Ch. 8: Dating the Quarterback

Piper threw a few books into her locker and grabbed her sketch book. She slammed her locker shut and sighed heavily. Leo had called the night before, shortly after she'd talked to Prue, and asked her out to dinner. He'd also asked her to bring some of her work in to school so he could see just how good she was.

"Hey hun," Phoebe said as she exited from the ladies room near to Piper's locker. "Off to meet your beau?"

Piper blushed. "He's not by 'beau' yet. He only asked me out."

Phoebe shook her head. "Piper, when are you going to accept the fact that he really likes you? You keep trying to find reasons as to why he would ask you out, trying to avoid the fact that he really does like you. Why?"

Piper sighed. "I don't know. Guys have just…never noticed me. And to have a guy like Leo…actually be interested in me…I just don't know how to react. I don't feel good enough to be his girl. I'm not as beautiful as he thinks I am and I'm afraid he'll realize that and…I just don't wanna get hurt."

Phoebe looked really touched and she hugged her sister right there in the hallway, holding back tears. "Oh honey! You are beautiful, you are! You are so beautiful outside and in! You're talented and honest and caring and, and- You're just such a wonderful person! And any guy who can't see that will never have the perfect girl."

Piper leaned into her sister's shoulder.

"You're not the only one who thinks so Phoebe."

The two sisters turned and saw Leo staring at Piper with moist eyes.

"Piper," he said, "I've liked you for years. I know that you can't see a guy actually caring for you as much as I do. But…I do, Piper. I really like you and I wanna get to know you and be close to you. I've never known a more beautiful person."

Piper's eyes filled with tears and she smiled. "Thank you…"

Leo smiled and took her in his arms. He whispered into her ear, "Listen, I know it's not something you'd do, but you wanna skip and go see movie or something? I don't want to wait to get to know you."

Piper smiled and looked up, looking as though she were trying to think. "Ok."

Ch. 9: Catching Cole up

"Phoebe?"

Phoebe turned around and saw Cole smiling at her.

She grinned. "Hey stranger!" She threw herself into his arms and gave him a short, but sweet, kiss. "When'd you get back from Columbia?"

"Just last night, around five," he said smiling. "So how was your summer?"

Phoebe smiled and kissed his nose. "It was very nice, thank you. First we went with Piper to Italy; you know how she loves art. Then we went to an island in the Bahamas for about a week and after that it was a really lazy summer; we basically just sat around the house all day."

Cole smiled. "Sounds perfect."

Phoebe gave him a few pecks on his Adams Apple, still wrapped in Cole's arms even though they were in the middle of the hallway and could very easily get detention for public displays of affection. "So how was Columbia? How's your dad's foreign lady friend?" She said her last scentence with a mischievous grin.

Cole smiled. "She's fine, thank you. She's actually a pretty fun lady. There was only one surprise when we got there; she has a son my age."

Phoebe gasped, in a happy surprised way. "She does? Wow, that's amazing! What's his name, what's he like?"

Cole sighed, still smiling, as though he had not been breathing. "His name is Miguel and he's…a five year old trapped in the body of a sixteen year old."

Phoebe giggled. "So basically he's your twin."

Cole nodded. "Yep!"

Phoebe smiled even wider. "Well good. Anyways, I have a lot to tell you; you missed an awful lot over the past first week of school."

Cole got a look on his face, one that said he was hungry for the gossip only a woman could provide. "Tell me."

Phoebe nodded and began to go down her list. "First, my sisters and I got our powers-"

"What?" Cole exclaimed. "That's wonderful!"

Phoebe grinned and kissed him as a sign for silence and that she'd answer questions when she was done. "Then Piper got asked to the Cupids Ball by none other than…Leo Wyatt!"

Cole gasped, but kept quiet.

"Then Paige got asked out by the best guy friend I never knew she had," Phoebe continued. "I think his name was Glen. Plus, as I have just been informed by Grams, over the break we have next month my sisters and I get to go visit a school where magic is taught instead of math and science and all the other cow dung they call lessons!"

Cole hugged her until she had to step on Cole's toes as a sign she couldn't breathe.

"What's this school of magic called?" Cole asked.

Phoebe gave a small chuckle and said, "They call it Magic School."

Cole nodded and chuckled to. "It's so original! Brilliant!"

Phoebe continued. "We get to go there because all witches go sometime during there normal schooling years. All four of us are going, my sisters and I, because we all just received our powers. We even have the choice of quitting our normal school careers and attending magic school full time, like regular witches, though I doubt Prue or Piper will do that."

"Will you attend that school?" Cole asked. "Full time, I mean."

Phoebe looked unsure. "I don't know. I don't want to leave you."

Cole looked at her reassuringly. "Phoebe, don't worry about me! I want what's best for you! If you want to go or not, that's what I'm asking."

Phoebe stared at him lovingly. "Yeah, I kind of do want to go."

Cole smiled. "Then I say go for it. But, in the mean time, will you be my date to the Cupids Ball?"

Phoebe smiled and kissed him. "I will Mr. Turner."

"Well, Mr. Turner and Miss Halliwell," said a cold voice, "I suggest you get to class."

They didn't have to look to know it was their evil vice principle. They shared a short peck of a kiss and both hurried off.

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there you go Cole fans! As always, R&R and let me know :