ACT III: Where we follow the ongoing preparations of the Conpany, and the Club; two old friends meet; and in a final theatrical scene, errors are made and chaos ensues.
Scene I
Teatro Nuovo
"One, two, three… one, two… can you hear me from there?"
Clang, stomp… "ouch!" - furniture being moved.
The Lady King's Women were hard at work.
Their first performance would be Romeo and Juliet?; they'd repeat it for a couple of nights, and leave their dope original comedy for the 14th, Valentine's Day.
Bzzz… BZZZZZZZ… "Turn off that darn microphone!"
Daya and Maria were setting the backdrops, Gina was doing a last check on lights and sounds, and a few others were busy repeating their lines.
"What do you think?" Gloria asked, looking at the hustle and bustle all around them.
Boo and Yoga passed them by, carrying a large waterbed; they accidentally bumped into Janae, who turned with a scary expression.
"I am deeply sorry, my fair maiden," Boo stopped to say. "I would be happy to show you how much, and make of this offending object my accomplice in the sweet task."
Janae made a face, and Jones tugged at the waterbed. "Come Boo, the maiden passes this time," and they went on.
"Everything seems to proceed regularly," Red answered her colleague.
"Volume's OK now!" Nicky yelled to Gina.
On some seats in the first rows, some other women were discussing.
"I have compiled a comprehensive list of the material needed at each location," Brook handed a sheet to Judy King.
"Yes, and Gina and Nicky said they already found good spots for the loudspeakers and all their sh… equipment," Taystee added.
The previous day the company had visited the medieval center and sites of the Shakespearean tragedy – the Capulet's House with the balcony, Romeo's residence, and Juliet's tomb of course; they would set a very special series of events there.
"A'right girls. We gotta plan this very well," their patron stressed and gave the papers to Poussey, as the others assented. "The round table was a success, we gotta ride the wave!"
Things had been going well for them in New York and around the State, but this was next level and it had the potential to really make or break them. Their first tour outside the US. They had several dates in festivals and theaters after this, in Venice, then Milan, France, Germany, and the Netherlands.
The favorable welcome they had received the other day seemed auspicious, but they had to stay focused and keep up the good work on marketing and PR, too.
Judy's friend Bill and Tamika were working on that remotely, from home, but some of the company members were onto it there, too.
"What did the Mayor's Office say?" Alison asked, glancing at Maritza's computer from where, with a quick keyboard trick, a window immediately disappeared.
She rolled her eyes.
"He probably won't make it, got lots of prior commitments, yadda yadda" Maritza answered, retrieving the email.
"Right. Fears his party will stone him if he gets too friendly with people like us maybe," Alison shook her head.
"Mh-m," made Maritza noncommittally, clicking away.
The other crossed her arms. "Were you still checking the likes?"
"What? No!" she denied straight away. Of course she had not been doing that again, she had checked the reactions to their round table posts just ten minutes ago. The African-American woman stared at her. Only, well... "Just the most prominent and active profiles who engaged with us, to see how we can get more visibility," she reasoned.
Alison was still unconvinced, but let it go. "Fine!," she conceded. "I'm taking a break."
"A'right."
Maritza waited a minute, then went back to the job.
She had noticed several clapping hands, biceps and hugging emojis from the same nickname under their photos and short videos of the other night, and a simple click brought her to the Facebook account of a cute familiar face, which made her smile; there wasn't much that wasn't private though, darn.
After a moment of thought the Latina typed something else on the keys, and went on with her quest.
Scene II
Juliet Club
Pat.
Pat-pat.
Pat-pat-pat.
TUM!
"Oh! Norma!" Flaca almost fell from her chair. The older woman had been insistently patting on her shoulders for several moments now, and in the end had to hit her on her head with the roll of papers to catch her attention.
She had been lost in contemplation of the tickets on her desk, which she scurried to put away.
"Sì?" she asked.
Norma motioned to the clock, and gave her the papers. Right, it was almost time.
Piper was nowhere to be seen, having gone out, again, with a droopy smile and texting at inhuman speed, her nose buried in the phone.
"OK, okay," Flaca reassured her. She was basically ready.
That day was a very important one for the Club; they had skipped uni and been preparing since the morning, but just before lunch some unexpected visitors had come.
Maritza and her colleague Daya had passed by to leave some free tickets for their play, "so we can keep on helping each other out mh?" she had said, referring to how they'd started mutually following each other and adding links on their various social media accounts - well, the Conpany's and the Club's, which Flaca had helped restyle (they'd also become friends on their personal profiles, but that didn't need to be addressed right now).
"Mh? Help each other out?" Cindy perked up, finding the wording and her friend's face extremely entertaining.
Daya's pout morphed to a smirk too, from where she was standing by some letter quotes in frames on the wall.
Flaca's cheeks warmed up.
"We're talking marketing here," Maritza pursed her lips.
"A'right," Cindy faked going back to her task.
The tall Latina stood up. "You want to have a look around?" she offered.
"Yes!" Maritza lit up.
"And you, Daya?" Flaca asked.
"I'm good, thanks," she waved off, and sent her friend a you-owe-me glance.
Maritza glared at her, and turned to hook arms with Flaca. "Show me everything," she smiled.
They left for a tour of the other small rooms, leaving behind a smirking Daya and a Cindy about to burst into laughter.
"Everything, mh?" she jibed. "Sister, you gotta tell me what the heck this was now."
.
.
.
"Were you still checking the hotness of the little jalapeño in that dirty mind of yours?" Cindy asked.
"Don't know what you're talking about," Flaca replied aloof, collecting her documents. "Ain't you gotta prepare too anyway?"
"I got all my shit ready, don't fret."
"Girls!" Piper entered the room. "They are here."
And so they were.
Two of the three winners of their "Cara Giulietta" contest had arrived. They would be officially awarded their prize on Valentine's in a public ceremony, but before that there was some welcoming and buttering up to do; their president Mr Caputo had already greeted them warmly, now it was their turn to play the gracious hostesses and make sure they enjoyed their stay in town.
Some chaos ensued, as several people appeared following Piper's lead.
"So this is our -"
"Hello, good afternoon. Good afternoon, it's a pleasure to meet you," a black woman started shaking hands back and forth, with serious intent and energy.
"...Suzanne Warren," Piper concluded.
An older white woman with ice blue eyes, a blonde and a young man were there too.
"I'm Sue. Oh, it's short for Suzie which is short for Suzanne," she explained wringing her hands, then closing them in fists and forcing them by her sides. "As Miss Chapman said," she nodded with a toothy grin.
"It's… great to meet you Suzanne," Cindy replied.
"Yes, we loved your letter," Flaca added.
She colored up. "Thank you."
"Well, and this is…" Piper started again.
"Oh yes! This is my mom Pam, and this is my sister Grace, and this is her fiancée Brad," Suzanne explained.
"Hello dears," Pam glowed at them all.
So this was the famous family. Suzanne Warren had written a passionate, wacky, unique letter full of metaphors and hidden quotations from the midst of which one thing shined bright: the incredible love that must bind these people.
One glance at them now was enough to testify to it: the warmth just seeped from them if they looked at each other, seemed to become tangible and visible whenever they inadvertently touched a familiar arm, or rested on a beloved shoulder.
"So these are two more of our volunteers," Piper continued.
"Cindy here," the African-American boomed, and they shook hands again.
"And I'm Flaca," the other added.
That made Suzanne pause and frown. "Is that a real name?"
"Suzanne," Grace whispered.
"Oh. Sorry!" and she greeted her again.
"It's Marisol, but, yeah," Flaca admitted.
"Oh, okay."
"Excellent!" Piper cheered. "So, Cindy will show you around."
Suzanne turned to her expectantly.
"A'right Warren family! Let's go, shall we? Bye guys," and off they went.
.
Exeunt Cindy, Brad, and the Warrens
.
"Oh fuck," Flaca muttered, and dropped on a chair.
"Ssh!" Piper admonished, looking around. "But, yeah, that's an accurate summary."
They enjoyed the silence for a second.
"Hey, what'd you do yesterday when you disappe…"
"Your guest was still with Mr Caputo and Anita by the way," Piper interrupted, and the other's eyebrows shot up.
Flaca was the one who had written the reply and so, among the group of 'Juliet's secretaries', she had been the one assigned to that case.
"Oh, that's fine."
"Girls!" the door burst open again.
It was Lorna.
"I'm not late, am I? I was afraid I was. ... he's not gone already?" she started to panic.
"No Lorna, he's coming a bit later," Piper reassured her.
"Ah! Good."
It was unnecessary to ask what had taken her so long, as she was clearly more dolled up than usual: freshly done hair, shiny makeup and a knit-trimmed denim dress that would have been more appropriate for the summer than February weather.
"It suits you," Flaca complimented.
"Why, thank you!" Lorna beamed, touching up on her hair.
"Yes, well, the neckline is on the low side but…" Piper said.
"Oh, it's nothing you didn't see on your new friend last night I'm sure," the half Italian answered nonplussed.
"What…! Lorna!" Piper gasped - but it's not as if she had a better comeback for that.
"Prego, prego…" they could hear from the corridor. "Ecco qua! Ragazze… Bianca e Dario," DeMarco materialized with their other guests. "Bye, bye," she nodded awkwardly and left them to it, 'cause she knew zero English.
To a stranger, the appearance of the couple might have been startling: the man could have easily crashed them with a single hand, and worrying tattoos emerged from his clothes; but somehow the woman looked fiercer still with her dark wild animal eyes, slight frame notwithstanding.
Yet, well, they knew better, as they'd read about the couple's beautiful story: their struggles in a new country, their meeting, the unjust imprisonment of Blanca and her release, how both had almost been deported but then managed to become US citizens and were now considering the next steps together.
"It is such a pleasure to meet you," Piper spoke.
"Your story was so romantic!" Lorna sighed.
"It is great that you could both come," Flaca told them sincerely.
"Thank you. Mi Diablo y yo, we're so happy to be here."
"Yeah," he confirmed with his kind smile, "it's our first trip away juntos." They exchanged a warm glance.
"We're getting hitched in Venice in two weeks!" Blanca grinned excitedly.
"What, during the Carnival! This is so awesome!" Flaca exclaimed.
"He asked yesterday, under Juliet's balcony," the new fiancée disclosed.
"It's going to be kind of a fake Sicilian marriage, but anyway," Diablo added. "We found some people to do this as a group."
"Yes, U spusalizio, I've heard of those! How interesting!" Piper assented.
"Oh Mr Diablo, you are the most chivalrous man. Congratulations, both of you!" Lorna was ecstatic.
When more pleasantries were out of the way, Flaca went with her charges for their little tour and to talk about the ceremony; while leaving she caught a glimpse of Lorna who was studying her face in a pocket mirror, again, and exchanged a nod with Piper. Someone had to keep watch over her.
.
Exeunt Flaca, Blanca, and Diablo
.
Not two minutes later, the brunette was in a frenzy of papers tidying, blush touching up, time checking, and aimless moving left and right.
Piper was starting to get dizzy.
"Lorna, could you -"
But luckily there was no chance for things to escalate, as in that moment on the small room's door, which Diablo had unknowingly closed behind him, a knock-knock was heard.
"Sì?" Lorna's high-pitched voice squeaked.
"Hello…"
Two men came in. One large, sumo-wrestler like and the other smaller, nervous-looking, overly elegant; it wasn't hard to understand which had to be Vincent Muccio.
Time stood still as his eyes passed over the blonde's, crossed the brunette's, and stopped.
He was wearing a black tuxedo, with a white crisp shirt underneath, a crimson red vest and matching bow tie and pocket square. Vinnie looked soft and strong at the same time; he was so handsome.
She must be Lorna, the one who had answered the letter; he could tell immediately. With her lovely dress and hopeful smile, bathed in the sunlight coming in from the nearby window, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
Birdsongs, unseasonly as they'd be, seemed to drift in from the back alley.
Piper and the sumo wrestler exchanged a glance; their friends may be lost in a world of their own, but for them this prolonged heavily charged silence was getting awkward.
The letter-writers made to take a step towards each other -
"So!" Piper chirped. "You must be Vincent."
… and thus the bubble was burst.
Chapman took charge and proper introductions were made; and then, though reluctant to let those two go, she had to greet them, for many other preparations for the ceremony awaited her attention. But not before striking a silent agreement with sumo-guy once more – his thoughts must be aligned with hers in slight concern for his friend, for he nodded significantly and followed Vinnie and Lorna, evidently resigned to playing chaperone.
Scene III
On the streets, and at the store
"Soso was starting to grate on my nerves," Boo complained to Nicky.
"I didn't wanna say it, but yeah, when she plays director she can get really annoying."
Any mishap made the Scottish-Japanese really fastidious, and there were usually plenty during rehearsals.
"Hopefully her girl P will help her chill," added Maritza.
"Yeah," Daya nodded. "Hell I needed some time off from Aleida too."
Finally, their destination. Nicky had found the place on Google Maps, and they'd easily walked there from the theater after being left off the hook, their scenes done for the day.
"Buongiorno... Hello," she greeted as they entered, after a peep from the shop windows. "Anyone here?"
"Comin'!" a voice was heard from the back.
"What a fine establishment," Boo nodded approvingly.
Daya was instantly drawn to a cookie display, and Maritza starting studying the bottles of shampoo and body wash on a shelf.
"Here I am," a young man appeared from the back door.
"Hi," started Nicky... but then immediately stopped. Another figure had peeked out from behind the black guy – incredibly enough, a very familiar figure.
"Oh my God," Alex murmured.
"Hooly 2008 US women's soccer team... am I stoned already?" Nicky was thunderstruck, and made to sniff around. "Is there something in the air here?"
Alex laughed. "It's really you. Nicky Nichols!"
"Hell... Vause?"
"C'mere!" she gestured, and they hugged.
The other women snooped interested, as well as Martin and Fahri, who had just come out of the back office too.
Cough cough - Boo cleared her throat.
"Nichols, care to introduce your charming friend to us?"
"Aye, aye," Nicky condescended. "Ladies, and Boo. This tall beauty is Alex Vause. We met in another life, when I was on a path of rebellion and self-destruction, to which she occasionally provided."
"Ooh, you mean she -" Maritza cried.
"Yes," Nicky said curtly, with an eloquent glance. "Well, alas, all that's in the past."
Alex smiled. "You are well. Turned a new leaf mh?"
"That I have. A few years in the loving care of the State and a great bunch of hard-ass women made certain I did," she explained.
"Ouch. I see. All's well that ends well though, I'm glad."
"Ah, a woman by our own hearts," Boo sighed.
"So, what brings you here, to fair Verona?" asked Nicky.
And thus it was that the two old friends got acquainted once more.
Nicky talked of the company and her girl and newfound family, and Alex recounted of how she too had left her former ways and started a new cleaner life, also thanks to Fahri's support.
"Y'know, I didn't think I'd ever see the day you'd tie your existence to a man. No offense, you must be a great guy," Nicky backtracked.
Fahri laughed. "None taken. I don't think I will either," he admitted.
"Yeah, we're just business buddies, and well, buddies," Alex explained amused.
"Aah, now I recognize you."
"So," Boo saw her chance there, "is there a lucky Mrs Vause somewhere?"
Daya and Maritza shook their heads, but Alex chuckled good-humoredly.
"There may be one in the making. How I wish we didn't have adjoining rooms," Fahri lamented.
"Oh, shush!" his partner warned.
"I understand," Boo accepted her fate philosophically. "Still, if it doesn't turn out well for you, remember there's some fish here who'd happily swim in your sea."
Scene IV
Around town
"Move! We're losing the blanquitas!"
"It's the darn cobblestones! They're happier alone anyway," Maritza indicated, spotting Nicky and Shani walking super close, now far ahead.
"If you hadn't put on 7-inch heels maybe," Daya suggested.
Maritza huffed.
"You hoping to climb a beanstalk with them, mh?" Maria laughed. Daya had asked her to come too and explained, 'cause she didn't wanna fifth-wheel the whole evening, thank you very much.
"Shut up! I'm a woman and we don't let ourselves go. Left or right now?" they'd officially lost their colleagues. "Why don't they have straight streets!"
"This is Europe, chica. Left I think," Maria was focused on her phone.
"...Aww, check that."
They'd walked up the street, through a passage under a tower, and ended up on a stone arch bridge, Ponte Pietra; the waters below calm on one side and gushing on rocks on the other, the rushing sound adding to the scene – in the middle stood Nicky and Shani, leaning against the parapet.
The castle where they were headed overlooked them on the hill on the opposite bank, the moon above them was almost full, and they were kissing.
"Who knew Nicky'd be this romantic," Maria was perplexed.
"Love makes people do weird things," Maritza commented.
Daya fleered.
"Hey, stop it! Let's go." And they proceeded to ruin the moment.
XXX
Up at Castel San Pietro
The Warrens had just left. They'd met for dinner, since it would get too late for Suzanne's sleeping habits otherwise.
"It was fun though, she's a trip. And they offered," Cindy added, noisily sucking up her mojito through the straw.
"What? You were supposed to be the host!" Flaca exclaimed.
"They insisted! Didn't wanna be rude y'know." Her friend stared. "Plus, it's less expenses for the Club."
"Mh."
They went on sipping. Of the remaining guests they had to entertain for the evening, Vinnie had arrived early and was already deep in conversation with Lorna, and Flaca's charges had yet to make an appearance.
She had also invited a certain someone from the Conpany, "just to make them see the sights!" she had explained to a mocking Cindy - "Yeah, I got an idea which sights you talking about sis." Well that was just slander; and anyway Piper had brought along Elvira too, so what. It was called being friendly.
XXX
Later on in the evening...
Some very friendly socializing was going on.
Lorna and Vinnie, Nicky and Shani were all huddled up in pairs - "It was cold!" enjoying the view from above: of the nearby hills to the right, the Alps on the background, and the city below them, the Roman theater and the dark U-shape of the river where warm yellow lights from bridges and buildings were reflected, the many bell towers peppering the center – and one could imagine the imposing round shape of the Arena, or the strange fortified brick and marble Castelvecchio Bridge, where the horizon opened to the south-west plain.
Inside, others were chatting, drinking, and dancing.
"I get why you wanted company," Maria said.
"Yeah, imagine being alone with those two," Daya snickered. They were gossiping, openly watching their colleague and her new… friend; not that they would notice anything right now anyway.
"I wanna live here!" Maritza grabbed another free bite of pizza Margherita from the counter, making Flaca laugh. "Come!" she took her hand and dragged the taller, black-clad woman back to dancing.
"We match," she realized just now.
"What?"
"I said we match!" Flaca repeated, bending slightly to get closer and gesturing at the other's short onyx dress and leather jacket, and her own skin-tight dark jeans and lace shirt.
"We sure do," Maritza replied, circling her neck with her arms.
"They getting pretty cozy mh," Cindy observed.
"Looks like it," Alex nodded; she had been introduced earlier on, and now that Piper was busy with her brother she was chilling with her friends. She couldn't wait to get cozy with the blonde herself, so tempting all lively and rosy-cheeked from the heat in the room and the wine - maybe for something else too, Alex mused meeting her ogling gaze.
Their lips automatically lifted at the corners when regarding each other.
Mh, thought Cal. Is that what had her 'terribly engaged, I'm so sorry!' these days?
But there appeared to be loads of good potential for love around tonight, from several people there; he absentmindedly patted his keychain.
"Keep an eye on Goodall for a sec, gotta go to the ladies'," Neri told her husband. They had been there for dinner, crossed Pipes by chance, but now the time had really come for them - and their offspring - to leave.
"Yeah, sure," he said.
.
Exit Neri
.
He scratched his little one's hair, G was more of a handful than usual when tired. She leaned her forehead against his legs, clutching his trousers.
"So you don't know how long you're staying?" Piper asked.
"Nope! A few more days for sure," Cal still had no inkling on the job he was supposed to do here. Everything was going pretty well from all the flirting he'd witnessed just that night.
"Two Proseccos, please."
"E altri due per me."
Vinnie and Nicky, ever the gentlemen, had offered their ladies to get refills; they were still on the terrace, talking.
Blanca and Diablo were having their own fun moving to the music, stuck up close and grinning, alive with the undercurrent between them.
"Hey, where's Goodall?"
"Mh?" At that Piper quit her staring contest with Alex. "You were saying?"
Cal checked left and right, worried. "Darn, she was here like two seconds ago!"
His sister, now fully present, started turning too.
"She was! I just had in my peripheral vision and…"
"Did you?" Cal's brows rose.
"I'm sorry, isn't she your daughter?"
He got on casting about through heads and limbs; "OK, okay! Let's just find her before Neri comes back."
"Oh, yes," Piper got a tad paler at her in-law's mention too; she quickly stood up from her stool - ouch! a splinter or something -, ready for action.
Insensitive to their rising panic, most of the present were just continuing enjoying their night.
Diablo had his hands on Blanca's moving hips and she was stroking his biceps.
Vinnie and Nicky had asked for a tray for their flutes, and Daya and Maria had joined in the dancing.
"Aww Flac, did you just pinch my ass?" Maritza bit her lip teasingly. "There's still kids around y'know."
"What?" Flaca's eyes widened. "NO!"
Maritza's narrowed. "No?"
"No, I swear! I'd never -"
"Oh. I see," the smaller woman frowned. "I'm sorry it's so hideous to you."
"Wha… No! I love i… I, I mean I'd really like…" she fumbled, "I mean, but with all the people -"
"Yeah, yeah. Maybe you'd prefer to go back to that flat-ass bartender chick from before mh?" she accused.
"Wait, I don't know what you're talking abo…"
"I saw you get that drink all smiley y'know."
"But… I was being polite, y'know common human courtesy!" Flaca protested.
"Oh 'cause I don't know what polite is right," Maritza fired back.
A few feet away, Piper and Cal were now frantic.
Alex saw that and left Cindy near the Latinas, to approach her blonde companion.
"Hey Pipes, what's up?" she gently touched her shoulder.
"What?" Piper jerked back.
"You're distressed, what happened?"
"Oh really, distressed…" Piper snapped. "How kind of you to notice, between a chat with your new friendsand a wink at some bimbo."
Alex was puzzled. "What are you saying?" and following her gaze she saw the tiny Latina who'd been flirting up the giant, but now they seemed to be arguing as well.
"Please, so not my type," she stated firmly and recalled, "I just had something in my eye."
"Yes, sure. Listen I don't have time for this," and Piper left her there to go back to searching for her niece.
Outside the night was calm, and Lorna and Shani and other people here and there were breathing in the crisp air.
"Ow! Was that a mosquito?"
"A mosquito? It's not possible," Lorna reflected, "it's not the right season."
"What's taking them so long?"
"No idea. Let's get back in mh? It's too cold anyway."
"Yes," Shani assented. "Let's… hey, what's that?" she pointed out.
"Ooh! Sweetie!" exclaimed Lorna.
They entered the room, Shani holding one of Goodall's hands - she was clutching a fiery looking huntress doll in the other.
"Grazie," Vinnie was saying to the bartender, who had just handed him the tray. "Tiffany," he saw from her nametag and half smiled.
She smiled back, revealing perfect white shiny teeth.
But what Lorna saw was red.
"It's like this, then?" she was in his face in a moment, fuming. "I was all waiting out and… so stupid."
"Lorna, what…" Vinnie frowned.
"Well you know what, enjoy your evening, you two," she took one of the glasses and threw its content on his face and shirt, and stormed off.
.
Exit Lorna
.
He was stunned.
"Wow. Temperamental girlfriend ah?" Tiffany asked, handing him a napkin.
"I… I honestly have no idea," he gaped, taking it without thinking.
Meanwhile, Shani had brought the child back to her father.
"OMG, thank you so much," he was so relieved. "What were you doing little scoundrel?" and he hugged her tight.
"Nothing," she was the portrait of innocence.
Just then Neri returned from the toilet.
"Sorry there was a queue. Everything fine here?"
Cal and Piper exchanged a glance. "Sure! We ready to go?"
"Yes, it's kinda late for us, right G?" she picked up her daughter.
"OK, Pipes…" Cal prepared to go, patted on his pocket, patted again, felt for something… an absence. His lids flashed down - oh, the keychain had fallen by his feet. How come? He frowned. He'd have to buy a new more secure one. "We'll meet tomorrow or the day after, right?"
"Excellent!" she confirmed. "Have a good night family."
.
Exeunt Cal, Neri, and Goodall
.
Piper zoomed back from the trio to Alex; she was standing by the counter, with Nichols.
"One minute we were alright, then she went to talk to her brother, and I got there when she looked distraught, and she went batshit," Alex vented.
"Y'know how women are, gotta love 'em, but they can sure drive you crazy," Nicky touched her arm in support.
"So this is what had you busy mh?" Shani's voice put a smile on Nicky's face.
"Hey babe. I was tryin' to cheer up Vause here, her girl's a weird one."
"I wonder why. Maybe she doesn't appreciate your cheering up, knowing your history," Shani replied drily.
"What?" Nicky was sincerely surprised. "Don't be irrational, I told you it just happened once, ages ago." Alex gasped incredulous, and Nicky shrugged. She didn't like hiding secrets from her girlfriend, and besides, they could talk about everything.
"What happened just once?" Piper intervened; she had gotten nearer and caught only the last part of the conversation.
"Oh hell," Alex whispered, meeting Nicky's eyes briefly.
The latter opened her mouth to damage control, but Piper prevented it.
"Ah-ah, I see how it is! You just couldn't keep it in your pants for ten minutes?" she was already off on a tangent. "First that Hispanic doll, now Nichols..."
Alex laughed, shocked. "What are you saying Pipes?"
"It's Piper! Don't patronize me."
"Er, listen Chapman," Nicky started, "it's all a misunderstanding. Stretch here was just sayin' -"
"Don't make it worse Nichols. I know of your reputation," Piper went to speak to the Egyptian girl at her side, "sorry Shani, no offense."
"None taken, she did have a reputation," Shani said, then frowned. "I thought it was all in the past though."
"And it is!" Nicky claimed. "You know that since I met you – ouch! You okay Vause?" she held up Alex, who had practically fallen into her, pushed from behind; she turned: it was Maritza, striding to the other side of the room, Flaca on her heels.
"OMG you're literally falling into her arms, and checking out someone else at the same time," Piper shook her head. "I'm so done."
Shani regarded her. "Yes, me too."
"What..."
"Wait!"
"Enjoy your evening," Piper cut them off, Shani glowered at Nicky sternly, and in a flash they were leaving.
"Unholy Land, sorry pal, gotta go," Nicky blindly patted Alex's back, and was quick to follow the women scorned.
.
Exeunt Piper, Shani, and Nicky
.
Alex stood frozen for a minute, still bewildered. She didn't get it; why did she always have to fall for the crazy girl?
She sat down on a stool, next to that guy she'd met a couple of hours before, when the night had seemed so young and promising – Vin something. When had it all gone downhill? she wondered, and with a sigh took one of the glasses in front of him, and gulped it down.
Meanwhile Cindy, Daya, and Maria were chilling on the sofas, audience to the various scenes.
"Girls, I don't know what's happening tonight but it's hella interesting," Cindy munched on a cherry from her Mai Tai. First she'd seen Lorna leave in a rush, then Chapman and Cleopatra with her fellow Jew, and now...
"This is messier than one of our comedies," Maria agreed.
...now the little jalapeño was headed their way fierce-faced, Flaca chasing flustered.
"I'm leaving, give me my purse," Maritza demanded to Daya.
She raised an eyebrow, but complied.
"Mari," the tall Latina tried again.
"Don't 'Mari' me," she spit out.
"But -"
"Shut up now," she stabbed her chest repeatedly with her index, accusingly. "You've babbled enough."
If her friend had been a cartoon character smoke would have surely been coming out of her ears, Daya could just picture it in her mind.
Flaca's words and reasonings had been useless against the other's uncomprehensible assault. "Will you just..." she plead one last time.
Maritza only glared, "Bye," to her friends, and was off.
.
Exit Maritza
.
Daya and Maria looked at each other with some concern. Maritza had no sense of direction at her best, and now they knew she had drunk some and was all worked up; Aleida wouldn't be happy if they found her in a ditch tomorrow.
"Mh."
"Well, we've got an early day, and a lotta work tomorrow."
"Yes," they nodded.
"It's been a... pleasure and all, right?"
"Rright...?" Cindy said, interrogative.
"Yeah. Sorry Morticia," Maria patted Flaca's shoulder.
"OK..." she frowned.
"Bye girls! See you maybe," the last two Conpany members greeted, and they were on their way too.
.
Exeunt Daya and Maria
.
Amidst all this Blanca and Diablo had gone on with their own evening, oblivious to the rest of the world and their worries.
"Hey!" Blanca exclaimed, joining Cindy and Flaca in the corner where they'd switched to beers, trying to make sense of all that had occurred.
"We're having such fun! Thank you, really. It's been a great night girls."
