Disclaimer: Unfortunately I do not own the Charmed Ones, but how I wish I did.

Under the Surface

She sat at the edge of the cliff, her feet hanging over the sides. Her saddened eyes scanned the bottom of the cliff, which lie very far away. Her gaze was brought straighter ahead of her. As she looked out, she began to talk out aloud, as if talking to someone, "I remember a time when I thought this place was beautiful," she said, recalling the very days in her mind. "Don't get me wrong, I still think it is a beautiful view. It's just, before, the beautiful was a happy, bright beautiful. Now, it is a dark, gloomy beautiful.

"I can't stand it anymore. I don't know why. I just can't. Everyone expects my to know why because they are my feelings, but just as far from understanding them as anyone else. When I try to explain why I feel the way I do, they tell me, 'Poor you, have your own television, television, VCR, computer, stereo, and DVD player in your room.' They don't get that that doesn't always make me happy. Then, they always make a crack about me and tell me, 'I t was just a joke,' when I get mad. I laugh at myself all the time and I crack jokes about myself. It's just that sometimes I just need to be reassured about how I really am.

"Let's not forget about my sisters. One of them just finished college. They come over and I see them enough. I just hate when they come over and they want to talk. They don't know what's going on in my life. They just want to come over and try and "save the day" as usual. They tell me to call anytime I need to talk about anything. Whenever I begin to try and talk about my feelings to them, it's almost like they shoot me down. They tell me how I shouldn't do this and I shouldn't do that. That's not what I need to hear though. I think I need to be reassured. I need for the jokes about how I'm always mad to stop. They hurt more than anyone can even if they are just jokes. I now they are not meant that way, but they still have the same affects as if they were.

"The only place I really find myself not upset is school. Ironic isn't it? Funny too. School is suppose to the most dreadful place for teenagers. For me, it is a place where I feel, dare I say, happiest. My friends are there. Lately I feel as though I've been hiding from my friends as well. I have two best friends, Alexa and Melissa. I don't think I've ever really had a serious conversation with Alexa. I know I should give her the benefit of the doubt, but I just don't feel like I can tell her about any of this. My other friend, Melissa, seems closer to me then Alexa. I started to tell her a couple of things once, but she asked to change the subject because she doesn't like to talk about things depressing. All I could was change the subject, go on hiding how I really feel."

She glanced out at the sun begging to rise, and looked down at her wrist. She began talking just like before. "You can't even see that I use to cut it," she said, referring to her wrist. "I never cut it hard, just slightly. I didn't do it for long either. There was this girl in one of my classes, Sydney. We don't have that class together anymore, but in class we would tell each other everything and nothing. I decided to confide in her one day. We had another class together, but we sat on opposite sides of the room, so we never got to talk. The day I told her what I began doing, she told that she wouldn't tell anyone if I would stop doing it. One night came where I wanted to take the razorblade to my wrist, but didn't. I remember that I promised Sydney that I wouldn't. That night I couldn't help but feel worse than usual. I cut because I had done something to upset either Grams or one of my sisters so much. I never thought about the consequences of my actions until after I had done them, until the damage was already done. I thought it was unfair that they had sacrificed so much and I was acting like a spooled little brat. I figured if I cut myself that it would make everything I little more bearable. I had paid for what I did too."

She looked out at the horizon; the sun was poking out from beyond. However, she was not finished talking to the night yet. "They will all probably be much happier without me. Much happier without a little tag along sister or a little trouble maker." She looked down at the gun she produced from her pocket, and then down at the bottom of the cliff not quite sure which way she was going to say good-bye to the night sky.

Prue flew out of bed. She knew something was wrong, but she wasn't sure what. She raced down to Piper's room. Once she peeked in and saw that Piper was still asleep and unharmed, she had a feeling she knew whom she should be worried about.

Moments later, Prue pulled up to the Manor. She was thankful that there were no cops on the roads; she would surely have gotten a speeding ticket at the speed she was going. She jumped out of her car and raced up the steps. Prue used her key to open the door. She walked quickly and quietly up the stairs to Phoebe's room so as not to wake Grams. It was still earlier in the morning and wasn't exactly sure what she would tell Grams if she woke up. When Prue got to Phoebe's room, light protruded from under the door. Prue's hopes were lifted in that Phoebe might still be safe.