AN:
Sorry for the late update, but it is a long one! I hope you enjoy it, I didn't beata read this properly so sorry in advance for any mistakes you come across. Please leave a review if you are liking it so and if you're excited for the next chapter, which will be updated hopefully sooner. =]
"And she's the same person who spilt her drinks on you the other night?" Polly asked, a slight smirk venturing on her lips. The soldier nodded, biting her lower lip.
Polly plastered a knowing look on display for Piper, who was easily supporting dreamy eyes. She was sprawled out on her brother's couch while he was at work. Polly had kindly offered to take a day off her job to keep her company. She sat on the single chair in front of her best friend.
The blonde had come clean about the night before. She'd kept a smile on her face all throughout her story telling. Time and time, she dived into the couch, shoving her face into a pillow, just reliving last night in awestruck. She was half dazed and without a doubt floating in her own world. Playing the few hours she'd spent with the brunette over and over, like she was some lovey-dovey teenager having her first crush. It's like she inhaled some drug she just couldn't get enough of.
"Polly, her eyes," she sighed, closing her own eyes and recalling those amazing, green emeralds. "They were like," she paused trying to find her words.
"Drop-dead gorgeous, and so green." She grinned, her cheeks hurt from smiling. Polly smirked and flushed down the rest of her drink before she tilted her head.
"She is pretty hot."
"She's beautiful." The blonde sighed out as if it was such a difficult thing to register or find.
"I've never seen you this infatuated in a long time." Her friend smiled, happy for her. Piper hummed in satisfaction, the brunette had definitely charmed her way into her heart.
"But you leave in nearly 2 weeks, Pipes." She reminded her, a sad realization overwhelming the blonde.
"I know." She sat upright, her dreamy state rendered into reality. "Is it bad that I still want to start something?" She looked at her friend for her opinion. Polly gave her a warning glance.
"I mean, we could be just friends." She reasoned quickly.
"I don't know if it's bad." She shrugged. "But, just friends?" She tilted her glass in Pipers direction. "I know for a fact that, that won't be the case."
"We can be just friends." She insisted causing her friend to chuckle.
"Pipes; look at yourself." She pointed at her fleshed body, her cheeks flushing red. "You're blushing just thinking about her." Piper looked away biting her inner lip.
"And you initiated that kiss on her cheek, remember?" She reminded the blonde. "What's she goanna think when you suddenly want to be 'just friends'?" Piper turned to look at her, her offenses on full mode.
"That's not fair," she defended herself. Polly raised her eyebrows. "She has very kissable cheeks." She poorly reasoned.
"I don't know, Pipes." She gave her a warning look, shaking her head slightly.
Piper sighed heavily. She knew she was playing a dangerous game when it came down to Alex. Yet, she couldn't stop. She no longer controlled herself; her emotions did. That's the thing about dangerous things, it demands your attention whether you want to give it or not.
You lose control when you find something you like. And that's what was happening to Piper, she was losing control. She was slowly slipping into that dark whole under ground. Gravity and all its forces working against her, against what she really wanted but couldn't exactly have.
Actually, she could have it. But, it just wasn't much of a rational choice to have it. It was exactly the opposite. It was the wrong choice to make but it was also the most irresistible one. They clearly have a connection that can't be faked or bought. That rare connection that comes around maybe only once in a lifetime or twice if you were lucky.
It was both a blessing and a curse. A curse because you get lost in it. You lose yourself without even realizing it, till it's too late to recognize; and a blessing because you'll never feel anything like it again. A feeling so rare and unique it would be worth millions.
The soldier was easily caught up in that blissful curse. Alex was a dilemma she didn't even know could exist. She'd never been so torn. She wanted to form some kind of relationship with the brunette but at the same time she knew it wasn't just some kind of relationship she wanted. She wanted the real deal, the full package but she knew it was a dump thing to want.
Considering her choice of profession, Alex would be giving her what she wanted but she would be getting nothing in return. Or at least nothing she thought the brunette might want.
"I need another drink." Polly voiced, breaking Piper's lucid thoughts. The blonde nodded and watched as her friend got up to pour herself something to drown in.
Her mind couldn't help but rewind back to their conversation. Just friends. That's what they could be, if they worked hard enough. They could be just friends. But, was that really what she'd settle for?
Nicky had been humming an irritable tune as she walked out the elevator of her best friends apartment. Her earplugs ventured deep in her ears, music thumbing loudly against her eardrums, she might as well have been in her own concert.
She played with her iPod at hand, throwing it and catching it. She bent by Alex's door matt, picking up her spare key, not even bothering to knock or ring the bell, because the brunette had been ignoring her calls and Nicky could only associate it with one of two reasons.
One; she was probably conversed in her own world with a new painting and headphones playing just as loudly as hers were. Two; she was fast asleep. And since it was still almost 12 in the afternoon, she thought it was most likely the second reason.
She unlocked the door, placing the key on a near by stand as soon as her feet stepped foot into the apartment. Her eyes examined the tiny space that was poorly addressed as the living room before she barged into Alex's bedroom. She smirked, pulling her headphones out.
There, the brunette lay haphazardly on the bed, an arm and a leg dangling of its' sides. Slight snoring emitting from her nose and partially opened lips. She had on last nights clothes, which could only mean she had one hell of a night, if she couldn't have enough energy to spare a few minutes to get changed into a much more comfortable attire, it must've been one tiring night. The redhead slammed Alex's still jeans clad ass hard, startling her awake.
"Wake-y wake-y, sleepy head." Nicky sang as she moved around the bed and jumped on it, harshly shaking the brunette awake.
"Jesus, Nicky." Alex groaned out, rubbing the side of her head. She turned to her bedside table and picked her glasses up, slowly registering that it was time to wake up.
She sat upright then looked at her friend beside her, who was supporting a smirk that could only be described as bigger than her face. The brunette rolled her eyes and got of the bed.
"What happened last night?"
A certain thickness fell upon the air the second Nicky's question was voiced. Alex immediately had a prolonged slideshow of the night before and it's breath-taking events.
"Nothing." She simply said, although she was smiling like a love struck teenager. The redhead caught on the smile on the corner of the brunette's lips. Nicky froze for a second examining the smile foraged on Alex's lips before shifting violently.
"Bullshit." She protested and crawled to the edge of her bed. "Come on, spill!" She ordered. Alex couldn't help but giggle at a memory of the blonde. It infuriated Nicky because she didn't know what her friend was all so smile-y about.
"I umm," she began, her eyes shyly starring at the ground as she tried to find the appropriate words to describe last night.
"I kind of, sorta, almost, maybe went on a date with Piper." She bit her lip and looked at her friend with a flushed expression.
Nicky starred at her like someone was trying to pluck her eyeballs out. It's been over a year since Alex had been on anything even remotely close to a date. So, this was news to her.
"You, what?" She questioned again.
"You heard me." Alex said, a smile still plastered across her face.
She pulled out some new clothes and walked into her bathroom. She left the door open. Nicky climbed of the bed and stood by the bathroom door, her arms crossed over her chest, a thoughtful look on her face.
"How do you not know if it was a date or not?" She half yelled for her friend to hear her. Alex came out dressed in new clothes. She looked at Nicky and shrugged.
"I mean, it wasn't a casual dinner and a movie but we did talk for hours." She paused zoning out in her own memory again.
An image of Piper laughing at one of her childhood stories rushed to her mind, her blue eyes that never twinkled so brightly before. Her god damn beautiful smile, that was one in a million.
"And?" Her boss interrupted her thoughts; she raised her eyebrows to her forehead waiting for the rest of the story.
"And, what?" Alex had forgotten momentarily what she was supposed to be answering, the soldier's memory still floating at the back of her mind.
"You talked? That's it? That's your big date?" She questioned disappointed.
"What do you mean?" The brunette scrunched her eyebrows. "Isn't that what people do on first dates?" She shrugged.
"Ya, if you were twelve." She whipped.
"I don't think twelve year olds go on dates, do they?" Nicky shook her head at the useless question and continued on her interrogation.
"Did you kiss her?"
"No." Alex immediately answered.
"Did she kiss you?"
"N-" she paused. Suddenly the feeling of Piper's lips on her cheek rushed into focus. She raised her fingers to her cheek, blushed at the memory.
"Oh my god, she kissed you!?" Nicky's excitement had returned on full force, but Alex knew it wasn't exactly the kiss Nicky had been anticipating for.
"Not like that!" She punched her shoulder playfully immediately stopping Nicky's more than inappropriate thoughts.
"Then, it was not a date." She finalized her theory.
"People don't actually have to kiss on first dates."
"People like us do."
"You're impossible." The brunette rolled her eyes.
It was so typical of her friend to give her, her input in everything that had to do with her love life. Then again, that's what best friends were originally for, right? They were those people who were close enough to be sisters but far enough to share things with them that even sisters don't.
Alex pulled out a jacket from her cupboard; she put it on as she fixed her messy hair combing it with her fingers.
"What time is it anyway?" She asked, out of the blue. Nicky picked her phone out of her pocket and clicked at the lock screen.
"1:15." Alex's eyes widened, she quickly picked up her phone, keys and car keys.
"Fuck." She hissed. The redhead trailed behind her.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm late, I'm so fucking late." She pulled her door open almost pulling it off its hinges. "Shit."
"Late for what?" She shut the door behind her and rushed after Alex.
"I'm supposed to be picking my mom up, she's flying in from Boston. Her plane arrives at 12:30 or arrived." She hurriedly explained while she pressed the button for the elevator multiple times.
"You do know pushing it more than once continuously in a row isn't going to make it move faster, right?"
"This is not the time for your incipit jokes, Nicky." She hissed, pushing her glasses back further into her nose.
"Man, Mama Vause is goanna be so mad." She ignored her friend's request and snapped her fingers as she bit her lip.
The elevator ding saving her from Alex's very well prepared punch. She rushed into the lift and hit the ground level, her stomach doing flips and turns she really wished didn't. Diane was going to kill her. Actually, she's going to kill her and bring her back to life, just so she can kill her again. Preferably, in cold blooded murder.
Alex had just picked up her mom from the airport coffee shop. Diane had been waiting for her daughter's arrival for the better part of an hour. She was quite mad but her anger had subsided the second she'd seen the brunette rush through the automatic doors. They embraced in a warm, breath-taking, oxygen-sucking, life-longing hug.
Due to their working conditions, they couldn't see each other as often as they would've liked. Although, Diane didn't need to work as often as she did now, she wanted to keep that part of her life constant. It was the only thing grounding her now that Alex was all grown up. She wasn't that little girl who asked for more coloring pencils on her twelfth birthday anymore.
She was a woman, a woman finding her way in this cruel world. Still, didn't mean she never reverted back to that twelve-year-old girl who only wanted coloring pencils and a long cuddle in bed. She may carry the Vause name high on her shoulder but she was just as fragile as most people were.
More fragile actually, she was a reconciled broken mirror, there were still bits and pieces scattered around, missing. No one had enough guts to pick them up; knowing they'd probably slice themselves doing it. She was dangerous and hazardous just as much as she was shatter-able.
They were seated in Alex's car, her mother riding shotgun and Nicky sitting at the back seat. Her head was popping between mother and daughter an amused smirk on her lips as Diane threw a hissy fit about her daughter's punctuality and how it was turning as useless as dust, over the years.
"Now," she huffed out, fixing her shirt and brushing the few hairs that stranded on her face away.
"Tell me again, exactly how did you manage to oversleep on the exact day your mother was coming to visit you." Alex rolled her eyes; this was typical drama-queen Mama Vause.
"It was personal, mom."
"Nothing is too personal for the person who gave you life." Her mother informed as a matter of fact. "For fuck's sake, Alexandra. You came out of my vagina, nothing gets more personal than that."
Nicky snickered quietly, holding in her laughter. She couldn't help it; it was like watching a seven-year-old Alex getting caught for staying up at night watching ridiculous porn movies. Alex glared at her from the rear view mirror. The redhead shrugged her shoulders and grinned louder. She leaned towards Diane.
"I think it had something to do with a certain blonde." She coughed out. The brunettes eyes widened, that was not information Nicky could just throw away.
"What?" Her mother looked at her with shock.
Thankfully they had stopped at a red light. Alex turned in her seat and attacked her annoying, mouth-blabbering best friend with pinches so hurtful they compared to a knife's blade.
"Ow! Ow! Al!" She complained flying deeper into the back seat, Alex attacking her like a bear jumping out of a cave.
Her mom interfered when eventually the red light turned green. She smacked Alex into focus and starred at her wearily.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Her mother asked in that emotionally reckless way, her eyes boring into her daughters. Silence crept upon them for a few seconds.
"What's her name?" She asked, getting directly into the matter at hand. The bartender sighed heavily; her fingers tighten around the steering wheel before releasing in relief.
"Piper." She whispered with a small smile at the corner of her lips.
"And what dose this infamous Piper do?"
"She works for the military," Alex said like it was nothing, both Nicky and her mom looked at each other with a surprised look.
"Woah, wait, back up." The redhead bobbed her head back to the center of the two women. "The military?"
"How the hell dose something like that happen?" Her mother entered the interrogation.
"I-I don't know actually." She whispered out, her smile faltering a bit.
"Well, do you like this Piper?" Her mother questioned, her eyebrows arose to the brink of her forehead as she waited for an answer.
"I don't know."
"Oh for heavens sake; what do you know, Alex?" The older Vause retorted with an eye roll.
"I know that I have certain feelings for her."
"Ya, certain sexy feelings if you ask me." Nicky, jumped in the middle of the conversation with a smirk ready at hand.
"I'm not ready to determine that." She lashed; the redhead gave her "the look". Alex ignored it and paid more of her attention to the road.
"I don't like this girl." Her mother arrogantly said, shaking her head.
"You haven't even met her, mom."
"She made you pick me up late. I don't have to meet her to know I despise how she makes you impractical." Diane brushed off.
"I've always been impractical." She felt like she had to defend Piper in a way. Her hands slip slightly from the steering wheel, from her nerves.
"I actually think if you gave her a chance, you might like her."
A smile danced on the young brunettes face as she imagined her mother and Piper laughing with each other and teaming up against her. Even if it was too soon to be thinking that way, she just couldn't help but feel like it was somehow going to happen, like it was in someway inevitable.
"We'll see." Her mother finally voiced, ending the conversation. After a couple minutes, she smiled extremely largely.
"So, about your spectacular show this Thursday." Her mom began with a smirk. Alex chuckled.
The topic from Piper to her Art show had shifted easily. It was a relief honestly; Alex wasn't the type of girl to volunteer in expressing her emotions. If anything, you'd have to drag her emotions out with pitchforks and knives at her neck.
Nicky was a pro at that, she knew where Alex's buttons were and she could easily let her spill the beans on anything with the right button. Diane was a little more lenient, she liked to let Alex do it her own way, come to her when she was ready.
Alex may not have the world's riches at the palm of her hands but she had Nicky and Diane; together they seemed like a close second to the seven world wonders even greater than any of the world's riches.
Thursday had befallen on them sooner than expected. Alex was sweating like a pig as she stood in front of her art gallery. She wore a black strapless dress and heels the length of Mount Everest that she definitely regretted wearing. Her hair done in an up-do with two streaks fallen on either side. She looked incredibly sophisticated and undoubtedly beautiful.
She was expecting nearly fifty people to show up. Ten of them critics, but all she could think of was one person. Piper. She'd been thinking about her pretty often lately. Anything she did the blonde seemed to pop in her brain automatically. She could not for the life of her get that one night of her mind.
She'd realized about halfway through a conversation with her mother, that she'd never asked the blonde for her number. She hadn't felt so stupid before. She knew where she lived; yet she didn't know her number. How idiotic was that?
Anyway, that's what led to her current dilemma. She had no guarantees whether the soldier would show up or not and not knowing was intoxicating, she couldn't sleep, she couldn't eat, she couldn't drink. To top it all off, her nerves were messing with her in ways that could never be forgiven. It drained her restless.
Every painting hung on the walls of her gallery she felt skeptical of. Suddenly, she felt that all her work could be resembled to a first grader's coloring pad. She couldn't be more further from the truth though, because her work was more flawless than Mona Lisa. Yes, it was that good.
She felt a hand on her shoulder once she took the liberty to stay still in one spot. She turned around and her eyes were greeted with her mother's soft smile and twinkling proud aroma.
"You need to relax, baby girl." She said softly. Alex smiled a slight bit of confidence refilled in her.
"I know." She sighed out.
"Your work is more than amazing, Hun." She let her hand move to her daughters and caress it softly.
"You have nothing to be nervous about." The younger brunette chuckled nervously despite what her mother had told her.
"I have everything to be nervous about." She admitted, her fingers fumbling with each other.
She looked to the ground and took a heavy breath. Her mother watched her intently. She knew Alex was nervous for more reasons than one. She could see it in her eyes. And she knew exactly what the second reason for her frazzled state was. She smiled warmly at her when the brunette finally fixed her gaze in her mother's eyes.
"This is about her, isn't it?" Alex shifted slightly. Why was this girl affecting her so much?
"It's not just her." She admitted. "It's everything, I mean what if the critics don't like my work? What if not enough people turn up? What if she doesn't show up? What if I'm not good enough for the business? And what if I fail? What do I do then?"
She began to exhale her nervousness, her breath running out from the continuation of her useless talking. Her mother placed two hands on her shoulder and squeezed it hard. She looked into her eyes.
"Alex."
"Sorry." She mumbled, looking away.
"Get your shit together." She warned her daughter who finally took a huge breath and let it out.
Here's to the beginning of a very eventful night.
Piper was applying the last of her make up while Cal lay haphazardly on her bed playing candy crush, like it was some important mission that should be taken seriously.
"So, you're really going?" He asked as soon as he won the level he'd been on.
Piper looked at herself in the mirror. An image of Alex's smile flashed on the surface of her eyes for a second before a slight grin played on the corner of her lips.
"Yeah." She breathed out. Her brother could see the obvious infatuation that painted her face. He sat upright.
"What could this girl have possibly done to get you like this?" He asked out of nowhere. The blonde paused for a while; she looked at him through the mirror.
"I wish I knew." She whispered. Cal smirked getting off the bed.
"Well, you look really good." His smirk still plastered on his lips, His sister rolling her eyes at it.
"Just remember, Pipes." He began with a slight sad smile. "You go back soon."
Piper sighed. Yes, she knew that. She knew that very well. Only fourteen days left of her time off. She needed to use that time wisely. Her brother had warned her, Polly had warned her. It's two weeks only that's left.
Could she start something? Could she do that to Alex? What if it was all a stupid mistake? What if it wasn't? What if it was a one-time thing? What if it wouldn't last? What if it would?
There were so many what-ifs, so many questions, so many that couldn't be answered. She had limited time. That's what she originally wanted. Limited time. But, half way through her time here she found something that might actually make her want to stay, something that might make her want to answer these unanswered questions. Something that might actually make reality feel like a dream. And a damn good dream it would be.
What was that? How could a girl she met in a bar at 3 am give her all these feelings? A thousand feelings emitting from one, single, fleeting, intoxicating, intense, beautiful, gorgeous and breath-taking woman; One woman, a thousand feelings and no explanation whatsoever as to how it came about.
But she liked it, how uncontrollable it was. It was mind blowing, a miracle of its own, something that couldn't be just anything. No, it was entirely everything. Or at least it was slowly becoming everything.
How could she ever come back from this? If she were to pursue this, whatever she was feeling. How could she come back? It was a one-way road and she had two lanes to pick from. It was a predicament on its own standing in front of the two lanes. Guess she'll never know until she tries.
She sighed heavily applying the last of her makeup. She smiled at herself content and proud of how she looked. She turned to face her brother as she straightened her knee length dress. It was a beautiful blue backless dress.
"So?" She asked nervously. Cal smirked.
"If you weren't my sister, I'd bang you." He said causing Piper to make a disgusted face while giggling.
Her brother laughed along and walked up to her. He kissed her cheek. Piper smiled letting him be the bear-hugging brother he was. She had a lot to thank him for. Especially lately, with him keeping their mother off her back. She knew she had to deal with it at some point but for now she had other plans to be dealt with.
"I hope for you sake," he began placing his hand on Pipers bicep. "You know what you're doing." He told her with a squeeze then left her room, a slight smile still plastered on it.
She stood there for a couple of minutes. Oh, Cal. She had no clue whatsoever to what she was doing. It could easily be the most clueless she'd been in her entire life.
It was around Alex's fourth cup of wine did she start doubting that the blonde might not show up. Currently, the gallery was almost packed. She was completely surprised by the turn up and not to mention how many critics came up to her telling her it was a phenomenal beginning and were hoping to see more.
Nothing could've been better, the attention her abilities got were off the charts. Yet, she still felt something missing. The critics, her paintings, the work she'd spent months on; none of it mattered. Not right now.
It was a stark contrast compared to what her life was before the blonde. All she cared about were her paintings. It almost scared her how fast her feelings for this blonde were growing. It was like she was in a race that she was winning with ease.
Her eyes roamed around the room once more, she'd spotted her mother chatting up to one of the critics and Nicky helping herself at the snack table. She chuckled at that. Only Nicky would spend an evening at an Art gallery chewing on pink shrimps and nachos. She smiled and carried on the journey her eyes had taken.
She was not ready for what they had landed on next. Right from across the room, across the sea of people, in walked the blonde her brain could not stop thinking about.
For a split second, the whole world stopped turning. She couldn't breath. She couldn't move. It was like a fuse had combusted in he, all her body just frozen, still. Piper looked breathtaking. The dress she wore leaving very little for the imagination, the heels that accompanied the dress, phenomenal. Almost all heads turned in her direction and for good reason.
The blonde seemed flustered, her cheeks slightly turning pink and it was not the blush of her makeup. Alex could catch the slight tremble in her hands when she tried to clutch her bag tighter. The soldier seemed to be looking for a familiar face.
The brunette snapped out of her transfixed state when a waiter passed her, she quickly placed her glass of wine and walked towards the blonde, pulling herself together. But the closer she got to the blonde, the shakier she became; her stomach turning upside down, her knees growing weak. Piper was easily the most beautiful scenery in the entire gallery. Better than any of Alex's pieces.
Piper had finally spotted the brunette she'd been looking for since she stepped foot into the gallery, her heart jumping at a sickening speed. Her lips automatically took control of themselves, a smile stretched across her face. And, just when Alex thought she couldn't be more intriguing, a smile like that appears and changes the entire meaning off intriguing.
"You came." The brunette breathed out. Piper stared at the floor, her blush boiling red. She looked back up her dimples so deep in her cheeks.
"I thought it wouldn't be wise to disappoint, Nicky." She joked. It was a good way to start the evening. Alex chuckled.
"You weren't even a little curious to see my work?"
"Maybe. Maybe not." She smirked.
"And here I thought you were coming for artistic prepossess."
"Guess you'll never find out."
"What a shame, I had so much anticipation to give you, you're own personalized tour."
"I think I've already seen the prettiest work of art, already." The blonde suddenly felt her confidence pill up; noticing the way the brunette had been keeping her eyes keen on her.
"You must have bad eye sight because you had heads turning as soon as you walked in." Alex smirked when the blonde blushed with a shy chuckle.
"I can't steal your show now, can I?" She quipped back. Alex raised her eyebrows in surprise. Piper was full of surprises wasn't she?
"Okay soldier, we'll play it your way."
Two can play at this dangerous flirting game. With the way they both looked. Any rules, rationality, logic or fears slipped right out the door. All that mattered was here and now.
Thirty minutes had passed before Alex was dragged away from the blonde. She didn't know what came over her really. All of sudden, she felt possessed. She was her old self rather than the person she'd become this last year.
She felt happy. She was smiling. And it wasn't the kind of fake smile you pull of to avoid questions. No, it was a real smile, one that was purely out of happiness, one that had purpose.
The war, military, her father, her mother, Polly, Cal, everything was at the back of her mind. Pushed to the farthest corner. All her attention cooped on one person. On the stunning brunette that stood with a proud grin explaining a painting to one of the critics.
Piper smiled for her, she could sense the struggle Alex had to take on to get to where she was now. It was her own type of battlefield. And boy, was she thriving in that battleground. She was rising high. Piper could feel that the woman deserved nothing less.
She watched her explain in passion for a few more seconds before she took it upon herself to see the rest of her work. She walked with slim fingers around a wine glass filled with water.
Her eyes caught sight of a beautiful landscape painting, a side view from the tip of the Eiffel Tower, the sky an amber color with a dash of fire red gleaming across the nearly invisible clouds, a gorgeous sunset in one of the most beautiful cities. The colors were in perfect harmony. Piper could never recall seeing anything so detailed. It was fascinating.
She took light steps forward admiring the next canvas, another masterpiece stood before her. This time a shadow of a person being drowned underwater by heavy boxes tied with a rope around the figures ankle. She took her time starring at the image. So much meaning emitted from it. Her gaze was locked for a long time, just trying to figure out the story behind the painting.
"A powerful story that one is." A voice emerged from behind her, startling her for the slightest bit.
She turned around. A woman she couldn't recognize approached her with a grin. Her eyes focused on the painting, she sipped on her wine then looked at Piper.
"It's my favorite." She voiced her opinion, expecting Piper to tell her hers.
"It's tragic." The blonde accidentally let slip from her lips. The older woman looked at her astonishingly, her eyebrow perked in a very Alex Vause way.
"I mean; it's just a sad story." She pointed at the boxes.
"See, those are the weights a person carries on their shoulders. I'm assuming that the reason this person gets dragged underwater is because no one sees what's beneath the surface and he's drowning without anyone even knowing." She tried to clarify.
"It doesn't have to be tragic." The woman protested with a shrug.
"Depends on how you see it." She told the blonde who stood confused; there really was only one way of seeing it. She crossed her brows together, waiting for an explanation.
"It could symbolize strength. The boxes that are weighing him down are a heavy burden; yes but-" she stopped to take another sip of her drink. "The person still manages to survive, he's still breathing and he chooses to hide his weaknesses."
The soldier stood with surprise, it was enticing how the woman had taken a seemingly sad image and spun it in a way that made it look empowering. She glanced back at the canvas, seeing the light of the situation.
"I never thought of it that way." She admitted. The older woman chuckled.
"Most people don't." She smiled then stretched her arm out.
"I'm Diane." She introduced herself. Piper shook her hand.
"Piper Chapman."
"You're Piper?" She questioned with shocked eyes, her eyebrows rose to her forehead. "The soldier?"
"Yes." The blonde suddenly felt skeptical of the woman, how could she have possibly known that.
"I'm Alex's mother." She explained quickly, the soldier's stomach went into a hissy fit. Alex talked about her?
"It's nice to meet you." She quickly fixed her confused state and tried to look as sophisticated as possible. Diane chuckled slightly finishing her drink.
"I must say," she eyed the blonde from top to bottom. Piper felt her legs turn to jelly, she was extremely nervous. "I was expecting someone more-"
"Buff?" A quiet familiar voice approached them from behind the soldier. She turned around, only to find Nicky walking up to them, slightly tipsy.
"Nicky," Diane sighed out in disapproval. The redhead ignored and smirked.
"I am not drunk." She warned quickly. Knowing both Vauses, they could smell bullshit from a mile away and her was slightly reeking. She tried to walk in balance with her heels. She hated heels.
"Tipsy, maybe?" She admitted. Diane shook her head with annoyance.
"I'll get the aspirin." She said with boredom while she left.
Having known Nicky's childhood it was going to get ugly soon, and the redhead needed her chill pill. Nicky spent most of her post-teen years with Alex; Diane had become somewhat like a mother to her. So, this was more than normal to Diane.
"So, you decided to come." The redhead stated with a smirk as she looked at the blonde.
"Ya," the blonde nodded.
"See anything you like?" Her smirk grew. "You know, other than Alex." Piper stared wide-eyed at Nicky. Her bluntness was unfortunate during most times. The blonde straightened herself and distracted herself by answering the question.
"She's extremely talented."
"Ya, I know." The redhead picked a glass of wine once it passed her, Piper doubted that it was wise but it wasn't her call to make. Nicky smiled sheepishly before taking a sip.
"Which one's your favorite?" The blonde was taken back by the sudden question.
"Umm." She wrapped her fingers a little tighter around her glass before she inspected the room once more.
It landed on a painting at the far end of the room, an image of an extraordinary beach view with footsteps on the sand and a disappearing figure. The colors were vibrant yet the story sad. The sun was setting in the painting. Her legs gravitated towards the canvas it was probably the largest one in the room.
"This one." She said. Nicky smirked as she drank nodding her head.
"Yup, that sure took her ages to get right."
"It's fascinating."
"I agree." A Russian accent filled the air as the woman stood next to them. She pointed to the painting, the soldier eyed her intensely the woman seemed tough. Her face almost neutral not at all like how she sounded.
"Look at that," she inspected the painting again. "The brush stroke so delicate. Only firm hands can accomplish this work of art, yet, such a sad ora emitting such strong gentle hands." It felt like the woman was talking to herself.
"Tell me, my dear." The Russian pointed at the canvas, then looked at Piper. "How much do you think this is worth?"
Piper paused for a few seconds, her brain still trying to piece together what this woman's motives were. The redhead next to her turned to look at the older woman only to freeze. Nicky spit half the drink she sipped on when she finally noticed whom the woman was.
"Mrs. Reznikov." The redhead tried to fix her posture all tipsiness faded away. The older woman smirked.
"Dear child, learn to drink before you drown yourself."
"I, I," she tried to speak.
Mrs. Reznikov was one of the strongest people in the art program. She has high expectations; usually she crushed the works of the painters. She never really liked anything from first glance. She was like a red dragon. If she didn't like anything all she had to do was open her mouth and it would burn. But if she liked your work then you've won the lottery.
"Get yourself a glass of water, honey." She rolled her eyes then eyed Piper again.
"As I was saying," she looked back at the painting waiting for the blonde's response. "How much do you think its work?"
The soldier thought for a moment, Alex must've taken her time with the painting, everything so detailed. It's must've taken her days or weeks to accomplish its vogue appearance.
"I guess, 1,000 dollars." She voiced skeptically looking at the older woman. The woman smirked.
"You hesitated," she pointed at Piper, who was shaking by now. "Let me tell you why," she pointed at the canvas again, near a spot that was slightly mushed.
It was a color cover up, barely noticeable for normal people but an obvious mistake for an art dealers eye.
"This was not the painting she originally wanted, although beautiful. It's a fake. The artists intentions shifted mid way through her painting." She looked at the blonde.
"She's afraid to paint something different." She finalized. Piper looked around. She did notice a pattern in Alex's paintings.
"Maybe, she just hasn't found the right inspiration yet?"
"Of course she hasn't," Mrs. Reznikov shook her hand in dissent.
"But," Piper protested. "For a beginner, she's quiet the catch. I've never seen paintings like theses, ones that if you look hard enough can shape 20 different stories."
"What stories do you see in this my dear?" The older woman kept a keen eye on the soldier. Intrigued about what she was going to hear. The blonde gulped. The look was scary but she carried on to justify her intentions.
"It could be a sad story, about a person who'd loved and lost and was fading away, or a happy one." She paused taking her time to look at the photo. "A memorable one, the footprints and the things this person has left behind. The legacy he left. So, he'd never really be obliterated but remembered."
Mrs. Reznikov stood admiringly, for the first time in ages she's actually liked a newbies work. She looked at the blonde a grin high on her lips. She sipped at her wine.
"I like you." She said then simply walked away. Piper exhaled a breath she held tightly. She had a feeling that the woman was big, with the way Nicky reacted she only hopped she didn't screw it for Alex. She placed her glass down on a near table she needed to get out.
Alex sighed out as soon as most of the guests have left, she felt guilty. At some point, the little time she'd spent with the soldier really hit her. She couldn't spend much time with Piper and right when she was free, she couldn't find the enticing blonde anywhere. It frustrated her even more.
She let her eyes roam around the door once more hopping she'd catch at least a glimpse of her when suddenly she was tapped on the shoulder, she turned around and caught her breath. Her ears turned read and her body went stiff. Before her stood the toughest critic of times magazine and the owner of the Red Productions galleries. Mrs. Reznikov. Alex could remember the first time she'd met her. It was at her first gallery. Boy, did she crush her back then, it was one of her missions to get her to like her work, a dream goal actually.
"It's disrespectful to not introduce yourself, sweetie." She spoke with great elegance and posture. Alex fiddled with the near empty glass in her hand before she straightened her voice.
"Alex Vause," she said with an extended arm. "A pleasure to see you." The redhead squinted her eyes.
"We've met before, haven't we?" Alex's palms started to sweat, shit. She remembered her.
"You're the street artist who tried to sell out at 18." She smirked and chuckled. "My, have the years gone fast." The brunette still couldn't utter a word.
"You've definitely evolved, good work child." She said with a neutral look, you'd think she was just lying.
The older woman pulled out a folded paper from her bag as Alex processed her thoughts. Did the Mrs. Reznikov a.k.a red dragon lady compliment her on her work? As if on queue the older woman handed her the piece of Paper.
"I'd like to see more progress miss Vause, a shame it would be if those talents go to waste." She said with a devilish smirk, and patted her shoulder. She walked away slightly as the brunette quickly scrambled the piece of paper.
Her eyes budged out of their sockets; there in her hands she had a 1,000-dollar check for one of her paintings. She flipped the paper back and forth as if trying to believe it wasn't a fake. Her eyes fixed on the scribbled handwriting at the back.
"Thank the blonde."
That was all that was written. Alex's stomach did twists and turns. She was too busy dealing with the line of critics she hadn't noticed Piper with the woman who probably held the art world in the palm of her hands.
What could she have possibly said to turn Mrs. Reznikov to her side?
Piper stood by the taxicab line. Her mind was in swirls; she was nearly sweating which was strange considering she was standing in the freezing coldness of New York. She'd been going back and forth contemplating whether to go or stay. And every time she was about to step into a cab, she flinched backwards. Like some force was pulling her.
If she left now, she had no guarantee if she'd ever cross paths with the brunette again. She wouldn't have to worry about strings being attached or feelings growing. She wouldn't have to leave anyone behind. No casualties. But, what if she stayed?
There was no way of finding out what could happen if she stayed unless she did. She had two weeks, two weeks left to see her if she wanted. Could she do it? Could she be just friends after being apart from that love filled world for so long, could she do it?
She definitely craved it. She missed loving and being loved no matter how many times she'd show the opposite her true intentions were always grounded by love. Yet, it was the thing that scared her the most. What was she going to do?
"I suggest you use that time wisely."
"You leave in nearly two weeks, Pipes."
"I hope you know what you're doing."
The words echoed in her head. She'd been warned, but she was already far past that electric fence. She'd been told to use her time wisely, yet being wise was never her strong suit.
"Screw it." She hissed and pulled herself together to head back to the gallery hopping Alex would still be there.
Her heart drummed a rapid beat the minute she reached the brunette. Alex had a wine glass in her hands as she sipped on it starring directly at one of her paintings, the one she'd talked about to that critic.
The gallery was empty this time. Dark even, the brunette had her heels in her other hand and a crumpled piece of paper in the palm of her hand. She took another sip of her wine as the blonde approached her quietly from behind.
"I hope I'm not interrupting." The soldier whispered taking light steps. Alex twirled as fast as she could by the sound of her voice.
"I thought you left." She spoke vulnerably, maybe even a little tipsy. God knows the tool it must take dealing with a bunch of judgmental people.
"I was promised a personal tour." The blonde smirked. The brunette chuckled nodding her head then pointing her drink at the soldier.
"You are dangerous." She grinned when Piper shifted. She sipped on her wine and walked closer to the brunette. "But, I like it." She smirked her eyes slightly sparkling with lust.
Piper blushed and cleared her throat when she couldn't handle the puddle that was growing between her legs from the look Alex gave her. She walked past the brunette and faced the canvas she was starring at.
"Tell me, about this." She tried to focus her brain to the painting. The artist took soft steps and stood next to her; even without her heels on she was a tad bit taller. Her eyes held a firm glance at Piper.
"It's one of my greatest works." She spoke as soon as she turned her attention to the canvas again.
"But, not intentionally." She stated, remembering the critics words. Alex looked at her with confusion. How could she know that, last she checked Piper was a soldier not an artist.
"How'd you-"
"An older woman approached me. Russian accent and all." She started to explain, then pointed to the slightly mushed section. "You covered the colors." Alex's eyes turned wide. Why would she give her a thousand dollars if she knew that?
"Did you say something to her?" She asked quickly, her eyebrows crossed with confusion. Piper suddenly felt nervous. Shit. Did she screw it up for her?
"A stupid opinion." Piper brushed with a nervous chuckle. Alex stared at her intensely. She shook her head.
"She didn't think so," the brunette pulled out the check from her hand and gave it to the blonde. Piper's eyes grew wider.
"I thought she was kidding." She whispered out astonished. Alex chuckled taking the piece of paper, back. Piper was still in her shocked wave.
"Trust me, Mrs. Reznikov dose not 'kid' about things art." Piper crossed her eyebrows, her own brain wandering into confusion, she said Alex hadn't found her inspiration yet, why would she buy something she thought was without inspiration.
"Did she say anything else?" Alex question, Piper had a funny look.
"She said you were scared of doing something different." Piper whispered out as she stared into the greenest orbs she'd ever laid her eyes on.
"I think I know what it is."
"What?" Alex asked intrigued as she fixed her sight on the blonde's eyes and lips.
"People." She breathed out. "You don't paint people." Alex took a look around her paintings noticing the missing figure in her work. "You paint their shadows, eyes, lips, features even but," she stared harder.
"Never, a real person." Her eyes switched back and forth, something was stopping her, something that scared her deeply. She could see the green-eyed brunette swallow a spectrum when she noticed her weakness in her greatest fealty.
"Why?" She asked. The brunette looked away with a sorrowed chuckle.
"That's a story for another time." She whispered. Piper felt like she was in no position to push forward. She only knew this person's outline. If she wanted to color her correctly she had to walk through her pace and not drag her.
"Come," she shook her head, dismissing what had just happened. "I'll show you my other work, finally give you that personalized tour." She said with a smile. Her expression's changed without hesitation or difficultly. Piper didn't let that go unnoticed but for now she brushed it off.
Time had passed swiftly, Alex and Piper both enjoyed the two hours they'd spent together. They've fell into another world, yet again. Getting to know each other better. Now they stood by Piper's brother's apartment again.
Alex's stomach feeling the sudden emerges of butterflies and Piper's fingers turning numb from nervousness. She had something she's been dying to ask. Currently her cheeks hurt from smiling so much, her dimples had basically drilled a whole through her skin. She was staring at the ground when she started to speak.
"About the other day," she looked up at Alex who was smiling. "Did you mean what you said when you told me you might like me or something?" She nervously bit her lip waiting for an answer. Green eyes froze at the question; those butterflies have suddenly doubled inside her. She swallowed a heavy spectrum and blushed while whispering out.
"Yes," her cheeks turned hot red, while Pipers enormous smile grew.
Fuck. She thought. I'm definitely screwed. Alex gulped again looking at the ground before she looked back up again. Her lips turning dry, her palms sweating. She scratched her neck slightly breathing out.
"Would you, umm," she fumbled with her hands and shook her head. "No, I mean if you want-" she shut her eyes and shook her head again.
"Scratch that," she looked at the blonde, her nerves heightening. She sighed again. "How would like it, if I could take you out?" Piper looked at her confused. Alex's fluster-ness was a distracting trait.
"Like, for dinner?" The brunette nervously clarified. Piper smirked.
"Are you trying to ask me out?" She raised her eyebrows. "On a date?"
"I Umm," she began to scratch at the back of her neck again. "I haven't asked anyone out in a long time. I kinda forgot how." She admitted, and then hit herself mentally. Why would you say that? Piper giggled softly. She walked closer to the brunette all rationality out the window.
She let her lips feel Alex's cheeks again, this time they lingered for a moment. Her lipstick printed on the brunette's cheek, whose legs could fail her within any second. She felt something being slipped into her free hand before the blonde pulled apart slightly.
"Pick me up at 7." She smirked as she whispered into Alex's clearly red ears. "Surprise me." She said walking backwards towards the door. The brunette chuckled breathlessly. Her eyes transfixed at the blonde who had somehow someway stole her wisdom and logic, maybe even her heart.
She watched the blonde enter the building before she looked at the paper at hand. She smirked. The blonde's number was scribbled on it. She definitely didn't lose her charm. She mentally fist pumped the air before getting in her car. When it suddenly hit her, how the fuck was she going to impress a soldier on a date, to a nice place when she could barely afford to pay her rent?
