A/N: Italics section is a memory/dream
Of course there was traffic, but I finally parked outside of Piper's apartment and ran up the stairs to her place. I took a breath and gathered courage. I knocked on her door and waited. I could hear movement in the apartment and knocked again.
The door then swung open. I was expecting Piper, but instead was met with redish blonde bushy hair. I ran my hand through my hair and sighed, "Nicky… please. I just want to talk with her."
Nicky scoffed, "Well maybe she doesn't want to talk to you."
I shifted my weight and said, "I know. But please, I know. I know I messed up, and I hurt her. But I made a mistake."
Nicky took a step forward, "You know you hurt her. She is broken because of you! I have never seen her like this! I told you not to hurt her. I specifically told you to not hurt her. I shouldn't have trusted you!"
That one hurt, I knew Nicky was protective but she always trusts me.. well she always used to trust me. "I know. But you can trust me, I swear. Please just let me talk to her."
Nicky was going to say something but someone rounded the corner and called out, "Nicky who's there?"
I quickly pushed past Nicky and into the apartment. When I entered I saw Piper standing there in a grey oversized Smith College sweatshirt. I started to walk towards her but she just took a step back.
I could feel the tears threatening to spill, "Pipes please. I made a huge, catastrophic, fucked up mistake. I swear on my life that I will never ever do that you again. Please just give me a second chance. Please."
Piper was crying, "You, you made a mistake. huh? You mistakenly FUCKED someone else. What you confused her with me? You accidentally allowed someone into your bed?! You accidentally CHEATED on me!? Bullshit Alex. Fuck you, fuck you, FUCK YOU ALEX!"
I was trying to hide my tears but it wasn't working, "Pipes, please. I'm sorry."
"You're sorry! Oh that makes everything alright, Alex Vause is Sorry! God I am so stupid! I mean seriously I knew, I knew you didn't do relationships. Maybe this is my fault. Maybe I expected too much of you. Maybe I expected you to be a decent person and just break up with me before you fucked someone else. Maybe I thought you actually cared about me. I don't know, but it doesn't really matter. Just.. just leave Alex."
I tried to take a step but Nicky blocked me, "Piper please! I do care about you! I don't want to break up with you! Please, please just one more chance. PLEASE!"
Piper just looked back at me and shook her head, "And to think, I was gonna tell you I loved you." She didn't wait for my reaction, just walked back down the hall and closed her door.
That broke me, I couldn't stop, "PIPER! PLEASE! I'M SO SORRY! PIPER! PIPES! PLEASE!"
I clutched my stomach and bent over trying to catch my breath.
Nicky paused but put a comforting hand on my shoulder, "Hey come on Vause."
I looked up at Nicky and this time didn't see anger, but sadness and remorse was there. "Please Nicky. Please talk to her. Please. I love her."
Nicky sighed, "I know Vause. And I think I know why you fucked that other chick, but that doesn't make up for the fact that you did it. Look, I'm going to spend the night here, but I'll be by yours tomorrow. And you better tell me the damn truth, or I walk out and never look back. I mean it Vause."
I nodded and took a few breaths, "ok. ok."
I stood up straight and went back towards the door. Nicky followed and closed the door behind me.
I made it back to my loft and couldn't even look at my bedroom. I sat on the couch and turned on the TV. I left whatever was on since I wasn't paying attention anyway, I just needed the noise.
I laid down and clutched the throw pillow that Piper loved, it smelled like her. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.
I was talking with Nicky about my latest hook up when Nicky got a phone call. "Hey! Chapman! What's good!? That sucks! Yeah, yeah. Of Course, hey chill dude. You're my sister from another mister, alright. I'll txt you the address. Alright see you soon."
I looked at Nicky questions on my face, "Hot date?"
She scrunched up her nose and said, "Eeww, fuck no! Chapman is my sister, known her since we were in diapers. Her mom and my Wicked Witch of the West were friends."
I laughed and said, "Great. So another Nicky. What, is she a hobbit with a wild mane as well?"
Nicky just laughed and punched me in the arm, "No. Chapman.. She… you know what, you'll find out later. She is going to meet us later tonight. She is staying at my place for a few days, until her apartment is ready."
Alex smiled and nodded.
They had been at the bar talking to two ladies telling them a story about how they were a part of an International Drug Cartel and that they were in the bar looking for new, young, hot mules to travel the world with them.
We kept the charade going for a little before the decided to tell them they were just messing with them. They looked a little disappointed when they found out I was a importer of fine art and Nicky was a architect.
Nicky was telling a story about the time she fought a bully, when a new voice came into the story from behind. "It seems you always leave out the part where it wasn't you who knocked Jeremy out, it was me… I knocked him out while you bit him in the calf."
Nicky smirked and turned, "Way to ruin my story Chapman."
I smiled at the two girls basically dismissing them before turning around to see who this famous Chapman person was. To say I was stunned would be a understatement. Chapman wasn't pretty she was fucking gorgeous. I let my eyes start at her heeled feet, up her toned runners, legs, to her flat stomach, to her perfectly perky tits, to her soft thin lips, her perfect button nose, ocean blue eyes, and long flowing blonde hair.
When I was done I looked back at her and smiled. It seemed she noticed my appraisal and turned to me and asked, "So how much am I worth?"
I blinked and asked, "I'm sorry, what?"
She laughed and it was music, "Well with your detailed observation I figured I was one of your high priced art pieces you are trying to sell. So how much? I'm thinking at least a mil."
I smiled and shook my head, "Invaluable. No monetary value could ever be worth you."
She smirked and shyly smiled, "Good answer. You must be Vause. I'm Piper, sorry Chapman."
I laughed and said, "Just the truth. And it's Alex."
She extended her hand and said, "Nice to meet you, Alex. I've heard a lot about you, and the trouble you two get into."
Piper, Nicky, and I spent the rest of the night talking and drinking. I learned that Piper was in business, something about a very successful organic soap business, and that she is in the city for the IPO announcement and to start up the headquarters. Her favorite drink is a margarita, and she loves the beach.
When it was closing time, I didn't want to go, I wanted to keep talking and getting to know Piper.
Piper got up and went to the bar to close her tab, while Nicky and I went to the bathroom.
When Nicky and I were standing at the sinks Nicky turns to me and says, "She's off limits."
I look at Nicky and lift a eyebrow, "What?"
Nicky turns to me, and this is the most serious I've ever seen her, "I'm serious. Piper, she is not just a girl. She's family, my family. Don't pursue her if you just want to fuck. Be her friend but don't fuck her and use her. Because if you hurt her I will have to actually kick your sasquatch ass."
I nodded, "Ok. But I like her Nic. Honestly, I like her."
Nicky nodded, "Alright, but I'm serious Vause. Don't hurt her, don't break her little blonde heart."
I woke up suddenly on the couch. Trying to figure out what woke me up. Then I heard it again the sound of my door being pounded on. I groaned and stood up. I looked at my phone and realized that I must have slept all night on the couch. It was Saturday, who could be at my door at 8:30am?
I walked to the door and looked through the peep hole. Standing there was Nicky. I quickly undid the lock and opened the door.
Nicky walked in and said, "You look like shit."
I nodded, "Thanks."
Nicky paced for a second in front of the couch and then stopped, she turned and looked at me with serious eyes, "I want to know what the actual fuck you were thinking. I have never seen you, or Piper for that matter, happier. Why did you do it?"
I walked to the coffee table and sat on the edge while Nicky sat on the couch. I tried to find the words, "… I was scared, terrified. I fell for Piper, hard and fast. I have never felt love like this for anyone.. ever, besides my mom. I had a bad day, the painting wasn't going to be shipped on time and I was stressed. I called Piper but, she didn't answer. So I went to the diner around the corner. There were no open tables and the girl invited me to sit. So I sat down ordered my food and ate. At first we didn't say anything. Then she asked what was wrong, I told her and I felt better, just venting. I finished, thanked her for the table and for listening, paid, and headed to the door. Then she stopped me. She kissed me and I figured if I could do this then maybe I didn't love Piper as hard as I thought. That maybe she hadn't just stolen my heart. But as soon as we were back at the apartment, it felt wrong. I was going to stop but she just kept going. I figured the faster I could get her off the faster I could get rid of her. I hated every minute, and I hated myself. I didn't think you guys were coming over."
Nicky ran a hand threw her hair, "You are seriously fucked up, you know that right." I just nodded. "Alex, she loves you."
I smiled faintly, "Do you think she would give me a second chance?"
Nicky hung her head, "Against my wishes, yeah. She probably will. Knowing her, she will forgive you. Just give her a few days…"
I nodded I could wait a few days, I didn't have a choice.
Nicky then pointed at me, "But you hear me Alex. If you EVER do anything like this again I will kill you. I would wear orange for Piper. You get me?"
I nodded, "There won't be another time. I swear Nicky I love her."
Nicky stood up and headed to the door, "She's away for work ,she'll be back in 2 weeks."
I nodded and walked her to the door, "Thank you Nicky." She just nodded and punched me in the shoulder once hard.
I grabbed my shoulder in pain and lifted an eyebrow. She shrugged, "That's for hurting her. Don't do it again, or it won't be your shoulder."
She left and I closed the door. Wednesday… 14 days. I can wait 14 days.
