Once she returns to her parent's house. She steals a few minutes with her Dad.
"So I hear you were supposed to pick your security detail today. How'd it go and who did you select?"
"It went wonderfully Daddy!" she hands him her list with a huge smile on her face.
"I've seen the latest reports on each of them. They have one more big test, but at the moment all are above the 90% mark. I'm thrilled that you've chosen just a great team Princess!"
"Thank you Daddy!," Piper says blushing. "Oh before I forget, let's re-visit my living situation."
"Sure Princess. I have looked into properties close to your college. I think there are some suitable two-bedrooms and even a three-bedroom available that have been renovated within the last year or so. I'll give you the number of the realtor I've been speaking to, so you can set up the viewings. Are you wanting to live alone or with a roommate other than Polly."
"Thank you. I'm not sure yet. I'll get back to you on that. I do know I'd like to be moved before classes begin in a couple of weeks. Did the realtor say if any were move in ready immediately?"
"I think some are. Put you'll have to ask Sandra about that when you call her."
"I will. So upon certification what happens next with my team? I realized that I don't even know where the current team lives. Together? Separately?"
"Piper, Friday is the dorm check-out day for all certified trainees. Your current detail all live within ten minutes of you. I'm sure it would be the same for your chosen detail as well. Sometimes team members live together. Sometimes they live separately. I think it was more to do with their personal choices. What made you curious Princess?"
"I was curious if there were any rules or guidelines on that. I considered Alex for a moment. But I'm about to be her boss, so I wouldn't want her to feel pressured into it just because I asked."
Watching his daughter carefully, "If you'd like, I'll speak to her and try to feel her out. Let her know she is in no way obligated to, but if she is interested, that there's a possibility of you two becoming roommates."
"I'd like that. I've never wanted anyone from any past detail in my private space. I dunno, maybe it's because she a female or that we're already having such captivating conversations. Unlike Polly, who pushes my last nerve, Alex's presence calms me."
"Have you told Polly yet that you no longer wish to live with her yet?"
"No, not yet. I'll start dropping hints, but I don't want to flat out say anything until after I've seen the property options." Piper stares at her Dad and shakes her head. "I mean how do you tell your best friend that you love her but if you keep spending so much time together you'll probably kill her."
Bill laughs, "that would certainly be a conversation I'd want nothing to do with. I'll have Alex called to my office tomorrow and let you know how it goes."
"Thanks Daddy. I think I'll be heading back in the morning. Hopefully I'll get to meet with Sandra in the next couple of days."
Piper calls Sandra en route. Seems she will get to see apartments the next day. Piper feels things are really coming together. She tries to avoid Polly for the next day and a half. Thankfully Polly is not around when she walks into the apartment. Settling into her room, she opens the email about the properties Sandra intends to show her the next day. Piper is happy to have another quick project to dive into.
Piper answers her phone without looking and is glad it's her Dad's voice. "Princess, I had a chat with Alex this morning. It seems she hadn't solidified a plan, because she didn't know where she would be assigned after certification. Before entering training she had been living with her Mom in New Jersey. I told her where your school was and that the entire team would need to be based there. She understood and said she'd need to start looking at places after she's certified."
"And did you tell her about my possibility Daddy?"
"Yes Princess. I mentioned that you were about to look at a new living situation for yourself and the possibility of you getting a new roommate. I noticed her paying even more attention, so I asked her if that is something she would be interested in. She said yes and I made sure she understood that this was in no way an order and that she could say no if it's not something she would want. So I asked her again, and she once again said she would be interested. She gave me her personal cell phone number and asked if you'd call her and discuss it." He texts her Alex's number.
Piper is bubbling with excitement as they arrive at where Sandra requested a meet-up. "Hi! I'm Piper."
"It's nice to meet you. I've been briefed on your situation by Bill. He had said you're hoping for a quick move in."
"Yes, I start a new semester in a couple of weeks. I'm hoping to be all moved in before then. Are any of the properties we're viewing today capable of such a quick turn around?"
"Yes. I'll make sure to point that out as we view them. Do you want a coffee or anything before we begin?"
"No thank you."
"Okay our first property is on this block. Do you feel like walking?"
"Sure. Let me tell my security detail what's up."
"Donovan." Once he approached her she lays out the plan.
"Take Ben with you. The rest of will keep an eyes on the surroundings. After this first property why don't you suggest her riding with us for the rest of the viewings"
"Okay, I will." Piper heads back towards Sandra, calling out Ben's name and signaling him to follow.
Piper took careful notes on each property. She planned to describe her favorite move-in ready places to Alex. Piper really liked the fourth property, but still wanted to see the three bedroom, she was hoping to create a home office in the spare room. Turns out it was the last property they saw. Piper fell in love with it immediately. After double checking that she could in fact move into either of her top two choices within the time frame, they deposited Sandra back at her car. Piper promised to call her with a choice within the next few days.
After picking up some restaurant take out, her detail deposited her at her apartment. After grabbing a drink she took everything to her bedroom. Thrilled at once again missing Polly. Though there a couple of texts from Pol blinking on her phone. Instead of bothering with them, she called the person she had been wanting to talk to all day.
"Alex, hey this is Piper. My Dad texted me your number. He said you wanted to discuss the possible living situation."
"Yeah. He gave me a quick rundown, but I wanted to hear your thoughts and feelings."
Piper's face lights up with a genuine smile. "Well I'm not happy with my current roommate. I think I've mentioned Polly to you."
"Yeah, Pipes. I remember the name. Your best friend I believe you said."
Piper catches and loves the nickname Alex has just called her. "That's right. Only she probably won't be if I have to keep living with her. She really pushes me to my limits, especially the last few weeks.."
"That bad huh?!" With a smirk, or at least Piper imagines one, Alex continues. "So that's why you wanna move."
"Yeah, I kinda have to take Pol in small doses," Piper sighs. "I looked at a bunch of properties and found two that I really liked that I can move into before my semester starts."
"That sounds great Pipes. It's okay to call you that, isn't it?"
"Yes Al. In fact I kinda like having a nickname that only you call me."
Alex finds herself grinning from ear to ear. "I like that too Pipes."
"I just realized that I haven't asked you about after certification and if you would want to be my roommate."
"I need to find a place near you one way or the other. If you don't think you'd tire of me working for you and living with you that would save me a lot of time apartment looking. Are you sure that too much of me won't make you feel like Polly does?"
"Alex, if thought that I wouldn't have mentioned it to my Dad. And even though we haven't known each other long, I already know that your presence affects me in a totally different way than Polly's does. So yes Al, I really would like to have you as a roommate."
"What different ways? I wanna understand how you feel."
"Well Polly, she's all into all of what comes from my supposed reputation. She wants all the parties and the royal treatment she gets from being around me. Always pushing me into doing those kinds of things, even though I like them less and less. She can be quite shallow and completely boy crazy. She was watching the initial trainee videos with me, and I swear 95% of her comments were about appearance. I find myself becoming increasingly frustrated with her, and try best to avoid her, to not have that energy around me. Does that makes any sense?"
"Yeah it does. My best friend is Nicki and as I mentioned she truly has no filter, always saying inappropriate comments or trying to either upset someone or make them blush. But sometimes it's just too much ya know. I truly care about her but often wanna knock her upside the head." Alex gathers her thoughts before asking what she really wants to know. "So Pipes, how do I affect you?"
"I can't really put a finger on why or how, but I find myself feeling calmer and more at ease in your presence. It's not a connection I've ever really felt with anyone. I also find you incredibly fascinating and want to learn all that makes you uniquely you. I also really enjoy our conversations."
"I feel a connection with you too." 'Not like I'd admit all the feelings I feel. That would probably cost me my job.' "I find myself wanting to know more about you as well Pipes. I appreciate our conversations and even the silences don't feel odd."
"Is that a yes Alex, would you like to be my roommate?" Piper doesn't notice herself holding her breath while waiting for a reply.
"Yes I would. My only caution is what I can afford. We won't learn any details about money or anything until after we're certified."
"Would you like to hear about the two places I liked?"
"Yeah Pipes. I'd like that."
"Okay one is a two-bedroom, the other is a three-bedroom. And surprisingly, the larger one isn't that much higher. Both have been updated in the last few years, so the kitchens have stainless steel appliances. They are both a five to ten minute walk to campus. With the larger one, I was thinking we could have an office. That's something I don't currently have but would certainly appreciate. I'm incredibly organized and having a dedicated work space would be great. We could even do dual desks, since I'm sure you'll have paperwork to fill-out. I took pictures of both properties if you'd like to see them."
"That would be great. Help me to get a real visual. I'll text you my email when we finish talking." 'I really hope the money allows me to do this. The last thing I want to do is get her hopes up.' "Hey Pipes could you breakdown the costs of the places so I can set-up a budget once I learn my salary?"
"Sure thing Alex. I'm really glad you want to be my roommate."