Chapter 8

"Well hey there stranger"

Piper looked up from her book, she was sat at the window seat in her room when Lorna entered.

"Lorna!" she exclaimed, jumping up and engulfing her friend in a big hug.

"How have you been?" Lorna asked as she withdrew from Piper's embrace and looked up at her friend with shining brown eyes.

"Yeah, fine! How was it being home?"

"Oh it was amazing, my family love Nicky! I knew they would but it's such a relief!" she smiled. "I feel like I haven't seen you in ages- you need to update me!"

"On what?" Piper laughed.

"Oh come on Piper don't play dumb with me- Alex!"

"Shhh" Piper shushed her, before rushing to the door and closing it. "Polly's in."

"So?" Lorna asked, obviously confused.

"She doesn't know about Alex"

Lorna sighed and rolled her eyes; "Piper…"

"I know Lorna, if I like her I should have nothing to hide- I'm just not ready to tell people yet".

Piper knew she liked Alex- she'd never felt this way about anyone before, but she was so afraid of what these feelings meant, they meant that she had to question everything she thought she knew about herself. She was confused.

"Have you seen her since the party?"

Piper shook her head.

"But you guys were inseparable that night?"

Piper nodded. "I know, I just don't want to rush things"

"So you're pushing her away?"

Piper sighed, "I'm not pushing her away Lorn, I'm just giving myself time to think"

Lorna nodded, "Okay, well you know where I am if you need to talk it through". As Lorna turned her back to leave the room the door flew open and Polly burst in.

"Oh hey" she stated to Lorna before continuing to advance towards Piper a look of wild excitement on her face.

"What's up?" Piper asked.

"Pete wants to go out with me tonight!" she shrieked.

"That's great" Piper replied, falsely smiling at her friend.

"But he's bringing his friend, Larry"

Piper threw her head back tiredly, "Pol…"

Polly grabbed Piper's arm; "Please Piper I am begging you". Polly's eyes were wide with plead.

"Fine" Piper sighed.

Polly squealed with glee whilst Lorna, who was still stood in the doorway, shook her head sadly at Piper before leaving the room.

…

"Do I look okay?" Polly asked for what felt like the hundredth time.

"Yes Pol, you look great"

"Okay" Polly exhaled before turning around to face Piper. "Shit Pipes, you're going to give Larry a heart attack wearing that dress"

Piper was wearing a black dress that clung to her body and fell just below her knees. She laughed at her friend.

"I don't know about that"

"Honestly Pipes can you imagine us both going out with guys who are friends? This could be the first double date of many!" Polly said with a massive grin on her face. "Oh my god, we could have a joint wedding".

"Okay seriously, stop it!" Piper laughed. "Let's get this meal out of the way first before we start planning weddings."

…

"Piper, I'm so nervous".

The girls were stood outside of the restaurant waiting for Pete and Larry to arrive, the air was getting cold and Piper was bouncing on her toes lightly to keep warm.

"Relax Pol, it'll be fine"

Polly inhaled sharply and grabbed hold of Piper's arm; "There they are!"

Piper looked down the street at the two guys walking towards them. Pete was considerably taller than Larry and confidence exuberated from him even when he was just walking. He had light hair that was slightly curly and it perfectly matched his tanned skin. Piper admitted to herself that he was good looking. Larry looked extremely nervous, he was wearing a grey sweater which made him look sweet, almost vulnerable. Piper found herself smiling at him reassuringly as though to let him know that she wouldn't bite.

"Evening ladies" Pete stated in his Australian accent, he bent his knees slightly and held out his hand towards Polly before placing a kiss on the hand that she had given to him.

"Hiya, I'm Larry" said the darker haired boy. "Sorry that greeting sounded even more boring compared to Pete's"

"Don't worry" Piper laughed. "I much preferred it".

"You're just jealous" Pete winked at Piper before opening the restaurant door open and gesturing for the girls to enter.

…

"Oh look bud, they do apple pie here" Pete said innocently before looking up from his menu and smirking at his friend.

"Fuck off" Larry said, his eyes wide with what Piper interpreted as fear.

"Relax sport, I'll save that one for the second date" Pete winked at Larry.

Larry let out a visible sigh of relief before turning to Piper and continuing his conversation about his dreams to become a lawyer. Piper thought Larry was nice enough, he was charming and funny but there was something about being here with him that made her uncomfortable- it wasn't where she wanted to be. Yet here she was.

…

"I'm going to eat my entire body weight in burgers" Nicky grinned, as she lent against the wall waiting for Alex to put her shoes on.

Alex looked up at her friend and laughed, "Don't forgot we have training tomorrow."

"This is our last team cheat meal Vause- we have to make the most of it!"

Their soccer coach Bennett had allowed them one last meal out as a team before the season began the following weekend, he was serious about them getting to national finals again this year.

Poussey appeared rubbing her hands together, "I can't wait to get me some chicken wings".

"There's a surprise" Nicky murmured earning a sharp jab in the ribs from Poussey.

"Right" Alex said standing up and sliding her glasses down from her head to rest on the bridge of her nose. "I'm ready".

"Awesome, the rest of the squad are meeting us there" Nicky said before leading the way out of the house.

…

"The star players have arrived" Nicky shouted, flamboyantly holding her arms out wide as they approached a large round table full of their team mates.

The group laughed collectively as the three girls took their seats.

"Let's order I'm starving!" Alex said.

The team ordered before starting their excited chatter about the prospects of the coming season.

"We've honestly got such a great chance this year guys" Alex stated. "I know a lot of us are serious about breaking into the national team, if we take that ambition onto the pitch with us we'll be flying!"

"I don't know capt, I have a friend who studies down at Bartford University and she said that their team have been training every single morning- seems like they aren't going to give up their title without a fight", said Vicky- one of the defenders in the team. The team murmured in agreement.

"Well we're just going to have to up our game then" Alex said confidently before taking a sip of her drink, "We're better than them and we have something that they don't- we're all friends. They all fucking hate each other."

"Hear Hear!" Nicky echoed. "Vause is right guys, this season is all about mentality."

"Let's crush them" a player called Janae said before banging the table with her fist.

"Calm down Watson" laughed Nicky. "Save it for Saturday".

"National scouts will almost definitely be at our games this year!" one of the girls chirped excitedly.

"Do they disguise themselves or some shit?" Poussey asked.

"I think they literally just go and sit with the fans so you'd never know they were there", Alex answered before thanking the waiter who had just placed her food in front of her.

"Just means we have to play every game like they're watching" Nicky added before picking up the massive burger in front of her and attacking it with her mouth.

The group went quiet whilst they devoured the mountains of food in front of them.

…

"I regret eating that already" Nicky said before leaning back in her chair and grasping her stomach.

"That's what happens when you got eyes bigger than your fucking belly" Poussey laughed.

"Shut it pussy" Nicky retorted.

"That's your only fucking response to anything, at least I don't look like one of those fucking toy trolls"

Whilst the group laughed Alex stood up declaring that she was going to the bathroom.

Alex made her way to the stairs of the restaurant, shouting out greetings to strangers as she went. She was climbing the stairs when she heard a sudden burst of laughter.

"You fucking said you wouldn't say anything! On a date as well you jerk!"

"I'm sorry pal, but you know I can't resist that story"

It sounded to Alex like the British sounding guy had just threw his nerdy looking friend under the bus. Alex laughed to herself before continuing to walk towards the bathroom. That was until she heard a laugh that made her heart flip, the sound that she had fast grown to love, the sound that now made her feel sick knowing that it wasn't her causing it.

It was Piper. Piper here on a 'date' without her?

She looked over again and her stomach dropped as she saw the familiar blonde looking back at her, the ghost of a laugh still on her face. Alex stared at Piper before dropping her eyes which were now filling with tears of anger.

…

Piper's heart felt like it completely broke in half when she saw the look of complete sadness on Alex's face. The dark haired girl swiftly turned away from Piper and made her way back down the stairs of the restaurant.

"Al!" Piper shouted as she jumped up from her seat and ran down the stairs after her.

Alex continued to walk at a brisk pace right past her table, her team mates looked round in confusion as the blonde following her repeatedly shouted her name.

"Shit" muttered Nicky, looking across at Poussey uneasily.

"Alex.. .wait" Piper panted as they exited the restaurant.

Alex spun around, her face a picture of devastation.

"Just leave it Piper"

"Al, just tell me what's wrong?"

"You really have to ask? I thought you liked me and…"

"I do like you!" Piper interrupted.

Alex rolled her eyes.

"I do! Polly just dragged me along to this double date"

"Well why didn't you tell her that you liked me?"

"Because I…" Piper stopped.

"Because you're scared of what people would think?"

Piper said nothing, tears starting to fill her own eyes now.

"Maybe you should decide what you really want Pipes, before this goes any further" with that Alex turned and continued to walk down the street.

Piper didn't follow her, tears streamed down her cheeks as she watched Alex walk away.

…

Piper couldn't face returning to the restaurant, she couldn't face the questions and most of all she couldn't face admitting that she had seriously hurt the person who was starting to mean more to her than anyone else.

She started to walk aimlessly, not aware of where she was going or how long she was walking for. The look of hurt on Alex's face was providing a haunting image in Piper's head. She found herself unlocking the door to her dorm block before she even registered that she was ready to go back.

Piper entered the corridor of rooms and made her way towards her bedroom. She had just perched on the edge of her bed when Polly burst in.

"Piper, what the fuck was that about?"

Piper didn't look up at her friend, she just continued to stare at the floor in silence.

"Piper!? You've just completely abandoned me and you have nothing to say for yourself?"

"Can you get Lorna please?" Piper spoke quietly.

"I… what?!" Polly stood for a moment, waiting for a response. She laughed in disbelief at Piper before leaving the room.

A few moments later someone lightly tapped at the door before letting themselves in. Lorna approached Piper gingerly before sitting down next to her on the bed and reaching out for her hand. Piper clutched onto the offered hand and rested her head on Lorna's shoulder. Her body rocked slightly as she sobbed, Lorna stayed quiet as she ran her spare hand through Piper's hair.

"You're going to s…say I t…told you so aren't you?" Piper spoke out between sobs.

"Noo" Lorna shook her head. "Of course I'm not!"

"I've fucked it all up Lorn" Piper said sadly.

Lorna didn't say anything, she just squeezed her friend's hand.

"I don't know what to do", Piper looked up at Lorna- she looked fragile and vulnerable.

Lorna let out a small sympathetic sigh. "She needs space Piper, I think you upset her pretty bad"

"You heard what happened?"

"Nicky rang me just before you got back. What do you want to happen next?"

Piper stayed quiet for a moment, "I j..just don't know Lorn"

"I think Alex has a point then Pipes, you need to get some space- take a break from this place and figure out what you want".

Piper nodded before her body was attacked by sobs again.

…

"You alright kid?"

Bill pulled his daughter into a hug and squeezed her lovingly.

Piper drew back from the hug and nodded up at her father, her eyes were swollen and she looked far from "alright" but her father didn't point that out.

Piper walked around to the passenger side of the car and climbed in. She pulled out her phone and wrote out a message to Lorna.

Piper: Hey Lorn, my dad just got here- I'll only be gone a few days. I'll keep you updated.

Piper pressed send and sat back in her seat. The last time she had been in this car it was the day she had first laid eyes on Alex. Her eyes filled with tears at the memory as Bill started the engine and pulled away onto the main road. The journey passed in complete silence, Piper noticed that Bill would occasionally glance over at her to check she was okay before returning his gaze to the road.

…

"She's going home for a few days to get some space" Lorna said as she read Piper's message.

"Mmm" Nicky hummed in recognition of what Lorna had just told her.

"What's wrong?" Lorna asked.

"I just hate seeing Alex like this, so distant and… just so… broken", Nicky stared at the ceiling. Lorna could see Nicky's eyes glistening with the threat of tears. She'd never seen Nicky like this before.

"Is she still bad then?"

"Bad is an understatement, she won't speak to anyone. I just hope that this situation sorts itself out"

Lorna nodded; "Love will always find a way Nick".

A/N- Going to give you guys an immediate update to apologise for the drama in this chapter!