"I don't... I don't understand what you're saying."

Piper groaned into her pillow and she replayed the scene over and over again in her head. It was surreal. But it was right there. Right in front of her eyes. Harriet, scared and confused- sincere- as she gaped at the cluelessness of the older teen in front of her. Nothing made sense and for once Piper was at a loss.

At that moment, she was only snapped out of her reverie when the ground started shaking even more. That was when Harriet had stiffened and fled the house, giving a hasty- "Tell Leo I left early and that I love him!"- before the door slammed shut. Piper was left alone. Just like now.

When Lila had come back with a somber expression and the bad news, so Piper withheld her news. Apophis had connections, there was a leak. Piper knew that was far more important than what she had but she can't help but think about it. What did it mean?

She groaned once more as her head started to hurt from all the thinking she did. It made no sense. Truly, it didn't. All the evidence pointing towards Harriet cheating on Leo was right there. Her attitude was also a contribution, she noticed. But then, the utter sincerity she had on her face- her eyes- that just can't be faked. Piper let out a breath as she realized two things about the whole situation.

1) She could be tricked by one of the shallowest and stupidest bitches in their whole school, or 2) something was wrong about the whole thing. About Harriet. It was eating at her insides. She understood nothing and she hated it. She thought she knew everything.

"This is giving me a headache," Piper muttered to herself as she hugged her pillow close to her chest. She curled up on herself and scowled at the thought of being wrong.

She played with the idea of just telling Lila but she didn't want to bother her friend anymore. She already had enough on her plate as it is. Piper rolled over and spread herself across her bed. It was annoying how stupid it was to be thinking about it and just not putting it off as Harriet's acting.

"Yeah!" Piper sat up and slammed a fist on her mattress. "Maybe she was just acting. Maybe she thought I'm stupid." Piper huffed, "Well, I'm not taking the bait. You can try all you want, Harriet but I'm not stupid nor am I blind."

The next day saw Piper walking to school, on her way to meet up with Lila and discuss their next plan of action after they had gathered the data. When she noticed her raven-haired friend, she approached her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

Lila jumped and whirled around to see Piper, "Piper- what-!"

"You alright?" Piper tilted her head.

"Yeah, just thinking."

Piper smiled encouragingly and pulled her friend close, "If ever you need it, I'm right here."

"Yeah, thanks!" Lila giggled as she pushed Piper away.

"Anytime," Piper winked playfully.

The two laughed as they walked into the school. Piper brushed the thoughts in her mind away, it could wait because her friend needed her more.

As the day flew by and they were all dismissed to their clubs, Piper decided to ask her friend the question that had occupied her mind the whole day, "Lila?'

Lila hummed and turned to her friend, "Yeah?"

"You've been silent this whole day, what's up?"

"Uh- it's just..." Lila huffed. "My brothers are still reluctant."

Piper blinked in shock, she could've sworn Will, or Tempest-it didn't really matter, had mixed his ice, water and wind altogether. She wrapped an arm around her friend's shoulders, "I could've sworn..."

"He did." Lila stressed out, "But they're debating on the logistics."

"Then logically point out their faulty arguments." Piper retorted, "Debate if you have to."

"But they don't know about my powers else they'll find out."

"You don't have to mention your powers."

"Then they'll just retort that to me."

"You're not making any sense, Lila." Piper shook her head.

"I know." Lila sighed and dropped herself on a chair once they reached Piper's club. "I'm just... confused."

"You're not alone."

"Now that I think about it." Lila narrowed her eyes at Piper. "You kept glaring at Harriet today."

"What?"

"You didn't notice?" Lila tilted her head. It had been weird at first seeing as how Piper didn't like confrontations, especially with Harriet.

"No..." Piper trailed off. Maybe it had been bothering her more than she thought it did. she closed her eyes and leaned against the wall. She had tried to push it to the back of her mind, it wasn't fair to put this on Lila now that she had revealed her conflicted feelings. It might be too much.

"-per?"

Piper started when she realized she was being called. She met the concerned eyes of Lila and looked away, "It's nothing."

"I told you about my stuff." Lila frowned as she looked at her friend. "You know you can tell me anything."

"No, it's... it's really nothing."

Lila tried to bring it up again but with the look on Piper's face, she continued with something else entirely, "Anyways, I have a plan for tomorrow."

"Oh?" Piper turned to look back at Lila. She was glad that she considered how she felt and actually dropped the subject. It hurt already just having the information, she didn't want to know how far Lila would go to find out what was up.

"I'll disrupt the class."

"What?" Piper hissed out with wide eyes, "Lila that's dangerous."

"How so?" Lila snorted.

"They'll get found out."

Lila blinked before she laughed, "They're not idiots."

"Yeah, and the class isn't either." Piper shrugged as she finally took a seat. She took out her worksheets as she kept an eye on a contemplative Lila. When she began writing her name on the worksheets, Lila perked up. Piper blew at her fringe, "What now?"

"I have a plan."

"You always do."

"Anyways, it's gonna be easy."

"Says you." Piper rolled her eyes playfully.

"Oh shut up you." Lila rolled her eyes.

"What's your plan anyway?"

"It has something to do with Harriet's coming party."

At the girl's name, Piper stiffened and narrowed her eyes. Perhaps she could use the time to analyze and really look at the girl. It was disconcerting when she had acted differently at Lila's house than she normally did at school. When she noticed Lila's expectant look, she let the thoughts fly by. She gave her friend a smile and nodded, "Sure, but I'm going."

"The social recluse going to a party?" Lila teased.

Piper snorted, "Well, someone has to be there to watch over you."

"Now... all we need to do is sneak in-"

"Stop overthinking." Piper rolled her eyes, "We're definitely going to be invited."

"Since when?"

The door slammed open and Will breathed heavily as he approached the duo. He slammed his hands on the table and stared down at the two, "You are coming with me and Tim to Harriet's birthday."

"Since now." Piper pointed out with a smug smirk.

"Shut up, you..." Lila grumbled, "Why do you want me to go anyway?"

"I don't want to suffer alone and Leo is forcing us to go."

"Why don't you give an excuse?" Piper waved her hand around.

"I did but Leo is having none of it!" Will sank to the ground and let his head lie on the tabletop. "Please..."

Lila pulled a face and pushed his face away from the table, "What's in it for us?"

"I'll let you borrow my laptop and games for one week." Will bargained, leaning close to stare at his sister.

"I don't have any use for those two, raise it higher." Lila raised an eyebrow with a confident smirk.

Will groaned as he glared at his sister, "Ten dollars." He was met with an expectant look and he huffed, "Fine, thirty."

"Deal." Lila snickered, "But I don't know about Piper."

Will threw his hands up and the two girls giggled at his predicament.