This chapter is dedicated to xForeverDazzledx, who has stuck with me since my first fanfic years ago, and to FF. netHANNAH, who is a brownie-deserving darling.
"Who wants brownies?!"
The next day, Mrs. Lewis's shout plus the delicious aroma of the chocolate dessert in the early afternoon brought every inhabitant of the Magnolia House down to the kitchen in a matter of milliseconds. We all reached for the brownie the moment Mrs. Lewis finished slicing it. Bad idea.
[insert shouts of "HOT!" here]
After we impatiently let the brownies cool before inhaling it, we all sat down around the dining room table. Perhaps I was the only one who noticed, but this was the first time everyone sat together, Russo's, Robins, Finkle's, Lewis, Rosenblatt, van Hausen, Stuart in all. What's one sure-fire way to bring the world together? Brownies.
As we fought over the last piece of scrumptious chocolate dessert and laughed at the mess Max was making, Juliet unexpected dropped the shocker bomb.
"I'm leaving."
We all stopped motionless and looked at her. "Well yeah," Aunt Theresa said. "You and Justin are moving back to Florida in two weeks."
"No. I am leaving. Like now. Justin is staying here," Juliet announced.
Looks of confusion played on everyone's in my gut, I knew. She knew. I knew that she knew. She must have seen Justin kiss me.
Juliet nodded, as if she had just made up her mind right then and there. "Right. So I probably should start packing." With that, she got up, pushed in her chair, and left upstairs. Without a moment's hesitation, Justin and I rushed up the stairs after her.
"Juliet, what are you doing?" Justin asked when we ran into Juliet's room. Sure enough, she had brought out her suitcase again.
"I decided I have no more business here in New York. And besides, I've had enough of the cold. I'd rather go back to Florida," Juliet said as if her split second decision was no big deal.
"Then Justin is going with you," I said.
"Ask him yourself," she said. "He won't leave New York. He won't leave you, Alex."
"That's not true." I stared at the two of them, shaking my head. "No. You guys are getting married next week in Florida and that's that. No change of hearts allowed! Nothing can change your mind. I can't change your mind."
I was almost at the point of hysteria. Goshdarn these stubborn fools.
"Juliet, don't be in such a rush. Let's talk about this," Justin approached her.
"What is there to talk about?!" But alas, I think Juliet lost it before I did. "It's plain to see. You love her. You never loved me. It's time to face facts, Justin. We have only stuck with each other for so long because that's what our parents told us to do. But we're adults ourselves now. We don't have to listen to them. You don't have to marry me. You can stay here, with Alex. You two look good together."
I shook my head ferociously. "If this is about that stupid kiss..."
"It's not about the kiss, it's about how things should be."
"That's not how it should be!" I screamed back. "Justin is supposed to be with someone like you."
Juliet crossed her arm and faced us. "What does that mean, someone like me? I'm nothing special. I'm rich, yes, but that doesn't make me any better than you, Alex. Life means so much than that. And you know what? I have dreams and hopes for my future too. I need a guy who loves me more than anything and anyone. So I'm going because that dream life isn't here."
I think the three most obstinate people in the world were in this room. Juliet wished Justin to stay, Justin wished her to stay and I wished them both to leave.
[insert silent battle of rage consisting of fierce raises of eyebrows and furious hand gestures here]
Justin spoke finally. "Maybe if we talked more, things would have worked out between us."
"Maybe," Juliet smiled. "It took a couple of months for Alex to know more about you than I did in a lifetime."
I was losing the battle. Juliet was going to get her way. And as great as that should sound, I was disappointed that all my efforts were put to waste. Couldn't Juliet have had her revelation a few weeks earlier? "You're really going and there's nothing we can do to stop you?" I asked.
Juliet smiled and continued packing. "Just promise me four things, you two."
I exchanged a look with Justin and we nodded in agreement.
"First," Juliet said. "Promise me that you'll invite me to your wedding."
"Whoa! Aren't you thinking ahead?!" I replied. But what she said made me smile. It would be nice if I ever married him.
"No rush on that one," Juliet laughed. "Second, promise that you will find May and solve the mystery. Third, promise that Sam and May's story will have a happy ending."
"How can it? Dad ends up with my mom remember?" Justin pointed out.
"It's never too late for true love."
"And what's the last promise?"
Juliet walked over and shoved Justin and I towards each other until our shoulders were touching. "Justin Robins, promise me that you will take care of that Alex Russo."
After I realized it was impossible to convince Juliet otherwise, I decided to just accept the fact. If they stubbornly want things to go my way, then fine. Sorry for interfering. I turned and walked out of her room, only to find everyone else had come upstairs and were listening in on our conversation. Talk about nosy neighbors. But I could have cared less. I was now too busy thinking happy thoughts because I could have Justin. Their engagement was over. Juliet gave up the battle I didn't know I was fighting.
Veronica never did that to Sam and May. What now?
Life was looking brighter, at last.
--::--
Justin insisted that he would accompany Juliet on her way back to Florida. He would visit his dad, explain the situation, and come right back. We could be together. Mrs. Lewis was opposed it as always, but I think Uncle Jerry was starting to have second thoughts. They were finally starting to see past his name and notice what kind person Justin really was.
On the day of their departure, there was a great farewell party in honor of Juliet, who had easily found her way into all of our hearts. When she was through accepting gifts and hugs from the neighbors, I walked her and Justin to their taxi.
"I couldn't think of a good gift," I said. "So here." I handed my necklace to Juliet.
"Isn't this yours?" she asked, examining it. By instinct, I reached up to my neck where the pendant should have been but only touched bare skin. I had worn that necklace everyday since who-knows-when. Leave it to Juliet to notice the small details even I forget.
"It was my mother's necklace actually," I explained. "When I was seven, I was rummaging around Mom's jewelry box when I found this on the bottom. She said my dad had given it to her so she refuses to wear it. I thought it was too beautiful of a necklace to leave in a box and collect dust, so I asked her if I could have it and she agreed."
"It's beautiful! I couldn't take this." Juliet stuck the necklace back to me.
I shoved it back. "No, you must."
"But this looks like it is worth so much!" It was true. The necklace pendant was an intricate blown glass with a purple diamond the size of a blueberry in the center. "And if it is your mom's, it has sentimental value. I can't take it."
"Juliet, please." I pushed it towards her one last time. "It's the least I could do. I'm giving my most prized possession to my greatest friend."
She sighed in gratitude and pulled me into a hug. "Thank you, Alex. For everything."
We pulled apart and she got into the waiting cab. I turned towards Justin. "As for you, mister, you better hurry back. I'll be waiting for you."
"I'm just dropping Juliet off, having dinner with the padre, and I'll be back tomorrow," he said.
"Promise?"
"Promise. And to show it…" Justin reached back and lifted his necklace off and replaced it on my glass necklace's original spot around my neck. The key to Sam's room lay right where the diamond glass used to. "Keep this safe while I'm gone, won't you?"
The cab driver impatiently honked his horn at us. I heard Juliet scolding the driver, "Oh, like you've never given a cheesy goodbye before!" Gotta love that girl.
"You better go, before the driver bursts a cow," I said.
"I'll miss you and your strange expressions." Justin leaned down and gave me one short, sweet kiss before going into the taxi. The driver took off the second Justin shut the door and I waved at the two of them through the back window until they disappeared from Waverly.
He'll be back tomorrow, and then he'll be all mine. Forever.
[insert dramatic pause here]
Or so I thought.
--::--
Justin was supposed to have returned back to New York by now. He was supposed to join us for dinner. It's 9:30 pm.
So where the heck was he?
"Alex?" I turned from my waiting spot on the patch of soil where the magnolia tree used to stand to see Max walking towards me. "Come inside," he said. "Justin's not coming."
"But he said…" I argued.
"I know. I know." I let my cousin take my hand and drag me in through the front door. When we stepped inside, all eyes turned to us with anticipation. Realizing it was just Max and I, and not Justin, they sighed and went back to whatever they were doing.
This isn't like him. He's not the type to stand us all up. He promised. I think Mrs. Lewis had a look of I-told-you-so, but she was nice enough not to say it out loud.
Zeke's phone rang and we all jumped. "It's Justin!" he said excitedly before answering. But the way his face fell as he listened to the call made what was left of my hopes fall and shatter. I knew it before he said it: Justin isn't coming back.
"They got to Tampa," Zeke announced to us after his call ended. "Let's just say when Mr. Robins heard what Justin did, he was outraged. He couldn't believe Justin gave up Juliet and chose a Russo. And he isn't letting Justin out of his sight, so Justin has no chance to board a plane and come back. Like, we're talking Mr. Robins using his bulky body guards and everything."
Harper came over and wrapped an arm around me. I rested my head against hers. I didn't want to hear anymore, but Zeke continued. "Mr. Robins is forcing Justin and Juliet to get married on the planned date. Their wedding is on Valentine's Day."
This time, I didn't care if I was crying in public. The tears came and I welcomed them.
--::--
It was now 11 pm.
I sat on my bed with my head against the wall. I knew there was no one on the other side, but I tapped three times anyways.
No goodnight knocks back. Only silence.
The first time the tapping-on-wall tradition began was way back in chapter three. Back then, everything was so simple. Justin was just the hot, older guy I had a crush on and none of this marriage thing was of an issue. How long ago that seemed.
I heard the muffled voices of Zeke and Papa Stu. Since Juliet was gone, the two of them had taken to hanging in the study again.
"…any news of Justin?" Papa Stu asked.
"No. Mr. Robins had confiscated his phone, too," Zeke replied.
"Who does Sam think Justin is, a little kid? He's turning 24 at the end of the month for crying out loud."
"Are you saying what I think you're saying? You actually want Justin to come back to Alex? I thought you and Mrs. Lewis were against it this whole time."
"I was against their relationship because Justin was engaged. But now that they've worked it out, there's nothing wrong with Justin and Alex's relationship. Except for their six-year age difference but who marries within ten years anymore?"
"Wow, Papa Stu, I never expected you to go against Mr. Robins's orders."
"I just feel horrible for Alex. Imagine how she must be feeling…"
I slid under the covers and scrunched my body into a ball. Stupid Sam, I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him I hate him I hate him. I can't believe I was starting to pity him the other day. Just because he didn't get his happily ever after doesn't mean he needs to take it away from me, too. What an inconsiderate douche-bag! Urgg!
I was like New Moon Bella all over again.
Life sucks and then you die.
[insert the most horrible, pointless, heartbreaking, emo, painful, worst week of my life here]
But if life gets spontaneously better, you live again.
--::--
Hmm...maybe this ending is even worse than the previous one... my bad :) So yeah, here's another short chapter, which combined with ch. 13, is like the equivalent of a nice long chapter. And now I have to ask: who hates me now? (Come on, raise your hands.) I know, I know, but did you read the last sentence?