
"She's cool once you get to know her," Alex chimes in. "So is Fahri. We just thought they'd make a good match eventually."
"Well, it won't be 'til she's ready, 'cause she wants to wade in shallow water first, if you get what I mean," Blanca adds.
Allison, Taystee, Poussey, Ouija, Pidge, Michelle, and Alana share a confused glance. "I don't mean to be nosy, but what exactly happened with her exes? Seems like she's had a string of...bad relationships. My uncle actually said her last one was toxic, and then she told me they didn't care about her kids. Y'all don't have to share if you don't wanna. I was just kinda curious and concerned for her safety, since she said she basically learned the hard way to not get close to someone who doesn't really like her little ones that much...was hit with it. She used the word smacked." Daya's insides freeze at Allison's words and she tries to appear calm. She notices that the rest of her friends who know the real story, are busying themselves with their meals and drinks.
"That's just a phrase people say," Lorna replies quickly and keeps her eyes trained on her chocolate milkshake as she stirs her straw through it. "Ain't nothin' more to it than that."
"Gloria's been hurt before," Alana guesses quietly while leaning in closer to the group. "I'd seen the bruises on her, clear as day. I thought it was from the awful people who used to terrorize our school, but I've just remembered...the first day of school, she came in with a fading black eye. I know what those look like...I've gotten a bunch from my clumsiness."
"She was in a car accident," Alex lies, taking a small bite of her cheeseburger with tomato inside.
Nicky drums her fingers on the back of Lorna's chair. "It was fuckin' horrible."
"Nah...I saw that, too," Michelle tells them in a hushed tone as she pulls out small strands of her hair from her beanie so they drape around her face. "Also, one of Cesar's cronies mentioned she had a boyfriend who been locked up. Her injuries were from a person...him."
"I ain't never thought of it before...but now that you're bringing it to our attention..." Taystee doesn't finish. She digs into her fries instead and points them at the girls with a serious expression on her face.
"Glo was limpin' slightly back then, too...it reminded me of when Suzanne kicked me a dozen times. Y'know, from someone's abuse. I never realized that 'til now," Poussey mentions gravely while fiddling with her black spiked bracelet.
"Me neither. Shit," Pidge mutters and pounds the table lightly. "Now I feel bad for talkin' trash about her!"
"Same," Ouija mumbles while fixing her hair into a half pony. "She had her reasons for bein' a bitch. I'd be mad at everybody, too."
Allison looks around at the others for confirmation. They're completely silent and still, like deer caught in headlights. Daya wants to deny it, but the words are stuck in her throat. "Oh my god. I...I wish I was wrong. I'm so sorry. That poor woman...and her children. Jesus." Allison puts her hand on her heart and closes her eyes, looking pained.
"Please don't tell your uncle," Daya begs her. "Let her reveal it to him when she wants to."
"Of course, I would never say anything about it." Allison pats Daya's hand reassuringly, and Daya grins softly at this. "I promise. It's not my story to disclose."
"Thank you," Daya mumbles gratefully.
"I hope he been sodomized," Poussey mutters.
"Either that or dead," Taystee chimes in.
"He better be both," Flaca and Maritza say at the same time and then hi-five each other.
"So she and her sons are living at your mom's for protection," Ouija realizes aloud, cupping one side of her mouth with one hand to muffle her speech, and Daya nods. "Good thing Leon's there, too." It's the first time she doesn't sound giggly when she mentions him.
"Yep," Pidge agrees.
"Wow," Alana exhales out. "Holy freakin' crap." She chews her bottom lip.
"It's just shocking," Michelle comments and then bites her thumbnail. "She such a badass."
"That's why she had the courage to run," Nicky murmurs.
All of a sudden, the door booms open and everyone jumps and immediately stop what they'd been doing previously. The boys get to their feet right away.
"Someone better hide me-" a shirtless, red-faced Stratman begins, but Diablo punches him on sight, smashing his fist straight into the former corrupt teacher's mouth.
"Don't mess with my girl, you punk!" he shouts, and both he and Adarsh force him out. Blanca just gazes after her boyfriend in amazement. She laughs while she rests her cheek in the palm of her hand, and then runs up to him. He sweeps her into his loving arms and spins her around, just as Daya imagines the men will do with their respective women tonight-and she hopes Adarsh is that romantic with her sooner or later.
Thank you for reading and reviewing, Johanna_002, MinervaSnape394, and A Star In My Universe! Three hundred reviews, I just can't believe it! It's such an honor that you guys love my story so much! Bless y'all!
