7. Peppermint
I know I had been distant. I didn't talk, I didn't think, I didn't feel. That is how I deal…the one thing that hurt the most though was knowing that he could have been mine…all I had to do was say the magic word. But for me – there is no magic word…
--
"Hey Piper, I'm home" I was dead tired when I walked through the front door of the apartment. I let my bag onto the floor and slipped out of my jacket, surprised by my sister's lack of reply. She was back from the restaurant I knew that for her car was outside. Maybe she went for a nap? I moved towards her bedroom. "I am going out again tonight so can I borrow your dark red…" the second I flung her door open I froze.
There she was on the bed with some strange guy on top if her, both looking a bit surprised by my presence.
"Oh I'm sorry" I spun around and walked out of the room, trying my best to get the image off my eyes.
"Prue" Piper came running out of her room, now fully dressed again and with her red dress in her hands.
"What?" I turned around as she stood there, looking at me.
"So do it" she said.
"Do what?" I asked.
"You're not gonna yell at me?" Piper asked. "That was a man, in my bed, half naked…"
"Okay fine you want me to yell" I said and moved closer to her. "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING, A STRANGE GUY IN MY APARTMENT. YOU ARE TOO YOUNG TO EVEN LOOK AT GUYS LIKE THAT. TRUST ME HE IS UP TO NO GOOD, A TROUBLE MAKER!" by the times I finished she was laughing and soon so was I, I don't even know why.
"So you're okay now?" she asked and bumped her elbow at my side like she used to do when we were kids. Of course that used to end with me throwing her at the floor…aw the good old times.
"Yeah" I nodded. "Thanks."
"No problem, just let me know if you need to blow some steam some more and I'll have Leo over again" she grinned and I couldn't help but laugh.
"So you're sure about this, I mean with him and you since it's your…you know…" I said but the look on her face told me everything I needed. "Okay so I will get dressed and get out of here" I took the dress from my sister's hands.
"Thanks Prue" she said and started to move back to her bedroom.
"So Pipes, just out of curiosity who is he?" he had to ask and she stopped and turned around.
"His name is Leo, I met him at the restaurant" she answered.
"Okay" I smiled at the look on her face. "So…how is he, I mean how did it feel…okay you know what I will just shut up…" by then she was laughing again.
"It feels good" she answered with a goofy smile. "And…" she added. "…I will tell you all about it tomorrow…" she stopped with her back to the door of her bedroom. "…or maybe not all…" she smiled and then walked inside.
I couldn't help but smile as I headed for my room to get changed and ready for a night out. A night to forget my troubles and just have fun…
--
"I'll have another" I pushed the empty class towards the bartender.
"Are you sure?" He leaned down on the bar and smiled that smile at me. "How about we take something a bit less…"
"No" I shook my head, my thoughts were still too clear. "I want something good."
"Okay, don't say I didn't warn you" he said and fixed up another drink.
"Oh my …" I turned around as Dana spoke. "He came…" she couldn't help but laugh slightly as Tom walked towards us. He was dressed in jeans and a shirt like always. His hair was just as goofy and those glasses seemed to be glued to him.
"Hi ladies" he sat down on the empty chair next to Prue. "So this is what you do here, get drunk" he laughed.
"And…" I took my drink in one go and jumped off my chair. "…we dance" I grabbed his hand and pulled him with me towards the dance floor, all while Dana laughed.
"I'm not sure this is such a great idea…" Tom said but I just smiled and wrapped my arms around his neck as a slow song came on.
"Relax Tommy, it's just a dance…" he did actually seem to relax and he wrapped his arms around my waist while I placed my head on his shoulder…
"You look really beautiful tonight" he whispered into my ear and I lifted my head from his shoulder. I let our eyes meet, I never noticed how blue his eyes were before, they were like an ocean.
"Thanks" I smiled and before I knew it I felt myself lean towards him, or maybe he leaned first but no matter what I know that his lips were soft and he tasted like peppermint…
--
The next morning came with a haze and flicks of memories that moved around in my head. The same head that was pounding like crazy.
I opened my eyes and turned around, my heart almost stopped when I saw the body next to mine. How had this happened? Small fragments of memories came back to me, kissed, touches, things I never imagined doing with anyone else then Andy.
I slowly slipped out of bed and got dressed before I quietly walked out of my bedroom, closing the door behind me. I walked into the kitchen which was thankfully empty and a plan of sneaking him out started to form.
"Hi there" I froze by the coffee making and slowly turned around.
"Piper…" I smiled. "How's life?"
"Nice try" she grinned. "So what's with the mystery guy in your room?"
"What guy?" I asked but she just laughed.
"You know you're a terrible liar" she said and leaned onto the counter with the cup of coffee in her hands.
"Fine, okay I don't even know what happened" I said. "One minute I am flirting with the bartender…the other I am dancing with the other guy, kissing him…"
"You got drunk" Piper laughed, she obviously enjoyed the situation.
"Yeah but…" I didn't get to say more before the door to my bedroom opened up and Tom walked out.
Piper almost choked on the coffee in her mouth and the cup slid onto the counter, spilling out. Her eyes were etched on Tom who smiled at me.
"Tom" Piper whispered to me. "Like how did that happen?"
"I told you I don't know" I replied in a hushed tone as he moved closer. "But I need to do something before he thinks I like him like that…" I said but something in his eyes made me stop and as he kissed my cheek and wrapped his arms around me I wasn't even sure this was so wrong.
So why did a small voice in my head keep repeating one name over and over again…Andy…
--
Piper told me during one of those late night ice cream times that I needed to move on. She knew how I felt about what happened all that time ago…or she knew about that part I told her. She knew the Andy cheated on me version…but sometimes I wonder what she would say if she ever found out the real truth. About what led up to him cheating one me, what I did before and how I hurt him…who's side would she be on then…?
