A/N: I was going to update this yesterday but my computer was going screwy! Sorry! The events in this chapter are based around the flashback scenes in "Pre-Witched." Enjoy!
Lili: Just in time! I recieved your review only a few mintues ago! That's ok that you didn't review before. As long as you're still reading, I'm happy!
Alyssa Halliwell: So, you liked the babyname scene, huh? Before I wrote that I had been bored and decided to write down all the "P" girl names I could think of on a piece of paper, so that's where they all came from. My conclusions from writing out all those names? There are ALOT more "M" girl names than "P"'s! (Yes, I did M's too... don't ask.)
charmed4eva1990: Yey! You're not going to stop reading! Like I said before, I tried to update earlier but my computer went wonky! (Ha ha, wonky... That's Piper's word if I'm not mistaken...)
CHAPTER EIGHT- ESCAPE HAULTED
April 8, 1997
I've picked a baby name… Pamela Ann Halliwell. Pretty, huh? Yeah, as soon as I picked it I realized that I'd completely ignored the possibility that I'll have a boy… I'm so stupid sometimes. (I guess dropping out of college doesn't even matter.)
As I wrote before, it's now or never. If I don't get away soon, someone will figure it all out and there will be no point in going. I had decided a little while ago that some time this week I'd get a bus ticket and pack my bags. No looking back. But it's so much harder to do than it is to write. I don't have that kind of emotional strength. The person who would be really good at this is Prue. From what I've been told, she didn't even cry at mom's funeral. And she was eight years old! That's tough. I'm not. But there's no way Prue would be irresponsible enough to get herself pregnant. That's my area of expertise.
Today I took the car and drove around the city, just to see what all I'll be missing when I leave. I walked around the mall some- there are so many things I won't be able to buy! I have to save every penny, grab every coin from the streets from now on. There will be no splurging. I won't have anyone to hold me up anymore. In New York, I'll be all on my own. Something I've never, ever been before. It scares me.
As I strolled through a store today, I wondered if I'd ever hit a patch so bad that I'd have to steal things. And then curiosity got the best of me. I'm not actually even sure why I did it- I guess I just wanted to see how easy it was. My conclusions? It's not. Today I stole a pair of shoes and got caught. I could tell by the look on her face that Prue just loved that one. I guess I reaffirmed her thoughts of me being irresponsible. She's actually right about me… but sisters aren't supposed to be brutally honest like that! She shouldn't be the one to point out how much I suck at taking care of myself. But I'll have to deal with it if I'm ever going to survive out in the real world… all alone.
You should've seen it earlier when those cops brought me home…
"Aw, you guys didn't have to get out of bed for little ol' me," Phoebe said sarcastically. Two police officers stood behind her as she leaned against the doorframe. Grams, Piper, and Prue were all there watching to see what she'd gotten herself into this time.
"Mrs. Halliwell?" One of the cops asked Grams.
"Can I hear what she did first before I answer that?" The suppressed anger was obvious in her voice. Phoebe knew she was going to get in big trouble for this one.
"She was caught shoplifting," the cop replied.
"Oh, that is so not true," Phoebe said, trying to make herself seem less guilty. "I just forgot to pay for them, Grams. The store's not even pressing charges!" She knew how pathetic she was sounding.
"Phoebe…" Grams said sternly.
"Oh, please don't sound so disappointed," Phoebe pleaded. "Look, you're always talking about how we should spend more time together, and well, here we are…" No one took their gaze off of her. "Okay, that was really fun." She stepped into the house.
"Phoebe, what is the matter with you?" Grams asked. "How can you behave so recklessly? What about your destiny-- your future," she corrected.
"Well maybe my future plans don't match up to the ones that you've mapped out," Phoebe replied, standing her ground.
"We're uh, gonna need to take back those shoes that you-"
"Forgot to pay for?" Phoebe finished for the cop.
"Right," the cop replied. Phoebe obeyed and handed the stolen shoes back to them.
As they shut the door and left, Phoebe could feel the tension swelling in the room. Everyone was mad at her- she could sense it. Prue classically rolled her eyes at the latest charade.
"I have to be somewhere," she said emotionlessly. She walked by Phoebe and out the door without even looking at her. Grams stared at the floor. She sighed and left the room. The gesture was done to make Phoebe feel guilty- and it worked.
"How could you do that?" Piper asked.
"Piper, I- I…"
"Save it, Pheebs," Piper interrupted. "I can't believe you'd do something so stupid." She shook her head as she walked towards the kitchen.
I had expected Prue and Grams' reactions, but not Piper's. I guess it was because I had never actually committed a felony before. She was the one person who would always cheer me up, not look upon me with shame. I guess they all hate me now. Well, just another reason to go to New York. Now that I've seen how Piper reacted to me shoplifting, I can't imagine how devastated she'd be if she found out I'm pregnant. She'd probably think something like "Well, there's no hope in her turning her life around now." It's weird. Ever since I got pregnant, I almost seem to know what people are thinking about. Must be hormones or something.
And that one comment wasn't the only thing she said to me today. I guess she's trying to put me on a guilt trip, too. It's probably to shock me out of my rebellious attitude before I do something really stupid… if only she knew.
"Okay girls, now if you could just move a little closer… okay? Phoebe, turn to me. I want to be able to get your good side," Grams instructed. She was about to take a picture of the Halliwell sisters on the Manor's front steps with her new camera.
"I don't think she has one today, Grams," Piper replied. The comment hurt, but Phoebe hid her emotions.
"Can we please get this over with?" she asked, sounding impatient.
"Why? You got plans?" Prue asked. Phoebe hated it when her sister pried into her personal life. She hoped Prue would drop the question.
"Prue, all I'm getting is shoulder," Grams said. Prue shifted.
"Anyone that I know?" Prue asked Phoebe, who rolled her eyes at the familiar snipe.
"I'm sure lying beneath all that sarcasm there's a point," Phoebe began. "And if it has anything to do with Roger-"
"Well, I mean, he said you called him yesterday," Prue interrupted.
"Looking for you!" Phoebe replied. "Prue, I'm not gonna defend myself when I didn't do anything wrong."
"Really?" Prue asked incredulously.
"I'm just trying to be nice to the guy, considering he's gonna be part of this family soon. You know, I'm not even sure I want to be part of this family."
"Uh, the sun is shifting," Grams interrupted. "Could you move down a step, please?"
The sisters obeyed. "And whywould I waste my time on a wimp who's got mother issues?" Phoebe asked Prue, continuing their argument.
"I don't know, but why should I believe anything you say?" Prue asked. "I mean, you don't even know the difference between what belongs to you and what belongs to- oh, let's say Macy's."
"Alrighty then, are we done?" Piper interrupted, knowing that Phoebe was about to boil over.
Suddenly, Grams grabbed her chest in pain.
"Grams," Phoebe said, worried. She and her sisters approached their grandmother.
"Grams," Prue echoed, also concerned.
"Okay, okay, take shallow breaths," Piper instructed.
"Should I call the doctor?" Prue asked.
"No doctor," Grams insisted, fighting off the pain. "Just a picture. Is it too much for an old lady to ask her granddaughters to retract their claws, stand still, and look at me long enough to take one lousy picture?" She asked. Her voice sounded downright infuriated.
The girls could tell she was sick of their constant fighting, so they pleased her by standing over on the lawn and smiling as Grams snapped the shot.
"Now, was that so hard?" Grams asked them as she lowered her camera. Prue started to walk towards Grams, so Phoebe naturally went the opposite way into the Manor.
That's the only time the three of us can ever get along. When Grams is in pain. She's the one person we all care about. Well, hopefully soon I won't have to deal with any arguments or guilt trips any longer. Earlier this evening I took the car and drove downtown. I had intended to get a bus ticket, but my nerves were making me feel sick to my stomach. Instead of risking driving and throwing up, I decided to pull over on the side of the road and think. I figure I'll either go get a ticket tonight or tomorrow. If I prolong my departure any more than that, I'll never leave San Francisco.
A few minutes ago I asked Piper if I could talk to her. I just can't hold this in any longer. I know just this morning she was disappointed in my irresponsibility, but I have to tell her. I need advice. One comment doesn't make her a bad sister. It takes more than that, like sexual harassment accusations, and mistrust, and… oh forget it. It's obvious I'm describing Prue anyway, why bother writing a giant sentence? Anyway, so Piper said she would come talk to me in a few minutes. I'm waiting for her in my room now. I figure she'll walk in and see my bags all packed, and then ask me what's going on. That's when I'll drop the bombshell. "Piper, I'm pregnant." It seems so easy to say in my head, and on paper, but I'm nervous as hell right now. If only-
I have to go.
As Phoebe heard the scream of pain and the crash, she immediately stopped writing and rushed out of her room to see what was going on. This time she didn't even bother to hide away her diary- she was too concerned about what had just happened. As she rushed down the hall, she saw Grams lying at the foot of the attic staircase. Piper was knelt over her. Phoebe dashed to her unconscious grandmother's side, and Prue soon followed.
"Somebody call an ambulance!" Prue ordered.
"I'm on it," Phoebe said. She ran as fast as she could to the nearest phone and dialed 911. This was the first time in so long that Phoebe had taken an order from Prue. But she didn't dwell on that fact just then- she was too concerned that her grandmother was about to die, or worse… already dead. A woman's voice came on the other line.
"I-It's my grandmother," Phoebe stuttered. "I heard a scream and a crash and I stepped out of my room to see what was going on and she was lying on the floor." Phoebe looked back at her sisters. Piper was understandably in hysterical tears as she held Gram's limp hand. Prue however kept a perfectly straight face. She stared deeply into Gram's face, not blinking at all. She didn't even move. It was like she was frozen to the spot.
"1329 Prescott Street," Phoebe told the dispatcher. "Her name is Penelope Halliwell. She has a heart condition. Please get here quickly!" Perhaps Phoebe would be staying in San Francisco a little longer than she'd planned…
A/N: As I wrote this I wondered if it would be boring because it so closely revolves around an episode most of us have already seen, so sorry if it was! I'm also still wondering how accurate the episode transcript site I used for this was... I wanted everything to be word-for-word. So, sorry if it wasn't!
