Chapter 10

The next morning, Justin, obviously still wracked with guilt, met Alex in the hallway at the bathroom. He gave a gesture of ladies first, and then turned back to his room. Alex gave him a look, but he said nothing to her, and she to him. She was still unsure how to feel toward him since the night before, but she didn't yet feel completely ready to forgive him. Alex was sure that her brother knew this, which was why he was being so nice at the moment. She wasn't going to pass up the opportunity for hot water, so she quickened her pace before Max woke up. Considering the fact that he needed to be dragged out of bed by a pack of wolves (or Jerry), she figured she had some time before that happened. She swore that Max learned to adapt to cold showers, and that yesterday's hot shower probably surprised the boy. She sighed with relief as the first spray hit her back and shoulders. She knew that today she would invite Harper to go to the second round's concert, and though she knew that Harper would be glad to go, Alex wasn't sure how she was going to ask her. She felt some nervousness in asking, knowing why she really wanted Harper there. She quickened her pace, making her total time showering and getting dressed to twenty minutes. Justin was making an effort to be nice, so she should at least do that for him. On her way out, she knocked on Justins's door and called, "Your turn," before turning to get to her own room, where she placed the towel in her clothes hamper and got her backpack. Then she went downstairs.

Being first in the shower, meant first dibs on anything from first pick of cereal and milk (especially when they were low), TV or internet privileges, since all three of them were supposed to leave the house at the same time, and usually the first one to get ready had to wait for the others. Alex chose to sit on the couch with the magical guitar and play her part of the song. She was glad that she wasn't singing everything she had to say, but she was glad that her voice still sounded good that morning as she played. She heard her mother in the kitchen and looked over at her with a smile when she heard Theresa sing along. "You will be at the concert, won't you mom?" Alex asked.

"I wouldn't miss it for anything," she replied, and Alex smiled widely upon hearing this answer, delivered without hesitation. As she continued to practice the song, though she didn't really need to, her brothers came down the stairs, ate breakfast as if they hadn't been fed in days, and then the three of them went downstairs to the Sub Station, where Harper waited for them just outside.

"Hey," she greeted them. Alex took one look at her crush and couldn't help but to laugh. Apparently, the theme for the day was macaroni and cheese. She had on a necklace that Alex had made for her when they were in kindergarten (which looked pretty broken, and Alex was surprised that it had survived ten years in Harper's room), her blue shirt had the logo for a famous brand of macaroni and cheese, her pants had cheese wedges on them, and her earrings were large macaroni noodles painted orange.

"Where's the cheese and mouse hat?" Alex asked. She hoped for that glint in Harper's eye that would start up their hat song and dance, but instead, Harper's face scrunched up.

"You don't wanna know," Harper replied with an 'ick' face, and Alex decided to let it be. When Harper was the one saying you didn't want to know, then you REALLY don't want to know.

"I bet your dad barfed in it again, like he did with the purple beanie," Max spoke up. At the additional 'ick' face Harper gave, Max's eyes lit up. "I was right, wasn't I?" There was a nod. "Cool!"

"Ew!" Alex said. She gave Harper a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry that happened to your hat. Maybe after school today we can go see about getting you another one. I think I saw a Mario Brothers hat that would go great with your plumbers outfit you made last weekend."

"Thanks Alex! It would be the perfect thing." Harper said with a large grin, one that Alex couldn't help but to return. When Harper was happy, then Alex was happy.

"And then you could find a pink dress for Alex, and you guys can cosplay as Mario and Princess Peach at this year's Comic Con," Justin added. He looked just as excited by this thought. "Ooh, and I can go as Luigi!"

"Com-a-what?" Alex asked. She raised an eyebrow at her brother.

"Nevermind," Justin said in somewhat of a groan, as if he wasn't sure why he even tried to speak to normal people. Surely Zeke would be on board as soon as he told him about the idea. Justin smiled at Alex quickly, and then he grabbed Max's arm. "Come on, Max, I think I saw some road kill yesterday after school. You wanna go see if it's still there?"

"YEAH!" Max said excitedly. He began to walk faster after Justin.

"Ask her," Justin said behind him as he got in front of the pack with Max, and the two jogged away.

"Ask me what?" Harper wondered. She took Alex's arm suddenly, and the Russo daughter jumped form the contact.

"Oh, well, I was going to tell you that we got the call last night. My brothers and I made it to the second round," Alex told her best friend. Harper stopped walking for a second, and Alex did too. The redhead looked at her with excitement on her face. Suddenly her left side was covered in macaroni glory as Harper hugged her.

"Oh my gosh, that is so great!!"

"Yeah, the concert with the 25 finallists will be this Saturday, and I would love it if you could make it."

"Of course I'll be there. Just tell me where it is."

"If the weather is good, I was told it would be held in the park for the whole day. We will get an email by then for what the order of the performances are." Harper nodded as she listened to this.

"I can't wait. In that video, you guys were so good. Wait!" Harper looked to Alex, scrutenizing her.

"What?" Alex asked, as Harper had forced them to stop once more.

"You guys aren't using," she looked around both ways, her eyes wild and accusing, "M-A-G-I-C to be good, are you?"

"One incy wincy spell and everyone jumps on you-"

"Alex," Harper said in almost a whine, "I'm not a-" she looked around again, "W-I-Z-"

"Okay enough with the spelling, it makes my brain hurt. If I don't read, do you really think I spell?" At Harper's look, Alex added, "Okay, NOT the kind of spell I meant and you know that!" she hissed.

"Still, I'm a human and even I know that you're going to get some backlash from it soon."

"Yeah, remember lunch yesterday? Hello, backlash."

"Alex," Harper whined again.

"Look, we are dealing with it, Harper."

"Well, if you hadn't done it in the first place, you wouldn't have to deal with it," the redhead said matter of factly.

"Yes, MOM," Alex shot back. Harper gave her another look, and then the two girls broke out laughing. They continued to school, their pace quickening, as they were almost late, and when they got to the enterance, they saw Max and Justin waiting for them.

"What took you so long?" Max asked.

"Oh, we were just talking girl talk," Alex said.

"Justin lied about the roadkill. He said you might be talking about girly things and wanted to save me from it. Anyway, I gotta go. See you all after school," he said when he saw his friend, the new guy Frances, who Max was convinced was the coolest guy on the entire planet, though everyone else just thought he was weird. Alex never made any comment on him, since her own best friend and crush was a giant macaroni noodle.

"I've got to go in now, too. I wanna tell Zeke about Cosmic Con and see if his connections could get ahold of one of the supposedly sold out tickets." Justin made a half wave to his sister and Harper, and he was gone. The two girls walked inside to their joined lockers and put their bags away, getting the books they would need for their first class. They shared a parting wave before they went in seperate directions.

Alex and Harper walked along the left side of the mall's walk traffic as they made their way to Harper's favorite store, where the red Mario hat was. If she got this, she would complete her plumber's outfit or her Nintendo outfit that she had at home already. Alex had called her mother after school for permission to go, and with Harper's parents figuring that the redhead was with Alex anyway, the two of them were clear to go. Smells of warm cinnamon and cookies filled the air as the best friends got closer and closer to the foodcourt. On the way, Alex's phone made its own special noise telling her that she got an update from the dollar theater.

"Hey, they are playing that Chipmunk movie that you wanted to see but couldn't. You wanna go?" Alex asked.

"What time?" Harper asked hopefully.

"The next one is at 4:45."

"If we get that one, it would be out by 7, and the last train back to Waverly Place from here is at 4:00. We'll make it. Ask your mom, because, you know, you'll be missing dinner and everything."

"With the junk we'll be eating at the theater, we won't have to worry about getting hungry later." They shared a smile, and as Alex called her mother, Harper looked around for the hat. It didn't take long, but when she held it up to Alex and received a thumbs up, she walked around the racks. She saw a shirt that she could work with as a special outfit to wear to Waverly Park on the day of the second round. Something that says 'Go Russos'. With Harper, that could be quite litterally. "We're all set. I told her that we were gonna pick up fast food on the way home."

"My treat," Harper said.

"What? Why?"

"Because after I buy this hat and this shirt, I won't have enough allowance left to buy my ticket and share of theater food." Harper said, her head going down a little bit. Alex looked at the items that had been held up to her as Harper spoke of them, and she let one of her eyebrows raise.

"I see what you're doing, you sneaky friend of mine. I pay for the expensive theater treats while you pay for the one dollar cheeseburgers."

"Oh, you konw that I will be buying your coffee when your allowence gets taken away for using magic like you always do," Harper replied. She then looked down, stuck out her lip and then looked pitifully at Alex. "Please? Pretty please?"

"Alright, its a date! Enough with the puppydog eyes, already!" Alex said, her stomach churning just a little bit. She knew she would never be a good advidsary to Harper's sad looks, and they both knew it. It wasn't as if the redhead used it a lot to manipulate people into getting her way, but when she did, boy, there was no winning. Harper laughed. "So, what is what shirt going to be used for?" Alex asked, pointing to the black shirt with a blue pointed hat with stars on it.

"You'll see," was all Harper said in reply as she left to go pay for her clothes. Alex wasn't sure if she should be worried or not. Harper's heart was always in the right place, but when she made clothes for any of them, she often felt a little bad because she never ended up wearing any of it. When Harper got back, she dangled her bag over her wrist and took Alex's arm with the one that was free. Together the best friends walked quickly out of the mall before they got too distracted by the music store and the jewelry shop, both of which tempted them to spend all of their allowences in one go. By the time the made it to the main enterances, they were practically running. They just barely made their train and they talked about school mostly, and Harper turned, holding steady to the subway's hold bar and asked, "So, have you heard much from Dean?"

At this, Alex stiffened a little bit, and Harper's look asked what was the matter. "Sorry, I..." Alex looked down at her shoes guiltiy. "I've kinda forgotten all about him," she atmitted. Harper didn't say anything for a moment.

"Well... I guess that's fair, since you broke up and all. I thought maybe you would still be friends."

"It is hard to be," Alex sais slowly. "Our whole relationship was pretty awkward, and... I wonder now if I ever really loved him."

Harper gasped. But you were together longer than any couple I have ever known," she protested. Alex could only shrug to this.

"I don't know, I mean... The way I feel for someone now, and the way I have felt for a while... It is so different from that. It felt more... More." Alex said.

"Wait, you like someone now?! Why didn't you tell me!?"

"I don't know how."

"What do you mean you don't konw how?" Harper siad, her voice got louder by the word, and Alex was forced to shush her. In a lower voice, Harper said, "It's easy. You open your mouth and say 'Harper, I have a crush on So and So, now help me win him over' like we always do!"

"I promise you that as soon as I feel ready to aproach... the subject, I will, but for right now..." Alex said. She looked at Harper, hoping her friend wouldn't get mad for not shaoring this bit of information with her.

"Alright. You keep this secret, but I will find out and we WILL woo him!" Harper said, her eyes widening as she balled her fist in front of her in determination. She got a couple of stares, but she didn't notice, as she never seemed to, and Alex smiled weakly. 'If only you knew,' Alex thought to herself.

About ten minutes later, the two friends ran from the subway station to the one dollar theater arm in arm, pushing past a couple of people and yelling apologies behind them. They made it with a little more than five minutes to spare, and Alex paid for the tickets, a medium bag of popcorn, a box of Milk Duds for Harper's new dress project and a bag of Reeces Peices and soda for them to share, the two of them made it inside and watched the previews to movies that had just passed in the theaters but will be new to this one, and Harper nudged her once to show that she wanted to see the newest romantic comedy, but Alex could never go because she was always grounded. Alex looked over at Harper with a 'Look', but there was a shine to her eyes that made Alex smile at her. When their eyes met, she nodded, letting her friend know that as soon as that movie came out to this theater, she would take her to it. She remembered when they used to always go every weekend, but then the magic had taken over the household and she had to keep that secret from her and they had to skip due to magic school. She hoped they could get back to seeing more movies together, as when she was yuonger it was something Alex always looked forward to.

About the half hour mark of the movie, not long after Alvin had been able to convince Dave that they should be kept, Alex reached into the popcorn bag at the same time, and she paused when she felt Harper's hand there. She took in a deep breath as her heart pumped in her chest, and her fingers curled a little bit around Harper's without thinking. There was a small nudge and the trance was broken. Alex ripped her hand from the bag and she then poured a small amount of the Reece's Peices into her hand. She then looked at the screen, not seeing anything that was going on for a little while. She soon got over her embaressement and focused on the movie, letting herself laugh at her favorite parts.

"Don'tcha wish your girlfriend was hot like me... Well, that is the only part I know," Harper said, which made Alex laughed. She handed Harper the fry box and the redhead took it. She dumped the last of the fries in her mouth, and she chewed happily. The two made it towards the Waverly Sub station, and they stood together for a moment in silence. Alex looked at her best friend, seeing the glitter in her eyes, the orange lipsticked smile, and the happy freckles on her face, and she swallowed nervously. She couldn't stop the thought that it felt like a date, but she heard, "I have a great time!" from Harper, and that just added to it. Alex smiled back at Harper.

"I did too. I'll... I'll see you at school tomorrow then?" she asked. Harper rose her eyebrows.

"Duh!"

"Good." Alex hesitated and she leaned into the redhead and kissed her on the cheek. Harper leaned back and Alex's cheesk colored. Harper shrugged after a moment, and she kissed Alex on the cheek, which only made her blush deeper.

"Goodnight!"

"Goonight." Alex answered. Harper walked away, and then a couple minutes later, when the redhead was out of sight, Alex sighed and walked inside. As she walked through the sandwhich shop, she sighed, which ended in a growl. "God, I'm hopeless!"