Chapter 9
Bea put one forkful of mash after another in to her mouth, truth be told she wasn’t even hungry and it was making her feel sick. But the current atmosphere around the dinner table was so awkward that the only way she could get through it was to occupy herself by eating. Boomer and Maxine were struggling to make inane conversation, as everyone around the table was aware of the atmosphere between Bea and Allie but unsure as to why. After all, Bea had been back less than a few hours, how could they have fallen out already. Liz shot Maxine some looks nodding her head towards Bea. Maxine shook her head back. She wasn’t willing to stick her nose in. Bea and Allie could sort this themselves she was sure.
Bea pushed her plate away, she had barely left a mark on the food, little having made its way in to her mouth, Boomer was on it immediately.
“Hey, hey Bea… Have you finished with that? Can I have it?”
Bea gave a small smile, “Sure you can Booms.”
Boomer reached across the table and snatched at the plate bringing it in front of her. Liz shook her head.
“Boomer, what are you doing, Bea should be eating that. She needs to eat to get better.”
“It’s okay Liz, I’m really not hungry at the minute, Booms is welcome to it.”
“Yeah Liz, Bea is happy to share with me.” Boomer bobbed her tongue out at Liz before shovelling a heaped forkful of food in to her mouth.
“Yeah,” Allie mumbled the occupants of the table turning to look at her as she spoke, “Bea isn’t selfish after all.”
Everyone looked from Allie to Bea and back again unsure what Allie was getting at, Bea knew though. She knew Allie thought she was selfish to want to take on the freak again, but Bea thought about it from an entirely different angle. To her, not doing anything about the freak was selfish as it meant more people would ultimately suffer at her hands. Bea said nothing in retaliation though; she knew Allies mind wouldn’t be changed. There were some loud voices suddenly from behind as Tina Mercado and one of her drug users began a heated exchange of words.
“Nothing changes eh love,” Liz stated looking at Bea.
Before Bea could reply she was aware of herself being jolted and falling through the air. She felt herself hit the floor before Tina landed heavily; half on her and half on the floor. Bea lay completely still on her front, feeling the wind knocked out of her sails. She was acutely aware of the pain in her stomach intensifying, having Tina in a fight and knocking you off your chair before landing on top of you was bound to hurt. Allie had rushed from her seat instantly and was grabbing at Tina pulling her roughly away from Bea,
“Fucking get off her you complete idiot,” she shouted as Tina got to her feet, pushing Allie away from her.
“Don’t worry I don’t want to be touching that any longer than I have to, she’s a lagger,” Tina spat as she began to walk off.
“Not so quick Mercado,” Will Jackson said, “Slot for you, we told you last week, anymore fighting and you would be slotted.”
Tina looked like she was about to protest but saw the look on Wills face so she quickly changed her mind.
“Wait there,” Will instructed her before bending down to join Bea and Allie along with the rest of the girls from H1 down on the floor.
“Come on girls, give her some space, back off, everyone sit down.”
The rest of the girls bar Allie reluctantly stood up and returned to their seats. Bea remained motionless on the floor, her forehead pressed against the cool linoleum. She was actually scared to move, her stomach was pulsating and she was scared she had caused some damage to it. She could feel Allies gentle hands rubbing her back in a slow circular manner. Will placed his hand on the back of her neck,
“Smith. Are you okay?”
Bea gave a slight nod of her head.
“Okay then, can you get up then?”
Bea gave a slight nod, “Just give me a sec…” she muttered, her voice slightly muffled by the floor.
Bea took a deep breath and slowly bought herself into a kneeling position before she felt Allie and Will either side of her holding on to her arms pulling her upright and gently placing her back on the now upright chair. Will knelt down in front of Bea, pain etched across her face and tears filling her eyes.
“You okay to walk back to you room Bea or do you need the wheelchair?”
“She needs the wheelchair,” Allie stated, “look at her, you fucking idiot Mercado, you must have shit for brains.”
“It was an accident Novak, get over it. She’ll survive, she always does.”
Will radioed through for Prison officer Jake Stewart to come to the kitchen with a wheelchair. Bea hadn’t refused the offer and he could tell she was suffering whilst not wanting to show it to the watching women. He got to his feet as Jake entered the kitchen.
“Right ladies, come on now you’ve all finished, make your way back to your units, shows over. Jake, thanks, could you escort Mercado to the slot for me.”
Jake nodded, “Sure, she okay?”
Will looked down at Bea bent double in her chair, Allie crouched down next to her holding on to her hand,
“Not sure, I’ll have a chat with her when I get her back to her unit.”
Jake nodded, taking hold of Mercado by the arm leading her out the kitchen. They walked down the corridor in silence until they were sure no one was around.
“Nice work Mercado, I didn’t know you would strike so soon. Seems like you’re a natural. Ferguson will be impressed when I tell her.”
Tina smirked at Jake,
“I don’t fuck about, that bitch has made me suffer for long enough, I’m happy to be part of any plan to finish her for good.”
“That’s good to hear. Don’t forget though Mercado. Be discreet, if you get found out this is all coming back on you, me and Ferguson will deny everything, so make sure you don’t fuck up. Behave and get out the slot as soon as possible and then finish Bea and do it discreetly.”
Jake and Mercado looked at each other and laughed as they walked off towards the slot.