Sorry this took so long to write. Again this is dedicated to MaxximumRide666. Hope you like it. I, sadly, don't own any of the characters.
"She didn't answer?" Justin asked as I sat back down on the couch with him.
"No." I said angrily. I didn't explain to Justin what Alex and I talked about but I still felt guilty for how it ended.
"She told you she didn't like us together anymore, is that right?" he asked and I nodded before standing up.
"I'm gonna go." I headed toward the door.
"Are you sure? It's still kinda early." I looked at my phone, which I had yet to put in my pocket, and saw it was only ten thirty.
"Yeah, I'm really tired." I gave him a quick peck on the lips and walked out the door. I hated lying to Justin. I very rarely did it and now that I've talked to Alex I've done it twice in the period of an hour! I walked home and quickly ran into my room, not that it mattered anyways my parents weren't home. I turned on my stereo to help clear my head but a song that I knew Alex loved started to play so I turned it off and decided to turn on my I-pod, where every song reminded me of Alex or Justin who in turn brought me back to thoughts of Alex. I turned it off in frustration and threw myself on my bed screaming into my pillow. I needed to stop thinking about Alex but her voice was on repeat in my head, "I love you." It wouldn't stop resonating in my ears and I knew that no matter what I did I would be thinking about her the rest of the night and barely be able to sleep. I felt a tear spring to my eyes as I remembered her hurt face.
I stayed in bed hearing nothing but her voice and seeing nothing but her face eventually falling asleep only to be awoken two hours later from a dream about her telling me again that she loved me but this time with me not leaving, just standing, staring at her and before I could speak my mom's voice penetrated my ears, "Caitlyn, get down here now!" It took me a few minutes before I realized the voice wasn't a part of my dream so by the time I had started to groggily walk down the stairs my mom had started to walk up and we met half way on the staircase.
I could tell by the look on her face that she was angry so I just smiled and said, "Yes, Mom."
"You were supposed to do the dishes last night." I felt my stomach tighten as I remembered what my mom had asked me to do before I left for Justin's yesterday.
"I'm so sorry, Mom, I'll do it right now." I replied trying to walk past her but she still stopped me.
"You are not leaving this house till the kitchen and living room is spotless." She said angrily.
"I won't" I replied feeling relieved she didn't ground me. I quickly got started on cleaning and after working for two and a half hours I was done, I took a shower then went into my mom's room and asked if she needed me to do anything else. She thankfully let me go and I started to walk out the door before realizing going to Justin's meant seeing Alex, which I wasn't sure I could do. I thought about calling him but that would raise suspicions and I think Justin's smart enough to figure something's wrong between me and Alex. "Maybe I should just talk to her." I thought taking deep breaths as I got closer to Waverly Place before I could lose my confidence I hurried to the sub station and knocked on the Russo's front door. Justin answered, I'm sure he was expecting me. I gave him a peck on the cheek and asked, "Is Alex here?"
He looked at me strangely and said, "Yeah, she's in her room, why do you need to see her?"
"I wanted to make sure she was okay from yesterday." I thought up yet another lie.
"Ok, well, I'll wait her then we could go eat or something." He said sitting on his couch.
"Sounds good, I'll just be a couple minutes." I said glad Justin didn't want to go with me upstairs. I slowly walked up the stairs and knocked on her door. I didn't hear a response and assumed it was because of my light knock so I opened the door, finding it unlocked, and said, "Hey, Alex." I felt my stomach drop to my feet as I saw Alex laying on her bed with another girl on top of her with their lips fused together. "I'm sorry." I said hurrying out before they could notice my presence. I closed the door and slid down the wall trying to calm myself down after having seen Alex making out with another girl. I couldn't go home, Justin would wonder and most likely blame Alex, no I had to suck it up and go downstairs and hang out with my boyfriend. But why do I suddenly feel like my heart hurts? I'm just surprised, that's all. Breathe, ok. I talked myself down and went back downstairs to see Justin in the same position.
"Is she okay?" he asked sounding concerned.
I smiled my best smile and said, "Yeah, she's fine."
"Good, ready to go?" he stood and held out his arm for me to take.
"Yeah, let's go." We walked out but I shot one last look toward Alex's room, with her image running through my mind, before we walked through the door.
Every time I closed my eyes I could still see the image of Alex and this girl and every time I did I felt my heart drop again and my breathe hit in my throat. After eating and wandering around the shops on the streets Justin offered to go back to his house and watch a movie. I reluctantly said yes knowing there was a very good chance Alex was still there with the mystery girl but also knew I had to act like Alex and I were okay so we went and as we walked in we saw Alex sitting on the couch with her arm around the girls shoulder. Now that I got a good look of her I saw she had long light brown hair and was wearing jeans and a white v-neck shirt completed with a pair of green converse I'm fairly certain I had a pair of too. When we walked in Alex quickly moved her arm even before looking to meet my eyes. As we looked at each other a blush crept to her cheeks and a heat rose in my stomach. She fought it back and kept her voice calm as she said, "Hey Justin, Caitlyn this is Miley. Miley this is my older brother Justin and his girlfriend Caitlyn."
Justin, being the sweet guy he is, shook her hand and said, "Nice to meet you." I waved awkwardly and looked at Justin who obliviously asked Alex, "What you guys watching?"
"We were just about to watch '17 Again'" she replied casually.
"Yeah, Zac Efron is so hot." Miley said emphasizing the so and I could tell she had a southern accent.
"Mind if we join you?" Justin asked and I felt my heart stop.
"Does he not feel the awkwardness?" I asked myself as Alex looked at Miley, who just shrugged, before replying, "Sure," And adding, "Caitlyn, can I talk to you for a second?" I felt my heart start again but this time beating a million times faster.
"Yeah." I said trying to sound calm but inevitably failing.
We walked over toward the staircase and looking around she whispered, "So, I know you came into my room earlier while I was with Miley . . ." I nodded even though it wasn't a question. "And I just wanted to ask, can you please keep what you saw a secret?" I nodded again not trusting my voice and the fire building in my stomach. "Thanks."
She started waling away but before she could walk three steps I blurted, "Is Miley your girlfriend?"
She looked at me and sighed before replying, "I don't know, she's going home in a few weeks so we'll see what happens before then."
"Ok." I said feeling weak all of a sudden. "I'm gonna go to the bathroom you can start the movie I'll be back in a minute."
"Are you okay? You look kinda pale." She sounded concerned and my stomach jumped as I saw her hand fly to my shoulder.
"Yeah, just fine." I walked up the stairs before she could answer. When I got to the bathroom I looked into the mirror for ten seconds before feeling the need to empty my stomach. Luckily, I made it to the bowl and while clutching the cold surface I had the image of Alex and Miley again and the only thought running through my mind, "Do I in fact love her or am I feeling guilty?" I felt one more heave before I untangled myself from the base and laid down on the ground.
I hadn't been laying down very long before I heard a knock followed by Justin's voice asking, "Caitlyn, are you okay?" I didn't answer afraid of what would happen. I had apparently left the door unlocked because it opened and Justin walked in. "You okay?" he asked again pulling me in his lap I nodded still not trusting my voice. "You should lay down." I smiled.
"I thought that's what I was doing." I said smirking.
"In a bed." He said smiling back. I tried to stand up but he stopped me. "Hold on." He said before leaving again. He came back a few moments later and said, "You can lay in Alex's bed." My stomach lurched.
"No, I just want to go home."
"Where no one is there?" he asked and I smiled again at his concern until he added, "Nope you'll stay in Alex's room 'cause my parents would get mad at me if you were in mine." As he helped me up and we started to walk out of the bathroom I felt more and more weak, too weak to even argue anymore. I almost instantly fell asleep when Justin laid me down, putting the covers over me. "I'll be back to check on you." He said kissing my forehead right before my eyes dropped and I slipped into unconsciousness.
I awoke a few hours later to silence. I sat up with my head in my hands. I felt better which again begged the question, "Was I sick or guilty?" I tried to push it out of my head as I got out of the bed but when I saw Alex I felt my stomach jump along with the rest of my body. She must have noticed me jump 'cause she frowned at me and said, "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you. I just came to check up on you." I smiled which she copied.
Before I could stop myself I asked, "Is Miley still here?"
She frowned again as she replied, "No, she had to leave." I could tell by her face that she felt guilty and it made me feel a bittersweet happiness. "Are you feeling better?" I heard her ask while she was by her dresser playing with something in her hand.
"Yeah, thanks for letting me sleep in your bed."
"No problem." She said sounding embarrassed by the way the conversation was going.
After a few seconds of silence I asked, "Where's Justin?"
"He had to take a shift at the shop."
"Oh." I said before adding, "How long does he have to work?" she looked at me sadly.
"Till close but if you want I can see if my dad will let me work for him so he can take you home." I knew Alex well enough to know she hates to work and never offers to do more.
"Why would you do that?"
"You shouldn't walk home alone and I assumed you wouldn't want to say or have me walk you home." She said sheepishly.
"But you hate work."
"I would do it for you." She said almost too quietly for me to hear.
"Would you do anything for me?" I asked in her same low tone without inhibitions.
"Yes, anything you want." She said looking at anything but me.
"I want you to take me home." I said calmly.
"Really? Do you want to go now?" she said hopeful.
"Yes, really. Can I eat something before we go?"
"Yeah, let's go downstairs. I'll make you a sandwich unless you wanted something else." She said heading to the door.
"A sandwich sounds good but will you split it with me?"
She looked at me surprised but still said, "Is that what you want?"
"It is." I said honestly, standing up and following her out of the room and down the stairs. I didn't feel one hundred percent great enough to eat half a sandwich but I didn't want to leave either. I mostly wanted to stay around Alex to see how I was feeling but I also realized when I was with Alex my worry and guilt washed away.
Justin saw Alex first as we walked down the stairs and opened his mouth to I'm assuming ask how I was because when he saw me he asked, "Are you feeling better?"
I nodded and said, "Just want a sandwich now."
"I'll go make you one."
He offered sweetly but smiling I said, "I asked Alex to make me one I figured you'd be too busy." Luckily just as I said that a couple walked through the door.
"Go sit down, I'll talk to you in a little bit." I nodded as I walked over to a stool by the cashier and sat down realizing Alex had started to go to the back making me something.
"What kind of sandwich do you want?" she asked now standing across me behind the counter.
"Surprise me." I said smiling and feeling carefree.
"Ok, it'll be ready in about five minutes." She walked away and I watched her, she seemed wrapped up in putting the ingredients together but when she finished a few minutes later she looked up at me and smiled. She walked back to the counter with two plates each with half a sandwich on it to ask, "What do you want to drink?"
"Coke." I replied as I took a bite.
As I savored the taste she walked away again returning with two cups in her hands. "Do you want to stay her or sit at a table?" I grabbed both of our plates to walk over to my favorite table by the window. She followed me without a word as if she knew where we were going. We sat down and started an easy conversation. Talking to Alex always seemed easier than talking to Justin, I used to figure it was just 'cause she was a girl but now I realized it might just be something else. When we finished eating Alex looked at me and asked, "Do you want to leave now?"
I nodded and said, "Let me say goodbye to Justin." She grabbed our plates and cups and headed toward the kitchen.
As if on cue Justin walked past me and asked, "Are you leaving?"
"Yeah Alex is gonna walk me and I'll come over tomorrow." He gave me a smile and opened his mouth but I cut him off, "I'm doing better. I think I just needed to sleep. I'm still tired so I'll probably go home and sleep till tomorrow."
"Ok." He said leaning forward to kiss me on my cheek.
I pulled him into a hug and whispered, "Thank you."
"No problem." We pulled apart hearing Alex clear her throat. I looked in her eyes and saw pure jealousy making a smile form on my face. "Bye." Justin yelled obliviously as Alex pulled me out the door.
"Alex stop." I said angrily.
She stopped walking and dropping my wrist asked, "What do you want from me Caitlyn?" her voice exposing her pain.
"I don't know what you mean, Alex."
"I tell you I love you, you don't feel the same, that's fine I get it but I try to move on and you seem jealous. Now we're hanging out like nothings happened, I just want to know what's going through your head." She finished her ramble as I stood on almost as confused as her.
"Do you think you've moved on?" I asked and she looked at me confused so I explained, "Do you feel for Miley the way you feel about me?" she didn't answer right away and by her face she looked like she was debating.
"Honestly I don't think I could ever feel the same way I feel about you ever again. I love you Caity." She finished in a whisper. I stayed silent not knowing what to say. She looked at me with so much vulnerability in her eyes I felt tears spring to my own. I walked forward as if my feet were controlling themselves. My heart took over as my hand reached forward to cradle her face and my head closer to hers until our lips met. It was only brief but it sent my senses into a skyrocket and left me more breathless than any of Justin's kisses. We stood staring at each other unable to utter any words. It wasn't until some people passed us to go into the sandwich shop did I realize where I was. I looked through the window to see Justin with his back to us.
Alex must have followed my eyes because she whispered, "I don't think he saw." I walked over to a bench sitting down placing my head in my hands. "Are you feeling sick again?" Alex's voice sounded guilty and concerned at the same time. All I wanted at that moment while looking at her was to touch her so I grabbed her hand and pulling her onto the bench interlocked our fingers.
"I don't know what to do, Alex." I said quietly putting my head on her shoulder.
"What do you want to do?" she asked playing her head on mine.
"I want to kiss you again but I can't." I said looking into her eyes from some reaction and received a mischievous glint.
"Is it because of Justin?"
"And Miley." I now looked toward my shoes.
She scoffed and said, "Miley's not a problem and I'm sure if we talk to Justin he'll understand. Have either of you said I love you yet?"
I shook my head before asking, "Will he hate us?"
She laughed, "No, Justin's a big believer in love. I think if we tell him the truth he'll accept it." By the tone of voice she was using I knew not to argue and that she wasn't just 'winging' it.
"Don't tell him I said this but it's so much easier to be with you than Justin."
She smiled the hugest smile I've ever seen but then her face fell as she asked, "What are we doing Caitlyn?"
"I thought we were having fun." I said confused.
"How do you feel about me?" she asked very seriously looking me in the eyes.
"I like you, Alex, a lot. More than I like Justin and I'm sorry I hurt you before by telling you I didn't feel the same, I just hadn't realized it yet." She smiled again and I knew I had said the right thing.
"What do you want to do tonight?" she asked after a few moments.
"I think I need to go home and sleep, if I can that is." I replied watching the people walking past us.
"Does that mean you don't want to hang out?" she sounded hurt.
"No, I just don't think that it's best for us to do anything until after I've ended it with Justin."
"Are you doing that tomorrow?" she asked almost timidly.
"Maybe." I said thinking.
"What do you mean maybe?" she sounded angry and hurt at the same time.
"Alex, chill I might do it tonight."
"Oh, ok then." She looked at her watch and added, "He gets off in two hours."
I nodded before asking, "You're sure he won't be mad?"
She chuckled and pulling my face to look into her eyes said, "I know my brother and I know that when you tell him he'll ask if you love me and if I make you happy then be happy for us when you say yes to both." I smiled.
"Ok." I stood up and held my hand out for her. "Want to walk with me until Justin gets out of work?"
"Yes, I'd love to." We walked and talked about anything and everything.
She entertained me to the point where I forgot about Justin until she said, "Oh, Justin will be off by now." We walked back as I mentally thought up how to tell him I was breaking up with him for his sister. Before we reached the doors to the sub shop Alex stopped me. "You're gonna do fine, he'll still like you after you tell him." She said kissing me on the lips. I groaned as the kiss was broken after only a second. "You can have more when you tell him."
"Tease." I joked as I walked to the front doors by myself. I sighed before opening them to find Justin cleaning the empty room.
"Hey, I thought you were at home sleeping." He said when he saw me.
"I need to talk to you." I said getting right to the point. We sat at a table and he looked at me expectantly. "I'm sorry Justin I don't know how to say this so I'm just gonna spit it out . . ." I started but he cut me off.
"Is this about you and Alex?" my jaw dropped.
"How did you know?"
"I'm not an idiot, Caitlyn. Besides, I saw you kiss through the window earlier." He smiled at me calming my every nerve.
"Are you okay with it?" I asked sheepishly.
"I do have two questions," I nodded for him to continue. "Do you love her?" I nodded again smiling. "And does she make you happy?" I laughed at remembering what Alex said.
"Yes, she does."
"Then I wish you two the best." He replied standing up. I stared at him shocked as he continued to clean.
"Thank you, Justin." I said as I ran out the front door to leap into Alex's waiting arms.
"I'm assuming it went well." She said cockily.
"Yes, now ask if you can sleep over at my house."
"Ok, bossy." She teased walking back inside passing her brother who just smiled at her. I didn't have to wait long before Alex came back with a backpack and said, "They said yes. Let's go." We spent that night in the comfort of each others arms watching movies and sometimes talking and sometimes just laying in silence. I felt the most peace I'd had for a long time.
Time seemed to pass quicker now that I was with Alex. I had fallen into a routine of going to school and hanging with Alex. Before either of us realized it, it was the last day of school and my parents called me in to tell me surprising news.
"Will you make this fast, I've gotta go meet Alex." I had said when they called me into the kitchen.
"We wanted to tell you that we've thought about your request and we've decided it would be okay." My mom answered smiling. It took me a minute to remember what I had requested so many months ago.
"You're letting me go to Camp Rock?"
"Yes. We've got the money and we've decided you deserve it." My dad said smiling from me to my mom.
"Thank you guys!" I said hugging both of them in turn.
"You're welcome. We'll be driving you on May fourth." My smile fell, I remembered from my research that I'd be getting back August seventeenth and that meant I'd be gone most of the summer.
"I gotta get to school." I said frowning. My parents shared a look that I only partially paid attention to as I walked out the door. The whole time I walked to pick Alex up at her house I thought of how I would break the news but when I saw her all of that faded away and as I kissed her I felt worry deplete.
"Hey, baby." She said smiling.
"Hi." I fell into her embrace and held her for a few moments before I pulled back and said, "I have to tell you something."
"Ok." She said still smiling but I knew she was nervous.
"Do you remember that camp I was telling you about that I knew my parents wouldn't pay for?" I started.
"The camp that's all about music? Yeah I remember."
"Well, I was just told that my parents are willing to pay for it."
"Oh, Caity that's great! I'm happy that they let you go now you can spend the summer doing your music." She said pulling me into a hug.
"Alex, do you know what that means?" I asked even more worried.
"What?" she asked surprised.
"I leave in two days and don't get back till a week before school. We won't see each other all summer." Alex pulled away from me.
"Well, good luck at camp and call me when you get back." And she walked away before I could say anything.