Lunch that first day Maya was in the library began on an awkward note. Once the girls closed the library they walked to the cafeteria together. Maya and Taystee continued to talk, laughing often and enjoying each other's company. Maya noticed a sullen look on Poussey's face but didn't address it. Taystee was utterly oblivious. When they entered the cafeteria, the girls seated at the table they approached each gave Maya sour, hateful looks. The intensity gave her chills. Taystee dismissed herself and walked with Maya and Poussey to the line.

"Sorry about them," Taystee said with a sad voice. "They're a little sensitive to new people I bring around now."

"Yeah, with good fucking reason," Poussey snapped, causing Maya to flinch. The girl's eyes followed the tray of food behind the glass barricade, careful not to look at Maya. Taystee's expression grew more sorrowful. When Maya gave a quizzical look, she mouthed Long story.

"If it'll help I can sit with Nicky again," Maya offered in a soft voice. Taystee pursed her lips together in thought. "Really," Maya persisted. Taystee just shrugged and it was decided. She and Poussey returned to their table as a smiling Nicky greeted Maya.

"Not eating with your new friends?" Nicky asked when Maya took a seat across from her, next to Lorna. She smiled a little.

"Can't get rid of me that easily. Besides, Taystee said they're apprehensive of new people." One of the girls at the table groaned, and Nicky rolled her eyes.

"That's because of Vee. Psycho bitch... I'll let them tell you about her. Well, you're welcome to sit here anytime, kid," she grinned, which Maya returned at a smaller degree.

The rest of the day went by quickly. Taystee floated between where Poussey and Maya worked at different sides of the library, occasionally going off to do her own thing when business picked up. After dinner the girls all dispersed to their cells or to do whatever it was that they did (Maya had yet to take part in any activities or to put herself into social settings) and Maya set off to find her new bunk. Taystee told her the way to "the Ghetto" and Maya found it with ease after retrieving her things from her old bunk.

Healy had told her that her new cell mate was Washington because someone called Watson had just gone somewhere he called SHU for a repeated time. None of these words meant anything to the still new Maya.

She found her assignment, the last cell on the left, and situated her things on the obviously vacant side. She briefly considered joining Taystee in watching television, but after the icy reception from Taystee's friends decided it would be less of a headache to just stay where she was.

As she sat in silence, she couldn't help her thoughts from drifting to Bea. She was adjusting to her new life in prison well, considering her broken state at her arrival, but the memory and sorrow of losing her best friend still rested not far below her surface. The two had been best friends since the first day of first grade. They'd bonded over their love of braids and the color yellow, which each had worn. As they grew, they grew together. It was a common jest from their friends and families that they were basically interchangeable. They'd excelled in school but also kept full and enjoyable social lives. They each wrote for the school paper, sang in the choir, and founded a yoga group. However, with age grew the complicated side of life and neither had coped well.

Maya squeezed her eyes closed, willing the increasingly dark thoughts away.

...

She was unaware of the time that had passed when she heard animated voices in the distance. As they approached, Maya's eyes remained closed. Her breathing ragged, she willed the tears to remain at bay. An infectious laughter drew near before dying as the girl stopped in the doorway. With one last deep exhale, Maya opened her eyes slowly to find that Poussey stared back. Maya instinctively bit her lip.

"What are you doing in Janae's bed?" The suspicious look Poussey threw at Maya was crippling. Just that morning the girl had greeted her sincerely; how much could have changed in such a short span of time?

"Oh," Maya breathed as she pushed her up to sit cross-legged, "I'm sorry, Healy told me it was my new assignment." She felt mere inches tall under the scrutinizing gaze. Poussey finally pulled her eyes from her new roommate and retired to her side of the cell without another word.

Maya returned to a lying position, curling up in a ball with her face to the wall. She shivered all through the night, her heart heavy in her chest.

...

"So, Luna," Chapman said warmly one morning at breakfast the following Monday, "wait, do you prefer Luna or Maya?"

"Either is fine," Maya answered softly, realizing she hadn't ever caught Chapman's first name. The blonde considered this a moment.

"Well, I was just wondering why I never see you on visitation day. Usually when someone is new..." Her voice faded as Maya's eyes dropped to the plate of eggs before her. She pushed them around with her fork.

"I don't even know if my family knows I'm here," her voice sounded, barely above a whisper. She willed away the strong urge to cry. "And my friends... Well, I don't even know that I really have any."

"I'm sorry," Chapman said, and from where she sat beside Maya she lightly rubbed the girl's back. The affection helped and with a few practiced breaths Maya gave her a sad smile.

"No one's fault but my own."

"Lots of us don't get visitors," Morello offered with a sympathetic smile. Maya had never experienced sympathy so sincere as what she'd seen from Lorna.

"Isn't that the truth," murmured Nicky as she violently stabbed the contents of her tray.

Maya hadn't allowed herself to think of her parents or younger brother. She had spent the last few days of happiness with them before she found Bea and her life changed for the worse. She carried them with her all through the day, frequently finding a corner of the library to lose herself in her tears before Taystee sent her off to rest.

After the next day didn't bring any improvement to Maya's mood, Taystee decided she needed to pull the girl out of it. She persuaded her to finally eat at her table amidst the glaring eyes of Taystee's friends and at every free moment she convinced her to participate in television watching, game playing, and any other activity she could think of.

A few days passed and Maya grew less concerned with the other girls, which now included Janae Watson whose apparent anger made Maya all the more upset in her bunk assignment. The girls in turn interacted among themselves, the deadly looks remaining but in a noticeably smaller capacity. However, the venomous eye of Poussey began to shake her to her core.

Very anxious to know if you guys are still enjoying this! It's been a little slow-moving, but I'm steering it into the right direction. Let me know what you think!