Fanfic: Principles, Chapter V (WIP) (Jalex)
Sorry this was so late, guys. I'll have chapter VI up tomorrow. Just so you know, I won't be here in the last two weeks of July. And I'm taking August to concentrate on finishing my novel. This means that I don't know if or how often I might be updating this fic. If I feel I need a break, you may get a chapter now and then. But probably no major updating until September. This may change, though, if I finish my book earlier than expected. Or later, you know, whatever.
Also, is anyone else going to see Harry Potter tonight? I'm totally going to the midnight showing. :D
Title: Principles, Chapter V
Rating: T
Pairing: Pre-Justin/Alex
Warning: Thoughts of incest.
Summary: Justin receives an unexpected gift. Jalex eventually.
Word Count: 1,413
Disclaimer: Sorry, still don’t own WOWP.
It’s later than usual when the Sub Station closes, and Jerry swears that next time he’ll kick out the customers, even if they haven’t eaten or paid, because his back hurts too much for another day of standing so long. He takes an icepack to bed with him, and Theresa makes tea while Max actually tries to finish his homework, instead of waiting until the morning.
Justin heats up leftover pasta from the night before because he intends to be awake for a while. He wants to re-read the chapters from class since none of the information had stuck with him. He won’t admit that he’s avoiding sleep because he’s afraid of the images that might be conjured by his uninhibited mind -- images that will put Alex in a less than sisterly manner with him.
He leans against the counter, waiting for the microwave, and Theresa comes to stand beside him. She wraps her arm around his waist, placing her head against his shoulder. Out of habit, Justin moves his arm to hold her too, but then he feels awkward, like he somehow doesn’t deserve to be touched by his loving mother. What would she say or do if she knew his unhealthy feelings?
“Are you upset about last night?” asks Theresa quietly. “I really don’t want you to be uncomfortable or anything, because I know it was all just a misunderstanding.”
Justin wonders if this is the opportunity to be completely honest. Hell, maybe she’d be able to talk him through it -- out of it, whatever. But he remembers how distressed and disappointed she was, and he really doesn’t want to see her like that ever again. So he’ll suffer in silence if that’s what’s necessary to keep everyone else happy.
“No, I’m okay, Mom,” he says. “I only had a nightmare and didn’t get much sleep. I’ll be fine.”
She soothingly rubs his back as she pulls away. “All right, sweetie. Don’t stay up too late. Come on, Maxie, let’s go to bed. I’ll help you in the morning.”
“Finally!” Max says with a laugh, stretching his arms over his head. “I’ve been struggling with this one problem, you know?”
“Oh, I know. I know.”
Their voices fade up the stairs, and the microwave bell chimes. Justin savors the aroma and flavor of his mother’s homemade herb pasta (from a recipe on his father’s side), and for one of the rare moments of the day, he doesn’t think about Alex. Though it doesn’t last long, as he makes his way up to his room so he can eat while doing homework, because in the hallway he nearly runs into Alex as she steps out of her room.
“Ooh, pasta,” she says, pinching a few noodles between her fingers. Justin doesn’t even pretend not to stare when she tips her head back and slowly slides the noodles into her awaiting mouth. As she walks past him to the bathroom, he hears, “Mmm, tasty.”
Justin clears his throat, hastily telling himself not to think anything about it. In his room, he relaxes at his desk. He manages to read one chapter about World War II, and he answers all the required questions without even thinking about them. It’s all information he’s learned before, so it doesn’t take him much effort, only time. He even finishes his Calculus problems before his vision begins to blur and his eyelids droop.
He takes a break, almost wanting to take a nap before finishing his work, but that seems like a bad idea. Looking at his bed, though, he realizes there is a bag on the floor beside it. It doesn’t look like one of his, and he doesn’t remember putting it there, so he carefully picks it up and examines the contents. Justin blinks in surprise before pulling out the soft, dark blue, terry cloth robe.
Alex, Justin thinks fondly, bringing to mind an image of her bright smile and shy shrug. Sometimes she could be so thoughtful. . . . He smiles for the first time that day, and it feels good. His first instinct is to go thank Alex, so he follows it and this time doesn’t over think his actions.
Her bedroom door is closed, but light shines out from the bottom. Justin knocks quietly, not wanting to wake anyone else. There’s no answer. His heart starts beating faster as his hand settles on the cold brass handle. He’s been in her room hundreds of times, but this feels different even though it shouldn’t. It should just be an occasion to properly thank his sister for doing something nice (when she normally doesn’t).
Justin opens Alex’s door just enough to make sure she isn’t indecently exposed or something, but he can’t see her. He walks in slowly and quietly, only to find her asleep on her bed with a sketchpad abandoned on her stomach and a pencil still loosely held between her fingers. It’s difficult for him to swallow as he approaches the side of her bed.
“Alex,” Justin calls. She doesn’t even stir, and he’s not surprised because she’s always slept like a log. He’s hesitant to touch her shoulder through the thin material of her sleep shirt (It doesn’t go unnoticed that she isn’t in her same tank top and shorts as the morning).
His hand settles on her small shoulder as he gently shakes her. Alex bolts up, an arm swinging up to hit Justin square in the jaw, and he remembers exactly why he doesn’t like to wake her up.
“Jeez, Justin! What’s wrong with you?” she cries, obviously startled. He tries to ignore the voice in his head that says Plenty.
“Me? What’s wrong with you?” Justin rubs his cheek, watching as she suddenly scrambles to flip closed her sketchpad and tosses it over the side of the bed, onto the floor.
“You didn’t see anything, did you?” she asks, eyeing him suspiciously.
“No, I don’t care what you draw when you’re half asleep,” Justin mutters. He holds up the blue robe. “I just wanted to thank you for buying this for me. You didn’t have to.”
“Oh ho, yes, I did. No one needs to see you walking around in just a towel.” Alex’s smile is not as enthusiastic or teasing as usual, and it makes him wonder. She fidgets and piles her hair into a messy bun, securing it with her pencil. It looks good on her, and Justin wishes she would pull her hair from her face more often so he can see her beautiful eyes and pursed lips. Wait. . . .
Justin’s eyes move up to meet Alex’s, to find her watching him, watching her, which makes his blood rush, and he knows his face is turning red.
She scoffs before saying, “I would pay anything not to see your pasty skin and pathetic muscles again.”
Her comment would hurt if her eyes didn’t keep bouncing back to his, glittering with mirth, and Justin so misses this interaction. It’s only been one day, but he still feels like it’s been forever since he could be even halfway normal with her.
“For your information, I’ve been working out,” Justin says, holding out the robe as if he were actually making a valid point.
He smiles, laughs a little, and she joins in. He’s uneasy, but Justin’s decided he’d rather see Alex’s pretty face than keep avoiding her. He may have unseemly inclinations, but standing in her room with her eyes holding his attention, Justin believes he can control himself. Of course, his heart might be trying to tell him otherwise.
Justin starts easing himself backwards, heading for the door. “Well, I’ll see you in the morning then.”
“Yeah.” She moves to get under the blankets, and he quickly leaves, closing the door behind him.
Justin sighs and takes refuge in his own room. If he can just stand the way his heart pounds in response to her smile, then he can still be a good brother to her, which is what he wants. It’s not all that he wants now, however, as he still has the urge to embrace her, or show his gratitude through something like a kiss. But it’ll have to do, because even though Justin’s attracted to Alex, he doesn’t want to change himself or their relationship. He loves her, and they’re family, so that’s all they have to be, no matter how hard his heart beats for something more.