Chapter 8

Alex/POV

"Is this going to be weird?" Asked Piper for like the fifth time that morning. She was drinking her third cup of coffee, and had reached the jittery stage. Alex, not a morning person, was following close behind as they left the apartment, but she had put her dark hair up messily and skipped putting on make-up. She jingled her keys in her hand as she descended the stairs and rolled her eyes in response to Piper's question.

"Yes, Pipes, it's probably going to be 'weird'", sighed Alex. She almost raised her hands to do air quotes but she wasn't awake enough.

Piper writhed in her seat uncomfortably after Alex had started the car. Alex decided to ignore Piper's anguish and focus on doing what she had promised to do… Which was to help rip off this metaphorical band-aid. They drove in silence before they were stopped by a red light. It was at the light that Alex noticed Piper was leaning her head against the window, and wringing her hands nervously.

"Piper… Hey…" Alex said, getting her attention and reaching to hold one of Piper's busy hands. "No matter how this goes… At least I'll be there too." Alex smiled, knowing her pep talk was kind of mute, but she knew Piper wouldn't mind. She had to understand that Alex was tired. They didn't sleep much these days, their nights were fast and full of lust. Morning came quicker and earlier than ever.

"Okay sleepy." Said Piper, gently patting Alex's cheek as she yawned.

When they pulled into Larry's driveway Piper turned to Alex. "You don't have to do this." She blurted, but her eyes were terrified and Alex felt as if they were silently begging her to not back out.

"Come on, I promise to behave." She said, giving Piper a slightly ironic wink. Piper laughed, but it was a short breathy thing that didn't carry itself far from her lips. Something in Pipers expression still held anxiety. Alex knew She would have to be the one to get this show on the road. With an automatic click Alex popped the car door open and stepped out in from of the car, motioning for Piper to do the same.

Alex turned around to see the infamous Larry, leaning against the doorframe casually. Alex tried not to jump in surprised, because she hadn't heard the door open.

Alex gave him a wave, and said "Hey." She felt Piper walk up beside her.

Larry seemed to ignore Alex entirely and instead addressed Piper. "You brought the movie theater girl?" Alex stiffened at his tone.

A lot's changed since that movie night, bud.

Piper closed the distance between her and Larry a bit by stepping forward and slightly gesturing towards Alex with her left arm, "Larry, meet my uhh-" Piper looked at Alex briefly, "...My friend Alex." Alex felt herself shake her head slightly, and contained her urge to laugh. Piper choking on the word friend when talking about her is something she would later replay in her mind for amusement. She met Larry's grumpy gaze, after feeling his eyes on her when Piper gestured towards her.

Piper cleared her throat and continued, "Alex, meet Larry." And she awkwardly gestured towards Larry.

Alex struggled within herself to not make this worse for Piper by saying something rude. So she managed a only somewhat sarcastic, "Pleasure."

Larry didn't have the same composure and instead ignored the greeting and turned around to open the door for Piper.

Alex avoided eye contact with Larry as she passed him and entered the house, but she couldn't help but smirk at his apparent discomfort. We are exactly what you suspect we are, buddy.

"What the fuck is this?" Piper said, annoyed, at the sight of her belongings stuffed into garbage bags. She tore at the opening of one of the bags a bit frantic and Larry scratched the back of his neck and answered, matter-of-factly, "Well it's your stuff… I-I packed it up for you, and I washed it all for you."

Alex held back laughter, imagining that if steam could puff from Piper's ears is would. There was a moment of awkward silence as Piper examined a pair of pink underwear.

"A thank you would be nice…" Said Larry, a little arrogantly.

Piper looked at him scornfully. "Larry these were white before! Did you separate the clothes by color or just throw them all in the same load?" She said it as if it was the most horrendous notion. Larry squinted at the underwear being held up. "Those look white to me." He concluded, shrugging.

Pipers cheeks turned a shade of red that scared Alex a bit and she decided to intervene before these two people hurt each other more.

"Alright alright, let's calm down…" Alex said, placing a hand at the small of Piper's back, and taking the now pink undies in her other hand, and lightly tossing them back into the pile of clothing.

Larry stiffened when Alex did that, and she knew he didn't enjoy seeing how comfortable Alex and Piper seemed to be with each other. Alex, again, held back a smile.

Piper seemed to cool down under Alex's touch and the steam coming from her ears slowly evaporated.

"Okay. Did I leave anything else?" Piper asked, picking up one of the trash bags.

"Your toaster… but I think it's broken." Said Larry, to Pipers back as she exited the front door. Alex didn't need to see Piper's reaction to this. She knew very well that Piper was rolling her eyes as she responded with a curt "Keep it."

Alex picked up two of the other bags, one of which Larry had been reaching for himself, and followed Piper back to the car.

They passed each other briefly and Alex hissed "Calm down, keep it together, you're doing good." To which Piper didn't respond. She just walked back into the house and grabbed the last thing. It was an actual box of her things this time, stuff that couldn't be easily bagged. She reemerged with the box of books, a straightening iron and some candles. Alex sighed, knowing the two would probably need a proper goodbye if things were going to end civil, and she didn't want to watch it happen so she passed Larry who had reclaimed his position on the porch and wandered to the kitchen, found the ancient toaster that had to have been Pipers, patted it fondly as she unplugged it, and decided to ask Piper the story that most definitely had to be behind the toaster. She suspected it was some stupid nostalgic reason Piper had for keeping such a piece of junk.

Alex walked passed the couple again, toaster under her arm.

"I'll be in the car." She said to Piper, who nodded.

Piper and Larry exchanged some awkward last words and a pathetic half hearted hug before Piper turned to face Alex and walk to the car.

Alex's heart broke when she saw a tear trickle down Pipers cheek.

Something must be done to stop this.

"You know, I'm dying to know the toaster story." Said Alex, trying to lighten the mood as they pulled out of the driveway.

Piper laughed through her tears, and after wiping her nose with her sleeve began to tell Alex all about her toaster.