Alex wiped the residue from around her mouth and pulled the flush on the toilet, dragging herself up using the sink she slouched forward over the faucet, the feeling of sickness still lingering in her. She caught sight of her pale complexion in the mirror and groaned to herself before poking and pulling at the dark circles forming under her hazel eyes. Alex inhaled deeply as she waited for the nausea to subside before returning to the loft where Harper sat having breakfast. Alex forced a smile on to her face when she approached Harper, pulling up a stool to the island she sagged on to it as Harper eyed her suspiciously before continuing to eat her cereal. Harper eventually placed down her bowl and fixed the ruffles on her pink petti coat dress and observed Alex closely as she prodded her oatmeal with her spoon.

"Are you okay?" Harper quizzed as she locked eyes with Alex, "it sounded like you were getting sick in there. Do feel alright?"

Alex silently nodded, "I'm fine," she mumbled in a robotic tone before aiming her face back down into her breakfast.

Alex's eyes remained still as she stared into the bowl of grey slop, Harper continued to watch her suspiciously as she ate the cereal from her spoon. "So, what happened with you and Mason last night?" Harper prodded on in between bites of her breakfast.

Alex shifted nervously in her seat, "nothing."

"Nothing?"

"Yeah…"

The conversation had quickly turned shallow and awkward, but Harper still watched Alex and hoped for her to go on. Alex could sense Harper's eyes burning into her and so she remained fixated on her oatmeal, the small bubbles in the thick mixture gradually began to pop and ooze curdling milk up towards the surface. She scooped a small amount on to her spoon and continued to stare at the unappetizingly at it before glancing at Harper who sat with her arms folded firmly over her chest, her eye lids pulled up as her brows knitted together whilst she observed Alex carefully.

Alex swallowed nervously before bringing the spoon to her dry lips and nibbling on the food, as the thick blend rested on to her tongue Alex felt a rush of saliva fill her mouth. She made a sick noise in her throat and quickly Alex clamped her hand over her mouth and pushed the bowl away. "I'm not that hungry," she murmured.

"Well, if you won't eat your breakfast then will you tell me what happened on your date last night?"

"We just had a fight…"

"About?"

Alex rolled her eyes, "Do I really have to go over it?"

"Not all of it, but I just want to make sure you're okay."

"He was just interfering."

"With what?"

Alex nostrils flared as she felt her lip curl, "what does it matter? God, you're just like him!"

"Woah!" Harper exclaimed, "what the hell Alex! I'm trying to look out for you."

The two girls were interrupted by loud clunks descending the staircase, Jerry strode into the room with a bounce in his step and over to the refrigerator. Whistling a merry tune to himself, he beamed a smile in their direction, "morning girls! How are you feeling today Alex?"

"Fine."

Jerry tugged the door open, "have you heard from Mason today?"

There was a tightness in Alex's face as she snapped, "why do you want to know?" Her eyes moved robotically back and forth between her father and Harper, "god, why can't you all leave me alone!" She jerked as she spoke, is as if she had a clock ticking in her head, counting down to her next explosion.

"Alex, don't you dare speak to us like that!" Her father chastised her, slamming the refrigerator door and waggling his pointed finger in her face.

"Screw you!" Alex stormed up the stairs and fled to her room, Harper and Jerry remained rooted in their place.

They turned to each other bewildered, "what's up with her?" Jerry asked breaking the silence, "has she been like this all morning?"

"Pretty much," Harper scoffed. A soft knock echoed from the door and Harper strolled towards it calling behind her, "you know I think there's something wrong with her."

She pulled open the door revealing Mason waiting patiently with large bouquet of pale pink roses, Harper smiled in surprise and gestured for him to enter, "Mason! Hey, how's it going?"

Mason looked around timidly, "uh, okay thanks. Is Alex in?"

Jerry pointed to the roses and smiled, "are those for her?"

Mason lifted them up and looked down into the bouquet as he gently touched one of the delicate soft petals with his fingertip, "yeah, I need to make it up to her after last night."

"Yeah, what actually happened with you guys," asked Harper, "she seems really upset about it."

Mason's brow furrowed as he scrunched his face, "I don't really know. I asked her what happened between her and her mum and she just lost it with me. But then I argued back, so I've come to make it up to her."

"But why are you apologizing if she's the one who started it?"

"Because I can't stand fighting with her. And if I'm being honest, I think there's something wrong with her, she didn't seem herself at all last night. Plus, its Alex she'll probably be too stubborn to apologize to me." Mason added rolling his eyes as Jerry and Harper nodded in agreement.

"This is just classic Alex, I wouldn't worry about it, it'll all be fine." Shrugged Jerry returning to the refrigerator and pulling out a half-eaten meatball sub.

Harper grimaced as the sauce in-between the dried-up pieces of bread squelched out as Mr. Russo took his first bite, it splattered down his fingers and Harper watched repulsed as he began to slurp up the clumps of tomato slithering slowly down to his knuckle. "But this isn't 'classic Alex'" Harper began, "seriously I think there's something wrong. She might be like this with everyone else but not with me. And I don't mean to sound rude, but she doesn't act like this. I'm the one she comes to when she's sad, or when she's had a fight with one of you, or even when she feels scared. But now she's barely speaking to me never mind sharing her feelings, plus she's just shouting all the time over any little thing, and she's been really distant. That isn't Alex."

Jerry remained silent, his gentle and concerned gaze told Harper that she had managed to convince him of the severity of the situation. "Okay," he started placing down his sandwich and crossing his arms firmly over his broad chest. His sense of self-confidence calmed Harper, and his warm voice when he spoke gave her the reassurance she needed. "So, it looks like we have a problem…"

"We?" Mason interjected with heat in his voice, "this isn't about us it's about Alex!

"Fine, Alex has a problem," Jerry turned to look at Mason, "but like you said Alex is stubborn, she probably won't admit to it if we confront her. So, I think we should just wait it out a bit longer maybe then she'll be ready to talk to somebody. But don't worry guys, she'll be okay," he picked back up his sandwich and took another large bite. Sending segments of bread and meat flying out of his crammed mouth as he spoke, Jerry continued, "I'm going to open the sub shop. Let me know if she says anything."

Harper and Mason watched on as Jerry strode down the stairs cramming the rest of the sub into his mouth as he walked. Mason shook his head in annoyance, "and what are the chances of that happening," he spat, "after last night I doubt she'll even want to see me, never mind bloody talk to me."

"Well, we'll just have to see about that," Harper marched over to the bottom of the mustard staircase, "Alex!" She waited quietly for a brief moment but there was no answer, "Alex!" Mason watched Harper anxiously as she began to tap her foot impatiently on the wooden flooring, her pink stiletto reverberating from the echoing sound. "AY ALEX!" she eventually bellowed, shocking Mason as he jumped in surprise, "get your ass down here!" Smiling proudly to herself, Harper puffed out her chest and gestured upstairs to Mason, "she's got another thing coming if she thinks I'm gonna let her ignore me!"

She cackled loudly to herself, and Mason's lips curled up into a dull smile as his eyes remained fixated on to the staircase. Quiet steps cascaded down gradually into the living room, Alex tiptoed down each step gently with her shoulders slumped, and her dark locks masking the majority of her porcelain complexion. Her eyes darted down at the floor as she reached the last step, Alex felt her breath get trapped in her throat as her chest tightened. Her skin itched on the back of her neck as goosebumps began to erect, Alex could feel the glares upon her, she glanced up and came face to face with Harper's suspicious stare. She quickly turned away from her but bumped into Mason's broad chest, she peeked at his face but instead locked with his eyes, full of worry. They both looked deeply into each other's eyes and felt a spark of passion. Alex was confident enough to know that she could stand up and speak to, lie or cheat anyone, anywhere in both the wizard and mortal world but when Mason gave her this look, she could feel herself crumble.

"Oh, hi," Alex murmured.

"Hello love," he said quietly as he held out the bouquet towards Alex, "these are for you, I'm sorry about last night darling. I promise I'll make it up to you."

There was a quiet pause, Alex didn't speak but eventually she took the bouquet from Mason, "They're beautiful. Thank you," she whispered.

The couple continued to look intently at each other, Mason carefully reached and took Alex delicately by the hand. Alex returned to her quiet state, she looked back down at the ground and tried to avoid Mason's concerned gaze, whilst trying to ignore the rapid beating of her heart ricocheting through her ears.

"I wasn't sure if you'd be in the mood to see me today," said Mason breaking the uncomfortable silence.

"No, I wanted to," Alex said as she placed the roses gently on the island, "I just didn't think you'd want to see me. And I should be the one apologizing, I know the argument was all my fault, I'm sorry."

Mason pulled Alex in for a hug and kissed her on the head, "it's fine love, let's just forget about it now." Alex nodded in agreement and then lifted her head up to plant a kiss on Mason's plump lips before he engulfed her in his arms and held her close. Alex instantly felt herself relax, she eased into Mason's embrace and closed her eyes. She could feel the warmth radiating from his body and it made her heart flutter to know that she was safe in his arms.

Mason rested his chin on the top of Alex's head and smile, "so, would you like to do something today? I think there's a Creature Feature on somewhere tonight."

"Yeah whatever, but I need food first. I'm starved."

Alex pulled herself away from Mason and wandered to the refrigerator and began to pour herself a bowl of cereal, after she returned the milk carton back to the shelf Alex then pulled out a large jar of pickles. It was half empty, a few crumpled pickles floated in the acid green liquid along with bits of residue that had disintegrated in the juice. Alex's face crumpled and strained as she tried with all of her might to twist of the gold metal cap. She sighed in relief as the lid erupted into the air with a light pop, Alex then reached into the jar and one by one she retrieved the remaining pickles and dropped them in to her cereal.

Harper and Mason were dumbstruck, they found themselves speechless as they watched Alex prepare her brunch and Harper's jaw dropped when Alex began pouring the pickle juice into her cereal bowl. "Eww!" she screamed in disgust as she watched Alex smugly mix together the curdling concoction with her metal spoon.

"What?" Alex asked as she rammed the spoon into her mouth, the hard pickles crunched in her mouth along with the crispy cereal flakes and scooped her spoon back into the sickly green gruel. Alex continued to crunch on her breakfast despite the strange looks Harper was giving her.

"Alex that is disgusting!" She exclaimed, visibly repulsed by Alex who had traces of pickle juice trailing off her chin.

"No, it isn't!" Alex shook her head as she continued to eat, "what would be disgusting is if I put beef jerky in it," Alex paused for a moment in thought as a small smirk slowly spread across her face, "actually that sounds really good right now." She dashed to the cupboard grabbing the small packet of beef jerky and began pouring it in to her breakfast. Harper gagged as she watched her friend begin to devour the repulsive meal, Alex shoved her hands deep into her bowl and used the lumps of meat to dredge up the dissolving cereal flakes.

"Mason tell your girlfriend how disgusting she is," Harper demanded.

"It's just cereal, mixed with pickles and beef jerky," stated Alex sternly, "I had a craving for it. What's the big deal?"

Mason stared at Alex in disbelief and simply shook his head before pulling Alex in for another hug, "I'm staying out of this one." He told Harper smiling before looking back down at Alex, "so, do you fancy going to watch that film then?"

Alex's face creased as she scowled up at Mason, "nah, I can't be bothered going anywhere today. I feel kinda achy," she said as she stretched out her back and began to massage it. "I'd rather just sit on the couch and do nothing all day with you."

Shaking his head with a grin Mason led Alex to the couch, Alex threw her bowl on to the coffee table as Mason pulled her onto his lap. He wrapped his arms around her she let her head rest upon his chest, in a cozy state, they huddled up together and Alex felt oblivious to the world surrounding her. She then felt Mason's arms tighten around her, as if to reassure himself she was still there, her lips curled up into a smile and her head lolled against his chest as she snuggled into his embrace.

From the far side of lounge, a voice hollered across to Alex that made her wince, "maybe you're starting with the flu?" Alex peered over to see her Mom carrying a laundry basket to the kitchen, she placed the basket on the counter, "that's how your father felt when he had it a couple of weeks ago."

Theresa turned to speak to Alex, and she gave her a timid smile before she began to fold her laundry, Alex could hear her own heartbeat; she could even hear her own nervous breaths. "Probably…" she whispered back to her.

"How are you feeling today?" Theresa carefully prodded, but Alex turned her back to her and ignored her question. Harper and Mason squirmed silently in their seat as they both became engulfed by the tense atmosphere. Theresa glared at her daughter, feeling the anger burning inside of her, she took a calming breath as she continued, "Speaking of your father, he's taking me out to dinner tonight for our anniversary. So, you'll have to make your own dinner."

"Wasn't your anniversary last month?" Harper questioned.

"Yeah, but he won't remember that!"

Mason glanced at Alex, there wasn't any shine in her eyes. She was like a plastic doll, eyes in a daze, distant. It was as if she was somewhere else. "Alex love, why don't you let me take you out?"

"I'm not in the mood…"

"Please, it might cheer you up."

Instantly, a tension appeared in her manner, as a tightness showed on her face. "Why would I need cheering up?"

"It was just a thought." Mason murmured, "we don't have to…"

"Good because I don't want to."

"That's always been your problem Alex!" Theresa hollered, "you don't know a good thing when you've got it."

Alex rose from her seat, blind in her rage she forgot who was around her and approached her mom, "I don't need your opinion on this." She hissed, Theresa launched down the item of clothing on her hand and placed her hands on to her hips.

"I wasn't giving an opinion, I was stating a fact. Your sweet boyfriend offers to take you out and you throw it back in his face?"

"I'm not throwing anything back in his face, I just don't feel like going out. I already feel shitty enough without you making a fool of me in front of everyone." Alex tried to swallow her anger, but as Theresa began to ramble on again about how selfish and spoilt Alex was the anger grew in her gut until it came out as hot as any dragon had ever flamed.

"Mom!" Alex cried cutting off her mother, "shut up! God, sometimes I wish I'd never reversed that spell in the Caribbean."

"And what is that supposed to mean Alex?" Theresa glared furiously at Alex, it was deliberate, it was a removal of all safety and a warning as clear as a drawn sword.

"I liked you better when you wasn't my mom, I wish it could have stayed that way."

Instantly, Alex felt a sting in her heart as the guilt hit her. The look of heartbreak in Theresa's eyes would never leave her memory, Alex's fire had burnt her mother to ash, she'd took one step too far and it was more than Theresa's heart could manage.

"Fine," Theresa muttered storming past Alex.

"Mom, wait I didn't mean it!"

"No because you never do!" She yelled fiercely, "right Alex!"

Alex watched on as her mother cascaded down the staircase and out of sight, she felt the sting of tears in her eyes, but her attention was soon shifted when she heard Mason mumble behind her, "I'll go and see if she's okay. I best give Mr. Russo a heads up on what's happened as well," Alex peered up as Mason reached the staircase and stared blankly at him. "Well done Alex," Mason murmured shaking his head and frowning before following Theresa down the stairs.

A tightness spread across Alex's chest and an overwhelming surge of emotion overcome her, Alex let a tear trickle down her cheek but soon enough she collapsed down on the couch in floods of tears. She tried to submerge her sobs into the cushions, but Alex's body shuddered as she tried to stifle her tears. A tender hand dropped on to her and soothingly began to caress her back, "oh Alex…" Harper sighed.

Alex felt a sense of relief, Harper was always able to see Alex more clearly for who she was rather than the troublemaker everyone else made her out to be. She always understood Alex and the significance of things such as why some remarks hurt her and why slights from her family wound her so much. Harper was that listening ear, the one who would provide her with love and encouragement just with her soft face and kind words. She was Alex's biggest supporter, and Alex was proud to be her friend.

Harper soon wrapped her arms around Alex and held her as she wept, "I'm such a bitch," she sobbed burying her face into Harper's shoulder.

"Ah Alex, we all know you're a bitch…"

Alex playfully slapped her hand across the side of Harper's head as she chuckled loudly to herself, "but seriously," Harper continued, "What was all that about?"

Alex shrugged her shoulders, "she's just been pissing me off and my brain felt like it was being fried! It's no excuse I know," Alex interjected before Harper could interrupt her, "I'm the only one responsible for my behavior. But I try to help, try to be good, and then she says the wrong thing and it's like some sort of trigger is flicked."

"But what did she say to even start this?"

"Not much," Alex sheepishly admitted, "just the usual stuff I guess. Being patronizing, treating me like some dumb kid. Look, I'm not proud of what I said, and I didn't mean to snap like that, I know I need to work on being more patient and learn to be the bigger person and not rise to this stuff, but she just irritates me so much!"

"Isn't that what mom's do though, bug their kids?"

"It's not just her though, lately it's everyone and I can't take it anymore! I know I'm only nineteen but I'm trying to be an adult and I just keep getting stuff thrown back in my face. You've even been annoying me lately, and you hardly ever annoy me anymore. No offence…"

"None taken," Harper rolled her eyes, "but if you've been sick then obviously everyone is going to annoy you, that's part of being sick."

"I'm not sick," Alex skulked apart from Harper and turned her back to her, whilst wiping the remainder of her tears away from her eyes.

"Alex, I literally heard you vomiting in the bathroom less than an hour ago!"

"I'm not getting into this." Alex rose from the couch but was immediately hit with a sharp pain shooting across her temples, the pain migrated around the majority of her head before a glaring light blinded her vision. Alex yelped and clutched on to her head, clamping her eyes shut in a desperate attempt to end the anguish. The pain Alex felt flowing through her skull could only be compared to an invisible flame burning through her.

"Alex what's wrong?" Harper grabbed on to her friend and help her in an embrace as she remained ridged.

"I can't see," Alex whimpered, "my eyes, they're burning!" She winced again and whined, "ow! My head!"

"Alex, look at me," began Harper calmly, "let me look. There might be something in there."

Bit by bit Alex prised her eyes ajar and Harper's jaw dropped at the sight, the dark hazel colour had dispersed and in its place was an illuminous orange. Harper gasped as she closely examined Alex's squinted eyes, through the narrow slits she spotted pigments of twinkling yellow. She continued to stare, bedazzled in curiosity whilst Alex groaned in discomfort.

"What is it?" Alex asked through gritted teeth, "I can't see! What's in there?"

"You really don't want to know…"