Sitting in detention, Alex, Michelle and Harper are divided with the other students talking over each other to be heard. In her regular seat, Alex is staring at Michelle to make sure she is okay. Harper however is glaring at Michelle. Finally, Michelle is keeping her head down terrified and wondering how her parents will react finding out she has had a detention on the first day.
Eating the lunch Alex bought her, Michelle is content. She knows if Alex is needed, she will jump in. At least, at school she will.
Finishing her lunch, Alex gets up and throws out her garbage. Speaking to the teacher in a whisper, the teacher smiles at her and nods', approving whatever Alex is asking. Leaving the teacher, Alex stops at Michelle's desk.
"Come sit with me." Alex whispers. Meeting Michelle's confused eyes, the new girl nods getting up. Leading Michelle to the back, Michelle takes the empty seat next to Alex. Sitting back down, Alex puts her feet on the desk relaxing and playing with her finger nails.
"How did you convince the teacher to allow me to sit back here with you?" Michelle asks looking at her new friend.
"She's our English teacher." Alex grins looking at Michelle, "Besides, she's my favourite teacher and she knows it."
"When is English?"
"We have French next, then it's Math, Music and English last. She is also our Music teacher."
"Wow."
"Yeah, complex." Alex laughs, "But I'm glad you're here. Someone who will understand the non-bird courses. Harper is in Math with us. Nate is in French and Jason is in our English class."
"Do you like your classes?"
"They're not bad. It's the homework that annoys me." Alex admits, "So, Michelle, tell me about yourself."
"What would you like to know?"
"Anything?"
"Hmm, as you know, my name is Michelle. I'm seventeen. I moved here from Iowa." Michelle pauses not knowing what else to say.
"I'm Alex. Seventeen as well and I lived here my entire life. I have twin younger brothers and my home life is amazing but sometimes overwhelming. My parents own a sandwich shop called Waverly Substation."
"I have no siblings and my dad is cool. Mom is my best friend. My dad is a detective for the police, and my mom is a chef."
"That's so cool!" Alex looks at her friend who looks down blushing.
"Thanks, I guess." Michelle speaks softly.
"You don't have to be shy, Michelle. It's just me."
"I never had a friend who actually cares before." Michelle admits.
"You'll have to get used to it because I'm not going anywhere." Alex promises, "If you want to, my friends call me Al. My brothers call me Lex. You can come up with a nickname for me if you like." Seeing Michelle crack a smile, she nods.
"You can come up with one from me too, if you like."
"Yay!" Michelle laughs softly as Alex does a happy dance.
During French, Math and Music, Alex and Michelle sit together and do their work. They are paired up together on their assignments because Alex always sits alone. Plus no one wants to work with her, even her friends.
Arriving to their English class, Alex and Michelle sit down together and both pull out their binders for the lesson.
"Good afternoon, class." Their teacher speaks walking into the classroom after the bell. Closing the door behind her, she faces the class, "Today we are getting divided into groups of two, and it's to get to know your partner. Because we now have an even number in our class, no one will be alone this time."
As their teacher writes down the pairing on the board, Alex and Michelle are paired together. Once finished, the assignment is due on Friday. It is Monday. Getting a list of questions to ask each other, they are told to turn it into a presentation.
"Would you like to turn our assignment into a PowerPoint?" Alex asks.
"Sure." Michelle smiles. Watching Alex write something down, it's a number.
"Text or call me anytime. Would you like to come over tonight to start the project?" Alex offers.
"I'll have to ask, but I'd like that." Michelle agrees. Once again Alex writes down something, it's an address.
"This is the address to the substation." Nodding, Michelle accepts it and slips both into her pocket.
After class, Alex and Michelle head to their locker and grab their homework, and in Michelle's case, the binders Alex gives her to copy the assignments and notes she has taken.
"See you tonight or tomorrow, Michelle." Alex smiles helping Michelle load her backpack.
"You too, Alex." Michelle smiles back before giving Alex a quick hug. Taking her bag, Michelle exits the school and spots her mom. Filling Connie Torres in on her day, Connie smiles, she's happy her daughter has made a friend.
Driving the car, Michelle looks out the window getting more and more scared. Arriving to their home, Michelle is beyond scared, downright petrified. Taking a deep breath, Michelle climbs out of the car and enters their home.
There stands, Michelle's dad and Connie's husband, Stephen. Closing her eyes, Michelle hears a bang before feeling herself get shoved to the ground.
"Steve!" Connie shouts. Opening her tear-filled brown eyes, Michelle doesn't know what to do. She never does. Watching in horror as Connie gets beaten to a pulp. Taking off her bag, Michelle goes to the house phone but Steve intervenes and starts to beat Michelle. Falling onto the floor, Steve continues like he is a gorilla with endless power in his beatings.
Barely hearing movement, Steve suddenly stops making Michelle look up to see her mom with a metal baseball bat.
"Leave our daughter alone." Connie growls furiously.
"Or what?" Steve laughs, "What will you do, Connie?" As the situation in front of her fades, Michelle sees only black as she passes out.
Over at Waverly Substation, Alex is sitting outside with her brothers laughing and just being together. It has been three hours since school ended and two hours and a half since they got home. Seeing a furious man, her new neighbour, storm out of their apartment, Alex could see some similarities to her new friend.
Determined to get some answers, Alex sends her brothers inside and Alex runs to follow the man.
"Excuse me, sir!" Alex calls speeding up so she is next to him, "Are you new here?"
"Yes." The man answers stopping and looking at Alex.
"I'm Alex Russo." Alex introduces herself, holding out her hand.
"Steve Torres." Steve nods, shaking her hand, "Now if you excuse me, I have to go."
"No problem. See you around, Mr. Torres." Alex calls out to him as he walks away. Alex can't help but notice the blood and bruises on his hands.
Pretending to act normal, Alex walks back the way she came before disappearing into the crowd of Waverly Place. Arriving to the apartment of Steve Torres, Alex looks at the list looking for his name. Finding it, Alex buzzes in.
"Yes?" Alex hears a nervous voice on the other end.
"Is this the Torres residence?" Alex asks.
"Yes."
"Is there a Michelle Torres with you?"
"How do you know?"
"May I come up and introduce myself?"
"Come on up." Getting the entrance into the apartment building, Alex heads up to apartment, two-eighty.
Once there, Alex knocks on the door. Stepping back so the person on the other end can see her as they look out, the door opens a little.
"Yes?" The woman's voice from before greets.
"Hello. My name is Alex Russo." Alex introduces herself, "I go to school with Michelle."
"Alex?" Alex hears Michelle's weak voice.
"Honey, stay on the couch and keep still." The woman speaks to Michelle.
"Hey, Michelle." Alex greets calmly but overall scared.
"Wait, your new friend, Alex?" The woman asks Michelle.
"Yeah. She protected me at school." Michelle's voice is heard, "She can help, mom."
"I don't know, honey."
"Can we at least go with her for a few hours?"
"You both are welcome to come for dinner. I'm sure my parents and brothers won't mind." Alex steps in.
"Hold on a minute." The woman speaks before closing the door. A few seconds later, Alex hears her unlock the door's chain, "Come on in." Stepping into the apartment, Alex is shocked to see her new friend covered in blood and bruises as she is laying on an icepack for her head.
"What happened?" Alex questions turning to the woman who is in the same appearance, "Did that Steve Torres dude, do this to you both?"
"Wait, you know my dad?" Michelle gasps.
"Ran into him." Alex states, "Well, he was acting suspiciously so I got his name and saw your apartment building. I live in the building next door. Michelle, did he do this?"
"Yes he did." Michelle whispers nodding her head to only wince in pain. Rushing over to her, Alex takes Michelle's hand.
"Come over for dinner, both of you." Alex whispers.
"Mom, can we?"
"Honey, I don't think so." Mrs. Torres sighs.
"Why, Mrs. Torres?" Alex turns to her.
"He will hurt us."
"I won't let him."
"Sweetie, you are amazing at protecting my daughter at school, but here, I don't think you can."
"Please let me try." Alex frowns deeply, "I have ways to protect both of you from him. Ways that are unexplainable."
"Like what?"
"I'm a wizard. With powers." Alex states not kidding. Hearing laughter, the two Torres women stop noticing that Alex isn't kidding.
"You can't be serious." Mrs. Torres speaks, looking worried.
"I am. But you both can't tell anyone I told you. I can't do magic in front of mortals, but I can show you and heal both of you up."
"How do we know you're not lying?" Michelle questions.
"Give me a chance?" Alex begs, "You know what, screw this." Pulling out her wand from her sweater pocket, Alex takes Michelle's hand and Mrs. Torres takes the other hand on Alex's order. Before they can blink, they feel being lifted into the air and in a flash, they land back down gently. They are at Alex's house, not their apartment.
Feeling Alex let her hand go, Michelle and Mrs. Torres watches Alex grab two purple bottles from a shelf.
"These are healing potions. I'm sure you want to keep this a secret from my family and everyone around you." Alex states passing the bottles to both women.
"We do." Mrs. Torres nods before looking at the liquid and chugs it down. Following her mom's lead, Michelle drinks her's. Passing Mrs. Torres a mirror, she looks to find no wounds. Looking at her daughter, Michelle looks just like her.
"Alex!" Alex panics and makes them disappear into an alleyway.
"What just happened?" Michelle asks Alex.
"I'm not supposed to take anyone in there. But, I'm a rule breaker."
"Oh."
"Let's go and have dinner." Helping Michelle to her feet, both Torres women follows Alex into the substation.
"Where have you been?" Jerry asks his daughter.
"Around." Alex grins, "Dad, this is Michelle and her mom, Mrs. Torres. Our new neighbours. I invited them for dinner."
"Why wasn't your mom or I told about this?"
"It just happened."
"Alex, you have to plan something like this with someone else."
"Okay, so Michelle and I talked at school and I invited her over to do homework. It's not my fault that I just found out she's also our new neighbour." Alex caves smiling amused.
"Alex," Jerry sighs.
"Honey, it's fine." Theresa steps in overhearing what was going on, laughing, "We are only ordering in, we'll just add two more onto our plan."
"Okay." Jerry agrees.
"Mrs. Torres, Michelle, this is my mom, Theresa and my dad, Jerry." Alex introduces.
"It's nice to meet you both." Jerry smiles.
"It's nice to meet you both." Theresa speaks at the same time as Jerry.
"You too." Michelle speaks shyly.
"I'm Connie." Connie shakes hands with Theresa and Jerry, holding Michelle close to her.
"Would you both like to go upstairs with Alex and look around?" Theresa offers.
"Okay." They agree before following Alex upstairs.
"Jerry, something is wrong." Theresa whispers.
"What?" Jerry asks.
"Connie and Michelle are acting how I did and still do around women. But they are acting like this around you."
"Why me? I didn't do anything?" Jerry points out.
"I'm not blaming you. But do you remember how I protected our kids from women and their friends' mothers?"
"Because you were abused by your mother your whole life."
"Exactly. What if they are going through it?"
"If they are, do you think Alex knows?"
"When I went out back to look for her, I found two empty healing potions." Jerry admits.
"Wait, Alex must know. Why else would the potions be empty?"
"If it happened, Alex used magic to get them in and out of the lair."
"Jerry, who cares about that at this moment. We have to get Michelle and Connie to confess to us."
If only they know that they are right on the money.
Upstairs in the loft, Connie looks around as Michelle hovers around her.
"ALEX IS HOME!" They hear squealing from above them. Watching Alex move toward the stairs leading upstairs to the bedrooms, two young boys appear and tackle Alex with hugs.
"Who are they?" Max asks pointing to their guests.
"Our new neighbours." Alex informs her twin brothers, "Go play your video games, do homework and no eating before dinner."
"Okay, Lex." Justin smiles nodding, "Don't forget to give your new friend a good night kiss later."
"Justin!" Alex gasps as the brothers run upstairs before Alex has the chance to get back at Justin, "I do not know them." Alex blushes turning to face Michelle and Connie. Giggling, Michelle tries to stop but laughs harder when Alex rolls her eyes giggling with her, "You may have a seat on the couch if you like, Mrs. Torres. Michelle, would you like to start our homework?"
"Sure. Is that okay with you, mom?" Michelle asks.
"Of course." Connie hesitates.
"Mrs. Torres, would you like to come up as well?" Alex offers.
"Yeah, mom. Please?"
"Okay." Connie smiles feeling better. Following Alex upstairs, Alex opens her bedroom's door and lets the two Torres women in first.
"You may lie on my bed, Mrs. Torres. To get some rest. Michelle will be here while you rest." Alex promises.
"Thank you, Alex." Connie gives Alex a hug before going towards the bed. The second that her head hits the pillows, Connie's eyes close as she starts to fall asleep.
"Thank you for all of this, Alex." Michelle whispers facing her friend.
"No problem. What are friends for?" Alex smiles. Seeing a little hurt expression appear on Michelle's face, Michelle nods, "Did I say something wrong?"
"No. No, you didn't." Michelle answers. Feeling Alex kiss her cheek as she takes Alex's hand, Michelle faces her friend, "I guess, a part of me wishes what your brother said would come true."
"Do you like girls, Mitchie?" Alex asks testing the nickname she has come up for her friend.
"I'm not sure. What about you?"
"Yes I do." Seeing Mitchie smile, Alex grins, "May I kiss you?" Looking behind her at Connie, Mitchie turns back to Alex nodding. Slowly moving in, Mitchie closes her eyes letting Alex lead. Feeling Alex's soft lips on her's, Mitchie can't help but like it, kissing her female friend. Kissing Alex back, they kiss at a slow pace, not speeding up or pulling away.
Feeling her heart pound in her chest, Mitchie places her left hand on Alex's cheek as she feels Alex's free hand on her waist.
Hearing voices and running feet, the two friends slowly come out of their own little world and pull away.
"Michelle? Alex?" They hear Connie's voice. Looking to her in surprise, Mitchie gets shy as Alex pulls her protectively behind her, "Whoa, girls, nothing bad is going to happen. I heard everything and Michelle, your dad will hate you for the possibility of you liking the kiss. But I don't care. You can't stop love." Mitchie nods, "And Alex, promise me you will protect my daughter and will always be with her, friends or girlfriends."
"I promise." Alex speaks happily, "I like your mom, Mitchie."
"Thanks." Mitchie smiles as Connie chuckles and kisses her daughter's head.
"Time for dinner you two." Connie informs them leaving the room with Alex leading.