PERFECT PIECES {18+}

♡Taylor♡

The last two weeks had been filled with a happiness I never thought I could get back again after my parents. I was scared of it, the way it filled me, the way it entered my head, heart and soul, taking it over with smiles and laughter that I knew could destroy me if it abandoned me. It was a delicate balance we had all found between us and it still gave me butterflies.

I had Niko back, I had the best version of Pierce I had ever seen and I had myself back. The one who felt alive, the one who loved baking with Gram, the one who shopped with Tori. I had bet my track goal two times in the last week, running faster than I ever had with Pierce timing me, racing me, pushing me, with Niko in the bleachers, sitting with his band, pretending to watch Sofia but having eyes behind sunglasses only for me. I felt them burn into me as I ran and loved every second of the drive it gave me. I had enough shifts at work to give my savings a healthy boost and help Gram although I was pretty sure Pierce had something to doing with my pay rise. I was not that good of a waitress but I wasn't opposed to a little favoritism since it got me closer to my goal of moving into my own place.

I ran the track for the third time, breathing in through my nose, out through the mouth, my muscles burning as the afternoon sun beat down on me. Pierce was at football practice, Niko was with his band and I was free for a moment to delve into all the thoughts and emotions inside me. It had been a while since I had checked what was going on, too happy to analyze whether it was real or not so I slowed my run a little, taking a minute to enjoy the pace.

I had been going to Krav Maga with Emma, meeting Niko there so after class we had time together. She was going out with her tutor and it was cute as hell-he was damn sexy and looked at her like he was going to burn the world for her, she deserved that. I smirked as I ran, thinking about how everything was finally falling into place.

There was a squeal from the field and I turned to it, still jogging. Sofia was squealing as she fell on her ass, the cheerleading squad rushing to help her up. I hid my grin at seeing her where she belonged and that little niggling mistrust of my happiness pulled at my mind. The tech still hadn't got into her phone. All her chats with her father were encrypted and a lot of her information was wiped every few days. It meant getting anything helpful was proving even more difficult. I was starting to wonder if we'd ever have enough to get to her or whether we'd have to just wait until she was done with Niko-which seemed to be more and more likely. She hadn't pulled the pin yet though and the idea was starting to get to me. He had to kiss her, be with her in public and I understood why but it still sucked. We had a Halloween party to go to tonight and he had to go with her, play the dutiful boyfriend of the host and it killed me to think that I'd have to watch it. But Pierce had promised to distract me enough so it wouldn't be as awful. I hoped that was true.

I finished my lap and headed for the towel and water bottle I'd left on the side of the track. I took a gulp then dabbed the sweat from me before heading to the showers. I wanted to go to the party despite knowing who was going to be there-Brooke and her groupies of course- because my mind was fixed on the idea that it was at the Bulgari mansion. I was only invited as an extension of Pierce but I didn't care why, just that it was an opportunity to get something we might be able to use. Niko and Pierce had both shut down that idea saying it was too dangerous but so was sneaking around so if the opportunity presented itself then I wasn't going to let it go.

"Hellion, you look like you're thinking about causing trouble." Pierce said as he ran into the bathrooms with me. I wasn't even surprised he was ignoring the female sign on the door. He pushed me against the locker and smothered my mouth with his before I could answer that yes, yes I was thinking about it. I wrapped my arms around him, kissing him back, prepared to fuck him in the shower when the door opened.

"Ew, get out." Brooke snapped, glaring at Pierce who pulled away with a smirk.

"C'mon, we'll shower at home. Together." He winked at me and I grinned, grabbing my shit and following him out, my hand locked on his. Brooke put her hands on her hips and huffed.