Discontinued - PJO One Shots

Red Pipes ( Piper & Rachel)

It was freezing as the clouds ripped open. Rain poured down in a rhythmic pattern as the wind beat itself against anything it could. The sky was a dark grey with little hues of green throughout. It was going to hail and by the looks of it the iced rain was going to be larger than last time.

"Close a window, would you?" A voice asked from the other side of the room. "It's freezing."

I sighed. "if I close it, this house is going to be a scorcher," I explained. "The insulation is poorly done."

"Well, I'm going to rummage through your clothing to find some warm clothes," Red told me. "Hopefully, I'm still your size."

Red, who was leaning against an armchair, rose to her feet. Facing her body in the direction of my bedroom, she made her way to the room which was located right next to the loungeroom. I tore my eyes away from the door and back to the armchair where Red was located before.

I could still remember when we were little, and my grandmother would sit in that chair to tell Red and I a story. The chair, covered in black synthetic leather with all its rips and busted seams had been sitting in that exact same spot for about fifty years. When I inherited the house about two years ago, I couldn't seem to move it. Not only was it too heavy for me to lift, it had its designated spot where the carpet around it was so worn out by the chair never moving and I couldn't wear out another spot in the carpet.

"Piper," Red called from the room. "This storm reminds me of the first day of year one. The day we first met each other."

"Not only that, but the day we went our separate ways for University," I added to the conversation.

"It's only been four years," Red said, defending herself as it was her who was the reason for us parting. "Also, we talked online whenever we had the chance."

I sighed. "You only talked to me because I wouldn't leave you alone," I told her.

"Alright, if you say so," she said. After a while, she added, "Do you still have that deer head mounted on the wall? Just above the TV?"

I slapped my forehead. I knew there was something I forgot to get rid of and now that Red suggested it, my eyes, despite me trying to stop them, rested on the beady black eyes of the stuffed deer. That twenty-year-old carcass was still the same. It still had its one broken antler and managed beige coloured fur. The snout of the deer still had the lipstick smudges from back when my grandmother first brought it for my mother.

"Yeah, it's still there," I called out to Red. "I forgot to clear it out."

"Aren't you glad that I asked about it," Red said, laughing. "Now, you'll certainly want to pack it away."

"Thanks, Red." I stood up, began to head to my bedroom but then sat back where I was. "Are you almost done in there?"

"Yes, just wait a few more minutes."

I tapped my fingers against my knees, hoping that Red didn't destroy my room while she found clothes.

"Alright, you can look now," Red said as she came out of my room.

Even though we weren't going out, Red had opted to wear something nice. Instead of her short skirt and floral blouse which she was shivering in, she was dressed up for the cold, rainy weather. Her legs were covered by a pair of black denim jeans. Embellished on the sides of the pants were sequins in the colours of gold and silver. Wrapped around her waist, tucked in by the belt holes, was a black and white striped belt. Her shirt was a simple white long sleeve.

"I almost forgot that I brought those," I said as I got to my feet.

I made my way over to Red before I gently grabbed a handful of her silky red curls.

"That's the second thing you've reminded me of today."

I ran my fingers through her hair, untangling the knots that had been created due to it always being in a bun.

"You're always forgetting things Piper," Red commented. "Also, did you buy these from the male's section?"

"You like them," I said. "As long as you like them, I don't care if they're from the female or male section."

"I was just hinting at the fashion statement," Red admitted, her shoulders shrugging.

Of course, Red would know about fashion as she spent four years in University studying it. Everything about her life was about looks and the ways to express a person's many different sides. She wasn't like me who always wore baggy jeans and a sweater. Every day she had a different outfit, jewelry and shoes because she was all about wearing everything and anything. I knotted Red hair's hair into a high pony before drawing her into a hug. Red and I as friends were meant to be. Her, the fashionista and I, the hairstylist.