A/N: Warning for hard drug use. Don't read the last scene if that is triggering for you.

Fall Girl

Chapter 13

Reclining back in her worn desk chair, her feet propped up onto the desk in front of her, Alex stared at her phone screen. Her feet were crossed at the ankle, her dirty combat boots leaving a mess on the smooth wood surface. She sighed, allowing her head to roll back. Her eyes closed for a moment.

She groaned and then yanked the earbuds from her ears, effectively silencing Death Maiden's hit single, "Dirty Girl".

Straightening her neck, she quickly opened her text messages and scrolled until she found the thread she was looking for. She tapped out a message and hit send before she could change her mind.

To Hellman (4:25pm): you still looking for a dealer for Litchfield High?

She set the phone on her desk face down and shoved it away from her. Had it really come to this? The truth was, she was pissed at herself for giving in. Hellman had been trying to get her to deal for him since freshman year, but she had never even considered it; it had always been too risky. Getting caught dealing would ruin any chance she had to earn a scholarship for college, and she couldn't afford to go without the financial aid.

She shook her head, staring out of her small bedroom window. She'd only do it long enough to earn enough money to get her to New York City for the concert. As soon as she had the money, she'd be done with it. She had convinced herself that this was the only option if she ever wanted to meet her dad.

Her phone buzzed loudly on her desk. She hated that she felt nervous to look at it.

From Hellman (4:32pm): come by my apartment tonight and I'll hook you up

Okay, so it was done. She thought she'd feel relieved now that it was all settled, but instead, all she felt was dread.

. . .

Christmastime at the diner had quickly become one of Piper's favorite experiences. The diner itself had become a home away from home, an escape from the drama and pressure and disappointment of her family.

Red had really gone all out in terms of decorations. Wreaths dotted with red berries and finished with big red bows hung in every window. White lights were strung up around the square interior of the dining room. In the corner by the entrance, a small Christmas tree, fresh cut, stood decked out with rainbow lights, ornaments, and a tree skirt topped with a number of prettily wrapped gifts. A big yellow star was situated at the very top. She had even hung a sprig of mistletoe from the bell above the entryway into the establishment.

Piper was sad that in just a few days, Christmas would be over and done with, and the diner would go back to its normal look.

It was a slow weekday afternoon, and Piper was standing behind the counter, staring at the little Christmas tree with her head propped up in her hands. Alex's shift was set to start in a few minutes, and Piper eyed the small neatly wrapped gift under the tree that she had placed there for the dark-haired girl.

This was their last shift together until after the holidays, and Piper felt a nervous fluttering in her belly at the prospect of giving Alex her gift that night.

At three o'clock on the dot, the bell above the door chimed, and Alex strolled in. She immediately smiled at Piper, and Piper couldn't help smiling back, her insides fluttering again as she took Alex in. Her long, black hair was curling slightly, still just a tad bit damp from the shower she must have taken not that long ago. Her cheeks and nose were pink from the cold, making her look lively and festive. She shrugged her winter coat off, revealing the aproned uniform identical to Piper's. Somehow, Alex made it look good though.

As she brushed past Piper's spot at the counter, she called over her shoulder, "Been slow today?" as she entered into a small break room off the side of the dining room.

There she deposited her coat as Piper replied, "Only one table since lunch ended. We've got about an hour before things pick up for dinner. The kitchen boys are out back smoking with Red if you want to go say 'hi.'"

Alex reappeared and said, "Okay, I'll be right back," as she headed through the swinging door to the kitchen.

While the other girl was out back, Piper circled the counter to collect the salt shakers. She figured she'd pass the time until the dinner rush by refilling them.

Alex returned shortly, taking a seat next to Piper at the bar. "Red said she decided to close on Christmas day?"

Piper just nodded, not taking her eyes away from her task of refilling salt shakers.

"I know you requested to work that day to avoid family time," Alex said with a small chuckle. "What are you gonna do now?"

Piper shrugged, rolling her eyes a little before meeting Alex's. "I guess I'll go with Cal to my mom's for Christmas brunch and then have dinner with my Dad and Amber. It feels weird to have to split the day up like that, but I'm trying."

"Why the change?" Alex asked. "You were pretty gung-ho about hating Amber not that long ago."

Piper sighed. "Your mom actually. She said, 'you can't help who you fall in love with,' and that I shouldn't blame my dad too harshly for what happened because of that. He definitely could have handled things better—don't get me wrong about that—but, it is nearly four months later and they're still together." Again, she shrugged.

Alex chuckled, grabbing a few of the salt shakers to help Piper with her task. "Well that's very big of you," she said with a teasing lilt to her voice.

Piper raised her eyebrow and smirked. "I know, right. Totally out of character," Piper played along with the teasing, but then continued more seriously, "I know I was a bitch to you in the past, Alex, but I am trying to be better. I haven't apologized yet for all the shit I put you through because I wanted to make sure that when I did, you'd know I truly mean it. And I do—I am really sorry for everything. I was fucked up, and going through some shit, and I took it out on you, because I could, and because I was jealous of you. It took going to therapy for me to realize how messed up that was of me."

"Jealous of me?" Alex asked surprised.

Piper nodded. "You're so lucky to have Diane as a mom. She loves you so much and supports you no matter what."

"We've had our fair share of hard times, too, though, Piper." Alex said thinking her mom losing her job at Friendly's.

"I know." Piper agreed. "I know that more now that I know you better; and I know how childish my feelings were."

Alex continued, "And my mom loves you, too, Pipes. You are always welcome at our house."

Piper smiled shyly and nodded. She did know that, she just hadn't known it back then. "I understand if you can't forgive me yet. I want to continue to prove to you that I've changed; I'm not the same person I was a few months ago. I want to be worthy of your friendship."

Alex laughed a little, maybe slightly uncomfortable at Piper's sincerity, but still, Piper could see a sort of appreciation reflected in her eyes. "I forgave you a long time ago, Piper. The night of the Fall Girl concert, actually."

"Really?" It was Piper's turn to be surprised

Alex simply smirked and nodded. Piper couldn't take her eyes of that smirk.

Alex cleared her throat. As she began to speak, Piper's eyes returned to Alex's and she knew a blush was coloring her cheeks with the knowledge that she had been staring at Alex's mouth again. "And if you need a break from your crazy family on Christmas, you can come hang out with me and my mom. We plan to watch Christmas movies all day in our PJs."

"That sounds like so much more fun than my day," Piper said, "but I don't think I'll have time to get away. Maybe after dinner, if it's not too late?"

"Whenever," Alex confirmed, "and only if you want to. Don't add any extra stress to your day trying to fit us in."

Piper nodded. "Okay," she said, even though she knew she'd make time for the Vauses. "Oh! Hey, um, I almost forgot," Piper felt the nerves churn slightly in her stomach, but she wanted to do this before the diner became busy for dinner. She glanced over at the Christmas tree as she hopped up off her stool. "I got you something. For Christmas."

A slow smile grew on Alex's face as her eyes narrowed curiously. "Really?" she asked. "I didn't get you anything," she admitted softly, voice laced with regret.

Piper shook her head. "You've been my friend during one of the hardest times of my life, even when I was horrible to you. Seriously, that's the best gift you could have given me."

The blonde practically skipped over to the tree as Alex spun on her stool to watch her amusedly. They both seemed shy as Piper handed Alex the small neatly wrapped package.

Alex tore the paper off carefully, then lifted the lid of the small box. "Piper?" she said, voice tinged in something like surprise and disbelief.

"I know how much it meant to you to go," Piper explained with a small smile.

Alex set the box on the counter and turned to face Piper with glistening eyes. Abruptly she stood from the stool and pulled Piper into a tight hug, wrapping her arms around Piper's shoulders and whispering in her ear, "Thank you."

Alex's warm breath on her ear caused her to shiver slightly, and Piper's own arms hesitantly snaked around Alex's waist to return the embrace. She couldn't stop herself from inhaling the fruity scent of Alex's hair.

When Alex let her go, she returned her attention to the box, where inside, two tickets to the New York City stop for Death Maiden's reunion tour lay.

Alex went to go put the box with her coat in the break room, and shortly after that the dinner rush started and kept them busy the rest of the night.

Piper wished they had had a little more time to talk, but at random intervals throughout the night, she'd look over at Alex and catch the brunette staring at her. She'd always smile when Piper caught her eye. And that was enough.

. . .

The following night was Christmas Eve, and Alex had the night off. Piper enjoyed working at the diner regardless, but working with Alex was always a bonus and made the night more enjoyable. Lorna was on shift though, and Nicky had come in to keep her company, so Piper spent much of her free time hanging out with the two of them.

They were really growing on her and she knew she was becoming fond of her new little group of friends. She hoped that they liked her just as much.

Apparently there were plans to ring in the New Year with a Fall Girl concert, and Piper was invited to come along again if she wanted. She couldn't think of a better way to begin the New Year than with Alex, Nicky, and Lorna jamming out to Fall Girl.

She left the diner that night with a huge smile on her face, feeling good about the current state of her life. Just a few months ago, everything had seemed hopeless; her life as she knew it had been over. And while that had been the truth, she had had no idea the new direction her life would take would lead her to where she was now, happier than she had been in a long time; maybe ever.

She quickly locked up, thinking about spending the following evening with Alex and Diane, wrapped up in a warm blanket and watching Christmas movies. Looking forward to that end to her night may make brunch with her mother and dinner with her father a little bit more bearable.

The smile that had unconsciously graced her face at the thought of Alex slowly disappeared as she walked toward her car and noticed a figure slumped there on the ground against her back tire.

Since that first night a little over two weeks ago when Danny had reappeared into her life, he had shown up a handful of times at the diner waiting for her to get off work. It was nice to see him; they had been catching up, and Piper was finally getting to know her absent older brother. Most of their visits ended with Piper giving him some cash as he was still trying to find stable work.

So she wasn't nearly as scared as she had been the first time he'd shown up, but still she preceded with caution toward her car until she knew for certain it was him.

As she got closer, she recognized the winter coat she had bought for him last week from Goodwill, and so she called his name to alert him of her presence, "Danny?"

He didn't move.

"Danny!" she said a little louder, before realizing that something didn't seem right, and alarm settled in. She ran the short distance left to reach him and knelt in front of him. His head was limply hanging to one side and his eyes were closed. "Danny!" she exclaimed again in a quick worried tone.

Had he used again? Was he overdosing?

She noticed the empty syringe next to his thigh.

"Danny!" she cried again. Panicked, the tears began to spill from her eyes. She grasped at his face with one hand while the other dug through her purse for her phone.

She didn't even consciously think about who to call, she just immediately dialed Alex.

It only rang once before Alex picked up. "Just finish closing up?" she asked, bypassing the usual telephone greeting.

"Alex!" Piper choked out amidst her sobs.

Alex's tone immediately changed. "Piper? Are you okay? What's wrong?"

"I'm at the diner. I think he's; oh god. I think he's overdosing! Please come; I don't know what to do!" Piper felt the words leave her in a rush; she didn't even know if she was being intelligible. She had never felt as worried as she felt in that moment.

"Fuck," Alex cursed under the breath. Who was overdosing?! "I'll be right there, Piper. I'm on my way."

Piper didn't know how much time had passed until Alex arrived; but the relief she felt was immediate the second Alex swung her car into the space next to Piper's.

Alex joined Piper where she knelt in front of Danny. She pressed her fingers to his neck to feel for a pulse. She then placed her finger under his nose.

"He's okay." She said, letting out a huge sigh. Piper immediately relaxed at her words. "His pulse is there, but it's slow; same for his breathing. Someone will need to keep an eye on him until he wakes up. Do you know him?"

Piper nodded, wide-eyed. "It's Danny."

Alex's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Your brother Danny? I thought he was away for medical school?"

Piper shook her head. "No. That was just a lie my parents told to cover the fact that he was in rehab. He's back, but it's a long story; I'll tell you later. What should we do?"

"Let's get him in your car. Is there somewhere we can take him?" Alex asked.

Piper nodded. "He has a little apartment not far from here. I helped him find it. I can stay with him tonight; I'll just have to think of something to tell my dad. Can I tell him I'm staying over at your place? Your mom won't say anything if he asks, will she?"

Alex shrugged. "I don't know. We can talk to her. For now, let's just get him out of the cold."

Both girls used all their strength to heave Danny up. He was actually pretty light, and Piper wondered if he hadn't been eating; he felt like all he was was skin and bones.

As they lifted him, his limp head rolled back, the hood of his coat falling down off his head. The lone street lamp that lit the parking lot illuminated his exposed face.

Alex paused as she took him in. She recognized that face. Oh, fuck.

A/N: So I originally wasn't planning to update this again until after I'd finished Heat of the Summer, but I've been thinking a lot about it, and I had some time so I decided to get the next chapter out there.

I had been dragging my feet to write this chapter because I knew it would be a hard one to write! I'm glad it's over! I do have a general outline for the rest of this fic, so there is an end in sight! I'm thinking maybe around 5 more chapters.

Thank you to everyone who has left a review thus far on this fic! I definitely have a complicated relationship with this story, so all of your encouraging comments really mean a lot to me and keep me going, even when it's hard!

Also, it's been so long since the last chapter update that I never got to thank the few people who alerted me to the fact that someone had posted After the Storm on another site, claiming it as their own. Thank you for looking out for me! The site admin removed the plagiarized copy.

I'd love to hear what you thought, what you liked, what you didn't like for this chapter, as well as what you think is going to happen in the remainder of this fic!

- H.M. :)