"I'll find you in the front." Alma said to Maddy, letting her hand go as she headed toward the back. She crept back stage, her phone buzzing.

inmate831: you on?

almanolastname2: just waiting for my friend. How are you?

inmate831: something has been on my mind recently and i don't have anyone else to ask.

almanolastname2: anything i can help you with?

inmate831: i think so.

inmate831: you said you were local, right?

almanolastname2: depends. are you gonna try to track me down when you get out?

inmate831: lmao no. i just have a small favor but it's kinda huge.

almanolastname2: a small huge favor? uh oh, sounds dangerous.

inmate831: i have a dog. my dads kinda an asshole and always hated him but kept him around for me.

almanolastname2: that's kinda nice.

inmate831: no. he's probably been really bad to him and i'm just worried. do you want a dog?

almanolastname2: you want me to go steal your dog?

inmate831: not steal. he'll give him to you if you ask. i just don't want him to be kicked around by my dad with me not coming home to visit all the time.

almanolastname2: i totally get that. aren't you kinda worried that you're giving your address out to a complete stranger? i could be a potential ghostface.

inmate831: maybe it's dumb but i'm kinda worried about Fido more then you being ghostface.

almanolastname2: you won me over. i'll go save fido when the plays over.

inmate831: your a lifesaver, seriously.

"Ethan?" Alma called, walking through the multiple people all scattered around. "Ethan Eli Lewis?"

"Alma, hey." Lexi stopped with a smile. "Woah, you look fantastic in red."

"Hey, Lexi. I'm so proud of you, man." she hugged her, pulling a rose from the bouquet she held. "For you."

"Ugh, thank you." Lexi gushed, throwing a thumb behind her. "Ethan's back there getting some lipstick on."

Alma grinned, walking toward the back to see Ethan smearing a pink lipstick onto his lips. "Knock knock, man of the hour."

He turned with a bright grin, in his Sue costume, minus the wig. "Holy shit, Lexi let you come back here?"

"I've got that Alma magic." she said with a half grin, holding the bouquet out. "Those are for you."

"Aw, seriously?" he cracked a grin, smelling them. "I dig this red look you've got going on."

"Really?" Alma smiled as he nodded. "Well, no offense, but you've got this lip all off."

"I figured." he laughed, letting her whip the lipstick off with the makeup whip. "Apart of me was thinking we were gonna have makeup artist."

"Low budget play." Alma grinned, holding his jaw as she slowly applied the lipstick. "How excited are you?"

"Fucking ecstatic." he answered, rubbing his lips together when she was done. "I think you've gonna love it."

"I bet, considering you've hid it from me for so long." she smiled, holding his face with her hands. "But, seriously, i'm crazy proud of you."

"Stop." he laughed, looking down as he went red under her hands. "You better get out of here."

"I'll be the loudest out there." Alma smiled, letting his face go as she slowly back stepped toward the door. "Front and center, might throw my bra on stage just to show my excitement."

"I might throw mine back." he said, grabbing his fake boobs as Alma smiled, leaning on the door frame. "I'm really glad you came, Alma. I know it's been a crazy week for you."

"Wouldn't miss this for the world." she gave a little smirk, nodding her head. "I love you."

Ethan grinned. "I love you too."

Alma went to leave before pausing. "Do you maybe wanna go rescue a dog named Fido after this?"

"A dog?" Ethan rose his eyebrows.

"My Prison Pussy is worried his dad is being a dick to his dog." Alma shrugged with a half grin. "Figured we could be his foster parents for a while."

Ethan nodded his head. "I'd love to be a foster parents with you."

Alma flashed one final grin, turning on her heels as she headed out, wishing everyone good luck in the process. She headed for the crowd, looking around for any sight of Maddy. Finding her, she headed over before paused.

Kat.

"Hey, I saved you a seat." Maddy said, nodding to the open one next to her. Alma tilted her head as she stared at Kat, their eyes locked. "Alma, we talked about this."

"You like gaslighting people, Kat?" Alma stood above her, staring down at her as Kat blinked. "You like treating people like shit? People that deserve better then you?"

"Alma, look-" Kat began.

"No, i'm okay." she cut her off with a nod of her head. "You ever-"

Maddy gapped as Alma leaned past her to grab Kats shirt collar. She then realized that maybe she hadn't been the best influence on Alma after all. But, in Almas head, Maddy was exactly what she needed. "-so much as look as Ethan in the wrong way, I will make your life fucking miserable until graduation and maybe even after that. So, when you go home at night, and you realize how good you had it and decide you wanna run back to him, I'll be there. Waiting to rock your shit and drag your goddamn name."

BB and Maddy gapped as Alma nodded her head. "Just wanted to get that outta the way, Kat."

She let Kats shirt go, looking to Maddy. "Thanks for the seat, Maddy. But, I think I might find a new one."

She rose her eyebrows, fighting a smile. "Okay, girl. I'll meet up with you after."

Alma walked off, heading for a empty row as she paused. Her and Rue held eye contact, sighing. Rue held up a peace sign, Alma shook her head. "A peace sign?"

"That's hippy for, um, sorry i'm such a shit head." Rue said honestly as Alma inhaled. "I know you were just trying to help me."

"You seem better now." Alma sighed her, and Rue seemed much healthier now. "You sober?"

Rue nodded her head. "You?"

"A week." Alma agreed, nodding to the empty space next to her. "Can I sit with you?"

Rue smiled, nodding her head. Alma sat down, adjusting in her seat as Rue looked over. "Sorry for telling everyone about the coke."

Alma shook her head, exhaling loudly. "It probably doesn't seem like it, but you kinda saved my life in a fucked up way."

Rue gave a sad smile. "I think you saved mine too."

Alma leaned over to put her head on her shoulder. "Do you have any clue what this play is about?"

"No fucking clue." Rue gave a snort as the lights dimmed, a scene playing out of Lexi reading to a girl who had just lost her father and turned to drugs as the answers.

"What is it like, such intensity of pain? If the drink is bitter, turn yourself into wine. In this uncontainable night, be the mystery at the crossroads of your senses. The meaning discovered there. And if the world testis to hear you, say to the silent earth I flow. To the rushing water, speak I am." Lexi stood up, holding her book as she walked toward the sleeping Jade, blowing crushed up pills off a hard book, stealing a few bottles of medicine, and leaving the fake door. "I knew Jade had been doing drugs, but it wasn't until that day, at her dads memorial, that I realized they were a greater comfort then I ever could be. Maybe that's a silly observation, but I was only thirteen. It was the summer before I started ninth grade, back when we thought we'd all be friends forever."

Alma sat up as the lights flickered, drums rolling in the background as Ethan hurried onto the stage with a camera. Alma clapped. "Yeah, go Ethan! Woo!"

She leaned to Rue. "The camera man is Ethan, Rue."

She looked over with a small grin. "I didn't notice."

"There were five of us. There was me, Grace. My sister, Hallie. Her best friend, Marta. Martas best friend, Luna. And my best friend, Jade." Lexi spoke as all five girls got their fake photos snapped, large letters appearing, Lexi running to look through the O. "And this is life. Not everyone's life. But, our life!"

The boy dropped the R as a few people clapped. "Oh, that's fucking cool."

"Wait-" Alma looked to Rue. "Is this about-"

"I think so." she nodded in agreement.

"Okay, this might kinda be a weird and embarrassing thing to admit, but I think the most defining moment of my adolescents was when my sister went through puberty." Lexi walked onto the stage again, staring out at the crowd.

"Ugh, I look disgusting!" Hallie cried out as she was lowered down on a large circle, angel wings behind her.

"Hey, Hallie, i'm in the middle of somethin." Lexi said back, rocking on her heels.

"It's just, this dress is so not flattering." Hallie looked down at the white dress she wore.

"Hallie, i'm kinda putting on a play right now." Lexi said back through a tight lipped smile.

"What?" the blonde blinked.

"There's an entire audience waiting for me to continue talking."

"Where?"

"Right here." Lexi whispered, motioning toward the rows of people.

"Oh, hi." Hallie laughed as she waved to everyone, blowing a kiss.

"Whatever. The point is, I couldn't wait to go through puberty." Lexi explained before the light flipped off her, focusing on the door as it busted open.

"Well, woah, woah, woah." the actor of Sue busted in, the Howard sisters mom screaming from the crowd. "Look at you."

"Wait, is that..." Alma trialed off, squinting her eyes before, like Sue, she let out a scream and laughed loudly, clapping her hands. "Yeah, you get it, Sue!"

Rue covered her face in half way humiliations and half way amusement.

"I feel like a big baby." Hallie spoke with a stomp of her foot.

"Hallie, I have been on this planet for 38 goddamn years and I have never seen a baby with knockers like yours." Sue said back, holding her wine in one hand. The audience laughed, Alma clapped her hands above her head.

"Mom, that was the grossest thing i've ever heard you say." Hallie said in return.

"Okay." Sue laughed, waving her off and downing her wine. Alma smiled, shaking her head, adoration all in her eyes.

The lights changed to Lexi, sat on her bed in the other room. "Look, I know being born smart, hard working, and curious are all very important qualities. But, imagine having all those qualities and also being hot. So, if Hallie was 433 days older then me, then all I had to do is wait 433 days and i'd look just like her."

The audience laughed again as the stage went black, everyone clapping. Alma rose to her feet, cupping her hands around her mouth. "Woo!"

•

kylie speaks

i know what we're all
thinking after last nights
episode and to sun it
up..no, i'm not prepared
or have any clue.

best gf alma>