"Ms. Chapman, care to help your classmate." Fortunately I was usually ignored, I turned my attention to the blonde girl sitting across the room in the front row, twirling her hair between her fingers. She rattled off a seemingly eloquent answer. The teacher missed her narrowed eyes and pursed lips. Nicky snapped me out of it.

"What is it about her Alex?" she whispered to me. "She represents everything you hate about Bitchfield and you can't stop staring." she chuckled to herself. I rolled my eyes.

"Maybe she's different," I mumbled though I knew she'd mock me.

"Different?!" she exclaimed incredulously, "She's best friends with Polly Harper!"

"Hey! So was Lorna once." I shot back, my eyes found their way back to Piper, her hair fell over her face as she packed up, two minutes until the bell.

"Alex, Jesus, can you focus for two minutes with her around." My attention snapped back to Nicky.

"So you're not going to acknowledge that your girl was friends with Polly too?" I asked eyeing her playfully. Lorna had changed quite a bit since she started hanging with us, and according to Nicky, she had picked up a whole new skillset.

"The difference is, Piper is Queen Bee, and she won't give up the throne to be with a lesbian drug dealer." I sighed.

"Nicky that's it you've officially crushed on my hopes and dreams." Sarcasm dripped from my tone and just as I finished the bell rang and we all filed out of the classroom. Nicky led me to her car and I watched Piper drive off with her boyfriend. I turned to back to Nicky. "Are you going to that party?" She shook her head unlocking the car.

"No way, they're so preppy." she seemed disgusted at the prospect. "You should go though." she cranked up the car. "Sell them some of the good stuff, and you can over charge!"

"I think I will."

"Stay still Polly," I said filling in her eyebrows. She seemed giddy for the nights event.

"I'm just so psyched for this party!" I couldn't share her enthusiasm, I'd lost interest in partying.

"I don't know why, we still have to cheer first. We'll be sweaty and gross." she groaned.

"Piper!" I laughed. "You ruin everything!" She paused. "I'm sorry Larry isn't playing tonight." She looked down going quiet. My face burned, I didn't want to be reminded of what he did.

"It's alright," I began braiding her hair. "We'll get to spend more time together right?"

"Yeah," she nodded." Larry had gotten suspended because coach found out he was drinking after football games and occasionally driving. My parents didn't approve and it had put a strain on our relationship. She quickly changed the subject talking about Pete and some other cheerleaders. We both greeted Lorna when she entered the discussion switching to Christopher whom we'd never met. We all became silent as Jessica walked by, she and I had a rocky relationship. I had become cheer captain her senior year, she was not happy about it and would not let me forget it. By then it was time for the game, I told the freshman to get our banner and we assembled at the endzone. The bleachers were full, Larry was waving at me and I smiled and waved back. Despite what had happened I still cared from him. Polly rolled her eyes as the players goofed behind us. The traditions of the football games boosted my mood a bit. We eventually broke for halftime and I wandered around looking for Larry. He was no longer in the bleachers. I searched the concessions, but he wasn't there either. There was only one place. I circled the bleachers, and I found him.

"What the fuck?" and Polly. "Are you serious?" making out like fucking middle schoolers. My eyes stung, but they would not see me cry.

"Piper, wait!" My hands balled into fist, my best friend and my boyfriend whom I had stayed with when he was ostracized. My best friend who I'd just been with. I turned heel and stormed off tears streaming down my face. I hopped the fence and leaned against a tree. I felt the weight of my facade crashing in on me. I sunk to the ground sobbing into my arms. I spiraled as every time I had ever failed swam through head. I needed to drink, just to not feel this way anymore.

"Piper?" I wiped my eyes and attempted to collect myself. Alex Vause. I had avoided her as long as I could remember, we weren't supposed to even exist in the presence of each other. We couldn't be more different but we were both tied for the top rank in our class. She shifted uncomfortably from foot, "Are you okay?"

"Shouldn't you be selling to the junkies in the student section," I snapped, but it sounded weak even to me. I don't know why I was pushing her away, she was the only one who seemed to care.

"Well, that's why I'm here, but-"

"I don't want your drugs Alex," I said, my voice cold I stood walking back down to the field to take my place on the track. I'd regretted it as soon as the field came into view.

When I got to the student section Piper was near the mat smiling wide as usual, though her eyes were red and a little swollen. I shot Nicky a quick text.

"Found Piper crying in the woods." (9:02 pm)

I shoved my phone in my pocket, she was already strung out and wouldn't notice for awhile. I had to admit I found myself drawn to her. It didn't make sense she was a preppy, fake, stuck-up popular girl. Yet I'd asked how she was doing. I sold to a few kids and waited for the game to end so I could go to the party. We one the game and everyone piled into cars I lost sight of Lorna and Piper in the crowd, but the party was in walking distance, it'd take me longer but I could use a break from the students of Litchfield and I hated the beginnings of parties. I set off down the road, staying near the edge of the woods so the passing cars wouldn't notice me. Though the bullying had died down since middle school it hadn't completely especially since I dated Sylvie, I thought it wouldn't be a big deal, but as long as it was me they'd take issue. Maybe not if it were Piper. I shook my head banishing the thought. Nicky was right, I couldn't be messing with her. I felt my phone my vibrate and I took it out, she'd texted me back.

"And you walked away, right?" (10:31 pm)

"Because you didn't want to be involved?" (10:31 pm)

"Well I did try to help." (10:32 pm)

"She just didn't seem receptive." (10:33 pm)

I shoved my phone in my pocket having arrived at my destination. Music emanated from the house, I slipped in the back gate. The backyard was almost empty save Piper and me. Her golden hair obscured her face as she leaned over the deck. Her fingers were loosely wrapped around a vodka bottle. "Want to share?" I asked tenderly approaching her. She looked at me, all her energy was gone. She shook her head.

"I don't plan on remembering any of this." My eyebrows raised this was a departure.

"That sounds like a quick trip to alcohol poisoning," She just shrugged, there's no way I could leave her like this. Despite my better judgement, I moved closer trying to convince her to give up the bottle.