Everything was going downhill. Leo's temporary job has ended last week. Money had been tight and we were in danger of losing the apartment. I needed to get a job as soon as I turned eighteen and got my license. That was two weeks away. In addition, I recently learned that Phoebe had been kicked out and was living with Roger and Prue temporarily.

Even the one thing I'd always had was fading away. The reason I left home was now becoming a reason go back.

My relationship with Leo...

"Oh, shut up about that, would you?" I yelled as I pulled on my jeans that morning.

His response came from the living room as I sat down on the bed.

"Come on Piper, just admit it. You regret choosing me!" he retorted.

"I never said that!" I screamed, jumping up and walking out to the living room. "I just said I wish I hadn't dropped out of high school! You're twisting my words!"

He stood up quickly and took one step towards me. Inches from my face, I saw tears in his eyes.

"I just need to know that I still make you happy," he whispered. He took a deep breath. "Piper, one day you're gonna realize how much I fucked up your life. When you do, I don't want you to hate me. I need to know that you won't..."

"Fucked up my life?" I questioned in disbelief. "What are you talking about? You need to know that I won't... what?"

He stared at me for a moment. "You'd be so much better off if we'd never met..."

"Shut up!" I screamed. "Don't even say that!"

He turned and walked away as I started to cry. I heard the door slam behind him. I fell back hopelessly on the sofa.

I don't know what time the fight started, when it ended, or when I fell asleep on the sofa. I woke up that night with a pounding headache. I stood up and stumbled to the bathroom. Glancing in the mirror, I ran my fingers through my hair a few times and sighed.

I grabbed the bottle of ibuprofen on the counter, popped the cap off, and shoved a few in my mouth. I walked into the kitchen and gulped down some coke out of the bottle. As soon as I swallowed the pills, the door opened.

"Leo?" I called.

I heard the bedroom door slam with no response. I sighed and decided to venture in.

"Babe?" I asked as I opened the door. The room was pitch black. There was no answer. The feeling of being ignored stung my heart. I closed the door without another word. I grabbed a blanket from the hall closet and laid down on the couch. I knew I wasn't going to be able to sleep. I was wide awake. There was no chance of crying myself to sleep. Just inevitable crying.

Around six a.m., I decided to get up and make breakfast. As I placed the plates on the table, Leo emerged from the bedroom.

"I made breakfast," I said.

"Not hungry," he muttered, slinging his jacket over his shoulder and walking out the door without a glance in my direction.

"GOD!" I screamed after he left. I threw myself in a chair and buried my face in my hands. I couldn't go on like this...

We were in the midst of yet another fight the following week.

"Yeah, that's right. It's all my fault, because I don't have a job! Go ahead, blame it on me!" Leo yelled.

"I'm not blaming anything on you. I just don't know how we're going to keep this place without any income," I replied calmly.

"Well I'm sorry that I'm not good enough," he shouted.

"Ugh," I muttered under my breath. I turned away and headed for the door.

"So you're just going to walk away from this?" he yelled.

"Why not? You do all the time," I screamed, looking back at him.

"Get back here. NOW!" he demanded.

I ignored him and reached for the door handle.

He followed me.

"Don't EVER walk away from me!" he roared.

In a flash, his hand raised, and hurtled toward me. Before I even knew what happened, I fell to the floor. I couldn't breathe.

His face was blank as I stared up at him. Half of me was terrified of the monster I'd never seen before. The rest was in shock.

"Piper," he whispered. "I'm so-"

"No," I said coldly. "No. Go away."

He reached to help me up.

"Get away from me!" I screamed.

"I didn't mean to..." he started again.

"Get out," I cried. "Just leave!"

He looked so helpless.

I tried to get up, and he reached again to help me.

"Don't... Don't touch me. Get out," I whispered again, not daring to look at him.

As soon as he was out, I clumsily stood up. I slammed the door shut and locked it.

My stomach was in knots, my head was spinning, and I felt like I was going to be sick.

I fell back to the floor, still dizzy from the rush. My face stung from the impact.

"Oh, god," I whispered, sobbing and gasping for breath.