Do not own Orange Is The New Black or any of the characters.

I love reading all your reviews! I'm glad you're enjoying where I have taken the characters. I am trying to make it as realistic as possible. I know it's been really angsty but I promise good things are to come. :)

Just a side note, this whole chapter was written while watching That 70's Show. Love that show!

Anyways, enjoy!

Runaway Bride

Chapter 13

fucking friends now or something ...

Thursday, June 20th- 2:37 pm

"Do you think I'm a bad person?" asked Piper towards Polly.

"A bad person?" asked back Polly in confusion.

"Yeah, do you think I'm a bad person?"

"Where the fuck is all this coming from?" asked Polly as she continued to gawk at her friend, waiting for an answer of sorts. "You are not a bad person Pipes. You have never been to jail or anything like that."

Piper was silent for a moment as she looked on at Polly, who was slowly loading the dishwasher. They had just come from the wedding venue which was located at the Brooklyn Winery. They were having both the ceremony and reception there. Her mother was less then thrilled that she wasn't getting married in a church. But She didn't want the traditional wedding. Plus, Larry was Jewish. They both agreed there would be no religious parts in their wedding.

"Pol, just because someone goes to prison, doesn't make them a bad person," began to explain Piper in response to what her friend had just said. She immediately thought of Alex, who had spent time in prison. Yes, Alex had made some bad decisions in her life and her career path but that didn't make her a bad person. "We all make bad choices. Some just have different bad choices to make."

Polly just frowned at Piper at this. "Okay?..." she answered not really sure where Piper was going with it. "Sure, we all make bad choices..."

"I'm just saying that we all at one point in our life had made a bad decision that we wish we could take back," Piper's voice trailed off slightly as she tried to think of the best way of describing her situation without giving too much away to Polly.

"Oh My GOD! Is this about Supercunt again? And that fucking kiss?!" cried out Polly in outrage. "Are you thinking about telling Larry? Because I don't think that would be a wise idea Pipes. Especially two days before you're suppose to be getting married!"

"No, this isn't just about the kiss," replied Piper as she ran a hand through her hair. She was suddenly frustrated at her friend.

The two women were silent for a second before Piper once again tried, "Do you think I'm a bad person for leaving Alex while her mom was in the hospital?"

Polly looked up from where she was loading up the dishwasher and over at Piper. She just stared at the blonde for a second. She wasn't sure where all this was suddenly coming from. Yes, Piper had felt extremely guilty after she had ended it with Alex all those years ago, but who didn't feel guilty after a break up? Polly didn't understand why she was bringing it up now. "Where is this coming from Pipes?" she asked as she closed the dishwasher and started it.

"Please, Pol," begged Piper. "Just answer the fucking question!"

"Okay." stated Polly as she leaned back against the kitchen counter. "Well. Yes. How you ended things between the two of you could've been better. Like the timing and such..."

Piper opened her mouth in astonishment at this, "You told me to end it before it was too late to do so!"

Polly waved her hand in the air at this, "I didn't fucking tell you to end it while you where in the hospital!"

Piper just glared at her best friend at this. This was not the first time they were having this argument. Piper just signed heavily as she crossed her arms over her chest. She knew this would be a bad idea to ask Polly.

"But I don't think it makes you a bad person. You were young and just didn't know what else to do, Pipes," whispered Polly as she took a step towards her friend and placed a comforting hand on her arm. "I wouldn't beat myself up over it. It happened a million years ago and you apologized to Alex. That's really all you can do about it now."

Piper nodded her head slowly at this. She knew that Polly had a point. She shouldn't be beating herself up over something that had happened over eight years ago now. But she couldn't get it out of her mind.

Alex had said that they were okay. But she couldn't help, but still feel guilty about it.

Ever since she'd ran into Alex this morning, she couldn't get it out of her head. That she was a bad person. That she was a selfish bitch, who only thought about herself. First, she had left Alex when her mom had been dying. And then now, she had cheated on Larry with Alex.

She was dragging them both through the mud.

Piper just let out a sigh and looked away from Polly.

Both women were silent for a second. Polly didn't know where Piper was going with all this talk about prison and such. She wanted to help but she didn't know how to really.

"Do you think I should tell Larry about Alex?" asked Piper after a moment.

"No Pipes," cried out Polly. "It would screw up the whole wedding! Plus, you were drunk! It doesn't count when you are drunk!"

Piper turned to glare at Polly at this, "I'm not just talking about the kiss Pol. I'm talking about everything...I never really told him about my relationship with her."

Polly looked sceptically at Piper at this. She didn't think that would be a good idea. "Look, Larry doesn't need to know about the past. He doesn't need to know about every man or woman you have been with," replied Polly slowly.

"You don't think that the man I am choosing to the spend the rest of my life with should know about my past?" Piper was confused by what Polly was saying. Wasn't she suppose to be honest with Larry?

"Look, Pete doesn't know about every one and everything from my past. Just the important parts," replied Polly with a shrug. "Plus, I thought that Larry knew about Alex?"

"He thinks that she's a guy," whispered Piper in a sadden voice.

"Well, he knows you been with girls right?"

"Yeah," replied Piper slowly.

"So, what's the big deal then?" asked Polly, not seeing where Piper was going with all this.

Piper opened her mouth to say something, but quickly changed her mind. Her face then broke out into a tight smile. "Nothing," she whispered. "I guess I'm just having doubts."

"Pipes," whispered Polly. "I know it's scary to be getting married but Larry loves you. And You love Larry. There is no reason to be having doubts."

Piper was quiet at this. There was no doubt in her mind that Larry loved her. She just wasn't sure if she loved him the same way anymore.

"Okay," spoke Polly, a sudden smile appearing on her face. "That's enough talk about ex's and doubts. Do you want a cup of coffee? Pete just got this new espresso machine..."

Piper smiled weakly back at her friend, "Sure."

Piper smiled shyly at Alex from across the table.

She could feel her cheeks blushing as she continued to get lost in the sea green orbs of Alex's eyes. It was their six month anniversary and they were out to dinner. Piper was still amazed by how Alex could make her heart flutter with just one look.

"Baby," whispered Alex as she leaned in close and reached for Piper's hand which was resting on the table. Her long fingers intertwined with Piper's. "I can't wait to take you home."

Piper once again found herself blushing underneath her girlfriend's gaze. She face broke out into a wide grin. She couldn't wait for Alex to take her home either. Her body was not only buzzing from the amount of alcohol she had consumed that night, but from the tip of Alex's bare foot brushing up against her calf from underneath the table.

"I can't wait either," whispered back Piper in her most seductive voice. Her blue eyes were bright and gleaming with lust towards Alex.

A sly smile slowly spread across Alex's face at this. Her heart raced with excitement as she brought Piper's hand up to her lips and kissed the top of it. She had never felt this way about someone than she did at this moment with Piper. She could tell she was falling for the blonde and fast. They had only know each other for six months but it felt like she had known her, her whole life in away.

A comforting silence fell between the two women as Alex lowered Piper's hand but did not let it go. They continued to get lost in each other eyes for a moment or two longer before Alex couldn't take it any longer.

She needed to say what was on her mind.

Piper watched as Alex once again leaned over the table. Alex didn't care if she was at an awkward angle as her chest brush up against the empty bread basket that lay between them. Their faces were just a mere inches away from another.

"Piper," whispered out Alex slowly. Her tongue caressing every syllable.

"Alex," whispered back Piper, playing along with whatever game Alex was playing with her.

"I love you," replied back Alex. This was no game. She loved Piper and she didn't want to deny it any longer. Her green eyes pierced into Piper's as she waited for her to say something back. "I love you," repeated Alex again before bringing her free hand up to the side of Piper's face and caressing it. She then pulled Piper's chin slightly up before pressing her mouth to hers.

Alex didn't need for Piper to return the affection. She just wanted Piper to know how she felt.

The kiss was soft and tender as Piper lifted her own hand up and placed it over Alex's, which rested on her cheek. She kissed her back.

They stayed like this for a moment longer before Alex pulled away. Their eyes once again locking with another.

"I love you too," whispered back Piper, her eyes gleaming with adoration for Alex.

Alex couldn't help but smile widely at this. It was music to her ears.

"So?" asked Nicky, cocking an eyebrow at Alex.

"So?" asked back Alex in confusion. She didn't know where Nicky was going with all this.

"How was the other night?"

"The other night?" Alex knew what other night Nicky was talking about, but she wanted her to say it. She had yet to tell Nicky about running into Piper.

"Yeah, the other night...you know when we went to that bar and you went off with someone blonde chick...that night!" Nicky smiled smugly at Alex. She wanted to hear the details of Alex's hook up.

Alex just glared at her friend before walking away and taking a seat on the couch. They were at Alex's apartment.

"Oh come on Vause! Spill the fucking beans already," cried out Nicky as she walked the distance from the kitchen and over to where Alex was seated. "How was it?"

Alex just continued to look at Nicky for a second before sighing. "It was fine," she answered with a shrug. She then reached for the magazine sitting on the coffee table and began to flip through it. Her one night stand from the other night was the last thing she wanted to discuss.

"Just fine?"

"Yes, Nicky. Just fine. I don't even remember much of it," commented Alex as she absorbed her attention into the upcoming summer trends and ignored her friend. "Now can we please talk about something else?"

Nicky crossed her legs as she turned to look at Alex on the couch. "Okay. Okay. We won't talk about it," she stated in a quiet voice.

"Thank you," whispered Alex as she glanced up and over at Nicky.

Nicky just stared at Alex for a second before realization hit her. Her face broke out into a wide smirk.

"What the fuck now happened with you and Chapman?"

Nicky had been around Alex and Piper drama long enough to know when something had happened between them.

"Nothing!" replied Alex harshly as she turned her attention back onto her magazine.

"Oh for fuck's sake! Vause. Just tell me already. It doesn't take a genius to figure out when something has happened with Chapman!" pointed out Nicky.

Alex just frowned at this. She didn't think it was that obvious. She was silent for a second as she continued to flip through the fashion magazine, ignoring Nicky's glare on the side of her face.

"Okay, if you don't want to tell me. That's fine. I will figure it out on my own," she spoke slyly, knowing that it would drive Alex crazy.

Alex just bit the inside of her cheek at this. Pretending she didn't hear her friend. She continued to focus on the magazine.

"What did you meet the fiancé or something?" asked Nicky in a joking matter.

Alex could feel the warmth in her cheeks at this but she kept her face blank of emotion. She nervously pushed her glassed up the bridge of her nose and stared at a picture of Kate Hudson. She could feel Nicky's eyes on her but she ignored them.

Nicky's grin widened at this,"You fucking met the fiancé!?"

"Oh, shut up! cried out Alex as she threw the magazine onto the coffee table and finally looked over at Nicky.

"You fucking met the fiancé!" repeated Nicky. Her eyes were gleaming with amusement.

"Yes, I met him and now can we drop it?" asked Alex. She was pissed off. She didn't want to talk about Piper or Larry. Yes, she had met Larry. But that was it. They had talked for like a minute. It had been nothing really. Piper had apologized for lying about them being together.

And now, they were okay.

They could all move on or so she kept on telling herself.

"What? are you guys friends or something now?" asked Nicky. "Are you invited to the wedding?"

Alex just punched Nicky in the arm at this and stood up. She knew that Nicky was just teasing her, but she wasn't in the mood.

"Oh come on, Vause! I'm only teasing," commented Nicky as she looked up at Alex.

Alex just glared at Nicky for a second longer before heading back into the kitchen.

"So I met him. What's the big deal? He was...nice," explained Alex as she pulled out a bottle of water out of the fridge. As she twisted off the cap she turned to look over at Nicky. "Me and Piper are okay."

"You and Piper are okay?"

"Yeah," replied Alex with a shrug of her shoulders before raising the bottle to her lips, "We're okay."

"So what does that mean?"

"We talked. We're okay," explained Alex casually.

Nicky couldn't help but laugh at this. Her brown eyes gleamed with amusement at this. "So, you and Chapman are what...fucking friends now or something?"

"Um, yeah...I guess we are..." spoke Alex slowly as she placed the cap back onto the bottle. She hadn't really thought about what her and Piper were now. They hadn't talked since their run-in.

"Fuck! I don't know!" she murmured a second later. "I don't want to be her fucking friend!" Alex then threw the water bottle suddenly out in frustration. "Fuck!"

A moment of silence fell over the two of them. Nicky was taken back by Alex's sudden anger. She knew she was bothered by the whole Piper situation. But it was rare for her to lose her cool like this.

Alex pushed her glasses off of her face and buried it into her hands for a second. She hated the situation she was in now with Piper. It had been a lot easier hating her a week ago then it was now with loving her.

"Sorry," murmured Alex towards Nicky as she wiped her eyes and placed her glasses back on.

"No need to apologize, Vause," replied Nicky. She knew her friend was going through hell at the moment.

The two were silent for a moment longer before Nicky spoke again,"Why don't you talk to her?"

Alex just cocked an eyebrow at this. She didn't know where Nicky was going with that. "Talk to her about what, exactly? " she asked, a slight edge to her voice.

"Talk to her about your feelings and shit..." explained Nicky towards Alex. Did she really have to spell it out to her? "I dunno, tell her that you love her maybe..."

Alex just glared at Nicky. She didn't want the lecture.

"And that you just don't want to be fucking friends..." continued on Nicky, a sly smile playing on her face. She knew that Alex didn't want to hear all this but someone had to tell her. Mopping around wasn't helping no one. Alex either needed to get over Piper or tell her how she truly felt. The two needed to talk. "I dunno, you could maybe tell her that."

"She's fucking getting married Nicky," spat Alex in outrage. "In two fucking days. I can't just go to her and confess my love to her!"

It was Nicky's turn to look at her like she had grown three heads. "And why the hell not, Vause? It would do a lot more good than having you bottle up everything inside and pretending everything is fine! Chapman might surprise you! She might be waiting for you to say something first."

"I don't think so," whispered Alex, truthfully.

"Look, just think about it," replied Nicky. "It would make you feel better to get it off of your chest. Plus, it's a lot easier to break off an engagement then a fucking marriage."

Alex was silent at this as she looked away from Nicky and out the window. She knew that Nicky had a point. That if maybe she told Piper how she really felt...that if they really talked to one another...that Piper might surprise her and end things with Larry. But they both knew that Piper was never good at making big decisions like this.

"What happened to the old Alex Vause?" asked Nicky in a quiet voice. "What happened to that cocky-as- hell Alex Vause I first met when I seventeen? Huh, what ever happened to that girl who thought she was the shit? Who was always in control of things in her life? And no matter what, went after what she wanted? "

Alex slowly turned to look at Nicky at this. Her green eyes were slightly moist but she didn't shed a tear as she locked eyes with her friend.

"She got sent to prison. That's what fucking happened to her! She realized that she couldn't always be in control of things. She watched as her mother almost died and realized that some things were to big for her to handle. She was abandoned when she needed someone support the most. She fucking lost her life! And doesn't know how to fucking get it back together! That's what fucking happened to her Nicky!" Alex's voice rang off the walls of her apartment as she stared down at Nicky.

Nicky was quiet as she stared back at Alex. She was taken back by what Alex had said. This was the first time really she was hearing about Alex's insecurities since coming out of Litchfield. The shorter woman slowly rose to her feet and made her way over to Alex, who had her back turned to her again and was looking out the window.

"Tell her," whispered Nicky in a tender voice. She was now standing beside Alex and looking out onto the city of New York through the window. "I know you have been through hell and you deserve to be happy again Vause. Chapman makes you happy. You need to go after what you want."

Alex just licked her lips and crossed her arms over her chest. She knew that Nicky had a point. That she had nothing really to lose. Piper wasn't hers and if she didn't return her love then she wouldn't be any worse off then she was now. "But what if she chooses him?" she asked in a whisper.

"Then screw them!" cried out Nicky.

Alex couldn't help but smile a little at this.

"Screw Chapman and her fiancé! If she doesn't return you feelings then you are better off without her in your life. But you won't be happy until you know for sure how she feels about you."

"I dunno, Nicky," whispered Alex as the smile faded from her face and she wrapped her arms further around herself.

"Do you really want to spend the rest of your life not knowing?" asked Nicky as she turned to face Alex. "You will regret it if you don't, Vause."

Alex just sighed deeply at this. She knew that Nicky had a point. That she would regret it everyday not telling Piper how she felt and allowing for her to just walk down the aisle not knowing her true feelings.

However, she had put her heart on the line before and had gotten burned deeply by Piper. She didn't know if she could go through that kind of heartache again.

Thanks for reading and leave your thoughts in a review!

Julie