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A Learning Experience: Spying for Dummies (part one)

Justin peeked around the corner, pressing himself against the wall in an effort to look inconspicuous but it wasn't working for more than one reason. It wasn't midnight, he wasn't in a ninja movie, and students were constantly walking by giving him weird looks, but those things didn't really matter as long as Alex didn't see him spying on her.

At the beginning of the day he had just went through his normal daily routines, his eyes automatically wandering over to her whenever she was in his presence. Then by about midday he found himself going out of his way to see her. He didn't go up to her, talk to her, make eye contact with her. He just watched her as subtly as he could. Now the school day was almost over and he was feeling a little desperate so he was reduced to this ridiculous behavior. He couldn't help it. He had to know.

She had never told him. Yesterday when he confronted her about Riley and tried to convince her to break up with him their conversation had been interrupted by Miranda. Alex had just been about to tell him something and he had felt that it was going to be something big but then Miranda had shown up and that had been the end of the subject. Was she going to break up with Riley or not? The question echoed through his brain getting louder and louder, whittling away at his self control until he reached this point. Spying on her like a total creep. He couldn't stop though, not on the chance that Riley might come by. Once he could see them, discern if they were together or not, he would be able to lay his obsession to rest.

Alex was at her locker with Harper who was enthusiastically showing off her latest outfit, an ocean themed dress complete with starfish hat. She twirled swinging the tentacles around on her octopus skirt. Alex jumped back to avoid getting hit, falling directly into the approaching arms of Riley.

Justin's fists clenched and his gut knotted as he watched the other boy pull Alex back into his arms. She looked a bit confused at first , then she turned around to see who was holding her. He couldn't see the reaction on her face but she stepped away from him causing the arms holding her to unwind. They talked for a minute but he couldn't make out what they were saying. He could only see Riley's stupid face. Alex leaned up against the lockers negligently while Harper shifted around on her feet like she was feeling uncomfortable… Alex turned, chuckling slightly at Harper and waved to the girl, who immediately ran straight to the bathroom… or maybe she just needed to go to the bathroom.

With Harper out of the way Riley went on the offensive, stepping forward he placed his arms on either side of Alex's shoulders, trapping her between his body and the metal of the lockers, not leaving much space between them. Justin growled as the boy leaned forward. He knew he wasn't supposed to do it, but he found he had no control of his head, body, or heart. As Riley moved towards Alex, Justin's heart pounded painfully and his muscles tensed as his brain sent messages to the rest of him to get ready because they were about to rocket around the corner and knock the crap out of that curly haired bastard. He bolted around turn teeth gnashed, ready to make a complete and utter fool of himself only to stop in his tracks.

He wasn't kissing her. He was whispering something in her ear and she wasn't looking too pleased with him. Before he could decide if he should intervene Alex had already become fed up with Riley's attentions and shoved him away. Turning away from the boy and towards him.

"Uh, hi Justin. What are you doing here?" her face flushed with irritation in that embarrassed 'I can't believe he is my brother' expression which was fairly common on her.

He stared at her, the guilt of being caught freezing him in place. It took about thirty seconds too long but he managed to pull on a very unconvincing casual look, as he rushed over to a locker that wasn't his and tried to open it. The effect was pointless. She knew that wasn't his locker. She had set up numerous pranks and booby traps at his actual locker in the past, but he could only hope she would buy it anyway.

"Just getting something from my locker." He fumbled with the lock for a few seconds before focusing on it in supreme concentration. He mumbled an incantation causing the lock fall off and the door to swing open slightly.

"Yeah?" Alex eyes lit up with amused anticipation.

"Yeah." he sighed with relief reaching his arm into the random locker he grabbed the first object to connect with his hand. "I forgot my-"

"Your bra "Alex giggled.

"Yeah my br- Aah! Oh gah!" Justin pulled the bright red and blue polka dotted contraption towards his chest before finally realizing what he held in his hand and threw it onto the ground stuttering as his face flashed red. Settled on the floor it looked like two gaudy little circus tents.

Alex grinned, stepping forward he swiped up the fallen undergarment holding it to her brother's chest. She studied him for a few seconds then leaned into him to whisper in his ear. "Sexy but I'm not sure it is your color. I don't know if you can pull off the clown hooker look."

She couldn't have possibly flustered him more, her lips brushed his ear, her hands on his chest, and that naughty unrepentant look spread across her face.

"Alex?" he heard the voice calling her and his mind caught up with his body, stepping away from Alex while simultaneously snatching the bra away from her.

He felt some satisfaction at seeing Alex grimace at Riley's interruption and the uncertainly and apprehension in his rival's face.

"What are you two talking about?" Riley questioned suspiciously.

"Oh, nothing. Just helping Justina with her new training bra" Alex smiled cheekily.

Justin glared at his little sister as Riley chucked at her barb. He flung the clown bra at her head but she easily side stepped it letting it float back to the ground. Riley seemed to visibly relax and that irritated Justin even more.

The boy stepped forward putting his arm around Alex's shoulder, beaming at her with his most charming smile. "So I have basketball practice! You should come and watch. Be my own personal cheering squad." He grabbed her arm leading her away as if there could be no other answer than yes.

Justin watched speechless as they walked away together. He had his answer then. She hadn't resisted for one second, just went off with him docilely. His eyes lowered to the ground, disappointment welling up inside of him. He should have known. Alex wasn't going to dump Riley and no matter what happened between them he would always be the embarrassingly dorky older brother that she always cracked on.

Snapping his eyes back up with determination he resolved to at the very least not let her continue dating that dick without letting her know what the guy was really like. He followed the path they had just taken deciding he would confront her now, but just as he rounded the corner a soft body collided with his.

He knew it was her even before he looked. Her scent, the feel of her body, the essence of her had become something he could never mistake for anyone else. "What are you doing here." he said softly, hope and bitterness fighting for dominance inside of him. "Shouldn't you be in the gym cheering for octopus head?"

"If I ever become a one person cheering squad why don't you just bash my head in with a brick and put me out of my misery!"Alex snorted.

He heart lighted at her reply and a small smile crossed his face as he imagined her in a cheer squad uniform bouncing around ecstatically. Shaking himself to get the image out of his head he filed it away for later use. He wanted to know everything, wanted to ask a million questions but they all left his mind as she slipped her right hand into his left. That was all he really needed to feel complete. Her hand in his.

"Come on dork!" she grunted nonchalantly, dragging him in the opposite direction as the gymnasium. "You got to help me with my science paper. Now, where is the library?"