Chapter Three
Today you were wearing forget-me-not blue,
I held you and said, "I'll never forget you."
You smiled at me and stroked my hair,
But you were never really there.
The words are smudged, the pages blurred,
You said you wouldn't leave like her.
Now, I feel so much more scared,
Than I did in those nightmares.
"Piper! You little idiot, who would want to stick around with you? I have better places to be, more important things to do than stay here and change your DIAPERS! When will you GROW UP?"
"I always thought ALL my daughters would be beautiful, it is a family trait after all. You had to prove me wrong didn't you? Maybe I would have fought harder for my life if I you weren't around to embarrass me!"
"Well, looky who we have here. Prue's geek sister! I don't think Prue's going to be around for long Piper! I don't even think she cares about you anymore."
"You know I never really loved you, you stupid bitch. I thought it would be pretty funny to play you and see how far you would go! Who cares anyway? I'll never see you again after this summer!"
"-Never again-"
"-Embarrass me-"
"-Geek-"
"-Bitch-"
"-Idiot-"
"I NEVER LOVED YOU!"
"PRUE!" Piper sat up in bed, mortified. "Prue! Oh please…Don't let it be real…" She broke down again, praying that her sister would come and tell her that none of it was true. Did Prue love her?
She loves you, believe it.
How can I?
She kissed you, didn't she?
Sure, and then she ran off. Maybe it was all a mistake. Maybe I just wanted it so much…
"Piper?" The door opened and Prue padded inside, before sitting on the bed and looking expectantly at her little sister. "What's wrong, baby?"
"You didn't call me 'baby' then. You said I was a bitch," Prue's eyes went from expectance to shock in the time it took for Piper to say that one little word.
"Piper, listen to me," Prue spoke very quietly, without any kind of emotion. "I would never call you something like that. Never." Piper nodded, still unconvinced. Prue breathed in and slowly exhaled, trying to prepare herself for what she was to hear next.
"What else did I tell you, Piper?"
"You said…you said that you didn't love me…you said this was all just a game to amuse you: to see how far I would go. You said you never loved me."
"Piper, no matter what else happens I will always love you. Forever. Whether it's as a sister or a…whatever else."
"You really mean that Prue?"
"Yes, I do. I'll leave you to get some rest," Prue moved to leave but Piper grabbed her arm and held it, she looked back at her.
"Stay with me," Piper begged quietly. Prue nodded and climbed into bed, wrapping her arms around Piper and pulling her close so that their bodies fitted together. Minutes later, they were both asleep.
TUESDAY, MARCH 7TH, 1989
It all started when she walked down the stairs – she was surrounded by them, she felt like a cornered animal and quickly sought out Prue's smiling face.
"…happy birthday to you!" They finished their terrible impersonation of singing and hugged her until she couldn't breathe at all.
"You know I appreciate all this…but aren't I getting too old for being ambushed on the stairs and sung at?" Piper smiled, she said this every year but she didn't really mean it.
"Ah, but you're never too old!" Piper stuck her tongue out at her big sister and the grin was wiped off Prue's face as she dazedly, watched it return to its usual place. Piper quickly realized what she'd done, but couldn't help feeling rather proud of herself for the expression on the older girl's face. Quickly turning her attention back to Grams, she hugged her, then Phoebe and finally Prue – she held on a split second longer than was strictly necessary but found that she didn't really care. Grinning at her family, she skipped into the living room to open her presents.
Piper couldn't really pay attention in any of her classes that day – she was too happy and too preoccupied with thinking about the card her older sister had given her; she had to keep it in the front pocket of her schoolbag because she felt the need to look at it at every chance she got. It made her smile every time.
Piper,
Happy birthday! I hope today is amazing for you and that we'll spend many more days like it together. The future right now may seem uncertain – after all, you are sixteen! I can promise you that it will get clearer. I can also promise that I will always be here to help you figure it out – remember what I said. And remember that I meant it.
Love,
Prue
She managed to read it one more time before the bell rang, signaling the end of sixth period and the start of Spanish – her next class. She practically floated down the hallway, sunlight pouring out of her eyes, catching everyone who passed her off guard and leaving them with expressions of amusement, awe or outright jealousy on their faces.
"Jeez, did she get laid or what?" Piper only deigned to shake her head and wonder at the ignorance of her fellow students – did they think that was the only thing in the world that made people happy? She walked past Amy who was chatting to her friends in the courtyard outside the language block. She looked up, hoping to get her daily kicks out of picking on Piper, but merely scowled at the expression on the younger girl's face.
Wow, even she can sense that I'm not coming down anytime today!
Piper strolled casually into Spanish and flopped down into her seat, still smiling. Santiago raised his eyebrows at her – he had never seen her this happy.
"So, who's the lucky guy?" he asked.
Wow, was that jealousy I heard in his voice?
"No-one! I'm just weirdly happy today. Well not weirdly – It's my birthday!"
"Feliz cumpleaños!" he replied, sincerely. Piper smiled at him and he found himself captivated by her gaze, Piper frowned slightly.
Wait, I know that look – I get it every time I look at Prue. Does this mean…?
Don't think about it right now, I think he's expecting a reply! Where have your manners gone?
"Thanks!" She exclaimed, belatedly. At that moment, Señor Gomez strode in and began the lesson.
"Have you seen your sister today, Prue?" Amy strode up to the cheerleading captain during practice and folded her arms across her chest.
"Yes, I saw her before school. Why?"
"Because she's walking around like she's God or something." Prue smiled to herself, she didn't even notice the hidden meaning in the sentence.
"Well, she deserves it-it's her birthday." Amy nodded, unconvinced, but followed her back into the group of cheerleaders who were squabbling over what they should do for their routine. Prue quickly took charge of the situation, not noticing Amy staring at her with something close to suspicion.
As the weeks passed, Piper and Prue grew closer, spending more and more time together. Piper's grades got even better due to the new reason to focus that her sister gave her. She was also beginning to form a friendship with Santiago, although she constantly thought about Prue when she should be talking to him.
"Piper!" Santiago called across the hallway, Piper finished getting her books out of her locker and turned to smile at him.
"We still on for tonight?" he asked. Piper paused a moment.
Oh go on, Prue's got Andy around so…
"Sure! Just let me go find my sister." Santiago nodded and gestured towards her locker, indicating that he would wait there. Piper headed up the hallway to the senior hangout area, where she knew she would find Prue. Moments after finding the right place, Piper spotted her sister talking to Andy and the other boys.
"Prue? Can I talk to you?" Piper pointed over to a less occupied space.
"Sure," Prue walked over. "What's up?"
"Santiago's coming over for a study date tonight," Piper thought she saw a flash of jealousy before it was quickly replaced by the usual clarity. She wondered if she wanted Prue to feel jealous, is that why she came over here? It's not like Prue really needed to know…
"Okay, then. Just make sure he's gone by eight, yeah?" Prue was back to her usual business-like self, Piper just nodded and smiled. Prue seemed satisfied by this response because she went back to talk to Andy.
"You know what? I think we've done enough for one night," Piper sighed in relief- she had really enjoyed spending time with Santiago but there's only so much time one person can take learning Spanish. She slumped over her desk with her head on her arms, Santiago watched her with amusement.
"It's over…thank God it's over…" Piper murmured, knowing fully well that he could still hear her. She smiled when she heard his snort of amusement.
"Well, if you find me that tiring, I may as well just leave now!" Piper bolted upright and he smiled as if he had got one over her, little did he know that she really was tired and the only reason she wanted him to stay was because she didn't want to have to sit in her room listening to the sounds of her sister make out with someone else down the hall.
Hey, wait…someone ELSE? Are you finally admitting that you'd rather she made out with YOU?
No! I swear! I just worded it wrong.
Sure it was. Is that why you've been thinking about her all evening?
No! I like Santiago, I really do. It's just…
You'll never love him.
"Piper?" She shook herself out of it, smiling apologetically at him.
"Sorry, I guess I'm just a little wiped." He nodded seeming to understand. "By the way, why are you taking Spanish? You speak it fluently!"
"Well, I…Let's just say I'm a bit of a linguist."
"So you know French, German and Spanish?" Her eyes widened, this guy was too good to be true!
"Erm…" He even had the decency to be modest about it!
Shame you'll never be interested.
Piper sighed. "I'm sorry, Santiago. I'm really tired. I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Sure, no problem," he looked a bit disappointed; she didn't blame him. How could he know that he liked a girl who was in love with her sister? Piper froze at the thought.
Oh don't pretend you don't know, Piper. You love her, end of discussion.
She watched Santiago walk out and prepared for the feeling of jealousy she knew would come. Fortunately, she wouldn't have to feel it tonight. As soon as the front door shut downstairs, Prue walked in.
"Prue?" Piper was confused, her sister just smiled at her, sadly. "I thought you were gonna be with Andy all evening?" Prue just rolled her eyes and tugged at her shirt – Piper noticed that she seemed a little more scruffy than usual.
"I don't think this is going to work, honey." She looked at Piper resignedly. "How can I let him touch me when all I think about is you?" Piper blinked in surprise.
"You feel that too?" It was Prue's turn to blink.
"Yes…Why, do you?" Piper sighed, staring at her sister in barely disguised anguish.
How did this happen to us? Why can't I stop thinking about her?
Prue's eyes held the same questions, but both girls knew that neither could answer them. Piper stood up, walking slowly towards her sister who was still standing in the doorway. She felt like a moth being drawn to a flame – she knew she would be burned but she couldn't stop herself.
"We shouldn't be doing this…" Prue's words were silenced when her sister's finger touched her lips and her eyes silently begged for completion. In the next moment they were kissing – pulling each other as close as physically possible. They didn't know if this would ever happen again. All they knew was how much they wanted each other in that moment.
After that it became almost like a game – stolen touches, secret meetings, and kisses in the dark. They felt almost untouchable; nobody could possibly find out about their secret. They were one up on the world. They saw their boys but didn't care about them anymore. They only stayed with them for the sake of a cover and for the promise that they would always see each other afterwards. Little did they know that they were being watched very carefully...
