Alex's POV

After school today I used magic to get home instead of taking the bus. That thing takes so long. And besides, I wanted some time to myself. It would be at least a half an hour before Justin and Max got home, and Mom and Dad were downstairs working.

I hurried to my room and grabbed the new Vogue from under my bed. I flipped through the pages looking at the dresses and heels and bags. I could feel my head turning into a wonderland of storefronts and dressing rooms.

I know it seems shallow that I'm a closeted magazine-reader, but it's not the way it seems.

I don't like magazines because I wish I was just like Gisele or Georgia May Jagger. It's not like that.

I read magazines because dresses make me happy.

I like the shapes and patterns and I like how real designers treat their clothes like real pieces of art.

Patricia Field isn't thinking about who would ever wear her leggings, she makes them for the sake of art.

Coco Chanel (R.I.P.) didn't make her frocks because she thought people would love them, she made them for the sake of art. She made skinny girls feel beautiful when curvy was in, and the broadening of the term beautiful in art is something I can really respect.

I can see myself being the next Brian Litchtenberg when I get older. I can only see myself making clothes.

I heard a knock at my door and quickly put the magazine back under my bed. "What do you want?"

The door opened. Justin... great. "Why weren't you on the bus today?"

"Magic," I replied.

"Alex, you can't do that. What if someone saw?" God, he is so stubborn.

I sighed. "No one saw, Justin."

"How do you know, Alex? You don't know!"

"Look, Justin... I just had a really bad day, okay?"

He sat down on my bed next to me. "Do you... want to talk about it?"

He really is a good brother. He really does care. But there's no way I can tell him that all day I was thinking about Mason.

I couldn't tell him for the same reason he couldn't know about the magazines.

He thinks I'm tough. And I guess I like that he thinks that. He thinks I'm different than other girls. I like that he thinks I'm special.

I don't know why, but I do.

The same way I like that he plays with action figures and is sometimes scared of Harper. I like that he's special.

His face fell a little bit. "I guess you don't want to talk about it." He got up and started towards the door. "I'm here if you need me."

"Justin." I reached out and grabbed his arm. He turned around and looked at me. "Thanks," I smiled.

He nodded and left.

That night, I fell asleep quickly. I remember, that night I had the strangest dream...

"Justin, I love you." Why was I saying that?!

"You don't know how long I've been waiting to hear that, Alex." Why was he saying that?!

My lips pulled apart to reveal a gleaming white smile. Why was I so happy?!

He leaned in and slowly started to lift up my shirt. Why was my shirt coming off?!

…

When I woke up in the middle of the night, panting, I ran to the first safe place I could think of: Justin's room.

I knocked on the door with our secret knock: seven quick raps on the door. I hoped he was still awake.

When he opened the door, I felt overwhelmed with happiness.

"What's wrong?" He asked, alarmed, as he closed the door.

"I just had a bad dream, that's all."

"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked.

He didn't look surprised when I shook my head.

"Can I sleep with you tonight?" I asked.

He looked confused. "You want to sleep with me?"

I blushed. "I mean, can I sleep here tonight?"

He blushed with me. "Oh! Yeah, of course!"

I climbed under his covers. I frowned when I saw him begin to lie down on the floor.

"No, you don't have to do that, Justin. I wouldn't mind if you slept in your bed with me."

He hesitated a bit, but eventually climbed under his sheets beside me.

I hugged his torso and rested my head against his chest before I fell into a deep sleep, unaware that the dream I had just had was almost identical to the dreams Justin had been having for years.

So this is my first fanfiction! I'm sorry if it stinks. I hope it doesn't though. :)

Oh, and I don't think they take the bus on the show... Whoops!

Anyway, reviews make me happier than Vogue! 3