Chapter Six
She was pissed that Alex jumped to the wrong conclusion but at the same time she couldn't blame her. She had pushed aside her concerns about Stella much the same way. Nicky wasn't really her type but they were close now. Alex knew she was upset when Nicky got sent uphill and had tried to be kind about it all. Now though, she was just someone not worthy of trust. Piper put salve on her arm and then curled into her bunk.
Everyone that was going to the movie was getting ready. Nicky had come in to speak to Red and they left to the bathroom. Piper was certain that she was asking about Lorna. Not once had Nicky told her that she loved Lorna but everyone just knew. It was in the way Nicky looked at her. It had made her sad because they seemed really happy when they first got there and Lorna had lost her mind when Nicky was sent uphill. Now it was too late. Just like it was too late for her and Alex...Piper knew that telling her she agreed to all the terms didn't negate the fact that Alex would never trust her again.
"So, I hear that movie is The Princess Diaries, The Royal Engagement. I know we rented it in London so we can at least watch everyone else and see who gets sappy," Alex told her from the edge of her cube. Piper didn't turn around she just wondered what she was doing there. " Come on, we're not going to get a good seat."
Piper turned her head and looked up at Alex. " I don't even know if I go today. Just..um...maybe you should go on your own."
" You're on the list for tonight, I checked. I'm sorry I jumped to the wrong...whatever...I fucked up with Nicky too, she deserved to find out better than that," Alex said quietly. One of Piper's other bunkmates walked in and kind of nudged Alex out of the way. She glared at her but Alex ignored her. The girl was called Suarez and she was relatively quiet but kinda of scary. Piper got up and walked over to Alex she gave her a slight smile then turned to Suarez.
"This is Vause. She will come by my cube whenever she wants and stand there if she likes," Piper moved over towards Suarez with a blank face. She felt all the desperation she felt over her situation with Alex and all of her fright over what Kubra will do next...and shoved it all down to make dead her eyes. "So don't touch her again."
Suarez seemed truly shocked Piper stood up to her. "Hey, it's alright Pipes." Alex seemed immediately worried but Piper didn't care.
"No it isn't. This is my home, this fucking bunk in a prison and you will always be welcome in my home. Got it Suarez?" Piper asked her again. Suarez started to mouth off and Piper balled her right hand into a fist. She could feel how her nose would be under it. She knew Suarez wasn't Pensatucky and that she'd probably kick her ass, but Piper didn't really care at that moment.
"Hey, I'd listen to her. She put my friend Tucky in the hospital for five weeks and she unlike yourself, isn't alone in this prison," Piper heard Boo say. She turned away from Suarez for a moment to see Boo, Gina, Norma, Alex and Nicky standing by the door to her cube.
"I just bumped into her," Suarez managed to say.
Alex stepped forward and took Piper by the arm, then led her out of the cube. " Yeah, I know..no hard feelings. We gotta get to the movie," she said as she led Piper out of the dorm with their friends behind them. Once they were walking in the hall, she let go of Piper's arm. Piper just looked down at her sleeve as they walked.
"Never a dull moment with the two of you around...thanks for getting my girl out of there," Nicky said to Alex as she draped her arm over her shoulder. Piper blinked completely surprised and stopped in the hallway. Alex looked at her and then they started to smile at each other in a strange way.
Alex reached out and took Piper's hand. "I'm fucking sorry I jumped to the wrong conclusion. I'm a nervous, paranoid, jealous idiot."
"You forgot big mouth- you told Lorna the crap you were thinking," Nicky pointed out as she dropped her arm off of Piper and they all started walking again to the movie.
Piper looked down and Alex let go of her hand as they got closer to a security guard. Piper closed it again and smiled some. She really liked the way it felt to just hold her hand. Now, she wanted her to take her hand more than anything once they are in the movie. They found seats near the wall about halfway back. They were sitting next to Sophia and two other girls she didn't know. Piper sat next to the wall and settled in to her seat. She hadn't brought her earphones but was surprised when Alex offered one of hers. Piper leaned in and tried not to inhale the scent of her hair. She did anyway and closed her eyes. Sure, it was prison shampoo, but under it was that sweet scent of Alex.
The movie started and all the lights went down. She had forgotten part of it and found herself smiling as the situation unfolded...she had gone off about how it promotes stereotypical rags to riches and princess dreams in little girls after they watched it the first time. It had been an hour long discussion in bed before Alex shut her up with a passionate kiss. She went down on Piper, the entire time calling her "princess". Those memories came flooding back and it was making it hard to concentrate. Maybe Alex heard something in her breathing. She reached out and held Piper's hand at that very moment. She bit down hard on her lip to keep from moaning.
She looked at Alex for a moment and saw she was watching the others. Alex loved to watch people. She looked over at Piper and smiled. She pointed to these two thug looking new prisoners that were watching the movie with rapt attention. It seemed so funny that they loved this little disney movie but they did. Piper smiled at how their faces lit up when the Princess did something goofy. She laughed and Alex squeezed her hand.
"Your hand feels good," she whispered to Piper. She actually blushed from the statement.
"I feel like a school girl holding hands in an assembly," Piper whispered. Alex frowned and looked down. "It is good though...better than good. I hoped all the way here that you'd take my hand again." Alex smiled at that. It was a genuine bright smile that made her heart jump. She was trying to make up for her fuck up earlier. She didn't need to because Piper had earned all of that distrust. As if she read Piper's mind, Alex pulled her sleeve up to look at the tat. She held her hand over it and felt the heat of it. It was still fresh so it was raw at the edges.
"I wasn't in the Chapel to...you know...Nicky just wanted a place to talk," she whispered. Alex nodded and ran her fingers over the big black lines she used to cover up the other words. Alex swallowed hard and looked back at the movie. Piper leaned closer to her and decided not to worry about what she was thinking and just enjoy being with her. She had to learn to find joy in the small moments and focus on them...not the murky black hole that is her future. They stayed like that until the lights came up.
The next day her lawyer visited. She was very efficient but didn't have much of a personality. "Miss Chapman, the perjury charges were dropped and nothing will come from them. Your friend, Alex Vause, only testified if they assured her you would not be charged or brought into the matter. Now, the evidence you have told me about and the affidavit you signed is a whole other matter. Do you wish me to keep it as you stated before?"
Alex told her she tried to get her in on the deal. She had been worrying about being charged for her Chicago testimony for a long while. I mean, there was no way they could flat out prove she wasn't telling the truth. Yet, Alex had made sure that Piper was clear. She was going to do the same. She ignored her question and asked "So I get out in three months as scheduled?"
"Yes you lost your good time due to your time in the SHU and the notes on your record...or 'shots' as they call them. You must keep your nose clean Miss Chapman if you want out of here. You lost your place in the halfway house due to your serving the entire sentence. Your probation is for six months afterwards. You will have to stay in New York, visit your parole officer regularly and allow for him or her to visit your home. You will also need to get a job right away and secure a place to stay," she told her in her efficient voice.
"Oh...okay... I think I'm staying with my brother and his wife in their new place. I'll ask him when I talk to him next and write you with the details. Um, about the other stuff...yes I want you to hold it."
"Are you safe Miss Chapman?" she inquired and for the first time Piper got the feeling she actually cared what happened to her.
"Yes...so far so good. But if there is another attempt or something strange happens then you know what to do...oh I put you down as my emergency contact as well like you said- I'll try to get Alex to do the same," she said quietly. Piper couldn't help but look around the room. She knew her lawyer could request a private meeting but those were in another room alone and Piper would be cuffed to the desk. She told her this over the phone and Piper chose to speak to her in the regular room. She was being discreet though and Piper was thankful for that. They finished their visit and she went back through the pat down. One of the new female guards was doing it and she was rough with Piper. She went to squat and the guard told her she wasn't done with the pat down and yanked her up.
"Hey, easy just tell me what you want and I'll do it-" Piper began and she jerked her arm out of her grip. The officer was fast and she forced Piper down on the ground with a thud. Her face hit the floor hard and she grunted in pain. It took all she had not to fight her. Piper just went limp.
"What are you doing? Did she hit you? Get off of her! Tell her what to do and she'll do it," Bell said. Piper couldn't believe she was actually relieved to hear Bell's voice. Caputo must have done something to get them back.
"She jerked her arm-"
"Away from your pinching touch...yeah...I would to..get your newbie ass out of here and go see Caputo...now! Ask him to teach you how to follow protocol and orders from a superior officer," she barked. The other officer, name was Lewis, stomped out all pissed. Piper just stayed on the floor to make sure it was all clear. She was naked and very cold but she knew Bell would tell her what to do.
"Up Chapman...here, let me see," she said as Piper got up. Her nose was bleeding some and Bell got into a kit then gave her some gauze. "Shove it up there, you'll be fine. The new corporate prison fuckers aren't training them correctly." She told Piper to push it up her nose and then to get dressed.
"Hurry it along, others are waiting Chapman," she said in her usual dry tone. Piper murmured her thanks and got dressed quickly then left. She was on her way to the bathroom to check her face when Red saw her.
"What happened to you?" she inquired as she made Piper stop. She looked at her and had her tilt her head back. "This is soaked through...come with me." She steered Piper towards the cafeteria.
"The fucking officer in the pat down, threw me to the ground because she can't do her job right. They are loose cannons and we are just...cannon fodder," Piper said in a rather Elmer Fudd voice. Red took her to the back and cut one of the rags with some wicked looking scissors and had Piper hop up on a counter so she could see her nose better. She made a very Russian noise in her throat and told Piper her boys would come home frequently with bloody noses and she'd live. Piper could see her table was all set for that evenings special meal. Her stomach growled on cue when she looked at it. That made Red smile.
"WE are having Vareniky stuffed with mushrooms, onions and potatoes instead of veggie lasagna...Russian beet salad and a nice fruit topped cup cake for dessert. The cupcakes were made by Maritza who is very proud she learned to cook something 'fun'," Red said with a roll of her eyes at the immaturity of her crew. However, Piper could see she was really proud of her. She helped Piper plug her nose and Piper commended her for sticking to Russian delicacies because she knew Red was an expert.
"I can't wait..oh I forgot to tell Alex," Piper was instantly worried she wouldn't want to come and that would piss off Red. It also brought her mind back to the information she needed to tell Alex. She had decided to tell her the truth. She needed her to trust her again and being honest was the only way.
"Be here at seven-thirty sharp. The girls are cleaning really fast so they can join us..it is just my kitchen crew and a few choice people tonight. And don't fight with our sour bunk mates before that because you'll get prison loaf instead," she said to clarify. Piper promised she would be good and be on time and then hopped down to go find Alex.
She got some looks in the hallway with her bloody nose but she ignored them and went straight to the rec room. She found Alex there trying to beat Nicky at scrabble. She had only managed to do it twice so she knew Alex would be losing when she came close.
"What the fuck Chapman...did you get into it with Suarez?" Nicky asked. Alex looked up and then went very pale.
"Are you alright? Who did this?" she said as she stumbled up out of the chair to touch Piper's face with such gentle hands that it brought tears to her eyes.
"I'm fine...new guard thought it would be okay to plant my face in the floor because I squatted too early...it's okay, Red gave me this piece of cloth and it has about stopped," Piper said in a cheerful voice. Alex sat her down and then went off cussing the guards for ten minutes. One of the big new guys came walking through and told her to get quiet.
"You really need to be properly trained before you're let lose with batons and tazers on helpless prisoners," she shot back. He walked over menacingly but Caputo yelled at him to stop.
"Vause, shut your trap before you end up in the SHU. Chapman, you okay?" he said casually.
"Nothing my lawyer wont enjoy hearing about the next time she visits...she was just here today right before this happened," Piper shot back pointing at her nose. Caputo clenched his jaw and nodded at her.
"I hope you keep visitation privileges till that time then inmate, " he shot back. Piper knew he couldn't keep her from seeing her lawyer and so did he. So, she laughed. It pissed him off and he stomped out taking the guard by the arm and pulling him to the hallway.
"Please don't piss them off anymore, " Alex asked in the most heart breaking desperate voice Piper had ever heard her use. She turned her head and felt Alex stroke her cheek softly.
"I"m sorry...I get so pissed," Piper murmured. Alex leaned in and put her forehead to Pipers and she melted on the inside. "I promise...I'll think more before I speak."
Nicky snorted. "Sure you will...everyone knows your got a temper Chapman."
"She promised...she will try," Alex answered. Piper then remembered about the dinner that night and she told Alex. Nicky didn't have a place at the table since she came back so suddenly. Alex offered her spot to Nicky to make up for her Chapel misunderstanding and though Piper didn't want Alex to miss the meal, she was touched that Nicky's good will meant so much to Alex.
"Nah, you two enjoy. Mommy is going to make me something special later in the week...just for me. You can salivate over it later. It better be fantastic to make up for missing the Russian cook vs. the TV Diva, " she said with a grin. Piper asked Alex to go out to the yard with her for a walk. She agreed and Piper was able to toss out her bloody nose rag before they went out. They walked side by side around the small space and once they were in the clear, Piper told her about the cops that came to investigate a missing person.
"You think it was Aydin?"
"Yeah, but I'm sure they were told he left the day so many walked out. Red didn't hear any of the details because Healy took them to Caputo's office. Did he have like family in the States?" Piper asked.
"No, not that I'm aware of...he was like an orphan or something that Kubra took in as a kid. Fuck, this isn't good," she said and she bent over at the waist to take a deep breath.
"Look, no one saw us. There is no evidence. Do you think we should tell Lolly?" Piper asked and like a bad spirit as soon as they said her name, she appeared behind Alex.
"Tell me what?" she asked.
Alex turned around and told her right away. Lolly didn't seem too upset. "They are going to investigate but as long as we keep to our stories...Piper was in the Chapel and came down to get us to go to the lake. WE were routed back to the dorm by the few remaining guards...and we didn't see a thing...all should be good," Lolly said in such a logical manner that it actually made Piper feel better.
"Just watch out for CIA wiring...they have mics that can pick us up, even out here!" she whispered with a crazy gleam in her eye that tossed all of Piper's good feelings out the window.
"You got it...let's not hang too much either," Alex said in a voice that sounded like she was in on a conspiracy. Piper guessed they actually were. Lolly walked off like she hadn't been speaking to them and they watched her walk away.
"You know, she'd get off on an insanity plea no problem, " Alex muttered. It was a fear that they both had that the crazy woman would tell on them. Yet, she had seemed perfectly sane while they cleaned up after the crime. Alex had done nothing though. Piper had knocked him out and Lolly killed him. It was technical but they only had each other.
"Don't worry, if anything comes to light...I got you covered," Piper said. She knew Alex thought she meant the picture she took of her bruises but that wasn't all. Alex reached out and took her hand again and Piper smiled. They walked a bit more before a guard told them to let go. She tucked her hands in her armpits to keep from reaching out again.
"I don't like the week one. The rule about waiting a week to talk...I don't like that time period. How about we switch it to two days?" Piper shot back. It had been on her mind and she wanted to talk about it when they were in a good place. She knew Alex was worried that someone was looking for Aydin and maybe this would distract her.
"Left turn without signalling there Pipes," she shot back.
Piper shrugged and explained it had been on her mind. "We didn't really go over them."
"No we didn't...but you're doing a great job at letting me be the one to touch you first,' Alex said with a smile. Piper smiled back.
"It's hard because those casual touches we would give to each other...well they were the highlight of my day," Piper replied.
"What were Stella's touches then?" Alex shot back.
Piper winced but didn't hesitate, "My worse fucking mistake in years." Alex nodded and they kept on walking around the small space in silence. Alex stopped and took off her glasses for a moment. She raised her head up to let the afternoon sun bathe her face for a moment.
"Two days seems fair. I hope though that we don't have to use it," Alex said. Piper's heart soared. Alex didn't want them to end.
"Me too...I feel I should tell you something though...it is good news. They aren't going to persue the perjury charges from Chicago. They are going ot honor your deal even though it fell through," Piper explained. Alex stiffened some then she seemed happy.
"I was a bit worried about that but you didn't seem to be so I thought maybe it was handled," Alex added. Piper walked with her some more and they watched as some of the Hispanic girls played Dominoes at one of the tables. Piper never got the game but Alex explained some of the rules to her quietly. It was nearly time for their dinner shift and count so they headed back inside.
"So you are getting out in...what three months?" Alex probed.
"Yeah...you?"
Alex was always so quiet about her sentence. "Much longer than that...I got six more years Piper." She felt her stomach drop. Six years?
"Fuck," she murmured.
"Yeah now you know why I don't want to talk about the future. All we got is right now kid. I'm lucky though, I could have gone down for twenty-plus for my role in his organization," Alex shared. Piper felt herself tear up and she just nodded though.
They walked into the dorm and before she could walk to her spot for count, Alex took her by the arm to stop her. "Does this change your wanting to be with me?"
Piper looked at her and felt the overwhelming love she always felt when looking at Alex. "No, it just means I got three months to prove to you I can wait six years." She turned and walked away towards her bunk. Red wasn't in place as this count would be done in the kitchen for her and her crew. She waited next to her new bunk mates while they did the count five times then it was time to line up for her dinner shift.
"Suarez and Wallace, pack out of this bunk, you're being moved after dinner," Donaldson said. Piper was actually kind of glad to see him. He could be a hard ass but he was always fair and never touched her inappropriately. They asked why and he told them to do as they were told. Piper figured that Red had pulled some strings. She didn't mind Wallace though. Suarez gave her an evil stare and Piper just gave her standard blank stare.
"Move your ass Chapman or you can skip dinner all together," he barked at her. Piper gave him a salute and slipped out of the bunk.
"Glad to see you back Mr. Donaldson," she whispered and he just glared more. Piper waited in line behind Morello. She was really quiet and didn't have her face made up like she usually did.
"Hey, you okay?" Piper asked. She shook her head and didn't speak. "She'll get over and be happy for you." Piper added lamely.
Morello turned around and looked at her for a moment with the saddest eyes Piper had ever seen. "I chose him because I didn't know she was...even a choice. I can't take it back so what can I do?"
"I can't take back what I did either," Piper said quietly.
"Yeah, but Vause will give you another chance. She can't help it the two of you are completely in Love. I fucked up with Nicky and now...I got to live with it," she said quietly. Piper nodded softly and reached up to give her shoulders a squeeze.
"She'll come around," Piper said with more assurance than she actually felt. They got their slop and Piper just ate her roll. She had a ticket to the good meal later and everyone was envious. It was nice to be envied in a good way and not a bad one like Furlough. Alex sat down in front of her and picked at her food as well. Once they were up and in line to buss their plates, Alex let out a silly giggle that made Piper turn around to stare.
"I can't wait for dinner tonight. Pick me up at 7:25? I'll dress casual," Alex said softly. Piper's face lit up with excitement.
"I'll do the same. See you at 7:25," Piper said as they exited the cafeteria. Her mind was racing about whether or not she should wear her khaki's that Flacca took in around her ass for Larry to enjoy during visits. She hadn't really worn them much except when her regular sets were being washed.
She couldn't help but feel joy when Alex replied. "It's a date." Piper went back to her bunk and hung up her clothes for the meal. She was surprised to see Nicky and Alex at her cube door with an arm load of their things in their hands.
"Nichols, you're over Chapman's bunk and Vause over here over Red's bunk. No funny business you two...I can't believe she got Caputo to agree to this, " Donaldson murmured as he walked off. Alex looked at her and then started to smile.
"Oh great, you two better not be too sweet, I'll puke and that shit flows down on you Chapman...and Chapman, we gotta do something with the Ramen," Nicky blurted out when she opened the cabinet to put her things inside.
"Sure thing, Nicky...though eating them with Red's herb packet is 3/4 of my diet now," Piper answered. Nicky considered this and decided that was a good plan. Piper couldn't help but smile.
"I'll go to the rec room and you can pick me up from there," Alex whispered. Piper nodded enthusiastically.
"Co-habitation will not affect our romantic prospects, I promise!" Piper answered and was rewarded again with a bright Alex smile.
"Oh Jesus Christ! Already with the romance, what was Red thinking?" Nicky groaned and they couldn't help but laugh.
*** Some days in our life are magical. My wedding day was such a day. However, I've needed much time to recoup. I hope you like how the story is progressing and I'll try to update again soon. Please please please please review! It always helps me to write more when I see the audience engaged. Peace, Fae***