Disclaimer: Don't own it.
Black butterfly
Flutter me by
Kick a little glitter into the night
Spark up the stars
Leave alone my heart
I'm trying to be good by you alright, alright
Black Butterfly- Laura Veirs
Chapter Eight
Alex stares listlessly at the TV, not comprehending the images on the screen. Her mom is in the kitchen preparing dinner, the phone pressed to her left ear. She's talking to Justin. It's the first time he's called in three weeks.
Their mom is chastising him about his inability to return phone calls. She can't hear him on the other end but Alex knows that he's sighing heavily and insisting that he's just been busy with school; sleepless nights and preparing for exams have gotten the best of him.
She would roll her eyes but she's sure that Max would catch her and she's supposed to be focusing on this inane show he's been trying to get her watch. He's perceptive about the most random things.
Theresa says goodbye, hangs up the phone and makes a frustrated noise behind her. Alex turns around and finds her mother determinedly mashing potatoes. The lines in her forehead are more pronounced and Alex can tell that her mother's hurt when she hears her sniffle quietly.
Minutes later they're gathered around the table and Alex hates how awkward it is. Jerry keeps glancing worriedly at his wife and only nibbles on his food, Theresa keeps her head down and plays with her own meal and Max sits quietly, not interfering with the strange silence that surrounds the Russo dinner table.
Alex eats as much as she can, though her stomach is in knots and she hates eating when she's upset. She compliments her mom on dinner, something she doesn't normally do and rubs her mom's shoulder reassuringly before placing her plate in the kitchen sink and rushing upstairs to her room.
She paces for a few minutes, trying to think of a way to solve the situation, fix things with Justin. She knows it's futile, knows that he's only going to ignore her like he has for the past few weeks. She hates having problems with Justin. She doesn't do guilt, she doesn't do conflict, she doesn't like dealing with anything that digs too deep but Justin has always had a way of getting under her skin.
She gives up eventually and settles on her bed with a spell book, determined to focus her energy on something she has a chance of understanding.
*****
"Justin," Alex whispers, knocking as gently on his door as possible. She shifts her weight from foot to foot, anxiously waiting for her brother to open the door. He doesn't answer and she pouts and knocks again, "Justin," she says louder this time, in case he couldn't hear her the first time.
After a few more minutes and even more knocking, he answers his door. He glares down at her, which isn't all that scary, she thinks to herself. Especially with his front tooth missing. It's all he's been talking about the past few weeks. His stupid tooth and how loose it is.
She hates that he's losing more teeth than her. She wants another visit from the tooth fairy. Alex refused to believe him the first time he told her about the tooth fairy and how she brings money for your old teeth. Why would someone want teeth? Especially old baby teeth. They're too small to be worth anything. Alex changed her mind though when she found a dollar bill under her pillow the next day.
"What?" He asks, crossing his arms and tapping his foot. She knows what he's trying to do. Their daddy does the same thing when he's upset about their mommy not agreeing with him. Well, she still thinks Justin is a stupid head. And she doesn't think she should say sorry.
"I'm not sorry," she says definitely, raising her chin and crossing her arms, something she's seen her mom do when she fights with daddy.
Justin narrows his eyes and moves away from the door, preparing to shut it, but she's faster than him and shoves her foot in the way, no matter how mad he is at her, he would never hurt her.
"Alex," he spits out, though he doesn't sound too angry, more annoyed and her lips curl up, she knows she's close to having him cave in.
"It's not my fault, Justin! Why won't you believe me? Max did it!"
"Max is three, Alex," he replies, shaking his head in disbelief, "Why would Max take it?"
She huffs and pushing her hair out of her face, it's too long and heavy, she wants a haircut but daddy likes her pretty little curls, "I don't know! Maybe because he's a baby and it was shiny and he likes shiny things? He didn't mean to break it, promise."
Justin stares at her for a moment, "Okay," he says simply. He pushes her foot away gently with his own and starts to shut his door.
But Alex isn't satisfied; she needs to hear the words, "Am I forgiven?"
He shrugs halfheartedly and she relaxes as a grin grows on his face, "Yeah," he answers and shuts the door.
She rolls her eyes and skips happily back to her room, took him long enough.
*****
School sucks. Which is probably an understatement, but she's tired. More than tired, she's exhausted. And it's too hard to care about school and how much she hates P. E.
Justin hasn't talked to her in a month. A freaking month. And it's not like she can go to Ithaca and shake him until he's her Justin again and stops the douchebag act. She doesn't have a car, doesn't have a license, her parents won't let her get one until she's eighteen, which was fine by her, not like she can't get through the city without a car, but it blows now when she needs to get to Justin.
She can't use magic. She'll never hear the end of it. She'll be chewed out by him and probably have her wand taken away by her dad.
She leans back against her locker and watches the other students scamper to class. The bell's probably going to ring soon but she doesn't care. She lifts her bag onto her shoulder and just leaves the building.
There's no point in being there.
A/N: Love your reviews. Keep them coming. Justin's POV next time. With some of the memories you've been hoping for. I get the feeling you guys want some action, lol. This story's probably going to be longer than my others, so it's going to be a little slower. Sorry about that.
