Set in Alex's senior year of high school, Justin's freshman year of college. Currently a one shot but based on reviews may grow to be more.
Synopsis: Concern for his sister arises during Justin's freshman year at college. Events in her life are causing Alex to seek out ways of filling a void in her heart and Justin seems to be the only one aware of her well hidden down ward spiral. Feeling responsible, Justin tries to save Alex.
Pretty dark fic. I've been known for taking campy kiddy shows/cartoons and being inspired to write the complete opposite kind of story. (.net/~lokiyamimegami is my old pen name)
PAIRING: N/A
WARNING: Hint at Justin/Alex.
Due to feedback, I will continue the fic. Again, I'm not taking this fic in any particular direction. Just writing it. Also, I edited this to be more of a first chapter and am finishing the second. =)
- - -
Chapter One: She Called Out A Warning
- -
Tick. Tick. Tick. Every second was like was like a booming thunderous roar in her head, pulsing through her in an agonizing torture to remind her how long she still had in this class room. She drops the hair strand she had been twisting between her fingertips and sits back, slipping down into her seat as her glazed over eyes lift to the clock again.
She felt so defeated, no longer able to use magic to help her get through the day. The eraser of her pencil presses against her bottom lip, a fading layer of cherry bubblegum lip gloss adding sparkle to the dull pink rubber. She begins to tap the eraser against her bottom lip rhythmically as her eyes roll toward the door, the teacher's voice joining in the terrible symphony of impatience and becoming this aching hum at the back of her mind. No one would convince her otherwise, this was the worst kind of black magic there could ever be.
She catches a glimpse of her elder brother walking along the hallway. Her lips curl into a small smile. Oh yeah, he's picking up his transcript today. Wait, he stopped. She watches him predictably fumble with his books as the blonde exchange student walks by and offers a sweet little wave.
Alex snorts and chuckles beneath her breath. "Loser." She murmurs, feeling some life return to her as she sits up.
"Ms. Russo, what's so funny?"
She freezes and stares up at her teacher. "Well, you know... history. It's just so... funny?"
"Ms. Russo, you find the Nazi concentration camps to be funny?" Scolds the old teacher.
Alex winces. Oops. "Ah, well, no... I mean... Well, why did it take so long... for other countries to realize so many people were being.... killed? It's a noir kind of funny, irony and stuff?" Panic. Oh man, can't handle another detention...
There's a thoughtful pause before the teacher nod with understanding. "Wow, alex I am impressed with your insightful thought. Good job. It is terrible irony that such a genocide had gone unnoticed as long as it did."
Huh? Alex sits up and looks even more confused then she should have shown. As she watches her teacher smile and return to taking notes, alex smiles brightly to herself. There is hope after all.
- -
"I saw you spacing out in class today, Alex." Justin points out as they walk into the building.
"Shut up, Justin. I actually did good today!" She beams proudly. "I was insightful! Ms. O'Connor said so!" Alex hugs her book to her chest and waves her hand to her brother dismissively. "She called me insightful."
Justin offers a dull look. "... sure." He moves to unlock the apartment door. "Miracle you don't have detention today." Another observation.
"O'Connor's not as strict as the other teachers, and she's actually very nice." Typically continuing on with her own tangent. She blinks then acknowledges her brother flippantly. "Oh, don't sound so disappointed. Who else would annoy you while our parents do Max's parent teacher conference."
Justin rolls his eyes in return and moves to take his seat on the couch, Alex plopping down on the other side. "Just don't do anything stupid." He warns. "I start my classes at NYU tomorrow and I don't want to waste time getting you out of trouble tonight."
She wrinkles her nose. "I don't need a babysitter. Well, since you asked..." She begins suspiciously. Alex grins and sits up, as if prepared to present the answer to global warming. "There is this party." Justin slams his book shut and leans forward to glare at her. She smirks and leans toward him. "Kidding... sort of." She rises from the couch and walks over to the breakfast island. She would withdraw... temporarily. She needed a snack anyway.
"So I saw you get all butter fingery around Lola Manicetti today. She's so out of your league."
Justin allows the party notion to go unaddressed and scoffs. "For the record, I am so in her league!" Less surely he adds. "She's just so pretty." He admits. Lola had been a junior when he was a Senior. Now a Senior, he thought she would find his college status appealing.
"Ew. She's so blonde, totally a bottle blonde. And the body? She's built like a street walker! She has no substance, terrible taste in music and utterly superficial. You can do better then that! Go for nerdy girls, stay in your species and do us all a favor and don't cross breed with the likes of her." Alex drawls easily with a flip of her bobbed cut.
"Why is it that you never like any of the girls I like. And Lola is very smart! She's actually one of the smartest girls on the cheer leading team." He defends, moving to stand behind Alex as she browses the fridge.
"Oh way to aim high." Alex wheels around and glares at... up at her brother. "I forget, dumb bimbos make you feel better and more superior."
"You're no genius." he retorts.
"Ah, but I'm your sister so I won't have to worry about you liking me." Proud of her response Alex takes her seat at the island again, munching on the chips she had found. She spins the chair around to find her brother giving her a very perplexed look. "Justin, you're staring." And with a snap of her fingers, he's snapped out of his thoughts.
Justin scratches the back of his head confused. Then shakes his head. "Why do I bother trying to understand you sometimes."
She rolls her eyes. "I gave up on you years ago." She puts the bag down and quickly brushes her cheesy fingertips to her mouth to enjoy the cheesy flavor now cast upon them. As she does so she slips off the chair. "So, this party."
"Oh come on, I knew you couldn't be joking." He muttered.
"Come with me."
A curveball. She saw it slam right into the side of his head and confuse him. She grins. Time for the finishing move. "Lola'll be there." He flushes. "And you can keep me out of trouble, I mean come on... it's a win win situation here. You know I'll just sneak out and go anyway." She grabs onto his shirt. "Pick your poison, big brother."
Grin.
- -
Alex smirks as she feels the music pulse through her. She lifts her hands and sways her hips briefly before spinning around to beam up at her brother. "Isn't this totally the coolest party ever?"
The look of disdain and disapproval on her brother's face promised a very difficult evening. "This is a club, Alex... 21 and over?" He adds warningly. "If I wasn't teh family wizard, I would say you used magic to get in and Lola is so not here... How did you get us in here?"
"I have my secrets and I counted on her not being here. She's a bimbo, and I don't want you dating her. Look, I just want to dance! DJ Allure is playing and she's amazing! Just hang out a little bit and we'll head home before anyone realizes we've gone, ok?" She had to find a better offense so she jumped on the defense. She holds his hand between her two hands, giving him the bright puppy eyes and a glossy pout.
As sure and confident as she felt, Justin felt the complete opposite. This was a tragedy waiting to happen. He could feel it and Justin had to wonder why of all places would Alex go this far out on a limb tonight? He frowns. "Just... stay close to me, ok?"
"Alex, you made it." A rich voice floats over the music. Alex's eyes light up and she grins so broadly and dangerously, Justin is further unnerved. She turns around to embrace a man who Justin knew was older then him. He was talk, dark hair and olive skinned. Reeked of danger and bad news. Harper hadn't been around much lately. Justin was beginning to wonder what had his sister really been up to recently.
"Baby!" Alex purrs, kissing the man and something occurs to Justin he was so not ready to think about. Was she having sex with this guy? She was 17! He grabs her elbow and yanks her back, startling her but barely causing the strange man to blink. "Justin!" Alex scolds. "He's cool! Trust me!" She yanks her elbow free and looks apologetically to the man. "Sorry, older brother."
"Brothers hate me more then parents do." The stranger explains, a dangerously charming smile. Like the devil.
"Alex, who is this guy? How do you know him?" Justin growls into her ear. She waves him away from her face and glares at him.
"Justin, this is Rick. He's... a friend. I met him at this wicked Rave over in Jersey over the summer while you were at that weirdo college camp thing."
"Rave?! What are you doing at Raves? What is going on here?!" Panic and fear was filling him. Alex rolls her eyes.
Alex decides to waste no time and grabs Justin's face,making him focus on her. "I'm gonna go do what I came here to do. Sit at the bar, I'll be right back." Alex grabs Rick's hand and before Justin can grab her, she disappears into the crowd. What felt like years of agonizing torment waiting at the bar later, Justin is still sitting at the bar waiting. He snaps out of it as someone offers him a drink. Not thinking much of it, he takes it since his nerves are fried. He shudders, realizing only after the tall glass was empty that he had taken a very strong drink.
No one carded him! How crazy is this? He frowns, closing his eyes. He would count to ten. At ten, he would use his magic to find his sister and bring her home. And tell his parents and clear this up with enough time to study his orientation materials.
1, 2, 3... 8, 9. 10-
"How's everybody doing tonight? Let's give it up for DJ Allure's special guest singer tonight, Lexa!" announces a thin flamboyant man on the DJ's stage. Justin looks up as a hauntingly melodic voice fuses itself with the pulsing techno music. He looks over teh singer at first but then returns to her to realize it's Alex on stage. Yet it's not Alex. A woman possessed by haunting vulnerability and sultry movement. He sees the female DJ smile brilliantly toward Alex as if entranced by a muse.
This was what alex wanted to do?
Justin feels waves of relief and pride wash over him, his anxiety washing away seeing this woman on stage in her radiant beauty and enchanting melody. The bright flashing lights gave way to show Rick slightly off stage... holding hands with another tall burly gentleman, dancing very intimately. Justin laughs and shakes his head.
Alex you trouble maker.
Thought I had to save you again.
- -
"You were amazing!" Justin calls out into the night, inspiring a loud rich laugh from his younger sister. "I mean, wow! I'm so proud of you! I mean, I knew you could sing but that back there... wow!"
She closes her eyes to relish this moment. His hand squeezes her shoulder gently, pulling her tighter against him. Justin didn't move from his seat the whole night. Loosing her power was difficult for Alex but she finally discovered her own way to cast spells on people. Justin was very proud and relieved to see she was finding her own way.
Alex shudders suddenly and rubs her hands together. Justin stops and frowns, turning her toward him and tapping her chin to make her look up.
"Your teeth are chattering, you ok?" He asks, realizing how pale and she was, except for her very flushed cheeks. It wasn't even cold outside.
"Yeah, a little cold." she whispers.
"Really? I don't even feel it. You're pale." She smiles and hits him playfully as she looks down. She looks back up, closing an eye and scrunching up her face.
"You're not standing out here wearing this ridiculous outfit!" She argues, eyes shining with excitement as she shoves away from Justin lightly. "And come on! I saw you empty those glasses, Justin!" She grins that cheshire smile of hers. He stares at her and sighs, removing his shirt. "Justin!"
"You're right, I don't feel it. I have my under shirt, just wear this. I don't want you to get sick on me now." He brings it around her and she looks up to him. He sobers up a bit, bringing the collar together under her chin and keeping his hands there. Her own shaky hands lift to flip her hair out from under his shirt and then move to rest on his wrists. "Why did you bring me here tonight?" he asks as she finally stands, looking up expectantly.
She shrugs and looks away. "I don't know... you haven't been around a lot and I just wanted you to be a part of it. That's all." She mutters suddenly embarrassed.
He smiles. "Thank you." And she beams up at him. The two jump as a taxi speeds by, blaring its horn as it splashes through a puddle. Justin instinctively pulled Alex closer to him and glared at the taxi as it disappeared into the city streets.
"Hey lovebirds, get a room!" calls an older homeless man from across the street. Alex bursts out laughing as Justin frowns in disapproval of the comment. Without internalizing Justin's reaction, Alex moves toward the edge of the side walk to yell back.
"Maybe we will you crazy old drunk! Don't know what you're talking about!" She calls over in good spirit. She then turns to Justin who continues to stare across the street before returning his gaze to Alex.
Justin is silent. Staring into space and not moving. Alex frowns and feels suddenly very uncomfortable. She shifts weight from one foot to the other and bites her lower lip with her chattering teeth. "Justin?" she whispers and shudders again, more violently then before. "I'm cold."
This snaps him out of it and he brings his arms around her. "Let's go to my place, it's closer."
- -
The alarm. It wouldn't stop. He reaches over to smack the thing off his night stand. He loved not living at home anymore. He turns over to his side, feeling a slight throb on his temple. Ugh, not a good day for a hang over. He would never admit it to Alex, but he had been drinking enough times to know it didn't agree with him. One of those rebellion things no one ever knew about him.
There's a soft moan to his side and his eyes shoot open. He sits up in bed to see Alex curled on her side and fast asleep. She's wearing one of his t shirts and not much else. He frowns. What the hell happened?
He slips off the bed, bringing the blanket up over her shoulder. Her skin felt cold, very cold. He hesitates and touches her hair. It was damp and beginning to curl as if she had sweat the night away but Justin felt the temperature to be normal.
And hazily he begins to remember the night before. Sitting in the taxi cab, Alex had curled up against the window across from him, shivering still. So he pulled her toward him and held her against him, stroking her hair and rubbing her arms to give her comfort and warmth. She gave little complaint only that it was cold but the night was warm still despite it being early September.
She was chatty, going on about her performance and what a rush it was. He didn't think much of it. She has a cold. They laughed and talked all the way back to his neighborhood in Brooklyn. He called his parents, telling them Alex was staying over at his place because she got spooked at home alone.
She took the phone from him. Alex closed it and stared at him, her back to his door, standing between him and his humbly furnished apartment. "Sometimes I wish we weren't related." She confessed, a small smile still on her lips with a touch of sadness in her eyes.
He laughed, because it was funny, and he agrees. He didn't find it to be too serious.
Justin rubs his temple now, stepping away from the still sleeping Alex and going to his kitchen as he continues to recap mentally what happened next. And with a jolt he stops in the hallway.
She kissed him. She propped herself on her tippy toes and touched his lips with hers. But that wasn't the weirdest part. He now moves into the living room, finding clothing on the floor and swallows hard. Her dress, his muscle shirt...
He wheels around as Alex shuffles into the living room, not entirely awake. She frowns. "What a mess..." she observes then bringing her eyes to Justin. She smiles bashfully. "Sorry bout last night."
He turns and stares at her in absolute horror and confusion. He snatches his keys and a jacket. Alex frowns. "Justin?" Her voice suddenly small and full of shame and confusion.
"I have to go." he mutters. What did he do?
Alex blinks and reaches out to grab him. "You're leaving? You can't tell mom and dad." she pleads as panic fills her voice. "Especially not mom."
"Tell mom and dad?!? Are you crazy?" he responds, his voice unusually high.
"You promised!" Alex pleads, holding onto his arm desperately, voice weak but bordering hysterical.
"I can't tell them what happened, I cant tell anyone." Justin whispers, looking around. Why couldn't he remember? "This is all my fault..."
"So you believe me? Right?" her small broken voice bringing Justin's attention to her. He stops fighting her and stands there, watching her.
"Believe what?" He asks, confused.
Alex frowns and drops her hands. "That I don't have a problem."
Justin drops his keys and sees this shift in Alex he had never seen in her before. Terrified, vulnerable and ... shifty. He could see this guilt weighing on her like a pile of bricks. He watches her carefully. "You do have a problem. We do..." He says slowly. "This is bad-"
"Damn it Justin no! It was one pill! And the drinks, it was an accident! I told you when I kissed you that that's what it was! I wasn't thinking, I wasn't in my right mind! You said it was ok! That you would make it all ok!" She blurts out in a flurry of panic and fear.
He feels his headache get worse but he vaguely remembers grabbing her and slamming her against the door after the kiss. Something hit him then, about the kiss. But what did he say? He looks around the room. What did you take? He turns to the door. Wait, no, Justin it was an accident... I feel fine, I feel great... I don't have a problem, I swear!
He remembers their wrestling into the apartment. "Alex..." He whispers. He turns to her as it all falls into focus. She got sick last night. He confronted her and she got sick. Really sick. He took care of her. She didn't want to be alone. So they slept in the same bed.
I've never felt like this before. I'm scared... help me...
"You had a bad trip."
She sniffs and nods slowly, albeit, weakly. "Yes." She breathes heavily. "I've never done that before, and I tried it and it scared the shit out of me... I'll never do it again... I promise. You promised to keep this a secret."
"If you promise never to keep things from me." He remembered agreeing to this pact.
She sniffs and rubs her arm. "What did you think happened?" She asks weakly.
"... Nothing... Nothing, come here." He murmurs, pulling her into an embrace and cradling her against him. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm here for you, I'll always be here for you..."
She begins to cry. "You were yelling and taking your keys, I got so scared..."
And it finally dawned on Justin.
Something way bigger then loosing her powers to him was troubling his sister. And Justin swore he would find out what...
- -
That's how I'll end it. I'm not proud of Alex's portrayal, she's a challenging character for me to write.
Review Please.
SD
