AlyssaAs: Glad you liked Piper's funny side, that's the way I've always pictured her, shy, innocent and sometimes naive. But never, the way she is right now, bold and daring,. who would have thought that right? remember her in the first two seasons? TFR
Peanut 2lb. Dude, I'm so honored to be receiving an award; I mean, coming from you, one of the greatest writers I've come up with, and also one of my fav., I mean, that is quite an honor. Thanks for your props, they do mean a lot. TFR
PrUe AnD AnDy: LOL dude, aren't you being a little to harsh on poor 'ole nasty Lexie?, but don't worry, I'll think of something. TFR
Faith Kingsley: Yup, I bet Prue was thinking the same as you...hoping to see Lexie at home early for a change...Lexie is surely asking for a time out, ain't she?. Glad you still like my story and TFR
Princes Pinky: Wow dude, thanks a lot for all the info you gave me, I surely appreciate it, and don't worry, I don't mind the lecturing, I mean, it's cool. I know I wasn't well informed and aware of all that, so, thanks.I'll try and do the proper corrections about the magnitude numbers, but I can't promise anything about the aftershocks, I mean, we all know now that Andy and Prue told Lexie a bunch of lies didn't they?...lol..., so let's just pretend they were right about all that, ok? -- winks>>-- I kinda like your teacher though. And yes, I knew about the San Andreas Fault; it's scary. I also like bright, smart and dedicated students, and you my friend, seem to fit just right. TFR
C.C.McKenna
Earthquake
Chapter Five
Friday 10:53 AM
"Bond...you don't look too good"
"Oh…and you do…right? You look bloody beautiful!"
Sophie sighed, rolling her eyes. "What I meant is that you look tired" She shook her head and smiled. "I like you dude"
"Well hellooo…I've been awake for more than 24 hours…twenty eight, to be precise, do you know what that means?... and by the way, I like you too"
"Thanks, and yeah, I know what that means, and I also know what that can do to your health, which, by the way, I haven't seen you taking any pills lately…have you?" Sophie went straight to the refrigerator to put the 12 pack of Miller beer inside.
"No, as a matter of fact I haven't" Lexie mocked. "But I don't need them anymore"
"You mean you're cured?" Sophie started taking some groceries out of the paper bags.
"Well… Yeah, you could say that" Lexie added softly as she allowed herself some rest on her friend's sofa. "You c-could say t-that" She whispered again, hiding the heavy weight she was going through inside her weak chest.
Sophie did not believe a single word Lexie said but she pretended as if she did. "Have some sleep then" She dropped a quilt on her friend's lap and stood by her side. She was concerned, but hid it well.
"I can't," Lexie muttered, "I'm afraid that if I fall asleep I won't be able to wake up…"
"What?!" Sophie dropped on her knees beside Lexie. "Do you want me to get a doctor?"
Lexie realized her big mistake and carefully tried to fix her indiscretion. "Wake up in time for Prue's exhibition…that's what I meant"
"Sleep…I'll make sure you wake up in time" Sophie's smile made Lexie turn her head away from her gaze; hiding her welled up eyes.
Friday, 3:19 PM
"Andy…she's not here yet, and I don't know where else to look for her" Prue nervously pulled back her hair. "I think she's in trouble…I think this time something really happened to her, she didn't come home last night, can you believe her? She spent the night out!"
"Prue, baby, calm down…I'll be there with you as soon as I can, but in the meantime, try to stay still; I'm sending some patrol cars to look for her, don't worry"
"Don't worry?…DON'T WORRY?" You've got to be kidding!" Prue snapped, shifting the phone from one ear to the other. "Andy… I've spoken to Karen and she says she saw her yesterday and, and… Lexie told her she was coming home to help me…and…and…"
"Prue, take it easy baby, She's ok, I'm sure nothing happened to her, I'll be there shortly, I promise"
"Ok…ok…" Prue exhaled deeply and closed her eyes tightly, trying to keep her thoughts in order. "Just hurry up please"
As soon as Prue hung up the phone the doorbell rang and she ran desperately to the door; her heart jumping faster than her footsteps.
"Lexie?" Prue opened the door with a hasty quick swing only to find Phoebe's best friend, Karen, standing visibly alarmed by the doorframe. "Karen…come on inside" Prue smiled weakly. "Thanks for coming" She spoke softly after slowly closing the door behind her.
"Any news yet?" Karen rubbed her hands together and bit her lower lip as she determinedly walked towards the living room.
"No…nothing" Prue followed her close behind.
"Listen Prue…I need to talk to you…I need to tell you something" Karen cleared her throat, shamefully fixing her eyes on the floor and feeling miserably for having to break the promise she made to Lexie.
"Karen, don't tell me you really know where Lexie is"
"No, I swear I don't…it's"
"Then what is it? Spit it out, you're scaring me"
Before Karen could say a word, Prue's cell phone rang and at the same time, Andy came rushing in, followed by several police officers.
Prue flipped her cell open and raised her hand, silently asking Andy to wait. "Lex…is it you? Where the hell are you?" Prue spoke without even bothering to check the caller ID.
"No Prue, I'm not Lexie, I'm Sophia…your sister's friend"
"I know who you are…where's Lexie?" Have you seen her?"
"Yes, she's here with me…"
"WHAT?!… Put that little weasel on the phone!!"
"Sorry…I can't"
"Excuse me?! What do you mean you can't?!" Prue started pacing throughout the living room. "Ask her to….no, better yet, just… just give that spoiled brat the phone!
"Sorry, but she's sleeping…" Sophie wrinkled her nose and squinted, waiting for Prue's outburst.
Prue flung one fist to the air then grabbed her hair and pulled it back. "Well wake her up and tell her that if she's not here in 15 minutes I'm coming after her!" She added through clamped teeth.
"She'll be there when she wakes up; I just called to let you know she's fine"
"Listen up you little ex-con, you better do as I say or…hello?…Sophia!…hello!" Prue flipped closed her cell phone and tightened her jaw. "Oh…she's going to get it…I swear to God those two are going to get it!" She glared back at Karen and took a deep breath. "What is it that you wanted to say to me?"
Karen swallowed nervously and smiled. "Nothing…it wasn't important anyway…maybe later"
"Suit yourself" Prue stated and walked towards Andy, avidly wrapping her arms around him. "What took you so long? You know I'm very edgy right now and I need you"
"I'm here" Andy softly kissed the top of her head. "All you have to do is take a nap to calm yourself down and be ready for…"
"I can't…."
"Yes you can; you get some rest and I'll go make sure everything's ok and ready for tonight's exposition…trust me"
"But…"
"No buts; Prue, I'm sure Lexie is ok; you heard her friend."
"All right" Prue sighed heavily. "All right, all right, I'll take that nap…but only for you, just for you"
Andy smiled and gently kissed her. "That's my girl"
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Friday 5:00 P.M.
"Where did you say we were going tonight?" Piper asked quickening her pace to stay side by side with her younger sister. "Phoebe?" She insisted, glancing at her sister. They had been shopping the entire afternoon and she was tired of walking and tired of carrying all kinds of heavy bags.
"I'll take you to one of my favorite clubs and…"
"No, no, no, no, no; no more clubs and no more drinking…specially no more drinking!" Piper said nervously.
"Piper, I told you I wanted you to get to know all the nice places and wonderful people I used to share my life with; and besides, the celebration can't be quite over yet, I mean, your younger sister becoming a Doctor…hmm, absolutely not a normal everyday happening."
"Sweetie" Piper stopped for a moment and dropped the bags on the floor. "You know all of us are very proud of you, we're very happy that you've finally got your Doctor Degree and all, but…"
"And the highest grades of the 2005 class!" Phoebe interrupted with natural vanity.
"Ugh" Piper squinted, slightly shaking her head. "I can't believe this, I'm vacationing with Prue's clone"
"Excuse me?" Phoebe shrugged.
"Phoebe, Doctor or not, I don't think I can handle another night out"
"Sure you can, just think of it as the last vacations I get in a looong time, remember I start working this Monday at the legendary San Francisco Memorial Hospital"
"Phoebe…"
"Nuh uh uh, Doctor's orders; Doctor Halliwell's orders" Phoebe picked up the bags from the floor and smiled. "Now, follow the leader, let's have a drink"
Piper rolled her eyes. "Uhm…see? There's that word again"
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Friday 7:00 P.M.
"Wow Bond, all your wardrobe is so cool"
"Thanks, you can have it all when…when…oh, what's mine is yours dude"
"Thanks" Sophie smiled. "Are you sure Prue won't mind if I show up with you at her exhibition?"
"I'm sure she won't mind, but I'm also sure she'll be pissed, so don't mind her" Lexie hoped on her motorcycle and waited for Sophia to join her. "Ready?"
"Yeah; let's have some fun!" Sophia mocked, knowing for sure how boring Prue's photo event was going to be.
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Friday 8:15 PM
Prue's Photo Exhibition.
Prue checked her wristwatch probably for the 100th time since she arrived at her exhibition. She was there since 7:00 P.M, and it was now 8:15 P.M. The place was filled with critics, news media and many special guests, but she was absentmindedly, just hoping to see her baby sister coming out of the elevator any time soon. They were on a twenty five-story building, exactly on the last level, The Penthouse floor.
"Prue…Time Magazine wants an appointment for an interview tomorrow, do you think it might be possible for you to re-arrange your schedule?" Andy held Prue's hand and pulled her towards the young, smiling woman with the 'Time' ID tag on her dress.
"I… uh…I" Prue turned her gaze to the entrance before answering Andy's question and smiled when she finally saw the elevator's door opening wide and her sister and Sophia quickly stepping out; unfortunately they were immediately held up by the guards to discuss their denim outfit. "Excuse me…I'll be right back" Prue said politely and left the now crowded exhibition area and headed towards the elevator, leaving Andy alone to arrange the interview.
"It's ok, it's ok", Prue smiled widely, "they can come in, they're with me" Prue added firmly and grabbed the girls forearms to escort them inside. The guards shrugged but decided to remain fully alert in case the young girls decided to add a little excitement to the event.
"Where the hell were you?" Prue kept dragging both girls inside, obviously upset. "I can't believe you did this to me" Prue spoke through clenched teeth, dissimulating her anger, as well as her disappointment.
Lexie stopped walking and glared at her sister with amazement. "And I can't believe you're dragging me like a child; let go of me, you're hurting my arm!" Lexie raised her voice and waggled her arm free from Prue's grasp. "This is outrageous" She shook her head with annoyance and straightened her sleeve.
Prue raised an eyebrow. "You're drunk!" She scolded her baby sister with a harsh voice.
Sophie lowered her head with embarrassment, purposely looking the other way.
"And you're bloody annoying" Lexie stepped forward and gave Prue a slight shove. "Boring and cranky too!" She added with sarcasm.
"Lexie, please, you're making a scene" Prue looked around with mortification, forcing herself to smile.
Sophia grabbed her friend's arm and pulled her away from Prue. "Come on Bond, let's
find something to eat"
Prue sighed relieved. "Yeah, you take her and…and, and give her plenty of food so she can get rid of all that alcohol in her system" Prue faked another smile, trying to fool a couple of staring reporters. "I don't want them to take any compromising pictures of my little rebel and, oh yeah, drunk sister" She muttered, hastily blocking Lexie's body with her own.
"Don't worry big sister…I'm bloody leaving, I certainly wouldn't want to embarrass the all mighty Prue Halliwell!" Lexie raised her voice, drawing the attention of a couple of critics and a few curious reporters.
Prue turned to the media and raised both hands. "Everything's ok, she's fine" She cleared her throat, this time faking a bigger smile, "She's not exactly a photography lover herself" She quickly turned around and hastily reached out to grab her sister's arm before she could run away.
"Don't you dare leave, you little brat" Prue hissed, tightening her grasp on Lexie's forearm and again fighting to keep her coolness. "Sophie, please, help me out here" She took a deep breath, "there's plenty of food on the buffet tables, take her there and make her eat something…anything, as long as she gets her act together" Prue was hysterical and very disappointed, her face just couldn't hide her feelings; and her sister was perfectly aware of that.
Lexie suddenly felt a struck of guilt running through her veins. "Prue…I'm … I'm sorry" She swallowed her pride.
"Yeah? Well lately those 'I'm sorry's' have suddenly become a recurring aid in your vocabulary to justify that irresponsible and wild behavior of yours!"
Lexie closed her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose, and then turned her gaze to her sister. "What do you really want from me Prue?" Lexie spat. Her arms anxiously spread wide.
"Nothing!, 'cause I'm sure that's the only thing I can get from you"
Prue's words were like a bucket of icy water on Lexie's back. She was deeply hurt by her sister's coldness and apathy, but then again, that's exactly what she wanted, her sister's hatred. She just nodded.
"Take her away Sophia…please" Prue sighed deeply, also pinching the bridge of her nose. "Just…just go."
"Ok dude, I'll see what I can do to calm your sister down" Sophie wanted to smile but she couldn't; she held Lexie's hand and dragged her away, feeling sorry for Prue.
"Traitor!" Lexie mumbled, glaring at her friend.
TBC
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