Piper's eyes fluttered open, she pulled the thick duvet further around her as she looked out to Alex's room which was slowly filling with the orange glow of a new day. Alex's arm lay draped across the exposed skin of Piper's midriff. Piper could feel Alex's warm breath tickling the back of her neck, she smiled at the reminder of how close she was to her girlfriend. She slowly turned around to face the dark haired girl, Alex's eyes were closed and her lips were partially open as she slept. There was something so sweet and endearing about Alex being asleep, being completely vulnerable and unprotected with just Piper to witness it. Piper gently traced her finger along Alex's cheek bone to her hair line where she caught a strand of dark hair and spun it loosely around her finger.
"You're so perfect," she whispered softly against Alex's lips.
The whisper was so quiet it was barely audible but Alex's body seemed to react to it. She made a small groan and moved towards Piper, resting her head sweetly in the nape of the blonde's neck. Piper moved her hand further into Alex's hair and lightly massaged her scalp with the tips of her fingers.
"Have I told you that you're good with your fingers?" Alex pecked Piper softly on the neck before turning to the bedside table and picking up her glasses. She placed them on her face and turned around to face her girlfriend once more.
"Spring break, baby," she beamed as she kissed Piper on the lips.
"I'm so excited", Piper whispered back, she had kept her face close to Alex's after the kiss so their lips brushed as she spoke. Alex kissed Piper once more, holding the side of her face as she connected their lips.
"I need to get up" Piper murmured as she pulled herself away.
"No… you don't" Alex replied as she continued to kiss Piper.
"Al, Carol will… come looking for me if not", Piper gasped as she fought to drag her lips apart from Alex's.
"Ok, Ok", Alex kissed Piper one last time before pulling away from the blonde. Piper laughed as Alex stuck her bottom lip out, evidently disappointed that she had to stop kissing her girlfriend.
"One weekend," Piper murmured, not breaking her gaze from Alex's lips. One weekend was all she had to get through, one weekend without Alex and then a whole week together- she could do that.
"Oh fuck it, Carol can wait," Piper sighed as she pulled Alex's face closer and crashed their lips together once more.
….
"Morning Vause," Nicky mumbled as she trudged into the kitchen.
Alex looked up from the pile of laundry she was currently sorting through. Nicky's hair was even more wild than usual and her eyes were still partially closed.
"Afternoon" she laughed.
Nicky grunted in response as she took a seat on one of the kitchen stools. She placed the hood of her jacket over her head and looked around the room. "Piper not here?"
"Nope, she left about an hour ago."
"Ah… Well it sounded like you guys had fun last night."
Alex paused and looked up at Nicky who had her elbow propped on the counter and was smiling smugly back at her friend. Alex swallowed and shook her head slightly as she resumed folding garments of clothing.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Mhmm…" Nicky laughed. "Whatever man, at least you look clean."
Alex tried hard to maintain her composure but couldn't stop a smile creeping across her face.
….
Piper had successfully managed to manoeuvre her parent's fleeting visit to the university and with only a few negative comments from her mother. Carol had critically assessed most aspects of Piper's room and had reminded her daughter that she was more than happy to pay for a cleaner. Piper had politely declined the offer and ushered her mother out of the dorm as quickly as possible.
"You know the offer still stands darling, you can still come to Cannes with us. The Jones' have invited us to join them at their villa" Carol offered as she applied more lipstick using a small portable mirror.
"You have plans don't you sweetie?" Bill asked from the driver's seat of the car.
Piper nodded. "It's OK mom, thanks for the invite- it sounds great but I've been invited to spend the week at my friend's lake house."
Piper smiled as Bill met her eye in the rear view mirror and winked at her. Piper patiently answered the barrage of questions that followed from her mother about the 'type' of people she would be spending the week with. By the end of the conversation Carol seemed comfortable with the fact that Piper would be spending time with responsible college students… so Piper may have stretched the truth slightly but she couldn't allow her mother's worrying to ruin her first, real spring break!
"As long as you are around for tomorrow evening, that's all that matters."
Piper met her father's eyes once more and raised her eyebrow. Carol noted Piper's silence instantly and spun round to look at her daughter.
"Piper Elizabeth! Please tell me you haven't forgotten about your brother's engagement party?"
"O…Of course not" Piper stuttered. Again, stretching the truth. Piper had forgotten. Her older brother Danny had proposed to his long term girlfriend Britt 8 months previously. In true Carol fashion the pair had been 'advised' to hold off their engagement party until she could hire the best event scheduler around. No doubt the event would be hyperbolic and full of socialites all using the couples' happiness as an excuse to network. Nevertheless, Piper was looking forward to spending time with her brothers again- the event would be a good distraction and would pass the time at least.
The mention of the party had triggered Carol into remembering a list of things she had yet to do for the event. The rest of the journey passed with her making frantic phone calls to various companies, the most notable one to ensure that all meals had a vegan alternative. Piper had to bite her lip hard to stop herself laughing as Bill crossed his eyes and stuck his tongue out at the mention of vegan food.
It was always strange for Piper to come home from college, the house that she had grown up in always felt like temporary accommodation nowadays. Miss Claudette had tried her best to make Piper's old room feel homely again but the fresh duvet and blankets couldn't hide the fact that the room felt cold and unlived in. There was not even any point in unpacking her belongings, Alex would be picking Piper up in less than 48 hours- a thought that made Piper's stomach flip with excitement every time it crossed her mind.
….
"Pipes, can you help me with this stupid thing?"
Piper was stood in the foyer of the house and turned to find a disgruntled looking Cal who had a loose bow tie hanging around his neck. She laughed as she straightened the collar of his white shirt and neatly tied the bow.
"You scrub up well," she teased pinching Cal's cheek between her thumb and forefinger.
"Yeah, well not by choice" Cal scoffed as he batted Piper's hand away from his face.
The first day at home had been a whirlwind of activity for Piper- she had barely seen her parents who were busy making final arrangements for the big engagement party, which had just started in the backyard. The evening was humid and sticky, as though a big storm was approaching- the heat made Piper feel even more uncomfortable in her floor length, skin tight dress. Despite both her and Cal's evident discomfort they did their best to welcome their guests with a smile- as per Carol's orders. When it seemed as though the whole state of Connecticut were in the Chapman's backyard Piper and Cal abandoned their duties and went in seek of food.
"Gross, what is this stuff?" Cal said in disgust as he lifted what looked like kale to his nose , evidently not impressed with the smell he placed the vegetation back onto the tray he had got it from- much to the dismay of the neatly suited waiter.
Piper slapped her brother lightly on the arm and laughed as the waiter turned his nose up at the pair of them and walked away.
"Not causing trouble are you kiddo's?"
The oldest Chapman child had arrived at the party without neither Piper nor Cal realising. He was irresistibly handsome with his olive skin and slick blonde hair. He was wearing grey suit trousers with a white shirt that seemed to accentuate his muscular figure. On his arm stood his fiancé, she was wearing a beautiful navy dress and her brunette hair was curled perfectly to one side. She exchanged greetings with Cal and smiled politely at Piper.
"I knew I'd find the two of you snooping around the food- proves we're definitely related," Danny laughed as he pinched a macaroon from a passing waiter's tray.
Britt looked confused at Danny's statement looking first from Cal to Piper, she let out a sudden gasp and lurched towards Piper.
"Oh my god, Piper?! I didn't even recognise you, you look so beautiful" Britt gushed as she opened her arms to hug the blonde. She kept her hands on the top of Piper's arms and lent backwards to look at Piper properly. "Danny, look at how beautiful she looks."
Danny looked at Piper and smirked; "She looks OK I guess."
He jumped away jokingly as Britt swung her purse for him. "Only messing squirt, you look great."
"Oh my god, we have so much to talk about! It's been so long. How's college? Have you made friends?" Britt asked, her eyes glistening with excitement- Piper thought it was adorable how much of a genuine interest Britt took in her life.
"It's been amazing, so amazing. I can't wait to tell you all about…" Piper stopped herself gushing on excitedly about Alex but not before she'd said too much. Her cheeks started to glow red as she saw Danny nudge Cal expectantly and raise his eyebrow at his sister.
"Do continue Squirt, anyone in particular made your college experience so amazing?" Danny teased.
"Don't make me attack you with my purse again" Britt warned. "Anyway I think this is the perfect time for a girly chat Pipes." Britt linked her arm with Piper's and smiled down at her.
"Gross" Danny scoffed before turning to Cal. "C'mon bud, why don't you show me the project you've been working on?"
The pair of them walked back towards the house leaving Piper and Britt alone. The girls took a seat on the wooden bench at the bottom of the garden, another one of Cal's master pieces. They looked out across the beautiful garden party, fairly lights illuminated the guests and a small folk band were playing under the stars.
"Lovely isn't it?" Britt sighed as she took a sip from the champagne glass in her hand. "I mean… hats off to Carol, she's done a good job- as much as it pains me to admit."
Piper laughed. "It's certainly very Carol."
Britt nodded in agreement and turned to face Piper. "So, are you going to tell me about this mysterious person at College?"
Piper blushed and hid her face.
"Now you're all shy?! Come on Piper I saw the look on your face," Britt laughed. Piper continued to avoid eye contact causing Britt's expression to soften. "You don't have to tell me Pipes, I'm only playing."
Piper nodded and smiled reassuring at the brunette who had started to ramble on about the wedding. Piper was half listening, the other half of her was trying to figure out why she still had such a mental block when it came to telling people about Alex. If it was the other way round Alex would have told everyone at the party about Piper by now. Piper smiled to herself as she remembered the pride Alex had shown when introducing Piper to her mom.
Piper was so transfixed in memories of her girlfriend that she hadn't noticed Britt had stopped talking and was watching her smugly. "OK, I was trying to play it cool but you really need to tell me about the person whose making you smile like that."
"Fine," Piper sighed. "So you're right… I have met someone."
"Mhmm", Britt raised her eyebrows at Piper and gestured with her hands for the blonde to continue. "Is that all I get? Not even a name?"
Piper laughed, "Alex." Her heart was beating hard in her chest and for a minute she was close to leaving the conversation at that. But the thought of not telling people about Alex felt as though she was being unfaithful to her girlfriend in some way- she would never want Alex to feel as though she was ashamed of their relationship just because of her gender.
Piper took a deep breath and looked at Britt who was eagerly waiting for more information. "Her name is Alex. Alex is a girl… my girlfriend. Alex is my girlfriend." Piper exhaled, her body felt lighter just by the words having left her mouth.
Britt's eyes widened slightly in surprise, "Wow Pipes, good for you!" Britt stayed silent for a moment, as though she was processing the information Piper had just provided her with- after what felt like an eternity she spoke up again. "Girls are much more beautiful than guys, I'll give you that one" she nudged the blonde gently and raised her glass towards Piper before taking a sip.
"You don't think it's weird?"
Britt almost choked on her drink at the question. "Why on earth would I think it's weird Piper?" The brunette placed her glass on the floor and took Piper's hands in her own. "I am so proud of you for being so brave and telling me about her and I'm so happy that you've found a love that you deserve- regardless of gender."
Britt smiled sweetly before hugging Piper tightly, the raw kindness and love in the hug made Piper's eyes fill with tears.
….
Alex was sat on one of the counters at the homeless kitchen swinging her legs as she waited for her mom to finish up for the day. She giggled down at her phone causing her mom to look up from her paperwork.
"Hey, I've just cleaned in here and you're getting your sappiness everywhere," Diane joked.
Alex stuck her tongue out at her mom and jumped down from the counter. "You need help?"
"Nah', I'm all done" Diane smiled as she slotted the paperwork into the relevant folder and sighed triumphantly. They'd had a successful day at the kitchen, more people than ever were relying on their help and Alex had enjoyed seeing the happiness a warm meal had brought to them.
"So… what was all the giggling about?" Diane asked as she did one final check of the kitchen and locked the door behind them.
"Pft… I wasn't giggling!" Alex replied as she jumped into the passenger seat of the car. Diane raised her eyebrow and smirked at her daughter as she buckled her seat belt and started the engine.
"I was happy because Piper told her brother's fiancé about me" Alex said shyly as she scrolled through the messages on her phone, reliving their conversation from earlier that evening.
"That's great hun, how is she doing at home?"
"Fine… a little tipsy by the sounds of it" Alex laughed. Diane smiled back at her daughter but didn't reply allowing Alex to continue. "I can always tell because she starts to put loads of extra letters at the end of words and she doesn't just send one long text she sends about ten messages all with one or two words on it. Plus she becomes so clingy, some people find that weird but I find it ador…" Alex stopped her babbling abruptly when she noticed her mom beaming at her.
"Wow, you've got it bad kid."
A/N- I'm so sorry everyone, life got in the way… again! I'm posting another chapter straight away and will give you a little bit of a teaser for the next chapter- I feel like these chapters haven't had much purpose recently but hopefully you guys are still interested in this story. I have a few drama filled/fun filled chapters planned which hopefully I can get up ASAP. Thanks again.