<div align="center"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><em>Payton Vincentia Halliwell</em></span><br/>Wondering if this was her punishment.</span></div><hr/><br/><div class="floatright">(http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u133/kokotigress/Elliquiy/Ashley-Greene_5-1.jpg)</div><br/>Screaming siren. The rotating flash of red and blue lights. Periodic droning over a cb. Yep, Payton was in the back of a cop car alright.<br/><br/>It wasn't the first time she'd ridden in the back of a squad car but this was the first time the siren had come on and the first time she actually hadn't done a thing... other than have a near melt down in public and fall into a conveniently placed puddle that was. Thank god neither of her sisters or her cousins had been around, she didn't know what she'd do if they found out about these damn episodes. Though, if this was going to become a trend she really could do without her powers. They were nothing but trouble so far—being trapped in a police car with a 40 year old traffic cop that wouldn't stop leering at her in the rear view mirror was proof enough of that fact.<br/><br/><strong>“Seriously... Sir, was the siren absolutely necessary?”</strong>She pushed the damp strands of hair back from her face and sighed.<br/><br/>“Now Miss Halliwell, I got you here safe and sound, does it matter how?” The officer in the front seat pulled over to the curb outside of the manor and turned to look at her through the metal grate, a slight sneer on his lips. She had to remember to bite her tongue. “Besides, usually you young folks get a kick out of the siren.”<br/><br/><strong>“Pfft, maybe if I was twelve.”</strong>She muttered under her breath.<br/><br/>“What was that?”<br/><br/><strong>“Oh nothing. Heh,”</strong>she said with an obviously forced smile before glancing pointedly at her door. She couldn't wait to get inside where she could curl up with a mug of hot cocoa and watch<em>Beauty and the Beast</em>, or maybe<em>Love Potion No. 9</em>, until she fell asleep. She knew her boss, or as she liked to affectionately refer to her as, the dragon lady, would be calling her bright and early tomorrow with some menial task that she would swear was beneath her. If the money wasn't so good she have let the woman have it three months ago for all the crap she'd put her through but she needed this job as there weren't a whole lot of offers forthcoming for an 18 year old that didn't include french fries or shopping carts... or a pole. Ugh.<br/><br/>Getting out rather awkwardly, the Officer—she couldn't recall his name and didn't really want to know all that bad—rounded the front end of the car and seemed to take his sweet time coming around to open her door. It was clear he was enjoying this just a little too much but Payton took a deep breath to make sure she kept her emotions in check. She was just letting it out when he finally pulled the door open and reached down as though intending to help her out. She jerked back so hard she nearly fell over trying to escape his reach. When his mouth drew down in a frown she tried to think up a good lie.<br/><br/><strong>"Sorry. Got a bit of a chill when you opened the door."</strong>He gave her an odd look that said clearly he was concerned about her mental state, but thankfully he withdrew his hand.<br/><br/>"You sure you're alright?"<br/><br/><strong>"Mmmyep. Never been better."</strong>She clutched her purse to her chest and tried to make him believe her by giving that sweet smile her father claimed she got from her mother but it was clear he wasn't going for it.<br/><br/>After only two months of having her powers returned to her, Payton was still a bit fuzzy on the details. Using her gifts wasn't quite so simple as riding a bike and her muscle memory was clearly lacking in the magic department. She had only the most basic grasp of her gifts now despite clear memories of her being able to use them as a child. Which meant that letting the good officer there touch her would be a one way ticket to too much information and a headache. It was bad enough that she could already guess the direction of his thoughts by watching his eyes, she didn't need his emotions to confirm anything. Really.<br/><br/>“Do you need assistance to your door, Miss Halliwell?”<br/><br/><strong>“No no, I got it. Thanks Officer.”</strong>She grimaced and nearly ran to the front door, almost tripping once but righting herself before things got even more embarrassing.  Ignoring the loud squishing her $200 shoes—the ones the dragon lady insisted she buy and wear for no damned good reason—were making, she made it to the porch and risked a quick glance back. Yep, the police officer was still watching her, that stupid sneer having returned. It also told her that a couple of her cousins were here, evidenced by their parked cars, which was just freaking dandy. Hopefully she'd be able to slip by without getting the 3rd degree but it was likely they had heard the siren and Payton couldn't lie her way out of a wet paper bag, not with her family at least.<br/><br/>Holding her breath, she opened the door slowly and slipped inside. Carefully she turned to close the door silently and prayed nothing decided to squeak and give her away.