A Suite and Magical Life

Chapter 9: You can't change what you refuse to confront

January 13-14, 2008

The Dreamscape

Alex Russo stood with her wand in her hand, ready for battle. Behind her, stood her brothers Justin Russo and Max Russo. They were waiting for Zachary Martin to fall asleep so that they could enter his dream. Alex had told her brothers about her plan; it was basically her confronting Zack head-on and not caring about the consequences that her actions would inevitably causing.

Justin, Max, Theresa and Jerry had warned her against doing that; if things escalated, there was no telling what could happen as both Zack and Alex were high-strung, hot-tempered and stubborn: a sure shot recipe for disaster. Alex had refused to listen to reason, and had followed through with her plan; now, she felt nervous and regretted ignoring her family. She wondered whether it was too late to turn back, but her pride had prevented her from voicing that opinion.

As if reading her mind and messing with her, Zack Martin materialized at that exact moment. He looked around and smiled widely when he saw Alex, Justin and Max; but his bright smile turned into an expression of alarm when he saw Alex holding her wand in battle position and pointing at him, and even more so when the Justin and Max reluctantly pointed their wands at Zack.

"What's going on here?" Zack asked Justin and Max, his voice displaying puzzlement and shock. 

"Address anything you have to say to me." Alex interjected, her voice harsh. "I'll be doing the talking tonight, Zachary Martin. You have a lot of sins and crimes to answer for tonight."

"Why are you treating me like an enemy wizard? What did I do for this?" Zack asked quizzically.

"You've been ignoring me too much recently. You don't answer my calls or respond to my messages. For that, you're going to tell me exactly why!" Alex responded angrily to him.

"Is that all?" Zack laughed, trying to lighten the mood; but while Justin and Max nervously smiled, Alex Russo continued to glare angrily at Zack. Seeing this, Zack became worried: his charm usually worked flawlessly on Alex; the fact that she remained angry at him meant that she was extremely angry at him. But for what? Zack curiously wondered. That was the key question.

"Alex, I respond to almost all of your calls, messages, letters etc. no matter what time of day it is. I think I can be forgiven for missing a few calls here and there." Zack attempted to reason.

"I called you 20 times yesterday in the span of 20 minutes and texted you frantically for the half-hour after that; and yet, you neither picked up the phone nor answered any of my messages!" Alex roared. "What were you doing that ensured you didn't pick up any of my calls?" she asked.

"Why did you find the need to call and text me so much in an hour?" Zack asked her pointedly.

Alex noticed that Zack was answering questions with questions, as sure-fire sign of deceit. He's hiding something, Alex realized. What could be so damaging that he would actively conceal it from her? she thought. And then she realized a serious possibility that filled her with fear.

"Were you talking to Hannah Montana?" Alex asked nervously, dreading his inevitable answer.

Zack silently nodded, which resulted in Alex's dread rapidly turning into uncontrollable anger.

"So, Hannah Montana is more important to you than I am, huh? You'd rather go out with the famous celebrity rather than your closest friend who's known you since birth?" Alex shot at Zack.

"What is your problem with me talking to Hannah?" Zack questioned. "Why do you dislike her?"

"I don't dislike Hannah." Alex said. "I don't trust you, considering the irresistible urge to flirt with girls that you have, not to mention your chronically endemic commitment issues" she declared.