AN: ... Yeah. I'm so sorry! I've been having some crazy stuff going on this year. I don't really fancy delving into that because it's personal and I'm sorry for not updating earlier for those of you who have enjoyed this story. I hope you can forgive me! I have written a longish chapter for you to make up for it (for me anyway) and the plan is still for 12 chapters. This one is kind of hard going. Sorry guys. Also I have NOT proofread this properly so if there are any glaring mistakes or things to read that are jarring then please let me know. Also this chapter for sure falls under the mature description. Just to warn you.

Piper stormed into Bolt like an angry whirlwind. Tears were still running down her cheeks, but rage had now taken grip, so much so that she was shaking all over. Nicky just so happened to be behind the bar to witness this, taking note of the indignant snort and phone being thrown across the bar almost shattering a glass in the process.

"Woah blondie" Nicky started "Chill the fuck out or I'm gonna have to -" she stopped mid-sentence when she caught the red blotches and mascara running down Piper's face. Her tone changed immediately to one of concern.

"Piper what the hell… Are you ok? What the fuck happened?"

Piper, her rage seemingly spent, broke down before Nicky's very eyes, letting out a loud sob. She was never more thankful that it was only setting up time. She began speaking in a high-pitched wail that was somewhat hard to distinguish. Nicky just about caught the words "Alex, kiss, lied, over and Jen"

Nicky's heart broke for the poor girl. She'd never seen Piper so desperately unhappy. Nicky pulled her into and awkward hug. She rubbed Piper's back until the sobs subsided into quiet gulps for air.

"Hey there now. It'll be ok. Vause is crazy about you… Whatever happened is surely a misunderstanding? Do you need me to call her?"

Piper shook her head no.

"Ok so here's what's going to happen. I'm going to let you off for tonight, I'll call Rich now, see if he can drag himself in. You sit in the back doing inventory or something and text one of your friends to come pick you up yes?"

Piper just sniffed and nodded, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.

"Right, yes. Good. Now go and fix yourself up. Chill in the back. Ring Polly, or your mom… Or your hot friend." Nicky joke, which earned a small smile and a tiny shove from Piper. As soon as Piper had turned to go Nicky grabbed her phone and sent some necessary texts, then began texting Alex.

'What the fuck did you do? Piper's come in look like someone just ran over her puppy.'

The reply was almost instant.

'I fucked up.'

Short and if Nicky didn't know better, came across as sarcastic. Nicky rolled her eyes. It was almost immediately followed up with:

'Is she ok?'

Nicky huffed loudly.

'No Vause. She's not ok. I'm sending her home. Are you? What the fuck happened?'

The reply was quick.

'Should I come and see her?'

Nicky rolled her eyes again. Alex was the master at avoiding a topic when she wanted to.

'For the love of god NO.' Nicky replied 'I've told her to ask a friend to pick her up. Whatever it is man leave her for tonight. She's not ready to talk to you.'

There was no immediate response. Nicky put her phone down, letting out a frustrated sigh. Her phone buzzed.

'Keep her safe. Tell me if she needs me. I love her Nick. X'

Despite the part of her that wanted to be angry at her friend for causing the state Piper was in, she really wanted to hear her out. Nicky sighed as the first customers started to roll in. It was going to be a long night.

Piper was unsure how she'd found herself in this current situation. Sat on the knee of a drunk Australian chick with a very angry looking Alex looking ready to charge at her... Or this Stella chick. She wasn't sure. Though come to think of it there were in fact, several possibilities. It could have been when Polly said she'd be a couple of hours in picking her up. She was at dinner with Pete's parents on the other side of town. At first, Polly had suggested Piper get a cab. Unfortunately, in a cruel joke of nature, Piper had been in such a hurry to leave that she'd forgotten to get her keys to her own apartment, only leaving her with keys to Alex's place.

Since she had nothing to do in those couple of hours she managed to find a bottle of wine in the inventory that they wouldn't be able to sell. Cork out of the bottle, the wine was already open. Barely a small glass worth had been drunk. Piper had decided to drown her sorrows in the mean-time. A bottle of wine and a Richard making a full appearance at the bar later lead to a very tipsy Piper finding her way to the front of the bar and sneaking free drinks from strangers and regulars alike as quickly as Nicky and Richard could give her glasses of water.

Nicky growing increasingly worried about Polly's whereabouts, and not actually having Polly's number herself decided against her better judgement to text Alex. This resulted in a back and forth between the pair where Nicky had realised two things. One, Piper was not the only one drowning her sorrows with booze and two, she definitely fucked that one up. Alex was on her way over to Bolt. Now. To apparently 'save Pips frm the durnk gays'.

All this had led to Piper's current predicament. Upon seeing the object of her heartache, Piper's throat constricted, the alcohol making it difficult for her to focus, so instead she tried to look away. Alex's eyes were working very hard to work out what was happening. She could see Piper. She could see Piper sitting on some Justin Bieber looking guy… Although Justin Bieber didn't have tits that big. Or lips that pouty. Shit the girl that currently had Piper on her lap was pretty hot. Looking again Alex could see Beiber girl's hands were getting way too familiar with Piper's thighs. A white hot rage fuelled through her, and when Piper looked back towards her again with an unreadable expression she charged over there, grabbed Piper's wrist and yanked her up and away to a cacophony of 'hey!' and other such exclamations.

"OW! Alex that hurts!" Piper exclaimed. Alex immediately dropped her wrist, guilt once again twisting her insides. She muttered an apology whilst gently taking her hand to see if she'd inflicted any damage. There was none. She then let her go.

"What the fuck Piper? I've been SO worried!" Alex exclaimed.

"Hey um, excuse you bitch, but what do you think you are playing at?" came a heavily accented voice over Alex's shoulder. Alex growled, her face visibly darkening.

"Back off dingo-fucker, this is my girlfriend."

Piper frowned.

"Not anymore Alex."

The brunette's heart broke further still, then was filled with a burning rage when Miss Australia started to butt in again.

"Well she doesn't look or sound to happy that you're here 'girlfriend', so maybe you should just back the fuck off and leave her alone."

"Fuck off" Alex spat back, not even looking at her. Turning her gaze back to Piper she continued.

"We need to talk Pipes."

Piper sighed, Stella was still hovering and Alex had a pleading look on her face.

"Just give us a few minutes" Piper directed at Stella, who looked somewhat uncertain.

"You sure?" she asked.

"Yeah I'm fine. I'll catch you some other time." Stella nodded and looked reproachfully at Piper, then glared at Alex and went to go and sit back down.

Piper sighed and looked at the floor, feeling light headed. Alex was still blazing, drunk and felt very much stung by repeated rejections and the swirling dread that came to mind when she thought about losing Piper.

"Piper I made a mistake… Please. Please give me a chance to make it right. Please. I love you so much baby please." Alex pleaded.

"I love you too Alex… But it's not enough. We're not working. We don't work… We're not… Not making sense and it's making us both feel… Shitty." Piper replied. Alex grew angry again.

"Why is this so easy for you to walk away from? Why are you just dropping everything we have together? If we love each other we can make it work. I'm so fucking sorry Piper. I can't even explain why it happened. I just want you, always you, only you. You're my girl in a sea of many fish. Or something." The alcohol Alex had consumed was catching up with her. Piper was starting to get frustrated.

"Yeah well. I can't trust you and if you don't know why you go around making out with other girls then how do I know you won't do it again and again with other fish… Or girls. Or what the fuck ever?" Alex snorted with laughter, her eyebrows shooting up.

"Oh that's fucking rich coming from you." Piper glared.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, let's face it Pipes. You flirt with everyone. Girls, boys. Whoever is around at the time. Are you straight are you gay? Who fucking knows! I mean I come in here to help you and work shit out I find you on someone else's lap, happily getting felt up." This conversation was going nowhere. Hearing all her own insecurities about herself laid out in front of her by the woman she loved made Piper angry. Really angry. She pushed the woman in front of her, her eyes narrowed with contempt and unshed tears of frustration.

"Fuck you Alex… Seriously just fuck you. You're the one who cheated on me REMEMBER?" Alex stood tall, towering over Piper. The words flowed out before she could stop herself. It's like she'd transformed and every bad thought she'd ever had about Piper magnified tenfold. In this moment she wanted Piper to feel as bad as she felt. She wanted to hurt her like she was hurting.

"Seems pretty fucking convenient for you to just dump me for one fucking kiss though doesn't it… Unless you've been fucking around behind my back with anyone that buys you a free drink. Tell me Pipes do you let all of them fuck you in the back of cabs or am I special?" Alex knew she'd gone too far when she felt the sting of a slap across her cheek. There were tears escaping down her cheeks and Piper's too. Hurt and angry, Piper hissed her reply.

"Ok Alex… You want to play the victim? You want me to play the bad guy? Fucking fine. I will. Fuck you."

With that Piper stormed off, Alex's eyes fixed glaring at her retreat. Piper walked towards the Australian chick at the bar. She tapped her on the shoulder. As soon as she turned around Piper planted a kiss straight on her lips. Alex felt her heart crack, the anger that had just fuelled her evaporating and being replaced with despair. The girl went from looking shocked, to smirking, the two then headed for the door hand in hand. Tears spilled down Alex's cheeks and she started weeping. Like some kind of sadness ninja Nicky found her and grabbed her by the shoulders.

"I'm putting you in a cab Alex, I'm going to save the I told you so's and the verbal beat down for first thing tomorrow morning. Right now, I'm putting you in a cab home and you're going to go to bed." Alex just nodded glumly and was guided to the exit by her friend.

The next few weeks were hellish for all those involved with Piper and Alex. The two had a vicious back and forth were one would try to one up the other by doing something to hurt the other. Alex would say something awful, Piper would find a one night stand, Alex would start seeing more of Jen and rub the relationship in Piper's face, Piper would say something awful and try to get their mutual friends to take sides. Alex would 'lose' something of Piper's, Piper would 'accidentally' smash a nice glass when she went round to pick up her stuff. The environment between the pair was toxic and the two people caught in the middle were Richard and Nicky and they were quickly running out of patience for the pair of them. It might not have got so bad if the two were not forced to work together almost every day. It was what it was.

A new thing Piper had taken to doing to get under Alex's skin at work was to flirt with her co-worker. Jess was off limits, she had a boyfriend but Larry… Larry on the other hand was most definitely single and seemed to be appreciative of her attention. He wouldn't be the sort of guy she'd normally go for but he suited the purpose perfectly. It actually worked out perfectly as it turned out he was Pete's best friend, Pete as in Polly's boyfriend and they began hanging out as a group quite regularly.

Whenever Alex would walk past she'd make sure to brush extra close to him or murmur an in joke in his ear so they might both start laughing. It seemed to have the desired effect as Alex would usually tense up, scowl and stomp away from the scene in the opposite direction, sometimes barking orders at the pair of them.

Alex was in a somewhat confusing relationship with Jen. Alex knew what her friends and her mother would say, so she withdrew from them. In fact Jen was the only person she really saw at the moment as she fulfilled two very important roles. One was getting back at Piper for breaking her heart, the other was someone to vent to about Piper and her behaviour. Jen took it upon herself to label the pair of them in a relationship, though it would be evident to anyone involved that this just wasn't the case.

This animosity came to a head one evening between Piper and Alex. It was almost closing time at the store and the only people there were Alex, Piper and Larry. The three of them were tidying in relative silence, an awkward tension surrounding them, all of them keen to leave as quickly as possible. Alex's phone rang. It was Jen sorting out some kind of date night. Did Alex need to repeat their plans in front of Piper? Did she need to make it evidently clear who she was talking to? No, not really, but she couldn't resist the temptation to get under Piper's skin, and it worked.

Alex left to continue her conversation in her office, leaving Piper and Larry alone. The pair of them tidied in silence, then Larry suggested they go and collect their things from the back room. Piper nodded, suddenly she had the perfect revenge plan. Larry walked into the small room first, followed by Piper, who quickly shut the door and then pounced at Larry. He quickly found himself pressed against a wall, with a very attractive blonde woman wrapping her arms around his neck and pushing her lips to his. So convincing was her argument and so surprising that Larry did nothing to stop the situation, until Piper started the grab his hands to position one on her butt and the other underneath her top. Larry groaned, his conscious getting the better of him and pulling away.

"Woah Piper" he started, a little breathless. "Not that I'm not flattered and all… But what's going on?"

Piper sighed, frustrated.

"Sudden burst of passion? I don't know Larry… Could you just go with it? Please?" Piper went in to kiss him again, but Larry pulled away further. Piper rolled her eyes.

"Come on Larry!" she exclaimed. "I'm at least a 7 and I'm flinging myself at you here, I'm asking you to take advantage!"

Larry laughed and backed away.

"I'm fairly certain I'm crazy, and you're actually more in the 8-10 category, but I don't especially want to be revenge fuel for whatever is going on between you and the boss at the moment."

At this Piper's facade crumbled. She leant against the wall furthest from the door and slumped down it, willing herself not to cry. Larry stood awkwardly unsure what to do for a moment, then he joined her on the floor.

"You don't seem very happy at the moment Piper." He stated. Piper laughed.

"Understatement of the century Larry… Happy girls don't throw themselves at nice guys they work with to get back at their ex-girlfriends…" Larry nodded and sighed.

"Well. I don't know what went on with you guys, but I kind of get the whole 'bitter and cynical I can't have who I really want' deal." Piper raised an eyebrow.

"Oh really?" she asked. "Do tell."

Larry gave her a look.

"Do you promise not to tell anyone?"

Piper laughed. "Do you want to write it with your left hand and draw love hearts around it so no one can tell it's you?" Larry laughed.

"Polly." He said. Piper was shocked. Maybe she was just really bad at reading people. Or maybe he meant a different Polly. But why would he say Polly and just Polly if it wasn't the Polly they both knew?

"Polly?" Piper questioned. "As in Polly, Polly? Kind of a bitch but heart in the right place super high maintenance Polly?" Larry laughed again.

"The very same." Piper whistled.

"Wow." Larry sighed and leaned his head against the wall.

"I know."

"So you're in love with your best friend's girl?"

"Yep."

Piper laughed.

"Wow, and I thought I was fucked." Larry smiled.

"What a pair we are, you with all your crazy lesbian drama and me being a living enactment of the Rick Springfield song."

"Jessie's girl?" Piper queried with a smile. Larry nodded.

"The American dream hey?" he joked. Piper sighed and leaned her head against Larry's shoulder. They stayed like that in silence for a couple of minutes. Larry was first to break the silence.

"Well, I'd better get home. Those friends re-runs won't watch themselves." He pulled himself up and then extended a hand to Piper, who he then pulled into a hug.

"It'll get better Pipes. You should get out of here for a while though… Whatever you and the boss have going on right now it's not healthy."

Piper sighed, pulling back slightly and looking at Larry.

"I know… And thanks by the way."

Larry smiled. "No problem."

It was at that exact moment the door swung open and in walked Alex, looking as though she'd just been sucking lemons. She cleared her throat.

"When you two are done making eyes at each other you can finish the tidying, some of the new book display looks a mess."

Piper rolled her eyes.

"I cleared that up before." She said.

"Well it looks sloppy. You can do it again before you leave." Alex knew she was being petty, but she just couldn't help herself. Seeing the two of them in some sort of loving embrace was too much for her heart.

"Whatever. I'll go and do it now. Larry you should go home." Larry looked awkwardly between the two women.

"You sure you'll be ok?" he directed to Piper.

"She's an adult in a closed book store." Alex snarked. "What will she need saving from a paper cut?"

Larry held up his hands in self-defence. "Ok, sorry!" he said "I'll get out of your way. Catch you later." Larry hurried out of the store, with all his belongings. Piper glared at Alex.

"That was uncalled for Alex. There was no need to be so rude to him when your issue is with me."

Alex ignored her and swept out of the room indicating the book display she wanted arranging.

"Just do your job Piper, then we can both leave."

Piper could feel the anger bubbling up in her stomach. She looked at the book case, with each book facing the front and looking tidy.

"What's wrong with it?" she asked.

"It looks better if the spines are facing outward, not the cover." She said. Piper raised her eyebrows.

"Really Alex? That's what you want me to work overtime for? Since when do we have a code of conduct for which way spines face?" Alex narrowed her eyes.

"It means you can fit more copies of the books on the display shelf Piper, and they are less likely to get bent before they're purchased." Piper wasn't ready to let this go.

"But people won't be able to see the cover as easily and may not want to go looking for the book at all." The exasperation was beginning to show through in her voice.

"I'm your fucking boss Piper, just do what I'm telling you to do."

That was it, Piper's temper snapped, she went to the shelf and tipped a few books on the floor, challenging Alex with her glare. Alex snorted with laughter.

"Oh real mature Piper." She said sarcastically.

"Fuck you." Piper spat out.

"Apparently half the population already have in the last few weeks… So…" Angry tears sprang to Piper's eyes.

"I'm leaving." She said. Alex blocked her path.

"Not until you clear up this mess." Alex raised her voice. Piper tried to dodge past her, then tried to hit out at her. Alex caught her wrists. They wrestled with each other, hurling insults until they found themselves backed up against one of the book cases. Piper caught a familiar glint of arousal in Alex's eyes. Piper licked her lips.

"What would Jen say if she picked up you now and saw us like this?" she questioned. Alex glared.

"That's got nothing to do with you." She spat.

"Well when you rebound so obviously Alex, it's kind of hard not to say anything…" Piper pressed herself against Alex slowly.

"Fuck you…" Said Alex, without much conviction, her eyes now hungrily trained on Piper's lips. Piper leaned towards her ear, seeing a chance to win back a sense of control.

"Why don't you?" she whispered. Alex met Piper's gaze and instantly Piper felt herself being shoved against the opposite bookcase and Alex's tongue in her mouth. The two of them kissed furiously, tongues battling for dominance, Piper letting out a loud moan when Alex moved her lips to the sensitive spot on her neck, picked her up, and started kneading her ass through her work trousers. Piper wrapped her legs around Alex's waist as she quickly unzipped Piper's trousers and thrust her hand into her panties. She returned to working the spot on Piper's neck, angrily nipping and sucking whilst synchronising the movement and rubbing of her fingers around her clit until Piper was breathless and desperate for more.

"You're so fucking wet Piper... Do you like this? Do you like being held up and fucked without taking any of your clothes off? Do you like me treating you like a slut?" Piper refused to answer, but Alex smirked into her neck when she felt a fresh coat of arousal on her fingers.

"I'll take that as a yes…" she said and bit her ear. Piper huffed and let out another moan, she glared at Alex.

"Just fucking fuck me already!" she exclaimed. Alex laughed and unceremoniously shoved two fingers into Piper. Piper moaned. Alex began a furious pace, somehow managing to keep Piper up balanced against the shelves whilst curling her fingers inside her quickly. Piper's moans grew louder and louder.

"That's it baby… You cum for me you dirty girl… The second you cum I'm going to bend you over my desk and lick your pussy until you scream."

It might have been a combination of the talk, the stimulation and the pent up rage all coming out at once but Piper suddenly felt the delicious tightening of her muscles and the warmth spreading all over her body as she cried out. Alex then let her down and pulled her into her office, closing the door behind them.

An hour and multiple orgasms later the pair lay gasping and naked, the room strewn with paper and objects that had previously been on Alex's desk. Alex had made good on her promise as soon as they got into the room, Piper not to be outdone had immediately dropped to her knees, pulled one of Alex's legs over her shoulder and licked her furiously. The pair proceeded to fuck each other's brains out until they were too sensitive to continue. Piper finally broke the tension.

"What are we doing Alex?" she asked. Alex looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Well… When a mummy and a daddy love each other very much…" Piper smiled despite herself and shoved her shoulder.

"You know what I mean." Piper turned on her side to look at Alex. The brunette's expression grew serious.

"I know…" she finished. They stared at each other for a long time, Piper timidly pushing back Alex's long hair over her shoulders. The pair of them silently picked themselves up and started getting changed.

"We can't keep going like this…" Piper started. Alex said nothing, continuing to get changed.

"Alex, this relationship is toxic. I don't… I don't want to hate you." This sounded a lot like a goodbye.

"Yeah? Well I hate you." Alex threw back childishly.

"No you don't." Piper stated. Alex paused. Then turned around. She met Piper's gaze. After a beat she replied.

"No… I don't." There was a long silence.

"I'm going to hand my notice in here."

"You don't have to do that Pipes…" Alex protested half-heartedly.

"No I think I need to. We're no good for each other right now Alex. We need time away. Time to think… To heal. Our current situation isn't fair to anyone Alex."

Alex sighed.

"I know."

The two were both fully dressed now.

"So that's right? A clean break."

Alex nodded, tears starting to prick her eyes.

"I think it's what we both need right now."

Piper's tears began to drip down her cheeks.

"I never thought we'd end up like this." She said.

"Will you be ok for money?" Alex asked, wiping her own tears away.

"I'll be fine… So. I guess this is goodbye?"

Alex nodded. Piper turned towards the door.

"Hey Piper?" Alex said before she walked away. Or a second she wanted to say everything she loved about Piper, she wanted to beg her not to leave, she wanted to plead with her to fix things. But instead what came out was.

"I'm sorry ok? For all of it." Piper nodded, another tear running down her cheek.

"Me too Alex."

With that she left. Alex busied herself picking things up in her office. When she finally heard the click of the door she peeked out. The books on the floor had been picked up and put on the shelf – spines first. The pent up tears made their way freely down Alex's face.