Piper and Polly decide to share an Uber to get home even though Piper only lives about 6 blocks away and Polly about 10 blocks. Piper has a dreamy expression on her face and Polly knows it has to do with that waitress Alex. Polly returned from the restroom to find Piper at the bar settling their tab and speaking softly to Alex. Polly waits for Piper at their table and can't help but smile when she sees Piper walking back toward their table with the biggest shit-eating grin on her face. "What are you so happy about?" Polly asks, but Piper just shrugs and says, "It's nothing Pol, I already paid our tab so we're good to go." When the Uber arrives at Piper's brownstone, she gives Polly a quick kiss on the cheek thanking her for her company tonight and waves as the car pulls away.
Piper enters her townhouse, turning on the lights and dropping her keys in the ceramic bowl by the door. She takes off her coat and hangs it in the hall closet and sits down in the window seat of her living room staring out at the city beyond. Piper has been living in this brownstone since she inherited it from her grandmother two years ago and she loves it. Just as she is getting ready to head to bed, she hears her phone alert to an incoming text message. Her heart skips a beat hoping that it is from Alex, even though she just left the bar thirty minutes ago she hasn't been able to stop thinking about the beautiful raven haired woman from Three Doors Down.
(321) 545-6754: Hey this is Alex from Three Doors Down. I'm still at work, but I just wanted to send you a quick text to say again how much I enjoyed meeting you tonight are you maybe free for drinks tomorrow night say around 7:00?
When she read the message, Piper gave a short little scream like a teenager and began type out her reply.
Piper: Hi Alex! I really enjoyed meeting you also and yes I'm free for drinks tomorrow at 7:00.
(321) 545-6754: Great I work the early shift tomorrow, so I get done at 7:00. Why don't you meet me at the bar? I'll be sitting at the same booth you were in tonight.
Piper: Sounds great Al, see you then! ;)
(321) 545-6754: See you soon XX-A
Piper immediately updates her contacts with Alex's number and went to her bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth. When she looked at herself in the mirror, she has a goofy little smile on her face. She can't believe how excited she is for tomorrow and seeing Alex again, but she will have to get through another boring day answering phones and filing charts first. Piper changes into a pair of pajama pants and her old Smith sweatshirt and gets under the covers. She closed her eyes hoping of dreams featuring a certain hot brunette and before long she was fast asleep.
The next day at work drags for Piper. It seems as though time is standing still while all she wants is for work to end so that she can meet Alex at the bar for drinks. On her lunch break, she receives a phone call from her mother.
"Hi Mom, how have you been?"
"Piper I just heard from Larry's mother that you broke off the engagement?" "I can't believe I had to find this out from her—don't you think this is something you should have talked to me about?"
"Yes Mom it's true, I did break off the engagement last night, but this is not a decision that I made overnight, this is something I have been thinking about for a while now…"
"Piper what were you thinking? Larry is a good man that comes from a good family and he is perfect for you. You are not getting any younger you know, it's about time you settled down and started a family."
Piper sighs "Mom I just couldn't keep lying to myself. I am not in love with Larry Bloom and I never will be. I want to find my soulmate, someone that makes my heart skip a beat, someone that is my other half—that person is not Larry, I'm sorry if I've disappointed you Mom."
"Piper, I've got to go I'm late for lunch at the country club, but please think about this some more and be sure that you are making the right decision."
"I know that I have made the right decision Mother!" Piper yelled into the phone, but Carol Chapman had already hung up.
Piper returned to her desk to finish her work day when she felt her phone vibrate with a text message alert. It was probably just her mother again, trying to 'talk some sense' into her, Piper grabbed her phone out of her pocket and gasped when she saw the text was from Alex.
Alex: Looking forward to tonight…Hope you are having a great day!
Piper: Actually, my day has pretty much sucked but you just put a back on my face.
Alex: Good, I'm glad because you're sexy when you smile. See ya at 7 kid.
Piper put her phone away and got back to work, the sooner this day was over, the sooner she could see Alex again.
At 6:00 Piper locks the office door and dashes outside. Normally she walks home from work, but tonight she decides to grab a cab so that she has more time to get ready for drinks with Alex. She runs inside her townhouse, stripping off her work clothes while running toward the bathroom for a shower. Rummaging through her closet, Piper finally decides on dark blue skinny jeans, a tight v neck ice blue sweater that makes her eyes pop, and leather boots. She lets her blonde hair fall loosely to her shoulders and keeps her makeup simple with smoky eyes and pale pink lipstick. She finishes by dabbing some of her favorite perfume behind her ears and on her pulse points. "Holy crap! It's already 6:45!" Piper muttered to herself after checking the clock. She takes one final look in the mirror and sets off for the six block walk to Three Doors Down.
At 6:45 Alex is just finishing up some work at the bar, and begging Nicky to behave tonight while she a Piper are having drinks. "Of course, I'll be on my best behavior Vause! Would you expect anything different from me?" said Nicky with an innocent look on her face. Alex gave Nicky one final warning glare and then sat down in the booth that Piper and Polly had occupied last night. Her stomach was fluttering with anticipation, or was it nerves? No—Alex Vause is never nervous around women, she's just excited to spend more time with Piper that's all. Alex takes a deep breath and just then she sees Piper walk through the door. She stops briefly looking toward the booth where Alex is sitting, smiles the biggest most beautiful smile Alex has ever seen, and walks toward the table. "Holy shit! How is it possible that she is even hotter than she was last night?" Alex mumbles to herself as she stands to greet Piper.
As Piper walks in she glances to the table she and Polly sat in last night and sees Alex sitting there waiting for her. As she stands to greet her Piper can see she is wearing a pair of black jeggings that hug her body in all the right places, a deep purple t-shirt that shows off that amazing cleavage, and as if she couldn't get any sexier, she has added a pair of black secretary glasses that were MIA last night. The women smile at each other and say hi while Alex points to the seat opposite her and settles down into the booth. There is a moment of silence while they look at each other, it is not an uncomfortable silence at all, but there is definitely no talking while their eyes pick up where they left off last night.
Nicky picks that moment to stroll up to the table, "Hey Vause, aren't you going to introduce me to your girl here." "I'm Nicky by the way, I'm Stretch's best friend," she tells Piper pointing to Alex. Alex gives Nicky a warning 'death stare while Nicky just continues to grin. '"Nice to meet you Nicky, I'm Piper." "So what can I get you guys?" Nicky asks. "Well, I would love another 'Sultry Margarita' that Alex made for me last night," Piper says. Alex orders a jack and coke and Nicky leaves to get the drinks. "I'm sorry about her, sometimes she just does not know when to mind her own business," laughs Alex. "That's okay, I'm used to it with Polly, her favorite hobby is meddling in my love life," Piper laughs back. Before long, Nicky is back with their drinks and surprisingly she leaves again without one of her signature crude comments, Alex sighs with relief.
The conversation between the two women is fun and easy. Alex learns that Piper is twenty-six years old and is the middle child with two brothers named Danny and Cal. Piper learns that Alex is twenty-nine and is an only child from a single mother. Piper talks about her job at the dermatologist's office and how she hopes it is only temporary until she and Polly can get their business up and running. Nicky returns periodically to refill their drinks, but other than the shit-eating grin on her face, she mercifully leaves them alone. The women talk about anything and everything Alex talks about her loving and wonderful relationship with her mom, while Piper talks about the strained relationship she has with hers. Piper wants to be completely honest with Alex and reveals that she just broke off her engagement to a man named Larry. She tells Alex that she has never been in a relationship with a woman before, but she can't deny the connection she seems to have with her. Piper is shocked when she sees that it's already 10:00—three hours have past and it feels as though she just sat down.
Alex suddenly reaches across the table and puts her hand on top of Piper's, rubbing the back of her hand with her index finger. Emerald eyes meet blue ones and Piper sucks in her breath. There it is again, that electricity that seems to pass between them whenever they touch. "Do you feel that?" asked Piper feeling a bit dizzy. "Yes," was all Alex could seem to stay. They stayed like that for a minute or so, when Alex finally broke the silence, "I'm guessing you have to work in the morning?" "Yes, I do, but I'm having such a great time with you that I don't want our night to end just yet," whispers Piper. "How about I walk you home? Where do you live?" "Not far, just about 6 blocks north of here." Both women grabbed their coats as Alex went to the bar to let Nicky know she was going to walk Piper home. "I'll be back to help you do the inventory after I walk her home," Alex tells her wild haired friend. Nicky grins like a maniac and winks at Alex, "Hey you're the boss, but take all the time you need Stretch, the inventory will still be here tomorrow."
Piper and Alex leave Three Doors Down and start walking north toward Piper's brownstone. About halfway through the first block, Alex reaches down and grabs Piper's hand lacing her fingers through the blonde's. Piper looks down at their hands and smiles. "I had a wonderful time tonight Al" whispers Piper as they get to her front door. "Me too, kid" said Alex as she turns to stare into Piper's crystal clear blue eyes. Alex reaches up to tuck a stray piece of blonde hair behind Piper's ear and let her thumb linger on her cheek. God she is dying to kiss her, but she doesn't want to push Piper into anything she is not ready for. "Kiss me Alex," Piper whispers, "Please?" That was all Alex needed, she palms Piper's cheek, gazes deeply into her eyes, and then leans in. Her lips meet Piper's and it is as if time stops. It was as if they are the only two people on the face of the earth. The kiss starts out slow, but quickly intensifies as Alex runs her tongue along Piper's lower lip to gain entrance to her mouth. Piper responds immediately opening her mouth for Alex. They continue to kiss until they both needed air and Piper shyly pulls away and says "Wow-I'm definitely not an expert on kissing women, but that was…" "Amazing" Alex responded for her. "Can I see you again tomorrow night?" asks Alex, I have the night off. "Yes, I'd like that, but this time I'd like to plan the date if that's ok with you?" "Absolutely, Pipes, seven o'clock?" "Yes that's fine" said Piper. "Goodnight, kid," Alex said leaning in for one more kiss. "Goodnight Alex," said Piper.
