Alex POV
It was nearing nine pm and I was still fuming. The library was supposed to relax me and I was far from that. I trudged my way down to the chapel with a pen and lined notebook in hand. It was too late for running. In an hour I had to be in my bunk.
The chapel was empty when I arrived. Usually it is occupied with inmates getting it on.
I took a seat at the front of the room and started to vent my thoughts out on paper, one of my ways of coping. I was frustrated at myself for being able to write only one word, in every direction, all over the page that I threw my pen across the floor. The word was 'WHY'.
WHY had Piper done that? WHY was Piper here of all prisons? WHY was she playing with my heart? WHY did she find it correct to flirt with me then shove it in my god damn face that she didn't want me? WHY was Em making it harder for me to deal with everything? WHY the fuck?
I was going crazy. I stood up and tore the paper into small pieces, the remains now all over the floor. I paced back and forth a total of ten times, from where I stood to the alter- a wooden table used for blessings. Nothing was calming me.
I needed to feel something, something other than this feeling of loss. Damn this fucking chapel. It was as empty as my heart. Maybe screaming would've helped but I didn't want to attract the attention and be sent to psyche.
I ran to where the table at the front was and slammed my fists into it. I was going to beat the emotions out of myself, make myself exhausted. I hadn't realized that I had been crying the whole while. Fuck you Piper for causing me turmoil. I abruptly stopped hitting the table after I felt a snap and a sharp pain in my whole right hand. "Owww, fuck." I cursed at myself clutching at my right hand. Initially, I thought I had broken the table.
I looked at my hand that was now quickly forming a dark purplely black bruise. I tried opening and closing it but stopped because any millimeter of movement caused an ache. I could've continued pounding the table with my left hand but I didn't because it was useless. It didn't give me the leverage I needed to be satisfied.
I ignored my throbbing hand and went back to sit down and think. I didn't think about Piper, but I thought about Em. I thought about ways to get Em removed without getting myself into trouble. I didn't want Piper ever finding out about my past with her. It was fifteen minutes later before I deemed a plan I found, good enough. I was going to frame Em and get her sent to SHU. I was going to have her threaten Piper in a letter and have it signed by her. There was only two problems; I couldn't write-my hand was broken, and how was I going to get it there. For now I willed myself to write with my left hand using my right elbow to steady the paper. However long it took me; it was going to get done.
It was nearing midnight and I was surprised they didn't have a search crew out looking for me yet. Dumb CO's. I could be miles away escaped from this hellhole and they wouldn't realize it until too late.
I was tired and satisfied with the letter I had finally finished. It read:
Chapman,
Leave, you know who, alone. Word got out you treated her like a bitch. You fuck with one of us you fuck with all of us and what I end up doing to you will be the worst of them all.
Signed,
Your roommate.
I folded the note twice with one hand and stuck it into my wireless bra and fell into a much needed nap on the hard seat.
I awoke in the middle of the night, grunting at the pain in my hand, neck and back. I left the chapel stealthily with my notebook and pen in hand. I didn't want to get caught. I also didn't bother picking up the mess I made.
I didn't pay attention to where I was going and let my body lead me to where ever it wanted. The rooms upstairs were less supervised than those in the ghetto so I could walk more freely. It still didn't register to me why I was up there. Where I landed to was the last place I wanted to be at.
Pipers room. Becasue I was already there, I walked in.
"Piper, Piper," I whispered groggily and painfully into the dark. I thought I sensed some motion.
Pipers POV
"Where are you taking me? Am I in trouble?" I asked O'Neill, a tall guard, who had me by the shoulders. I wanted to ask about Alex.
"We're going to your councillor. He ordered me to come get you," He told me.
"So I'm not in trouble," I said.
"I don't know, now shut it. You'll find out soon," he said.
We walked upstairs and down two corners to Healy's office. O'Neill knocked on the door and pushed it open without a reply.
"Here she is sir." he said.
"Mr. Healy, am I in trouble? Do you know if Alex Vause is okay?" I let my worry slip my lips.
"Alex Vause, is someone YOU need to stay away from, Chapman. You can leave now." he answered me and looked at O'Neill to leave.
"Can you tell me, I need to know," I tried a second time.
"She is okay, I would believe. I'm not her councillor though so I can't give you a solid answer. Anyway I wanted to bring you here because we are giving you your daily job and handing you your new wear. Time to slip into these Khakis, Chapman; and we are moving you down to the B dorm, bunk 11. These all come into affect starting tomorrow," he told me.
So this is what he wanted me for. At least Alex was okay since nobody was red flagged as missing. I was mean though, and I'm not a mean person. I was going to apologize to her if I ever saw her again.
Did I ever mention I hated my impulsive speaking? It manages to fuck me over all the time.
"Okay. Mr. Healy you never told me what my new job will be," I awaited my answer hoping it would be library work.
"We are assigning you to electric maintenance with Luschek. You are to be there for two o'clock, in the rec room in the basement. You can leave now," he told me.
Electric maintenance? But I didn't know the first thing about electricity. I'll come back tomorrow to request a change. My councillor still looked a bit bothered by my questioning of Alex so I didn't want to piss him off any longer.
I went to the bathroom to change into my new sac. I decided pulling an Emily tonight, and opting for an early sleep. I wanted to ask Emily about what her relation to Alex is but when I got into the room she wasn't there. How odd, she usually sleeps early. I wasn't going to look for her.
It was the middle of the night before I stirred from my dream to reposition myself. The door to our dorm was open, as it is every night, but this time I thought I heard a voice call me from the outside.
"Piper, Piper," it was Alex's voice, but it sounded different, wounded almost but definitely tired filled. What was she doing here, couldn't be sleepwalking. She never did that.
"Alex, are you okay? Where are you?" I whispered back. I waited for a few seconds so my eyes could adjust to the dark and suddenly I was wide awake and could see her standing there. She was holding her right hand, looking all limp.
"I'm near the door, come get me. I don't know where you are," she told me.
I appeared next to her. I put my hand around her waist and led her over to my bed. As I got closer to her I could tell her right hand was rather bruised.
"Alex, I am so sorry for what I said. I was a jerk. What the hell happened to you? Wouldn't you get in trouble for being here?" I apologized. We talked in silence.
"Pipes I'm fucking tired right now and I've had a rough night. I also injured my hand blowing off steam," she told me. I suddenly felt so bad. She was hurt because of me.
"Alex you can take my bunk, I'll sleep on the floor. You have to climb up, I'm on the top. First though, I gotta see your hand. I'll wrap it up in socks then you can go to the nurses office in the morning and get it checked and gauzed up," I told her.
"Hurry up," she said offering me her injured hand, we sat on the floor to do this. I took out two pairs of socks to tend to her.
"Geez Alex, what did you do?" I asked her while wrapping in the dark. She winced.
"I beat the fuck out of the chapel's alter table. You're hurting me Piper," she said silently. "Fuck, Em sleeps beneath you?" she said a few seconds later after the realization.
"Didn't you know you were going to lose? You're human Alex and I know it has to be so it stays together. But I'm sorry either way. Yeah she sleeps there. Just ignore her and don't be too loud," I whispered.
"Haha, I thought I was made out of Titanium. Whatever, will do. Hey can you put my notebook with your stuff for now," She asked.
"Yeah give it to me. We're done now," I got up and put her book with mine. I went back to her and offered my hand to help her get up.
"I can get up myself, thanks," she said getting up.
I pointed to where I slept. She put her foot on the rung and stepped up. I put my hand on her back to catch her fall. "Good night Alex, get some sleep now." I ended.
I took a spot on the floor and used my prison sweater as a pillow. It was like camping. A few minutes later Alex's voice broke through the silence once again.
"Piper, I won't be able to rest properly worrying about you breaking your back on the floor, get up here. We can share the bunk together," she told me half asleep. I smiled and got up. I wasn't her girlfriend anymore but I could still get a shot at being a good friend at least.
I sat on the bunk back against the wall, and she was sitting up too. I saw in her good hand was a book I was reading.
"This your book? Nice choice," She said.
"Thanks, I love it, but it's hers," I whispered pointing below me. "She let me borrow it yesterday, let's go to sleep now."
At that she sat close to me and laid her head on my shoulder. I wasn't going to complain. Plus she smelled good.
She grunted. "I'm still not too comfortable Piper. Move down the end and put up your arms," she said. I moved. She picked up my pillow and put it on my lap then curled up onto her side, laid her head on my lap and made a sound of content. Within moments Alex was taken under into her sleep. I never slept, I stayed awake watching her.
A/N- Started off bad for Alex and ended off nice and sweet. :) Leave me some feedback in whatever way you'd like.
