Rumors

Rating: T

**********

She was following him discretely to make sure the rumors weren't true. Alex didn't believe them anyway, but it was always better to have proof.

She'd heard, through the grapevine that was school gossip, that her boyfriend was seeing some other girls on the side. She'd heard it from a friend, who'd heard it from a friend, who'd heard it from a friend of a friend, who'd heard it from a friend who had supposedly witnessed her boyfriend with another girl. Now, usually Alex didn't put much stock in rumors like that, especially not ones involving her in any way. She didn't believe that he would cheat on her, no one would; they wouldn't dare.

She was Alex Russo, after all. Who could be better than her?

No one, that's who.

Still, the rumor had spread like wildfire. After hearing it initially, she'd overheard just about everyone talking about it. And whenever a rumor got that big, well, usually there was a grain of truth in it. Alex didn't believe it, of course she didn't, but she had to make sure.

And so, Alex was following him. Discretely. Meaning he'd never recognize her as she was now. Instead of trying to hide behind a hat and big sunglasses, Alex had gone for a more…thorough disguise.

She had turned herself into a boy. It had been easy. There was a whole chapter devoted to gender-swap spells in the book Justin didn't know she'd 'borrowed' from his room. She'd picked one after making sure the spell would wear off without her having to remember a pesky counter-spell, waved her wand, said some words, and transformed.

She was a hot boy, if she said so herself (and she did). Alex had never given any thought to how she'd look as a boy, had never considered being one, but she had naturally assumed she'd be attractive in whatever form she was in. Looking at herself in the mirror, seeing a totally drool-worthy dude looking back…well, that was as it should be.

After getting a text from Harper directing her to his current whereabouts she'd spotted him on the dance floor of the club. He didn't appear to be paying much attention to anyone in particular, though Alex could see a small flock of girls around him. He was dancing with all of them, trading partners frequently. Alex wasn't sure what to think about this. She'd known he was a flirt, but she hadn't known he went out to clubs without her, or that he was so damn popular with anyone with breasts (and quite a few without, as she noticed a few guys hanging around him).

Whatever, as long as he didn't focus on one person, she'd let this slide. It wasn't like he was making out with any of them. Just dancing. Not even dirty dancing.

Now, since she was in a club and in a pretty damn good disguise, she thought she might as well have some fun…while still keeping an eye on him, just to be sure.

She waded on to the dance floor, close but not too close, and started to dance.

It was funny, doing this in a guy's body. She was longer than she was used to, and didn't have as much hip, so she moved a little more awkwardly than the people around her. Still, she was enjoying it.

*****

Gwen had just spotted the cutest guy! All dark hair, pouty lips, soulful eyes, and awkward dancing; he was just so adorable!

She could tell, even from this distance, that they'd be perfect together. She had to get to know him! She just had to!

She wove her way through the dancing throng, sliding around flailing limbs and staying out of reach of wandering hands, until she was face to face with the boy of her dreams.

"Hi," she called, "I'm Gwen!"

He looked down at her, a confused look on his face, "Uh, hi." He looked away, obviously trying to spot someone in the crowd. Gwen pouted.

He wasn't paying any attention to her at all. That just would not do.

"What's your name?" she asked over the thumping music, pushing herself closer to her mystery man.

He looked down at her again, she blithely ignored the annoyance written on his face, and he said, "Alex."

Undeterred she plowed on, "Wanna dance with me, Alex?"

"Uh, not really," Alex said.

She ignored what he said, "Great!" She grabbed his wrist and dragged him deeper into the crowd, then turned, pressed close, and danced.

What he lacked in interest she made up for in enthusiasm, gyrating to the beat and against him.

She danced with him to several songs, trying to seduce him with her moves (and with a little illicit touching). Whenever he'd tried to escape she'd pulled him back until she'd missed her grab and he'd fled, disappearing into the mass of writhing bodies.

She wasn't going to let him get away though, she plunged after him.

*****

Alex had lost sight of him.

If that crazy girl hadn't dragged her off she wouldn't have lost him. What was with that girl anyway? Alex had never seen a girl so pushy, rather so pull-y. She'd been all over Alex, and she didn't even know her! And she could have sworn she'd felt the girl's hand on her crotch at one point toward the end there!

Hopefully Gwen wouldn't be able to find her again…and hopefully she'd be able to find her boyfriend.

Alex scanned the crowd, turning her head this way and that, searching. There!

She'd spotted him, a mass of girls around him still (and some hopeful guys).

She saw one girl reach out and squeeze his ass, he laughed and turned away.

That same girl pulled him back and he wrapped his arms around her.

They kissed. Long and deep, hands wandered.

Alex saw red.

She couldn't confront him yet, not like this. Instead, she pulled out her cell phone and snapped a picture. It was always better to have proof.

She put her phone in her pocket and turned away. She spotted Gwen at the same time the girl spotted her. Alex was so not ready to deal with her right now, she turned and fled again.

*****

Gwen had seen him!

He was right there just a second ago, but he'd vanished into the crowd again.

She followed, determined.

She pushed and elbowed her way between people, not even bothering to apologize as she kept going.

Her eyes intently flashed over the crowd, searching for any glimpse of Alex.

There!

Turning into the hallway where the bathroom is.

She followed.

*****

Alex leaned against the wall in the unisex bathroom, head tipped back.

She was so angry. How could he do this to her? Why? Wasn't she attentive enough? Was she not hot enough? Or just not slutty enough? She wouldn't be changing any time soon, but she'd still like to know.

What she did know already was it was over between them. As soon as she changed back she was dumping his sorry ass. Not that he'd care, judging from how thoroughly he'd been exploring that girl's tonsils with his tongue, he'd have a new squeeze in moments.

The door opened with a loud creak.

Alex saw Gwen a fraction of a second before the girl's tongue was in her mouth.

Figuring she had nothing to lose anyway, Alex kissed back.

She kissed so well, in fact, that Alex didn't even notice when she changed back.

*****

Gwen broke the kiss, entirely satisfied.

Alex was an excellent kisser.

She opened her eyes.

She shrieked.

"You're a girl! How? What? You're a girl?!"

Alex's eyes popped open and her head whipped to the mirror, "Huh, wonder why that happened. Should've had a few more hours," she said calmly.

Gwen was still freaking out. "You're a girl?! Since when are you a girl? I could have sworn I felt—a not girl part down there!"

Alex's eyes widened, "Uh, uh, I'm…an illusionist. Yeah, that works. I'm an illusionist; you only think you saw a boy."

"Uh, no," Gwen argued, "I most definitely felt a boy. Not a girl. And you're still wearing boy clothes! What the hell is going on? And why do you look so much like me?"

Alex looked closely at Gwen, close enough to make Gwen squirm, "Nope," she said drawing back, "I don't see it. We don't look anything alike." She paused for moment, "Welp, bye!"

Alex dodged around Gwen and slid out the door.

Gwen was awfully confused.

"I just kissed a girl. Who was a boy when I started kissing her and a girl when I stopped. So I kissed a girl…and liked it?" She thought for a moment, girl or boy, Alex had been a great kisser and Gwen had enjoyed it very much. "So, I liked it."

Gwen pouted, "I didn't even get her number!"

*****

Alex found him in the crowd. Easier this time, he was the one with the slut hanging off him.

She marched up to him and slapped him, "We're over."

She heard him splutter her name, calling excuses. She heard, with no small amount of satisfaction his girl of the moment yell at him, and then heard the slap; she smirked as she walked away.

She spotted Gwen wandering through the crowds.

"Hey Gwen!" she called out.

Gwen looked up, surprised, "Alex?"

Alex smiled, "Wanna dance?"

Gwen smiled back.

*****

Alex was the talk of the gossip mill once again the next day, but this time she didn't care what they were saying.

"Alex!" Harper bellowed down the hall, running full tilt toward her friend and sliding to a stop in front of her, "Is it true? You kissed a girl at the club last night after dumping that sleaze ball?"

Alex smiled, "Did more than kissed her," she said to her stunned best friend, "I'm dating her."

"Really?! When can I meet her?" Harper, ever supportive, took this news in stride.

"After school," Alex said, "She's coming to the sub-shop. I think you'll like her. I do."

**********

THE END

Notes on the Pairing: Alex Russo is from Wizards of Waverly Place, she guested in the crossover epic 'Wizards On Deck with Hannah Montana'. Gwen appeared in the Suite Life of Zack and Cody episode 48 'A Midsummer's Nightmare'. Both are played by Selena Gomez.