DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Wizards Of Waverly Place or its characters. Those rights belong to Disney and associates. I am NOT making any monetary profit from this.

A/N: Well, thanks again for those (Gracie05girl) for appreciating my last chapter, though I'm still not convinced by it, I suppose it's OK. Anyway, I was thinking about the rating of this story. I've rated it M only because I may or may not put in violence that may be too graphic (If I'm able to write it the way I want...) for anyone under 13 but that 16+ may understand better. If you disagree, please let me know. As I said before, I'm new to , and if my rating is wrong, I'd like to correct it. I'd also like to add that this story may end soon. I'm planning to write one or two more chapters after this and then Something Old. Something New. Will, indeed, be old news. Here's the next chapter! :)

Someone To Save Me

Elm Treigh

4.

Carmen and Dean broke apart, startled by the third voice that interrupted their reunion. Carmen, however, refused to let go of Dean, and conformed herself to grabbing a tight hold of Dean's right arm. She leaned toward him, inhaling his smell. He smelled of wood and motor oil. She smiled inwardly. It was an odd combination, but somehow, it smelled good on him. Her best friend. Her first friend. She couldn't believe she was back together with the past. A good past. The tears began to flow, and once again, her face was streaked with tears. Her mascara running.

I should have worn water-proof mascara! She thought to herself as she felt the familiar crimson heat creep up her face. She wiped at her eyes, knowing she was smudging black mascara all over her eyes. She probably looked like a raccoon.

"What's going on, here?" Alex asked again. She was beginning to feel paranoid as Dean and Carmen were taking their time to answer her.

She came to see Dean, to say 'hello', and to be with him and let him know how good he had it to be with her in the cute, subtle, way she had that she knew Dean liked. But what she found, what she saw, confused her. Right at the doorway, she saw Carmen and Dean in a very close embrace. Her first reaction was shock, quickly followed by hurt disbelief, and then finally, anger.

How could Dean do this to her? She thought he cared about her. They were doing so well. She loved him! Granted, he didn't know that she loved him. She hadn't had the guts to tell him that particular emotion yet. But she did. She loved him! How could he do this?

Were Harper and Justin right about Dean the whole time? They never did approve of her relationship with him. They were always watching them. Harper would hover constantly, if and when, she was with them. Alex would practically have to physically shoo her away because dropping hints obviously didn't work on Harper. Justin, on the other hand, was always near by, but never actually showed himself, when she and Dean were together. He at least took a hint, but still maintained that older-brother-protecting-his-younger-sister thing.

She felt her heart crumble into pieces to the pit of her stomach. Maybe she should tell him how deep her feelings for him are? Would he feel same way? Would he have said it back? It was one of the reasons why she was afraid to tell him, but now, it looks like even if she did, it would be a waste. He was all over Carmen now.

A jolt of anger flashed before her eyes. Carmen. So, this was why she excused herself. To meet with Dean secretly. Harper did mention she noticed Carmen was transfixed by someone yesterday. She didn't imagine it could be Dean. How could Carmen do this to her? Were they not friends? Were they not getting along?

Alex may have been mistaken, but... She thought Carmen had her eyes set on Justin. She knew Justin had an interest in Carmen but was too shy to make a move. She also knew Max had a crush on Carmen. She couldn't blame her brothers attraction to Carmen. Carmen was a sweet, polite, pretty young girl. She didn't, however, understand Carmen's attraction to her brother, Justin, nor will she ever understand why any girl would be attracted to her geeky brother. She really thought Carmen liked Justin. Yet, here she was, with Dean, and she was... crying?

"Hi, Alex," Carmen said, her voice cracking a bit at the end, and she hated that she was showing weakness again.

Dean looked down at Carmen, who still had a hold of him. "You know Alex?" He asked her.

Carmen gazed into Dean's eyes. She just couldn't believe the past was staring into her eyes. She never in her life thought any part of her life from California would be here in New York. Sure, her brother Jesse was a small exception, but she knew it wasn't the same. Jesse had been trying, struggling, but trying, nonetheless, to erase anything in his life that reminded him of his life in California, just as Carmen was doing. Both failing. She didn't mind, however, having her oldest friend reenter her life.

When he had to leave, to move to New York to live with his mother, she had cried hysterically. Feeling as if her world was turned upside down. Not Dean! Not her her best friend! He was her first kiss. He was her first friend. He was everything to her. Please, not him. And there he was, staring at her with those dark eyes of his that she's missed so much.

"Yes," she replied after a while. Smiling at her last thought.

"Oh," Dean said. "Well, I guess there ain't much to introduce then. Carmen, Alex is my girlfriend."

Carmen stared at Alex and then back at Dean. Girlfriend? She looked at Alex again and saw her glaring at her with pained anger and disbelief. Carmen didn't understand the look, until something clicked in her head and she flushed, embarrassed again, when she realized the meaning behind such a glare. She abruptly let go of her grip on Dean, stepped away from him carefully, and held her hands up as in surrender.

"Oh," was all she could think to say.

Dean smiled his crooked smile at Carmen, He found it amusing to see her blush and walk away from Alex as if she were afraid of what Alex would do if she didn't. He reminisced fondly as he recalled how he loved to see Carmen blush. She was so pretty when that shade of rosy pink crept on her cheeks to follow down her neck. How she would bite the corner of her full smooth lips, and look away hurriedly trying to find a place to hide. He had forgotten how much he missed that.

Alex wasn't one to blush much. She had a reputation to withhold, which was to put up a front as the 'tough-I-don't-care-what-people-think-or-say' attitude. Not much phased her.

Alex was so unlike the girls Dean has ever met. Which was what he liked about her. That she was unique, comfortable in her skin, and confident. He also couldn't ignore her beauty. Alex had this beautiful, inviting smile. A smile that said ' I-won't-judge-you-because-no-one's-better-than-any one.' A smile made beautiful only because Alex lips were just as inviting. And her hair. He adored her long, thick, black hair. Alex's hair was definitely Dean's favorite feature. He loved caressing her hair, and entwining his fingers through it, relishing in its softness, whenever they were alone. Which was rare, unfortunately.

"I'm sorry, Alex. I know this must look bad but―" Carmen began to explain and possibly apologize, but Alex stopped her.

"I don't understand." She said confused, looking from Dean to Carmen and back at Dean again.

"Relax, Russo. Carmen's just an old friend." Dean said as he went to give Alex a reassuring hug. Carmen nodded vehemently to confirm Dean's statement.

Carmen stepped, tentatively, forward to be a couple of feet from Alex and Dean. She was still unsure whether it would be alright to be near Dean, now that she knew they were an item. She liked Alex and she didn't want her to distrust her, but it had been years since she's seen Dean. She has lost so much of the life she used to live in California. Now that Dean was here, she felt as if maybe she can regain a little of the life she's missed so much. The part of her life where things where good and she was happy.

She stared at Dean and Alex. She should have known Dean would have a girlfriend. Dean was a good guy, despite the reputation he may have. His new wardrobe didn't go unnoticed by Carmen. Dean was playing the role of the bad boy, which she found odd because Dean wasn't a bad guy. He was sweet and considerate, and a complete gentleman. He wasn't one to wear his heart on his sleeve but he was still a good guy. Why would he try to portray himself as a bad boy? She wondered.

She gazed fondly at Dean and Alex, again. She smiled at them. She was glad Dean was with Alex, she suddenly realized. They looked good together and Alex seemed like a good match for Dean. If Dean was anything like she remembered him to be, then he has definitely met his match with Alex. Alex was a spunky, feisty, witty, beautiful young girl. She looked like Dean's type. Yes. They looked good together.

Alex glimpsed at Carmen briefly. She was afraid she would see anguished incredulity in Carmen's raccoon eyes, but sighed, relieved, that that wasn't the case. Alex saw sincere happiness for her and Dean, though she still couldn't shake away the little green monster inside of her.

"Wait," she started as Dean's words finally registered. "What do you mean, 'Carmen's just an old friend'?"

Dean and Carmen glanced at each other and laughed. Dean nodded the 'go-ahead-you-tell-her' nod and Carmen smiled, knowingly at Dean.

"I don't know if Dean's told you this, but he used to live in San Marino, California, too. We were neighbors when we were kids. Dean is― was― is― my best friend before he left to live with his mom here in New York," Carmen explained. "I, for one, never thought I'd ever see him again. It's been so long. We lost touch a long time ago. In spite of that, though, here he is, and with someone that can hold their own against him. Nice." She finished, smiling teasingly at Dean.

Dean flushed and Alex's jaw dropped. She has never seen Dean flush or look embarrassed or anything. She didn't even know Dean could feel embarrassed. She was having a difficult time believing that Dean could show any other emotion that wasn't relating to his cool, bad boy persona.

Then, there was the 'Carmen's-just-an-old-friend' thing. She wasn't sure if she was OK with the fact that Carmen knew, or actually, knows a different side of Dean that she doesn't even know yet. She wasn't sure if she could handle another woman in his life that wasn't her or his mother, which she hasn't met yet, either, but Carmen, no doubt has. Alex felt that little green monster inside her grow. She was jealous. She was very jealous.

Dean was so elusive, so secretive. There was so much about him she doesn't know. But, Carmen, a girl she had only met yesterday, a girl that has moved to New York from California only a few weeks ago, knows more about her boyfriend than she'll ever know. It didn't seem fair. It wasn't fair.

Carmen and Dean's "old friendship" could put a damper in her new relationship with him. Sure, they've been together longer than any other couple in Tribeca Prep, not counting the time she was tricked by that evil wizard and attended Wiz Tech for a while. They were finally opening up to one another. He was going to start calling her Alex, instead of Russo like he had been doing since they've first met. Although, he still had a tendency to call her Russo in public, but it was a step forward. Now it seems all those steps forward from their relationship could possibly fall apart with the arrival of Carmen Santiago. This time anger overshadowed jealousy inside her.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

"So, wait. Dean and Carmen know each other?" Asked Harper.

"Yes, Harper. They were neighbors when they both lived in California." Alex sighed. She decided to confide in Harper, her best friend. She needed advice in what she should do next.

"I didn't know Dean used to live in California?" Harper said to herself.

"Neither did I," Alex commented, also to herself.

"Well, what are you going to do now, Alex?"

"I don't know. If I tell Dean I don't want him to hang out with Carmen, he'll think I'm jealous and he might just do it anyway."

"But you are jealous," Harper pointed out.

"Yeah, but I don't want him to know I'm jealous. This isn't fair! What were the odds of some random girl from Dean's past life to show up now? This could ruin everything!"

Harper gave Alex a comforting hug. "Do you know if she likes him? You know, likes him, likes him?" Alex shook her head in Harper's shoulder. They stayed like that until the bell rang. School was over.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Justin, Max, Harper, Alex, Dean, and Carmen were all walking home together. Alex was holding Dean's hand to emphasize their relationship to a certain someone that Alex does not feel comfortable being around with anymore. Harper was walking on Dean's other side, as a request from Alex. Apparently, Alex didn't want Carmen anywhere near Dean. She was feeling very insecure.

Carmen knew this, and complied. She didn't want to give Alex any reason to mistrust her, though she should have guessed she would have anyway. It's what a girlfriend does. Carmen understood this, and didn't mind in the least. She was content walking beside Justin. She didn't expect to have any feelings for any guy, nonetheless, here she was, enjoying Justin's company. She was mesmerized by Justin's gray eyes, and his intelligence wasn't so bad either. Dean was smart, too. Maybe not academically, but he was smart. Justin was different. She couldn't explain it but he was different from any of the guys she's met. Come to think of it, the entire Russo family was different from any family she has ever met.

They walked into the Russo's sub shop, and were on there way to a booth. Carmen hung back though. She furrowed her brow, and bit her lip.

"What's the matter, Carms?" Dean asked, stepping towards Carmen.

Carmen shook her head. "Nothing. I just can't stay. I promised Jesse I would go straight home after school."

Alex was fuming. Carms? Dean had a pet name for Carmen? He didn't even have a pet name for her! OK, so maybe Russo is her pet name, but it isn't the same.

"Well, if you have to go you have to go." Alex chirped, standing beside Dean. Dean looked at Alex, confused.

"Yeah, I'm sorry you guys. I'll see you tomorrow?" Carmen said, already walking out.

"Can't you just call your brother and ask him if you can stay a little while?" Max asked desperately.

Carmen looked at Max. "I'm really sorry Max. I wish I could stay but I really can't. Jesse will freak if I don't get home soon. I'm all he has." She walked toward him and gave him a quick hug. Max returned the hug and didn't want to let go. Carmen giggled at Max, ruffled his hair a bit, and broke away from the hug to Max's dismay.

"What do you mean you're all he has?" Justin asked staring at Carmen intently.

"What do you mean he'll freak out?" Dean asked at the same time Justin asked his question.

Carmen looked away, and tucked her hair behind her ear. Dean narrowed his eyes at Carmen. He knew that look. She was going to lie. Carmen noticed Dean staring at her suspiciously and she hid her face behind her hair.

"I'm all he has because... because my parents died. About two and a half weeks ago." She said softly. "Jesse is my guardian, and he's... protective of me. Like I said: I'm all he has."

Everyone stared at her incredulously. That was why she was so shy before. She was still mourning her parents. Alex felt a new kind of emotion hit her. Guilt, followed by sympathy. She couldn't imagine her life without her parents. Especially her dad. Poor Carmen. she thought. But that thought quickly dissipated when Dean approached Carmen and gave her a hug. Carmen.

"So, I need to go home," She began, pulling away from Dean's hug. New tears swelling in her eyes again. At least I remembered to dab on water-proof mascara after cleaning the other mascara off. She thought. She wiped at her eyes and turned to leave.

"Wait. I'll go with you," Dean offered as he stood next her.

Carmen shook her head. "No, Dean. You should stay with Alex. She won't be happy if you're walking me home."

Dean raised a brow at Carmen and shrugged. "She'll get over it. You and I are just friends, right?"

Carmen nodded. They both walked out of the sub shop. Alex, Harper, Max, and Justin staring after them.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Jesse was glaring at the clock on the stereo. Carmen was late. He couldn't believe he was stupid enough to believe that letter she left him held any truth, any merit. He should have guessed she was going to stay with her new friends. He should have known she would already have friends. Carmen had always been the friendlier Santiago.

Just then he heard a girl's laugh. He walked toward the window and saw his sister walking up to the entrance of the building with a familiar dark haired boy.

He saw them hug closely, heard her squeal happily as the dark haired boy twirled her in the air before setting her gently down. He saw her smile brightly. She looked genuinely happy to be with this boy. Jesse let out an angry huff. He liked to see her smile again. A real smile, which she wasn't giving with him, he knew it. But the longer she was with this dark haired boy the longer she was breaking her promise to him. She will be punished for that.

His breathing accelerated with a new wave of anger as he saw the dark haired boy lean forward and give his baby sister a soft kiss on her forehead. Who did this boy think he was?! How could Carmen allow this boy to kiss her?!

He stalked away from the window and began to pace back and forth in the living room. He sure had a few things to say to his little sister. Like how she should keep her promises if she makes one. How she shouldn't be all over a boy she's just met. Especially, not in public. What were the neighbors going to think?

He stared at the porcelain horse he got for her. He remembered she liked horses. He remembered her saying that horses were one of the few animals that can see through a person's soul and just know whether they were good or bad. He remembered how he used to scoff at such a thought. How he used to tease her about it constantly. It was all just a ruse to keep her off his trail, though, because a few days after she made such a nonsensical comment he had surprised her by taking her to a horse ranch. He picked up the porcelain horse as he recalled the memory.

After a few minutes, he heard the door click slowly open. He turned to see Carmen put her keys in her bag. He hurled the horse to her, barely missing her head, as the porcelain horse shattered. Carmen yelped, surprised. She turned to look at Jesse and was surprised again to see his face inches away from hers. She winced at the closeness. She was in trouble, she knew it. She just didn't know what she did.

Jesse grabbed Carmen's arm roughly and threw her over the arm chair that was near by, and slammed the door shut. He saw her fall hard on the table, hitting her arm on it. He should feel remorse for what he did, he knew he should. But all he saw was red as he marched toward Carmen.

Carmen felt a piercing pain on her right forearm when she met the table. She felt a warm, thick, wetness on her right cheek. She stroked her cheek and noticed blood and pieces of porcelain on her hand. She began to stand only to be kicked down. She screamed, but her yells were drowned by the music that Jesse played.

Jesse had turned on the stereo to drown out any noise Carmen would make. He could make out spurts of blood staining his carpet and fury took over all his senses. She will be punished. She will punished. She will be punished. Were the only words occupying his thoughts.

He picked up Carmen's small body and threw her against the wall. Carmen yelped again. A new set of pain taking over. What did she do? She was only a couple of minutes late. She didn't understand why her brother was hurting her. He wasn't drunk this time. What excuse could there possibly be? What did she do to receive such strikes?

She didn't have much time to think anymore as her face was met by numerous blows from Jesse's fist. He had begun to hit her repeatedly. Yelling in her face, but Carmen couldn't discern the words. Her head was ringing and her vision was blurring. Everything was beginning to fade. She was frightened by this and tried to regain consciousness. The last thing she needed was to black out. She forced the sight of her brother screaming at her in her face.

"Who was that guy, Carmen?! Why was he kissing you and hugging you?! You promised you'd be here on time and you were late! Where were you?! Answer me! YOU PROMISED!!" Jesse stammered, yelling.

Carmen crawled swiftly away from Jesse, but Jesse was on her, kicking her hard in the abdomen, causing Carmen to fall a few feet away from Jesse. She refused to cry; instead she clutched her stomach tightly with her injured arm, and tried crawling toward her bedroom.

"Oh, no you don't! I'm not finished with you!" Jesse said as he snatched a fist full of Carmen's hair and pulled her up to glare menacingly at her.

Carmen whimpered in Jesse's face which caused Jesse to bash her face into his knee. Carmen's nose began to bleed freely and her vision began to blur again. She fought back the blackness threatening to overtake her. She will not black out, damn it! She stared into Jesse's eyes, her own fluttering as she struggled to keep them open. Jesse countered with a menacing scowl, daring Carmen to repute him.

Carmen knew she was losing strength and blood. Her body was aching. Jesse had unquestionably did a number on her. Carmen was certain she would be black and blue tomorrow. Her eyes still locked with Jesse's, pleadingly.

Jesse looked intently into Carmen's eyes. He saw her begging him to stop. She was confused as to why she was being punished in such a horrible way. He knew she was thinking exactly along those lines. Once again, he thought he should care that she was begging him to stop, that she was bleeding, and hurt. He should feel ashamed for what he's done; for what he is doing. And then the image of the dark haired boy twirling and showing affection for his sister flew to the forefront of his thoughts and he felt enraged once more. He growled at her, the music obscuring Carmen's cries of fear.

With Carmen's hair still in his hand, he dragged her away from the hallway; Carmen not even bothering to fight back, lifted her up from the floor, and heaved her on the wall by the door. He pinned her there, and just stared at her. Carmen, however, was attempting to look anywhere but at Jesse. This Jesse didn't like, and took hold of Carmen's chin, squeezing violently, and forcing her to look at him. By this time, Carmen was exhausted. She allowed Jesse to do what ever he wanted with her as long as it meant he would soon be done.

Jesse was aware of Carmen's exhaustion. Of her limp form in his grip. Of her face swelling and bleeding profusely. He was sure he had gone too far but the guilt he was supposed to have; the shame and remorse and disgust that was supposed to come after such a heinous and violent act toward his defenseless sister never came. This confused him. He gaped at her. She retorted with a sad and disappointed stare. Those hazel-green eyes of hers, of his father. He looked away from her and let her drop roughly on the floor. He grabbed her school bag and tossed it harshly at her, hitting her in the face. Carmen, unable to contain her sobs any longer weeped unreservedly. Jesse couldn't take it any more. He opened the door to the flat and left, closing the door behind him.

Carmen waited a few seconds longer, seeking energy within herself, before finally, lifting herself up from the floor to turn the music off. She walked toward her room, plopped her school bag by her desk, grabbed her robe, and walked into the bathroom. She turned the water on, slipped her clothes drenched with blood and sweat off of her, and proceeded into the bath tub. She wanted to wash away as much hate off as she could, for hate was all she saw in her brothers physically violent tirade.