CHAPTER 9: ROMEO AND JULIET

Pipers classes were finished, but she had rehearseal for "Romeo and Juliet". For two days it will be Schoolday and she will play Juliet in front of the audience.

When she came , she saw teacher very upset.

"Mrs Wilson? What is wrong?", asked Piper worriedly.

"Oh, Piper…", whispered Mrs Wilson through tears "Show is off."

"What! Why!", Piper did not understand.

"Teds parents just called me. He fell down the stairs and broke his leg."

"Oh, my God! ",Piper was speechless. ""Is he okay?"

"Doctors are operating him right now."

Piper shook with her head. Ted and her were good friends and they have spenrt lots of time practicing because Ted was supposed to play Romeo.

"I have to go to visit him", thought Piper. In that moment, she heard teacher s voice:

"Leo! Leo, come over here!"

Leo was passing by , he was on his way home. He stopped and turned around. His heart jumped when he saw Piper, but he tried to stay calm.

"Yes, Mrs Wilson?"

"Leo, you wrote great essay about Romeo and Juliet! We need replacement for Romeo since Ted will not be able to participate! You think you can do it for two days?"

Leo looked to Piper, but she turned her look away from him.

"I will do my best, Mrs Wilson", said Leo with smile.

"Oh, that is awesome! Thank you! Piper!", called Mrs Wislon. Piper did not had a choice, she had to come toward them.

"Yes, Mrs Wilson", asked Piper quietly.

"Piper, I am counting on you", said Mrs Wilson , taking Piper s hand in her hands "I am counting on you to help to Leo to prepare for role of Romeo."

Piper nodded with her head. She did not had any choice. She looked to Leo and said, trying to sound cold:

"Come at my place at eight this evening."

Leo nodded and Piper just went away, greeting only Mrs Wilson.

Prue and Phoebe were all set for going out. Piper was walking nervously in her long green dress.

"This is not too much…Ya know?", Piper asked , pointing at dress.

"Noooo!", said Prue and Phoebe added:

"It is great! Just for the occasion!"

Prue elboved Phoebe.

"Ooooouuuuch!", exclaimed Phoebe.

"It is too much!", panicked Piper "Oh, God! Maybe I should put my hair in tail!"

Bell rang.Phoebe kissed Piper s cheek and laughed:

"Too late, sister!", she opened doors and pulled Prue for a hand.

"Hi, Leo! Bye, Leo!", they both exclaimed and ran away, leaving Piper and Leo all alone. At last. Grams went to her friend s birithday one hour ago.

At first, Piper was silent. As well as Leo. Than she took a deep breath:

"Hello, Leo."

"Hello, Piper", replied Leo. He had something behind his back. It was beautifull bouquet of red roses and little package. He handed it to Piper "These are for you."

"You shouldn t had to", said Piper, feeling that she is blushing.

"I wanted to", he whispered.

Piper felt butterflies in her stomach. To stop this , she gave him slight smile and said:

"Thank you. Come in", she let him pass by her and felt the scent of his perfume, she almost collapsed. He was here! Leo Wyatt was in her house!

"Give me your jacket, I will just hang it in hall. You come in and make yourself comfortable. I am just finishing dinner. Hope you are hungry?"

"You are cooking?", asked Leo, feeling a bit relaxed. Piper laughed:

"Yup. Do not worry, Pheebs and Prue are eating my meals whole lives and they are still breathing!"

"No, I did not meant to offend you…", started Leo and looked to Piper s eyes. She was soooo adorable, smiling to him.

"I am sorry, Piper. It is like I can not do anything but to offend you."

"It is okay. Would you like to go to kitchen with me so I can finish lasagna?"

"Yeah, sure", he replied as he followed her to the kitchen "Lasagne?"

"Aha", smiled Piper, remembering her crazy sister Phoebe telling how Leo would be totally over his heelsfor Piper if he tries famous lasagne a la Piper Halliwell!

"Lets see will it work, Pheebs!", she thought, smiling while thinking how Phoebe wanted to get an excitant to put it in lasagna. But, Prue spiced it with "They do not need it, Pheebs!"

Piper turned again to Leo.

"Hope you will like it", she said.

"Looks and smells great. I bet it tastes even better", said Leo with smile.

Piper gave him a slight smile.

"Can I help you?"

"No, I am almost finished", replied Piper.

Leo looked around kitchen. He saw few photos of Prue, Phoebe and Piper with their Dad and Grams. They were framed.

On special place were photos of Patty Halliwell. Similarity was very big, so Leo said:

"You look a lot like her."

Piper looked at him and continued with her work. But, Leo did not saw it, so he continued:

"It is your Ma, right?"

"Aha", confirmed Piper.

"Where is she?", asked Leo.

"She is dead", said Piper, almost crying.

Leo looked over to her:

"Oh, my God, Piper, I am sooo sorry! I did not knew."

She nodded and wiped her tears away.

"It is okay. You could not knew. Come on, lets eat."
She did not allowed that he had a time to hug her for a comfort. She quickly busyed herself with dishes.

"Bon appetite!", said Piper, trying to smile.

"Thanks, same to you", said Leo with smile. He had a bite and closed his eyes "Piper?"

"What?"

"This is amazing! You are great cooker!"

She smiled:

"Thanks."

After they had finished , they went to Piper s room. "Corrs" were silently playing from her CD player.

"I hope you don t mind. I love to practice Juliet with "Corrs" playing.

"No, no, it is fine. I did not knew that you like them", he smiled and added "Maybe you could open a present now."

"Okay", smiled Piper and teared of the paper and saw CD "In Blue" from "Corrs"!

"Oh, Leo…", she whispered "I have searched for this CD through whole galaxy!", she looked to him and quietly said "Thank you", she put it immediately in CD player.

"I am glad that you like it", he smiled.

She smiled too and took book "Romeo and Juliet".

"Okay, we are alone so we can talk louder if necessary for role", said Piper and Leo nodded. They started to practice. Piper was surprised cause Leo knew a lot of text out of his head. What Piper did not knew was that Leo was practicing whole afternoon!

They came to a part with poison and than Leo suddenly said:

"Piper?"

She took a look from the book:

"What?"

He closed his book and Piper saw it . Than she looked again in his eyes.

"Piper…I am sorry."

Her eyes fell down. Leo continued:

""Piper, honestly. I am so sorry for hurt you like that. It was not fair and I was acting like a total jerk. I was afraid of what will other people think. And it was stupid."

They were sitting on the edge of the bed with books in their hands. Piper let the book on bed and got up, turning away from Leo.

"I could have die if it was not for you, Piper. I do not know how will I ever thank you for saving my life…"

"Leo, please", Piper stopped him while "Give me a reason" from "Corrs" played "I do not want you to be my friend cause you think that you owe me something. You do not. When this play is over, we will go back to our lives…"

It's not romantic here in blue

Swimming, swimming in blue

You left me lonely and confused

Question, questioning you

So soon goodbye you stole my heart

I'm believing you

Was it a lie right from the start

Answer, answer me do...

Well now my body's weak - so just give me a reason

And my make-up's off - so just give me a reason

And my defense's down - so just give me a reason

Give me a reason

Give me a reason

You'll never know the love I felt

Waiting, waiting for you

It takes a weak heart to forget

Follow, follow it through

Well now my body's weak - so just give me a reason

And my make-up's off - so just give me a reason

And my defense's down - so just give me a reason

Give me a reason

Give me a reason

Give me a reason...

So what's a girl like me to do

Drowning, drowning in you

And who's to save me from the blue

Carry, carry me through

Cause now my body's weak - so just give me a reason

And my make-up's off - so just give me a reason

And my defense's down - so just give me a reason

I am strong enough - so just give me a reason

Now my body's weak - so just give me a reason

And my make-up's off - so just give me a reason

My defense's down - so just give me a reason

Give me a reason

Give me a reason

Give me a reason

Give me a reason

Give me a reason

What did I do wrong...

Piper closed her eyes.

"Piper…", started Leo, but Piper interrupted him:

"I think that we had enough practice", she turned to face him and even managed a smile. But, Leo saw it was false smile.

"Piper…", he tried again.

"It is allright. I have forgave ya. Now would ya please go?", tears betrayed her.

"Would you , please, listen to me!", asked Leo with a voice a bit higher "I do not wanna be your friend, Piper!"

"And you do not have to be! ", she also put her voice up a bit more "I am not asking you to be my friend! "

Her tears flew like river now down her cheeks.

"DAMN IT!", she exclaimed, wiping them "JUST GO!", she wanted to open doors to let Leo out , but he stopped her by catching her arms with his palms.

"DAMN IT, PIPER! WHY DO NOT YOU LISTEN TO ME! I LOVE YOU, PIPER!"

With those words, Leo pulled Piper in his embrace and kissed her. FINALLY! He kissed her passionately and gently at the same time. He was afraid of her reaction, afraid that she will push him away. But…

But, her hands around his neck were telling different! She returned kisses to him and whispered, feeling his hands around her waist:

"Leo…I love you, too…", they looked to each other and laughed. Leo gently wiped her tears away with kisses and than he kissed both her eyes.

"You just could not keep quiet and let me talk, now could ya?", he teased her.

"Gee, ya think?" , she teased him back and they kissed again.

And in that moment, doors of house opened!

Leo and Piper both jumped from a surprise.

"I thought you said that we are alone?", asked Leo quietly. Than they heard male s voice:

"Piper? Phoebe? Prue? Penny? Anybody home?"

"THAT IS MY DAD!", Piper could not believed it!