Truly Charmed (Part 3/3)

Chapter 21

After signing the release papers, Ed decided to drive me back home considering I was in plaster.

When we came back to the manor Ed's face had dropped dramatically.

"Hey please don't be upset. We'll see each other real soon. I'll call you tomorrow to check up on you," I told him.

"Check up on me? You're the one in plaster," Ed laughed.

"We never know what the day could bring. Especially in your house," I joked.

He laughed. It was good to see him laugh. It was good to see anyone laugh these days. His smile faded and the horrible goodbye tension was back.

"This feels wrong. You're not in my life anymore. Everything has changed. Life is so different now," he spoke glumly.

Yeah you have no idea how different....

I saw the manor door open and Leo was behind it.

"Uh Ed, I have to go now," I reluctantly said.

He looked out of my window and saw Leo standing by the door. He huffed frustratingly.

"Yeah I understand," he began. "Just don't stray too far away from me okay?"

"Don't let me," I said back.

I leaned over the seats and gave him the biggest hug I've ever given anyone. I inhaled and smelled his scent. I missed that smell so much. It was hard to explain but so was Ed. He was just Ed.

I pulled back and opened the door. I waved to him as I walked up the steps. He waited until I was at the front door before driving off.

I turned to Leo.

"Are you okay?" He asked me.

I nodded. Leo took hold of the door handle and closed the door. When I stepped in I saw Piper cleaning up her smashed living room.

"Uh Piper you don't have to do that. I'll do it," I offered.

She looked up at me. Her eyes were a mixture of fury and relief. She dropped the cloth that was in her hand and rubbed her forehead.

Leo went over to her and put his arm around her.

"You guys go on up to bed. I'll take care of this," I told them in a low tone.

They both headed up the stairs and then I was alone.

***********************************************

I had to get out of that dress. So I went up to my bedroom and changed into some grey sweatpants and a black tank top. I came back downstairs to clean up the mess.

I brushed up the glass shards and placed the long pieces of wood up against the wall. The ornaments and pictures that my bolt had knocked over weren't damaged so I put them back in place.

I had glass shards in a cloth in my hand and they clinked together as I moved about.

"That was close today huh?" I heard a voice say.

I quickly stood up to see who it was. I had my hand ready to strike if it was a demon. But it wasn't. It was Chris. He was standing on the stairs, still a little pale but looking better.

"Yeah, yeah it was," I bluntly answered him.

"Look Anna I'm sorry about the way I acted to-"

"Don't. Just don't," I interrupted.

He started to walk down the stairs and then stood behind the sofa, a safe distance away from me.

"You almost died tonight Chris. And it always seems that I'm the one who has to choose between you and the rest of you're family," I said.

"What are you saying?" He asked.

His brow was furrowing in confusion and hurt.

"I'm saying that you're actions are too wreckless and I'm always the one who has to save everybody. When the Succubus was luring you earlier, I don't even think you tried to fight back," I painfully admitted.

"Well I'm sorry if a demons powers were too overwhelming for me to try and help save the day," he bit back.

"It's not that they were overwhelming its the fact that you didn't even try to fight. Me, Wyatt and Pandora are fed up of picking up you're weight!" I raised my voice.

"Oh okay. I'm sorry that I'm not perfect and written in the stars with you like Wyatt is!" He shouted back.

I threw the glass shards on the floor.

"This isn't about Wyatt!" I snapped.

"It's always about Wyatt, Anna. Admit it! You prefer to talk to him than you do to me." Chris bit back.

He certainly seemed to want me around in the first place anyway....

"I don't prefer talking to him. I can talk to him. Every time I try and say something to you, you always blow me off because you're so damn stubborn!" I shouted.

"I'm stubborn? How do you think I felt when I found you sleeping in his arms instead of mine?!" His voice was cracking.

I ran my fingers through my hair an laughed.

That is what this is about....

"It's clear that my relationship with Wyatt is an obvious problem for you. These days he's been a better boyfriend to me than you have." I lowered my voice.

Chris didn't say anything. He didn't even look my way. I felt the anger radiating off of him and it bounced back off of mine.

"This isn't working out. I think we need some space. From each other. From us." I said painfully.

His eyes immediately shot to me. I could see a protest building up inside him.

"Anna no, please," he began.

"I'm sorry. Until you can learn to deal with my relationship with Wyatt then we can't be together. It's as simple as that," I felt tears swelling up in my eyes.

I saw water rimming his perfect green eyes. Shortly after, a tear trickled down his cheek.

"If that's what you want," his voice was shaky and uneven.

"It is. I'm sorry Chris, but we're over,"