Chapter 6: the date
Piper were stuck in traffic, ended up arriving late at Woodspring Suites Cincinnati Fairfield hotel room, and just went straight to bed. It is a good thing she has a private jet or she would have missed her flight.
She spent most of Friday in her hotel room and reading if she was not chatting to Alex because Alex had to work the Friday double shifts because she asked for the weekend off. Piper felt terrible about this but also a bit narcissistic because she really wanted to spend some time with Alex.
…..…..
Nicky came by Red's to check up on her mom and friend and more especially, so she could tease Alex about her upcoming date.
"Yo Vause you have been on your phone a whole lot what is going on?" asked Poussey, one of Alex's colleague.
"Yes, man you sure had been spending time looking at your phone and smiling like a crazy person." Taystee said while approaching where the tree was standing.
"Yeah Stretch what is going on?" Nicky asked while wiggling her eyebrows and smacking at Alex and the latter just sent her a death glare.
"Nothing guys I'm just checking the time and reading somethings."
"You are one worse liar I had ever met man," Poussey said to her and Alex just rolled her eyes.
"Someone has a date with a tall blue-eyed blond with legs that go on forever." Nicky said while running away from Alex and Alex chased her around the diner because it was a bit quiet.
"I knew there was a girl involved here. There is not no way you could smile so big for nothing. So, tell us a name."
"So, you guys could google her, no thank you. I will introduce you when the time is right."
"No wonder you worked double shift. Damn she must be someone special." Said Taystee
"She is just a friend okay." Alex said even though those words stung her a bit.
"Yeah… yeah you keep telling yourself that Stretch." Nicky said while heading for the door. "I'm heading out guys, check you later and Stretch I hope your 'lunch date' goes well and I want all details soon."
She was out of the door before Alex could say anything. They stayed for a few more hours, attended the few customers left, and then closed for the night. Alex was exhausted but happy at the same time. She walked to her apartment and immediately headed to the bathroom and opened the water before she could take off her uniform and soak herself to help relax her muscles.
Piper woke up earlier than her alarm because she was just so excited to be able to spend time with Alex. They decided to meet at 12h00 and it was now 07h00 in the morning when Piper woke up. She just ordered coffee for room service because she wanted to be able to eat lunch with Alex and besides she did not think she could stomach anything with her nerves. She decided to call her mom, so she could help her calm down and it is only her mom that is awake now, her friends are not early birds.
PIPER: hey good morning mom
CAROL: morning Piper. How are you darling?
PIPER: I am good mom; just a bit nervous about today is all.
CAROL: no need to worry Piper darling. Just be yourself and she will love you trust me. I mean what is there not to love about you baby girl?
PIPER: thanks mom. I really needed to hear that. I will call you later. Love you
CAROL: I love you too darling. I will be waiting for your call to hear about your date
Piper just shook her head while smiling and did not even bother to correct her mom.
"Everyone keeps saying a date even though it's just lunch. I mean it is just lunch, right? Right? Maybe this means something but let me not get my hopes up too high." Piper thought as she proceeded to layout the clothes she is to wear for lunch.
….
Alex woke up around 09h00 am and when she saw the time she started running around her apartment not knowing what to do first. She usually does not take a long time to get ready, but she wanted to look good for Piper.
She went on to take a shower to get ready and round 11:00 am she was already done but was still feeling as if she forgot something. They had decided that Piper would pick her up because she knows her address. The day she left Piper memorised Alex's address and she remembered it by heart but not that she will tell Alex that anyway. She does not want to scare her away.
Alex tried reading but her mind was not there, so she thought about texting Piper.
ALEX: good morning Pipes. How did you sleep?
Piper was already done and ready to go because she stayed at a hotel that was a bit further from Alex's place so when she received the she was grinning from ear to ear.
PIPER: good morning Al. I slept okay thanks and you. Are you ready for our date? 😊
Alex was smiling big when she saw that Piper had said date and not lunch but she was a bit disappointed when the second text came following the first one. Although she now had hope, that Piper might be into girls and maybe even date her.
PIPER: I mean our lunch sorry about that, I hope you still want to go out with me.
ALEX: I slept okay too thanks for asking. Of course, I still want to go out with you 😊
Piper was already in the lobby waiting for the hired car to come pick her up, she had planned everything for her, and ale to do the whole day but she also left some for Alex to decide because she does not know much about this place except for what google said.
PIPER: good because I want to go out with you too and spend some time with you.
ALEX: ditto Pipes.
The car came, Piper got in, she had already given them the address, so they left for Alex's apartment, which was about 45 minutes without traffic, and it was rare unless there is a roadblock somewhere. Fortunately, for Piper the ride was smooth, and she got there with 10 minutes to spare. She told the driver to wait just a few minute because she did not know if they are going to need a car. She quickly sent Alex a text
PIPER: Hey Al, I am already outside waiting for you but no need to rush I am a bit early.
ALEX: okay cool gives I five minutes and I will be down with you.
Piper smiled from ear to ear when she saw this just as Alex did when she realised that Piper was already here. They were both a bit nervous and got worse when they saw each other because they did not know if they should hug or shake hands.
Piper decided to take her chances and run into Alex's hands. I mean she was happy to see the person who was her Knight in shining armour right. Alex was happy that Piper took the initiative because she is not good with this unless it is her mom.
They hugged tightly for a full minute before Piper pulled away but remained in Alex's arms
"Hi Pipes"
"Hey Al. it's so good to see you again"
They considered each other's eyes for a moment and both felt like they could just kiss the other but could not.
"Same goes to you too Pipes. You look beautiful," Alex said with a smile on her lips.
Piper blushed and thanked her.
"Thanks Al. you don't look half bad yourself. So where are we going and re we going to need a ride to get there?"
Piper said this as she left Alex's arms and completely missed the comfort and Alex's hands felt cold.
"I'm okay with doing whatever you want Pipes. I'm sure you have a list of all the things you want to do" Alex smirked at this and Piper blushed a beet red with her ears having a taint of red on the edges.
"How did you know that?" Piper asked with a shocked look on her face while trying to hide her blush and Alex just shrugged.
"Okay I might have some plans in mind," Piper said while still blushing and Alex laughed.
"Gosh her laughter is like music to my ears. I wish I could always make her produce that beautiful melody" Piper blushed at her own thought.
"Okay let's go to the car over there," Piper pointed to the opposite side of the road.
Alex followed close behind and when they got her, the driver opened the door for them and held Piper's hand as she got in first.
"Thanks Larry" Piper said, and Larry smiled widely while Alex was throwing daggers at him, if looks could kill Larry would've been six feet under. He tried to help her get inside but Alex refused his hand. She already hated him.
They drove in silence with Larry stealing glances at Piper through the mirror and the blond was oblivious to that while Alex witnessed the whole thing and felt like she was going to throw up. She spotted a scowl on her face and dint see Piper looking at her.
"Are you okay?" Piper asked Alex soothingly and placed her hand on Alex's forearm. Alex felt Goosebumps running through her whole arm and looked at Piper. Her face instantly changed into a soft smile.
"Of course. Are you okay?" Alex turned and faced Piper
"I'm okay too" they smiled at each other and looked away shyly.
"So where to first on your list of adventures?" Alex asked changing the subject.
"Well I was thinking we should firstly eat before we do anything. There is a nice diner up this road called 'Daily Dose', which is part coffee shop/ bookstore. They serve the best food ever and I figured that since we both love books we could heck for the books we might want that we don't already have in our own collections".
Piper had a library back at home with all kinds of books, even first editions to last her a lifetime but browsing through a library and finding out Alex's favourite won't hurt anyone right?
"I really love that idea because I haven't eaten a thing except for coffee this morning and I love books too". Alex answered Piper and smiled genuinely.
….
They got to Daily Dose and settled in a booth next to a window by the corner, which allowed them a little bit of privacy.
"Good day guys my name is Emily and I will take your order. So, are you ready to order yet?" the waitress asked while eying Alex up and down why trying to be discreet about it but failing miserably and Alex was oblivious to the whole ordeal, but Piper saw everything and was sending a death glare to Emily. If only looks could kill.
"We are still trying to decide thanks very much, we will call you when we are ready," Piper answered curtly and bluntly.
"Would you like anything to drink in the meantime then?" Emily asked while her focus was still on Alex.
"I will have a normal filter coffee, black and no sugar and Pipes what are you going to have?" Alex asked while looking at the blond over her menu with a soft smile on her face. "She looks so adorable right now with her brows raised like that," Alex thought.
Piper's scowl face disappeared and replaced with a smile. "I really love it when she calls me Pipes". Piper thought.
"I will have a Frappuccino," she answered with a look to Emily as if to say do not ask anything else, just leave our table.
Alex looked at the prices and frowned upon herself. "This is surely going to leave a huge hole in my savings and I don't even know what else Piper has planned for us. It will all be worth it in the end though," Alex reasoned within herself.
"I am paying by the way because I invited you for lunch so order anything and it's on me". Piper said to Alex without looking away from her menu.
"You don't have to do that Pipes, we could pay half each".
"Come on Al I insist, maybe you will get the next one. How about that?" she battered her eyelashes and pouted.
Alex was happy because of the possibility for next time.
"Okay then…"
They called Emily back, much to Piper's dismay and ordered their meal. Alex ordered chicken Alfredo with some breadsticks and Piper ordered the same thing. They decided to share a slice of carrot cake after their meal.
Piper paid for the meal and found that Emily had scribbled her number at the back of the receipt and she tossed it in the bin by the door with Emily looking while Alex was holding the door for her.
After eating, they spend about three hours in the bookshop without even realising it because they were having so much fun. They have to learn about each other's favourite books as well.
"So where to now Pipes?" Alex asked as they were heading back to the car much to Alex's dismay.
They got in the car the same way they did previously with Larry only helping Piper inside and Alex just getting in passed him. It was already 5:00 pm when they left the Daily Dose.
"I was thinking that you could choose what we could do since I chose the first one, well first two because they were combined in the same place".
Piper smiled at Alex and Larry could not help but eavesdrop in their conversation and kept on hoping that Piper could ditch Alex and maybe he could get a chance to ask Piper out.
"Well there is a movie that I think you might like to watch and its playing at 6h00 pm. It's from one of your favourite book," Alex said coyly at Piper and Piper's face lit up like 4 July and Alex could not help but admire that. She was happy that she was the one to bring such light to Piper's face.
"Which one is it?"
"Nope, I'm not going to tell you until we get to the cinema. It is a surprise. Barry please take us to the cinema". Alex said nonchalantly
"It's Larry actually". Alex ignored him.
…
"Hi, can I please have two tickets for 'The Great Gatsby' please" Alex said this with a smirk on her face while looking at Piper and the latter felt like she was going to explode with, so much excitement and she couldn't stop smiling. She hugged Alex tightly and thanked her.
"No need to thank me Pipes and I am paying for the tickets, snacks and the popcorns. No arguments". Piper did not protest. She waited for Alex to buy them their staff, so they could go watch her all-time favourite book turned into a movie.
…
"I really enjoyed the movie, thanks Al. it's like the best yet than I had imagined. They did the book justice." Piper said when they exited the cinema to go wait for the car because they had told Larry to go and come pick them up when the movie was over which was in two hours' time.
"I agree with you there and you don't have to thank me. I enjoyed spending time with you". Alex said while looking at Piper in the eye so they blond could see she really mean it.
"I enjoyed spending time with you too Al". Piper said looking at Alex too. They broke their staring contest and went quiet for a moment. Both knew what was coming but neither one was ready to separate yet.
"So, what happens now? Would you like me to take you back or would you like to come to my hotel with me then we could have some wine maybe?" Piper asked Alex a bit nervous with what Alex might say.
"Truly speaking I'm not ready to leave yet. I mean it's still pretty early". Alex said, and this answer made Piper happy and put her nerves a rest.
"I'm not ready to part ways yet too. Truly speaking Alex, I really like you and I do not mean that as a friend but romantically speaking. I know this might make you want uncomfortable around me and probably do not want to see me after this, but I cannot keep it in anymore. I mean throughout the day I just wished I could kiss you or hold your hand, but I could not and that was the hardest thing I had to do. I'm sorry I'm probably rambling right now but I just wanted you to know". Piper was busy rambling and looking everywhere but not at Alex.
Alex was shocked because besides the flirting between them she had thought that Piper was straight, but it turns out it is just her lucky day and boy was she happy.
"Piper!" Alex called her name and placed her hand on Piper's forearm to stop her rambling. That caught Piper's attention and she considered Alex's eyes.
"I like you too Pipes, romantically speaking." Alex smiled at Piper and the blond thought her ears were deceiving her. Then it registered in her mind what Alex had said and she smiled widely.
"To be hones I thought you were straight". Alex added
"Ditto Al, I guess our gaydars are broken or maybe it's because of the circumstance we met under". Piper said the last part softly in a whisper and tried to get rid of the bad memory. Alex brushed soothing circles on Piper's back but said nothing.
They looked at each other for a moment and then leaned into each other with their eyes closed…
(Beep beep) …
Larry had arrived, saw them about to kiss, and just hooted so that they may stop.
"Fucking Harry just kiss-blocked me". Alex ranted in her head
"Way to ruin a perfect moment Larry" Piper thought and let out a heavy sigh.
They got into the car in silence because they were both annoyed with Larry and this time Piper did not accept Larry's help which made Alex happy. Alex moved her hand to hold Piper's one that was resting in-between them. Piper looked at their clasped hands and then at Alex and smiled happily.
…...END OF CHAPTER….
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- Skai3