Inner Demons
Chapter two "A friend In Leo"
A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed! And I must say, while I am still hard core anti-Paige, I like her a lot better in fan fics than in the show, so that is why I'm writing about her, because fan fic Paige is kewl, well as kewl as Paige could be (Paige fans don't kill me for my comments, you must understand that Prue is my all time fave so I still have issues with Paigey- wagey taking her place. Heh. Me and my issues.) Okay, I'm not psycho, ignore that last comment and I'll get on with the story :-)
I cried for a little while more, my sobs gradually subsiding until I just lay on my bed, staring up at the ceiling, wondering what I should do. Part of me thinks that I should go downstairs and apologize to Piper again and offer to help clean up the kitchen, but knowing Piper, she's already done that and will just yell at me again for not going down to help sooner. And part of me just wants to stay up here forever, and be alone. It's just easier to be alone with no one to fight with me or judging me, I really haven't had that much time to just be alone with my thoughts since moving into the manor. It's such a big change, going from an apartment where I lived all alone, to a house full of people and demon activity. Come to think of it, I guess that's the biggest change, all the demons, but those I can handle, it's my very mortal sisters I have the problems with.
I heard Phoebe come home a few minutes ago, I wonder if Piper is telling her what happened between us. I wonder if they know I came up here to cry, or if they even care. Probably not, if they did, they'd be up here with me, or at least have come to see if I was okay, but no, they're down stairs and I'm up here, the wall between us grows even more. I wonder if Phoebe ever felt this way, I know she and Prue didn't get along, but they still grew up together, I know that's what's missing, that connection, their sisters, I'm just a stranger. I don't have any memories to share with them; the first time we met it was at Prue's funeral. God, no wonder they hate me if that's what they associate me with, I just remind them of her death. But it's not my fault.
I hear a soft knock on my door and hope it's one of my sisters, but it's only Leo. "Hey Paige" he says walking in and sitting on my bed. I sit up and wipe my eyes wondering if Piper sent him up here to yell at me some more. "Hi" I reply, not looking him in the eyes, waiting for him to start in on me with the lecture about my powers, but he's silent. "Did Piper send you up here?" I can't help but ask. "No, she told me what happened and I wanted to make sure you were okay" he answers. I'm not sure if I believe it, but then again, why would Leo lie to me? "What, so then she could not feel too guilty about yelling at me again later?" I ask sarcastically, I'm near tears again and I hate it, I know I'm taking my anger out on Leo and that's not fair, but I can't help it, that's what I always do when people try to talk to me, and how can I talk to him anyway? Piper's his wife; of course he'll defend everything she does, so it's a lost cause.
"Why can't you just accept that I was worried about you and wanted to talk?" Leo asks sounding a little hurt. "Paige, don't push me away, tell me what's wrong" he sounds so genuine, like he really cares; I want to have someone to talk to so bad. All of a sudden it's just too much and I burst into tears again. Leo wraps his arms around me and hugs me while I cry. He doesn't say anything, he just waits until I'm done so I can talk and that's all I want him to do, just be there.
"What wrong?" he asked again once I stopped crying, but I still hesitate "It involves Piper" I warn him. Leo chuckles softly "So? You can still tell me, I'm got going to get mad if you say negative things about her. I've lived with her long enough to know she can be…unpleasant some times" he jokes. I smile a little. "I just get so tired of her bossing me around and getting so mad when I make a mistake. How am I ever going to learn anything if I never mess up? Piper and Phoebe have learned from experience but they won't give me that chance" I complain. "I know" Leo says, surprising me by agreeing "They do need to let you learn on your own, but Piper doesn't mean to be that way toward you, she just wants to help" "You mean control?" I ask, only half joking. Leo smiles "Yeah, that too, but I'll talk to her, and then you too need to come to a compromise" I nod, knowing he's right. "Okay" I agree. "And Leo?" "Yeah?" he replies, standing up again, "Thanks" I tell him honestly "Thanks for just listening" He smiles "No problem, that's what friends are for" he says walking out.
I smile to myself, repeating his words in my head 'that's what friends are for' it makes me feel better to know that no matter what happens with my sisters, I still have a friend in Leo.
A/N: The review button is calling you, push it and tell me what you think. Please?
