Chapter 12

"Oh, it's you," Paige said dully. "What do you want?"

Cole nervously shifted on his feet. "Em.. Is Phoebe around?"

Paige looks into the living room. "She's not home"

"Is she at work?"

"Yup"

"What time will she be back?"

"Dunno"

"Do you talk in one syllable all the time?"

"Yup"

Cole sighed plainly annoyed. "Okay.. can I come in?"

Paige pretends to think and smiles at him. "I don't think so." And was about to close door in his face, before Piper snatch it open.

"Paige, what the hell are you doing?"

"Closing the door?," Paige said annoyed, and walk away from the door. Piper snorts and turns to look at Cole.

Cole smiles charmingly. "My hero.."

"What are you doing here, Cole?," Piper asks, not amused.

"I'm here to see Phoebe, Piper," Cole said. "If you won't let me in, I'll just wait out here till she comes back.."

Piper paused. "Okay". And closed the door in his face.


Phoebe takes her seat belt off. "Thanks for taking me home, Henry, though you didn't have too"

"I'm your boyfriend, Kate. It's what I want to do," Henry replied while switching off the engine. He quickly got up and got to the other side before Phoebe could open the door.

"Thanks," Phoebe smile at him. "It's getting late and I have to get up early tomorrow.. so.."

"At least let me take you to the door?," Henry asked, not eager to let her go. As they walk across the street, suddenly Phoebe notice there was a car parked outside her house. Damn, can't the neighbors park in their own respective houses.. I'm going there and I'll give hi.. Cole??!! Cole's here?

She stood paralyze as Cole made their way towards them. Henry too, was surprise that Cole was there.

"Turner, what are you doing here?," Henry asks.

"I'm here to see Kate," Cole replied, unconcern how Henry is going to think about his presence.

"What business do you have with her?," Henry asks, curious. "If you have business negotiation, you could come during business hours.."

"Oh, we're not discussing business," Cole assured him, never taking his eyes of Phoebe. "It's personal... Do you mind?"

"Of course I mind. Kate's my girlfriend," Henry said, agitated. "If you have anything to say to her, I'm sure she wouldn't mind you talking in front of me. Won't you, Kate?". Both Cole and Henry turns to stare at her. Sensing rivalry from the start between the two men, Phoebe started to panic. Left with no choice, she turn towards Henry.

"Henry... this is just going to take a while, you can go back now. I'll be fine," Phoebe told him as she lead him away from Cole. "It's just going to be for a minute.."

"What?!," Henry exclaim. "I can't believe I'm hearing this! You're throwing me away after the speech I just made about you not caring about talking-"

"Oh my god, why do you care so much? It's not as if after you leave, we're going to go into the house and start making out or have sex!," Phoebe said, plainly frustrated. She took hold of his hands. "Don't you trust me, Henry?"

He paused. "Of course I trust you Kate. It's Cole I don't trust. Funny, the first day I met him, I really like him.. I'm having second thoughts now..."

"Fine, fine. Please, go back now. I don't want you to start a fight because of me," Phoebe pleaded. "Good night". And was about to leave, before Henry pulls her back and kisses her passionately. To avoid a scene, she submit to his embrace. But after a minute, she broke the contact. Henry smirk at Cole before getting into the car and left. Phoebe walks back to Cole.

"What are you doing here?," Phoebe demanded.

"I'm here to see you, but I guess Henry beat me to it," Cole said coldly. "Look, can we talk about this inside? It's freezing out here.."

"Fine," Phoebe gave in, but it's because she's freezing herself, but she didn't say anything. After closing the door behind her as she was about to ask Cole for his coat when Paige shouted.

"Phoebe, did you see that Cole, the bozo outside when you came in? Did you know I almost slam the door in his face? I hope you told the idiot to go back home, to where he belongs...," Paige trailed away as she came face to face with Cole in the hall. "Oh, looks like you did come in"

"Paige...," Phoebe warned.

"No, it's fine Phoebe. I know how much Paige dislikes me. She can't help being rude to me," Cole commented. "It's her nature. I know she can't resist it." He paused before continuing, "Besides...opposites attract." And winks at Paige.

"Huh, why are you being so cocky here? So, I'm the bad guy here now? What about you? You left Phoebe in the middle of her prom, thinking she was stood up by her date, when the next thing she knew.. Her date comes into the hall, two hours late, with Maggie, hair all over the place, and it was pretty obvious to everyone in the hall, that you were making out while you left Phoebe alone!!"

"Paige!" Phoebe cried out. "What the hell are you doing? Are you trying to embarrass me?"

"I want to know how Cole can even see you face to face and not even recognize you at all, or even have the cheek to even come here and act as if nothing in the past happen at all! Can you explain it to me Cole! Can you?," Paige demanded.

The room suddenly fell silent. It was so quiet, the only thing you could hear was the clock ticking.

"Paige, I think it's time for you to get upstairs," Piper said quietly. Paige gave Cole a dirty look before walking reluctantly upstairs. After hearing the door slam, both of them shift awkwardly.

"I think it's best if you leave," Phoebe said quietly.

"Phoebe...," Cole started. "I promise you, Phoebe. I didn't meant to leave you alone in the prom.."

"It doesn't matter what you did Cole," Phoebe replied. "It's all in the past now. I have to admit, I was really really angry when I saw you walking down with Maggie trailing behind you with hair all over the place, lipstick mused, I was pretty mad..."

"I'm sorry Phoebe.. I'm really sorry.. let me tell you what really happen.."

Phoebe quickly stops him by placing a finger on his lips. "It doesn't matter anymore Cole, it's all in the past"

"Phoebe..," he takes hold of her finger and gently kisses it. "Phoebe.. I want to be with you.."

"What?"

"I mean.. I want to be at your side, at all times.. I love you Phoebe," Cole said passionately. "You and I belong together"

Phoebe slowly pulls her hands from Cole's grip. "I'm.. with Henry now"

"Break up with him then.."

"Are you crazy!," Phoebe pushes him away roughly. "Do you expect me to drop everything just because you are in love with me? How sure am I that this is going to last? Because I actually see a future with Henry.."

"You.. you see a future with Henry? You mean a loveless future you mean?," Cole said angrily.

"How sure are you I do not love Henry?," Phoebe replied in anger. "Do you think just because I was in love with you during high school, that means I still am.. this is ridiculous, Cole!"

"Are you telling me you don't love me?"

"What!"

He grabs hold of her shoulder and brings her eye to eye to him. "Do you love me?"

She gulps and tries to break free, but Cole's too strong. "Cole, let go of me! You're hurting me"

"Not until you tell me you love me!"

"The way you're behaving now," Phoebe said breathless, "it's no better than how Tate treated me the last time at the parking lot!"

Immediately, he release her and back away from her. Still breathless, she rubs gingerly on her arm. She watches him wearily.

"God, I'm so sorry Phoebe..," Cole apologize. He rubs his hand over his face. "I didn't mean to get so rough on you. It's just that.. the thought of you and Henry.. it hurts me so bad, Phoebe. It breaks my heart just the thought of you and Henry together.."

Phoebe soften. "Cole.."

"I'll go now Phoebe," Cole said resign, as he walk towards the door. "But this won't be the last time you see me. I won't give up, Phoebe. I won't give up on us". And walks out the house.