I'm back home now, but updates will be slowing down as I'm heading back to uni soon...
I'm trying to make this realistic and unpredictable, so forgive me as I try and get out of my writers' block phase.
Let me know what you think!
"Fuck!" Piper shouts as she frantically runs from the bathroom into the living area, looking for her ringing phone.
Having just gotten out of the shower, her wet, blonde hair is thrown into a messy bun, and a white towel is wrapped around her naked body.
"Hello," she says, slightly out of breath, and in hearing the beginning introduction of a prison's automated calling system, she momentarily relaxes, having been looking forward to hearing her wife's voice since they had last spoken on the phone a few days before.
When she eventually accepts and the phone line connects through, it isn't the voice she had been craving that greets her on the other end; if she had paid attention, she would have realised the mention of Litchfield in the call's initial greeting.
"Blondie!" she hears Nicky welcome, evident that something on her end has put her in a good mood.
"Nicky?" Piper questions, immediately recognising her friend on the other end of the line. "Is everything okay?" she goes on to ask, feeling a sense of worry that the wild-haired woman is using her call time to contact her.
"Everything's as good as they could be - well, apart from the fact that I'm in prison, but I'm surviving. What about you? What're you up to?"
"I'm good. Between working and seeing Alex, I've been keeping myself busy."
"Alex is still in the picture I see," Nicky comments, and Piper is reminded of how long it's been since she'd last heard from her wild-haired friend.
"Of course she is. I didn't move here for any other reason, Nicky."
"I know that - I was just making sure," Nicky chuckles down the line. "Thank you for the money by the way. It finally came through," she adds, sounding grateful.
"I promised I would, didn't I," Piper responds, smiling at the image of a vulnerable Nicky giving thanks over the phone line. "I'm sorry it took longer than I thought. There were some complications as an ex-inmate providing a current one with commissary money."
"That's okay," Nicky laughs. "I wouldn't go to you anyway if I needed a source of drugs money."
"Hey!" the blonde comments, jokingly sounding offended.
"Oh come on, we both know it would be the other Vause I'd contact."
"Well I have you know I was the one who carried the money," Piper explains, feeling her cheeks flush at the sound of Nicky referring her to as a Vause.
"And look where that landed you: in fucking prison," Nicky laughs, to which Piper too joins in. "No, seriously, thank you, Piper. I appreciate it."
"You're welcome," the blonde smiles, happy to hear a familiar voice that isn't berating her for her life choices.
"So how's Vause doing over there?"
"She's good. She prefers this new place to Litchfield and some of the old girls are there, so she's not all on her own. I visit every Friday; it's nice that we at least get to see each other fairly often."
"Who'd thought Vause of all people would be tied down, hey?"
"I mean, we were in a committed relationship and never discussed marriage before, so I'll have to agree with you there," Piper laughs, remembering Nicky's shocked reaction when she heard about her proposal to Alex in the first place. "What about you? Anyone caught your eye in there?"
"Ahha! Is that you're attempt in asking about Lorna and I? It's safe to say I think that ship's sailed."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Piper says quietly, feeling bad for her friend - especially knowing what it's like to be on the receiving end of loving someone wholeheartedly yet facing a form of rejection. "And I didn't mean that explicitly… I meant in general."
"Not really. The kitchen - along with Red's condition - is keeping me on my toes at the minute."
"Red's condition? Why? What's wrong with her?"
"Did Vause not tell you?"
"Whatever it is, she didn't," the blonde responds, not knowing how to feel about the fact that Alex hadn't informed her.
"Or maybe I didn't even tell her," Nicky says, pausing in thought as she thinks back to whether she had even told the blonde's wife to begin with. "I can't remember," she laughs in a manner of self-pity. "But it's Red's memory that's the real problem. Dementia."
"Oh," Piper pauses, feeling bad despite how things had left off between herself and Red. "I'm sorry to hear that."
"Me too, blondie. Seems like the shitty things only happen to the best of us."
"Maybe she's just hitting on you," Alex voices huskily from where she's seated, smiling at her wife's surprised facial expression.
"Nicky?" Piper raises her eyebrows. "I don't know whether I feel flattered or not. Why? Are you worried she's posing a threat?" she jokes, placing her hand on top of Alex's from where they're again seated next to each other in the prison's now favoured visitation room.
"Of course I'm not worried," the brunette smiles. "Nicky's too short for you anyway," she adds, poorly managing to hide her disgust at the imagery of her friend flirting with her wife. "Plus, I was kidding. You're probably the only person other than her mom that she can call - except you'll actually pick up and have a conversation with her."
"I didn't realise it was that bad with her family."
"She doesn't like talking about it. I don't blame her to be honest," Alex reveals, pulling her hand back to push her glasses back onto the top of her nose. "Anyway, enough about Nicky. I want to hear about you. How did your exam go?" she goes on to ask, now placing her hand on the top of Piper's left thigh, squeezing the skin gently.
Earlier that week, Piper had taken her final law exam. Alex had called the night before wishing her wife luck, and although the blonde voiced her worries and anxieties, both women knew deep down inside that she had nothing to worry about; Piper had mastered the art of putting her head in a book since a young age.
Initially tensing at the feeling of Alex's warm hand on the top of her thigh, the blonde hesitates.
"It went well I think. Some of the questions were challenging, but I managed to answer everything."
"So no more night school?"
"No more night school," Piper confirms, tilting her head back as though showing her relief. "Unless I want to continue with something else, but I think I'll take advantage of not having to do any school work for a little while."
"I'm proud of you, Pipes."
"I feel like I've just teleported back to your old bunk," the blonde responds, alluding to the last time Alex had voiced such a thing.
"You have quite the memory, kid," Alex smiles, watching the light blush rise on her wife's cheeks. "But seriously: I'm glad you're not moping around out there," she adds, subconsciously moving her hand further up Piper's thigh under the table.
Without offering a response, Piper's hand shoots down to rest on top of Alex's, preventing her from moving any further.
"Al," she whispers in warning.
"Yeah?" the brunette responds, obviously not aware of the effect she's having on the blonde.
"What're you doing?"
"I'm just sitting here. What do you mean?" Alex asks, sounding confused.
"Your hand," Piper says, squeezing her wife's fingers. .
"My hand?" the brunette voices before looking down. "Oh. Sorry," she immediately apologises, not having realised where she had been resting.
"It's okay," the blonde smiles, moving her hand onto Alex's forearm to prevent her from moving away entirely. "I like finally being able to touch."
"Still. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
"Alex, you didn't make me uncomfortable," Piper smirks. "I just wasn't expecting it, and, quite frankly, I don't want to spontaneously combust in the middle of a prison visitation room."
"I know the feeling, kid," the brunette smiles, lowering her vision as she watches her wife run her fingers along her arm to which they stop on her bicep.
"Jesus, Alex," the blonde whispers quietly, clenching her fingers over her wife's toned muscle. "Have you been working out?" she asks, impressed at the solid feel of the surface in her hand.
"A little bit," the brunette admits. "It helps the time pass by, but there isn't really a lot available. You like it?" she asks, smiling at the sight of Piper transfixed my something as minute as an arm muscle.
"I love it," the blonde admits, sounding as though she's trapped in a daze while she feels the area. "I'm guessing this isn't the only thing you've been working on?" she asks, finally looking back up into Alex's eyes.
"Your guess is correct," the brunette smiles, not expecting such a statement to make the woman next to her react so visibly.
Piper, meanwhile, has a hard time taking in the information. It's something that causes her mind to run wild at the imagery of her wife's body, and, on instinct, her thighs shoot together - an indication that whatever she was thinking about did more than please her mind.
"You really liked that then," Alex chuckles, feeling the pressure of Piper's thighs squishing her hand.
"Yeah, I did…" Piper breathes out, unable to make her scan of her wife's torso subtle.
"Alright, kid. Back to you," the brunette again digresses, not wanting their only time together to be spent with Piper crumbling into a pool of arousal. "What's next?"
"I can't give up work yet," Piper begins, somehow managing to drag herself back up to the surface and clear her onset of dirty thoughts. "I've been thinking about doing some writing. I know I mentioned it before, but I think writing a memoir might be a good idea."
"As long as you're happy doing that."
"I've been contemplating doing it more and more as of recent, so I think it will," the blonde smiles, finally moving her hands so they're both resting on the table.
She finds herself spacing out throughout the next topic of conversation Alex brings up, and it doesn't take long for the brunette to pick up on it.
"Are you even listening to me?" she pauses what she was saying, waiting for any form of response. "I can tell that you're-"
"Marry me," Piper interrupts, dismissing whatever Alex was talking about.
"We're already married, Pipes," Alex states, laughing at the blonde's serious facial expression.
"No. I mean really marry me. I know we say it's currently official, but that's what I eventually want it to be. I want to be able to legally say I'm married and change my name."
"As much as I want that too, I think you're missing something, Piper: I'm in fucking prison."
"I was doing some research. It can take some time, but we could get married in here," the blonde reveals, talking quietly as though she's telling a secret.
"Pipes," the brunette begins, running a hand through her hair. "Do you really want to get married in this shit hole?"
"It's not the location that matters, Al."
"Oh, come on. You used to always complain about using public bathrooms when we travelled, and now you're saying getting married in a fucking prison is what you want?"
Leaning forward, Alex grabs Piper's hand, trying to soothe the look of rejection she's currently rocking.
"Look - I want to get married, Piper, but not here. I have, what: nearly a year left on my sentence? Why don't we spend that time planning for something when I get out."
"Is that what you want?" the blonde asks, having not expected Alex to want to go through the whole planning process.
"Piper - I want to marry you for you, but I also want pictures, family members to witness, and to be in the freedom to do whatever we want without guards watching the entire time."
Piper ponders Alex's suggestion before biting down on her lower lip.
"So you're saying you want to start planning our wedding?"
"Yeah. If you'd help me."
"Of course I will," the blonde smiles, squeezing the brunette's hand in her own.
"Do you think your parents will come?"
Letting out a loud sigh, Piper looks into her wife's eyes.
"Honestly, I don't know. Well, my mom would, but my dad: I couldn't be certain."
"At least you know I'll show up."
"You fucking better."
"No, Cal. It fucking hurts," Piper says as she walks over to the other side of her kitchen to hand her brother his coffee.
"Don't be a pussy. It's not that big. Just take it off already."
"The woman in the shop said to wait a couple of hours. You were there!" the blonde says, irritated by her brother's persistence.
"I'll show you mine," he says, standing up, moving the sleeve of his hawaiian shirt up to the top of his shoulder and peeling back the layer of protective cover on his skin. "Fucking awesome!"
On the side of his arm lays a reference to a Sci-Fi film that has been his favourite since a young age. It's not excessively large, but Piper has to admit that it does suit her brother and his wacky nature.
"It is pretty cool," the blonde reveals, smiling at her brother's child-like happiness.
"Now your turn," he says, turning to look over at his sister. "Nothing bad's gonna happen, Pipes."
Feeling as though her brother isn't going to stop pressuring her - and now secretly excited to see herself, she rolls her eyes and moves towards the mirror that's placed on the wall to her right. Pulling her t-shirt up, she eyes the right side of her body - more specifically her side boob area. Lifting a hand, she slowly pulls back the white plaster-like covering to reveal the latest addition to her body.
It's simple - exactly how she wanted it, and in this moment, she's thankful that her brother had turned to her when he voiced an urge to get a tattoo and even went as far as persuading her to get another one too in the process. The black ink poses a contrast to her light skin, but it's the meaning behind her inking that resonates through her. Without offering any form of verbal response, Piper stares for what feels like a lifetime at her skin, imagining what Alex's reaction is going to be.
Cal, meanwhile, sits quietly, watching his sister but wanting to give her an element of privacy as she views her art work.
"Are you okay?" he asks from where he's now seated back down outside of the blonde's vision, starting to find the increasing silence unbearable.
"Yeah," Piper says into the mirror before turning around. "Sorry, I was just-"
"It's okay," Cal prevents her from continuing, immediately understanding that the sight before her obviously meant a lot, as supported by his sister's tearful eyes and fragile voice. "I really like it. Now are you still mad at me for - as you put it - 'making you come with me'?"
"No, I'm not," she responds, smiling at her brother's smug I told you so facial expression before turning back to face the mirror.
Biting down on her lower lip, Piper tries to prevent a large, toothy smile from taking over her features. She looks at the 'A' tattoo on her side one last time before forcing herself to look away, knowing that no matter how many times she sees it, she will always react the same way.