Chapter 2

Alex woke up in a haze, not really knowing where she was until she felt the heaviness weighing on the bottom of her legs begin to move, her and Nicky had obviously fallen asleep on the couch, which was also the only remaining piece furniture in Alex's apartment unless you count the fridge. She felt excited for what today would bring, a real smile was growing on her face just thinking about it.

"Come on Nichols wake the fuck up, todays the big day" she said as she shook her wild haired friend awake.

"I need coffee, lots of coffee" Nicky mumbled, not even opening her eyes.

"Well the coffee machines packed in one of the boxes but we'll get some on the way, come on I want to get going" Alex replied not trying to hide the excitement in her voice at all, hoping it would make Nicky move faster, which it did.

After Nicky finally rose off the sofa, she and Alex started taking all of the boxes down to Alex's Black Aldi TT that she had bought not long ago, just after the opening of the book store. She didn't have trouble buying such an expensive car as she was still quite wealthy from the cartel days. Moving all the boxes took longer than expected, making Nicky grumble even more. Alex didn't even look back at her now old apartment building as she and Nicky drove off, heading towards the coffee shop round the corner and then to her new apartment which was only 5 blocks away.

…

Piper had awoken from her slumber earlier than she would have liked too by her boyfriend's loud snores.

She and boyfriend Larry had been together for 3 years almost, and she guessed she was happy, happy as she could be in this sort of relationship. She felt safe with Larry, normal even. Piper didn't feel normal for a long time until she met Larry, his kindness and sweetness made her feel whole and took all the things that were hanging over her shoulders off for a little while. The relationship between them has become boring, to Piper anyway. After Alex any relationship would seem boring compared.

Alex

Even the name would make her heart skip a beat, she thought about Alex regularly, constantly comparing their relationship to what she has now. She knew nothing was better or could even come close. Alex was exciting, daring sexy oh god she was sexy but Larry's gives Piper something Alex never could. Security, safety, that's all Piper ever wanted from Alex but it's something she never got. Piper tells herself that she made the right choice, leaving Alex behind. And now she's in a normal happy-ish relationship pushing all her feelings about Alex below the surface so she could carry on, pretending everything was fine.

Piper looked over at the clock on the bedside table, reading it as 9:30 she thought it was a reasonable time to get up. After showering and going to the kitchen to make coffee, she saw Larry emerge from the bedroom yawning.

"Morning honey" Larry said with his eyes still half shut

"Morning" Piper replied simply. Piper would think back to the days where she would awake in a hotel in a random country to feel Alex between her legs, darting her tongue in and out of Pipers already wet folds, she loved waking up that way. She didn't favour waking up with a grumbling boyfriend who spent most of his time asleep anyway.

She and Larry made small talk before he left the room to shower, leaving Piper to mindlessly watch the TV. When Larry reappeared fully clothed, a loud crash was heard from outside the apartment door followed by a long series of swear words. Larry opened the door to put a situation to all the noise.

"Oh shit sorry did I wake you or anything?" A bushy haired woman said will leaving a key half way through the opposite door, with a box in her hand

"Oh no don't worry about it" Larry said brushing it off. "Are you the new neighbours?" he asked politely. Piper was just watching from the sofa, with full view of the situation.

"Oh no, my best friend is, she's just at her car grabbing a few more boxes"

"Well me and my fiancée are happy to help you guys" he said gesturing to Piper who slowly rose from her feet

"That would be great, I'm Nicky by the way" she said with a teethy smile

"Hey I'm Larry and this is Piper" Larry smiled with Piper adding a Hey to the end.

Piper was not really wanting to help at all, but all three made their way down to the apartment block lobby and out of the doors.

"The cars just there" Nicky said pointing to a very nice sports car or so Piper thought with the boot open.

"Yo Vause these are your new neighbours" Nicky shouted to the person with their head in the boot

"Vause" Piper thought to herself, it couldn't be the same, No, it has to be a coincidence. Before she could think any longer the person pulled themselves out of the boot, looking straight at Piper. Piper couldn't believe what she was seeing, there stood before her was the raven haired beauty she had left 8 years ago. Her chest tightened, her throat caught up. The only thing she could get out was

"Alex"