Piper stood still, as she observed the two friends get lost on each other's presence. Alex hugged Drew tightly, as the auburn-haired woman embraced her firmly. The two women obviously missed each other, as it was the first time that they've been away from each other longer than a week, ever since they've met.
"When did you arrive? I thought you still have one more week?" Alex said smiling as she released Drew.
"An hour ago. I went here straight from the airport to surprise you, but no one answered. I manage to finish all my work ahead so here I am. Missed me, Lex?" Drew answered teasing.
"Are you kidding me? Of course!" Alex said and she hugged her again while Drew giggled on obvious joy.
They continued talking for a few minutes more when Alex suddenly remembered the blonde.
"Oh, wait! Come here." She took Drew's hand and dragged her where Piper was standing still.
Piper saw their fingers entwined, as she couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. Alex saw where the blonde was looking, so she wanted to let go of the auburn-haired woman's hand, but Drew tightly held her hand even before she could.
"Pipes, this is Drew. Drew, this is Piper." Alex said as she smiled.
"Hi. Piper Chapman." Piper said.
Piper intentionally extends her right hand for Drew to shake. She offered the hand in which opposite to the auburn-haired woman's, so she would let go of Alex's hand.
"Hi. Drew Gosselin." Drew said as she took her extended hand.
It was the first time she'd be seeing the woman behind the voice in every phone call to Alex. Piper was disheartened.
Drew was captivating. Her naturally brownish-red, perfectly tousled wavy hair falls below her shoulders. Her amber eyes had a solid golden/coppery tint. She was as tall as her. Her straight-edged nose and thin lips compliment her face, and to say that she was attractive was an understatement. Piper wondered if Alex hadn't really felt any attraction towards her friend. It was impossible not to fall for someone like Drew. She was a complete package. She was smart, caring, and beautiful. She concluded that the competition for the raven-haired woman's affection would be hard.
They were quiet after the introduction, unsure of what to talk about when Piper decided to break the silence.
"It's nice to finally meet you, Drew." Piper said as she smiled.
"Likewise." Drew replied.
Drew was overwhelmed on how good looking Piper was. It was a little dark, but the streetlights gave her enough gleams to see Piper up close. She couldn't deny that the blonde was attractive and appealing. It made her a little worried, as she knew that the blonde caught Alex's eye.
"I heard a lot about you."
"I hope good things, though." Piper said.
"They are...so far." Drew replied.
Piper didn't know what she meant, but she dismissed the comment and just smiled.
"We should go inside." Alex said.
She couldn't take how the atmosphere seemed to thicken in the presence of the two women.
"Ugh, I should probably just go. It's getting late anyway. I know you guys have a lot of catching up to do." Piper said.
She smiled to Alex warmly, but the raven-haired woman knew how uncomfortable she was being.
"Are you sure?" Alex asked worriedly.
"Yeah, it's fine."
"Ok then." Drew said as she looked and beamed at Alex.
"Yeah. Bye." Piper said.
She walked away from the two without looking back at Alex, as she heads to her car. She was several feet away when she felt a tug on her hand.
"Wait! Let me walk you." Alex said as she held Piper's hand.
Piper was startled for a while but regained her composure after, as she gave Alex a timid smile.
"Your friend is waiting."
"It's fine." Alex said as she smiled.
They continued walking and stopped at the side of Piper's car.
"I really enjoyed tonight, Pipes."
"Me too." Piper said as she smiled at Alex.
They looked at each other intently for a moment, and then Alex held the side of Piper's face and started to lean in towards the blonde. She kissed her on the cheek gently.
"Thank you." She said.
Piper blushed at the contact while a smile was plastered on her face.
"Thank you, too." She said shyly.
They stared at each other for a moment, lost on each other's gaze when they heard Drew called Alex again.
"Lex! Come on!"
Piper exhaled resignedly.
"Your friend is calling." Piper said as her tone rises a little.
Alex giggled at her, as she obviously recognized her tone of jealousy.
"She's just a friend. Don't be..."
"I'm not jealous." Piper cuts her off.
"I was supposed to say angry but...yeah." Alex teased.
Piper stayed silent, but she couldn't hide her doe-eyed expression at Alex. The raven-haired woman couldn't help but chuckled at the blonde.
"You are something else. " Alex exhaled as she smirked.
"You are too." Piper said as she earned another giggle from the raven-haired woman.
Go." Alex said as she opened the door on the driver seat.
Piper deposited herself resignedly.
"Drive safely. Call me when you get home, okay?" Alex said as she gave the blonde her signature smirk.
"Okay."
"Goodnight, Pipes."
"Goodnight, Al."
Piper drives away from the raven-haired woman. She couldn't help but wish that the night ended differently, preferably with the admission of her feelings towards Alex.
...
Alex and Drew updated each other on what they missed since the auburn haired woman left. Drew told Alex about the events she attended in LA. She also bragged about their company's finished project, as she was the lead engineer. Alex teased her about the interview that she read in the magazine.
"Do you like it?"
"Yeah, but I feel like that's not you. I mean, don't get me wrong, I like it, but I feel like someone else was talking. It's not you." Alex said as her friend laughed at her.
"Of course, stupid! I need to be serious and professional. It's work."
"Yeah, that's why. You were never serious with me, so it's weird."
They laughed again and continued bantering until the topic switch to Alex's rediscovered memories. Alex updated Drew about the ones she remembered and the ones Piper told her. She already told Drew before on one of the phone conversations that they had, that Piper and her used to be together. Drew was skeptical, as she didn't quite believe that Piper was telling the truth. When she saw how attractive the blonde was, she refused to believe as her jealousy gets in the way of her rational thinking. She loved Alex, and although she hadn't said anything to her, she was very possessive of her attention.
"I need to tell you something." Alex said hesitantly.
"Okay."
They were seated beside each other on Alex's couch. The raven-haired woman looked at her friend intently. She couldn't deny how attractive Drew was. Every time she looked at her, Drew's eyes seemed to glitter. Her friend was a good person. She was always smiling and very thoughtful of everyone around her. Alex couldn't help but admire the auburn-haired woman.
"Piper and I went out on a date."
"What?"
"Yes...she asked me out and I said yes."
Drew stood up abruptly and walked away from the brunette. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. She didn't expect that Alex would easily believe the blonde.
"Why? Because she said you were together before?" Drew's voice rose a little.
Alex was seated still, she didn't say anything and just let her friend rant.
"Alex, you can't just believe everything that she'll say." She said anxiously.
She paced in front of the brunette, as she thought about the right things to say. She wasn't prepared for this. She was planning to say something about her feelings to Alex, but she hadn't decided when she would say it.
"You've known her for what, four months? Alex, don't you think she might have an agenda on this. Who knows how things ended between the two of you? Do you even know what kind of person she is?" Drew said irritated.
Alex was surprised. She never saw her friend lose her cool on her like this.
"She tells me things that I should know." Alex said softly.
"And you believe her? So what, you believe every word that will come out of her mouth? I left you for four months and you're already forming a relationship with someone you barely even knew." Drew said sharply.
"You're judging." Alex said softly.
Her tone was firm, but she said it in a way that she was almost murmuring. Drew snapped out of her rant. She looked at the raven-haired woman, as Alex looked back at her. She saw Alex's offended expression. She didn't mean to judge, but the panicked thoughts of losing her friend came crashing through. She walked back towards Alex and seated beside her, as she exhaled resignedly.
"I'm sorry. I was just bothered." Drew said.
"Benny knows her."
"Uncle Benny?"
"Yeah. After Piper told me that we were together before, I asked Benny and he confirmed that we are."
"Were. It's in the past." Drew corrected her.
"Were."
Alex dropped her gaze. She felt like she was in between two tectonic plates colliding against each other. She exhaled a tired breath that her friend didn't miss.
"I'm sorry, Lex. I was just worried. I always will when it comes to you."
Alex smiled at her, as Drew smiled back. Drew rested her head on Alex's shoulder, as her friend lays her cheek on Drew's head.
"Yeah. You always are." Alex said as she smiled.
"I'm just...I care about you...I am..." Drew stuttered, as she tried hard to find the right words. She decided she could tell Alex now and deal with it later. She lifts her head and gaze at her friend's emerald orbs as Alex stared back at her amber eyes.
"I guess what I'm trying to say is...I'm...Lex, I'm...I'm in..."
A loud noise interrupts their conversation. Alex's phone that was placed on the coffee table rings audibly. She looked at the ID and saw Piper.
"I'm sorry. I have to get this. Just give me a minute." Alex said as she stands and walked towards the kitchen.
Drew couldn't help but exhale dejectedly. She felt like Piper would be difficult to compete with, especially when Alex was beginning to get attached to her like this.
...
The following morning Alex and Piper planned to have breakfast together. Piper was surprised that Drew didn't make plans with Alex that morning. She thought that the auburn-haired woman would make the most out of her time to spend it with her friend. They talked a lot about the past, as Piper answered Alex's inquiries as best as she could. They discussed their travels mostly. Alex couldn't stop laughing about Piper's stomach virus in Java and their pork chop version. It was close to 9 when they finished and Alex decided to drive Piper back to her store.
"It was crazy huh?" Alex said.
"It was." Piper smiled.
"I can't believe we traveled the world."
"Yeah, we did."
"I just wished we did it legally. I mean, it was nice, but it was dangerous too." Alex said softly.
There was an underlying guilt in her tone.
"It was, but we're young and naive and the thrill of doing it really appealed to us before." Piper explained.
Alex remained silent. She thought about the things that she did before and where she ended up now. She felt like karma really had a way of chasing her and made her pay for her sins. Piper saw how deep in thought she was, as she saw Alex's brows furrowed.
"Alex, you're not a bad person. You made some mistakes in the past, but you paid for it." Piper said, pacifying the raven-haired woman.
"Yeah. I'm kind of still."
They were quiet all throughout the car ride, as Piper thought of ways to lift Alex's mood. She messaged Jackie to prepare something for her, before they reached the store.
They reached Pages and Brews and stood in front of the store quietly. She figured Alex seemed ashamed about her mistakes and felt bad about her self. It made her worried.
"Al, it's in the past now okay? Now is more important." Piper said.
"Okay." Alex said as she smiled.
She felt that Piper was worried, so she brushed the guilt off of her.
"I should go. I don't want to keep you from your job." Alex said.
"Okay...oh, wait!" Piper said.
She remembered the snacks she asked Jackie to prepare. She was about to go inside when her friend opened the door with a takeout bag.
"I saw you guys from the inside." Jackie explained.
She smiled at Piper and looked at her knowingly. She handed her the bag of snacks as she requested.
"Here. You're so, sweet." Jackie teased.
She laughed at the way Piper reddened while the blonde shyly gave the bag to Alex.
"Here."
"What's this?"
"I asked Jackie to help me prepare your favorite snacks. Ugh, there's a lemony white chocolate cheesecake, honey muffins and cranberry juice inside."
"Wow. Thanks, but you didn't have to."
"It's fine. I want to."
They shared a warm smile. Jackie smiled at the two of them, as the two women get lost on each other's gaze. Jackie lifted her gaze toward Alex's right shoulder, as she saw someone coming.
"Oh my goodness! Drew?" Jackie said surprised.
"Jackie?"
"Yes. Oh my, gosh!"
Jackie walked to the auburn-haired woman excitedly, as Drew reached her and hugged the woman with delight. Alex moved away from the two, as she and Piper stood in surprise. The two woman enthusiastically continued to converse, as they released each other.
"You know each other?" Alex asked.
"Well, yeah. We're old friends in high school." Jackie said.
"You knew each other?"
"Yeah, Alex and I friends."
"Really? It's a small world!"
"Yeah. Oh, my! It's been so long!" Drew said.
Piper stood silently, as she and Alex observed the two chatted. They were about to leave the two alone when Jackie suddenly speaks.
"We need to go out tonight!"
"Yeah."
"Yeah, we definitely have to."
"Fine for me. Let's meet after work. Lex, come with us?" Drew asked.
"Oh, tonight?"
"Yeah. C'mon!" Drew said.
She looked at the raven-haired woman with pleading eyes. Alex thought about it, as she didn't have any plans for later, but she hadn't asked Piper either.
"Ugh, I..."
"Please, Lex. We haven't spent much time with each other yet."
Alex reconsidered, as she thought about what Drew had said.
"Okay. Okay, let's go out tonight."
Drew smiled at her warmly, as Alex smiled back.
"You should come too, Pipes." Alex said.
"Oh, no. I'm..."
"C'mon Pipes! We've been sulking in paperwork and book orders for weeks now. A little night out won't hurt." Jackie said.
"It's just that there's a lot of work I have to finish." Piper reasoned out.
She wanted to go out and spent the night with friends, but she wasn't sure if it was going to be as comfortable especially when Drew would be there too. She knew how the auburn haired woman felt about Alex without Drew even telling her.
"C'mon, Piper. Please?" Alex begged.
All of Piper's resolves vanished, as she saw the pleading look on Alex's face. She saw Drew smile thinly, as her gaze dropped on the ground. Piper was sure the auburn haired woman was jealous.
"Fine. Okay, I'm going." Piper said resignedly, as Alex beamed at her.
"Great!" Jackie said.
They talked for quite awhile about their plans. They agreed to go together, as Alex insisted that she'd just fetch Piper and Jackie since the blonde didn't bring her car to work.
"Okay, then. I really need to go now." Alex said.
"Okay, sure." Piper replied.
"Drew, are you staying?"
"Oh, no. I just came because I saw your car a while ago."
"Okay."
"We'll see you later guys." Jackie said.
"Yeah. See you." Drew said.
She said goodbye to Jackie and smiled briefly to Piper. Drew didn't hate the blonde. If she met Piper in a time when there wasn't a raven-haired woman between them, she was certain they'd become close easily, but since Alex and her feelings for her were involved, she couldn't help but be possessive of her. Drew walked towards Alex's car and waited for the brunette. Jackie said farewell to Alex and went inside the store, leaving the two women behind.
"Thank you for this, again." Alex said as she gestured towards the paper bag.
"Sure. Eat all of those, okay?" Piper said.
"Yes, ma'am."
They smiled at each other lovingly, indifferent towards their surroundings and from the gazing eyes coming from Alex's friend, boring holes on their faces. Drew knew she was losing. Her heart felt like it was slowly being crushed when she saw Alex leaned in and hugged the blonde, as Piper firmly embraced her friend. Alex gently placed a kiss on Piper's cheek, as Drew withdrew her gaze. Her heart breaks, for the words she couldn't say.
...
Alex together with Drew fetched Piper and Jackie around 6 in the evening. They decided to go into the new bar lounge in town. Piper saw Drew take the passenger seat in the front so she deposits herself behind Alex, as Jackie seated beside her. The car ride was a little quiet with only a few mirror glances between Alex and Piper, and chatter between Drew and Jackie.
Piper couldn't stop thinking about what Jackie had told her earlier. Jackie talked about Drew, as she described what she was like back in high school. Jackie said that Drew came from a well-abled family. Her father was a movie producer while her mom was a prosecutor. Although she and her younger sister grew up in the presence of money, their parents always taught them that if they wanted something, they have to work hard for it. Drew in high school worked at a coffee shop during school breaks. She was determined to have a car so her parents told her that they would buy her a car in a condition that Drew would contribute for it. Jackie never heard of Drew having a relationship with another woman before, as all her past relationships are with the opposite sex, but Piper was certain that Alex was the exception. Jackie met Drew's parents on several occasions. She told Piper that Drew's parents were far from the typical wealthy, uptight, and condemnatory circle. They were very considerate, down to earth and simple minded. Drew's parents were involved and aided their community a lot. They barely even show on social gatherings unless they needed to. It made Piper reminisce about her own parents. It made her think how similar she and Drew were but at the same time, very different. It made her worried, as Drew had an edge against her. Drew's parents are so different from Piper's. She was deep in thought comparing her self to Drew when she heard Alex call her name.
"Piper?"
"What?"
"I said, you also have some embarrassing moments to share."
"Like what?" Jackie asked.
"The one in Java."
"Oh, yeah. The one that you shared." Jackie said as they chuckled on the story.
Drew seated quietly, as she smiled. She didn't know what the story was about, so she just kept quiet observing how giddy Alex was. They've talked more through the ride as the topic shifted to Drew's parents.
"Is your dad still funding local bands?" Jackie asked.
"Yeah. He loves discovering new talents. This one right here isn't as enthusiastic, though." Drew said as she teased Alex.
The raven-haired woman laughed at her friend.
"Why?" Jackie asked.
"Alex has a talent of playing drums. Dad asked her to join a band of girls he's forming, but she refuse."
"You played?" Piper asked.
She was surprised to learn that Alex played an instrument. She had never heard her play any instrument in the past.
"Yeah. After my attack, I learned playing it."
Piper winced at her statement. She didn't like being reminded about Alex's attack. She saw Alex worriedly looked at her, so she smiled at her covering her guilt. Piper felt like while she shared a past with the raven-haired beauty in which Alex couldn't remember, Drew shared her present.
"Why not? You're good looking, talented and charming. What could go wrong?" Jackie asked.
"Well, I guess, I'm just not that into fame and..."
"She didn't like the idea of boys and girls chasing her." Drew teased.
"Shut up!"
The two friends teased each other tenderly. Jackie laughed at the two women as Piper forced a smile, masking her jealousy.
"Hey! By the way, mom said you must come for dinner. I think Danni will be there too. Dad said she has a surprise." Drew said to Alex.
"Really, what it might be?"
"I don't know. I think she'll introduce someone. She got over you." Drew teased.
"What, your sister likes Alex?" Jackie asked.
"She admires this one, but it's more like, she wanted to be like Alex before." Drew said.
Alex and her bantered throughout the car ride. Piper concluded that the Gosselin's were Alex's new family and Drew will be constant on Alex's life. She will be there, whether she likes it, or not.
They were able to reach the lounge before the crowd started to pour in. The four of them were seated on a table near at the bar. Drew and Jackie seated together while Piper and Alex seated near each other. Drew didn't miss how the two women were seated closely and seemed to have their own world. They whispered to each other and talked with their faces just inches away. Somewhere between the courage brought by the alcohol that she had in her system, and her growing jealousy against the blonde, Drew decided that she would tell Alex how she feels, the moment she had a chance.
The night deepens, as the chatter surrounding them grew louder. The lounge was beginning to gather crowds. Piper didn't drink much as Alex did the same. However, the two other women seemed to be enjoying each other's company as they drink the night away.
"Why aren't the two of you drinking? It's our fourth glass and you two are still stuck on your second." Jackie asked as she offered her drink to Alex.
"Alex doesn't drink much. It gives her severe headaches the next day. Trust me, it's not pleasant to see." Drew said as she blocked Jackie's offer.
"Why?"
"It's too painful." Alex said.
"She was drunk one time and the next day she was hangover and in severe pain. I guess it has something to do with her brain injury before." Drew said.
Piper listened intently. Alex used to get drunk with her in the past. She had days with a hangover but not that serious. It pained Piper to know that Alex suffered a lot after her attack and there are things she couldn't do anymore. She looked at the raven-haired woman with sad eyes, as Alex didn't miss her grief. She smiled at Piper and mumbled it was fine, as the blonde dropped her gaze to the ground. Piper felt Alex rubbed her back soothingly, as she tried consoling Piper.
They continued chatting through the night. Piper excused herself minutes after, as she needed to go to the bathroom while Jackie said she would accompany her. Piper stood up and started walking, as Jackie trailed behind her, leaving the two friends alone. Drew took the opportunity to finally tell Alex something.
"Lex..."
"Yeah?" Alex answered as looked at her friend.
Drew took a deep breath, as she tried to relax under her friend's gaze.
"Alex, I love you." She said abruptly.
Alex was stunned for a moment. She stared at Drew's amber eyes, as a smile slowly edges on her lips.
"Love you too, Drew." She said softly as she pushed her glasses more to her nose.
Drew's heart breaks at Alex's answer. She saw her eyes didn't sparkle the same way it did when she's staring at Piper's. Drew knew she lost it. Her friend never viewed her as anything more than her best friend or her sister. Her love was one sided. Alex would never return the deep and strong romantic affection that she had towards her. Drew's eyes dropped to the ground, as she heard Piper and Jackie came back. They both seated back to their places.
"I think I should call it a night. I'm getting tired." Piper said.
"I'll drive you home." Alex told Piper. "Are you guys coming?" Alex asked her two friends.
"No. I'll stay." Drew said.
She wanted to get lost in the presence of alcohol and drown her sorrows over her unrequited love.
"Drew, are you sure?" Alex asked worriedly.
"Yeah." She said smiling concealing her pain.
"I'll stay too. I'm on off day tomorrow anyway." Jackie said as she teased Piper.
"Yeah you are. Leave all the work to me." Piper said as she teased back.
"Okay, then."
They said their farewells as Alex tenderly kissed Drew on the head. They waved goodbye and started heading towards the door. Alex took Piper's hand as they walked. The blonde was surprised, but she liked the contact, so she didn't bother withdrawing her hand. She held Alex's hand tightly, as they continued walking in the crowded room of people. They were oblivious to a pair of eyes staring at them intently, whose heart was breaking every time their unconscious display of affection was exposed.
...
They arrived at Piper's apartment shortly after. Alex was silently thinking, as she made an effort to calm her raging nerves. She decided to ask Piper something she'd been meaning to ask. They were quietly seated beside each other at Alex's car. The blonde noticed the change on Alex's mood so she decided to ask.
"Al, are you okay?"
"Yeah. I just..." Alex hesitates as she looked for the right words to say it.
"What's wrong?"
"Would you...wouldyoubemygirlfriend?" She abruptly states.
The words came out of her mouth so fast, one after the other, that Piper wasn't sure of what she heard. She only made out the words girlfriend, but she wasn't certain.
"What? You...you stuttered."
Alex exhaled and relaxed her self. She took Piper's hand this time. She felt her heart was racing in her chest. It was like she was almost palpitating.
"Pipes, I want you...like...to be...to be my girlfriend. Would you be my girlfriend?" She asked gently as she swallowed her nerves.
"Alex..."
"I know things have changed. A lot of things had changed and there's so much more about the past that I need to remember...but I don't want to waste time anymore...and whatever it is, I wanted you. Would you want me too?" Alex worriedly asked.
She looked at Piper's teary blue eyes, as she waited patiently for her answer. Piper felt her heart pounded faster on Alex's confession. She thought about how much she longed for the raven-haired beauty, all those years ago. She remembered how miserable her life was when Alex never came back to prison. She remembered how painful it was waking up each day and longing to be with Alex again. She was convinced that their time together have passed, but there they were again, back at each other's lives. Piper wasn't sure if she was doing the right thing, but she wanted her. She needs Alex. Piper cried, as she couldn't help the tears to fall.
"Piper..."
She held Alex's face and leans in slowly. Their lips touched gently, as Piper kissed Alex softly. Alex kissed her back, as she held Piper's neck. Their lips enveloped each other's tenderly, as Piper conveyed how she feels for Alex. Alex gently nibbled Piper's lips and puts pressure on their kiss, as she made it clear how much she wanted the blonde. Their kiss was only broken by their need to catch their breaths.
"That's a yes, right?" Alex asked as Piper giggled at her.
She looked at Alex with love in her eyes, as her fingers brushed on her cheeks.
"I want you...and I want to be yours...again." Piper said.
She closed her eyes and her tears fell again. Alex wiped her tears as she rested her lips on Piper's cheek.
"My heart palpitates for you." Alex teased as Piper chuckled and look at her.
"Does it?" She asked worriedly.
She places her right hand on Alex's chest and felt her heart beats rapidly.
"Alex..."
"It's fine. It's just excited." Alex mumbled.
Piper giggled at her, as Alex smiled warmly at her. She kissed Piper again briefly, and she buried her face on the side of Piper's neck. She felt the blonde hugged her tightly as if she wanted their bodies to blend together. Alex kissed Piper's neck softly, as the blonde calms down on the contact. They stayed wrapped in each other's arms for quite a while, neither giving a care in the world outside.
I just couldn't hate Drew, guys. She genuinely loves Alex but of course, there's Piper. We'll see what happens, though.
I hope you enjoyed reading! Thank you for those who started reading and couldn't stop. I'll do my best to keep you. I enjoy reading your reviews. I appreciate it! Thanks so much!