Sweet Misery

A/N: hehe…Tess, I think that was the longest review I've ever gotten. Your reviews are so funny, I love reading them, and no, I don't think of you being like Phoebe, at all. You seem so much older then 14, you really do, and I wrote Phoebe acting really young for her age on purpose…you'll see why, just be patient. ~ Your big sis ;)

Chapter Two 'High School Hell'

I awoke to the buzzing of my alarm and clicked it off, yawning and snuggling under the blanket again, wishing I could just go back to sleep. Normally I'd be getting both Prue and Phoebe up by now, but Prue's not here. I still really wasn't quite sure how I felt about that, as much as I always complained about her it would have been nice to have her around, I hate feeling like I'm the oldest and that I'm totally in charge of Phoebe since Grams leaves for work before we even wake up and doesn't get back until past dinner time.

I pulled myself out of bed and sleepily walked down the hall, knocking on Phoebe's door, then opening it. "Phoebe, it's time to get up" I said. "Go away" Phoebe mumbled, rolling over. I walked in, "Please Phoebe? Get up, we don't want to be late" I told her, trying to reason, remembering the days when Prue would just yank her blankets off her and literally drag her out of bed when I couldn't get her up, I always told myself I'd be a better big sister then that if I ever got the chance. "Why do you want to get there so early?" Phoebe asked glaring at me, "You hate school" I glared at her back, "Yes, but I'm in charge of you and if we're late I'll be the one getting in trouble for it" I told her, "So get up Phoebe" I said sternly, "Now" She still didn't budge.

I hate to have these power struggles with her, it's like she just really doesn't believe that I'm in charge of her now. She always did what Prue said, but Prue was mean to her, and I don't want to be that way, I really don't. "Fine, I'll get up" Phoebe said, "Burt not because you asked me too" she added snippily. I shrugged, "Okay" I replied not about to fight with her now. I looked at the clock and realized we'd wasted more the ten minutes just arguing. I rushed to take a shower and get dressed.

"Phoebe!" I called up the stairs about 20 minutes later, "Are you ready yet?" I walked back in the kitchen, putting two pop tarts in the toaster, waiting for her. She walked in a few minutes later fluffing up her curled hair, and putting on lip gloss on. If I hadn't known better I would have said she was Prue, she looked just like her. I shook my head to myself hating how I had two gorgeous sisters and I always just looked so plain. The pop tars popped up on the toaster and I handed one to Phoebe, taking the other for myself and grabbing my backpack that sat by the door, walking out to the driveway, looking for Bree's car. Even thought I had my license I didn't have a car, so I still depended on rides from other people.

A few minutes later Bree pulled up in a dark blue BMW. I grinned and ran down the driveway to meet her, getting in the passenger seat.
 "Bree!" I exclaimed, hugging her, "Did you have fun in Texas? It seems like you were gone for so long!" Bree nodded distractedly, "Un-huh" she answered looking out the window. Phoebe got in the backseat and Bree took off.

"What's wrong?" I asked her, Bree didn't seem at all excited to see me. She shrugged, "Nothing Piper" she replied sharply, "I'm fine, just let it go" I frowned, "Sorry" I sad softly, slumping in my seat. Great, now she was mad at me, and I didn't even do anything wrong. This year already seems like it's turning out worse then the last.

Bree parked in the Baker High parking lot and Phoebe turned to me, "Bye, I'll take the bus home" she said, getting out of the car, looking around to make sure no ones had seen her in the car with me. I sighed and turned to Bree, "What class do you have first period?" I asked. "Spanish" she replied and didn't ask me what mine was. "Um, mines advanced Chem." I told her, disappointed that we wouldn't be in class together. "Maybe we can meet up at lunch" I said hopefully. Bree shrugged, "Maybe" she said vaguely. I sighed, wondering what was the matter with her. "Bree, what's wrong?" I asked again, hoping she didn't get mad; I was just concerned about her. Bree shook her head and looked away, "Nothing, I'm just thinking about other things" she said, getting out of the car and walking in the direction of the school. I got out of the car too and jogged to catch up with her. "Fine" I snapped, "Just ignore your best friend then" I said, hurt and angry at her. I haven't seen her for months and this is how she treats me? It's just not fair.

Bree stopped walked and turned to me, tears in her eyes, "It's not that" she said quietly, "I just can't tell you now" she said and wiped her eyes, walking off and joining the group of cheerleaders and football players hanging out in front of the building. Now I was more concerned about her then ever, but if she wasn't going to tell me what was wrong, then I guess there was nothing I could do about it, but I couldn't help but think that if she really trusted me she'd tell when what was wrong, no matter what it was.

Since I had no one to talk to I decided to just go to chemistry early. I walked in, realizing that once again I was the first one in the class room; the teacher hadn't even gotten there yet. I took a seat in the back and looked at the clock; there was still 10 minutes until the bell rang. I sighed again, trying to push my stress about Bree and Phoebe out of my mind. I took a pen out of my backpack and started to draw on the knee of my jeans boredly.

"Well look who it is" I heard Mira Johnson's voice and looked up, cringing to think we had another class together. "What are you doing here?" I asked, surprised to see her, "This is advanced chem." Mira's mouth dropped open in surprise, "Surprised that I'm in honors classes?" she said condescendingly, "Well don't be, because, unlike you, I have beauty and brains. I'm not a freak like you" she snapped, sitting a few desks ahead of me, flipping her shiny black hair behind her before taking out her cell phone, and starting to talk in it, she'd called Kelley or Tina no doubt and I heard her say into the phone, "You won't believe who's in my first period class, it's that loser Halliwell girl" she listened into the phone and laughed, "Yeah and this year Prue isn't around to stop us from making fun of her"

My heart sunk hearing this; I could believe how stupid I was! I hadn't ever thought of that. Prue always protected me from them before, but now I was all alone, who knows what they'll do to me. I wished Bree was here, she always knew how to stand up to them.

The bell rang and Mira put away her phone before the teacher walked in. "Hello class" he said in the typical nerdy teacher way before writing him name on the blackboard; Mr. Johnson. My eyes grew wide. Oh no! It's couldn't be…Johnson was a popular last name, there's no way that could be Mira's father, I hoped. "I'm Mr. Johnson" he said, "But most of you probably already know me as Mira's dad" I couldn't believe it, Mira's father! That's why she got in this class, and now she could do whatever she wanted, he'd never stop her. Mira always got what she wanted. I stopped listening to Mr. Johnson, as he talked about class rules and all the normal, boring first day stuff, wondering how this day could get any worse.

"…And now I'll assign you all lab partners" he said, "Please change seats so you're sitting next to the people I assign." I looked around the class, wondering who I'd be paired with, only half listening as he went through the last name's alphabetically, finally he got to my name, "Piper Halliwell" he said, and I looked up, hoping it wasn't going to be too bad. "You'll be paired with Mira Johnson" My mouth dropped open. Mira! I have to work with her?

"But Dad!" Mira whined, "Piper's a freak, I don't want to be lab partners with her!" I blushed as the rest of the class started at me, great, now even the kids who didn't know me before now know I'm a total loser. "Mira" Mr. Johnson said patiently, "I think it'll be good for you to partner with Piper, now go sit next to her" Mira pouted and slumped down in an empty chair next to me, glaring at me. "I hate you" she hissed, venom dripping from every syllable, "And you'd better be prepared to work, because I'm not doing any of it. My dad won't fail me no mater what I do in this class" she said matter of factly.

"Okay" I said quietly, I didn't want to fight with her, it would only make things worse. I wished that the earth would just opened up and swallow me right then, it seems like every time I don't think things can get worse they always do.

A/N: Review!! Please, please?