Chapter Ten

"I took the day off Piper! I thought we would spend the day together." Polly was storming around the kitchen. She had been in a merry fucking mood when Piper had told her about her evening with Alex Vause and their plans for tomorrow.

"I'm sorry Pol, I didn't know. I wouldn't have made plans otherwise, you know that." Polly sighed and turned around. She looked at Piper hard for a minute, and Piper said nothing. She remained in her place on the couch, staying silent. Eventually she couldn't take it any longer. "What Polly?"

"You're in too deep."

"What?"

"You're in too deep Pipes. You need to end it."

"Polly-" Piper sighed, standing up and walking into the kitchen to get some water.

"Piper, this wasn't meant to happen. It's not going to end up anywhere good. Just concentrate on your work, concentrate on your music."

"I am."

"I know, and that's great. But this thing with Vause is not going anywhere good." She paused."You know I'm right. What if she gets mixed up in everything. You can barely protect yourself."

"Nice Polly. Thanks." Piper was pissed. Who did Polly think she was. She had no idea, no idea, just how important Alex was becoming to her. Piper needed this. In the midst of all the shitty things life was throwing at her, she needed Alex.

"Look. Okay, I've gone too far. But I'm trying to help you here."

Piper didn't respond. She was trying to separate chunks of ice from the freezer bag that had moulded together. Of course she knew Polly was right, but she wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of agreeing with her. She didn't want to end it with Alex. Yes, it was going to get messy, but how could she walk away now? Or maybe now was the best time to walk away. No, it wouldn't be fair. She wouldn't be able to explain why, and Piper suspected Alex was not the kind of woman to just leave something without having a good reason. She would have to friend zone her. Alex would lose interest, move on, and it would make things less complicated later on. She inwardly cringed at how juvenile she sounded. 'Friend zone" Alex Vause, what an idea. She would make it work. She would have to just separate work and social life. Other people managed it, it wouldn't be that hard. Polly could go suck a ball. That reminded her.

"Nicky was disappointed you didn't come with me today. Have you spoken to her?"

"No, she's called me a bunch but I haven't answered."

"She called you?"

"So?"

"So? I get the impression that's not a normal thing for Nicky Nichols."

"Nicky Nichols is a pain in my ass."

"Polly, there is a girl literally chasing you and you're ignoring her."

"I don't like the pressure."

"Fair enough. Just don't throw away a good thing." She pushed herself off the kitchen counter and walked towards her room.

"Where are you going?"

"Bed. I'm fucking exhausted."

"Night Piper." Polly whispered. The brunette stared after her friend, a small scowl pinching the bridge of her nose. Piper was being stupid. She would have to save her from herself. She picked up her jacket, slipped on her shoes, and left the apartment. She wondered slowly down the hallway and into the stairway, resting herself finally on the concrete step. Taking out her phone, she found Nicky's number and, after a minute of deliberation, hit call.

"This better not be a booty call. I'm not saying I'm not interested, but you've been dodging me for days and thats not cool."

"It's a call, drop the booty."

"I can arrange that. What's up?"

"Can you be serious for a minute?" Polly said harshly, but her heart was fluttering and a small smiled tugged the corners of her mouth. "Are you working?"

"No I'm home. Wanna come over?"

"No, I…" Polly thought for a moment, and then changed her mind. "Yeah. Yeah sure."

There was a pause "I didn't think you would say yes."

"Is that a problem?"

"No, no problem, just Vause is heading over. You can join?"

"I need to speak to you. Alone. It's important. Meet me a Joey's. It's round the corner from mine. I'll text the address?"

"What, now?"

"Please"

"Sure. I'll put of Vause. See you soon." The phone cut off. Polly stood up slowly, the cold floor had made her legs stiff. She took a deep breath of the cold stale air, and closed her eyes, hoping she was doing the right thing. She was doing it for Piper. She knew Piper's work was serious enough that she didn't let anyone in, not just for them, but for her too. Christ! Polly hardly knew details herself, and she was practically Piper's sister. It could mean life or death, she told herself.

She typed out a quick text to Nicky, telling her where to go, and made her way out onto the street.

Piper woke early the next morning, so early that the sun had not yet risen. She waited, eyes closed, hoping sleep would take over, but to no avail. The apartment was freezing cold and she was wide awake. Slowly she rose, pulled on her dressing gown, and headed to the kitchen to make tea. Stopping at the thermostat on the way, Piper realised that the heating had been turned off. Sighing at Polly's attempt to save the polar bears by creating the artic in their front room, she turned it up, and switched on the lights. A small moan make her jump, and she turned to find Nicky Nichols curled up on her sofa. She had a couple of tea towels wrapped over her legs in a half assed attempt to keep warm.

"Nicky? The fuck?"

"Morning creeper. What time is it?"

"I have no idea. The sun isn't up yet."

"Then why the hell are you?"

"I got cold"

"You're telling me. It's like a meat factory in here."

"You would know. What are you doing here?"

"I saw Polly last night."

"Oh… what when?" Piper responded, wondering when Polly had had the time to see Nicky. "Shouldn't you be in her bed?"

Nicky laughed. "Ha, no. I pissed her off pretty good, but it was too late to go home. So here I am."

"You want tea?" Piper asked, flicking on the kettle.

"Yeah aright. You got a blanked? I'm freezing my knackers off." Amused at the image of Nicky having 'knackers' to freeze, she instructed her to her bedroom.

"Just get in my bed, I'll bring the tea in."

"Okay, but Vause won't be impressed." Piper rolled her eyes and made tea in silence. She thought Nicky might have fallen back to sleep, but she was sat up in Pipers bed, a dozed expression on her face and duvet pulled up to under her chin. "Thanks." She said, gratefully wrapping her frozen fingers around the scolding ceramic that Piper offered her. She took a tentative sniff, then looked up at Piper. "What is this shit?"

"Camomile. It's good."

"I'll take your word for it."

"Move over will you." Nicky shimmied over to the opposite side, and Piper clambered into her warm spot. There was silence for a bit, just the sound of light slurping, and then Nicky said, "Your friend Polly, she really loves you you know."

Piper didn't respond straight away. She was suspicious "What happened?"

"When?"

"Don't play stupid, last night."

"She was warning me to keep Alex away from you."

"What!" Piper half shouted, sloshing her tea onto the blankets. "Shit!"

"Calm down, I told her not to be so fucking stupid. As if Alex would listen to me anyway!"

Piper sat, quietly seething, and thinking about it all.

"Why though?" Nicky asked.

"Because she's a meddling bitch."

"Can't argue with that. But seriously, whats her deal? Is it the lesbian thing?"

Piper laughed. "No. My job, its tough and tales a lot from me. She's worried Alex will get in the way"

"Can't you just lasso her with the mic wire?"

"Singing is more of a side gig. My job job."

"Ah, the mystery job that pays for all this fancy pancery."

"That would be the one."

They went silent again. Piper really was mad at Polly. Why did she not know when to just butt out. She turned suddenly to talk to Nicky, but she was now fast asleep, her teacup resting haphazardly against her stomach. Piper gently prized the cup from her hand without waking her, placing it next to her own on the nightstand, and moved down the bed under the covers. She would sleep on it, and in the morning talk to Polly about staying out of her shit. She was an adult, and she could look after herself. Surely her job proved that.

Piper woke to her alarm. This time, the sun was flooding in under her poorly drawn curtains, and the apartment was considerably warmer than in the earlier hours of that morning. Becoming aware of something digging into her lower back, she rolled over slowly to find Nicky was still in her bed in the foetal possession, her knees now pressing into Piper's side. She looked very young in her sleeping state, and Piper was suddenly aware that she had no idea how old Nicky actually was. She had guessed in her late 20s, but now she thought maybe not. The second alarm pulled her out of her thoughts, but Nicky seemed unaffected by the noise.

"Sleeps like a corpse" Piper murmured to herself, pulling herself up and out of the warmth and grabbing her shower things. When she returned from the bathroom, however, she was surprised to see Nicky was gone. Quickly changing and heading into the living room, she peered around into the kitchen, but the woman was nowhere to be seen. Shrugging it off, Piper grabbed her laptop and headed toward the study.

This was a small room at the back of the apartment that was kept locked at all times. Only Piper had a key, much to the frustration of her nosy house mate, but she couldn't risk Polly seeing anything. If she knew some things about Pipers work, then she would be at risk, and Piper had enough to do without running harm control. Or maybe she did. She was still mad at Polly, and sure that a quick run in with her bosses would put her best friend back in her place. Piper caught herself. She was starting to think like a maniac. She would have to talk to Polly, and then move on.

She shoved some files off the wide desk to make room for her computer, and as she did a piece of paper floated down and landed on the floor near her feet. Picking it up, she placed it roughly back on top of the file it had fallen from. A name scribbled at the bottom made her freeze.

'Alexandra Vause' was printed neatly, next to a scribbled signature she had not seen before. Alexandra? As in Alex. Her Alex? Piper snatched up the sheet of paper again and glanced down at it. 'CONTRACT OF SALE' was printed across the top. She pulled the file towards her. It was one she had been given yesterday at the meeting. Patting her pockets quickly to locate her mobile, she realised she had left it in her bedroom and jumped up. Once in her room, she grabbed her phone and almost jumped out her skin when Nicky sat up from the bed.

"What! Nicky, you left?"

"I went to see if Holly Polly was still mad at me."

"Oh. And?"

"She is." She said, rolling over so all Piper could see was the top of the wild curls sticking up from under the duvet. "Where did you go?"

"I'm working." And immediately her eyes were drawn back to the task at hand. "Listen, Nicky, I'll be in the office. Make yourself at home. There's food in the fridge and-"

"Yarda yarda yarda. Thanks blondie. Ive gotta get off soon anyway. Vause is expecting me an hour ago."

"You're lucky she hasn't fired you!"

"Yet".

Piper smirked and made her way quickly back to the office, locking the door behind her. She pulled up the name on the screen and took a deep breath. Was this stupid? She would have to explain why she was interested in Alex? What could she say? She had already been filled in on what the paperwork was for, but she hadn't thought to pay attention to the name before.

"Crap!" She half shouted, throwing the phone away from her and standing up. Alex was involved. A thrill of fear ran through her stomach. What did this mean? Did she know what was going on? Did she know that Piper was involved? No, she couldn't. She wouldn't be so friendly. But maybe that's exactly why she was getting close. Piper picked up her phone again, looking at the name that shone out on her scene. 'KUBRA'.

She wouldn't call. She would do some digging herself. A message made her phone buzz and she jumped slightly, the name making her heart race.

'Alex Vause: Looking forward to our lunch date. Al'

Piper sighed. Maybe Polly was right. What the hell was she getting herself into. Piper put her things away, and grabbed the small backpack she kept on the back on the door that was full of clothes and rubbish from her work trip she had yet to unpack. God, had she really been home only a day from all that? Throwing everything out onto the carpet, and repacking with her laptop and some other files, she slipped out of the office and locked the door. Nicky was sat on the sofa pulling on her boots. Polly was up now too.

"Oh, I thought you were still in bed" the brunette said, hardly meeting Piper's eyes.

"I had work to do. I'm going out for a bit. See you later."

"You're not staying in? I thought maybe-"

"I can't run to your schedule Polly." Piper snapped, perhaps too harshly. She saw Nicky raise her eyebrows, but kept her eyes trained on a particularly tricky shoelace. "I have a meeting and then Im meeting someone for lunch." Polly made a face. "I'll see you this evening."

"Okay." Said Polly, turning back to the toast that had just jumped out the toaster. She was acting nonchalant but Piper knew her words had hurt her. She didn't have time for that now. She had to go and figure out where Alex stood in this mess.

"See you soon Nichols."

"Au revoir."

As soon as Piper stepped out into the cold mid morning air, she picked up her phone, dialled a number she knew by heart and held it to her ear. It rang only once, and a deep voice answered.

"Chapman."

"I need to see you. Now. I have a… there's a situation."

"Check your emails." The line went dead. Not a minute later, a ping indicated the arrival of new mail. Hastening to open it, Piper didn't realise Nicky exit the building behind her, until a short jab in the ribs announced the wild woman's presence.

"Fuck, Nicky, you'll kill me."

"Was there actually a meeting or were you just that desperate to get away from the witch upstairs?"

"She's still mad at you huh? No, I was waiting for this email. Got it now."

"Which way are you going? Want to split a cab?"

"Uh.." She hesitated. She didn't want to walk in the cold, Piper had been made for warmer weather, but she couldn't really split a cab with Nicky to where she was going. "No, its not far. I'll walk it. I'll be by the bar later though."

"I heard. See you then Chapman."

Piper waited until Nicky was out of sight, and hurried in the same direction, turning at the next round before finding a cab herself. What a week this had been. Bring on Friday, and her gig, and music.