CHAPTER TWO: SELFISH IMPERFECTION MAKES BETTER AND WORSE IMPRESSION

Alex recognized the black robe as the one from a student or professor of WizTech.

"Greetings, Russos," the handsome man said. "I'm Dominic and I'm here to deliver a message from Professor Russo: He is too busy at Wiztech and unfortunately cannot come tomorrow."

Max stepped forward. "Okay, give us the message." He held out his hand.

"Uh... that was the message."

Theresa went to his side. "Is Justin alright?" she asked.

"Oh, yes, Mrs. Russo, Justin is fine. It's just difficult for someone with his spectacular talents to get away, especially when the Wizard World was attacked a while back."

Theresa and Jerry gasped.

"But he's managed to take care of the situation with his spectacular talents and chase away the monsters. Now, I don't usually use the word 'spectacular', but in Justin's case - spectacular."

His gaze shifted to Alex and froze. Then he moved towards her. "So you must be the famous Alex Russo. I hear you're the one that defeated Gorog and received Wizard of the Year award. You're quite famous in the Wizard World, but I had no idea you were so... beautiful."

Her cheeks flushed, and she didn't try to hide it. "Aw, come on, I'm not that famous." She flipped her hair to emphasize her subtle enthusiasm.

Mason came around to stand in between her and Dominic, like the meat in between two pieces of bread. "Hello, nice to meet you, mate. My name's Mason Greyback. Perhaps you've heard of me: Alex's -" His voice deepened as he said the word. "werewolf-boyfriend."

They shook hands.

"Wow, boyfriend, huh? You're really lucky."

"Yes, I am. A lucky werewolf." He made a low rumbling sound in his throat.

The moment immediately turned awkward and uncomfortable. Dominic turned away, and saw Sarox, Max G, Marlene and PJ.

"What kind of wizards are these?" he asked rudely, then added. "Oh, I'm sorry for being rude. It's just I've never met ones like you before. It seems I've made the situation highly uncomfortable, forgive me. I'll be leaving now. It was nice to meet you all." His gaze went back to Mason. "Werewolf."

With that, he flashed away with his wand.

"Did he just say the Wizard World was attacked?" Jerry asked. "I don't know if we can go to our family reunion now."

Wanting to be of assistance, Alex went to her dad's side. "Dad, what you need is an easy way to get to our relatives' home. Let me handle for you." She pulled out her wand and chanted: "No time for risky travel confusion. Show me the door to our family reunion."

Her wand fired a beam and created a wooden door. PJ rushed to the door and examined it.

"Wow, it's a magic portal," he said with an astonished tone. "Not many magicians can create those. I sure can't."

Sarox, Marlene and Max examined the door with PJ. But Alex's dad didn't look impressed.

"Alex, would you please grow up?" he said sharply. "I've told you many times. Now that you're the family wizard, you can't go use magic for selfish reasons anymore. Now, get rid of this thing."

Feeling disgruntled but not about to argue, she waved her wand at the door, only to realize she didn't know the spell to do it. "Oh, the spell to make the Wizard Speed Pass disappear is in the same location as my clothes - it's buried under the dirty clothes of my mind." She chuckled to lighten the moment and her mood.

"You see? Justin would never cast a spell that he didn't know how to undo," her dad whispered to her mom.

That totally set her off now. All frustrations of being reprimanded and never being able to make her father proud came rushing to the surface like an explosion.

"Oh, I get it now. You think Justin should've been the family wizard instead of me because I've never been the grown-up or the responsible one like him."

"Honey, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it to sound like that." He sounded soft and tender, but her anger wasn't giving in.

"No, Dad. I'm sorry I'm not the grown-up family wizard that you want me to be." Not wanting to hear any more, she flashed away.

Silence reigned.