Alex walked past the street fair stands, smiling when she saw Riley by the hot dog vendor. She ran up to him, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Hey, Riley."
"Hey, babe. Listen, we gotta talk."
"About what?"
Riley turned to look at her. "Alex, babe, you know I'm too good for you, don't you?"
Alex snorted. "You're the best thing that's happened to me, Riley. You know that, right?"
Riley looked away. "Yeah, listen, babe, I think it's time we changed partners."
Alex looked confused. "What?"
"Babe, you know what I'm talking about. Every few months, the guys and girls change partners in the dating circle. I've got my eyes on Kelsie. And Brad's been telling me he's wanted you ever since I got you. I told him you'd love to have him. What do ya say?"
Alex saw red. "No, Riley, I agreed to date you. I don't like Brad that way."
"Well, you better babe. It's already decided. You become Brad's babe first thing next week."
"Well, I refuse. If you don't want to date me, fine, but I'm not dating him or anyone else!"
Alex made to walk away, but Riley gripped her shoulder hard.
"You're gonna be Brad's babe, bitch."
"Let me go!"
"Oh, I plan to. Just as soon as you're his bitch."
"I will never be his bitch! Let me go!"
Alex saw Riley hit her, sending her back into a wall. The last thing she saw were Riley's boots coming towards her when everything went black.
XXXXXXXX
"Oh, my head!"
Alex awoke, her head throbbing painfully. While clutching her head, she used her other hand to grab a bedpost, pulling herself to a standing position. She attempted to ignore the pain as she glanced around the room.
"Where am I?" she wondered aloud.
She was standing in a small bedroom. Glancing at the light pink wallpaper and the mass amounts of teddy bears, it was clear to Alex that the room belonged to a girl, and a young one at that. Slowly, she walked around the room, stopping at a white desk to look at its contents. There she found fashion magazines, unfinished Algebra homework, and a planner filled with reminders about studying for exams.
"Well, that's odd," Alex thought as she turned, nearly knocking over a picture frame on the side of the desk. Panicking, she quickly caught the frame before it broke, and was about to put it away when something caught her eye.
"Oh my god," she whispered.
There in the photo were two people: a blonde woman she didn't recognize and a girl who looked just like Alex . On the frame in cursive white writing were the words "Mother and daughter".
"What is this?" Alex asked. She slammed the frame down against the desk, damaging the glass. She was angered by the picture. She knew that the picture must refer to another girl who looked like her, but she was upset all the same. Her mother was brunette, not blonde. The picture gave Alex an eerie feeling, and she knew she had to get out of there. She ran to the white door and opened it, revealing a hallway with a grand stairwell. She raced down it and was almost out the main doorway when she heard a familiar voice that stopped her in her tracks.
"Alexandra?"
She turned around to see Justin in a suit and tie, looking down at her with disapproval.
"Justin!" Alex cried, relieved by his appearance. "Look, I know I was wrong about Riley, but I would really appreciate it if you don't tell Mom and Dad about this."
Justin's look of disapproval deepened.
"Alexandra, what on earth are you talking about?"
Alex frowned.
"Justin, please. You remember our fight this morning. Please don't make me relive that. And why do you keep calling me Alexandra? You know it's Alex."
"Young lady, you know better than to address me that way."
Alex was puzzled. "Justin, what's gotten into you? You're acting like you're our Dad. I'm your sister, remember? Look, I get that you want to be in charge, but we have to get out of here and get home to Max."
Justin looked at her with pure rage.
"Alexandra Juliette Russo, of all the times you've behaved rashly with me, I never expected this. You know perfectly well that today is the day of your mother's death, and yet you chose to fabricate a story that disrespects me in every sense. You will go to your room and come downstairs in an hour with an apology to me."
Alex looked at him, flabbergasted. "Justin?"
"Don't call me that!" Justin shouted. "Harper?"
A maid who resembled Alex's best friend appeared by his side at once.
"Please escort my daughter to her room and make sure she dresses herself appropriately."
Alex looked at him in shock before being mindlessly led by the maid.
"You should know better than to treat your father that way," Harper scolded as they went upstairs.
Alex could only stare at her in shock.
Justin Russo was her father.
