A/N: Hi, so I'm random...and this my little contribution.
Hope you like.
Paige 101.
Nightmares.
I wake to the sound of birds chirping and the typical San Francisco sun blazing through my window and at that particular moment my nightmare had began.
I can't go through with it. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever. It's just too hard.
I pull myself out of bed, intent on getting out of today's planned trip back to school. The person I needed right now was probably still lying in bed. It is still early but this is going to be a task in itself so I have to have all the time I can get.
"Pruuuue." I whine like the ten year old I am. Well I'm almost eleven but I don't want to be all grown up and responsible today. I want my 'normal' life back, whether people believe it is or not.
I hear some sort of reply through her closed door, then it's pulled open. I would have laughed at my sister's less than perfect appearance but my heart wouldn't have been in it. Also I had just got her out of bed, so my kindness won out.
"I can't do it, not yet." I tell her in all seriousness but again I think it comes out as a whine. However I push that a side and for a brief moment it seems as though she agrees with me. As I said, it was brief.
"We have to, Paige."
No we don't! I yell in my head. If we were having this conversation a few weeks ago, the words would have actually left my mouth but they didn't. I didn't feel like fighting, I felt like crying.
So instead of my angry voice, I shrink, not that I could get much smaller compared to Prue, and whimper "I'm not ready."
Strangely, Prue pulls meinto a hug. It hadn't been the typical Halliwell gesture the past few weeks, which I had to admit, I missed.
I mean I'm ten guys, I need help with this! Okay, so it's a bit unfair to say my sisters have to take care of me but it's not like I have anyone else.
"It's too soon to go back to school." I mumble, while she attempts to comfort me.
"We'll be fine." she replies.
Who are you trying to kid, Prue? I once again yell to myself but I'm not the only one hurting at the moment. I just feel as though I am. So I keep my mouth closed like the good little girl I am.
"Now go and get yourself ready and we'll have breakfast." Prue's voice has a lot of fake happiness in it at the moment. If she's doing it for me, I wish she wouldn't.
I sigh as she lets me go and I walk slowly back to my room, aware that her eyes are still on me. Well that didn't work.
After changing, I do as I'm told and I go down for breakfast. Walking in, I find Piper stood behind the stove, looking as excited about school as I do.
"Morning." I mumble, getting a glimpse of what she was cooking.
"Morning." she replies, offering me a small smile.
"Do we have to go?" I try to plead, with my best puppy dog eyes.
"Paige, do you think, out of everyone in this house, that I want to go back?" she asks me gentle, not realising that itonly made me feel guilty.
I look down and focus on the kitchen counter. School was tough for Piper, I knew that . But if she'd come out of her shell a little, people would start to notice what a great person she is.
"I just think it's too soon." was my answer, as I begin to draw with my finger on the surface. It was the only way I could get out of looking at Piper's concerned eyes.
After a long ear-ringing silence, the toast popped, making us both jump.
"Squirt, could you set the table for me please?"
"Sure." I respond before something in her sentence catches my attention. "Piper?"
"Hmm."
"Can you not call me Squirt, I mean I am almost eleven." I say in all seriousness but I then hear a little laugh escape her closed mouth at my words. Why is that so funny? I don't get the joke.
"Well see Squirt."
"Piper." I whine again, just as Phoebe walks in.
----------
The car journey was in silence. All I had to listen to was the terrible DJ that insists that his cool and hilarious.
We had hardly spoke since breakfast and the most we got in the car was Prue telling us to buckle up or we're walking.
Once again, we hardly say bye as we go our separate ways for class.
Am I living with strangers? It feels that way.
Walking into my classroom, I notice there's a few people in there as well and that their eyes automatically follow me to my seat.
I grab a pen and paper to begin to doodle, hoping to ignore the burning eyes on me.
Ignoring had become a big part of my life lately. This was just another thing to add to the long line of things I choose to ignore.
"Are you okay? Paige."
I look up at the sound of my name and smile. "Hi Glen."
Glen, my best friend in the entire world. Grams always calls him 'my partner in crime.'
Grams…
"Are you okay?" he repeats gentle, bringing me out of my thoughts.
"Not really." I mumble again. Another habit I was picking up fast, mumbling.
Giggling comes from behind me and I turn to see who it is. Kelly, Lindsey and Chloe, were sat huddled together.
"What's so funny?" Glen asks for me, as he faces the pack of hyenas too.
"Nothing." Kelly smirks, acting all innocent.
God I wish Phoebe was here to give her a smack in the mouth. I turn back round, once again wishing to ignore the world but one of them begins to hum and another joins in with the words.
"The sun well come out tomorrow…."
Where have I heard that before?…..I know I know it……..think….Annie!
I snap at that moment and spin round to face them again. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I was just singing Paige."
The fake innocence in Chloe's voice makes me want to vomit. What is it with these people, who enjoy mocking other's pain? How would they deal?
"Yeah, I mean it's nothing to run home and tell your parents about." Lindsey smirks evilly, knowing she had hit a swore spot. In this school, everyone knew where to hit a Halliwell and do damage. Only there wasn't many who would stoop that low.
My reaction was to stand quickly, causing my head to have a slight dizzy spell. Tears now brimmed my eyes, as I feel someone tugging at my jacket.
"Paige." Glen whispers, pulling me away from the giggling trio. "Come on."
"Don't worry Paige, orphans have good homes too." Kelly calls, as Glen begins to pull harder to get me out off the room.
I spin on him as soon as we are out in the hallway. I must look mad because he raises his hands in defence.
"You don't need to get in trouble today, Paige. Your sisters would go mad." he explains and I physically relax, tears falling down my face.
He pulls me into a hug, instead of the laughing I had expected. What I didn't need right now was Glen calling me a cry baby, which usually happened when I cried. I guess things have changed.
He's still a goofball though. I've watched him shoot a pea out of his nose…that was quite funny, especially when it landed in Grams coffee.
But there was no more Grams.
Am I really an orphan? I guess me and my sisters are. No Mum, No Dad, No Grams.
"Don't listen to them Paige," Glen sooths. "..Your going to be okay."
I was expecting some sort of joke….I don't know if I like changes. I want normal Glen back and I want Grams too…and why I'm at it, I want Mum as well.
"I'll t-p their houses for you tonight."
There's normal Glen. I can't help but grin at his offer and nod my head in agreement.
"Come on then, we need to go to the stock room 'cause my mum's not going to let me use all of ours." he grins pulling me along the hallway.
I hope we don't get caught or Prue will kill me.
----------
End of the day came and Glen had a bag full of toilet paper, as he waved good-bye with the hugest grin on his face.
I walk over to Piper and Phoebe , who seemed to have had a brilliant day like me. Do you sense the sarcasm?
"Prue's going to Andy's, so we've got to walk." Phoebe informs me.
I nod my head and once again our conversation of choice is silence.
I had been walking for a little while now, when suddenly I hear tyres screeching and the impact of two boys on roller blades. My head shot up to find the boys lying in the road. They seemed okay as the driver helps them up.
I glance to Phoebe and she has a really weird look on her face. I don't know why, maybe she knows them?
Nope she can't do, as her feet start moving again.
We walk into the manor and all I can do is smile. Happy to be home and away from the nightmare left outside. I sigh as I watch Piper head for the kitchen and Phoebe to the couch.
Why are we ignoring each other? Grams would be having a hissy-fit right about now if she saw us.
Stuff it. I'll deal with it tomorrow. At my resolve I take a seat next to Phoebe. She doesn't even seem to notice me here. As I open my mouth, the doorbell goes and so does Phoebe.
I'm not paying much attention but two words catch my attention. Social Worker.
'Don't worry Paige, orphans have good homes too.' the words ran in my head like the fire alarm, which schools always test, but then don't really know how to turn off.
Orphan? Orphan? It just won't shut up. I only now notice Piper is at the door and is escorting three other people inside. One, judging by the appearance, I wished they'd left outside.
Their words are going way too fast for me to catch up. Situation….Sevron Burton…..ex-husband!
"Which one?" Phoebe mutters.
I try to hold back my snigger but it's too late, as the three newcomers look in my direction.
"…your guardian."
Guardian? He's a stranger and a disgusting one at that.
"We're okay as we are." the words left my mouth before I fully understood what I was doing. "We don't need a guardian."
Everything else is a blur, until they tell us they'll be leaving. The only problem, they left Sevron behind.
"Where's my room then?" he smiles.
Where ever your house is dude, 'cause your not staying here.
Before I can vocalise my thoughts, I'm once again being dragged, It seems to be a theme of the day, by Piper as we chase Phoebe.
"Phoebe where are you going?" Piper calls. The only thing is, why am I being pulled along for the argument?
"To get Prue…"
Great idea! She'll kick this guys butt out of our house. Wait, why have we stopped moving?…and why aren't we getting Prue?
"Of course they would!.." Piper sighs.
Now what have I missed?
"…we knew they wouldn't just leave us to it."
What? Now you tell us! Phoebe looks mad, I mean real mad. She actually has a little of scary, angry Prue in her eyes. Something is said but my mind is just spinning.
"..You and Paige are too young to handle…"
Whoa, back up there Piper. I'm handling this the best I can and I think I'm doing great for a ten year old orphan possibly living with the first ho-bo social services could find.
After my inner rant, I notice Phoebe has disappeared and I'm being pulled back into the house. Sevron is stood in the foyer with a dirty smile on his face.
How did Grams marry the guy?
Piper barely stops when she sees him and instead heads straight to the kitchen, with me still attached. Sohe gives you the creeps too, huh Piper? I ponder, glancing over my shoulder.
He winks at me and I suddenly feel a cold, and somehow slimy, shiver run up my spine.
Piper lets go off my hand when we get in her safe room and she instantly grabs the phone. It was no secret who she was calling. She needed help. We all did.
The only problem; where the hell was Prue?
A/N: There you go.
My turn over. ;o) catch you all later. Bye.
