Please Be Careful With My Heart

Disclaimer: 'Charmed' is not mine. I just love it so much so I did this. So, please don't sue me.

Chapter 17

Paige had been waiting for Piper, she hadn't seen her since she brought her home the night of the set-up. 'I can't blame her if she never wants to come here and face all these horrible people again.' she thought, but that thought went through the window when she heard some guys whistling.

She turned around to see her simple, reserved best friend in a very chic cream-coloured off-shoulder blouse, a brown leather miniskirt, and a 'Greek goddess'- inspired heeled sandals with straps wrapped around her calves. 'Am I in the right school?' Paige asked herself.

Piper's face was masked with make-up, her hair full of waves down to her back. She was smiling and winking to her admirers, making the guys melt. She looked made up but if one look closer and just observe, sadness and numbness can be seen in the girl's face.

"Oh Piper! You're hot!" One of the guy spectators screamed. "Sleep with me!"

Missy and Ashley heard the commotion and both gasped when they saw who was in the centre of attention of the guys, obviously not them.

"I gotta say, she's got good fashion sense." Ashley whispered eyeing Piper from head to toe.

Missy immediately nudged her friend. "Whose side are you on?" and Ashley gave her a 'do you even have to ask that?' look. "The slut has come out of the closet." Missy whispered.

"Oh my!" Phoebe gasped. Apparently, she just arrived.

"Phoebe!" Missy was surprised to see her friend behind her and happy at the same time. At least now, Phoebe can finally see the slut that was her sister. "See? I told you so." She pointed to the girl the guys now have been trying to capture.

'That was what she shopped for yesterday? And here I thought she shopped for books.' Phoebe thought looking at Piper's outfit.

"What is she up to now?" Phoebe asked no one in particular.

"You tell me, she's your sister." Ashley retorted but received a stone glare from Phoebe. So she instantly thought of a justification. "Which you hate, loathe and despise." Ashley looked anywhere but Phoebe.

"The only motive I can think of is that she will use that to get Leo back." Missy said proudly. 'I am brilliant!'

Phoebe looked at Missy. 'That could be right.' Then she looked at Piper with suspicion.

"I mean what better way to get your guy back than present yourself to him, wholly, like some delicious meal." Missy explained then she thought about what she just said. "I-I don't mean she's delicious. I mean… you know what I mean."

The three stared at Piper as if she was some kind of a disease.

UUUUU

Paige stayed stunned for another minute but pulled out of it and ran to her best friend. Piper was flirting with a guy who Paige recognised as one of the bullies at school. From a stranger's point of view, Piper seemed to be enjoying the attention and the move of the guy. But Paige knew better, she knew Piper.

"Excuse me?" Paige interrupted with a fake smile but never waited for an answer and just pulled Piper and dragged her into the girl's room.

"Paige, let go of me!" Piper tried to pull herself out of Paige's grasp to no avail.

They entered the girl's room, Paige shut the door and finally let go of Piper. "What's the matter with you?" Paige demanded for Piper's explanation. Piper glared at her for a moment.

"This is what they think of me, so be it." Piper muttered coldly then walked to leave the room and to escape from Paige's interrogation.

"That is the lamest explanation I've ever heard!" Paige exclaimed. Then she pulled Piper violently and pushed her to face the mirror. Paige trapped Piper between herself and the sink.

"Shit! Paige, let me go!" Piper cried, she was close to tears and Paige could sense that but she had to rescue her best friend from this insanity.

Paige hugged Piper from behind trapping her hands across her chest and they were both facing the mirror. Piper was still trying to escape but Paige wouldn't let her. Yes, Paige is younger but definitely taller and stronger than she is.

"Look at yourself, Piper." Paige said sternly. But she could see from the mirror that Piper was looking down, not wanting to look at her reflection. 'You're really testing my patience.' Paige thought. So she held Piper's face and forced her to look up and see herself in the mirror. "I said look!"

They were both staring at the mirror for a moment.

"Piper, this isn't you." Paige whispered sympathetically but with distress.

Piper's eyes were glassy with tears starting to form, but no! She wouldn't let them fall, not again. She would never break down again. She's changed. Piper could feel Paige's hold on her loosen as they both stared back at their reflections. So, violently she managed to pry herself away from Paige.

"People change." Piper shrugged her shoulders then smiled slyly.

'Damn, she's good.' Paige thought. 'If I don't know her, she could clearly pass for a downright hussy. Thankfully I do know her, and this has to stop.'

"Not like this, we don't! Not from a tender-hearted teenager to a cold-hearted bitch in a blink of an eye!" Paige shouted. "If you think transforming yourself into someone else will help you forget the pain, then you are absolutely wrong." Paige said narrowing her eyes. Anger was starting to well up in her, not to Piper, but to her means of healing, if that can actually be considered 'healing'.

"This is the new me, and if you can't stand it? Then I guess I have to look for a new friend. What do you think?" Piper reasoned coolly, she raised her eyebrows. That statement made Paige gasp. Then Piper checked and fixed her self in front of the mirror, she could see Paige behind her staring at her in disgust and it hurts her. But she had to do it. With a straight face, she turned around to face Paige. "One who can accept me for who I am." Then without looking back she walked away and went out of the room. But she heard Paige's voice clearly. "But that is not who you are!"

UUUUU

I'm sorry for the very short chapter. I really want to give you a longer one but I'm really busy right now. It's our finals and it's been really hectic. So I might at least give you what I came up with than make you wait for so long, right? I'll make up next time, promise.

oh and I recommend the fanfic - "CLOSE TO HOME by johannah". It's so good! let me tell yah!

to syad yniar: I think we have the same wavelength.

to everyone: forgive me?