Chapter 19: Birthday parties and threads

A bit later it was Alex's birthday. Piper had spent a lot of time finding the perfect present for Alex. It was special this year, as it was the first birthday the celebrated together as girlfriends. So Piper wanted to get her something special. And she thought she had just found the thing.

Piper took ages to get dressed before she went over to Alex to celebrate her birthday. She wanted to look nice for her, but couldn't decide what exactly to wear. She eventually found one of her floral dresses that she thought fitted her and the sunny weather perfectly.

"Where are you going?" her mother asked as she walked towards the door.

"It's Alex's birthday. So I'd like to celebrate with her." Piper quickly answered and left before her mother could say another word. If she was up for a discussion or whatever she'd deal with that when she got back. Right now, all that she wanted was to see her girlfriend and celebrate her 15th birthday with her.

"Piper, come in." Diane greeted her when she arrived at the Vauses house and knocked.

Piper quickly found Alex and hugged her tightly. "Happy birthday!"

"Thank you, Pipes." Alex smiled widely and pulled Piper into a kiss.

"I brought you something." Piper divulged and held up her nicely wrapped present.

Alex's eyes went wide. She was super curious. She tried to open it slowly and not rip it completely. When the wrapping was gone a small box was revealed. She opened the box and found a silver necklace inside. Looking at it closer it had a pendant in form of a key. Engraved in it she could read 'Piper'. She smiled.

"I know, it's probably totally cheesy. But only you have the key to my heart. That's the reason for the key." Piper almost stuttered out. All of a sudden she was strangely nervous. She really hoped Alex liked it.

"It might be a little cheesy but I love it. Thank you." Alex gave her a big smile.

"That's great." Piper felt relieved.

Around six the rest of their friends came over. Lorna and Nicky arrived together and Mira one of Alex's classmates who had become her friend arrived a little later. The five of them went outside into the garden after dinner and Nicky had the idea of playing truth or dare, the response wasn't overly enthusiastic but the started playing nonetheless. They emptied a bottle and as Alex was the birthday girl she started spinning. It pointed at Piper.

"Truth." Piper said.

"I got a question for you." Nicky exclaimed.

"Well actually it is Alex's turn to ask as she spun the bottle, right?" Lorna interjected.

"Well, I don't have one right now. You know I'm not the biggest fan of that game." Alex said.

"Then I'll ask the question for you. Don't be a spoilsport." Nicky replied.

"I got the feeling that I'm going to regret this. But okay. Ask instead of me." Alex eventually agreed.

"Have you and Alex already, you know...done it." she asked directly.

Alex mumbled "I knew I'd regret it."

Piper blushed a little. "I don't see how this is any of your business."

"I take that as a no." Nicky smirked.

"You take that as a 'none of your business'." Alex agreed with Piper.

"You're both spoilsports, you know?" Nicky complained.

"Shut up, Nicky." Alex told her.

"Okay, okay. I'm sorry. Wrong question. I'm just curious." Nicky apologized.

"Can we play something else?" Lorna asked.

"Yes please." Piper agreed.

They started a different game and they had more fun with those games than with truth or dare. As it got later everyone went home and it was about time Piper went home too.

"You could stay over, you know?" Alex offered.

"I wish I could. But I think mom is already waiting for me and the usual discussion." Piper replied.

"You told her you'd come here tonight?" Alex was surprised that Piper had told her mom the truth this time.

"Yes. I did. She knows it's your birthday, even if she pretends to not know it is." Piper explained. "So I guess she would have known anyway."

When she arrived home her mother was indeed waiting for her.

"Hi, mom." she greeted her not giving away that she was awaiting the discussion.

"Hello, Piper. Can we talk?" her mother asked as if she cared about the answer. She started speaking without awaiting Piper's reply. "How many times do we need to discuss this?"

"What? That you don't want me to see my best friend anymore? We grew up like sisters. She is one of the most important persons in my life. How can you ask me to just cut all contact?" Piper asked back getting angry at having this discussion over and over and over again.

"Because I don't want you to have contact with someone like her. Can't you see that I just want what's best for you? You know what other people are going to say if they hear about that? You have no idea what that does to your social standing! You have to think about things like that!" her mother argued.

"If my 'social status' forces me to give up my best friend, then I don't give a damn about it." Piper said.

"Piper Elizabeth Chapman. I won't have you talk like this!" Carol exclaimed shocked.

"This is not only about what others are saying? I don't believe, or I don't want to believe, that all people are so close-minded to talk bad about queer people. You're afraid Alex being gay will 'rub off' on me. That she'll turn me gay. Isn't it?" Piper voiced her assumption.

"Stop it. You will not see her again. I won't discuss this again with you. If I find out you are still in contact with her there'll be consequences! They have a very good, highly recommended boarding school about two hours from here. Don't make me send you there!" Carol threatened.

"You wouldn't!" Piper shouted in shock. She couldn't believe her mother would actually do it.

"Oh, I will!" she replied. "Now go to your room."

Piper ran into her room. She threw herself on her bed and started crying. This couldn't be happening. Her mother couldn't do this to her. She cried for what felt like ages until she fell asleep exhausted from the day, the fight with her mother and the crying.

She stayed in her room for most of the sunday and tried to read a bit but couldn't concentrate. She couldn't believe her mother had really threatened to send her to a boarding school. Yes, she herself had said to friends or her little brother that she might do that, but never really believed in it. Also so far it was just a thread but Piper didn't want to find out how serious Carol had meant it. When her phone rang and signaled a text message her thoughts were interrupted.

[Alex: Hey. Wanna come over and hang out?]

Piper smiled weakly. She would love that and it would definitely calm her and she'd feel so much better. But now that her mom had actually spoken the thread she had dreaded for quite some time now she was also scared she'd make it true.

[Piper: I would love to. But it's not a good time. Mom was furious yesterday. It's better if I stay home today.]

[Alex: What did she say?]

[Piper: I don't want to talk about it right now.]

[Alex: Can I help?]

[Piper: I guess not. Sorry.]

[Alex: Talk about it at school tomorrow?]

[Piper: Sure.]

Piper threw her phone back onto her bed. She turned on her headphones and put on some music. The silent and rather depressing music suited her mood pretty well and she just laid on her bed feeling sorry for herself and desperate. She didn't know what to do.

[Polly: Hey. Wanna come see a movie this afternoon?]

[Piper: Not in the mood. Sorry.]

[Polly: I didn't even say which movie…]

[Piper: Doesn't matter.]

[Polly: Everything alright?]

[Piper: I don't know.]

[Polly: I'll come over.]

[Piper: You don't have to.]

[Polly: Already on my way.]

Not too long later the door bell rung and she heard her mother shout through the house "Piper. Polly is here to see you."

Half a minute later it knocked at Pipers door.

"Come in, Pol." she said barely loud enough to be heard through the door. Polly looked a bit shocked when she saw her friend lying on her bed looking utterly depressed.

"What's wrong, Piper?" she looked at her worried.

"It's my mom." she started and felt tears rise. She still felt so angry thinking about their fight. Slowly and under tears she told her about Alex's birthday party and her fight with her mother after she came back home.

"Oh, fuck." Polly was shocked.

"And I really think she will do it. What am I going to do?" she cried out.

"Shh. We'll figure something out." Polly tried to calm her.

"I'll have three more years in school, Pol. How am I supposed to make it through 3 years being afraid that my mother finds out and sends me to this boarding school? And if she does, I won't ever see Alex." Piper sobbed.

"I don't know right now, but we'll think of something. You have all of your friends and everyone is going to help you and Alex get through this." Polly told her.

"Th-thank you." Piper calmed a little.

"You'd do it for your friends too." Polly played it down. Polly started talking about other things to take Piper's mind out of her situation for a while. And it worked. Piper felt a bit better. Polly went home just before Carol called everyone for dinner. At dinner everyone chatted about their day. Cal had been out in the woods with a friend and Carol told everyone about her meeting with friends from her country club. Piper just sat there ignoring everything. She was too depressed and sad to take part and tried not to think about it anymore, afraid she'd get angry at her mother again and shout at her at the dinner table.

The next morning when her alarm went off she Piper felt weird. She was all sweaty even though it wasn't too hot in her room. She felt pretty hot and begged it wasn't a fever. She quickly got a thermometer and it turned out she did have a bit higher temperature. Just then her mother came upstairs.

"You're not dressed yet, Piper?" she commented with a rather expectant look.

"No, I was checking something." she quickly replied.

"You look pale and not well. How are you feeling?" Carol asked looking at her.

"Okay." she said. Carol moved closer and held her hand on her forehead.

"You're feeling hot. Get a thermometer and check your temperature." she demanded.

"Damn." Piper whispered. She repeated it and showed her mother the result.

"Looks like you're staying at home today. I'll call the school." her mom said. "Go back to bed."

Piper slowly trotted back to her room and went back to bed. She took out her phone and texted Alex.

[Piper: Hey. I'm sorry. I'm not going to school today. See you tomorrow hopefully.]

She didn't have to wait long for an answer.

[Alex: What's wrong? Are you alright?]

[Piper: Caught something. I'm in bed with a fever.]

[Alex: Oh damn. Get well soon. I wish I could be there and help you.]

[Piper: I wish you were here too.]

[Alex: 3]

[Piper: I love you too. ;-)]

She quickly send Polly a text too.

[Piper: Won't be in school today. In bed with a fever. Will you tell Alex about my mom for me?]

[Polly: Sorry to hear that. Get well soon. Why don't you do it yourself tomorrow?]

[Piper: Not sure if I'm back tomorrow. I know she worries. I don't want want her to overthink it. Please?!]

[Polly: Okay. I will.]

[Piper: Thank you.]

XXXXX

When Alex got home that afternoon she felt so angry. She shortly said hello to her mom in the kitchen and went to her room shutting the door a bit more hefty than planned. Shortly later she heard a knock on her door.

"Yeah?" she asked. Diane took a step in. "Everything alright?"

"Yes. No. Urgh. It's frustrating." Alex answered annoyed.

"What is it honey?" Diane asked and sat down next to Alex on her bed.

"It's Piper. Well, not Piper but Carol. Piper told her on saturday that she'd come here to celebrate my birthday because she thought she'd figure out anyway and told her the truth. Yesterday I texted her if she wanted to hang out and something seemed wrong but she didn't want to talk about it. And today she couldn't tell me because she wasn't at school." Alex started explaining.

"And you're angry because she didn't tell you yet? Why wasn't Piper at school?" Diane cautiously asked.

"No. She is in bed because she caught something and has a fever. I'm angry for different reasons. Piper doesn't feel well and I'd like to be there for her, but I can't visit. I'm pretty sure Carol won't let me in. And she is the other reason I am angry. Polly told me today that she visited Piper yesterday and Piper told her what happened when she came back home on saturday. I know Piper already had a few discussions with her mother about her having contact with me. But Saturday they had that big fight and Carol threatened to send her to that boarding school two hours from here." she was so angry and mad that tears ran down her cheeks. "All just so Piper can't see me anymore! What am I supposed to do?" now she really started to cry. Diane was heartbroken to see her daughter like this. Now she started to get angry at Carol too. She wouldn't let her do that to her daughter.

"Oh, Alex. That must be hard. We'll figure something out." she tried to stay calm and not let Alex see her anger.

"But what?" Alex sobbed.

"We'll see. Give me some time to think about it and talk to your dad." Diane replied.

"Okay." Alex quietly said after she had calmed down a little.

"Do you want a tea? It'll warm you up and make you warm and cozy." Diane asked as she stood up.

"Thanks, but I think I'll pass." Alex said but quickly changed her mind as she had an idea. "Or maybe yes. Can I have it in a Thermos bottle?"

"Sure." Diane gave back wondering why.

Alex however quickly got dressed, collected a few things, took the tea from her mother with a quick "Thank you. See you later!" and left.

XXXXX

Piper was half dozing off when she heard a knock at her window. She was confused but looked out and was surprised to see a well-known face. She opened and let Alex in.

"Hey, crazy girl. What are you doing here?" she asked incredulously.

"Hey, Pipes. I brought you some tea and some cookies. I wanted you to feel better." Alex explained.

"That's so sweet. Thank you. I already feel so much better just because you are here. But what if my mother saw you outside or sees you here?" Piper was touched by her girlfriends gesture but also a little scared.

"I was very careful while sneaking in and I'll be very careful when I'll go home. And I think your closet is big enough for me to hide in it." Alex told her and handed her some cookies that Piper gladly took.

"I hope that was enough. I'm scared my mom was serious about her thread. Polly told you everything, right?" Piper asked and Alex nodded. "I wouldn't know how to do this. I don't want to be so far away from you and not see you almost everyday."

"I don't want that either. But who would I be if I didn't take care of my sick girlfriend?" Alex smiled at her.

"You're such a good girlfriend." Piper smiled at her genuinely.

"You'd do the same for me." Alex tried to relativize it.

"Definitely. I would. Thank you for the tea. It really helps. Also having you close helps." Piper smiled happily. "I love you."

"I love you too, Pipes." Alex said and moved closer. She felt the urge to kiss her girlfriend but Piper moved away.

"It's not that I don't want to. But I don't want to make you sick too. I don't want you to feel like this." she explained.

"Yeah, you're probably right." Alex admitted even though she really wanted to kiss her.

Just then they heard someone coming up the stairs. Alex quickly hid in the closet, Piper hid the cookies and tea underneath her bed. And everything happen just in time before her mother came in.

"Hey. Everything okay? How do you feel?" she asked.

"Better, actually." Piper answered shortly.

"Good. Call me if you need anything." Carol said and left.

"Thanks. I will." Piper said loud enough so her mom could hear her outside.

When everything was quiet again Alex came back out.

"Whew. That was close!" Piper said a little shocked.

"Yeah. But I don't think she noticed anything." Alex agreed.

"I doubt she did." Piper chuckled.

The two of them kept talking for a while until it was time for Alex to go home. While she slowly made her way out of the window they said goodbye.

"Be careful. Let no one see you and please don't fall off the roof." Piper said anxiously.

"I made it up here and back down safely for a couple times already, Pipes. I'll be okay." Alex smiled at her. "And I'll do my best ninja impression of being invisible." That made Piper laugh. "Yes. Mission accomplished. Put a smile on your beautiful face." Alex smiled too.

Piper laughed. "I'm not sure if I'll be at school tomorrow, but if not I'll do my best to be back on Wednesday. See you then?" she asked her hopeful.

"Yes, sure. Looking forward." Alex whispered and started to climb down.

"Bye. I love you." Piper whispered as Alex got out of sight. She could hear a very quiet "I love you too." and her girlfriend was gone.

That night she slept rather fitful and dreamt the craziest things. When she woke in the morning she didn't really feel rested at all. As much as she had wanted to, she didn't feel ready for school. She used her second day off to sleep as much as she could, read her book and text with Alex and her friends. Even though she was still afraid that her mother would make her thread come true she was more optimistic than couple days ago that whatever the future would bring that she and Alex would make it through almost anything.