"You did what?"

After school Tuesday afternoon, Piper couldn't stop pacing back and forth as she nervously bite down on her nails while Alex was just sitting behind her desk, completely pulled together and calm, snacking on healthy veggie chips.

"Relax, Pipes." Alex waved her off dismissively. "And please stop pacing like you're on crack? You're acting like the world's about to fall apart."

"It might as well!" Piper yelled.

"You're so overdramatic, it's entertaining." Alex laughed. "Are you sure you're not an actress?"

Piper rolled her eyes, feeling defeated. "That's not funny, Al."

"Okay." Alex sighed. "Look, it was barely anything. I just kind of slapped some sense into him."

Unbelievable!

"Assaulting a student on school property? You call that nothing?" Piper snapped with wide eyes. "God, what the hell were you thinking Alex? You can lose your fucking job!"

Alex gave Piper a little shrug with that fucking smirk of her and Piper swore she wanted to punch her. And she told her that.

Alex laughed. She threw a chip in the air and threw her head back to catch it in her mouth. "I don't think he's gonna tell."

Un-fucking-believable!

"You don't know that!" Piper yelled. She was so frustrated at Alex waving the fact that she hit Larry like it was nothing. Like her job wasn't on the line any minute now.

"Hey," Alex put the bag of chips on the desk and walked from behind it to stop Piper's continuous pacing. She grabbed her shoulders to keep her in place. Once she thought she got Piper to calm down, she stroked her blonde hair and smiled. "It's fine, okay?"

Piper shook her head. "It's not fine, Alex." She disagreed. "You don't know Larry like I do. He's a whiny little vindictive cunt. Believe it or not, he's a fucking professional at scheming. His father is a big-shot attorney. What might seem like nothing to you right now, can become public scandal headlining: "Teacher Assault Student and is Now Facing Jail Time". And it'll all be my fault." She told. "But mostly because Larry is a major cunt and I know what he's capable of. He doesn't even look like it because he's small, soft and everything but looks can be deceiving. He's a possessive asshole. He sees you as a threat; he'll take care of it. That's who he is. Now he might have the slightest idea that you care about me. If he sees I have no interest in ever talking to him again, he will figure out that I care for you too and when he does, he'll use it against me." She grabbed Alex's hand and kissed her palm. "If it was anyone else, I wouldn't care, Al. But it's you and I like you too much for that to happen. The only way to hurt me right now is if he hurts you in any way. And I'll be damned if I let that happen." She said her voice soft and weak. "You cannot lose your job because of me, Alex. I will never forgive myself."

Alex's eyes soften. Her breath caught in her throat. She didn't know Piper cared so impassionately about her.

"Come here, beautiful."

She pulled the blonde against her chest and wrapped her arms around her in a warm hug. She buried her face in Piper's hair and kissed her temple.

"Don't worry about me." Alex whispered. "I'll be fine. Nothing's gonna happen."

Piper nodded. "Yeah you will." She said. "This is my mess. I'll fix it."

Alex pulled away, looking down at the petite blonde. "What are you gonna do?"

Piper shrugged. No plans yet. "I don't know." She replied honestly. "Maybe I'll just talk to him. Get back on his good side long enough to make him forget about ever doing anything to jeopardize your career."

Alex's warm eyes turned icy cold.

"Don't give me that look." Piper said, looking away. "I'm not changing my mind about this."

"Don't get back with him on my account, Pipes. Please." Alex pleaded. It shocked her. She never begs. Not for anything. But her she was, begging without even knowing why.

She's seriously fucked.

Collecting herself, she wiped that desperate look in her eyes with a blink before Piper could read further into it like she seems to do with everything.

"Look, he's an asshole okay? You said it yourself. If you don't want him in your life anymore, keep him out. Your choice. I just don't want to see you get hurt. It's all."

Piper smiled. Don't think I didn't see what you did there, Miss. Alexandra Vause.

Rising on her tip-toe, she placed a gentle kiss on Alex's cheek. "I promise I won't get hurt. I'm a big girl. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself."

Lord knows that was such a true statement with a lot of meanings behind it. She's had to take care of herself since she was seven years old. It's kind of second nature to her now.

Alex groaned. Hating the effect Piper has on her. Literally, she can feel the burn that Piper's lips left on her cheek.

"Fine." She pouted.

Piper chuckled. "Stop pouting. It's irresistibly cute when you do that and I might do irrational stuff if you do that again." She warned, not entirely joking.

Alex rolled her eyes. "Don't give me shit for this, Piper." She said. "You're the one turning all Jane Bond on a mission to protect me from the wrath of the scheming, "whiny little vindictive cunt" you call a boyfriend."

At that, Piper threw her head back and she couldn't help but laugh. Alex joined her too in the contagious laughter.

"I told you. I like you. I'll turn into Jane Bond for you any day."

It fells hard to breathe when she says things like that. Fuck.

Calm the fuck down Vause.

"Where's my souvenir by the way?" Piper broke the sudden tension between them.

"It's still in my suitcase." Alex replied. "I haven't even unpacked yet. Too lazy to do anything but eat, watch crappy cable, read and sleep when I get home."

"Loner." Piper teased.

"Ah, it's not all bad." Alex sighed. "I have a lot of fun by myself."

"I'm still available for that 3'a.m. booty call. We can have fun together." Piper smirked.

"You can't say stuff like that." Alex protested.

Piper laughed again. "Relax." She said. "I won't try to get in your panties. I'm not that kind of girl. At least not the ones you're used to."

That surprised Alex. How does she know the types she's used to? Was she really that predictable?

"We'll eat pizza, drink tequila, watch TV, make stupid jokes, dance and maybe make out. But I won't fuck you. Not even if you beg." She winked. "And believe me; I give a good session of torture that eventually leads to the begging part."

Oh my god. It was getting even harder to breathe.

In what world is that supposed to have any good effect in her that didn't involve her picturing Piper on top of her desk?

Alex took a deep breath. Get out of my fucking head, Piper!

"Anyways, just know the offer still stands. I come for free. A loner can only be alone for so long. You're bound to get exhausted of being alone at some point or when you're done with casual hookups." She said.

Alex's eyes widen. "You make me sound like a slut."

Yes casual hookup is her thing. Mind-blowing-fuck with no strings attached. No expectations and no feelings get hurt if she doesn't call back the next day.

It works for her. Therefore, she likes it that way.

"You didn't hear that from me." Piper smiled. "You can be a slut with your body all you want. I'm in no position to judge." She said, leaning forward and touching Alex's chest. "Just don't get slutty with this." She touched the spot beneath her breast and felt Alex's heart nearly ready to explode out of her chest, it was beating so fast. "Hear that? That sound I fucking beautiful. I plan to get there first before I get elsewhere. If you know what am talking about." She winked.

This is unfair. Breathe. Count to ten. Just breathe.

"I don't do relationships." Alex said.

That was her being honest.

"So you say." Piper nodded. "You'll get there. Sooner rather than later. I'm convinced."

"You keep making those promises." Alex smirked.

"Don't underestimate them."

"I-"

Piper's phone beeped in her pocket, interrupting them. Holding up a finger, Piper reached for it and checked the display.

"Damn it." She murmured under her breath barely audible.

How had time fly by so damn fat?

She looked up at Alex who had a curious look on her face.

Be there in 20. She typed back a quick reply.

"You have to go?" She asked.

Piper nodded. "Unfortunately." She replied. "Gotta go to work. A girl's gotta eat and pay the bills."

Not a lie at all.

"I'll text you later okay?" Piper said kissing Alex's cheek again before turning on her heels. "You're awesome, boo."

"I know." Alex said.

Piper shook her head, opening the door. "You're too conceited for your own good." She said.

"I know." Alex repeated smilingly.

Piper flashed her best smile and held up two fingers, making the peace sign. "Later Vause."

Alex waved.

It was nearly 4:30'p.m. She thought she should be on her way home too.

As she gathered her stuff and a pile of paper to grade tonight into her bag, she made a mental note to ask Piper where she works.

888

Guuuys, I'm so sorry for the late update so therefore, I'm hoping this chapter made up for the wait! I'm blown away by the responses this story had gotten so far so I'm hoping this chapter kept you interested. Leave me your reviews and let me know what you thought. Until next time…