The Sunshine Bar

Alex had been leery of taking the offered ride to wherever she needed to be dropped off at from Professor Caputo, but in the end had given in after his insistence that he hadn't come all the way down there and gotten her out of jail just to fuck it up by being a pervert.…he seriously just wanted to help.….Alex wasn't used to this sort of interaction with people that had good intentions towards her.

His eyebrows had raised that her first choice was a local bar so early in the day, but said nothing, she gave him an awkward smile before exiting his SUV, with a promise to meet later in the evening on campus. She stopped outside to discard the manila envelope marked Vause A. into the trash. She had her wallet with twenty bucks still tucked inside, her phone, and her jewelry. Some of the few good memories she had as a kid were of her mom and her grandmother…both now long since passed. The Celtic cross necklace was engraved in Gaelic 'Seanmhathair' which Diane had said stood for grandmother, the Black Irish descent explaining her raven hair with pale skin. She had given it to her when she was just seven years old.…the chain hanging ridiculously long then, now it fit just right.

When the police had picked her from school just a few short years later, in the 5th grade explaining that her mom had been killed instantly in a head-on collision, she had been devastated. Alex twirled the silver filigree ring Diane had once worn daily..….now on her right hand….she'd never forget that man's face as he'd shoved the ring into her palm. He explained that he'd worked the accident and there'd been nothing else that could have been done to save her. He kneeled down and looked her right in the eyes, his full of sadness…hers full of tears…

He said, "One day when the storm is over, you even won't remember how you made it through, or how you managed to survive. You may not even be sure, whether the storm is ever really over. But one thing is certain, you won't be the same person that walked in….the rest of your life starts over right here…right now…..his voice was gruff with emotion as he grabbed her into a quick hug…"Just be careful who you change into.…the world's a mean place, kid."

It wouldn't take her long within the foster care system to realize that guy hadn't known the half of it….but he had meant well. Alex hurried inside before her mind began to swim with the memories that still haunted her dreams, now wasn't the time and surely not the place for that shit…..she figured it was nothing a few drinks couldn't wash away.

No sooner had she hit the door than she heard a loud chorus of cheers and was crowded by Gina, Tricia and Nicky.

"What the fuck….how'd you get out?" Nicky quizzed

"You not gonna believe this…hell I barely do and I was there for it…..it was so crazy….it was like I was sitting there thinking how in the hell was we gonna come up with all that money and then the next thing I know I'm in the cell for like thirty minutes and then I'm sitting in an interrogation room with a professor from the college."

Alex stopped momentarily when she saw Tricia's phone charging by their usual table, and without asking unplugged it and put hers on to charge, "Thanks" she said half-heartedly as she turned around to continue her story.

"What the hell was he doing there?" Gina asked

"Well, ok….I haven't really said nothing but up there this guy has been having like a math contest and I've been answering a few of the questions ya know….like at night after I'm done cleaning. Well one day last week, this professor saw me…and I figured they'd be mad and shit that I was messing with their stuff, so I took off. Well apparently not only was he not mad….he wants to see me do more of it." Alex looked around the table at everyone's wide eyes.

"Whaddaya mean... more of what?", Tricia piped up

"Ok, so the judge was hitting me hard no bail no nothing….well this guy…Professor Caputo asked my boss at M.I.T how to find me…he gave him my Parole Officer's information that led him down to the courthouse. He saw I was getting sent down for awhile and convinced the judge to let me go with him instead!"

"Shut the fuck up!", Nicky shouted, pouring out beers from the pitcher and handing them each one.

"Sounds too good to be true….what's the catch", Gina's frown spoke volumes and they all murmured in agreement.

"Yeah, I know….trust me….I was like go fuck yourself….but he was serious, except for one thing….He wants to meet up once a week to do Math with him and his cronies…get this…. Just for fun"….howling laughter emitted from the group…

Nicky held up her mug and they all gave them a resounding clink to cheers Alex's unlikely return home. She wasn't telling them about the therapy because there's no way she'd ever live that shit down…..she was scheming a way out of that currently in her mind anyway….no way did she really intend to go…..but fuck it for now, she was back.

Her phone began to beep with all of yesterday and today's texts and voicemails. A few from the crew and after listening to her voicemails, her day got worse when a call from M.I.T let her know that she had been fired for missing work, that damn bastard had always had it out for her.

"Fuck!", Alex slammed the nearest table…causing all eyes to briefly land on her. She pressed delete and continued to listen to the last message and put her phone back down.

"So…you gonna tell us what that was….or…?", Nicky asked

"I got canned from the college for missing work", Alex sighed

"Maybe, they can take your release papers from county as like an excuse note?", Gina said, always the optimistic one

"Nah…that bastard has been looking for something…."

Tricia, always the first to try to start shit with Alex started laughing…."I can't believe you got fired….I mean how fuckin hard is it to push around a mothafuckin mop…..am I right..?" She nudged Nicky expecting a laugh in response.

"Bitch, shut the hell up….you get canned more than tuna!" Nicky fired back

"Yeah, you don't even have a job….." Gina added…."What happened at your last place?"

"Hey, management was restructuring….is all….not my fault." Tricia said defensively while pushing Gina good-naturedly

"Well, at least I got a job dammit," Gina pushed back, harder than usual

"Re-structuring?" Alex rolled her eyes….separating the two youngsters….."Yeah, means that they don't want lazy fuckers like you riding the clock and shit!"

"Alright….alright….I'm looking for something, ya know.", Tricia made peace holding up her hands up.

Nicky clapped Alex on the back, "Don't worry, my uncle can probably get you something down at the hotel with me in Valet."

Tricia gasped in astonishment, "What….I asked you last week if you could get me something out there!"

Nicky grinned her Cheshire smile, "Exactly, and I told you No….I can't stick my neck out there for you, my uncle will end up putting a foot in both our asses….you know he don't like thieves or smartasses." Tricia had already done a couple stints for having sticky fingers. She eyed Vause, "And that means you too….no funny business…..just take the keys and park the cars."

"Got it boss", Alex smirked….she downed the last of her beer and gathered her things. "Look, guys, I hate to jet but I gotta go meet this putz and do school shit." Of course, they jeered with laughter, Nicky caught her eye and nodded out back…guess that meant she wouldn't have to walk there.

Alex exited the car with with a long solemn stare, no words were needed. She was ten minutes late but he was lucky she showed at all in her opinion. She quickly found the classroom where they were already waiting for her arrival. She watched with a hard stare as Bennett wrote the problem. As he draws the lines and parameters of the problems, they simply watch. Nothing is heard but the chalk against the chalkboard...all the stadium seats empty. Alex and Caputo hold eye contact for several seconds, before she lazily swung her swiveled green chair to face the chalkboard. Her confidence exuded from her sarcastic smirk to her hand as her strokes were sure. Her ass hit the black cushioned seat no sooner than she stood if you asked Caputo. Their shared smile at her correct answer of the math proof was something of inside jokes, a meeting of the minds...Bennett could only look on with a degree of jealousy a connection that he couldn't reach with the Professor. As his TA of course they spent many hours together, but somehow this girl now had his full attention and John didn't like it one bit.

Harvard

The ringtone rang for ominous seconds before Piper could bring herself to pick up the phone. Her neck hairs stood in protest of the voice that crossed the phone lines. Her mother always used her sweet as syrup voice when she was maneuvering the noose surreptitiously tighter around her unsuspecting prey, but Piper had lived a life time with her already and knew the power play that was ahead. Though she'd protest, she knew she had ran for as long as she could.

"Hello, Mother"

"You've been avoiding my calls...Piper, Its been awhile since we've all been together as a family. You know its unavoidable…besides we've all had some time to"….her voice faded slightly, in the way of things when they are nothing but a façade, Piper hearing that ever so silent pause…she was sure it took all her Mom had to ask her to come home….. the hitch gone

"We've had time to resolve our issues with things…and your father really needs your support coming up. Do I need to send the plane?"

Piper knew that in no way had they really resolved to agree on anything but a familial duty and her opinion was neither needed nor asked for simply demanded... in a way that those with all the power always seem to do….with a grimly quiet determination. Piper smiled her most placating smile even though it was through the phone, it was time she starting practicing after all…

"No, thank you…I'd rather fly coach, I'll just charge the card and tell you where to send the driver"

"Coach….her mother scathed, "Piper…why must you insist on being so common….remember the spotlight only shines the brightest on us for a short amount of time in our lives. You should enjoy it."

Piper sighed, "I do, mom…I know fate all that jazz, make good choices, and take advantage of the business contacts etc….Look, I'll be there in time okay, I know what season it is….see you in a couple weeks." Piper didn't wait for a response, she simply tapped the red button.

She was very sure nothing would or could fix the damage that lie beneath the pristine image of the Chapman family, but she would do what was needed for the greater majority. She shoved away any more negative thoughts and had an overwhelming urge to do something that was just for herself. Like much of her life in Boston, she lived for her own desires, as most young twenty-somethings do. She reveled in coming and going as she pleased to art shows, music festivals, gala openings…..just experiencing the wonderfully, ever changing human aspect, without so many filters.

Her life in New York was like a constant high wire act, with so many eyes waiting to see her fall. So, she had decided once she was far removed from prying eyes, here she would laugh, and love…..and smile….As her lips stretched into a secret thought of Alex. Alex was a dangerous force to be reckoned with, unexpected yet something she had known that she simply couldn't deny herself.

Make no mistake that she was well aware of the most likely possibility of getting burned and having this whole thing blow up in her face…that's what happened when you play with fire, and there was a flame glowing in Alex's green eyes the night that they met that Piper was drawn to. Every reason that she should run from this affair was every reason why she was dialing Alex's number. The rings began to number and her disappoint ballooned. Suddenly, a husky timbre rumbled across the line causing her heart to beat again.

"Hello"

"It's Piper"

"Yes, I know that," Alex chuckled as she rolled over on her bed, sheets cast aside. Being currently unemployed left her with an unaccustomed blank day.

"Are you free today?", Piper questioned

"As luck would have it, I have an immeasurable amount of time"

Piper smiled, and decided to fish a little, "Is that an immeasurable amount of time for me or just in general would you say?"

"Oh I'm always free to meet pretty girls who give me their numbers in bars.", Alex deadpanned not giving her the obvious compliment she wanted.

"Well, then since I thought that in keeping with tradition, since I made the first move after all...Damn Alex wasn't going to make this easy...I'm wondering how soon can you meet me at Boston Common?"

"That's a ….?" Alex flustered, this girl was full of surprises

"A coffee shop, you did ask me out for a cup of coffee…and now I'm deciding that I want to see you right now….I don't wanna wait another week wondering if you're going call me. I'm on campus now so it'll take me a minute since the shop is downtown." Piper forced her voice not to shake...what was it about Alex that made her so bold she didn't know but she liked her new-found confidence.

Alex glanced at her military standard watch that she'd snagged at a pawn shop years ago, the bus left every fifteen minutes and the ride into downtown was another fifteen or so. It was nearly noon now, which meant if she hurried she might make the 12:15 pickup…

Piper waited patiently for a response…Alex could be heard already shuffling around, "How's 1PM?"

"Great, 515 Washington St…..see you there", Piper was unable to keep the rising excitement out of her voice which caused Alex to smile into the phone as she ended the call.

Alex with not much time to spare threw on her favorite Dropkick Murphy's tee shirt with her best pair of black jeans and Adidas. She quickly brushed the sleepy tangles from her hair, brushed her teeth, cologne, and extra deodorant for the jog she was going to have to do to catch that 12:15...phone, keys, wallet... and she was out the door. She fanned her shirt for air as she had just made the bus, lightly dabbing her forehead.

Piper took an extra second to scan her dress. A casual flower print that hit a respectable length to her thigh but the scooped neck revealed a delicious amount of cleavage that she'd put extra perfume there hoping to grab Alex's attention. Her lip gloss was strawberry and the mascara made her eyes look as blue as they ever had. Now if she could just keep her palms from sweating...she thought as she headed out...