I know it's short, but I wanted to get this out before I introduce new plots.
"So you're really doing this?" Sylvie asks from where she's seated across the table from Alex.
"Sylvie-"
"You're throwing away everything we have together just like that."
"If you think what we had together was functional then that sums this all up."
"Why agree to marry me then?"
"I thought I could go through with it; I didn't want to make you feel bad by saying no," the brunette honestly reveals.
"So you're just going to end our relationship just like that? And to then do what? Be with her?" Sylvie shouts, waving her hands frantically while doing so, yet in seeing the woman opposite her flinch at her words, she leans forwards, arms crossed. "Oh my God you really are. Of course you are."
"I'm sorry," is all Alex replies, not wanting to get fully into the details of what's going on between herself and Piper.
"I guess the press will love this love scandal," the red-haired woman voices, leaning back in her chair. "I wonder what'll happen if they get a new story about everyone's favourite Piper Chapman," she adds, sounding sarcastic.
"Please. Don't sell any more stories. I don't want this to turn nasty between us, Sylvie."
"Don't you think it already has reached that point? I guess you'd do anything to protect your new girlfriend."
"She isn't my girlfriend," the brunette defends herself. "But if you do anything to fuck up her book then I can't promise things will end well for you."
"Hmm really?"
"What do you want out of this, Sylvie?"
"I still want to get married."
"That's not happening. It's over between us."
"So then how would you feel if this were to be leaked?" the red-haired woman asks, putting her phone on the desk, showing a newly taken picture.
It's one that had been captured of herself and the blonde walking along the street together, arms linked, and while Alex is walking with her head forwards, Piper is looking over at her with loving eyes, smiling sincerely.
"Is this you trying to threaten me or something?"
"Well I can't imagine people will love the fact that 'perfect Piper' is a homewrecker."
Laughing loudly, Alex throws her head back.
"Sylvie if you think it's Piper that wrecked our home that's just hilarious. You're controlling; you're jealous of the fact that I take my work seriously, and you go completely out of your way to make sure you get everything you want. Go ahead - release an image that shows absolutely fucking nothing worth talking about."
Getting up from the chair, Sylvie loses her cool, face turning red with anger.
"You know what, I've done nothing but put everything into this relationship and you're just throwing it away. I'm the best thing that's ever happened to you, Alex."
Also getting up from her chair, the brunette feels her own anger growing.
"I must be a fool then," she replies sarcastically, fishing out the ring that she had in her pocket. "I believe this belongs to you."
"Fuck you, Alex," the red-haired woman replies, holding the engagement ring in the palm of her hand before balling it into a fist, proceeding to punch the taller woman forcefully in the face.
"You bitch!" the brunette shouts, clutching her face while bending forwards.
"Get the fuck out, Alex," Sylvie concludes; the sound of her footsteps going up the stairs filling the apartment space.
Not wanting to stay round in the same space as her ex-fiancée, Alex leaves the premises, feeling somewhat satisfied that she only received a punch to the face.
Walking along the pavement, the brunette feels conscious of the fact that there's a chance she's being watched. Living a quiet life was something she had always loved, but since she'd become a current face throughout the media, an irrational fear of being followed was increasingly growing on her.
Whipping out her phone, she calls Piper, hoping she answers quickly.
"Hello," the blonde answers after 2 rings.
"Can you let me up?" Alex asks quietly.
"You're outside?"
"Piper - we agreed not to be seen together, so I need you to do this quickly."
"Okay - I'm coming."
Turning off the call, Alex is let up into the building, and by the time she reaches the blonde's door, she can finally breathe.
"Hey, Al," Piper voices, opening the door which Alex immediately rushes into.
Not replying to the blonde, Alex proceeds to push her up against the door, passionately connecting their lips.
Piper - completely unexpecting the interaction - melts into the kiss, wrapping her arms around the taller woman's neck.
"Al-" she breathes between kisses, trying to get the older woman's attention. "Alex."
"Mm-hmm," the brunette mumbles, not really taking notice of what the blonde is saying.
"We need to stop."
"It's okay. We don't have to worry."
"My… my mom's in the kitchen."
"What? No," Alex groans while the kiss comes to an end, both speaking into each other's opened mouths.
"She was about to leave," Piper pants, pushing Alex back on her shoulders, smiling at the disappointed look on the brunette's face.
"Fuck," Alex mumbles, lowering her head while chuckling.
"Mom - you remember Alex, don't you?" the blonde asks, walking into the kitchen, thrilled at the sight of her mother putting her coat on.
"Alex, hi. Of course I remember," Carol voices, smiling at the tall woman whom she had met several times before. "Sorry, I was just in the process of heading out."
"That's alright. It was nice seeing you again, Mrs Chapman," the brunette politely replies before taking a back-step in the conversation, letting Piper discuss some form of arrangement with her mother before walking her out to the front door.
"Sorry about that," the blonde says, walking back into the room.
"I should be the one apologising. I did just come here unannounced."
"How did everything go with Sylvie?"
"She was mad as predicted, but I gave her the ring back."
"At least you're still alive to tell the tale," Piper approaches, putting her arms back around the taller woman's neck.
"I did take a punch to the face though."
"What?" the blonde asks with a sudden bout of worry, moving her hands to remove Alex's glasses. "Oh, Alex," she comments, assessing the reddening skin that looks as though it's in the early stages of a black eye formation.
"You need to ice it," the blonde adds, detaching their bodies and moving towards her freezer.
"I'm fine, Pipes."
"You got hit in the face, Alex. Take the fucking ice," Piper instructs, handing over the bag of peas that she had wrapped up in a tea towel.
"Can't we just go back to where we left off?" Alex asks, attempting to use a flirtatious tone of voice.
"If you think that'll be happening this evening. You're wrong," Piper answers, moving about the kitchen.
"Too soon?"
"That and I'm on my period."
"Ah, I see," Alex laughs, following the blonde into her living room.
"Wanna talk about it?" Piper eventually asks as they take a seat, their breathing the room's only background noise.
"Not really. I'm just trying to go back to normal; walking down the street without having to look over my shoulder; check that I'm not being followed every time I come over to your place. How do you do it?"
"I don't really know," the blonde answers sincerely. "I guess I kind of feel that way too. I've never had this amount of media attention focused on my personal life and not my written work."
"And how're you finding it."
"Shitty."
"You can say that again."
"I'm really sorry, Alex. I wish you hadn't been brought into this."
"I don't think we really had any other option," the brunette admits, reaching over to link their hands. "I don't regret any of it though."
"You don't?"
"Well maybe the whole bit when I got engaged, but that's not a problem anymore."
"So we're really doing this?" Piper asks, looking down at their joined hands.
"I guess we are, yeah," Alex smiles, leaning in for a kiss.
"Wait," Piper voices, playing her finger on the brunette's lip to stop her progress. "Aren't you going to ask me out on a date first?"
"Oh, so that's how you want to do this?"
"There's nothing wrong with a bit of tradition… especially when everything so far between us has been anything but that."
"Okay…" Alex pauses, clearing her throat. "Piper Chapman, will you go on a date with me?"
"I'd love to, Alex," the blonde smiles, chuckling when Alex sticks her tongue out to lick her finger, causing her to pull her hand away and, in turn, have her face pulled into a kiss.