Warning: This chapter contains swearing, mentions of food, school, dogs and family.

Okay so I'm not so sure about this chapter bc I started writing it at like 1am so I just feel like it's not as good? idk

Anyhow Hazel! wow

I just wanted to write abt awkward babes so I did and yeah

xxxxxx

It was one of those rare occasions in which Piper's mother was actually at home. She was a former model, now working with a cosmetics line, and the definition of a business woman. She was travelling from place to place so much that sometimes Piper didn't know what continent their mum was in.

It wasn't that big of a deal anymore. Piper could handle herself for a few weeks. Besides, if there were any emergencies she could always call her dad. Or better, his assistant.

Anyhow, there she was, moving from one side to another in their kitchen, preparing her child's first homemade dinner in three weeks. She was going on about some annoying coworker she had to deal with while sprinkling salt on a pan.

"I swear to you, she never shuts up. It's unbelievable. 'Aphrodite, are you sure that's the right date? Hm? Really?'" Aphrodite rolled her eyes. "I hate that woman."

"Last time you spoke like this about a coworker you got him fired." Piper pointed out, chewing a piece of a carrot. When was the last time they had eaten something healthy?

"I got him fired because he was threatening Tiffany. I also kicked him, but that's a whole other story." She giggled, like it was no big deal. Maybe she wasn't around a lot, but their mum was decent enough.

"Shit." Aphrodite cursed, picking up a small glass jar up and taking a look at what was in it. "Piper, honey, didn't you buy any salt?"

She shook her head. "Only table salt. I haven't been cooking much."

"So you've been living of junk food?"

Piper shrugged. "More or less."

Their mother put the jar back in its place with a sigh. "I suppose that's my fault. But we still have to eat tonight. Can you be a dear and ask the neighbour to give us some salt?"

"Mum." She jumped off the counter she was sitting on. "Are you talking about Hecate? That lady likes you, not me. Last time I was over there she wouldn't let me leave until she read my palm. "

"She does that with everyone. Besides, I'm not about to go talk to her in this state." She gestured to herself, as if to imply she had just rolled out of bed- sure, she had gotten out of a flight a few hours ago, but she still looked as impeccable as always; if she took off her apron, Piper was sure she could have a photo shoot right there.

They were, however, a wonderful child, so they dragged themselves out the door and across the hallway to face Miss Hecate's apartment door.

Miss Hecate was a witch. At least she claimed to be. All day long she'd have middle aged housewives coming in and out of her house, begging to have their fortunes read. The woman was strange, that was sure, but she was smart. She had managed to make a business out of her "powers", and according to Piper's mother, she made a respectable amount of money from it. It took a few seconds for Piper to remember what she was actually there to do, until she knocked on the witch's door.

The person who opened it was definitely not a witch. They were short, shorter than her, which was hard, with dark skin and curly hair that fell on their shoulders. They wore a dark grey uniform that she was sure wasn't designed to flatter anyone. "Can I help you?"

"Uh, I'm looking for Miss Hecate?" Piper balanced themselves on their feet. "You don't look like Miss Hecate."

The person looked puzzled, like they weren't sure if that had been a joke or an attempt at teasing. "Well, she's not available at the moment. I'm her niece, Hazel."

"Wait, what?" Miss Hecate always seemed like the type of person that didn't have a family, so the information took a few seconds to settle in. Then, it hit her. "Get out of here- you're Jason's cousin!"

Hazel lifted her eyebrow "How do you know that?"

"I go to school with that guy, he told me who his aunt was a while ago." She chuckled. "Shit , I keep running into you Graces."

"I'm- I'm not a Grace, actually." She said quietly. "Um, but what was it that you wanted?"

Piper snapped their fingers. "Right! Salt. Sea salt. We ran out. Could you borrow us some?"

Hazel seemed a bit relieved. What on earth did she think they wanted? "Uh, sure. I mean, I don't know where it is exactly, but Hecate should have it."

"Try checking in the kitchen."

"I was going to." She turned around like she was going to leave, but then turned back around. "Could you help me? It's just I- I don't want to leave you waiting or anything."

Actually going into Hecate's apartment was not exactly something that she wanted to do, but she wasn't about to say that. "Sure." She replied, shrugging.

The house smelled like incense and cats, which was a complete mystery seeing as the only animal Piper spotted was a dog sleeping on top of a bean bag. Other than the occasional crystal ball resting on a shelf, it wasn't too freaky.

As it turned out the salt wasn't in the kitchen- Hecate used it for some kind of purification spell, according to her niece-, so the two of them turned to opening every drawer they could find in hope that eventually they found the damn salt.

At one point the silence got too awkward for her. "So, Hazel" Piper started, pulling a handle. "Why have I never seen you before?"

"I don't live around here." She informed. "Well, didn't. I moved in last wednesday."

"Wh- what school do you go to?" They were about to enquire why it was that Hazel moved, but they figured if she wanted them to know, they'd have told them.

"Jupiter Academy. I'm in grade 10."

"Never heard of it."

"It's not far from here. And the people are nice." She stated, pausing to cough when she picked up a specially dusty box.

"Found a boyfriend yet?"

In response to that, Hazel made a noise, a mix of coughing and squealing. Piper was about to say a 'I was kidding, calm down' when the girl pulled the salt jar they were looking for out of a drawer and handed it to them.

"Uh, thanks man." They took the jar from her hands, which, they noted, were pleasantly warm."I'll give it back once I'm done with it- I mean, my mum's done with it."

" No rush. Aunt Hecate's next appointment's only tomorrow." The girl said with a hint of a smile on her face. Piper suddenly found herself at a lost for words.

"Well, uh" They mumbled, closing a drawer. "I'll be going, then. Now. I'll be going now."

"I'll see you later."

"Yeah." Piper nodded. "Yeah, you too."

After leaving the witch's house and having Hazel close the door behind her, she was left thinking what the hell had just happened.