The clock chimed suddenly, interrupting our kiss. He was laying just inches from me on my queen sized mahogany bed. The white feather comforter was wrinkled from where our bodies had lain beside one another for the past few hours.

I glanced at the clock on the wall, reading nine o'clock. I groaned and sat up. His Axe body spray lingered in my nose, making me want to lay back down beside him again.

"They'll be home soon," I sighed, resisting. "You should leave."

He sat up beside me and our eyes met for a moment, bringing the inevitable butterflies to my stomach. After all this time, he still took my breath away.

"Come on," he said after a moment, as he moved off of the bed and held out his hand. I took it, placing my feet on the floor and following his lead out of my room. I ran after him down the hallway towards the stairs, not letting go of his hand.

"Where are we going?" I asked as we hurried out the front door into the warm summer night. There was nothing like the sweet, still evenings of June in Nevada.

He stopped as we reached the bottom of the porch steps, still holding my hand.

"To our place," he whispered with a smile. He got closer and kissed me quickly. As he started to pull away, I pulled him back and pressed my lips against his again.

"God, I love when you do that," he said weakly.

"I know," I whispered back.

He backed away and tugged my hand to follow him.

"Come on," he urged.

I bit my lip and glanced back at my house.

"My parents are gonna kill me if they come home and I'm gone," I told him.

"Maybe we'll never come back," he answered with a grin, making me smile.

I chased him, running to the driveway and climbed into his old, beat-up '67 GTO convertible. Speeding down the gravel road, we raced to freedom. He was holding my hand like he was never going to let go.

We drove through the abandoned field like we had a million times before and arrived at the barrier of trees. We hopped out of the car and entered the dark woods, walking down the path worn from many trips over the years.

Sitting under the same old tree, he held me safe in his arms and stroked my hair as we listened to the sound of water running in the creek. The noise was so soothing.

"I want this to last forever," I sighed.

He pulled me closer and kissed my forehead.

"It will. This...Us...We will last forever," he promised.

I smiled and laid my head on his chest, sinking into the promise of forever...

Looking back, Leo and I were just two rebellious kids growing up in Nevada. We were always best friends and lived right next door to each other. Somewhere along the way, we fell in love.

Leo and I were so different from everybody else. It had become clear long ago that we didn't fit in here. We knew it and so did they. We always swore one day we would make it to Los Angeles.

Towns didn't get much smaller than Wells. It was like a secluded suburban hell. Barely 1000 people spread out over seven square miles of grassy land, tucked away in mountainous Nevada. Leo and I happened to come from two of the richest families in Wells. Anywhere else, we'd be middle class at best.

Our family lived in a large Victorian manor. From the outside, it was beautiful, calm, and peaceful. Inside, it was chaos 24/7 as my mother tried to control her four daughters.

My oldest sister was always the perfect one. Prue's beautiful oval face hosted gorgeous green eyes and perfectly glossed pink lips. Long, black hair fell in curls down her back. In addition to great looks, she was also brilliant. She was seventeen and everything I wasn't. She had a way of going above and beyond to repeatedly prove herself. Prue made straight A's and was constantly volunteering for anything she could. She even had a job, saving up money to make it out of Wells. Everybody knew Prue was destined for greater things. Despite how very different we were, she was my best friend.

Phoebe was a typical thirteen year old. Middle school cheerleader, different boyfriend every week, and she'd just about die if she broke a nail. I loved her, but we didn't have much in common. Prue and Phoebe had been much more similar. Over-achievers who expected their lives to be perfect and everything to always go their way.

Paige was the youngest. Being both half-sister to Prue, Phoebe, and I, and also youngest of us all, she always felt separate. Despite living with us ever since her father's death shortly after her birth, she still felt as if she didn't belong. We had that in common. She and I had a connection similar to Prue and Phoebe's. At the same time, totally different. It was real.

Our mother was the average single mom. Seemed like she was permanently stressed, always working, and constantly trying to keep us from killing each other. She also took care of our grandmother since her recent heath problems. It was definitely a full house.

Victor, our father, had never been a big part of our lives. Of course Prue and Phoebe still made efforts to keep in touch with him as he was usually gone on one business trip or another. I didn't see the point in struggling for a relationship with him if he didn't care enough to even be around ever.

Leo didn't live with his parents anymore. When he turned sixteen, his parents kicked him out. He got emancipated and supported himself ever since. Of course my family used this as another reason to dislike him.

He stood a full eight inches taller than me. Dirty blonde shaggy hair fell around his chiseled face. I always got lost in his dark green eyes.

"Night, babe," said Leo. He kissed me one last time before releasing my hand. "See you tomorrow."

I smiled. "I'll miss you."

He glanced back and flashed his cute, perfect grin.

It was like any other night as I walked through the front door after a night with Leo. I closed the door behind me and quickly climbed the stairs.

I walked into the kitchen to find my Prue and my parents talking. They all fell silent as they noticed me. It wasn't unusual for people to talk about me. I was definitely a cause for concern in the Halliwell manor; I was different.

"I think I'm going to go to bed now," said Prue, faking a yawn. I shot her a glare. She had probably been encouraging my punishment. She quickly walked out of the kitchen.

"Piper, we need to talk," said Patty.

I blinked. "About what?"

Victor stood up and gave me a stern look, trying to look like a concerned father. He looked more like he was discussing a business deal.

"Piper, we've decided it would be in everybody's best interest-"

"Am I grounded?" I interrupted.

"No, Piper-"

"Okay then," I said, turning to leave.

"Piper!" Victor snapped.

"What?" I muttered, continuing toward the doorway. I wanted out of here.

"You're forbidden to see that boy anymore," Victor declared, making me stop dead in my tracks.

I turned to face them. My mother look so still, almost scared. Victor looked challenging, as if he was prepared for anything.

"What the hell are you talking about?" I demanded.

"Piper..." Patty started. "It's for the best. He's distracting you from school, and he's...he's just a bad influence on your life."

I rolled my eyes. "You're delusional if you think you can keep us apart," I scoffed.

Victor let out a cold laugh.

"You are fifteen. We have control of your life, not you," he growled. "You won't be allowed to leave the house alone. We'll be monitoring your cell phone calls. And we're transferring you to Hillside Private School for Girls. You'll never see him again."

"NO!" I protested in fury. "You can't do this!"

"Piper, our decision is final," Victor said in his coldest voice.

"No! NO!" I cried. "I won't let you do this! I'll hate you forever! I'll refuse to go to school! I will kill myself!"

"Victor..." Patty whispered.

"She's bluffing, Patty," he said to her. Then he turned back to me. "You're not going to throw your life away on some boy."

"He's not some boy! I LOVE HIM!" I screamed. "I love him," I repeated desperately.

"It's final," Victor repeated coldly.

"I hate you!" I shrieked. I ran as fast as I could to my bedroom and slammed the door then locked it.

I fumbled for my phone in my pocket. Dialing the numbers furiously, tears poured from my eyes.

"Leo," I choked out. "Leo, you have to come back. You have to come get me. We have to leave!"

"Babe, what are you talking about?" his voice was serious. "What happened? Are you okay?"

"No!" I cried into the phone. "Leo, they're making me go to another school! They won't let me see you anymore!"

A long pause followed my hysterical announcement.

"Dammit," he finally said. "I knew it. I knew they would do this."

"Leo, what are we going to do?" I sobbed.

Another long pause.

"Listen to me. Calm down and listen," he said. "I'm gonna need a few days to get everything ready. We won't be able to talk either. Here's what you're going to do: Tell them I broke up with you. I agreed with them and decided to end this. Okay? Tell them that."

"Why?" I asked, confused.

"You love me, right?" he demanded.

"Of course."

"Then we're going to leave. We have to get out of this place," he said. "Just stay out of trouble for a few days. Also, get your stuff ready. Pack up some stuff and hide it. Pack clothes, anything you need. Okay?"

"Alright," I sniffled.

"Good. Just lay low, stay out of trouble," he repeated. "I'll come for you in a few days. Have your stuff ready. I will come for you."

"When?"

"You'll know. Just be ready. I love you, Piper," he said.

"I love you," I replied. "I love you so much."

"I will come for you," he repeated once more. Then he hung up.

The rush was something incredible. I felt as if nothing mattered at all, except Leo and I.

This was our only way out. We couldn't lose each other.