Chapter Twenty-four
Amber entered her room, then jumped when she saw the intruders. Alex, Red and Nicky were stood in her room.
"You shouldn't do drugs." Red explained with a one sided shrug in response to Amber's confusion. Then Red pinned Amber against the wall.
"Search her room." Red ordered Alex and Nicky. Nicky rifled through Amber's clothes, she picked up a piece of lingerie.
"Kinky." Nicky quipped with a raised eyebrow. Amber shot daggers from her eyes at the crazy haired blonde.
"Alex, what the hell is this?" Amber demanded as she struggled hopelessly against Red, Red was short, stocky and freaking strong.
"Somebody's running drugs through the Litch. I need to find out who."
"I don't run them...I just use now and then!" Amber said, Red shoved Amber against the wall. Amber glared at the woman, "search all you want, you won't find any more, because that was all I had... the stash Pipes stole from me."
"Don't call her Pipes." Alex said possessively. Amber stared at Alex, "Alex, you know me. I don't push drugs..."
Nicky checked beneath the mattress, Alex helped her pull the mattress off the metal frame. There was nothing there.
"See?" Amber said in defeat, "There's nothing here. Now get out."
Red shook her head, "Nu-uh, kid. Not until you tell us who supplied you the drugs."
Amber whispered under her breath, "shit...!"
"C'mon... Or I'll have a C.O. on your case within minutes." Red threatened. Amber slumped against the wall and lowered herself to the floor, her distressed expression made it hard for Alex to look at her.
"I don't know. When I'm finished I leave the bible by the doorway with a bag of my commissary goods. And the next day, the bible's there with the drugs inside."
Alex stared at Nicky, Nicky let out an incredulous laugh.
"No fuckin' way."
"Pennsatucky 's going down." Alex declared as she stormed out of the room. Nicky hurried after her, leaving Red and Amber in Amber's overturned room. Amber crouched and began picking up her strewn belongings. Red took a long look at the state Alex and Nicky had left Amber's room in then she looked at how distraught Amber was.
"You be good now." Red instructed to the newbie then she left Amber's room, following the sound of alarmed cries and blasphemy.
"I hate this place..." Amber whispered sadly as she picked up her damaged books.
Pennsatucky flew face down across the dinner table and crashed onto the ground. Sending dishes and food clattering as she went. Alex stalked towards her, ready to unleash yet another storm of fury on her .
"Vause, cool it!" Nicky warned as she grabbed Alex's arm. Alex shrugged Nicky off and grabbed Pennsatucky by her hoodie and lifted her up off the floor. Pennsatucky flinched.
"Oh looord! Save me from this lesbian abomination!"
"How long have you been running drugs for Cobra in Litchfield?" Alex asked in a quiet but furious voice, she slammed Pennsatucky into the wall. The inmates had gathered to watch the altercation.
"mmhmm, bambino," Diaz piped up from amongst the crowd, "this is getting hard to watch..."
"We all knew she had it coming..." Boo answered in Alex's defence.
Suzanne watched Alex punch Pennsatucky hard in the gut, it distressed Suzanne. It was an unfair fight.
"Violence isn't the proper way to do things..." Suzanne began to mumble in repetition, she rocked back and forth as she watched the two women fight. She toyed with her hair, doing her best to suppress her excitement at a fight breaking out. Few things made her feel more giddy than the expression of true emotion.
Even if that true emotion happened to be anger.
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Pennsatucky said, raising both her skinny arms over her head to protect herself as she lowered herself to the ground into a ball.
"Just leave me be, she-devil!"
Watson emerged from the crowd, she looked from Poussey to Taystee, both of whom just watched on in an engrossed horror.
"What's going on?" She saw Vause towering over Pennsatucky.
"Leave her be, yo! Chapman already pummelled her skinny ass months ago." Watson said, Alex glanced at Watson then turned back to Pennsatucky. Pennsatucky peered up in terror at Alex from between her skinny arms.
"Please..." Pennsatucky managed, "just leave me be..."
Alex stared down at Pennsatucky as she realised the ugliness of what she was doing. She backed away from the curled up inmate and mumbled a self-conscious apology, then hurried out of the room.
Pennsatucky slowly stood up, she gave Watson a grateful nod. Watson approached her, and helped the sore and bruised inmate dust off her jacket.
"You're welcome. Just don't be causing shit now, we all jus tryina get by best we can."
Pennsatucky nodded. Taystee stepped forward, "you alright?"
Pennsatucky reluctantly nodded at the inmate she rarely even acknowledged let alone spoke to.
"Alex aint usually like that, so I advise whatever shit you pulling, you stop."
"Listen to her if I were you, Pennsatucky.." Poussey said, nodding at Taystee. Taystee high fived Poussey.
Pennsatucky stared at the crowd, "want a drink?" Diaz asked. Pennsatucky nodded reluctantly, "follow me." Pennsatucky's eyes locked with the inmates she once called her own. They were all huddled far away, they hadn't even tried to defend her. Who had come to her rescue just now? Who had been so gracious? These ... women. And ofcourse, Pennsatucky noted, the lord.
The door to the storage room was unlocked, it reeled open, creaking as it went. A widening shaft of light poured over Piper, who squinted and rubbed her eyes. Red was stood in the doorway. Piper looked at Red, Red put out her hand.
"Get up."
Piper followed the instructions instantly, she feared and respected Red, she just didn't know which one she did more. Red helped pull her to her feet and patted her on the back as she marched Piper out into the corridor.
"Do drugs again, and I'll do something worse to you." Piper nodded, her eyes wide and nerves on edge. She felt Red pat her back again, "I like you Chapman, but you're a fuckin' idiot."
Pennsatucky entered Alex's room, "hey remember when we used to be roomies?"
"Good times." Alex remarked dryly.
Pennsatucky leant against the wall, with her hands shoved deep into her hoodie pockets. She studied Alex.
"I been thinkin'..." This made Alex look at her, "I don't know who Cobra is, but I can give you the name of the guy supplying me... it's only been a month or so."
Alex paused, "I'm listening."
"It's Bennett."
Alex stared at her, "no..." she scoffed, "Pennsatucky-this isn't a fuckin' joke."
"No. I know it's not. I know. He gives me the drugs, and I got a guy on the outside who pays him on the side. He'll know about your Cobra guy..."
"So you haven't been paid to try to kill me?"
"God no. You think someone would have to pay me for me to try to do that?"
Alex laughed at Pennsatucky's very odd sense of humour. Pennsatucky managed a small smile.
"I'll go with you, prove it's him if you like..."
"Sounds like a plan." Alex answered, she noticed Pennsatucky lingering awkwardly in the doorway.
"I know this means we're like ... not friends, but the other thing..."
"Acquaintances."
"Yeah, Aquarius's, but like it's important that as a God obeying woman I tell you that being gay is still wrong. I mean, it's your business. But it's wrong. It's wrong business."
"Doesn't your book say 'thou shall not judge'?"
"I aint read that part..." Pennsatucky replied defensively. Alex exhaled slowly.
"Alex... I don't wanna get in trouble... you know?"
Alex studied Pennsatucky, the woman had a petit build and an air of fragility despite her irritating personality and offensive beliefs.
"Then we'll figure out a way to confront Bennett, that doesn't set you up."
"Bless you," Pennsatucky said.
"Don't you mean 'thank you'?"
"Naw, trust me when I say you need blessings right now, or the good lord won't be in your favour."
Alex cracked a bemused smile at Pennsatucky. Pennsatucky jumped and scowled at somebody just beyond the doorway.
"What happened to your face?" Piper's voice asked with a hint of disgust.
"What happened to yours?" Pennsatucky demanded with her hands on her hips.
"I'll see you later, Aquarius."
"Acquaintance." Alex corrected.
"Potato tomato, same thing." Pennsatucky said with a shrug as she left. Piper looked at Alex, "I have a million questions..." Piper began then trailed off as she tried to think of the words, her expression was incredulous and exhausted. Alex raised a hand.
"Could you just not right now...?" Alex sighed, Piper studied the dejected inmate. Alex was troubled by whatever was going on with Cobra.
"I never thought about how much damage I caused to peoples' lives before." Alex said softly. Piper strolled over to her bed and sat against the wall beside her. Her shoulder rubbed against Alex's.
"Being in here, realising it would've been people like Nicky, Amber, you and..." she scoffed, "even Pennsatucky... it's just sunk in. How much pain I've caused in the world."
Piper pressed her head on Alex's shoulder, Alex felt Piper slide her fingers through Alex's own and squeeze her hand.
"You're trying to make amends though."
"No. I'm only here because I got caught. Not because I'm some fallen saint seeking redemption."
Piper lifted her head and stared ahead, "why are you so hellbent on insisting you're a jackass?"
"Because I am one. And I'm selfish. "
Piper smiled sadly and stood up, pulling hand away from Alex's.
"Look around you Alex. Look at where life brought you... maybe it's time you turned it around." Piper headed for the doorway, Alex frowned.
"Where're you going?"
"I just remembered how mad I am at you. Jackass." With that she walked out. Alex scoffed an exhausted laugh. It felt like they were running in circles. It felt like that was all they ever really did. Walk away from each other, just to return at a later date.