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"Aaliyah...mum's dead."

Aaliyah's smile dropped quickly. She didn't know how to feel. She dreamed of hearing those words...she just didn't expect to feel so..blank. She expected to feel happy, maybe even a little free. "What?" Is the only word that spilled from her lips.

"She passed this morning. I found her in...your bedroom, unresponsive. They said it was an overdose. I'm sorry." Alec explained slowly. He was still processing it too. Even if he and Alissa had a strained relationship. She was still his mother. "She killed herself?" Aaliyah questioned, more so speaking to herself. A tear fell from her eye, rolling down her cheek. "She left a note for you. Do you want me to mail a copy to you?"

Aaliyah held a hand over her mouth, shaking her head. She couldn't believe it, but she also could at the same time. Alissa always did take the easy way out. "I gotta go." Aaliyah hung up the phone before he could object. She let out a shaky breath, walking away from the phones. She found a hallway, sliding down the wall, she sat on the floor. Tears escaping her eyes.

"Are you okay?" She wished it was Janae's voice. But unfortunately it wasn't. All she wanted was Janae. But maybe this person could do. Aaliyah shook her head slowly, "My mum is...she's, uh, well she's dead." That's all the person needed to hear before going to sit down next to the mourning girl.

"I know the last thing you wanna hear is sorry so I'll spare that line. Do you wanna talk about it?" Aaliyah looked away from the floor to see who it was, recognizing it to be the woman named Alison. The one that Cindy had beef with. "I don't really know how to feel. Like I'm sad but I'm also kinda relieved, you know?"

Alison nods understandably. "It's okay to feel that way. Everyone has different reactions towards losing someone."

"Yeah but she wasn't just someone, ya know? I should be fucking happy. She ruined my life. She doesn't deserve my tears." Aaliyah cried. Alison put arm around the crying girl, letting Liyah cry on her shoulder. "You're gonna be okay." Alison rubbed her back, pulling her closer. "I can't believe her. She finally gets what she deserves and still finds a way to hurt me even more. She shouldn't get to take the easy way out. Not after what she did to our family."

"I don't know what went down but you're right. She shouldn't get to do that. You can't let her win. You don't deserve to feel pain. She should. For everything she's done." Alison agrees. She could tell this woman must've done something bad to this girl. Cause there was no way she didn't from the way Liyah cried. She didn't know much about Aaliyah but she could tell Liyah was a good person. She was gentle. And she was sweet. She didn't deserve to feel the pain she was feeling right now.

Aaliyah sniffles, lifting her head, Alison offers her a tissue that she gratefully accepts. "You're right. I can't let her win. I'm done letting her have control over me. She doesn't deserve it." Aaliyah spoke, taking breaths to calm herself down. "Exactly. You have the power here, not her. Not anymore." Alison replied.

Aaliyah nods, smiling slightly, she turns to look at Alison. "Thank you. You didn't have to help me there."

Alison shrugs with a soft smile. "You're a sweet girl. I'm sure you would've done the same for me." Aaliyah chuckles softly, wiping her tears. "I'm Aaliyah, by the way." She stuck out her hand, Alison took it with a warm smile, "Alison. It's nice to meet you, Aaliyah."

"Would you like to sit with me and my friends at lunch tomorrow?" Aaliyah asks kindly. Normally she wouldn't do this, but Alison had a nice chill vibe to her, not at all like Cindy has described her.

"I would love that."

Liyah chuckles, "Janae is gonna love you."

"Oh, she's your girlfriend right?" Alison questioned. She had seen Aaliyah with another girl almost all the time, so she figured it was probably Janae.

"I have a thing with labels, I don't like 'em, but yes. She is. Unless you're like against that? Then that could be a problem." Aaliyah hums. Alison chuckles, shaking her head, "No, I'm not against that. Love is love."

Aaliyah grinned, "I like you already."

"I could say the same for you."

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Aaliyah walked into the dormitories, walking pass Alison who she exchanged a smile with. She stopped by Taystee's cube, Cindy and Suzanne also in there. "Hey uh, where's Janae? She's not in her bunk." Aaliyah questions. They all look at her, Taystee points to Aaliyah's cube. "She in there cause P and Brook are gettin' it on in hers." Aaliyah grimaced, "Thanks for that. Just grand."

Liyah walked over to her bunk, seeing a blanket covering the bottom bed. She kicked off her boots quickly. Liyah lifted the blanket, revealing Janae in her bed, reading a book whilst listening to music on Liyah's iPod. Janae pulled out the ear buds as Liyah climbed in, dropping the blanket that gave them quite the privacy. Maybe the bunkbeds weren't so bad after all. Janae set the book to the side and turned on her side to face her girl, who looked like she had gotten finished crying.

"How the phone call with Alec go?" Janae sets her hand on Liyah's waist, rubbing her in a comforting manner.

"Uh, it was alright. I found out my mum died this morning though." Aaliyah shrugs, holding her head up with her hand. Well that was certainly not what Janae expected to hear. But was it really that surprising? Her mum was sick so her dying was kinda expected. It was just so...soon. "Shit, I'm sorry baby." Janae frowns.

"It's alright, really. She kinda had it comin'." Aaliyah mumbles. Janae pursed her lips. "True. Do you know how she died? Was it the cancer?" Liyah shook her head softly, "No, she uh, she OD'd..in my bedroom of all places. How fucked up is that? It's like she wanted to rub salt in the wound." Liyah scoffs lowly.

"Are you okay? Did you wanna talk about it?" Janae was concerned to say the least. She didn't expect Liyah to act so...calm. She honestly expected for Aaliyah to be mad. Liyah shook her head softly, "No. I kinda already did with someone else. You know that Alison girl? The one Cindy doesn't like?" Janae nods, a little upset that she wasn't able to comfort Liyah when she needed her. "She found me crying in the hall and helped me out."

"That's good, I'm glad someone was there for you. Even if I wish it was me." Janae mumbles the last part. Aaliyah smiles, leaning forward to press a kiss to Janae's lips. She pulled away softly, "You're here now. That's all I need love." Janae brushed Liyah's hair back before pulling the girl closer. "How can I help you? I wanna make you feel better. You don't deserve to be sad."

Aaliyah pursed her lips, "I could use a distraction."

Janae smirked, moving her hands under Liyah's shirt. "That would mean you'd have to bottom." Janae sucks her teeth, lips forming into a line, "I don't know if you're up to that."

She moved her hand from Aaliyah's shirt, making Liyah grab it to stop her. "Then so be it."

Janae grinned, "Really? Or are you fuckin' with me?"

"If you don't fuck me right now then your opportunity goes down the dr-" Aaliyah was cut off when Janae climbed over her, pressing their lips together into a heated kiss.

Janae pulled away suddenly, making Liyah confused. "Are you sure?"

Liyah glared at her in annoyance, "Are you seriously-"

"I'm just fuckin' with you."

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"Question. Do we still think Judy King a racist or is she just Southern?" Cindy questions the group. Taystee hums, "Mmm, I don't know."

Soso spots Janae walking over, Aaliyah and Alison behind her. "Speaking of racist." Soso mumbled under her breath but Liyah caught it. "Watch your mouth before I rip out your tongue," Liyah threatened, dropping her tray on the table. "Can you guys make room?" Janae requests, gesturing to Alison. Cindy and Alison both exchanged looks, Cindy sighing heavily as Taystee snickers.

Taystee and Suzanne moved down, leaving room for Janae and Aaliyah as they always sat next to each other. Cindy, Soso and P moved down, leaving room for Alison to sit down. "Hi. I'm Alison." She introduced herself warmly, she and Cindy shooting deathstares at each other.

Suzanne leaned forward, "Suzanne." She whispers to Alison in greeting.

"Uh...it's not Bring Your Stranger to Work Day." Cindy sassed towards the couple. Janae was quick to defend her new friend, not even looking up, "Poussey got Oriental Trading over there." She retorted. "Mhm, I don't recall us ever agreeing on that. If P gets a new friend, we should have one too." Aaliyah comments.

"Yeah, I think Final Call here is a little different." Cindy states.

Aaliyah really didn't want to use the dead mother excuse, but hey, she liked Alison and wanted her there. "Cindy, my mum just died and she helped me out. Put aside your hatred for me, please? Just for today." Aaliyah frowns, making doe eyes. Janae smirked, knowing what she was doing.

Cindy sighed, "Fine. Just for you." She gave in.

Liyah smiled softly, mouthing a 'thank you'. Suzanne leaned over Aaliyah, pushing her towards Janae to speak with  Alison. "Uh, Alison...do you have hair?" Suzanne questions.

Alison looks at her oddly, getting a look from Liyah that said 'just roll with it'. "I do. I cover it for modesty."

"I got a cousin who lives in Modesto. That's, like, modest with an 'O'." Taystee grabs Suzanne's shoulder, pulling the woman back into her seat. Aaliyah sat back into her seat correctly with a huff. "We were just conversing about Judy and how sick her class gon' be." Taystee says, getting small laughs from Cindy, Poussey and Soso.

"I already know how to cook so I'll pass," Aaliyah states.

"You guys are a bunch of suckers. I mean, come on. You really think that class is gonna change stuff?" Janae spoke up. She made a good point. Most felons who got out ended up in the fast food business. "We still gonna be bussin' tables and flippin' burgers when we get outta here." Janae pointed out, taking some food from Liyah's plate.

Suzanne pumped her fist though Cindy disagreed. "Fuck that. I don't do food service. Unless it's White Castle, you know, cause they burgers be so itty-bitty."

"I hate White Castle. The bread always comes out soggy at the bottom." Aaliyah comments.

"I'm more surprised that you tried White Castle before. Thought you ate at them fancy restaurants that require reservations and shit." Cindy said. Aaliyah scoffs, "That's rude. I love fast food. Even if it makes me bloated."

Janae chuckles, patting Liyah's thigh. "Everything makes you bloated."

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a/n: y'all i love alison idc she's so underrated 😔

aaliyah becoming more and more comfortable with janae by the day will never make me not awe 🤭

alissa is finally dead 😘

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