Thanks for the reviews!
I had planned this out to be a fairly unique concept compared to what sort of stories you may normally read on here, so I'm pleased some of you already seem to feel that way. These ideas are all coming from my own brain - no other source of inspiration for the plot other than the show itself, so I hope my writing continues to give off that intended impression throughout.
A beam of light shining through the curtains wakes Alex from her sleep, leaving her in an instant state of irritation. She'd been working late the last few nights, and although taking a long work-free summer break was relaxing, she wasn't quite prepared for the backlog of work she would have to be catching up on.
Rolling onto her back, the brunette lays in silence, basking in the only time of day it seems as though she has no one bothering her or asking irrelevant questions about new pieces of work. That bubble soon shatters when an arm stretches across her stomach, resting under the space of the black tank top she had put on before bed, followed by a head nuzzling into her neck, letting out a sleepy sigh.
Smiling to herself, Alex looks at the hand resting on her stomach, and then turns her head slightly, looking to see if her companion is awake. Seeing that she isn't, the brunette tries to close her eyes and revel in her current state of comfort, yet it appears her shuffling had the opposite effect on her fiancée.
Feeling a vibrating sensation on the surface of the skin of her neck – indicating that she is being spoken to, Alex turns her head while smiling.
"What was that?"
"I said: stop moving," the woman says, pulling away from Alex's neck while opening her eyes.
"Sorry," the brunette chuckles, moving one final time so that she's lying on her side. "It's 7."
"What the hell, Alex. I don't have work until 10."
"I know, but I have work at 8; thus, I am awake."
"Can't you go in late today?" Sylvie asks, moving her hand along Alex's bony hip.
"I'm afraid not," Alex replies, giving an amused look. "I have some meetings today."
"You sure," the smaller woman asks again, moving her hand lower.
"Positive," Alex says, grabbing the roaming hand. "Later," she concludes, giving the woman next to her a peck on the lips before getting out of bed and heading towards the bathroom.
Waking up early was never something Alex enjoyed – in fact, she hated it, and worst of all, having a day full of meetings was something she found equally as unenjoyable.
By the time she reaches her office – managing to somehow avoid the flood of people that seem to think she's always available to answer queries regardless of the time of day, Alex sits down to check her notebook, looking through the order of her scheduled timetable. Thursdays are always busy for the brunette – something she choses to sacrifice so that she can leave early on Fridays, yet in looking through the number of appointments she has booked – 7 to be exact, it isn't until 5:30 that she has something to actually look forward to, given the fact that her last meeting of the day is paired with – noted down in a scribbled fashion - Piper.
She loves working with the younger woman; forever in awe of her thinking and brain processing, and up until recently, the brunette is extremely intrigued by where the blonde is going with her book. Given her status in the media, Piper – by far – is her most well-established client, and more so, she considers her a friend – a best friend in fact. She revels in seeing the young blonde blossom from where she had found her as a struggling writer who seemed to be doubting her own abilities, to being confident and self-assured in her work, while not letting her fame get to her head.
"Change in your schedule, Alex," her assistant voices, having knocked on the door and peaked her head as Alex sits at her desk eating her lunch, having already sat through 3 meetings so far.
"Again?" Alex huffs while tilting her head back. "Alright – send it over. Thanks Allison," she then adds, noting the sympathetic smile she received before the door once again closes over.
The email notification fills her screen, and putting down her sandwich, Alex clicks open the page and then the most recent email in her inbox. In skimming through the email and seeing the name 'Piper Chapman', the word 'cancellation' and the phrase 'out of town' in the brief paragraph, Alex places her elbow onto the desk in a dramatic fashion, resting her head on her fingers.
It had been a month since she had been to the blonde's house for dinner, and in that space of time, she had hardly heard from the younger woman – only receiving a text every now and again about work related content. Why didn't she tell me?, Alex thinks to herself when she realises that the blonde went out of her way to tell her assistant about the last minute change and not herself like she normally – albeit not very often - would have done.
Now in an even worse mood, Alex looks for an appropriate time to reschedule their meeting at some point in the next coming week and sends the information back over to her assistant. Being that she has another 20 minutes until her next client meeting, Alex grabs her mobile and calls Piper.
The phone line rings and after 4 rings it's finally answered.
"Hello," Piper huffs, sounding out of breath down the phone.
"Piper?" Alex says, sounding concerned. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I was running," the blonde admits. "What's up?"
"What do you mean 'what's up', Piper? Where are you?"
"I'm in LA."
"What the hell are you doing in LA? You were supposed to be meeting me."
"I know, and I rescheduled – weren't you told?"
"My assistant just informed me now, yes. Answer the question, Piper."
"I have a photoshoot for the book."
"The book we were meant to be checking through together," Alex pauses, running a hand through her hair. "I get the feeling you're avoiding me."
"I'm not avoiding you, Alex," Piper says down the phone, sounding preoccupied. "I don't have to tell you about everything that I'm doing you know."
"Well I'd appreciate it if you did when it concerns me and my work schedule. You do realise that I'm practically your boss in this situation, Piper, not your friend. I can't keep changing my day around because you're booking last minute appointments," the brunette admits, annoyed. "Are you even listening to me?" she asks due to Piper's lack of response. "Piper?"
"Sorry," the blonde apologises after the long period of silence. "Someone wanted a picture."
"You've got to be fucking with me," Alex says, reaching her limit.
"What? I couldn't just ignore them."
"And doing that to me is just fine? You need to start acting professional about this, Piper, because you're really starting to piss me off with your cancellations."
"Okay."
"Okay? That's all you have to say? Okay?"
"What else do you want me to say?"
"How about: I'm sorry, Alex, that I'm being irritating and am making your life at work a living hell. I promise I'll come and see you as soon as I'm back?"
"Don't be like that, Al. I am sorry – you know I can't do much about this. I'll be there next week – I promise."
Not wishing to entertain the conversation further, Alex hangs up the phone, opening her bottom desk drawer and throwing the phone inside. She knows she's overreacting over this whole thing – Piper had only cancelled twice throughout this last month, yet in being swamped with work, the brunette is finding everything overwhelming.
The rest of her meetings are relatively useful – none of which surprisingly added to her state of agitation, and being that Piper cancelled, when it reaches 5:30, Alex is done for the day. Well, that's what it says on paper, yet in suddenly being given all of this free time, she takes the chance to try and finish catching up on everything she is behind on.
It's the sound of her computer that jolts Alex awake. How long was I sleeping for?, she thinks, looking around her dark office that is lit by a lamp post on outside shining through the window. Her computer screen, she sees, is illuminated by some of Piper's most recent work – something the brunette had read several times already despite finding no faults – not that she would want to admit that to anyone aloud. Biting down on her lip, she contemplates reading through the intimate passage again, yet decides there really is no need. In seeing that it's nearing 3am, Alex closes down her computer and looks for her phone, huffing at the thought of the guaranteed damage control she'll need to carry out given her current state of MIA.
Opening her bottom desk drawer, she checks her notifications and by God were there a lot of them. Most were from Sylvie, which successfully make her eyes roll back, a few messages were from some clients, and one was from Nicky. Clicking on her best friend's text, Alex's mood softens at what she sees.
Nicky: I'm fucking done with this woman of yours, Vause. If she doesn't begin to shut the fuck up about you always being at work, then I'm going to rip her voice box out.
Laughing to herself at her friend's theatrics, she replies.
Alex: I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about, Nichols.
Alex: However, it's noted.
Directing her attention to the spam of calls and messages from the woman waiting at home for her, Alex lets Sylvie know what she's 'working late' via text, and goes to shut the drawer, but pauses upon having something catch her eye.
Lifting up a folder, the brunette is given a full view of a magazine – one of which she had reluctantly kept. Taking it out and turning it to a specific page, her jaw clenches as she observes the images a drunken Piper on a night out – one in particular where she's sloppily kissing a man – along with the headline: 'Looks like Piper Chapman's book sales aren't the only thing boosting at the minute!'.
The article had come out just after the release of the blonde's first book – a – although particularly minor in the end – scandal that her publicist managed to deal with very efficiently. Alex remembers the night clearly – seeing Piper drinking one too many, go off dancing with a man and then leave rather promptly in his company.
Letting out a heavy breath at the memory, Alex shuts the desk drawer and gets up. Walking over to the bin, she rolls up the magazine and throws it away – that isn't something I need to worry about anymore, she reminds herself, before moving to lie down on the sofa at the side of her office. It isn't that often that the brunette finds herself staying overnight at work, but given the recent stresses that seem to be entering her life, it seems as though it might become more of a regular occurrence.
Feeling as though she's being watched, Alex is pulled out of her dreams and opens her eyes to see someone standing in her office. Reaching over to grab her glasses, she hooks the arms over her ears, trying to give off a sincere smile as she sees her fiancée standing in her office.
"How did you get in here?" Alex asks, voice rough with sleep.
"I turned the door handle…" Sylvie sasses, shifting on the spot. "You don't seem too happy to see me," she adds, looking down at the tall brunette lying down on the sofa.
I thought I told Allison to not let her in here, Alex thinks to herself, trying hard to hide the fact that this is not how she wished to start her morning."Well I have just woken up after having about 5 hours of sleep, so excuse me if I don't look too thrilled by your arrival."
"You work way too much, Alex. If it wasn't for the summer break you took, I don't think I'd ever see you."
"We've been through this, Sylvie," the brunette begins, sitting up on the sofa, which the red-haired woman takes as an invitation to approach. "I can't let my clients down."
"But you can let me down?"
"What by earning us an above average income? Yeah because that has shitty girlfriend written all over it."
Placing her legs either side of Alex's thighs, the red-haired woman settles into a straddling position.
"Don't you mean fiancée," she smiles, raising an eyebrow before leaning forward to connect their lips. "Mm I missed you last night."
Not wanting to argue, Alex sinks into the kiss, reciprocating gently, but doesn't give back the sentiment, instead refusing to allow the woman on top of her access to her mouth with her probing tongue.
Placing her hands on her fiancée's hips, Alex squeezes the skin, feeling herself getting worked up as lips move along her jaw and to the column of her neck.
Neither woman hears the knocking on the door, and when it opens, Alex certainly wasn't prepared for what she would see.
Upon lowering her head, the brunette sees a stunned – awkward even, looking Piper standing at the opening of her door, which causes her reflexes to slip into action. Moving her hands to Sylvie's shoulders, Alex pushes her fiancée away, in which she receives an additional look of confusion.
"Alex – what the-" Sylvie begins, but is cut off as the woman below her begins to speak.
"Hi, Piper, sorry I wasn't expecting you," Alex admits while trying to distance herself from her fiancée.
"It's fine," the blonde's voice comes out quietly. "I should have assumed you'd be busy."
Alex watches the younger woman and takes the opportunity to examine her. She's tired – incredibly so, the brunette notes, and if it weren't for the fact that she had a woman shuffling on top of her legs, she may have noticed the pain-filled expression covering the blonde's features along with her sunken shoulders and drained blue eyes.
"I can come back later," Piper offers. "It was nice seeing you again, Sylvie," she adds, attempting a close-lipped smile before leaving the room.
Springing forwards, Alex moves to go after her, but with two hands being placed on her shoulders, pushing down hard, she lands with her back to the sofa.
"Where do you think you're going?" Sylvie asks with darkened eyes.
"I've gotta start my work," Alex says, not wanting to admit that her schedule for the day is relatively empty. "We can continue this later over dinner?"
"You said that the other day."
"Yeah, but this time I promise," the brunette tries to persuade, smiling.
"Gosh I can't wait to marry you," Sylvie voices, grabbing Alex's face one final time to fuse their lips together before getting up to leave the building. "See you at home?"
"Be there or be square," the brunette tries to flirt, despite feeling as though a large bucket of iced water had just been poured all over her body.
"Why the fuck aren't you answering, Alex!" Piper says more so to herself than anyone else as she stands outside the airport in the early morning light waiting for her Uber. She had flown back from her photoshoot in LA earlier than originally planned, and despite how many times she tried to persuade herself differently, it had everything to do with feeling guilty over her conversation with Alex.
Deciding that telling Alex's assistant would make the entire process easier was a decision the blonde never thought would have come to bite her back in the ass. Getting on an earlier plane was no trouble - the photoshoot had already been completed, but throughout the entire flight, no matter how many times she thought of addressing the never-ending thread of throats floating around in her head to the brunette, she couldn't see an outcome that didn't result in ruining the chances of her book being published, as well as ruining their relationship entirely.
Being that she travelled light, when her Uber arrived, the blonde directed the driver straight to Alex's work place, wanting to make sure that everything was okay between them before she thought of discussing anything else. She knew Fridays were Alex's 'free days' as she liked to call them, and although it was indeed quite early, the blonde was sure that Alex would at least be making her way into work. So as she walks into the building, greeting several familiar faces on the way, Piper feels relatively optimistic, well - that was until she walked in on something rather crushing.
This isn't how she'd envisioned meeting Alex's girlfriend - fiancée - for the fourth time - well, it's better than it being at the altar, she goes on to remind herself. At first, it seems as though Alex doesn't look invested in the kiss, but in hearing a groan when lips move to her neck along with observing the brunette's hands grip at the flesh of the woman resting on top of her, she has to look away. This can't be happening - not after what had happened the day before over the phone, and taking one last look at Alex before she turns to leave, Piper sees the brunette's eyes shoot open, seeming as though she's switched to a mode of panic.
Throughout the brief interaction, Piper does her best to hide how the situation is making her feel - she may have come across as uncomfortable, but she'd rather that than the truthful alternative. Worst of all, the internal debate as to whether she should address Sylvie or not is one in which the blonde eventually gives in to - she may as well try and be nice to the red-haired woman if she's the one Alex is choosing to spend the rest of her life with.
Being that she ordered a cab, Piper knew she couldn't just leave the building and walk home given her status as a celebrity, so doing what she does best, she walks along the corridor, into the - conveniently - empty toilets, and tries to compose herself after locking herself in a cubicle. She refuses to run away from the situation - well, not entirely, and can only hope that the couple hadn't continued where they left off after her quick departure.
Other than the imagery of walking in on Alex and Sylvie going at it for the second time, something else is running through the blonde's head. Upon leaving the room, she noticed a familiar looking magazine - the issue being one that she'd - unfortunately - never forget for the rest of her days. Why did Alex still own that? Did she keep it? That moment was never a high point in her career, but how could she blame herself when she had a perfectly good reason behind acting out like she did. Of course she had never revealed the real reason as to why she did what she did that evening; she's surprised that no one close to her had ever cottoned on given the timing of the article's publishing and the agitating addition to their group upon that night.
Exiting the cubicle and looking in the mirror - checking that her mascara hasn't ran excessively, the bathroom door suddenly opens and - ever so surprisingly - Alex enters.
"There you are," she says, sounding as though she's out of breath.
"Did you run here or something?" Piper asks, not looking away from where she's wiping her eye in the mirror.
"Mm-hmm. Something like that."
"How did you find me?"
"Allison."
I knew I shouldn't have spoken to her, Piper thinks, before turning away from the mirror to face the taller woman.
"Listen, Piper, I'm sorry about earlier-" Alex begins, but in seeing the redness of her counterparts eyes, she pauses, before digressing. "Are you okay?"
"Never better," Piper says sarcastically, moving to walk past the brunette. "Shall we do this in your office, or do you still have company?"
"Pipes-" Alex pleads, gripping at the blonde's forearm as she tried to walk past. "What's the matter. You know you can tell me anything, right?"
"Yeah, I know I can," Piper honestly answers, before diverting from that entirely. "I'm just tired from travelling. I came home early to apologise."
"You didn't have to do that."
"I did. Or at least I needed to for myself. You're right - I need to act more professional about this whole thing," the blonde begins, trying to sound as though she's alluding to the words Alex had spoken the day before on the phone, and not the mantra she'd been telling herself over having to control her feelings.
"You know I didn't mean that. I was stressed."
"Because of me, Alex. You shouldn't be stressed out - that should be me feeling that way. I mean, I'm the one writing a fucking book," she chuckles.
"Why don't we talk this out over breakfast," Alex voices, sensing that this conversation isn't getting anywhere at this current moment in time.
Looking into Alex's tired green eyes, Piper takes pity on the older woman, deciding that she can do this; she can act platonic around the older woman - she's been doing it for nearly 3 years, so carrying that on for a bit longer won't bring her any harm.
"So I'm not allowed to know the contents of this photoshoot?" Alex asks while taking a bite of her pancakes.
"Nope," Piper admits, chuckling at the maple syrup drizzling down the brunette's chin. "You've got a little something going on over there," she reveals, wondering if her counterpart has noticed.
"Where?" Alex asks, looking down at her body assuming she had dropped some food.
"Let me," Piper says, leaning over and using her thumb to catch the drip of syrup on the edge of the older woman's chin, sliding it upwards until she reaches just below her bottom lip, collecting the sticky substance. "There you go," she comments politely, relaxing back in her seat as she picks up her napkin and cleans her thumb.
"Thanks," Alex finally answers, seeming as though she's lost in a daze as she gazes into Piper's blue oceans, mouth slightly agape.
"Let's just say I think this one will be a real crowd pleaser," the blonde continues, acting as though nothing had just happened.
"It will be - it's you. Everyone loves you," Alex smiles, happy for the younger woman's growing success.
Except you, Piper thinks, yet instead smiles, all the while appreciating the gesture.
"So how've you been?," the blonde changes the topic, feeling as though she's missed talking to the brunette about something other than her book; conversation with Alex had always been effortless.
"Work's been both keeping me on my feet and fucking up my sleeping pattern; Nicky won't get off my back about going out tonight, and Sylvie won't shut the fuck up about wedding planning," the brunette admits, running a hand through her long, dark hair.
Taking a deep breath, Piper fights the urge to close her eyes over - it was bound to come up, she reminds herself, knowing she can't keep reacting like this whenever Alex talks about or briefly mentions her wedding.
"I guess she just can't wait to become Mrs Vause," Piper tries to joke despite cringing inside at the thought of someone else taking Alex's last name. "What? Too much?" she asks, given the look of disgust the brunette gives her.
"It's just… I don't know if I'm ready," Alex admits quietly, diverting her eyes down to her hands.
"You've been together for over 2 years, Al. What aren't you ready for?"
"I don't know? Commitment? Her? It's hard to rummage through my own thoughts sometimes when she's always just… there. It can be overwhelming."
Piper watches the older woman, wondering how long she'd been feeling this way. A small - okay, large - part of her feels a sudden rush of hope being that Alex is having her doubts when it comes to marrying Sylvie, but that doesn't mean that it has anything to do with her. Not wanting to let her own feelings get in the way of Alex's happiness, the blonde decides to offer advice she deems constructive; she cares for the older woman after all.
"Maybe you're working too much."
"Ugh, please - now you," Alex groans, this time putting her head in her hands.
"I'm not telling you to change your schedule, Al," Piper begins, smiling as the brunette's fingers widen, giving a small pathway for her vision. "You should get out more. Go out this evening with Nicky. Spend some time with your friends and don't feel guilty if you have to cancel our 10am on a Monday because you're still hanging in there."
"Will you come with me?" Alex asks, moving her hands away from her face entirely.
"Hmm?"
"This evening. I want you to come with me."
"Are you sure, Al? I don't want to intrude."
"You're never intruding, Piper. And I'm sure Lorna would love to see you."
"First round on you?" the blonde asks, smiling.
"If that's what it takes," Alex agrees, mirroring Piper's toothy smile.
Even from outside the club in which Alex had sent her the address for, Piper can hear its loud music. She would be lying if she said she wasn't excited for this evening; it would hopefully help her take her mind off Alex and the sticky string of issues she had recently revealed - perhaps being in the presence of their friends along with consuming copious amounts of alcohol will make everything much easier.
Piper had picked out her outfit especially. Despite planning on having a fun time and focusing on good company rather than a particular person, she wanted to at least impress Alex - especially now she knows she's suffering with some commitment issues of her own.
The dress is black in colour and fits to her body like a second skin. It's a sinfully short number that not only reveals the sculpted muscles of her upper back, but a decent proportion of her chest, which is lifted by the push up bra she had selected to wear. Her tanned legs are on display, aided by the matching heels on her feet, and were she under any other circumstance, the outfit would have remained in her wardrobe.
She gets let in quickly - somehow managing to avoid being recognised, as being a member of Nicky's guest list instantly gets her let into the VIP section.
In hearing the wild-haired woman's voice from a far, the blonde knows which table the group are situated at, and while upon her approach her look catch everyone's eye, her heart, in turn, drops simultaneously, how could I be such a dumbass?
Sitting at the end of the booth is Alex - looking as stunning as ever, with her arm wrapped around the shoulder of her fiancée, laughing at something that was whispered into her ear. Piper knows what her face must look like, and if for a moment she thought she would be able to get through the night without so much as thinking about Alex, she was wrong.