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Piper is woken by the feel of an arm squeezing around her stomach in a rough manner - irritating her immediately. Turning her head to the side, she sees Larry is still fast asleep, yet in a thankful manner, she notices that the man is now wearing clothes - something she herself had kept on throughout the entire night.
In her attempt to get out of her boyfriend's hold, Piper feels him groan - an indication that her attempt to escape quietly was unsuccessful.
"Hmm, where're you going," Larry mumbles as he pulls Piper's body back into his front.
"Breakfast isn't going to make on its own," the blonde responds, managing to roll over onto her back.
Looking over at his girlfriend, Larry rests his palm against his temple and bends his elbow to hold up the weight of his head.
"Is everything okay?" he asks, obviously referring to what had happened between them the night before.
"Yeah. Why wouldn't it be?" the blonde lies, fiddling with the hem of her t-shirt as though to distract herself from the man's questioning gaze.
"After last night I assumed something was wrong."
"I wasn't feeling well. That's all," Piper says, hoping the man will believe her.
"And how're you feeling now?" Larry asks with a raised eyebrow as he attempts to place his hand under the blonde's t-shirt to rest on her abdomen.
"Really Larry?" Piper scoffs in an annoyed manner, moving to get out of the bed. "I'm going to make breakfast," she deadpans, leaving the room.
The truth is that she couldn't stand another minute lying in bed with a man she can barely look at without thinking about what she's going to do with Alex. She feels guilty that the brunette had to witness herself and her boyfriend's reunion, but, at the same time, she isn't entirely sure how she should act around the other woman - they - in what seems like a frequent occurrence - didn't exactly end their conversation on good terms the previous afternoon.
Hearing Larry coming down the stairs, Piper moves to continue making the breakfast, all the while hoping that he doesn't add to her irritated mood.
Conversation is somewhat limited as the man checks his phone and takes a call from a colleague, which gives Piper some mental preparation for what she knows she has to tell the man. When he's finally off the phone and Piper sits opposite him having placed their food on the table, she goes to start what she knows is going to be an argumentative conversation, but is halted when Larry beats her to it.
"That was about my apartment," he says, breaking the silence.
"Oh yeah," Piper responds before taking a sip of her coffee. "You never did tell me more about that yesterday," she adds, remembering her boyfriend refusing to expand on the matter when Alex was in the room the day before.
"I'm trying to rent it out," Larry explains.
"And?"
"And someone that my boss at work knows is interested."
"So where are you going to live when you come back to the states?" Piper asks, sensing where this is going.
"Well I was hoping I could move in with you…" he responds quietly.
"What?" Piper asks loudly as her eyes widen while she tries her hardest not to spill her coffee. "And when were you planning on telling me that?"
"I just thought that-"
"No Larry - you've barely asked me anything about my life since you've been back, just waltzed into my apartment, didn't show Alex any respect, and then intend on moving yourself in without telling me!" the blonde shouts, losing her cool at the nerve the man in front of her has.
"At least I'm trying," he argues back loudly. "You didn't even introduce me as your boyfriend yesterday and what the fuck was that all about last night? I'm starting to sense something else is going on here?"
"Well then maybe you shouldn't have been such an ass," is all the blonde responds, ignoring Larry's last two comments.
Standing up to move away from the man opposite her, Piper feels a hand grip her wrist.
"Come on - let's not argue," the man states, standing up to move closer to his girlfriend. "I reserved a table for us at that restaurant you always go on about," he adds, trying to lighten the mood.
"Let's talk about this later," Piper responds, tugging her hand away before moving to start washing up her empty plate in the sink.
"What're you going to get?" Piper hears her boyfriend ask from where he's seated opposite her at the restaurant table, both trying hard to not bring up their prior argument so that they can at least try and enjoy their meal.
"I'm not too sure yet," the blonde responds as she tilts her head that is buried in the menu she's holding in her hands.
As she's about to voice the options she's indecisive about, the voice of a waitress appears, asking what the pair will be having. The messy-haired woman gives Piper a particularly inquisitive look - almost as though she's judging her for something or other, but after announcing what it is they're wanting to eat, the woman - who eventually introduced herself as Nicky - leaves without adding any further comment.
"Do you know her?" Larry asks given the look on Piper's face.
"Never seen her before," she responds.
"Probably just another person that recognised you from the TV."
"Maybe," the blonde deadpans, trying to wrack her brain over why on earth that woman was looking at her the way she was.
"I see what you mean, Vause. You've bagged a good one there," Nicky shouts as she walks into the back office.
"What?" Alex asks as she looks up from her phone. " I haven't bagged anyone."
"Blonde hair, blue eyes, legs long as fuck. Ring a bell?" Nicky asks, knowing from the brunette's face that something had clicked.
"Piper's here?" she asks, putting her phone into her pocket and standing up from the desk chair she was sitting on. "What did you say to her?"
"Nothing you wouldn't have."
"Nick-"
"I'm just fucking with you. I took their order and then left."
Alex lets out a loud huff and runs a hand through her hair.
"Their order?" she says in question, wanting confirmation of something she had already mentally assumed.
"She's with some guy. I don't know, it seemed a bit awkward between them, but after what you've told me she's like, I don't blame the guy for acting like a pussy around her."
If only you knew, Alex thinks to herself, patting herself on the back that she hadn't informed her best friend of their recent near kiss development - only how much of an ass she's been to work with.
"You're still gonna have to go out there, Vause. I won't have Diane murdering me because of your tall ass," she laughs, picking up an empty tray from the side as she moves to leave the room.
"I know, I know."
"Good because you're out there in 10," Nicky concludes as she leaves the room.
Closing over her eyes, Alex tilts back her head as she curses herself for offering to help out at her mother's restaurant this evening. Being that Diane was still in the confines of her home with a lack of mobility, the brunette offered to work on the bar throughout the evening - mostly because of the fact that Friday evenings are always particularly busy, and in knowing that her chances of being seen by Piper are extremely high, Alex mentally preps herself for how she should act around the other woman, especially if she's in the company of her boyfriend.
While waiting for their food to come, Larry heads over to the bar to grab them some drinks, and when he arrives back, the revelation that comes out of his mouth is something Piper would have never expected in a million years.
"No fucking way," he sits down, laughing as he places their drinks down onto the table.
"What?"
"Your security woman from yesterday served me. What's her name? Alex?"
Looking over Larry's shoulder so that she can get a view of the bar, Piper freezes as she watches Alex moving behind the bar wiping down the countertop's surface.
She'd never seen the brunette in such an informal situation; she's wearing a Prince t-shirt with a black pair of jeans while her hair is loosely hanging over her shoulders. Even from a distance, Piper notes how stunning Alex looks in her attire, and in knowing that the brunette is within the same building as her, the blonde begins to feel a fluttering in her stomach.
"Piper?" the blonde hears her boyfriend from opposite her, causing her eyes to snap back to his.
"Hmm."
"I was asking if you knew why she's here?"
"I have no idea," she honestly replies, noting to find out herself when the next available opportunity arises.
Their food soon arrives and surprisingly both parties manage to keep a civil conversation without the chances of another argument ensuing. No matter how many times she had to tell herself not to look, Piper couldn't keep her eyes off Alex. She found it captivating to watch the tall woman move about the bar, smiling and laughing as she spoke to customers - some of which the blonde assumes she's already familiar with. Although her boyfriend seems to be none the wiser as to where her vision is fixed most of the time, Piper knows she can't continue this much longer, not when she knows how badly it could all come down to reflect on her.
"Where're you going?" Larry asks as he watches Piper push back her chair to stand up.
"Bathroom. I'll be back in a minute," the blonde responds, indeed planning on going to the restroom, but also intending on making a bit of a detour at some point in her journey.
After heading to the bathroom - ensuring to go the long way to not be seen by Alex - and seeing that it's empty, Piper stands in front of the mirror and looks at her reflection. She adjusts the wisps of hair that are out of place and applies some lip gloss; when she finally likes what she sees, she heads back out, this time with the intent of making a trip to get herself a drink.
Seeing that Alex is currently unoccupied with her back to the bar front, Piper moves and takes a seat on the front bar stool.
"Fancy seeing you here," the blonde begins, giving off a smug grin as she sees Alex turn around, wiping a glass in her hands using a tea towel.
"Hey," Alex greets as her hands pause. "What're you doing here?"
"Larry booked us a table," the blonde replies, looking into the brunette's green eyes.
"I thought I recognised him earlier - not that I particularly wanted to talk to him," Alex admits, leaning her palms against the bar. "Do you want anything?"
Turning around to see Larry talking on the phone, Piper turns back, satisfied that her boyfriend seems preoccupied.
"I'll have a margarita," the blonde says, mirroring the small smile Alex gives. "What're you doing here anyway?" she goes on to ask.
"I'm just helping out for the evening. It'll get busy here in the next hour or so, so I figured I'd lend a hand for a bit. Surprised?"
"Oh, I was just wondering because, you know, well, you don't exactly come across as a bartender. Not from what I've seen anyway."
"Like I've said before: I'm known for surprising people," Alex chuckles, placing the blonde's drink before her.
Piper, meanwhile, tries her hardest to compose herself at the brunette's deliberate choice of wording. She's said the same thing the night before they'd nearly kissed, and although neither woman have yet to address it, Piper begins to find her resolve slowly slipping.
"Shouldn't you be getting back?" Alex asks, nodding her head in the direction of the blonde's table. "Wouldn't want to keep your boyfriend waiting."
"Alex-"
"Hi - how can I help?" the brunette says, turning her head to the side to greet a woman who had appeared next to Piper at the bar, leaning on the table.
"I'll have a beer please," the woman says, placing down noted money, "and one of whatever you're having," she adds in a flirtatious tone as she looks into Alex's green eyes.
Piper watches as the brunette chuckles at the red-haired woman making her order, and moves to start making the drinks. She tries to remain calm throughout the exchange, but when the woman takes a seat a few stools down from where she's currently sat, Piper begins to lose her cool at the fact that Alex clearly has a new admirer and there's absolutely nothing she can do about it.
She clenches down on her jaw as she watches Alex return with two drinks, leaning onto the edge of the bar to hear whatever it is the red-haired woman is trying to say. Before she gets the chance to even act on anything, Piper feels a set of arms wrap around her front along with a mouth kissing the side of her exposed neck.
"I was wondering what was taking you so long," Larry whispers into the blonde's ear, yet the blonde's initial thoughts revolve around the fact that Alex's eyes are suddenly on them, watching the exchange.
"I saw you were on the phone so thought I'd order us some more drinks," Piper responds, turning her head sideways.
"Have you already ordered?" Larry asks, moving from behind the blonde to sit on the unoccupied chair to her right.
"Your drink should be on the way," Piper lies, hoping that Alex can hear what she's saying and move in to save her ass.
"About that," Larry begins, letting out a sigh. "I have to go."
"What? Now?" We haven't even finished our meal!" the blonde exclaims, trying to ignore her want to stay longer so that she can remain within the confines of Alex's company.
"I just had a call from the woman about my apartment. I need to leave."
"Who the fuck meets at an apartment this late, Larry? Why's it so urgent."
"Pipes," he begins, rolling his eyes.
"You know what. Just go," she shouts, annoyed with her boyfriend.
"Come on, I don't have a choice."
"Leave, Larry," Piper deadpans, watching the man walk off and approach a waiter on the way, seemingly paying their bill.
Lowering her head, Piper shuts her eyes as she tries to block out the crumbling events going on around her.
She hears the laughter of the woman still talking to the brunette behind the bar, and when she finally gives in and looks back over, Piper observes the woman passing Alex a napkin before winking and walking away. No matter how hard she tries, Piper can't hold back her jealousy. She knows the entire situation she's gotten herself involved in is entirely fucked up, but that doesn't mean she doesn't get to have feelings.
"You okay?" Alex asks as she walks back in front of Piper.
"It doesn't matter," the blonde breathes out. "Don't you have more important things to be doing than talking to me?"
"While she was nice and all, she wasn't the person I'd rather be talking to," Alex reveals, leaning back down in front of the blonde. "Seriously - are you okay?"
"I don't know," Piper sincerely responds; the fatigued look in her eyes telling Alex everything she needs to know.
Several hours later, the pair now sit opposite one another in the back office, whereby since Alex was in charge of locking up for the evening, they had found themselves stuck in conversation, resulting in being the only two still left in the building.
"I'm sorry about what I said yesterday," Piper apologises, breaking the silence between them. "I shouldn't have got so mad at you."
"It's okay," Alex says, giving a close-lipped smile. "I'm sorry for swearing like I did."
"I just don't know what I'm doing anymore. This is all so confusing."
Chuckling while she leans back, Alex crosses over her arms.
"I'm sure everything will work out for you in the end."
"Will it? I can barely be around you without either making an ass of myself or arguing with you."
"The beauty of power trips," the brunette again chuckles, causing Piper to smile.
"It's not that I'm not grateful," Piper begins, "I'm just… I grew up with people always doing things for me and it's something I promised myself I wouldn't let happen as an adult," she admits, feeling as though a weight has been lifted from her shoulders.
"I get that. Maybe telling me that would have been better than the arguing though," Alex smiles, happy to see it mirrored in return. "Where did your boyfriend run off to? she asks, having not exactly heard what the couple had been talking about earlier at the bar.
"He left - something about meeting someone wanting to rent his apartment. Like you care anyway," the blonde adds, looking up at the smirking brunette, who, instead of offering a response, just lifts an eyebrow.
"I'm going to break up with him," Piper continues, maintaining their eye contact. "I've never really been that invested in the relationship. I thought it could work but then he dropped everything for his new job - myself included, and then you came along."
"Don't bring me into this," Alex chuckles. "I don't think all it took was me walking into your life to realise how much of an asshole he is."
"You don't get it, do you?" Piper asks, looking over at the brunette as though she'd hung the moon. "When I said I can't stop thinking about you, Alex, I meant it. Last night I-" the blonde pauses, contemplating whether she should really be sharing this information. "I couldn't even have sex with Larry without thinking about you. I had to stop half way… I just couldn't do it," she stops again, dropping her head down. "Just the thought of you with someone else makes me jealous and I know I have no right to feel that way, but I can't help it," she finally concludes while looking back up.
"That still doesn't change the fact that you aren't single," Alex says, moving from the desk chair to sit next to the blonde on the sofa. "I would lose my job if anything were to happen and get out."
"We'd be careful."
"That's not something that can ever be guaranteed," the brunette responds, copying the blonde as she sinks into the sofa.
"So where does this leave us?" Piper asks, turning her head to the right to look into Alex's eyes.
"Friends?" Alex asks, trying to convince herself as well as the blonde that it's even remotely possible.
Looking down from the brunette's green orbs, Piper moves her right hand and places it on top of Alex's left that's currently resting on the surface of her black jeans. She looks back up, searching for any sign of rejection, and in seeing none, the blonde proceeds to interlink their fingers.
"I don't just want to be your friend, Alex," she admits, gazing into the brunette's eyes.
Reaching up her free hand, Alex pushes Piper's loose strands of blonde hair behind her ear.
"We have to at least try."
"I don't know if I can."
The sound of their combined breathing is the only thing indicating that both women are still living beings; Piper's eyes lower to the brunette's lips and back up to reconnect their eyes. She takes the risk of moving forward slowly - not wanting to ruin the moment by making a rash decision.
"We can't," Alex whispers as she feels Piper's hot breath on her lips.
"I know," the blonde responds tilting her head to instead plant her lips to the side of the brunette's mouth, having to fight herself internally to not readjust her position a couple of centimetres to get the contact she really wants.
"We should get going," Alex says through closed over eyes, trying her best to ensure their current compromising position doesn't escalate any further.
"Yeah," Piper pulls back, giving off a small smile. "I have something I should be doing anyway," she adds - the brunette immediately aware as to what it is - or rather who - she's talking about.
"Well I guess I'll see you on Monday," Alex smiles, following the blonde as they stand up.
"Monday it is," Piper confirms, running her hand down the brunette's arm - squeezing her bicep - before exiting the office and eventually the restaurant altogether.
Alex tilts her head back and lets out a heavy sigh, both trying to fight back a smile at the openness of what the blonde had expressed, and a bout of worry as to how she thinks she'll even remotely be able to keep composed around the woman who she seems to be growing fonder and fonder of by the minute.
Lying in bed having locked up the restaurant and called her mother informing her of the evening's successes, Alex's phone vibrates from where it's resting on her nightstand. Rolling her eyes at the thought of it being Nicky giving her shit for the evening's events - well, those of which she happened to witness at least; the brunette leans over and picks up the device, putting her glasses on while doing so simultaneously.
Piper: Is being single a crucial part of your criteria?
Letting out a heavy breath through her nostrils, Alex finds herself smiling at her phone like a mad woman.
Alex: I don't remember mentioning a criteria.
Piper: Consider that box ticked then.
In seeing the last message pop up on her screen, Alex bites down on her lip as she closes her eyes over and tilts her head back. The phone vibrates another time, causing the brunette to look back at the device.
Piper: See you Monday, Ms Vause.
It's in this moment that Alex realises Piper's upping her game. She's single - well, as far as she can tell - and hasn't exactly held back when it came to expressing how she feels. The brunette knows she needs to keep her head screwed on, but something about the blonde makes her lose her head to begin with.
