My heart was pounding. My head was racing. This wasn't how it was supposed to turn out. I've gotten myself into loads of trouble before, but this was something entirely different. As I sat down across from a stone-faced Jeff, I knew I had finally crossed the line.

He sat there, eyes fixed upon me with a look that stung. I wanted to say something, but no words would come out. He folded his hands together and pursed his lips. "Where do I even begin, Ms. Russo?"

The use of my surname made me all too aware of how badly I had screwed up with him. With Justin. With Nick. I braced myself. "Jeff, I-"

"Stop right there." He interrupted me, but I wasn't sorry that he did. I didn't know what I was going to say.

"First," He tapped a pen against his desk, a habit of his I picked up on from the countless times I've sat in this office. "You have a mortal waiting outside for you."

"I know, but-"

He snorted, cutting off my words, as if this was all too amusing for him. "What excuse to you have for this one? Really, I'm interested to see how you plan on getting out of this."

"I don't have any excuses," I mumbled, defeated. What was the use? I was in too far deep.

He raised his eyebrows, surprised etched across his plain features. "Nothing? You're not going to tell me that you're father was diagnosed with a horrible disease and you had no choice but to use a forbidden spell?"

"Not this time." I said softly, shaking my head.

"Well, then." He still didn't look all too convinced. "Let's get to the other felonies you have committed in the last twenty-four hours."

I said nothing, and let Jeff continue. "That mortal you have outside," He motioned towards the door. "Is under a love potion. Oh, yes, Alex, we know." He said, after seeing the horrified expression on my face. Not only was it a Selfish Spell, but it was incredibly embarrassing as well.

"And there's more!" He said, hitting his desk. I flinched. "You steal a highly valuable book, use teleportation to get into the wizarding world with your brother, who -"

"Justin has nothing to do with this!" I yelled, my heart sinking at the sound of his name. Justin. He was why I was here. I needed to get him out of this.

Jeff narrowed his eyes at me. "Your brother is being evaluated right now. There can be some mistakes when detecting who had used the spell, but we are certain he was with you."

Tears welled up in my eyes. "He was only trying to help me." I said, and I immediately wished I hadn't. What was I going to tell him? That the smart-mouthed, independent Alex Russo fell in love? That I messed up, had no choice but to admit it, and begged my older brother to help me fix it? There was no way this teenage sob story was going to make Jeff release Justin – or me.

Jeff sighed, his head hanging low. I could sense then this newly strict persona he was portraying was fading off. He looked up at me with a look of pity. "I know."

My eyebrows came together in confusion and I was overall taken aback by his response. Did he really know? Did he know all that I have done and got myself and my brother into?

"Justin is one of the finest young men the wizarding world has ever seen." Jeff stated. I'd usually roll my eyes or make a snarky reply about a comment like that, but instead I said nothing, and listened intently to Jeff – hoping and praying that he might let Justin go.

To my surprise, Jeff suppressed a laugh. "The fact that you two are even related.."

I smiled, but no laugh was about to escape my lips.

"You believe me then?" I asked, while a huge hollow pit formed in the bottom of my stomach. "You'll let him go?"

The second of humor he had had now passed, and pity once again filled upon his face. "I believe you, Alex. I know as well as you that Justin would never have done what he did without reason." He stared at me. "Your brother is a great kid, and he has his heart in the right place. Unfortunately, the council may not see it that way."

"But you're the chief, can't you do something?" I pleaded, my voice unusually high.

He shook his head slowly. "There's only so much I can do, Alex. I'm sorry." At this, he handed me a piece of paper.

I took it from his hands carefully, confused. The letters were written in cursive, and upon it said the date in which I would have my hearing. My hearing? "What is this about?" I asked Jeff. My voice had now gone very low.

"I can't get you out of this one." He told me, and he looked genuinely sorry. "Your hearing about your powers will take place on the tenth."

"They're taking my powers away?" My voice seemed to echo around the office, and the hopelessness of it made me sick. Of course they were going to take my powers away. I've been telling myself this all along. It shouldn't be a shock to me.

From the look on Jeff's face, I knew the answer was yes, but instead he said "We'll see what happens on the tenth. Good luck, Alex."

I knew that our conversation was over, and that this was my cue to leave. Grasping the piece of paper in my hand, I stood up from the chair and made my way out. "Thanks, Chief." I said quietly, shutting the door behind me.

As I walked out from Jeff's office, another thought hit me. A horrible, wrenching thought that tugged my stomach inside out. My hearing was on the tenth of February. The exact date I had to break the spell in which Nick was under. I pressed my lips together, trying with great difficulty to stop tears from falling. I don't remember a time in my life where I've ever been as tearful as I had been that day. I had to get Nick to truly love me, save Justin's powers, and deal with my own hearing all in the matter of four days.

I reached the hall. Nick was stationed on a bench, looking nervous and fidgety as the same, small man stood near him, looking arrogant and pleased with himself. I forced a smile upon my face as I walked over to Nick. He looked relieved to see me, and without a word to the guard, I took his hand in mine and left.

The journey back to the mortal world with Nick was completely silent, and I knew he was upset with me. I wasn't angry with him for it, but I wished he wasn't. I didn't like the feeling.

I landed gracefully back into my lair as Nick stumbled his way through. I would of laughed if I didn't feel so utterly miserable. I expected him to march right on out, and as far away from me as possible, but he didn't.

Assuming he was looking for more of an explanation, I began. "Nick, look, I'm sorry for dragging you into this."

"You should have told me." He said, sounding hurt. "Why didn't you tell me you were a – a wizard?" The word seemed hard to get out, like saying it caused him great physical pain.

"Would you have even believed me?" I asked, and his face fell. "Exactly." I stated before he got a word in. "It wasn't easy, Nick. Trust me."

He took my hand and started to rub it softly. The feeling lifted my mood, if only just slightly. "No more secrets from now on, okay?"

I felt tears coming again. No! I told myself. I won't cry. Holding them back, I braced myself. "No more secrets." I said softly. "Well, I guess I should be the one to start."

He looked confused, which I expected. I took a deep breath. "You don't love me, Nick. You probably don't even like me."

"What?" He said, looking appalled. "How can you say that? I-"

"No, listen!" I said forcefully, and he dropped my hand. I wish he hadn't. "You know how wizards can do magic? Say spells? Produce potions?"

"Yes," He said, nodding slowly.

I sighed. "Nick, sit down."

He obeyed, and the words poured out of me like vomit. Word vomit, I suppose it was. Either way, I told him everything. From wanting to get back at Gigi, to giving him a water bottle filled with potion, to actually falling in love with him.

Throughout my entire confession, Nick didn't say a word. And when I was finished, he stared at the floor for what felt like an eternity before he said anything.

"But," He started, his voice strained. "You would never do that to me. I know you."

I closed my eyes, frustrated. "It's the love potion that's making you say all this, Nick! Don't you get it?" He went to protest, but before he could say a word, I continued. "Think about what you're saying. You just found out I was a wizard and you're saying you know me? It's the potion!" I needed to convince him. He needed to know, no matter what the cost of the truth was for me. Just because my life was falling apart, didn't mean his had to.

"You," He seemed paralyzed, lost in thought, looking for the right words to say. "Why?" He asked finally, and my heart dropped.

"I told you," I began, my voice quivering. "I – I wanted to get back at this girl, Gigi. I know it was wrong, trust me, I definitely know that now but -"

"I held off my world tour for you!" He shouted, his eyes burning holes into mine. "I thought I loved you!" He put his face in his hands, shaking his head. He was now standing up, pacing back and forth.

"But I love you, Nick!" I yelled, my eyes filling with hot tears again. "I love you!"

He looked at me, and I've never been more ashamed of myself. "I can't believe this.. you.. I mean, a wizard? A freaking wizard? Can I ever catch a break?" He was talking more to himself now then to me. "I didn't know that I had love potions to watch out for! Out of all the fan girls and their stupid -"

"I was not a fan girl!" I cut him off, getting defensive now. "I told you, I did it in spite. But, that all changed, Nick. I – I really do care about you." I took a deep breath. "You want nothing to do with me now, right?" I asked, hoping for the best but expecting the worst.

"I need space.. Time to think. I feel like everything I've been neglecting for the past week or so are coming back to me." He looked at me, a accusative stare in his gaze. "All I thought about for that time was you."

My first instinct was to cry. Closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, I said the only words fit for this moment. "I'm so sorry, Nick. I've messed up a lot in my life, but this is by far the worst.." I sighed.

"You think?" He snapped. I winced.

"I'm sorry!" I shouted, slowly losing all hope that I had. I would give anything for him to take my hand in his. It felt life forever ago since he did that, never mind ten minutes ago.

"Yeah, me too." He said coldly. "I can't be here anymore."

And without even a look in my direction, he strutted to the door and slammed it on the way out.

–

Took me longer then expected to get this out. I hope you like it, though :)


Review please?

Xo Steph