CHAPTER NINE

Vause

Piper took the plea of "not guilty" because Nicky and I said so. Her parents also like the idea of her being free while waiting for her final judgment. However, we are obligated to attend every single trial, in exchange for this type of freedom.

"You're going out. Aren't you excited?" Nicky asked her. Piper did not respond. She's pretending like she didn't hear anything. "I don't like this silent treatment, darling. You have to learn to speak up. You're not mute." I coughed. She glanced over to me. Good thing Nicky could understand my gesture. "Okay. I'm gonna leave you both here. I'll wait for you two outside."

"So..." Piper and I walked shoulder to shoulder. "About, um, what happened recently..."

"What about it?" She inquires, looking away. I feel nervous. I usually feel something like this whenever I talk to someone I really admire.

"Nothing. I, uh... I just wanna say you're brave."

Piper stopped walking. "I just let some girl hurt me without fighting back, remember?" My smile faded. "Not a good way to start a small talk."

"Sorry. I just thought it is the start of us being friends."

"Not a chance."

"Yeah, I know that. Hmm, okay. Good talk."

"Hey, are you okay?" Nicky asked me. She cut the music, thinking that I didn't hear it. "Earth to Alex. Hello?"

"You were saying?"

"I said, are you alright?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Nicky held my hand. I saw Piper looking at me by the mirror. "I'm fine. Don't make a fuss out of it."

I thought Nicky was gonna get pissed off but I got shocked when she held my hand. "After dropping her off, we can go to Quincy's."

"I don't know. I-" Nicky tightened her grip on my hand. What is she doing? "Okay. Yeah, sure."

"And then we can go to my house after." Nicky pouted her lips before winking at me. "I was hoping you could flush down my stress." Nicky spoke seductively. "We need to de-stress before prepping for trial anyway. So, why not together, right?" Piper grunted, pushing back her blonde hair. She opened up her backpack that she had when she got arrested. She took out an iPod and her black Skullcandy JIB Wireless earbuds, popping it tightly on her ears. What's with the attitude, girl?

"It's Hugo's birthday today. I owe him a drink. Yeah, maybe you should come." I conversed while driving.

"Yeah, I could cum for you. I could do that." Nicky's giving me an eyefuck and she's never given me that before. What is up with these girls in my car? "Oh, sorry. I can come with you. That's what I really, really want to say."

Suddenly, "Eyes on the road, please." says the blonde sitting on the back seat. "I wanna spend my temporary release in my house, not in some smelly, creepy hospital."

"Oh, it talks. Nice." I can't help not to make jokes. She hurt my feelings. A little.

Piper took her backpack and said, "Pull over. You can drop me off here." I tilted my head back as my eyebrow furrows. "I can't stand being in the same place with you. I'm trapped in this moving box of yours and I can't seem to breathe properly."

"You want me to pull over?"

"Yes. I want you to stop the car, so I could get out." I don't want to follow her orders. My ego doesn't want me to. So, instead of slowing down, I did the opposite. "You... lesbian bitch."

Nicky's tire screeched as I make that sudden stop. Good thing, there was no one behind us. I pulled my seatbelt off, slamming the car door when I got out. "Alex, hey!" Nicky shouted when I forcefully grabbed Piper, with her landing on the pavement. "Will you stop that?! She's our fucking client!"

"Girl, I don't fucking care!" I pushed her hard on the floor, pressing with my body. "You hate me, huh?" I reached for her face, holding it steadily. "I didn't do anything bad to you. Matter of fact, I'm trying my best, my very best, to help you. I don't even know you." My face was only an inch to hers. Piper was breathing heavily. She was just looking at me. "You want something to hate about? Here."

(Wolves by Selena Gomez feat. Marshmello plays on the background)

I pressed my mouth harder than I usually do with guys and girls. I thought she wanted it because her right hand automatically clung to my back, but maybe it's the pain. She didn't kiss me back but I still continued. When I'm done, I bit her, causing her lower lip to bleed. So much for the beginning of a friendship. "Now, you can hate me all you want, Chapman."

"Hot!" Some assholes shouted when they saw what was happening. "D'you wanna come with us?" I pulled my gun which I had permit to carry, aiming it on the dude by the passenger's seat. "Oh, shit. Drive!"

"Let's go. She's not worth it. I'm off this case." I'd gone back behind the wheel, honking. "Nichols!"

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" I heard Nicky ask Piper. Poor girl just nodded. "Fine. Here's my card and this one hers. You can call us anytime, alright? I'll come visit you tomorrow." She nodded again, wiping the sweat on her with her sleeve. "Stay safe. And hey, you can come by at Quincy's. We'll be there even if it's late. When these things happen, Alex usually drinks nonstop." She just keep nodding on every period. "Don't mind what she said, 'kay? Just leave it to me."

Piper started walking. "Your conscience will haunt you if something bad happens to that girl, Alex." Nicky waved at her when we drove off.

"Bitch can take care of herself."

"I don't think that girl plans on going home."

"Why is that?"

"Because if she did, she would've called her parents the moment she got into holding. She can have cash deposit or recognizance to get a bail."

"Maybe she's being her usual self; a brat. Stupid girl thinks she can handle anything, now that she's all grown up."

"Or maybe... we should turn around?" I shook my head, disagreeing on the idea of going back for Piper. "We did piss her off, you know?" My eyes went blur when my eyebrows, then again, furrowed with each other. "Oh, don't tell me you didn't know."

"What did we do?" Nicky giggled, pointing at the road signage where we can make a U-turn. "Tell me, or I'm gonna leave your precious client for good."

"Seriously?"

"Just say it already!"

"Simple. We made her jealous. That's it."