Authors note. Thank you to everyone for the reviews, favourites and follows. I do not own any characters and all mistakes are my own. I'm not American so I many not have some of the terminology right but hope you enjoy.
Piper had settled into the routine of lectures and study groups well and she was relishing the freedom she had being away from her family. Through the many social events in the first month her group of friends had grown although her close bonds with Polly and Larry remained.
It was Polly who had convinced her to come out that Friday evening. Some of the people from her dorm were planning drinks in a new bar in the East Village. Piper had initially been reluctant, claiming she had an essay to finish, but was soon persuaded. She finished curling her hair and applying her makeup in record time. In reality she was glad of the opportunity to try out her new top she had purchased.
Walking through the busy evening streets chatter flowed freely between the three friends. They soon arrived at the bar and we're lucky enough snag a table next to the larger group from Pollys corridor. They were an eclectic mix of people all pleasant and easy to get along with. The bar was steadily filling up and the group moved over to a selection of over sized pub games. Four of the guys played massive Jenga. Polly was engaged in an animated conversation with an Australian who Piper thought was called Pete, so she contented herself at the side watching the large tower sway back and forth with each new attempt to free and place a block. Piper was feeling slightly buzzed from the alcohol. She was soon to blame the alcohol for her lack of awareness. She hadnt noticed him slide up and in next to her, which was quite an omission given his height. The first Piper knew was when she felt the unwelcome hand in the small of her back, just above the waistband of her low rise jeans, so unexpected was the contact that she jumped slightly. Turning to see who it was, she was shocked to see it was George Mendez. He was the 'creepy guy with the porn film moustache who lives down the corridor' according to Polly. Piper smiled so as not to offen, yet moved herself out of his reach. After several ill timed and bad attempts at small talk Piper decided to save his embarrassment and excused herself, claiming she was going to the restroom to ensure he didn't feel compelled to follow.
In actual fact Piper was beginning to tire of the evening and seeing that her friends weren't ready to leave yet decided that more alcohol was the only answer. As she stood at the bar waiting to be served Piper was unaware that her movements that evening had been watched by more than creepy George.
"Can I have a margarita please?"
'Sure thing'
As she waited for the bar man to create her cocktail Piper felt a warm hand in the small of her back again, she began turning, to give who she was sure must have been George, a piece of her mind, but she was stopped in her tracks by a familiar husky voice.
"Kind of cold out for a margarita don't you think?"
The hand remained, stilled on her back, Piper could feel it's delicious warmth through the thin fabric of her top. She turned more slowly, a smile gracing her lips.
"Hey"
"Hi"
Alex moved round to Pipers side so she could face her more easily dropping her hand in the process. Piper seemed suddenly shocked into silence, "so how you've been doing kid?". The words drawing Pipers eyes to Alexs plump red lips
"I .. Er... I'm good thanks"
What was it about the enigmatic brunette that turned Piper into an incoherent idiot? Alex smirked, impressed with how a simple action and a few words had affected the blonde. "Your course going ok? You keeping safe out there on the mean streets of New York?" she giggled. Regaining the power of speech Piper replied and a short conversation followed, only to be interrupted by the group of friends Alex had abandoned catching her attention to indicate they were ready to move on. Before being literally dragged away Alex lean in closer to Piper and spoke close to her ear "good luck with Sasquatch over there" indicating that she had seen Pipers earlier interaction with Mendez "funny, never pegged him as being your type". The close proximity of the taller women, the feel of the warm breath in her ear and the light delicate touch of her hand on her forearm all made Pipers head spin and a fresh batch of goosebumps spread across her skin
"wh ... I ..."
"Don't think I've not seen you subtly checking me out!" She fired back with a smile. It was true, in the short period of time stood at the bar Piper had been trying to take in every detail of the altered appearance of Alex out of uniform. The trade mark secretaries glasses remained but her long dark tresses were loose and hung over her shoulders, showing off the electric blue tips. She wore neatly applied make up and the most expertly applied liquid eyeliner Piper thought she had ever seen. A short tartan dress over a short sleeved, v neck t-shirt showed off not only Alexs seemingly ample bust, but an interesting collection of tattoos. A flush spread of Pipers cheeks, confirming Alex's suspicions. Not wishing to embarrass the young student further she fired back a genuine smile.
"hey, I'm flattered kid!"
Piper blushed further at the punctuation of the end of the comment with a flirtatious wink.
"don't think I've forgotten you owe me that drink too!"
She watched Alexs retreating form as she was swept away by her friends.
