Divas Prison Ch13
"That can't be right"
"Are they sure about this?"
Both Paige and Becky were talking at once, not for the first time either, but at this point Natalya was expecting their reaction. It's also how she was feeling. She had been using her outside contacts to find out what was going on with a new girl who seemed to be getting treated better than anyone else. She had identified herself as Ashley, but according to the call Natalya had just placed, she was Charlotte Flair, and was the daughter of the Warden.
"There's no doubt about it from what I've been told, they've gone into it quite deep it seems, it went all the way to my Uncle Bret, who would never normally get involved with something for any family member in prison. If he agrees with it then it's got to be true."
"Wow" said Becky, still reeling, "No wonder she was trying to pass herself off under a fake name, if I was her, I wouldn't be wanting people to know who I am either."
"More than that, know we know why she's been getting the treatment she's been getting. Why she gets a cushy job in the offices, why I got handcuffed, cell confinement and nearly sent to the lock. They thought I was going to do something to her. You know what, now I want to, where is she?" Paige was getting herself worked up over this again, both the others noticed this and they made sure they were standing in the way before she stormed off looking for more trouble than she thought she wanted.
"You've got to be joking. You can't touch her now, she's way too plugged into the system. She gets one scratch on her, the warden will go crazy and take it out on all of us, plus you'll be a top suspect after what happened last time." Paige started to protest but Natalya didn't let her. "I know you didn't actually do anything before, but that isn't how they saw it and they'll remember it if anything else happens. Right now, they'll be looking for an excuse to get you out of here and into the lock, so don't give them the excuse, or the satisfaction."
"Ok ok, you're right." Paige held her hands up. "So we are just going to leave it? Do we keep calling her Ashley? Because I'm not sure I can do that."
Natalya smiled at her "I know you couldn't, but don't worry, you won't have to. I have been given the go ahead to use what we know to my advantage where possible, but without allowing anything to go public. Apparently there has been little press coverage of anything to do with her, it's part of why it took so long to get answers. If things get out and it's gets linked to the family, I'm in a lot of trouble. So no causing problems, and no violence, Paige."
"Hey, why just me? Why...what about...oh alright." Paige realised she hadn't got a defence to that and looked down.
Becky hadn't said much since finding out, partly because getting a word in wasn't easy while Paige was ranting and Nattie was trying to keep her calm, but partly because she really wasn't sure how she felt about any of it. "Please Paige, just let this go. Can't we just keep it between the three of us, if others on the block find out she could be in some real danger, I don't want to see any more violence, or any of us getting in more trouble." Paige stood back, remembering how upset Becky got at the idea of her challenge to Sasha Banks. It was enough to almost completely cool her temper completely. "I'm sorry Bex, I'm just frustrated. I promise that I won't get violent again, don't be upset with me." Becky smiled for the first time since the phone call, grabbing Paiges hand. "Thanks, I'm just looking out for you. What do you think Nattie, can we just let this go?" Natalya's expression didn't fill Becky with a lot of hope. "You're right that it would be a bad idea to let this get out, there are several people that wouldn't react in a way that would help anyone, not even themselves, and drag all of us down with them, but there are two people that we do need to talk to about this. One of them is Emma, because I'm not keeping this from her, you guys know secrets in the cell isn't a good idea right?" They both nodded in agreement, but neither of them making eye contact at this point. "And of course, we've got to tell our mystery guest herself. See what she's got to say for herself! Find out the truth. Maybe then we can start again, like you want to do Becky, but she's got to be honest with us this time. What do you think?" Becky nodded. "Of course, she can't keep lying to us, not now."
"Ok then, I'd say we confront her after breakfast tomorrow, being the weekend, she's not going to get called away to work and she will have the time to explain herself properly. That OK with you two?"
They all agreed the plan as they were all called back into the block. There was no more talk of it as Becky was called for a visitor and Paige went to her cell. Emma was around for a little while before dinner so Natalya took her back to their cell so she could talk to her in as much privacy as any of them could get. Emma was as startled as the rest of them but agreed to go along with everything that had been said, although she did ask them to delay the talk so she could get back from the kitchens before they confronted her. Natalya agreed on all their behalf. She wasn't sure how Paige would deal with the extra wait, but wasn't worried, she listened to her, and to Becky, most of the time.
Paige was lying on her bed, thinking about everything that had happened. She couldn't wait to see what Charlotte now had to say once she realised her secret was out. She had promised to keep her cool and that's what she was going to do, but was glad to be going to get answers to her questions. Becky returned to the cell from her visit, breaking her thoughts. "How was it?" She asked. "Great, same friend as always, I really enjoy hearing about what's going on outside these walls, lets my mind roam for just a little while."
"Sounds amazing, you probably needed that after all that today right?" Paige was still feeling bad after her reaction had upset Becky. "You're right there, who here would have expected a relative of the warden to be here? I can't understand it, there's so much I want to ask her."
"I thought you wanted to drop the whole thing?" Paige asked, surprised at what she thought was a turnaround in her feeling. "No, I just wanted to stop all the anger and the violence. That side of you has made some stupid calls in the few short months I've known you and I'm not going to let you do it again."
"Becky, I said I was sorry for that, what can I do to apologise?" Becky could tell by her tone how sorry she was. "I know you are, you don't need to do anything, let's just hear her out tomorrow and not overreact, or I'm going to take your coffee away." She said it in a near playful tone but Paige was still worried. No way was she losing her coffee. "Ok, let's not start talking crazy, do what you want to me, but leave my poor coffee alone." Becky couldn't help but laugh at how protective she got, in fact, it gave her a good idea for when Paige ever wound her up again.
The next morning the three of them met up straight away and had breakfast. Paige was a little put out when asked to wait for Emma but knew it wasn't fair to keep her out of it, plus she was a friend and Paige wanted to do this right. Charlotte, as they now knew her, came up to the table so hot hey quickly shifted the conversation. "Um, hi, can I sit and eat with you?"
"Hi Ashley, of course you can, you don't need to ask us." Becky smiled as Charlotte sat down and started eating. The conversation was kept as minor and light as possible while they waited for Emma to join them, which she did as quick as she can, to the relief of the others. "Hey guys, no complaints on the food I hope?"
"Course not, plus if there was, I'd complain about you, not to you." Paige grinned up at Emma, lucky not to get a utensil to the head if she was allowed to bring them out of the kitchen. She did however, get a slap on the arm from Becky. "Paige! Stop being so mean, remember what goes around comes around. Emma you must be exhausted, sit down here, scooch over cheeky." Becky shoved Paige over so they were sharing a seat as Emma took hers. They all tried to think of how to start things, what to say, nobody really wanting to be first, but Natalya was the first to step up. "Now Ashley, we all need to talk to you. Listen to me, I need you to not panic, freak out, even obviously react to what we have to say, ok?" Charlotte looked around the table and saw that all of them were looking her in the eye. She was really scared, finding it hard to meet their eyes but nodded her head.
Natalya continued "Right, simply put, we know who you are, Charlotte." This made her bolt upright, now looking beyond terrified of what might be about to happen. "Well clearly it's true" Emma said. Charlotte just about managed to find some words of her own, "If you know me, then you know who..."
"Yes, we know whose daughter you are." Natalya cut her off. All of them could see how scared this had made her. "And we don't care." Now she looked confused. "We don't really understand though, maybe you could explain."
"Ok, I guess. My name's Charlotte, and yes, he's my dad. I'm sorry I lied to all of you after you've all been good to me but it's what I was told to do, being who I am there was a risk to me if other prisoners found this out."
"The only other thing you've really told us is why you got put here. Is that true?"
"That part is, I couldn't lie about that, it's still so hard to take in. I drank and drove, killed two people, and now I'm here for 30 years." It was obvious to all of them it was still hard for her to talk about. "So why here? You'd think they'd put you somewhere else?" Becky asked.
"I think that's my dads doing. He's well respected among the department so was able to arrange my placement here."
"Shame he's not in with the judges, you might have got a better sentence." Natalya was making a point, but also trying to find out more on the warden. "Maybe, but he's not. I got 15 years per death, consecutively instead of concurrent. The judge said I was an example, that I wasn't special because if who he was. In fact, I think they hate him." "Wow, that's not fair" Paige felt bad for her on hearing that, slowly regretting the way she spoke about her. "Yes it is, I deserve it. I killed them, my own baby brother and another woman." Charlotte had tears flowing but wasn't crying with volume.
"It's ok Charlotte, with your link to the top, there are ways to make your time much easier." Natalya was moving in to try and seal a deal.
"I don't deserve it easy, I should be suffering in here, rotting in prison. Besides, I don't have links to him, he hates me more than anyone."
"What does that mean?" Natalya asked, quite matter-of-fact, concerned that her ideas might be slipping away.
"He really hates me, my brother was his pride and joy, he was in the police academy, looking to follow in his footsteps. He blames me for taking all of that away from him, and he's right to."
"You have to stop feeling sorry for yourself now, you can feel remorse, guilt, whatever, but if you keep feeling sorry for yourself, you will lose it. Maybe we should stop with the third degree here." Becky tried to be the voice of reason, but found that they agreed with her this time. "One last thing, if that's ok?" Paige looked at Charlotte who didn't answer but looked ready so she continued. "I've gotten a real short deal the last few days since you got here, getting locked in my cell all day for trying to help you, then you get work in Daddy's office when I've been waiting for a job since I got here."
"Paige, stay calm" Becky interrupted. "It's ok, if she's got to get this off her chest, I'd rather we do it now." Charlotte looked to Paige to continue.
"Thanks, and don't worry, I'm over it now, but I don't get how it's all happening if he hates you that much."
"I'm sorry that happened. I did try and explain things to them when they dragged you off, that you didn't do anything but they refused to let you out. I got taken to his office and we had an argument about it. I told him that I didn't want to be looked out for, I didn't want any special treatment. He then said that he promised my mom, and himself that they wouldn't lose me as well. He agreed to keep the guards out of it unless rules were broken. I thought that was it, but then they gave me that work placement. I didn't ask for it either but I'm not being given a choice. Maybe I could ask him to give it to you instead? I do owe you one." Paige liked the idea, but Natalya got in first. "No, you keep it, maybe you can mend fences with him over time, then you'd have the chance to make things better." Paige got what she was saying so didn't complain.
"Oh, I get it, you want to use me to help yourselves right? This is why I didn't want people knowing who I was." Charlotte's face fell again. Becky went to jump in but found herself cut off by Natalya as well. "Ok, I did have the idea to, but it's not all that way. This is a prison, we've all been here a while, some months, some years, and we all yearn for the better things in life we've lost since being here. If you're able to help with that then great. If not the so be it. You're still one of us."
"Really? You mean that?"
Emma and Becky both nodded. "Of course, it'll always be them and us." Emma said. "And I think we still met the real you, even if it was under another name till now, and you're still the sort of person we want around us." Becky said as she put her hand on Charlottes. Natalya and Emma added their hands on top. Paige however, was looking at the hands, not moving her own. All eyes were now on her. "You're with us right? Not them?" Gesturing towards the guard station. "From here, it's all about us, just us." Charlotte said. Paige smiled at her and added her hand to the pile, solidifying them. "I feel like we should yell 'Go Team' and jump up or something right now." Emma said. "Geez, way to kill the moment Em, Becky said as they took their hands back. "I think they are calling you, so how about, gooooooo make us some food!" Paige said, with a little cheerleader motion. That gave everyone a laugh as Emma left. Paige took the chance to move onto an empty seat rather than share with Becky anymore.
"Well since there's still four of us, I think I'll break out the cards." Natalya said and quickly retrieved a deck from her cell. The four settled into a a game of hearts, all quite content, especially Charlotte, glad that the conversation was over.
A/N: Thanks for reading. Hope you didn't mind second backstory in a row. I thought more characters were needed if I this can keep going forward.
On that note, I have also put a poll up, I thought about making a couple in e somewhere but I'm not sure who. I have listed most of the current characters plus a few who have been indirectly mentioned and could be brought in if voted in, maybe even if not. There is an option not to go that way if you prefer but please do vote. You can vote twice so you can pick two people.
Please do follow/favourite, I really appreciate it and it's great to know people are interested in where this goes.
The reviews are also really important to me, the last ones I got really made me feel positive about this experience. Please feel free to suggest things you want to see and/or predict what's coming.
I think all of the above will mean even more this time. The site is telling me the story has only had one read in four days. I got friends to log on as a test but they didn't register either so it could be a site issue. Knowing you guys are out there reading it gives me something to take to the people behind the site to get that fixed. At least, I hope it's a glitch. Having people read what we write is why most people do it. If nobody reads, what's the point in writing?
If you got this far, Hope my droning on wasn't too boring. Thanks again for reading, you rock!
