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On Waverly Place lived a family, a family with their own business. This was the Russo clan; with Theresa the mother, Jerry the father, Justin the eldest son, Alex the middle daughter, and Max the youngest son. The live above their sandwich diner where the family works at. Though business has been a bit rough lately and its been putting stress on the family.

"Alex! Justin! Max! Time for school!" Theresa shouts.

Coming down the stairs are the two boys. Max was bragging about his project for his history class, whereas Justin pretended to be jealous to make his brother feel great.

"Mr. Harris gave us two weeks to get it done but being a Russo, I got it done in a week." Max bragged.

Justin reached into the fridge for a water bottle, "Good job Max. Way to apply yourself." Justin said.

Max smiled a big smile, and he was handed his lunch by Theresa. She also hands Justin some lunch money for the day, but she was still shouting for the daughter to come down.

"Alex!" Theresa shouts.

"I'm coming!" Alex shouts back.

Coming down the stairs was Alex. She looked at her mother as her mom handed her, her lunch money. Alex glanced at her mom and then to her dad, who was sitting on the couch.

"Have a nice day." Theresa said smiling.

Justin looked at Alex and noticed what she was staring at, "Don't want to be late. Come on guys." Justin motioned them to the door.

The trio left the apartment building where they lived and wondered down onto Waverly Street. Max found some of his friends walking to school and left his siblings to go with them, though the older siblings didn't mind.

Justin was rolling his sleeves up and looked at his wrist watch. Alex was texting her friend, Harper, as she walked but stopped to look up at her older brother.

"Justin," Alex said.

Justin looked down, "Yeah?"

"How much longer do we have to pretend we are a happy family?" Alex asked.

Justin shrugs, "I don't know."

Alex saw the bruises on his arm, but Justin noticed she saw and rolled down his sleeves. Alex put her phone in her back pocket and looked up still at her brother as they stopped at a crosswalk.

"You can't keep taking the fault for me." Alex said.

Justin didn't look at her, "Yes I can." He said.

"Why?" Alex asked.

Justin then looked down at his sister, "Because you're my baby sister." Justin said.

Alex could never get her brother not to do something she didn't want him to do. He was in the eleventh grade so pete sake and was still looking after Alex as if she was three, yet she was in the ninth grade.

"Justin, I can handle myself. I am sixteen." Alex said.

Justin and Alex began to cross the crosswalk. Alex had a point, she wasn't a child anymore. The one who seems to be the child would be Max, and he is thirteen. Though in Justin's mind they were still his younger siblings.

"Look Justin, you're going to be a senior next year and I'll be a sophomore. Stop protecting me." Alex said.

Justin stopped Alex, "Alex I protect you because I have to. That's what big brothers are there for."

"But Justin I don't-." Alex was stopped.

"I don't just protect you, I make sure Max doesn't see. Neither of you need that on you." Justin said.

"But it isn't fair, Justin. You're the oldest and likely to actually go far in life. Why can't you let us fight our own battles." Alex said.

"Because you are not allowed to decide that." Justin said.

-WIZARDS-

Upon reaching school both Russo's went their own way. Justin walked over to his geeky friends, Zeke and Ethan. They were planning on building something amazing for the science fair coming up. Alex walked over to her locker and saw Harper run over.

"Is everything alright there? You know I worry." Harper asked wearing a watermelon inspired outfit.

"Yes Harper, everything is fine." Alex said.

Being Alex's best friend, Harper knew the issues at the Russo home. Alex couldn't hide it from her best friend and knew Justin was alright with Alex having someone besides him to lean on.

"I am just mad at Justin." Alex said.

Harper's relief smile faded, "Why?"

"Because he keeps taking the fault. I don't want him to get hurt for my stupidity." Alex said.

Harper leaned against some kids lockers as Alex reached for her history text book and English text book.

"He is going to protect you, Alex. I mean I guess that's what brothers do." Harper said.

Alex sighed, "Yeah but I know he has it worst." Alex said.

Harper looked at Justin with his friends, "He seems fine."

"He's hiding it, its a Russo thing." Alex said.

The bell rang, Alex and Harper began walking to their art class. They pass Justin, who doesn't say a thing to them. Justin knows how Alex feels about her brother talking to her at school but sometimes she'd wish he'd just say "later" or something.

-WIZARDS-

"So JR, think you can go see a movie with the gang tonight?" Zeke asked.

Justin, Zeke, and Ethan stepped out of their science class. They were hanging by the lockers near the bathrooms.

"I don't know, my dad is having me work tonight I don't know when I get off." Justin said.

Ethan put a toothpick in his mouth, "Has he heard of a thing call child labor laws? Jeez your dad must be some kind of evil man." Ethan said.

Zeke nudged Ethan, "Dude."

Justin shakes his head, "Nah its okay. I might see if I can go, tell him I need a break." Justin said.

Zeke smiles, "Good! We haven't hung out for a long time, and I am certain Millie will be there."

Justin smiles faintly, he had a crush on Millie, but at the same time he knew she doesn't see him in the way as boyfriend/girlfriend. The final bell to dismiss the rest of the students rang and Justin waited for his sister.

"Justin, I can walk home." Alex said appearing with Harper.

"I know." Justin said.

"What's the point on getting out at seventh period of you only hang out until I get out?" Alex asked.

Harper nudges Alex, "Oh knock it off Alex. Justin is just being a good big brother." Harper said.

Justin turns to Alex, "We don't have to walk together. I'll walk ahead, leave you with girl talk." Justin said.

Justin walk ahead, Alex a little shocked that her brother wasn't overprotecting her at the moment but she really didn't care. Her and Harper had some time to gossip and talk about cute boys.

Justin, however, was silent. His mind was jumping around and figuring out how to ask dad about letting him have some time off. He wasn't sure how it'll play and what could happen. Justin stopped at the crosswalk and noticed he was close to Waverly Street, he hears the giggling of Alex and Harper as he stood still.

"Justin, I didn't ask but how was your day?" It was Harper.

Justin turns, "Um it was alright. I mean homework done, and might be going out later." Jusin said.

Alex looked different, "What?"

"I mean- if I can." Justin said.

Harper smiles, "Well I'd love to take your shift if you want." Harper offers.

Justin smiles faintly, "Thanks Harper."

-WIZARDS-

In Waverly Substation, Jerry was handing someone their food while Theresa was ringing a couple out. Justin, Alex, and Harper entered. The trio saw a warm smile on their faces, Max sat at a booth doing his homework.

"Hi kids," Jerry said walking over.

"Hi Mr. Russo." Harper said.

Justin looks at his dad, "Can I have a word with you?"

Jerry nods, "Yeah sure. Um Alex can you cover me until I get back?"

Alex nods, "I guess."

Justin and Jerry walked into the kitchen, Alex looked from Harper and thought of Justin's arms. She wasn't sure how much he'll be able to handle before he explodes.

"Hey, Alex. I can help you." Harper said.

Alex smirks, "Be my guess."

-WIZARDS-

Justin looked at his dad, "Um dad about tonight's shift."

"Yeah?" Jerry asked sounding calm.

Justin rubbed the back of his neck, "Well a couple guys from school wanted to know if I wanted to go see a movie with them tonight?"

Jerry nods, "Did you tell them you're working?"

Justin nods, "But I thought- maybe I can have someone cover my shift and work on my day off." Justin said.

Jerry didn't reply but Justin noticed his dad's expression changed. Jerry looked at his son and then glanced at the substation.

"Do you hate this family?" Jerry asked sounding a bit angry.

"No- dad never." Justin said.

Jerry turned to his son and grabbed a hold of his son's arms tight, "Well it sounds like you rather be with friends than helping this family back on there feet."

Justin tried not to look scared, "I- I didn't think dad."

Jerry slapped Justin across his face, "Damn right you didn't. I thought you were suppose to be the smart one, not the dumbass like Alex." Jerry said.

Justin took it, he took the abuse. Jerry slapped him again on his face, now Justin's right cheek was red and Jerry lowered his hand.

"Justin, you need to man up and stop being such a coward." Jerry said and left the kitchen.

Justin stayed in the kitchen for a while, he texted his friends saying how he can't make it due to his mom being sick and having to cover her shift. Justin sat on the cool kitchen floor and exhaled a deep breathe.

"Justin-!" It was Alex.

Justin looked up at his sister, she seemed to have noticed the red mark on his face and concern filled her face.

"Justin, what- happened?" Alex asked.

Justin looked at her and faked a smile, "Nothing for you to worry about."

"Justin, he mentioned me- didn't he?" Alex asked.

"Alex, its alright." Justin said.

Alex sat down and curled next to her older brother, "We have to do something."

"But they'll be angry- Alex, they could split us up." Justin said.

Alex hugged her brother and exhaled, "Then I'll help protect you." Alex said.

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