When Piper parked her Mustang on the grass in front of the huge estate, the gras was already packed with people, most of them with red plastic cups in their hands laughing, talking, some of them dancing or hanging their feet in the blue water of the pool.
It was strange watching normal teenagers in their natural environment, Piper had never been to such a party in her life and being here now felt surreal and at the same time freeing. This was not at all like her and that was exactly what she wanted, not being herself for an evening.
Exiting the car, she threw a closer look at the people around her, most of them she had already seen at school now and then but there was also a bunchload of guys and girls she had never seen before. Larry was giving her an encouraging smile and nodded towards the house, suggesting they'd go in first.
Pushing through the mass of people that got more and more packed the closer they got to the front door they headed for something to drink and Piper had already promised herself to get completely wasted tonight when suddenly her heart stopped in the middle of a beat and her breath got stuck in her throat. They just had entered the living room that already smelled like human sweat and booze and in the middle of the room was nobody less than her worst nightmare.
The redhead had still bruises in her face in a light shade of yellow, just like Piper had, but the cut in her lip was the thing that showed she had been a fight from a distance already and it gave Piper a strange satisfaction to see that, even though the cast on her own hand was looking way worse.
For a second Piper wanted to run, wanted to hide. But then Larry, who had seen the ginger too, took her hand, pushing it encouragingly and Piper remembered that she had sworn to herself to never let other people decide over her dignity again.
So instead of running, she followed Larry who pushed past the ginger, who was standing there almost alone, looking almost weak at Piper's sight.
She bumped her shoulder into Nicky's, feeling the shift of power. She was not afraid of Nicky anymore, there was nothing that girl could do to her anymore, she had already lost everything due to her, but at least the bully had lost something too, her immunity, her superiority and suddenly Piper seemed to be more dangerous to the gingerhead than the other way round.
She exected a reaction, expected that Nicky would turn around, grab her hair and push her to the floor, but there was no reaction at all. And then Piper saw her. Her long black hair were a mess and the dark circles under her eyes made her look like shit, she had never seen Alex looking this crappy and it almost teared her heart apart, making her angry at the same time.
Why haven't you just done one little thing to help me then we both wouldn't be in this mess?
And why do you even look so sappy when you don't even loved me in the first place? Piper's thoughts must have been written in her eyes because Alex turned her eyes away like a beaten dog.
The air in the room had gotten thicker and apart from the fade of music that hang over them, the party had gotten incredibly silent. Piper heard some whispers and she realized that people were watching and staring at her in a peculiar suspense.
At first she thougt they were watching the exchange of looks between her exgirlfriend and her but then she remembered that nobody even knew about their breakup since they still didn't know that they had been together in the first place and then she realized what they were waiting for.
And when she turned back to Nicky she saw in her face that Nicky knew too.
They were waiting for the final showdown, would the outsider be able to win a fight against the former bully and would the fallen goddess be able to turn the fate around again, winning back her dominance?
Nicky had to prove that she was still a threat, somebody to be respected and feared, and Piper could read it in her face, read the power she suddenly had over that person.
Nicky hestitated, she was alone, none of her friends around right now and she didn't seem as brave and strong as she normally pretended to be.
It was almost sad and Piper turned her face away, she wanted to walk away already when she heard the cold, hateful voice behind her.
„Hey richbitch, how about a race. You against me? You do have your car here, don't you?"
The suspense around them just had gotten thicker and she could see the horror in Alex's eyes rising, making her decision easier than it should be.
Piper turned back to the voice again, slowly, a sarcastic smile playing around her lips. This was her chance to turn things around, her chance to be superior, probably her only one.
„Oh and what do you wanna race me with? Your balance bike?" She was bolder than she should be, but she had found the perfect valve for her anger and frustration plus she knew Larry was by her side.
Nicky's eyes showed how much she had to fight her anger at Piper's comment, trying to keep her coolness and not lose it in front of everybody.
„Let that be my problem, bitch." she hissed and Piper took a step in her direction. She felt like watching herself from above, this Piper, bold, stupidly so, that was not her. That was a Piper who had nothing more to lose.
„The winner gets the losers car and can do whatever she wants with it." Nicky stated and Piper outstretched her hand, the mass roaring around them when they shook hands on it.
She could feel Larry's hand on her arm, trying to hold her back while she felt herself walking, letting the mass of people push, almost carry her outside to where the cars were parked. She was on auto mode.
This was her chance, she could beat the tyrant in this race, she had much more experience in driving a sports car than Nichols had, she knew how to drive fast and she knew how to control a car, she would beat her, win her car and finally put the bully in her place, wrench the last portion of power from her.
Suddenly Alex was in front of her, her eyes wide in worry and guilt.
„Piper, please don't." There was a single tear running down Alex's cheek but Piper just pushed past her like she wasn't even there, Alex was the last person who could stop her now just to save her sister.
And when the blonde kept ignoring her, she saw Alex pushing through the crowd towards her sister and she saw her starting to frantically talk to her, insistently. She tried to hear what Alex was saying, but in that second, Larry's hand reached for her again, grabbing her wrist with such force that she had to stopp walking. Turning around to him his face was close to her's and she could see the lack of understanding in them.
„You won't do that!" His voice was bossy and Piper got angry at him immediately, trying to pull her healthy wrist out of his grip, but he didn't let her go.
„No, you can't possibly be that fucking stupid, Piper." he hissed through his teeth and Piper could tell that he was even angrier at her than she was.
„You just wanna impress your exgirlfriend with this action. You're really wanna risk your life for HER? That's just pathetic Piper."
„Fuck you. Let me go!" she yelled at him, his words hitting the nail right on the head, she wanted power, but yes she also wanted to show Alex what she had lost.
„Piper." he said, now calm but deadserious. „I told you I won't let you use me. And you only came here with me to prove your girlfriend something."
He was wrong, she didn't come here to prove something, she came to forget, she came to pretend not being broken, but right now it could as well have been the truth, because right now she just wanted to do this, and she wouldn't let him stop her.
„If you do this, then I'm gone. For good." He threatened, his voice barely audible from naked anger.
„Fine." She hissed, pulling her hand away once more, this time she was not being held back. She turned around to a waiting Nicky and she didn't even see him walk away from her, would she be able to ever make up to him? But right now all her attention on this one chance to finally get her revenge for everything Nicky had done to her in all this time.
Nicky was already standing in front of a sports car Piper had never seen before and she walked towards her, for the first time meeting her on equal footing.
„So, we're gonna drive from here to the highway out of town to the gasstation and back here."
Piper nodded coldly and started walking towards her car, ignoring Alex who yelled at the two of them.
„That is completely nuts, you'll have to turn in the middle of the street!"
Piper climbed on the front seat, driving her car to the where the starting and finishing line was now suppossed to be, there she turned of the gear and waited for Nicky to get ready too.
And suddenly the passenger's door was opened from the outside and Alex climbed into her car, sitting next to her on the passenger seat.
„Alex, get out." Piper told her, while the chosen umpires were still discussing about the rules outside.
„Piper, please don't do that. It's not too late to back off."
Of course it was too late, even if Piper wanted to back off, giving in now was the same as presenting her head to Nicky on a silver tray.
„Fuck you Alex, I'm doing this now. Get out."
But Alex didn't, instead she fastened the seatbelt, shaking her head „No. This isn't even Nicky's car, she stole that somewhere"
„Get out" Piper repeated, louder and firmer this time, but again she was ignored.
„If you wanna kill yourself then you will have to kill me too. I'm not gonna let you get hurt."
„Why Alex?" Piper was close to crying now, she had to pull herself together, keeping the emotions that came with being so close to Alex again after not seeing her in more than a week, at the back of her head until this race was done.
„I'm not doing the same mistake twice." Alex whispered, and Piper saw the umpires preparing for the start with their improvised t-shirt-flag.
„Get your ass our of my car, your weight can cost me speed." making herself ready for the start, she begged Alex one last time, knowing that every pound making the car heavier could help Nicky win.
But Alex didn't even think of moving „Please Piper, don't." she begged one last time, before the boy outside gave the signal to start.
„Screw it." the blonde hissed and stepped on the gas.
She raced down the dark road that led away from the estate, building up speed in the third gear before she inserted forth and soon after it fifth. Nicky had obviously more problems to start, lacking Piper's experience and Piper drove one the highway as first, pushing her beloved car to highspeed. There was no other car on the highway, what wasn't surprising on a friday night in their sleepy town, but Piper still thanked god for it.
She was completely focused on the street and she felt the rush of speed and control freeing her from the stone on her heart for the first time in days. Nicky was only metres behind her and Piper knew the turn would be the most dangerous point of the race, if somebody passed them in this moment they would crash into each other, probably leaving noone alive.
Piper put her hand on the handbreak, steering now only with her damaged hand while prepraing for the turn, she knew she had to drift the car to make it.
She turned the steering wheel with all her power, pulling the handbrake for a second to make the car skid and the tail of the car spinned around them, she countersteered to keep the car under control.
And suddenly Nicky tried to do the same, but she pushed her brake too hard, not getting the skidding under control and Piper had to slam on the brakes. She heard Alex scream at the top of her lungs as she saw the white sports car getting closer and closer.
She was sure this was the end, could feel the imminent impact already, that would crush every bone in her body and the last thing she thought was at least she was with the love of her life, then the car stopped, an inch before crashing into Nicky. The seat belt cut into Piper's flesh, pressing the air out of her chest, her heart was racing and the tears were dwelling in her eyes.
Nicky's car was standing athwart the street but it seemed like the ginger was way more callous than Piper was, because she started the motor again.
It took Piper only seconds to realize that Nicky was still going for this race, that they hadn't stopped due to the fact that they had all nearly died.
But these seconds were enough to be so far behind Nicky that there was no chance to outrun her anymore. She passed the finish line seconds after Nichols, hitting her brakes again. She jumped out of her car, rushing over to Nicky who was just exiting her car as well.
„You sick asshole. You nearly killed all of us!" she screamed, the shock was sitting in her neck, making her feel nauseous again.
„But I won, bitch. Give me your carkeys." The smile on Nicky's face was full of triumph but she could see the shock in her face too.
„What?" Piper asked, she could not believe what was happening, she had already forgotten about the wager, she had been too focused on inflicting a defeat on Nicky. Now she realized she had lost her car.
„No you cheated, you manipulated me."
„We had never agreed on rules, prissy. So give me the fucking carkeys." She ripped them our of Piper's hand and Piper knew she had lost, not only her car or the race, but her dignity, her short period of power, her hope and the tears were now rolling down her face.
„Give her back the keys." Suddenly Alex's voice was right next to her, shaking, and she could feel the warmth of her body radiating.
„Fuck you Al." Nicky snorted, throwing the keys up in the air and catching them again, showing off her trophy with a evil grin on her face.
Piper could feel Alex's body stiffen as she repeated her line „Give her back the keys." Her voice was loaded with tension. They were surrounded by people who still followed the conflict in suspense.
Nichols shrugged her shoulders, staring at her sister „Why should I, I won them."
Alex took a step forward, her body now between Nicky and Piper. „You would have given her a stolen car if she had won, how is that an even wager?" She crossed her arms in front of her chest as Nicky smirked cocky.
„Yeah, but she didn't win." she grinned „And now get out of my way."
„No!" Alex stepped directly in front of the ginger, lowering her voice. „I won't let you do this anymore. You just nearly killed all of us!"
There was hesitation in Nicky's eyes, before she pulled herself together again.
„What do you wanna do against it?"
„I'm gonna tell mum, I'm gonna tell her everything, the beatup, the stolen car, everything."
Piper knew that was a real threat to Nicky, she knew Diane would kick Nicky's ass hardcore if she found out about the monster that her daughter could be and she knew Nicky needed her mother to think good of her, because she was the only one.
There was a long silence and some of the spectators decided to leave the battlefield, since it was getting really uncomfortable.
„Why Alex? Why are you even doing this? For her?" Nicky almost whispered, trying to examine her sister's face, trying to understand her motives.
Alex turned her head, looking at Piper, who watched the scene like it was a bad movie. „Yes." Alex smiled.
„Why?"
„Because I love her." Alex said, loud and clear so that everybody who hadn't already left them to themselves could hear it, Nicky could hear it and Piper could hear it.
She felt like someone had kicked her in the kneepits making her feel like she couldn't stand upright anymore. Had Alex just confessed her love for her? In front of everyone?
Piper felt betrayed, she felt like all the pain and sorrow she had suffered these past weeks weighing on her shoulders, could feel the emptiness in her heart being filled with questions.
Why now?
Why like this?
Nicky's facial expression went from shock, over denial, over anger to the realization that she was alone in this, there was no backup anymore from Alex and so it turned to some kind of forced acceptance in the matter of seconds, and then she smiled her sister.
„You've always had a weird taste, Leonardo." She grinned.
And then she outstretched her hand and gave Piper the carkeys back. Turning around, she walked towards a dark haired tiny girl who Piper had seen at the starting line earlier and Nicky slung her arms around her in an intimate way.
„Oh. And you won't tell mum! Everything's cool." Nicky said to Alex, before she and the girl walked towards the house, arm in arm.
Piper stood there like a child who had just lost it's lollipop.
She could not belive what she just had witnessed and she felt like she had to wake up from this weird dream. Only that she knew this was no dream, the almost accident had been way too real.
The remaining crowd now started scattering, disappointed, betrayed. They had wanted to see a proper fight.
Alex and Piper now stood there, Alex still facing away from the blonde. She slowly turned around, not looking her in the eye, staring on the floor instead.
Neither of them said a word for a while until Alex opened her mouth.
„I love you." she said, now looking into her face.
„Is that true?" Piper whispered, Alex was so close that she coul hear her breathing.
„Yes."
The blonde had no idea how to answer to that, she had wanted to hear this for so long, and now she was afraid that it was just too late. Alex must have read her thought because she said: „I'm sorry I haven't said that before."
The raven haired reached for the blonde's hand, taking even a step closer to her. But Piper had to take a step back.
„That doesn't fix everything." She turned her head away. All she had ever wanted was for Alex to stand up for her and to love her, now that she had done both, it should be okay. But they couldn't erase what had happened and Piper was not ready to forgive Alex.
„What does that mean?" Alex whispered, her voice breaking from the tears that dwelled in her eyes.
„I don't know. I just can't forget about everything that happened. Not yet."
She could see Alex swallow, watched her whipe over her eyes, before she found back her voice.
„I … I understand." She sighed, turning away so Piper couldn't see her tears, but Piper grabbed her wrist, she couldn't let her leave.
„But … but maybe we can start by being friends?" Piper suggested, she could not forgive Alex but she also could not lose her again now that she knew how Alex was feeling about her.
„Friends?" Alex repeated.
Piper knew she loved Alex and a big part of her just wanted to pull her close, to feel her lips on her's. But there was this other part, that just felt the hollowness of the last weeks, and the fear that Alex standing up to Nicky was a one time thing.
Piper nodded.
„Friends." she said once more „For now."
There was a smile creeping around Alex's lips, grateful and also a little hopeful.
„For now."
THE END
So that was it (for now).
Thank you all for your amazing support, for your emotions and your reactions, for your compliments and your scoldings.
When I started this story I only did it because I had fun writing, but the longer I wrote the more I learned, about writing, about emotions and myself. And when someone wrote me that it took them 6 hours to read my whole story I first realized how long and hopefully deep this had gotten, it could almost fill a book. This really encourages me to try and fulfill my biggest childhood dream and write a book someday, so thank you all for that incredible gift.
I know this is only a fanfiction, but it still means a lot to me and I am happy that you all shared this experience with me. (And I hope the ending doesn't piss you off too much ;)) Thank you XXX
P.S. About the pre/sequel/Alex'sPOV mix, I will try to make it happen, I have already written a tiny few one-shot-like chapters but I'm not sure if I should publish them before a few others that I have in mind. Sadly I will be very busy the next 6-8 weeks (due to the finals I have in July) and I don't know how often I'll be able to write. But starting in summer I intend to publish one-shots weekly again (I'll try ;)) So stay tuned if you are interested (I will publish the title of the one shot collection in this story, once I publish the collection)