Once again thank you to everyone who has reviewed, followed and favourited over the past week - it truly motivates me to keep writing!
My thoughts go out to everyone who has been affected by the events that happened yesterday in Paris. Having visited Paris while travelling during the summer I can honestly say it is one of the most culturally rich, peaceful and beautiful city's I have visited.
Living in London - I only hope the threats here will just be that - threats. Stay safe everyone! x
With squinting eyes, Piper slowly came to. The pain over her eyes was continuous and felt like it had been nailed there. By some miracle, the space next to her was a welcomed empty, evacuated by her latest victim of her casual sex rampage.
It had been disappointing. Between the tequila and the constant appearance of a certain woman in her thoughts Jonathan's desperate attempts to satisfy had fallen short of his and her expectation and he had hastily left after he had finished.
God, Alex had been there. "Had she seen me with Jonathan, oh shit. And that woman." Sighing heavily Piper drew the covers over her face and sunk back into the pillows hoping that a few more hours' sleep would eradicate her memories of the night before.
At 11 o'clock an ear splitting shrill noise erupting from her cell interrupted Pipers slumber.
"Umm.. Hello" Piper croaked into her phone.
"Hi there, is this Miss Chapman?" a course deep voice replied.
"It is."
"I'm Matthew calling from Antonio's." Causing Piper to sit up, Antonio's was a little independent Italian restaurant she had called into on her job hunt. "We received your resume yesterday and have taken a look and would really like it if you could come in for a work trial?"
"I would love to!" Piper exclaimed, "When is best for you?'
"Well actually… one of our waitresses called in sick and we have a big wedding party coming in at lunch, so could you maybe drop by in an hour?"
"Umm.. yeah sure of course" Swallowing, 'God I'm going to need an Aspirin".
The shower helped. Piper did well to get herself dressed and pulled herself together enough to even arrive at the restaurant early, giving herself plenty of time to compose herself before heading into building.
She covered the lunchtime rush, and despite very little experience and her general lack of coordination Piper had managed to get, nearly, all of the orders right and hadn't broken a single thing, which by her standards was a miracle. The owners were pleased with her work and quick commitment and offered her a few more shifts that week.
As Piper floated through the door back into the bitter New York air, her body screamed for a coffee. She walked back towards her apartment, passing starbucks, preferring the organic bitter blend from the quaint little coffee shop on the corner.
The welcoming warmth encompassed her and the deep, rich aroma filled Pipers nostrils.
"Caramel, original blend latte Piper?" The young barista greeted her.
"Am I that predictable? But Carrie, could you make it a double shot today please?" "Heaven knows I need the caffeine"
"Rough night kid?" a raspy voice called from behind. That voice alone sent shivers down her spine. Piper spun around to come face to face with none other than Alex Vause, looking just as hot as yesterday despite her more casual appearance today. Donning a pair of tight skinny jeans, black lace up biker books and a red V-neck baseball top that showed just the right amount of cleavage, Pipers mouth suddenly became incredibly dry as she tried to keep her eyes about Alex's Chest. "No offense, you look like shit. Let me guess, too much tequila and a night of extremely boring predictable hetero sex?" Alex tried to laugh off the comment, but even Piper could sense a little underlying bitterness.
"Oh you saw that huh?"
"Yeah, want my advice? You should always choose the woman Pipes, that red head would of given you a much better time."
"God she saw that too" Piper thought, receiving her latte and taking a big gulp hoping the caffeine would help ease the nerves she could feel rising from her current predicament.
"Most women know what they're doing, I'm surprised if that lanky douchebag even knows where a clitoris is!" Causing Piper to burst into a deep laugh and without warning spat her coffee all over Alex in front of her.
"Oh god shit! I'm so sorry!" Frantically Piper gathered some tissues and without thinking tried to mop off the coffee stain with just happened to be on Alex's left breast.
"Kid, if you wanted to get to second base you could have just asked?" There was that contagious smirk Alex wore so well and of course the corresponding response of Pipers reddening cheeks.
Still taking the lead with the conversation, enjoying Pipers cute, awkward flustering. "I'm kidding, sort of. Three times in two days though, think the universe is trying to tell us something?"
"Yeah that we drink too much and have a terrible dependence on caffeine in order to get through the day?" Piper grinned
"Maybe." Alex hesitated, "was she nervous?"
"But I was thinking more along the lines of actually organising a meeting, you know maybe dinner or something?"
"You mean like a date?" Piper laughed at how teenage angsty this conversation was getting.
"Oh kid.. " She flirtatiously lifts her perfectly shaped eyebrow, and leans in towards Piper ear. Her hot breathe gloriously awakening the skin on Pipers neck causing it to tingle in anticipation. Her lips lingered millimetres away from her lobe, but to Piper the distance felt like miles away, her body craved Alex's touch. She inhaled deeply with frustration. How was this woman having this affect on her? "It can be whatever you want it to be"
Alex pulled away hastily, shoved something into Pipers hand and as quick as she arrived, disappeared out of the glass doors.
The sudden lack of warmth at her side pulled Piper out of her confused daze, and looked longingly with disappointment at the path at which the brunette just took to disappear without explanation, before gazing down at the object that had been shoved into her hand.
Inside was a crumpled up piece of paper.
Written neatly in block capitals, the note read, "Call me, Alex" followed by her phone number. Piper smirked proudly to herself. Her day was just getting better and better.