Piper's P.O.V.
"Okay try this problem," I said to Patricia as I slid the book over to her. She took one look at it and moaned.
"I don't want to do this," she moaned as she rested her head on the table.
"Come on, how do you expect to get better if you don't practice?" I asked softly and she frowned before pulling the book closer to her.
"Fine," she huffed and looked at the problem.
"I think I got it," she said a few moments later and showed me the answer.
"Yeah, that's it," I said and she smiled.
"Really? Yes! I'm not dumb!"
"Well," I started and she only glared at me playfully. Suddenly, the door opened and Prue walked in, soaking wet and shivering.
"I can see the rain didn't affect you," Patricia said sarcastically and Prue rolled her eyes.
"Where's Grams?" she asked as she took off her shoes.
"She went to bed early, said she wasn't feeling well."
"That's not good," Prue said absent-mindedly and I narrowed my eyes at her, annoyed that she didn't seem to care.
Patricia looked at me quizzically but didn't say anything.
Prue, not seeming to know that I was annoyed, moved towards the stairs.
"I need to change," she announced before sneezing.
"Have fun," Patricia replied sarcastically. Prue stuck out her tongue and climbed up the stairs.
"Okay, what's wrong?" she asked as she leaned forward, her eyes boring into mine.
"Nothing," I replied, hoping she would drop it but no such luck.
"I'm not stupid Piper," she insisted and I sighed.
"I'm just worried about Grams," I said and she nodded.
"Well, that makes sense," she told me.
"Really? Because it seems like Prue doesn't care about anyone but herself."
"Wow, you just figured that out?" she asked and I laughed. "And Grams will be fine, she said so herself that she was feeling better."
I doubt she actually means any of that, I thought but didn't push the subject further. The front door slammed a few minutes later and Phoebe walked into the kitchen and grabbed an apple before stopping short as she saw us.
"Hey, Pheebs," I greeted and Phoebe mumbled a reply and started to leave the room when she stopped again.
"Hey, are you guys planning to stay down here for much longer?"
"I don't know, why?" Phoebe seemed thrown off by the question.
"No reason," she said, quickly starting to back out the room. "Just curious."
"Phoebe-" I started.
"I have to go do my homework," she said quickly before running upstairs.
"Okay," Patricia said, clearly as confused as I was.
"Did you finish the homework?" I asked and she nodded.
"Yeah, finally," she replied before putting her book away.
"It's a good thing I got it done too, I have a test tomorrow and I need to study."
"Really?" I asked, a little surprised.
"Yeah, and let me tell you, it sucks," she complained.
"Well, good luck," I said and she gave a small smile before slinging the bag over her shoulder and heading upstairs.
Then there was one, I thought to myself as I looked over my homework one last time. As I made my way over to the living room, I noticed that it became uncomfortably quiet throughout the house, except for the ticking of the clock. Curling up on the couch, I took out the book that we were reading for english. As much as a book nerd as I was, it was nearly impossible to get into the book, it was so BORING! As I continued to read, the words started to become blurry and jumbled until I couldn't read it...
"PIPER!" I jumped out of my sleep to see Prue peering down at me.
"What time is it?" I asked as I let out a yawn.
"It's almost 1:00," Prue responded as she picked up my book that had fallen on the ground.
"Wow, time flies by when you're having fun," I said sarcastically.
"I remember this book," she said softly.
"Did you like it?"
"Are you kidding? This has to be the worst book ever written! It seemed like they wrote it to punish children."
"They probably did," I said as I got up. "Well, goodnight."
"Sleep tight," she replied with a smirk. As I trudged past Phoebe's room, I noticed a small light illuminating from the room. Stopping in front of her door, the light suddenly disappeared as quickly as it came. I shook my head, dismissing what I saw and went to my room after brushing my teeth when I realized that something was missing, my laptop. Groaning, I went back downstairs.
"Why are you still up?" Prue asked as she poured out a cup of water.
"Do you have my laptop?" I asked and she shook her head, looking at me strangely.
"Why do you need it at 1:00 in the morning?"
"I don't! I just thought you had it-"
"Well I don't. You should get some sleep, you're be tired in the morning and I don't want to hear you bitching about not getting any sleep."
"Like you don't!" I retorted as I crossed my arms. "And if you don't have my laptop then who has it?"
"I don't know," Prue snapped irritably. I stuck out my tongue at her and went back into myself when I saw my laptop, sitting on my desk, right where I had left it.
"What the hell?" I whirled around but I was still alone in the hallway.
"I must be losing it," I said as I climbed into bed.
"Piper wake up!"
"Five more minutes," I moaned.
"You said that ten minutes ago," my sister sweetly reminded me.
"Leave me alone," I muttered into my pillow.
"Okay that's it, get up or else," Patricia said and I ignored her.
"Fine, you asked for it," she said and suddenly the sheets were taken off of me and Patricia violently pulled me out of bed. If I ever doubted Patricia's strength, boy was I wrong.
"Ahh! What the hell?" Patricia smiled in satisfaction before going to Prue's bed and whacking her with a pillow.
"Well, my job's done," she said and left the room.
"How the hell is she so perky at six in the morning?" Prue asked groggily as she rubbed her eyes.
"Beats me," I replied.
Patricia's P.O.V.
Walking into the cafeteria, I realized that Piper wasn't there before remembering that she said that she was coming a bit later.
"Hey loser," Lexie called as she walked past me.
"Bitch," I said softly, but not softly enough.
"What did you just call me freak?" Lexie demanded, her icy blue eyes narrowing at me.
Looking up, I met her glare and gave her a half-smile. Lexie walked over to my table and leaned forward until her face was inches from mine.
"Listen freak," she hissed. "Mess with me and I'll ruin you, get it?"
"I'm shaking," I replied sarcastically as I looked her in the eye.
"You have no idea what I'm capable of-"
"If you're as skilled ruining people as you are with everything else, I really have nothing to worry about," I shot back. Lexie started to say something but stopped as suddenly a lunch tray was smacked onto the table.
"Hi Lexie," Piper said sweetly and Lexie immediately backed off.
"Hi Piper," she said and smiled innocently. "Bye Patricia." She walked off as I sent her a death glare.
"Can't stand her," I mumbled and Piper laughed.
"Maybe you just need to talk to her," she suggested and I narrowed my eyes at her. "It's useless, she's out to get me."
Piper gave me a doubtful look but didn't say anything. A few minutes later we had finished lunch and Piper suggested that we go outside. The sun shone in the cloudless sky, causing me to shield my eyes.
"So how was the test?" Piper asked as we made out way over to a tree.
"Horrible," I complained.
"I thought you were doing better," she said.
"I am," I replied and she eyed me in confusion. "I'm improving but I still have a long way to go."
"What school did you go to anyways?" she asked a few minutes later.
"It's warm out here," I commented as I took off my sweater.
"Yeah well welcome to California," Piper replied sarcastically. "And stop trying to change the subject."
"Me?" I gave her an offended face and she gave me a knowing look.
"I may not have grown up with you my whole life, but I'm not stupid."
"Fine," I huffed. "I went to the school that was closest to our house, not that it was any good. I hated it."
"Why?"
"Because I was always the dumb one there," I said softly. "And it hasn't changed since I got here either."
"You're not dumb!" Piper exclaimed. "You just have problems learning."
"More than I should," I mumbled as I played with a leaf that had fallen off the tree.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
I ignored her and took a shaky breath.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," she said softly but I shook my head.
"No, I should probably tell you," I insisted and used all the courage I had to look her in the eyes. "I'm dyslexic."
There, I said it. I felt as if a giant weight was lifted off of me although I was fearful for her reaction. Piper looked at me for a while in silence before pulling me into a hug.
"I'm so proud of you," she said softly.
"Wait, what?" That wasn't exactly what I expected, not that I was complaining.
"It must've been so hard for you-"
"It's not that bad," I defended and I saw a wave of guilt wash over her face and I immediately felt guilty.
"Does Dad know?" she asked softly and I nodded.
"That's partly why he sent me away-"
"He kicked you out because you were dyslexic?"
"I don't think he understood what was happening, he just knew that I wasn't doing too well in my classes."
"Well that's not your fault!" Piper protested and I shrugged just as the bell rang.
"It's whatever," I finally said. "Just... just don't tell anyone okay? I don't really want anyone to know about it." Piper smirked as she gave me a one-armed hug.
"No need to say anything, your secret's safe with me," she said and we shared a smile before walking into the school.
