Chapter One

Meeting Leo

Piper woke up with butterflies in her stomach. She couldn't believe that this was going to be her first year of college. She was ready to start a new beginning. She had just ended her year-long relationship with her boyfriend Dan Gordon.

Her parents were happily married and had been for twenty-one years. Her grandmother "Grams" as she was called doesn't get along with her father too well. They often clash, but it wasn't like she could tell them how to raise her granddaughters.

She did, however, approve of Piper's older sister Prue's husband, Andy Trudeau. He grew up next door to the sisters and they dated off-and-on during high school. They finally had gotten married right after high school three years ago. They were now living in their own apartment near the university campus.

Piper then thought of her two younger sisters who were still in high school, Phoebe, fifteen-and-a-half, and Paige, who just turned fourteen a few days before Piper's birthday. Phoebe bounced from one boyfriend to the next. She was a rebel and her parents didn't know how to control her. Paige, however, was just a freshman and wasn't planning to date anytime soon.

Piper was planning to go to a community college first. One reason was that Prue was popular and didn't want to shadow her into college as well.

Piper went down for breakfast. She made the whole family breakfast before she could hear the moaning of Phoebe coming down the stairs. She perked up a little when she saw pancakes.

"What's wrong with you?" Piper asked as she grabbed a plate.

"It's another school day," Phoebe replied.

"At least you had school for awhile. I'm just starting today," Piper reminded her.

"Yeah, I think I am going to get another boyfriend soon," said Phoebe, now smiling.

Piper looked at her. "You have got to be kidding. Phoebe, you already had like a million boyfriends since freshmen year. Don't you think you ought to take a break for awhile?"

"I have not had a million boyfriends. It was only eleven or ten if you count Ken twice," Phoebe protested.

"That's still a lot in two years," said Paige as she came in the room.

"None of those were long. I dated each of them for a few months," Phoebe replied.

"What makes you so sure that you are going to stick with this guy?" Paige asked.

"He's the one. I know it. He's Cole Turner," Phoebe said.

"Isn't he a senior?" Paige asked.

"So? Mom and Dad won't object to that," Phoebe replied.

Paige just rolled her eyes.

"Good luck anyway," said Piper as she finished up and left the kitchen.

After she got ready, she went downstairs again and kissed her parents good-bye. "Good luck on your first day," her father called as she went out the front door.

"Thanks," Piper called back.

She drove over to the community college, nervous but excited. She had chosen her classes carefully. She picked morning classes and would have to go every day. She didn't mind. She chose that way so she could be free in the afternoon.

She hurried to her first class which was a cooking class. Her dream was to open her own restaurant someday. Grams was the one who taught her how to cook. She loves it and was trying new dishes all the time. She even got a job working at a local restaurant, Quake and had been working there for a couple of years now.

After that class, she hurried to her next class. Then she went to the cafeteria where she met her best friends for lunch. They got a table and started chatting for a little bit before heading up to the food court.

"I can't believe that I got homework on the first day," moaned Becca.

"I feel the same way," replied Piper. She also got homework. Unlike Becca, she didn't mind it.

"At least I have Ben." She then stopped and apologized to Piper. "I forgot. I'm sorry."

"It's done and over with. Don't worry about it," Piper replied.

"I'm just so glad that Missy Campbell decided to go to a university. She doesn't have to torture us anymore," Wendy said.

"Amen to that," Piper replied and they raised their glasses. They clink them together and then took a drink. "I'm going to go get lunch."

"I'll go through the line with you," Wendy offered.

Becca stayed at the table to watch their backpacks. They then sat down and started eating their lunches. "It would be easier if we could go to your house for lunch," said Becca as she munched on some chips.

Piper wasn't even listening. Instead, she was staring at a guy across the room, who had just entered the cafeteria. He had blonde hair and cute eyes. "Who is that?" she asked her friends.

The two didn't know. Piper watched him as he went around the corner and disappeared. "Quick, I need change for a soda," said Piper as she started digging through her purse.

Becca gave her twenty cents and Wendy gave her thirty-five cents. Piper had a nickel. The girls kept digging through their purses until Piper had enough. She then hurried around the corner and down the hall to the soda machine.

He just had gotten his soda and was heading back when Piper ran into him. She lost her grip on the coins and they fell on the floor. Piper's face turned red as she leaned down to the floor and started picking them up.

She then noticed that the guy was helping her as she was apologizing. "It's alright," he replied as they both got up and he gave the rest of her coins to her. "I'm Leo Wyatt."

Piper shook his hand. "Piper Halliwell," she replied.

"Well, I got to get to class. It was nice to meet you, Piper," he said, smiling. He then started walking away, but the smile never left his face.

Piper got her soda and went back to her table. She told her friends what happened and they were so happy for her. Piper didn't know if it would go anywhere, especially since she didn't know if she was ready. However, she did know that she couldn't wait to see Leo again.