A/N: I'm the worst. Work got crazy, and then Orange premiered early, so I binge watched it, and then rewatched it to try and figure out what the hell the writers did to Piper Chapman. This chapter also ended up being my longest one yet, so it took a while to get it finished. I'm still not a hundred percent okay with how it ended, and I may do an epilogue, but for right now, I'm marking it as complete. Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed so far, I hope you like this chapter!
Week 1
Alex had to find Piper.
She wasn't one hundred percent sure why, but she felt like she had to find her. Last night, when Sylvia showed up unannounced, Piper looked so devastated, and that had shaken Alex. She didn't want to think about that look, she didn't know what it meant, and she didn't want to get her hopes up for something that she was probably imagining.
So she had texted Piper yesterday to see if she was okay, and had gotten no response. So, she tried again. And again. And again. Seven unanswered texts later, Alex was seeking out Piper Chapman.
She figured Piper's room would be the best place to start. She knew where Piper's dorm was, though she had never been inside. She managed to sneak in behind a couple of juniors, casually asking them if they knew where Piper Chapman lived.
Finally reaching Piper's third floor dorm room, Alex knocked on the door. Alex could hear shuffling on the other side of the door, and breathed a sigh of relief when the dorm room door opened, though the sigh caught in her throat as she laid eyes on Piper.
"Pipes," Alex slipped out softly, unthinking. Piper looked terrible. Her eyes were bloodshot, bags were prominent under her eyes, and her hair was pulled up in a messy bun.
"Alex?" Piper's eyes widened, clearly surprised to see her there.
"Are you alright?" Alex blurted out, unable to comprehend why Piper looked so crushed, like she had been up all night.
"Fine," Piper replied, unable to look Alex in the eye. "Just couldn't get any sleep."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, Alex," Piper's voice was sharp, quashing any further questions from Alex. "What do you want?"
"I- I just wanted to see how you were," Alex cringed at her own voice, which sounded weak and timid. "You left pretty fast yesterday."
"Well, I didn't want to interrupt your time with your girlfriend," Piper muttered.
"It's complicated," Alex couldn't help but say. She felt like she owed Piper an explanation. She wanted to tell Piper that Sylvia wasn't her girlfriend, she was more of a friends with benefits, nothing official or serious. But Alex knew that it wouldn't really matter to Piper, and she couldn't figure out how to make Piper see that Sylvia wasn't that important to her without acknowledging that she kept something from Piper. And she couldn't figure out why it mattered that Piper knew that she didn't have a girlfriend.
"Whatever," Piper murmured, still staring at the floor. "Is that all? Because Polly's going to be here soon, and I have to get dressed."
"Yeah, I guess that's all," Alex instinctively reached out to rub Piper's arm, but thought better of it. "Are we still on for Thursday?"
"Sure, if you want," Piper replied, stepping back into her dorm. "See you next week."
"See you," Alex said as Piper shut the door.
Alex stood in front of Piper's room for a minute, unmoving. She felt responsible for Piper's behavior and looks, but she wasn't sure how to fix it. She just wanted to fast forward to next Thursday when she could spend time with Piper again, and hopefully fix any whatever was bothering her.
Week 2
It was finally Thursday, and Alex sighed with relief as she sat down at her usual table in the student center, Piper's favorite coffee order in her hand. She was really looking forward to spending time with Piper. She missed the blonde, but hadn't been able to bring herself to text her since last Friday. She was hoping to pull some information on Piper and why she seemed so down. Alex glanced down at her phone; Piper should be here in about ten minutes.
Twenty five minutes later, and Alex was getting worried. Piper was never late, she always insisted on being anywhere ten minutes early. Alex checked her phone for the millionth time, but like the previous times, there was no message from Piper. Alex decided enough was enough, and she dialed Piper's number, pressing the phone to her ear.
Unsurprisingly, Alex's call went to voicemail after four or five rings, which angered the brunette. She began to text Piper telling her she was leaving when she felt something brush past her. "Sorry," a familiar voice said into her left ear as Piper passed her, sitting in the opposite chair in a huff. "I got caught up in a meeting with a professor."
"It's okay," Alex said quietly as she studied Piper. Piper's blonde hair was slightly disheveled, and curtained her face as she stared at her, now likely cold, coffee. "Pipes?"
Piper looked up, barely sparing Alex a glance. "Yeah?" She replied before turning her gaze from Alex to something over Alex's shoulder. Piper's eyes appeared to be slightly red, but Alex couldn't really tell.
"Is everything alright?"
"I'm fine Alex," Piper sighed, giving Alex a very clearly forced smile as she finally looked at Alex again. "How are your classes going?"
"Eh," Alex shrugged. "My marketing and business classes are pretty good, but my philosophy class is a drag. You would love it though, I can totally picture you spouting out random pieces of information and annoying the shit out the professor with all of your opinions."
"Shut up," Piper laughed, her smile genuine for the first time since last Thursday. Alex couldn't help but smile back, feeling light for the first time since Piper left her apartment.
"How are your classes?" Alex asked. "How are the theater classes this semester?"
"Oh you know, they're alright," Piper shrugged, still smiling at Alex. "I get a lot more work done without a certain pain in the ass sitting next to me an bothering me all class."
"Please," Alex scoffed, kicking Piper's leg under the table.
"Ouch," Piper exclaimed, feigning injury as she tried to kick Alex back, but missed. "You're the worst."
"Maybe," Alex grinned.
"Yo, Vause!" a familiar voice called across the student center, and Alex groaned softly. "I've been looking all over for you!"
Suddenly, Nicky came into view, sliding in the empty seat between Piper and Alex.
"Nicky," Alex nodded curtly, trying to make eye contact with her friend, who had shifted her gaze to Piper.
"It's Piper, right?" Nicky asked, and Piper nodded her response. "Nice to see you again. What are you two up to?"
"We're just grabbing coffee," Piper smiled politely.
"Yeah, Nicky," Alex said harshly, causing Nicky to turn to look at her, brows raised. "Piper and I are getting coffee. We're trying to catch up because I haven't seen her all week."
Missing Alex's subtle hint to get Nicky to leave, her friend just smirked widely. "Oh I'm sure," Nicky laughed. "I heard Sylvia came up early to surprise you. Bet you didn't leave the bedroom for days."
"Nicky," Alex hissed, flicking her gaze over to Piper, who was now staring down into her coffee mug, her cheeks reddening.
"Oh please, don't even try to deny it," Nicky continued. "Remember that time last year when you home for Thanksgiving? You and Sylvia started going at it as soon as you both got back on Sunday-"
"Nicky."
"And you missed the next three days of class because you couldn't keep your hands off each other. Man, I wish I had a girlfriend that could go all day like that."
"I'm gonna go," Piper announced suddenly, standing up and grabbing her coffee.
"What? Why?" Alex asked, suddenly feeling panicky.
"I um, I told Polly I'd meet her to go over some stuff for class," Piper muttered, staring intently down at her coffee.
"Pipes, you just got here," Alex replied, reaching for Piper's arm. "Please stay."
Piper backed away, out of Alex's grasp, before looking up to make eye contact briefly. "I really need to leave," she said quietly. "Nice to see you Nicky."
"You to Piper," Nicky half waved.
"Are we on for next Thursday?" Alex asked as Piper moved away from the table.
"Yeah, sure," Piper nodded as she quickly walked away from the group. Alex watched her go until Nicky spoke up.
"What was the matter with her?"
Alex rounded on Nicky, glaring at her. "What the hell? Piper and I were having coffee! Why would you interrupt that?"
Nicky's brow furrowed, confusion sweeping across her face as she answered. "I didn't realize you were on a date, Vause."
"It wasn't a date. We just made these plans last week, but Piper's been kind of weird recently, and I was worried she wasn't going to show up. She just started acting like herself before you came in and ruined it all by talking about sex."
Nicky held her hands up in surrender. "Sorry, didn't mean to ruin this for you or anything."
"It's fine," Alex amended.
"So, how is Sylvia?"
"She's fine," Alex said. "She just showed up to my apartment unannounced, and then acted pissy half the night because Piper was over when she showed up. I practically had to sit on her face to get her to shut up."
"So I guess you guys are back on?" Nicky laughed.
"I guess," Alex shrugged. "I think she wants a commitment."
"Really?"
"Yeah," Alex groaned. "She's been totally fine with the casual sex and dating thing for the past year, but she was really needy this summer. She kept begging for me to visit her, which is why I had to go down there for the Fourth of July."
"Are you not into being in a relationship with her?"
"I don't know," Alex sighed. "I really liked that it was simple, you know? We were together when we were at school, and we weren't together when we weren't here."
"Women," Nicky sighed.
"Yeah," Alex agreed.
Week 3
Piper was late. Again. Alex was trying to be patient, she really was, but she didn't know why Piper was late. She hadn't gotten a text, or anything from her. She hadn't really seen Piper last week, hadn't had a proper conversation with her since the night in her apartment, and she missed the younger blonde and her rambles.
"Hey," Piper said casually as she slid into the seat, not acknowledging that she was fifteen minutes late.
Alex opened her mouth to make a comment about Piper's lateness, but thought better of it when she actually looked at Piper.
"You cut your hair?" Alex said, incredulously. Piper's once long, blonde hair was gone, her hair now falling at her shoulders.
"Yeah," Piper shrugged, self-consciously running her hand through her hair. "I felt like a needed a change."
"Well, you definitely made a change," Alex replied.
Piper's eyes widened. "Do you not like it?" she asked quietly, glancing down at the table.
"No, Pipes, I love it," Alex said sincerely. "Seriously, you look hot. It's just different."
Piper looked up at Alex, smiling slightly. "I'm glad you like it," Piper's eyes widened at her admittance, and Alex noticed her cheeks beginning to redden. "I mean…I mean I'm glad I don't look terrible. I wasn't sure how it would look, my hair hasn't been this short in a while."
Alex swallowed heavily, suddenly focusing on Piper's face, on her wide, blue eyes, her lips, curled slightly up in a hopeful smile. Something clenched in Alex's chest, making it feel tight. Piper was beautiful, the most beautiful girl she had ever seen, and she needed to make sure Piper knew that. "It looks great, kid. You look hot."
"Thanks, I guess," Piper laughed, rolling her eyes disbelievingly, and Alex swore she felt her heart melt a little, even if it made her a little embarrassed to acknowledge.
Alex didn't have too long to think about her feelings. Piper just launched into a rant about one of her classmates, and Alex couldn't help but feel content that she and Piper were finally getting back to the way they were.
Week 4, Tuesday
It was 12:15 on a Tuesday, which meant that Alex had just enough time to head to the dining hall, grab something to eat, and run off to her 1:00 class.
She got to the dining hall in good time, and quickly grabbed a sandwich and a bag of chips before finding a small table to sit at. Alex didn't really mind eating alone, she didn't really like to linger during meals, and it gave her a chance to look over the reading for her philosophy class.
Finishing her sandwich, Alex took a quick glance around the hall as she flipped the page in her book. Feeling someone watching her, she turned to her right, and was met with Piper Chapman staring at her from across the dining hall, holding a coffee and banana in her hand, black backpack slung over her shoulders. Alex smiled slightly at Piper, giving her a half wave. Piper grinned back, nodding her head at Alex.
Alex gestured to the chair across from her, silently inviting Piper to join her. Piper's grin widened, if that was at all possible, and she took about five steps toward Alex before stopping suddenly, her smile fading. Alex shot her a confused look before she felt a pair of arms drape around her shoulders and a kiss planted on her cheek.
"Hey babe," Sylvia murmured into Alex's ear as she slid around Alex and into the vacated chair next her.
"Hey Sylvie," Alex mustered a smile, trying not to glance toward Piper. "What are you doing here?"
"Just grabbing lunch. I saw you and wanted to come sit with you," Sylvia stroked Alex's arm before pulling away slightly. "Why? Is that not okay?"
"No, of course it is," Alex said. "It's just, I have to head to class soon, so I don't want to leave you sitting by yourself."
"Aw, you're so sweet," Sylvia grinned, leaning in and kissing Alex lightly on the lips. Alex pulled away quickly, glancing around to see if Piper was still in the hall. She saw a flash of Piper's blonde hair as she made her way out of the dining hall, and Alex felt her heart sink.
It's okay, Alex told herself as she turned back to Sylvia. You'll see her on Thursday, it'll be fine.
Week 4, Thursday
Alex had just sat down when she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. Pulling it out, she saw that it was a text from Piper. Smiling instinctively, she opened the text to read it, her face falling quickly.
Sorry, I can't make it today. Meeting with a professor.
Alex's chest clenched painfully at the thought of going another week without seeing Piper, but she didn't want to try and figure out what that meant. Instead, she typed back a quick response to Piper.
No worries, see you next Thursday.
Alex slowly stood up, picking up both coffee cups she had just purchased and tossed them in the garbage, making her way back to her apartment.
At six weeks into the semester, Alex was getting pretty agitated. Piper was totally flaking out on her. If it was anyone else, Alex might not care that much, but it was Piper. Alex knows Piper. Knows how meticulous she is about schedules and times, but she can barely think of a time this semester that Piper actually held up her end of the bargain for their coffee dates.
The first week, Piper had shown up late, and then left after Nick showed up. The second week, Piper had been late, but had least acted like a normal human being. Piper had cancelled on her the third week, showed up late the fourth week, and this past week, Piper hadn't shown up, not even bothering to text Alex with an excuse. She felt stupid, and humiliated, and hurt.
Deep down, Alex knew why she felt like this. She liked Piper, she like her a lot. She was hot, smart, know-it-allish, and dorky in the most adorable way. She was annoyingly picky about her food, but her smile and laugh could light up a room. Alex didn't know what these feelings actually meant, whether they really extended beyond friendship, but at the very least, Alex was worried that she was losing someone she cared a great deal about.
It was Saturday night, and Alex was at a party. Actually, she was at a stupid frat house where she normally would never be caught dead at, but Sylvia really wanted to come, and insisted that Alex go with her. Her only excuse out of this, Nicky, said she knew a guy going who sold great weed, so she and Sylvia both dragged her along. She was currently standing in the corner of the living room by herself while her fuck buddy was off with her friends and while Nicky was trying to score some weed.
It was then she heard a familiar laugh.
Alex whipped around, and was met with the sight of Piper Chapman. Piper Chapman in a sinfully short, tight black skirt and white tank top, a red solo cup in her hand and surrounded by her friends. Even from across the room, Alex could see that Piper's cheeks were flushed, and that her laugh was a little too loud, telling her that Piper was a little buzzed.
Despite how badly she wanted to approach Piper, Alex stayed rooted to the spot, content with simply watching her for now. It may seem creepy, and Alex fully acknowledged that, but Alex had never really been given the opportunity to see Piper interact with her friends before; all of their interactions were either one on one or in class.
Though tipsy, Piper seemed a little more self-conscious with her friends. Sure, she was laughing and chatting, and overall seemed content, but she was also glancing around the room a lot more, as if she's trying to keep up appearances.
Alex watched as a boy slid up to Piper, casually injecting himself into a conversation with her and her friends. She watched as he kept eyeing Piper, smiling at her and casually brushing against her, even as Piper remained oblivious. Finally, the boy wrapped his arm around Piper's waist, and Alex felt like she had just been punched in her gut.
She breathed a sigh of relief as Piper maneuvered her way out of the boy's arms, laughing lightly as she moved closer to her other friends, immediately engaging them in conversation in order to avoid the douche bag.
Alex felt like she had waited long enough. Pushing herself off of the wall, she made her way over to Piper and her friends. She crossed the room quickly, lightly brushing her hand across Piper's arm as she leaned in, "Hey."
Piper whipped around, her eyes widening for a moment until, much to Alex's surprise, they narrowed slightly. "Alex," Piper half whispered. "What are you doing here?"
Alex shrugged. "You know, just out with some friends."
"Hmm," Piper nodded, glancing back to her friends. "That's nice."
"Yeah," Alex trailed off, an awkward silence passing between them as Piper began to turn away from her.
"So," Alex began again, Piper glancing back at her. "How have you been? I feel like I haven't seen you in forever."
"I'm fine," Piper said shortly. "Just busy." Again, Piper turned back to her friends, this time completely cutting Alex off. Alex didn't understand what was going on, and why Alex was behaving this way. She reached for Piper's arm, turning the younger blonde to face her.
"What is your problem?" Alex snipped, hurt by the way Piper was treating her.
"Nothing," Piper snapped. "Nothing is my problem. What do you want from me? I'm here with my friends. We aren't together, so I don't know what you want."
"Hey," a third voice came from the right, and Alex whipped around. It was that douche bag that had been hitting on Piper earlier. Great. "Is everything alright?"
"Everything's fine," Alex replied through clenched teeth.
"Is she bothering you?" the guy turned to Piper gesturing at Alex.
"No," Alex and Piper said in unison, though Piper added an eye roll for good measure.
"I'm Rob," he smiled at Piper, moving to stand slightly in front of Alex.
"Piper," Piper offered, a small smile on her face.
"Do, you want to dance?" the guy gestured to the dance floor. Alex noticed Piper's gaze quickly flitted to her before she smiled, nodding.
"Sure," Piper smiled, her voice unbelievably fake. "Let's go."
"Piper," Alex said quietly, hating how whiny she sounded.
"Not now, Alex," Piper hissed. "Go find your girlfriend." And with that, she let the asshole lead her to the dance floor and press himself flush against her.
Alex felt rooted to the spot. She was still standing near Piper's friends, watching as she grinded with Rob, watching him run his hands over Piper's waist and hips. Alex felt instinctively jealous, wondering what the hell Piper saw in a guy like that when suddenly Rob leaned down and pressed his lips against Piper.
Piper seemed to freeze for a moment before responding, reaching up and circling her arms around his shoulders, suddenly equally enthusiastic.
Alex suddenly felt sick, and she had to get out of there. She sent a quick text to Sylvia and Nicky, telling them she was heading back, and practically ran out of the house, fists clenched.
As she exited the house, Alex forced herself to take deep breaths. She was acting like a jealous girlfriend, and was being ridiculous. Piper was not her girlfriend, hell, Piper was straight, that immediately made her off limits. she had no right to feel like this.
You just don't like that she brushed you off, Alex reasoned with herself. She's your friend, and she just treated you like garbage. You have a right to be mad.
Alex kept repeating that sentiment her entire way home, refusing to analyze the situation any further.
She's just a friend and she treated you like crap.
She's just a friend and she treated you like crap.
"Vause, why do you look like someone kicked your puppy?" Nicky asked after ten minutes of silence.
"I do not look like someone kicked my puppy," Alex retorted hotly, but she knew Nicky was probably right. Nicky wasn't one to bullshit someone.
It had been ten days. Ten days since that party last Saturday night. Ten days since Piper had blown her off. Ten days since she watched Piper hook up with that meat head, watched them grind and grope one another until Alex couldn't take it anymore and fled from the house, white hot anger coursing through every part of her. Ten days since she had seen Piper. Alex had even gone to meet Piper for coffee at their spot, but Piper didn't show. She didn't even bother to text Alex and tell her she wasn't coming.
"That's bullshit and you know it," Nicky replied matter-of-factly. "Now come on Alex, tell me what's wrong."
Alex sighed heavily. "I haven't seen Piper in almost two weeks".
Nicky's smirked morphed into something more serious. "Really? What happened?"
"I don't know," Alex replied, ignoring the obvious desperation in her voice. "I saw her at that party last Saturday; she was there with her friends. I went over to talk to her, and she completely brushed me off. She barely looked at me, and the first chance she got, she ran off with some guy."
Nicky thought for a moment. "And you have no idea if you did anything?"
"No," Alex replied. "Unless she's embarrassed to be seen with me."
"Do you think she's embarrassed of you?"
Alex opened her mouth to reply, but then thought about it. Since the semester began, Piper had been acting weird, more distant. And they only ever met in public. Maybe she was worried about the two of them being seen together. Piper clearly cared what other people thought of her, her parents, professors, friends, hell, even drunk strangers at a party. Maybe Piper didn't want to be seen with her.
"What do I do?" Alex asked weakly, running her hand through her long, black hair.
Nicky shrugged. "If she doesn't show for coffee on Thursday, I say you confront her about it. Don't let her walk all over you and treat you like garbage."
Alex nodded, blinking back tears. "Okay," she agreed quietly.
Nicky studied Alex again, her expression making her feel like she had confessed something, "You really like her, huh?"
"Yeah," Alex admitted, her whole heart in her throat. "I really do."
Nicky fell silent, allowing the subject to drop as Alex's thoughts drifted to just how much she liked Piper Chapman.
Alex was fuming as she stormed toward the library.
Piper didn't show for coffee. Alex took Nicky's advice, and went to Piper's dorm room, but no one answered. Her neighbors told Alex that they thought they saw Piper heading to the library, which infuriated Alex even more. Piper wasn't sick, she didn't just forget; she left her dorm room with a purpose, to avoid Alex by going to the library.
Alex made her way through the library, searching wildly for Piper. Finally, she found Piper on the second floor, sitting at a desk close to the group study rooms. Piper glanced up when Alex was about ten feet from her, her eyes widening as Alex reached her.
"Alex," Piper stuttered out.
"I need to talk to you," Alex hissed, pointing to an empty group study room. Piper nodded slowly, looking at her feet as Alex led them into the room, shutting the door.
Alex turned, staring at Piper, who still wouldn't make eye contact with her. Finally, Alex felt her anger bubble over, and said the first thing she could think to say.
"You bitch," Alex bit out harshly. Piper's head shot up, eyes still doe-eyed and wide.
"Alex-" Piper began, but Alex cut her off.
"No, stop talking. What the hell is your problem? You blew me off the last two weeks, without even letting me know. You just didn't show up. And you blew me off a few weeks ago as well. If you were over this whole coffee thing, you just had to say so."
"No, it's not that," Piper said quietly, but Alex just kept going, every angry and hurt feeling finally coming to the surface.
"Oh, it's not? Because I thought we were friends, but I think I was wrong. I'm starting to think that you just needed me so you could get a fucking A in that theater class, and as soon as that was over, you decided you were done with me."
"No," Piper whispered, but Alex could barely hear her.
"Or maybe you're just too embarrassed to be seen around me. You have the perfect looks, and friends, and grades, and you don't need someone like me to fuck it all up for you. And fine, you don't want to be friends. You made it perfectly clear at that party that you don't want to be seen hanging around with me, whatever. But I would have at least thought you would have had the decency to put me out of my misery, rather than have me sitting around the student union for weeks on end looking like a lost puppy and wondering whether the hell you were even going to bother showing up. And-"
"Fuck you!" Piper exclaimed angrily, and Alex felt herself moving backwards. Piper's eyes were blazing as she stepped forward and shoved the brunette again. "Fuck you, Alex!"
Alex stepped back, unsure what to do as Piper stepped towards her again. "You're angry? Well, guess what? I'm angry too. Because I love you, Alex. I love you and I fucking hate you."
The anger Alex felt dissipated almost immediately. Piper loved her. "What?" Alex said, so quietly she wasn't sure that Piper even heard.
"I've been trying really hard to keep my shit together here," Piper continued, tears in her eyes. "But if you really need to see me hulk out over this-"
"Piper, I didn't -"
"Shut up Alex," Piper cut her off. "Do you have any idea what it was like to question everything I knew about myself? Do you have any idea how scared I was when I realized that I might be gay? That I wasn't who I thought I was? But then I figured that maybe it didn't matter, because I loved you, and maybe, if I had you, it wouldn't matter so much what people thought, or whether my parents and friends disapproved, because I loved you, and maybe, you liked me too. But it turns out you have a girlfriend, so I had to live with all of this, being gay, loving you, this fear, all by myself. So I'm sorry I've skipped coffees and hurt your feelings, but I don't know what to do with all of this. I love you but being around you hurts. It hurts me Alex, so what am I supposed to do?"
Piper was crying now, and Alex couldn't believe what was happening. "Piper, I'm sorry, I didn't know. I didn't know you felt that way."
"Really?" Piper snapped back, eyes fiery again. "You had no idea? You had no idea at all that I might be into you? What about gaydar or whatever?"
"I mean, I wondered," Alex admitted quietly, her expression pained. "But I just wanted to be around you. I liked you, and I didn't want to ruin it, so I wanted to be your friend. I wanted you to like me," Alex paused for a moment, her own teary expression meeting Piper's. "I still do."
"But you have a girlfriend," Piper shook her head.
"It's complicated, Piper. I-" Alex began, but Piper cut her off.
"No," Piper shook her head. "I can't do this anymore."
"What do you mean?" Alex said, suddenly panicky.
"I told you, it hurts to be around you. You have a girlfriend, and it hurts me. I can't be your friend anymore; I can't keep getting coffee with you and pretending that everything's fine when I just want to tell you I love you. I can't, I'm done."
"Piper, please," Alex pleaded.
"I can't," Piper gasped, turning and walking out of the study room. Alex watched from inside as Piper went to her desk, gathered up her books and laptop, and practically fled from the library.
It was here, alone in the library, that Alex began to cry. Her chest felt like it was cracking in two, and it was then that Alex realized that maybe she loved Piper Chapman too.
Alex tried to let Piper go.
For a week, she avoided the most public parts of the school: the dining hall, the student union, and even the walkways towards buildings where Piper had classes. Piper said she couldn't do this anymore, that she didn't want to be Alex's friend, so Alex tried to abide by that.
But she was fucking miserable.
She didn't want to bother Nicky again with her problems, and she definitely couldn't talk to Sylvia about them, which left only one person. She dialed the very familiar number, and her call was answered on the second ring.
"Hey Al, I was just thinking about you," her mother's voice came through the receiver, and it made Alex want to cry.
"Hi Mom," Alex said softly.
"What's wrong?" Diane's voice turned serious.
"It's just," Alex trailed off, inhaling deeply. "I don't know what to do."
"About what?" Diane prompted.
"Piper," Alex began. "She was this girl in my theater class over the summer. We had met in the spring briefly, but then we had class together, and started working on a project together. I really like her, and we kind of became friends. But now, she doesn't want anything to do with me."
"Why not?" Diane asked, her voice sympathetic.
"She, um, she told me she loves me," Alex replied softly. "But I'm kind of…seeing someone right now, so Piper decided she doesn't even want to be friends anymore."
"And what do you want?"
"I think I want to be with Piper," Alex admitted aloud for the first time, surprised at how wonderful it felt to admit. "And I know I need to end things with Sylvia, but I don't even know if Piper would want to be with me after this, and I don't really want to ruin a good thing for nothing."
"Alex," Diane sighed. "Is casual sex more important than Piper?"
"No," Alex responded fervently.
"Well, then there's your answer. If you love this Piper, and if Piper loves you, then this is really a no brainer, right?"
"I guess," Alex admitted. "But how do I get her back?"
"I'm sure you'll think of something."
Two weeks later, Alex knocked on Piper Chapman's dorm room.
A petite brunette answered, eyeing Alex suspiciously. "Yes?"
"Is Piper here?" Alex asked, trying to look around the girl.
"No, she isn't," the brunette answered, her confused expression quickly changing to one of disdain. "You're Alex, right?"
"Yeah," Alex held out a wrapped package, trying to hand it to Piper's roommate. "Can you give this to Piper when she gets back?"
"Why would I do that? You're the girl who hurt my friend."
"She talks about me?" Alex asked without thinking.
The small brunette rolled her eyes. "You broke her heart, of course she talks about you."
"I'm sorry," Alex said sincerely. "I know I hurt her, but I'm trying to fix it. Can you please make sure she gets this when she gets back."
The girl took the package, nodding slightly as she shut the door in Alex's face. Alex felt anxious as she moved down the hall and out of the building, unsure as to what to do.
All that was left to do was wait.
Three days later, and Alex was going crazy. She hadn't heard from Piper at all. She was expecting to hear from Piper either way, whether it be that it was too late or that she did want to be with Alex. She just wasn't expecting radio silence.
Alex heard a knock at her door, and absent mindedly went to answer it. Maybe Piper's bitchy roommate never gave her the package, and just threw it in the trash. Maybe she should call or text Piper just to make sure she got it, and maybe use that as a way to figure out where Piper's head was at. Or-
"Hey," Piper said shyly as Alex's door swung open, revealing the object of her thoughts in front of her.
"Piper," Alex gasped, unsure what to do. So she just looked at Piper, who looked like the quintessential college student in an oversized knit sweater, leggings, and uggs. Piper was holding something in her hand, and Alex stared at before she realized what it was.
"You expanded my scene," Piper blurted out, her eyes shining as she held up the packet of papers.
And she had. After Alex had broken up with Sylvia, she tried to think of a way to tell Piper how she really felt. So, she took Piper's scene from their theater class, the one in which she described their kiss, and told it from her own perspective, expanding it.
"I did," Alex said cautiously.
"You were looking for me at the Katy Perry concert too?" Piper asked, stepping towards Alex slowly.
"I was," Alex nodded.
"And you really remembered my name on the first day of class?"
"Of course I did," Alex smiled slightly at how flustered Piper had looked when Alex pretended she didn't remember her name. "I was just trying to play it cool."
"And you don't just want to be friends?" Piper said, stepping forward again so she was standing in Alex's space.
"No," Alex admitted quietly, shaking her head.
"Me neither," Piper replied.
And Alex finally took the first step, ducking her head down and pressing her lips firmly again Piper's.
Alex finally felt like she was home.
After, they were laying in Alex's bed, Piper's head lying against Alex's chest.
"How did Sylvia take the news?" Piper asked.
"Kind of badly," Alex admitted. "But I think she knew it was coming. She wanted to be in a real relationship for a while, and I kept dragging my feet, telling her I didn't want to be tied down."
Piper sat up at that. "Is that how you feel about us?"
"No," Alex said vehemently. "I don't want a friends-with-benefits situation. I want to date you, and I want to be with you."
Piper nodded slowly. "And what do you think Sylvia will think."
"Who cares," Alex scoffed, but noticing Piper's expression, she answered honestly. "She probably won't be too happy."
Piper looked away thoughtfully before turning back to look at Alex, her expression open and vulnerable. "Did you love her?"
Alex stretched, reaching out for Piper's hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. "No," Alex responded, pausing for a moment. "But I love you."
Piper didn't react for a moment, and Alex's stomach clenched nervously before she saw a hint of a smile cross Piper's face.
"You do?" Piper asked, as if she were surprised that Alex would love her.
Alex grinned shyly as she nodded, chuckling while Piper shifted so that she was now lying on her side, facing Alex as she slid under the blanket. Alex stroked Piper's face softly as Piper stared at her in awe, and Alex suddenly needed to hear Piper say it back.
"I don't say that to everyone," Alex admitted seriously. "You have to say it back."
Piper's face turned serious for a moment, her eyes still wide, "I love you too," Piper said sincerely, smiling as Alex leaned in and kissed her again.
"I love you," Alex repeated.
"I love you too," Piper replied, silent for a moment before she burst out laughing.
"What?" Alex asked.
"I just realized that I am a Katy Perry song," Piper giggled slightly.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Alex asked, confused.
"You know, I kissed a girl and I liked it," Piper began singing slightly off key, and Alex couldn't help but laugh.
"You're an idiot," Alex smiled, shoving Piper affectionately.
"But I'm your idiot," Piper replied.
"Yes you are," Alex grinned, leaning in to kiss Piper once again.
A/N 2: Again, thank you all for reading, you're the best! Let me know if you think I should do a short epilogue; I feel like this ended kind of abruptly, and I could probably come up with a short epilogue for this Piper and Alex. If not, I hope you enjoyed it, and I hope you enjoy my next fic (which will be out soon)!