Chapter 26: Disaster.
"What the hell were they talking about," Alex demanded as soon as they set foot back in her apartment.
Piper couldn't respond. Her tongue felt like sandpaper, tears still plagued her bagging eyelids, and she felt more isolated and afraid than ever.
"I just pushed the wrong buttons, and now I'll lose it all," Piper recollected blankly. "I knew I shouldn't have done it, but this one last fuck up is the end of it. I just can't believe it."
"What does that mean? You know what I don't even know what to think about you anymore," Alex shouted. "Your parents said something about you going to prison, start by telling me the truth about that. What the fuck is going on here?"
Piper really wasn't in the mood for the moral debate, but the guilt of not telling Alex was starting to boil over and she had to finally come out and tell the truth. The truth will set you free.
"Look Alex, I'm not in the mood for this."
"Great, well neither am I. But just fucking tell me Piper. What the hell is it?"
She couldn't take it: the ringing in her ears, the blurring colors around her, the scowled expression cutting across Alex's angry face. It was all too much for her.
"You know what Alex, I'll fucking tell you," Piper sneered as she spun around and walked straight up into Alex's face. I am on probation for a 18 year prison sentence, 3 of which years I've already served away. Just so you know, I was responsible for the bankruptcy and destruction of a prominent oil company causing the loss of over 42,500 jobs as a net result."
She wanted to scream at herself and what she was so simply saying, but had no control at all. She just needed to rage, and Alex was making it all too easy for her to do so.
"42,500 jobs? You got that many people laid off?"
"Yes," Piper replied menacingly. "You want to know the truth, I'd do it again every fucking time. Those cock suckers deserved it, and I did the right thing.
"The right thing? Who the fuck are you?" Alex stammered. "Do I even know you?"
Piper felt a chill run down her spine, as she stared down at the black wood below. She was ashamed of herself, she just couldn't understand it.
Where was all this coming from? How could she yell at Alex like this?
"Alex, I'm sorry I just…"
"Just really are a criminal huh? I thought I left all that shit in my past, I thought you were different Pipes?"
Piper couldn't bring herself to meet Alex's eyes. She knew they'd be full of disappointment, and Piper couldn't accept that from the only one who was good in her life.
"Look Alex, I'm sorry…"
"Yeah, well so am I," Alex snapped harshly, but Piper could hear the tears in her voice. "You know what Piper, what's so fucking cruel about this? I actually fell for you, I fell for a criminal who mercilessly hurt the lives of thousands of people."
"No Alex, it's not like that, I…"
"I just need space Piper, I can't deal with you right now."
Tears welled up behind Alex's glasses, but she ignored them and quickly walked away towards her master bedroom.
"Alex wait, I'm sorry, just let me explain…"
"You've hurt me enough Piper, just leave me alone."
"Alex I need you," Piper begged.
"Well that sounds like a you problem," Alex hissed as she shot Piper a colder glare than her father had only an hour earlier.
The words cut deep, and stopped Piper cold in her tracks. It hurt more than anything else, to hear those words push her away and make her be alone in her time of need. But she couldn't follow Alex after hearing that. She just couldn't.
Alex kept walking as she left the room and slammed the bedroom door behind her.
Piper was alone again, in the unbearable quite; all by herself.
Author's Notes: I think the short chapter speaks for itself. But we all know Vauseman isn't all sunshine and rainbows, that's what makes it so beautiful.