Chapter 4Truth Hurts

Piper had waited three weeks now and was really starting to get worried. I cannot be pregnant. Prue will kill me. Thoughts raced through her head. She wasn't even eighteen yet, there's no way she was ready for a baby. She paced in front of the window again. Prue would kill her if she knew she ditched class. Leo was taking forever. He should have been back from the drug store by now. Their plan had been to meet back at the manor around 1. Where was he?

Leo made his way around the isles at the store. This felt too awkward for him. It's not everyday you have to go buy a pregnancy test for your girlfriend. He smiled at an elderly lady who was trying to maneuver her buggy through the crowded isles. He hurried past her to the isle he had been dreading to go down. As he scanned the items he could see all the different products. His eyes landed on a box of condoms. Now you show up. He shook his head as he looked down closer to the floor. "That'll work." He grabbed the box and rushed to the counter. He sat the box down and watched as the cashier scanned it. A loud beep made him look up at the lady.

"I'm sorry sir, I'll have to get a price check on this."

"It's twelve dollars." Leo answered, his face showing the disbelief.

The woman grabbed the microphone from beside the register. "Price check on lane 2, EPT pregnancy test. Price check for pregnancy test."

"You've got to be kidding me." Leo whispered under his breath. He could feel the sting in his cheeks as his face turned a lovely shade of red. After what seemed like forever he was more that relieved when the woman handed him the small brown bag. Tucking it under his arm he hurried out of the store. Thank goodness he didn't see anyone he knew.

Charlie waited impatiently by the road for Phoebe. He watched as other kids walked by, books in hand. He himself had already given up on school. To him there was no real point, at least to him there wasn't. It was time for her to be leaving for lunch. He thought he'd surprise her and pick her up. He smiled as he saw her coming out the door talking to someone. His smile quickly faded as he saw who she was talking to.

"I know, I thought it was pretty cool. At least we didn't blow up the lab." She looked up at him

"Yea, but you have to admit, Mr. Smith's face got pretty red when the smoke started to poof." Cole couldn't help but smile at her.

"Phoebe!" They both looked up to see a very angry Charlie quickly walking toward them.

"Charlie." Phoebe recognized that look. Fear ran through her. She looked over at Cole, almost pleading with him not to leave her.

"I better go." Cole walked away, although part of him wanted to stay with her. He walked off but turned back to see Charlie glaring at her. He shook his head and turned to walk away.

"I can't believe you." Charlie grabbed Phoebe by the arm, almost dragging her to his car. "I thought I'd do something nice, I thought I'd surprise you and this is what I get?"

"Charlie, it's not like that. You're hurting my arm." She tried to pull away but his grip was too tight.

"Shut up and get in the car." He opened the door and watched as she slowly leaned down to get in.

"Where are we going?" She tried so hard to hide the fear in her voice.

Paige walked to the cafeteria. She wasn't really hungry, but at least she got to see Kyle. He hadn't asked her out yet but she was hoping he would. He was the best runner on the track team.

"Paige." Kyle shouted out from behind her.

"Hey there." She smiled as he ran to catch up to her.

"So, what's on the menu today?"

"Peanut butter and jelly as always." She shook the small lunch bag in her hand.

"I thought you said your sister could cook." He joked.

"Come on, or well end up sitting in the nose picking section." She crinkled her face as she said it.

"Ew." Kyle reached down and took her hand as they both started to jog to the courtyard behind the school. He knew where she wanted to sit and made it to the fountain with her before anyone else could show up to claim the spot. "How's this?" He managed to say between breaths.

"Perfect." She smiled as he reached down and brushed some leaves that had fallen off of the bench. This was the spot where most couples went to eat lunch, the best place though was to sit on the concrete bench. It was just barely big enough for two people. "What did you bring?"

"He smiled as he took a bowl from his bag. "Left over pizza."

"You're gonna eat it cold?"

"Yea, taste better that way." The two of them started to eat their lunch. "Paige, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure." She took a bite of her sandwich.

"Well, there's a banquet coming up for the track team, and I sort of wanted to know….would you go with me?"

She wanted to stand up and scream. She didn't think she had ever been this excited. "I'd love to." She watched as a smile spread across his face. The two sat there and finished eating both looking up at each other every now and then to shyly smile.

Leo walked up the steps and was met by Piper who opened the door. "It's about time." She grabbed him by his shirt and pulled him in the house.

"Nice to see you too."

"I'm sorry, I'm just anxious." She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek.

"You know how to work that thing?"

"Leo, honey, there's only one way to do it." Piper patted him on the shoulder. She started up the stairs but stopped when she noticed he was behind her. "Where are you going?"

"With you."

"I don't think so. You do know I have to pee on a stick?"

"Ew. I didn't know that." For the second time today Leo's face began to blush. "I think I'll just wait down here."

She laughed a little as she watched him walk back down the stairs. She shook her head and continued to the bathroom. Closing the door behind her she took in a deep breath. "Here we go." She took the test from the box, her hands shaking slightly.

She walked back down stairs to Leo. He was pacing the floor.

"Well, what did it say?"

"I don't know, I couldn't look."

"Piper!"

"Well, I'm scared Leo. What if it's positive?"

"Piper, whatever it is, I'm here with you and I will always be here with you." He reached down and took her hand. "We'll look at it together." Slowly the two walked up the stairs.

"Charlie, you're scaring me." Phoebe looked at him. He hadn't said anything the whole time. They were just sitting in his car in an empty parking lot. "Charlie, say something."

The pain hit her quickly this time as she felt the blow. It was the same eye as last time.

"I told you last time not to do that to me again. I'll be damned if when I show up today there you are, with the same guy as before. What the hell are you trying to do?"

She was trying to focus. He had hit her harder this time, she could feel the tears forming in her eyes.

"Answer me damnit!" He grabbed her by the arm, squeezing tightly.

"Let go. Let me go!" She shouted. She felt the sting again as he hit her. This time she felt the blood that dripped from her lip. Suddenly her fear turned into rage. Out of nowhere she got up enough courage to hit him forcefully with a head but. His grip loosened as he let go of her to hold his now bleeding nose. She opened the door and ran as quick as her legs would carry her. She wasn't far from the museum. She knew Prue would be there.

"Phoebe!" Charlie called out.

She didn't even turn back to look. All she wanted right now was Prue. She turned the corner out of the parking lot, there in view was the museum. She tripped as she tried to step onto the curb but quickly pulled herself to her feet. She grabbed the door with a trembling hand and pulled it open.

"Can I help you miss?" A security guard asked, looking intensely at her wounds.

"My sister. I need my sister." Tears now streamed down her face.

"Phoebe?" Prue watched as her sister turned to face her. She could see the blood now on Phoebe's lip, and what looked like a swelling eye. "Pheebs!" She shouted as she ran to her, taking her in her arms.

"I'm sorry Prue. I'm sorry." Phoebe melted into her sister's arms, crying uncontrollably now.

"It's ok." Prue tightened her grip on her sister. She could feel now that Phoebe was trembling. "Calm down honey, you're safe now." Prue was struggling with tears of her own. This was the first time in a long time that Phoebe had seemed so vulnerable. She didn't know what was going on, but she knew she'd find out.