(A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews! I really hope that I address all the areas in which you think I could improve, in this chapter. I think you're going to like how it turns out though.)
It was the next day that my troubles really started, the troubles around which this entire story really revolves, or rather, builds up to. Though I eventually went to bed and though I was rather tired from what I had just done, I still didn't feel like I had a very restful sleep, despite the fact that I did get to sleep rather quickly after that. This, however, was not the cause of it.
At breakfast the next morning the whole family was gathered. What was it, a Thursday? Friday? I barely remember. But I do remember something my mother said.
"So Justin, Alex, I notice you two have been fighting less," she had said. My heart started beating at twice the speed it should, and I hoped she wouldn't notice how hot and flustered I had gotten. Alex, herself, gave a little cough and I sincerely hoped that nothing had been given away. Alex was devious though, it was unlikely that she would let any secrets out. In fact, I had to be more wary of myself.
"Ugh, it's summer," Alex said. "I'm exhausted from a whole school year of making fun of him. I need a break." She punctuated this last sentence with a bite of pancakes. Good, crisis averted, for now. Still, I would need to have a talk with her. After breakfast we met each other in the lair, and she sat down, looking hurt.
"What'd I do?" she said, innocently, in that manner only she can.
"Nothing, it's just... well we don't want anyone to get suspicious of us, do you think maybe we shouldn't..."
We hadn't actually mentioned anything about starting a relationship, had we? Well, Alex had asked, but I had only replied by letting her kiss me. Were we in a relationship?
"You know... date."
"So we are dating?" Alex said. "Because I wasn't sure if making out with me was a yes or not," she said smugly.
"Alex! This is serious..."
"Look, Justin," she said, also getting uncharacteristically serious and rising from the chair. "Whether we date or not it won't stop how we feel, right? And I mean, that's really the thing... if mom and dad find out about that, even, it'd be just as bad as finding out we've been going out behind their backs."
I wasn't sure I saw her reasoning, but she did have a point. Especially now that we had already made out, going out with her couldn't be that much worse. Of course, this is a slippery slope. How many times do I find myself saying "Well it's not that much worse"? Until I get to hell, apparently.
"OK, but," I began, but was cut off by her kissing me. Suddenly we heard someone coming down the stairs and we bounced away, blushing and worrying.
It turned out to be Max, who, as you know, isn't the sharpest tool in the shed. For this, we were both relieved. "Hey guys," he said. "Here early for the magic lesson?"
"Max, there is no magic lesson today," Alex reminded him.
"Oh, then what are you doing down here?" he said.
"Ah, we are, um, conducting an experiment," I had blundered my way through.
"Oh, cool, but I don't see an aircraft carrier anywhere," Max responded.
"The experiment was," Alex picked up after me. "If we were down here, would you come down? And Justin's hypothesis was correct! You did! So, props for Justin," she said, heading up the stairs. "Now come on, I think we have stuff to do in the Sub Station."
"You know what hypothesis means?" I called after her, also making my way up the stairs.
I didn't notice what Max was doing, but I soon felt his presence back behind me as we all went into our family's sandwich shop to help out. And let me tell you, it was hellish. Every moment I thought that the customers would see the way that Alex looked at me, or God forbid, if I looked at her. I tried not to, but I also didn't want her to think anything was wrong. She had to know how much of a secret we had to keep this, though. This was more important than the secret that we're wizards! If anyone found out, it would be the worst thing that could ever happen to either of us, ever, in the whole world. I cannot stress this enough! It's a fact that she didn't seem to agree with, she was much too callous with it.
I shall skip over a good period of time, again, this time perhaps a few months. But I can summarize what went on. Alex and I sneaked around behind our parents' backs, making out late at night and times when they were off on errands. At all other times, I fretted. I just knew that this couldn't last. Someone would find out and then the consequences would be harsh. Just how terrible I didn't know, but I had visions of going to prison where big guys would break every bone in my body and force me to do horrendous things. I couldn't sleep, couldn't eat... every time Alex looked at me I swore that mom and dad would get suspicious.
Worse of all, Alex was getting angry at me for my paranoia. She was positively frustrated. At me! I don't understand why she would be upset with me for it. But she was always known for being self-centered. I remember one day quite well.
It was two months after the first time we made out. I had lost count of how many times it had occurred since then, but, when we were alone, Alex approached me, but didn't give me the little peck on the lips she usually greeted me with when we were alone.
"Justin, we need to talk," she said, and I felt sick. No good could come of this. There are no worse words in the whole world than those just uttered by her.
"You've been distant lately, Justin! You don't seem to react much to me anymore. Sometimes I feel like you're just in this for the physical part," she said.
"No, it's not that... it's just, you don't seem to know how secret this relationship has to be."
It was true. School had started and she was bragging to people about her boyfriend. Kind of flattering, but more so worrying. And when I had told her to be careful about it, she just stuck out her bottom lip and made it out as though I were the bad guy here! Imagine that and please tell me that I am not delusional, but that that does not make sense!
"But you always seem to avoid my gaze and you don't even say I love you over the phone," she continued.
"What if someone is listening?" I said, exasperated. "Phones are not secure connections, you know. You should stop telling that to me, you know."
She did that thing again with her lip and I knew that I was in trouble, despite the fact that I was obviously in the right here.
"Please, don't! You know I love you, it's just..." I waved my hand vaguely and she sighed.
"I know, I know," she mumbled, tears falling. "It's just that I get so jealous when you talk about the weather lady or anything."
"Well how do you think I feel when you talk about how you and Dean used to do this and that?"
"Justin, you're the one at fault here!" she cried.
"How?" I demanded, not understanding her logic at all. Just then, Max walked from the Sub Station downstairs into the loft, where we were having this discussion.
"Max," I said, trying to calm down. "I didn't see you there."
"It's all right, continue your little lover's spat," he said. "I'm sure you two will make up and be back to making out on the couch soon enough." He wandered off to the refrigerator and opened it.
"Um, Max?" Alex said. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Oh come on, I'm not dumb. I know you guys have been going out for about two months. We don't have any pudding cups, do we?"
"Max, how did you know?" I can't recall if it was I or Alex who said this.
"It was obvious," he shrugged. "But don't worry, mom and dad don't know."
"Why haven't you told them?" I asked. Alex shot me a glance that said I had said something wrong and I realized then the stupidity of bringing up the point. Still, I was curious, and anything I could do to keep him from spilling the proverbial beans, I would do.
"Meh, I wouldn't mess with your relationship. I like you guys too much," he said, finally getting a Popsicle from the freezer instead.
"OK, Max, then could you continue to keep that a secret?" Alex asked, politely. I for one was relieved, because it got the focus off of the fight Alex and I were having. Unfortunately for me, that didn't last long, because Alex turned right back to me, and said "I'll deal with you later." This did not make me feel any better.
