Harper came up the down the stairs dressed in a tomato red dress. "Morning Max. Where's everyone?"

Max shoved a mouthful of pancakes in his mouth. "Lair. Alex is adopted." He said.

Harper couldn't understand a word he said.

"Max don't talk with your mouth full. Swallow and repeat what you said." She was now at the foot of the stairs.

Max chugged his pancakes down with milk then wiped his face and spoke. "Mom, dad, Alex and Justin are in the lair. Alex told mom and dad that she and Justin did it so then mom came out and said Alex is adopted so now they're getting yelled at."

Harper's eyes widened and her face grew redder than her dress. "Alex is what?" She yelled.

And with that said she turned and ran down the stairs.

Max got up and followed. "Hey if you're going to Eavsdrop let me come."

Dad held the door open for us as we walked in the lair then slammed it shut after I walked in.

"Kids sit." Mom said and pointed to the sofa across from her.

I sulked down in the couch and folded my arms across my chest in furry.

How could they never tell me this?

Mom was trying to keep a stern face but in her eyes I saw she was hurting.

She began. "Justin, Alex why?" She was on the brink of tears.

I bit my bottom lip. "Why? Because we like each other that's why. The bigger question is why you've never told me I was adopted?" I yelled.

Tears spilled from her eyes.

Dad spoke up "your mother and I decided it would be better if we kept it a secret from the three of you."

I stood up. "Better?" My voice went up again. "This isn't better. Living my whole life pretending to be my parents then telling me sixteen years later that I'm adopted is not better." I chocked back the tears blocking my vision.

Mom let out a sob. "Mija we're so sorry." She tried to hug me.

I took a step back. "Don't mija me. I'm not your daughter, I'm not anything. Am I even a wizard?"

Dad let out a breath then talked. "Yes you are wizard but not one in this family."

"Why?" a tear fell down my cheek.

"Why what?" Mom asked.

"Why me? Why was I given up? Where are my real parents? How did you guys find me?"

Mom held me by my shoulders and gently sat me on the sofa. "It's better if you sit." She let out a breath then began. " Your real parents didn't give you up Alex, they died in a car accident when you were only three months, you were the only survivor. Jerry and I had tried for a girl but after I miscarried I didn't want to have another baby so we talked about adopting a little girl, we wanted her to be a wizard as well, so she wouldn't feel left out and we also wanted her to have big, beautiful brown eyes and hair. We went to the adoption agency and the second we saw you we knew you were ours." She started crying again.

I bit my bottom lip again. "So that's it? Do I have any brother's or sisters' or anything?"

Mom shook her head. "Your parents were young, your mother was barely sixteen, your father was twenty three, you where their firstborn and their parents died, your mother did have an older sister, and she lives out here."

So there's hope?

Justin shifted in the couch. "And I'm here because?" He asked.

Mom wiped her eyes. "Because of your punishment. You two can continue dating but you're both grounded for two months, no parties or anything."

"Grounded in the house together." Justin turned and smiles at me. "I can do that."

"And," Mom said in a stern voice. "While you two are in the house there will be no kissing, going into each other's rooms at night, feeling each other or anything. Got it?"

Justin and I nodded.

"But," I said. "Can I ask something?"

Mom and dad nodded.

I placed my hand on top of Justin's "Can I see the papers, the adoption papers."

Dad nodded. "I hid them somewhere I knew you'd never find them." He opened a big spell book that looked so ancient. "You hate reading this thing. Here."

He handed me a folded paper. "Thanks."

Mom put her arm around Justin. "Come on. Let's give her some alone time." They all headed to the door.

"Oof." Harper said.

I turned toward the door and saw her lying on the floor. She looks like a tomato, it made me laugh.

My best friend had the weirdest taste in clothes.

"Sorry we had to listen. How you holding up Alex?" Harper asked and sat down next to me.

I waved the papers in front of her face. "Adoption papers. My mother's name has to be in here."

I unfolded the paper and Harper and I read it.

My eyes widened.

They lied to me.