Chapter Six
Red sighed, getting impatient.
"It's been an entire day and she hasn't made her move." Red said to Gina. Gina had only been back a few days, her shoulder was almost healed.
"Look Red, maybe you should stop while you're in control of things."
"What control?" Red exclaimed, "I don't have my kitchen, I hurt you, one of my girls. Gloria is trying to replace me, but Parker is trying to replace me and Gloria. I have no control right now, Gina."
"I just mean... she used innocent kids as drug runners. This woman is dangerous Red. She's out of your league."
Red's face clouded over, "Don't tell me who is out of my league. Also, Norma is still ignoring me."
"She needs some time. She's just disappointed. We used to feel safe around you, Red. Now, things feel different."
Red studied Gina, the skinny woman bravely nursed her bandages. She could have chosen to hate Red too, but she understood why Red did what she did, and knew she wasn't the intended target.
The speakers blared throughout the prison, "Lunch will be served in thirty minutes."
"Another one of Gloria's glorious meals." Red quipped, bitter.
"They aint too shabby, Red." Gina answered, "and neither is Gloria. She's a good woman."
"Good people don't end up in a place like this, Gina."
"Good point." Gina answered with an air of resignation about her. She knew that there was no point arguing with Red. Once Red had made a decision, that was it.
"I'm sorry he broke your heart." Nicky said.
"You have a strange way of saying hello, Nichols." Morello replied. Nicky gave her a half-hearted shrug and joined her in the common room. Morello was watching TV.
"So... do I get my hairspray back?"
"Depends. We okay yet?" Morello asked. Nicky watched cartoons with Morello.
"I don't know Morello. I honestly don't know." Nicky confessed. Morello sighed.
"I don't know what it is you think we have. Hell, even I don't know. But we have it. You know? That's gotta count for something, Nichols." Morello's hand reached for Nicky's. But much to her surprise and Nicky's, Nicky pulled it away. For the first time during her stay at Litchfield, Nicky dropped the facades, the quips and the pretences. She looked Morello straight in the eye.
"How long you been using?"
"It's not 'using', it's just something I like now and then. You know, let off some steam. That sort of thing."
Nicky nodded.
"Thing is, Morello, I care about you. I care about you enough to not be phased by your hetero intentions. I care about you enough to be pissed off at the spineless idiot who broke your heart... But I care about me too, and I can see that caring about you could lead to me going back ...there. And it's not someplace I wanna go. Because I know I won't survive it."
Morello's heart sank as she gazed at Nicky. Nicky's eyes were soft and sincere, as was her tone.
"Nicky, I would never let you near the drugs."
"It's not you I don't trust. It's me."
"What're you saying?"
Nicky shrugged. Morello studied her, she knew what Nicky was saying. Nicky was making her choose. Morello's eyes flickered to hers. It wasn't about choosing, it was about letting Nichols know she meant more to Morello than a quick fix.
"If this is that important to you, then I won't touch that stuff again." Morello said.
Nicky felt a smile tug at the corner of her lips, "Good, because I already found your stash and threw it."
Morello let out an incredulous laugh, she hit Nicky in the arm.
"Who's idea was that?"
"Chapman, believe it or not. She's got some tricks up her sleeve."
"What's this rumour I heard about you and Vause?"
"What's the rumour I heard about you and Vause?"
"Sounds like Vause has been busy." Morello smirked. Nicky rolled her eyes, "I can't believe she thought she'd get over Chapman."
"For a second there, I thought she'd succeed."
Nicky gave Morello a shocked look, "you pessimist! Have faith in the power of true love-"
"-or lust."
"Unbelievable. You need to get your radar fixed. Those two are the real deal."
"Since when has the real deal been that damaged?"
"If by damaged you mean sexy as hell, then I agree."
Morello shook her head at Nicky then turned her attention back to the TV. She felt Nicky gingerly slip her fingers back into Morello's hand. Morello gave it the slightest squeeze. Nicky smiled.
Alex raked the leaves in the furthest part of the yard. There were no cameras here, and nobody could see you. Inmates often came down here to smoke. Hence Alex's discovery: raking leaves wasn't too bad, but trying to rake cigarettes was a nightmare. They kept slipping through the gaps in the metallic rake. She sighed and resorted to crouching and using her gloved hands to gather them all.
"Alright, well played. I've looked everywhere. Where are my books?" Piper's voice was a pleasant and much needed distraction from the task at hand.
"You gimme back my books, and I'll give you back your rum..."
Alex raised an impressed eyebrow, "You drive a hard bargain, Chapman...but you'll have to offer me a lot more than rum to get your stuff back."
Piper playfully held her gaze, "What did you have in mind?"
Alex felt her heart skip a beat, she loved it when Piper teased her back. Alex was the only person Piper allowed this side of herself to exist around. The ballsy, playful, Piper, who could match Alex in a battle of wits. Few people could match Alex in a battle of wits, and there was nothing Alex found sexier than Piper reciprocating her confidence.
Piper stepped closer to Alex, Alex didn't break her gaze.
Their eyes were comfortable on each other's. It never felt as if one had looked at the other for a moment too long. If anything, it felt like they hadn't gazed at each other long enough, and could stay in the moment forever.
Alex forced herself to look away and continue raking the leaves. She had no idea where they stood with each other now. She didn't know what any of it meant.
Piper frowned slightly, "Hey..." Speaking with a gentleness only she could manage.
Alex looked at her, intentionally blank, "yeah?"
Piper stepped closer to Alex and pulled off her glasses. She slipped them into her own jacket pocket.
"What're you doing?" She asked in a low whisper.
"What do you think?" Piper whispered back as she leant in for a kiss. Alex stepped back, removing herself from the intense attraction she felt when she was stood near Piper.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't know," Alex admitted, "Nothing with a little bit of everything?"
Alex returned to clearing the leaves. Piper studied Alex, "Will you stop with the rake for a second? It can wait."
Alex took in a deep breath and stood the rake against the fence. She turned and met Piper's concerned expression full on.
"Why so cold?" Piper queried.
Alex gave her a small smile, "not cold, just... confused."
"About..." Piper nudged.
"Us."
Piper winced inside. For the person who felt inevitable to her, to have doubts, sucked. It really sucked.
"Piper, what you said in the Laundry room..." Alex shook her head, "I haven't said it yet. And I don't want that to become a problem..."
"No problem here." Piper said, overcompensating. Alex gazed at her. "Look, I said you should only say it when you're ready or you feel like it. Not because I've realised you haven't said it."
"You 'heart' me, right?"
Alex smiled.
"That's good enough." Piper said, she stepped closer to Alex, letting her nose gently graze Alex's as the pair shut their eyes.
"Besides...I'm sure I can find other ways for you to say it."
Alex smiled. Her eyes were still shut, she could feel Piper's body pressing gently against hers.
"Is that so?" Alex whispered.
Piper gingerly kissed Alex. It felt like a fuse had been lit on dynamite, within seconds the soft kiss evolved into something deeper, something raw and passionate. Something electric.
As they found themselves caught up in desire, Alex pushed Piper up against the fence. A moan escaped Piper's lips as she kissed Alex harder than before. She was hungry for this, hungry for Alex.
Nicky washed her face in the bathroom. She was alone in there, for once. It was peaceful. Her mind wandered to Morello. She was glad Morello was for real. It was nice to finally have something good, something real and adult in her life, that would keep her in line. God knows she needed the discipline and affection.
She dabbed the towel against her face, in the mirror she caught a glimpse of Parker who was stood behind her. Nicky nearly leapt out of her skin.
"Jesus Fucking Christ!" Nicky declared, "What're you? A fucking ninja? You could kill somebody, sneaking up on people like that...Jesus..." Nicky caught her breath.
Parker nodded at Nicky's scar as it peaked out above the towel that was wrapped around her.
"I used to supply the best heroin in the state."
"And look where it got ya." Nicky quipped. She studied Parker nervously, "what do you want? Other than to admire my awesome stitches of course."
"Of course," Parker said with a small smile. "I've got something for you to give Red. A message."
"What kind of message?" Nicky asked, dabbing the towel against her wet hair.
Parker wedged the blade into Nicky's side. Nicky froze in agony as Parker twisted it in deeper. Her knees buckled beneath her weight as she fell to the ground.
Parker smirked and dropped the blade beside Nicky's head.
"Either you bleed out and die in two hours, or you end it sooner by cutting your wrists. Nobody will disturb the death of a waste of space, washed up, junkie." Parker said coolly as she placed a wet floor sign in the doorway.
She picked up the cleaning sign and hung it on the door.
"See you in hell." Parker said with a smirk.
Nicky felt warm blood drip down her side and pool on the cold, wet, floor around her. Her white towel was now soaked. She couldn't move. The pain was paralysing. Her eyes drifted to the doorway, then to the blade, as the extent of her helplessness began to dawn on her. This was it. She would die here.