Chapter 20

The doctor told Piper to stay home a few days, which is until Wednesday at least.

Leo came to visit on Sunday, then on Monday after school, and did the same on Thursday and Wednesday too.

They never talked about their relationship- at all.

Piper wasn't sure where they were standing, but her mind was somewhere else.

Just the thought of going to school, was terrifying, but most of all, humiliating.

No one knew about what happened on that Friday night except Leo and Greg's friends, but that wasn't what scared Piper.

She knew that Greg would be there, every day. She had two classes with him, and had no idea how she was going to go through them.

Apart from everything else, Piper wasn't the same Girl she used to be anymore.

She knew it, and also knew everyone else around her knew it too.

Before everything started going downhill, Piper was just this unnoticeable naïve girl. She reckoned she still was- after all, she did go with Greg to that party, and even followed him outside... But she would never do that mistake again. Ever.

Now she was quite and gloomy. She often drifted into deep thoughts, and constantly found everyone around her staring at her.

On Tuesday night, she overheard Prue talking with Phoebe. She was saying that she thinks that Piper is getting into some kind of a depression, and that they better do something about it.

At that moment, Piper put on the widest smile she could, and walked into the room in a fake cheerful way.

She was pretty sure that convinced Prue she was ok, she couldn't bare the idea of her sisters or Grams having to worry more about her.

Her sisters were acting differently around her... something like the way they were with Grams these days.

Oh, and Grams wasn't doing good either.

In the last few days, she became paler and weaker and her sickness has gotten worse.

Piper couldn't help but blame herself, although she tried not showing that to her sisters.

The only person she didn't hide any of her emotions from was Leo.

He was once again her best friend, but she wasn't sure if she could call him her boyfriend.

On Wednesday night she found herself talking about this with Leo.

He took her to a walk in the park, and as they walked, Leo asked;

"Piper... can I ask you something?"

"Sure." Piper said, and looked up at him.

"Piper... I just wanted to... I need to know where we stand."

Piper thought for a moment. Where did they stand?

"I don't know." She finally said.

Leo stopped walking, and turned to face Piper.

She did the same.

"Are you able to forgive me?" he asked like a little boy who spilled milk on the floor.

Piper smiled, and leaned on Leo's chest.

She closed her eyes, and sniffed Leo's warmth. She forgave him a long time ago, she realized.

"I think I can manage" she whispered.

Leo pulled back from her and surprised her with a kiss.

A long lasting one.

After they unlocked their lips, they turned around, and with Leo's hand on Piper's back, they walked back to the manor.

They stopped in front of the door, and looked at each other.

"So you decided you want to go to school tomorrow?" Leo asked.

"I can't run away from it for ever..." Piper said.

"But, are you feeling good enough?"

"I think I can manage."

"Ok. I'll pick you up tomorrow morning?" He asked.

"Thanks." Piper said, and after he rewarded her with yet another kiss, she walked into the manor, then looked outside the window as his car pulled away, and disappeared down the street.

That night was the first in many long nights that Piper went to sleep with a smile, somehow forgetting about her fears she had for the following day at school.

But in the morning she woke up she felt a sour taste in her mouth.

She remembered some dreams (or rather nightmares) she has had about Greg, but she hoped forgot about them as soon as possible.

She decided it must be very early, she had a feeling.

The house was quite, and there was that smell that is only there when it's very early in the morning.

Piper's instincts didn't lie; it was barely 5.

Go back to sleep, she told herself, but that was no good.

There was no way she will be able to fall asleep again.

Then she remembered last night.

Leo.

Mmmm.

She smiled at the thought, and pulled herself of her bad.

Everyone else was still asleep, and Piper let herself into the kitchen to make some coffee to herself.

A few minutes later, Prue walked by the door into the kitchen, and noticed Piper.

"Prue... you're up early." Piper said, while waiting for the water to heat up.

"I'm not up; I just took a trip to the bathroom. Why are you up?" Prue asked, and Piper could see the concern in her eyes.

Great, now Prue would be sure Piper is so depressed she isn't sleeping anymore. But that wasn't why she wasn't sleeping... she just couldn't sleep. Nothing to do with being depressed or anything of the kind, Piper decided to herself.

"I went to sleep early yesterday." Piper lied. She wasn't in bed before one last night.

"No you didn't... I saw your light up at half past twelve." Prue said.

"Are you spying on me?" Piper asked with a smile, but failed trying to change the subject.

"Did you sleep at all, Piper?" Prue asked suspiciously.

"'Course I did." Piper said defensively.

"Look, I just could sleep anymore, that's all." Piper continued.

"Want me to keep you some company?" Prue asked, less snappily.

"Oh no, don't bother, really. Go back to sleep." Piper said, and forced a smile.

"Piper... are you sure you want to go today?" Prue asked.

"Yes. Now go back to sleep!"

"Aright. You should try and sleep some more too, it's still early." Prue said, and continued towards her room.

Piper made herself coffee, then took a seat next to the kitchen table and took a slip.

The warm coffee spread through her body slowly, and Piper closed her eyes.

When she opened them, she looked around at the dark room.

That's how her life looked lately, but the previous night gave her some hope, something she was desperately in need of.

Piper found the darkness quite nice and comforting. Lately she liked being alone with herself.

But there was one thing she liked more than that, and that was being alone with Leo.

After she took the last mouthful of her coffee, she washed the mug, and headed back to her room.

She was determined to go through the day as calmly and as normally as possible, but knew a long day was expecting her.

Only she had no idea how long.......................

AN: Hey everyone... first thank you for all the wonderful reviews I am getting. I'm sorry to tell you that the next chapter will only be posted in about 5-6 days, because I'm going to be out of town. Next chapter, something BIG will happen, (again), and I'm sorry to keep you waiting... don't forget to review. Thanx!