Piper POV
"Newt make yourself useful, pick another newt and go down to the chapel and remove the Christmas lights that are long overdue," Luschek ordered the moment I walked into the Electric Maintenance room after lunch and my outing with Alex.
"Janae, want to come?" I asked.
"Sure, get me out of that monkey cage for a while," we walked out of the room with a box for the lights.
"Well at least light clean up is not so boring, should be easy too" I said on our way down.
We walked into the chapel then and stared at the huge overhanging mess of lights that were strewn before us.
"Riiiiiggght Chapman, I'll go get the ladder," she walked back out with a mutter and shake of the head. This was going to be a long day.
"Hey you're the new girl right?" a girl said from behind me. We weren't alone. I turned to face the voice.
"Well, yes, but both of us are new. We came at the same time," I said speaking about me and Janae.
"Are you Christian?" Her neighbour asked getting up from working on her piece of art. I was taken aback by the question.
"Uhhh nope, not really. Who are you girls? I'm Chapman, I think I saw you in the laundry room," I said recognizing Alex's possible roommate.
"I'm Pennsatucky, that there is Leanne," the girl by the name of Pennsatucky cut in. "What do you mean not really? Are you one of those gay abominations too?"
"I just... I" I didn't even know how to answer so I said, "What are you working on there?"
"I bet she is. I saw her holding hands with that Vause chick," Leanne jumped in.
"That fucking sasquatch. Jesus doesn't like gay people, so you better not be one of them or you'll never inherit the kingdom of heaven. Repent now. I'm working on a cross for Jesus Christ, he already told me he loves it" she said.
"I don't think it's fair to judge like that, and I like to keep my private life, private. Plus I have a boyfriend" I said mouth agape. How could someone say such a thing... about Alex, of all people. Though I prefer not put a label on myself. I'm just a human capable of loving hot guys or hot girls. Call me shallow.
Janae walked in then and the conversation ceased. I couldn't wait to tell Alex later, in the big-screen movie room, about this.
I chose to get up on the ladder and dethatch the lights from the walls while Janae held from the bottom. Mind you, after that we had to remove all the tape from the wires. We slowly made our way around the room almost two hours later. Thankfully from up here I didn't have to make conversation with those down below, except when I had to tell Janae I was coming down.
"Okay, that's all there is, finally," I said the last time down.
"Looks like it too, now we have to rummage through this box and remove the individual pieces of tape," Janae stuck her hand into the box beginning the second phase.
Eventually, I returned the box back to the rec room ending our work for the day.
"I'll take it back," I told her.
"Okay, I'll put the ladder away then. See you at the movie screening," she up and left.
I was about to walk into the room before I heard Luschek verbally hacking at another inmate, disgustingly.
"Go ahead newt, do you want to get out of that box or not. I want to see you fuck yourself with that screwdriver now," I heard him tell the poor girl. I was angry, did he do this same thing to Janae? What about Nicky, I mean she was the one to tell me about his nasty ways.
This was my opportunity. My opportunity to help someone. I didn't tell Larry or Polly this but I had chased the belief that there was a reason to my incarceration, that I might be able to help someone, anyone. But what was my plan in this very moment? I set the box down on the ground and paced a bit quietly.
"I can't; I'm not that kind of person. It's not even sanitary" I heard the girl whimper from inside. Think fast, Piper. Was she alone?
"Well I am sanitary."
"Ewww please get your hands off of me," she said then. I stopped thinking and picked up the box and paced nothing short of mad, into the empty room. I saw Luschek's hand on the girls waist and his hand lingering in front of her chest but she was resisting at his wrist.
"Sir here is your damn box of lights, the tape all removed," I spoke with venom and sturdiness in my voice. I looked over at the girl with knowing eyes. This girl didn't even look twenty years old. It made me that much more furious.
"Inmate get your hand off me, go, leave. You're free to go," he told her then as if nothing had happened. She locked her eyes on mine as she passed me on her way out.
"Sorry newt, that girl was about to fall and I helped catch her fall, she's a clumsy one," he easily lied to my face.
"Oh really, that's not what I heard from out there, do you want to try again" I fumed.
"Listen inmate, you tell anyone, anyone, and you will get it. I mean it," he said then. I was not afraid. I was about to ask him where I was to place this box, but I saw it then, the sign that said Christmas lights on the side of the ledge. I placed the box on there and stomped out.
I wasn't looking at my surroundings. I just wanted to be next to Alex, next to safety and away from that creepy guy. I heard footsteps behind me and a hand tapped me on the shoulder. My first instinct was Emily.
I turned ready to attack from still being riled up about minutes before; I noticed it was the girl that was being harassed by Luschek. I warmed up to her quickly.
"Oh, did I startle you?" She asked me.
"I just wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I didn't realize that sick freak in there did those kinds of things. I was trying to be strong. Please don't tell anyone. Nobody needs to perceive me as weak." She blabbed on.
"Stop please, you defended yourself as best you can. If prison only came with a manual on who to avoid we would all be safer. I'm truly sorry you had to go through that, it could get extremely nasty in here it seems. I won't tell anyone. Nobody needs to know. I'm just lucky I got to you when I did. He didn't touch you like" I motioned with my hands. ".. if you know what I mean?" I asked.
"No, he never got that far. It was my first time in the cage. I never want to be in there again. I'm Simons," she said.
"I'm Chapman, and I know what you mean. Hey, sorry but I need to go now. You sure you going to be okay?" I hated to leave but movies were starting and I needed to find Alex.
"I'll be fine. I think. See you around," she dismissed.
"Okay, by the way if you need to sit with us during electric feel free to," I invited. I really wanted her to feel safe.
"Thank you." She left with gratitude on her face. I watched her until she turned the corner out of sight. Poor girl, I thought.
I went for a quick bathroom break and found the stall with the door unoccupied for once. I would assume it was because everyone was gathered in the movies. I didn't want to get up half way through the show just to use the bathroom so I used it now.
I walked into the movie room later; it was already dark and still noisy. I didn't have any clue where Alex and the others were sitting so I decided to stand to the side of the wall at the back trusting that Alex will notice and come get me.
"Were you planning on watching the movie from this spot the whole night?" Alex's sexy voice spoke from behind me. Her arm wrapped lightly around my waist. She pecked me on the cheek quickly.
"I didn't know where you were sitting. So I knew you would come get me," I told her. A smile crept its way onto my face.
"Awwww, I never would've left you here by your lonesome. We are sitting at the front on the other side. I saved you a spot, c'mon the show is about to start," she walked before me guiding the way.
I said hi to Nicky, Tay, Poussay and Lorna, in that order; a little further down and in the next row sat Sophia and Janae. I greeted them with my eyes. I took a seat between Alex and Tay.
"What's up with all the headphones?" I asked.
"Silly, you didn't know that in order to hear the show you have to be plugged in. Here you can use mine with me," Alex pulled out the headphone from her ear farthest from me and gave it to me. Seconds later, her hand reached across me to my head.
"How was work, were you rolling around in tape?" she laughed.
"What?" I questioned.
"Don't move, you've got a piece of tape stuck to your hair. I don't want to hurt you," she said. I waited till she had it pulled out. She folded the piece of tape and stuck it in her shirt pocket.
"Work was easy-ish and interesting. Had to take down the christmas lights from the chapel, hence the tape-." I got cut off midway.
"Fuck Pipes wait, this has been annoying the hell out of me. Lorna get the hell up. P, Tay, Pipes, all of you move down one seat. What are you fighting it for Lorna? I don't know how many times you glanced over at Nicky since we got here. Here plant your ass next to her and make up" my Alex, always taking control and not allowing bullshit. Nicky let out a quick grin at Alex for doing her that favour. Tay and P laughed at the situation, even they could tell the tension of love between those two.
"Had to handle that, sorry continue, so what was the interesting part?" she had my full attention again.
"Anyway, as I was saying, someone also asked me if I was gay or a Christian and this same person called you a sasquatch. Do you know her?" I briefly filled her in.
"Fucking meth head, had a problem with her ever since I got here. Her fucking moron friend is my bunkmate. She's my problem not yours Pipes, if she bugs you, you need to tell me." Alex told me. Sound entered the headphones then meaning the movie was about to start, everyone got quiet.
The whole bunch of inmates in the room laughed when the title of the movie popped up on the screen, Mean Girls.
I looked over at Alex and whispered, "This is too much stupid in one movie." She nodded her approval. When me and Alex were together we had watched this movie and even though we had sore cheeks and an aching belly by the end of it, we had vowed to never watch it again. Guess we were breaking that vow here tonight.
Neither me nor Alex were focused too much on the movie anyway. We had the ear buds hooked over our ear but not inside them. The whole while we were exchanging and speaking with our eyes, hands, and silent lip movements, to each other. I needed this considering I was going to find out the truth in less than twenty-four hours. I was either going to turn the like to love her or, hate her all over again.
There was too much I wanted to talk to her in depth about; Luschek, Pennsatucky, how work was for her and my date tomorrow and how it was going to affect us.
We were about three quarters through the movie before a ruckus started up from far behind us.
"Yo what the hell bitch, you broke my ear bud."
"What you call me? You can buy another set at the commissary, cheap." the girl with her back to us said while quickly proceeding to throw a punch at the side of the owners cheek.
Alex had her mouth wide open. I had my hand over my mouth. Then Alex looked at me, then we both looked back at the ruckus in unison. The movie had kept playing, but nobody watched, the lights turned on.
"Inmate Contreras, that was not necessary," Mr. Caputo came forward. "O'Neill send her to solitary."
"Finally," Alex mumbled.
I didn't know who that inmate was until they turned her around and saw that it was... Emily. I was relieved. Turns out the silent ones are the most violent.
"I'm glad," Alex had said.
"I feel much safer already," I replied placing my hand on Alex's leg.
"Inmates go back to your dorms, lights closed," Caputo instructed the rest of us. So, turns out we were being punished for something that we didn't do.
"This fucking blows," Nicky chimed in getting up and out of the row first while latched on to Lorna's finger.
"Alex, I want to continue talking to you," I said to her as we were shuffling out of the room.
"I know, I do too. Would you be up for more note passing?" she asked me.
"Okay, but wouldn't that cause more clatter? You know I haven't exactly got as good a placement as you do," I admitted.
"Kid, I'll sleep on the floor... or under the bed, that way I'll be close and you'll know I'll get them," she grinned. I just nodded. I needed a good rest so I wanted to just know about a couple things.
We entered our dorms, most of the girls I knew bunked in the ghetto dorms. We were all pretty agitated at being put to bed early.
"Sleep and no talking' the guard watched from the dark. I accessed one elastic and my paper and pencil then laid in my cot under my cover to shield the light radiating from my flashlight. I began to write.
Wish I was with you right now.
What happened between you and Pennsatucky?
I rolled up the piece of paper and was about to send it before I noticed a message sent first laying at the foot of the bed. I picked it up and opened it.
Hey kid, thought I'd start it first this time.
I miss your sweet face, already.
Ale
I reopened my note and thought of erasing the first line, but instead added a 'Ditto' before it then sent it off. It was dead quiet on her side. She must have really been camping out on the floor.
That's a story for another day.
Bascially, that chicks anti everything so we clashed early on.
At least work was peaceful for me today without those troublesome two.
Ale
I read her second note. She was holding back. Why?
Glad work was good. :)
Tell me the details another day then.
If there may be one.
I find out tomorrow.
What happens to us now?
I don't want to lose our progress.
I ripped off this bigger portion quietly and slowly then rolled it up and sent it to her. I awaited her response.
I haven't forgotten.
Whatever you find out,
just remember that every great thing starts off scary.
And you won't lose anything unless you let it go.
Ale
I sensed her note rolling over that I picked it up before it even stopped. I read the note. Then I read it again. And a third time to let it sink. I needed to sleep on these words. No point in letting it bug me now when she didn't confirm anything. I wrote a short note back.
Long day for me tomorrow.
I need to rest now.
Good night, Alex.
I turned off my flashlight and tried to sleep. I heard Alex shuffle back into her cot and squeezed my eyes shut. I won't lose you again, I can't. I stayed awake but with my eyes closed, hoping I would drift off and get at least three hours of sleep.
I heard whispers in the dorms down the hall. Go to sleep. I thought to myself. Piper go to sleep. I wondered if Alex was sleeping or was she laying awake too thinking. Why was I having mental conversations with myself at this time of night? I shifted the other side. I had all the time in the world to sleep, but yet I couldnt. This was a horrible bed and the noise was prominently getting louder.
"Stupid girl, fussed over fucking headphones,"
"I know, I can't fucking sleep at this time, its too early"
"Me too, At least one of the girls was sent to shu,"
"I don't even know who that spanish chick was,"
"I never seen her around either,"
People were arguing, wound up from being high off sugar and starch the whole day. I closed my eyes for the fifty billionth time this night. I promised myself that I was going to make myself earplugs for nights like these.
Just as I was zoning out, the lights flickered on and some guards voice boomed through, telling those that were awake to go to sleep or they'll be sent to shu. Mostly everyone started complaining at the light. I pulled the covers over my head and grunted into my pillows. I was going to be a zombie tomorrow.
Suddenly, a voice I knew all too well cut through them all and nicely asked the guard,
"Can you please shut the lights off, there are some people trying to sleep. Some people with big days tomorrow," Alex had said and with that the lights got turned back off and I could finally try to lose myself to sleep again.
