OITNB Vauseman

Chapter 26 (Pipers POV)

I watch Alex carefully as we talk.

She refuses to make eye contact for long periods of times and keeps shuffling her feet.

Those are her most obvious tells.

Somethings up.

She bites her lip and looks at her feet.

Something big.

I grab her hand to lead her somewhere were we could just be alone.

But if I was going to figure it out, I couldn't let her know I was on to her.

So I dismiss the problem for now and we end up in the library.

I pull up a book called "The Book Thief" and Alex reads a book called "The Lake House"

Alex sits next to me, deep into her book.

But I just sit and think. Every so often flipping the page so she would think I was reading.

At one point I feel so jittery thinking about all the things that could happen, I tell her Im heading to the bathroom.

Throwing my book down, I stand.

I needed to think.

The bathroom is empty when I enter. Or so I think it is.

Nicky is talking to herself and pacing.

"... Why? What happened? Why is life such shit. Everything is so complicated." She mutters profusely.

"I have Morello! Why would I do that?!"

I hide behind the counter. Alex said she was with Nicky outside. And Nicky seems bothered by something.

What happened between them?

"Why did I kiss Vause!" She yells and kicks the wall.

My heart stops.

Everything is quiet and I hear her yell echo.

Kiss?

Nicky and Alex kissed?

I my grip on the counter slips and I fall on my butt.

Nicky whips around in alarm.

I still sit in shock.

Tears coming to my eyes.

"Oh shit." Nicky looks a child who got caught eating the cookies out of the cookie jar.