A/N: I would like to thank everyone who read/followed/favorited/reviewed the first chapter of Coffee Stains. I am glad so many of you seemed to like it, I hope this chapter lives up to the standard of Chapter One. I want to apologise for the wait as at first I lacked inspiration on how to progress to where I'm planning for this to go, but I'm also in the middle of moving house so finding time to actually write was a little difficult.
But hopefully you will all like this chapter as much as the first one! (Even if you are left slightly less fond of some of the characters… I'm sorry about them. They're only just getting started…) :)
Chapter 2:
"Larry, can we please talk about this later? I'm late to meet Polly as it is. You know how she gets when I'm late. And she still hasn't forgiven me for not replying to her messages the other day, this is kind of our make-up lunch, so I really need to go…" Piper sighed, annoyed that this had been brought up again just before she had to leave.
"You never have any time for me or Polly since you met that Alex, Who is he? Are you going to leave me for him?" Larry accused wildly.
"What?" Piper exclaimed loudly, stopping for a second to look her slightly intoxicated boyfriend before continuing her mad rush to get ready for her lunch date with her best friend. "I've only texted Alex a few times since we met. One of those was to thank her for letting me know she got home safely. So what Larry, I made a friend! And I'm happy about it! Is it a crime? Now I'm really late to meet Polly." Piper threw her hands in the air, a gesture to show her despair with this reoccurring conversation.
Piper walked out the door of the apartment, slamming it as she did, and jogged down the stairs and out the main door of the building. Walking along the street until she came to her car, she unlocked it and threw her bag onto the passenger seat as she got in. Piper started her car and pulled away from where she had parked it the day before after coming home from work.
Piper tried to cheer herself up during the drive to Red's Café and Bookshop where she and Polly had agreed to meet. She let her mind wander, subconsciously hoping she could – at least for a while – forget about her newest argument with Larry. She settled with one of the few text conversations she had actually had with Alex and smiled at the thought.
A few days after Alex and she had met, Piper had been cleaning the house while listening to music. She had unlocked her phone to change the song and found she had a new message.
From Alex:
So Piper, if we're going to be friends, what else do I need to know about you? Do you have a surname? Pets? Tattoos? :)
Piper chuckled at the memory of how Alex had broken the ice and started them talking properly.
From Piper:
Hmm… there's not that much to me if I'm honest. My surname is Chapman, no pets as Larry is allergic to nearly everything… and none yet but I toyed with the idea of a little fish for my next birthday or maybe an infinity symbol.
Piper had paused over the send button before smiling and adding:
My brother always joked I'd get 'Trust No Bitch' tattooed down my arm as an act of defiance against my parents when I was younger… I didn't though… How about you?
She pressed send and smiled at her phone. Pleased that someone was actually acknowledging her that day as both Polly and Larry had ignored her since she'd answered that it was Alex who had texted her when they inquired earlier that morning. A few minutes later her phone buzzed again.
From Alex:
I'm sure there's more to you than you think Piper Chapman. :) Surname's Vause. Also no pets, but tattoos I do have. I have a salt shaker on my left shoulder, a rose and I have a few more planned soon. I wouldn't have pegged you for a rebel kid! But I can see it suiting you ;)
Piper laughed at Alex's response and was about to reply when she received another message:
From Alex:
Well, I've got to go to work now, speak later? :) Have a good day.
As she remembered the last part of the message, Piper smiled to herself. She would try to have a good day today too. Her mind continued to wander the remainder of the journey but now she had a slight smile playing on her lips. Piper parked her car, still in her daze. Just as she walked away from her car she noticed that even with all the free spaces up and down the road, she had parked in the same space Alex's car had been just over a week and a half ago. The realisation of this subconscious act fixed her smile more solidly, Piper walked along the road to the little café and bookshop the happiest she'd been all week.
Pipers newfound good mood lasted until Polly opened her mouth.
"You are 17 minutes late Piper." Polly said, disappointment very clear in her tone and her expression.
"Hello to you too." Piper thought as she rolled her eyes at her friend. "I'm sorry Polly, Larry decided to complain about Alex again. So I had to try and sort that before I left, I told him I had somewhere to be but he wouldn't listen." Piper said by way of response, annoyed that that was the first thing her friend thought to say.
"You shouldn't be so hard on him Piper. He tries his best to be good enough for you and you don't care. You go out and meet new people. Do you ever stop to think about how that makes him feel?" Polly berated her, shaking her head disappointedly as she did so.
"I'm not being hard on him Pol, I just don't see what he has against me making a new friend." Piper said in exasperation. "And I do care, but I can't devote every waking moment to him. I have a job that means sometimes I work odd hours. I have other commitments in my life Polly and I can't just drop them because he feels a little lonely once in a blue moon."
"Wow, you sound like your mother Piper." Polly said as she picked up a menu and pretended not to see the hurt flash behind her friend's eyes at the comment.
Piper didn't feel like having lunch with Polly after that, but she couldn't leave her right now as she knew Polly would see it as her trying to cause more trouble. So she changed the conversation to a topic that she was certain to keep Polly on a role with very little input needed from her.
"So how are you and Pete?" Piper asked with fake excitement that she hoped covered her hurt at being compared to her mother.
Polly's face lit up and she ploughed into a long description about how Pete had redesigned their living room in their apartment, how he now had longer hours at work and how he often worked late into the night and spent the day sleeping. Polly went on to describe the story of how they met, their first date, and many other occasions Piper knew almost inside out, having heard them countless times before.
During this time both women had ordered their lunch and had it delivered to their table by the wild haired woman who had made Alex and Piper's drinks the week before. Polly hardly slowed her flow of words and didn't give Piper the chance to add anything or join in, just spoke in an endless torrent of events and many phrases like: "He's so perfect Piper!", "We went to…" and "He bought me this…". Piper was finding it hard to keep up her fake interest in their make-up lunch date so was relieved when Polly excused herself to make use of the facilities. She was even more relieved for the slight reprieve upon hearing Polly's parting words:
"Larry's sweet, you know. You're really lucky to have such a wonderful man around. It's a pity you're letting Larry slip right through your fingers by treating him like you do."
Piper was taken aback at her friend's words. She tried to fathom exactly why Polly would care that much. As far as she knew they weren't that close. Piper also got the feeling that Polly didn't like her new friendship with Alex either and there was no logical reason that she could muster to work out why.
Piper suddenly remembered that she was waiting to receive a time for her meeting that day and her phone from her bag to check her work emails. She had a little email icon on her status bar and unexpectedly a text icon too. She check the email first and mentally noted the time she needed to be a work for, not having any clue as to what the current time was as she didn't think to check.
She opened her message application and smiled to see she had a message from none other than Alex. Maybe her day would pick up again after all.
From Alex:
Hey Pipes :)
From Piper:
Hey Alex :) How are you?
Piper happily tapped a reply back and hit send. Now filled with hope at the possibility of a more interesting conversation. Almost instantly, Alex texted her back.
From Alex:
I'm good, you?
Piper paused before replying, unsure how much of the truth to divulge.
From Piper:
Good, a little stressed but good too :)
"God Piper!" Polly exclaimed. "You weren't listening to a damn word I just said!" Polly whined childishly at her.
"Sure I was…" Piper replied distractedly as she glanced up from her phone to see Polly had returned to their booth and was staring at her with annoyance. She put her phone on her lap and put both her hands on the table so Polly had her full attention.
"I leave you for five minutes and you jump on your phone! And I'm betting it wasn't Larry you were texting as you hardly talk to him, don't think I don't know! And now you ignore him in favour of this new 'friend' of yours. You really need to sort out your priorities Piper." Polly ranted at her. Piper waited for Polly to finish and composed herself slightly before replying.
"I actually went on my phone to check when I have to be at work today as I was waiting for the details for it. As it turns out I have half an hour before I have to be there…" Piper trailed off knowing that this new bit of information would set her friend off at her again.
"So you weren't talking to Alex at all? And you're ditching me? You really shouldn't make plans with someone if you aren't going to stay for them!"
"Well I was talking to her-" Piper started.
"I knew it!" Polly interrupted.
"But," Piper continued with a slight edge of anger to her tone, "she texted me and I was replying, and I didn't plan this Polly, you did! Knowing full well I had to work at some point today as I told you when you called to arrange it this morning." Piper was getting more and more annoyed with her friend as she didn't see what was wrong with texting Alex while Polly had been absent from the table. Apparently it made it seem like she had something to hide.
"Alex is a girl? Well now I feel like you're replacing me with a stranger that you've only just met! You've known her just over a week and she comes before me!" Polly complained as Piper's phone audibly buzzed again.
"Yes, Alex is a girl. I am an adult and I'm allowed friends okay? I'm sorry Polly, but I have to go as I've got to be at work soon." Piper's composure snapped and she quickly pulled some money from her purse and threw it on the table as she got up, leaving her stunned friend sat watching her walk briskly towards the door of the little café and book shop.
Piper walked quickly to her car before she lost the tight grip she'd been keeping on her emotions. Staring out the front window for a few minutes, Piper reclaimed control of her breathing and calmed herself from her slight state brought on by how untrusting her best friend and boyfriend had been of her over the past few days, when she had done nothing to warrant it other than befriend someone they didn't know. Even then she could not see how that could make her deserve the way they had been treating her as she had hardly spoken to or of Alex to either of them. It was a complete mystery.
After a few minutes Piper remembered her phone had gone off again in the café and she checked it, hoping it would be Alex as she really wanted to talk to someone who wasn't going to get angry with her for no reason.
From Alex:
Stressed is not too good Pipes, what's up? :/
Piper considered not replying as she did not want to fuel either Polly or Larry's annoyance at her for talking to Alex, especially about them. She then recalled what she had said earlier about being an adult and being allowed to have her own friends, so she replied to her new friend's message.
From Piper:
Just Larry and Polly have both been having a go at me for talking to you, they don't seem to remember I'm an adult and allowed my own friends… Sorry rambling now… Shit, just remembered I've got a stupid meeting in about 20 minutes so I can't really talk right now, sorry Al :(
Piper stared at the message, her finger poised over the send button, knowing full well that once she send it there would be no way to un-complain about how she was feeling right at that moment. She pressed send. She had no idea why she was telling a virtual stranger her problems but something about the time she'd spent with Alex made her feel like she could trust her. She seemed so genuine, that was rare in people these days and they seemed to have a mutual interest in becoming friends, even after the catastrophe that was how they met, so that was what Piper hoped to do.
A few seconds later Piper got a reply.
From Alex:
Don't be sorry! It's not your fault. It sounds like they're the ones who need to grow up… No problem, you've got to work Pipes :) I'm just about to start a shift at Red's. Where do you work if you don't mind me asking? :)
Somehow, even with her short reply Piper was already feeling better. Comforted by Alex confirming it wasn't her fault and that she hadn't done anything wrong made Piper smile with relief. Suddenly she thought about where she'd just been…
From Piper:
Thank you… You work at Red's? I was literally just in there!
FeatherPage Publishing, I'm an editor :)
Piper was gutted she'd missed seeing her new friend, but then she thought about who she'd been with, maybe it way for the best…
From Alex:
Small world, huh kid? :) I was out the back, I work in the book section mainly.
Cool! We get books from there sometimes!
Disappointment spread through Piper as she realised seeing Alex might have brightened up what was turning out to be a rather bad day.
From Piper:
Small world indeed! If I'd known I would have stayed for a little longer :)
From Alex:
Hehe, maybe next time. :) I'm sorry but I've got to go now, so have a good meeting!
"Oh Shit!" Piper muttered to herself upon being reminded that she had a meeting and upon seeing the time on her phone's clock. "I'm so going to be late if I don't get a move on…"
Not wanting to seem rude she typed out a quick reply to Alex.
From Piper:
Maybe next time. :) Okey dokey, thank you – although I doubt it'll be too interesting ;) Have a good shift.
After pressing send Piper threw her phone in her bag roughly, before putting her keys in the ignition and driving the short journey to work from the café as quickly as the speed limit would legally allow.
Piper slid into her seat just as the editor leading the meeting turned around to begin. The meeting was nothing out of the ordinary and only consisted of Piper and her co-workers taking it in turns to suggest ideas and improvements for consideration about their respective projects which were all laid out on the huge wooden conference table. An hour and a half later and the meeting finally drew to a close, allowing the editors to collect their manuscripts and disperse.
"Hey Piper!" a voice called from behind her as she tried to leave the office as quickly as possible. She stopped, knowing that she had not been far enough away to feign not hearing him.
"Hey Anthony." Piper greeted cheerfully, despite not being overly fond of her co-worker.
"A few of us are all getting together tonight for a drink after work, wondered if you'd be interested?" Anthony said, flashing her a, what he probably believed to be seductive, smile.
Piper grimaced internally at the thought of going out that evening and decided to politely decline.
"No problem Chapman, maybe we'll see you next time? I remember you're quite a fan of tequila right?"
"Maybe next time. Err… yes?" Piper replied awkwardly, hoping Anthony would not end up walking all the way to her car with her, he'd done it before… Luckily for her he waved in goodbye and darted after another editor he'd spotted ducking into their office, quite probably to avoid him…
The blonde returned to the little car park where she had parked her car. She got in and leisurely drove home, not in any hurry to return should Larry be home before her. She was not looking forward to seeing him after their conversation that morning and after Polly complaining at her for her 'ill treatment' of her boyfriend.
Piper tentatively let herself into the apartment and sighed in relief when Larry was nowhere to be found. She then felt guilty for feeling that as she started to worry that maybe Polly and Larry were right. What if she was neglecting them both? Pushing these thoughts from her already crowded mind, Piper dropped her bag on the end of the sofa and kicked off her shoes. She then padded over to the music stand where her IPod was plugged into the docking station charging and picked a calm, soothing track, after which she went back over to the sofa and took out her phone.
Piper went back through her few short conversations with Alex and started reading one she had almost forgotten about:
From Alex:
If you were ever sent to prison what do you think it would be for? For me I think it'd probably be drug smuggling. I'm great at planning things ;) (I don't import drugs... Just thought I should say that…)
Piper laughed just as she had when she'd read that the first time, then continued reading.
From Piper:
Hmm don't know, maybe I'd be a drug mule? Maybe I'd carry a suitcase of drug money for you? ;) (I don't carry drug money for people either ;P)
From Alex:
Haha, what a team we'd make! ;)
About ten minutes later, Piper got up and went into the little kitchen to find something to drink. She settled on a rather large glass of wine, which she felt she kind of deserved after the day she'd had. She shuffled back into the living room and found herself swaying to the music as she drank her way through her glass of red liquid.
A seemingly infinite amount of time later the front door slammed shut and the sound of keys being thrown on the little side table by the door rang through the hallway. Piper was feeling fuzzy and contented after relaxing somewhat in the calmness of the music and wine.
"Oh you're home." Larry said bluntly, almost tripping into the side of the little coffee table as he made his way towards the sofa.
"I could say the same to you." Piper replied with just as much enthusiasm. She then remembered her conversation with Polly and decided to make an effort to have a nice talk with Larry. "How was your day?" she asked more pleasantly.
"Alright I suppose, started off rubbish, but then I went to the pub and met a friend for a drink." He slurred, confirming he had definitely been to the pub.
"Oh? Who did you meet?" Piper said, trying to keep the conversation going.
"You don't know them." Larry said quickly, seeming to remember that it was Piper talking to him. "How was Polly?" he asked.
"She's fine. Still annoyed with me, even more so now I think, but everything is perfect in Polly and Pete world!" Piper answered joylessly. Larry made a face at her attempt at sarcastic humour.
"You should say things like that about your friends." Larry stated, then shrugged as if he didn't care. "Did you go to work in the end?"
"Yes, I did. One of the many reasons Polly is annoyed with me. But at least I got to pick up some manuscripts to read. Gives me something to do." She sighed.
"Are you saying I have nothing to do? I thought you were fine with my writing career being slow. But apparently that was a lie." Larry demanded. And Piper tried to figure out how and why Larry had jumped to the conclusion that she was judging him for not having a steady job like she did.
"No Larry, I'm not saying that. Where did that come from?" Piper asked, confused.
"Well it was either work or stay and text Alex wasn't it? So there was no room for me either way!" Larry shouted back at her. Piper finally understood, he was completely drunk. He probably had no idea what he was saying and the illusion of him actually engaging in a conversation disappeared. At the mention of Alex, Piper saw red. She had had enough of her best friend and boyfriend bringing that poor woman into their arguments when she literally had done nothing. She stood up crossly and shoved her phone into her pocket.
"What have you got against me being friends with Alex?" Piper demanded angrily. "Seriously, I met her just over a week and a half ago, it's new and exciting but I've not been going on about her endlessly, in fact the only time I've actually brought her up in conversation was when I told you about her the day I met her. The rest of them were all you or Polly. So what is both yours and Polly's problem? Because I just can't figure it out."
Larry stared at her, stunned for a moment by the ferocity of her voice. He shook himself slightly as if to try to clear his head which, in his fairly drunken state, caused him to wobble and nearly fall over.
Piper shook her head. She took a composing breath and walked tensely to the spare bedroom and locked the door behind her. Almost in tears by the time she got to the double doors, she let herself out onto the balcony and paced for a few minutes, hoping the sounds of the city that she usually found soothing would calm her a little. Piper paused her pacing as a thought came to her and she fished her phone out of her pocket and dialled a number that was becoming quite familiar.
"Hey Alex." Piper whispered softly.