saving. you.

So, this is going to be short story based off the idea of the title: saving you. They will be little drabbles showing all the times Justin saves his little sister, and at the end maybe Alex will save him in return. Let me know what you think and keep an eye out for Part Two.

A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows"
- St. Francis of Assisi

The first time he saved her, it was simply to keep up his own level of progress.

Justin stumbled into the lair one afternoon with his Wiztech glasses pushed up the bridge of his nose. He had just finished dinner and was getting ready to start his daily spell meditation session - he always did it, always, from six to seven thirty. When he spotted Alex curled up in the armchair with a resigned look on her face - that usually always meant she'd been scolded about something - he let out a sigh, however. The scholar side of his brain told him to get the spell books and meditate in his room, but the brotherly side of his brain saw that his disruptive little sister was off.

"What did you do now?" he asked her, plopping down on the cushioned ottoman opposite her.

Alex glared at him, "What makes you think I did something?"

Justin only raised an eyebrow quizzically; he'd learned over the years that his sister was almost never innocent. "Well, did you?" he wondered.

"Yes," she whined, her lips pursing in a frown. "Dad was going on and on about how Max was destined to win the wizard competition and I was sick of it, so I stood up and told him that I quit." Crossing her arms around her legs, Alex flashed her brother a pout.

"Alex," Justin said, "you can't just quit the wizard competition." He reached for an amateur spellbook on the stand behind the ottoman.

She only scowled, "And why not? Justin, there's no way we can catch up anyways!" Alex turned her head and he swore he saw her brush something from under her right eye, but he chose not to mention it.

"Max won't be ready to hold the competition for months or even years," Justin said, resting the book on his thighs, "or ever, really. I could beat him blindfolded. You could beat him blindfolded; if that doesn't say something I don't know what will."

Alex smiled reluctantly and brushed her black hair off her forehead; she was wearing it shoulder length again, and it waved in beautiful ringlets around her neck and chin.

"Still, you know I don't study," she said.

Justin refrained from rolling his eyes, "Did anyone ever tell you how stubborn you are?"

Alex bit her lip and then chuckled, looking at him through misty brown eyes, "Only everyone." He caught something in that statement - a sort of desperation - but again dismissed it as something related to 'girl problems.'

"And what about Mason?" Justin asked her. He didn't like bringing up the werewolf - who was too good looking for his own good - but if it got a reaction from his sister then so be it.

Sure enough, Alex's shoulders tensed. She blinked once, and then twice. "I don't want to lose him," she murmered quietly, her gaze softening as she fingered the love necklace that rested against the cotton front of her blouse. "I love him; did you know that?" she asked her brother.

Justin scooted closer and patted the tip of her shoe, watching her laugh. "I know," he said, hiding any sort of antagonism that might have slipped in. He did want Alex to be happy - he honestly did. "And if you don't want to lose him, then we'd better get studying. We have a ways to catch up."

Alex looked at him as if he was the sun. Then cynicism sunk in. "You want to help me?" she asked in disbelief. "How does that benefit you?"

Justin chuckled, "I don't know if you realize this, Alex, but I'm just as far behind in the wizard competition as you are. Exposer of Wizardry, remember?" He pointed to himself, swallowing uncomfortably as the words left his mouth.

"Oh. Right," she said, still hesitating. "I just thought you found my blue cheese dressing for shampoo prank and wanted to get back at me for it."

His eyes widened, "Blue cheese dressing? I - ugh - ur - errr- Alex!"

"Yeah, yeah," Alex said, waving him off in a nonchalant manner. "As much fun as it is to watch you spaz out, I have better things to occupy my time." She began to get up.

Justin grunted impatiently, "Are you going to take my up on my offer or not? What, are you waiting for a written contract or something?"

Alex grinned mischeviously, "That would be nice, along with a copy of child labor laws. Knowing you, you'd make me study overtime and my brain would explode from too-much-information-itis."

Justin groaned, "What, you're not going to add 'ito' to that? You know, so you can make it spanish." He gave her one of his stares - the one that meant she was in danger of losing his help.

Alex took his hand in hers and gave it a firm shake, making him wince and mutter something about germs and disinfectant. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Tutor. I'm your new delinquent." She flashed a smile and Justin knew he had her back.

Waiting for Alex to join him on the ottoman, Justin grimaced theatrically and said, "Don't call me that. It only reminds me of elves." He flipped the book open to - oh how ironically - a page on elven culture.

Alex laughed again, and the sound of her laughter had never sounded so beautiful.

That was the first time he saved her.

_-tbc-_