We silently walk back towards the condo each of us lost in thought. As we near the building I hear someone yell Prue's name. At first I don't recognize the voice but when he shouts again I know Victor is close by. I look in the direction of the voice and see that he is standing right outside the entrance to Prue's building, effectively blocking our path. I turn to Prue and see anger swimming in her eyes, she looks ready to kill.
Paige: Prue calm down don't do anything stupid.
Prue: Stay here Paige.
Paige: I don't think so. Prue lets just go upstairs, ignore him. If he doesn't go away we'll just call the cops.
Prue: Stay here!
I can't remember a time when I have ever heard Prue use such a stern voice and I immediately stop following her towards the building. She walks over to Victor and I can hear every word of their heated argument.
Prue: You bastard! How dare you show up here.
Victor: Prue, I don't know what she has told you, but she clearly has some issues. I would never hurt anyone of my girls.
Prue: Well she certainly has a lot of scars for never being hurt by you.
Victor: She has been lying to us for years about her college plans, her last two years of high school she never came home until after midnight. The scars could have came from anywhere, she was out of control all through high school. I love my girls, I would never hurt you.
Prue: I don't care what you say Victor I know Paige is telling the truth. The only reason she did any of those thing in high school was to avoid being around you. How could you do those thing to her, to anyone? And your excuse is because you aren't her biological father. I'm ashamed to be your daughter.
Victor: Prue you don't know what you are talking about, her father was horrible man that brought nothing but pain to our family.
Prue: Save it. Mom already told us how great a man Sam was. Now leave! I don't ever want to see you near any of family, got it!
Victor: I'm not going anywhere until I see my daughters.
Prue: Victor if you don't leave I will call the cops and...
I see Victor glance over in my direction, he must have just noticed that I had been standing here the whole time. He briskly walks away from Prue, in mid-argument, and towards me. As he gets closer I can feel all the anger from the years of abuse bubbling to the surface and it scares me. I change my stance to a defensive position ready for a fight, when I see that his hands are curled into fists at his side. When he reaches me he quickly swings his fist at my face and I duck to avoid the blow.
Victor: You ruined my family!
He tries again and this time I let his punch hit my cheek bone. I quickly counter with a right-hook and I feel his nose break as my fist makes contact. He is now off-balance with blood streaming out of his nose and as he tries to punch me in the stomach I quickly grab his hand and twist it behind his back. I then kick his legs out from under him and he falls hard on to his stomach. I maintain my hold on his arm as I shift my weight pressing his body hard into the sidewalk. I bend over land look into his eyes and I see the fear behind them.
Paige: You come near me or my family ever again and this will seem like a picnic. Consider this your last warning. I'm not a scared child and I am no longer someone you can push around. I have the upper hand now so don't push me.
Victor: I'm going to kill you, if it is the last thing I do.
Paige: Victor if you try to kill me it will be the last thing you do.
Prue: Paige, the police are on the way.
Paige: Fine. Guess what Victor? There are two security cameras outside of Prue's building and about a handful of witnesses that saw you hit me before I struck back in self defense. I think that is what they call assault and battery, and I will be pressing charges.
Prue: Are you ok, Paige?
Paige: I'm fine.
I hear the sirens get closer and finally the police arrive. The police question me and several others about the assault and eventually handcuff Victor. I quickly fill out all the forms required to press charges and make my way back over to Prue, who has tears running down her face.
Paige: You ok?
Prue: No, my dad just attacked you. He hit you.
Paige: I let him.
Prue: What? Why would you do that?
Paige: The only way they would arrest him was if he actually hit me.
Prue: You're too smart for your own good sometimes, he could have really hurt you.
Paige: We better get upstairs.
I walk in and see that Piper, Phoebe, and mom are sitting on the couch watching tv. Prue and I quietly sit down in the chairs and start watching as well when mom turns off the tv.
Mom: Where have you two been, your an hour late. I specifically told you to get back her by eleven.
Prue: Ran into Victor on the way back.
Mom: What happened?
Prue: He wanted to come up and tell us how Paige imagined everything..
Mom: Where is he now?
Paige: Jail.
Phoebe: What?
Prue: He was waiting outside the building for us and I started yelling at him to leave. We were arguing back and forth and then he saw Paige and attacked her.
Piper: You ok, missy?
Paige: I'm good.
Mom: What did he do to you?
Paige: Just ran up to me yelling and then tried to punch me. I ducked the first punch, I let his second punch hit me, and then I took him down.
Phoebe: You let him hit you, are you stupid!
Prue: Actually Pheebs it was smart, that is what got him arrested. Paige pressed charges.
Mom: Where did he hit you?
I turn to look at them and point to my bruised left cheek bone.
Piper: I'll get some ice.
Paige: I'm fine, no ice needed.
Piper: Your cheek is all bruised, you need some ice.
Paige: Its been over an hour since it happened I doubt it will get any worse. So are we going to the museum?
Phoebe: Don't change the subject. I'm getting you some ice and your going to use it.
Paige: Can you put it in a glass and then add some water, I promise I'll use it then.
Piper: You know what she means and don't fight us on this.
Paige: Listen, it's not a big deal. It doesn't hurt and I've had worse so just let it go.
Phoebe: Not a big deal! I can't believe you just said that. He attacked you!
Paige: I'm not stupid Phoebe, I know he attacked me, but he didn't hurt me, ok!
Piper: Paige your face is all black and blue it has to hurt.
Paige: It looks worse than it is I swear.
Mom: Girls stop arguing with each other. I'm going into the bedroom to make a few calls, no fighting while I'm gone.
I look up and see Phoebe walking into the room with a glass of ice-water and an icepack in her hands. I roll my eyes and Prue gives me a dirty look and mouths, 'just do it.' I look back at Phoebe and she is now sitting on the couch, with Piper, still holding the icepack and water. I really hate this, they are treating me so different. I just want things to go back to the way they were.
Phoebe: Come on over Paigey.
Paige: Why?
Piper: Come on Paige we're just trying to help.
Paige: Guys its really fine.
Prue: Look Paige just do it, it will make us feel better.
I let out a sigh and walk over to Phoebe and hold out my hand waiting for her to give me the icepack. She grabs my hand and pulls me on to the couch in between her and Piper and then puts a pillow on her lap.
Phoebe: Lay down Paigey.
Paige: Oh come on. I agreed to use the icepack isn't that good enough.
Piper: Just lie down Paige and we'll watch some tv.
Knowing that I am not going to get out of this I reluctantly lay down hugging my knees to my chest so Piper has enough room to sit. As Prue flips through the channels Piper grabs my legs and stretches them out over her lap. I flinch slightly when Phoebe presses the icepack against my cheek and she quickly lifts it back up.
Phoebe: Oh god, did I hurt you?
Paige: No, it's just cold.
Prue: Paige, ice tends to be cold.
I roll my eyes and Phoebe places the icepack back on my cheek and runs her hand through my hair. I am so uncomfortable laying down with my sisters like this. Its just so not normal, we haven't gotten along the last few years and I haven't even lived with Piper or Prue in over 6 years. This along with everything else is starting to wear on me and I start to feel tired once again.
Piper: Paige relax, your so tense.
Paige: I'm lying down how much more relaxed can I get.
Phoebe: Paige just close your eyes and take a couple of deep breaths.
I do what Phoebe says and I can feel my muscles loosening little by little.
Phoebe: Thats it Paigey keep doing that.
I keep my eyes closed and concentrate on my breathing, listening to some Meg Ryan movie Prue has picked out.