Chapter 14: Movie nights

It was a couple weeks until the school's spring party. The second big event that happened every school year after the fall party. Just as the fall party Piper didn't really want to go to the party, especially now that she didn't have anyone to go with. Polly went with Scott and Piper had no intentions of being the third wheel.

"Piper, please come to the party. Last time you did enjoy most of it, didn't you?" Polly begged her friend.

"Don't you talk about last time. I was happy Alex was there to help me. And no. I'm not going to be the third wheel on your bicycle." Piper replied.

"You could go with Alex and Nicky." Polly suggested.

"Well Nicky surprisingly got a girlfriend, so I guess she's going with, I think Lorna is her name. It's all pretty new. I haven't met her yet. And I could go with Alex but last time Nicky made her go. So I guess she doesn't want to go there same as I. We could do a movie night or something instead." Piper rather said the last thought to herself.

"Boring!" Polly exclaimed. "You can do that any other night. The party would be your chance to maybe find a boyfriend if you're open to that again?!"

"I think I'm gonna pass." Piper replied. They went back to the classroom as their next lesson started in a couple minutes.

Piper had eventually admitted to herself that she had a crush on her best friend. At some point she couldn't ignore it anymore as every time she and Alex did something together she was very excited and a bit nervous and the butterflies she had felt had grown stronger ever since she first noticed them. She though didn't want to mess up her friendship with Alex. What if Alex didn't like her like that? 'Goodness. A girl like Alex could have anyone she wanted to. Why should she want me?' Piper often thought. Plus, she was convinced Alex would call her crazy if she would ever have the courage to tell her. They'd been friends forever and now out of nowhere Piper would come to her with something like this? Piper already saw the embarrassment coming towards her.

"Alex!" Piper called her as she saw her friend and crush on the school yard.

"Piper, hey!" Alex answered smiling widely as soon as she saw her. The butterflies in Piper's stomach went crazy.

"Hey. How do you think about movie night tonight at my place?" she asked.

"Sounds great." Alex replied. "See you tonight? I gotta head home quickly, mom got an appointment and I'm supposed to pick up Felix and watch him while she is out. But she should be back by five thirty or so…"

"That's okay. Text me when you are coming over?!" Piper asked.

"Of course. See you then!" Alex shouted nearly out of hearing distance already.

Piper was excited. When she got home she checked if they still had some popcorn and chips or if she needed to buy some. Her mother entered the kitchen.

"Hi, Piper. How was your day?" she asked. It surprised Piper a little. Her mother barely asked that.

"Good. Is it okay if Alex comes over tonight and we have a movie night?" she quickly asked.

"The Thompsons are coming over tonight for dinner. I don't think it's a good idea to do a movie night tonight." Carol answered.

"Oh, okay. Do I need to be there?" Piper asked cautiously. She always hated those dinners when a couple from the country club came over for dinner. Those evenings were so boring.

"I'm not going to force you to come. If you don't want to you don't have to." Carol said.

"Thank you. Would it be okay then if I went to Alex and we did the movie night at her place if that's okay with the Vauses?" Piper wanted to know.

"Sure." Carol told her as she left the room.

Piper quickly texted Alex to see if they could change plans.

[Piper: Hey. Mom has friends from the country club over tonight. Can we do the movie night at your place?]

It didn't take long for Alex to answer.

[Alex: Sure.]

[Piper: When should I come over?]

[Alex: Whenever you're ready. Now if you want to? Babysit my brother with me?! :-)]

[Piper: Okay. Be there in couple minutes.]

Piper quickly packed a few things including the popcorn and chips. Couple minutes later she rung at the Vauses door and Felix opened excitedly.

"Hi Felix." Piper greeted him.

"Alex, it's Piper!" he screamed without even greeting back.

"I thought so. Man, you're fast, Felix." Alex said. "He was literally running to the door to be first." she chuckled. "Come in."

"What are you two doing?" Piper walked in, hung her jacket onto the wardrobe, took her shoes off and sat down on the couch as Alex motioned her to do.

"We were playing Uno." Felix answered excitedly.

"Cool. Can I play?" Piper asked him.

"Sure. But don't be sad if I win." he replied and started dealing the cards.

"I try not to be." Piper giggled.

"He's right though, he's wickedly good at this game." Alex said seriously.

"Oh okay." Piper replied with a more serious note in her voice.

They played for a while and it was true, somehow Felix was always the lucky winner of several rounds, only once beaten by Piper who was lucky enough to have a few wishing cards and draw 2s. Then they heard the door open and Diane came back home.

"Mooomm." Felix shouted running towards her.

"Hey sweetie." she picked him up and hugged him. "Did you have a good afternoon?"

"Yes. I won at Uno. But Piper won too. But only once." he answered excitedly.

"Piper is here? Hi girls." Diane greeted Piper and Alex who were still sitting on the couch.

"Hi Diane." "Hi mom. I told you earlier that we wanted to do a movie night today. Can we do it here? Carol has friends over and didn't want us to do it at their house." Alex quickly asked.

"Sure. Why not?" Diane answered.

"Thanks." Both girls smiled widely. They went to Alex's room to decide which movie to watch. It took them a while to decide. When they came back to the living room Diane had been so nice and set up the couch already with pillows and some blankets and put some snacks on the little table by the couch.

"Thank you, mom." Alex told her sincerely seeing everything ready already.

They got ready on the couch and started the first movie. Alex had chosen a thriller she liked. Piper had agreed under the condition they watched her movie of choice after which was less intense and rather funny as Piper had chosen a romcom. While watching it Piper had to admit that the movie was exciting and drew all her attention to the plot but sometimes she also got a little scared. Neither girls noticed how they got closer until they sat really close. Even though both girls enjoyed this closeness neither would have really admitted it out loud. What they also didn't notice was Diane watching the scene on the couch from afar. She had thought about who that crush could be that her daughter had talked about couple weeks or rather months ago but didn't ask her again, trusting her daughter to come speak to her whenever she was ready. But now that she saw the two of them on the couch together she tried to remember the last couple of weeks. Then she suddenly realized and wondered how she had missed it until now. After Piper and Alex first got back into contact they had seen each other what seems more and more often and every time Alex got more excited to see her friend. She talked quite often about what she and Piper did. Diane had noticed some ups and downs in her daughter's mood but ever since they had the conversation about Alex talking to her crush about liking girls the topic hadn't been brought up again. Now she was pretty sure it was Piper Alex had been talking about and hoped that this wouldn't end in Alex getting her heart broken. Diane wasn't surprised though that Alex didn't want to tell her who it was, after all she and Piper were always close and the way they grew up together nobody expected one of them to have feelings like that. Diane smiled a little and left the two to watch their movies.

Piper eventually found herself cuddled into Alex's side at the end of the movie. Piper liked it, a lot to be honest. She hoped Alex not scooting away but staying close meant she liked it too. But that could also be because they were such close friends. Piper really wanted to know if there is a possibility that Alex liked her like that or if her feelings towards Piper were just friendly but she didn't have the courage to say something. It would probably ruin their friendship. And she didn't want to loose Alex. Alex on the other side really liked the feeling of Piper cuddling into her. But she, too, didn't dare to say anything to Piper or act on her feelings, scared that she might break her connection with Piper.

"Did you like the movie?" Alex asked.

"It was unexpectedly good to be honest. I mean here and there I got scared a little but that story was full of twists and I had no idea what was coming." Piper explained.

"Yeah, that's what I like about that movie. You don't foresee what's going to happen next." Alex agreed.

"Well compared to this the next movie is going to be soooo predictable." Piper laughed which made Alex's heart jump. If she only could tell her.

The second movie was funnier and they both laughed a lot. Alex looked at Piper as to see her reactions. She soon stopped though, because every time she saw Piper laugh next to her she felt the strong desire to just pull her down and kiss her. Instead she tried to concentrate on the movie. After it ended they still lay there and started talking. First a little bit about the movie but they soon changed the topic.

"The school's spring party is in two weeks. Do you plan to go?" Alex wanted to know.

"I'm actually not sure. I didn't want to go to the fall party but then Polly convinced me. I mean I enjoyed most of it, but I'm not sure if I want to go to this one. I don't want to be Polly's and Scott's third wheel and Nicky is probably going there with Lorna. What about you?" Piper asked back.

"I know last time Nicky kinda made me go, but I had fun. And I actually wanted to go. It would however be more fun if you'd come too." Alex hopefully said.

"Mhm. Maybe I'll change my mind then. I'd like to go with you. To the ball, I mean." Piper said a little too excited.

"Great." Alex smiled. She had to suppress a yawn as it had gotten pretty late. She got up and told Piper after a questioning look from her friend what time it was and that she'd go to bed now before she fell asleep on the couch.

"I am pretty tir…" Piper got interrupted by her phone ringing.

"Hello?" she answered. "Yes, I am still here." "I don't get that. Why?" "Why can't you tell me now?" "What if I don't want to?" "Yeah but you can explain that tomorrow too?" "Ugh. Fine. Bye." she didn't look happy after she ended the call.

"That was my mother." she explained. "She wants me to come home and not stay over. I have no idea why and she won't explain that to me right now. I would love to stay but whatever it is she won't let me. So I'm sorry, but I'll have to go home." the annoyance was clearly audible in her voice.

"Oh okay." Alex was a little disappointed. "Another time then."

They said goodbye both a bit sad about the fact that Piper had to leave. When Piper got home she found her mother in the kitchen. Her guests had obviously left already.

"Why, mom? Why did you make me come home?" Piper wanted to know.

"The Thompson's told me something that was completely new to me today. They said their son, who goes to the same school as you two go to, said that Alex liked girls. That she was gay." Carol said as if it was an obvious reason.

"And? That's the reason you made me come home?" Piper asked flabbergasted. "And you believe everything that a fourteen year old tells his parents about possible school rumours?"

"Did you not hear what I just said? I don't want you around someone like this." Carol said ignoring Pipers objection completely. "Did you know she was gay?" she spat out the last word as if it was an insult.

"Yes, I knew. Someone like this? For goodness sake, you know her for all her life. You know what a great person she is. And then that one little thing makes you speak about her like this? I can't believe you. And why shouldn't I spend time with her? Are you scared she'll turn me gay?" Piper stopped herself. She didn't want to say something stupid or mean in her anger.

"I can't tolerate this. I don't want you to spend more time with her. That's not a good influence on you." Carol said.

"No. I was always a good daughter, as far as I can remember and did almost everything you ever asked of me. But I won't accept that. Alex is my best friend. She is the one who knows me better than anyone else. I think I am old enough to get to decide who I spend time with and who not." Piper said.

"Piper Elizabeth Chapman! I warn you. This is not the time to be stubborn." her mother said angrily.

"I'm not stubborn. I'm just not accepting that you expect me not to see my best friend anymore just because she loves girls. What if I told you I liked girls?! Would you kick me out and insult me too?" Piper was furious. "Goodnight mother." she said to end the conversation before she did something stupid and went up to her room. Carol stood there a little speechless. She decided talk to Piper later when she had calmed down a little.

The next days when Piper and Alex saw each other in school Alex noticed that something was bothering Piper but even if she asked her, Piper only replied that everything was fine and it didn't matter. The next week went by quickly and it was about five days before the school party. Piper really needed someone to talk to about the whole Alex situation but knew that Polly wasn't the right person for that. Even though Nicky was friends with Alex she was the better choice, plus she also liked girls. Maybe she could somehow help her. She asked her friend if they could meet for a drink at the diner and that she needed to talk to her. Piper was there first and sat there waiting for Nicky.

"What did you want to talk about?" Nicky asked sitting down and taking Piper by surprise a little.

"God, Nicky. Don't scare me like that. Well, hello to you too. It's actually a bit complicated and I'm not sure where to start." Piper started.

"At the beginning?" Nicky joked.

"Very funny, smartass. Can I ask you something?" Piper appeared a little insecure all of a sudden.

"You just did. But sure. Anything." Nicky answered eventually turning more serious.

"How did you notice you were into girls?" Piper wanted to know.

"Oh. I wasn't expecting that question. Well. Before I knew it I had a crush on this really cute girl in one of the clubs my mom made me go to and the thought of ever going out with a guy totally freaks me the hell out. So it was kinda clear." Nicky answered. "Why are you asking me this?"

"Well, you know I've had boyfriends, but I was never really in love or anything. No butterflies, no tingles, nothing. It was more for show, because my clique back then all had a boyfriend, I guess?!" she started. Nicky silently waited for her to go on. "And now I've got all those feelings that were missing earlier and I think I got a crush. Or maybe more. And it's a girl." she rambled.

"Woah. That's totally fine. I'm happy for you. Who is the lucky lady?" Nicky was curious.

"That's the actual point where it gets complicated." Piper started. "Will you promise me not to tell anyone?"

"That serious, huh? I promise. Your secret is safe with me." Nicky held up her hand acting like she was swearing on something.

"Stop being silly. It's, uhm, it's Alex actually. And the problem is, we've been friend forever and we grew up like sisters. She is one of the most important people in my life. I don't want to loose her by making things awkward because I tell her and she doesn't like me like that and then I lost her and …" Piper couldn't stop rambling.

"Shh. Slow down, Piper." Nicky was close to speechless. Piper had a crush on Alex who had had a crush on Piper for way too long now. And they both didn't dare telling the other one. Well this could be solved more or less easily. But Nicky wasn't the person to tell either one of them that the other liked her. They had to do that themselves. "Maybe there is a possibility she likes you?" she tried.

"Why? I mean she's gorgeous. She could have any girl she wanted to." Piper said.

"Why shouldn't that one girl be you?" Nick asked back and Piper's eyes went wide.

"Did she say something like that? Does she...?" her mind went crazy.

'Fuck. I can't just tell her.' Nicky swore to herself. "Piper. You two need to figure that out. I'm not the one to tell anyone else if someone likes her or not."

"But what if she doesn't?" Piper asked.

"That's the risk." Nicky said.

"But do you know anything?" Piper pushed her.

Nicky stayed silent.

"You're not going to say anything, are you?" Piper concluded.

"That's right." Nicky just replied. "Look, I would love to keep chatting with you, but I have a date with Lorna soon, gotta get ready."

"That's okay. Good luck with your date and introduce her to us?!" Piper said as they parted.

"You'll meet her at the ball. I hope you're coming?" Nicky stopped and asked.

"Yes. I'm going with Alex." Piper replied.

"Well, then you have the perfect day to tell her about your feelings." Nicky told her.

"Ahh, I don't know." Piper shivered at the thought. This could go so wrong.

"Think about it." Nicky said and turned around to leave.

"I will." Piper shouted after her and went home.

The situation with her mother hadn't improved. She still insisted that Piper didn't see Alex anymore. Even though Piper had yelled at her mother what she'd do if she told her she liked girls she didn't bring the topic up again after their first fight the night Carol had made Piper come home from the movie night. She was scared of her mother's reaction. When Piper got home she heard two people fighting loudly in the kitchen. She slowly walked there trying not to be seen but wanting to know who was fighting about what. Soon she heard the voices more clearly recognizing her mother and Diane who were obviously fighting over her mother's non-acceptance of gay people.

"This is not changing my mind!" Carol shouted.

"Oh my god. I cannot believe how I was so wrong in you for so so many years. I can't believe you say such things and are homophobic like this. But you know what? I feel sorry for you. That you are blinded by something so ugly and not being able to see that only the happiness of our kids counts and it doesn't matter who they love, which they didn't choose in the first place. Nobody chooses that. The heart wants who it wants. It doesn't matter as long as it makes them happy. I'm even more sorry for Piper for having a mother that can't accept if a child or teenager is a bit different from the rest. She's such a great kid. And that beside the fact that her mother says things like you just did. I couldn't be more proud of my daughter for finding her own way, standing up for herself and not live by what other people think. And I can see that in Piper too. She's such a strong girl making her own way. Don't ruin that by talking anything like that to her. Or Danny or Cal. They don't deserve that." Diane threw at her clearly very angry. She left the kitchen and Piper couldn't flee soon enough and Diane ran into her.

"Hi, Diane." Piper said a little insecure.

"Hi, Piper. God, how much of this did you hear?" Diane looked surprised but Piper could see tears in her eyes.

"Uh, the first thing was that mom said this wouldn't change her mind." Piper replied honestly.

"Oh. I'm sorry you had to hear all this." Diane apologized. "But I want you to know that you can come to me if anything should bother you and you can't tell your mother. I'm there for you. You're my secret second daughter." she offered.

"Thank you Diane. I will." Piper said now with tears in her eyes.

"I'm sorry to leave you with a mad mother. But I can't stay, I can't look at her right now." Diane said as she turned.

"It's okay. I'm used to it by now. She's been mad at me for the last week and a half. She told me to not see Alex again and I didn't listen. So, I guess she's gonna be angry at me for a while until she realizes I'm never gonna let her stop me from seeing Alex." Piper told her.

"You're a brave young woman, Piper. It makes me proud to see you so strong. I'm sorry though this has caused you so much trouble." Diane said apologetically.

"It's nobody's fault. My mother is the one who is wrong. I hope though she will understand someday." Piper said not giving up hope so fast.

"I hope so too." Diane replied. "See you, Piper."

"Bye." Piper said as Diane walked out the door. Piper was upset that her mother would say mean things to her best friend about her daughter. It wasn't fair. Piper quickly texted Alex.

[Piper: Hey. I hope you're home. Can you make your mom something to comfort her? She left here pretty upset. She had a bad fight with Carol.]

[Alex: About what? :-0 I will. Since when do you call your mother Carol though?]

[Piper: It's not up to me to tell. Since she started being an idiot.]

[Alex: Woah. What happened?]

Piper didn't want to tell her. Hopefully Diane would?! So she waited and didn't text back.

[Alex: Please. My mom won't tell me! I want to know what's going on!]

[Piper: Okay. But not like this. Later in person.]

[Alex: I guess that's going to be the ball. I'm pretty busy the next days to be honest.]

[Piper: That's okay. I'll pick you up?]

[Alex: If you want to. I could also come to you?!]

[Piper: I will do that. You picked me up last time. My turn.]

[Alex: Okay. I'm looking forward to it.]

[Piper: Me too.]

Just four days left until the spring ball. Piper had chosen the perfect dress already and couldn't wait to go to the party with Alex. Even her mother's ragings couldn't mess that up for her.

** Hey everyone. I know you all hoped they'd finally get together and I can promise you it's going to happen soon. This will probably be the last update until some time after New Year's as I will be pretty busy over the holidays and a friend from the US is coming to visit me just before New Year's as she's travelling Europe. Please let me know how you liked that chapter and maybe someone has some inspiration what the two of them will do once they get together?! Let me know. Thanks for the reviews so far.