Catalyst

XXI

Ally tries not to make it obvious that she's looking for Frangipane when she approaches her and Camila's cell block.

She makes eye contact with Camila as she walks by. Camila is mumbling something to Lauren, who has her head rested on Camila's shoulder. She smiles softly at Camila and keeps going, thinking there's one more place she can look for Frangipane before she calls it quits and goes back to her cell block.

It has been an interesting few months here in Litchfield:

Camila arrives. Lauren gets attached to her, of all people. Dinah and Kordei become a thing. Camila conspires against Kordei. Dinah breaks up with Kordei. Kordei gets Lauren thrown in the SHU. And now, Lauren and Camila are... Lauren and Camila.

But Ally? She's had her own adventures, it seems. Completely separate from the rest of her friends. She feels like she's been an outsider through all of this, and you know what? Maybe she is.

The SHU has done that to her, she realizes. She's always having to get caught up on something. Part of her doesn't mind. It's easier this way, to not form such solid connections. With anybody.

She turns a corner, thinking that maybe she can find Frangipane in her special spot. She heads out of the cell blocks, turning away from the recreation rooms. She glances around to make sure there's nobody coming from either direction before stopping at an old closet. Usually she'd knock, but it doesn't cross her mind today. She figures if Frangipane is here, she'll just be smoking or something.

She grabs the handle and tugs the door open, finding Frangipane inside. Though, she isn't alone. Ally freezes in horror when she finds Frangipane a few fingers deep in some other girl. They both startle when the door opens, but once Frangipane sees it's Ally, she simply smirks and seems unbothered.

The other woman, however, looks absolutely mortified. She gets dressed and scampers off so quickly Ally isn't sure she'll be able to recognize her later. Ally still hasn't budged, too shocked to say anything. Her mouth hangs open.

"What's the matter, buttercup?" Frangipane asks, unfazed. She begins pulling her pants back up, raising an eyebrow.

She doesn't know what to feel. She was actually beginning to like Frangipane, and she thought that Frangipane felt the same way about her. How could she betray her like this? Sure, Ally knew Frangipane's reputation going into this, but she thought Frangipane had forgotten about the other girls she was messing around with.

Frangipane seems to know exactly what Ally is thinking. She scoffs as she finishes getting dressed, pulling the closet door closed behind her, "Don't know why you've got your panties in a twist, sweetheart. I told you I wanted casual."

"Y-you," Ally stumbles over her words, her body shaking with anger, "You should have told me."

"I don't have to tell you what I do in my free time," Frangipane says smugly.

"Yeah, but I thought..."

"You thought what?" Frangipane looks her up and down with a scoff, "That you're special? That I'd change my ways for you? Just cause I say some shit to get you off during sex doesn't mean I mean it. You're just another piece of ass, honey. Sorry."

And with that, Frangipane walks away towards the recreational rooms. Ally stays in her spot, watching Frangipane walk away. She doesn't move until Frangipane turns a corner and disappears.

The amount of hurt that flashes through her is overwhelming. How could Ally be so stupid? How could she let this happen? Tears form in her eyes, and it registers in her mind that she's in too public of a place right now. Her brain kicks in and forces her to take quick and unsteady steps back down the hallway, returning to the cell blocks.