Chapter 5 – Job Assignment
"Fields!" A guards voice boomed behind Em and she jumped,
"Here, uh, I'm right here." Em scrambled from where she was sitting and made her way towards the guard, holding a door open for her.
"Yeah, ok, follow me."
"Okay, w-where are we going?"
The big guard huffed, "I'm going to lunch, but you're going to go in that room, get stripped, searched and assigned your new job and room."
Em wanted to stop dead in her tracks but there was another guard walking closely behind her.
"I'm sorry, but did you say that I was going to get-"
"Stripped and searched? Yes, it's called a strip search, but don't worry, our lady colleague will be doing that."
Em swallowed heavily, "oh fuck." What did I get myself into?
"What was that?"
Em snapped her head up, realizing that they had stopped in front of a room.
"Nothing, it was nothing."
"Alright, well here we are, Officer Stone will be escorting you from here."
"Okay, thanks?" Em squeezed past the big man and into the small room where, indeed, a female guard was waiting. She was older, maybe in her late 30s and she looked angry.
"You Emily Fields?" The woman stood, revealing her 5'7 frame, short blonde hair pulled in a bun, and the permanent look of annoyance on her face. Em wondered if she knew how to smile.
"Y-yes. Yes I am."
"Alright Miss Fields, here's what's gonna happen."
x-x-x-x-x
"Alright, the easiest part was over, you want something to cry about, here it is."
Officer Stone stood back and allowed Em to take in the sights...here she was, Emily Fields, her parents goody two shoes daughter, standing in the sleeping quarters of section 3.
Officer Stone kept walking so Em followed.
"Some basic things you need to know: there is a curfew and wake up time, everyday. Everyone is up and ready to go by 8, that's when breakfast is served, if you're late you don't eat, got it?"
"Y-yeah, got it."
"Alright good, lights out by 10 every night, no later, you're allowed to pee but only if a guard is present to see you go, if you're caught out later than curfew, well, you get punished."
Em was walking all through the cell blocks now, just passing the D block.
"What's the punishment?"
Officer Stone stopped in her tracks, "why, you already planning on breaking the rules?"
Em shook her head rapidly, "no, no, I just-"
"Good, then you don't need to know, also don't interrupt me again."
Em snapped her mouth shut and nodded.
"Another thing, showers are taken in the morning, or during your free time used for activities, but there's hardly any of that here, so make sure you get that taken care in the morning before breakfast. Everything here runs on a tight ship, we keep to the schedule, so keep up or get punished, got it?"
"Yes." It didn't seem too bad.
"There's been talk of drugs circling, I don't how, but someone always finds a way to smuggle shit in and out, so if you see anything you let one of us know, if you're caught with something illegal, you will-"
"-get punished?" Em said a little too loud and a little too sarcastic.
Stone paused and Emily stood still, afraid she would find out what one of those punishments are. Instead Stone briefly laughed and continued.
They had just past block G.
"Next thing, you'll be assigned a job later today with the counselor based on if you have any skills that a job here requires. You're to work every day 9-2, there's a little free time for activities and then there's the rest of the day to do as you choose. Most people go back to their cells and do whatever it is that they do."
Emily continued to nod, "And where is everyone now?"
"At work."
"And what kind of jobs do they have available?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
Em nodded, this lady was not welcoming at all, but- snap yourself out of it Em, this isn't a place for nice people. They are all real criminals.
"Did you hear me?"
"What?"
Officer Stone rolled her eyes, "I said here is your room, you're in cell block 7 I...shared with one Lauren Rojas."
Em nodded, peeping into her new "room."
"Okay," Em was nervous to be sleeping next to an arrested stranger for possibly 3 whole months, "and what did she do?"
Suddenly Officer Stone slammed her palm down on the wall next to Em so that her bicep was in front of Em's face, preventing her from walking in, "Fields! That is a question you do not ask around here, do you understand?"
Em had no idea why it was such a big deal, "but-"
"It's for your own safety, you might not want to know what some women are in for and for others it's gonna surprise you why they're in here in the first place, and that leads to you either being afraid and paranoid, or getting too nice, which leads to two more rules: no fighting, and no sexual relations."
Em swallowed and choked back a laugh, how could anyone engage in sexual relations if they were all so closely watched.
"Uh o-okay. I'm sure that won't be a problem."
"Maybe not right now, but things-relationships, if you will tend to happen." Things happen? What the hell?
"Alright, some of your things were brought already, they're on that desk, you've got 10 minutes to sort through them and then you can come with me to meet with Officer Grey, she's the counselor here and help assign you a job here."
Em nodded and when Stone moved, she walked into the small cell block and sat on the bed, more of a cot than anything else, she ran the palm of her hand over the blanket: it was rough, and thin and it was nothing like the blanket she back home...but for the next 3- maybe 4- months, she had to pretend it was good enough.
Em laid back and took in a deep breath, staring at the dull grey ceiling before remembering she had a box of 'her things' brought for her.
She stood and walked over to her box reaching in and pulling out the first item she saw. It was a journal, leather bound with an ink pen attached to the side.
There was a sticky note on the back: for anything you forget to tell me when I see or call you - love Han
Em smiled and put the journal on her desk, she wasn't much of a writer, but she thought it would be a good time to start...the last she wrote in a journal was high school.
Reaching into the box, Em soon realized everything was from Hanna, a sticky note on most of the things, with funny sayings and Em could imagine Hanna's voice perfectly.
There were magazines: In case you need something when you shit, lol -Han
The bathroom toiletries: Don't forget to get behind the ears! Love, mother dearest
Some older books that Em had read a long time ago: Because, well, you're still a nerd.
And lastly there were a few pictures of them, from high school, college, and the one they took in front of the store before they bought it: in case you forget what my beautiful face looks like, or need someone to fantasize about...jk -Love Han
Emily laughed and used some rolled up tape already on the back of the pictures to gently push them against the wall, low and near her bed, where her head would lie before she slept.
Just as Em was tempted to open the journal, Officer Stone came and stopped near the entryway of her open sleeping quarters, there were no doors, and no ceiling and the walls were low, if you stood, you could look around and see all the other blocks, "Fields, time to go!"
Em stood up, rushing to put everything back in its box and under her bed. Stone waited and when Em stood up straight she started walking, "my break starts soon, so Reyes here will escort you to Grey's office.
"Reyes!"
"Fields," Reyes came into view and Em bit her cheek to hide a smile.
"Joshu-" Em stopped when Reyes' eyes widened, "I mean, Officer Reyes," Em said, changing the tone of her voice, "how nice to see you again."
Stone eyed them, and raised a brow, "what is this? You two know each other? You know this," she said waving her finger between them, "can't happen, you'll both be in trouble."
Reyes choked back a cough and stood straighter, "trust me, they'll be no problem, I know Fields because I was in the department when they held her overnight, nothing more."
"Plus I'm gay." Em whispered, smiling because she thought it was funny.
"What?"
Em snapped up and looked at Stone.
"Nothing, nothing, I-"
Joshua stepped in, "she said no way."
Stone still looked between them and looked at Reyes in the eye, "good because you know what happens when officers take things too far," Stone said coldly, walking out the room.
When Reyes was sure that she was out of earshot, he turned to Emily, "are you out of your mind!"
Em shrugged, "sorry, it just slipped, and I-she was so rude-"
"Emily, don't say that around here okay, it could get you into trouble."
Reyes had placed his hands on her shoulders and was looking in her eyes sincerely; the concern was short lived once he saw the shock and confusion on her face.
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing, it's just, I'm sure you've heard the stories, and they're not true okay, we don't let any of that happen on our watch, I promise, it's just, well, some may come on to you, and strongly, and if they know-"
"That I'm gay?"
Josh nodded, "yes, they might take that as an invitation, not to mention that you're totally beautiful."
"Reyes," Em warned, flushing slightly.
"What? I'm just stating the facts, plus since you'll never like me like that, it's okay to compliment you. When you get out, I'll be like your personal complimenting slave of something."
Em shook her head, "how many rules are you breaking?"
"None, no one is here to punish me."
"I am."
Reyes laughed, "woah there Em, you know how that sounds to me right?"
Emily choked at her own brazen choice of words, "okay, okay, I walked into that one. Just take me to get assigned a job please?"
Reyes nodded and puffed out his chest and in a faux deep voice, "alright Fields, this way."
Em shook her head but followed suit and to Grey's office.
"Alright Fields, I'll wait outside until you're finished, then I'll take you to where you need to be, I trust Stone gave you the run through tour?"
Emily nodded and Reyes continued, "you'll work with your crew and then there's lunch, you have a free period and then whatever else you're schedule permits. You got this?"
For the first time, Emily was feeling unsure, "I-I-"
"Yes, you do, this is your life for the next four - well most likely three - months, so say you do, because it'll be over soon."
Em bit her lip then released it, "okay, I got this."
Reyes nodded, and jutted his chin towards the door, "go get 'em Em. Haha see what I did there."
Emily shook her head disapprovingly and knocked on the door, "Come in," was heard and Em pushed the door open.
"Hello, I'm-"
"Emily Fields, brought in on charges of theft from a jeweler's and sentenced to four months in this hell hole," the voice came from a chair facing away from Emily, "three, with good behavior, am I correct?" The woman turned around in her swivel chair, revealing to Emily the greyest eyes she's ever seen on an equally stunning face.
"Yeah, yes, yes m'am Officer-"
"It's Garibaldi, but for the last 5 years, it's been changed to Officer Grey, and I'm sure you can see why."
Em nodded, still standing awkwardly by the door, "yeah, um-"
Officer G cut her off again, "yes, your job assignment, well take a seat and we'll find something for you."
Em walked over to the worn in upholstered chair and lowered her body into the seat.
"So," the counselor began, "you can call me Grey, that's what all the inmates refer to me as, no one really says Officer Garibaldi."
Em simply nodded, placing her hands in her lap.
"So Fields, what is it that you do?"
Em was confused, "I'm sorry?"
"Uh, what job did you have before getting yourself landed here?"
Em nodded, "oh, I co-own and run a coffee shop/ bakery with my best friend."
"You cook?"
Em remembered the last time she tried to make her mother's empanadas, "no."
"Okay, well either way you'll end up doing something new to you but I should start you off with something simple, it doesn't seem like you'll be here long so I don't want to give you something too big. Job assignments don't usually change so let's see what we got."
Officer Grey flipped through a manila folder, shaking her head at some papers and setting aside others.
"Alright," after a few minutes, the stack was considerably smaller, "I've got three relatively simple and easy jobs for you and I'm feeling nice today so you can pick. I've got gardening, mostly the older women are out there so I don't know how fun that'll be sitting in dirt with about 10 women?"
Em shook her head.
"Alright, tossing that," Grey returned it to the original stack, "alright now we have the wash room, you'll be helping Snuggles and Candy over there, they basically run what goes on down there."
"Snuggles? Candy?" Em questioned nervously.
"Uh yeah, Snuggles, is nice, a little too nice with her lady friends though, hence the name, plus she washes the clothes so the name fits. But she's been sent to solitary for that kind of behavior and she hasn't acted up for a year. And Candy, well she's this little Russian that helped knock off a chain of Candy stores in her youth with her sisters and two cousins, she got busted and brought in finally for a bigger job a few years back."
Em nervously bit her lip, somewhat fearing for her safety in this new place she'd be living in for a while.
"Listen Fields, these three jobs are the least dangerous, and no one in here will be able to hurt you, we have some of the best guards around, and everyone has been locked up in here long enough to know not to break the rules, just pick a job, keep a low profile and you'll be out of here soon."
Em shook her head, finding it easy to believe the woman in front of her. "okay, well what's the last one?"
Grey shifted in her seat and stretched her neck, "alright, last one: library. Now let me just tell you that-"
"I'll take it." Em wasted no time in nodded her head and agreeing to working in the library, she imagined it would be the most peaceful.
Grey shrugged and handed the paper over, "there's only one other inmate in the library, it's not a job that requires much labor so you'll be stuck with Barbie."
"She sounds fine, I want to work in the library, please."
Em stood and waited for Grey to dismiss her, "alright Fields, we'll see, Reyes will take you to get situated in the library and then the rest of the day is yours."
Emily nodded and thanked her counselor before walking out, not hearing Grey wish her a silent 'good luck.'
"So Emi-Fields, what'd you pick?"
"How'd you know I picked and didn't just get assigned?"
Reyes smirked, "Mmm maybe because I think Grey eyes over there has a weakness for hot inmates like you."
"Ew, stop. You're lying."
Reyes shrugged, "I dunno Fields, last time she let anyone pick was when Barbie Doll got here a few months ago."
"Barbie Doll, hmm, Officer Grey just said that name to me. I think whoever that is, I'll be with her in-"
"Your sleeping quarters?"
"What? No, I was going to say in the library."
"Oh even better, one on one with her."
"What's so bad about this girl, what'd she do?"
Reyes looked around, "It's just how abrasive she's been. She doesn't talk to anyone and the way her eyes cut into yours when she looks at you," Reyes shivered and shook his head. You'll meet her soon enough, plus she sleeps in the block across from you so you'll be seeing her around a lot."
Em shrugged, nothing he said seemed bad, "so why do they call her Barbie, unless that's her real name, but then I thought we go by last names-"
"God, you ask a lot of questions, try not to be so perky when you work with her, she didn't take kindly to the last inmate she was working with."
Em swallowed and nodded, not even sure what that could mean.
"And people around here started calling her Barbie because she's got these crazy blue eyes and well she's blonde, she's also got these perfect teeth and I guess she's got a nice body."
"God you all sound like such pigs."
Reyes scoffed before he added, "to be honest you should-"
"Don't start, we talked about this already."
"What? Okay fine." Reyes laughed and stopped once they reached the right building, "alright this is it, the library."
"The library," Em repeated out loud, "she's in there then?"
"Yup."
"And now I've got no other choice but to spend every day for 3 to 4 months with this girl right? The one everyone is so afraid of?"
"Yup, and it's not that we're all afraid, it's just she's kept to herself for so long, no one has heard her speak and no one has even seen a change in her facial expression-" but Reyes stopped once he seen the look on Em's face, "you'll be fine Emily, nothing bad will happen, and if it does-"
"You'll be the first to know." Em smiled and took a deep breath.
"Good luck, see ya around...inmate."
Em laughed nervously and watched as Reyes walked away. She looked down at the handle and walked in, less confident in this job than she was a few minutes ago.
At the back of the library, arms crossed, was a short man with blond hair, he had a round belly and round face, and looked bored out of his mind.
"Hi, I'm Emi-Fields...and-"
"Yeah, I was filled in a few minutes ago. I'm Johnson, your work buddy DiLaurentis is out filing some 'new' books in the back. You two can figure out what you wanna do. I'll be here," he huffed and added quietly, "...as always."
"Uh-um, okay thanks." Emily wasn't sure what else there was to say to the man. She found herself fixing her new orange shirt before waking through the racks to the back, where the soft sound of books sliding onto shelves was heard.
Em peered through the empty racks and her eyes landed on the back of someone's head. This someone was a few inches shorter than Em and had long blonde hair down her back.
Curious to see this DiLaurentis that so many people seemed hesitant about, Em walked around to stand a few feet from the girl and cleared her throat.
"Eh hem, uh hi, I'm Em- I'm Fields and uh we're gonna be together."
Shit. Why am I nervous?
"I mean working, we'll be working in here together, I'm new and-"
The blonde turned around and Emily finally seen the piercing blue eyes that her imagination did no justice to.
Em stopped mid-sentence and just stared until the girl turned around and abruptly shoved a box into Em's arms, a box full of books.
Emily tore her gaze away and cleared her throat again, "yeah, right, we're here to sort these, got it."
Stupid, Em, what the hell is wrong with you?
Emily turned around and looked up at the faintly labeled shelves and took to sorting the books in the box alphabetically by the author's last name.
She wasn't sure how long she'd been standing there stacking but the silence was killing her and she couldn't stand to hear only the sliding of old books across dusty shelves any longer.
"So do you read any of these? Like do you have your own collection of favorites? I'm not much of a reader but I do pick up a good book on my down time, you know like when I'm not too busy with anything I just curl up next to this window seat I have and I-"
Emily stopped when she noticed the girl she was addressing was still putting the books on the shelves, having been unfazed by anything Em was saying.
Emily sighed and tried another approach, "you know I get it, if you don't want to say anything to me, I'm new here and this is your space, I'm sure you liked the quiet but I was just thinking 'hey we're both here and this is gonna be our job for awhile so why not just talk and maybe'," but Em was quickly cut off.
"What makes you think that you can talk to me?" The blonde spat.
To her surprise however, Emily answered just as fast, "maybe because you seem so approachable."
With that Em scoffed and walked away, but not before she stopped at the sound of laughter.
She turned around to see the blonde laughing softly and Em decided now that she loved the sound.
"You're laughing?" Em walked towards the girl slowly, watching intently as the light in the blue eyes sparkled from the sudden outburst.
"Yeah, that was pretty funny, no one's ever decided to say anything back to me before."
Em's cheeks reddened for a reason she wasn't sure of and she found herself lightly laughing back.
"Well I didn't see a reason not too so..." Em looked away at the stacks of books she had sorted and waited.
"What's your name?"
"Fields."
"Your real name?" The not so intimidating girl asked again.
"Emily, it's Emily Fields."
The blonde smiled, thinking and quickly deciding she liked the tan beauty named Emily.
Em looked at the girl expectantly, "and you're..."
The young woman with the blue eyes smiled and held her hand out for Em to take.
"DiLaurentis, Alison DiLaurentis."
Em gulped, "nice to meet you Alison."
"Nice to meet you, Emily."
AN: so? Thoughts? I apologize AGAIN for the late and untimely updates, my laptop officially had a virus and I have not been able to go on it in weeks, and it's difficult to write these chapters from my phone but I'm doing it, and I hope you liked this chapter.
Please vote and comment!
Lina