Alex POV
"Alex, you alright?" Piper's voice came to me. I was lazying around on my cot exhausted at the events of the day. Piper took a seat next to me. I was feeling fucking annoyed a day before the holiday and even she noticed; I wanted to present something cute to Piper but I just couldn't find the items I needed to do so. I was a hectic mad woman. The more I stared at the balloons hanging from the ceilings in this prison the more I just wanted to pop them.
"I'm okay, kid, just a tad frusterated. Someone stole some things from my box. You know the ones my folks brought to me and I can't find any fucking balloons. How fucking hard is it to get balloons. Anyway, how is that spontaneous job offer going for you?" I asked her. Even she looked kind of bothered to me.
"Hmm did you check commissary? And boring. The book is as dry as bone. I mean at least I got through the shoveling but who would've thought this would be just as painful, huh Alex? It's like nothing but endless info about beets, asparagus, celery, chard, carrots, corn, cucumbers, dandelion greens, fava beans, garlic, kale, mushrooms, peas, potatoes, tomatoes, and a whole lot others. And that's just the veggies part. Then there's the flowers section, and the fruits. It's a big book Alex, you'd probably enjoy it," she told me. I laughed out loud.
"Dear god, that sounds extremely fucking boring," I said.
"Hey you're not religious, stop referring to God in that way, dyke," Leanne walked into her bunk with Doggett closely behind her. Doggett could never keep her mouth shut. Piper fidgeted to get up.
"Piper stay," I said my hand on her forearm pushing her down. I was finally able to keep my hand out of my sling officially and soon enough I was going to be able to remove the cast once and for all.
"She can't stay here. You can leave now, we have things to talk about," Doggett told Piper.
"Are you fucking kidding me, we were here first. SHE. CAN. STAY." I stood up to a confrontation. It wasn't even her own dorm.
"Babe please, let's just go to my dorm, they are so not worth the fight right now," Piper said grabbing me by the hand. Doggett and Leanne's eyes both trailed down to the beautiful hand holding mine. I brought the hand up to my lips and kissed it with a nod. Doggett's lips curled up in disgust as we walked out.
"You know what I bet that fucking methhead stole my stuff. Yes, I did check commissary by the way, they didn't have any. I think everyone bought them out for the decorations," I told her.
"Shhh, no need to be mad, not at this time of the month. Yeah, probably. Why did you even need balloons anyway?" she asked me.
"Well I had something planned for you, a surprise mostly, guess that's falling through now." I sighed.
'Awww," she looked pouty.
"Don't worry, I may be a pissed off lesbian kicked out of my own damn prison bunk but I've got a couple more tricks up my sleeve," I said. That made my love crack a huge smile on her face.
"Yes, I do, so hang in there. Hey kid, did you place me as your partner for tomorrow because for some odd reason I'm signed up as a volunteer even though I told my counselor that i'll be with you," I asked her.
"Oh Alex, I didn't yet. I can explain.." she started, but I cut her off by raising my hand.
"No Piper, stop, I do not need you to layer more crap over my already deflated day. Whatever you have to do tomorrow you go, do. As long as I still get to see you. Whenever you are done, meet me at one of the game areas, I'll be there. You are my valentine after all," I said. A sheepish 'thank you' came out of her mouth.
"Anyway kid, I'm going to sleep now, you should too. Good night," I got up off her bed with a light squeeze of her hand and a kiss on the cheek.
"Night Alex."
The prison went into count mode before bed time; everyone was excited for the day tomorrow. It was going to be one of those nights, impossible to sleep.
I swung my legs over my cot and stood up for a stretch the next morning; a note fell from my stomach to the floor. I picked it up. On the outside of it, written in penmanship I knew all to well, read Piper. So she got there before me. I opened her note, standing with my back to the door.
Good morning. I really wish I was with you right now and not him. I'm sorry. I love you. HVD -Piper
I sighed, so she chose today of all days to 'have the talk'. I was going to question her intentions later. I turned and stealthily walked to Piper's dorm to leave her my own hand written letter on the side of her bed so she could wake up to it. This was the first of many plans for the day. Clearly nothing was going to dampen my love for her, except Piper wasn't even in her bed.
"Happy Valentine's Day Vause!" Nicky jumped on top of my back, surprise hugging me as I stood in Pipers dorm. Her dorm mate grunted out a what the fuck.
"Holy fuck girl, wake the whole prison up will you!" I said. A few grunts were heard from around the room as well. "Happy Valentine's to you too!" I turned to properly hug her. Lorna was next to her, so I reached across to take her into a hug as well.
"That's exactly what we are doing Vause! Don't you and Piper want to join us? We are greeting everyone awake! C'mon bring your girl, it's the day of love! Lets get to the festivities!" Nicky bounced excitedly.
"I would, only I don't know where Piper is, I came to give her, her gift and well she's gone," I admitted.
"Shit, what?" she asked, looking around me to an empty bunk that belonged to Piper. "Dude but you told me she said yes?"
"She did, but who knows what happened," I said getting frustrated.
"Dude, today was our day to celebrate as couples! Do you want us to ditch and help keep you company by volunteering?" she asked me.
"No Nicky, don't ruin your day for me. I'm meeting Piper later. I told her if there was something she needed to get done that she could go do it," I told her.
"She'll come Alex, don't lose faith in her" Lorna spoke in.
"I know, I'll just help around for now, let's go wake our friends up," I said pulling them along. There was no point in dwelling.
Piper POV
I waited in the common room for Larry to come. The volunteers were already helping distribute snacks to the visitors and inmate couples. I just wanted to deal, be done and go back to Alex. I stood up to get myself a coffee to be more awake and alert. They were offering warm beverages and heart and cupid shaped cookies. Whoever baked them must have been such a good artist, down to the very curve of Cupids bow and arrow.
"Hello Piper," I turned to walk away with my coffee and there stood Larry in all his beautiful hesitant composure.
"Sir, would you like a coffee, tea, or hot cocoa as well?" said the same inmate that served me mine. Larry's eyes were too fixated on me to be focused anywhere else.
"...Larry answer her," I managed to croak out. He turned to address the lady.
"Oh, no thank you," he rushed. The inmate turned away to serve the next person. I walked back to my table and took a seat.
"Piper may I sit with you?" he asked me. I took a sip from my cup, burning my mouth in the process but I didn't care.
"Take a seat if you want Larry, nobody's stopping you," I said. He sat.
"How are you Piper? Thanks for allowing me to visit you today," he asked.
"I don't think I can particularly answer that Larry. How the hell do you think I am, or even how I've been feeling?" I asked him.
"Piper please. Can we just enjoy our day first? I don't want to argue, plus you never call me anymore," he said.
"This is not "our day" Larry, I can manage this day without you, and be completely happy," I said. "You screwed up the phone situation on your own accord I must add, but if there is nothing wrong then tell me now why you did what you even did?" I pressed on.
"Okay, look I know Polly told you what she saw. But it was a huge misunderstanding. I also hope this doesn't be the end it and end all of our relationship," he began.
"Larry, let's go talk outside, where I can get some fresh air," I was nearly suffocating in this room and I wasn't sure if it was because of Larry invading my space or something else altogether. "You might want to go get an actual coffee now or you'll freeze," I said getting up.
He walked over to the serving table to get himself a coffee. As I waited a bit away, Lorna and Nicky walked into the room showing signs of affection. I was happy for them. Larry joined me and liberally took me by the hand and a kiss on the cheek in front of them.
"Pipes, we are already the talk of your people. Those servers told me that we looked cute for each other and that I should get closer to you," he said. I froze because Nicky and Lorna were watching with wide eyes. Nicky shook her head in shame. I stalked by them and Nicky whispered, "Nice move Piper."
"See I told you, even that wild blonde haired chick thinks so too," he said referring to Nicky, only that wasn't the context she meant it in.
We arrived outside and I finally had the bravery to pull out of Larry's hand. I was frozen back there.
"Explain Larry, and don't you dare touch me again until you are done with explaining. I for one can not even fathom what you did back there in front of my friends," I said finding my voice.
"Oh shoot, sorry Piper. I'm going to tell you right now. Polly had it all mistaken like I said. She did walk in on me with a woman in the living room," he searched my face for a reaction, but I had none because it was something I already knew.
"The thing is, and Polly never got to hear it because she was seeing red and didn't let me explain, but the girl was a co-worker. She finally got her promotion; one she always wanted and so we had a party to congratulate her. She's been working her way up and she's finally where she wants to be," he said.
"What the fuck Larry, a house party in OUR apartment, and you were alone! What promotion did she get, a promotion from co-worker to your girlfriend? What did you do, kiss her? And what the hell were you doing at my moms house the past week? Is that a way to suck up to her to get her support for being an ass," I asked surprised at my own anger.
"Jesus Christ Piper, nothing like that! I fucking love you, she is just a coworker. Do you need me to spell it out for you? That is also why I agreed to Polly's suggestion to marry you with no hesitations. You remember Madeline, my editor. She got promoted to being a live reporter from her journalism job. We went out to have dinner and then drinks at our place. I know I should have asked you first and that is the only mistake I made that whole night, I'm sorry. Also shit Piper, can't you accept that I may have acted out of the goodness of my heart, I wanted to help your mom, so what? I didn't do that to prove anything to you.. or her. Your mom needs help for your fuck up," he said.
"Were you two alone?" I asked him. I calmed down, he had a point, that was exactly like Larry. Larry was too nice to be bad. More inmates were working on getting the games going outside.
"No Piper, even though when Polly barged in it looked like it. But Steve was in the guest room sleeping his hangover off. Not even I could believe he slept through our whole argument or even got that drunk to begin with. I thought Polly was going to have a heart attack, can you forgive me Piper," he asked me.
"So all of this, it was all just a big misunderstanding then. I can forgive you Larry, but that still doesn't mean I am going to marry you," I said more speaking out of the fact that I had someone else to fall back on.
"So that's it, are you breaking up with me?" Larry asked me. I did not know how to answer that and frankly I was shocked at the question being voiced aloud. I had thought about it many times.
"... I don't know. I'd like to think I'm not but it's hard to wrap my head around what you've done. You hurt me Larry especially because you could have easily been up front with me that day you asked me to marry you. I thought you cheated on me for someone you met at your DJing gig." I relaxed in knowing that wasn't the case. "You had to have known Polly would have told me eventually though," I said.
"No never. Let me make it up to you please. Let me have another chance. I messed up but Polly made it out to be more than it really is. Here, let me start it off by giving you this. I know its simple but I couldn't bring anything too fancy in here, it's the thought that counts right Piper," he said pulling out a handmade flower made out of tissue paper that he then handed to me. It was a pretty one, the colors were shades of my favorite, purple and red. I appreciated the sentiment.
"Thank you Larry, it's very pretty. How long did it take you to make it? You aren't one that is crafty with your hands. You always performed with your lower parts better," I teased him feeling more at ease.
"You are more beautiful Piper, than any flower. Hah, stop, don't make fun of me," he got red. "I actually had to go online and bring up a step by step direction on how to do it. It took me a good five hours and ten redoes later," he said smiling cheekily. I laughed at him and senselessly slapped him playfully on the arm.
"YOU TOOK A WHOLE DAY! How embarrassing Larry, but thank you! You know we can actually be good friends," I said.
"I don't want to be only friends Piper, open up the flower there's a message I wrote inside," he said.
"Larry I don't want to ruin it, it looks so pretty. I want to show it off. I'll open it tonight before I go to bed," I told him.
"Okay." He took the flower from my hand and stuck it in my hair behind my ear. I smiled and so did he goofily. I dragged him over to the game area outside so I could enjoy one game with my new friend before I ran off to Alex.
Alex POV
"C'mon Tricia you can do it," I exclaimed to her. We were located in what was regularily known to be the yoga room. It was highly entertaining to see these various couples try to bite the apple on the string without the use of their hands. I helped run this game with five other volunteers. There were two sections for challengers to play. One inmate had to stand on a chair suspending the apple from a string while the other rooted on the couple attempting. There were rotations between us volunteers. I haven't seen one couple able to bite it yet and we were nearing forty-five minutes into the events.
"Mercy keep the apple angled properly!" Tricia told her girlfriend. They went at it again, the apple falling out of their lips time and time again. They did share many kisses though, that was the lovely part of this game. I wondered if Piper was successful in dumping Larry. If she got back with him- I don't even want to go there, and if she didnt then maybe we can give this game a shot.
"Hey Vause we need more string, can you go outside to the Three Legged Race gaming section and get some more?" an inmate asked me.
"Alright, how much more do you need?" I asked, happy to oblige.
"Just get enough to last us another two more hours," she told me. I was going to go with my own judgement.
I walked out into the hallways and many inmates that were stuck inside with nothing to do where crowded around the windows trying to get a peek at the events outdoors.
"Oh my gosh, Chapman and that guy looks so cute together!" one inmate said. WHAT?
"I know, did you see him put the flower in her hair! What a gentleman," another said. WHAT FLOWER!
"She seems so excited to play the race with him! She pulled him by the arm! Lets see how that goes," a third said. FUCK!
Her fucking boyfriend was playing our games together and FUCKING PEOPLE WERE PRAISING THEIR RELATIONSHIP.
"Excuse me, I need to see this, let me through. That's my fucking girl out there," I said pushing myself over to the window none too happy.
"Damn, who Chapman? That's a nasty love triangle right there." I looked out the window and rightfully so I saw Piper and Larry tying a rope around both their legs. I clenched my fists ready to punch a hole through the window.
Piper POV
"Larry let's do the three legged race! Let's have some friendly fun," I told him. I might as well. I was going to see Alex later. I can have the best of both worlds today. I eyed Healy through slit eyes standing off to the side. If it wasn't for him me and Alex would be here right now.
"Oh man, okay. This is going to be a disaster. Remember the pattern; right, left, right, left," Larry said, tying the rope around both our legs. Then he wrapped his arm around my shoulders and I wrapped mine around his waist, hugging him close.
"We need two more couples to challenge this one we got here! It's a couples race, lets have some fun!" The inmate working that game pitched into a blow horn.
"We'll play," Lorna and Nicky came up to challenge us hand in hand. I gave them a smile but worried that somehow they were doing this to prove a point and make me feel more guilty.
"Nosotros también! Nosotros también!" A crazy inmate known to be possessed by the devil and her husband by the name of Diablo screamed in Spanish running forward.
"Okay okay, we have ourselves a race!" the volunteer issued.
"Good luck Piper," Lorna said.
"Ready, set-" Nicky looked back to the building for a quicky and suddenly muttered "HOLY SHIT Lorna, Vause is watching us,".
"She is? Do you want to stop? Let's stop Nicky," Lorna suggested.
"Okay."
"Go" the inmate sent us off. Me and Larry wobbled our way to the finish line. We were nearly tripping over each others feet.
"C'mon Larry, right, left, right, left!" I yelled wanting to win. My adrenaline was at its peak. I looked back at our competition and noticed then that Nicky and Lorna had stopped. What had happened? The crazy Spanish couple were steps behind us.
"Izquierda, derecha Diablo! " the Spanish lady yelled.
"We can do this babe," Larry whispered in my ears. The finish line was marked with two chairs set a distance apart with a strip of paper taped at each end to the backs of the chairs. We had to rip across it first to win.
"Almost there!" I said.
"No! Esperar!" our competition wanted us to wait. I could almost feel the paper beneath my fingers. There were a couple steps left till we reached the finish line but unfortunately we had to mess up our pattern and fall beneath it. I fell smack on top of Larry, my leg twisted to the side. I stared into his eyes lost for a tiny second.
"RIP THE PAPER, REACH UP TO RIP THE PAPER AND YOU TWO WILL WIN!" The inmate instructed.
"Piper rip it," Larry exhaled his arms wrapped around me. I bobbled my head of the puzzlement and turned in his grasp taking the strip of paper in my fingers and ripped.
"And we have a winner. Chapman and, sorry what's your name?" she asked.
"Larry, I'm Larry," he said smiling. The rope around our legs undone.
"And Larry! Stand up and share a kiss!" she said into the blow horn still.
"Can I Pipes?" He asked. I nodded in the moment. I was still lying down on top of him breathing in his shampoo and favorite cologne. He lifted his head to my face and kissed me lightly, first, on the lips then strongly pressing his tongue into my mouth. I helped support his head with my arms, my hands in his hair. I felt his dick harden in his jeans. I slowly adjusted my body adding pressure down below on purpose. He was not getting any of me. He moaned.
"Holy crap, what an epic fuck up, Alex..." I abruptly stopped the kiss upon hearing Alex's name and pushed off Larry. "She's on her way down here. I have to go stop her, she's clearly hurt and needs comfort. Come with me Lorna." I overheard Nicky talk to Lorna and watched them both run away. It didn't fully register to my brain yet. I thought Alex said she was volunteering?
"Larry quit slobbering all over me, let me go," I forced him to stop. I didn't want him, and I hoped to god Alex could see through this.
"Ugh I have a hard on for you," he softly said still holding on to me.
"I know you do, but let me go!" I replied.
"I feel like my zipper is imprinting its pattern onto my cock," he steamrolled onward ignoring my pleas. A small group that included some of my friends had surrounded the race area. It must have been an odd sight to see me struggling as I was.
"And I can picture you enjoying me as I bury my cock deep into your ass," he said. I wanted to throw up.
"Keep dreaming, Larry unlock your arms now," I said. I finally got off him with the help of Taystee who watched the whole thing and began walking away. I went over to the basketball court and picnic table and put my hands in my head.
"Piper you okay? I got carried away, I do miss our lovemaking," Larry asked me concerned. He followed me all the way to the table under the tent. I shook my head while rolling the flower between my fingers.
"Larry damnit we are just friends, I shouldn't have done that," I said. He looked puzzled.
Alex POV
"Yay they won and she finally kissed the guy!" the girl next to me clapped giddily. That she did. I covered my ears and took a deep audible breath. I slid my back down against the wall under the window, into a crouch, and shut my eyes tight trying to retain my feelings and not cry out. I was enthralled and mad by all of it. How could she pull such a stunt right in front of my eyes? How!
"Are you done?" I forcefully questioned looking back up, the noise not ceasing.
"It was pretty cute though." someone else said. Jesus, these girls were irritating me too.
"Fuck off you know. I cant fucking believe you guys. It is not cute at all. It's disgusting. Do you not see how your words are affecting me?" I yelled.
"Sorry, but we aren't lesbian like you," they said.
"What the fuck ever, now move it," I got up and left the window to go interrogate Piper. What a turn of events. I gave her some space and she abuses it by kissing him. So much for having everything under control.
I jumped the set of stairs and pushed out of the door and past Healy who had a huge grin on his face.
"Inmate Vause, you cant go out there," Healy stepped towards me hand on my shoulder. Oh no is he not telling me what I can or cant do, not now. Nicky and Lorna raced up to me.
"We got it from here sir," Nicky helped. Lorna tried to stop my advancements. She was tough for someone so small and timid.
"Alex, hun this will pass," Lorna tried to soothe. Nicky joined her.
"Vause, you cant do it. You have death written all over your face and in your eyes. Lets go back inside and you can vent to us. I know she's done it again and you're hurting. You aren't thinking straight," she took over.
"Nicky, Lorna let me go, now. I do not want to hurt you guys," I said tears stinging my eyes, threatening to fall. There was no way I was going to get over this, I wanted to love Piper tonight but now that was not fucking happening. What if she had agreed to marry him!?
"Lorna let go of her, I got her. Vause I'm not letting you go. You can hurt me all you need to but not Lorna," she told me. I shoved and squeezed her by the arms hard. She winced.
"Nicky damnit let me go, I need to go find out something, just let me go."
"Vause I'll let go if you calm the hell down, cry in my fucking shoulder if you need to, as long as you calm the fuck down," she told me through grit teeth.
"But why, why would Piper do such a thing?" I finally stopped the struggle and broke down as if Nick's invitation to cry was all I needed to start.
"I don't know Vause, Piper loves two people. It's not only you, unfortunately you've got to learn to share her," she said.
"But I can't do that. I'm jealous and greedy and seeing her with anybody else but me, kills me. I love her too fucking much," I said with salty tears falling down my cheeks.
"I'm sorry Alex, it's the hand you were dealt." By this time Lorna came near and began rubbing my back.
"But what if she accepted his marriage proposal? I've got to go find out," I questioned.
"Fuck, not now," I sensed her voice suddenly switch to one of surprise.
"What? What's happening?" I said trying to look around but her hand was holding my head down onto her shoulder.
"It's Piper, she's here."
A/n- I wanted to post something, which turned out to be A LOT for me, for tonight. I also don't speak Spanish so I apologize beforehand for any mistakes there. Do let me know what you think and feel about Pipers actions, and about the chapter in general!
