Chapter 7
Tuesday 25th December, Christmas Day, 5:40pm
Christmas was nice.
It was snowing outside.
Alex and Justin played siblings for the entire day, that is, until everyone else went up to bed. They ate together, laughed, joked and opened presents. Alex got Justin an entire set of Oxford notebooks, notepads and pens and even a fancy suitcase – she blew her entire Christmas allowance plus her birthday money on it.
She never really wanted anything that much, anymore.
Max bought her a cool action-movie DVD set. Her parents gave her a bucket-load of money to save up for her holiday next year – which also stood with what Uncle Kelbo, Uncle Ernesto and Grandma had got for her – a week stay at a spa in Aspen. Alex grinned. She could take a plus one.
She sent Justin a small smile.
Justin saved her present for last.
They all went out to play in the snow – Max went with them. Max ran outside Waverly Sub Station and up the path to play in the snow with some of the other kids. Alex was all wrapped up warm. Justin turned to her and wrapped her scarf around her neck again, tightening it so she wouldn't get cold. He put an arm around her and they watched the snow fall.
A few snowflakes landed on her nose.
She turned to Justin.
She also noticed the wand in his hand – it was aimed up, and he was twirling it around, making circular movements in the air.
She noticed the mistletoe growing above them.
Alex leaned forward and kissed him.
"I love you." He said, smiling against her lips.
"I love you, too." She said.
They played in the snow. They threw snowballs at each other. Alex took Max inside, made him hot chocolate and he sat in front of the TV with a blanket, pillows and some left over Christmas cake and watched cartoons.
Alex went back outside with Justin. They played in the snow some more. Alex walked around the corner and her eyes lit up at the sight of fresh, untouched snow.
Justin ran over and held her hand.
She gripped it tightly and they both fell to the ground.
They sat there and made snow angels.
When they were finished, she looked up at the sky and blinked at the stars.
"Starry night." Justin whispered to her.
She smiled. "I love this."
"What?" He asked.
"This." She said, "All of this. I haven't been this happy in – well, since forever."
Justin chuckled. "You're only sixteen. Forever hasn't passed, yet."
She looked at him, blinking the snow from her eyelashes. "It'll come when I'm ready to spend it with you."
She wanted to spend forever with Justin. In her tiny, little piece of forever.
31st December, New Year's Eve, 11:58pm
The people in the sub station began to count down.
In the crowds, Alex held Justin's hand.
"Five…"
"Four…"
He pulled her face up to meet his.
"Three…"
"Two…"
"Kiss me," She whispered hoarsely, "I want to kiss you forever, Justin."
He nodded. "Forever."
"One…"
Forever.
Friday, 3rd March, 2:50pm
They had their first fight in about four months.
It was pretty bad. It was right after Justin came home and told his parents that he was accepted to college. Alex was ecstatic at first – but then he told her where it was.
It was in Seattle.
She screamed on the inside. She screamed, the glass breaking, her knees feeling weak. But she smiled; she smiled for Justin and wrapped her arms around him.
He hugged her back; but the others could barely hear him whisper, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," into her ear.
Alex began to cry.
She was already losing Justin before their forever even began.
She screamed at him and threw cushion after cushion at him. She couldn't blame him though – Seattle's offer was all inclusive, including the dorm free of charge for 2 years, unlimited credits and allowances due to his outstanding grades.
She gave up and slid to her knees.
He held her but she shrugged him off, and snapped at him to leave her alone.
So he left her alone. Justin didn't know what to do – no, fuck that – he knew exactly what to do – it was just Alex wouldn't let him help her.
"I don't need your help." She spat at him, "Just go away."
The words bit into him, and he flinched. Justin headed for the front door. His hand on the doorknob he turned back to her at the last second.
"I love you." He said.
She ignored him like he didn't exist.
Same day, March 3rd, 4:50pm
She finished the mural in the basement, finally. It was pretty. Not her best piece – or perhaps it was. She wiped her forehead and hurried to the sink to wash up. When everything was clean downstairs, Alex went upstairs, showered, changed and went into her room.
She sat on her bed and sighed.
Then she felt it.
Something wasn't right.
A few minutes later, the phone rang.
She picked it up. "Hello?"
"Alex? Alex, is that you?" It was Miranda's voice. Miranda. Justin's ex-girlfriend Miranda. They were on good terms since Alex discovered that she was playing for the other team – Miranda was a closet-lesbian.
"Oh, hey Miranda – what's up?"
"Alex! Oh Alex, you need to get to Downtown New York Hospital right now."
"Why?"
"It's Justin, Alex. He – he's –"
Alex's went silent.
She felt something shrivel up and rot inside her.
"Justin's been hit by a car."
Same day, March 3rd 5:30pm, Downtown New York Hospital
Alex caught a cab, threw the money at him and told him to hurry to the hospital instantly. She felt like teleporting, but her mind was telling her no – every time she tried to think about it, and close her eyes, all she saw was Justin's body crumpled on the ground, bleeding constantly, in her mind.
Jerry and Teresa were there before she was. Max didn't know yet.
"Where is he?" Alex said, rushing through A&E towards them, "Where's Justin?"
"Oh, Alex!" Her mother sobbed, "Justin! We – we heard from Miranda that – he was in an accident!"
"What happened? Where's Miranda?"
"She went to use the bathroom. She's pretty shaken up. She was there – she saw him get hit."
"I – I need to – to find her –" Alex said, rushing forward, but she paused upon seeing Miranda hurrying towards them.
She had been crying.
"Oh Alex," Miranda whispered and wrapped her arms around him, "Thank God you're here. Jerry, Teresa, I just called Max's school and they've told him. He's being sent to the hospital by Mr Laritate."
"Oh good…good…"
Miranda then looked at Alex, and pulled her aside. She gave her a grave look. A look that said I know everything, Justin told me, look. "Later, we need to talk."
Alex merely nodded.
A nurse made her way towards them. "Are you the Russo's?"
"Yes." Jerry nodded, "That's us."
"Well," she said, checking her clipboard, "Your son Justin – the doctors are taking him to surgery. His condition is critical, almost life threatening."
Teresa began to cry in her husband's arms.
"But we've got him under heavy aesthetic so he'll be alright. So far, we've discovered that he has a broken collarbone, a broken rib, one of them cracked, fractured, and he's got internal abdominal bleeding. We'll have to check his head for any internal bleeding but please, bear with us."
"Bear with you?" Alex spat at the nurse, rushing forward, "He's going to die!"
"Alex, please!" Jerry said, "Stop!"
"He's hurt!" She cried, "He's hurt and it's my entire fault!"
Miranda stared at her, confused. "Your fault? Justin told me that after your argument –" Miranda shut her mouth upon realising that she might've said too much.
Teresa looked at her only daughter. "Argument? You had an argument with Justin? What on?"
"Nothing." She lied, shaking her head. "I just –" he turned to the nurse, "Can I see him, please?"
The nurse shook her head. "You can't. He'll be taken to a private room where you can visit him."
"How long is that going to take?" Asked Alex.
The nurse gave her a sympathetic smile. "About two, maybe three hours. Please, give us time – there's only so much we can do for your boyfriend, dear…"
Everyone went painfully still.
"…boyfriend?" Jerry spoke, and then laughed dryly, "She's…he's…not her boyfriend! He's her brother! Alex and Justin are siblings!"
Alex felt like digging that hole and dumping her body inside.
"Oh!" The nurse gasped, "I'm so sorry – I just assumed that by – well – by the way you – um – nevermind." She shook her head and turned away, before turning back very quickly, "I'll return very soon – shall I – uh – take your name off the spouse list then, dearie?" The nurse said, turning to Alex.
They all looked at her.
She went pink in the face and nodded, "Sure, whatever." She said, not actually answering the question properly. The nurse left.
"Jesus," Miranda said, holding Alex steady, "That was strange, wasn't it Mr and Mrs Russo?"
"Very," Teresa said, sniffing her tears away, she pulled a tissue from her purse and went to sit down by the waiting room. Jerry trolled after her.
Alex looked up at Miranda and nodded, "Thank you. I needed some help there."
Miranda showed her best smile, "You looked like you needed it. Sorry – my head was all over the place when they brought him in – I kept thinking about what he told you, and then I got here and they asked for family, spouses, children, whatever – I got the parents' names down, then she asked spouses and I said 'Alex Russo' without thinking. I'm sorry, Alex."
"It's alright, Miranda." Said Alex, "I – I just want to know, what were you doing with my boyfr—Justin? Outside?"
"What, you mean after you had a fight?"
Alex felt the tears.
Miranda sat her down and explained everything.
"I was shopping with my sister. I saw him walking down the road, sent my sister home in the cab and I walked with him. He seemed quiet but wouldn't tell me the truth. I think he was crying. I told him I was a lesbian and he took that into consideration. He told me he loved someone he couldn't. I thought it might've been someone, like who's older, much older – or younger or something." Miranda paused and sighed, "Then he looked at me in the eyes and said it was you. He said he was in love with Alex and it killed him that he couldn't love you completely, or marry you or have children with you because it was wrong."
Alex felt the first tear fall. She looked up at Miranda and wiped it away. "Is it wrong?"
Miranda gave her a small, sympathetic smile. "It's wrong to other people – sadly, the majority. But who's stopping you? Personally, I believe that there's someone out there for everyone – and really, it doesn't matter who they are as long as they love you properly, and it's healthy and stable."
"But this isn't healthy? And can it be stable? We're brother and sister!" Alex cried. She's been wanting to say this to someone. Sadly, she didn't know who to say it to.
Miranda shook her head. "You know the statistics for birth defects in blood-sexual relationships are like, negative, negative to one per cent, right? You guys have strong genes – it's unlikely by a milestone."
"We can't even get married, Miranda. Try and fix that."
"You could change your last name. No one will know."
Alex scoffed. "Yeah right – and how am I gonna do that –" she paused upon realising something she's been neglecting for a while – magic. But really, it was only due to Justin's influence upon her not to use magic outside of lessons or unsupervised. She groaned and narrowed her eyes. God, he really has been changing her, hasn't he?
Same day, March 3rd, 8:09pm
Justin came out of surgery five and a half hours later. Max was cradling his mother, while Jerry was off getting another cup of coffee for himself and Alex. When they were allowed to see him, Alex walked through the hospital room door and gasped – he was still, but not sleeping like how he normally would – he was hooked up to a life machine, the drip connected to his arm – he looked as pale as paper and his hair was shaved shorter.
She choked back her tears and covered her mouth with her hand. Jerry held her upright as she collapsed in his arms, and began to cry her eyes out.
Miranda watched from the doorway as Jerry pulled two chairs up to Justin. He sat before the bed and watched his eldest son in a coma, while Alex pulled her chair right up to his bedside and sat there, looking at him for the first hour.
The second hour came and Teresa pressed a kiss to her son's forehead. Alex wanted to kiss him, to hold him and whisper how much she wanted to spend her life with him, marry him, love him in more ways than one, kiss him, bare his children and raise them with him by her side.
But he couldn't hear her.
He couldn't.
Saturday, March 4th, 5:06pm
She had been there all night. Only one person was allowed to stay, and Alex begged her parents to keep her there. Jerry came back with Max to give her a fresh change of clothes, toiletries and some food. She set it down by her feet but touched none of it. Miranda stayed with her that night, she didn't want to be alone, but she had to leave for college the next morning.
In the morning, Alex woke up but Justin hadn't. He was still out of it. As soon as visiting hours kicked it, Teresa, Jerry and Max came back. Uncle Kelbo also visited, but only for a short while. He left Justin a basket of magical goods he got from his trip to Japan, however Jerry was sure most of them were mortal tricks and sweets. He didn't mind.
Alex leaned into his bed, gripping his hand that didn't grip or squeeze back, and whispered lowly, "I love you, Justin. I love you, Justin. I love you and I promise to love you forever. Forever."
She didn't notice Teresa slowly walking into the room, clutching a cup of herbal tea. "Alex, what did you just say?"
Alex froze. She turned back to her mom. "I just told him that I loved him. I wanted to see if he'd wake to that, or something." She said, making it come off as some strictly platonic.
Teresa nodded, but was left confused.
Later that day, when the nurses asked if she could leave while they checked his vitals, she initially refused. Max asked her to go with him to the candy machine and she went with him, eventually. She had to let go of Justin's hand and it killed her.
In the corridor as Alex handed Justin a dollar for the candy machine, she began to cry again. She cried and she cried, wishing that if Justin died, she would die with him.
Because to her, forever had almost ended. It will ultimately end the second his heart stops beating.
Same day, March 4th, 7:40pm
Teresa caught her praying by his bedside. Alex never prayed. Ever.
She listened again, and heard that she was repenting her sins – she didn't know what sins they were – but by the sound of it, Alex was willing enough to go to hell to bring her brother back.
Same day, March 4th, 9:45pm
Everyone is falling asleep. Max is busy playing on the PSP. Jerry fell asleep an hour ago. Teresa is slowly nodding off.
Alex is still awake.
She glares at the clock, and then whispers for the final time, letting her last tear fall down her face and hit the duvet sheet, "I love you." And she closes her eyes, and turns back to her family.
She felt a squeeze.
Alex turned back instantly, but saw that Justin wasn't moving. She frowned, shook her head and just excused it with a lack of sleep, her terrible nightmares and that she's just started imagining things.
Another squeeze.
She turned back, and Justin was still out. She cursed under her breath and rested her head on the edge of the bed.
Her eyes flicked open, and she remembered a quote she read somewhere. She can't remember who said it – but she knew it. She knew it because it explained everything:
"The bottom line is that we never fall for the person we're supposed to." She whispered to herself.
Teresa heard and opened her eyes, but did nothing else.
And then she felt it. Justin. The hand that squeezed her.
Alex held her hand to her mouth.
"J-Justin?" She whispered.
Oh my God.
He squeezed again.
"Justin, can you hear me?"
He squeezed again but said absolutely nothing. It showed that he could hear, he obviously understood her…
Alex turned back to her parents, and Teresa's eyes widened. She shook her husband and tore the PSP from Max's hand.
When Alex looked back around at Justin again – she was startled by the sight of his light, greyish-green eyes staring right at her. He didn't even blink.
He was awake.
He was alive.
He was looking at her.
Alex began to shake. "Justin?"
Justin smiled. She could tell it was slightly painful to move at all. He held her hand just as tightly.
"Justin!" She gasped, and leaned over to hug him. He raised his arms and hugged her back.
"I love you!" She said quickly, "I love you so much and I – I hate myself for not telling you back home. I'm so sorry! I love you!"
He opened his mouth to speak, but he was cut off instantly. She did her impulse, and reached out to kiss him full on the lips.
But as she pulled back, expecting him to kiss her back, he froze, and went still, his eyes shifting behind her.
Alex also froze. Oh no. Alex turned around and saw Jerry, Teresa and Max staring at her, their eyes wide, shocked and confused.
Well, she definitely couldn't talk herself out of this one.