Piper had loved and lost... one time too many.
Nothing lasts forever. Not even life.
Every time Polly texted Piper it always started out with a similar line of, "Find a Toronto date yet Pipes?" and it irritated Piper because she had noticed that she wasn't really ready yet.
She had been secretly struggling, her smile and cheery attitude a false facade to her private life. But she was getting better. That was what she has chosen to believe.
She had hoped none of those old feelings where showing through now, as she was currently viciously tapping away on her BBM in an angry manner to her American friend, Polly.
Pol you are bothering me again. Piper texted back while Alex strung along beside her after stepping off the transit.
However much Piper hated the situation she was in she still believed in love at first sight. So much so, that Piper found herself scanning her eyes around her environment looking for potential mates. A look of disgust floored her face as she thought to herself, the men here have such bad style. The men where nothing like in New York.
No, she thought, these weren't men, these were still boys.
Piper knew she shouldnt just base off looks, maybe the guys here had substance but she'd never find out. She was shallow that way. She had preferred older men to younger. At least a five plus year age gap. What she would call, "thicker".
Piper you needn't let that asshole of a guy ruin your idea of love! You are young and you are beautiful. You have been hurt bad and went through so much for someone who's only been with a total of three guys. But, you also love so hard and that's to be admired about your heart Pipes. You will find someone better worthy of your love soon. I'm sure. Polly instant messaged back.
"Kid, where are you taking me?" Alex broke in from next to her. They had been walking for about ten minutes down a straight path. Piper had planned something that would compliment Alex's musical side and this was the fourth time Alex had asked about were they where going.
Alex felt her ego slightly waver a bit as Piper paid more attention to her phone than to herself. She wasn't used to that.
"We are almost there, it's not much further really," Piper looked back down to her phone. She was having another damn heart to heart with Polly when she had Alex to catch up with. Oh the look on Polly's face when she finds out that she has finally reunited with her childhood best friend. She could just imagine the jealousy.
I DID find someone worthy of my love Pol. Don't tell me you forgot already. Also what guy are we talking about here? Piper defended back harshly. She looked back up for a quick moment to find Alex studying every crevice and muscle of her face.
"What?" Piper spoke up.
"Nothing. You sure you okay? You do want to do this right? I can just go home if you changed your mind." Alex asked making sure. Something on Piper's face made Alex begin to worry.
"Of course I..." Piper's phone vibrated. "I'm sorry, one sec I have to answer this... Actually no, fuck it. She is my best friend but she can get on my nerves sometimes even though she means well. Today should be reserved only for you, of course I want to do this." Piper genuinely smiled over at her as she turned off her phone.
Alex cheekily smiled back.
"What was she bugging you about?" Alex figured to ask.
"Oh just drilling me about getting a boyfriend," Piper sighed.
"And you are against that?" Alex responded tilting her face to the side.
"I'm just not ready I guess. Actually the right guy hasn't come back around yet.." she said.
"I know what that feels like.. my Mrs. Perfect is rolling around in bed somewhere, squeezing the hand of some asshole as she comes," Alex vulgarly replied.
"Wow, TMI Al," Piper put up her hand as if to shield herself away from her friends words.
"Haha, sorry if I was too direct."
They hit a tiny secluded park known to hold drunkards and homeless people during the night.
"Hey let's cut through here, it's a shortcut." Piper turned into the park with Alex on her heel. At this time of the day, of almost one in the afternoon, there had been a few teenage strollers in the park.
"So I noticed you said the right guy hasn't come back around yet... what did you mean by that?" Alex carried on the conversation.
Piper sighed. Alex figured she hit a nerve, but she wasn't going to apologize yet for asking, she wanted to know what had happened. Moments passed.
"Accident. He didn't make it. He truly was too perfect," she finally responded.
"Oh I'm sorry Piper." Alex flinched, there was more to Piper than she let on. She was only now seeing this part of her.
"How long ago?" Alex whispered.
"Almost three years."
"And you haven't forgotten," Alex drifted off. Silence.
This was one of the reasons Alex didn't officially date.. the emotions and connections could be too much sometimes, not to forget the heartache that came along too.
They walked down the path aligned parallel by trees and park benches. There was a littering of smoke buts and cracked beer bottles sprawled around these areas. Even though it looked bad, there was the early signs of fall poking through the scattered leaves on the ground and that was enough to make it beautiful again.
Piper and Alex walked side by side lost in their own minds. Alex looked on as Piper tried to crunch on the leaves beneath her feet just a few steps ahead of her. Almost as if she was stomping out the worries of her past. All Alex was certain about was that she wanted to be that free shoulder that Piper needed to cry on.
Like gravity pulling them together, it had eventually both surprised them when they found their hands lightly brush at first. It was nothing, only a feathers touch. But the persistent tiny buzzing sensation left in Alex's fingertips led her to take a brave hold of Piper's hand. It didn't seem as if Piper was resisting so Alex wondered if maybe Piper had felt it too. Piper did look down at the hand holding hers and back up to face Alex.
"What is this Island of the Lesbos?" A group of men with one lone female passed them by ruining them out of their moment three precious minutes later.
"It's not an Island dumbass, it's a park. Now leave us alone," Alex retorted. "Ignore them," she personally said to Piper. It did not render Piper's action though as she pulled her hand out of Alex's grasp.
"I'm sorry, that was too much for me. I'm not big on PDA," Piper mentioned.
"I understand." Alex accepted. Her intention wasn't to make Piper feel uncomfortable at all so she let her be.
"So are we almost there, this is supposed to be a shortcut after all," Alex asked. They finally came out the other side of the park.
"Yes we have made it! Over there, see the logo!" Piper pointed to a store that was named Jerry's Groovy Tunes. It was very obscure as not many people walked in there, she herself only being in there twice. Piper lived a few blocks down and always passed the store in her car on the way home. Sometimes she wondered how the owners kept the place up and running.
"What is that you are taking me in, a shack? A broken down complex? You trying to kill me kid?" Alex joked.
"No silly, it's a music store!" She exclaimed.
"You know, taking me to HMV would've done the job just as well. Haha," Alex bit back.
"Al you can get vinyls here of your favourite rock bands, and it's very homey feeling nothing like that you get in HMV! You're gonna love it!" piper said. Piper wondered to herself why Alex was making such a big deal of things.
"Okay cool, I didn't realize there was one in Toronto, let alone this area! Too bad my budget for the day is blown. Watching is good too though!" Alex said with a hint of excitement in her voice.
"Al I'm buying you two vinyls of your choice of course! So no worries!"
"Sweet, that totally pays me back!" Alex exchanged. They entered the store.
This time it was Piper's chance to stand back and watch Alex swoon and battle over which artist she was going to buy as they both perused the aisles for almost an hour now.
Half the artists Alex poured herself over, Piper hadn't even heard of. Alex was so in her element it was a delight for her to watch.
Piper still couldn't get over the fact how Alex had been so alert and aware of her own sadness that she had went over to hold her hand for comfort. She realized she needed someone who was so ready to tend to her needs like that and honestly, she had felt small things in her heart.
She had felt her heart begin to make space for Alex. Space that had previously belonged to only Rick. Could being with a woman be so wrong? she thought. After all, maybe she needed to go out of the ballpark and try something different.
After Alex finally chose her records they headed to the checkout.
"Have a good day ladies." The employee dismissed as they walked out.
"Damn that was so awesome! I totally need to come back to this place. There could be a tonne of missing gems in there! Thanks kid! I can't even thank you enough!" Alex hugged the records to her chest.
"You're welcome! Told you you'd like it. What did you end up getting?" Piper asked. Alex pulled out the records and showed her.
"Wow, nice picks... I have never heard of them," Piper admitted.
"What do you mean you never heard of Pearl Jam and John Legend? You kid, have much to learn!" Alex said.
"Okay let me rephrase I've only heard of their names, not the actual music! Aren't they old? I'm a fan of the modern stuff." Piper asked.
"OldIsh... of course you are. I am too.." When it comes to music, Alex can appreciate all.
"Sooooo what now?" Piper awkwardly asked as they stood just outside the store window on the sidewalk. Neither wanting to suggest to leave for home.
Alex felt a vibration coming out the back of her ass pocket.
Buzz. Buzz.
It was her phone... but instead of answering it she put her attention elsewhere. Her eyes went from looking at Piper's eyes to down at her lips.
"This..." Alex whispered as she pushed forward.
A/N: Hey guys did you miss me?
I've been so out of it lately, as this was my second attempt at this chapter.
Enjoy, review but PLEASE don't hurt me! :P
