Chapter 2: Follow the White Rabbit

Monday morning is pretty much the last place Alex wants to be. Especially if she has to do it at school, first thing in the morning. Morning would be so much better if it got started a little later in the day.

"Wow. So your parents finally kicked you out of the house, huh?"

Alex groans. Harper. Can't she just be left alone? She's hiding in her locker, trying to catch up on the rest of her sleep. There's not much room in there, just enough for her head, but she'll take what she can get. She straightens up and looks around, grudgingly.

"Funny. Did you sign up for Justin's Lame Insult classes?" It's reflexive. She narrows her eyes, but it's hard to stay mad at her best friend. Not like she has the energy anyway.

Harper beams. Sweet girl, she has trouble processing Alex's caustic sarcasm correctly. Or, you know, she's just gotten really good at ignoring it. "No," she bubbles, "But guess what I did sign up for?"

Tossing her books, arms held out to either side, she spins a slow circle, like a six year old showing off her new party dress. Which is not too far from the truth, actually. "Try to guess!"

Man. Alex loves the girl all to pieces, but isn't it a little early for the Guess-What-Fruit-I-Am game? Against her better judgment, she plays along, struggling to focus her eyes enough to take in Harper's regalia. She's, uh. Well, but she's obviously…or no. Huh. What is she?

Harper's full bell skirt looks almost normal from far away (where Alex kinda wishes she'd stayed), but up close, it's layer on layer of different sized bits of paper. So, not fruit after all. A dozen pastel shades give the garment its rainbow-sherbet hue, and the edges are trimmed in different patterns, fine and thin like lace.

The skirt's hem is weighted down by tiny implements that jingle as they hang from their threads. She definitely won't blow away in a high wind. Mostly scissors, but she spots a ruler as well, and some odd unidentifiable pointy bits and… is that a hole punch? Oh right… this is Harper. So yeah, it's a hole punch.

Harper's upper half looks a whole lot less… flammable, but she's sporting a vest that appears to have been pieced together from old hardback books, the boring kind without pictures. Her ponytail is festooned with a multicolor explosion of ribbon, and markers dot her shoulders in rows like epaulets. From her ears hang fat wire spirals that barely pass as earrings.

She smiles brightly, waiting for Alex to get it. Her enthusiasm kind of hurts Alex's eyes.

"Uh, okay, you're. Well, that's easy, you're…" She flails desperately, "You're… one of those ladies that wraps Christmas presents at the mall! You're a study hall… you're an explosion in the library!"

Harper's face falls. "No, Alex. Isn't it obvious?" (Uh, no?)

"I joined the scrapbooking club!"

Harper looks like she expects something, so Alex deadpans, "Wow. Sounds great."

Again, the trouble with processing sarcasm correctly. "Oh it is! Well. I mean, it's going to be. We haven't officially started yet. Today after school will be our very first meeting."

Harper flashes her exuberant smile. Alex really wishes she were still in bed.

As if she can read her mind, her friend asks, "So why are you here so early, Alex? I mean, you're not even on time for school, usually!" She giggles, catches herself, adds "No offense." The earrings bob energetically.

Alex drops her head back against the locker, which is nothing at all like a soft, still-warm pillow. Too tired for a witty retort, she groans, "It's Justin's fault. Even when he's not here, he still messes things up for me. He's why I'm at school," she coughs into her fist, half gagging on the word, "e-early.""

"Not here?" Harper's face registers first polite curiosity, followed by a dawning panic. "Justin's not here? What happened to Justin? He's not, not in trouble is he? I told him the world wasn't ready for Alien languages! Oh, we've got to get to him before the feds do!"

Her brows knit in concentration, undoubtedly plotting the big rescue. Oh god, Alex is so not awake enough for this.

"Harper—"

"They've already got him? Oh, this is worse than I thought. We'll have to—"

"Harper!" Alex snaps. The redhead shuts her mouth with an audible click, but her truculent, kicked-puppy expression just makes Alex want to yell at her all over again. "Justin's fine, okay?"

Blank stare. Alex sighs. Sometimes, it's really, really hard to be the one in charge of reality control. "Justin's fine. Mom and Dad took him to the airport. He's doing this weird government thing? He won some sort of brainiac competition, and now he has to go to, like, Washington." With the word 'brainiac' she rolls her eyes, making a sarcastic gesture. "Apparently it's this big deal, and they're even opening the Sub Shop late so they can both go and see him off."

"Wait…" Harper scans mostly empty commons, puzzled. "Alex, shouldn't Max be here too?"

Oh. Max. Alex chuckles, waving a hand toward the door dismissively. "Oh, Max is totally here. He's outside collecting pinecones and wet rocks for his butterfly farm. He's gonna try to hatch them." Harper looks concerned, or maybe just confused. Probably both. Alex doesn't bother to elaborate, because it's Max, which ought to be explanation enough. And apparently it is, because Harper doesn't ask.

Harper has her thinking face on, probably still preoccupied with love of her life. Then, with an expression eerily reminiscent of Justin's when he thinks Alex is being slow, prods, "Alex. Washington, or Washington D.C.?"

"There's two of them?"

Harper shakes her head indulgently. So yeah, she's totally channeling Justin right now. "Washington D.C. is the nation's capitol, Alex. Washington is just a State."

Alex just looks at her, unimpressed. If they wanted people to be able to tell them apart, then shouldn't they have used different names? Whatever, it all sounds ultra-lame, and Alex can't be bothered with more detail. Just the little bit she knows is practically boring her to death. She makes a face.

Harper, on the other hand, lights up in a way that says she knows way too much about what Alex just said. And if she's not mistaken, Alex is about to board the conversation train headed for Stuff No One Cares About.

She's not mistaken. Like she always does when Sir Dorkalot's name comes up, the girl positively gushes. "So, Justin won the competition for the Model Congress then? Like, in Capitol Hill?"

"I guess?"

"That mean's he's TriBeca Prep's delegate to Model Congress! Alex, that's wonderful! Why didn't you tell me sooner? Oh, is it going to be televised? I hope it's televised. At least they should show part of if, then I can see him in his suit. He looks so handsome and professional in his suit, don't you think?"

Alex snorts. Justin, handsome? In anything? Shyeah.

Harper breathes out in this sickeningly wistful way, and honestly Alex is amazed that she can stop long enough to get a breath at all. "Don't you think he'd make a really good senator, Alex? Or, or maybe a lawyer, because he's so smart and such a good speaker? Or a college professor? Professor Russo has a nice ring to-"

"Ugh, please Harper, I just ate," Alex clutches her gut, holding a hand up to stem the flow of adoration. Cause yeah, she hardly even had any breakfast, and she really doesn't want to lose it just yet.

"Sorry Alex," Harper grins, not looking sorry at all. "But you still should've told me sooner that he won."

"Yeah, maybe I didn't tell you because I knew you'd do this?""

"Sorry!" She's still preening, though. Alex needs a freaking distraction, before Harper can kick it up into second gear. Taking her arm to pull her in warmly, she flashes her best "I care about what you have to say" smile, and launches into the first thing that comes to her mind.

"So anyway, Harper. Tell me about scrapbooking. It sounds, uh, really interesting!" More interesting than another installment in Justin's Hit Parade, she means.


A few thousand explanations later, milling students fill the commons around them, and Alex is trying to work out how to get a good look at the clock behind her, without getting caught by Harper. Because while the rundown on this whole scrapbooking thing maybe wasn't completely boring at first, her attention span can only hold for so long.

Apparently "scrapping" is this big deal among the crafty set. It isn't, as Harper is only too happy to explain, just a matter of sticking photos in a blank book. There's a whole art to the design, theme, layout and accesorization of each book, and Alex can kind of dig that. The supplies come in an impressive variety, not that Alex asked, and they can get crazy expensive. Patterned scissors for edging, fancy stickons, themed "brads"... Alex sort of stops listening after that.

At least now they're not talking about Justin. Alex has a seriously limited tolerance for listening to Harper go on and on about him, like he's just the greatest thing she's ever seen. Justin is so smart, Justin is so cute, and isn't it a shame there aren't more guys like Justin? It's probably a really good thing that Justin doesn't like her back, or Alex might just have to kill herself. For real, she'd never hear the end of it.

Also, she doesn't miss him at all. Just to be clear. So wanting Harper to shut up about him for a second has nothing to do with that.

"…And, they're not for display. I mean, sure, you might scrap pictures after your vacation or whatever, but it could be completely personal too. Like a journal, but more stylish! A place to put down your most private thoughts and feelings where no one else will ever look at them. Zeke says—"

Private thoughts and feelings. A distant bell rings in the back of Alex's head. She's learned to pay attention to those. Following the pull of a faint thread of memory, she murmurs, "Zeke, right. Boys scrapbook too," and frowns as the tug gets stronger. Like having something on the very tip of your tongue.

It isn't really a question, but Harper totally takes it that way. "Of course they do, silly! Boys can be creative, you know! They have feelings and…"

Feelings. Private thoughts .Boys.

"…honestly, Alex, you don't give boys enough credit. You would think that you'd know better than that, living with Justin."

Boys, scrapbooks… personal private records… Justin!

Oh, wow. How could she have been so stupid? Could Alex really have forgotten about stealing his creepy scrapbook? Is she, like, slipping up or something?

"…stuff to write down, or memories they want to keep." The first bell rings, the one that means they have seven minutes to get to class.

They sure do. And secrets. Justin with secrets that she doesn't know about? Ohh, hell no. Not on her watch. Mentally, Alex facepalms.

Harper touches her shoulder, concerned. "Uh, Alex? You okay?"

Oops. That wasn't 'mentally'. She has to stop making her mental gestures out loud.

"I'm fine," she says, sheepishly. "Just tired." On the inside, she's furiously plotting.

Could she really be slipping?

Well, but no. Actually this is the perfect opportunity to steal Justin's stuff. No way he's coming back from… wherever… early enough to ambush her, not if she gets right to work.

All she has to do is figure out where he's hidden his book of secrets… and she's been gifted with several Justin-free days to do it in. It's funny, how sometimes things just seem work out for her. It's like the universe wants her to be bad.

Sometimes, it's good to be Alex.


"Alex, where are you going? Class is this way!"

"Uhm, I was just…"

"And don't try to trick me! We're in the same class for first period!" Harper stabs an intimidating finger at her.

Alex jerks to a halt, looking back. Man, Harper knowing her so well has its drawbacks. "Oh, fine. I'm totally gonna go tell that joke about Laritate's cowboy boots on the intercom before the next bell rings, if you really have to know."

"But Alex," Harper admonishes, "you'll get caught! Then you'll have to spend first period in Laritate's office!"

Alex grins. "I know. I really need to catch up on my sleep if I'm gonna make it til lunch."


The day is kind of a blur, except for the part where Alex is forced to spend sixth period and most of the walk home listening to another rendition of How Great is Justin. That has a way of sticking in her mind. Harper's all, "I can't believe Justin got to go to Model Congress," and "Why can't more guys be as intelligent and interesting as Justin," and "If he wasn't your brother, don't you think you would think he was cute… and funny… and a little bit adorable…" and that is where Alex draws the line, because, gross.

They reach the Sub Shop and she gets rid of Harper with an improvised excuse, something about being late for her shift. Alex dashes into the Sub Shop before Harper can catch her, and up the stairs before her parents can.

"Got a lot of homework see you later, if you don't see me for a little while it's because I'm busy working on all my homework," she calls. But really she needn't have bothered: It's busy in the restaurant, orders are stacked up, and a customer is complaining about the "ham" in the ham and cheese special again… so her parents don't have time to get involved with her schedule.

Which is good.


Almost two hours' worth of ransacking Justin's stupid room, and she's got nothing. Which doesn't even make sense, because she knows Justin's room like… well, the back of her hand. Or maybe the front. Which one is the best metaphor for a place you can find anything in if your dorky brother isn't watching you like a hawk? Whatever. The scrapbook isn't in there.

Which leaves what, exactly? He's taken it with him? No, because he was only allowed one tiny carryon suitcase: Dad's too cheap to pay for luggage. That one barely had enough room for his floss collection and five gazillion textbooks, so no secret scrapbook space.

Would he hide it somewhere in the apartment? The Lair? Maybe, but that's awfully public. What if their parents happened upon it, and discovered all his secrets?

Secrets. just the idea that Justin is keeping something from her, that he can, makes her itchy and restless, like ants moving under her skin. It's a bad feeling.

So if he didn't take it with him… and it's not in his room, or the Lair, or the apartment, then, where… Oh. Ohh.

Maybe Alex really is slow. Hiding in plain site? Pssh, of course. The only place she hasn't turned upside down so far. She has to hand it to him; Justin is getting better. She wonders if it could be her influence.

She's barely started going through Max's stuff when he comes in.

"Max!" Alex fakes a smile, big and cheery.

"Alex? What are you doing in my room?"

"Well, I was just about to ask you the same question… shouldn't you be, uh, helping Dad with that project?"

"Project?"

"Mmhm. He said something about making a… thing for your, uh…" she waits for Max to fill in the blanks. He does.

"Dad's making a terrarium?"

"Uh, yes? For...?"

"My butterfly and ant farm?

She smiles at him. "That's the one."

"Oh, man! I didn't know he was serious about that. I gotta go, before he starts without me."

"Max, wait—" she hauls him back by dragging on one arm, he bounces like a puppy on a leash.

"Alex, what is it? Dad's gonna start my bug terrarium and I need to be there!"

Alex bites her lip. Getting the information out of Max? It's a risk. If he figures her out, he'll call Justin on his wand and rat her out no problem. She knows where his loyalties lie.

It's kind of a big risk. But she's Alex Russo. Her whole life is about taking chances. She claps Max on the shoulder in a friendly way. "Hey, I just need to ask you about something. It'll only take a minute."

He hesitates, so easily swayed by the rare (and fake) friendliness in her voice that she feels bad for a second. But, only for a second.

"You know that thing Justin told you to give me?"

"Uh, Justin didn't tell me to give you anything. In fact, I'm pretty sure he said NOT to… uh… Nevermind.

Sometimes, he just makes it easy for her. "Not to what, Max?"

"N-nothing. Justin didn't say anything about not giving you a book?" He looks guilty.

She gives him a studied look of confusion. "No? You're sure he didn't say anything about not giving me a book?"

"No! I mean, yes. I mean, I'm sure he never said that!"

Alex eases an arm around Max's shoulders, pretending to think hard. "Well. If he didn't say anything about NOT giving me the scrapbook… he must have told you to give it to me. Right? " Mildly, she looks to Max for confirmation, as if she has no ulterior motive and no idea what's going on. As if she's Max, in other words.

Max looks nervous.

"But you can't even know there's a scrapbook…" he starts, "Justin said."

"But I do know, Maxie."

"But Justin said…"

"Look, Max. Why would Justin give it to you, and say that you should give it to me, if he didn't want me to have it? You know how confused you get about these things, and I'm just trying to help. You don't want this to turn out like last time, do you?"

Her little brother shudders. Clearly, he remembers what it feels like to be caught in the crossfire between Alex and Justin.

She squeezes him a little. Using her best big sister voice, she soothes, "I mean, I just came up here to make sure you still had it, so Justin wouldn't be mad." She nods at him, so Max nods too. "But, if Justin told him to give it to me, you probably should."

Max is still nodding, so he's headed in the right direction. But shouldn't be hesitating so much, and damn him for resisting. Whatever Justin threatened him with must be pretty bad. Alex kind of feels sorry for him, but it's not really her problem. She's not the one who left Max in charge of stuff-Alex-can't-have, is she?

"I just don't want you to get in trouble, Max."

Max vanishes into Justin's bedroom (oh, you've got to be kidding her), and when he comes out he's holding the keychain that she'd seen on Justin's dresser on her third or fourth recon this evening. He passes it to Alex. Justin's plain black scrapbook, in miniature. He'd used magic to make it small, then hidden it right where she'd miss it every time. Clever bastard, she thinks with real admiration. She had no idea Justin had that much deviousness in him. She must be a good influence.

Only, too bad he left Max on guard duty. Obviously, he still has a thing or two to learn.

"Max," she gives him a quick sideways hug, "You're doing the right thing."


After supper and dishes and an excruciating wait to be released from family time, she's in the Lair, riffling madly through the dusty Wizard textbooks.

Max drifts in too, and what is he, following her around? Usually it's Justin who has a radar for when Alex is doing something she'd rather not have anyone watch. Not that she's thinking about him, she's just saying.

"Just… studying for the wizard lessons," she calls breezily, unasked.

"But you don't study," Max protests. Luckily, his attention span is really, really short. "Have you seen my flash cards?"

"Nope. Why don't you look in Justin's room? I think he was playing with them before he left."

Max turns to leave, but doesn't.

"Alex?"

"Huh?" She's impatient, itchy. Get out of here, Max. I need to find the spell that un-shrinks Justin's secrets.

"Sometimes, it's better not to know stuff."

The words send a cold needle of fear into Alex, and she freezes over the text. "What?"

"I said, sometimes it's better not to…"

"No, I mean, I know… but what are you talking about? Wizard lessons?"

Max shrugs, as if he's just as confused as she is. Then he gives her his sweet, goofy Max smile, and she feels a thousand kind of paranoid for doubting him. "Sure. Yeah. I mean, what else would I be talking about?"

Alex relaxes. Yeah, she's just being paranoid. Clearly.


A/N: Chapters 3 and 4 are secretly one long chapter, split because the abrupt change in length felt weird to me. If it seems like there should be more, keep rolling. ;)