A/N: I know it's been forever and a day. Work as been unpredictable. I'm hoping an extra long chapter helps! Be back soon, next installment already started.

I hear a repetitive and unwelcome echo so I bury my head further into my pillow to drown out the intrusion. Fuck my head is throbbing. The noise is getting louder, like a pack of hoof beats in the last furlough of the Kentucky Derby. It has to be 7:00 in the morning, there is no way I've been asleep for more than two hours; who is even doing anything that induces noise at this ungodly hour.

Maybe it's my head. It stops, momentarily, so I close my eyes and drift back to sleep before it comes back. REM seems to be the only Safe Haven from the symptoms of my hangover. I drift into my liberating abyss I recall last evening. A my outer lips curl up and find a smile I know its a symptom of a good night. I slip further into the embrace of comfort I felt when those arms held me tight. I can almost feel them again, but just almost. Something is different. So different that I start to come to.

My lids open but I'm too hung-over for 20/20 vision so I hear rather than see the abductor of my welcome delusion.

"Hey, Pipes."

"Larry?! What the fuck Larry the sun isn't even up yet."

"Actually its like 2 in the afternoon, I've been trying to call you all morning. I got worried enough and I drove over here. When I knocked and you didn't answer I used the key in the frog statue."

"Sorry, Lar, I— Polly and I were out super late."

"Did you have a good girls' night?!" Larry leaned in to pepper the back of my neck with sentiments and wrap his arms around my torso, kind yet untimely arms. Not the arms in the back of my mind.

I know it is wrong; I shouldn't be having these unfaithful thoughts. Larry has done nothing.

Maybe that is the problem. Nothing. After two years, there is no fire. There is no ice. We're just coasting in neutral. I love him but I don't think this is what love is supposed to feel like. I need electric. I need fire and ice. I need a touch that makes my hair stand up all over my body and makes my spine twitch.

"We did, I am sorry sweetie I didn't mean to worry you. I fell asleep as soon as my head it the pillow." Not a lie. I roll over and give him a short kiss on the lips as I climb out from infiltrated happy place. It is the safest option until I can figure out what I feel.

I retreat into the bathroom to run the shower. Larry stays a top my bed and when I come back out to get clean underwear from my dresser he is smiling at me.

"What? I take out my earrings from last night. "What are you smiling at?"

"I got something for you, for tonight. Well, for us."

I am intrigued because this is unlike Larry. He is not one to take initiative so he has my attention. "What do you have?" I walk over to the bed and sit next to him on the side of the mattress.

Larry reached into his front jeans pocket and pulled out two tickets.

"Two tickets to the Rolling Stones cover band playing at Lucky 13 tonight. I know you've been wanting to go."

Larry was right; I have wanted to go. "Ahh! Larry!" I lean down in excitement to show him some light affection. "Thank you, love. That sounds amazing. Are Polly and Pete coming?!"

"They are. Polly wants to get ready with you and then Pete and I will pick you up at 8. I'll let you get ready I just didn't want you to sleep through it."

I cup my boyfriend's face once more with my palms and give him an appreciative kiss before I get off the bed and head to the shower. "I'm going to text Polly and hop in the shower. I'll see you at 8?"

"Yep, I'll see you at 8 Pipes, have fun getting ready." Larry kissed my cheek and left, leaving me to get ready.

xxxxxx

Polly arrived at my apartment around 6:00. After I let her in the front door I head into the kitchen to poor is a very much-deserved glass of wine. I haven't talked to my best friend about the transposing of events last night so I am prepared for the Spanish Inquisition and Chinese water boarding at some point this evening. Polly means well, and I know that she is only looking out for me, but sometimes she doesn't know when to climb down from her 'have to juice everything to the pulp' tower.

"So Pipes, how did the rest of your night go?" Well, that was quick. We haven't even gotten to our wine yet. And of course she asks from the other room where I can't see her face.

"It was good, Pol. Alex dropped me off right after you left. There was nothing too it." That's it Piper, plausible.

I follow her voice back into the living room and deliver her a glass of rose, and hope that it is enough to distract her. "You gotta try this, Pol. Larry's mom got it for me last week at the arts and wine fest."

I take a large sip and sit next to Polly on the couch. My tactics were measurable and stealthy, but not quip enough for the viper speed of her ability to read between the lines.

"I hated to leave you. But it sure didn't same like you were ready to leave."

"Polly! I was having a fun night out and I didn't want to be rude, okay?! Last time I checked being friendly isn't against the law." I didn't quite know if I was trying to convince Polly or convince myself that my little rendezvous with Alex was innocent.

The inquisitive stare from across the couch said that I was going to have to divulge a bit more detail. "Look, Pol," I try to be frank, "I ran into Alex the other day at the cafe. Like literally ran into her and spilled my coffee all over her pants. They were ruined. Then she gave me a ride to work on her bike. Seeing her at the bar last night was a coincidence. She dropped me at the door and that was it. She's friendly."

"Friendly, huh? Polly slugged back her rose and rose to her feet.

"Yes, acquaintances." I watched her keenly. She walked to the side of the couch that hides the space between the armrest and the wall.

"Then why is her flannel over here on the floor?!"

I'm pretty sure I lost consciousness for a second as I sank back into the couch and threw my hands over my face. When I thought it was safe I peeked from the tops of my fingers. Polly was still standing there with Alex's flannel in hand and a smirk across her face.

I was busted. There was no way out of it. "Fuck," I sighed as and took another gulp of my wine.

"Fuck is right, Piper. I saw the way you two were making googly eyes at each other all night. You better start talking and leave nothing out."

At once I stood up and grabbed Alex's shirt from Polly death grip. "Ok, Pol. But I'm going to need more wine and let's take this upstairs; we need to get ready."

I was blushing and Polly held onto her smirk as I devoured the intimate details of my exchange with Alex to my friend as we exchanged outfits in front of the mirror in my bedroom.

With the curling iron on her last section of hair, Polly summarized my feelings of the last 24 hours, "Jesus Piper, if I was single I'd give her MY number. She sounds like she really likes you. And has enough respect for you to understand your hesitance last night." Okay, maybe I fluffed that part up a little.

Polly made a valid point. "That's the problem, I'm not single. I don't get to feel anything."

"Only you know what you deserve feel, babe. Only you know what is going to make you happy. Don't get me wrong- we don't need a repeat of junior year in college when you couldn't decide between Professor Hotty and your boyfriend. You should have some decency in all this."

I slapped Polly's arm playfully from bringing up my less then proud promiscuous days. I decide to put all of my energy into tonight. I am excited for the show and excited to get out.

"I don't know what I feel, Pol." I wanted to push this convention aside before I associated guilt with everything electrical I felt when I kissed Alex. "I don't want to be anywhere else tonight so let's go all out. I'm thinking smoky eyes."

xxxx

The guys got to my apartment at 8:00 and we were going to trek downtown. I walked downstairs in a form-fitting and short dark plum colored dress that had patterns of sequins across the strapless chest. My eyes were dark and I put an extra portion of black eyeliner on. I topped of my outfit with a dark rose lipstick and some slight wave to my blonde layers. Polly's outfit was a bit more mom appropriate and I am pretty sure that her dress had breast-feeding flaps.

"Piper. I cant... I can't describe …how great you look." Larry was staring and walking over towards me in a zombie state. He leaned in for a kiss and I returned. What can I say, I am emotionally vulnerable at the moment and when that happens I need affection. Even though my thoughts thirty minutes ago were on a different brunette.

"Shall we go? Pete better keep her close tonight she's awfully fiery. Wouldn't mind her business all night," I glanced over at my best friend and gave her a wink. We were slightly tipsy and I wanted her to know that I knew she cared about me.

xxxx

The club was packed but we were able to get in with out much of a wait. The band was due to go on in about thirty minutes so Polly and I went to find a booth wile Pete and Larry went to get us drinks.

They returned with a few rounds of tequila and a round a margaritas for Polly and I, and a few beers for themselves.

We all raised a shot glass and toasted to friends, "and girl on girl," Pete added in his Aussie accent. Polly and I made out in front of him once to prove a point and he hasn't let us live it down.

"Sorry, Pete, I only want my lips on one person tonight." Again with my subconscious and its subliminal messaging. I slid over to give Larry a peck on the cheek as the band came out a started playing.

We all stood up and started dancing and drinking. I was feeling no inhibition and letting the music guide my soul. It was my favorite thing to do when there were so many other questions. It is the perfect escape.

Another few rounds and halfway through the first set I was ready for another Margarita, "I'll be right back Larry, I'm going to get another drink." I had to shout closely, it was so packed and so loud. "I need to walk it off a bit too."

"Want me to go sweetheart?"

"No that's okay, Polly has to go to the bathroom anyway."

Polly made a direct run for the ladies room and I staggered to the bar. I should have been paying attention, maybe then I would have been able to determine if it was just my head playing tricks or if the ceiling really was growing further and further away. I'd ask my legs if I could feel them but they are no longer under me. I can tell that my toes are wet and sticky as if I slipped …. Umph. Suddenly I am looking at the ceiling but I'm not on the floor. I am in a set of arms. Wait. I know these arms. These are the arms from my dreams only I am not dreaming...

"Alex."

I'm not dreaming this time. I'm looking right at her and her smirk.

"If I keep breaking your fall, Pipes, I'm going to have to up my comprehensive coverage."

"Alex, what are you doing here?" She helped me back to my feet.

"I'm here to see the cover band. Why are you here?"

"My boyfr—My group is in the corner over there." I was hesitant and suddenly conflicted. I didn't know what the right answer was.

"Are you here by yourself?" I continue to try to glance over the fact that Alex just realized caught my admission that I was here with my boyfriend.

"Ah, the boyfriend." The way she said it; you could hear the disappointment in her voice but she pretended not to care. "I'm here with some friends."

"Alex, about last night—" I didn't

"—Listen. I gotta get these drinks back, Pipes."

She gave me a wink and turned abruptly. I couldn't blame her. I don't really know where I was going anyway and I don't know how to quit while I'm ahead.

So I do the logical thing and grab her arm as she turns away. Instantly we both look down at our connection. The electricity is unmistakable, though Alex is better at plating it cool.

"Can I find you later, Al? I need to talk to you." It was the truth.

Alex responded neutrally and in the most confusing way possible, "Watch out for those puddles, Pipes. You have a knack for finding them." And she walked away breaking our connection.

I felt a pit in my stomach. I'm fucked. I was sure that I felt myself growing into panic. My palms grew sweaty and I could feel the bile rising from my insides. I ran to the bathroom and flung open the door; turned around and locked it. There was Polly pumping at the sink.

"Piper, what's wrong? Are you okay?"

"She's here, Polly. Alex is here."

"Oh shit."