The laundry room was filled with loud voices as always. Women are happy to work. Probably because it gives them some sort of normality. If you are free or in prison, at work it doesn't matter. At least to some extent, you have to do what you have to do and that is it. Spending your days in Wentworth, something that makes you occupied is always welcomed. There is nothing worse than idle mind if you are locked up.
Bea squeezed tightly her grip on the steam press handle and pushed it down. She looked at the clock, they had two hours to go. She glanced around the room until her eyes stopped at the young blonde folding clothes at the corner table – the newcomer in her group. She had mixed feelings about Allie Novak. She knew or better to say she felt that the young woman is not a threat to them, but she couldn't help it and be cautious. She was keeping a close eye on her. Watching her and studying, making sure she has no hidden agenda.
It didn't look that way. Allie kinda fit right into H1, having long conversations with Liz and laughing fits with Boomer. Maxine became her best friend, they were painting each other nails and gossiping. So those few days since she moved in went by in peace and without any suspicious incidents.
At the moment she and Maxine were loudly talking about the new girls. Yesterday new inmates arrived and that is always good talking material for few days. Especially if one of them makes a scene like it happened yesterday. The whole yard was amused listening to her screams and explanations about how she is innocent and this is all just a mistake.
Bea was so lost in her thoughts, that she never saw Doreen approaching.
- Bea?
- What is it, Doreen? – Bea lifted the press and turned her head away from Allie.
- I would like to go now if that is possible. You know the meeting with Zoe from H2.
Bea nodded and Doreen stepped away smiling.
- Doreen, but don't make this a habit. I won't let others work for you.
- I know Bea, thank you!
Bea glanced over the room trying to decide who to appoint to do Doreen´s job.
- Hey Allie, take over Doreen as well!
Allie lifted her head and nodded. Doreen left and everyone continued their work. Liz looked across the table at Maxine. When their eyes locked the tall brunette raised her eyebrow and shrugged.
Bea was making slow careful steps across the H1 unit, grasping a cup of tea in her hand. She sat down on the sofa and let out a long relieved breath. It was nice to sit down and unwind after shift. Liz smiled at her and yelled.
- Maxine! – Bea closed her eyes and winced at the sudden outburst. Maxine poked her head out and when she spotted Bea and Liz she joined them. She sat next to Bea from the other side and winked at Liz. The older woman seeing this patted Bea on her leg asking.
- What is going on with you and Allie?
- Nothing, what do you mean?
- You are cold with her.
- No, I'm not!
- Yes, you are! – Maxine said and Bea slumped back on the sofa rolling her eyes.
- You are sweety. – Liz continued.
- I'm nice to her!
- You are polite with her, not nice. You don't treat her like one of us.
- Maybe because she is not, maybe I don't trust her.
- That is a bullshit! – Maxine had none of it.
Bea squirmed under the gaze she was receiving from her two best friends.
- Ok, maybe I feel guilty. She got beaten up because of me.
- It was not your fault anyway. – Liz said.
- It was! I didn't listen!
- You were careful, nobody can blame you for that. – Maxine patted her knee looking at her with less blaming and with more understanding. They both tried talking a little sense into Bea, explained that some of her actions come across the wrong way. Thankfully laughing Boomer with Allie right behind her walked in just a few minutes after that, so the grilling of Bea Smith stopped.
After this small talk, Bea thought about what Liz and Maxine said for the rest of the day and half the night. She didn´t feel like she was being cold towards the young woman, but the two were right, she treated her differently. She had no idea why. It was not solely about guilt or trust issues. The blonde stirred in her something, she couldn't put her finger on it, but she could feel it.
Liz, Doreen, and Allie were walking down the hallway heading to the dining room. It was dinner time. They were coming from H1 where they were talking the last hour and something. They were trying to figure out how to celebrate Maxine's birthday and what to get her as a gift.
- One thing is for sure, - Allie said – I can't go to the kitchen asking for help. They don't really like me there.
Liz and Doreen chuckled. They turned the corner and their noses were filled with the greasy smell coming from the dining room.
- You are right to love, I'm sure the kitchen crew won't love you anytime soon. – Liz said.
They were halfway to the dining room when they heard a quiet yell. It was Bea.
-Hey! – They all stopped and turned to see what the Top Dog wanted. She walked with quick pace towards them.
- What's up Bea? - Doreen asked watching the redhead stopping in front of them.
Bea glanced at her then looked at Liz licking her lips nervously.
Liz smiled knowingly. Bea Smith is an interesting creature for sure. Not afraid to fight anyone or anything, but try to force her to be little personal and she is all flustered. Liz turned around and continued walking.
- Come on Doreen, let's eat.
Allie shyly smiled at the redhead before turning and following Liz and Doreen.
- Allie, you are coming with me! – Bea grabbed her elbow before she could walk away.
- Right now? What about my dinner?
- You are going to skip on this meal.
Allie rolled her eyes, she was hungry. She had one apple after the shift, while they were talking, but that was good enough just to stir her appetite.
- Where are we going?
- Back to H1.
- Why?
- You will see.
Bea finally lets her elbow go and they both hurried back towards the H1.
They were walking in a silence after that. Bea is not much of a talker as it is. Mostly enjoying listening what the others talk about, with occasional comments and Allie, she is exactly the opposite, except when she is around the redhead. Bea Smith can render her speechless. All she could do is throwing shy glances at her while trying to keep up with the Top Dog's long steps.
After reaching their unit, Bea walked to her cell opened the door and tilted her head to prompt Allie in.
- Geez, what is this smell?! – the young blonde screamed as soon as she stepped inside with one foot.
Bea closed the door chuckling.
- That is if I'm not wrong a huge steak. – Bea was glad she turned around before saying that, the expression on the blonde's face was priceless.
- I don't know what is going on, but if you want from me to watch you eating a steak than that, I have to say, is a special kind of cruelty.
Bea furrowed her eyebrows. Does this girl really think so low of her? It looks like Liz and Maxine are right, the relationship between them is not ideal.
- Do you really think that I would do that?
Allie tensed.
- No, I would not! It was a joke, just figure of speech. My stomach got better of me.
They both laughed and Bea lifted the takeaway boxes and sat down. Allie watched her lost in her thoughts. She couldn't understand how Bea can't see how much she likes her. She must be better at hiding it than she thought. Because lets be honest, it is not hard to spot those lingering looks and that awkward stutter she always does when talking to Bea. Or better to say when Bea is around. They never really talked since Allie came to H1. Just a few words here and there usually with the others around. Bea tapped the bed next to her and smiled.
- Come on, we can't let it get cold.
Allie felt her stomach flip and she had no idea if it was from hunger or from the fact that she will have to sit so close next to the older woman. She tried to gauge the right distance from her, not too close but not too far. She didn't want her to feel uncomfortable or offended. She leaned back against the wall and took the takeaway box from Bea. It was still warm neatly wrapped in a plastic bag.
- Thank you! – she ripped the plastic open and moaned quietly as the smell hit her nose. – Smells amazing!
They both started eating moaning at first few bites, thoroughly enjoying the treat. Allie glanced at the woman next to her. She was beautiful. Her red hair in a neat ponytail and the white shirt snuggly covering her upper body made Allie's mouth water more than the steak.
- Why? – she asked.
Bea glanced over at her before taking a huge bite chewing it slowly.
- Apology. – She swallowed and started cutting the next bite. – I'm sorry you got bashed.
- It was not your fault Bea.
- Maybe not directly, but…
- Stop it! You can't blame yourself for something Kaz did. It was not your fault.
- I should have listened. You asked for help and I turned you away.
Allie licked her lips swallowing.
- I know why you did it and I understand. I would have done the same thing. It really looked like a trap. You had no chance to know my intentions or the relationship I had with Kaz. You just tried to protect yourself and the other women.
Bea stopped eating and asked what she wanted to know for a long time.
- How did you get involved with her?
- She volunteered at the women shelter where I lived. She helped me to get together my shit. I owe her a lot.
Allie heard some kind of growl from Bea as she asked.
- What is her issue? She obviously can be nice, but all together she is she did, what you did, that was not right. The Red Right Hand. Violence is not a solution. I know it comes out funny from my mouth, but my reason was personal and I still have my common sense. Never mention what is she doing since coming here. Allie, women here are criminals, not angels. They must feel that they are controlled otherwise they start making trouble.
- I know and I understand, but Kaz can´t see further than the methods you use.
Allie heard a loud sigh, she turned her head and their eyes locked.
- There is no other way, trust me. As I said, most of the women here can be pretty crazy if they feel they can get away with it. I don´t like doing it Allie, I really don´t even if Kaz thinks so. But I rather bash drug dealers and trouble makers than to let them hurt my girls.
Allie nodded. They ate in silence for a while. It was oddly intimate and Allie couldn´t help but grin.
- I don't know how to thank you for this, honestly, I don´t mind taking a beating every week if I get steak for that.
- Allie, never joke about this. – Beas' voice was serious. She is superstitious, there is no need saying stuff like this and dare the luck. In a place like Wentworth, bad things happen quickly.
It happened a week ago, in the yard. The sun was shining, the sky was blue and all was good until the point when it wasn't. Until the point when the new girls came out from H2. Two of them hesitantly walked right across the grass where the H1 crew was sitting, while the rest just sat down to the first table. The girls just arrived one week prior a ginger and a blonde. Both in their twenties, attractive getting into trouble because of mixing with bad crowd. Locked up for car theft and fraud.
They passed Liz and Doreen which were sitting at the table talking and walked to Bea, Maxine, and Allie which were sitting on the bench enjoying the sun. The blonde shifted nervously as she bit her lip watching the Top Dog from so close.
-Smith. – She cracked out nervously. Bea tilted her head a bit, focusing on the two. Maxine crossed her legs smiling. It was amusing how some of the women got all shy and flustered around Bea.
- What? – Bea said with a not too friendly voice.
- We just, - the girls looked at each other, the ginger head signaling the blonde to continue. – we thought, can we talk in private?
- No, whatever you want to tell me you can do it in front of them. We have no secrets. First of all, you can't keep them in here, it is almost impossible. Second, of all, secrets you can keep here might get you killed. You will learn that.
Maxine chuckled and whispered half aloud.
- Dramatic much?!
Bea smiled, as a top dog, she tried to help the newcomers as much as she could. Always made sure they have someone who helped them and guided in first weeks. But there is nothing wrong with scaring them a bit. What she said is true even if little overdramatized.
- How can I help you? Are you having trouble settling in?
- Oh no, all is good! We just actually wanted to ask if we might help you. – The blonde said quickly, stressing the word help in a strange tone. Allie suddenly perked up.
- Help? You want to help me? – Bea asked with a surprise. – Thanks, but we are alright, you just do what you have to do and keep out of trouble.
The blonde's eyes went wide.
- I meant, we meant, if YOU don't need help. You know? – she winked.
- With what? – Bea asked totally confused while Maxine burst out laughing. Allie would have laughed too, but she was too busy glaring at the blonde slut.
- We just wanted to know, - she leaned down so she could be closer to Bea – if you would like to have us. You know, we will take care of you and you will take care of us.
Bea now understood her face flushed and she elbowed Maxine, trying to make her stop laughing.
- No, thanks!
- Are you sure? Two for the price of one, special offer. Win – win for everyone.
- Sorry to say, but I'm not interested. I'm not gay.
- It's not about being gay or not, it's about having a good orgasm. Everyone needs it and it's better from someone else. – the blonde winked at Bea. Maxine stopped laughing, alright the girls went way too far.
- Listen, as Bea said, you do your job and keep out of trouble. Bea is not interested, ok?
- Alright, but the offer stays! Anytime Smith, just say so.
As the girls walked away Maxine started laughing again. Doreen and Liz were chuckling, just Allie was quiet. Bea elbowed Maxine again between ribs.
- Stop it! Geez!
- Bea, you should have said yes. – Doreen laughed. – God knows I want to swap myself sometimes.
Bea rolled her eyes and shifted uncomfortably.
- Looks like you are very popular with the girls, love. – Liz added winking at the blushing redhead.
- Everyone wants a piece of the top dog, right? – Allie tried joking with the others despite the numb pain spreading through her chest. Bea is not gay. That much she knew that was what she was told, that was what everyone knew about Bea.
Every attempt to get into the top dogs pants failed. She knew that. But hearing it directly from Bea, that was something entirely different. Hearing saying her that with that cold voice – it hurt. It hurt a lot. So, Allie joked about it with the girls. Teasing Bea mercilessly while trying not to show how hope in her heart burned out.