Disclaimer: I do not own Wizards of Waverly Place, nor am I affiliated with Disney Channel in any way. However, I do own the original characters featured in this story.
Author's Note: Rated M for language and mature situations.
1/
The sun slowly rose over Manhattan, New York, shining through the window of Justin Russo's bedroom. The sunlight snuck through the blinds on the window, hitting his eyes, waking him up. He rolled over to avoid being blinded by the light and then opened his eyes when he realized it was safe.
He checked the time; it was 6:30am. He climbed out of bed and made his way to the bathroom, several thoughts racing around his mind. 'Monday already?', 'I'm getting sick of school already', 'I wonder what I got on my Algebra test'. He closed the bathroom door behind him and stepped to the sink, picking up his toothbrush and toothpaste.
After minutes of brushing his teeth, he rinsed off the brush and stepped into the shower. Some time later, he emerged from the shower and reached for a towel on the rack. Drying himself, he wrapped the towel around his waist and went back to his room.
Searching the closet, he decided on dark blue jeans, a black, long sleeved, graphic t-shirt, and black-on-white Converses. Opening the top drawer of his bureau, he removed a pair of red plaid boxers and slipped them on. When he dressed, he went back to the bathroom and applied deodorant and body spray before pulling on his shirt. Rolling the sleeves up, he fixed his hair into the usual faux hawk and headed downstairs.
He grabbed a bowl and a box of cereal from the cabinet, milk from the refrigerator, and ate a casual breakfast. A moment later, the Russo father, Jerry came downstairs, dressed as well, and greeted his son before stepping down to the Sub Station to retrieve the morning paper.
Justin finished his cereal before his father came back and headed to the bathroom on the same floor to rinse with mouthwash. He went back to the living room and sat on the couch, turned the television on, and flipped through the channels.
Nothing to watch. He sighed, for perhaps the fourth time that morning. Lately, Justin had been feeling strangely different. After the breakup with Miranda, he didn't really like any other girls. He didn't like anyone. He was single and in the dark again.
He didn't know what it was. He thought that he might not like anyone ever again. It's not that he didn't like Miranda - he did, but he didn't quite think she was the one…if there even is the one.
Alex noticed her brother's acts of strangeness within the first five minutes after they got to school. Max left to go talk to his friends, Alex talked with Harper, and they both watched as Justin got his books out of his locker.
One of his friends approached him, but he just smiled back and turned away. "He's been acting kinda weird lately", Alex commented, "But then again he's my brother, so when is it not weird, right?"
Harper shook her head. "Alex, come on. Maybe there's something deep down, bothering him. Maybe he needs someone to talk to…like me!". Harper's cheeriness made Alex laugh and look back at Justin who just closed his locker and headed to class.
A thought took the stage in Alex's mind, but she quickly shook it off and headed to her own class. Harper didn't notice that Alex left until she realized she was talking to herself. She turned around in confusion and saw Alex turn the corner and ran after her.
Justin took his usual seat in English class and began drawing on a blank page in his notebook. The drawing started out as something abstract, then escalated into a secret agent leaping from an exploding base in the arctic.
He closed the notebook when the teacher walked in and set his briefcase aside and organized papers on his desk. He called for the attention of the class, in which he got almost immediately.
He cleared his throat and smiled. "All right everyone, Happy Monday. We'll be having a new student today who transferred from Los Angeles, California. His name is Casey Andrews, and he should be here shortly. Until then--"
Suddenly, the alleged new student stood in the doorway and knocked lightly on the open door. The whole class watched as Casey handed his schedule to the teacher to make a note of. The teacher smiled at him and turned to the class again. "Class, this is Casey. Mr. Andrews, why don't you introduce yourself and speak briefly?"
Casey shrugged his shoulders. "Uhm, okay? Uh, hi everyone, I'm Casey. I was born in Sydney, Australia in March, and I'm sixteen years old". You could tell he was from Australia, since the accent was faintly identifiable in his voice.
The teacher, Mr. Hammond, motioned for Casey to sit in the empty seat next to Justin. He did so and smiled at the older teenager before turning back to the front of the room.
Justin smiled back just as Casey looked away. It wasn't that fake, whatever smile. It was happy and sincere. He was determined to become friends with him, and he couldn't wait to see him again.
.:Wizards of Waverly Place:.
The bell for lunch finally rang, and Justin nearly jogged to his locker. Opening it, he placed his Biology and Civics books back in, and took out his Algebra book, and put it in his backpack.
He shut the locker and turned to head to the cafeteria when Alex summoned him from her locker. He raised an eyebrow as he approached his sister and shrugged his shoulders when she didn't say anything. "What?"
She shook her head. "You've been acting weird lately. Are you okay? I mean, this morning, and the past week, you've been all…pessimistic-like. Now, you seem happy. What's up?"
He shrugged his shoulders again. "I don't know. I'm just--feeling better, I guess."
Alex shook her head as her brother walked away. She slammed her locker and followed him at a distance. She watched from the wall nearest the entrance to the cafeteria - he got his lunch and discreetly scoped the room. Alex jumped as Harper came up behind her. "Hey Alex, whatcha doin'?!", she yelled.
Alex ducked and hid behind the wall. Justin looked back and smiled faintly as Harper waved frantically. Alex pulled her back and frowned. "What are you doing?!"
Harper raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing? Were you spying on your brother?"
Alex shook her head. "No, I was…looking for a seat. I didn't want to look stupid looking for one where everyone could see me."
Harper said that it made sense and went to get her own lunch. Alex watched as Justin smiled and sat across from Casey, the new kid in school from what Alex heard.
Casey smiled as Justin sat across from him. "Hey".
"Hi", Justin said, shyly. He talked to Casey for a little while, finding out more about his life, and Casey learning about Justin's. Of course, Justin left out the wizard tidbit.
Alex raised her eyebrow and walked over to her older brother. She tapped him on the shoulder and asked to talk to him. He excused himself to Casey and followed Alex to a secluded part of the cafeteria. She sighed, "Justin…do you like him?"
He scoffed, "No, of course I don't! He's new, and I'm just trying to be nice."
"That's strange", Alex said, pulling a few strands of hair behind her right ear, "Because before he showed up, you were miserable and goth-like, and now you're all happy-go-lucky."
Justin shook his head, "Alex, I don't know what you're talking about. Just stay out of my business okay?"
He walked away, leaving Alex to shake her head. She thought about something briefly and looked around before smiling to herself. "Because the truth, I cannot find, let me read my brother's mind!"
Alex inhaled after reading the spell and listened to her brother's thoughts as he walked back to his seat across from Casey.
'I don't know where Alex heard I liked him. Is it that obvious I changed? Eh, whatever. I'll have to be more discreet then.'
Alex exhaled, gasping at the truth. "Oh my--but he's--was going--it, but I--oh damn it!"
.:Wizards of Waverly Place:.
Justin claimed his seat across from Casey, and they started talking again. Justin smiled as Casey told him about his life in Australia before he moved, and what it was like living in Los Angeles after growing up in another country.
Casey asked Justin about New York; the best hangout spots, bookstores, and video game stores. Justin mentioned the Waverly Sub Station, the store his parents owned, and where he worked.
"Your parents own the Sub Station?", Casey repeated, "That's cool. I'll have to stop by later, then."
Justin smiled sincerely, probably for the eighth time that day. He couldn't wait to see him at the station.
First chapter completed. Please let me know what you think by reviewing the story! The second chapter is on it's way!