A/N: Another chapter for you guys, please continue to review, favourite and follow the story. Things just got interesting...

Have at it...

Chapter #3…

Alex strode purposefully out of the lecture theatre heading for the bike parking at the front left side of the building which lead straight out onto the road. She hadn't uttered a word to Sylvie since leaving the blonde, the hurt look evident on her face at the insistent nagging of Sylvie halting their conversation and the cutting 'girlfriend' comment. The hurt look saddened Alex as she tried instead to picture the feisty Piper, boy would she like to see more of that from the blonde. The thought made Alex hot, feeling her skin prickle against her clothing, this probably wasn't the best time to be having these thoughts.

Upon leaving the blonde, Sylvie had quickly caught up with Alex but sensing the mood, she allowed Alex to stew in silence. Sylvie watched on as Alex took a minute to take in her beautiful motorbike below her, the matte black paintwork contrasting perfectly against the chrome piping sparkling under the tiny droplets of rain. It was still fairly new with Alex having purchased it for herself after her summer break to see Diane. Seeing the bike parked up and knowing it was hers always cheered Alex up and made her heart skip a beat, it was unmeasurable, the love she felt for the bike for the feeling of clarity it gave her when she rode it. She took a deep breath, inhaling slowly before reaching for the helmets placed in the locker behind the bike. Still remaining silent, Alex held the second helmet behind her, in the general direction of Sylvie and, upon feeling her take it, pulled on her own and slammed the visor shut. Easily swinging her long leg over the black leather seat, she waited to feel Sylvie take hold and revved the engine loudly before shooting off into the continuing downpour of rain.

XxX

Piper made her way home, again getting soaked on top of her already wet clothing. Upon reaching her front door she inserted the key into the lock and made her way inside.

The apartment was a good size, especially when compared to similar properties her other friends were living in thanks to generous support from her WASPy parents. Whilst Carol and Bill had many bad points, Piper was able to appreciate their better points, albeit from a great distance away, and greatly appreciated their financial support whilst she studied. The open plan kitchen was neatly tidied with a few dirty breakfast bowls sitting in the brushed metal sink from the morning rush. Two stools were up against one of the worktops creating a breakfast bar that bridged the gap into the spacious lounge. With a TV on the back wall, lined either side with books and DVDs and the small red leather sofa located centrally behind a wooden coffee table, the place really did feel like home to Piper.

She crossed through the lounge, up a single step and entered her bedroom on the right. Another large room taken up mostly by a queen size bed draped in fresh white cotton sheets featuring an array of carefully placed scatter cushions. On the facing wall the rain continued to pour, droplets racing down the window pane and pooling on the outer window ledge. Piper turned to her immediate right standing at the set of drawers in front of her. She took a minute to study the spines of the books displayed along the top. These were her most prized possessions, the ones in the lounge were also hers but these were the most special and prestigious items she owned. Bending to the lower draw, Piper pulled out her grey sweatpants and favourite Smith hoody, quickly changing out of her wet clothes.

"Hey, I thought I heard you come in, how was your first lecture? You want some tea?"

Piper turned to see her flat mate Polly hovering in the doorway.

"Hey Pol, tea sounds great thanks, I'll just get changed and then I'll be right out and we can catch up, that okay?"

Seeing Polly had left, Piper pulled on her hoody, gathered up her wet clothes and placed them in her laundry basket before heading into the lounge.

Polly was already on the sofa, snuggled under a blanket with a mug of tea in her hand and Piper's favourite dolphin mug on the coffee table opposite.

Seeing Piper enter the lounge, Polly pulled back the blanket allowing Piper to slide in alongside and tuck her feet underneath herself before covering over both sets of legs while Piper reached forward for her tea.

"Man, it's absolutely pouring it down out there today, I'm glad I don't have to leave the confines of this place" Polly uttered glancing towards the window at the back of the room as Piper took her first sip of tea.

"Yeah, I forgot my umbrella this morning as well so I got fucking soaked!" Piper replied, half laughing about the experience yet still half annoyed for the teasing she received for it from Alex. She must have looked like an absolute mess in front of the infallible Alex.

"So how was your first lecture? You still happy you switched from English language?"

"Well, having to sneak in late and then looking like a wet dog isn't the greatest first impression but yeah, I enjoyed it" thinking back to her chance encounter with Alex, Piper couldn't help but let the goofy grin return to her face.

"Piper Chapman, what is that look? Who did you meet?"

"What?! Nothing!" Polly eyed her friend knowingly causing Piper to break under the weak interrogation of her best friend.

"Okay, so let's just say my partner for my assignment is…intriguing, I don't know what it is Pol but Alex makes me feel things with just a single glance"

"Two hours in the same room as him and you're already weak at the knees, he must be really hot" Piper nodded, she was really hot, not that Piper felt the need to correct Polly just yet.

XxX

Alex arrived home, parked her bike up outside and proceeded to enter her loft allowing Sylvie to follow in after her.

"Woah, Alex, this place is massive! The rent must be fucking extortionate!" Sylvie exclaimed as she ventured further into the open space exploring the decoration Alex had carefully chosen.

Alex's eyes followed Sylvie as she took in the high spec kitchen, tracing her hand along the work top and past Alex's beloved coffee machine. She continued into the minimally designed lounge taking in the central huge, white leather corner sofa and glass coffee table. A stereo system stood at the far end of the room with speakers placed specifically around the niches of the room. On the right wall, a floor to ceiling book case overflowed with battered and worn books and to the left of that a black metal spiral staircase vanishing into the ceiling above. Beyond that, Sylvie gawked open mouthed at the floor to ceiling wall of glass framing the dark, overcast skyline of the city and highlighting the small table and set of chairs on the glass encased balcony. Turning to look at Alex, Sylvie remained open mouthed as her thoughts returned to her earlier question of how Alex could afford all this luxury.

Sensing that Sylvie was waiting on a reply Alex simply shrugged, "I bought it," before she turned to her coffee machine and began the process of making herself a drink.

Sylvie darted quickly into the kitchen area placing a hand on Alex's shoulder, her back still turned as she faced the kitchen counter.

"Alex, what the fuck? You can't afford this."

Alex spun round catching Sylvie's hand from her shoulder and holding it mid air.

"You don't know me Sylvie, you don't know what I do, what I like, what I can afford" Alex spat, still pissed at the way she had interrupted her earlier meeting with the blonde with her whining and nagging tone. Less than twenty fours hours back in the city together and Alex was already tired of Sylvie and her insistence to try to own and dominate her.

"Alex… I'm your girlfriend… Of course I know what you like" Sylvie grinned, reaching with the other hand to grab between Alex's jean clad legs, "although, this is hot" she gestured to Alex restraining her wrist.

"Sylvie, we're fuck buddies at best, and right now I need you to get out of my space" Alex pushed Sylvie backwards lightly, her body now out of reach to the shorter woman.

"Don't worry, I'm sure I can get you in the mood Alex, I know it's been a while but I remember everything you like" Sylvie added, moving forward towards Alex again like a lion stalking its prey, her eyes darkened and her teeth in a snarl.

"Get the fuck out, now!" Alex shouted, dodging Sylvie's advancing form and using the counter movement to force the woman towards the door, opening it with a stretch of her long arm and finally slamming it shut behind Sylvie's retreating form.

At that, Alex took a deep breath, retrieved her coffee from the kitchen, grabbing a book off the shelf in passing as she plopped herself down on the sofa, throwing her feet beneath her as she surrendered herself to the lexis and semantics on the pages in front of her.