Piper's eyes slowly fluttered open to the sight of Diane looming over her. The blonde sprang to her feet, heart thudding wildly. She held the blanket around her under her armpits, feeling bizarrely vulnerable. Sometime during the night she'd tugged off her jeans and kicked them into a crumpled heap on the floor, but then she hadn't expected to be interrogated come the morning.
"Oh, thank God," Diane said, her hand clasped over her chest. "For a moment there it didn't look like you were breathing."
Piper stared at her. A look of bewilderment crossed her features as she blinked, still half asleep, in the blinding light that was streaming in through the windows. Even as she processed what she was saying, it didn't seem to make sense. She rubbed her eyes and looked down at Alex, who stirred but didn't wake completely.
"Why wouldn't I be breathing?" Piper demanded. She squeezed her eyes shut, letting herself wake up a little more before continuing in a softer voice, "I'm fine, Miss Vause, sorry. You scared me a little."
"You scared me too," was her indignant response.
Piper tried to disguise the confusion on her face with a weak smile. She was relieved when her phone rang, filling the silence so that she didn't have to. Her relief turned to anxiety as she fished it out of the pocket of her jeans and saw that it was her mom - along with the thirteen other missed calls. Piper bit her lip.
"Can I just.." Piper gestured to her ringing phone, flashing an apologetic smile to Diane.
"Oh, of course," Diane said, suddenly flustered. She tripped over Piper's discarded jeans on the way out as Piper winced watching her.
As soon as the door slammed behind her, stirring Alex awake, Piper cut the call. She threw herself down on the bed, holding her head in her hands. She'd tossed and turned all night, eyes burning in the darkness as she tried to watch the steady rise and fall of Alex's chest in sleep.
Every time she'd finally fallen asleep, her body giving into the sheer exhaustion, she'd be jolted awake only a few moments after. It was always something and nothing that woke her; a small hitch in Alex's breathing, the wind making the rickety guttering judder against the side of the house, even Diane shuffling in her slippers. And so the cycle would restart. Piper squinting in the darkness, her heart thudding wildly under her shirt.
Even when she did manage to fall asleep for some reasonable length of time, her dreams were plagued with images of Alex choking on her own vomit, having some kind of reaction to whatever they cut the heroin with...it sent shivers down her spine.
"Piper?" Alex murmured, one eye half open and the other stuck together with sleep. "What are you doing here?"
Piper glanced down at Alex as she began to wake up a little more. The blonde watched as realization dawned on her. "You remember now?" she asked, unimpressed. She hid the fact that relief was flooding through her veins.
Alex winced as she sat up. "Piper…"
"You scared the hell out of me!" Piper said, stopping her before the excuses came pouring out. "Do you have any idea…" Piper stopped. "Well, yeah. You do, actually. You know how fucking scary it is. And you did it anyway."
Alex saw her point. Maybe if she'd thought it through, she wouldn't have done it. But it was too late for maybes or what ifs and Alex reached for Piper's hand. "I'm sorry, Piper," she said, flinching when Piper pulled her hand away. "I…"
"You?" Piper prompted, her anger melting to concern as Alex held her stomach. "Alex?"
Before Piper could say any more, Alex grabbed for the trashcan down by her bed. She fell to her knees on the floor, head in the can, throwing up whatever she'd eaten in the last twelve hours. Piper winced as she retched. Piper dropped to the floor next to her, gathering her hair up behind her.
"Get it all out," Piper said softly, her hand rubbing circles in the small of Alex's back. She breathed a sigh. "We'll get through this, together."
Alex wiped her mouth, looking up at Piper. Her skin was blotchy and red but Piper smiled anyway. "We will?"
Piper nodded, trailing her fingers softly over Alex's neck. She stared at the empty wall over Alex's head, her heart feeling heavy. "Of course we will."
Alex leaned her head on Piper's leg. The sudden ringing of her phone made her jump, and Piper flashed her a sheepish smile.
"Shit, sorry…" The blonde once again grabbed her phone and looked at the caller ID. It was her mom, and she grimaced. "Al, I have to go."
Alex looked up, her head hung miserably. "Will you come back?"
"I don't know," Piper admitted. "But not because of you," she quickly added. "Because I'm probably gonna be grounded till I'm 25."
Piper hadn't even turned her key in the door when it was pulled open from the inside. Cal stared down at her, his face blank until a wide grin stretched over his features.
"Ooh. You're in so much trouble, Pipes."
Piper rolled her eyes. "Who's more mad, mom or dad?"
His eyes shone with excitement. It wasn't often that he was the good kid, watching the punishment from the outside. "Mom."
Piper groaned. "Shoot."
Slipping her shoes off, she dawdled to the living room. Facing her parents wasn't something she wanted to rush. She even eyed the front door once more before pushing the living room door open, but decided against it.
Her parents were perched on the cream loveseat. Her mother's arms were folded, her father looked like he hadn't slept. A pang of guilt shot through her.
Carol immediately sprang up. Piper said nothing as she dived into her lecture, only occasionally looking up. She waited until her mother was finished ranting and had demanded, "well, what do you have to say for yourself?" to reply, putting on her best remorseful expression.
"I'm sorry, mom...I thought I'd told you."
"Where were you?" Her father demanded.
"At Polly's," Piper said.
"The truth," her mom cautioned. "You don't think Polly's mother is the first person I'd call when you stay out all night? So embarrassing, too. Imagine not knowing where your teenage daughter is!"
"Fine," Piper said, grinding her teeth. "I was at Alex's house. She's my new...friend." The word didn't seem right, but she wasn't about to go into the complexities of their relationship with her parents. She didn't even know what they were.
"And you couldn't call?"
No, I was busy putting her in the recovery position. "My phone died," she trotted out. As if on cue, her phone told her of a notification.
"Did it now?"
"Maybe not," Piper said. She looked to her dad. "You'd like Alex. She has her own business! I met her at school."
Her father raised his eyebrows as her mother looked at him, expecting him to give her another lecture. Truthfully, Mr Chapman couldn't stand Piper's current best friend, Polly. Her voice was shrill, her parents too liberal, and the smell of soap forever wafting through his home gave him a migraine. The chance to replace her was too tempting.
"She does?" he asked, nodding. "Well, Carol, she doesn't sound so bad."
Carol glared at her husband, rolling her eyes. "She's a bad influence! Piper's never been out all night. And her grades are slipping, you know that."
"I know, honey," he said in soothing tones, attempting to placate her. "Maybe we ought to meet her to decide for ourselves. Piper, invite her over for dinner. How about that, Carol?"
Carol pressed her lips together. Her husband knew she enjoyed entertaining, even if it was only for her children's friends. She hesitated for a moment, and then nodded. "Fine. But one more strike and she's out. Agreed? And no parties for a week. No parties and no soap making. You need to be studying."
"Whatever you say, darling."
Carol brightened. "Piper, why don't you go and get some of those Russian bakery treats you and your brothers liked so much? Get your father and grandmother something too...I shouldn't, I'm on Atkins."
"Oh, go on darling. You look fantastic already."
Piper rolled her eyes at her parents, but smiled nonetheless. "Are you sure, mom? They're the best. And daddy's right," she added, looking for a chance to compliment her mother and get back into her good books. "You're thinner than Polly's mom now."
Her mom smiled back, swatting at Piper. "Flattery will get you everywhere," she laughed. "Go on then. Hurry back, though. You know what Cal is like when he's hungry."
Nicky braced herself to open the door to the Russian market. Two or three customers beat her to it whilst she lingered at the door. The morning rush was afoot.
Inside the market, the redheaded owner's brow furrowed. Between each order, she glanced outside the door. After serving the last customer in the line, she wiped her hands on her apron and stepped outside.
The only thing visible of the girl was the mane of hair blustering in the wind as she mumbled to herself, eyes glued to the floor. She didn't seem to notice Red's presence, even when the bell rang as the door swung shut.
"Nicky?" she asked after a moment, reaching a hand out to rest on her shoulder. Her concern was mounting. She squinted at her in the sunrise.
When she finally looked up, Red's heart skipped a beat. Her usually beautiful brown eyes had been replaced with puffy bloodshot pools of tears. For a moment, she was speechless. There were no words when your child came to you, utterly devastated.
Nicky spoke instead, her voice thick with emotion. "I know I said I didn't," Nicky said, tears spilling down her cheeks. Her voice was rising, nearing hysterical. "But I do care! I care, Red. I care!"
The older woman pulled Nicky in, encircling her in her arms. She rested her chin on Nicky's head. Red was used to seeing Nicky in fits and flashes - but she was usually angry, or high, or mouthing off with that infuriating smirk of hers. This was different, but, she resolved to herself, nothing she couldn't handle.
Red's chest heaved. "I know you do, honey," she murmured, steering her toward to the door. "Come in. Let me sort everything out."
Nicky let Red guide her to her little office in the back room. Sitting Nicky down on the office chair she never let her share, Red untied her apron. "Now what's up, hm?"
Nicky chewed on her nails. Her eyes flashed with worry and that was the thing making Red's heart thud under her jumper. Nicky was always so self-assured, bordering on cocky. To see her like this made the older woman wonder what on earth she had done.
"Alex stole my heroin," Nicky sobbed quietly, burying her nose into Red's chest as she pulled her close.
Red cleared her throat, digesting the information. It felt like a kick to the stomach, but she held herself together as her girl cried against her. Closing her eyes, Red let out a sigh.
"I was so angry, Red," Nicky mumbled. "I just...I need it, you know? And she knew that, and she still took it from me…" Nicky trailed off, her eyes flashing up to meet Red's. She bit her lip, anxiety written all over her face. "And...and I don't know what they cut it with," she admitted, rubbing at the back of her neck. "When Piper came over and told me that she'd took it...I didn't know what to do or say."
Red rubbed small circles in Nicky's back. For a smart girl, Red thought, minutely shaking her head, this one can be pretty fucking stupid.
"You're worried about her?" Red asked. "Worried that she's killing herself?"
Nicky nodded.
Red cupped her chin. "Then why aren't you worried about yourself?" The older woman sighed. "You're staying with me today. You can help out with the market." I can keep an eye on you, she added silently.
She couldn't imagine how Nicky could put that shit into her body and not care whatsoever, but feel terrified at the prospect of her friend doing the same.
"It's gonna kill me," Nicky said quietly.
"The drugs?" Red asked, relieved that it was finally getting through to her.
Nicky shook her head miserably. "Getting clean."
Piper eyed Nicky suspiciously. Behind the counter, she looked smaller and younger, more amiable. She even smiled at the customers as they passed her, offering menus to the elderly and paper towels to the kids with sticky fingers.
She'd been coming to this place since before she could even reach the handle, and not once had she seen Nicky around. For that she was thankful, because the copper curled junkie always managed to sour her day, but she was also confused. She couldn't fathom who would hire Nicky - and why Nicky would get a job. She'd seen the numerous credit cards in her purse.
The heels of her shoe clacked against the tile floor as she walked up to the counter. Predictably, Nicky's sunny demeanor instantly clouded over when she saw Piper. She rolled her eyes and turned on her heel.
Red was immediately aware, even with her back turned and busy cleaning a table on the other side of the restaurant. She turned. "Nicky," she said, her tone scolding. She raised her eyebrow. "We have a customer."
Nicky narrowed her eyes but to Piper's surprise she actually walked back to the counter and smiled at Piper. "Hi," she said, her tone dripping with contempt. "What can I help you with?"
Piper smirked. Playing with her might be fun, she reasoned. Though she still hated the girl, Alex loved her. She kept that in mind, for hating the best friend of the first girl she'd ever really liked...like that, might be playing her cards wrong.
"What are you doing here?"
"Working," Nicky said. "You might not be familiar with the concept...what are you doing here?"
Piper ignored the slight. "We like the food here. Red does a good job. Our old maid, Claudette, is friends with her. She brought us along as kids." A smile crossed Piper's lips as she reminisced. It was a simpler time back then.
Nicky nodded, pressing her lips together. She wished her nanny would have brought her here as a kid. Maybe she would have met Red earlier, and maybe things would have worked out differently than they had.
Piper continued. "I'll have one Kulich and one…" she stopped, trying to think of what Alex would like. Though they'd spent more time than ever together lately, it was with time that the finer details of someone became clear. The little things, like how they take their coffee, what they like to eat...Piper hummed.
Nicky watched her. Though even the sight of her got her hackles up, she swallowed her pride for the sake of her friend. The fact that Red's eyes were burning at the back of her neck made it easier to do. "Alex likes the honey cakes."
Piper looked up in surprise, meeting Nicky's eye. She raised her eyebrows as she did so. "Have you been smoking weed?"
Nicky glared. "No."
"Your eyes are all red."
"I know," Nicky admitted reluctantly. She pawed at her eyes, and it was then that Piper noticed the small smudges of mascara on her cheeks. Nicky met Piper's eye again and kicked some dirt on the floor before raising her eyebrows hopefully. "How is Alex?"
The anger in Piper softened. It became obvious to her then he hadn't been doing drugs, she had been crying. "She's throwing up," she said, without any pleasure that she was causing Nicky pain.
Nicky cringed as she reached into the glass display case and took out what Piper had asked for, plus the honey cakes. "Least it'll put her off," she offered.
"What about you?" Piper asked, taking the items that Nicky had bagged. She passed her the money, and as Nicky placed it into the till asked, "will it put you off?"
Nicky leaned against the counter. "I hope so," she admitted, her voice cracking. She looked at Piper, blinking tears away. "I really hope so."
Piper rapped at Alex's front door with urgency. Her parents didn't know exactly how far away the market was, but she couldn't push her freedom too far. Not after last night. When Alex came to the door, she was relieved. Alex's mom was nice, but she had neither the time nor the patience to deal with her. To her relief, Alex looked brighter. She still had rings under her eyes and her skin was still blotchy and red, but she was standing and smiling.
Alex grinned. "You came back," she said. Looking down at the box in Piper's hand, her eyebrows shot up. "Bearing gifts?"
"Yes, I hoped they'd soften the blow," Piper said, shifting the bag to her other hand.
"Of...coming down from heroin?" Alex asked uncertainly.
"No, I hope the heroin hurts like hell and you never do it again," she said. "To soften the blow of meeting my parents."
"What?" Alex crossed her arms. She'd never even met Sylvie's parents, and they had dated for two years. And to be honest, she wasn't even sure what she and Piper were - friends, business partners...more? It confused her more than she'd like to admit.
"I know, I know," Piper sighed, passing Alex the box. "But they said I wasn't allowed to see you again if they don't meet you. They're afraid you're a bad influence because of last night. I want to prove that you're not, and that we can be friends."
Alex raised her eyebrows at the word friends. It was yet another mixed message, but Piper didn't seem to notice.
"And I told my dad you run your own business," Piper boasted. "He seemed impressed."
Alex choked on air, shaking her head as she caught her breath. "You want me to impress your dad with my drug business?! Are you fucking insane?"
"Well, I didn't tell him it was drugs, did I? You'll have to make it up a little." She brightened. "But that means you'll meet them, yes?"
Alex heaved a sigh, the nausea stirring in her stomach again. "I don't think I have much choice, do I?"
"Nope!" Piper laughed. She pecked Alex's cheek, smiling at her coyly. As she turned to leave, she called over her shoulder. "Not if you wanna keep me around, anyway!"
Alex watched her walk away, leaning against the door frame. "I do," she whispered to Piper's back. "I really really do."
A/N:
So. A fairly speedy update, right?!
Thank you for all the reviews. You guys are so sweet and polite. Almost every review began with thank you and it made me smile.
But thank you - for reading, for letting me know your thoughts!
It really does make you want to keep writing.
This was a pretty hard going chapter to write for whatever reason I hope you liked it anyway.
Please let me know your thoughts once again and what you'd like to see!
Hope you're all good.
- Star xo