A/N: Here's Chapter 2, Let me know what you think!
The rest of the school day seem to fly by. Piper kept herself to herself for the most part. She carried out any work that needed to be done in preparation for the following days and was ready to depart for home when the bell rang indicating the end of the day. Before leaving, she quickly checked her email to see that Alex had responded with the details of the night ahead. The blonde noted them down, turned the computer off and headed for the exit.
Later that night, the sound of knocking on the door rung through the apartment. "That will be Polly" Piper thought. She rushed to the door in order to greet her friend.
"Hey Pipes" Polly greeted.
"Hi!" Piper ushered her best friend in.
Polly settled her things down beside the couch before enveloping the blonde in a hug.
"So" The brunette started. "I was promised hot guys tonight"
"That you were" Piper giggled. Smirking, she continued "Alex has it sorted"
"Who's Alex then?" Polly questioned all too aware of the smirk on Piper's face.
"Just the head teacher at Litchfield"
"And does this certain head teacher know you have the hots for him?" Polly raised an eyebrow.
"Pol… Alex is a woman and I don't have the hots for anyone. I'm with Larry remember."
"Ohhhhh… a woman" Polly had the biggest grin. "Hasn't stopped you before has it pipes?"
Piper began blushing. The brunette noticed this and thought she would push a bit further.
"You're as red as a tomato piper! That tells me you certainly have the hots for said Alex."
"I do not!" Piper tried to defend
"Piper, I know you... especially when it comes to matters of the heart" Polly shot back.
With a slight giggle, Piper "Don't be ridiculous Pol, she's gonna be there tonight. You'll see there's nothing in it"
"Whatever you say P" Polly simply replied. "Come on, we had better get ready!"
A rattling of keys and a fumbling in the lock startled the pair.
"Honey I'm ho-" Larry began to sing.
"Oh hey pipes" said Larry, leaning in to give her a kiss.
"Polly" He nodded his head in her direction as if to say hello before continuing, "I didn't realise we'd have company tonight"
"Yeah… erm actually we're going out" Piper said.
"What? Since when? Larry questioned, taking a seat on the couch.
"Since Polly asked me this morning and then a few colleagues asked as well this afternoon. Its tradition apparently"
"Right" He nodded. "Well do you think I can come? I mean, I don't want to be stuck in the house all night by myself?"
"No!" Piper stated, a bit too abruptly.
Polly shot her a look as if to tell her to choose her words carefully.
"I mean… erm, its colleagues only." Piper tried her best to find a reason.
"But Polly is go-" Larry began.
"No, what she meant was" Polly turned in her seat to face the older man. "Its women only… you wouldn't want to be the only male there would you Larry?"
He scrunched his face up, "No, I guess not."
Piper lets out a sigh of relief which didn't go unnoticed by her best friend. She mouthed the words "thank you" to the brunette, to which she offered a small, knowing smile back.
Standing up and stretching out, Larry said, "Im gonna get a shower and call it an early night." Kissing Piper on the forehead he wished them a good night and exited the room.
When Polly looked back in Pipers direction, she noticed that the blonde was wearing a confused expression. "What's wrong p?"
Piper sighed, "He didn't even ask me how my first day was?!"
"I just get the impression that he doesn't care"
"He's probably just tired pipe" Polly tried to reason.
"No! I'm tired. I'm tired of him and his boring ways. I'm tired of this pathetic life!" Piper was getting really worked up now.
Polly moved over and embraced the blonde in a long hug. "Hun, I know you haven't been happy for so long now." She waited a few minutes before saying, "If this life isn't what you want… go out and get the one that you do want"
The blonde began to nod. "You're so right Polly."
"This is why you're my best friend. Thank you!"
"Enough of him anyway, I've only come for the hot guys so let me get ready! I need to look my best" Polly winked.
They pulled apart and began to get ready for their night out. Piper called a cab for the two of them and reeled off the address to the driver before settling down in their seats.
"I want you to have fun tonight pipes. You deserve it ok" Polly said.
Smiling, Piper simply replied "ok"
Stepping out from the taxi on to the pavement in the warm summers evening, Piper could hear an annoyingly loud wolf whistle. Turning around to identify the culprit, she found it was no other than her new work colleague, Nicky Nicholls. Piper whispered ever so quietly "brace yourself" to Polly as if to warn the brunette of the other woman's potential behaviour before walking in the direction of the bar.
Nicky couldn't have made it any more obvious that she was checking the two women out. Feeling slightly uncomfortable Polly spoke up. "Eyes up here please"" She waved two fingers in front of her own eyes as if to signify where she wanted the other woman to look.
"Chapman" Nicky nodded in the blonde's direction to greet her. "And who's this fine piece of ass you've brought along?"
"Nicky this is Polly my best friend, Pol this is Nicky" She pointed between the two of them.
"Well… well… well, hello Polly" Nicky dragged her words out as she once again looked over the woman's body that stood before her.
Polly raised her eyebrows in disgust. "Can you stop looking me up and down please like I'm a piece of meat? You're worse than some of the men I've met on nights out"
"Oh so you're not going to be joining me for a game of softball any time soon no? Damn you don't know what you're missing" Chuckling, she continued, "I'm just having a laugh don't get your knickers in a twist"
"Alright, I'll let you buy me a drink to make up for it" Polly gave a sincere smile.
"YES!" Nicky exclaimed. Without a seconds thought, she hooked her arm through Polly's and pulled her through the entrance to the bar. The brunette looked back at Piper with the widest eyes but all the blonde could do was smirk back in response.
Piper knew exactly what Nicky was like from the interview that the other woman had held for her. She came across as wild and very, very forward but it didn't seem to bother Piper in the slightest. Nicky wasn't exactly the type of person that the blonde would usually mix with and if her mother even had a sniff of what she was like, Carol would be straight over to the school giving her daughter the third degree. For as long as Piper had known, she had surrounded herself by the waspy type, just to please her mother, but recently she just started to care less and less. The blonde wanted to broaden her horizons and meet new people so this job was the perfect time to make a start.
Following closely behind the two women, heading in the direction of bar, Piper was stopped in her tracks suddenly as she felt a hand grab on to her arm. Piper's facial expression was one of confusion and shock. Before she had chance to turn around and see who had unexpectedly grabbed her she felt the mystery person's breath tickling her neck ever so lightly. She felt the person lean in to her ear before they whispered "Didn't think you were coming." Piper's body involuntarily shuddered as realisation hit her of who was stood behind her. Alex. She would recognise the raven haired woman's voice anywhere. It was so unique and beautiful and like nothing she had ever heard before. The hair started to rise on the back of the blonde's neck and goose pimples were beginning to form. Alex didn't fail to notice before blowing gently on the smaller woman's neck and lent in to whisper again. "Is this the effect I have on you Piper?"
Piper began to blush as she realised how easily she could become undone just by the feeling of Alex's breath and the sound of the taller woman's voice. She turned on the spot to face her boss and looked down to still find Alex's hand around her arm. Gently pulling her arm away so that she could regain control of it, she got to the point where the two women were hand in hand. Just as the blonde was about to bring her own arm back down to her side, she felt the grip on her own hand tighten. Piper looked up at Alex with a small smile and asked, "Are you drunk?"
"No, not even close…. Do I need to be?" Alex raised an eyebrow with a cocky look about her.
Piper didn't answer the taller woman, smiling to herself she simply turned on her heel and walked in the direction of the bar. Alex followed behind closely before ordering another round of drinks for the whole workforce and led the pair of them back to the table which their colleagues and friends currently housed.
Settling down at the table, the blonde noticed that her best friend was also present. Polly looked in deep conversation with Litchfield's head PE teacher Pete. Piper could tell almost instantaneously that the brunette was flirting. She was playing with her hair in a not so subtle way and laughing at every single joke that the Australian gave out. Piper felt pleased with herself that she took on the role of cupid tonight. A man was just what Polly needed to keep herself occupied and off the blonde's back constantly. Piper loved her best friend to pieces but there was only so much of Polly's loneliness that the blonde could take.
Many conversations and drinks later with her new colleagues, Piper saw Pete get up to leave the table and head in the direction of the bathroom. She thought this would be a perfect opportunity to have a break and drag Polly to the side so they could discuss the evening so far. Making eye contact with her best friend, she mouthed the word bathroom and got up from the table hoping that the brunette would follow.
Polly walked into the bathroom several seconds later and lent against the sink. She threw her head back. "Oh…. My…. God….." She exclaimed.
"He is actually perfect Piper."
"Pol your flirting is about as subtle as being hit in the face with a brick"
Polly rolled her eyes before giggling. "I think I really like him Piper… Like, reaaaaaaally like him"
"Have you seen him?!"
Piper chuckled "That's good, I'm happy for you. So you're going to see each other again?"
"Of course!" Polly responded. "I mean I know it's only been a couple of hours but I feel like I've known him for years"
Piper nodded before looking down at her feet.
Polly noticed a sad look in the blonde's eyes and began to dig deeper.
"Now why do you look so sad? I thought we came to have fun tonight"
"We did bu-"
"No buts Pipes, I've seen that Alex chick and well…. Let's just say I'm not going to hold you back from going for that one"
"Really? You don't thi-"
"What are you looking so worried about? Is it Larry?" Polly cut her off.
Piper sighed in response.
"I knew it! Piper, if this is something you want to pursue, why let boring old Larry stop you?"
"I don't even know if she l-"
"You know… she hasn't taken her eyes off you all night? I may have been wrapped up in Pete but I still noticed"
"Can you stop cutting me-"
"Shhhh, you seriously talk too much sometimes Pipes. Now get out there, find Alex and have some fun!"
Before Piper even knew what was happening, she felt herself being pushed towards the exit of the bathroom and back towards the table that they were sat at previously. Glancing back at the table, Piper allowed herself to take in Alex's look for the very first time that night. The raven haired woman wore a low cut, figure hugging red dress and a pair of heels to match. Alex looked stunning and Piper knew it. For the second time that day she found herself biting her lip, just admiring the older woman's beauty.
"Fuck it" she thought to herself. Piper confidently strutted over to Alex and took her by the hand. She led them both to the dance floor and that is where they remained for the rest of the night. They danced all night, so closely and even grinding on each other at one point. At that minute they were both in a little bubble, and nobody could pop it.
Piper awoke the next morning with a thumping headache. She'd always been a lightweight and knew her limits but she got so wrapped up in the events of the night before that her level of alcohol consumption had been the last thing on her mind.
With a slight struggle she managed to open both eyes with a bit of help from her hands shielding the light pouring through the gap in the curtains. Piper sat up as slowly and carefully as she could before getting up from the bed and going on the hunt for some much needed pain killers. On her walk through the apartment she spotted her boyfriend sat at the kitchen table staring in to space. She watched him for thirty seconds or so and noticed that he didn't flinch once. The blonde moved quietly into the kitchen and around the table as to not startle him. Once she was in a position where she could see the front of him, she spotted him holding a small note, passing it between his hands at such a slow pace. Seeing as he still hadn't looked up at Piper, she decided to speak up.
"Everything ok Lar? You're awfully quiet"
"I don't know Piper… is everything ok?" He spat back, finally looking up at the blonde.
"What… what do you mean?" She moved over now so that she was standing by his side.
He held up the note in his hand for Piper to take. "I found this. Hanging out of your purse on the table… Care to explain?"
Piper couldn't have been any more confused if she had tried. She had no idea about any note being left in her purse. She took the note from Larry's hand and her stomach dropped as she read it to herself.
Piper,
I can't help but have to repeat myself and tell you how beautiful you looked tonight. I had a great time, I'm glad you came.
AV
Trying her best to mask the smile threatening to make an appearance on her face, she could sense Larry's eyes burning right through her. As much as Piper could kill Alex for dropping her right in the shit, she should probably thank her. Piper knew that she and Larry needed to speak about their relationship and this note gave her the best platform to start that conversation off.
"Larry…." Piper sighed.
The blonde could see the tears threatening to spill from his eyes. "Are you cheating on me? Who's AV?!"
"I can't explain right now I've got to go to work but we need to talk when I get back ok?"
"Piper!" Larry banged his hands against the table in frustration. "I need to know. Are you cheating on me?"
Piper gulped. She had never seen an angry Larry before. He was normally always calm and collected and she didn't want to stick around for much longer to let this escalate.
"No." She placed a hand on his shoulder. Looking him dead in the eye she said "I promise you, I am not cheating on you. We need to talk when I get back from work and that's that." With that she turned away and began to get ready for work.
Piper logged in to her computer so that she could check her emails before she began teaching for the day. Just as she was waiting for the computer to finish loading she heard an alert sound from her phone signalling that she had received a text. Unlocking the home screen she opened it up to read:
Sorry for jumping to conclusions, I hope and trust that there is a simple explanation for this note and all can be forgotten. I will be waiting at home for you when you finish work. I love you – Larry
Although Piper didn't lie to Larry when she told him she wasn't cheating on him, she still felt really guilty inside. The guilt was there because she knew that her heart didn't lie with Larry any longer. Ever since setting eyes on Alex, the blonde knew that there was something between them that she needed to figure out but that was not something she could do while still being in a relationship. Piper knew that deep down she shouldn't be feeling any guilt whatsoever because she hadn't been happy within her relationship with her boyfriend but the only feeling that hits her when she thinks about telling Larry is dread.
Reading that text message from Larry made Piper feel incredibly anxious.
"Earth to Piper"
The blonde jumped out of her seat as she quickly left her thoughts and was brought back to reality.
She was suddenly aware of two female presences stood beside her classroom door. However, she only recognised one of them and it was the person who had been on her mind for the majority of the morning, Alex.
"Sorry, I was deep in thought" Piper tried her best to offer a smile but failed miserably. She looked genuinely sad and this fact didn't go unnoticed by Alex.
The two women stood in front of her smiled before Alex spoke up again.
"So there has just been a meeting for all of the Heads of Department and I realised that you were yet to meet the Head of English as she wasn't around yesterday." Alex gestured towards Sylvia.
The woman that was once stood next to Alex had strode over towards the blonde and offered a hand out "Sylvia, nice to meet you"
"Piper… and you" she smiled genuinely.
There was something about the way that Sylvia carried herself and acted that put Piper off her almost immediately but she couldn't quite pinpoint what it was.
"As HoD we will be meeting fortnightly to discuss pupil progress and any targets/aims you want to run by me that you might want to set out to achieve and things like that." Sylvie directed this at Piper before turning to Alex.
"Alex may even join us sometimes to just make sure everything is running smoothly, isn't that right babe?"
At hearing the word "babe" Piper's eyes shot up and she looked directly at Alex. Piper felt a pang of jealousy and she had no right to. She couldn't understand why she felt this way, she barely knew Alex and she had no idea what was going on between her and Sylvie, or if anything was going on at all.
Alex rolled her eyes before gesturing towards the door. "Yes so I can take it from here thanks Sylvia." Alex was annoyed that Sylvia called her babe. She could sense the uncertainty in Piper's eyes and she couldn't get the woman away quick enough in order to explain. Of course, there was no need for any kind of explanation because there was nothing going on between Piper and her but the feeling was still there.
Sylvia soon left the two of them alone and Alex let out a shaky sigh of relief. She propped herself up against one of the student desks before stretching her legs out.
Alex looked directly into Piper's eyes and the blonde was staring right back at her. Alex could still sense a hint of sadness and remembered the look on the younger woman's face when she entered the classroom a few minutes earlier.
"Are you ok? You were miles away when we walked in."
"Just a lot on my mind really." Piper replied.
"Anything you want to talk about?"
The blonde seemed to think about it for several minutes before speaking out again.
"My boyfriend found your note" She began chuckling.
Alex's eyes went wide. "Piper… I didn't know… Sorry I wouldn't have put it in there if I would have known."
Piper tried to reassure her. "No, honestly its fine… you kind of did me a favour."
"I did?"
"Yeah… I mean it's just not what I want any more so…"
"Oh right"
The room was filled with an awkward silence for a couple of minutes before Piper spoke.
"So… you and Sylvie?"
"There is no me and Sylvie"
"There isn't?"
"No, well… not anymore anyway. Not for a long time"
"Oh" Piper smiled.
"What are you smiling at?" Alex reciprocated the smile.
"Nothing"
"Ok… well I'll let you get prepared for your first classes." Alex stood up straight from the table and wished Piper good luck before winking and leaving the classroom.
The rest of the day ran as smoothly as Piper could have wished. Her classes were really easy and went along with no disruptions which she was ever so thankful for. Due to having no free time today, the blonde didn't get to see Alex for the rest of the day since their encounter this morning and she would be lying if she said she weren't sad about that. There was nothing more that the blonde wanted to do than go and visit Alex in her office and let her know how successful her first actual day of teaching went. But, she decided against it. Piper didn't want to seem too eager to see Alex and knew that she didn't have time to waste staying late after work. As soon as her last class had exited the room, she began to pack up her things and make her way to the car park. She knew that now was the time that she had to face Larry and end things for good. She knew it wouldn't be easy but this is something that she just had to do.
Upon entering the apartment she took her shoes and coat off and placed them by the door in their respective places. The blonde knew that Larry would be waiting for her and she had never felt so anxious in her life. Piper found Larry sat on the couch watching television. She stood in the doorway for a couple of minutes and thought about what she was about to do. "The calm before the storm" she thought to herself. Piper took a few steps into the room before she came into Larry's line of sight.
Larry didn't speak but he turned the television off as to acknowledge the fact that he was no longer alone in the room. Piper sat down on the opposing couch in order to give them a bit of space.
"So…." Piper dragged out.
Larry sniffled. Piper gathered that he must have been crying long before she came home. "How do you want to do this?" he replied.
"What do you want to know?"
"The most important question of all…. Who's AV?"
Piper gulped. She knew that it was best to be straight up rather than create a whole web of lies.
"Alex Vause, she's my boss. The head teacher at Litch"
A huge sigh of relief could be heard coming from Larry's direction. Piper looked on with furrowed brows.
"There's no other man" He said out loud. Letting out yet another sigh of relief.
"Of course there isn't another man… I'm not that kind of person" Piper snapped.
Silence filled the air, neither one of them knowing what to say.
Piper couldn't take it anymore and knew she needed to get all of her feelings out now.
"Larry, I need to put all of my cards out on the table…"
"Go on pipes."
Piper released a shaky breath before starting, "Larry, I can't do this anymore… This, is not what I want."
Larry didn't say anything so she took that as her cue to carry on.
"I need more out of life. This relationship is far from exciting. I want to try new things and meet new people but I can't while I'm stuck in this relationship. The days are far too repetitive and it's boring me to my wits end."
A single cheek rolled down Larry's face. "I thought we were good together"
"We were… but not anymore… I can't continue living like this and especially living out of your parents pockets."
"But that won't be for-"
Piper knew that Larry was desperate to speak now but she couldn't let him. She needed to get everything off her chest while she had the chance.
"You don't know that it won't be forever Larry, your job isn't stable. You barely bring enough home to put food on the table some months. I refuse to live like this."
"Pipes can't we make it work?" Larry was pleading.
"My heart just isn't in it…"
"Please Piper…. I love you"
"I'm sorry Larry" On that note Piper left the room and made her way to the bedroom. The blonde couldn't stand to be in the apartment any longer and so began packing her things up.
After several failed attempts by Larry to unpack Piper's belongings and beg for her to stay, she placed her bags in the boot of her car and set off on her journey to Polly's apartment.
Several hours later, Piper plonked down on the brunettes couch. She let out a huge sigh of relief.
"What. A. Day"
"How you feeling Pipes?"
"I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. It was a long time coming… As much as Larry is a good man, I couldn't keep living that way"
"What do you think Carol will say?"
Piper threw her hands in the air and stated "Who cares?"
Polly began chuckling. "That's the attitude I love to see from you p"
Piper's phone vibrated on the table below to notify her of an incoming text message.
From: Unknown
Hope today went well, I was hoping to catch up with you but I was busy with meetings. – AV
Piper's heart swelled as she read the message. She loved that Alex had been thinking about her.
To: Alex
How did you get my number? Today was very successful thanks.
The blonde didn't have to wait long before she received a reply.
From: Alex:
School system duh ;) Maybe you could tell me all about it over drinks tomorrow.
Piper debated what to reply next. She wasn't sure whether Alex meant the two of them or if the workforce would be going out again. The blonde figured she would play safe rather than assume.
To: Alex
I'd love for us all to go out again. I really enjoyed it last time!
Alex replied within seconds.
From: Alex
I meant just the two of us but if you'd rather I invite other people, I can do so?
Piper could not stop the smile that was on her face at that minute. There was nothing more she'd love to do than just go out for a drink with Alex.
To: Alex
The two of us is fine. Looking forward to it ;)
The blonde's confidence levels had been boosted so she threw a flirty wink in there.
From: Alex
Great. Won't be in work tomorrow. Will text you the details about drinks in the morning.
Good night Piper Chapman x
To: Alex
Good night Alex Vause x
Being so wrapped up in texting Alex, the blonde completely forgot that Polly was still in the room. She was brought out of her thoughts by Polly. "What's gotten you so smiley?"
"That was Alex, she wants to go for drinks tomorrow. Just the two of us"
"A DATE?" Polly squealed.
"I wouldn't call it a date…"
"IM SO EXCITED FOR YOU" Polly was bouncing up and down.