CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Red sat at the table with Carol Denning and her girls. She'd been at Litchfield Max for a few weeks now and so far she hated it. It was nothing like camp. She'd also lost her family-most of them had sold her out during the investigations including the daughter she loved-Nicky and her best friend Frieda.

Frieda. The name left a bad taste in her mouth. Frieda had sold her out just so she get into Florida When Red told Frieda that Zoe had gotten into Florida, Frieda would have done anything to be sent there just so she could stay with her girlfriend-even it meant selling her friends out.

Red would never forgive Frieda. And to think she'd been so worried about the woman after she had tried to commit suicide!

Red was glad Zoe had recovered and was doing ok. She and Zoe had gotten together after Zoe and Frieda had broken up and were together for two blissful years after Zoe decided she was still in love with Frieda and went back to her. Red learned Zoe and Frieda had slept together while Zoe was still with Red and that was the straw that broke the camel's back. Red realised that Zoe had never loved Red-it had always been Frieda and she was basically using Red to get back at Frieda. It had been hurtful but despite everything, Red loved Zoe more than ever and it killed her knowing Frieda had gotten everything she wanted including the woman Red loved.

Red patted her new hairdo. It was different but at least her sores were covered up. " Deal Red in," Carol said to one of her girls and the girl began dealing.

" What were you thinking about? You looked faraway," Carol said to Red as Red picked up her cards.

" Frieda. Who else?"

" Don't worry, that bitch will get what's coming to her." Carol assured Red. Red knew all about Frieda's past with the Denning sisters. She was glad she had found someone who had beef with Frieda. But there was another problem. Was she putting Zoe in danger?

" What's wrong?" Carol asked noticing her hesitation.

" Frieda got everything she wanted-including the woman I love," Red blurted out. There, it was out in the open.

" Excuse me? The woman you love?" Carols eyes went wide behind her oversized glasses, " Frieda's into girls?" Carol frowned, " I've known the woman for years and I never would have guessed this."

" Just one girl. Woman-her name is Zoe and she's at Florida too. She and I were together for two years down at Minimum before Frieda stole her away from me." Red didn't tell Carol that Zoe had been with Frieda first but Carol did not need to know that.

" What a bitch. What's this Zoe like? Is she pretty?" Carol still can't believe that the old woman she saw the other day with a walking frame, had a girlfriend. And Zoe sounded familiar-it couldn't be the same Zoe she met a few years ago when Zoe was a new inmate at Max?

" She's beautiful with her big brown eyes and long brown hair " Red described Zoe and Carol raised her eyebrows. Yes, it was the very same Zoe who had sided with her sister instead of hers and was now apparently the love of Frieda's life? Hmm, this was an interesting turn of events. Carol was sure she'd be able turn this to her own advantage.

Red told her the whole story, " And during their break up, Frieda and Zoe had a relapse-they had slept together. This was just a few months ago and I had no idea. Frieda told me during the riots."

" Is Zoe worth it then?"

" Yes-she's worth it." Red frowned. " I'm going to take Zoe away from her just like she did," she paused, " Although it might be a bit hard-"

" Red, I'm sure you'll think of something," Carol interjected.

" It's not that-there's something I should mention. Zoe and Frieda are actually engaged."

" Engaged? They are really that serious?"

" I wasn't there, but Frieda had proposed to her during the riots." Red told her, " Which is why I think trying to take Zoe away from Frieda might be harder than I thought."

2013

Before the riots

The visit from Frieda had shaken Zoe-more than Zoe want to admit. All the memories from being with Frieda came rushing back-including their relapse during their breakup. That happened not so long ago and no matter how hard she tried, the love she had for Frieda kept resurfacing. She realised then that she had never loved Red. Now that she thought about it, she never once told Red she loved her. And now she knew why-she was still in love with Frieda. Always have been.

Why am I with Red? Was I just using her to get back at Frieda for breaking up with me? Zoe sank down onto her bed, Am I really that terrible a person for doing that to someone? Especially when Red does love me?

Oh My God, I AM a terrible person. Zoe bit her lip as Red walked back to the cube after having gone to the bathroom to freshen up for the day.

" What's wrong? You look as though your best friend just died," Red greeted her.

" Red, we need to talk," Zoe replied.

" What about?" Red asked warily.

Red listened to Zoe and after a while she sighed, " I guess deep down I always knew it." She admitted. " You never stopped loving Frieda-and Frieda is crazy about you."

" So you're not…mad?"

" No, not mad. " Red stood up, " I don't want to be the one to stand in the way of true love." But Red was a little angry. Didn't the last two years mean anything to Zoe? Didn't Zoe love her even just a little bit? Darn that Frieda.

" Oh Red, thank you," Zoe smiled at Red, " I won't forget this." As she turned to leave, Red added, " I've always loved you-and probably always will."

Someday I'll get her back, Red vowed, Darn you Frieda for taking her away from me.

Zoe didn't say anything to that, she just smiled and hurried out. Frieda wasn't gardening so she went to the only place she could think of. She went to the bunker and opened the door quietly.

" Frieda, it's me," she said, " I'm coming down." She heard a rustling noise and Frieda appeared at the bottom of the stairs.

" What are you doing here?" Frieda asked, her brow creasing.

Zoe ran down the stairs and threw her arms around an astonished Frieda, " I love you Frieda, " she told the older woman, " It's always been you."

" A-are you sure?" Frieda replied but Zoe didn't answer. Instead she kissed Frieda and for one scary moment she was afraid Frieda would push her away. Instead she felt Frieda loosen and put her own arms around Zoe and returned the kiss with equal passion. She buried her hands in Zoe's hair as her lips travelled down to her neck. God she's missed this.

" You're really back?" Frieda murmured against her neck. " How was Red? Was she angry?"

" She took it pretty well actually," Zoe told her as she rubbed Frieda's back.

The two kissed again and stumbled towards the cot. They fell backward onto it as Frieda lowered herself onto Zoe. It was if they've never been apart.

Frieda watched Zoe having fun with the other ladies. While there was a riot going on upstairs, the ladies were playing games and drinking beer and smoking pot. It had been fun, unwinding and not getting involved in whatever was happening upstairs. At first Zoe had resisted in letting others join them-after all, the bunker had been hers and Zoe's but after a while, Zoe had loosened up and won against Gina in a game of backgammon.

I'm engaged to that girl, Frieda thought, her tough, old heart swelled with love. No one knows that I love her and that she loves me. Frieda squared her shoulders. It was about time the other ladies knew and they were friends of hers and they were Zoe's good friends too.

" Fuck it," Frieda murmured, putting down her almost empty can of beer. She went up to Zoe, cupped her face in her hands and kissed her-long and slow.

" Holy shit," Gina almost choked on her beer as she stared at Frieda and Zoe kissing. She nudged Jones, " Did you know about those two?"

" Actually I did-I've known for a year now. I kind of caught them one day."

" You too?" Gloria joined in and Frieda overheard her.

"Excuse me?" she said looking up.

" Um-we all know about you two," Gloria said gesturing to everyone. Norma nodded smiling but DeMarco put her hand up. " I didn't know," the Italian said frowning, " How come I'm always the last to know these things?"

" You're not the only one who didn't know," Gina reminded DeMarco.

" That kiss just now it was kind of tame comparing the hot and steamy one I saw a year ago," Gloria chuckled.

Frieda frowned, " If you all knew, how come you didn't say anything?"

" We didn't think it was a big deal," Jones shrugged, " And you're kind of private Frieda and so is McKenzie."

" Well, how about that," Frieda turned to Zoe," Everyone knew. There goes my big element of surprise."

" I didn't," Demarco said again. Norma scribbled something on a notepad and held it up. Apparently she had seen Frieda and Zoe in a passionate clinch in their cube when they thought everyone had gone to movie night-two years ago.

" We weren't as careful as we think we were," Zoe grinned and put her arm around Frieda's waist. She was glad their relationship was out in the open. She was getting sick of hiding it.

Zoe opened her eyes sometime during the night. She and Frieda were tangled up in each other and Frieda's blanket.

" We better get back to bed before they catch us in here," she whispered, shaking Frieda awake.

Frieda opened her eyes and stretched, " I guess it's back to the stool for me," she said eyeing the hard stool.

" Can't you forget about the stool for one night? No one will get us," Zoe stood up and swayed a little.

" Are you okay?" Frieda asked. Zoe looked a bit off colour.

" I'm fine, it's probably from too much sex," Zoe smirked. Frieda got up as well, " I'll sleep in bed tonight-if you join me," Frieda said, " Having you sleep next to me is worth getting a shot."

Frieda and Zoe curled up next to each other in Frieda's bed. Frieda put her arm around Zoe and rested her head on top of hers and soon fell asleep.