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On estimation, I'm guessing there's about 7 or 8 chapters left so enjoy it while it lasts

Justin

"I should kill you," I muttered, hugging her as soon as she was in sight.

"Be my guest," she replied glumly and I could tell that the trip hadn't gone as well as hoped.

As I took the bag from her, Max held out his to me as well. "Be a dear Justy and carry mine too," he said with a smirk. He looped my extended arm through the strap and shoved it onto my shoulder. He just ignored my death stare and marched ahead of the two of us.

I fell into step alongside Alex who walked like she was distinctly trying to avoid any glances with the hood of her grey jacket thrown over her dark hair, hiding her face. "I would have come if you'd told me."

She stuffed her hands in her jacket. "You had your own problems to deal with. It was kind of an impulse thing anyway."

I lowered my voice. "Did you find him?"

She looked up startled and I rolled my eyes. "C'mon Alex, you're a tad transparent."

Alex smiled wryly. "I know. And I did find him. But I wish I hadn't."

She stared ahead, like in some far off universe and I took that as a sign that our conversation was over.

"I'll drop you guys off home and then I have to go."

"Go? Go where?"

I took a deep breath. "Today's my court date, the lawsuit, remember?"

"That's today?"

I nodded as I led them to the car. I'd known for the last couple of days that today was the day but I'd decided to keep it to myself. It was better not to worry them, especially in light of their recent trip which looked to have left Alex emotionally drained.

We sidled into my car and I turned on the radio as soon as we did. A sad love song started to play and like a knee jerk reaction, Alex reached out and turned it off before slinking back into her seat.

I exchanged a glance with Max, who was in the backseat, and he just shrugged back at me. It seemed like he had no clue exactly what had gone down in Transylvania either and had just been merely there for moral support.

I left the radio off and every now and then, stole a glance at Alex. She was curled up in her seat, staring out the window at passing traffic. She seemed so unlike herself, so withdrawn and it made me wonder what Mason had told her. Was what she had done really that bad?

I dropped Max off home first, getting in a quick hello to Mom and Dad before heading to Alex's place. I carried in her bag and she sank into the couch as soon as she saw it, like it was an old friend. I put her stuff on her bed and was leaving when I decided maybe it was best to get her to open up more.

"Did you find out about the competition?" I asked, sitting near her.

She didn't look at me, just stared into her lap. I was slowly growing irritated.

"I realise you might not have had the reunion with Mason you were exactly picturing but whatever you know is important. It might help us get back Alex, because in case you haven't realised, these are not our lives. We can't stay here."

"You don't think I know that!" she yelled, getting up to pace around the room. She pushed back a lock of hair that had fallen into her eyes and raked it back with her nails. "Maybe the reason I don't want to tell you is because I don't want you to think differently of me once I do."

"You can't keep this to yourself," I told her, raising my voice to match hers. "The whole point of this was to-"

"I know! Okay, I know," she said, pressing her palm to her forehead.

She sat down by the kitchen counter and hung her head. "I dropped out of the wizard competition because I thought I was too far to catch up. Mason and I broke up because mortals and werewolves can't date."

I moved closer to her to hear more and she continued. "The night of the competition, I went to find him. Because I wasn't there for the test, the council took away all of our powers as punishment."

Her voice broke and I suddenly drew back my hand that had been reaching to comfort her.

She was the reason I was a mortal. She wrecked my one chance to be a wizard, to have powers. It was her fault, just like she'd been saying all along.

But she wasn't finished.

"Then I exposed magic to get back at them."

I turned away from her, my head spinning. I could have had it all. If it wasn't for her, I would be a wizard. I wouldn't be married to Emily; I wouldn't have killed someone with a careless mistake.

"I can't believe that you did that," I whispered.

She got up, tears already starting to form in her eyes. "Justin, please."

"No." I was done. This was the last straw.

I wanted to leave, before I said something I would regret. I tried to get out of there but she pulled me back. She was stronger than I expected but then again, I was too tired to resist. She glanced up at me with her shiny eyes and it was a face I'd seen too many times before. I tried to remind myself that it wasn't this Alex, that she hadn't done anything that I couldn't be mad at her but the anger bubbling inside me seemed to disagree.

"Every time you've messed up, I've stuck up for you, defended you. I made excuses for you because I figured, one day you'll grow up and maybe repay me for all I did for you. Every time you did something so horrible to me, I would still forgive you because you were my sister and I loved you. But I can't forgive you this time; I can't look the other way."

"It's not me," she pleaded, still holding my arm. "I didn't do those things, I won't."

"I don't know how I can even trust the words coming out of your mouth anymore."

I released myself from her grip and walked out.

Max

A few minutes after Justin and Alex left, I got a call from someone about a business meeting in the substation. I went downstairs to see a bunch of guys in suits standing around, including the dude who I'd nicknamed Jeeves the first day we'd got here.

"Ah, Mr Russo," Jeeves greeted me, "Please take a seat."

I took a seat at the makeshift table they'd set up. Everyone was staring at me nervously and I had a feeling that the outcome of this meeting would not be good.

"Mr Russo, we've called you here to discuss your 'priorities." I did not like the way he said that last word.

"We've just noticed," spoke up another, "that your focus seems to have been split lately and our shareholders are questioning your loyalty."

"I've been busy with family stuff," I said importantly. It was true.

"Well, I'm sorry to say that all of us here have simply lost faith in your practises. And with you now in debt-"

"That's impossible," I exclaimed. "Jeeves has been doing my banking for me, he would have told me."

"Who's Jeeves?" asked a man with a grey silk suit.

"He means me," said Jeeves, irritated. "I tried to tell you sir that you were losing money but you were just too busy."

He had the strangest smirk on his face and I had a feeling he knew more than he was telling.

I looked at all of them. "So what, you're firing me for my own company?"

They all looked quite guiltily before nodding. Before I could even complain more, they dissipated, filing out quickly. Only Jeeves remained.

"What happened to all my money?" I asked him.

The smirk grew broader. "I told you to treat me with respect, maybe now you'll learn."

Realisation hit me like a ton of bricks. "You stole my money."

"I wouldn't use the word stole. I just banked your money under a different account. And while you were off gallivanting around, I went to the board with your new plans and claimed them as my own. Since you were too busy right?"

He flicked the front of my shirt with a laugh and I had the strongest urge to pull a Justin and beat the crap out of him but considering I was now broke, I probably couldn't pay the bail money to get out of jail.

"On and by the way, I want you out of the loft by tonight. Have a good life Mr Russo."

He walked away, still chuckling and I stood there, feeling like a fool.

Alex

I was on the couch with a box of tissues and a sad movie to match my mood. I'd tried in vain to call Justin but he didn't seem to want a bar of it. Harper wasn't answering her phone either so the TV had become my best friend. I was blowing my nose furiously when a knock started to sound on the door. Hoping it was Justin, I raced to get it. But I was greeted by the wavy haired Dean Moriarty. His face was kind of puffy and bruised but he still looked like his charming self. I tried to slam the door on his face but he stuck his foot in front, pushing his way in.

"There's no need to cry about missing me baby, I'm right here," said, holding out flowers.

I swiped them away. "Get. Out."

"You're angry, I like angry."

I pushed against his chest but he just wouldn't budge. He clamped my wrists together and pulled me in. "It's over with Emily. Now, we can have a shot."

"I don't want you," I said, struggling against his grip.

"C'mon Alex, don't fight it. You always did love the bad boy type. Let me show you how bad I can be."

He forced a kiss onto me and it didn't feel as good as it had the first time he'd shown up. Maybe that was because the longer I was in this body, the longer I developed feelings of my own. While the other Alex might have enjoyed this once, she didn't anymore.

I finally broke free and slapped him with as much power as I could muster. He looked furious. "That wasn't very nice."

"Get away from me," I said threateningly.

Instead he edged closer. "You're always like this Alex but you always run back. You say that you hate me, that you can't stand me and yet you still always want me. This time is no different."

When he was close enough, I lifted my knee and sunk it into his stomach. He groaned and dropped to his knees, winded by the impact. I ran to my phone, hoping that maybe Justin would answer but then I looked to the clock; he would already be in court.

So it was up to me to shove Dean out of my apartment even though he was heavier and taller.

"Alex," he wheezed.

He slowly got up and I started to panic. He was surely stronger than me. If he tried something, would I be able to stop him? I wasn't so sure.

"It's all right, I forgive you Alex," he muttered, rubbing at his sore spot. "But you're going to have to make it up to me."

He started to advance and I held up my fists. I wasn't one for lying down. All guys had weaknesses. It was just a matter of finding them. I went for the most obvious one first, swinging my leg around and catching him in a spot guys do not want to get hit. I reached for his shirt to help me haul him out but a rough hand beat me to it.

"You come here ever again and I'll make what she did to you seem like a blessing."

Dean ended up in a crumpled heap in the hallway, fear all over his already broken face, and I took one last look at him before the door slammed.

"Are you alright?"

I stared into Mason's eyes. "I've been better."

Did anyone think Mason was never coming back? I'm not that cruel :P