First Encounter

They didn't speak now as they crossed the entrance way, but it was nice. Elena managed to collect her thoughts. It had certainly been an... odd evening. She had barely been able to keep up mentally, she felt silly as she was processing it all now. However, she was definitely glad she accepted the film invite. She was sure Roger would forgive her, in fact... she could almost imagine his face when he found out she had acquired the girl's number. She would just omit the part where Piper touched her up before hand... he... didn't need to know that.

She thought back to the start of the night, the events and then up to now. It was nice. Odd, embarrassing, confusing and somewhat scary. But nice. Soon enough they were at the front doors, Elena opened the door and held it for Piper to exit first. The blonde thanked her as she passed, quickly followed by the brunette. The chill hit them immediately, it was getting colder at night now.

The cold air sapped at them as their teeth chattered, the icy breeze bit through them. Elena's thoughts led her to wish to get closer to Piper to warmth, but she stopped herself. She reminded herself that she hardly knew her, even though it seemed as if they had known each other before tonight. The pair of them hid hands away in pockets as they shivered.

"Winter is on the way." Elena spoke up. Piper only nodded in response. She wasn't looking at her now, instead her eyes appeared to scan the car park. "I'll message you later." She continued, changing the subject. A flutter of giddiness bubbled below the surface as she thought about messaging her. She was looking forward to it. Yet Piper only hummed in answer, was she ok? The other woman sighed and turned to the brunette, her eyes had lost her gleam, she looked down and her gaze became hard.

"Do you know where the bus stop is?" Piper asked her, before pulling a hand out and examining her watch. "They should be still running now..." Elena cocked her head to the side in confusion.

"You don't drive?" She questioned. The blonde shook her head.

"I was picked up and dropped off here. One of the guys was supposed to drop me back off." Piper motioned back to the cinema with a thumb. "But I don't fancy going back in myself now either."

It was Elena's turn to stare out into the car park, she was debating on what to do. She didn't fancy the idea of leaving the attractive blonde alone at a bus stop late at night. Yet was inviting this woman into her own car perhaps a bit of a questionable decision? It would leave her vulnerable. Piper had been nothing but lovely so far... well... yeah sure why not, Piper's touching had certainly not been... unwelcome. Nothing raised any alarms, in fact quite the opposite, she loved being around her. Maybe it would be ok...

"I could drive you home..." Elena spoke. "... if you are ok with that." Piper looked back at her, her hard gaze softened. The sharpness washed away to be replaced with relief and elation as a smile graced her lips.

"Would you? Please. That would be a big help." Elena's heart skipped. This woman kept affecting her like this tonight. But she couldn't help it. She struggled to fight back a blush, which failed completely. Piper either didn't notice or didn't say anything. Elena found herself delighted at being able to spend more time with her, she didn't want today to end.

"Sure, won't be a bother." The brunette felt her own smile pull at her lips, she felt warm even in the biting wind. "C'mon." At that Piper began to follow the other woman across the car park.

***

"It's the one up here on the left." Elena's passenger spoke out as she pointed outside of the car. The darkness of the small street they were driving on was broken up by the streetlights along the pavement. The beacons of light flooded the street yet cast great long shadows from any object or wall that dotted the landscape. Elena caught sight of the place Piper was pointing to. It looked just like any other house on this street. Did she live in her own house? Or maybe she rented like Elena did? However the brunette didn't ask yet as she now scanned the road for a place to park. She scowled as she struggled for space. The street was littered with cars along both sides of the road, she huffed as she squinted to concentrate. She passed by Piper's house as she carried on looking for a space.

"I never normally need to worry about parking, so I'm sorry but I'm not sure where we can go." Piper's voice sounded apologetic as Elena audibly huffed in annoyance. Duel glowing orbs caught Elena's eye as they lit up in the dark, sticking out among the shadows, suddenly the glow shifted and moved, a small black cat gracefully padded along a brick wall and off into the darkness. Elena hummed to herself in concentration as she looked away from the animal and back to scanning the road. This street was quiet, apart from that cat there had been no other sign of life. The brunette guessed this was a quiet side street, but she didn't know the area so she had no idea. Elena was becoming quite irritated at the lack of space.

"Maybe I could drop you off? I'll just stop on the road while you get out." She relented as she didn't know whether she would ever find a spot at this rate. Elena began to slow down her vehicle as she prepared to just let her passenger off. The machine straining in response. However Piper was still scanning the road around the car.

"I'm sure there'll be something... maybe just up ahead?" The blonde wasn't giving up. Elena wondered why it was so important to find a spot, however she just shrugged and carried on driving, pushing her car to speed back up down the quiet street. Keenly aware of how far they were getting away from Piper's abode.

A few turns later and cycling back on themselves they finally found a single space nestled nearby. The brunette finally clicked off her engine causing the machine to die down, the deafening silence filled her ears at the loss of the hum of the vehicle. She turned to her passenger, ready to bid her goodnight. She still didn't want this night to end... she glanced at the clock on her dashboard. It was dark as she had just turned the car off... Elena rolled her eyes at herself. Of course it was... stupid girl. She angled herself to see her watch in the streetlight, it was getting late. Before turning back to the blonde.

Piper un-clicked her seatbelt and turned with a warm smile on her face. Elena couldn't help but get drawn into her features, it was the first time she had truly looked at her since the cinema. She remembered guiltily how she checked her out during the queue for the film... yes she could admit it now. She did check her out. Elena was only human... she didn't mean any harm by it. That smile that made Elena just want to melt, those amazing eyes that held so much emotion, Elena wanted to just stare at them all night. Blue like the ocean, the brunette felt she could just get lost adrift in those waters.

Elena too bore blue eyes, but she always felt her own were dull and boring, yet Piper's in comparison... she wanted to lose herself in those eyes. She wore makeup on which highlighted her lips and eyes right now... yet Elena couldn't help but wonder what she would look like without any on. She wanted to see... Her eyes fell over her soft cheekbones and down to her lips. Piper's lips shone in the dim mechanical light of the streetlamps. Her full lips moved as Piper said something... but Elena didn't hear what she said. She felt mesmerised by this woman who was sharing her car with her. Did she have to go so soon?

Suddenly the blonde moved, Elena blinked as the movement brought her out of her trance and she focused on the situation. However it was too late. Piper drew closer to her, it all happened so fast. Without warning the other woman was upon her. Lips crashed into her own...

Elena felt the soft lips of Piper on her own, she stiffened as she gripped the steering wheel in shock... her brain struggling to process what was happening. Why was Piper...? But she couldn't even finish that sentence. She couldn't think the word. She wasn't able to manage the word, that Piper was kissing her. She felt hesitation from Piper as she realised she wasn't kissing back... quickly before the blonde could pull away Elena forced herself to relax into the kiss. She didn't want the moment to end... not yet.

She kissed Piper back. Their lips roved over the other's, she felt the lipstick of Piper smear onto her lips, but she didn't care. The slight taste of the foreign chemical now on her saliva, but she didn't care about that either. She wanted her. Elena wanted Piper. Without disengaging from her partner Elena fumbled with her own seatbelt and un-clicked it, the thick material zipped back no longer needed. Now unhindered Elena could turn her body toward Piper. Their lips still together as their eyes were closed. Enjoying each other.

Elena didn't want to let go...

Elena felt happiness flood through her, this felt like her first real kiss... not some sloppy attempt, or a forced kiss because she 'should' do it. This was real. She couldn't get enough, Elena felt like she could get addicted to this. She wanted more...

The brunette moved her arms toward her partner, just as her hands were starting to trace the shoulders and arms of Piper she felt an odd shift in the movement of the lips attached to her own. Suddenly they started to recede and move away... The brunette immediately felt alone. She missed her warmth and touch right away. The small distance between them felt like a great canyon, it was too much... she felt her own body reach out for the blonde even as the other woman moved back to her own seat. She wanted her back... It was too soon. She missed her touch. Elena knew she was under the spell of the blonde... but she didn't care.

"Better?" A word broke through her haze, Elena blinked as her hand dropped back to her own lap. She was certainly not 'better' as Piper had put it. Her thoughts came back to herself... but she missed Piper terribly. Elena didn't want to leave now... how could she?

But... what else could she do? Elena felt a darkness in the back of her mind, frustration that had built up all day... and now she was what? Expected to just go home? She knew she should... Elena knew she should just go home and message Piper before bed. Probably ending up working out her frustrations herself on her own and then sleep. Sleep on this very... weird day. Elena mentally shook her head... probably without this woman around she could analyse her own thoughts properly. Her feelings were all over the place, she felt like a pinball being knocked around. She could barely settle before she was bounced back into the emotional roller coaster.

"I was speaking but you seemed to just be staring at me..." Piper continued... her smile caught Elena's eye. She was smirking, her eyes full of mischief. The brunette glanced away before looking back, frowning as Elena guessed both of them were well aware how much power Piper held over the her. The brunette licked her lips as she once again began to stare at Piper as she was smirking at her. Knowing full well the position she held. Elena tasted the red chemical that now existed on her own lips, she never wore lipstick herself so the feeling was completely alien. But right now she loved it, it was confirmation that this was real. Piper had just kissed her.

"I was saying..." The blonde spoke, controlling this conversation and the other woman in the car. Elena's mind jostled in the waters of indecision, something told her to get a grip. To not let herself get sucked in to this mind game. To calm down and assess what was happening. Something else told her to be near this other woman, to hold her hand and kiss her again. To not leave just yet, to stay as long as possible. The idea of leaving her presence made her feel a bit sick... she didn't want to let go of this excitement. She knew this was all wrong... all wrong... this is not how things are supposed to work... she thought she knew exactly how things would happen.

She always assumed she would be the one to ask someone out, on her own terms... to date her and see how things went... it was all planned out in her head. She may not have gotten around to it but it was still there. This thing that was happening now... it didn't conform to any of that. Yet she liked it.

"Would you like to come in for coffee?" Piper asked her. Her voice was light and inviting, cosy and familiar. Like arriving home from months away. Right now Elena wanted nothing more in the world... she could only guess what weird face she was showing Piper now. Her shock and surprise must be plain for her to see, like reading a book. A jolt managed to shock her brain into actually trying to think, maybe it was that confident smile on the face of Piper. The blonde that seemed so sure she had her catch and was merely reeling her in.

Somewhere Elena knew this... she was acting like a teenager... but she wasn't. She had some life skills for god sake. Was this really a good thing? Maybe she should get away and calm down. Her mind took her back to the cinema... Piper seemed to enjoy pushing and pushing to see what she could get away with. Just how far would she go this time? She remembered the apology afterwards in the ladies. Was Piper telling the truth? Or just what Elena wanted to hear? A shred of doubt crept in to her senses.

Elena began to pull back and looked away from her passenger. She didn't want... that wasn't right... she couldn't look at her anymore. She was so confused.

"Are... are you ok?" That was Piper's voice again... yet it didn't sound like her. It sounded like back in the cinema toilets. She sounded unsure once more, Elena was thrown into turmoil again. Maybe she was thinking too hard about this. Maybe Piper was being honest with her. "I just wanted to get to know you better... it's always better face to face then messaging right?" Her words sounded so honest and innocent. Maybe she was right, maybe Elena was being silly. She was just getting wrapped up in her own emotions and doubts. She would very much like to talk to her face to face more like she said. Besides her bed wasn't going anywhere, and she didn't have anywhere to be tomorrow... why not?

She felt herself relax now, she hadn't realised that maybe she had started to panic. Wow... what was wrong with her? She had never been this confused with her own emotions before, she had to weather this and sort herself out. But right now she wanted to see more of Piper.

"Ok sure... sounds great." Elena finally answered. A second of confusion warped Piper's features before realisation set in.

"Oh the coffee! Ok that's wonderful." Her smile was back... good... Elena loved that smile. She wanted to memorise every detail of her happy face. It made her feel happy in turn.

"C'mon then!" Piper's voice was so light and airy as she spoke, Elena just couldn't get enough.

She felt herself get out of her own car into the dim light of the street, locking her car and following the blonde across the road.

"I have my own door, I live on the top floor flat." Piper spoke back to Elena as she searched about for her keys in her pockets. Elena glanced up at the dark windows of the top floor.

"Rent?" She asked of her partner. Without turning back Piper plunged her key in the lock.

"Yeah... pfft who can buy now a days?" She answered as she swung open the door to a dark hallway. Elena chuckled in agreement.

"Ha, yeah you're right." Elena followed Piper into the darkness just as a light was flicked on. Before the pair were stairs leading straight up to the other floor. Whoever renovated this place made a good decision to put in a separate entrance way Elena thought. She grimaced at the thought of a communal entrance to something like this. Yes that was technically what Elena's place was like, but that was a large block with many flats, this was just two. And if you didn't like your neighbour... then good luck to you. Piper waited till Elena was inside before she shut and locked the door, metal clunking into place before she passed Elena by once again and stepped quickly up her steps. The brunette followed behind, taking two at a time as she pulled herself up holding onto the banister.

***

"Here..." Piper leaned down and handed a steaming mug towards Elena's waiting hands. The small plain white mug was placed into Elena's grip, her fingers at first welcomed the warmth, before it became too much and her skin started to burn. The smell of the coffee assaulted her nose before she quickly shifted her grip and held the ceramic container by the cooler handle. The brunette was sat on a soft couch nestled in an average size living room. The room was furnished to a modern standard, if a little sparse.

She also couldn't help but note that there was a not a single thing out of place. She certainly seemed to like everything in its proper place... or maybe she just liked her place to be tidy. Elena shrugged mentally. Either way it was still nice. She felt comfortable in Piper's flat.

There was a large flat screen TV opposite her from the couch, but it was left off for now. The blonde held her own steaming coffee, she rounded her little coffee table which sat just in front of the sofa and relaxed into her own spot next to Elena. Piper appeared to finally relax and settle into her own furniture, after all she was home. Elena's gaze drifted away from her and toward the blank TV, half expecting the device to be switched on for the pair to watch. But it never was.

"So... Elena." That light musical voice once again. Still waiting for her drink to cool enough she turned toward the other woman. "Let's get the boring stuff out of the way..." The brunette stared down at her drink, boring stuff? "Go on what do you do for a living?" Elena smiled, ah that boring stuff.

"Well... up until recently I worked at an insurance company. Couldn't stand that anymore... so I left and I'm trying to break into the journalist industry properly. I'm working admin at the local university until I can." She answered plainly, pretty dry subject matter she supposed. But she was interested in what Piper did for a living. Elena drew the coffee to her lips, hoping it was cool enough. She lightly blew across it and sipped the dark liquid.

"Well once upon a time I worked as a stripper..." A bolt of shock struck through Elena at that information, she coughed and hacked as she had attempted to breathe in her own coffee. She felt it dribble down her chin as she quickly put the mug down on the coffee table and struggled to stop the liquid from hitting her jacket. At the side of her the blonde was currently pre-occupied with laughing at her. However she did move from her spot to grab a tissue off her table and hand it to Elena. "...silly thing what did you do that for?" Piper offered the tissue even while still chuckling away. Elena felt herself beginning to blush once more, that was embarrassing. She quickly took the offered item and wiped her chin clean. Checking to make sure none had gotten onto her jacket.

"Sorry... that came as a surprise." Piper still giggled even as she lay back onto her side of the sofa.

"Hmm... yeah I suppose it would. Anyway I just work at a bar now, money isn't as good but I was sick of getting my tits out for those sick perverts. It was great for a while, they threw so much money at me! I never let the disgusting pricks touch me though... yuck. No thanks... right Elena?" Elena merely nodded as she digested that information and picked her coffee back up to drink. She was certainly... confident. Elena couldn't imagine ever doing anything like that. Yet a pang of jealousy prickled through her, it made her grit her teeth and her features darken. Those lecherous bastards have seen Piper naked... or at least half naked... they don't deserve to...