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CHAPTER 7

PiperPOV

I was forever grateful to Polly for being my best friend and putting her ass on the line for me. Every Saturday, Polly would sneak her phone in to visitation and would sit there and let me see and talk to Alex. Only seeing her once a week was hard the first few weeks but now it's what gets me through the week. Electrical was extremely busy, luckily I had Nicky with me. Apparently, the people who took over the prison didn't quite understand how outdated it was, and were refusing to fix up the prison in any way. Nicky and I were always sent out to fix various things; today it was the fucking dryers again. Every damn one of them were either broken down or the doors were jammed shut. Nicky had to go back to the shop to get some more supplies, leaving me to fight with these bastards by myself.

"Hey, Chapman!" Nicky yelled into the room just as the door I was fighting with flew open hitting me in the face.

"SHIT! SHIT! SHIT!" I cursed.

Nicky came barrelling around the corner, "Christ, Chapman. I can't leave you alone for five minutes."

I glared at her. "Shut up. Can you help me?" I asked, holding my nose as it began to bleed. She just nodded and guided me to the infirmary while I stared at the ceiling, trying not to bleed everywhere.

"What happened?" The nurse asked once we arrived.

"Had a little accident with a dryer door." She just tsked and shooed Nicky out of the room and turned to get a better look at me.

I left an hour later, more embarrassed than ever. I had successfully given myself a black eye and a broken nose. I decided to call Alex before going back to my cube, hoping that talking to her would cheer me up.

"Hey, Pipes!" She answered happily.

I smiled. "You have no idea how much I love to hear your voice."

"Rough day?" She guessed.

I sighed. "You could say that. I don't wanna talk about it."

"Well, this should cheer you up then. The doctor said I would officially be out on Friday. Which means, I'll be able to come with Polly to your visitation!" I could practically feel Alex vibrating with excitement through the phone. They must've been really giving her good drugs because she was a lot more carefree with her feelings since she's been there.

"Really?" I asked, "Oh my God, Al! I'm so excited!"

"Yeah, me too!" Alex said happily. "Although, I am a little worried."

"Wait. Why would you be worried?"

"Because, Pipes, when I see you, all I'm going to want to do is rip your clothes off and fuck you for days." Alex whispered huskily.

I groaned, rubbing my thighs together as Alex's voice made me instantly wet. "Soon, babe." I glanced over my shoulder to see that no one was in line and the guard really wasn't paying attention. "As soon as I'm out of here, I'm going to make you scream my name all night long."

"Don't make threats if you're not going to follow through with them," Alex retorted.

I dropped my voice, hoping it sounded sexy. "It's not a threat, Al. It's a promise."

I heard Alex groan through the phone and I had to suppress a giggle. I loved knowing that I could affect her just as much as she affects me.

"Do you know how hard it is to masturbate when your dominant hand is wrapped up in a stupid cast?" Alex sounded extremely frustrated.

"Do you know how hard it is when you share a bunk with Red?" I shot back.

Alex laughed. "I love you, Pipes. It's only a few more months, we'll make it."

More like six weeks. I thought inwardly. "Yeah, then I'll be screaming your name every night."

"So, Polly is letting me stay in her guest room for a few days while I get a place, do you have any requests on location?" Alex asked.

"Why don't you just stay at my house?" I blurted out, my hand flying up to cover my mouth.

"Your house?" She asked.

Shit. "Uhh, I mean, technically it was my grandmother's place, but now I guess it's mine." Alex was smart. She was going to figure out that I inherited a lot more than I let on. "Listen, there's a lot I still need to tell you, but I don't want to do it while I'm in here. Mostly because I don't know all the details."

"Is this part of how you got that new lawyer? Piper. You can't keep things like this a secret. Healthy relationships don't have hidden houses." Alex was getting pissed, and she had every right to be.

"I know, I was going to tell you, I just wanted to have all the facts together before I did." I tried to placate her.

"I'm sure." Alex said sarcastically. "I gotta go, Pipes, the nurse is here. I love you."

"I love you too." I said, but she had already hung up the phone. Talking to Alex was not supposed to make me feel worse. With shoulders slumped, I walked back to my cube, suddenly less excited about Saturday's visit.

AlexPOV

The morning of my release was a flurry of activity. The warden and Caputo came to see me as well as my lawyer. The nurses also wouldn't leave me alone, doing all sorts of blood work and taking my blood pressure every half hour. Finally, at about Noon the doctor came in to do my final evaluation and gave me the green light.

I was a free woman. For real this time. I am not going back to that hell hole and I can finally breath easily with Kubra gone for good.

Polly was waiting for me outside the hospital, "Hey, I thought you might need a ride."

She was really starting to grow on me. "I should have known you'd drive a mini-van." I joked as we climbed in.

She flipped me the bird. "So, I'm under strict orders from Piper to make today about you," She paused, coming up to a stop sign. "So, where to?"

Piper's name brought a sour taste to my mouth, I was such a bitch to her the other day, practically hanging up on her. I knew I shouldn't have reacted that way, but damn, I don't want her keeping secrets from me. That's not what healthy relationships do, and I'll do everything in my power to make sure that our relationship survives. And now, she's making sure everything is taken care of even though she's not here.

"Uhh, I need to stop by the bank and talk to my account manager." I told her which bank and we headed that way.

"You know, she told me about the fight you two had the other day. Piper was raised very strictly. Her parents are loaded, yes, but they never ever spoke about finances. She isn't naturally an open person, and I'm not trying to give her an excuse, I'm just trying to help you understand."

I nodded. "I just wish she would've said something. Like 'Hey, you know my grandma that just died? Well guess what, she left me a shit ton of stuff.' You know?"

Polly chuckled. "Maybe when you see the house she left Piper, you'll understand why she didn't want to tell you right away."

Why wouldn't she want to tell me, surely it isn't some dump. "I'm sure it's no dump." I quipped back.

"A dump? No." Polly shook her head. "It's the penthouse of a building over in Tribeca. You know, there's a whole bunch of celebrities that live over there. Like Taylor Swift."

"A penthouse? Why would she be ashamed of that" I asked, apparently Polly knew a whole different side of Piper than I did.

"I think, she didn't want to offend you honestly. During your relationship, Pipes was a broke college kid who was cut off by her parents. You were the bread winner. You supported her. So now, when she's worth more than her parents combined, she's worried that you'll feel inadequate."

I didn't think about it like that.

"Of course, she never told me any of that, so I could be wrong, but I doubt it. I've known Piper since I was 5, I know all of the things she tries to hide away. I'm not saying that you don't know her either, but there's some you don't know still."

My silence continued as I pondered what Polly was saying. She was absolutely right, how can I be mad at Piper for not telling me everything, when I've yet to tell her everything.

"We're here." Polly's voice broke me out of my thoughts. "I'm gonna go get a coffee across the street. I'll be there when you're done."

"Thanks, Pol." She smiled at my use of her nickname.

I took a deep breath before walking into the bank, putting my best bitch face on.

"I need to access my safety deposit box and speak to Mr. Higgins." I told the receptionist after she greeted me.

"Mr. Higgins is pretty booked today, do you have an appointment?"

I sighed, "No, I've never needed one before. He's always made time for me." I said with an air of annoyance.

She looked like she hated her job even more this very second. "Your name?"

"Vause." I said simply.

Her whole attitude changed immediately, "Of course! Ms. Vause! Umm, can I get you anything? Coffee?"

I smirked. "Just Mr. Higgins."

"Of course!" She picked up the phone and started whispering furiously. Within 30 seconds I saw Mr. Higgins waddling quickly down the hall from his office.

"Alex!" He said as he approached.

"Daniel," I smiled in greeting.

"I wondered how long it would take for you to come in after I saw what happened in the news. That man got what was coming to him if you ask me." He guided me to the vault so that I could access my safety deposit box. He closed the door behind us, "How are you out of prison already? I thought you were going away for quite some time."

"Compassionate release. Kubra sent a someone into the prison to kill me, he failed obviously. The prison didn't want to get sued so they let me out." I laughed. "So how much exactly did the Feds take?"

He smirked. "There's a reason that you and Fahri chose me. I was able to 'Tie up' most of your assets into things so that they couldn't take it. They drained your checking though, but your savings was completely untouched. I invested into some stocks that have brought you a considerable profit over the years that you've been away. I'll go get you a statement for you to go over while you do what you need to in here." I nodded and he opened my box and set it on the table before leaving me alone.

I opened up the box and took out the stack of hundreds and the disposable cell phone. Fahri and I had decided to have a back up in case we ever needed to get away from Kubra. After sticking those in my pocket I looked at the rest of the contents, trying to decide if I needed anything else right away. I'll be back for that soon. I thought as I looked at the ring I bought for Piper all those years ago. After I grabbed the keys to my car and my mother's house I closed the box and sat down. I pulled out the phone and powered it up, not exactly sure what I was expecting.

Nothing.

I decided to text the other disposable phone that belonged to Fahri. It was a long shot, but I knew if I didn't at least try I'd hate myself.

I have questions. Like how the fuck are you alive? -AV

I wasn't expecting a response, so when it vibrated a minute later I was extremely surprised.

There are many things I wish to tell you, however, I am busy straightening other things out. Live your life, Alex. I will be in touch soon, I promise. Ditch the phone. -F

I had just finished reading the first text when another came through.

And for fuck's sake; if you don't have a ring on that girls finger by the time I see you next, I'll wring your neck.

I chuckled. Fahri always knew everything.

I met Polly in the coffee shop after I got everything from the bank. We went shopping for some groceries and the essentials before she took me to Piper's new house. She helped me bring everything up and then handed me a key before telling me that she'd be here in the morning to drive to Litchfield.

I felt pretty strange in this place all by myself, it was too big and too empty without Piper here. I sat on the couch and closed my eyes picturing Piper dancing around, her laughter filling the air.

I was startled awake by someone pounding on the door. I was instantly alert, thinking someone was here to get me.

"ALEX! OPEN UP THE GODDAMN DOOR BEFORE I DROP SOMETHING!" Polly shouted from the other side of the door.

I quickly ran and opened it to find Polly balancing coffee and an assortment of bags. "Sorry, I must've fallen asleep on the couch. I was a little disoriented when I woke up." Grabbing some of the bags to help her.

"That's alright. I realized yesterday that we only got the essentials and that you really didn't have any clothes here."

I blushed realizing that I completely forgot about clothes.

"So I went shopping." Polly said simply.

"Shopping? Polly it's like 8 am."

She giggled. "Well, Finn actually took a REALLY long nap yesterday when he was with Pete so he was up late, so I took advantage of that and went shopping."

She handed me two bags and ushered me down the hall to get changed.

Soon enough we were pulling into a parking space at Litchfield. Everything started to blur together as I realized that I was about to see Piper. My palms were sweaty after I handed my ID over and then passed into the visitation room. Polly was attempting to make small talk, but I couldn't focus on anything she was saying. Then, Piper was led into the room, I stood up and she sped walked over to me. Her face was bruised. I gently traced my fingers along her bruised eye.

"Who did this?" I whispered.

Piper blushed. "Your washer did."

I laughed. "How the hell did you manage that, Pipes?"

"Shut up and hug me." Piper demanded.

Not needing to be told twice, I pulled her close to me, breathing in her familiar smell. I knew I couldn't hold her as long as I wanted to, so I cherished every second until the guard yelled at us. We sat down and began talking, mostly Piper filling us in on all the prison drama. Polly excused herself after about fifteen minutes, so I took my chance.

"Pipes, I'm sorry I over-reacted the other day. I just want you to be open with me. I want this to work."

She reached across the table and held my hand. "I know, Al. So do I. And I've been doing a lot of thinking too.."

She trailed off so I raised my eyebrows at her to show that I was listening.

"When your, I mean our, lawyer looked into your sentence, he looked into mine too. And I was originally going to surprise you; I get out in five weeks."

"Five weeks?" I grinned. "I thought you had like six months left." My grip on her hands tightened.

"Well apparently Larry's dad hates me and didn't even try to get me a lesser sentence so I got the maximum allowed."

I snorted. Fucking Larry. She must've read my mind because she giggled too. I got lost in her eyes for a moment.

"Wait, you know what this means right?" I smirked at her obvious confusion, leaning across the table to whisper. "It means you'll be screaming my name as your ride my face a lot sooner than we thought."

She groaned, "My God! Alex!" She whisper shouted as she slapped my arm playfully.

I just pushed my glasses up and grinned as Polly sat back down at the table.

"What'd I miss?" She asked, causing both of us to start laughing hysterically.