Charmed and Dangerous—Part 2
Summary: In this story Prue never died, and Paige is not a long-lost sister—just a cute girl that Phoebe meets at college.
Rating: R
Sitting in her Intro to Psychology class, Phoebe couldn't help glancing again at the clock, pursing her lips in dismay to see that only three minutes had passed since the last time she looked. She suppressed a growl of irritation; Paige was sitting right next to her, as usual, and Phoebe didn't want her to think that anything was wrong.
"You okay, Pheebs?" Paige whispered in an undertone. "You seem kinda jumpy."
Phoebe groaned, wondering for the second time today just how transparent she was. "Just had a little too much coffee this morning," she whispered back, not wanting to be reprimanded for talking in class. She flashed Paige what she hoped was a reassuring smile, and Paige smiled back. The warmth in her dark eyes and the dimple in her cheek were enough to send a bolt of electricity straight through Phoebe's stomach, settling insistently between her legs. The glance between them lasted perhaps longer than it needed to; Phoebe couldn't help it, she always got a little bit lost whenever she had Paige's attention directed at her. It had started out so innocently, a friendship born of like minds and academic striving. On the very first day, in that huge lecture hall filled with overeager freshmen, it had been Paige who first opened her mouth and challenged the professor. She didn't even raise her hand, she just interrupted him and told him she disagreed with him. It had sparked a good-natured debate that most of the class had eventually joined, and as the lecture came to a close, the teacher had said that he was glad to see that this year's students weren't note-taking zombies. Phoebe had liked Paige right away for her boldness, her zest and independence. Had liked her so much that she had gone right up to her as they filed out of the hall and told her so. They'd walked out into the bright San Francisco sun together, discovering that they both had a half hour break before their next class, and decided to go for coffee in the student lounge to pass the time. From then on, it had become a regular occurrence. They talked about anything and everything, from Phoebe's family to Paige's wild past and how she had turned her life around when her mother died. They talked about school, they challenged each other's ideas, they giggled over stories of how Phoebe had terrorized her sisters as a child. And then, inexplicably, Phoebe had realized that she wanted more. It had freaked her out at first, having never felt an attraction to a girl before; but every time Paige laid a friendly hand on her bare arm or their knees touched turning lecture, Phoebe felt her body crying for more. And as much as she'd wanted to dismiss it as a crush, she knew better. Her feelings weren't simple lust. She thought about Paige constantly, daydreamed about the smell of her hair; she even found herself waxing poetic about the girl's beautiful handwriting. There was no doubt about it, Phoebe wanted Paige bad. And sometimes—when she said something silly to make Paige laugh, or when they were saying goodbye—she thought she saw something more in Paige's eyes, too.
But there was only one way to be sure, and as the bell rang and snapped Phoebe out of her reverie, she realized that the time to act had come.
"Well Phoebe," Paige said as they gathered their books, "I think we'd better skip the coffee thing today."
"Huh?" Phoebe looked up despondently, her stomach dropping like a tiny skydiver.
"I think you've had more than enough already, twitchy. I'm eighty-sixin' you for your own good."
"Oh," Phoebe sighed, her stomach leaping back up and into her throat, making her slightly queasy despite her relief.
"So how 'bout we take a walk to Jamba Juice instead? It's such a pretty day, and we can get you a nice relaxing mango smoothie. Sound good?"
"Yeah," Phoebe smiled, "that sounds great. And it is a nice day," she remarked as they stepped out onto the grass. "I know I'm enjoying the view." Phoebe's stomach pulled another kamikaze as Paige looked at her in mild surprise. Oh my God I did not just say that! But Paige either didn't think anything of it, or chose to ignore it, as they strolled leisurely across the campus. Pale spring sunlight warmed Phoebe's back and shoulders as she walked, trying not to stare at Paige too obviously. But, Goddess, she was so beautiful. Phoebe couldn't help ogling her a little, with her porcelain skin, long legs, and cherry lips. And her hair, like polished mahogany that tumbled down her back, catching the light and seeming to soak it in. Swallowing her nervousness one final time, Phoebe cleared her throat.
"So, Paige…I was wondering…" Phoebe faltered, and Paige cocked her head in a "go on" sort of way. "Would you…maybe…wanna do something some time? With me?" Paige stopped walking and Phoebe cringed. Oh God, I am the queen of lameness. Real smooth, Pheebs, oh fuck…
But Paige was still studying her with an inscrutable expression. "Phoebe Halliwell, are you asking me out on a date?"
"I…um…I…" Lost in her own world of panic, Phoebe looked anywhere but at Paige, until she felt a soft caress of fingers against her cheek. Looking up, brown eyes locked together for a long moment. Then Paige leaned down and kissed Phoebe with incredible gentleness, her lips whisper soft, her sweet breath invading Phoebe's mouth.
"Ohhh…" Phoebe sighed, having been rendered incapable of speech.
"I thought you'd never ask," Paige grinned. Phoebe grinned back stupidly, as all her pent up nerves left her body in a rush, leaving her weak-kneed and slightly dazed. Paige continued to study her, then raised one eyebrow mischievously.
"That's the first time you've ever asked a girl out, isn't it?" She asked.
"Well…yeah," Phoebe admitted bashfully, then returned the sly smile. "Technically, it's the first time I've ever asked anyone out at all. I don't usually have to do the asking."
"Ooooh, my, but we're cocky, aren't we?" Paige teased, still grinning widely. "So what do you want to do on our first date, oh Princess Phoebe?"
Phoebe swatted Paige playfully on the arm. "What, I gotta think of everything? Why don't you be the boy for a while?"
"Hmmm, okay." And without preamble, Paige grabbed Phoebe by the shoulders and kissed her soundly, right there in the middle of the quad. Phoebe got over her shock quickly, and returned the kiss. Her hand grazed down Paige's back, making lazy circles on the soft skin between her top and the waistband of her jeans. Paige opened her mouth slightly, and Phoebe took the invitation. As their tongues touched, Paige whimpered softly into Phoebe's mouth.
"Oh, yeah, get busy girls!" An enthusiastic male voice rang out across the quad and the two broke apart, grinning at each other in mild embarrassment. Phoebe's hand remained on the small of Paige's back.
"You were saying…?" Paige drawled.
"Hmmm, well I've had a few ideas since our last chat…"
"I'll just bet you have."
"And I know exactly how we're going to spend our first date."
"Care to let me in on it?"
"Nope." Phoebe giggled at Paige's childish pout, even as she admitted to herself that it was sexy as hell. "Don't you try that pout with me, miss Paige. I'm a youngest sister, I practically invented that pout."
"You're really not going to tell me?" Paige asked in a sweet, pitiful voice.
"I just want to surprise you," Phoebe said softly, and immediately Paige's pout dissolved.
"Okay," she whispered back, her voice soft and breathy.
"Just bring a jacket, and wear comfortable shoes, K?" Paige simply nodded, grinning stupidly as Phoebe had been moments before. "I'll pick you up at 7." Glancing down at her watch, Phoebe got another jolt when she realized they were both already five minutes late for their next class.
"Dammit!" She squeaked. "Paige, we're late. You better run or you're never gonna make it to the photo lab before they start developing and you're locked out."
"Aww baby, you've got my schedule memorized?" Though there was a playful glint in her dark eyes, Phoebe could tell that Paige was genuinely touched.
"Yep. I'm your very own certifiable stalker."
"As long as you're mine," Paige murmured, giving her one last luscious kiss on the lips before she turned to go. Stepping in opposite directions, their hands stayed entwined until their arms were stretched to their limits, and then their fingers gently fell from each other's grasp. To Phoebe, San Francisco had never been more beautiful. She walked in a daze to the Science quad, grinning so much her face hurt. But she didn't care. She knew exactly what she was going to do for her first date with Paige (and she spent a few moments glowing over Paige's use of the term "first date"—implying that there would, by definition, be more). And it was going to be perfect. The only snag was, she didn't have a car- and that meant she was going to have to ask one of her sisters to borrow theirs. And this time, she knew she would never be able to withstand the sisterly interrogation as to where she was going and why she needed it. She swallowed hard, as her euphoria twisted into a sharp bundle of nerves. But she could do this, she told herself. Paige was worth it.
