A/N: Unlucky for some, number 13.
Drama and angst before we start getting some answers about Alex, we're praying for some Vauseman endgame right?
Have at it guys...
Chapter #13…
Piper returned home, straight into the unknowing but awaiting arms of Polly. She slowly eased open the door to find her best friend seated on the sofa reading a magazine. Upon entry, the brunette turned to welcome her friend. Her cheek now bright red and swollen, Piper cringed at the inevitable first question on Polly's lips.
"Piper, what the hell happened? Are you okay?"
Polly jumped to her feet, helping Piper over to the sofa and then retaking her seat beside the blonde. The hurt and sadness in Piper's blue eyes directed Polly to her first suspect.
"P, talk to me, was it her, was it Alex?"
Astonished that Polly would think should a thing of her...friend with benefits, lover, Piper didn't even know the answer to that question, yet it pulled her out of her docile trance to stop the brunette and her usual behaviour of jumping to conclusions.
"I was with Alex but she didn't hit me, she would never…"
"Piper, you barely even know her and what you do know of her sounds shady if you ask me. What is it about you being a lesbian that just creates so much more drama?"
Piper looked up, her eyes meeting the beady, judgemental stare of her best friend, the blonde's full of anguish and despair.
"I'm sorry Pipes, let me get you some ice for your cheek, some wine and you can tell me what happened".
With the ice pack firmly pushed onto her cheek and glass of white wine in her hand, Piper recounted the events of the day leading up to Sylvie punching her.
Polly was silent throughout, allowing her friend to unload her thoughts and feelings.
"So I ran out and came here and now I don't know what to do Pol. I was aware some things she did and said weren't adding up but I thought maybe it was a one time thing, then I started to really like her and buried any feelings of insecurity I had."
Polly nodded along pitifully, topping up the blonde's wine glass when it was empty, which was frequent given the day's events.
"And I still really like her but my head is completely fucked, how could I ever trust her, I mean, if she did even want anything more."
Piper looked over to the brunette, an indication that she was finished speaking and was looking for some objective advice.
"Pipes, I can see you really like her and you have that chemical reaction thing you always go on about…"
Polly looked over to see the reaction of her friend. She was slouched against the back of the sofa, ice pack dropped as her cheek broke out into a deep purple colour etched with a red web inside it. Her eyes were downcast as she sipped on her wine, taking in the words of wisdom Polly was offering.
"But there's obviously something she's not telling you, I mean, from the way you described her penthouse what is she some kind of drug dealer?"
Polly laughed softly at her own joke, meeting Piper's eyes but the blonde could only muster a small smile.
The brunette reached over to her friend placing her hand gently on the taller woman's knee.
"Just take some space, give it time and clear your head then decide where to go from there."
Piper nodded, feeling vulnerable she especially appreciated her friends' advice and was happy to oblige.
"Why don't you go and have a nice relaxing bath and then I'll order us in some Chinese food?"
Piper nodded, getting to her feet slowly, the wine finally beginning to dull her pain, and her senses.
The pair hugged as Piper walked away towards the bathroom.
"I love you, you dumb lesbian."
"Love you too Pol."
XxX
Alex had let Piper go. She'd allowed her to walk right out and now she was massively regretting her decision.
Yet she had things to sort and was determined to make everything right. For Piper. So they could be together. She was only too aware that she would have to lay all her shit out on the table in order to gain Piper's trust, a thought that troubled her deeply. Putting your heart out there meant it could be broken.
Alex shook her head at the dark thoughts circling her mind, swallowing down the fear. Piper was more than worth it.
After Piper left, she'd gone after Sylvie, making her feelings perfectly clear. Sylvie was still as aggressive, scratching and clawing at the taller woman.
"So if you come near me, my friends, or specifically Piper again, I will finish you Sylvie, that is a promise." Alex spat out viciously as the shorter woman screamed, shaking with violent sobs.
Alex strode out of the apartment confidently, never looking back. She had a girl to go and win.
Taking the bike, Alex finally arrived at Piper's a little over two hours after they had parted ways.
Switching between ringing the intercom for Piper's flat and banging on the main door, the brunette was determined to explain herself.
It took seven minutes for Polly to appear at the front door of the building, dressed in sweats and hair piled on top of her head in a messy bun.
Alex was bemused by the sudden appearance of this woman but saw it as an opportunity to enter the building. She would sit by the front door to Piper's apartment until the blonde would hear her out if necessary.
"How much do I owe you?" Polly asked Alex, rifling through her purse for cash.
"Are you fucking kidding me?"
"You're not delivering Chinese food?"
Alex shook her head, perplexed by the random greeting but urgent to get back to her reason for being there.
"I'm looking for Piper...Chapman, I need to speak with her urgently."
"Who are you?" Polly eyed the taller woman suspiciously for the first time. Even she would have to admit this woman was kinda hot and she had Piper written all over her. "Alex?"
The taller woman's eyes locked onto Polly's, realisation dawning upon her rapidly that this was Piper's roommate and best friend.
"I need to speak to her Holly, explain everything." Alex tried to push past Polly, who was surprisingly sturdy for her short height.
"It's Polly asshole, and she doesn't want to see you."
Alex battled once more to slide past Polly, who managed to slam shut the main door
"Polly! Polly!" Alex raged at the shorted woman from outside of the now shut door.
She continued to bang her fists on the glass, watching as Polly disappeared into the darkness of the elevator.
Alex tried the intercom once more but again it rang unanswered.
"Fuck!" Alex yelled as she climbed back onto her bike.
XxX
Polly hurried back up into her and Piper's apartment, quickly unplugging the intercom as she entered the lounge.
Piper appeared from the doorway to her bedroom, a towel wrapping her hair up on top of her head, the swelling on her cheek reduced as the bruising sparkled blue and purple under the low lighting.
"Was that the food?" Piper asked nodding her head towards the door where'd she just heard Polly enter.
"No, I thought it was but someone got the wrong apartment."
"Idiots" Piper mumbled as she removed the towel from her head, her damp hair creating an effortlessly tousled look.
The blonde sat down next to Polly who had once again poured two more glasses of wine.
Polly pulled the rug from the back of the sofa, covering the legs of both women as they snuggled back into the couch.
"To watching some trash TV, drinking our wine and eating Chinese food and ice cream" Polly toasted as Piper lifted her glass to chink the brunette's.
"Thanks Pol, what would I do without you?"
Polly smiled, turning to look at the disconnected intercom as Piper snuggled down at the side of her.