Piper felt weird opening the shop. Always when she had come to work, Diane was already there. She accused Piper working too much but she herself was working all the time too.

Of course Diane took sometimes day offs or left work early or came late but that didn't happen very often. It had never been a week, but Piper was happy that Diane could take a small vaction. She deserved it.

Piper switched the closed sign to open and went to the backroom to see if there was something to do. Piper dropped her bag and watched around. It felt kind of empty without Diane here.

When Piper was sure that there was nothing to do, she went behind the counter and continued reading Nights of Rain and Stars.

She helped couple of customers that came into the bookshop, nothing major until Alex came.

Piper glanced up from her book to see who had enetered. She continued reading once she realized that it was just Alex.

Alex walked in front of Piper. "I hope you aren't treating customers this way", she joked.

"Don't be stupid. I saw that it was just you, so I didn't bother to stop reading", Piper said as she finally looked up from her book.

Alex wondered if she should be offended from Piper's comment but then decided that it was just Piper talking like she has used to. She was sure that Piper didn't mean to be rude.

Piper shut her book and put it on the counter. "So, what are you doing here?"

"Keeping you some company", Alex said grinning. She saw Piper to open her mouth so she continued quickly. "And before you tell me how books are better company than people, I actually wanted to talk with you about something."

Piper furrowed her eyebrows. "What do you want to talk about?"

"You remember Nicky?"

"Nope."

Alex rolled her eyes. "My friend, who overdosed."

"Oh yeah, her. How is she?" Piper asked acting uniterested.

"Pretty well actually. She met someone who managed to convince her to get clean."

Piper nodded, still uninterested. "Good for her. And for you, I guess."

Alex looked at Piper, trying to find out if Piper already knew this. She decided to try her luck. "Do you happen to know anything abou this mysterious person?"

Alex almost missed it, but she saw something in Piper's eyes. Just a millisecond of something that Alex couldn't quite place. Fear? Surprise? Sadness? Anger? Or combination of all of them?

"Why would I know anything about that person?" Piper asked, this time sounding annoyed.

Now Alex was sure that it has been Piper. "I don't know. Do you?"

"Of course not!"

"You know... I talked with Nicky. She told me", Alex lied.

Piper was quiet and stared at Alex, trying to figure out if she was bluffing or not.

Alex kept straight face but raised her eyebrow.

Piper let out an annoyed sigh. "She promised that she wouldn't tell."

Alex smirked. "Well, she didn't. I was just suspecting it was you and tried to get the truth out of you."

Piper stared at Alex unbelievingly. "Seriously?"

"Yeah."

Piper just kept staring.

Alex turned serious. "I don't know how or why you did it, but well... you are Piper. I'm kind of used to it. I'm not going to ask you because I'm sure you wouldn't even tell me anything."

Piper huffed. Well, Alex had that one right.

"But I want to thank you. Nicky means so much to me, we met at third grade and we've been best friends ever since. She moved away when the junior high school ended, but we always remained close. Her drug use started couple of years ago because of some family issues. I've tried to get her stop, but she never did. This time she really seemed to want to get clean. So, thank you Piper, for probably saving her life. If she continues this way it's just matter of time when she... her body gives up." Alex said as she walked directly in front of Piper.

"I had my reasons to do what I did, but this doesn't mean that you own me anything, okay? I didn't want you to know because, well... I didn't want you to ask questions or think that you own me something now", Piper said as she looked at Alex.

Alex put her hand on top of Piper's and Piper glanced at it warningly.

Alex, however, kept her hand where it was and looked Piper in the eyes. "I don't do either of those things, but you need to understand how grateful I am", she said.

Piper thought back Cal and how grateful to him Piper was when he had helped to get Piper clean. "I know, okay? I know."

Alex thought if Piper had some own experience including drugs but didn't ask since she had promised. "Thank you", she said once again.

"You're welcome. Now this topic is finished and I don't want you to talk about it anymore", Piper said as she took her hand away.

Alex looked at Piper for a while before looked at Piper's book. "What are you reading?"

Piper showed Alex the cover of the book and Alex nodded. "I've read that. It's a good one."

"It is", Piper agreed. Alex's book knowledge always managed to surprise her. Probably because she had never known anyone who liked to read as much as she herself.

"Well, I'll let you continue your reading", Alex said as she started to walk towards the couches.

Piper looked after her questioningly before saw Alex take the East of Eden out of her bag and hopped onto the couch to read.

Piper shook her head smiling a little before continued her own book.

Rest of the week went well, Piper knew how to handle the shop and Alex came everyday to keep Piper company. Even if Piper said that she didn't need to, Alex nonetheless always came. Piper didn't know how to react that kind of stubborness. Usually she was the one being stubborn.

Piper and Alex usually read their own books, but sometimes Alex got Piper to playing card with her. Turned out that Piper was bloody good at Poker. Piper told that her dad had taught it to her when she was young.

It was Friday and Alex returned the East of Eden back to Piper. When Piper was in the backroom, putting the book in her bag, a customer walked in.

"Hey there", the woman smiled at Alex. She was tall and had long red hair.

"Hi. You looking for something specific?" Alex asked even if she really didn't know the shop that well since Piper had again organized the books differently.

"Yes, actually. I was wondering if there was something erotic?"

Alex's eyebrows rose. Usually, people were a little uncomfortable when they needed to ask that kind of stuff, though Alex didn't realise why since it was normal. This woman however didn't seem uncomfortable at all. "I'm afraid that I can't help you, but I'll get someone who can", Alex said smiling.

Just when Alex was turning around, Piper opened the door and stepped back into a shop. She stopped at her tracks when she saw the customer. She may not be good with names but faces she remembered. Shit.

She smiled at the woman and hoped that she didn't remember her.

"She tries to find something erotic", Alex told Piper.

"Ahh, just this way..." Piper said as she started to walk towards erotic section.

"Wait", the woman said and Piper turned around.

"Have we met? You look familiar", she said as she tilted her head to study Piper better.

"No, I don't think so", Piper said smiling politely.

"What's your name? I'm Claire", the woman said as she offered her hand to shake.

Piper took it. "Piper." Luckily she always introduced herself with the different name when she met somebody at a bar.

"Doesn't sound familiar", Claire said with a slight frown.

"Told you. You must be mixed me up with somebody else", Piper said still keeping the polite smile.

"Hmmh. I don't usually be wrong", Claire laughed. "Anyways, the books."

"Right. Just follow me", Piper said as she started walking again.

Alex listened to their conversation curiously. She was sure that Piper knew the woman. She didn't know how but she seemed to be good at figuring Piper out by her actions and facial expressions. She just needed to understand why Piper did what she did and she would be happy.

Once they were at the erotic section Claire talked again. "I don't really have experience with these kind of books, have you read any of these?" She asked smiling flirtatiously.

"Actually, I have", Piper answered, still keeping up the professionalism.

Alex didn't know which shocked her more, that the woman who was obviously over 20 years old flirted with Piper so openly or that Piper had read erotic books.

Well, sure she had read a little erotic stuff too but somehow Piper didn't seem that kind of girl. Then Alex thought that who was she thinking about. You could never really know what Piper has done or hasn't done.

But the woman, who was probably 25-year-old flirted with Piper? Didn't she realize that Piper was underage?

"Do you have something including just girls?" Claire asked smirking.

Piper looked at the bookshelf. "We don't have a very wide selection, but this might catch your interest..." Piper said as she took the book from the shelf.

Claire looked the back cover and smiled satisfied. "Perfect."

"We have also some books that aren't classified as erotic but have lots of elements of erotica", Piper said as she raised her eyebrows.

"This is enough for now. Maybe I'll come back later", Claire said grinning.

"Well, shall we go?" Piper asked as she pointed at the cash register.

Claire paid for the book and slipped something in Piper's hand before winked and walked out.

"Who was she?" Alex asked immediately when the door had closed.

Piper turned to look at her. "A customer?"

"Funny. You knew her, didn't you? Your behavior gave you away."

"You should be a detective", Piper smirked.

"What did she give to you?" Alex asked curiously.

Piper showed the paper. "Her number", she said before throw it in the trash can.

"You're not going to call her?" Alex asked. She was kind of happy about that.

Piper grinned. "I don't sleep twice with the same person."

Alex's eyes widened. "What?!"

"Yeah, that's a mystery for you to figure out", Piper said smirking before went between shelves.

"Wait, hold on. You've slept with her? She was at least 25!" Alex exclaimed as she ran after Piper.

"26", Piper corrected.

Alex just stared at her disbelievingly. "You do realize that she committed a crime, right?"

Piper just shrugged. "She thought that I was 22."

"Jesus Piper!" Alex said as she threw her hands in the air.

"What?" Piper said defensively. "I'm human. I need sex. And here aren't many girls my age that I would like to sleep with!"

Alex sighed. Piper was kind of right, but still. "How didn't she recognize you?"

"She was pretty drunk back then. And it was a couple of months ago."

Alex shook her head. "Fine. It's not my business anyways."

"Look at you, you are starting to learn!" Piper grinned.

It was Sunday and Piper had been running. Since Diane had said that she didn't need to open the shop, she decided to work out a little bit. When she opened the door to her apartment, she noticed weird looking envelope. Piper picked it up and immediately recognized the neat handwriting.

"Shit", Piper cursed out loud. How could Polly know where she lives?

Piper didn't know what to do. She felt like tearing it up and burning it but on the other hand she was curious. What could Polly possibly want to say to her?

Piper couldn't think straight. She decided to go to a bookshop. It had become like Piper's refuge. The place where she could forget the rest of the world.

She took her bag and after a little hesitation, she put the envelope in it.

Piper unlocked the door and pondered if she should open the shop. Well, she was here anyways.

She turned the sign and went to sit behind the counter. Piper sighed and put her head against the counter. She didn't feel any better.

After a couple of hours of sitting and thinking about things, Piper heard someone coming in. "Alex?"

Alex had been walking past the shop and noticed that it was open. She had thought that Piper wouldn't be there on Sunday.

"I thought that you didn't need to open the shop today?" Alex said as she came closer.

"I didn't. I just... well, someone could have needed a book", Piper shrugged.

Alex looked at Piper suspiciously. Piper looked kind of weird. She looked tired and she had her running clothes.

"Before you ask. I'm fine", Piper said when she saw Alex's look.

That only made Alex more suspicious. "Talk to me", she said as she circled the counter and sat next to Piper.

Piper looked at Alex little confused. "I'm serious. I'm fine."

"I can see that something is bothering you. Just spit it out."

Piper bit her cheek as she tried to decide if she should talk with Alex or not. Alex already knew about Polly, so what was the worst thing to happen?

Piper sighed as she took the unopened envelope from her bag. This is not taking distance, Piper thought before gave Alex the envelope.

"What's this?" Alex asked confused.

Piper shrugged. "I don't know. It's from Polly."

"Polly? Your ex-best friend Polly?" Alex asked. Now it made some sense why Piper was upset.

"Mhmm."

"What is stopping you reading it?" Alex asked as she put the envelope on the counter.

"I don't know. It's just... I've finally managed to get my life together at least partly. I don't need Polly messing it all up again. But I am a little curious about what she has to say..." Piper confessed.

"I get your point, but how could one letter mess your life? You have here what you have built here. I don't think she could change anything of that. You don't need to contact her, just read what she has to say", Alex reasoned.

"I'm not worrying that she will ruin my life. I'm worrying that reading that letter, will affect me that way that I'm starting to ruin my own life again", Piper said quietly.

Alex was quiet for a while when she thought. "Would you like me to read it?" she asked carefully.

Piper stared at Alex disbelieving. "What?"

"You know... I could read what she has to say and then you would know without reading it?"

"I..." Piper hesitated. "I don't think I could do it. I mean, she could reveal something about me and my past in that letter that I'm not ready to share... Thanks for the offer, though."

"Okay, I get it", Alex said as she tried to find another way. "You could read it here? Now when I'm here, we could talk about it and that way you could share only what you are comfortable with? It's much easier when you're not alone and you can talk with another person. It gives you another perspective", she proposed.

Piper thought for a while before nodded. Alex had a point.

She slowly took the envelope and opened it.

Dear Piper

I know that you are not probably reading this and you have every right not to. I sent this letter and didn't come to your apartment because I know that you hate me right now. I got your address from my dad, in case you were wondering. He's a lawyer if you didn't remember.

But the reason behind this letter is apology and explanation.

I know that I can't make it up, but I want you to know why I did what I did.

Okay, so, when you told me that you were lesbian, I kind of freaked out. You know how my family was, they didn't accept homosexuality. I really didn't either because that's how I was raised. So, that's why I tried to convince you that it was just a phase.

Then when you slept with Pete, I just lost it. I knew that you didn't even want him because you were, well, lesbian. I knew that you were just trying to piss me off and thinking backward now, I deserved it.

It was meant to be just a small rumor that would make you uncomfortable for a while. I had no idea that it would spread so quickly and that people would actually start to believe it. But the accident had already happened and I thought that I couldn't back off. So, that's why I didn't try to deny any of the rumors that other started making. Because I started it all, you already hated me and I thought that I lost you. That's why I started to grave attention from others and just gave the rumors fly. That's how I really lost you.

Now, I know that this is not an excuse but I needed you to know that all of the things that followed was never my intention.

Then an apology. Or many of them.

I'm sorry that I didn't accept you they way you are. I know that you weren't probably very confident about your sexuality and my reaction hurt you a lot.

I'm sorry that I started the rumors and didn't do anything to stop them.

I'm sorry that you needed to move away because of me.

I'm sorry that I wasn't there for you when Celeste passed away. I know how much she meant to you.

I'm sorry that I wasn't there supporting you after the accident. I can't even imagine how painful that was for you. When I heard about it on the news, I came to the hospital. I saw you there all bruised up and sleeping. You had said that you never wanted to see my face again and for once, I respected your wishes and left before you woke up.

I'm sorry what you've been through and what I've made you go through. You were an amazing person and I just hope that this all hasn't ruined it.

You don't need to answer me, but I'm grateful if you read this letter.

Best wishes,

Polly

Piper read the letter two times. She had no idea what to think about it.

"Well?"

Piper gave the letter to Alex.

"You sure?" Alex asked surprised.

"Yeah. There wasn't much that you didn't know already", Piper said still kind of taken aback from the letter.

Alex quickly read it before giving it back to Piper. "She sounded sincere."

"Yeah. Too bad that this came two years late", Piper commented. "I think it's a little too late now."

"Yeah. I understand..." Alex said. "You don't have to answer if you don't want but what kind of rumors are we talking about? And how long did they last?"

Piper was quiet before answered. "They started at the eight grade. Continued in freshman year until I moved away a couple months before Christmas."

Piper didn't elaborate the subject of these rumors and Alex didn't ask again.

"I guess that's why you really don't care about Jessica?"

Piper laughed a little. "Jessica is a novice compared to girls in Hartford."

"How the letter affected you?" Alex asked, wanting to make sure that Piper didn't 'start to ruin her own life again'.

"Honestly? It felt kind of liberating. I'm not ready to forgive Polly, but... I think that after reading this letter, I might someday, with time."

Alex smiled. Piper and her were getting closer and closer. She wondered if Piper even notices it.

Thank you for reading! Please let me know what you thought, suggetsions are always welcomed! I'll try to update soon again :)

-Iina