The first thing Justin Russo notices when he walks into his sister's room is that it's not the same.

He hasn't been here in... what? Two years? And it looks dramatically different. No vibrant colors, no random scarves and belts draped over every available surface, no... Alex. It makes him a little sick, but he does not turn around and walk out. He does not let the memory of what used to be scare him away.

Justin runs his hand along Alex's desk; it comes away clean, no dust, and he shakes his head in amazement at the things he will never understand. Why did Alex do this? What made his crazy, amazing sister walk away from life? Justin sits down on her bed with his heart beating slowly in his chest, counting the days since the last time he saw her.

It was just two weeks before... before it happened, and she sat in front of him at their favorite diner, wearing a black turtle neck, stockings and ankle boots. (Now that he thinks about it, her outfit should have struck him as odd. Alex didn't wear black; she just didn't. But he wasn't paying attention, wasn't looking closely enough, and that fact slipped right on through.) He was in town for business, a couple of book signings, and she agreed to meet him for lunch. It had been a while since they'd got together, just the two of them, and Justin ordered the same meal he'd been getting since he was a child.

They made small talk, Alex picking at her food while Justin texted on his Blackberry. It didn't feel right, but Justin ignored it. They were growing up; they didn't tease each other anymore. This was maturity at it's finest. When they went their separate ways, she hugged him. Tight. And when she turned away, Justin thought that maybe, maybe, there was a tear in her eye. He wanted to call out to her, but she was gone, vanishing into the crowd. And he let her go.

Now, as Justin looks around Alex's room, he wonders why she didn't ask for help. He feels the guilt drop onto his chest, and he lies back, settles into her bed with a sigh. It smells like soap and perfume and Alex. Kind of like fresh cut grass and rain and strawberries, something completely unique; just like her.

Justin falls asleep.

---

A light flicks on, and Justin jumps awake.

"Rise and shine, cutie."

There's a blonde, middle-aged lady standing in the middle of Alex's room. She smiles at him as he sits up, her heel clicking in an impatient beat on the floor.

"I figured I'd find you here." She says thoughtfully as Justin rises from the bed, runs a hand through his hair.

"Um, don't mind me asking but... who are you?"

The lady pulls a thick envelope out of her briefcase, "I'm Karen Ashburn, wizard attorney, and I have something to give you." Karen extends her hand, and Justin looks at her for a moment before taking the envelope.

"What is this?" He asks, turning it over, looking for some sort of label.

"Something your sister wanted you to have."

Justin freezes.

"This is from Alex?"

"Yes, it is. She arranged for me to deliver it to you."

"Do you know what's in here?"

"I'm afraid not. Well, gotta go. Later."

Karen turns to leave, and as she takes out her wand she seems to remember something.

"Oh and, Justin, is it?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry for your loss."

Justin nods, "Thank you."

With that, Karen disappears in a cloud of purple smoke, and Justin sits back down on the bed. The envelope he holds in his hand is thick, full of papers. Justin is curious, and a bit scared. He runs his fingers over the rough manila surface, his mind with thick with the possibilities.

Justin opens the envelope.

if jalex squicks you out, then this might not be a story for you.

i'm in love with my idea for this. it will be a slow process, more than likely, but i really, really hope you stick with it. it's a little reminiscent of the book 'thirteen reasons why', in a way, but i am definitely not plagiarizing jay asher's wonderful book. the reasons are so completely different and plus these guys are wizards. so please please please give this a shot :) love you guys - oh, and check me out on youtube under the name itsleannadarling. i make videos now!