Worth A Thousand Words

A collection of drabbles based on words. Prompt: Jalousie. Jack comforts Alex, and Alex is shoved into a closet.

Disclaimer: I own the things I own. Alex Rider is not one of them.

Jalousie, n.

A blind with adjustable horizontal slats for admitting light and air while excluding direct sun and rain.

Yet Again

Eyes peek out through the slats of the blinds.

"Is he here?"

"No," Alex replies with a trembling voice.

Sighing, Jack walks over to the strangely silent eight-year-old boy and wraps him in her arms.

"It's okay, Alex. His flight was probably delayed. Ian'll be here soon."

He settles his head against her shoulder. "I miss him."

"Honey," she says softly, heart breaking, "you've waited a whole month. You can wait another hour."

Hopefully, the hours won't turn to days won't turn to weeks like before. The well-being of a little boy depended on it, and hers depended on his.

A Rather Strange Meeting

Eyes peek out through the slats of the blinds.

"Dammit. Why's he— hide!" Alex's girlfriend shoves him into a small closet just as her brother walks in.

"Becca! Thought I'd drop by. How are you?" Alex silently removes a hanger poking his chest.

"Fine, fine!" Becca says, conspicuously anxious. "Mum's not in, though. Come back later." Alex hopes the hitherto mysterious brother doesn't notice.

He does.

Alex hears the brother shuffle closer, before Becca squawks and the door suddenly bursts open. He squints at the light.

"Alex?"

Alex blinks, disbelieving. "Ben?"

"Fancy meeting you in my parent's closet."

"Fancy that."

Confession: I thought jalousie meant regular blinds. It wasn't until after I wrote these that I learned they're those glass blind/window things. I didn't write new drabbles. DEAL. Also note that the second was extremely difficult to pare down to exactly 100 words. I cut out nearly all of my description :(

Thanks to everyone who's reviewed, favorite-ed, and alert-ed; it means a heck of a lot! And give me your ideas, questions, comments, concerns, criticisms, witticisms, and/or limericks!

Edits 9/15/14: Minor grammar fixes.