AN: Hey guys, sorry it's taken me a while to update this story. I should really learn to only ever write one piece at a time, cause it can give me writers block on some of my stories. Also, there might be a little wait for the next chapter while I decide which way I want to take this story. I had my mind made up but now I'm not so sure. Anyway, leave me some reviews or send me a PM and tell me what you think and I'll try and update as soon as I can.
Hate You, Love You
Chapter Seven
Chapman
Piper couldn't be gladder when she woke up on Saturday morning, especially after the incident the day before in the laundry room. She was immensely relieved that it was the weekend and she didn't have to spend the day at work with Alex, avoiding her gaze as she tried to think of how she could explain what had happened. How could she explain it to Alex when she didn't understand it herself? She knew that Alex wanted her to leave her alone and yet she had rushed into something that was none of her fucking business, once again. She still couldn't believe what she had done; it had all happened so fast. Her body had reacted without thought when she heard the bang from the laundry room as she was making her way up the stairs and back to her cubicle. She had raced back down, just in time to see Leann slam the dryer door into Alex's face for the second time. Everything that happened after was a complete blur, all Piper saw was red and the next thing she knew, she was pushing the bible basher away from her and making her way back to her room. She had skipped dinner, opting for her left over commissary food, unwilling to face Alex in the cafeteria, though she had passed by the brunette's bunk to make sure her mattress had been returned.
She was terrified of what would happen when she finally ran into Alex. What would the dark haired woman think about her stepping in a defending her like that? Would she think that Piper had lost her mind? Would she be angry that she stepped in on her own fight? Piper had pushed the thoughts away, keeping to herself for the rest of the night and going to bed early, pretending to be asleep until Taystee shook her for last count.
She pushed herself out of bed at five am, grabbing her toiletries before making her way to the showers. Even though it was the weekend, she still liked to shower early and take her time washing while the other inmates slept in. She made her way into the bathroom, hearing only a few other early risers taking their showers before hopping in the closest one. She turned on the hot water, luxuriating in the warmth for several moments before she started to wash her body. She stayed in the shower until she could hear other women start to enter the room before getting out and grabbing her towel. As she picked it up, she felt eyes burning into her skin and looked up to see Alex watching her intently.
Her heart stopped, her breath catching in her chest almost painfully as she caught the brunette's gaze. Alex was wrapped in her towel, hiding her most private parts but leaving plenty of pale, bare skin for Piper to admire, which she took several long moments to do. Her dark hair fell over her shoulders and she was staring into Piper's eyes, her grey orbs clear without her glasses concealing them and full of emotion. It only lasted a moment but it felt like hours until her heart thumped excruciatingly hard in her chest, startling her out of her daydream. She quickly looked away, wrapping the measly excuse for a towel around her body and proceeded to dry herself off. She pulled on her clothes without looking up before grabbing her things and making her way to the mirrors. Breathing out a shaky breath, she looked up at her reflection, almost jumping when she saw Alex standing behind her.
"Can I borrow your tweezers?" The brunette asked her casually after several moments of silence, as if they interacted with each other every day and this was completely normal. "I broke mine, stupid piece of plastic crap, and they're out at commissary."
Piper thought of several witty comments she could say but she swallowed them down. She wasn't Alex's friend and she had no right to make friendly conversation with her. That didn't mean she couldn't let her borrow her tweezers though.
"Sure," Piper said, proud at how even her voice sounded on that one word before handing the brunette her plastic tweezers. She didn't make eye contact, though her heart skipped a beat when their fingers brushed, sending bolts of electricity up her arm. Fuck.
"Piper," Alex said once she'd used the tweezers and handed them back, putting her hand out as the blonde turned to leave. "Come on."
"Come on, what?" Piper said softly, still unwilling to look up into those grey eyes that always managed to hold her captive. She didn't understand why Alex was talking to her, especially after the last talk they had. Was it because of what happened in the laundry room? Was this the part when Alex told her to back off and leave her alone?
"You were right when you said that we were here together for another five years and that it didn't have to be a rollercoaster. Honestly, it's taking too much of my energy to keep hating you for not picking me. I know we've never been friends before, but maybe we can try?"
Apparently not.
Piper finally looked up from the bathroom tiles, staring into Alex's eyes as she considered her words. She had never expected to hear anything like this from Alex, especially recently. She had expected to be hated, ignored at the very least, but this was something else altogether. Did she think that she and Alex could be friends? Highly unlikely. Did she want to try anyway? Yeah, she did.
Five years was too long to stay away from Alex Vause anyway, even if she had tried to denying it to herself.
"Okay," she finally answered, smiling at the brunette who gave her signature smirk back.
"Okay," Alex nodded before turning back to the mirror and pulling out her toothbrush. Piper stared at her for another few moments, a small smile playing her lips before she turned to leave the bathroom, wondering what a friendship with Alex Vause would be like.
"Oh, and Piper?" Alex called out to her, causing Piper to stop and look over her shoulder at the brunette. She met the woman's fiery gaze in the mirror, feeling a shiver run up her spine at the almost wolfish grin on Alex's face. "Thanks for the mattress."
And wondering how long it would last.
/
Vause
After fixing her hair and brushing her teeth, Alex made her way back to her cube to put her things away. She had stayed up late last night, thinking about the last few months and sorting out her thoughts and feelings. Even though she still hadn't quite forgiven Piper yet, she found it hard to stick to her word to stay away from the blonde, especially after Piper had so gallantly defended her yesterday, not to mention getting her mattress back. It was just too hard to stay away from the blonde, no matter how psycho fucking crazy she was.
And that body. Fuck.
Her mind had been completely made up when she stepped out of the shower to see Piper standing there, completely naked. She had admired the woman's body from afar on many separate occasions since Piper left the SHU, but this was the first time she had seen what was hidden beneath her khaki uniform. She had been instantly wet as she watched Piper lean over to pick up her towel, her firm ass on perfect display for Alex's hungry eyes. She hadn't been able to look away, even when Piper looked up and caught her watching, her blue eyes surprised as they met Alex's lust filled gaze. She'd never been more disappointed in her life when Piper wrapped that towel around her body and walked away.
And so, what mastermind plan did Alex think up? She asked Piper to be friends with her. Fucking friends; like a God damn child in the school yard.
I'm not ready for anything more than that, Alex thought to herself firmly as she picked up a book and sat down on her bed to read. Though, if she asked me to join her in the chapel…
No, Alex shook her head with a frown. She wasn't going to go there with Piper again. She could handle being friends with the blonde but she knew if she did anything more than that, she would be sucked right back into the drama filled life of one Piper Chapman. She just wasn't ready for anything more than friendship.
Not yet, anyway.
