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Disclaimer: We don’t own anyone you recognize.
Part One
Prue – 20
Piper – 18
Phoebe – 15
Phoebe Halliwell threw her school bag down at the bottom of the stairs as she slammed the door to the manor shut. She just had one of those days where nothing went right. She had got a E in Math test, followed by a bad report card in general that had left to her being put on academic probation and finishing with a detention that had just seemed to drag and drag.
Grabbing her soccer ball from where it was resting on the bottom of the stairs, she placed it on the floor and belted it against the wall. It temporally relieved some of the tension that was flowing through her body. She could hardly believe that the only thing that she enjoyed and was good at, at school had been taken away from her.
Piper hustled her way out from the living scowling at the noise that her younger sister was making. She whipped glasses of her eyes as her face started to glow bright red. It was bad enough in being pressured into tutoring a jock without Phoebe distracting him and creating general chaos in the house.
“What’s the matter with you?” Piper hissed as her eyes narrowed and she seized the ball off the floor.
“Oh nothing,” Phoebe said sarcastically. “I’m just peachy can’t you tell?”
“Well if you are going to be like that, then I really don’t have time.” Piper relied quickly as threw the ball fiercely into the youngest Halliwell’s chest. “Because, I’m supposed to be tutoring Will Greenwood and it’s not easy.”
Phoebe’s eyes lit up, “Will Greenwood? The Will Greenwood? One of the most popular boys who happens to be the captain of the basketball team in school is in our house.”
“I prefer to see him as someone who is nearly not graduating.” Piper told her as she caught the glint in Phoebe’s eyes. “He’s off limits.”
“Oh no,” Phoebe replied as she made her way into the living room. “I have to say hi.”
Phoebe started to dart into the living room but stopped herself as she stood in the doorway. She caught her breath and pulled her hair out of a ponytail that it was in. She stood there for a couple more seconds as she watched Will Greenwood, she had dreamed many a night of having the stunning athlete in her house.
She watched as he moved his hand through his dark brown hair and yawned slightly. How could Piper just sit next to him looking down at a history book and babble on about Pearl Harbour?
“Hi,” Phoebe said confidentially. “Is my sister boring you?”
“Yeah, kinda.” Will replied. “It’s Phoebe Halliwell right? You’ve got yourself a reputation.”
“Yeah?” Phoebe blushed. “And you’re Will Greenwood, you’ve got yourself a big reputation too.”
“Really?” Will questioned with a knowing smile. “Well maybe we should meet up after I finish and you can tell me about it.”
Phoebe glanced over her shoulder briefly to see the red in Piper’s face deepening. “How about when you knock off today.”
“That would be good.”
“My room’s…”
“Phoebe!” Piper exclaimed, as she watched the flirting exchanges take place between the two. “I’m trying to work in here, so go find something else you can do.”
Piper watched as her little sister sloth off and the anger started to decrease in her body. She had often thought that Phoebe lived for her popularly in school without thinking of the consequences of her actions, like the time she had been caught in the boys’ locker room. Something that Piper could deal with as long as she wasn’t required to help sort out the best or it inflicted on what she was doing and this time it was.
* * *
Prue pulled up her car into the manor driveway and ejected the tape out of the machine. She wanted to turn back round and head straight back to her university dorm room instead of spending the summer sharing a room with her younger sister and telling Grams what she was doing every minute of the day. She slowly made her way out of the car and opened the boot and snatch a couple of bags as she started to take her university life and possessions into the house.
She took the gradual process of piling her belongings just inside the door while calling unsuccessfully for some help from her sisters. Receiving a series of ‘Sorry Prue’s’, ‘I’m kinda busy now’ and ‘I’ll help you later.’ The only bright side to empty her car on her was that she might be able to sneak off later to meet up with some old friends or have a phone call without someone listening in to it.
The eldest Halliwell put a CD on in the room she shared with Piper as she started to remove Piper books and toys that had been dumped on her bed. She looked through Piper’s book briefly as she quickly placed them on the desk. Prue paused as she picked up Piper’s diary and looked at it briefly so a couple of seconds before reluctantly placing it on her little sister’s bed.
* * *
Phoebe was throwing her clothes out of her wardrobe and onto the floor thinking on how such a bad day in a couple of minutes turned into a good day. She chose a plain white shirt of the floor and a pair of faded jeans off the floor, which she had already thrown onto the heap on the floor. She had to look perfect for this date, he was such a dream catch.
After a quick change of clothes and several checks in the mirror she headed down stairs and tried to catch Will’s eye, as Piper seemed to end the lesson.
>“So you see.” Piper pointed to the book in front of her and Will. “ The Japanese dropped the bombs on us while we were asleep so we weren’t expecting it. Now why did they think they needed to? Why did they shun the peace talks?”
Piper looked up at Will expecting an answer but his attention wasn’t on Piper was saying but rather who had just walked into the lounge.
“Hi Phoebe. You’ve changed.”
Phoebe smiled. “You noticed.”
“Sure did.” He smiled back at her.
“Umm excuse me.” Piper broke in. “I’m trying to tutor Will here Phoebe. Go away.”
“Oh come on Pipe. You’ve been at school for what, 6 hours. When we come home that’s meant to be a sign to stop.” Phoebe threw her hands around to emphasize her point.
Will sniggered. He saw Piper glare at him. “She has a point Piper. Maybe we can call it a day. Carry on with it same time next time?”
Piper sighed. She knew that she wouldn’t be able to get Will to change his mind or to grasp what she was trying to tell her. “Fine. I’ll see you Wednesday.” Piper walked out the room. “Don’t be late home Phoebe.”
Phoebe looked up at Will. ‘He sure is tall when he stands.’ Phoebe thought.
“What you got planned for tonight?” Will asked Phoebe.
“Nothing much. I’ve had a crappy day so I thought I would go blow some steam.”
Will moved towards the foyer. “Sure. I know what that feels like. My days are crappy all the time now.”
“Yeah but at least you will be out of education before me! That’s something to look forward to.”
Will smiled. “Yeah true. So where you heading tonight?”
“I don’t actually know. Was just going to go out and see who I bumped into.”
“Wanna crash with me?” Will asked holding out his hand.
Phoebe smiled seductively at him and reached for his hand. “Sure.”
Phoebe followed Will out the door of the Manor.
****
Prue walked in to the kitchen. To see Piper stood over the stove.
“Hey Piper.”
Piper twirled around. “Prue. Its so good to see you? How is University? How is your course? How you coping?”
Prue laughed. “Woah Pipe. One question at a time.” Piper nodded her head. “Well I’m good thanks. Didn’t really want to come home as University is a blast. Having a great time there. The course. Well its going well. And I’m coping just fine.”
Piper smiled. “I can’t wait to go to University.”
“Don’t wish your life away Piper. But I can see your point. Its great.” Prue decided to change the subject. “So who was that you were tutoring?”
“Oh that was just Will Greenwood. He is failing History and needed some help to pull his grades up to graduate and continue playing basketball.”
“Oh right, cool. So where is our dear little sister” Prue smirked.
“Lay off her Prue. She isn’t as bad as you think.” Piper looked up at Prue to see her smiling. “Okay maybe she is” She caved. “She has just departed with Mr Greenwood. She should be home later tonight.” She turned back to the stove.
“What is this Will like?” Prue asked.
“Don’t worry Prue she is in good hands. He isn’t like the rest of the jocks.”
“That’s what worries me.” Prue whispered.
“What was that Prue?”
“Nothing. Would you like some help?”
“Sure that be great thanks.”
****
“So what reputation do I have?” Will asked Phoebe as he drove.
Phoebe looked at him and smiled. “You know what It is. Your extremely good looking and your captain of the basketball team. Everything you do gets around.”
“I’m good looking.” He smirked as he looked at her.
“You know you are. Everyone knows it.”
“Why thank you.”
“Your welcome. So what reputation do I have?” Phoebe asked innocently.
“Well lets see your Prue’s younger sister.” Phoebe scowled. Will caught this. “But that is nothing. Lets just say you’re extremely good looking and everything you do gets around.”
“Oh really? Like what?”
“You know what Phoebe.” Will laughed.
Phoebe laughed as well she knew exactly what had gone round the school. Phoebe’s laugh died as she felt his hand entwine with hers. She looked up at Will to see him smiling.
“Phoebe I’ve liked you for so long. But never had the courage to ask. You see that was one of the reasons why I agreed to your sister tutoring me. So I could get the nerve to ask you.”
“Ask me what?”
Will brought the car to a stop. Phoebe looked round and saw that they were parked in front of a house.
“Would you like to go out with me?”
>‘Breath, breath’ Phoebe told herself as she tried to stay calm. One of the sexiest guys in school had just asked her out and she had to stay calm otherwise the whole school would know how she blew it all by being too eager. She was going to date a senior! Phoebe Halliwell and Will Greenwood, an item.
Despite his bad boy reputation for answering back and getting his own way, Will Greenwood was a real catch. And as for a reputation, Phoebe had gained a similar one herself. People were just jealous.
The grin reemerged on Phoebe’s face as she realized that if she played this right, she was going to date a senior. Will Greenwood, senior and basketball captain. She took a deep breath as tilted her head and sent him a slight grin.
“You know you’re a senior, right?” Phoebe commented. “I mean shouldn’t you be dating another senior, I mean it could affect you’re reputation.”
Will sent Phoebe a quizzical look. “I’m the basketball captain, I can do what I want and get that, without it affecting what people think. Right now I want you.”
Phoebe felt her heart flutter. This was going to happen, and she’d given him fair warning to run and he still wanted her.
She tilted her head slightly as she flashed a smile at him, “Well then I’d love too.”
“That’s great,” Will replied as he reached over to kiss Phoebe.
Phoebe felt her whole body tremble and her heart change from a flutter to a pounding as he slipped his tongue into mouth. Deepening the kiss, she felt Will hands work his way down her back and settle on her bottom.
‘This guy is an amazing kisser’, Phoebe thought to herself as the kiss finished.
“Wow,” She stuttered. “People would do anything for a kiss like that.”
“Yeah, I know.”
* * *
Piper headed upstairs to her room and her diary as soon as her grandmother had arrived and started to question Prue over what she intended to do this summer. She flopped onto her bed and put her pen in her mouth as she thought about what to write.
Her life was just so boring at the moment, no wonder she did not have a date for the Prom yet. The most exciting thing she had done was tutoring some jock who didn’t want to be there in the first place.
Prue was obviously having an amazing time at university. Just listening to her stories could not fail to make the middle Halliwell jealous of her older sister. She was getting great grades in her modules while still managing to have a fantastic social life.
Phoebe meanwhile was ‘little miss popular’ at school, spending almost every evening out of the house until at least eleven o’clock. To the extent that Piper would not be surprised at all if the rumors that she was failing her subjects at school and had been kicked of the soccer team because this were true. In fact a lot of rumors were circulating the school about her little sister as her nickname of ‘freebie’ was being used freely.
Maybe there was not much to be jealous about but she would love to have just a snippet of that popularity. Well enough to get her a date for the prom and not leave her on the sidelines like a friendless loser.
* * *
Prue stood with her hands on her hips as she watched her ‘Grams’ stir the bolognaise in the pan. Penny had taken the wooden spoon out of her oldest granddaughter’s hand after accusing her of letting the mince burn and stick to the bottom of the pan and followed this by starting to enquire exactly what her summer plans where.
Prue could hardly believe that her grandmother’s opening words were ‘what do you intend to do with yourself this summer?’ No, ‘hello Prue’, no ‘welcome home’ but what do this summer, have you got a job lined up.
She had almost wanted to run back out of the house screaming at the top of her lungs and get straight back into her car. She was a realist and understood that she would get a job but would like a day or two to relax first and get used to having to be home.
“It’s called responsibly, Prudence.”
“Yes, I know Grams,” Prue said with a small sigh. “And as I’ve said nine times already. I will get a job, I just want a couple of days off first.”
“Don’t take that tone with me.” Penny lectured.
“Sorry Grams.”
“It’s just the longer you leave it, the harder it is to get a job.” Penny explained, “And I do want you to have a good summer and that just needs a little planning and responsibly.”
“I know,” Prue said again in a bored tone. “Have you had this talk with Phoebe?”
“Don’t change the subject.” Penny told her, “Where is Phoebe?”
“Out with some jock who is three years older than her.”
* * *
Phoebe let herself be lead outside the Will’s car and into the house that he had parked outside. Looking at the darken house, doubts started to creep inside her as she felt a queasy feeling in stomach. She could not believe that she was letting herself be lead so easily by someone that she only knew by reputation. Someone who Piper had made a point of telling her was ‘off limits’.
Shrugging she dismissed this. Piper was just jealous that he had asked her out. And if there was really anything wrong with the hunky jock, she would have heard about this by a school rumor. Someone would have said something.
She was just been stupid over a house that would look different with the light on.
“You okay?” Will asked.
“Yeah, I’m great.”
Penny just stared at Prue. “Three years older. Pipers age?”
“Yep Grams” Prue smirked.
“I swear that girl likes to make me mad.” Penny muttered as she strode out of the kitchen.
“What did you do?”
Prue looked to the sound of the voice. “Oh nothing. Just told Grams where our dear little sister is?”
Piper looked at Prue in shock. “Why?”
“Because he is three years older than her. It isn’t right?”
Piper scratched her chin in mock fashion. “Umm but its okay for you to go out with someone 5 years your age?”
Prue stared at Piper. “That was different.”
“How so?”
“It just was okay.”
“No Prue. Phoebe is out with some jock from high school and you can’t take the fact that she is as popular as you were, if not more so.”
Prue stormed past Piper stamping her feet up the stairs as she went.
* * *
“So what is this place?” Phoebe asked curiously.
Will stopped walking and looked at Phoebe. “Just a place that me and my boys come to, to relax and do other stuff.”
“Oh right. Its neat.” Phoebe said as she looked around.
It really was nice. It had modern furniture with all the latest gadgets.
“How in the world did you afford all this stuff?” Phoebe queried.
“The joys of having loaded parents.”
“Oh.”
Will stopped smirking. “I’m sorry Phoebe.” He knew the Halliwell family history and though he could be a prick sometimes he wouldn’t wish the loss of parents on anyone.
“Hey its okay.” Phoebe stood on her tiptoes and kissed him lightly on the lips. She pulled away and blushed. “I don’t know where that came from.”
Will smiled. “Well I liked it. Spontaneous. You always like that?”
“Sometimes.” Phoebe grinned cheekily.
“Yo Will! Who’s the babe?”
Will and Phoebe turned to where the voice came from.
“Hi Matt. This is Phoebe. Phoebe this is Matt Rodriguez.”
“I know who you are.” Phoebe stated bluntly. “You got expelled from school.”
Matt grinned. “Yep. And you’re the little whore I’ve being hearing a lot about.”
“Hey!” Will said angrily.
Matt just shrugged. “Its what I have been hearing man. Anyways why you protecting her.”
“I’m protecting her cause she’s my girl.”
Realisation crossed over Matt’s face. “Oh.”
Will pulled phoebe into a hug. “Don’t worry about him. It takes a while for him to warm up to new people. Especially people with reps.”
“Its okay. But he does know the rumors going around that hell of a place we call school are false don’t he?”
Will started walking over to the couch. Motioning for Phoebe to join him.
Phoebe followed and sat down to his right hand side. Will placed his arm over her shoulders.
“So what would you like to watch?”
“You didn’t answer my question.” Phoebe stated.
“I’m sorry.”
“About the rumors?”
“Oh yeah he knows. He is just pulling your leg.”
“Okay.”
“So what do you wanna watch?” Will pulled Phoebe closer so she was practically sat on his knee.
Phoebe looked at him. “Would you like me to sit on your knee.” She grinned.
“If you would like.”
“Well seeing as though I’m half on half off I will.”
“My my, the rumors about that little mouth of yours sure aren’t false.”
Phoebe turned her head and once again kissed him. “Yeah maybe that one isn’t a rumor.”
Will leant in to kiss her when he pulled back teasingly. “I wonder what other rumors are true.”
Phoebe playfully hit him, grinning. “No others. People like to spread rumors. That’s all.”
* * *
Prue stood angrily tapping her foot. She had paced the length of the carpet nearly wearing it thin when she heard the door open and close quietly.
Prue walked out into the foyer.
“Where have you been?” Prue hissed quietly.
Phoebe jumped. She had hoped that no one would have been waiting for her.
“Oh heya Prue when did you get back?” Phoebe asked casually.
“Get in here now.” Prue pointed to the lounge.
“I’m kinda beat Prue. May be we could finish this tomorrow?”
“I said now!”
“Okay, okay! Jeez!!” Phoebe walked into the lounge and sat down on the sofa.
Prue following close behind and sitting on the coffee table directly in front of her.
“So where have you been?”
Phoebe sighed. “Out.”
“Where?”
“Out.”
“Who with?”
“You know.”
“No I don’t. Care to enlighten me?”
“Not really.” Phoebe grinned; she loved playing this game with Prue. It always got her worked up.
Prue clenched her fists at the side. She was quickly loosing her temper.
“Who with?”
“A guy called Bruce.”
Prue frowned. “Bruce?”
“Yeah Bruce Willis.” Phoebe laughed.
Prue scowled. “Phoebe I’m not in the mood to play games. Its nearly 2am and I’m knackered. So just cut the crap and tell me who you were out with and where.”
Phoebe yawned. “I’ll tell you tomorrow. I’m tired. I’m off to bed.” She began to get up but got pushed back down by Prue.
“No. Its your fault you are tired. Coming in this late. So you are going to sit here and tell me where you went and with who.”
“Fine, fine. Jeez Louise!” Phoebe muttered.
“Well?”
“I went out with a guy called Will Greenwood. You probably know him. And we went over to his.”
“His what?”
“His house dummy!”
Prue ignored the last comment. She didn’t like Phoebe seeing Will, he like his brother, are bad news.
“Look Phoebe.”
“Oh Prue save me the crap I know what’s coming. Stay away from Will Green wood, he’s bad news.” Phoebe put on a whiney Prue like voice. “Well tuff! I like him and you are not the boss of me. So I can see who I damn well like” Phoebe stood up. “Now I’m gong to bed. Good night.”
Phoebe rolled over in bed as she slammed her hand down on her alarm that had started to beep at seven thirty the next morning. It was far too early to get up. The same thoughts that she had every morning ran through her mind. She just wanted an extra ten minutes in bed. Scrub that she wanted the whole morning in bed.
“Phoebe”
The teenager groaned as she heard Piper’s voice from the doorway, pulling the covers over her head. Maybe if she just lay there making pathetic noises from under her duvet, Piper would think she was ill and disappear.
“Come on, Pheebs.”
Piper stared at the covers as she heard Phoebe’s bed groan at her. She carefully made her way across the mess that was blanketing the floor and started pulling at the covers on her younger sisters bed. She had no sympathy for self-inflicted suffering and never had done. It was Phoebe own fault if she’d stayed out late on a school night and she was not going to be late for school because of it.
“Phoebe!”
“I’m not feeling too good Pipe.”
“Self-inflicted Pheebs.” Piper replied as she threw a pair of jeans at Phoebe head. “Come on it won’t be that bad.”
“Oh yes it will.”
“But haven’t you got a match tonight?” Piper questioned as she grabbed Phoebe school bag.
“Can’t play,” Phoebe muttered. “Academic probation.”
“What?” Piper exclaimed as she dropped the bag.
Phoebe sunk further into her bed. What was the point of going to school if the one thing, well one thing other than home time, that she enjoyed was taken away from her.
“Academic probation.”
“Have you told Grams yet?”
“Yeah,” Phoebe replied in a sarcastic tone. “I just love being grounded.”
“Well you’re going to get up and tell her.” Piper explained as she headed for the door shaking her head slightly. “Before school.”
“Pipe.”
“Or I will.” Piper told her as she headed downstairs.
She could not believe how irresponsible her little sister was sometimes. Maybe Prue was right about her. And now she would spend the day answering questions about Phoebe and what she had done this time. It seemed like no one knew who unless they needed her for something. She was always going to Prue ‘the head cheerleader’ Halliwell’s younger sister or Phoebe ‘the boy magnet’s’ Halliwell’s older sister, never just Piper Halliwell.
* * *
Phoebe was searching through her locker and pulled out her dark blue varsity jacket along with a couple of schoolbooks. She looked down at the jacket that she held in her hands before throwing it back into her locker. She couldn’t wear it until she was allowed back into the team.
“Hey gorgeous.”
She smiled as she felt Will’s arms around her waist. Phoebe twirled around to see her newly found boyfriend, slightly hoping that other people were looking at them.
“Hey sexy.” She replied as she got up onto her tiptoes and kissed him.
Will smiled glancing around the corridor. He loved being the center of attention. And being with ‘Freebie Halliwell’ was definitely going to move him up in the popularity stakes just in time to get the perfect date for the prom. As well as helping him get some action.
“Is it true?” Will said as he looked into her eyes.
“Is what true?”
Will pulled the jacket out of Phoebe’s locker. “That you’ve been dropped.”
“I’ve not been dropped.” Phoebe said pulling away from Will. “I’ve just been placed on academic probation.”
Will grabbed her hand and jerked her back towards him. “Don’t worry it happens to everyone. The head will get over her ego kick soon enough.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, they can’t afford to lose their best players. You’ll get but back in no sweat.” Will told her. “So what you doing now?”
“Well, I should be in English in five.” Phoebe replied. “What about you?”
“I’ve got a free? Do you want to join me?”
Phoebe raised her eyebrows slightly, “Where you going?”
“Hopefully to make out with my girlfriend.”
Phoebe threw her books back in her locker. “Who needs English in the real word anyway?”
Phoebe slammed her locker down shut and smiled at the passes by as who were glaring at her. They were all so jealous of her. She had the catch of the school and he was an amazing kisser.
* * *
Prue juggled the phone in her hands as she glanced at the newspaper on the table. She had already placed red circles around several job that she could possible do, but they all involved either waitressing or working in a some form of store on a checkout. It just seemed so boring and full of thing that she did not want to do. She would be next to people that had dropped out of high school and in her humble opinion she was above that.
Looking at the phone she decided not to call a job but to try Andy’s number and see how he was instead.
Penny looked at her granddaughter from the doorway, “I’m going to aunt Gail’s.”
“Okay.” Prue muttered.
“And try to hind a job by the time I get back.”
“Will do.”
Prue watched as Penny disappear and dialed Andy’s number into the phone. She taped her foot as she heard the phone ring and waited for someone to pick up.
* * *
Phoebe felt Will run his hands up the inside of her leg as he deepened the kiss. This was so much better than English with Mr Bryce. And Will was unbelievable using his extra experience in all the right places. She decided there and then that she would do anything for that man. Now only was he raising her popularity stakes but he was just amazing.
Phoebe noticed a shadow forming above as she kissed Will on one of the school fields. She ignored it; it was probably nothing, just someone who was wagging their lessons just like them.
“Miss Halliwell, Mr Greenwood, principal’s office please.”
Phoebe looked up and her heart jumped as she saw a teacher standing over them. She was in so much trouble now.
Phoebe followed the teacher head down. She could not believe she got caught. Her grandmother was going to be so mad with her.
“Miss Halliwell please wait here. Mr Greenwood this way please.” Phoebe looked up to see Will being lead through a door to the principal’s office.
Phoebe sat down on the chairs that were there. She couldn’t believe how stupid she had been. She had skipped class while she was on academic probation, on academic probation. How stupid! Phoebe mentally scolded herself
“Phoebe the principal will see you now.”
Phoebe looked up to see Mr Wilson standing there holding the door open for her.
Phoebe stood up shakily wand walked through the door. She hadn’t seen Will come out so she wasn’t surprised to see him sat there.
“Okay Will. We will see you tomorrow and I hope this little incident will not happen again.” Will stood up and looked at Phoebe, he smiled then walked out the door.
“Please sit Phoebe.”
Phoebe did as she was told. Sitting twiddling her thumbs she waited for Mrs Mort to began talking. She didn’t have to wait long. “Phoebe can you tell me why you are in trouble.”
Phoebe scowled she hated being patronized hated being talked to like she was two years old. But Phoebe bit her tongue she was in enough trouble as it was.
“I skipped my English class.”
“Is that all?”
“I umm I didn’t go to my English class, I skipped with Will Greenwood and we got caught making out.” Phoebe blushed.
“What about this morning Phoebe. In Biology?”
“In biology this morning I shouted at Mr Taylor. He wanted me to answer a question but I wouldn’t. I didn’t understand it. So I talked back at him. I was very rude” Phoebe hoped this would work in her favour. Admitting to doing wrong.
“Phoebe I am very disappointed in you.” Phoebe’s head hung lower. “We only placed you on academic probation last week. And yet you have totally ignored what we have said. What the conditions were to the probation. We took you away from soccer hoping that that would help you settle down and work hard to be back on the team. But I can see that that hasn’t worked. My only option now is to suspend you for a week.”
Phoebe’s head jerked up. “No you can’t”
“Miss Halliwell we can do as we please. It seems as though you have these last few weeks. Now I am telling you that you are suspended for a week. You are not allowed what’s so ever to step foot on the school property. Work will be sent home with your sister; Piper, each day to be completed that day and sent back with your sister. Do you understand?”
“Yes miss.”
“Good. Now I have already called your grandmother but she is away so your sister Prue is coming to collect you.”
Phoebe shook her head.
“What is that Phoebe?”
“You shouldn’t have done that!” Phoebe shouted standing up.
“Sit down and calm yourself Miss Halliwell. I had every right to do that. Now sit down.”
Phoebe didn’t budge.
“I said sit down. Don’t make this worse than it already is.”
Phoebe looked at Mrs Mort with anger then threw herself down into the chair.
“Look Phoebe. I do not know what has gotten into you lately. But I hope for your sake that you turn this attitude around. What happened to the pleasant girl who walked through our school doors only a year ago?”
“She grew up.”
“What?”
“She grew up. Plain and simple.”
“It isn’t plain and simple Phoebe. I have heard many things being thrown about this term about you and I pray that half of them are not true. You do not want the sort of reputation you are heading for. You get it you will never be able to shake it, to get rid of it. So be careful what you do and who you associate yourself with.”
Phoebe had had enough. “Are we finished?”
“Have you listened to one word I have said?” Phoebe didn’t answer. “Phoebe when you come back from suspension I want you to have lost that lip of yours. It gets you into more trouble each day.”
Phoebe sighed, she knew what she was saying she just couldn’t sit here and listen to her rant and rave. Prue was coming. It didn’t matter what she did now she would still be in shit loads of trouble when she got home.
Someone knocked on the door and walked in.
“Mrs Mort, a Prue Halliwell is here to see you.”
“Okay send her in.” the receptionist walked back out. “Please sit down Phoebe. Don’t make this any worse.”
* * *
Prue slammed the phone down. She couldn’t believe her sister sometimes.
“I’ll kill her!” Prue growled as she picked up her keys and stormed out of the manor.
Prue drove to the High School. Replying memories in her head.
‘Where did it all go wrong Phoebe? What did I do to make you the person you have become?’ Prue shook her head as she parked her car in the visitor car park and made her way into the school she once attended.
“Hello Prue Halliwell to see the Principal.” Prue spoke to the receptionist.
“One minute please. If you would like to have a seat.”
The receptionist left, leaving Prue to gather her thoughts, and feelings. She didn’t have to wait long.
“The principal will see you now. If you would like to follow me”
Prue stood up and followed the lady to an office door she herself had been behind many times.
“Hello Prue. Long time.” Prue looked at the woman in front of her. “Please take a seat.”
Prue smiled pleasantly at Mrs Mort while sending a side way glance at her younger sister as well as taking a seat. She had always had good meetings in this office and Principal Mort had always had a good reputation with each other. This was the first time she could ever remember being in this office for a disciplinary reason even if it was not the first time Phoebe had been in there for that reason. She and Andy had never been stupid enough to get caught kissing on a school field and besides that all the teachers at school had loved her.
“Yes, it’s nice to see you again.” Prue said still glancing sideways at Phoebe. “I wish it was under better circumstances.”
How could have Phoebe been so stupid. It was not bad enough that she seemed to want to ruin her life, but now she was going to ruin all of their lives. Penny would be furious at all of them for the next couple of weeks and pick on any thing she could to express her anger.
“I do as well.” Mrs Mort replied. “How’s school going?”
“Good thank you.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I always knew that you would do well.” Mrs Mort told her with a smile. “Now to the matter in hand.”
Phoebe glanced at the ceiling as she heard her principal explain everything that had happened at that she had already explained to her. There was not much point in listening to it all again nor in looking at Prue’s disapproving glances at her. She knew what her oldest sister was thinking without looking into her eyes.
* * *
Piper headed down the corridor for the staff room, with a pile of paper in her hands. She always seemed to be the one who was send on errands for teachers. Good old responsible Piper, she will be quiet, do as she told and be more that willing to help out. She was like Lisa Simpson, always the one that was volunteered to help out whether it be running things to staff room or helping out at parents evening.
Piper knocked on the staff room door and waited for a couple of seconds. Hearing no answer, she knocked again. Yet again a silence answered her. A small wave of panic crossed through Piper, what did she do? Could she possible go into the staff room without being invited and just leave the papers in there?
As she pushed opened the door slightly a full-scale argument was in full flow. Everything in her head was telling her to close the door, that it was the right thing to do and she would just come back later. She paused for a second looking at the door; something made her kept it open. Surely it would not hurt to listen for just a little while and for a change be the first to hear the gossip instead of the last.
“You suspended her!” Piper heard her P.E. teacher yell. “First you put her on academic probation and then you suspend my top goal scorer. We will never win the league nor the cup without her. The whole season will be a waste of time.”
“School athletes should not get any special treatment, Miss Harper.”
Piper could not help agree with her principal. She was sick of seeing jocks being but first in this school. It was good to hear that one of them was going to be treated like the rest of them.
“Well, I see that’s not the case for William Greenwood. He seems to have been let of with a ticking off.” Coach Harper reasoned in a raised tone. “Or do you care more for the male athletes, than female ones.”
Piper’s heart dropped a little as realization hit her. She didn’t need to hear the next few words to know that it was her little sister that they were talking about. How could of Phoebe have been so stupid? And what in the world had she done to get suspended?
“Phoebe Halliwell has broken a series of rules since the Christmas holidays. This is not the same with William Greenwood.” Mrs Mort explained. “William has taken his role as captain and a basketball player for this school very seriously and has never had his character caught in question before.”
“This is unbelievable.”
“No it’s far from that. While William has generally acted with responsibility and good school spirit, Phoebe has used her states as a school athlete to the other extreme. And considering that fact I am not sure that allowing her to rejoin the team after her suspension is a wise idea.”
“What do you mean?” Coach Harper asked. “When can I have my player back?”
“At this rate,” Mrs Mort said before taking a pause that seemed to last an entirely. “Not until next year at the earliest and if I get my way maybe not at all, she will not be taking part in the two final league games, the cup final. Nor to I want her to receive any rewards for her work already this year. It seems to be having a negative affect on her.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m interested in the academic performance of this school not the number of sports trophies won.”
“If you were truly interested in academic performance, you would realize that physical education is the stable footing of Phoebe’s G.P.A.”
“And so is Math, English, and the Sciences. She needs to focus on them and not until she has can she receive rewards such as playing on school sport teams. End of conversation.”
Piper flung herself against the wall as she watched the young teacher storm past her muttering to herself, ‘damn favoritism.’ Piper eyes followed the teacher down the hallway before quickly dumping the papers on a nearby table and rushing out. She had to get to the bottom of this and an unbiased viewed seemed to be from a source Piper had never used before. P.E. teacher had always been more of Phoebe and Prue’s scene than her own; she normally would run a mile from the gym.
* * *
Phoebe had made a quick pit stop to empty her locker before headed to meet her elder sister at Prue’s car in the visitor’s car park. She tried to ignore the faces that were staring out of the window at her, no doubt that with this being a high school everyone would have heard the whole story by now or at least some twisted rumor. She pulled her jacket closer to her body as she felt the eyes penetrate her back and slipped slowly into the car.
She glanced at Prue as she threw her things into the back seat of the car. She was not going to let her know how she was feeling. There was no need for the perfect Prue Halliwell to know that she had been proved right.
Prue pulled the car away and out of the school in silence, wondering whether her younger sister was worth the effort anymore. Whatever she told her, however good the advice, Phoebe would just either ignore her or just throw it back in her face.
The silence in the car held for a good five minutes that was filled with deadly glances at each other. Phoebe finally sighed and reached for the radio. Prue let the music blast into the car for only a couple of seconds.
“Well I hate uncomfortable silences.” Phoebe stated as innocently as she could.
“Why do you think there’s an uncomfortable silence, Phoebe?” Prue asked sharply as she kept her eyes on the road.
“I don’t know,” Phoebe replied with a small smirk. “Maybe it’s because the car has a mute button and you hit it just as I was about to enter.”
“You think you so funny and smart! Well let me tell you’re not.” Prue spat at her younger sister as she pulled into Prescott Street. “Everything you’ve done over the last year is not funny or smart, it’s just plain stupid. And I’m sick of all you’re mess, I just don’t care anymore. So from now on you stay out of my life and I’ll stay out of yours. You’re free to do whatever the hell you like, because I don’t care one little bit, but it’s your mess to get out of yourself. There will be no help from me or Piper, no more warnings, no more talking to Grams and no more dropping everything to come to your school.”
Phoebe looked at her sister for a couple minutes and she considered what she had just said in her rant. A small smile appeared on her face as she realized that Prue was never going to stick her nose into her life again. This was more than she could have ever wanted.
“You know what?” Phoebe replied. “That’s just fine by me.”
Prue watched as Phoebe grabbed her things from the back seat, quickly got out of the car and slammed the door shot. The younger Halliwell had disappeared up the driveway before Prue realized what had just happened. The last threads of any relationship that she had had with her baby sister had just been broken.
Prue shrugged as she got out of the car. What did she care? She could finally get on with the rest of her life without worrying about Phoebe’s mess. Besides, she would probably be back with her tail between her legs before tomorrow morning.
Piper couldn’t believe what she had just heard. Her sister getting suspended and teachers actually arguing over it. Piper sighed and shook her head, this was going to cause more problems then anyone knew.
“Piper. Please may I have a word with you?” Piper looked up to see Mrs Mort, the principal stood there.
“Yes Miss, sure.”
Piper followed Mrs Mort back to her office.
“Right I don’t know if you have heard or not but your sister has been suspended for a week. Now we still need her to do her work. And I would like you to collect work from each of Phoebe’s teachers at the end of the day. Take it home have her complete it then bring it back to each of the teachers.”
Piper was shocked. Why should she be the goose, on a wild goose chase? Phoebe wasn’t going to her work she knew that. It was just a waste of time.
“Piper?”
Piper looked at her. “Sure. But oh never mind. Who are Phoebe’s teachers?”
Mrs Mort stood up and went to the computer and printed something off. She handed it to Piper.
“Right this is Phoebe schedule. And each of her teachers know that you are picking up her work for her and bringing it back in the next day. They are expecting you.”
Mrs Mort walked to the door and showed Piper out.
“Oh and Piper. I hope for your sisters’ sake that she does this work and realises that her behaviour is unacceptable. Maybe she can take a leaf out of your book.” Mrs Mort walked back into the office and shut the door behind her.
Piper sighed and made her way to her next lesson. Knowing that it was going to be a very tiring week.
* * *
Phoebe flopped down onto her bed; she couldn’t believe she had been suspended. She hadn’t really done anything wrong. Okay maybe she had cut class but everyone does that now and then.
‘But not while they are on academic probation’ A little voice in her head spoke.
Phoebe shook her head. She remembered Will being let off with a little slap on the hand, why had she been punished more than him. He was as bad as her.
She had been thinking for ages, just staring off to space when her eyes drifted shut.
She awoke with a start and glanced at the clock. Three, forty-five it flashed.
Phoebe sighed and walked out the room and into her grams room where the phone was. Phoebe dialed a number.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Its me.”
There was a pause. “Phoebe?”
“Umm yeah who else would it be?”
“So what happened?” Will asked not answering her question.
“I got suspended.” Phoebe explained ignoring the fact that he didn’t answer her question.
“What?!?”
“My thoughts exactly.”
“Why though. I just got let off with detention all week. Why did you get suspended and for how long?”
“A week and it was because I was already on academic probation.”
“That sucks.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Umm Phoebe?” Will started.
“Yep?”
“You do know you won’t be allowed back on the soccer team right?”
Phoebe’s eyes widened in shock. “What? What do you mean?”
“Just that, you are have been suspended therefore you are not allowed to play. It happened to one of my team mates on the basketball team.”
“That’s just great!”
“Phoebe, come round here. I want to talk to you about something. Better yet meet me at the park opposite the school.”
“I’m not allowed on school property.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
“Okay see you in fifteen.”
“Bye”
Phoebe hung up the phone and made her way downstairs and out the door. She didn’t care about sneaking out anymore. Prue had told her that she could do as she pleased and she was going to.
* * *
Piper walked into the Manor and dropped her bag on the floor and walked into the kitchen dropping papers on the table.
“What are those?” Prue asked looking up from the magazine she was reading.
“Phoebe’s work she missed and homework she needs to do.”
Prue didn’t say anything she just returned to her magazine.
“So you know what happened?”
Prue shut her magazine and placed it on the table. “Yes. With Grams out of town I had to go pick her up.”
“Prue why would they suspend her for just cutting class?”
“She was on academic probation did you know?”
Piper nodded her head. “Yeah she told me this morning.”
“Right anyway, that’s one reason the other is that of her behavior and attitude towards her teachers.”
“So where is she? You didn’t lay into her did you?”
“I don’t know where she is and I don’t care.” Prue exclaimed.
Piper looked at her puzzled. “What do you mean?”
“Exactly that.” Prue stood up and made her way to the lounge.
Piper followed straight after her. “What’s up Prue? That isn’t like you. I would have expected her to be cursing at you and that.”
“Yep well I didn’t I just told her some little things and left it at that. From now on her responsibility Is hers alone not mine or yours for that matter but hers.”
“Prue.”
“What Piper? What do you want me to do? I’ve had enough of her attitude and at the moment she can do as she pleases. It’s a hell of a lot of weight of my shoulders.”
“You don’t mean that?”
“Don’t I?”
“I don’t believe that you Prue Halliwell would cut her out of your life like that. Did you even listen to what she had to say?”
“There was nothing for her to say Mrs Mort told me all about what happened. How she was caught with Will skipping class.”
“Yeah well did she tell you that Will has been let off. With just a few detentions?”
“That isn’t my problem.” Prue sat down on the couch and turned the television on, signaling to Piper that the conversation was over.
Piper looked angrily at Prue and walked out of the lounge and up the stairs in search of her sister.
Phoebe stood just outside the park with her eyes fixed on the school field, which were in the distance of her view. She could just about make out twenty-two girls running up and down the field. As she squinted her eyes to watch the match further, she felt a wrench in her gut. That should have been her out there.
She closed her eyes as she imaged seeing herself playing up front. She smiled as she saw in her mind the ball landing on her chest with her back to the goal and in one swift movement she had brought the ball down and caught it on the volley. She watched as the ball flew smoothly through the air and hit the top corner of the goal, as she raised her hands in celebration before diving to the floor.
Phoebe opened her eyes suddenly as she heard a cry from the field. She was not out there and would not be any time in the near future. And it was all the fault of her stupid principal, she was not the first and she would not be the last person to miss a class.
The little nagging voice spoke in her head again. It was just as much her fault as her principal; she was the one who had lost her place on the team.
“Hey sexy.” She heard a voice behind her.
Phoebe turned around and could not help but smile as she felt her boyfriend pulling her towards her. She felt her heart do a familiar flutter as Will kissed her soft but firmly. She cupped his face before she gradually pulled away from the kiss.
“That’s quite a welcome.” Phoebe told him. “And certainly made me feel a hell of a lot better.”
“I know another way.” Will said as she took her hand and lead her out of the park.
Phoebe raised her eyebrows slightly, “Really?”
“Yeah, something that will definitely make you feel better.”
Phoebe let herself to be lead to Will’s deep red car. She watched as she opened his boot to reveal a collection of spray paints, toilet paper, bricks, and so on. Phoebe took a step back as she looked from the boot of the car to Will and back to the boot of the car. Was her boyfriend seriously suggesting that she used this on Principal Mort’s property or the school? That she broke the law in some form. Her heart fluttered again as she looked at Will straight in the eyes.
“What are you suggesting here?”
Will took Phoebe hand and squeezed it. “You get revenge, it will make you feel a million times better.”
“I’m not sure Will.” Phoebe replied as her mind filled with a muddle of thoughts. “I mean it would not be right.”
“I personally can’t think of anything better.” Will told her in a strong voice as he stopped speaking briefly so that they could hear a groan from the school field. “Think of what she’s done to you. It’s not fair, and I know just the people to help you make it fair.”
“I think, I think, I need to go home, and, and think about this all.” Phoebe stuttered. “I’m sorry.”
Phoebe quickly stood on her tiptoes so that she could kiss Will on the check, before heading off. She had to get out of there and have sometime to think. She could hardly believe what day she had just had and how it could possibly end. Would Will still want her if she said no? Would she feel any better if she did seek revenge? Did two wrongs make a right?
* * *
Piper knocked on her younger sister’s door, hoping to find Phoebe and listen to her side of the story. She failed to believe that it had been as black and white as had been suggested. She just had to believe in her baby sister and that there had been a good reason behind her suspension. A small hope that the entire event had been unjust and full of the favoritism that Miss Harper had spoke of.
On hearing no response to her knock, Piper quickly knocked again before slightly pushing the door open.
“Phoebe? Phoebe?”
Looking around the room she noticed Phoebe clothes thrown all over her bed with her Varsity jacket in the bin. She let out a small gasp as she felt her gut wretch. Why would Phoebe throw away something that she had worked so hard for? She retrieved the jacket and placed it in her wardrobe. She would not let her sister throw her life away, even if Prue was going to hold up the white flag.
* * *
Phoebe walked up her driveway as she spotted her grandmother’s car back parked in her normal position. She briefly thought about turning around and heading back out. Arguing with Prue was second nature but every time she did something to hurt her grandmother she had a horrible sense of guilt, which just would not disappear. Penny seemed to know just the right things to say to make her feel a million times worst.
The young Halliwell pushed the back door open. Her best option would be to sneak into the house to try to escape the wrath that her ‘Grams’ would unleash on her.
She glanced up and noticed her grandmother washing the dishes from earlier.
“I know,” Phoebe said before Penny could utter a word. “I’m a disappointment and I know I’ve done wrong and I’m suffering from it. And I know I should and expect to be grounded. But I still think the school were way to harsh in punishing me like this, plus they’re only hurting themselves by taking me of the team.”
“How are they going to teach you if you are not at lessons? If you spend your time with a variety of different boys instead?”
“I know,” Phoebe agreed. “But I don’t see why they couldn’t have just given me a couple of detentions.”
“Because they have tried that over and over again.” Penny told her grandmother. “Now that they have taken away something you really enjoy away I hope it will hit you what it means. One day soon Phoebe you are going to have to grow up and take some responsibility for you actions.”
“I know.”
“Think what your mother would say?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Sometimes sorry just is not good enough. When things don’t change, it makes the action of saying sorry just meaningless.” Penny explained in an exhausted fashion as she massaged her chest. “Go to your room now please, your grounded.”
Phoebe looked at her grandmother briefly before heading up the stairs to her room. If she was such a disappointment already, maybe Will was right and she should seek her revenge. She opened the window and hoisted herself onto the drainpipe and started to make her way down it.
Phoebe slowly made her way to Will’s. She knew what she was going to do was wrong but she had had enough of everyone treating her like a criminal. All she wanted to do was live. And people turned their noses up at people like her.
“Will?” Phoebe asked as she approached a male with a school varsity jacket on.
The man turned around. “Hey Pheebs! You change your mind?”
Phoebe looked down at her shoes, shoving her hands in her pockets. “Yeah. I’ve had enough of everyone dictating what I do.”
“That’s cool. The stuff is in the car.”
Will walked to his car and opened the trunk he turned his head to smile at Phoebe. “Your not scared are you Pheebs?”
Phoebe shuddered, she didn’t like the way he smiled at her. “No I’m not scared.” She stated in a voice that was betraying her actual feelings.
Will got something out of his trunk. “Good.”
Phoebe smiled slightly as he turned around. “So what we going to do?”
“Not we, you.” Will walked over to Phoebe. “You are going to use this to spray paint Mrs Mort’s car.”
Phoebe gulped. This was getting out of hand fast. Will grabbed Phoebe’s hand pulling her along as he walked over to the school car park. They reached Mrs Mort’s car, a BMW X5.
“Will I’ve never done this before.”
“Don’t worry about it.” He held the can in his hand, “Look all you have to do is this.”
He held the nozzle down as he stared to write on the side of the car – BITCH.
“Look it’s that easy, write what ever you want.” He tossed the can to Phoebe. “Well what are you waiting for?”
Phoebe held the can to the car but slowly brought her arm back down. “I can’t do this. I’m sorry.” Phoebe looked down.
Will roughly grabbed her chin bringing her head up to look in her eyes. “Yes you can. Do I have to remind you of what she did to you?”
“I know. But in fairness I deserved it, two wrongs don’t make a right.”
“You’re a wimp! No girlfriend of mine says no to me!” He shouted, with lightening fast actions he slapped Phoebe in the face.
Phoebe looked back at him shocked and hurt.
“Now do as I say!”
“No! Fuck off!” Phoebe looked at him with pure hatred in her eyes.
“What the hell is going on here?”
Phoebe and Will spun around to find Mrs Mort standing behind them. Her eyes slowly made their way over Will then Phoebe. She gasped as she saw the word – BITCH – written on the door of her car.
“Phoebe Halliwell what have you done?!”
Phoebe looked down and realised she was still holding the can. She dropped it, raising her hands shakily. “No no no, it isn’t what it looks like. I didn’t do anything.”
“That is not what I can see. My office, now. Both of YOU!”
Phoebe hung her head and slowly walked to the school entrance with tears falling from her eyes. She knew she was dead, even though she hadn’t done anything she knew Mrs Mort would not believe her.
Will walked in first and sat down, Phoebe walked in and stood near the back away from Will.
“What had you got to say for yourself Phoebe? Why stoop to this level?”
“I didn’t do anything. It wasn’t me.” Phoebe replied trying to hold her tears back.
“No, then who was it?”
Phoebe looked at Will. “Him.”
“Will what do you have to say for yourself?”
Will looked back at Phoebe, giving her an evil sneer her turned back to Mrs Mort. “I came by the school and saw Phoebe standing by your car, I wondered what she was doing here with her being suspended and all. I didn’t want her to get into anymore trouble. Well I stopped my car and got out and approached her. By that time I was too late. She had already vandalized your car. I’m sorry. Well when I got to her she was about to do it again, I tried to retain her that’s why she has that cut near her lip but she fought against me then we got into an argument and then you came.” Will explained seriously.
“That’s bull and he knows it. I didn’t do anything at all. He was the one to do it. When I wouldn’t he hit me.” Phoebe shouted in her defense, she looked at Mrs Mort and knew she didn’t believe her. “You have to believe me. I would never do that. I wouldn’t stoop to his level.”
Mrs Mort sat down with a sigh. “Phoebe this is totally unacceptable behaviour. I have no option but to expel you.”
“Woah wait a minute. You can’t take his word for it! He did it not me.” Phoebe started to cry harder.
“I caught you red handed Phoebe. Red Handed. There is no other option. Your expelled from this school.” Mrs Mort picked up the phone.
Phoebe wiped at her eyes. “Who are you ringing?” she asked quietly.
Wishing she had never left her bedroom, wishing that this was a dream. But it wasn’t and now she was in deep trouble. But Phoebe didn’t understand why she was quick to assume she was the culprit.
“The Police.”
Phoebe felt a shudder run down her back as she saw herself physically shiver. The meeting with the police had flown by quickly and she had not taken anything in that the police inspected had told her accept the fact that she had been arrested.
She stared blankly at the cold metal bars as she waited for someone to bail her out. How had this day started so innocently and ended so badly? Twenty-four hours ago she had thought that the worst thing that could happen to her was academic probation and a couple of detentions. Now she was facing expulsion and a criminal record and this time it was for something that she had not even done.
It had all been Will’s fault. Everything that had gone wrong could be traced back to him.
Why had she been so stupid? Why hadn’t she thought things through for a little while? Why hadn’t she just stay in her room and accept the fact that she was grounded? Or why hadn’t she just taken a second to listen to her sisters?
She felt her gut wrench. She would do anything now to be sat at home arguing with Prue or watching television with Piper. Even to be listening to ‘Grams’ yell at her.
The teenager’s thoughts and tears were interrupted from banging in the cell next to her. This was so real and terrifying, but she had to try and face it all.
She wiped her eyes with the cuffs of her jacket and trembled as she heard anyone bang. She was in a cell and had never felt so frighten in her life. What was going to happen to her now?
* * *
Penny stood for a couple of the seconds, clutching onto the phone and struggling to breath as she felt her heart tense up. Phoebe had been arrested. Phoebe who was just a child had been arrested for vandalism. Her little granddaughter was facing a court date and a possible in prison.
She grasped her left shoulder dropping the phone as she took some deep breath. She tried to take the focus of the shooting pain, which were beating uncontrollably in her left arm before collapsing to the floor.
Penny tried to keep her eyes focused as she saw her middle granddaughter entering the kitchen.
Piper dropping her drink as she entered the kitchen as heard the glass shatter on the floor as she ran over to her grandmother.
“Grams?”
“Phoebe?”
“No it’s Piper.” Piper said with a worried tone in her voice. “I’ll get help.”
“No, Phoebe.”
Piper looked worried at her grandmother for a couple of second before she sprinted to the stairs and screamed Prue’s name at the top her voice. Hurrying back into the kitchen, she let instinct take over as she pulled the cloth off the kitchen table placing it over her grandmother before grasping the phone that was disregarded on the floor. She had to get help and get it fast.
“She’s have to call you back.” Piper said sharply into the phone before hanging up.
Piper waited for what seemed to be an eternity for the dial tone to soon. Within seconds she had press the buttons for nine-nine-one.
“Ambulance please, straight away.”
* * *
Phoebe lay on the hand wooden bed looking up at the ceiling of the cell. She clutched the bright orange blanket. Why hadn’t some come to collect her? Did they really hate her now? Where they going to just leave her there?
She felt a fresh set of tears flow down her face. As she made a small promise to herself, that if anyone could get her out of this, she would turn her life around. Never do anything that could even remotely get her into trouble.
>“Piper what happened?” Prue whispered as they sat next to their grandmother’s bed.
“I don’t know. I was going into the kitchen when I saw her fall. She had been talking on the phone. She thought I was Phoebe.”
“Who ever was on that phone I will kill.”
“Prue please come on. It might have been something serious.”
“Yes serious enough to cause Grams to have a heart attack.”
“Prue you heard what the doctor said. Her heart is frail. Anything could have triggered it off.”
“I know but I still want to know who was on the other end of the line.”
Piper was about to reply but heard a slight groan from beside her.
“Grams, we are right here.” Prue held tighter onto her Grandmothers hand.
Piper looked at her face, her grandmother was trying to talk.
“What? What is it Grams?” Piper bent down low so she could hear what she was saying.
“Phoebe…jail…. Arrested..” Piper could just make out as she pulled away in shock.
“Grams are you sure? Maybe you were just imagining it.
Penny shock her head.
“Okay well I’ll go get her. See what I can do.”
Prue looked at Piper confused.
“Prue can I speak to you outside?”
“Sure. I’ll be right back Grams.”
Prue followed Piper outside. “What? What is it?”
“Don’t be mad Prue. Please just listen.” Piper was worried Prue would go off the rails.
“Just tell me what she has just told you.”
Piper took a deep breath. “Okay. You know how I told you that Grams was saying Phoebe’s name when I found her?”
“Yes.”
“Well that’s because on the other end of the line was…ummm.” Piper looked away, she knew she had to tell her but she didn’t want her to get mad without listening to Phoebe first.
“Who was it Piper?” Prue was growing angry and agitated by the minute.
“It was the police.” There she had said it.
Prue looked at her in shock then it dawned on her. “What has she done now?”
“I don’t know Prue. All I could make out from Grams is that she has been arrested and is in jail.” Prue turned to walk back into the room but Piper grabbed her arm. “Aren’t you going to say anything Prue?”
“As mad as I am at her. I already told her that I wanted nothing else to do with her. She gets into trouble its her own fault. I’m not going to keep bailing her out.”
“But Prue she has never been in this situation before. She must be petrified.”
“It will teach her a lesson she needs.”
“Prue.”
“No Piper, she needs to learn that she can’t do things and get away with it. She needs to learn some manners, respect and also that we won’t always be there for her.”
“I’m going Prue.” Piper knew Prue wouldn’t come.
“I knew you would Piper. I’ll tell Grams.” Prue walked back into the room.
* * *
Phoebe had been staring at the ceiling for what seemed hours. She didn’t want to look around, as it would just bring to reality that she was stuck in a jail cell. But she couldn’t stop the noises from penetrating her ears. She had been lying there thinking about all the stuff she had done and all the things she needed to change. She knew she had messed up big style and she was willing to do whatever she had to prove that she was still the nice girl. But getting a criminal record for something she didn’t do, well she wouldn’t do that.
“Halliwell.”
Phoebe sat up and spun around upon hearing her name.
A tall man in police uniform came to her cell door putting the key in the lock. “Come on, someone is here.”
Phoebe looked at him hopeful when he started to put the key in the lock. Hoping that they realised everything had been a misunderstanding and that she was free to go. But when he said someone was here she knew nothing had changed, she was still in deep trouble and she knew she was dead when she met whoever it was.
Phoebe stood up and walked out of the cell, in front of the policeman.
As they walked through the door she could see Piper. She silently thanked her lucky stars that it was not Prue that was to collect her but then her mind went back to earlier and what Prue had said. She looked down at the floor. Head hung in shame as she came to face Piper.
* * *
Piper had driven across the city pondering what her sister could have done to get herself arrested.
She came to a stop and got out walking into the police station.
“Hi, yes I’m here for Phoebe Halliwell.”
The man at the desk looked at her then down at a sheet in front of him. “Are you her guardian?”
“Yes. I’m her sister.”
“We need you sign these forms before you can get her.” The man put some forms in front of her.
“Can I ask what she has done?”
The man looked down at the sheets again then looked up. “Arrested for vandalism.”
Piper gasped in shock. “What did she do?”
“The Principal of Baker High called saying that she had had her car vandalised.”
“What has my sister said?”
“She denies doing it. Even though the principal caught her with the spray can in her hands.”
“Who does she say it was?”
“Look, lady all of this will come out at her trial. Which is scheduled to take place tomorrow at 10am.”
“Who did she say it was?” Piper asked getting angry.
“She stated that a Will Greenwood was the guilty party.”
“And what has happened to him?”
“Nothing. He was questioned about the incident and let go.”
“So you believe him over my sister?”
“Look she was caught red handed. Please sign these forms and you can go.”
Piper looked at the man with disgust. Didn’t her know that the girl in question was only a teenager. That she was only 15years old.
Piper read each of the sheets carefully hoping not to miss anything. When she was satisfied she signed, stating that she would bring Phoebe to the courthouse on the date and time shown and that she would not skip the country. Piper laughed at that.
As she was approaching the desk to give the forms back she suddenly thought of something.
“Excuse me Officer.”
The man from earlier came back over. “Yes ma’am, what can I do for you now?”
“I was just wondering if you had the CCTV tapes from the school grounds?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“At Baker High the principal put up CCTV surveillance up around the school. To catch people who do things wrong like vandalism and so that she can prove who it was if they were not caught. I believe that what my sister said, that it was Will Greenwood who is the guilty party. Yes I have not talked to her but Phoebe would not lie when she is in so much trouble. Now have you got the CCTV videos from today?”
The man looked flabbergasted. “I do not know.”
“Please can you find out for me?”
The man gave a little nod then went into through a door.
Piper stood tapping her foot for his return.
He returned five minutes later. “Miss?”
Piper looked at him. “So?”
“We have not got the surveillance videos. But a officer had been despatched to go retrieve them.”
“When will we know the outcome?”
“The inspector has told me that you shall know tomorrow at the initial hearing.”
“Okay, thank you.”
“Your sister shall be out shortly.”
Piper went back over to the chairs and sat down. She hadn’t been sat long when the door opened and Phoebe was brought out.
Piper had spent the evening with slight glances at the stairs while slumped in front of the television. Phoebe had shot upstairs as sound as she had got home from the police station. There seemed to be no consoling her little sister that night as she had heard faint sobs from her room.
The evening flowed in a same slow fashion for the rest of the evening, with only the small interruption of Prue heading straight up to her bedroom after arriving home at about ten o’clock. Piper kept her eyes fixed on the television during this, if Prue intended to ignore her and what was going on, she was going to do the same.
The evening disappeared into the morning and slowly at around eight o’clock the three young Halliwell’s made their ways down stairs. Piper was first and she hovered over the oven, while Prue read the newspaper as she arrived only five minutes later. Phoebe was the last downstairs, and she stared at a class of water for minutes on end.
“Your in the paper,” Prue told her youngest sister as she broke the tense silence.
Phoebe’s eyes broke away from glass of water as she grabbed the paper off her oldest sister. She started to read the article with her mouth opening slightly more with each sentence that absorbed into her mind.
TEENAGERS VANDALISES SCHOOL PROPERTY ON A SPORTS’ WHIM
Local Principal of Baker High, found that a teenage girl on leaving school grounds just yesterday afternoon had vandalized her car. The girl (who can not be named for legal reasons) is said to have reacted in such extreme measures for the irrelevant reason of academic probation and suspension. The young troublemaker shows just the kind of behavior that has long been feared maybe coming to front in today’s society.
The Principal of Baker High, a Mrs. T Mort, stated that she was ‘shocked and disappointed’ by the events in her school. While emphasized that although this maybe be an isolated incident she intended to deal with the girl with the ‘highest possible punishment.’
Principal Mort explained that ‘in making an example of this girl we our both preventing such incidence in the future and upholding the good name of the school.’
Local businessman and the head of the school governors, Mr. W Greenwood snr. (who has two sons at the school) stated that he was in full support of Principal Mort. ‘The school governors have ever confidence in our Principal. We believe that she is doing a wonderful job in making the school both a pleasant place and a fine center of education. This girl was a freak example and has been dealt with accordingly.’
For further articles on the state of the youth of today and the failing of their moral standards and awareness in society, please turn to page eighteen.
Phoebe flung the newspaper down on the table as she fled upstairs to her room and Piper span around to glare at her older sister. She couldn’t believe that Prue had just shown her that article.
“Why?”
“Because, because,” Prue stuttered slightly before continuing. “She needs to know what’s she’s done. She needs to know how serious this is. And is needs to know that Grams is in the hospital because of her.”
“But she didn’t do it,” Piper said earnestly. “It was Will, and if they would just look at the CCTV pictures they would know that.”
“They haven’t looked at them?” Prue said slightly taken aback.
“No and I’m sure its because Will is the school favourite son and that he’s also got the head of governors as his father.”
“But there must be reason why they are blaming it on Phoebe.”
Piper shot her older sister a look that went straight between the eyes, “She’s the scapegoat. And if you don’t mind I’m going to find her.”
* * *
Prue waited until the car had pulled out of the driveway containing her two younger sisters. What were the chances that her younger sisters were telling the truth? That Phoebe had been made a scapegoat? And that her only real crime was letting her Math grades fail and ending up on academic probation.
She thumbed the phone in the kitchen before dialing in Andy’s number. His father was a Leiutant at San Francisco Police Department and if there was just a chance those CCTV pictures proved Phoebe innocent she had to find out and quick.
The only problem now was would Andy talk to her after months of her forgetting about him while she was away studying.
Well here goes nothing, she thought to herself as she heard Andy’s voice down the phone.
“Hi, Andy, it’s Prue, please don’t hang up.” She said quickly. “It’s really important and I really need your help urgently.”
* * *
Phoebe followed Piper up the courtroom steps at a slow pace as she dragged her feet. She was in no hurry to land herself with a criminal record, especially when the whole situation was so unjust.
She stared up at large building as she paused for a second on the steps. She felt so small compared to it, so insignificant. She wondered briefly to herself if that is how she would feel in court.
“Come on Pheebs,” she heard Piper’s voice. “We don’t want to be late.”
Phoebe climbed the last couple of stairs as slowly as possible. Her fear of being late did not even start to compare to her fear of a courtroom.
On arriving at the top of the stairs, she saw Piper beckoning her over with a smiling face. Phoebe started at her sister, how could Piper and this man be beeming at her, this was the worst day of her life.
“They’ve dropped all charges.” Piper explained.
“Excuse me?” Phoebe said not daring to understanding what Piper was telling her.
“Insigificant evidence.” Piper told her with her grin growing. “They looked at the CCTV tapes and that proved it was Will. And why aren’t you smiling too?”
“Grams,” Phoebe muttered as she stared at her sister for a second, “that was my fault.”
Piper wrapped her arm around her little sister, “She had a frail art and the doctor said she’s going to be okay.”
Phoebe nodded blankly back as she let Piper lead her back down the stairs, “And what’s going to happen to Will?”
Phoebe sat in the car on the way to t he hospital, twiddling her thumbs. Piper had tried to talk to her but Phoebe just wanted to be left alone to think about what had happened over the last week. First there was academic probation then she got suspended then she got expelled and arrested and her Grandmother had a heart attack and now she was free to go and all charges dropped. It was just too much for her to handle. Silent tears made their way down her face. She felt so ashamed for what she had out the family through. Especially her Grams, and also Prue with her not talking to her. She didn’t know if Prue would ever trust her again. She knew she had blown it big time and she was willing to face whatever came her way.
“Phoebe sweetie we are here.” Piper spoke softly as she brought the car to a stop.
Phoebe looked at Piper briefly then turned her eyes to the ground and slowly got out of the car. She followed Piper through the double automatic doors and into the elevator.
“When we get to the floor Pheebs, I’m going to get some coffee so that you can talk to Grams alone. Is that okay?”
Phoebe looked at Piper, “What about Prue?” Phoebe asked quietly worried that her big sister, who she had not come face to face with since their little talk, would be in their Grams room.
“I’ll get her before I go down. She can come with me.” Phoebe looked back down. “Phoebe. What happened wasn’t your fault. Grams heart was fragile you know that.”
“I know Piper.” Phoebe whispered quietly.
Piper knew Phoebe was blaming herself but she couldn’t say anything to change Phoebe’s mind.
Piper stepped off the elevator first with Phoebe following they approached a room on the left and Piper walked in motioning for Phoebe to wait.
“Prue, come on lets go get some coffee.”
Prue looked up at Piper. “Why?”
“Because Phoebe is outside and she would like to talk to Grams.”
“I’m not leaving her here alone with Grams.”
“Prue she knows what she did is wrong. Hell she didn’t do anything wrong apart from stick up for herself.”
“Piper.”
“No Prue. Leave it, Phoebe is beating herself up enough for the two of you with you adding to her pressure.”
“She’s right Prue. Let her come in. You two go get coffee’s”
“But Grams.”
“No dear, I need to talk to Phoebe. We haven’t had a talk in a while.”
Prue sighed she knew she wouldn’t win this round. “Okay but we will be back shortly.”
“You had better be. “ Their Grams laughed.
Prue and Piper exited the room.
Phoebe was sat on a chair outside the door when Piper came up to her. “You can go in. We will just be in the canteen if you want us.”
Phoebe nodded her head then looked past Piper to see where Prue was. Prue was tapping her foot impatiently half way down the corridor.
“Don’t worry about her Pheebs, she will soften up.”
“I doubt it Piper. You did hear what she said to me. I don’t blame her actually.”
“Look Phoebe. Grams needs for you to be strong. Please be strong for her.”
Phoebe nodded her head and stood up. She watched Piper join Prue giving her the evils. Phoebe smiled slightly at the expression Prue gave back to Piper.
Phoebe pushed the door open and walked slowly into the room.
“Grams?”
“Come sit down Phoebe.”
Phoebe went to sit down beside the bed. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for being a problem child. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I’m sorry I caused you to get ill. I’m so sorry.” Phoebe rambled off tears running down her face.
“Phoebe don’t blame yourself. My heart was just too frail. It comes with old age. And as for problem child. You are not Phoebe. You were just crying out for attention. Attention I should have been giving you. For that I’m sorry.”
Phoebe lent over her Grams and gave her a soft hug. “I’m sorry.”
Her grandmother reached up and wiped the tears away from her eyes. “Phoebe what happened?”
Phoebe sat back down and began relaying what had happened the last few weeks.
“I will be going into that school to sort out that Mrs Mort. She had no right treating you like that while Will got away with things a lot worse then what you were doing.”
“Grams. Will is the school governors son and Mrs Mort’s Nephew. Me and Piper found that out today at court.” Phoebe looked down ashamed.
“That still doesn’t mean he can get away with the things he has.”
“I know Grams. But that’s life. We can’t change it so we might as well live with it.”
“Phoebe.”
“No Grams. I’m okay.”
“No your not. Your upset.”
“I’m just worried what people will think of me when I go back to school. And I’m worried about you.”
“Aw Phoebe I’m fine and as for school, don’t worry about it. People will learn the truth and learn to trust you again. If not then it is their lose.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you for what?” Grams asked taken aback.
“For listening to me.”
“Phoebe, Prue will come around just give her time. “ She replied knowing what was still bothering her. “And I should have listened to you ages ago. Maybe then this wouldn’t have happened.”
Phoebe stood up and climbed onto the bed, laying gently beside her grandmother. “thank you Grams. I love you.”
“I love you too angel, I love you too.”
Fin