missypaige06: Paige's secret was referring to when she accidentally orbed while Amber was watching and thus, revealing that she had powers.
Chapter 1
Forever Neutral
The Attic
"Hear these words, hear my cry, Spirit from the other side, Come to me, I summon thee, Cross now the Great Divide." Amber read the words and lights came together in the center of the pentagram that was marked by five white candles and disappeared to reveal a cloaked figure with her hood up. She smiled as the figure stepped out of the pentagram toward her and became solid. "Do you always wear a cloak or did you just slip it on in the spur of the moment?"
She returned the smile, "If they find out you summoned me like this, they're going to be angry."
The teen made a 'get out' motion with her hands, "Like I care about being on their good side." She rolled her eyes, "What's the worse they could do?"
"Forbid me to see you."
Her smile was replaced with a frown, "Now that's just stupid. Who else is gonna keep me out of trouble?"
The woman laughed softly, "Maybe they think you'll be mature enough not to need me?"
"Me mature?" Amber smiled slyly. "In another hundred years maybe, if they're lucky." She frowned again, "Besides, you're the only friend who hasn't left me or I've had to leave."
She embraced the girl in a hug, "Don't worry. You know I could never do that to you." Her hand ruffled the girl's hair, causing her to smile.
The teen looked up at her, "You promise? I'm going be alive for a long time you know. You could change your mind before then."
"So could you." She shot back. "Until you want me to leave I'll stay with you."
Amber smiled and let go of her, "Remember you promised."
The woman stepped back, becoming transparent again. "If they find you up here, they are going to be suspicious."
"Yeah, yeah," she smiled as she watched her friend disappear before putting the candles away and walking back into Paige's Room. She stared at the bed, yawning.
Downstairs
There it was again. She looked up, expecting something or someone to jump out at her. Paige quietly made her way up the stairs and started checking the rooms. When she got to hers, she heard someone breathing. Pushing the door open, she saw someone sleeping on her bed. Knowing it wasn't a demon, she relaxed and walked over to her.
She turned over to face Paige but was still asleep as she mumbled, "Just five more minutes."
This was Prue Rodwell but what was she doing here and how did she get in?
'Prue' frowned as she started to wake up. She opened her eyes and blinked when she saw the youngest of the Charmed Ones staring at her. "Can we order Chinese? I'm kind of hungry."
"Uh, sure, but why are you here?" Paige answered, feeling a little confused about how blunt she was considering she wasn't supposed to be there.
She sat up and shrugged, "I didn't have anywhere else to go."
"Why have you been watching us?"
Amber grinned, "Someone told me I'd be welcomed here but I would have to let you know I wasn't a threat or anything."
"That's why you stayed out in the open?" Paige asked, sitting down beside her. "So you were planning on coming here all along after you ran away from home?"
"Yup but it wasn't my home. I was just staying with them for a while so you don't have to call them or anything," she smiled at the witch.
She frowned in confusion, "But your parents.."
Her expression became unreadable for a moment before she shrugged indifferently,"They won't even remember after a week goes by."
It was surprising that this girl wasn't sad or anything. "Why do you say that?"
"Someone always takes care of it so they either get over it or don't remember." Then she added, "Don't worry about it."
They were both quiet for a moment, both staring at each other.
"My name's Amber by the way," at Paige's confusion she added, "I just went by Prue while I was staying there but Amber is my original name."
"So what's the deal with you running away and your parents?"
"It was time," Amber replied simply, pretending to be interested in something on the other side of the room. "I was already pushing it by staying with them a whole year." She sighed and looked at her, "I guess you want to know the whole story then."
Paige nodded, "That would be nice."
"Alright," she started. "The truth is I'm an immortal and I'm actually 160 years old." Amber paused. "Because I age very slowly I have to change homes like twice a year. That's why I had to leave. The people who take care of my current family would be the Elders or something like that."
She frowned, "So you already knew about witches and that's why when you saw me use my powers you weren't scared?"
"Actually it was because I am a witch. I just don't go around slaying demons because it'd cause more harm than good. Aside from the top good guys in the magical world, no one knows I even exist, much less that I'm a witch."
"Then why tell me?"
Amber rolled her eyes and threw her arms up, "Well duh! You're the Charmed Ones! If you aren't considered the top good guys, I don't know who is."
"You have a point. So why did you really come here?"
"I was told to in avertedly."
"Meaning?"
"There was a middle person."
"A whitelighter?"
"No, my only friend. I'm amazed she's stuck by me for so long." She sighed but then put on a smile. "You know, food would be nice considering I haven't eaten anything in a while."
"Oh, right." She stood up and started toward the door. "I'll just go call and get something delivered," she glanced at her as she paused in the doorway.
"Thanks."
Paige went to get the phone.
Amber yawned, "I think that went pretty well."
"They're going to ask about me." She paused, "Will you lie to them?"
She put on a fake shocked expression, "How could you ever think I would do such a thing?" When she was greeted by silence she folded her arms over her chest with a serious expression, "You know me. I won't lie if I can tip toe around the truth."
"What if you can't?"
"Then I'll just have to improvise," the teen shrugged. "So how do you think I should deal with them?" She paused before smiling mischievously. "Should I do the sympathy act, be the lost lonely kid?" She could imagine her friend shaking her head at her.
"Paige will see right through that and she'll get suspicious of you."
She frowned, "They're too suspicious if you ask me. I just wanna have some fun." The grin appeared as an idea formed in her head, "I've got it! I'll be the perfect teenager!" She paused, "You know, like I was with my last family!"
"I thought you hated acting that part out."
Amber smiled evilly, "Oh yes but this is only so they won't be prepared when I show them I do have a rebel side" She cackled.
"Sometimes I wonder if you're not secretly evil."
Her expression fell, "I'm bad, not evil. There is a difference you know." She smiled, "I will forever remain neutral."
"So then why are you protected by the good side?"
"Eh, I'm just leaning toward them at the moment." The brown eyed girl shrugged. "Can't be evil but being all good is no fun."
"Which leaves you right where you are," she finished.
"Exactly." Amber smiled.
