C.C. McKenna

Chapter Nine: Confusion

"Come on Prue...I really need to get to school right away!" Phoebe rushed, finished her breakfast and quickly wiped her mouth with the tablecloth.

"Phoebe Halliwell!" Piper glanced at the stained tablecloth and swatted her sister on the shoulder. "You're not supposed to do those kind of things; where are your manners? For goodness sake!" Piper shook her head and looked at Prue for support. The eldest tightened her lips and suppressed a smile, covering her face with the morning's newspaper.

"Aren't you gonna say something to her?" Piper's jaw almost fell on the table.

"I didn't see anything" Prue lied raising her eyes over the paper. "What did she do?" She smiled and went back to her reading.

"Oh come on Piper....it's too early in the morning to star whining around" Phoebe smiled and slid her hand over the table to straighten the now stained table cloth. "See...nothing happened; noooothing happened!"

"Oh, yeah, sure, it doesn't matter, Piper does the laundry, Piper does the cooking; Piper this, Piper that..!"

"All right, Phoebe! Prue suddenly stood and grabbed her baby sister's elbow. "Let's go!" She interrupted Piper's morning whining and dragged her sister to the front door. "We'll be back for dinner Pipe!"

"What?" You're not coming for lunch?" Piper asked surprised and walked towards her sisters.

"Well, I have an appointment and Phoebe has to do some research in the library; so no; don't wait for us" Prue searched the foyer's table for her keys. "See ya this evening"

"Ok then; I'm going to P3 and be back for dinner too; How does Chinese sound?"

"Great!" Phoebe shouted. "Sweet and Sour for me!"

"Ok sweetie; take care, will you?" Piper kissed her sister's forehead and tenderly caressed her cheek.

"Don't worry sis" Phoebe carefully held her sister's face between her hands and returned the kiss.

"Come on!" Prue dragged her outside. "We're going to be late"

-o-

"Lexie; are you in ?" Phoebe knocked on the door and waited patiently for an answer.

Alexia opened the door slowly, showing only her head. "I'm busy Phoebe, please just leave" She spoke against her will, but for Phoebe's sake.

"Oh, come on, I'll wait for you; aren't you going to classes today?" Phoebe smiled widely as she straightened up her shades. "It's a great morning; I can feel the sun!"

Alexia smiled when she saw her friend's cheery mood but Suzie's gaze, suddenly appearing outside her room, just behind Phoebe, quickly washed her smile away. "No!; you cant wait for me; please, just leave!"

"Oh, please Lexie, come on; I don't know my way around this building; my sister brought me here, so I wouldn't know how to go back" Phoebe's voice was now a little sad and disappointed. "Can you at least take me to the main building?

"Ok" Alexia swallowed the gulp inside her throat and harshly slammed the door. "Come this way" She grabbed Phoebe's arm and carefully guided her throughout the hall. Suzie silently followed them close behind.

Soon they reached the stairs and Alexia stopped in front of them. "Ok, we're at the top of the stairs; you have to hold tight to my arm because there are too many steps to go down... did you get that?"

"Ok" Phoebe whispered. "Be my eyes"

Alexia smiled when she heard Phoebe's trusting words and gently squeezed her hand "Good; come on"

Suzie stared at the girls, quickly stumbled down the stairs, and kicked Phoebe's cane intentionally, startling her feet off balance. Alexia tried very hard to keep her from falling down, but she couldn't. She just closed her eyes when she saw Phoebe harshly rolling down the stairs. Suzie stopped midway and looked down. A big smile was suddenly displayed upon her face.

Alexia opened her eyes again and ran to her friend's side. "Are you all right?" she asked nervously. "Phoebe! Please talk to me!"

Several girls quickly gathered themselves around the limp body of Phoebe; while Suzie gazed down, chuckling and feeling successfully satisfied with her performance.

Alexia held Suzie's look for a while and went back to her dizzy, shaky friend. "Phoebe; stay on the floor, please do not try to get up" She placed her hand on Phoebe's shoulder and made her lean back. "Somebody please, get a doctor!"

"I'm fine Lexie, really! Phoebe sat up and shook her dizziness away. "I'm just a little sore"

"No, you are not moving; please stay still" Alexia was obviously very nervous; she felt the ground moving when she saw Suzie coming down the stairs. She was terrified.

"Oh, come on, come on" Suzie bent down and rapidly pulled Phoebe onto her feet. "She said she was ok"

Phoebe winced a little but was able to stand still. "Thanks" she spoke to the girl that had helped her get up. "It all happened so fast...somebody rushed down the stairs and startled me"

"I know" Suzie replied. "Nobody seems to be careful around here anymore" She smiled sarcastically.

Alexia tightened her teeth and glared at Suzie. "Just leave her, ok?"

"Sure" Suzie grinned. "I was just trying to be useful; that's all"

"Well, you have done enough; please leave us" She spoke shyly.

"Ok; but we'll be waiting for you at the cafeteria" Suzie smiled as she gently pulled back Phoebe's hair to clear her face. "Just take your friend here wherever she's going and rush back to us"

"I will; now if you just excuse us" Alexia grabbed Phoebe's arm and pulled her away from the crowd.

"Thank you" Phoebe softly spoke. "I'm going to the Conference room"

"Don't thank me" Alexia closed her eyes and re-lived Phoebe's fall again. "It was my fault"

"Don't be silly; it was an accident"

"No, it wasn't" Alexia stopped for a minute and turned Phoebe around to meet her sightless brown eyes. "I should have taken better care of you" She shook her head and placed back the black specs on her friend's eyes. "I don't want you to come to my room again; and I want you to stay away from me!" She trickled a couple of silent tears and sighed deeply. "Please...just do as I say" She stared down at the floor for a couple of seconds and then glanced back to Phoebe. "Did I make myself clear?"

"But"... Phoebe couldn't understand her friend's words. "What are you talking about?"

"Damn it, Phoebe; just... just stay the bloody away from me!"

"I don't understand Lexie"

"But I do" Alexia scolded "I know what I'm talking about; and what I want is for you to stay away from me... away from my life!"

Phoebe's eyes turned misty and she stifled a small cry. She breathed deeply and nodded. "Ok.... ok, if that's what you want"

"Yes, that is what I want"

"Fine! Phoebe pulled her arm away from Alexia's grasp and carefully walked away.

"Let me take you to the conference room" Alexia offered.

"No thanks; I can go there by myself" Phoebe kept walking. She unfolded the cane and carefully started finding her way through the halls.

Alexia stood motionless; sadly watching as her friend slowly walked away from her. Once again, she was all alone. She bit her lower lip and swallowed hard. "Good bye Phoebe" she whispered to herself.

Tbc