Disclaimer: I do not own Camp Rock or Wizards of Waverly Place. Nor do I own Facebook or Twitter.
By the way, reminder: My twitter is xxMusicxSpazzxx. Follow me. Duh.
Caitlyn Geller walked into the Waverly Sub Station a week after having returned to New York City. She was feeling a lot better than she had been when she'd first gotten back to the state, but she was still down. After all, she'd heard life changing news. She needed time to adjust.
Now, though, her now-usual depression was replaced with suspicion and curiosity. She and Alex had exchanged cell phone numbers a few days before, and she got a text from the Latino girl during the school day telling her to meet her at the sub shop after school and not to tell Mitchie. She felt this was odd, but she wanted to know what was going on, so she agreed.
Alex looked up when she heard the bell over the door of the restaurant chime. Caitlyn was standing in the doorway, dressed in workout clothes, or at least what Alex thought were workout clothes. She didn't actually own any since she didn't work out, but that's what people wore in movies when they worked out.
"Thanks for coming," Alex said, approaching Caitlyn.
"You have fifteen minutes, Russo," Caitlyn said. "I have dance practice this afternoon and I can't be late." She put her hands on her hips and gazed at Alex. "So what's up?"
"Come sit in the back with me," Alex said, nodding towards the subway cart-looking eating area.
Alex had been wanting to get Caitlyn alone ever since before they met. She needed to talk to her. Mitchie had been exhausted after lessons that day, not having slept much since the baby kept her up all night kicking. So, Alex convinced her to stay home and take a nap, to come in to work later when she felt more refreshed. As soon as she agreed, Alex sent the text to Caitlyn.
Alex slipped into the booth she usually sat in when she had to have private conversations in the sub shop. She wondered why no one ever sat back here. It was nice and quiet, and not to mention private. Whatever, it helped her out a lot.
"Okay," Caitlyn said, sliding in across from Alex. "I'm in the back with you. Now what's going on?"
"Mitchie's birthday is coming up," Alex said, cutting right to the chase. No use beating around the bush. "I want to throw a party for her."
Caitlyn smiled a little. "Alex, she'd love that."
"That's what I'm hoping." Alex nodded quickly. "Only, I don't know who to invite. I don't exactly have too many friends, and the only one of Mitchie's friends that I know is you. I can take care of inviting my friends, but for Mitchie's friends, I'd need your help."
"What can I do?" Caitlyn asked, leaning her elbows on the table.
"Do you have the numbers of any of your friends from Camp Rock?" Alex asked. "I know it's a lot asking them to come all the way up here just for her party, but some of them may live near here."
Caitlyn bit her lip, thinking for a moment before releasing it again. "Honestly, Alex, I have the numbers, but I don't think Mitchie would want them at her party."
"Why not?" Alex asked, clearly puzzled.
"Because they don't know she's pregnant," Caitlyn said quietly, as if telling a secret even though no one else was around. "And I seriously doubt she wants them to find out. I'm the only one from Camp Rock that knows, and I'm pretty sure she intends to keep it that way."
"Is she afraid they'll find out and tell the father or something?" Alex asked.
"That's most likely exactly what she's afraid of." Caitlyn nodded. "She still isn't sure if she wants Shane in the kid's life. Or at least she wasn't last time she and I talked about it, which, come to think of it, was a long time ago."
"If she really wanted him in the baby's life, she would have found a way to get in touch with him by now," Alex said, grabbing the salt shaker and sliding it back and forth along the table in between her hands. "I know he had his number disconnected because she told me, but I know her. She's a determined girl. If she really wanted Shane to know about the baby, she would have found a way to get in touch with him. Facebook, Twitter, e-mail. Something."
"It's not that simple, Alex," Caitlyn muttered. She knew Alex was still in the dark about which Shane was the father and hoped Alex wouldn't press her for answers, because she could not give them. Only Mitchie could tell her girlfriend that the father of her child was one of the most popular teen stars of their generation.
"Still, I know she would have found a way to notify him," Alex said, putting the salt shaker back and not thinking there was anything out of the ordinary about Caitlyn's comment.
Caitlyn breathed a sigh of relief, but passed it off as a normal one. "I guess so…"
"I know so," Alex said in a confident tone. "I know my girlfriend."
Caitlyn studied Alex for a few moments before nodding. "I suppose you do. So if you know her so well, what's your idea for a party?"
Ten minutes later, Caitlyn left the sub shop with a smile on her face. She was starting to feel happy again. But this happiness wasn't for her. No. It was for her best friend. It was for Mitchie.
Alex's plan for Mitchie's birthday was the sweetest thing Caitlyn had ever heard in her entire life. Sure, there weren't going to be many people since none of them had all that many friends in New York, but Mitchie was going to love it all the same.
Caitlyn had had a good feeling about Alex from the very beginning and she was happy to see that she'd been right. Alex was actually really good for Mitchie and just what she needed, especially now with the baby coming. She just hoped that Alex continued to step up to the plate as time went on.
But as of that moment, Alex was absolutely perfect. She was understanding and compassionate. She was also a hopeless romantic, Caitlyn realized, which was great for Mitchie to have in her life. Romantics tended to be the most attentive lovers, which Caitlyn knew Mitchie could use. Romantics put their lovers before themselves, and after the Shane fiasco, it would be nice for Mitchie to be with someone who wasn't a selfish pig. She never would have expected that of Alex after hearing about her almost burning down the school. And yet, there they were.
Yes, Caitlyn mused as she walked to her dance practice, Mitchie had gotten extremely lucky with Alex. Whether it was coincidence or fate that the two had found each other, Caitlyn wasn't really sure. All she knew was she was thanking the universe for the current circumstances, Mitchie being brought to Alex and vice versa. Those two seemed to need each other in order to get over the hurtles with which life was presenting them and so far, they were doing a fantastic job jumping them together. Caitlyn only prayed for Mitchie's sake, as well as for Alex's, that they continued on this path of happiness and growing instead of crashing and burning.
Alex stepped out of the freezer, slipping a piece of paper into her pocket and trying to hide her sly grin.
Her father had sent her in there to see if they were running low on turkey, and it had been the perfect opportunity to do exactly what she'd been waiting to do since Caitlyn left and Mitchie had arrived that afternoon.
"We're almost out," Alex said to her dad, referring to the turkey. "You better order some first thing in the morning or we won't make it through the week."
"Thanks, Alex," Jerry said. "What took you so long?" he asked curiously.
Alex racked her brain quickly, trying to come up with an excuse. "I was checking all the other stuff too," she said hastily. "We need more…cheese."
Jerry nodded, somewhat impressed. That was rather responsible of her. "What kind of cheese?"
Alex froze, eyes wide. "The…cheesy…kind?"
Jerry nodded again, turning to get back to work. However, when Alex's words registered in his head, he stopped, a confused look on his face. He turned to confront Alex again, but she was nowhere in sight. He checked over the window that looked out across the restaurant and saw Alex heading to a table, nearly running to get there. He sighed and shook his head. She was obviously up to something. Some things never changed.
Alex smirked to herself, pleased that she seemed to have gotten away with that for the time being. As she took the order of the person at table five, the slip of paper in her pocket seemed to be getting heavier and heavier. All she wanted to do was run upstairs with it and start working.
Hell, she wanted to take it out right there and start looking at it. But she couldn't. Not with Mitchie sitting right there.
Mitchie could not know that while in the freezer, away from the wandering eye, Alex transported herself to Mitchie apartment. She could not know that while there, Alex took Mitchie's song notebook from her desk and opened it to "Don't Forget." She also could not know that Alex used the printer/scanner on Mitchie's desk to make a copy of the song and that was what was on the paper in her pocket.
She couldn't know any of that because it would ruin the surprise. And the surprise couldn't be ruined. It just couldn't be.
Alex looked up from her notepad with orders scribbled across it, eyes making their way over to the counter. Mitchie sat behind the register, putting a few bills from a customer in the drawer. She counted out the change carefully and handed it back, giving the customer a friendly smile.
Feeling a pair of familiar eyes on her, Mitchie looked across the restaurant to catch Alex watching her. When their gazes met, Alex let a soft smile touch her lips. Mitchie returned it, eyes twinkling happily at the way Alex was looking at her. It made her feel warm inside.
Alex's heart melted just looking at Mitchie. No, the surprise could not be ruined. It was too good, too special. It needed to happen, and it needed to be perfect.
"You really don't have to walk me home every day, Alex," Mitchie said as she pulled on her coat, getting ready to be walked home by Alex after their shift.
"I like to," Alex said, keeping her voice low so it wouldn't carry across the empty sub shop and into the kitchen where Justin could hear. He was busy washing dishes, but Alex was sure he could hear them. "It lets me know you get home safely and allows me to spend time with you."
"Well, aren't you the sweetest thing," Mitchie said, smiling.
Alex winked, sliding her arms into her coat. "Yes, I am." She smirked and pushed the sub shop door open, holding it for Mitchie to walk through.
Mitchie rolled her eyes in a playful manner and walked through the open door, Alex following behind her.
"You are so egotistical sometimes," Mitchie teased, standing on the sidewalk in front of the sub shop.
"But that's why you love me, right?" Alex asked slyly, taking a step up to Mitchie. She grinned ear to ear as Mitchie tried to stop the smile making its way to her face, but she couldn't fight it. Mitchie smiled widely, mirroring Alex.
"Yes, I love you, Alex Russo," she said, draping her arms over Alex's shoulders when her girlfriend had come close enough.
Alex grinned more as she placed her hands on Mitchie's hips, head leaning forward slowly. She watched as Mitchie's eyelids fluttered closed, anticipating the kiss they both knew was coming. Alex closed her eyes as well just moments before her lips met with Mitchie's in a sweet kiss.
Justin was busy in the kitchen, washing the dishes from that evening's dinner rush. He'd much rather be chasing after monsters instead, but with the cold recently, the monsters that usually invaded New York City were sort of dormant.
He smiled, though, looking away from the sudsy water and down at his muscles, which were getting bigger every day. He'd started working out at the exclusive monster hunter's gym on the weekends, and it was paying off. Next time he encountered a big foot, he wouldn't have as hard of a time as his last meeting with one.
Justin took his hands from the soapy water and flexed a few times, but stopped immediately when he heard voices. He slapped his hands to his sides, trying to look normal. He cautiously crossed over to the door leading to the restaurant and pushed it open slightly, peeking out.
Alex was holding the door open for Mitchie, who walked out and was soon followed by Alex. He'd forgotten they were still there. But it seemed as though they were leaving. Alex would be walking Mitchie home again, which he thought was rather nice of her. Alex had really grown and become a good friend to Mitchie over the past few months. Mitchie was certainly making Alex a better person, which Justin didn't mind at all.
Jerry had asked Justin to lock up and he wanted to do it right then and there before he forgot, but should he do it now? What if Alex wanted to come in through the sub shop?
Nah, she'd either zap herself back into her room or go the regular way, he reasoned with himself.
Grabbing a towel off the counter to dry his hands with on the way to the front of the sub shop, Justin began to whistle. It was the tune to his favorite Tears of Blood song, a band he'd started listening to just to make himself look cool but eventually started to actually like. He slung the towel over his shoulder when he got to the door, continuing with his whistling.
As Justin was about to turn the lock, he glanced through the glass of the door. The street seemed quiet, nothing really going on, nothing unusual. The other shops were dark, the streetlights were turning on, Alex was kissing Mitchie.
Justin's whistling immediately stopped as his body went rigid with shock.
Alex was kissing Mitchie.
He was frozen on the spot. It was like a car accident, he couldn't look away. Jaw hanging open slightly, he watched as Alex and Mitchie slowly pulled apart, each smiling goofily at each other.
Alex glanced at the sub shop quickly, that smile still on her face. However, when her brain registered what she saw, the smile instantly vanished and her face fell, soon becoming white with fear. Dark eyes flicked back to the window.
Justin caught the glance but assumed Alex had not seen him when suddenly, brown eyes bore into his green ones.
Mitchie followed Alex's gaze, her heart beginning to pound madly with fright when she discovered they had an audience of one−Justin.
The eighteen-year-old boy, not knowing what else to do, made a dash for it, towards the back of the sub shop.
Alex was at a loss for what to do. Should she go after her brother or stay with her girlfriend? She needed to be walked home, after all. Mitchie could practically see the war waging in Alex's head. As much as she loved being walked home by the Latino girl, she knew what was more important at that moment.
"Go," Mitchie said, placing a hand on Alex's shoulder.
Alex looked at Mitchie, unsure. "But…What about you?"
"I'm a big girl," Mitchie said. "I can survive walking home alone one night. I have my pepper spray just in case. Besides, you need to talk to Justin. Now go." She gave Alex a small push towards the doorway.
Alex glanced at it before looking at Mitchie once more. "Just text me when you get home."
"I will." Mitchie nodded, shooing Alex with her hand. "GO!"
Without another word or another look back, Alex threw the doors to the sub shop open and ran inside. As she tore off her coat and threw it to the side, she looked around the empty restaurant quickly, pausing at the kitchen door when she heard a noise from within. It was the sound of an entire tray of utensils falling to the floor.
Alex stormed straight to the door, slamming it open. Justin was standing near the table where their father prepared sandwiches, holding an apron in front of him. He stared at his sister, looking like a deer caught in the headlights. His mess of silverware was scattered around his feet.
"Justin…" Alex said, advancing a step towards him.
Justin shot forward, dancing around the utensils. He threw the apron over Alex's head to obscure her vision as he raced past her, running for his life. Alex growled and ripped the garment from her head. Hair wild, she followed her brother out into the restaurant. He was trying to make a break for the door, but Alex caught up quickly. She jumped onto his back, tackling him to the ground.
"Alex, get off me!" Justin exclaimed, wiggling to get out from under his sister, who had him pinned, an arm twisted around his back.
"No!" Alex yelled back at him.
Justin, being much bigger than his sister and recently a lot stronger, flipped Alex off his back and hopped up, dusting himself off and breathing in and out quickly. Alex jumped up a second later, just as disheveled as her brother.
The pair stared at each other for a few moments, each trying to catch their breaths. Alex was sending Justin a death glare, and he gulped, genuinely frightened. He may have been a lot bigger and known way more spells, but Alex was sneaky and underhanded.
"You lied to me," he accused, pointing a finger. "You told me you'd never go after Mitchie!"
"No," Alex said, shaking her head. "I said I wouldn't use her. I said I was looking for a relationship, but I wasn't looking for that with her."
"Well you've obviously formed one with her," Justin said, putting his hands on his hips and shaking his head disapprovingly. "How long?"
"Since Thanksgiving," Alex said. "We weren't looking for it. It just happened."
Justin shook his head again. "She's having a baby, Alex! What are you thinking?"
"That I love her!" Alex yelled, hands balling into fists. "I love her, Justin! I didn't want to have feelings for her, they just developed. I never dreamed they'd be returned. But they are! I didn't influence her in any way! She and I both know how crazy it is to be together, but we're giving it a try. We're taking it one day at a time. And each day, she and I get stronger. As a couple and as individuals."
Justin said nothing, just continued to look at his younger sister, who now had tears forming in her eyes. He'd seen Alex cry only a few times before, but this time seemed different.
"She makes me happy, Justin," Alex said, voice cracking when she said his name. "I've never felt like this before. Like, when she smiles, I have to smile too. And I know I'd do anything just to get her to smile. And that baby… I love that baby, because it's part of her. Every time I feel it move, every time she allows me to share that moment with her, I can't imagine a life without either of them." Alex sniffled and wiped her eyes on her sleeve. Maybe it was the tears blurring her vision, but she thought she saw Justin's face softening. "She makes me better," she continued. "She makes me want to be good. I don't feel like doing all that stupid shit I used to because what if it went too far like the smoking thing? Then I'd be taken away from her and I couldn't take care of her anymore. I just want to be there for her and that baby. I need to be…Mitchie and me being together, it feels right in here." She placed her hand on her chest, over her heart. "But that doesn't matter to you, does it?"
Justin took too large steps forward and grabbed his sister around her shoulders. "Of course it matters to me," he said softly yet forcefully. "You don't think I want you to be happy?"
"You don't want me with Mitchie," Alex said, looking up at him. "You made that much clear that day in the car."
"That's when you were still the old Alex," he said and gave a small smile. "But you're not her anymore, are you? You're different than what you were a few months ago. You're not that same dumbass that almost burned her school down to the ground." He smiled cheekily. "You've matured and grown so much over the past few months, and I think Mitchie has a lot to do with that. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see it. And if everything you said about what you feel for her is true, then I take back everything I said about not wanting you together."
"Are you serious?" she asked doubtfully. Was she actually getting support?
"I'm dead serious." He held her gaze, trying to show how much he actually meant it. "Honestly. If you fully intend to stand by Mitchie and support her and be everything she and that baby need, then you have my blessing. And anything you need, please be mature enough to ask for help."
Alex narrowed her eyes at her brother, cautious. She wasn't sure whether or not he was telling the truth. For all she knew, this could be some trap or that reverse psychology crap. Then again, this was Justin. Justin, who genuinely cared about her and Mitchie. Justin, who she just made a truce with and knew he would never do anything to jeopardize that. Justin, who was good and honest.
"Thank you," she said finally. "I really appreciate it. Just…Don't tell Mom and Dad."
"Why not?" Justin asked, taking his hands from his sister's shoulders.
"You know why, Justin!" Alex sighed. "They would flip! They'd think I was trying to ruin Mitchie or something. I'll tell them eventually, just not now. Not until I've done something to really prove myself and show that I'm mature enough to take on this serious relationship. Until then, please don't say anything."
Justin gazed at his sister, knowing she was right. "Okay," he said finally with a sigh. "I won't tell Mom and Dad you're dating Mitchie."
"SHE'S DOING WHAT?" came the booming, angry voice of Jerry Russo.
Alex's heart stopped as her and Justin's heads swung around only to see their parents halfway down the spiral staircase, stopped dead in their tracks. They'd been on their way down to finish with inventory, but Alex and Justin hadn't heard or noticed them.
"I'm sure we heard Justin wrong, Jerry," Theresa said, though she didn't look too convinced. She and her husband continued down the stairs, stopping when they got to the bottom. "Alex isn't stupid. She knows better than to get involved with Mitchie. That would be ridiculous." Theresa narrowed her eyes and gave Alex a forced smile, as if daring her to disagree. "Right, Alex?"
Alex said, nothing, just gulped and stared at her parents. If there was one thing she'd learned over the past few months, it was that lying was not the smartest thing to do. When she lied, sure, sometimes she got away with stuff, but usually it just made everything worse. And when she lied, it was usually because she didn't want to get in trouble for something she did or to admit to something she was ashamed of. But she wasn't ashamed of her relationship with Mitchie. But, she also knew that admitting to it would cause a great commotion and a fight. So, she just kept her mouth shut. That seemed safe for the time being.
"Alex," Theresa prodded again, her smile dropping.
When Justin saw that sister wasn't going to answer, he assumed she was at a loss for words. She'd been right. They were getting mad. They didn't trust her, just like he hadn't at first. They still saw the old Alex, the one who couldn't handle being in a relationship with the soon-to-be teen mother. If she admitted to the relationship, they'd be against it right away. But maybe if he broke the news to them, they would take it better…
"You heard right, Mom," Justin said quietly. "She's dating Mitchie."
"Justin!" Alex exclaimed angrily, jabbing him in the ribs with her elbow. He promised.
"How long has this been going on?" Jerry asked, his face stony and unreadable.
Alex glared at her brother one last time before turning to her father. "Thanksgiving."
"Well, it ends now," Jerry said, pointing to the floor to emphasize that exact moment.
"What?" Alex said loudly, her heart dropping to her stomach.
"And you have had your last lesson with Justin," Jerry said, crossing his arms over his chest. "First thing in the morning, we're enrolling you in public school. And I'm afraid Mitchie will have to find herself another job."
"What?" Justin and Alex both yelled at the same time. Neither of them expected that.
"Dad, I think you're being unreasonable," Justin said, trying to be mature and calm about this, trying to get it talked out and reasoned.
"You can't do that!" Alex yelled frantically, much unlike her brother. "Be angry with me all you want, but don't take this out on Mitchie! She needs this job to save up money so she can support her baby!"
"It's nothing against Mitchie personally," Jerry said. "We like her, but I don't think you two being around each other is a good idea anymore."
"It's the best idea anyone has ever had!" Alex screamed, hands balling into fists and her face turning red. "This isn't even about me, is it? It's all about Mitchie! You don't want Mitchie near me because you think I'm going to taint her!"
"Alex, that's not it," Theresa said, trying to calm her daughter. "I have the same feelings as your father. You and Mitchie shouldn't be together. And she shouldn't be around you, where she can still be influenced."
Alex's angry face instantly vanished as it turned into one of shock. She simply stared at her parents, dumbstruck. She couldn't believe it. She'd just been talking out of her ass and out of anger, but she'd been right. They cared more about Mitchie than her. They didn't want her with Mitchie because they didn't think she was good enough for her. Perfect little Mitchie could not be with someone as bad as stupid little Alex.
"Influenced?" she asked in a calm tone, though she felt anything but. "You think I'm influencing her? I am not. If anything, she's influencing me. She's making me a better person, which you would see if you bothered to pay attention or give a damn for five seconds!" Now she was angry again. "Mitchie knew she was attracted to girls before she even met me! That's how she got pregnant, trying to make herself normal. Lucky for me she realized she couldn't be turned. And we both tried to deny what we were feeling, but in the end, we got tired of it. We've both thought about it and have talked about it. We're preparing for the major life change when the baby comes. We want to work at it, want to take that chance." Alex saw the disapproving looks and sighed deeply. "Why do I have the feeling your minds were made up about this before you even found out about it?"
Theresa and Jerry exchanged a look quickly. It was Theresa who spoke.
"We've had our suspicions recently," she said. "We've been watching you two interact during work."
Alex nodded solemnly. "Great." She put her hands on her hips. "Well have you been watching the way my face lights up whenever she walks in the room? Have you watched how all I have to do is look at her and she gets this big, goofy smile? Have you noticed how happy we make each other? Because it's a mutual relationship. She loves me, and I love her."
Jerry scoffed. "You don't know what love is. You're too busy scheming. You think I don't know you were up to something in the freezer today?" He pointed towards the kitchen.
Alex blinked, taken aback. "I was working on something for Mitchie's birthday!" she exclaimed, getting angry again. "Look, if this is about the magic thing, she knows about that! She knows everything!"
Jerry's face went even redder at this. She told the magic secret? That was not acceptable!
"And she doesn't care!" Alex went on. "I love her, I'm happy! You'd think that would be enough for you guys, but apparently it isn't! And I don't care what you think! You're not taking Mitchie, from me, and that's the end of it!"
"Alex," Theresa started, but Alex wasn't listening.
She pulled her wand from her boot and ran out the doors of the restaurant.
"Alex!" Justin yelled, running after her. He shoved the doors open just in time to see his sister raise her wand and swirl it around her head quickly.
Alex literally disappeared with a blinding flash into the fast-falling night of New York City, ignoring the shouts of protests from her parents and brother. She took her anger and resentment with her, leaving nothing but darkness behind.
Told you things were gonna happen.
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