Summary: Max has been acting different lately, especially around Alex. Granted, he's normally pretty "different" but this is non-Max different. He's not talking to anyone, when he does talk his voice is quieter, and he's starting to act...mean almost. Worried about him, Alex does what she does best: snoops. Only what she finds isn't exactly what she expected. What's wrong with Max and why are he and Alex suddenly so much closer than they used to be?

Author's Note: THIS IS A MAX/ALEX INCEST FIC. If you don't like that then I suggest you don't read it. I'm normally a Justin/Alex shipper but this idea has been plaguing me for ages now so I decided to give it a go. I hope you like it. Remember: The review button won't bite. Thanks!

Lilac Swan Riddle

Prologue

Max

I never meant to fall in love with my sister. Who in their right mind would want to do that? Definitely not me. But it happened. Somehow I managed to fall in love with Alex. It happened a couple of weeks ago, when she and Mason broke up, for good this time. I'd been noticing things for a while before that, but they were just little things then. Things like how mad I'd get whenever she'd kiss Mason, or how I seemed to get really, really nervous when she was around, but I ignored it then. It was easy to ignore when she and Mason were together but after they broke up it was impossible because she was home 24/7 and having her around that much...well it wasn't good for me. It was harder to act normal with her around that much. People were bound to start noticing me and I didn't want to be noticed.

Justin noticed it first, the differences I mean. We were sitting in the living room, watching some stupid movie, and Alex walked in. She sat down next to me and opened one of her magazines. I scooted as far away as possible from her and Justin gave me a weird look. Alex didn't seem to notice or if she had she didn't care. She'd probably shoved it aside as "Max being Max" like everyone else did and I didn't blame her really, I am an odd person. It wasn't like I wanted her to notice anyways. I knew Justin had, though, and I knew he'd confront me about it later. He was like that, the confronting type. I sighed, pretending to pay attention to the movie, and tried to think of a reasonable excuse for my behavior. Unfortunately I couldn't think of one that Justin would accept without getting suspicious. And I couldn't just come out and say, "Oh I'm in love with our sister and being around her makes me a little weird," now could I? Obviously not. I'd just have to improvise. I was good at that.

Just like I'd known he would Justin cornered me after the movie was over. I'd immediately gone off to my room and he'd followed. He knocked and I rolled my eyes, telling him to come in. Justin was the only person in the house that bothered to knock before entering a room and it was kinda annoying. He leaned against the wall and stared at me for a few minutes before saying a word.

"What was that downstairs, Max? Why'd you get all...Un-Maxlike with Alex? You guys are usually pretty close."

I gave him a blank look. "Un-Maxlike? Dude, that isn't even a word." I tried to keep the "normal facade" up and failed.

"You're avoiding the question, Max."

'Damn it why's he have to be so damn...Justin-like?' I thought angrily, trying to improvise.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." was all I could think of. Lame.

"You wouldn't even touch her, or look at her. Usually you guys are sitting pretty close together and talk to each other all the way through the movie. Every time Alex tried to start a conversation with you you'd shut down. Why?"

"I'm tired. Didn't get much sleep last night. Why's it any of your business anyways?"

"Max, chill dude. I was just asking a question."

"Well I'm going to take a nap. Why don't you go do nerd stuff and leave me alone?"

He backed out of the room without a word, shutting the door behind him. I lay back across my bed, trying to get my thoughts together. Justin was probably going to figure it out soon. He'd know that I was in love with our sister and I'd be disowned. Well, okay, this was Justin so I probably wouldn't be disowned but I'd have to answer a lot of questions that I couldn't even answer for myself yet. Or, even worse, was the possibility that he'd tell Alex and I'd have to deal with her hating me for the rest of our lives. The thought of Alex hating me wasn't one I liked. She was still my sister and I didn't want to lose her because of my dirty little secret.'You're probably overthinking things again, dude. You do this all the time. Chill already.' I told myself. I hoped I was just overthinking things. Maybe Justin wouldn't figure it out and I'd be safe. Hopefully he wouldn't because I didn't think I'd like the consequences either way.

'Maybe it won't happen. Justin can be pretty dense sometimes...'

Unfortunately I had no idea what was about to happen. If I had maybe things would have turned out different...

Author's Note: Hey again! Do you guys think I should continue? And, if you do think I should continue who should figure everything out, Alex or Justin? Leave it in a review or PM me. Thanks for reading!

Lilac Swan Riddle Russo