Hey guys, I'm back :D I know you're dying to see how this plays out, another few chapters and we'll finally see how it ends (me included lol). Although, I have a fair idea of what's gonna happen but I could change the ending in my head between then and now lol ;) Now, let's see how the withdrawal is going for Alex and Piper. I know it's not the same thing as heroin, but from my last update I've quit smoking (just over a week) (Yay!) so, I can kinda relate to what Alex is going through. Writing this chapter has been so hard, usually when I'm stuck or thinking I go for a smoke break but now I have to find another method… Wish me luck! Enough of my rambling lol, the latest update!
Chapter 11:
For the past nearly thirty minutes, Piper had been awkwardly pacing around the bedroom. When she heard Alex retching after she had left the bathroom, before she knew it her hand had been on the door handle, but she had to force herself not to turn it. 'If she wants me or needs my help, she'll call me.' Piper had to reason with herself. This had caused the blonde to awkwardly pace around the bedroom, patently waiting for her ex-girlfriends call and to make sure she was okay. When the bathroom door swung open nearly thirty minutes later, Piper was relieved, for a split second. Now the younger woman was filled with nervousness, she didn't know how her ex-girlfriend was going to react to her presence. 'Was she waiting for me to leave? Maybe she heard me pacing around and thought that I had already left, and the coast was clear to come out? Should I leave? Is it weird if I stay? Alex didn't want me around before, why would she want me here now? She never was a good patient when she was sick! She's clearly alive and I think the risk of her dying in her sleep is over now. Is there even any reason for me to stay? It's not like she even wants me here! I should go… soon. Just a little while longer. Just to I make sure she's really okay. Besides, I need to wait on Polly to deliver breakfast. Yeah, breakfast… That's a good excuse!' Piper was lost in her thoughts until Alex startled her.
''Pipes?'' Alex called from the bed as she wrapped herself in a blanket cocoon.
''Sorry, what?'' Piper asked as she noticed that the brunette was tucked up in bed, she hadn't even seen her walk past as she was lost in her thoughts.
''Is it cold in here? Are you cold? I can't stop shivering!'' Alex asked as she shook in the bed.
''It's not cold in here, I'm just nice.'' Piper said as she approached the bed and placed a gentle hand on her ex-girlfriend's forehead. ''Al, you're burning up!'' Piper said worriedly.
''Am I?'' Alex asked as she rattled in her cocoon.
''I think your withdrawal is kicking in! I'm gonna get you some water and a cold cloth.'' Piper said as she turned to leave.
''Pipes?'' Alex called after her, making the blonde turn around to face her. ''Please don't leave!'' Alex said in a small, vulnerable voice.
''I'm not going anywhere, Al. I'm just gonna get you a glass of water and a damp cloth to control your fever. I'll be right back!'' Piper explained reassuringly.
''Promise?'' Alex asked softly in her husky voice.
''I promise, Al.'' Piper replied, as she turned to leave the room, she couldn't contain the grin that crossed her face.
'It's just the drugs talking. Don't get your hopes up, Piper. In a few hours she's going to come to her senses and kick you out again.' Piper thought to herself as she filled a glass with ice water and held a cloth under the cold tap. 'I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts!' Piper thought with a smile.
A few moments later, Piper returned to the bedroom with the water and cloth. Alex stirred from her sleep as she heard the door click open and scooted over in the bed to make room for the blonde.
''You should drink this, Al.'' Piper said as she handed the older woman the glass of water and sat beside her on the bed.
''Thanks.'' Alex replied as she reached for the glass and took a sip before placing it on the bedside table. ''I feel like shit!'' Alex sighed as she snuggled back under the warm covers.
''Here, this should help.'' Piper said as she gently placed the cool, damp cloth on the brunette's warm forehead.
''Mmm, that feels nice, babe.'' Alex responded in a sleepy tone as she closed her heavy eyes.
''You should get some sleep.'' Piper said in a soft voice as she gently stroked the brunette's hair, just like Diane used to when she was a little girl.
''Please stay, Pipes!'' Alex mumbled, already half asleep.
''I'm not going anywhere, Al.'' Piper replied as she placed a kiss on her ex-girlfriend's cheek and continued to stroke her hair until she could hear the brunette's soft snores.
A few hours later, the blonde was woken by a loud knocking and her phone ringing. Piper grabbed her phone and swiped the green button as she stumbled out of bed half asleep.
''Er, hello?'' Piper answered as she glanced at her sleeping ex-girlfriend. The noise hadn't even made her stir.
''Finally! I've been calling for like 20 minutes, Pipe! I'm outside. Hurry up before the food gets cold.'' Polly demanded then abruptly ended the call.
Piper stood confused for a second as her body adjusted to being awake. The blonde stretched and made her way to the front door to let her best friend in. As soon as Piper opened the door, Polly burst into the apartment with her arms full of bags.
''Pipe, I tried calling you like a dozen times, but you didn't pick up. I was starting to get worried!'' Polly scolded as she made her way into the kitchen and set the bags on the counter as the blonde followed behind.
''Sorry, Pol. I guess I fell asleep. What is all this?'' Piper explained as she looked at the counter.
''How's Alex? Is she okay? I didn't know what to buy. I mean, is a heroin O.D like a hangover? I was scared to google it in case the F.B.I tracked my phone. So, I bought a load of different things. Pancakes and bacon, waffles, smoothies, pop-tarts, protein bars, doughnuts, French toast, fruit salad, bear claws, bagels with cream cheese, breakfast burritos and orange juice.'' Polly explained as she unloaded the food from the bags.
''Alex is okay, she's still asleep. And she didn't O.D! Seriously, why would the F.B.I want to track your phone? Jeez, Pol. You didn't have to buy all this food, that was really nice of you. I'll pay you back.'' Piper replied, touched at her friend's kindness.
''I know she didn't O.D, her heroin hangover or whatever the term for it is, you know what I mean! And I was scared to google the word heroin in case it was like a 'trigger' word the government looks out for or something. Don't worry about paying me back, I put it on the company credit card, we can call this a 'business' breakfast. By the look of this penthouse apartment, Alex could afford to invest some of her millions into our company.'' Polly explained as she finished unpacking the food.
''I'm not sure what the term is but I like 'heroin hangover'. You watch way too much tv, Pol. We can't call this a business breakfast, that's illegal… I think! And I'm not asking Alex to invest in our company, we're doing just fine on our own. Besides, I didn't think you'd want anything to do with drug money!'' Piper said as she looked over the food and picked out a glazed doughnut and took a bite.
''Pete and I spend a lot of time watching tv these days, sometimes I miss being single and going out. Fine, then it's coming out of your pay cheque, Pipe. And drug money is still money.'' Polly replied as she grabbed a bear claw.
''Heroin hangover, I like it.'' Alex said in a huskier voice than normal, startling the women as she entered the kitchen and turned on the coffee maker. ''The correct term you were looking for was a 'come-down', just so you know. Don't worry, the government won't be interested in you googling the word 'heroin', maybe only if you put my name after it.'' Alex said with a chuckle as she glanced at Polly. ''And you don't have to pay for all this on your company card, I'll pay, with my drug money, call it an investment.'' Alex said as she winked at the blonde.
''Alex, I didn't know you were awake. I didn't hear you getting up. It's nice of you to offer your 'investment', but it's okay, we have it covered thanks.'' Piper replied politely as she confidently smiled at the brunette.
Polly looked curiously between the two as she felt the change in atmosphere. Deep down, the blonde wanted her ex-girlfriend to be proud of her for starting her own business and making it successful. She liked the feeling yesterday when the brunette was proud of her, and she didn't want Polly ruining that with her money comment (or lack thereof, as the case may be). Piper still knew her ex-girlfriend all too well after all these years, gone was the sweet, vulnerable, high Alex and back in her place was the sarcastic, smug and bitchy version of Alex. The blonde knew their time together was coming to an end, the clock was running out and she had questions that needed to be answered before it was too late.
Alex continued as she stared at the blonde. ''You know, you never complained about my drug money before, Pipes… when I was taking you all around the world and buying you everything you could have ever wanted.'' Alex said as the coffee maker beeped, she grabbed three cups and began filling them.
''You're gonna name me!'' Piper suddenly blurted out.
''What?'' Alex asked confused with a raised eyebrow.
''You don't have to take me down with you!'' Piper tried to explain before she lost her nerve.
''Is that what all this is about? Is that why you helped me last night and bought me breakfast? You think I'm gonna turn you in?'' Alex asked feeling hurt, the coffee completely forgot about.
''You haven't seen me in 3 years, you had no idea what was going on with me. I'm a different person. I'm building a life!'' Piper tried to explain but she was starting to lose her temper.
''Ohh, hooray for you! It won't be me, Piper!'' Alex replied, feeling her anger build at such an accusation.
''Bullshit, you never ever forgave me for leaving!'' Piper fired back angrily.
''13 people are indited, you met all of them, we travelled together!'' Alex pointed out to the blonde, both completely forgetting about the third person in the room watching intently.
''I know it'll be you!'' Piper replied back calmly.
''No, it won't and fuck you for thinking it will!'' Alex responded with a look of hurt in her green eyes.
''What will they give you? Time off for every innocent person you throw under the bus?'' Piper asked as if she had no part in it.
''Innocent? That is fucking hilarious! You carried that bag, no one had a gun to your head.'' Alex replied offended. ''Your fiancé might buy this bullshit, but I know you. I know you. And there were no complaints when I took you all over the world, but the second shit got real…'' Alex said but was cut off by the blonde.
''You put me in danger!'' Piper protested, butting in.
''You loved it! You were just this boring little girl from Connecticut who wanted to feel special and bad.'' Alex replied in a condescending tone.
''Don't turn this around on me!'' Piper defended.
''I wouldn't name you! And yeah, maybe I never forgave you for leaving… because you broke my fucking heart! And maybe I've done a lot of fucked up things in my life, but I've never lied to you… ever!'' Alex responded, feeling hurt that her ex-girlfriend, the love of her life could think such awful things about her.
With one final look at the blonde, the brunette walked off before her tears began to fall. Alex hated to be vulnerable, especially in front of people. She didn't like letting her guard down, her ex-girlfriend was the only person (except Diane) who was able to break through her walls and see her vulnerable side, now those crumbled walls were back up. That's what hurt the most, knowing that the one person she trusted with her life doesn't trust her with hers. Alex made it to her bedroom and slammed the door just in time as her tears started to flow down her cheeks.
Piper stood motionless in the kitchen as a wave of guilt washed over her. 'Fuck! What have I done!?' Piper thought to herself.
''Jesus, Piper! That was a bit harsh!'' Polly scolded as she reached for her forgotten coffee and handed the blonde hers.
''You don't think I already know that, Polly!? I couldn't help it, once I said it, I just couldn't stop… Damn foot in the mouth disease!'' Piper said as she took a sip of her almost cold coffee.
''I know it was something you were worried about, so was I but you need to make this right. You can't leave it like this, Pipe.'' Polly explained as she downed her coffee and grabbed another bear claw for the road.
''I feel like such an asshole. I mean, she hasn't even talked to the cops yet and here I am accusing her.'' Piper replied as she downed her cold coffee and emptied Alex's forgotten cup into the sink.
''I'll leave you to it. Make this right, Pipe. Call me later or if you need anything!'' Polly said as she gathered her things and hugged her best friend.
''Thanks for everything, Pol. I'll make it up to you!'' Piper replied as she hugged her back.
''Make it up to Alex first. I'll see myself out.'' Polly said then left the apartment.
I hope you enjoyed the update, sorry that it's a short one but I wanted to get it posted. Let me know your thoughts. I'll be back soon. Stay safe!