"Sorry to keep you waiting Kevin," Patty spoke as she walked out of the kitchen against her mother's wishes.
"That's okay. What did your mother want, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Oh, she is just paranoid. She just doesn't want me to have friends."
"Well, I am honored."
"What?"
"I am honored that you consider me your friend." The two smiled at each other in a teenagerish form of flirtation.
Kevin looked at the corner of the room and noticed an open backpack leaning against the wall. "High School Chemistry and Honors Algebra II! Boy, you must either love learning or your crazy.""
Patty saw what he was talking about. "Oh, a little of both I guess, and luckily there are only three more days of it. I can't wait until I am official out of school. Well, at least high school. My mom has the idea that I am going to go on to college or something."
"Don't you want to go on to college? You know women even go to Universities now."
"I know, but I would rather have a family to raise. I guess I have to wait for the right guy though."
"Hard to have a family without one."
"You can't be telling me that you don't have a boyfriend."
"Well, I did a few weeks ago, but we broke up."
"What was his name?"
"Victor. Victor Bennett."
"What caused you to break up with your high school sweetheart?"
"I don't know. I guess the stress of our senior year got to us," Patty said as she fought back the tears that were forming in her eyes.
"That's too bad."
"So what high school did you go to?" Patty quickly attempted to change the subject.
"Oh, I just moved here. My family is from back east." It was the truth, sort of. He had just moved here, though it was from a different time not a different place, and his family was originally from the east coast, though it was a few centuries ago.
"My family was originally from back east too. Massachusetts I think."
"Well, it looks like we have something in common."
"We'll have to wait until next time to talk about them. I was just on my way to my graduation rehearsal when I saw you walking. Do you think that we could see each other again?"
"A forward lady, I like that. Sure. Would you like to go to the movies, and of course it is my treat."
"I would love to. But I think that I need to wait until finals are over. I graduate Thursday night, so how about planning it for Friday?"
"Sounds great. Would you mind if I came to your graduation?"
"I don't mind, but I am not sure about the woman in the other room."
"I understand. Come at your own risk."
"You got it."
"I'll see you there, and I'll see you here Friday at 6. We'll go out to dinner first, so do eat too much before hand."
They smiled and Kevin walked out the front door and headed away from the house using the sidewalk.
Patty came out a few minutes later when she saw her friend pull up to give her a ride to the high school.
Patty could barely keep the secret. She had a date and there was nothing that her mother could do to keep her from it.
* * *
"What do you mean that you can't tell us?" Prue blurted out. "Why in the world did you come here and tell Phoebe something was wrong and then tell us that you can't tell us?"
Leo stood still, steering at his family. What can I say? Why did I come here in the first place? I love them. That's why. But if I tell them what I know it will pollute the timeline even more than it already is. Of course it was something that they did that started this. "First, tell me what happened yesterday."
"What does that have to do with this?"
"Everything."
"We vanquished a warlock," Phoebe blurted out.
"Try again," Piper joked. "More like we helped a warlock complete some sort of plan he had."
"Well, your right about that. You helped a very dangerous demon, and he is about to cause a lot of trouble for you." Leo knew that he couldn't just blurt out everything, but the girls wouldn't stop until they had something to work with. I can't think of anything to say. I tell witches bad news everyday. Come on say something, anything. Leo thought to himself as the Charmed Ones looked at him wondering what he was up to.
"And what was so secretive about that, that you thought you couldn't tell us?" Piper responded.
"Well, there is more to it, but I can't really say much more. Not because you can't know, but because I don't exactly know." Leo said to his wife. He hated lying to her, but he had no choice. And it wasn't a complete lie. He really didn't know the whole story. Not yet anyway. Why did he have to go and tell Phoebe that something was wrong? Something was wrong, but he didn't know whom to trust. I sure wish that that part sunk in before I just started shooting off warnings!
"So why did you tell us anyway?" Phoebe asked.
Boy, can she read minds? Leo thought inside. "I knew you wouldn't give up if I didn't." This lie has gone on long enough! I need to orb out, and orb out now! With that Leo left the company of the sisters. I have to think up a plan, and a good one.
"What was that about?" Piper asked.
"I don't know, but it is time to go to the attic and look in the Book of Shadows," Phoebe responded.
The sisters went to the attic to consult their family treasure. The Book of Shadows was a book that Phoebe had found in the attic, with the guidance of the spirit of her mother. It had been in the family for generations and was a book of magic knowledge from the witches in her line that had practiced before her. It contained information on all types of magic and evil, well ways to fight different types of evil.
The girls thumbed through the pages. Two hours later and after calling Leo, the sisters' Whitelighter or Guardian Angel, numerous times--who for some reason never answered--the girls were no more informed than they were when they began.
"Maybe he's just busy with another charge," Piper suggested.
"Maybe he's avoiding us!" Phoebe suggested with an irritation in her voice remembering the activity she was involved with when the wonderful danger alert occurred. "I don't think that there was anything wrong at all. I think he is trying to stop Cole and me from having a relationship!" Phoebe turned around and walked down the stairs.
"Sometimes I wonder if it is such a good idea myself," Piper muttered.
"I heard that! Thanks for the support!"
"It just doesn't make any sense. Why worn us about something and then leave acting like it wasn't anything important?" Prue thought for a moment. "Unless he totally made it up."
"Really! What made you think of that?" Piper said sarcastically.
"No need to get--" Prue started.
Suddenly the pages of the Book of Shadows began to flip back and forth wildly. Finally, they laid still. Prue stood up and walked over to see the page that someone desperately wanted them to see.
"It is titled 'To tell the truth'," Prue told Piper. "But there is a note that it doesn't work on Whitelighters."
"Shucks!" Phoebe blurted out.
"Phoebe!" Prue reprimanded.
"What? I bet you were thinking the exact same thing."
"You know she right. He's the only person who knows what we need to know. What good is it going to do us?" Piper seemed good at stating the obvious today.
"Well, actually the rest of his Whitelighter friends and the Elders know. Oh, but I guess it wouldn't work on them either." Phoebe set back in the old chair that she had claimed when their study session begun.
Prue began to read the spell. Even if it wasn't any help, there was something on this page that they were suppose to know. There always was. Somewhere and somehow there was something.
The truth I seek
For you to speak
Of things not told
Of secrets so old
From days of your youth
Reveal to me the truth
"There is another note here, though. It's a warning, I think," Prue continued.
"Well, read it then." Piper's nerves were already fried, and all the stalling her sister was doing seemed to make them sort out even more. "Just read the stupid thing. Okay!"
Each witch may use this spell once between each full moon. It will not work on the night of a full moon. Simply look into the person's eyes and say the spell. After you ask your question snap your fingers once or clap your hands once and the spell is over. They won't remember the questions that you asked, nor the time you spent doing so. It will seem as if nothing has happened.
"At least we can use it three times. I mean since each witch can use it once every month." Prue looked at Piper hoping that she had cheered her spirits up. She hadn't. "Well, it looks like another wonderful event goes by the monthly calendar."
Piper couldn't help but giggle.
"Enough girl jokes. I think we have something more important to think about." Phoebe sat in her chair worrying. She knew that she had been the one responsible for helping the warlock and there was nothing she could do about it. With all the work that they had done today all they had found was a stupid truth spell.
"I just wish that I knew what to ask," Prue said trying to get back to the subject.
"Well, we have a more important problem first," Piper said.
"What's that?" Prue responded.
"Who do we ask?" Piper asked. "Who are we suppose to ask?"
* * *
"Michael Ingalls," the man announced. A young man stood up and walked on the stage and collected his diploma.
"Sandy Hall," the man announced. A young lady with red hair stood up and started to walk toward the stage when a guy in the second row flipped up her robe. How did he know? She had nothing on under her robe. Not panty hose, not a slip, and definitely not any underwear!
The entire audience gasped and then started to laugh. She quickly pushed the bottom of the robe down to cover her bare body.
"I can't believe you did that! I trusted you!"
"I can't believe you were stupid enough to do it."
A few teachers fought to keep a strait face while they escorted her out of the stadium.
The announcer decided that he better try to salvage the rest of the event.
"Patty Halliwell." Patty stood up and started to walk down to the stage. As she reached the second row she stepped aside of Matt, the guy who had moments ago embarrassed her friend.
"Let's see you do better than that." The guy whispered. Patty wasn't about ready to let him expose her to the entire class. Why had Sandy told him anyway? It was suppose to be their little secret, something that they could tell at their class reunions, and not in the front page of the local new paper. Who knows? Maybe he didn't know that they did the stunt together.
As Patty started to pass Matt he reached out and gave a giant tug to her robe, not letting go and falling to the floor while still pulling. These things are sure cheep she thought as the material ripped at the shoulders and fell off of her. She put her hand up in front of her, trying to push back the teacher that she knew would be coming after her in a moment. "Stop!" she yelled as she shut her eyes.
The noise that had started to refill the auditorium fell quiet. No one touched her. She opened her eyes and looked around the room. No one was moving. They were all frozen in place, everyone that is except Penny, her mom. Penny ran down the isle were she sat watching her daughter's prank, and her daughter's powers begin to work. Penny didn't quite understand why they had started already, but she had an idea.
"Hurry, grab your things and run--but not until they start moving again."
The room lit up again with life and Patty held the material close to her body. She gathered her things and ran toward the doors. No one tried to stop her.
When they got out of the auditorium, Patty looked at her Mom. "What just happened?"
"You don't know. I thought for sure you had read the incantation and--" Penny stopped realizing that there was a few young children looking at her from across the foyer. "Let's get home and then we'll talk about it. Okay."
"I'm sorry Mom."
"For what?"
"For embarrassing you."
"Don't worry. You're not the first, and you won't be the last Halliwell who's proud of their body and have reason to be. I just wish I knew what possesses us to show everyone."
"I love you, Mom."
"I love you, too."
November 3, 1998
Dear Diary,
I just can't decide. Do I like him because Phoebe likes him, or do I really like him? I wonder if there could be another bad reason that I like him. It isn't like he has a job that is high-tech. I mean he's a handyman, and not a Lawyer--so it's obvious I don't like him for his money (especially since most of his money is what I pay him to fix this old house).
There is just something about him that I can't resist. His smile is so welcoming, and his embrace is the warmest I have ever felt. Still, I need to get to know him a lot better, before I make any firm decision.
I still don't know what I should do. Phoebe is having a hard enough time getting readjusted to things around here. Do I really want to make it worse?
I wish I knew what the right thing to do is. I just wish that I knew. But right now, I think I like him because of who he is inside. I hope so anyway.
Piper
November 3, 1998
Dear Diary,
For the fist time in my life I feel guilty. I know that Piper loves, well at least likes, Leo and all I am doing is causing trouble.
I do like the guy, but not in the way that Piper does. Truthfully, the only reason I am sticking to this game is because I want to win. I guess that really isn't too fair.
I just want a relationship that makes me feel like a real person, but it is hard to have that when the object of my affection doesn't feel the same way.
I guess there is only one thing to do. Let Piper have her way. It is what she deserves.
Phoebe
"That's okay. What did your mother want, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Oh, she is just paranoid. She just doesn't want me to have friends."
"Well, I am honored."
"What?"
"I am honored that you consider me your friend." The two smiled at each other in a teenagerish form of flirtation.
Kevin looked at the corner of the room and noticed an open backpack leaning against the wall. "High School Chemistry and Honors Algebra II! Boy, you must either love learning or your crazy.""
Patty saw what he was talking about. "Oh, a little of both I guess, and luckily there are only three more days of it. I can't wait until I am official out of school. Well, at least high school. My mom has the idea that I am going to go on to college or something."
"Don't you want to go on to college? You know women even go to Universities now."
"I know, but I would rather have a family to raise. I guess I have to wait for the right guy though."
"Hard to have a family without one."
"You can't be telling me that you don't have a boyfriend."
"Well, I did a few weeks ago, but we broke up."
"What was his name?"
"Victor. Victor Bennett."
"What caused you to break up with your high school sweetheart?"
"I don't know. I guess the stress of our senior year got to us," Patty said as she fought back the tears that were forming in her eyes.
"That's too bad."
"So what high school did you go to?" Patty quickly attempted to change the subject.
"Oh, I just moved here. My family is from back east." It was the truth, sort of. He had just moved here, though it was from a different time not a different place, and his family was originally from the east coast, though it was a few centuries ago.
"My family was originally from back east too. Massachusetts I think."
"Well, it looks like we have something in common."
"We'll have to wait until next time to talk about them. I was just on my way to my graduation rehearsal when I saw you walking. Do you think that we could see each other again?"
"A forward lady, I like that. Sure. Would you like to go to the movies, and of course it is my treat."
"I would love to. But I think that I need to wait until finals are over. I graduate Thursday night, so how about planning it for Friday?"
"Sounds great. Would you mind if I came to your graduation?"
"I don't mind, but I am not sure about the woman in the other room."
"I understand. Come at your own risk."
"You got it."
"I'll see you there, and I'll see you here Friday at 6. We'll go out to dinner first, so do eat too much before hand."
They smiled and Kevin walked out the front door and headed away from the house using the sidewalk.
Patty came out a few minutes later when she saw her friend pull up to give her a ride to the high school.
Patty could barely keep the secret. She had a date and there was nothing that her mother could do to keep her from it.
* * *
"What do you mean that you can't tell us?" Prue blurted out. "Why in the world did you come here and tell Phoebe something was wrong and then tell us that you can't tell us?"
Leo stood still, steering at his family. What can I say? Why did I come here in the first place? I love them. That's why. But if I tell them what I know it will pollute the timeline even more than it already is. Of course it was something that they did that started this. "First, tell me what happened yesterday."
"What does that have to do with this?"
"Everything."
"We vanquished a warlock," Phoebe blurted out.
"Try again," Piper joked. "More like we helped a warlock complete some sort of plan he had."
"Well, your right about that. You helped a very dangerous demon, and he is about to cause a lot of trouble for you." Leo knew that he couldn't just blurt out everything, but the girls wouldn't stop until they had something to work with. I can't think of anything to say. I tell witches bad news everyday. Come on say something, anything. Leo thought to himself as the Charmed Ones looked at him wondering what he was up to.
"And what was so secretive about that, that you thought you couldn't tell us?" Piper responded.
"Well, there is more to it, but I can't really say much more. Not because you can't know, but because I don't exactly know." Leo said to his wife. He hated lying to her, but he had no choice. And it wasn't a complete lie. He really didn't know the whole story. Not yet anyway. Why did he have to go and tell Phoebe that something was wrong? Something was wrong, but he didn't know whom to trust. I sure wish that that part sunk in before I just started shooting off warnings!
"So why did you tell us anyway?" Phoebe asked.
Boy, can she read minds? Leo thought inside. "I knew you wouldn't give up if I didn't." This lie has gone on long enough! I need to orb out, and orb out now! With that Leo left the company of the sisters. I have to think up a plan, and a good one.
"What was that about?" Piper asked.
"I don't know, but it is time to go to the attic and look in the Book of Shadows," Phoebe responded.
The sisters went to the attic to consult their family treasure. The Book of Shadows was a book that Phoebe had found in the attic, with the guidance of the spirit of her mother. It had been in the family for generations and was a book of magic knowledge from the witches in her line that had practiced before her. It contained information on all types of magic and evil, well ways to fight different types of evil.
The girls thumbed through the pages. Two hours later and after calling Leo, the sisters' Whitelighter or Guardian Angel, numerous times--who for some reason never answered--the girls were no more informed than they were when they began.
"Maybe he's just busy with another charge," Piper suggested.
"Maybe he's avoiding us!" Phoebe suggested with an irritation in her voice remembering the activity she was involved with when the wonderful danger alert occurred. "I don't think that there was anything wrong at all. I think he is trying to stop Cole and me from having a relationship!" Phoebe turned around and walked down the stairs.
"Sometimes I wonder if it is such a good idea myself," Piper muttered.
"I heard that! Thanks for the support!"
"It just doesn't make any sense. Why worn us about something and then leave acting like it wasn't anything important?" Prue thought for a moment. "Unless he totally made it up."
"Really! What made you think of that?" Piper said sarcastically.
"No need to get--" Prue started.
Suddenly the pages of the Book of Shadows began to flip back and forth wildly. Finally, they laid still. Prue stood up and walked over to see the page that someone desperately wanted them to see.
"It is titled 'To tell the truth'," Prue told Piper. "But there is a note that it doesn't work on Whitelighters."
"Shucks!" Phoebe blurted out.
"Phoebe!" Prue reprimanded.
"What? I bet you were thinking the exact same thing."
"You know she right. He's the only person who knows what we need to know. What good is it going to do us?" Piper seemed good at stating the obvious today.
"Well, actually the rest of his Whitelighter friends and the Elders know. Oh, but I guess it wouldn't work on them either." Phoebe set back in the old chair that she had claimed when their study session begun.
Prue began to read the spell. Even if it wasn't any help, there was something on this page that they were suppose to know. There always was. Somewhere and somehow there was something.
The truth I seek
For you to speak
Of things not told
Of secrets so old
From days of your youth
Reveal to me the truth
"There is another note here, though. It's a warning, I think," Prue continued.
"Well, read it then." Piper's nerves were already fried, and all the stalling her sister was doing seemed to make them sort out even more. "Just read the stupid thing. Okay!"
Each witch may use this spell once between each full moon. It will not work on the night of a full moon. Simply look into the person's eyes and say the spell. After you ask your question snap your fingers once or clap your hands once and the spell is over. They won't remember the questions that you asked, nor the time you spent doing so. It will seem as if nothing has happened.
"At least we can use it three times. I mean since each witch can use it once every month." Prue looked at Piper hoping that she had cheered her spirits up. She hadn't. "Well, it looks like another wonderful event goes by the monthly calendar."
Piper couldn't help but giggle.
"Enough girl jokes. I think we have something more important to think about." Phoebe sat in her chair worrying. She knew that she had been the one responsible for helping the warlock and there was nothing she could do about it. With all the work that they had done today all they had found was a stupid truth spell.
"I just wish that I knew what to ask," Prue said trying to get back to the subject.
"Well, we have a more important problem first," Piper said.
"What's that?" Prue responded.
"Who do we ask?" Piper asked. "Who are we suppose to ask?"
* * *
"Michael Ingalls," the man announced. A young man stood up and walked on the stage and collected his diploma.
"Sandy Hall," the man announced. A young lady with red hair stood up and started to walk toward the stage when a guy in the second row flipped up her robe. How did he know? She had nothing on under her robe. Not panty hose, not a slip, and definitely not any underwear!
The entire audience gasped and then started to laugh. She quickly pushed the bottom of the robe down to cover her bare body.
"I can't believe you did that! I trusted you!"
"I can't believe you were stupid enough to do it."
A few teachers fought to keep a strait face while they escorted her out of the stadium.
The announcer decided that he better try to salvage the rest of the event.
"Patty Halliwell." Patty stood up and started to walk down to the stage. As she reached the second row she stepped aside of Matt, the guy who had moments ago embarrassed her friend.
"Let's see you do better than that." The guy whispered. Patty wasn't about ready to let him expose her to the entire class. Why had Sandy told him anyway? It was suppose to be their little secret, something that they could tell at their class reunions, and not in the front page of the local new paper. Who knows? Maybe he didn't know that they did the stunt together.
As Patty started to pass Matt he reached out and gave a giant tug to her robe, not letting go and falling to the floor while still pulling. These things are sure cheep she thought as the material ripped at the shoulders and fell off of her. She put her hand up in front of her, trying to push back the teacher that she knew would be coming after her in a moment. "Stop!" she yelled as she shut her eyes.
The noise that had started to refill the auditorium fell quiet. No one touched her. She opened her eyes and looked around the room. No one was moving. They were all frozen in place, everyone that is except Penny, her mom. Penny ran down the isle were she sat watching her daughter's prank, and her daughter's powers begin to work. Penny didn't quite understand why they had started already, but she had an idea.
"Hurry, grab your things and run--but not until they start moving again."
The room lit up again with life and Patty held the material close to her body. She gathered her things and ran toward the doors. No one tried to stop her.
When they got out of the auditorium, Patty looked at her Mom. "What just happened?"
"You don't know. I thought for sure you had read the incantation and--" Penny stopped realizing that there was a few young children looking at her from across the foyer. "Let's get home and then we'll talk about it. Okay."
"I'm sorry Mom."
"For what?"
"For embarrassing you."
"Don't worry. You're not the first, and you won't be the last Halliwell who's proud of their body and have reason to be. I just wish I knew what possesses us to show everyone."
"I love you, Mom."
"I love you, too."
November 3, 1998
Dear Diary,
I just can't decide. Do I like him because Phoebe likes him, or do I really like him? I wonder if there could be another bad reason that I like him. It isn't like he has a job that is high-tech. I mean he's a handyman, and not a Lawyer--so it's obvious I don't like him for his money (especially since most of his money is what I pay him to fix this old house).
There is just something about him that I can't resist. His smile is so welcoming, and his embrace is the warmest I have ever felt. Still, I need to get to know him a lot better, before I make any firm decision.
I still don't know what I should do. Phoebe is having a hard enough time getting readjusted to things around here. Do I really want to make it worse?
I wish I knew what the right thing to do is. I just wish that I knew. But right now, I think I like him because of who he is inside. I hope so anyway.
Piper
November 3, 1998
Dear Diary,
For the fist time in my life I feel guilty. I know that Piper loves, well at least likes, Leo and all I am doing is causing trouble.
I do like the guy, but not in the way that Piper does. Truthfully, the only reason I am sticking to this game is because I want to win. I guess that really isn't too fair.
I just want a relationship that makes me feel like a real person, but it is hard to have that when the object of my affection doesn't feel the same way.
I guess there is only one thing to do. Let Piper have her way. It is what she deserves.
Phoebe
