A/N: Okay, here's another chapter for ya, and thanks to all who wished me luck with graduation - it was a BLAST!

*Dinner*

'Okay, lasagna goes in.' Piper said, sliding the pan into the oven. 'Garlic bread comes out.' She added.

'Hi Piper, what're you cooking tonight?' Phoebe asked, wandering in. It was the day after Cole had asked her to the dance and after Grams had left - Phoebe had spent the day avoiding Cole in the newspaper office.

'Lasagna. Garlic bread. Potatoes. Among other things. Help me out won't you? Make salad, you can do that can't you?'

'Very funny, I'm not that inept.' Phoebe said sourly, opening the fridge to get the vegetables for the salad. 'Anyone can make salad.'

'You better hope so. Everything has to be perfect tonight.' Piper answered.

'Why, what's so special anyway?'

'Well Leo and his father haven't had much home cooking since his mother died. Speaking of which, don't mention his mother. I don't want them talking about it unless they're comfortable to.'

'Uh huh.' Phoebe answered, not really listening. Her mind was on Cole and his confession at her locker.

'Phoebe? Are you listening to me?'

'I think so Piper.' Phoebe answered, not even listening now, just throwing out random answers.

Piper blinked.

* *

Prue hung up the phone, satisfied. Sherrie had just informed her that Kayla's job with spreading the truth around was working - Sherrie, Tara, Lauren and Janie had just gotten back from I Scream For Ice Cream where the place was abuzz with the possibility of Paige being framed.

'Good news Paige.' Prue said, knocking on Paige's bedroom door. 'The people are all soon going to be on your side.'

'Uh huh. But the people are not Mr. Grafton.' Paige reminded Prue from the other side of her bedroom door. 'Now go away. I'm busy.'

Prue rolled her eyes. 'Some people are so ungrateful.' She huffed, gliding back to her bedroom. Her mobile phone was flashing - a text message from a number Prue didn't recognize. The message read:

'Oi Prue, back off. Andy's my man, got it?'

Prue dialed the number to see who would pick up.

'Hello?' A syrupy sweet voice asked. 'Jeremy is that you?'

'Trina!' Prue exclaimed. 'Why the hell did you send me a text message if you've got Jeremy?'

'Oh it's you. Who said I've got Jeremy? He's cute but not my type. Andy on the other hand, is exactly what I want. And I always get what I want.'

'Well you're not going to get it this time Princess.' Prue snapped. 'You might have a father who will buy you everything and more, but Andy isn't available for purchase.'

'Oh Prue I know you're jealous,' Trina's voice mocked on the other end. 'Daddy ran away with a blonde bimbo, mommy couldn't handle it. Prue is living with her old granny who's going to cark it any day now. And Prue has no money. Poor baby.'

Prue was seething. 'How dare you-'

'Oops, got to go,' Trina let out an evil little giggle, 'I'll see you soon Prue. Or not. Because remember what I said about getting what I want? I'll give you a little list of what I want for Christmas. I want you off the squad. I want all your followers. I want you to be an outcast. I want to be head cheerleader. And I want Andy.' Trina hung up.

* *

The doorbell rang. 'I'll get it!' Piper called. As she passed the hallway mirror, Piper checked her outfit - her hair was half up half down, she wore a denim skirt to the knee and a white and blue sleeveless top. She opened the door, expecting to see Leo and his father, but saw.

'Dan!' Piper exclaimed. 'What are you doing here?'

'Piper.' Dan said, surprised. 'You look great. I thought we could hang out.'

'Oh.' Piper wanted to invite him to dinner, but knew now wasn't the time for him to eat with them. He and Leo didn't get along at all. 'We have um, company.'

'Oh. I see.' Dan nodded sheepishly. 'I'll call first next time. Sorry to bother you. I'll catch you around later.'

Piper nodded and watched Dan leave, before closing the door again.

'Are they here?' Phoebe's voice floated down the stairs.

'No!'

The doorbell rang again. Piper put on her most charming smile, before opening it. 'Leo! Mr. Wyatt! It's so nice to meet you!'

Mr. Wyatt looked exactly like Leo, although older and taller, and his build more impressive. He was very good looking.

'Piper, it's so nice to meet you.' Mr. Wyatt shook her hand firmly. 'Please, call me Michael.'

Phoebe, Paige and Prue all appeared.

'Uh, Michael, I'd like you to meet my sisters Prue, Phoebe and Paige. Our grandmother is on vacation right now.' Piper added. 'Please, come in!'

Leo and Michael were herded into the dining room. 'I will be right back.' Piper went to the kitchen and with the help of Paige, Phoebe and Prue, brought out the food.

'It looks fantastic Piper, did you make this yourself?' Michael asked as they settled down to eat.

'Yes. I like to cook.' Piper said, blushing.

'It tastes great.' Leo said, smiling warmly.

'Thanks. I wasn't sure how it would turn out. I don't cook lasagna much.'

'My late wife made it often. It was one of my favourite foods.' Michael said honestly. Piper gave him a small smile. 'You make it just as well as she does Piper. If you're ever in need of a husband, make sure you call my son.' He laughed and everyone joined in, except Piper and Leo, who blushed.

* *

Trina sat up in her room, with Lindsay, Missy, Stephanie (who didn't care either way) and Beverly, who were also on the cheerleading squad.

'You guys all know why you're here?' Lindsay asked, taking charge as Trina's self-appointed second in command.

'To talk about Andy.' Beverly said dreamily, receiving a sharp look from Lindsay.

'To eliminate Prue?' Asked Missy doubtfully.

'Well you're both right. Kind of.' Lindsay answered.

'Ahem.' Trina cleared her throat. 'If I may Lindsay.'

'Of course.' Lindsay said quickly. 'I wouldn't dream of taking-'

Trina cut her off by waving her hand. 'Girls, we're all here today to do the following. One - make me captain of the squad. Two - get Prue kicked off the squad. Three - make her totally unpopular. Four - gain her groupies. And of course, last but not least; after all this is the most important part of all, Five - Get Andy.'

'Okay now the question is how?' Beverly asked.

'Oh that's easy enough.' Trina said with a shrug. 'We start with step 1 obviously. Making me captain. So what we'll do is make up a whole BUNCH of new routines. Then someone - Stephanie - you lure Prue away while we teach her groupies. At the next practice she won't know anything.'

'I can make the squad vote.' Lindsay put in. 'Maybe we can combine step 4 with step 1 if we're lucky.'

'Maybe.' Trina said smoothly.

'Lure her away?' Stephanie asked doubtfully. She actually liked Prue a lot, but Lindsay had bullied her into coming, and Prue never included her in her circle of friends. 'I don't know.'

'Oh just do it.' Missy snapped.

'Remember what we talked about Stephanie?' Lindsay warned.

'I'm sorry but I can't do this. It's so. evil.' Stephanie jumped up and flung open the door, before running out.

'We'll make your name mud!' Called Lindsay after her. 'Just you wait and see!'

'Forget about her.' Trina said dismissively. 'We don't have time for petty followers like her anyway. We've got back to get to the topic at hand. Beverly, you can lure her away instead.'

Lindsay fell silent.

* *

Phoebe had been having a great day. She'd woken up to a beautiful morning, and Piper had cooked her a Grams-style breakfast, only without the nagging. Her morning had been blissfully worry - free, as she reclined on the sofa watching The Simpsons all morning, with the airconditioner blowing directly at her, since Grams couldn't protest it was too early to turn it on.

Around lunchtime though, the doorbell rang and that was when the problems began. Piper was at the library doing working on some project with Justin Harper, Glen had coaxed Paige to have lunch with him and Prue was spending the day at the beauty spa with her friends, since Lauren's uncle had just bought it.

Phoebe had to answer the door since nobody else was at home. She opened the door and froze. 'Cole.' She croaked. 'What are you doing here?'

If any of the others had been home she could have pretended she wasn't home. But well. they weren't home and she was.

'We need to talk Phoebe.' Cole said seriously.

'Um. come in I guess.' Phoebe said awkwardly, letting him inside.

'The airconditioner is on?' Cole asked, puzzled.

'Grams. Vacation.' Phoebe said briefly.

'Oh. Right.' Cole looked uncomfortable for a moment. 'Listen Phoebe, what I said at your locker the other day.'

Phoebe waited for him to say he wasn't himself; that he wasn't thinking clearly.

'I meant it all.'

Phoebe felt her heart fall to her feet. 'You did?'

'Of course I did. And. well you never answered my question about how you feel about me. Which gives me hope. Hope that you might still. be trying to hide it?'

Phoebe bit her lip. 'No Cole.' She shook her head. 'I told you at my locker I like Jason. I can't go to the dance with you. I'm dating Jason.' She continued. 'I don't feel the same way as you. I'm sorry.'

Cole looked desperate. 'Phoebe you can't say after all these years that you don't feel the same way.'

'I can actually.' Phoebe said firmly - too firmly maybe. 'Cole I think you should go now.' She gave him a defiant stare.

He stared back for a moment, then stormed out and slammed the door. Phoebe leaned against the door and slid to the floor, closing her eyes. Was she really being honest when she said she didn't feel the same way? She didn't know.