Bending Reality
Chapter Two: Déjà vu
SIX MONTHS EARLIER
"Your first time huh?"
"Sorry?" the girl asked, her eyes wide and Lorna smiled knowingly,
"It's not so bad, everyone's pretty nice most of the time" she said and frowned towards O'Neil when he scoffed from the passenger seat,
"What's your name hon?" she asked when the girl didn't look any more reassured,
"Last name…they all use last names here. I'm Morello"
"Jameson" Lorna smiled at the shy voice as she cut the engine and pulled the keys from the ignition,
"So, we have Jameson, Milton and…" Lorna turned her body to see the last girl that had climbed in the van. She sat in the very back and had refused to speak with any of them, O'Neil included since she'd climbed in the back. Lorna had picked her up from max before going to get the new girls. Taking in Jameson's tear streaked face she felt a pang of regret, she hated picking up the newbies with someone coming down from max. She found it was much harder to reassure them, welcome them and help them find their footing.
"Lombardi" O'Neil filled in and Lorna smiled,
"Well that's great. Welcome to Litchfield." After sliding out of the van and rounding it Lorna helped Jameson out whose fragile composure began to crumble as soon as her eyes took in the prison building for the first time.
"It'll be okay, honestly it will" she said rubbing the young woman on the back while Milton jumped out rolling her eyes towards Jameson but still looking decidedly nervous herself.
"You okay hon?" Lorna asked kindly turning to the girl O'Neil had let out of the back. As she turned towards her Lorna froze,
"Oh well I'm just great now that I know I'm back with an old friend" her voice was low, black hair tangled around her face with a menacing glint in her eyes and her lips twisted into a smirk,
"What…you forgot me Morello! Come on Lorn I know that brain of yours is special but how could ya forget your oldest friend?" Lorna felt the air escape her lungs and the blood drain from her face as she simply stared at the other girl,
"Okay let's go, you ladies can have your reunion inside" O'Neil interrupted,
"Morello, let's go!" at his second attempt she moved. Lorna tore her gaze away from the chuckling woman in front of her and began to walk towards the prison gesturing for Jameson and Milton to follow her. As she walked she could hear her heartbeat growing faster and the wind suddenly felt cool on her skin. As she raised her hands to reach for the door she realised how clammy her palms had gotten and wiped them on the front of her khaki's before pushing it open.
"Morello where the hell are you going?" she froze in place turning to see O'Neil glaring at her,
"You want a shot inmate? This is your job not mine…show them where to go" O'Neil complained loudly before stalking away and Lorna looked back at the newest additions to Litchfield,
"Right…right I'm sorry. Just got a little distracted there" she smiled widely towards Jameson who had remained very close to her and who, Lorna could tell, was desperately trying to keep it together. Milton was a little further back and with that she turned, pulling Jameson forward and forcing her painted lips into a reassuring smile. O'Neil was right, it was her job, and one she did well.
"So, you're going to go through to processing and I'll meet you right back here afterwards, okay!" Once she'd managed to escape Jameson's grip on her arm Lorna stumbled towards the bathroom grateful and relieved to find it was deserted. Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the sink her chest heaving as she found her own eyes in the grimy mirror.
"Here Lorna" a pink and glittering piece of paper was suddenly thrust into Lorna's lap where her lunchbox was precariously balanced. The eight-year-old peered down at the paper for a moment before realising what it was. She grinned and peered back up to see her best friend standing in front of her,
"Oh, thanks Bella! This is so exciting" she squealed, jumping up to throw her arms around the girl after pushing her lunch to the side,
"I can't believe it's your first sleepover" Bella replied hugging her friend back just as tightly,
"I've been to so many" she continued, pulling back,
"But this one will be the best ever" she grinned and Lorna nodded,
"Alright now I have to go and give the rest of these out but then I'll come back and we can go over the songs for the party" Lorna nodded and waved as Isabella skipped away from her. Folding the piece of paper carefully Lorna slipped it into the front of her bag where it wouldn't get squished feeling a warmth spread through her. She hadn't had many friends, with moving houses so much also meant changing schools. Lorna had grown used to leaving people behind and finding news ones but it still hurt – but then she'd met Bella who was in her new class and showed her the way around. Her parents assured her that it was their last move, that they were staying where they were, and for the first time ever Lorna felt settled and excited to finally have a real friend.
"Oh my god Lorna calm down it's just a joke" Bella said rolling her eyes as she swept out the inside of the locker into the bag.
"No, I know it's just… this might be too much…she's had a hard week and all you know" Lorna said nervously thinking about her classmate as her fingers pulled at the frayed ends of her sleeve.
"She's had a hard week… Jesus Christ Lorna she's a freak… besides she barged in on me and Hayden in the bathrooms when everyone knew not to come in… she needs to learn" Bella said as she zipped the bag up and turned towards her sweeping her perfectly curled hair over her shoulder,
"You're in right" Isabella asked sharply and Lorna nodded towards her best friend,
"Yeah of course" the wicked grin that shaped Bella's mouth made Lorna gulp,
"It's going to be hilarious now hold this while I pee" Bella said thrusting the bag into Lorna's hands and darting into the toilets. Lorna's eyes flicked up and down the deserted hallway praying that no one would come down, everyone was in assembly after all, where she had been before Bella had taken her hand and snuck them out. Lorna felt the panic building as she thought of the young girl in her class, she remembered what it was like being the new girl, having no friends. Feeling her head spin and watching the bathroom door she sucked in a big breath before pulling at the zipper. Lorna reached into the bag and found what she was looking for before quickly shoving the items down the front of her shirt. Her hands began to shake when the zip got stuck but she finally jammed it back into place just as the bathroom door squealed open. She turned wide-eyed towards her best friend but Bella was staring intently at her phone.
Bella snapped a few photos as she emptied the bag into the pool and Lorna watched as all of Holly's things floated out towards the middle of it. She forced her lips into a smile when Bella turned to her letting her head fly back in laughter,
"Oh my god...okay, okay let's go" she laughed as the bell went off signalling the end of assembly. Lorna felt the regret bubble up in her throat but as Bella grabbed her hand once more to pull her along she felt her smile become slightly more genuine,
"I love our adventures Lorn"
And Lorna loved them too. Most of them anyway. But she would never tell Bella about the photos that had been stuck in Holly's locker that would somehow find their way back to her.
"God Lorn get in there. Don't be such a prude. Have some fun for once in your life" Bella laughed pushing Lorna into the closet. Lorna turned quickly and reached for the door only to see Bella grin before she slammed it shut. She heard the latch lock before she could even find the handle in the dark,
"Bella…seriously let me out" she called almost quietly,
"Be nice with her Paulie she ain't got much real experience you know" Bella's voice carried through the door and Lorna's eyes snapped shut feeling her chest tightening. It became harder to breathe as she felt the seniors hand slide over her hip,
"Hey baby relax"
"You're such a fucking liar Lorna. Do you actually believe that? Do you actually…what the hell is wrong with you" Bella screamed standing up from the bed and stalking towards Lorna who backed up until she hit the wall,
"Seriously what is wrong with you?" she asked again and Lorna felt the tears at her eyes,
"I can explain" her voice was shaky and she could feel the panic poisoning her blood,
"I don't want you to fucking explain just get out. You've done enough damage. I've been such a good friend to you" Bella said pulling her door open,
"GET THE FUCK OUT"
She turned on her heels cursing herself as she felt the first tear hit her cheek. Lorna wanted nothing more than for the ground to open up and just swallow her whole. She saw them laughing, the sound becoming deafening, but there was no escape as she turned again.
"Loony loony Lorna" the words hit her like broken glass and Lorna looked up to see Bella smirking in front of her. The older girl winked at her before turning with a sweep of her hair and walking away, the group of girls following in her wake leaving Lorna to make her escape in the opposite direction the tears beginning to stream down her face.
Lorna screamed as something touched her arm and she swung around so fast that she smacked her hand on the broken tap,
"Whoa, whoa Morello cool it" Lorna slapped her hand to her chest in relief at seeing Boo standing in front of her,
"You okay son? I called your name like three times"
"Oh yeah…yeah I'm fine just caught up in the wedding plans you know" Lorna said quickly breathing hard and trying to push the memories away. She forced out a laugh when Boo didn't look much more convinced but grimaced when it sounded more like some kind of dying animal. Boo nodded anyway,
"Ah I see" she said as she pulled some paper from the wall before handing it to her. Lorna stared at the older woman in confusion,
"Your hand, you cut your hand. Gee Morello here" Boo said and stepped closer, watching her curiously to make sure she wasn't going to spook again. Boo pulled at her wrist and Lorna's eyes widened as she saw the deep cut on the back of her hand,
"The tap just now" Boo explained when Lorna's eyes darted around the room for the source,
"You sure you're okay?" she asked again, forehead creased in concern. It wasn't often that she'd seen Boo as serious and she wasn't sure she liked it,
"Oh yeah no I'm good just a scratch" Lorna said waving it off,
"Well I don't know about that but anyway listen I came in here to tell you that your guppies have come out of processing. One of them is looking a little worse for wear and didn't really appreciate my help" Lorna fixed Boo with a stern stare as she attempted to ignore her thundering heart,
"What have I told you about hitting on the new girls on the first day?" Lorna said sternly making Boo grin, happy to hear Lorna sounding more like herself,
"Well I've got to take my chances Mercy's still avoiding me and Nicky's got an in with the driver that brings 'em up here" Lorna grinned laughing slightly before she turned towards the door,
"Well thanks for telling me I'm sure the CO's would have written me up and I was just away in cake flavours and bridesmaid colours" she said trying to sound as carefree and casual as possible,
"I thought you'd settled on the lilac" Boo said and then stopped short, scrunching her face up,
"I know too much about your wedding Morello you have got to tone it down" Lorna laughed heading out the door with Boo and spying the three new inmates.
"Told you she'd be around here somewhere" Boo said to the group,
"So sorry" she apologised as she saw Jameson sigh in relief, moving slightly away from the other two girls while keeping a cautious eye on Boo,
"Get Red to give you some antiseptic for your hand yeah" she nodded at Boo who said her goodbyes before leaving them to it, throwing a wink towards Jameson.
"Don't worry about her" Lorna said quickly,
"She's all bark and no bite, she's a good one" she added nodding,
"Alright let's go we gotta move fast cause counts soon" she explained heading down the hall not checking to see whether the third inmate was following her, in fact she'd rather she didn't and she'd hope she'd imagined it all in the first place,
"Rooms up that way, dorms down there but you are not allowed down there until you get assigned, understand?" she asked as she turned back towards them noting that unfortunately the them was a trio.
"Alright!" she said turning back around,
"Offices here, dining hall down there and counsellor's offices are here" she continued before moving down the hall for the first time not waiting for questions,
"Alright Milton, Lombardi…actually this is all three of you, in you get" she said waving them into the room,
"Lombardi huh" De Marco said standing up from her bed and Lorna's eyes widened slightly in horror – did De Marco know her as well,
"We'll have to get our very own little Italy around here soon hey Morello. We're growing by the minute!" Lorna laughed in relief – even if it was slightly too high and slightly too loud,
"Absolutely" she said throwing Rosa a smile when the woman looked up questioningly,
"Alright will you guys show these ones what's what? Running a little behind today… I've got to get back for count" Rosa and De Marco nodded, the latter shooing her away and smiling knowingly at Jameson who Lorna waved to before turning and all but running from the room.
The walk back to the suburbs was spent in her head and before she knew it Alex was leaning down towards her, smiling while waving a hand in front of her face,
"You okay?"
"Oh, hey Alex how are you? You know I saw Piper this morning she was looking a little teary and ahh hectic you know, you know how she gets, you might want to check in with her. Also, I know that your glasses got broken and they had this pair in commissary I picked up for you when I was down there the other day they're on my shelf in my cube I'll get them for ya. Healy was looking for you before as well did I mention that oh and you should probably see how Piper's doing she was looking a bit-"
"Hectic?" Piper asked and Lorna turned her head to see the blonde woman, Nicky, Boo, Mercy and Trisha all sitting on the beds in the cube she shared with Boo,
"Morello holy shit take a breath" Alex laughed placing her hands on her shoulders,
"Hey guys" she said throwing them a smile and trying to ignore their wide-eyed stares,
"You doing okay?" she asked Piper as she walked into the cube and the woman's eyebrows shot up but before she could answer another voice piped up,
"Are you doing okay Morello?" Nicky asked from where she was seated on Lorna's bunk her legs stretched out in front of her. Lorna sucked in a long breath as she turned to look at the redhead,
"Yeah no I'm good…been a long day you know" she said letting her shoulders drop and climbing onto the bed when Nicky patted the mattress beside her. As she leant back against the wall Nicky reached over to brush a lock of hair back from her face,
"You sure you're okay?" she asked again,
"Don't worry Morello you're still the best welcoming committee of one Litchfield has ever had" Boo laughed from where she was perched on her own bed, opposite them with Mercy tucked under her arm - apparently they had made up. At the questioning looks she received from the group Boo continued,
"Morello and one of the new kids aren't getting along" she grinned and Lorna scowled at her, letting her head drop back against the wall and her eyes flutter closed,
"Want me to beat her up for you kid?" she heard Nicky ask from beside her and even though the words were stilted in amusement she couldn't help but smile and feel the stress roll off her.
Keep going?