A/N: Hey guys, I'd like to thank you all for your continued support of this story.
So, can Alex win back Piper? What has she got up her sleeve?
Please continue to follow/favourite/review or PM me, I love to hear your thoughts.
Have at it...
Chapter #15...
Alex rode purposefully and determined on the interstate finally seeing the skyline of Massachusetts coming into view.
Heading firstly for her weekly catch up with Nicky, the brunette had a clear and calculated plan formed in her head of how she could win back the blonde who occupied her living and dreaming consciousness.
Alex smiled behind the visor of her helmet at the thought of the blonde when they had first met. The innocent, carefree Piper she would do anything to see right now.
Admittedly she had been purposely slightly shady with Piper, scared at what she could do given Alex's surprising and unexpectedly quick liking of the younger woman. But now the time had come and she would put her heart out there for the blonde to do as she saw fit, be it take it and hold it forever or crush it mercifully, it was a risk Alex had discovered she would have to take.
Alex pulled up at the usual bar, slightly late to her Sunday catch up with Nicky. Taking her long strides, she signalled to the bartender as she slid into the booth looking up at the two expectant faces before her.
"Nice of you to show your face Vause, we were just about to leave" Nicky instantly said to her best friend, trying to remain stone faced.
"Fuck you Nichols" Alex quickly retorted, "but thanks for coming too Lorna, I really need your help."
Nicky eyed her friend suspiciously and scoffed showing mock hurt at Alex's plea for help directed at her girlfriend.
"Yours too Nic."
Nicky smiled victoriously as Alex's bottle of beer arrived at the table. Taking a quick swig, she divulged her idea to the couple before her.
The three women settled in listening intently to Alex's plan and chipping in with suggestions every so often. Nicky and Lorna were both equally invested in Alex and Piper's relationship seeing the immediate spark and chemistry between the two but furthermore, how much Alex clearly, deep down, genuinely cared for the blonde.
It was at the end of the third round of drinks that they had finally settled on a foolproof, according to Nicky, plan of action, or operation win back Chapman, again according to Nicky.
XxX
As Monday morning came around once more, Alex awoke with an extra bounce in her step. When she had settled on doing something, particularly something of this importance, Alex was self-minded and pragmatic until she got the desired result. A plan, perfectly performed and she could undo the many mistakes she conceded she had made with Piper.
Alex had also come to the realisation that Piper was indeed very important to her, she wouldn't quite throw the L word around as easily or quickly as her mother but deep down she knew.
The brunette pulled on her skin tight black leather pants, charcoal tank and leather jacket slinging her bag over her shoulder as she headed out of the door.
Taking the elevator to the ground floor, she made her way through the garage area, her green eyes glowing in the darkness as they landed on the bike before her.
She thought back to her first study session with Piper, giving the blonde a lift home. The feel of her arms pulling tightly around her waist, the warmth she could feel as the younger woman sat perfectly still, clutching tightly at Alex's back. The brunette felt a tightening in her chest now reflecting on that day, she felt it immediately upon kissing Piper and made the decision to build a wall around her heart. She'd never shared her life story with anyone, didn't want the pity that would be so obviously displayed in their eyes.
She was fucked up she knew it and accepted it, she didn't want to put that on somebody else so she never let anyone in. Herself and her mother shared the same pain and she'd be damned if she ever let anyone see behind the badass façade she wore so easily now.
But she'd made the decision, a weight off of her shoulders with one large exhalation. Piper would be the one.
Flicking up the foot stand, Alex floored the throttle sending the rear tire squealing and squirming as she released the brake and allowed herself to be engulfed by the power.
She arrived at Smith, parking her bike in its usual place suddenly feeling anxious as she entered the building. Piper would have to finally face her, no more hiding, just full, no holds barred, honestly.
She was expecting anger from the blonde, maybe a little aggression but Alex was sure she could win her round, she was sure Piper felt the same way about her. Although her confidence ebbed away with each step closer to the lecture theatre. Each voice or footstep around her increasing her anxiety, her heart rate increasing exponentially until she was sure her heart could take no more.
Then it was upon her, the entrance to the room a perfect metaphor for her descent into uncharted territory as she slowly pushed open the door.
The room was half full, students seated at the front as Healey made his way to the various pairs gathered before him. That same arrogant swagger. Today was a seminar session for half of their group for guidance on their assignment. The one she had been assigned with the blonde.
Alex's green eyes searched the room frantically landing on every blonde head before her but she already knew, she wasn't there. Of course she wasn't there.
Alex visibly deflated, failing to notice the floor beneath her shaking as she was approached to her left.
"Ah Alex Vause, how nice of you to join us" Healey purred, enjoying the power he had. He'd never liked Alex, not since he caught her and Sylvie in a heavy make out session in the smoking area during her first year.
Not that he could stop them, but his pig headed homophobia always came through whenever he had the slightest authority over the brunette.
Alex looked up, meeting the pig eyed gaze of Healey, his strong coffee breath enveloping the taller woman who he looked slightly up to.
"So it appears we have a slight problem with your assignment pairing." The smug expression on his face only grew when he realised Alex had no clue what he was talking about.
"Your partner, the lovely miss Chapman, told me of your 'educational differences'" he used his small chubby figures to add air quotes.
He leaned closer to Alex, his brow red with sweat beads racing down into thick greying eyebrows.
"I know your type Vause, you tried to get your claws into her didn't you, what… do you not like being told no?"
"What?! No Sir?!" Alex gasped, confused as to what Healey was getting at.
"Nope, lesbian request denied" Healey held up the palm of his hand, signalling that he expected no response from Alex.
"You're an evil predator Vause, and sweet young things like Chapman, they don't want it, so you're working on your own now."
Alex felt her lungs being crushed, what exactly had Piper said to Healey, what was Piper thinking? Her head spun as Healey leaned a little closer still, his breath tickling Alex's ear.
"And if I hear your name mentioned again in this module, I will make each and every semester a living hell for you. Now go home Vause."
Just as simply as he'd approached her, Healey backed away and onto the next group of students smiling sweetly as he offered his help.
XxX
Alex felt the wind being sucked out of her lungs. Well the hell just happened? Alex thought back to what Piper must have said to Healey, or Healey could have twisted her words to suit himself, the pig headed fuck.
"Fuck!" Alex yelled as she dragged a hand through her black mane, releasing a lung full of oxygen.
It made sense, Piper had a black eye, Healey put two and two together and ended up with ten.
Alex needed to sort this, urgently, if not to win back Piper then to at least gain a little respect back. Fucking Healey.
Alex headed home, she had things to deal with before she could make another attempt to reach out to the blonde and tackle the increasingly complex relationship that seemed to be developing.
XxX
She could smell the heavenly aromas wafting from her loft as soon as she stepped out of the lift, the music playing softly in the background. Tentatively, Alex pushed open her front door, the smell hitting her full on in the face. It smelled delicious, and her apartment looked completely different. It was decked in candles on ever available surface, her eyes being drawn to the table, set for two, on the balcony outside. A bottle of her favourite wine chilling in the middle of the table next to the candle and place settings.
Alex's heart welled at the sight before her, it was magical. Then she felt the wave of sadness hit.
"Nicky, Lorna?!" Alex shouted as she entered further into her loft.
The pair appeared from the kitchen, each wearing matching aprons and Nicky holding a tray with two champagne flutes, a tea towel thrown over her forearm.
Upon seeing Alex alone Nicky already knew the outcome to her question but asked anyway.
"Vause, is she not here?"
"She didn't show to the lecture Nick"
Alex cast her eyes down not wanting to show any hurt, even to her best friend. Lorna appeared behind Nicky, remaining silent.
"She's asked Healey if she can work alone for the assignment."
"What? You need to sort this Alex."
"I know Nick, that's not the worst of it" Alex's eyes met Nicky's. This time she couldn't avoid the sadness and disappointment from being evident in that one look and she could see the pity in Nicky's expression.
Alex continued on, "Healey has some sick idea in his head that she turned me down and I wasn't happy about it, I think he saw her black eye and assumed the worst, but I need to straighten this out with her, I can't even imagine what she's thinking now."
"Fuck" was Nicky's initial response.
The wild haired woman moved for the first time, standing next to Alex to pat her friend on the shoulder. She knew this was the most affectionate gesture Alex could handle, it was already enough she was showing her hurt and upset in front of Nicky and Lorna but the brunette simply couldn't hold it in any longer. Piper was breaking her.
"That's got Healey written all over it Alex, he's a pig, Piper won't have said that about you, she cares for you!" Lorna offered from her position still in the entrance of the kitchen.
"I need to talk to her" Alex turned her back and was about to exit the doorway when she remembered the effort Nicky and Lorna had gone to for her plan.
"Guys, thank you for everything you've done, please enjoy the meal you've cooked, I owe you both massively" and with that, Alex spun on her heal and headed back for her bike.
XxX
She reached Piper's building in a matter of minutes, the speed she was travelling at, pushing the bike harder and faster was the only way she could clear her head.
She parked the bike on the roadside hurriedly as she raced up the stairs to hit the intercom for Piper's apartment.
Déjà vu washed over her as Polly answered once more.
"Hello?"
"Polly, I need to see Piper, please."
Alex really wasn't the type to beg but at this point, she was running extremely low on options.
"Alex?! Is that you?"
"Yeah, please I need to see her." Alex hated the vulnerability that shone through in her tone.
"She's not in Alex, sorry."
Alex detected no empathy whatsoever in Polly's harsh and direct tone, exactly the same as had happened last time Alex was here, asking to see the blonde.
Ringing the intercom a couple more times, Alex realised Polly wasn't going to do her any favours any time soon.
Sliding down onto the hard concrete floor beneath her, Alex rested her back and head against the brick wall, legs pulled to her chest. Piper would have to come out at some point, and sure as Hell Alex would be there waiting when she did.
XxX
2 hours 47 minutes later. Alex had counted each second that she had waited. People looking down on her as they stepped over her on their entrance or exit from the building.
2 hours and 47 minutes it took for Polly to need to go out grocery shopping. She was unaware the brunette had waited the entire time since she had asked to see Piper.
Polly climbed over the taller woman, taking a perch beside her on a step. Alex looked up, meeting the brown eyes of the shorter woman.
"Alex, please go, you must be freezing."
The brunette was taken aback by the sudden empathy shown by Polly, or maybe it was guilt, Alex couldn't quite place it.
"I need to see her Polly and I'll wait here until she's ready if that's what it takes."
"Alex, she isn't here, I mean it, she's got home for the week to see her parents, her brother isn't well."
Alex searched the face of the brunette before her, looking for any doubt or proof of a lie on her face. There was non.
The paired remained silent for a few minutes as Alex digested the news and Polly had an internal battle of guilt over how she'd sent Alex away previously, failing to inform Piper.
"I'll let her know you called." Polly said, offering a sympathetic smile as she stood up and left the brunette alone on the cold concrete floor.