Just Want to See You Smile
Summary: Justin gets in serious trouble when he uses a spell to mask the symptoms of his cold so that he can go to a concert, and Alex tries to help him, but ends up in trouble as well.
Pairings: implied Jalex
Disclaimer: I do not own WOWP. But I wish I owned Justin!
Chapter One – Where Trouble Begins
Justin groaned irritably as he woke up that morning from Alex banging two pots together loudly. Well, that was what he thought he heard. Really, Alex had just clapped her hands together loudly, in an effort to wake him, because her previous attempts had failed. His eyes opened slowly as he looked at his sister with mild irritation.
"What in the world Alex?" he yelled at her irritably. "I have a headache and I'm sick!"
Alex had noticed that there was something not quite right with Justin, but nevertheless, she chose to ignore it. Alex folded her arms skeptically.
"Yeah, right. You're just faking to get out of school."
"I am not!" Justin protested, holding the covers up to his chin. Alex rolled her eyes and marched over to him, and felt his forehead with the back of her hand. It was surprisingly warm to the touch, which meant Justin was definitely not faking his illness.
"Uh, Justin," Alex exclaimed in surprise. "That's definitely a fever. Want me to get mom and dad?" She grinned evilly at her older brother, knowing that was the last thing that he wanted.
"No! Please don't Alex, they'll never let me go to the concert tonight!" Justin's eyes looked desperate. Alex had no idea there was a concert that Justin was going to until right then.
"They won't if you don't go to school," Alex replied. She needed Justin to go to school, so that way she could have an excuse to hang out with Justin's new friend Mark. Justin's eyes widened in alarm. He was out of bed faster than you could say wizards. Alex noticed then that her older brother did look quite terrible. His hair was mused, but Alex thought it actually looked better that way. It didn't look like he was trying so hard.
She noticed that he was wavering on his feet. "Woah. Steady there." Alex told him. "Geez, are you sure you are up for school and the concert?"
"Yes!" Justin replied defiantly. "I'm fine!" And with that, he turned and wobbled out of the room. Alex frowned as she watched him leave. Then she rushed to catch up with him. She wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
"Thanks," Justin muttered embarrassed. "I am feeling kind of dizzy." He laid his head on her shoulder.
"Kind of?" Alex replied raising her eyebrows. "You should not go to that concert, Justin."
"I'm fine. And I'm going." He glared at Alex. Alex just rolled her eyes, and continued to help him walk. Justin meanwhile was reaching for his wand out of the back pockets of his jeans. He knew a spell that would make everything right. Technically speaking he was not supposed to use it. It was illegal, unless it was absolutely necessary. For example, if a wizard was on a mission then it would be lawful. But using it to go to a concert was normally condemned.
He waved it in a twirl. "Coloporus symptonous now vanish and be banished!" He pointed the wand on himself, and he was suddenly able to walk upright.
Alex stared at Justin in shock. "Is that what I think it was?" Alex asked. Their dad, Jerry, had been teaching them all about spells used to cure illnesses. Normally one had to take a potion, but their dad had told them there were a few spells for easing minor illnesses, or making the symptoms completely vanish. But they were only supposed to be used in emergencies.
"Yes. So what?" he glowered at her. "I don't care. As long as I'm fine for tonight."
Alex stared at him in shock. "You don't care that you just did something that you're not supposed to do? Are you my brother?"
"Of course I am Alex!" Justin exclaimed in his high pitched voice. They were almost at their high school, which was not far from the sub shop. Justin was walking in his usual way, arms up and out as he prowled to his first class. Alex just shook her head at him. Her brother was so weird. The thought finished as Harper came up to her.
"Alex!" she said brightly. Today she was wearing a zebra-like ensemble. Alex wanted to puke when she saw the outfit.
"Do you have to wear that?" she asked Harper.
"Yes! It's save the zebras day! Why? Is there something wrong with it?"
"Zebras aren't endangered!" Alex retorted, for lack of a response.
"They will be!!" Harper responded. "If we continue on damaging the environment, everything will be in danger!"
"I guess," Alex replied automatically. Secretly she was rolling her eyes behind her best friend's back. But she knew that it was pointless to argue. She wondered how Justin was doing. That was a costly spell that her brother enacted. Dad would be so pissed if he fond out, Alex thought to herself. Come to think of it, that spell is completely illegal!
"Russo!" the principal suddenly barked in his loud voice. "Get to class."
"I'm going!" she yelled back. With that she stalked off into her next class.
Meanwhile, Justin was doing fine physically. But the fact that he had done something completely illegal was also beginning to tear him up inside. In fact, he was ready to burst. But he was looking forward to his date with Kristie. That was stopping him from the guilt that normally would have gotten to him by now.
He was redoing the spell every hour on the hour, at the first sign of his symptoms coming back. His color though was still off, and he was pale. But at least he could concentrate on his studies. Justin listened interestedly at what the history was saying about the rise of Nazism in Germany. Suddenly, he heard something. It sounded off to him. Wait, it was off. He shot his hand up with alarming speed.
"Mr. Martin," Justin pointed out, "The Dachau camp was opened in 1933, not 1934."
The teacher looked at him, then flipped in his book. "Oh," he said. "You're right." He erased the offending number on the chalkboard.
Justin smirked to himself, and folded his arms across his chest proudly. He was of course sitting in the front where everyone could see. Some people glared at him behind his back. Justin did not have many friends at school; in fact his closest friend was his sister Alex, although he never hanged out with her at school. Rather, he hanged out with Zeke and the Alien Club.
The bell rang, and then it was time for lunch. Justin stalked off to find Alex. He needed her help with something.
He found her standing by Harper.
"Alex, there you are!" Justin said, walking briskly over. He noticed Harper staring at him. It was giving him the creeps as usual. Ugh, he did not really want to be in this situation right now.
"Would you stop that?" he shot at Harper.
"Stop what?" Harper said innocently.
"Stop staring!"
"I'm not!" Harper insisted. Justin grabbed on Alex's arm, and dragged her over by the stairs.
"What happens if you use the spell too much?" Justin asked.
"What spell?" Alex asked.
"The spell I used to make the symptoms disappear, duh!" Justin said, his eyes growing bigger, and desperate looking.
"How am I supposed to know?" Alex said. "You're supposed to be the smart one."
"Well I only know what happens if you use it once!" Justin whispered, panicked.
"Well what does it do when you use it once?"
"It comes back much stronger, the illness I mean – and the wizarding authority severely frowns upon it. They punish you…" Justin's voice trailed off. "Oh man, Professor Crumbs is really going to have it in for us this time."
"Well then stop using it until the concert!" Alex exclaimed.
"How can I get through class then? I feel like crap." Alex noticed then that he looked really pale, again. The spell had clearly worn off. "Justin…" she said, her voice actually showing sympathy for once. "You look like crap."
"Thanks, I know." His eyes were tearing up. "Allergies," he said. Alex knew that was a complete lie.
"Whatever," Alex said. "You should go home, and forget about that concert."
"I can't," Justin moaned. "I have to go to that concert. It's Tears of Blood! It's my favorite band."
"But you're sick Justin!" Alex said a little too loudly.
"Keep your voice down!" Justin said nervously glancing around. More specifically, he did not want Harper coming over and start to mollycoddle him, like he knew she would. However, his worst fears were confirmed when Harper started walking over. Justin looked exasperated. "Great, Alex, look at what you've done." He raised his arms in frustration.
"I didn't do anything!" Alex protested. Justin just glared at her.
"Oh really?" He leaned in closer to her, as he looked at her.
"Ohh, Justin! Are you okay?" Harper said. "You don't have a fever do you? I mean, if you're not feeling well, you should really…" She rambled on as she felt his forehead.
"What are you doing Harper? Stop it!" Justin said, batting her hand away.
"You do have a fever!"
"I know that!" Justin said. "I had it this morning! I'm fine." Harper creeped him out. So, Justin stalked off, not bothering to finish his conversation with his little sister. They had an unmistakable bond between them.
"Aww, poor Justin!" Harper said. "Tell him, that I hope he feels better soon."
"Oh I will," Alex replied. "I hope he feels better too…" Her own words surprised her slightly. But, she did not like seeing her brother like that. Yeah, he could be a wimp, but still, Justin was her brother and as much as Alex hated to admit it, she loved him. So knowing the pain he was in made her heart ache for him. "I'm going to see how's he doing. I'll catch you later Harper." Alex's voice was determinedly decided.
"Alex! We have class!" Harper exclaimed.
"Ahh, shoot," she said hesitating, "Cover for me."
"Fine," Harper said. "Since it is for Justin." A dreamy expression crossed her face and she smiled. Then she headed for class. Alex grinned to herself. She loved skipping class. Yes, Mr. Laritate would probably find out and possibly tell her parents. But this time she had a perfectly good reason for missing out. She walked down the hall and went in the room she saw Justin go in earlier.
She slid into his class and sat directly behind him. She tapped him on the shoulder. Justin jumped about a mile. "Ahh!" he yelled. "Alex! What are you doing?"
"Helping you dummy!" she said.
"I'm told you, I'm fine." A chill ran up his spine. "Okay, no, I'm not fine. And the spell isn't working anymore," he whispered to Alex.
"The sickness is draining some of your powers, huh?" Alex replied.
"Yes," Justin whispered.
"Hey!" Mr. Laritate barked. "No talking!" Then he spotted Alex. "Alex what are you doing in this class?!"
"Please, Mr. Larritate, I'm only trying to help Justin." Mr. Laritate looked at Justin.
"Is that true?" he asked. He looked at Alex. "You're not just trying to cut class again?"
"Yes, it's true," Justin said. "I'm not feeling well, Mr. Laritate." To prove his point he stood up, but was dizzy. Alex stood up too.
"I'm just going to escort him to the nurse," Alex said smirking at Mr. Laritate. He looked at her, and then let them both go. Once outside in the halls, Justin sat down on a bench, holding his head in his hands.
"Thanks," he muttered to Alex. "Maybe the concert isn't a good idea. I'm all wobbly."
"I told you," Alex replied. "Justin, you should really go to the nurse, and go home."
"Fine," he replied glumly. "Help me," he whispered. Alex obliged, and together they walked towards the health office. The nurse took one look at Justin and told him to sit down, and took his temperature, which was running at 103. No wonder Justin feels so bad, Alex thought to herself. Justin never got fevers that high. Justin himself, looked alarmed at the news.
"Now what?" Alex asked.
"We call his parents," the nurse replied.
"That's okay," Justin said quickly. "Alex can take me." He looked at Alex with a meaningful glance. "Right, Alex?" he hissed.
"Oh right!" Alex said, catching on. "I can totally take Justin home. We normally walk anyways, it's pretty close. Plus my parents are both working." Alex was good at talking her way out of things.
"All right. You both can leave," the nurse conceded.
"Thanks!" Alex exclaimed brightly. "Come on Justin, let's go."
"You're just happy about missing the rest of school," he grumbled, as he took her hand willingly, as Alex struggled to pull him up.
"Maybe just a little," Alex said. "I'm mostly…worried about you." Justin raised his eyebrows skeptically.
"I'm sure," he replied. "Since when have you cared?" Alex normally just laughed at him whenever he was sick. Admittedly, Justin had never been this sick before. Still, Alex was the type to torture him whenever he was sick. So when he was, he tried to hide it, not wanting to miss school.
Justin kept his grades up very high unlike his sister.
Alex shrugged, "I don't know," she said, shrugging her shoulders. "This time is just…well, it's different okay?"
Justin did not say anything, he just wrapped his arm through hers, and they walked out of the school together. Brother and sister.
