Thank you for the reviews guys! I just realize that one shots are harder to write. I wasn't able to proof read this so bear with me. This chapter was not my best but i needed to put it out there so i can start with the others, so here it is. One more heart warming story before the heart breaking starts.
Beneath Your Beautiful
(Labrinth ft. Emile Sandé
...
Moving in day requires a lot of patience. It's about waking up earlier than you used to as summer vacation ends and calculating the drive you need to make to reach the university on time. It's about dealing with your overly eager parent's constant whining about being more responsible and proactive. It most especially takes a lot more tolerance if you're a Chapman. Piper Chapman was raised by both edgy, competitive, over achieving parents. Both came from well abled families, both graduates from Brown University, both with successful careers and both pushing their children to always be the best they can be but mainly become the best that others can't be. So instead of being emotional on leaving her hometown, Piper Chapman is excessively willing to leave and never comeback. When her last bag was packed, she eagerly went to the car and wait for her equally excited parents to make the drive to NYU, her new escape from home.
They reached the campus on time and the day starts with completing her dorm necessities. She saw Polly with her parents there. She met Polly months before on her university hunting organize by her enthusiastic parents. They decided to share a room together as they both are complacent towards each other. They said their quick hellos and promise to meet later. They ensue to each of their tasks ahead. The rest of her day involves in her familiarization of her new environment, introductions, and meeting new people. At 3:30pm she was relieved to know that her parents decided to attend the "For Parents Only" presentation leaving a window of 45 minutes on her own. She walks a little away from the building and saw the Washington Square Park. Relieve for the first time since that morning she sat beneath a huge tree, shading her eyes away from the sun's heated rays. She relishes the feeling of this new college adventure offering her. As she enjoys contemplating about her life for the next few months ahead, she glances on the few people seating not far from her. A Group of four distinct college girls discussing and laughing about certain stories that they share caught her eyes. She watched them carefully scrutinizing what year they must be and what courses are they taking as she saw three men accompanied by a raven-haired beauty approach the group. They greeted them warmly and a few of them moved a little on their seats from the ground so all of them would fit. Two of the college guys seated beside two of the girls in the group that is obviously their other halves. Her eyes were taken aback from the brunette as she gazes at her intensely. She admires the beauty that she is. Her dark locks falls perfectly a little over her shoulder complementing her doll like porcelain skin, she stands tall amongst other girls and glasses are flawlessly seated on her perfectly shaped nose. She was enchanted as it were. Piper never denied her admiration to the female population before but something tells her that this is something else. Oblivious to the eye that catches her staring, her daydreaming was interrupted by a text from her parents inquiring her location. Her frustration evident from dealing again with her overplaying parents as she releases a breath she wasn't aware holding and decided to text them back to say that they'll meet them back at the Kimmel Center. She was caught off guard when she glances back at the object of her liking to see the brunette staring back. The dark haired deity and her group are slowly gathering their stuff as they decided to leave. Before they leave she saw the brunette look at her direction again and smirk. Piper tried to smile attractively as she can, though she feels heat traveling from her body to her cheeks. The brunette stops a little from leaving and faces her way to give her a tiny little wave. She catches up with her friends and started walking away. Something tells Piper that this is the adventure she's been waiting and longing for.
Classes' starts and Piper adapted to her daily routine effortlessly. Piper was an academic achieving student. She is always actively participating in school activities in high school and her grades are always for the fondness of her parents. She always abides by the rules set by them though something inside her always screams freedom. Her mom had pledge to be the final ruling on who she dates ending up her getting stuck with Larry for two years. Larry is fine, safe, predictable, and came from a well abled family. When they broke up senior year, Piper simply accepted that they're not working anymore but her parents continued convincing her to get back with Larry but she refused. That's the first time ever she had stick to her decision. Her parents however didn't stop fixing her on the "perfect" guy she should date. Piper doesn't want to be sheltered. She wanted someone who can start a fire in her. She longs for someone who would challenge her, someone to keep her on her toes, someone who's worth fighting for and someone who would fight for her equally. The choice for her college degree doesn't seemed to be any different. Her parents wanted her to take Medicine but Piper's heart is on Fine Arts. She made an agreement with them to let her try first and if she doesn't like it then she'll take Medicine instead, so her parent reluctantly agrees. She's viewing a bulletin board in campus beside Polly when she saw her again, this time on a poster for the swimming team.
"There are a lot of activities here, cool!" Polly said beside her.
"Wow. She's really talented." Piper said absentmindedly staring at the poster.
"Oh! So this is the face that you had hots for." Polly said to her. She's been talking Polly's ear off for the rest of the night about the girl she saw at the park. Piper then looks at her.
"I mean, can you see why now?" she points on the poster as she told Polly proud about her new apple of the eye.
"We can all see that." A voice on her left side said. Piper turns and there she saw the guy she's with the other day. Piper thought of him as her object of affection's lucky man.
"Oh sorry. I was just admiring." She said sheepishly. She drags Polly away and started walking in the benches.
"Oh no don't be! I was just too. I'm Ian." He introduces himself and catches up with them.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Piper and this is Polly." she said politely as Polly smiles.
"You're new here?" he inquires as they continue walking.
"Yeah first year. Economics and she's Fine Arts." Polly said excitedly meeting a new individual aside from Piper. Ian is a fine looking man. He's taller than Piper, blondish with brown intense eyes, slender body. Piper felt Polly is pleased that he approaches them.
"Management. And Alex is Law and business." He said teasingly to Piper.
"Alex?" Piper said confusedly.
"Oh, the girl in the poster." He said as realization dawns on Piper. She started to explain but was cut off when she heard Ian called someone. They saw him approach a table of two guys. Ian waves at them probing them to follow.
"Hey babe!" The other guy said to Ian and pecks him on the lips. Polly's expression was surprised and Piper's relieved that Alex is not with him.
"This is Avery and Pete. Guys this is Piper and Polly." He introduces them to each other and said their hellos. She sat on a round table beside Polly who's seated next to Pete and onto her right-seated Avery and Ian. Ian leans on Avery and whispered something to his ear.
"Is that so?" he observes Piper and smirk. Avery is good looking. His dark locks compliment his sharp grey eyes. Piper would have hots for him if he weren't batting for the same team. He studies her intently and Piper feels she's beginning to blush. It dawns on her that Ian whispered about her admiration to Alex.
"Oh, I was just looking." She explains timidly.
"Of course you are. Who wouldn't? But I must tell you, her breath stinks!" Avery said in full conviction earning a laugh from both Pete and Ian while Polly and her was shocked.
"You're bluffing!" Polly said skeptically as she looks Pete for confirmation.
"Oh honey I'm not. She on…" he eagerly talks as someone from behind Piper interrupts him.
"Have you been telling people again that my breath stink?" a gruff voice said. Piper looks behind her and saw a bushy haired girl accompanied by a tall, dark haired, striking girl. Alex. She's right all along. Alex is attractive and she is better looking up close. She blushes as Alex notice she's staring.
"What? I just want to make sure people will be genuinely interested "on you" and not just on your royal hotness." Avery replied as laughter continues on their group.
"By telling them my breath stink? Now people first do is to smell my breath." Alex complains as she and the bushy haired girl seated between Piper and Avery.
"I'd rather tell them that, than say your tu..." he said teasing her continuously.
"Oh, okay stop. I would trade you for anyone." Alex said to him back playfully as she raised her right hand.
"No you won't." he answered and sticks out his tongue to Alex. She rolls her eyes at the childlike gesture and grins at Piper.
"Okay, can somebody please introduce us?" the bushy haired girl said.
"Oh yeah, Piper and Polly this is Alex and Nicky." Ian introduces them. Polly and Nicky similarly said hi as Piper and Alex just nod and smile.
"So freshmen eh?" Nicky asks as she inquires about their courses. The banter continues on their table as conversation drags on from their high school adventures to their college quests. Alex timidly studies Piper as she was mesmerize about the effortless beauty of the blonde. She usually asks her inaudibly on general about herself, away from the conversation in the group. She learns that Piper's last name is Chapman. She is from Connecticut, a middle child, only girl and figured accomplished parents on the way she looks, have raised her. She also noticed that Piper is guarded, careful about what she shares. Piper inquired about the same things concerning Alex. She learned that her last name is Vause. She is the eldest; she has a brother, raised by a hard working mother and an orthopedic surgeon father. She can tell that a capable family raised her. They were lost in conversation away from the group when she felt Nicky playfully pinched her.
"Ow! What the hell Nicky!" She yelled. Nicky glared at her.
"I've been calling you to leave but your attention is barely in anything else but Taylor Swift here." Nicky said with hand gesture pointing at Piper. Piper blushes but rolled her eyes on the banter. Nicky goes on about being late on practice if they won't leave now.
"Oh shit yeah!" Alex curses as she remembers. "Would you please don't skip classes today and you…leave! You have practice too!" as she looks at Avery and points a finger to Ian as she gets her duffel bag. Ian is on the men's swimming team as Alex and Nicky's on the women. They become friends since 1st year and now on their 3rd year in NYU. Piper looks at them amazed by Alex's authority on the two.
"I would tell mom about your gossips." She threatens Avery with her eyebrows raised.
"And I will tell dad you ho…" he retaliate back. Alex cuts her off.
"Ok fine. Just call mom she worries about you." She then tells him resignedly.
"I just called her yesterday. You call dad…something about not hearing from you in two days…geez! So much for a daddy's girl." He said as he teased her again. Piper and Polly were surprised.
"You're siblings?" Polly asked them astonishment evident on her voice. Piper's eyes almost budges to her surprised.
"Uh, unfortunately yes!" Avery answers for both of them.
"Nice meeting you Piper." Alex says smiling at her.
"Likewise." Piper answers back as they smiled at each other fondly. They were lost on each other's stare when they heard Nicky yelled "Vause!" again.
"Yeah, yeah! Coming!" Alex snapped back to reality and wave at her as she waved back. She continued watching them as they rushed towards the building. Her attention was back on their table as knowing eyes gawk at her intently. She saw Avery smirk at her and she blushes. They continue to talk for a while and later proceeds to their own classes. Piper felt happy and content having spent a little time talking to Alex. Her admiration for the older girl increased for some reason.
...
Piper felt eyes on her lately. A number of women seemed to be watching her intently as the days passed. She and Alex had been seen on occasions together. Polly had been closed to Avery lately making Alex and her see each other more. They may have flirted to each other but neither of them asks for each other's status nor numbers. As the day passes she heard a lot about Alex. People deem her as manipulative, self-aware, eye-catching lesbian that lures innocent un-suspecting women with her charm. She was branded a dangerously attractive lone wolf. Someone that people warned her to stay far away from countless times.
One day Piper was extremely tired and wanted to go to her dorm straight from class and rest but she needed to go to the Grey Art Gallery for a requirement on a subject that she has. She was standing in front of an art piece studying it when suddenly a man stood bedside her. The man started talking endlessly about art in which she would be interested if he doesn't put uncomfortable improper commentaries and pick up lines in between speech. Don't get her wrong, the guy is attractive but his overly confident self turns Piper off. He introduces himself like "Hi! People call me James, but you can call me tonight!" Piper calms her raging hormones to yell at the guy and instead politely introduce herself. The guy's response of "Is your last name Campbell? Cause you're mm mm good!" was the last straw. She was ready to leave when she saw Alex approaching. As Alex reach them, the guy said another line. "I think I could make you very happy." He said. Piper can no longer control her intense irritation to this man so she answered, "Why are you leaving?" The guy was surprised and humiliated as Alex intensely looks at him. He recognized Alex and started walking away.
"Feisty. Bad day?" She said to Piper as she chuckles. Pipers just look at her and smirk.
"Ugh! You have no idea." Piper tiredly answers. Alex felt bad for her so she decided to lighten up the blonde's mood a little.
"So you don't like picked up lines? Poor thing I have some too. Do you wanna hear it?" Alex teases her. The art piece forgotten as usually as everything around them was, as they converse. Piper complains about hearing enough for the day but Alex was having none of it.
"What are you doing here anyway?" Piper asks her as she eyes the brunette's slightly wet hair obviously been through a practice.
"Did you just fart?" she asks the blonde. Piper was mortified on the eyes now looking at her direction. She was about to protest to Alex when the brunette's speaking of "cause you blew me away" interrupted her accompanied by her upraised eyebrows. She followed with "You should be in a museum, cause you're a work of art."
"Oh stop!" Piper can't help her beaming smile as Alex giggles at her.
"What? Was it that bad?" she inquires and sees she's a little successful on making Piper feel better.
"It's worst." She answers playfully.
"Oh shit!" Alex yells as if she forgot something.
"What?" Piper asks her worriedly. She saw a look of dread on Alex's eyes.
"I've lost my number. Can I have yours?" she asks teasingly earning a curse and a playful shoved from Piper as they both giggle. Silence envelops them for a while, as Piper feels lighter and cheerier than previously. She saw Alex seems to be looking at her and waiting for something.
"Oh! You're serious!" it dawns on her.
"Well yeah. I wanted to ask you for a coffee sometime." Alex said forwardly that surprised her. She suddenly didn't know what to say. Piper smiled and blushed.
"Cause I like you a latte." Alex followed by another picked up line that earn a groan from Piper. She rolled her eyes but couldn't stop her beaming smile and started walking to the next art piece. Alex followed her as laughter filled her lungs. They exchange numbers as Alex walks Piper at her dorm in Founders Hall after. Alex bid her goodbye as she carefully closes the gap between them placing a feathery like kiss on Piper's cheek as she closes her eyes. Piper watches as Alex leaves and head home. Her heart beats so fast as she places her right hand on her chest. She couldn't help the warmth feeling from within, it scared her.
The promised coffee by Alex was brought to life when she asks Piper out days after. They went to The Coffee Foundry once and the blonde was surprise that the shop closes early only to give way for a Karaoke bar. She teases Alex once as she sang off tune when they decided to try it together. Their laughter's and banters towards each other was heard all through the night in the karaoke room. She found out more about the brunette. She is really compassionate in the inside unlike what she usually portrays in the outside. She once saw her waiting for her outside of the coffee shop when an elderly man wanted to cross the street. She saw her help the man and went back to the spot to wait on Piper. She's appreciative about little things people do. Just like her un-wavering acknowledgement on a waiter when they ate at lunch together one time. She rarely lets anyone in her close group but she's really close to her parents and her brother, as she talks to them everyday. Piper envied her for that. But also she frequently receives unwanted attention towards some women. Alex seems to be more popular than Piper thought as she receives a lot of staring dagger come her way lately. She had been noticing it not only when they were together but mostly in campus. On the fifth night of going out, Alex walked her home again; she couldn't help but ask her.
"You know, I've been receiving deathly stares now." She told Alex as she saw another girl stare at them. Alex turns to where she was looking and exhales.
"Uh…conquests." She replied shyly.
"Conquests?" Piper's eyebrow furrows as she inquired.
"I never was…good in relationships kid." Alex admits as she lowers her gaze not looking at Piper.
"Hmmm…player?" Piper bluntly asks her. Alex looks at her offended.
"It's just…" Alex tried to explain but no words seem to leave her mouth. She fixes her glasses as a nervous habit. Piper realizes that she might be invested in this more than Alex. She was scared that she might only be another conquest to her. Alex seems to comprehend what she's thinking.
"But this is different…I was hoping you'll give this a chance." She said worriedly as she gestures between them with her hands. Piper smiled seeing Alex this timid for the first time. They continued walking and she was about to answer but was interrupted when a man called Alex.
"Hey Alex." The taller man said. He seemed to be harmless but Alex stiffened. Her expression seemed harder, stands taller and all the walls that Piper didn't notice since they went out, are up.
"Hey Mark." She said firmly. Piper couldn't read her so she looks back at the guy as silence shrouds the three of them.
"Wouldn't you introduce us?" the guy asks politely. Alex's eyebrow furrows but she complies.
"This is Piper. Piper this is mark." Alex said guardedly.
"Nice meeting you beauty." He addresses Piper with intense stare making her feel a little awkward.
"You too." Piper felt Alex's hand rest at her back protectively.
"So what are you guys doing?" he asks pleasantly.
"Just walking." Alex answered as she stares at him in the eye.
"Heard you are doing well on the team. Congrats!" he said sincerely as they continue the staring match.
"I am. Thanks." Alex answers back firmly, her hand still on Piper's back. The guy seemed to notice the awkwardness.
"Well…I should be going. It's nice meeting you Piper. I'll see you around Alex." He said to them as Piper smiled timidly as Alex nods. They continued walking towards Piper's dorm in silence. She didn't probe about the guy and leave it to Alex as to when she wants to share.
The next morning, she and Polly decided to walk together to each of their class. They both had 8am class; unfortunately neither of them had the time to take their coffee. A few feet after they exited the lobby of their dorm they saw Alex and Pete approaching. Polly looks at her teasingly as Piper looks back surprised.
"What are you guys doing here?" Polly asks as they stopped to face each other.
"Well, I was walking from my dorm on Greenwich Hall when I saw attorney here." He said pointing her thumb towards Alex.
"Hey. We were texting this morning and you said…you failed to make coffee this morning so…ugh…here. Caramel macchiato, double shot right?" She passes the coffee to Piper. She took it from Alex and wince a little as she felt it's hot.
"Thanks!" Piper felt her insides melt with the gesture. She was stupidly smiling.
"Careful it's hot." Alex said concern heard on her voice. Polly watches them carefully; she gave Piper a knowing smirk as she catches her eyes. Polly said she need to go first and get her own coffee since somebody failed to pay attention to the same text she sends as Piper. Pete defends himself saying he was distracted as Polly drags him away. Alex feels her cheeks reddened. They continued walking in silence. Halfway through Piper was still silent and Alex just couldn't help to ask.
"Sorry, did I made you uncomfortable?" Alex looks at her with worried eyes. Piper is happy but she worries a lot. She's worried about this thing with Alex. This is new and scary. She's worried about what her parents would say or what would other people say for that matter. She's worried about not fitting on their standard. But she didn't know how to tell Alex this.
"No, it's fine." She answers after a while. Alex looks at her but let the topic go. She just smiles and they continue walking. Alex felt she did something or maybe she misread what she thought they had.
...
The pressure was on Piper as her University days continue. Demands on her academic subject appeared to be drowning her lately; she couldn't seem to get the grades she longs for. Her parents insistent complaining to convince her to take Medicine instead of Fine Arts is not helping either. Not only that she receives countless stare down by the previous conquest of Alex but now two of them is at the same class as she is. She found out about them when one of the girls approaches her to warn her again about Alex. Piper is not good on dealing with insistent pressure; she always feels the need to retaliate. Her Chapman temper seems to be brewing lately. The only situation she can do something about is Alex, neither her parents nor her grades. So she decided she wasn't ready for this. She didn't want to be in the middle of the crazy ride with Alex Vause. She was scared of the feelings she had for the brunette. She's scared about what her parents may say. What people would think about her? She may have admiration for certain women before but she never really had a relationship with any of them either. Everything that Alex Vause's is new to Piper. Piper decided to keep her distance from the brunette though it would be harder than it used to for she's feeling emotions she haven't felt before with anyone else other than Alex. She calculated every meeting that Alex and her will have. She didn't hangout with Avery and their crowd if she knew Alex would be there. She didn't answer the calls or text messages Alex has sent. It helps that the swimming team that Alex is the captain, is preparing for a regional championship competition so she barely crosses paths with the brunette in campus. She successfully manages to avoid Alex for two weeks. Piper thought Alex wouldn't notice but she was caught off guard when the chestnut haired beauty showed up to their dorm unannounced. Piper refuses to see her so Polly met her at the lobby and made an excuse that she went to a friend's place that day. Alex of course has no idea about why is Piper acting strangely. Polly was puzzled by Piper's decision not to pursue anything with the chestnut haired beauty. Polly was aware that the blonde are having issues with the previous conquest of the brunette but advise her that it's not Alex fault the girls she dated still has hang ups about her. But she also has a hunch that it's more than that.
"You know distancing has 3 reasons." Polly said as she sat on her bed looking at Piper lying on hers.
"What is?" Piper said in resigned voice.
"It's one, you hate the person. Second, you're moving on or third, which is I think you might be is when you're too scared to fall in love." Concludes Polly as she says to Piper.
"I'm not made for this Polly." She said with a resigned voice, as she stares at their ceiling.
"You're running away…you're scared and pushing her away." Polly concludes to her. Piper was silent still so Polly continues. "But doesn't being scared lets you know you're into something special? Cause if you're not scared, it means you're not taking a risk. If you're not risking anything, then that's not living." She looks at Polly and Polly smiled at her and shrugged her shoulders.
...
On a Friday night, a friend of Pete's from the University is having a party and everyone is invited. Polly and Pete have been dating the same time when Piper and Alex went out before. She was talking and laughing with Avery and Ian as the night deepens. She saw Nicky there for quite a while before the bushy haired girl disappeared. Piper is a little tipsy with all the alcohol she had that night. Mark saw her seating in the sofa alone when Avery went to the bathroom as Ian went to replenish their drinks. He approaches her and seated a little closely to her liking. Piper remembers the look Alex gave this man. She decided to be more cautious as he is slightly intoxicated. Her personal space is almost invaded by Mark when she felt her even before she saw her. Alex walks through the open front door followed by Nicky. She stops abruptly as she views Mark and Piper's closeness.
"Fuck Vause watch it!" yelled a plastered Nicky as she bumps into Alex's back. Nicky then look over to where Alex is looking. Piper saw dread on Nicky's eyes. Piper shifted her gaze into Alex and she saw a look border lining hurt and resentment. Avery comeback in and notices Alex glared expression before it shifted to stillness again as her hands fix her glasses. Understanding dawns into him as to why when he saw Piper and Mark at the sofa. Avery immediately approached Alex to soothe her. The brunette said something to her brother, smiled to him as she brushes his chin lightly and abruptly left. Alex is already outside when Piper called for her.
"Alex!" she shouts as she strides to the brunette. Alex stops and looks at her but shifted her eyes immediately on the ground.
"I want you Piper. I want to be your favorite place to go when you've had a bad or good day. I want to hear your voice everyday and even if we spent the whole day together I still miss you the moment you leave. I want to hug your insecurities away. I want you. I want to try with you." Alex admits to her. Piper was surprised. She felt fire inside but she couldn't let it consume her.
"I just…it's…I can't be with you Alex." There she said it. What surprises her is that it hurts her more than she hurts Alex.
"It's okay Piper. I get it." She looks at Piper then smiled, the kind of which that doesn't reach her eyes and gazes her eyes back on the ground. She then turns around and continue walking away from Piper. The blonde watches as she disappears out of sight as she whispers her name "Alex."
...
Avery insisted on walking her home as Polly decided to stay at Pete's. Nicky and Ian left a few moments after Alex did excusing themselves as they rest for tomorrow's practice.
"You didn't have to walk me home, you know." Piper on her plastered state said as she tangles her right arm over Avery's left.
"Oh I know! But somebody asks me to." He replied as he supported the blonde.
"Alex asks you?" as realization hits her.
"There are only two reasons in which I obeyed what Alex's asks." Piper looks at him as he speaks and they continue walking. "One, when she's frustrated and close to crying and second is when she's hurting. I saw both a while ago." He looks back at Piper and the blonde exhales a breath she didn't knew holding as she frees her arm. They stopped walking and face each other as Avery starts his story.
"Alex once loved someone so much Piper. Erica and her had been together since junior high. They even studied here both, freshman year." He says as they both seated at the bench near Piper's dorm.
"What happened?" she inquiries with furrowed eyebrows as she tried to focus on Avery with her clouded mind.
"Mark happened. Mark, Ian, and her are the first people who are friends here so they were really tight at least that's what Alex thought until she discovers Erica on her dorm with Mark having sex. It added to more issues that Alex already had because of her father." Avery said sadly as if he feels Alex's pain physically.
"You mean your father?" Piper listens silently as he continues.
"I'm Avery Anthony Roberts. Alex and I share the same mother thus the "Vause" lineage but different father. Her father abandoned her and mom when she's still a baby. Dad married mom when Alex's is two years. He accepted her as his own child, her baby girl but Alex seems to never really get over the fact that his biological father is as good as for nothing scum in this earth. He never looked nor asks for her. But Alex manages to divert the blame to her self-thinking that she's never really worth it, for someone to stay. Thus the growing pains, the start of no meaning conquests and a wall after wall of defense to keep people out." Piper was silent still and feels really terrible for Alex as Avery hugs her on the side.
"Alex's ulterior maybe hard but sometimes you have to dig deeper Piper. You can't judge the depth of a story if you just read a few pages. I know you might think if she's worth the trouble but I think you already knew the answer." He said to her and smiles as silence took over around them.
...
On the next day Piper had a mission in mind. She searched for Alex in campus but couldn't seem to find her and saw Nicky walking around instead.
"Nicky, have you seen Alex?" She inquired and starts walking with her.
"I might have but I won't tell you." Nicky answered with resentment.
"Nicky, please!" Piper begs.
"Give me one good reason why should I after you shut her down." Nicky replied as she searched for a cigarette in her pocket.
"Believe me I learned my lesson and I just want to apologize and…" Piper stops before she rumbles in front of Nicky.
"And?" Nicky pushes her to add.
"I want to be brave enough to try." Piper admits shyly. Nicky looks at her and smiled.
"Nicky, please!" Piper begs again.
"Give me one vodka and I'll say." She said bargaining to Piper. She knows the blonde will give in.
"Are you serious?" Piper asks unbelieving.
"Am I laughing?" she answered with seriously.
"Okay. I'll give you, just tell me where." Piper bargains as she look Nicky with her puppy dog eyes.
"Oh please don't used that to me! And who knows! She might be swimming her heart out." She said to Piper but the blonde rushes away from her even before she finished.
"Thank you." Piper yells as she runs towards the university swimming pool.
"Hey! Hakuna My vodka!" Nicky yells at her as the bushy haired girl smiles.
...
She reached the swimming area and indeed saw Alex paddling. She decided to wait upfront when Alex is done. She admires the gracefulness of the brunette in the water. Like she was born to do this. She wonders how could the brunette see underwater when she's "blind-ish" according to her in the one conversation they had. She was lost in thought when failed to see Alex paddling close to her. The brunette raised her head from the water when she reached the starting line.
"Jesus! You scared me." she said as she removed her goggles. She was surprised by the blonde's presence.
"Sorry." Piper said bashfully as she bit her lower lip.
"What are you doing here?" she asks still in the water. Piper can't help herself to ask.
"How do you swim when you're blind-ish?" she asks Alex curiously. Alex rolled her eyes on the avoidance of the blonde's to her question.
"Prescription goggles." She said as she raised the goggles to her. Piper nods.
"Again, what are you doing here?" Alex repeats in a unfriendly voice, still on the water.
"Alex, I wanted to talk to you." She replied nervously.
"We're talking Piper." She answered in a resigned voice stating the obvious.
"I'm trying here…I was afraid." Piper said as she rolled her eyes. Uncomfortably puts herself on the spot.
"You're afraid?" Alex said inquiring as she raised her eyebrows.
"If I'm being honest, yes I was afraid. I was scared of my parents scrutinizing my choices. That I would be a disappointment when after all this time all I really long for is their approval, to be the daughter they always wanted me to be. I am scared of what would people say or think about me. I'm not ready to be looked at like that, to be judge. I wanted to be what people wanted me to be. So I abide with the rules. I was raised like that. I was raised on going to church every Sunday, on letting my mom chose what I wear. I was never allowed to express myself. I should always be on my best attitude towards anybody regardless of how they treat me. Letting my parents pick the right people to be friends with. Those people whom they deemed deserving of their approval. I was raised to be the daughter my parents thought me to be. That's how I was raised and it's hard to just let go of that. I'm new on this newfound freedom and I'm still getting used to it. It takes courage and I'm still afraid but I'm learning to be brave because I want you. So I'm willing to challenge that now, so please be patient and try with me again. I'm willing if you're trying." She swallowed as she felt fear coursing through her body as she waits for Alex's reply. Alex raises her self from the water. She's still dripping as she grabs Piper's face and kissed her. It took Piper a while to kiss her back as it registers that Alex is kissing her. The kissing only dies as the need to catch their breath arises. They rest their forehead on each other.
"Are you sure you want this? If we'll going to do this, you can't back out on me again." Alex said uncertainty evident on her voice, which makes Piper she really screwed up.
"You offered me something, something I didn't knew I wanted. You challenge me, you never really are afraid to call me on my wrongs. You keep me on my toes; you make me so happy it's frustrating sometimes. You make my heart race and yet thump happier beats. I want you. I'm sorry I should have realize sooner." She said in a voice full of longing as she looks at Alex deeply. Alex pecks her on the lips.
"God, I forgot you rumble." She said teasingly and they giggle as they hug tightly.
"I'm wet." Piper states as her clothes were soaked by the water from Alex's.
"Already? Hold your horses Piper." She jokes as she earned a shoved from Piper.
"You're hot by the way." Piper says as she views Alex on her swimsuit. Alex rolls her eyes playfully. They were silently staring at each other conveying what they hearts really feel.
...
Days dragged by, as the competition gets closer. Lately Alex, Nicky and Ian were exhausted. The pressure is bugging them plus the demands on each of their own studies. One night they decided to have dinner together. She was seated beside Alex and Nicky facing Polly, Pete, Ian and Avery. She felt Alex is really exhausted but trying to converse. After all, the idea to eat together is because they get so busy they barely see their friends on campus. Her eyes look like they will close anytime soon. As they finished and started talking about their day, she notices Alex stretch. Her shirt was raised a little as she puts her arms up revealing a little skin of her flat, lean tummy. Piper couldn't help herself so she reached for her tummy and rubs it affectionately earning a smile from her girlfriend. Alex then places her right arm on Piper's shoulder tugs her closer and kisses her near the ears and whispered "I love you." Piper was surprised, she catches Alex's eyes as a smile edges on her lips.
"I love you too." She said a little louder than she should when she heard complains from their friends on their table.
"Oh for fucks sake!" Nicky said teasingly.
"Jesus, you mush balls!" Polly opposed. They started laughing and Piper feels herself blushing. She never felt this happy and warm. She looks at Alex and she pecks at her sending tingles on her spine. She feels overwhelmingly in love. She knows the ride with Alex is going to be bumpy and it's still a long way to go, but she wants this. Here with Alex. She's taking her chance.