[Author's note: Thanks for the support! Sorry I kept y'all waiting, but to make it up, here is a longer chapter. As always: Review/Follow/Fave because they keep me motivated. Enjoy!]
Litchfield. June 12, 2013
"So...that was unexpected. Had I known we were gonna have sex, I would have shaved my legs." Piper said jokingly while putting her shirt back on.
"Are you kidding me? Your hairy legs kept my ears warm while I went down on you, it's very practical." Alex said, walking towards Piper and pulling her into a hug.
"I can get used to this." Piper thought out loud, while listening to the tall woman's heart beat and sighing happily.
"Ah yes, hi..." Lorna greeted nervously into the phone.
"Dear God, you are never gonna stop, are you?
"No, no I-"
"Are you?" Christopher's voice sounding louder and louder, to the point that it caused Lorna's ear to physically ache. "Even behind bars, you still continue to harass me. When will it end? When will your pea sized brain catch up on the fact that I don't want you! No one does. And it's all your fault. Your beauty is just a trap, you are a crazy psychotic dangerous woman, they should just shoot people like you, you are a danger to society. Everything you touch damages, no one will love-" Lorna's rich tears were now flowing over her reddened cheeks, she had trouble breathing. He is right. I am a crazy person. I don't deserve to live. God, no one will love me. Lorna was now sobbing and running towards the bathroom. Every quick step felt like a stab in her wounded heart. When she got the bathroom, it was luckily empty, she locked herself in the only stall with a door, sat on the seat and started to cry her heart out. Her uncontrolled sobs were only interrupted now and then by gasps of breath. Don't let anyone in, stop ruining people's life. You have ruined Christopher's life, you have ruined Piper's life, and you are about to ruin Nicky's. Lorna thought over and over again, making a decision to protect herself and others.
June 13, 2013
"Come on, come on, come on...hurry up!" Nicky said, guiding Red, Alex, Boo and Tricia into the nearest utility closet, holding a large notebook.
"Okay now sit." Nicky said, eyeing the hallway before she locks the door and turns on the light.
"Nicky what is going on, I need to do the dishes." Red said suspiciously.
"I feel like I'm in a mob or some shit." Tricia added.
"You guys are here because you are my friends and I need you." Nicky said, nervously.
"Is it about that mysterious itch down there you had a while ago?" Boo asked, causing a discussion in the group with Tricia and Alex reminiscing the way Nicky walked when she had the itch and Red laughing along and talking about her magical ointment.
"No..no and stop talking about the damn itch!" Nicky said, her loud voice silencing the group.
Nicky sighed. "This is gonna come as a big surprise for some of you but I really really like Morello."
"No?!" Alex said, faking her shock, causing the group to burst in laughter.
"Well it's a good thing I am sitting down." Red said, not impressed.
"What's next? Your coming out speech?" Boo added.
"Stop being cunts, I am serious. I wanna you know...like make an appointment with her to do fun things that hopefully may lead to something more..."
"You want to take her on a date?" Alex asked, not sure how her friend is gonna arrange that in here.
"No, haven't you been listening? I want to arrange an appointment to get to know each other more and do fun things which will hopefully lead to more." Nicky repeated, rolling her eyes.
"That's a date, you just literally described a date." Alex said, face palming first.
"Okay fine, I want to take Morello on a date. I want to wow her and-"
"Then pow her?" Boo said, wiggling her eye brows, causing the group to chuckle, except Red who kept track of time, thinking about her dishes.
Nicky sighed. "Forget about it, meeting dismissed."
"No, no come on, Nick. You can do this, just open your lame notebook and show us what you have got planned." Only when Nicky didn't find the slightest bit of sarcasm in Boo's voice, she decided to continue.
"Well okay.." Nicky opened her note book. "Dinner. I thought I would take her out on a nice dinner and-"
"I can do that, what's next." Red said, motioning to hurry up.
"What? How?"
"I am in charge of the kitchen, Nicky. I can improvise with leftovers." Red explained.
"I can probably get you romantic candles and shit, I will grab some from the chapel." Tricia added, earning a look from the group.
"What? I will return it eventually." Tricia said, laughing.
"Well, wow..thanks. For the second part of the date I want to have a nice walk outside, in the dark so we can see the stars." Nicky said, mentally slapping herself because she knows she sounds like a romantic fool.
"Lame, but manageable. Me and Boo can go on the look out for the guards while you guys explore the wonders of the galaxy." Alex said with a wicked smirk.
"So Nichols, you do realize this whole 'date' is just a romanticized version of left over prison food and a walk within these fences." Boo explained.
"Give the girl a break, young lovers in the prison system don't have much choice." Red defended.
"Morello doesn't even like you like that, you told me this yourself, son. I don't want you to get hurt, well at least not like this because this isn't even entertaining, its starting to become sad." Boo said, before Alex jumped in.
"Well actually...a blonde birdie told me something else..." Alex sang amusingly.
"What?" Nicky's eyes shot open. "Vause tell me what you know..."
A few hours have passed since Lorna's intense crying sessions. She lied down on her bunk bed, under the covers, just thinking about today's events. She felt so tired but the loud words of the man who once occupied her heart and mind were keeping her up. She had been avoiding Nicky today, whenever she saw the fluffy haired woman in the hallway, she successfully managed to get lost in the crowd. She skipped dinner to not face her friends but she knows its useless, she can't keep skipping meals without drawing serious attention and she can't ignore Piper, that is the last thing her blonde friend deserved.
"Pipes, you asleep yet?" Lorna whispered.
"No Lorn, what's up?" Piper said, turning around to face her smaller friend.
Lorna got up and got in Piper's bed, which her blonde friend didn't mind at all and made more space for the Italian girl.
They stayed like that for a while until Lorna broke the silence.
"I called him."
Piper didn't even had to guess who 'him' was.
"Shit, Lorna...you can't do that, sweetheart." Piper said, compassion in her voice.
"I just wanted to hear his voice...but he is not, he never was-" Lorna was trying to tell her blonde friend that Christopher is definitely in the past now and that he was absolutely not the man she thought he was, but the sobs wouldn't let her. But Piper knew, she always knew what went through the Italian girl's mind. She held Lorna until she calmed down.
"So what now? This is an entire new chapter for you, you have to make the best of it." Piper said looking into her best friend's eyes.
"I am done with Christopher. And love. And friendship." Which earned a look from Piper.
"Lorna, you can't shut me out like that, I won't allow it, okay?" Piper said, hugging the girl that wasn't returning the hug.
"But why? I am the reason you are here, I am-"
"Okay stop. Being in here is no ones fault but my own. You didn't force me to do anything, I willingly joined you. Was it dumb? Yes. Do I regret it? Yes. But me being in here isn't your fault. You being in here is your fault, we all are responsible for our own crap. Alright?"
The Italian girl let out a relieved sigh and nodded while a last tear escaped her left eye, but Piper wiped it away quickly.
"Now. You wanna know something juicy?"
"God yes, these gossip mags in this place are so old." Lorna said, as she leaned her chin on her palm, while she supported her weight on her elbow.
"Alex and I had sex." Piper said with a very prominent grin.
"Well well well, Chapman. Guess you got yourself a prison wife." Lorna said and the two girls laughed on the same mattress, just like they used to do in the comfort of a teen girl's room during sleepovers.
When Alex woke up she was met with the blurry sight of a very pale ass of a certain Nicky Nichols who is shimmying her way in a pair of white cotton prison underwear.
"I thought tonight would be full moon, not this morning." Alex lazily grinned, while grabbing her glasses.
"Ah yes, good morning Vause. Notice anything different?" Nicky said with a nervous smile.
"You got new shoes? No wait thats the same pair of shoes you have been wearing since you got here. Hmm...new necklace? No...dammit just tell me." Alex said, not really in the mood to use her brains this actively this early.
"No dude, my hair! I straightened it with a flat iron from your work. I can honestly say it's the straightest thing about me now." Nicky laughed.
"Oh yeah, your head looks bigger, when half of it isn't hidden in a curly mess." Alex said jokingly while sitting up.
"Yeah whatever ass hole, I figured I'd change my look up a bit. Straight chicks, straight hair...I basically got this right?"
"Yeah, Nichols." Alex yawned while hugging a pillow. "Except...the plan here is to unstraighten things not to make it even more straight."
"It's just all a part of my master plan!" Nicky said passionately.
"Yeah yeah, you fucking lovable piece of shit." Alex said, heading towards the showers, roughing up Nicky's hair on the way, earning a disapproval groan from her never boring bunk mate.
The new look of Nicky Nichols was the talk of the day. Nicky knew it when she entered the cafeteria, causing some women to burst in laughter and others praising it.
"Yasss...slay, you look like a queen, Nichols! Work it." was being yelled at from the black ghetto's usual table, except Sophia who tried to give advice. "Flat ironing your hair can actually go very wrong, sweetheart. You can always come to me, okay?"
When Nicky got to her usual table that was mostly occupied by her usual friends she instantly regretted her new look.
It was Boo who burst out in laughter first, poking her elbow into Sister Ingalls. "Sister, Nichols need your prayers. Not even Jesus himself can fix that shit."
"Drastic changes in hairstyles is often a sign of inner restlessness. You are always welcome to join the yoga classes." Yoga added, causing Boo to crack up again.
Alex just gave a supportive wink, while Piper and Lorna looked at her like they have never seen hair before.
"Well. I think you look hot." Morello just stated, which earned a surprised look from Piper that Lorna happily ignored.
It was only after that statement that Nicky didn't care about the looks and the laughter surrounding her. Lorna Morello thought she looked hot and that was all it took for Nichols to feel her body relax and enjoy breakfast.
When they were clearing their tray, Nicky just motioned Lorna to come closer. When Lorna joined Nicky near the trashcan, Nicky exhaled.
"Look this new look was for you. I wanna take you on a date, tonight. Grab a bite, walk around, view the stars. So what do ya think, Morello?" Nicky said, giving her best puppy eyes look.
"I think...I'd like that, yeah sure." Lorna smiled and walked towards the laundry room, leaving a very dumb Nicky Nichols behind who was sporting a very dumb grin on her face.
"Finally! These shit stained underpants aren't gonna fold themselves!" 'Tucky shouted when she saw the Italian girl walk in, a few minutes late.
Ey, Jesus lover! Back off, God may have chosen you, although I kinda judge his poor selection skills, but Caputo didn't choose you to supervise us. Last time I checked we were all wearing khakis so calm your nicely shaped tits." Alex said, ending with a wink that only got on the Christian girl's nerves more.
"Thanks, Vause. You didn't have to do that." Lorna said, while grabbing a basket filled with 'clean' clothes and emptying it on the table to be folded.
"A friend of Nick is a friend of mine. I know we don't know each other that well. I know nothing bout you actually except that you are engaged and-"
"I am not. I mean not anymore. I was definitely engaged once, I just called it off!" Lorna said hurriedly.
"Relax kid...you wanna talk about it?" Alex said, not sure what to do.
"No thank you, Piper and I had a very interesting talk about it and I am just kind of seeking for distraction." Lorna explained, causing Alex to stop what she was doing.
"Lorna, she is really crazy about you. I hope you don't just see her as 'distraction' because let me tell you a few things about that weirdo. She is rude, has a big mouth that lands her in trouble a lot, is sex crazed, has the attention span of a gold fish and is impulsive as fuck. But she is also kind hearted, genuine, brutally honest, loyal, intelligent and generous. That girl has a huge heart hidden behind a big ass scar. Just give her a chance or at least be open to the possibility of her being more than just a distraction." Alex said, then continued her work.
Lorna was stunned. She knew Alex and Nicky were close but hearing the tall girl talk about Nicky, reminded her of her and Piper.
"You know, you are all she talks about lately." Lorna said, trying to sound nonchalant.
Alex looked at the Italian girl who gave her a knowing look in return. Alex chuckled while shaking her head happily.
"I wonder what those trouble makers are doing right now." Alex said, smiling.
"Chapman, for God's sake! Turn it off!" Nicky shouted as god knows how much watt went trough her short body.
"Where is the off button? This is like The Green Mile! I am scared, Nicky!" The blonde shouted, on the verge of tears. She finally did find a red "OFF" button and turned the electricity off.
"Finally...I...need...to..rest." Nicky said, exhausted and shaking. This was the last time she was going to partner up with the tall blonde.
"But hey, at least your hair is back to normal." Piper said, giving a nervous smile.
"Fuck...you...Chapman."
"What happened to your hair?" Lorna asked during lunch.
"Long story." Nicky shortly replied.
"Well actually..." Piper began but after receiving a deadly glare from the now wild haired woman she dropped it. "...it's a very long story."
"How was your workday, Morello? Had fun folding my granny panties?" Nichols chuckled.
"I did, I also used that special washing powder of yours since the basic one irritates your skin and I don't want you to get that itch again." Lorna said, scrunching her nose.
"You told her that, Vause? What the fuck man." Nicky pointed at Alex.
"Yeah I did, oh work is really fun now with Morello on my side during religious rap battles and we gossip and discuss your embarrassing moments." Alex said, high fiving Lorna.
"How was it to work with miss Perv, Pipes? I hope she hasn't traumatized you yet with her nasty stories." Alex said.
"Oh it was electrifying." Piper said, gaining confused looks except on Nicky's face who failed to hide her tiny smirk.
"Hey Morello, you ready for our date?" Nicky said, entering the girl's bunk.
"Yes, I am ready." Morello said, checking her reapplied make up in her mirror.
"Have you seen Vause, by the way? I haven't seen her since dinner, and that was two hours ago." Nicky said, as she sat on Piper's bed looking at the Italian woman.
"She is probably with Piper, the two of them are inseparable lately. I think it's kinda cute. Piper can't shut up about Vause, ya know."
"Yeah, Vause is very fond of your tall blonde friend. I prefer tiny brunettes, but whatever." Nicky cleared her throat, looking the other way, not noticing the way Lorna blushed at her words.
"I think I am falling for you." Piper said, the two of them lying naked together in the library hidden behind the history books area that no one reads, absolutely exhausted.
"Enjoy the fall." Alex smirked, lazily kissing Piper's neck.
"I am serious, Al. I am enjoying the fall but at the end I want you to catch me, I don't want to fall flat on my face." Piper said, furrowing her brows.
"Hey, I really fucking like you, Pipes." Alex softly said, not breaking eye contact. "C'mere." Alex wrapped her arms around Piper who was now resting her head on Alex's breasts.
"Hello? Red? Your customers are here, waiting for your improv left over five star meal." Nicky shouted in the kitchen, with a confused Lorna.
"Forget the meal, Nichols. It's not a big deal. We had dinner a few hours ago, anyway." Lorna said, gently tugging Nicky's arms. The touch gave Nicky goosebumps, but she pulled away quickly.
"No, look we both didn't eat much then because we wanted to save room for our romantic dinner. I am just gonna cook something real quick." Nicky said, checking the freezer.
"I didn't know you could cook." Lorna said, walking towards the girl who was now grabbing all sorts of vegetables.
"Well, I am not amazing at it, but I never killed someone with my cooking skills before, so that's good right? Do you dare to eat my food, kid?" Nicky said, pointing a carrot in Lorna's direction.
"I do." Lorna said, with a victorious smile, while grabbing the carrot at the other end, breaking it in two and taking a bite from her half.
"Miller!" Pornstache called when she saw Tricia run in the hallway.
"You aren't allowed to run in the hallway. Shot!" The voice startled the young girl who dropped the candles she hid in her sleeves.
"Theft? Haven't you learned anything? Shot!" Pornstache yelled.
"Please, they aren't-I am gonna replace them one day, I swear!"
"Like you are gonna replace those pills that I gave you to sell..." Mendez glared dangerously at the shorter woman.
"Y-yes. I promi-"
"Listen here, you little rat. This is your last chance. Take these and make sure you don't fuck it up this time." Mendez darkly whispered, giving the girl with the neck tattoo the bag of pills. "Now, move!" Miller practically ran, leaving behind the candles.
"Taste this." Nicky said, holding a wooden spoon with the sauce for the pasta in front of the shorter woman who was sitting on the counter.
Lorna leaned forward, putting her red lips to the spoon and tasted the sauce. "Not bad, for a non-Italian, Nichols. Not bad at all." Lorna said, impressed.
"Damn, dinner is almost ready and Tricia was supposed to be here with candles and shit to make it more special." Nicky said, looking around.
"I dunno, I think this is already pretty darn special." Lorna said, biting her lips, jumping off the counter and now looking into the older woman's eyes.
Nicky licked her lips, walking towards the shorter woman. "Oh, really?" She smirked.
"Yeah." And Lorna closed the gap between them, putting her arms around Nicky's neck whilst Nicky's arms were around Lorna's waist. Lorna gave Nicky a few pecks only to have them be answered by Nicky pulling away every time the kisses were about to be deepened. Nicky loved the frustrated looks on the Italian girl's face every time she pulled away.
"Nichols..." Lorna warned and it was only then that Nicky pulled Lorna even closer to her and deepened the kiss, their fronts were touching and it drove Nicky wild, she started to sneak her hand up and down the younger girl's bare sides, causing an approving moan. They were suddenly interrupted by a half broken voice.
When they turned around they saw Red, who looked rough and defeated.
"Ma? You okay?" Nicky said, walking towards her mom, followed by an equally concerned Lorna.
"It's Tricia."