Chapter Two
Chris was sitting at the breakfast table with a miserable look on his face as Paige flounced into the room and poured herself a cup of coffee.
She sat down on the chair next to him and pretended to flick through a magazine. Every now and then she glanced over at him. He was idly poking at a muffin, looking as if the world would end in 10 minutes and he would be the cause.
Paige bit the inside of her lip, determined not to pry into his business. It wasn't like she didn't have enough on her mind right now.
She lasted a total of five seconds before she slammed down the magazine and faced him irritably, "What's wrong with you?"
He drew a breath as a frown creased his forehead, "Well, actually I-"
Piper breezed into the room saving Chris the trouble of finishing his sentence.
"Good morning Paige!" she said, sounding oddly perky, "Here, have a muffin. I just baked them." She pressed one into Paige's hand before returning the tray to the bench.
Paige could only stare "Er, I… thanks." It was the last thing she felt like, but she forced herself to take a bite. When Piper turned away to fuss with the dishes in the sink Paige quickly orbed it to the bottom of the trash can.
"Where's Phoebe?" Paige asked, the silence was driving her insane.
"Oh, she's at work." Piper answered, "Had to get a head start on her column."
Piper placed the last dish in its place, put down her dishtowel and sauntered out of the kitchen.
Paige quickly turned to Chris again, "So?" She prodded expectantly.
He stood up suddenly, not meeting her gaze, "I can't talk about it."
He practically fled from the room when Piper returned with Wyatt on her hip.
Paige stared after him, "Weird guy."
Paige orbed into a broom closet, squealing as quietly as she could when her hand brushed against a slimy object that felt a lot like hair. Telling herself it was just a mop she slowly opened the door. She caught a glance at her reflection in a window and quickly brushed off her pink t-shirt. Paige walked briskly to Phoebe's office trying to look causal. She banged on the door repeatedly, then gave up and let herself in. Phoebe glanced up in surprise; her reading glasses perched on the edge of her nose.
"Paige? What are you doing here? You can't be here. I'm so behind. So, so very behind. I'm glad we had this talk, I'll see you at home."
Paige took in the amount of folders and loose pages lay on Phoebes desk, maybe she should come back later after all.
No way. She took a couple of steps forward, "What's his deal?" she burst out finally.
Phoebe didn't follow, "Whose deal?" She replied, looking slightly annoyed
Paige flung her hands in the air, "Chris Perry. Who is he? And, what kind of name is that?" she concluded thoughtfully.
Phoebe shook her head slowly, "I don't have time for this." She answered, standing. "Have you thought of asking him?"
She half-pushed Paige out of her office, ignoring the protests that followed.
Paige narrowed her eyes as she flicked through the Book of Shadows. If their mysterious visitor were in here, she'd find him.
Oh precious inspiration! I've written another chapter. You are shocked, you are amazed... you are wondering if an alien has taken over my body. And the answer is yes, yes it has.