After spending majority of the morning ignoring both Larry's and Mendez's path on Monday, Piper was exhausted.
She was angry with herself for not seeing this coming. Mendez had to really like her to put up with all her shit. He's bailed her out more times than Larry ever had being in the business she is and she always thought it was because he considered her as the older sister he never had but it turns out she was so wrong.
His feelings were much deeper.
How is she supposed to tell Larry about what happened? Should she even tell him?
God. This was going to drive her too crazy.
Having not seen Alex at all during the day since she came late to school this morning, Piper made her way to the third floor as soon as the bell for third lunch rang.
"Damn, I get you at lunch time too?" Alex smirked as she opened the door for Piper.
"Why do I hear complaining?"
The blonde had a pack of mini carrots in her hand and she threw one at Alex as she pushed through the door. Not missing Alex's eyes on her, eyeing her up and down through her floral crop bustier, cashmere cardigan and her high waisted denim shorts that showed off her long olive legs paired with flowered Toms and a simple anklet. Smokey eye makeup that brought out the piercing blue color of her eyes. Her long blonde hair in curly layered waves crowned with a beautiful floral headpiece that matched her bustier and her shoes.
Alex couldn't help but stare. She saw another glimpse of Piper's Polynesian tattoo on her rib and wondered about it.
"You look nice." She finally snapped out of it as she marched back to her desk. "What's the occasion?"
"Seniors' picture day." Piper told her.
"Oh." Alex nods her head.
The morning announcements are the farthest things from her mind in the morning. She forgot all about it. There's supposed to be an assembly for the seniors in the auditorium during the last two periods of the day. She figured that's what it was for.
"Yeah." Piper smiled. "Why exactly do you not use the teacher's lounge like every other staff member?" She asked curiously.
Alex doesn't volunteer for lunch duty in the cafeteria and she doesn't spend her lunch gossiping in the teachers' lounge with her colleagues and Piper found that weird. And there's a very good food there. She just didn't understand why the brunette wasn't using the hell out of the espresso machine like every other teacher.
"Too much." Alex replied, munching on lays baked potato chips. "I don't need to become friends with those people. Thursday meetings are enough."
"You're such a loner." Piper teased.
"Hey, loners rock, kid." Alex said defensively.
Piper chuckled. At that exact moment trying to picture Alex in high school. Cool—careless. She wondered the hallways of her high school in dark jeans; band t-shirts, dark beautiful hair, leather jacket and converse. She could've of easily been a jock but she simply didn't give enough fuck. Didn't have that many friends. Definitely skipped class and she was a hot, charming, sarcastic asshole that other kids respected and feared at the same time. Whether it be because she was tall and mysterious with many masks or simply because she didn't give two fucks about anything. Boys and girls definitely crushed hard on her.
"What do I owe the honor of this visit, Miss. Chapman?" Alex removed her glasses and settled back in her chair with authority.
Piper rolled her eyes. "What? I can't want to spend time with my favorite teacher in the entire world?"
Alex smirked. "Flattered. Definitely. But it's you Piper. Spill it."
"Fine!" Piper groaned. She pulled a desk in front of Alex and sat down. Her legs crossed in a very ladylike way that had Alex's blood firing up.
God! She needs to stop thinking about things she'd like to do to Piper in this very position.
When Piper started speaking, she had not even been listening. Too lost in the blonde's beauty to actually care about a serious conversation.
"Are you listening?"
Alex snapped out of it.
"Yes." She replied. "Continue. What happened?"
"Okay let's say hypothetically something happened to someone."
Alex smiled. "Hypothetically Piper, what did you do?"
Piper winced. "Shut up. Can you just listen?"
"Okay what did that person do?" Alex asked.
"So hypothetically it was the weekend and that person was sitting at her house when she heard a knock on her door. She went to answer and it was one of her friends so she let him in and that friend was really drunk and high and she might or might not have kissed him because she was lonely and nostalgic and may have been thinking about a certain dark-haired brunette."
Alex put her hand up to stop Piper from continuing to ramble "Okay so let me get this straight, you kissed a drunk-high boy while you were thinking about me? I'm going to take offense to that! Gross!"
Piper rolled her eyes "Get over yourself." She waved her hand dismissingly as she continued. "So still hypothetically right, the friend that she kissed happened to be best friends with the girl's boyfriend. Would you tell the boyfriend if it was you."
Alex chuckled "Only you can get yourself in situations like this Pipes."
Piper threw a crumbled piece of paper at Alex. "Don't gloat about this. It's not funny."
"Fine." Alex said seriously. "If it was just a kiss then blame it on alcohol. You don't have to tell muffin top."
"Muffin top?" Piper burst out in laughter with raised eyebrows.
"Yes. The boyfriend."
"His name's Larry."
"Whatever."
"So was it?" Alex asked.
"Was it what?"
"Just a drunk kiss?"
Piper ran her hand through her hair— hesitating to answer.
"Piper?" Alex said, her tone almost alarming. "Oh come on! You and your love triangles!"
"Well he might've or might've not proclaimed his never ending love for me at the moment and he sort of just kissed me and stuff."
"Dramaaaaa!" Alex sing song causing Piper to throw a more effective object at her which Alex caught just in time before it did any serious damage.
"No gloating." Piper said. "God, I suck! I don't know what to do."
"I vote on not telling muffin top. What he doesn't know won't kill him."
Piper thought about that too. But there's that thing you call "loyalty" and she feels guilty enough that it happened. Keeping it to herself and seeing Larry and not telling him is already making her feel crappy.
And it's gonna make hanging out on Friday nights by the River Court awkward since Pornstache always hangs with them too.
And it's not like she didn't already have this conversation with Polly on her way to school to this morning. Polly had suggested the same thing.
It's a fucking curse really. It's like she's destined to fuck up every good thing in her life.
"But that's cheating."
Alex rolled her eyes. "Hardly. Everything's not right or wrong, babe." She said. "I mean it's up to you, if you tell muffin top then you'll have to deal with the fact that two best friends aren't friends anymore because of you." She added. "Tell or don't tell, it's your choice but I say blame it on the alcohol and move on."
"This is all your fault." Piper threw her a glance.
Alex scoffed. "Oh. You bitch?"
Piper laughed. "If only you used that number I gave you."
888
Piper was at home after school counting a stack of money when her phone started vibrating on the kitchen island. Sliding her fingers across the green button, she answered.
It was Larry. She figured it was time she stopped ignoring him.
"What's up honey?" Piper answered.
"I barely caught you at school today." Larry said. "Is everything okay?"
Piper's heart started beating fast. Why wouldn't everything be okay? Did he know anything?
"Yes. Just had to take care of business." Piper replied. "What about you? You okay?"
A pause over the line…
"Not really, Pipes." Larry replied. "I feel like ever since the panic attack—which we never talked about— I feel like there's this big gap between us. Maybe even before that."
Piper raked her fingers through her blonde hair and sighed. "Why didn't you say anything before?"
"I don't know." Larry sounded sincere. "Is there anything going on I should know about?"
There it was goes again. Her heart thumping so fast in her chest, she felt like it was about to explode at any minute.
"No. No. Just stressed, you know." She replied. "Senior year and all. Thinking about college and what's next."
"Yeah, that's really stressful, I guess." Larry said. "But I got an idea."
Of course he does.
"Shoot." Piper replied.
"How about we go catch a movie tonight?" Larry suggested. "Spend some time together like old times."
"That sounds nice." Piper agreed.
"So eight o'clock?" Larry asked.
"See you then."
888
Eight o'clock rolled around and Piper was waiting for Larry to come back with their snack when she thought she spotted a tall brunette at the ticket booth.
A brunette that looked very much like Alex.
What were the chances though? Alex didn't strike her as the type that came to movies but then again, she didn't really know Alex.
Just that she can't seem to stop smiling when she's next to the brunette.
"Are you stalking me?"
Piper jumped at the voice. Looking up, Alex was standing before her in dark jeans, and a black Columbia hoodie and black fold down combat boots. Her hair in a ponytail and black rimmed glasses framed her face.
"You wish." Piper's lips quivered into a smile. "What are you doing here?"
"They're showing this really old but good Russian sci-fi movie with subtitles for the first time in a while and I wanted to see it." Alex replied.
"You speak Russian?" Piper asked with raised eyebrows.
"Maybe." Alex replied smilingly.
Piper titled her head. "Who are you?"
"What do you mean?" Alex asked smirking.
"You're hot— like really, unbelievably, beautifully hot. You're a sarcastic asshole but somehow that makes you cool. I can't figure you out but you're hella smart and you may or may not speak Russian." Piper said. "Who are you?"
Alex was about to answer when she spotted Larry with a bag of popcorn and two large sodas and what looked like nacho cheese.
"Barry here with you?" Alex asked.
Piper rolled her eyes. "How many more nicknames are you going to give him before you get it right?" She asked.
"Did you tell him?" Alex asked.
Piper shook her head knowing exactly what Alex was talking about.
"No." She replied. "It was just a kiss."
"Hm." Alex nodded.
"What?"
"Oh, nothing." Alex smiled. "Go enjoy your movie kid."
Piper looked to see what might've caused the sudden change in Alex's mood and she found Larry approaching them.
Great.
"Text me, you stupid lesbian." Piper bumped her shoulders into Alex's. "Nice sweater, by the way."
Alex stood there for a minute with a smirk across her cheek after Piper left.
Stupid lesbian.
Yeah, right.
What was stupid was that fucking grin on her face.
888
Piper was about an hour into "The Equalizer" when her phone beeped in her hand.
She looked down at the phone in her lap and saw a text from an unknown number.
How's the movie going kid?
She could've sworn her heart skipped a beat. And Larry's obsession with Denzel Washington helped it go unnoticed since his gaze was fixed on the screen.
Alex was texting her. Nobody else calls her kid.
Quickly, she thumbed back a reply: Am I imagining this?
Alex: Nah, I'm kind of bored. Seen this movie too much.
Piper: Uff, lucky me then.
Alex: Yes. Watchu watchin'?
Piper: "The Equalizer…"
Alex: Is it any good?
Piper: Yeah. Somewhat.
…
Alex: Lol. Did you really just save me as "Stupid Lesbian"? on your contact
Piper: Creepy how you know that…
Alex: It says it on my phone.
Alex: Change it. I want something cute and flattering.
Piper: Hot Sugar. That' make you feel better?
Alex: No. I sound like a pimp.
Piper: Hey, people don't get nicknames in my contacts.
Piper: I usually have their initials so Hot Sugar it is for you.
Alex: Um lol ok. I'll take it.
Piper: Good. Tell me something about you I don't already know.
Alex: Like what?
Piper: Anything. We're not in school and you're not my teacher right now.
Alex: I do speak Russian. You were right.
Piper: Damn. That sounds hard & cool.
Piper: How'd you learn?
Alex: That's a long story.
Piper: I can listen.
Alex: Let's just say I learned because of my old job.
Piper: What was your old job?
Alex: Aah. It's not that interesting, kid.
Piper: What? You had a shitty boss or something.
Alex: Lol. Yeah. Or something.
Alex: I'm ready to get out of here. I'm bored.
Piper: Gee, thanks, stupid lesbian.
Alex: I want tequila. That's why I'm bored.
Piper: I love tequila!
Alex: You drink?
Piper: Why does that surprise you?
Alex: Good question. I don't know.
Piper: Can I come?
Alex: Sure but what about Parry?
Piper: Jeez Alex. Larry. His name is Larry for the fiftieth time.
Alex: Who gives a fuck?
Alex: You can't just leave him in the theater.
Piper: Why not?
Alex: Damn you're cruel.
Piper: Haha. I've been told.
Alex: I don't like Carry but you can't just leave him.
Alex: No matter how flattered I feel.
Piper: Oh fuck you!
Alex: Anytime babe. Anytime.
Piper: Are you flirting with me Alexandra?
Alex: Shit. You sound like my mother.
Piper: No disrespect to your mother. But ewe.
Piper: Why don't you like my boyfriend?
Alex: I never said I didn't.
Piper: Eh, ya did.
Alex: Oh. Maybe I did.
Piper: Explain yourself.
Alex: He looks like a Muppet.
Piper: OMAGAAAAH! Stop!
Alex: You asked.
Piper: My boyfriend's cute
Alex: Whatever helps you sleep at night, kid.
Piper: Dickhead.
Alex: Nah. That's gross.
Piper: Ok. I'm counting on that drink.
Alex: You got it.
Piper: Breakfast tomorrow?
Alex: Can't kid. I got leave for some stuff for a few days.
Piper: Why didn't you tell me today at school?
Alex: I dunno.
Piper: How long is a few days?
Alex: Rest of the week.
Piper: Damn, you just ruined my night.
Alex: Sorry.
Piper: It's fine. I'll text the hell out of you.
Piper: You won't even get to miss me.
Alex: Somehow that scares me.
Piper: I don't bite. Relax.
Piper: We get along just fine.
Alex: True.
Piper: So Columbia, hunh?
Alex: Yeah. Not for long though.
Piper: Oh?
Alex: Dropped out after a semester.
Piper: Fuck? Why?
Alex: I didn't plan to go to college.
Piper: Oh? Why not?
Alex: No mullah, no schoolah.
Piper: But you're a teacher so I guess everything worked out.
Alex: Something like that.
Alex: What about you kiddo? You're pretty smart.
Alex: Any plans after high school.
Piper: I don't think college is for me.
Alex: That's what I said when I was your age.
Piper: Yeah. I actually mean it.
Alex: Did you take the SAT's?
Piper: No. That test is too fucking long.
Piper: I don't have the patience.
Alex: Lol. Take it just in case, kid.
Alex: It might help you in case you decide you want to go to college.
Piper: I'm far too fucked up for that.
Piper: College is for people who have time.
Alex: What happened to you, Piper?
Piper: That topic's for another day.
Piper: Maybe when I get that drink.
Alex: On second thought, you should leave Barry.
Alex: Let's get the fuck outta here and you can tell me all about you.
Piper: I seem to remember you saying that'd be cruel.
Alex: Okay fine. Another day.
Piper: Hey, what about you?
Piper: You seem to know an awful lot about me.
Piper: I know absolutely nothing about you. Other than the obvious.
Alex: You know enough about me.
Piper: Oh really?
Alex: Yeah.
Piper: I'm not convinced.
Alex: I'm your teacher. There are some stuff that are off limits to talk about.
Piper: Oh bullshit. Don't use that card.
Piper: What you & I do/say to each other outside of school is no one's business.
Piper: I'm pretty sure if I dig, I'll find plenty.
Alex: Suit yourself.
Piper: You intrigue me. I'm not afraid to admit it.
Alex: I'm glad.
Piper: I know you like me.
Alex: Ummm…
Piper: Yeah. I see the way you look at me when you think I'm not paying attention.
Piper: Kinda like today.
Alex: You sure do have a flair for the dramatic kid.
Piper: Oh boohoo. Just say it.
Alex: Say what?
Piper: You know what.
…
Piper: Fine, don't say it.
Piper: But I like it when you look at me like that so it's flattering I guess.
Piper: Something about how wrong and naughty it is makes me hot.
"Jesus Christ!" Alex mumbled out loud.
Alex: Whatever you say Pipes.
Piper: Exactly. Whatever I say.
Piper: Cause I'm the princess.
Alex: Sure. Lol.
Piper: You're still watching the movie?
Alex: Nah. I left.
Piper: Where are you?
Alex: Liquor store.
Alex: I told you I wanted tequila.
Piper: Where are you heading for your trip?
Alex: New York.
Piper: You're killing me, here, Vause.
Alex: Why?
Piper: I told you, I like you.
Piper: Your smart-ass smirk gets me through the day. I'm going to miss it.
Alex: Lol kid. You make it sound like I'm leaving for good.
Piper: It's going to feel like it.
Alex: Don't be ridiculous. I'll come back. I promise.
Piper: Okay.
Piper: I'd be pissed off.
Piper: You didn't say it yet.
Piper: But I'll wait.
Piper: However long it takes.
Piper: Actually nah, fuck that.
Piper: I'll give you some time.
Piper: And then, I'll get what I want.
Alex: I'm not following.
Piper: You'll see.
Piper: You & I, Vause.
Piper: One day.
Alex: That sounds kinda promising.
Piper: It is.
Alex: You're crazy.
Piper: Watch.
Piper: You'll be amazed.
888
I don't know guys! I kinda felt like the texting thing should start but at the same time, I think I screwed up this chapter. Anyways, here it this. I hope you guys enjoyed it. Things are starting to move a little faster and even though most of you don't like Mendez, he has to be there. At least for a little while and I promise to make it worth it. Please review and let me know your thoughts on this chapter. Until next time…