"Okay," Jerry said. "I think that's everything."

"Have you got your phone?" Justin asked, frowning as he tried to look over what his parents were carrying. Feels more like I'm the parent, some days. He restrained the sigh that he felt as his Dad checked.

"Yeah, got it."

"Plane tickets?"

"I've got those," Theresa said as she walked over from the kitchen. "They're in my purse." She joined Jerry at the door, and the two of them both looked at their eldest child.

"Well," Jerry said, smiling a little, "I know I don't have to tell you to behave. Keep an eye on Alex and Max. Remember, you're in charge. Don't let Alex push you around. You know how your sister can be."

"Can you not talk about me like I'm not here?" Alex asked from the couch.

Ignoring that, Justin said, "I won't," and nodded. "We'll see you on Sunday. Have a good time."

Theresa moved forward to hug Justin then, and Alex and Max both came over for their hugs, albeit with visible reluctance in Alex's case. Then it was their dad's turn to hug them, and they all went down the stairs together to see their parents off.

"Glad that's over with. I hate goodbyes." Justin raised an eyebrow at Alex as he closed the door behind them.

"Funny, you've never seemed to hate them before," he said.

Alex rolled her eyes, pulled out her wand as she did. "Well, that's because then it was me leaving. It's more fun to be the one who's going somewhere, instead of being stuck in this old dump. And speaking of going somewhere..."

She twirled her wand, the tip glowing, and Justin jumped toward her, making a grab for it. "Alex!" he cried out, but he was too late - she was gone before he could reach her.

Catching himself, Justin put a hand to his forehead, crossing his other arm across his chest. "Great. They haven't been gone for five minutes yet, and already Alex is going out without permission. I can see how much respect my authority's going to get."

"What?" From across the room, Max looked up from where he was already making a sandwich.

Justin waved a hand at him, said, "Never mind. I've got to go find where our darling sister has gone. Just don't go anywhere."

"Wasn't going to," Max said. "I'm planning on spending my day on the couch. There's a marathon on TV."

"A marathon of wha -" Justin started, then realized that, knowing Max, he was probably better off not knowing. "Okay," he said instead. "Have fun. I'll be back with Alex shortly."

Max said something in return, but Justin didn't really hear it as he tapped his chin with the tip of his wand. If I were Alex, where would I go? What am I saying? I can't think like Alex. Justin raised an eyebrow, then smiled and nodded. But I can check with an expert. Justin set off up the stairs quickly, heading for Alex's room.

Ten minutes later, Justin had everything he needed - a picture of Alex, her hairbrush, and an outfit of hers laid out on the bed. Turning his back to the bed, Justin intoned the spell he'd worked out. "I could find Alex all alone, but it'd be much easier with the help of a clone."

He waved his wand, smiled as the saw the flare of light from the tip, then cringed at the shriek from behind him, even though he'd expected it.

"Justin! What are you doing in my room when I'm naked!"

"Alex, calm down. I'm not facing you, I can't see anything. You should know that you're not the real Alex - you're a clone I've made to help me find her. There are clothes for you on the bed. Put them on."

A sarcastic "Yeah," came back. "Like I'd do anything because you tell me to!"

Justin sighed and tilted his head back a little to look up at the ceiling, his hands behind his back. "I don't think you really want to run around naked just to spite me. So go ahead and get dressed, since we both know that's what you're going to wind up doing."

There was a moment's silence, then Alex said, "All right. But I want you to know, you have no taste in putting together outfits."

"That's exactly what you wore on Tuesday last week."

"Exactly! You know how they say an outfit's so yesterday? Well, this one's even worse than that - it's so last Tuesday!"

Justin bit back a retort, closed his eyes. What made me think this was a good idea? Instead, he said, "Alex teleported out as soon as Mom and Dad were gone. Where was she going?"

"I don't know. I'm just a clone. The last thing I remember, I was brushing my hair."

"Were you thinking about going anywhere then?"

"No… wait, I know! Oh, and you can turn around now." Justin did so. The cone was pulling on her - no, Alex's - boots.

"Where?"

"Well…." Alex leaned back, putting her hands on the bed, and smiled at Justin. "Why should I help you? There doesn't really seem to be anything in this helping you thing for me. As soon as I tell you where to go, you'll probably just cancel the spell, and I'll be gone."

"Well," Justin replied with a small smile, "You're not the real Alex. So if you help me get the real one back here, you can go wherever she was going to go." He paused, frowned, then added. "As long as it isn't anything illegal. Or anything that's going to cause if she's seen there."

The clone looked at him, then nodded. "Deal." She tilted her head to the side, then asked, "Have you been taking sneaky lessons or something? Because you're seeming more devious than usual today."

"From you, I'll take that as a compliment. So, tell me. Where's Alex?"