Chapter 3: A Rebel Without A Cause

A/n: I'm updating this now, cause mostly I need reviews to make me feel better. School is so horrible. So many projects, all at once. I'm still managing to write a little every once in a while. Currently, I just finished chapter 5. After this chapter, the chapters strangely get longer. This is in Phoebe's point of view by the way. Don't be confused! still the same day! Enjoy!

For the millionth time this week, Grams and I argued about my choice in clothes. I honestly don't see what's wrong with them. It's only a little leather. It's not like I'm showing that much. I guess she sort of had a point. I am only thirteen, but it's not like I can't look a little more grown up. According to Grams, however, it was "inappropriate".

I studied myself in the full length mirror in my room. I had imagined to escape Grams' nagging for five minutes so I could check myself out. I saw nothing wrong with the way I looked. Sure, I was wearing quite a bit of makeup. In my opinion, it enhanced my brown eyes and naturally full lips.

Maybe it was my hair she didn't like. I was getting a little tired of it myself. It had grown it long, way past my shoulders, and I usually wear it in a sideways ponytail. The natural brown colour and its constant frizz were getting on my nerves. I might dye it soon.

Thinking back to what Grams said this morning, I don't think my hair was exactly the problem. She thought that my black tank top was much to revealing in certain…areas. That one wasn't my fault. I just developed very early, and there was nothing I could do about that. If I were to change my shirt, it would be just as bad.

I tore myself away from the mirror long enough to get my bag for school. That bag contained all the essentials. I checked my clock radio on my bedside table. It was 7:55, time for me to go. Carefully, I opened my window all the way. I stuck one leg out, and then the next. In no time, I was climbing down the drain pipe along the side of the house. I had done this so many times that it was almost easy.

Lightly, I jumped off the edge of the drain pipe and onto the grass. A last check in the window let me know that Grams hadn't yet noticed I was gone. She would notice soon, so quickly I ran to the end of our street. My ride was waiting for me. I hopped into the old blue beat up convertible that belonged to the coolest guy ever; Max.

Max was 22, and he was my friend Rick's older brother. He was the essence of cool, and I knew that one day, Rick would be just like him. Max gave me and Rick a ride every day. He said it was because we reminded him of himself, back in the day. I had never told Grams or my sisters about Rick and Max. They would think that they were being a bad influence.

It was true that Rick and his brother were pretty bad, worse than me even. Rick smoked, and he drank, and he stole. I had done all of those things, but not nearly as much as Rick did. Max had a criminal record for robbing a liquor store or something. None of this mattered to me, because they were both so cool.

Max dropped us off in front of our school, but I didn't really feel like going. School was such a major drag. I couldn't wait until next year when I was in high school. That would be when the real fun began. It wasn't really such a big deal not actually going to class. It wasn't as if we learned anything worth while.

Rick walked into the front lobby, where students were already gathering. He had such a cool confident air about him. Without any effort, he made everyone's head turn towards us. We weren't officially dating or anything, but I was happy to be Rick's girl. He strolled into the cafeteria, totally at ease, and sat down on the table in the center of the room.

I sat down next to him, feeling privileged to be doing so. He put his arm around me. This action made me smile. It felt good to be his girl. "So Rick", I said as sweetly as I could, "We going to science today?" Rick and I were in the same science class, and sometimes we just didn't feel like going, so we didn't. Grams had been called into school on many occasions because of this. She kept asking me why I did it, and I hated it, because I honestly didn't know. All I knew was that science was boring and it was so fun to see Grams mad.

He smiled at me and said, "Sure babe, we'll make it fun."

So as the bell rang, we made our way to science class. Everyone stood clear of me, but that was only because I was Rick. He was actually fifteen, but he had failed several times, so my classmates found him slightly intimidating. We strolled into class just as the teacher, Mr. Hudson, had begun the attendance.

Rick and I sat in the back of class so we could avoid all the pesky learning. The teacher began his daily lecture, but my mind was elsewhere, as usual. This girl that sat near us named Mona Simmons was talking rather loudly. I just couldn't help but listening.

"My mom is a total piece of work", Mona said, "She grounded me for practically no reason. I'm moving out as soon as I can. I swear, that woman is so totally damaged." I had the urge to slap her across the face right then. At least she had a mother to complain about. I would never admit it to anyone, but I would prefer a mother who was totally strict than no mother at all. Mona just didn't know how lucky she was. Well, I would show her…

Rick grabbed my arm just as I had risen from my seat. He knew what I was going to do even before I did. "She's not worth it babe", he whispered, "She doesn't know what she's talking about." I let Rick pull me into my seat. Mr. Hudson's attention was on us now. Of course he would notice my little almost outburst.

"Ms. Halliwell, what is the meaning of this?" Mr. Hudson shouted. I had a million things to say to that, but Rick whispered, "It's gonna be okay Phoebe." Then, out of the blue, he kissed me. Actually, he didn't just kiss me. We were full on making out in the middle of the classroom. It wasn't as if we hadn't made out before, because believe me, we had. Never in front of people though, so this was weird.

"That's it!" Mr. Hudson yelled. I took the time to marvel at how his normally pale face turned beet red in a matter of seconds. "Mr. Gittridge, Ms. Halliwell, principal's office, right now!"

We went, biting our lips to keep from laughing. Rick was right, we did make science fun. Now, I was no stranger to the principal's office, so I didn't mind that we had to spend the whole day there. I endured another lecture from first the vice-principal, then the principal, then Grams about the inappropriateness of displays of public affection.

The whole time I kept thinking about how this was a great way to get out of class. Later on in the day, the vice-principal brought Rick and I some work from our various teachers. This was a better day than I could have imagined. I got to spend the day with Rick, and I didn't have to be in class.

There wasn't really anyone to watch us. No teacher could take time out of their busy schedule. So all day long, Rick and I did whatever the hell we wanted. Of course, we didn't get any actual work done. Rick smoked, but I told him I didn't want to. I couldn't believe he didn't get caught. This was supposed to be the principal's office after all. We talked, we made out. All in all we had a great time. For a punishment, this was pretty great.

Some teacher I'd never seen came in at three thirty and said we could go. At least we weren't doing anything incriminating at the moment. We walked gleefully out the front doors, discussing how amazingly wonderful the day had been. Max was waiting for us just outside. Neither Rick nor I could get the grin off our faces.

"What're you guys so happy about?" Max asked us.

Rick replied, "We just had the best day of all time bro." I nodded in agreement. This really had been the best day of all time.

The drive to the end of my street was short. I should have known that my mood was much to good to last. I was smiling as I walked from the place Max dropped me off. The lights were on, so someone was home. I hoped that it was Piper, she was cool. Before I walked in the door, I spotted a letter in the mail box. I picked it up.

It was addressed to me in handwriting I didn't recognize. I checked twice just to make sure. There was no mistaking that it indeed said Phoebe Halliwell. I turned it over to see who it was from. I couldn't believe my eyes. This just couldn't be true…this couldn't be happening. There was no mistaking it. I bold black letters it said Victor Bennet, followed by a New York address.

What was he doing writing to me? I hadn't seen or heard from my father in 5 years. He had completely ignored my last five birthdays and Christmases. Since I was very young, all I wanted was for my daddy to love me. It hurt, every special event he missed. For the last five years, every time I blew out the birthday candles, every time I saw a shooting star, I wished that my daddy would talk to me.

Now that it had finally happened, I wasn't sure what I wanted.

I held the letter tight in my hands. I kept looking at it, hoping that it would tell me what to do. Tears welled up in the corners of my eyes, tears that I didn't want to shed. I had always tried to pretend that the fact that I didn't have a mother or a father didn't matter to me. The truth was that it really mattered. It mattered a lot.

I felt a surge of anger towards the father I had never really known. With one hand, I crumpled up the letter into a small ball and threw it on the floor. Feeling a little better, I opened the door, and put one foot inside the house. Having second thoughts, I picked up the crumpled envelope off the floor and put it in my pocket.