I walk outside the campus and sit under a shady tree. It is warm and sunny here, almost too hot. If I were in New England right now, it would be snowing, and freezing. I'd drink hot cocoa while looking through my portfolio. If I could teleport there, I would, in fact that would make my life a whole lot easier. My friend Derek comes and sits down next to me. "Whatcha thinking about?"
"Photography."
"Photography? Why would you want to do photography, that's so boringgg!" He drags out his g and I know he's being sarcastic, he knows some about me, but not a whole lot, after all, and we just met in one of our "interesting" courses.
"Yeah, well." I feel exhausted; suddenly I'm confused. So confused, and angry. I don't get it, I'm only twenty, I can't even legally drink; yet I'm saddled with all this f…ing responsibility. Why is it always me? Why do I have to be the oldest? I should be able to do what I want; I'm twenty freaking years old for god's sake. Derek looks at me weirdly, and I realize I'm having a melt down, in my head. I quickly compose myself and smile back at him; melt downs are for when you're under the covers and no one is looking.
"What's wrong?" He asks, looking at me straight in the eyes. For the first time I notice that one of his eyes are blue and the other is brown, I guess I've been too immersed in myself to see anyone else.
"Just a little stressed out with taking care of my sisters and all."
"Well I would think you would be, Prue. But you're all they've got so hold on."
"Yep, I'm all they've got." I get up and smile at him, "Well I better go home,"
"Nice talkin' to ya Prue." He says.
"You too." I say and put the car keys in the ignition. I drive recklessly back to the Manor, I'm all they have. I keep saying to myself, you can't leave them now; you're all they have.
These are the words that are lodged in my brain during the whole ride home; and I know if I don't keep repeating them, I just may leave.
PhoebeThe drive home is silent, especially after we drop Justin off. Something is different, something that I can't put my finger on. But Piper is sitting there, looking off into space, and Ryder, instead of keeping his eyes on the road, is keeping them on Piper. He's staring at her intently, smiling in a way that he knows something, and he's happy to have this information. "Ryder!" I yell, as we swerve past a truck. "Keep your fucking eyes on the road!"
"Phoebe, don't talk to me like that." At first I think he's joking, but he's dead serious, there's something in his eyes that tells me this.
My voice gets lower, "I'm sorry." I'm a little creeped out by this sudden mood swing, and I don't want it to happen again.
He smiles at me and his eyes get bright again, "It's okay, just don't do that again."
Piper gives me a worried look, and I roll my eyes back at, her.
"So how did everyone like their ice-cream?" Ryder asks, looking directly at Piper.
"It was really good." Piper says quietly, "Really good."
"Yeah, thanks for paying Ryder." I say, putting my hand on his.
"No problem babe." He stops by the manor and pulls me into a full kiss, his breath hot in my mouth.
"Bye." Piper tells him, and drags me out of the car. He waves to us and winks at me.
Once he drives off she says, "Ryder huh?"
"Yeah, I really like him, isn't he nice? He's nice." I suck in the air and look at Prue, her hand's on her hips, shouting something at us through the window.
"We better go inside before Prue kills us." Piper says, ignoring my question.
"Didn't I tell you guys not to get in the car with random boys?" Prue has us sit on the couch.
"That's Phoebe's boyfriend." Piper puts in smugly.
"Aren't you too young for eighteen year olds?" Prue asks.
"He's seventeen." I put in, knowing I'm in trouble.
"You're a freshman and he's a junior. Phoebe." She sounds disappointed, so I roll my eyes.
"Yeah, I think she should break up with him, find someone her own age." Piper says. I glare at her, feeling embarrassment rush to my face, Piper usually sides with me, this means that Prue definitely is going to try to stop me from going out with him.
"Okay, Pheebs, you are not going out with this guy." Prue says, nodding, knowledgeably.
"No. What the hell? You didn't even meet him? He's so nice. You can't do this!" I can feel my body get tense and Piper rolls her eyes at me.
Piper
Phoebe is mad at me, and I can tell. After all, I'm using this to my own advantage. I don't know what, but something makes my mouth open and say, "I think Phoebe and him are having sex."
"What?" Phoebe says, getting up and screaming, her brown hair flying past her face.
My mouth opens again, I can't control it, "Yeah, they were like all over each other before."
"Phoebe, we can't have this. I can't believe you would be so immature, you can get pregnant; you know the risks! God Damnit Phoebe, do you have to defy everything I tell you?"
"We are not having sex, okay? We are NOT!"
Prue looks disbelieving of Phoebe and disappointed. "I can't believe you would do this to me! You know how much of a hard time I've been having. You know, it's not a piece of cake taking care of you and your petty problems, but I try, you could at least help me, but you need to defy me don't you?"
"Prue, let me just say it wasn't MY choice to have you come and take over. I tried to help you, but look; to you I'm still just a little kid. Every time I try to explain something to you, you don't listen rationally. We didn't have sex! How come you always listen to Piper, it's not like she's a saint or anything, she was flirting with my boyfriend!" Phoebe glares at me, and I gulp uneasily. I didn't flirt with Ryder, he flirted with me, which is why I'm worried about Phoebe going out with him in the first place. I would tell Prue that Phoebe is right, but I can't get a word in edgewise.
"Well right now you haven't really proven to me that you should be treated like an adult. Piper has never done anything wrong, she's responsible, and caring. You… I don't know what to make of you." Prue shakes her head and sighs and Phoebe who's fuming in anger.
"But, Prue, I'm totally wrong. I'm sorry for saying that Phoebe, I must-
Prue shakes her head yet again, "Don't worry Piper, you don't have to stick up for Phoebe, it's okay, Phoebe will be dealt with accordingly."
PrueI am totally clueless as to what I am going to do. Sure, I've yelled at Phoebe before and played the mother, but when it came to the extreme punishment I always handed her over to Grams. This is something that I obviously cannot do. I don't know whether to give her a pack of condoms, or yell at her endlessly. I wish there was some sort of class that could teach you this. Phoebe has run upstairs and slammed the door behind her. I dig in my drawers and find a pack of condoms under a mass of clothing. I sure haven't used them in awhile, and to tell the truth, I'm a little bit jealous of Phoebe. I don't know what I'm going to say to her when I give these to her. I told Grams I would take care of Piper and Phoebe, especially Phoebe. What happens if she gets pregnant or some horrible disease or something? I just hope I don't have to give her the birds and bees speech again. I knock on the wooden door, and I can hear her rustle against the bed sheets. I wonder if Phoebe was telling the truth about her and Ryder, I hope so, but knowing Phoebe, she isn't.