A friend's concern

ALEXANDRA'S POV

My door creaked and I steered slightly in my sleep.

Silence.

I was just imagining things. The stress of the day really did get to me and I had just collapsed into bed at the end of the day.

After seeing Ethan at the cafe, I had gone to my company to fill out some work and stuff but they just seemed to keep rolling in. People wanted to collaborate with me! I was so happy. At least now I had another upside to my relationship with Ethan.

My relationship?

What were we really?

Another noise in my house and this time, my eyes shot open.

Those were footsteps. Who the fuck was in my house?

I slowly sat up, careful not to make any noise as I reached for my table and pulled out a drawer, smiling when I saw the bat there.

Pulling it out, I stood up from bed, tiptoeing to my door, my heart pounding as I listened to the footsteps march up my stairs.

The person wasn't even trying to be stealthy, just padding across the space like they owned it.

I gripped the bat tighter as I watched the doorknob to my door bend. The person was headed for my room.

The door to my room creaked open and I screamed at the same time, hitting blindly but my hand was caught mid-air by someone.

“Holy shit, Lexi!”. A familiar voice yelled.

I snapped out of my daze and the bat clattered to the floor, my hand still gripped by the woman who was standing in front of me.

Piper.

Oh fuck.

“Piper?”

She held her chest and let go of my hands. “Jesus. I know you don't want me in your life but doesn't mean you have to go karate chopping on me” she said dramatically stepping over the bat.

“I'm sorry, I've been stressed lately…” I muttered, grabbing the bat from the floor and wincing knowing I could have hurt her if she hadn't caught my hands in time.

“Of course, you're tired and stressed. Hello, you're fucking dating Ethan Warner!” She all but yelled as she collapsed on my bed, her marble grey eyes glowing softly in the dim light of the room.

I dropped the bat on the table, folding my hands across my pink-printed pajamas.

“Why are you in my house at 3 in the morning?” I yawned, going to sit beside her.

She looked at me suddenly, her icy blonde hair whipping around with that movement. “What part of Ethan freaking Warner don't you understand?” She held my shoulders, her eyes boring into mine.

I shied away from her gaze and looked down at my duvet instead, using my fingers to toy with the edges. “I mean… I don't know…”

She let go of me, took a deep breath, and forced a smile at me. “Oh forgive me, I think I've forgotten how weak my best friend's heart is. Let me rephrase that question…”, she paused and then gave me a sweet fake smile. “What in the nine fucking hells is going on between you and that man?” She spelled out, a sharp edge in her tone.

I trusted her with my whole life but I had also made a promise to Ethan.

“We're… getting married. I didn't want to tell you because I wasn't sure yet and I'm sorry you had to know this waㅡ” I began to recite the words I had learned when she cut me off.

Well, people seemed to like to cut me off a whole lot.

“Don't give me that shit about you being in love with that man. I've known you since you were in diapers” She scrunched up her face, crossing her legs as she sat on the bed.

“Diapers? I was 7 when we met” I gave her a disgusted look and she laughed before putting on that poker face.

“Okay, fair point but c'mon… please… don't… don't lie to me” she pleaded, her voice breaking slightly.

“Fine! It's a contract. He needs a wife to show the public and his parents and I need the money”

Her eyes flashed with pure anger and she scoffed, the sound reverberating in my room. “Just how much does he think is eㅡ”

“90 million…” I butted in, watching how her face paled and she leaned in closer.

“Are we talking dollars here?” She whispered.

“No, coins” I offered sarcastically.

She hit me lightly and shuddered. “That's a lot of money to just throw around. Honey, you don't have to marry someone because of that…”

“Sage's surgery is due and I need that money. I went to meet him today and he said he was going to give me a part of it and… Piper…” my voice shook and she collected me into her arms, stroking my head as I cried into her shoulder.

This was a weakness that always tugged at my heart. My sister. Sage.

“I could work harder… I don't want you to enter a marriage where you'll only get hurt. I'll work harder and support you. I won't tell anyone about this also”, she offered, still stroking my hair while I shook my head vehemently against her shoulder.

“You've done enough” I whispered to her, sniffling.

Piper Sawyer. The one woman who was my best friend and mother figure rolled into one. I don't know what I'd be without her. Probably off dead.

She pulled and wiped my tears. “Is he making you cry?” She asked.

I quickly shook my head knowing that Piper might not give two shits about his status and she may end up causing him harm.

“We're getting along. I swear” I assured her, loving how her beautiful Bambi eyes softened at that.

“He better treat you right” she muttered then she smiled at me.

“You're taking this pretty well” I noted, wiping another stray tear that threatened to fall off my cheeks.

She frowned again almost instantly. “Don't get me wrong. I still hate him for using this to get to you but I understand. You need it for sage and that last thing I want is to be the hindrance to you Getting that treatment for your sister”

Her phone beeped and she scrambled to get it out of her purse lying lazily on my bed.

I watched as the soft glow of her phone illuminated her beautiful features.

“Holy shit…” she muttered.

“What?” I asked, craning my neck to see.

She turned the phone around and I saw it. The photo of the kiss.

It was out.

She was still staring at me with that confounded look on her face and this time, I managed a smile.

“Welcome to my new world, Piper”