"Dean, we need to talk," Alex said as she looked pleadingly into Dean's eyes.

Dean in turn looked into her eyes,"What is it, Russo?"

"You know that my family owns the Waverly Sub Station."

"Yeah."

"Well, this is kind of hard to tell you, since we..."

"Russo, it's okay just tell me."

"'My parents got an offer to start a Sub Station in California."

"Oh, that's awesome!"

"It is."

"Then what's wrong?"

"It means that we're all moving down to California. It means that we'll be apart for who knows how long and I don't know if I want that for us. Right now."

"Listen, you and me are good; we're solid. If that's what you have to do, then that's what you have to do."

"So, where does that leave us?"

"We stand where we are now. Together."

"You mean that?"

"Sure, I do. I'll be here when you need me."

"Aww, you're so sweet."

"I love you, Alex."

As Dean let his words roll off his tongue, Alex just stared at him with confusion in her eyes.

Alex had just finished getting all of her boxes down from her room into the laundry room, they call the garage. As she looked around, she looked mournful to what she was leaving behind.

Her mom walked up behind her, "Is everything okay?"

Alex looked back at her mom, "I don't want to leave all of this."

Theresa looked confused,"Honey, we're not leaving all of this. We're taking it with us."

"That's not what I mean mom. I mean I don't want to leave New York, Harper... Dean."

"Oh, so that is what this is about. Let me tell you something. You don't need to worry because you're going to come back in the summer."

"What?"

"Yeah, what do you think about this? Your dad and I decided that because we do want to keep the Waverly Sub Station, your Grandma is going to take care of it. She's going to run this Sub Station while we run the new one in California."

A smile spread across Alex's face as she said, " Really? (Theresa nods her head) I love that idea! I need to go tell Harper."

"Okay but be quick, your dad wants to stop and buy some pudding before we leave the city."

Alex stopped mid stride and looked back at her mom with a smile.

Upstairs in the Sub Station, Harper sat at the counter by herself playing with a salt shaker.

"Harper! I have exciting news!"

"What? Battle Diva is coming to town? Wow that means that I'll have to make a costume for her arrival. And it really has to look good, no macaroni like last time. It really just didn't stick..."

"HARPER! That's not my news! (Harper stops talking and looks at Alex) My mom said that I'll be coming back for next summer! So we can hang out then! It's not like I'll never be back."

Just as Harper began to smile, Jerry called for Alex, "Alex it's time to go! Bye Harper we'll see you soon."

Glumly Harper said, "Bye Mr. Russo."

Alex walked around the counter and pulled Harper in for a hug, "Remember to call, okay?"

"Yeah, just promise me, Alex."

"What is it?"

"That you won't forget me."

"Harper, I won't forget you, you're my best friend."

xoxo

I know, I know. I should be writing for The Married Life but I just don't know what to write right now. So instead, I looked at some of my really old work and decided to add some missing words and punctuation. I think eventually I might go in and do some major surgery on this stuff like actually make it have more quality or I just might keep it the same to keep the essence of my original work? I don't know; but for right now, this is a good occupation.

Original post date: 5-16-2010

Edited post date: 1-7-2011