Happy New Year, everyone! Cheers to a new decade! Sorry I haven't written this in so long, but I'm back now! I had to organize my notes and see what I wanted to add in before finishing this...the story is almost done, but not quite! Should be a few more chapters to go...
novio-boyfriend
"I gotta use the ladies'," Gloria informs Fahri on their next date that Tuesday night. "You mind waiting outside, just in case...?" She doesn't finish her question.
"Not at all!" Fahri gets up when she does and they walk to the bathroom together. They exchange a smile before she goes in. As she's scrubbing her hands clean with soap and water after doing her business, a familiar looking woman leaves a stall and bangs the door closed behind her. When Gloria sees who it is, a twinge of annoyance builds up within her. She absolutely cannot stand Vee. That bitch had worked with Arturo and given her stale cigarettes. She'd basically tricked Gloria into baking a delicious chocolate confetti cake that was perfectly edible for her and her minions. Arturo had also forced Gloria to make it. Gloria attempts to quickly dry her hands by shaking them out and wiping them on countless paper towels. She would've liked to touch up her lipstick, but there isn't time to waste. She really doesn't want to speak to Vee, let alone say hello to her. Her rush had been useless since Vee stops her from going anyplace.
"Get the fuck outta my way," Gloria hisses, but Vee just smirks and snickers.
"No, I won't. I just wanted to have a little talk with you. I know you're thinking you're gonna get in Fahri's drawers tonight, but that won't happen in a million years."
Gloria's heart skips a beat. She doesn't have a clue of how Vee could possibly know Fahri's name. "I'm not, actually. We ain't like, a romantic couple or nothin'."
"Of course not. He can't have moved on from me that quickly. I oughta kill you, bitch. You're the reason he dumped me."
It's like the wind is knocked out of her. She's in shock, but she blames herself for not being more curious about Fahri's exes and asking about them.
Vee cackles evilly. "He never told you, did he?"
"I'm glad he dodged that bullet," Gloria snaps. "He's too good for you. I don't say shit to him about my past boyfriends neither, so I don't really care all that much about what he's neglected to tell me. It ain't like he's hiding some incriminating secret. He just dated trash, and you probably abused him too."
"I can't say that I'm not used to a cracked heart, though...I am. Back in high school, I wanted to date this boy...Haro Jones. He had the most amazing arms, strong, muscly...but he liked the feel of Jamela Larkin's skirt-clad ass, if you get what I'm sayin'. He barely said a word to me or looked in my direction."
"I ain't surprised. You're like a succubus, and it turned that boy off immensely."
"Fahri, though...I almost had him. He was gonna marry me, seeing I'm pregnant and all, but those ugly brats just had to hone in on their plan to get you two in the same room and go on from there. Now, he just wants to be buddies and help me with the kid, but it's not even his." Vee scoffs. "Idiot."
"It wasn't their fault," Gloria defends the girls in a sharp tone. "They ain't brats. They're dedicated young women who wanted to see me happy with a dude for once in my life, and they thought Fahri deserved true love as well. Maybe our friendship will get to that point, but we dunno." Gloria looks Vee up and down while pursing her lips. "Face it, ho...he likes me a fucking hell of a lot more than you! He was relieved he found me, and I feel the same about him. He knew he could do better than your dumb ass, that's for sure! You should be grateful that he's willing to be there for your baby and remain friends. Most men ain't like that. He's hella special, and you're taking him for granted!"
"No, no...that'd be you, with Arturo. He did his best to keep you in line, but you constantly rebelled. You turned against him and had those Mexican sluts get him arrested. Arturo was my only male friend who I could really trust, and now I only get to visit him once a week for a couple minutes. How the fuck is that fair?" Vee snarls.
Gloria feels thoroughly cornered now and she really wants to escape, but she's unable to. Her feet are stuck to the ground. She could scream, but she doesn't want Vee to knock her out. The African American lady appears to be beyond irate, and she grabs Gloria's wrists. She squeezes them until Gloria lets out a pained gasp and tries to push Vee away, but she isn't physically strong enough. "Let...go...of...me!" she demands, but Vee keeps at it and tightens her grip. Gloria wishes she'd gotten out her pepper spray earlier.
"No can do, fiancé stealer."
"People ain't objects, so they can't be stolen. He ain't a piece of expensive jewelry!" Gloria quips. "I didn't take him from you. I couldn't have. He just happens to find me interesting and real pretty and sweet. He don't think that way about you, since you got ice cold insides...and come to think of it, there ain't much on the outside neither."
"At least I don't have disgusting scars all over my body. There's not enough tattoos or concealer in the world to cover those up. You'll live with those forever, and you'll remember it's all because you didn't listen to Arturo. He gets mad easily, and you upset him a lot of times." Vee touches a spot on the side of Gloria's neck that's hidden by her hair and she jumps. "You told everyone it was a hair straightener burn, that's what Arturo reported to me. I guess you didn't want to admit how you were so dumb and cruel that you drove him to hold a knife against a flame and press it up to your flesh." Gloria squirms and turns away from Vee. She hates that the memory is embedded into her brain. She had thought he would literally stab her dead and cut off her air supply first. His only intention was to pierce some of her skin, leave behind an injury that would stay there forever, and make her shriek bloody murder. He really got off on that, seeing and hearing her in a huge amount of anguish.
Gloria closes her eyes and keeps back her fear and sadness. She opens them as she faces Vee and glares at her darkly. "Guess what, you two-bit hooker? He abused me, and a good person don't hurt someone they love or care about! Back the fuck off. Now."
"You know, I'd enjoy murdering you...watching the blood spill as I slit your throat open." Gloria shivers in Vee's grasp and her blood runs cold. "It's just too bad Arturo won't allow me to. He expects you to still be alive when he gets out of prison so he can marry you. Such a lucky cunt you are that he's sparing your life. That doesn't sound like a man who hates you and wants to hurt you, right?"
"He just desires to control me and torture me even more! You can't play with anything once it's dead."
Vee finally stops her verbal taunts and releases Gloria when another woman opens the bathroom door.
As Gloria steps outside, her chin is quivering, and Fahri grows concerned. "Hey...what is it?" he wonders aloud.
"We gotta sit back down...I can't...I can't say it here," she mumbles and rushes back to their table. Fahri quickly follows her and they both take their seats. She covers her face with her hands and takes a deep inhale and a sharp exhale. "I ran into Vee in the bathroom...your, um...ex." Gloria sniffles and bats her eyes rapidly and they're glistening with tears. Fahri's heart breaks at the devastated expression on her features, and he's also upset that Vee had decided to show up. He just knows she'd tormented Gloria in some way.
"Jesus Christ. Did she hurt you? I'm so sorry, she was hell-bent on being my wife for my money. Classic golddigger."
"Not...not physically." Gloria uses the pad of her thumb to wipe underneath her eyes. "She just said some shit...like I stole you from her and she blamed me for...my ex, uhh...being poisonous towards me. He and Vee were apparently great friends, and she not only hates me 'cause she thinks I'm tryin' to be your next girlfriend or whatever, but also that I didn't appreciate...the m-monster I was with."
"She's ridiculous," Fahri mutters. "I broke up with her and she's now trying to ruin our date. I said we could be friends and I'd be there for her child, but she didn't go for that."
"I don't think she ever loved you," Gloria says confidently.
"She didn't, and I never really liked her as more than a friend," Fahri assures her.
"Good. I'm not like, jealous of her or anything, but more like, scared. She...she said she'd end me if it weren't for...for Dixon needing me alive. I just gotta like, watch my back every second. I'm sorry...I tried to warn you before...I'm a magnet for trouble. I never said it out loud, but the implications are everywhere. By protecting me, you're a target, too." She stares at her hands on the table and then touches Fahri's index, middle, and ring fingers lightly with her own.
"Gloria, I can handle it. I promise. You know I do whatever I can to make sure that you're alright." Fahri's eyes are locked on hers, and she manages a smile as he interlinks their fingers so they're holding hands. "I always will. What are friends for, right?" Of course, he thinks of her as a love interest as well since he has a crush on her, but he has to keep it low-key so he doesn't scare her off by coming on too strong.
"Yeah. It's just...how you gonna ensure my safety from outside a ladies' room? I'm not gonna always be with my girls..."
"I'm about to text Charles about Vee harassing you right now, okay? I'll ask to get a restraining order against her."
Gloria nods. "Mm-hm. Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"My husband died in a drive-by shooting," Karla is explaining to Carol, her minions, Blanca, Alex, and Alana at the Dairy Queen. "I also got attacked by a wild animal that was hunting me and lived to tell the tale! See, when the wolf was stalking me, I made lots of noise and made myself look big."
Badison snorts and Blanca wants to smack the smirk off the gringa's face. "That couldn't have been easy."
"¡Ella es una perra, pero tiene razón. Eres pequeña!" Blanca murmurs. She glances at Karla with concern.
She's a bitch, but she's right. You're small!
"English at the table, miss," Carol scolds her before Karla can respond, and Blanca has to resist rolling her eyes.
"She's just saying I'm tiny," Karla says quickly. "Anyway...it was just comin' at me, and I threw rocks and sticks...I fought it off and I was left with a few gashes...I went to the hospital, and my wounds are definitely gonna leave me with some scars." Just as soon as she says that, Blanca notices some deep red marks on Karla's side, just under her crop top. They must have been from claws, and Blanca's heart breaks for her friend all over again.
"Jeez, you should be on that show I Shouldn't Be Alive, because it's rare to survive that kinda thing," Nicole points out.
"I know," Karla mutters and dives into her ice cream.
"Oh my god. You must get bad nightmares, I'm so sorry," Blanca murmurs.
"Yeah...I've been afraid of dogs ever since," Karla tells her sadly. "I'm just glad my life is lookin' up now."
"Me, too!" Blanca says, and Alex, Alana, and Michelle agree.
"It's a good thing you're not aiming to be a vet like I am, then." Alana comments.
"Oh, for sure. I'm not traumatized when it comes to all animals, though, just the canine family."
"That's too bad," Blanca says sympathetically. "Diablo wanted to get us a dog and name it Mojito once we get outta college...but I'll tell him no since we wanna have you over! Or, we'll put it in some room we're not using at the moment."
"It's fine, I trust you guys as its' owners. It's just that they can't be off their leash! Otherwise, I will have a panic attack."
Blanca nods at her in understanding. "Oh, okay! Well, we'll always make sure you're safe."
Karla gives her a warm smile. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"Frieda was so proud of you when you told us that story at therapy," Alex informs Karla. "You were so strong and brave. She's a wilderness expert and she skinned a deer before and used its fur for warmth."
Karla smiles. "Cool, and thanks! I wasn't cold...I was trekking in the mountains, basically, and it made me really hot, actually! I didn't even stop moving, except for when I was incredibly tired. I also got a flashlight...and I did hitchhike, thinking the person was okay, but he wasn't...and I escaped him, too. I knocked that sleazebag out with his flashlight and stole a blanket from his truck to keep warm." Karla visibly shivers. "It was still so scary, though."
"You cheated death, then, like twice," Charlene states bitterly.
"Oh, you're right, she sure as hell did," Marie jumps in.
"No, I-" Karla starts, but Shruti puts a hand in front of her face.
"Don't you know that when it's your time to die, and you don't allow it to happen, another person's life is gone?"
"Oh, please, Shruti, you believe in spirit animals! Just leave her alone with your dumb folklore," Blanca snaps. "She's a survivor that battled through extremely dangerous situations, that's all."
"Your baby should be fucking murdered just from you rolling down the mountain!" Creech exclaims.
"Don't you dare talk to me about my child in that way!" Karla growls, holding her belly protectively. "We both made it and it was a miracle! So shut the hell up, unless you're supportive of me like Blanca, Alex, Michelle, and Alana are."
Carol has a stony expression on her face. She's had it all this time, and Blanca is terrified just looking in her direction. Chills run up and down her spine when Carol flips the chessboard loudly and jumps to her feet. "Don't ever mention that slimy rat to me again!" Carol hollers, wagging her finger at Alex.
"Who are you referring to?" Alex wonders aloud in a frightened voice.
"Frieda! That cunt got me in deep shit when I was in prison! I was gonna get twenty-five to life..."
"Well, you're out now, so you don't need to worry about her," Blanca assures Carol, trying her best to sound sincere, even though she doesn't give a shit. "Hey...I can help you find dudes online now if you want."
Carol scoffs. "Speaking to men through a computer instead of meeting them in person is for pussies. Let's go to the Sparrow Tavern, ladies. We're already dolled up and everything, right? I know your mother allows you and your friends to attend that bar, Alex."
"She does," Alex confirms. "Okay..."
Badison guffaws. "You goddamn prehistoric ape, trying to kiss up to Carol and distract her when she wants revenge on someone is never gonna work. When she's pissed off at a person, she doesn't move on. She's gonna kill Frieda once she sees her."
"Yeah, taking care of business, like she always does!" Nicole adds.
Karla grabs ahold of Badison's hair and yanks her head back. "Don't call my best friend mean names again, you got it?"
"Ow!" Badison groans and Blanca chuckles. "You'll pay for that, immigrant," the blonde growls.
"Excuse me?" Blanca hisses, balling up her fist. "You need a knuckle sandwich?"
Badison releases Karla and Carol quickly gets in between them. "Now, ladies, calm yourselves. Come on, we'll take the bus."
"You know Red's purple glasses she wears on a string?" Aleida asks as she glances up from her studying. She has a book in her lap as she sits on the couch in Leon's sweatpants and purple shirt. "I need those, they're hella cute. Besides, my vision's getting low, or maybe it's just blurry from all this readin' I gotta do." She blinks a few times and rubs the sleepiness out of her eyes.
"Lei, it's close to midnight. You can concentrate better after a restful sleep. Why don't we put this away for now? You'd be adorable in glasses, and we can look for some tomorrow after work, okay?" Leon rests his hand on Aleida's and then strokes her hair. He tucks a lock of it behind her ear and strokes her cheek with his thumb in a loving way. She beams and leans into his touch.
"Okay." Aleida nods. She closes her book and gets off the couch.
"I'll make your favorite for breakfast in the morning, coffee and waffles!" he lets her know as they're about to go into their bedroom.
"Yay, thank you!" The doorbell chimes and she jumps, not expecting anyone at this late hour. "What the fuck?! Wakin' up everybody in the damn apartment like this..." she hisses.
"I'll get it," he volunteers and then opens the door to reveal a white man with wavy light brown hair. "Yeah?" he asks, folding his arms firmly across his chest.
Aleida peeks around her boyfriend, feeling curious. "Do I know you?" she wonders aloud. She glances over her shoulder to see Gloria and Daya standing by the entrance to the foyer.
"M-my name's Danny," he stutters. "I didn't mean to come at such a bad time, but I just needed to say I'm really sorry for what my dad did...and I wanted to apologize to you all in person, especially you, Aleida-"
"We used to hang out back when our parents dated," Aleida interrupts him coldly. "You'd make rude, sexist jokes, and I'd always get back at you."
"Aleida, we were kids! I'm not like that anymore. I'm here as your caring stepbrother-"
"We only played together a few times, so I hardly know you. I was never a child with your dumbass sadistic father around!" She kicks him in the nuts and he keels over while whimpering. "That's for him! You better not be takin' his side no more!" She's so mad and wants to scare him into not bailing out his father. "Don't you dare try to help your padre outta prison! How you know where I live, huh? You stalk me one night or somethin'?" She narrows her eyes at him.
Danny groans loudly and struggles to get himself upright again. "Trust me, I've cut him out of my life for good. He's a disgusting monster, I already knew what an asshole he was before he raped you. No, I never followed you home...your mom had me over when you weren't here one time and she made me remember the address in case I had to babysit Daya and there was nobody else available."
"Well, that's creepy as shit, but I didn't expect anything less from the cunt." Aleida scoffs. "I'm glad you ain't gonna associate with him no more."
"Of-of course not." Aleida smirks at how Danny seems to be afraid of her now. "He said I had people skills and my sister was the opposite, according to him. He was being totally sexist, and he hired me to manipulate women prisoners while he stayed behind the scenes...until I realized that's what I was doing. I quit being the warden of Litchfield. Uh...just go on my site, Dannytalkstruth dot com. It even mentions me being kicked out of Ohio University!"
"Wow, okay, then," Aleida responds. "We'll check it out."
"Fantastic! Also, he died in jail. Someone had a shiv and...yeah."
A feeling of relief spreads through her and she cackles and hi-fives Gloria, Leon, and Daya, who are just as happy. "For real? I ain't even sorry for your loss."
"Yep! See ya on the flip side."
They wave at each other and he closes the door behind him. "He don't seem that bad...I'm happy he's grown up now," Gloria comments.
"Yeah...and he was a good babysitter, too," Daya goes on. "He didn't molest me or nothin'."
"That's a relief," Aleida mutters. "At least he apologized, and his sadist papá is dead! Cesar was good for somethin', I guess."
"Mm-hm," Leon concurs and pulls Aleida in for a kiss before they all go to bed.
"Barb made me dance way too much last night at that Irish club," Shani reports to the girls Wednesday morning. "She wanted me to hook up with one of the gross men there, all between the ages of eighteen and twenty-two, and they were fawning all over me, but I hated every single second. My feet hurt, too. Even if they weren't pedophiles, I'm a lesbian! I'm not interested in guys!"
Nicky frowns and rubs Shani's back in soothing circles. "I'm so sorry, girl. She sucks! Ugh, I wish someone would get rid of her already, like your mother, Alex. Or the cop she's dating! A dude of the fuckin' law, by the way."
"Yeah, where are their parole officers?" Taystee asks.
Alex throws her hands in the air and lets them fall to her sides. "Hey, don't get snippy at me, take it up with her! My understanding is that she's afraid of Barb and Carol and she doesn't want us to get hurt, and since they haven't committed any crimes, they wouldn't get arrested again. Maybe they've been out of jail for too long to get random pop-ins by a PO."
"Forcing you to be ground on by horny fratboys who are eighteen and older, is definitely a good way to get arrested, Shani, that's like Barb's the madam of a brothel and she's pimping you out," Karla points out. "Was Diane there?"
"No, otherwise she would've stopped it," Shani responds. "I'm gonna tell her what happened."
"Good," they murmur in unison.
"What I would've given to be in your place, Shani," Lorna sighs.
"Ew! Really?!" Shani appears to be horrified. "They'd be too old for us all! We're minors!"
"I ain't sayin' I wanna be a slut, but I really miss dick, ya know? Vinny, especially. I wish I hadn't freaked on him the way I did."
"You wanna try talking to him, getting together again?" Nicky asks.
"Oooh, that would be so romantic!" Flaca exclaims.
"Mm-hm, maybe it would help you move on from Nicky," Maritza comments.
Nicky gives her an incredulous look. "I'm right here! Too awkward, kiddo."
"What? I'm just saying what everyone's thinking," Maritza states. "Anyway...what do you think, Lorna?"
"I don't know if he'll take me back, honestly," Lorna mumbles. "I totally fucked up."
"Come on, we all get loca sometimes," Daya insists. "He should be able to comprehend that you were in a bad mental state at the time and your jealousy took over. Start with a clean slate."
"I'm not entirely sure what to say. I can barely remember our last interaction, it was so long ago." Lorna gestures toward Nicky and Shani. "You can do whatever you want in front of me, like hold hands or hug, and you can make out when I'm not around...I move on fast, don't worry about me."
"Are you sure?" Nicky wonders aloud.
Lorna nods her head yes. "Positive. I'm sure Shani's much better in bed than me and doesn't need you to use a dumb jockstrap to make her think she's doin' cock."
Shani raises her eyebrow as the others except Lorna cackle loudly. "You mean a strap-on, Lorna. Seriously, that's what you were thinking the whole time we were together?" Nicky asks as their friends calm down.
"Not exactly, just a few moments where I thought of asking you to wear one, but I chickened out because I didn't want to hurt your feelings!" Lorna explains.
"Well, ain't you sweet!" Nicky gives her a genuine smile. "Yeah, it would've just been weird. Some lesbians do it with one, like Boo, but it's not really my thing."
"Same," Poussey and Shani agree.
"So, I have a confession to make, too," Karla announces. "I'm actually twenty, not seventeen. I just thought y'all should know."
"Why did you say you were younger?" Blanca asks her.
"Yeah, and you go to our school, too...shouldn't you be in college?" Allison wants to know.
"I'm a super-senior and am retaking many courses because I missed a lot of school while I lived in El Salvador," Karla explains. "When I first came here, I never told anyone except Blanca and Diablo my fake age, because they were there when Carol asked me at the American Dream Diner. We ate there for breakfast one morning and Carol barged in on us. I wanted her to think I was a minor since I caught strange vibes from her and thought maybe she wouldn't bother kids. Wow, was I wrong! Sorry about continuing on with the lie and pretending I was seventeen. I don't know why I did that."
"Well, it's too late to tell her the truth, obviously. You don't even need to, but I'm glad you let us know," Alex says.
"Welcome to the I'm older but everyone thought I was younger club," Maritza tells Karla. "I'm actually seventeen, but when my crew first met me, they all believed I was fourteen, since I said I was. I even act that age and...it's a long story, but I'm fourteen in my heart. Who cares what my birth certificate says?"
"I feel the exact same way," Karla murmurs.
Daya heads behind the school to meet Adarsh at lunchtime. "Oh, Mr. McCurry, you make me so hot, your penis is like fire in my mouth!" she overhears Angie shouting, and then the other meth heads, Loretta and Leanne, jump up and down like they're three years old. Adarsh is attempting to walk away from them, but Angie grabs his crotch roughly. This causes Daya to walk faster toward the scene. She can't find her voice because she herself, is also scared of the meth heads, but she wants to save Adarsh.
"Stop it!" he yells at her while turning away, and Daya can see that terror is overtaking his face. "Would you just leave me alone? I don't want any part of you!"
Angie's expression hardens. "Excuse me, Samosa? I'll fuckin' throw you in the shit box! You know you desire me with every fiber of your Indian being!"
"I don't!" Adarsh scowls at her.
"Yeah you do! Fasting only refers to food, Ghandi, not sex!" Angie whines. She yanks a scalpel out of her belt and aims it at his neck, and he raises his arms while stepping a few feet back. "Bet you ain't gonna tell me no anymore!"
"Hey, you better stay away from him, bitch!" Daya growls as she gets in between them. She grabs Angie's weapon and throws it into a nearby trash can despite really wanting to cut Angie with it instead. Adarsh backs up against a wall. "I don't wanna see your hands on him or hear you calling him racist names again, you got that?"
"Whatcha gonna do about it, preggers?" Angie asks tauntingly. She, Leanne, and the third member of their group, Loretta Smith, just snicker in Daya's face.
"We also want his finger since Leanne's got shot off in a freak accident 'cause of Pennsatucky!" Loretta puts in.
"See, pretty gruesome, huh?" Leanne shows Daya her hand which has bloody gauze wrapped around one of her fingers.
Daya looks away quickly. "Ugh, you probably deserved it. Here's the deal, you fuckin' white trash hos ain't gettin' anywhere near him, otherwise I'll tell Mr. and Mrs. Taylor what their daughter and her best friends like to do in their spare time, and it ain't gonna be practicing Amish faith or having sleepovers! So, if you wanna keep your drugs and secretly use them while working at Long John Silver's and coming to school, all without going straight to juvy, I suggest you leave Adarsh the fuck alone. Are we clear on that?" Daya glares at Angie and doesn't let any of them react to her threat. "Good."
Angie sneers. "That's gonna be a little tough to do, considering that I fucked him and he liked it. He's just playing hard to get right now, ain't you, Apu?"
Adarsh pales behind them, his brows draw together and he clenches his teeth. "No, I'm not!" His eyes travel to Daya and he points at Angie. "She...she raped me!"
Daya gasps sharply and yanks Angie down to her level by her hair. "You're such a cunt! Your days are numbered!"
"Ow! That hurts! He punched me in the nose, too, see?" Angie gestures to her bloody nose.
"You're a liar, too! Everyone knows Pennsatucky did that because you were being a bitch to her!" Daya smashes her fist hard into Angie's neck.
Leanne grins creepily so Daya can see her rotten, yellow, snaggly teeth. "It's an eye for an eye! Pennsatucky blasted part of my finger off! We should actually kill her!"
"We'll get stoned first!" Loretta says, and the three drug addicts run away after what seems like a century.
Daya feels Adarsh hugging her, and she returns it. "Thank you, my lifesaver."
"You're welcome! I feel like...like committing murder and burning their bodies! How dare they torture you like that? She even brought a sharp object to school and attempted to hurt you real bad...again!"
Adarsh glances at Daya in concern. "I can't have you going to prison, even if it is for me!"
"I know, but I'd be extra careful not to get caught. We should report this! Diane's dating a good cop-"
"No, don't...please. Most people don't believe a guy can be raped by a girl, and then I would get blamed."
Daya gazes deep into his eyes. "I believe you, our crew will, and my mom and her friends would make sure that slut gets busted! We take this shit seriously, and nobody likes Angie or Leanne, okay? Please, Adarsh...you gotta trust that I'mma make this right. She can't get away with this!"
"She will, though! That's just how it is...and Leanne's parents think of Angie like their own kid, so if this ever gets out, they'll crucify me if the judge doesn't!" Both of them are close to crying now.
"Look, I was raped, too...by that sadist who was assaulting me before you saved me. It's difficult to talk about, so I can understand what you're going through. I respect you enough to not say anything until you're comfortable with sharing the story yourself. If you never do, that's okay...your choice, but Angie's gonna do it again and consider herself a winner!"
"I'm sorry you were also...violated. I really am. I'll prevent Angie from doing anything to me...I'll never fall for hers or Leanne's tricks again. I just didn't know them as well as I thought, but I'll protect myself next time."
Daya sighs sadly. "Okay...I'll be watchin' out for ya, though."
Adarsh's eyes twinkle as he beams down at her. "I got no problem with that!"
"So, can you tell me what happened, exactly?" Charles asks as he takes a seat across from Daya and Lourdes at the police station later that afternoon.
"The new principal, Mr. Hellman, the same officer who's supposed to be guarding our place did this to me! He's horrible...and then he brought over his buddy, Garza, or whoever, and Tamika Ward, Taystee's bitch friend, to join him in...you know, beating me. It happened in the office...the only witnesses were Linda Ferguson, the methheads, Leanne Taylor and Angie Rice, and the Nazi bitches, Jennifer and Helen, and they're about as useful as trying to scream over the sound of a rumbling train." Daya breaks off into sobs as she finishes her story and then she hides herself in Lourdes' comforting arms. "Hellman also is getting heroin through the school via cheese sold by Grace Grocer and it's in his breakfast burrito."
"Alright, thank you for giving me this information."
"You're welcome," Daya tells him, feeling the weight come off of her shoulders even more. She wants to tell Charles so badly about what Angie had done to Adarsh as well, but she doesn't need to, as Angie is now in juvie on drug possession charges. She was arrested when school was over for the day. It's better than nothing.
"Hola, Gloria," Maria greets her in a tired voice and sits up straighter. She waves off her card-playing partner and the girl leaves. Gloria takes her spot.
"Do you know that I despise you?" Gloria hisses. "What you did to those girls was despicable beyond belief, and all this time I thought Blanca and Daya were your best friends!"
"I told Daya I was sorry...the others haven't visited me..."
"I don't blame 'em," Gloria snaps.
"I've been trying to get better lately, though...my roommate Beth tried to drown me in a toilet-"
"Good!"
Maria ignores her. "After that, I've gotten on the right path...I'm even turning kinda religious."
Gloria scoffs. "Yeah fuckin' right. Your morals are so screwed up! I don't know what the hell is wrong with you, young lady, but if you dare to come around any of us ever again-" She stops herself, realizing that she's an adult and she can't threaten a child, even if it is a bitch as terrible as Maria. "Just don't go near your former crew, got it? They hate you as much as I and the rest of their mamas do."
"You think you're so perfect, right? Calling me out on my bullshit while you can't even face your own? You gave up on your daughters when you were a teenager, remember? You're a lousy mother, you puta!" She spits at Gloria who quickly recoils, exclaiming with disgust. Maria glares at her, her eyes narrowed into slits. "¡Vete al infierno con el diablo...and I don't mean Blanca's novio!"
Go to hell with the devil!
"Excuse me?" Gloria's temper flares once more and she wants to punch Maria right out of the chair, but she's aware that she can't. "I could say the same for you, considering what you put the girls through! I made a mistake. You did all of that on purpose!"
"You're weak, too. You let your sons around an abuser and you didn't leave him to protect them!"
"I'm not a perfect mother, okay? I'm not even the best human in the world. I'm trying to fix things! You let Pepa get away with everything! You always hold her instead of putting her down...and she's gonna grow up to be spoiled if you give her whatever she wants."
"At least I'm there for my baby girl, cabrona! You know what, if we was the same age, I'd fucking fight you!" Maria gets to her feet and storms off angrily.
"Yo, what's the plan again?" Flaca wants to know.
"Well, don't ruin the surprise for Lorna...but I'm going to help her reunite with Vince," Nicky answers. "I'll message him on Facebook...suggest he just be her buddy first, and then see where things go."
"It sounds random...have you ever spoken to the guy before?" Karla wonders aloud.
"No, so of course, I'll kinda make friends with him myself before jumping into the topic of Lorna. He should know that there is a whole other side to her that he's been missing. He's never seen her on meds. Plus, I think he's got a bit of crazy in him, too. I mean, who the hell writes letters to girls in juvie without even knowing what they've done?"
"He does that?" Blanca asks.
"Yep, which is why I think he and Lorna may have a chance. He could have a better understanding of bad girls now and why they screw up at times."
Shani kisses Nicky's cheek and squeezes her hand. "I hope this idea of yours works, babe."
"Me too!" Nicky says with a grin.
Maritza, Allison, Taystee, and Poussey soon come into Friendly's. "Hey, Barb and her lackeys aren't here!" Taystee notices aloud.
"Yeah, that's a good sign, ain't it?" Maritza asks rhetorically.
"Mm-hm, that means you can tell Diane what happened," Allison lets Shani know.
"Okay, I will!"
"You go, girl!" Poussey encourages her.
"She's in the backroom," Alex informs her.
"I'm heading there now!" Shani says eagerly.
Thank you for reading and reviewing, VeraRose19 and Juliette45!
