Orange Is The New Black is the property of Netflix and Piper Kerman.

I'm not entirely sure what to say in this introduction; I know I said I was leaving this but the idea to update entered my mind and I have always been impulsive. I am currently waiting for Uni to recommence so I can't promise anything, but take this update as an apology – Lark

Chapter 4

'You left her like that? Seriously?'

'Yes.'

'Are you crazy?' Nichols demanded incredulously.

'I didn't want to push her,' Alex shrugged, flopping down on an overstuffed beanbag.

'It doesn't sound like you would have had to,' Nichols snorted, 'I don't know about you Vause, but when a girl invites me back to her apartment for coffee, I don't drink it til the morning after.'

'Your parents never taught you anything about avoiding instant gratification did they?' Alex taunted, gazing up at Nichols coyly.

'God damn, you actually like this girl, don't you?'

'She's feisty,' Alex smirked.

'You just can't resist topping the feisty ones,' Nichols chuckled.

'Apparently I can,' Alex retorted, pulling herself to her feet languidly.

'Where are you going?'

'Piper's not half as feisty as she can be without her coffee.'

'You're losing your game, Vause.'

Alex didn't reply she merely gave Nichols the finger as she pulled on her leather jacket and slipped out the front door.

With Piper

'Pipes, come on, we've been friends for years,' Polly groaned.

'Don't pull that card with me,' Piper scowled.

'When my best friend has a hickey and she won't tell me how she got it, I will pull that card.'

'It was just someone I met at work,' Piper shrugged, fighting the blush that was rising to her cheeks.

'You actually got a date, while working at a library?' Polly giggled, 'God damn, that must be some kind of record.'

Piper idly straightened the books she was shelving; somewhat annoyed that Polly had accosted her at work so she couldn't bail in order to avoid her questioning.

'We were just messing around.'

'Just messing around? Pipes, why couldn't you just mess around with Larry?' Polly complained.

'Is he the guy you introduced me to at Pete's barbeque?' Piper asked, wrinkling her nose.

'He adored you and he's really sweet and has a steady writing job,' Polly assured her.

'I know, but there's nothing there, no spark,' Piper sighed.

'Oh and the tasteless guy who gave you a hickey is probably so full of charm and mystery,' Polly snorted.

'Alex is,' Piper began before she paused, how exactly would she describe Alex? She couldn't think of a word that would adequately convey Alex's sensuality and confidence.

'Alex is it? Let's hope Mr Mystery was up to date on his STI checks,' Polly scowled.

'We haven't slept together yet,' Piper cut her off indignantly.

'Yet? Pipes, tell me you aren't seeing this guy again.'

'I'm not seeing that guy again,' Piper promised, tiring of Polly's triad.

'Good, are we still on for drinks tonight at that bar I told you about?'

'Can we go somewhere else?' Piper requested, thinking of the creep she had met there before Alex had come to her rescue.

'Aw, come on Pipes.'

'Somewhere else Polly,' Piper insisted.

'Fine, fine, we can go to room sixty. Apparently it's a hipster bar, but it has good reviews,' Polly conceded.

'Thank you Pol,' Piper smiled.

'You owe me,' Polly informed her as she collected her handbag from the floor. 'And don't see that guy again,' she called over her shoulder as she exited the library.

Piper restrained the instinct to shush her and instead opted to shake her head at the mess she had gotten herself into as she readjusted the scarf she had worn, hoping it would hide the hickey from prying people like Polly.

'You look like you could use a coffee,' a husky voice chuckled and Piper spun around, barely repressing a grin.

'I didn't expect to see you so soon,' Piper admitted as Alex handed her a large cup of coffee.

'What can I say, I couldn't keep away,' Alex smirked.

'I keep asking myself if there is ever a point when you're not cocky,' Piper chuckled, 'thus far the answer is no.'

'The answer will always be no,' Alex grinned, stepping closer, 'to that anyway.'

'Alex, I'm at work,' Piper hissed as the brunet leant into her personal space.

'You're always at work,' Alex whined, though Piper could tell she wasn't serious.

'And you never are,' Piper narrowed her eyes, 'you never told me what you did for a living.'

'Isn't that more a question for our second date?' Alex waggled her eyebrows.

'Alex.'

'Fine,' Alex surrendered, 'I'm a dealer.'

'Alex!' Piper exclaimed, taking a step back.

'Not a drug dealer,' Alex chortled, 'Art and Antiques.'

'Fuck you,' Piper giggled, hitting Alex's arm.

'Ow, that hurt kid,' Alex complained, rubbing her bicep.

'Why did you have to phrase it like that?'

'Cause your expression was hilarious,' Alex chuckled.

'I don't know what I see in you.'

'Oh, but I know what I want to see in you,' Alex grinned, the suggestion clear in her voice as she lowered her head to meet Piper's lips.

Piper pulled away after a few seconds and pushed Alex back a few inches.

'Don't.'

'Not a fan of PDA?'

'I have no issue with it, what I have is an issue with is being left high and dry without even a cold shower as an option,' Piper narrowed her eyes.

'Well, I wouldn't say dry,' Alex teased, not even having the decency to look guilty.

'Alex.'

'All right, all right,' Alex held up her hands to signal defeat, 'let me take you out tonight then.'

'I can't, I promised my friend Polly I would go to a bar with her.'

'Meet me after,' Alex suggested.

'Not tonight,' Piper apologised, genuinely disappointed.

Alex pouted and Piper couldn't help but think the expression was adorable on her.

'I have to get back to work, Alex,' Piper smiled, wrapping her coffee free hand around Alex's waist.

'I miss you way too much when I don't see you,' Alex admitted and by the way she stiffened Piper was certain she hadn't meant to say it.

'I miss you to.'

At Room Sixty

'Earth to Piper,' Polly sighed, 'where's your head at?'

'Sorry, I was thinking about –'

'Alex?' Polly snorted, 'come on, one date couldn't have been that great.'

'We've been having coffee for weeks Pol, it's not like I just met her,' Piper defended, the feminine pronoun slipping out before she could stop it.

'Her? Alex is a woman?' Polly demanded, her eyebrows disappearing into her fringe.

'Ah,' Piper blushed.

'I thought that was just a phase you went through in college.'

'It was, but Alex is, an enigma.'

'Just, be careful Pipes, sometimes you're too much of a romantic. Not every confident attractive person is a prince charming, or a princess,' she corrected herself, 'charming.'

'Polly, I don't need lecture.'

'Sometimes I think you do,' Polly growled.

'Pol,' Piper sighed, her phone buzzing, effectively interrupting her trail of thought.

Do you need saving? –A

'Don't Pol me, Piper.'

Are you stalking me? –P

Piper tuned out Polly's rant, which she had no doubt was colourful; Polly had a way of waving her hands in feminine little swirls when she was cursing like a sailor.

I heard your friend mention the bar when I was waiting to give you your coffee – A

'Piper, for god's sake, are you even listening?'

'Yes, I am. Pol, I promise I'm being careful,' Piper assured her.

I don't think you appearing would be a good idea – P

'All right, I believe you, but come on Piper, we're twenty eight, aren't you getting a little old for this sort of college drama?'

'You're probably right,' Piper conceded.

'I need another drink,' Polly shook her head and rose to her feet.

Maybe I can keep you entertained then – A

Where are you? –P

Look across the bar, in the booth by the portrait of the calendar girl – A

Piper glanced up and it took her mere moments to find Alex's familiar eyes across the room. Alex sent her a lazy wink before turning her eyes back to her phone.

That dress looks great on you. The ribbons down the front give me ideas though – A

You can't be serious – P

I told you I would keep you entertained. So tell me, if I kept pulling that red bow, would the entire dress unravel? - A

I imagine not – P

Come on babe, I'd hate to have to tie you down with that ribbon to make you play along – A

I doubt you'd hate that – P

Neither would you – A

'Piper, are you okay?' Polly asked as she sat back down, a glass of wine in her left hand, 'you look a little flushed.'

'Fine, I think I've just had a little too much to drink,' Piper lied.

'You need to go out more, you're such a light weight,' Polly smirked, 'I'll grab you a glass of water. I can't have you stumbling to the bar and getting kicked out.'

'Thanks Pol.'

Your friend getting you a glass of water to help you cool down? –A

I hate you – P

No you don't babe and I certainly don't hate the image I have in my mind at the moment – A

Do I want to know? – P

I'll tell you later, but I have warned you I have a very vivid imagination and you feature heavily – A

Tease – P

Oh, you have no idea – A

'Here you go Pipes,' Polly grinned, clearly finding amusement in Piper's supposedly inebriated state, 'you all right?'

'I think I ought to head home, I can already feel a headache building,' Piper sighed, only half lying. Dealing with Alex was the epitome of frustration.

'I'll call you a cab.'

'It's fine Pol; I'll call one from outside. The fresh air might help.'

'All right, Pete was going to come by for a few drinks anyway,' Polly grinned brightly and Piper's guilt lightened.

Piper made her way out of the bar and she knew Alex wouldn't be far behind. She was standing on the curb, waiting for a Taxi to drive past when arms wrapped around her waist.

'So, your place or mine?' Alex husked in her ear.

'I don't remember inviting you,' Piper taunted, placing her hands over Alex's where they crossed over on her stomach.

'You did last time, surely the invitation carries over,' Alex smirked, pressing her lips to Piper's shoulder.

'Hey, Polly might see us,' Piper protested half-heartedly.

'Taxi!' Alex bellowed, her voice carrying in a way Piper's never would. A taxi seemed to appear out of nowhere and Piper couldn't help but feel jealous of the power Alex

apparently had over everything.

'My lady,' Alex bowed dramatically as she opened the door for Piper.

Piper slid into the back seat of the cab and was almost immediately joined by Alex who rattled off an address to the driver.

'I don't know about you, but I want to know if those ribbons hold that dress together or not,' Alex informed her huskily, her lips at Piper's ear.

'If you ruin my dress,' Piper warned.

'I'll buy you a new one, and some lingerie to match,' she murmured, eyes angled down the front of Piper's dress in a less than subtle manner.

'Alex.'

'How do you feel about red silk and see through black lace?'

'Alex!'

'It doesn't really matter, I promise you won't be in them for long.'

The cab pulled up outside an upscale apartment block and Piper began to feel out of her depth.

'Hey, babe, just breath,' Alex whispered, wrapping an arm around her waist as they stepped out of the cab, 'I promise I won't push you.'

'I know,' Piper replied, or at least she hoped she did, it didn't stop the nervousness that was creeping up on her.