A/N: Thanks so much for the nice words about this story :) I honestly live for things like that. I hope this chapter is as fun to read as it was to write.


It was seven in the morning, not long after she woke up, when she first thought of Piper that day. She thought of her as she picked up the book discarded on her bedroom floor that had dropped from her hands as she'd fallen asleep. She thought of her again on her way to school as she saw a group of girls walking together, at least three of them wearing Uggs. Where she once might have frowned or made a sarcastic comment, she smiled fondly . She thought of her again when she sat down in class, not because it was prompted this time, but because she just did. There was nothing in particular about this lecture on world war two that reminded her of Piper, other than the fact that she might have welcomed a distraction from it. That was what Piper was, at this point- a distraction. From work, from school, from all the shit she had to get done. She'd never really felt like she had room for new friendships- she had her hands full with Nicky as it was. There was something about her, though, that had Alex considering that rearranging to make room for one more. That was the thought that set off all of the other thoughts- because Alex didn't take to people so easily. She had hardened over the years, but even when she was younger she had been a tough nut to crack. It had taken Nicky several weeks of pursuit to get a real conversation out of her all that time ago- but Piper had managed it in a few days. It was... different. She was different.

"Vause. Hey, Vause. What the fuck is wrong with you?"

Alex blinked a few times, returning to reality as she felt an elbow pressed into her arm. Nicky was staring at her expectantly, leaning over to her from the side of her desk, speaking in a hushed tone so as not to draw the attention of the teacher.

"Nothing. What?"

"We're going out tonight."

"Ugh, no."

She returned her attention back to the elderly man at the front of the classroom, warranting a slap on the arm from her best friend.

"What the fuck?"

"I fuckin' need you tonight, Vause. I need a wing-woman."

"That is not happening."

It wasn't as though Alex was opposed to nights out- she was just opposed to Nicky's idea of a night out. She went to the only clubs around town that would let in a seventeen-year-old without a fake ID- the kind of places that made you feel like you could contract Chlamydia from just looking at it.

"Look, Vause," Nicky's tone softened slightly, and she looked at her with surprising sincerity.

"I really fuckin' like this girl. I don't know why. But she's gonna be there tonight and I got one shot at this. Help a girl out, y'know? What are friends for if not to help each other get laid?"

Alex sighed, rolling her eyes as she leaned back slightly in her chair, considering it.

"I mean, its not like you can't squeeze this into your schedule."

"Fuck off. I was almost on board."

Alex knew she was right, though- Nicky knew her work schedule, and was pretty much her entire social life herself. She wasn't so much anti-social as she was anti-people, or at least the people at their school. Definitely not Alex's crowd, and not Nicky's, either- only she was not afraid to delve into the world of extremely questionable nightlife.

"Fine, alright, fine. Don't make me regret it. On a scale of one to the Litch, how many diseases am I going to get from this place?"

"Please, this is a five-star, joint, Vause... Okay, like, three at most. How do you feel about herpes? Don't look at me like that."


At around eight that evening, Alex found herself glaring into her wardrobe for a good five minutes. She didn't really know what would be considered appropriate attire for helping her best friend get laid in a skeevy club, but was fairly sure it couldn't be found in her possession. It was the kind of question she would've asked her mom if she'd been around, but of course she wasn't- working three jobs did that to you. Eventually coming to the conclusion that the less skin she showed, the better, she threw on a pair of black skinny jeans and combat boots, a plain white shirt and a leather jacket. Already certain that she would not be able to get through the night without a few drinks, she elected to call a cab and give Lola a rest for the night.

"This place is fucking gross," were the first words out of Alex's mouth as she entered the club. The place was pulsating with the sexual tension of the drunk and desperate, a theme accentuated by unflattering strobe lighting, sticky floors and a questionable smell.

"I'll have a margherita," were the next. She lingered near a bar stool for a moment before deciding that it would probably be inadvisable to sit down.

"There you are!" Nicky appeared behind her just as her drink was slid across the bar into her hand.

"Here I am," She deadpanned back.

"Alright, sunshine. Lets get some drinks in you."

Nicky leaned over and slapped the surface to get the bartender's attention.

"She'll have another." She winked as Alex took her first sip.

"Here's the plan," Several drinks later, Alex was slightly less apathetic about the whole situation as Nicky talked over her game plan, gesturing to a girl sat at the other end of the bar. "Go over and pretend to be lookin' for me, say something to get her to look around for me and then I'll show up and turn on my irresistible charm. What's with the face, Vause? I charmed you into doing this, didn't I?"

"You're about as charming as finding dog shit on your shoe after you've walked all the way around your house."

"That's great. Just get all that shit out before you go over. Give me your best shot."

Alex rolled her eyes as she downed the rest of her third drink, giving Nicky a slight shove as she walked around her. The girl in question was innocent-looking, with short, slightly curled dark hair and a sweet smile.

"Hey, Lorna, right?" Alex smiled as she leaned over her with one arm on the bar.

"Yeah?"

"Okay, well, look, you see that girl over there? The one with the crazy hair?" She followed Alex's gaze over to Nicky.

"She has a crush on you. In a minute she'll walk over here and try to say something smooth, and you should just go with it. As much as she's an asshole to me, she's great. Enjoy."

With that Alex walked away, leaving Lorna looking around blankly. She flashed Nicky a grin and over-enthusiastic thumbs up as she caught her eye, before turning away and bumping straight into someone.

"Shit! I'm sorr- Piper?"

Alex had instinctively grabbed Piper's arms to steady her as they'd crashed into each other, and found an amused smile crossing her lips as she watched Piper teeter back and forth.

"Alex!" She yelled, her voice slower than usual and full of excitement, a goofy grin on her face.

"Oh my god, don't tell my mom I'm here."

Alex could only laugh at her- Piper's eyes were wide with concern, her words slurring together. She was completely wasted, still holding on to Alex's arms to steady herself.

"Why would I tell your fucking mom? How many drinks have you had?"

"All of the drinks."

"I see."

Still, Piper made no effort to move, holding on to Alex with that same goofy grin.

"You were not at work yesterday, Alex."

"I don't work on Thursdays, Piper."

"Well, you should."

"Okay. Do you think its time to go home yet?"

"I am fine."

She let go of Alex's arms for a moment and walked a few steps away from her before deciding against it, almost falling again when she turned back around too quickly.

"Polly has my keys."

"Of course she does. Stay here."

She walked the drunk blonde over to a bar stool before setting off to try and find Polly. It was certainly an ordeal trying to manoeuvre her way through the club, even more so when she eventually found Polly in a dark corner with her tongue down someone's throat.

"Hey. Bonnie and fucking Clyde. Look alive."

She prodded the girl's arm to get her attention, standing back with her arms folded for the few seconds it took her to disentangle.

"What?"

"I'm taking Piper home, she's a mess. Gimme her keys."

"Ugh, good," She sighed as she dug around in her absurdly large purse.

"She's so annoying when she's drunk."

Alex flashed her a sarcastic smile as she caught the keys tossed her way.

"You're a great friend, Holly."


The entire cab journey had been an ordeal, what with Piper's consistent giggling and attempts to give the driver a fake address. There was a moment where Piper stopped, though, and her expression was solemn, and she twirled a piece of Alex's hair through her fingers. It became difficult for Alex to hear her own thoughts over the blood pounding in her ears, saying that she was just drunk, she was just one of those touchy-feely drunks- it meant nothing. It was just a little difficult to shake the feeling of Piper's fingers lingering against her cheek.

"Piper, hey, we're here." It seemed that at some point in the last thirty seconds- the final seconds of the journey- she'd decided to fall asleep.

"Good morning."

"Piper, c'mon. Don't be an ass."

Alex passed ten dollars through to the driver before climbing out and walking around to pull Piper out. She managed to get her in the door with relative ease, and was about to leave when Piper grabbed her hand and insisted that she couldn't possibly get up the stairs by herself.

"I am so sorry Alex. I am sorry. I am the worst."

"It's fine, Piper. Seriously."

"No!" She whispered insistently, trying to make her point as dramatically as possible without waking her parents up.

"Seriously, I was about to leave. If anything, you improved my night."

They had reached Piper's bedroom by then, and she had chosen to sit down on her instead of collapsing across it, patting the space next to her as she had done in the store several days earlier.

"I need to tell you something," She grinned, covering her mouth with both of her hands in an attempt not to laugh that makes Alex's heart jump.

"Yeah?"

"Come here," She smiles, wobbling a little as she sits up straight, waiting for Alex to shuffle closer to her.

"You are hot," She slurred into Alex's ear, before collapsing back on to the bed. Alex grinned, her cheeks turning red as she covered her mouth with her hand.

"And I don't get it!" Piper exclaims, raising one finger in the air as though she was having a grand revelation.

"Because I don't think girls are hot. I think they're pretty, or that I want her hair, or I her shoes. But you're hot, Alex. How interesting." She stared up at the ceiling with a bemused look on her face.

"Uh, okay, Piper," Alex laughed slightly, smiling down at her fondly as she stood up.

"I'm gonna go now. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Ah, tomorrow."

She managed to slip out of the door before Piper began her rendition of the popular show tune.

Alex thought about Piper for the rest of the night, and the last words out of her mouth were something along the lines of "I am so screwed."