PIPER

I could feel the alcohol hitting me harder than I expected. The noise of the bar was overwhelming, and the crowd around me seemed to close in. Faces blurred together, and I struggled to keep my balance. I clung to the bar, trying to steady myself.

The lights in the bar swirled around me, blending with the noise and the faces of all these people I didn't really know. I tried to focus, but everything felt like it was spinning. I knew I'd had too much to drink, but I just wanted to have fun tonight.

Suddenly, I heard my name being shouted. "Piper!" It was Ben's voice, cutting through the chaos. I turned, squinting to see him pushing his way through the crowd. Relief washed over me when I saw his familiar face.

"Ben! Hey!" I slurred, reaching out to him. "These are my new friends!"

He grabbed my arm gently but firmly. "We need to get out of here, Piper. Now."

The fans around me protested, their excitement undeterred by my state. A young woman, her eyes wide with admiration, clutched my other arm. "Piper, can we get a selfie?" she pleaded, her phone already poised. Another fan, a guy with a big grin, leaned in closer, trying to get my attention. "Piper, you're amazing! What's your next song going to be?"

I tried to respond, but my words came out as a slurred mess. The crowd pressed in tighter, their enthusiasm overwhelming. Panic started to creep in, and I felt like I couldn't breathe.

"Back off, guys!" Ben's voice was firm, cutting through the noise with an edge of protectiveness. "She needs some space." The crowd began hounding him too as they realized it was Ben demanding space. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders, steering me away from the crowd and towards the back of the bar. I clung to him, grateful for the support.

"Let's get you out of here," he murmured, guiding me. We made our way to the back of the bar, where an exit sign glowed faintly in the dim light.

We stumbled into the alleyway, the cool night air hitting me like a wave. It was a stark contrast to the stifling heat of the bar, and I felt a momentary sense of clarity before the world started spinning again.

"Ben, I think I drank too much," I mumbled, my words a tangled mess.

"It's okay, just breathe," he said, guiding me further into the alley. I tried to focus on his voice, but my stomach churned violently.

"Ben, I'm gonna—" I didn't finish the sentence before I doubled over and vomited, splashing his shoes. Mortification and the alcohol combined were too much. Tears blurred my vision as I heaved a few more times, my body shaking.

I managed to straighten up slightly, looking at him through teary eyes. "I'm so sorry," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

He just shook his head. "It's okay, Piper. Just get it all out."

My legs gave way beneath me, and I collapsed against him. The world went dark, and the last thing I remembered was Ben calling my name, his voice laced with concern. Then everything faded to black.

---

I woke up to the relentless chirping of birds outside my window, their high-pitched calls piercing through the remnants of my sleep. I groaned, rolling over and pulling the pillow over my head, but it was no use. The birds were determined, their cacophony growing louder with each passing second. It felt like they were right inside my room, conducting an avian symphony just to annoy me. My head pounded, and my mouth felt like sandpaper. I squinted against the morning light filtering through unfamiliar curtains and realized this is not my room.

"Morning," Ben's voice came from somewhere nearby. "How are you feeling?"

I turned my head and saw him sitting in a chair next to the bed, a cup of coffee in his hand. The events of the previous night came rushing back, and I groaned, covering my face with my hands. "Like I got hit by a truck."

He chuckled softly. "That's about right. You had quite the night."

I peeked at him through my fingers. "Thank you for getting me out of there. And... sorry about your shoes."

He waved it off. "Don't worry about it. I'm just glad you're okay."

I sat up slowly, wincing at the pounding in my head. "Where am I?"

"My place," he said. "Figured it was safer than leaving you alone or trying to take you home."

I nodded, grateful. "Thanks..."

He smiled. "How about some coffee? It might help with that hangover."

Just as I was about to reach for the coffee, a sudden realization hit me. "Oh my God, I didn't tell anyone I left the bar!" I exclaimed, panic rising in my chest. "I need my phone to call Grace or Emily or literally anyone that was with me last night."

Ben frowned slightly, looking around the room. "I'm not sure where your phone is. You must've dropped it or left it at the bar. But you can use mine."

He handed me his phone, and I quickly dialed Grace's number. The phone rang a few times before she picked up, her voice anxious. "Piper? Where are you? We couldn't find you last night and we were so worried!"

"I'm okay. I'm at...a friend's place. I'm so sorry I didn't tell anyone I was leaving."

"Whose phone are you using?" she asked, her voice tinged with suspicion.

I glanced at Ben, who was watching me with a concerned expression. "It's Ben's," I admitted reluctantly.

There was a pause on the other end of the line. "Ben's? As in Ben Morgan? You said you guys were barely coworkers."

"Yeah," I said, feeling a bit sheepish. "He helped me out last night when I got overwhelmed with fans and, well, really drunk."

Grace's voice softened with relief and a hint of curiosity. "Well, I'm glad someone was there to help you... do yourself a favor and maybe don't go on the internet today."

My heart sank at Grace's words. "What do you mean?" I asked, dread pooling in my stomach.

Grace sighed. "Just... promise me you'll take it easy today, okay? Call me later."

I ended the call, anxiety gnawing at me. I looked up at Ben, who was watching me with a mix of concern and curiosity. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"Grace just told me not to go on the internet today. That's never a good sign," I replied, feeling a wave of embarrassment and apprehension wash over me.

Ben frowned. "Do you want me to check for you?"

I nodded, my voice barely above a whisper. "Please." Did I actually? No. But I needed to know what exactly I did last night. I cannot believe I let myself get that drunk. I don't even remember what happened after I puked all over Ben's shoes. I made a mental note to send him new ones asap.

He pulled out his phone and started scrolling, his expression growing more serious by the second. "Well, it looks like last night was documented pretty thoroughly," he said carefully.

My heart pounded in my chest. "What do you mean?"

He handed me the phone, and I saw a series of photos and videos plastered across social media. There I was, dancing wildly and drinking with not only my friends but also with Ben. The images were anything but flattering, capturing every embarrassing moment of my drunken escapade. To make matters worse, the headlines were sensationalized, painting Ben and me as Nashville's newest scandal.

I'm never drinking again.

"Ben Morgan's New Muse? Piper's Wild Night Out with Nashville's Notorious Womanizer," one headline read.

I groaned, burying my face in my hands. "This is a nightmare."

Ben sat down next to me, his voice gentle. "Hey, it's not the end of the world. These things blow over." He would know.

I looked up at him, my eyes filled with tears of frustration and embarrassment. "But why does this have to happen now? I worked so hard to get here, and now all anyone will talk about is this." I'd never had a negative headline, let alone a drunken one.

He reached out and squeezed my hand, the warmth of his skin causing chills to run up my arm. "Piper, one night won't define your career. People will see past this. Just give it time."

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "You're right. It's just... hard to see that right now."

He smirked. "Do you know who you're talking to?"

I snickered, knowing he'd definitely know what I was going through.

He raised an eyebrow. "Barely coworkers, huh?" He said and my eyebrows furrowed until I realized he was referring to Grace's comment. He heard that?

I sighed, giving him a small smile. "I was trying to keep things professional. But after last night, I guess we're a bit more than that."

He smirked. "A bit more than that, huh?"

I blushed furiously, realizing how that sounded. "No, I didn't mean more than that in that way!" I stammered, waving my hands in front of me. "I just meant... you know, friends. Or, well, friendly. Not like... more than that."

Ben chuckled, clearly enjoying my discomfort. "Relax, Piper. I know what you meant."

I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding and managed a sheepish smile. "Right. Sorry. Just wanted to be clear."

He grinned, handing me a mug of coffee. "Crystal clear. Now, how about that coffee? It might help with that hangover."

I accepted the mug, grateful for the distraction. "Thanks, Ben. For everything."

"Anytime," he said, his voice warm and genuine. "Just glad you're okay."

I took a sip of the coffee, letting the warmth and the caffeine start to work their magic. As the initial embarrassment faded, I found myself feeling more comfortable.

I swung my legs over the side of the bed, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over me. "Ben, can you give me a ride home?" I asked after a little while.

"Of course," he said without hesitation, standing up and offering me a hand.

We headed out, and the drive home was mostly quiet, punctuated by Ben's occasional reassurances that everything would blow over soon. As we drove, I couldn't help but be surprised by this side of Ben. His reputation always painted him as a jerk, cocky and self-absorbed. But here he was, being kind and supportive, and it threw me off balance more than my hangover.

When we arrived, I thanked him once more before making my way inside. The first thing I did was head for the shower. The hot water cascaded over me, washing away the remnants of the night before. As I scrubbed my skin, I felt the tension and embarrassment begin to fade. By the time I stepped out, I felt a bit more like myself.

That evening, Grace came over. She took one look at me and sighed, pulling me into a hug. "How are you holding up?"

"I've been better," I admitted, leading her to the living room. We settled onto the couch, and I filled her in on everything that had happened after I left the bar. At least everything I can remember.

Grace's eyes widened. "You spent the night at Ben's house?"

"Yeah," I said, shaking my head in disbelief. "He took care of me. It's strange seeing this side of him."

Grace raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips. "Maybe he's not the jerk everyone thinks he is."

"Maybe," I admitted. "But what a mess. How am I going to recover from this?"

Grace smiled reassuringly. "Piper, your night at the Grand Ole Opry will outshine this drunken night. Especially because you had Dolly Parton surprise you on stage. No one's going to remember the bar incident when they're talking about that."

I laughed, feeling a wave of warmth at the memory. "I still can't believe she showed up. It felt like a dream."

"And that's what people will remember," Grace insisted. "You had an amazing performance, and Dolly Parton herself was there to celebrate you. That's what matters."

We spent the rest of the evening talking and laughing, the weight of the last 24 hours slowly lifting. Despite my initial shock at Ben's kindness, I realized that maybe there was more to him than the reputation suggested.