Chapter Text
Ages: 7 to 13
“Have fun, sweetie.” Her mother hugs her tight and she sinks into her warmth. “Try to make a friend or two, okay?”
Her father ruffles her hair. “Be good, kiddo.”
Her parents get back into the car and Alex watches silently as they drive away. She watches until the car turns into a corner and she can’t see them anymore. She grips the straps of her new bag, takes in a deep breath and turns to face her new school. It’s so big and there are so many children screaming and chatting around her. She doesn’t know any of them.
It takes her a moment but she gathers up the courage to walk in. The hallways are worse. It’s so loud and Alex isn’t used to this much action. She’s so small among the older students parading around.
She walks her way to her new class which she had been shown to during the student orientation. There are already a few kids there and Alex notices some of them crying. The teacher’s busy trying to console them. The other kids are already seated so Alex takes a seat at the front of the class nearby the teacher’s table. Dad told her that it was the best place to sit, especially if she was going to be asking the teachers a lot of questions.
Alex shifts through her bag and gets her new, pretty blue pencil case out and places it on her table. She’s about to get a few books when someone passes by her. She looks up.
The girl settles down at the table behind Alex’s. She catches Alex’s eye and smiles. Alex thinks she’s got a really pretty smile.
The girl holds out a hand. “I’m Maggie Sawyer.”
“I’m Alex Danvers.” Maggie’s hand is soft in hers.
Maggie nods at her and starts to shift through her own bag. Alex watches her. She has really nice hair. It’s long and tied into a cute ponytail but Alex thinks that it must look really nice and flowy when it’s free. Her own dark hair is simply cut short and straight. But Alex likes it, it doesn’t get in her way.
“I like your hair.” She blurts out and she feels her cheeks burning. She didn’t mean to say that.
Maggie looks up at her and Alex thinks she’s going to laugh. Instead, her lips spread into a huge grin that exposes her dimples. “Thanks!” She scrunches her nose. “Mama always has to wash it for me though. It’s very thick and she says I use too much shampoo.”
Alex smiles. “It’s really nice.”
Maggie’s eyes light up. “Hey! We should be friends!”
Alex has never really had a friend before. She’s not one to leave her house often and there isn’t anyone her age who lives nearby. Surely it would be nice to have a friend. She nods enthusiastically. “We’re friends now.”
They trade timetables and Alex is happy to learn that they share most of their classes.
Their first class is English and their teacher, although sometimes funny, scares Alex a little. She insists on arranged seatings and Maggie ends up three rows away from Alex. She’s disappointed but grateful that she’s still somewhere near the front of the class.
By the time lunch rolls around, Alex is exhausted. She doesn’t think she’s ever been around this many children her age for so long. Maggie brings her own food but still follows Alex as she waits in line to get her own. They sit together at an unoccupied table.
The food is mushy and tastes weird. She looks at Maggie’s food longingly and Maggie laughs. “Mama told me I wouldn’t like the food here. Want some of mine?”
Alex shakes her head. “My mom says I have to eat this food.” She pouts. “It doesn’t taste nice.”
“Okay.” Maggie says. Alex forces herself to finish her food and not stare at Maggie’s.
Two girls join their table and Alex recognizes them from her first class. Lucy Lane and M’gann M’orzz. Alex smiles at them and hopes she looks friendly. Maggie waves at them enthusiastically.
M’gann cringes as she takes her first bite of the food followed closely by Lucy who lets out an “ugh.” The four of them laugh and Alex feels this calling deep in her gut, telling her that she’s going to have an amazing year.
By the time her first day ends, Alex is already daydreaming about taking a nap on her bed. She says goodbye to Maggie and finds her parents’ car waiting.
“How was your first day, sweetie?” Her mom asks as soon as she enters the car. “Did you make any friends? How were your teachers?”
“She just came in Eliza. Give the girl a break.” Dad jokes, starting the car. “But tell us everything, Alex.”
Alex stretches and she catches her parents’ eyes from the rear-view mirror. She tells them about Maggie. Tells them about how she was so nice to her and even mentions her pretty hair. She also talks about M’gann and Lucy and how the four of them sat together during lunch.
“I’m so glad you found friends, honey.” Her mom smiles wide. “You’re going to have a great year.”
By the time they reach home, Alex is yawning. Her mom tells her to take a nap before dinner and Alex happily obliges.
She thinks that her first day went pretty well.
Alex and Maggie become inseparable over the next few months. They’re with each other almost all through the days at school and spend most weekends at each other’s house. Over time, they form a close bond with Lucy and M’gann as well.
Finals week arrives before they know it and Alex has never felt this stressed in her life. Her parents tell her to take it easy, that it’s only her first year and she doesn’t need to exert herself too much. She stills feels the pressure anyway.
She’s lucky to have Maggie, who comes over during weekends with snacks from her mom, and prompts Alex to take a break.
“Aleeex.” She whines, closing her own book and placing it next to her on Alex’s bed. She rolls onto her back and looks at the ceiling. “I’m bored.”
Alex doesn’t look up from her book but she knows Maggie’s frowning at her. “I need to get my A’s, Maggie.”
“Can we take a snack break?” Maggie pleads, inching closer to Alex and poking her side. “I’m hungry.”
“Don’t poke me.” she sighs and looks at Maggie, still frowning at her with big brown eyes. “Fine. Just let me read this page.”
Maggie hugs her side. “You’re the best!”
When Alex gets her results back, she lets out a whoop of joy. Straight A’s. Her parents would be so proud of her. She tells Maggie, who lets out an even louder whoop, and they celebrate by convincing Maggie’s mom to take them to the movies.
**
They go on a field trip with their second grade class to the zoo. Maggie doesn’t stop talking about it since they signed the forms and handed them in.
“Alex, we can go pony riding!”
“Oh! And we can see lions and tigers!”
“Do you think there’ll be raccoons? I really like raccoons.”
“I’ve always wanted to take a picture with a snake. I hope they’ll allow us to do that.”
And that’s just a small portion of what Maggie talked about last night alone.
They’re currently sitting together on the bus and Maggie’s taken the seat by the window despite Alex arriving first. Somehow all it took was a pout from Maggie to have Alex relenting and handing the window seat to her best friend. Maggie claims she just “wants to watch the road outside.”
Except Maggie hasn’t even looked out the once since the bus started moving fifteen minutes ago. All Maggie’s been doing is looking at Alex and telling her about all the stuff they can do.
Alex isn’t particularly excited for the trip but watching Maggie practically bursting at the seams with anticipation is motivating her to look forward to it. So far, her best friend seems to be most excited about seeing the tigers.
“I’ve always thought about having a pet tiger. They’re kinda like cats. Except bigger and more terrifying.”
“Maybe one day we can get a pet tiger together. That would be cool.” Alex jokes.
Maggie grins. “We can scare all our neighbours with it.”
They visit the ape exhibit first and everyone laughs as they watch the small white Gibbon scratch it’s armpits and sniff at the audience it has gathered. Eventually, it tires of them and swings deeper into the enclosure. Alex watches in awe at the way it effortlessly swings across the large cage.
They power through a few more exhibits and when they finally reach the tigers, Maggie releases her prior grip on Alex’s hand and practically smushes her face to the glass walls. There are two tigers closest to them and they’re cooling off in the water, ears perked and eyes lazily watching her schoolmates. Alex has to admit that they look pretty majestic.
“I wish I could pet them.” Maggie utters, marveling at the tigers. “I want to.”
One of the boys in their class, James Olsen, chuckles. He lifts the camera hanging on a strap around his neck. “I can take a picture of them if you want.”
Maggie nods enthusiastically. “Thank you.”
James snaps a few pictures for Maggie. “I’ll pass them to you on Monday.”
Alex watches as Maggie thanks James again and then diverts her attention back to the tigers, the awe never quite leaving her face.
She practically has to pull Maggie away when the group decides to move on.
The panther exhibit is next and this time it’s Alex’s turn to look in awe. They're so large and lean and they look so regal. There's one standing at the tip of the small cave entrance, chin up and looking out at them but Alex feels as though it's eyes are trained directly on her. She's frozen in her spot, acutely aware of the chattering behind her and Maggie’s light grip on her hand. She suddenly understands Maggie’s love for tigers. This black panther is large and so intimidating yet she feels inexplicably drawn to it, like it's calling her out and she too feels the urge to get closer.
She's interrupted by a snap of a camera. James smiles at her. “This one’s for you.”
Pony riding is something Alex has never tried in her life. Maggie, though, used to go for classes and she’s quite adept at maneuvering the pony. They go in pairs and Alex sits behind Maggie, gripping tightly on her waist with her chin lightly pressing into Maggie’s shoulder.
“You sure this thing won’t drop us?”
“Of course, Alex. I know what I’m doing. Don’t worry.”
They make it through the ride without any mishaps thanks to Maggie’s skills.
At the aviary, there’s a bunch of people waiting in line to take a picture with parrots. Maggie drags her, Lucy and M’gann to the line.
Lucy is the most reluctant. “I still think birds are evil and out to kill us. Also look at their eyes. They’re planning something.”
M’gann, who’s known to be quite partial to birds, if her two pet lovebirds are anything to go by, snorts. “Lucy, please. They’re innocent and so adorable. Look at their faces!”
Their turn arrives soon enough and the four of them squeeze onto a bench. The zookeeper tells them to relax and she patiently directs the birds to perch on them. Alex, sitting on the left edge, gets a cockatoo on her left arm and a conure on her head. The bird on her arm is quite heavy but she manages. The picture is taken mid-smile and Alex has it framed later and she places it on her bedside table. Whenever she’s feeling down, even in the years to come, she looks at it, remembering that she has a family of friends that love and care for her.
When they see the snakes, Maggie is informed that they’re too late for the photo taking session and she pouts. Alex promises that they’ll come back one day just for that.
At the end of the day, they wind up at the souvenir store. Most of the stuff are overly priced and kind of useless which leads to a grumbling Maggie who heads to the toilet with M’gann. Alex quickly goes to the aisle with the stuffed toys. She picks up a stuffed tiger. It’s soft and fluffy and looks so innocent next to the actual tigers she watched today. She takes it anyway and pays for it with nearly all her saved pocket money. Mom might just kill her for this but she’ll do it if it means making Maggie happy.
Maggie’s eyes widen when Alex presents it to her and the full blown smile that shows on her face tell Alex that yes, it definitely was worth it. Maggie hugs it first, snuggling it to her neck and petting its head. Then she throws her arms around Alex, hugging her so tight that she has trouble breathing. “Thanks, Lex.”
Maggie names it Fang - “they have sharp teeth that will tear your flesh apart, Alex” - and snuggles it close to her every night.
**
She skips school on the second Friday of April in third grade.
Alex notes this down because it’s the first time she’s ever been absent.
She wakes up that morning feeling like someone is pressing the entire world onto her chest. She groans and her throat feels like there are a thousand tiny needles poking at it. She pushes herself out of bed, draping her quilt around her and looking for her mom.
Her mother takes one look at her and says, “You’re not going to school today.”
“But I need to get my homework.” Alex tries. “Ms Grant said she was teaching us a new topic today.”
“No buts.” Her mom insists. “I’m calling the school and letting them know you’re sick. Go back to sleep.”
Alex pouts but obeys. She hopes Maggie will get her the homework like Alex did for her when Maggie fell sick.
There’s a knock on her door that startles her the next morning. She’s relieved to find that her throat hurts much less and she no longer feels like she’s going to die. She takes a deep breath and mumbles, “Come in.”
“I brought you food.” It’s Maggie. With a giant grin on her face. She waves the container in her hand at Alex and jumps onto her bed. She scrunches her face. “And your homework.”
Alex whines. “You’re making the bed move too much.”
“Sorry.” Maggie doesn’t sound sorry. “Mama made you soup. She made it for me the last time I was sick and it made me feel okay again.”
“Tell her I said thank you.” Alex can smell the soup and it smells delicious. She takes the container from Maggie and the spoon in her hand. She opens the container and takes a spoonful of the soup. She moans. “It’s so good. I think I’m feeling better already.”
Maggie grins. “I know right.” She cuddles up close to Alex. “We should watch TV.”
“You’re going to fall sick if you sit so close to me.”
“No, I won’t. And if I do I have the magic soup.”
They spend the rest of the day watching cartoons. Maggie updates her on what she missed at school and they do their homework together.
Alex feels almost cured by the time the Sun goes down and Maggie has to leave.
When Maggie falls sick the next day, Alex says, “I told you so.”
She spends the whole day taking care of Maggie anyway.
**
For Maggie’s tenth birthday, her parents get her a puppy.
Alex is the first person to know because Maggie comes knocking on her door with a leash in her hand and the hugest grin that Alex has ever seen on her face. Her dimples are on full display and her eyes are shining at Alex. “His name is Charlie. Follow me for his first walk?”
“Give me a minute.” Alex runs to her room. She grabs Maggie’s carefully wrapped birthday present and tells her mom where she’s going, excitement bubbling in her chest.
Maggie is waiting for her outside and Charlie is sniffing the ground beneath them curiously, his tail swaying left and right. She watches for a minute as Maggie pats her dog’s head. Alex can’t help but notice the similarity in the both of them. They’re two giant balls of energy whose never ending excitement can be felt from miles away, always happy and looking for the chance to make someone laugh. She smiles. She knows she’s going to love this dog as much as she loves Maggie.
Alex runs to Maggie and envelops her best friend in a hug. “Happy birthday!” She hands the gift to Maggie. “Don’t open it now though. Let’s walk him first.”
They idly stroll through the neighbourhood, stopping every so often when Charlie decides to sniff anything he’s curious about. Alex feels as content as ever, just spending the day with the person who means the most in her life. She doesn’t think Maggie is someone she’ll ever lose. Maggie means the everything to her and without Maggie, Alex’s world would crumble beneath her feet.
Their path eventually takes them back to Maggie’s house and they leave Charlie with Mr Sawyer before heading to Maggie’s room. They climb onto Maggie’s bed and lay side by side on their stomachs.
“Open your present.” Alex prompts, pushing her nerves and insecurities aside. Maggie’s sure to like the present. She’d spent hours last week making it with her dad, ensuring that it was as flawless and special as possible. Maggie has to like it.
Maggie smirks and peels the wrapping off, discarding it beside her. She opens the lid and takes the rectangular shaped object out. Her eyes soften as she looks at it. “Wow, Alex, this is great.”
It’s a navy blue photo frame, with little white specks for stars sprinkled around and a moon painted in one corner. At the bottom corner, there’s a quote that her dad had helped her pick out. Any day spent with you is my favourite day. It’s from Winnie the Pooh, which Maggie loved when she was a toddler. The frame already has a picture and Alex smiles as she looks at it. Her dad took the picture a few months ago, when both their families had gone for a picnic. Maggie and Alex are lying on the ground, arms around each other, mid-laugh from a joke Mr Sawyer had cracked. They both look so happy and cheerful, nothing else on their minds but each other’s company. Alex has that day marked down as one of the best in her life.
“You like it?” Alex asks. “Dad helped me make it.”
“I love it.” Maggie pulls her into a tight, long hug. “It’s the best gift I’ve ever received.”
“Better than Charlie?”
“Duh.” Maggie grins. She places the frame on her bed stand.
Later, Alex realises the frame will be the first thing Maggie sees every morning. She smiles to herself and her stomach does a little flip.
**
Maggie and Alex are approximately twelve years old now and the thing about two girls that age is that it’s the ripe age of puberty. This brings them both into a lull of confusing hormone changes, rapid growing and, of course, the over looming doom and paranoia over the visit from Aunt Red. Well, at least it’s Alex who feels the latter. Everywhere she goes, she makes sure she has a bag of everything she’d need in the case of finally getting her period. She spends too much time on the internet researching symptoms and drowns herself in preparation. Mom tells her to not worry too much but it doesn’t really stop her at all. The emergency pack is always with her.
Maggie, on the other hand, frustrates Alex to no end with her little, or rather lack of care. She tells Maggie over and over again that she should be prepared but her best friend just shrugs and says. “It’ll come when it comes, Alex. No need to worry too much.”
In the end, it’s Maggie who gets it first. She spends that morning at school whining to Alex about a stomach ache and feeling weird. When offered to go to the nurse, Maggie refuses. Around lunch, she sees the small red spot at the back of Maggie’s pants and she quickly stands behind her, leading them to the bathroom, her emergency pack in hand.
She hands it to Maggie, who looks at it blankly, when they enter the bathroom and all but pushes her into the stall. Maggie comes out with a dazed look and Alex makes her drink some water. Then she makes sure Maggie eats as much as possible during lunch.
“Why are you stuffing me so much?”
“Cause you’ll need the energy.”
“You sound like my mom.”
“Just eat your food.”
Later when they go to Maggie’s house, Maggie flops onto her couch and lets out an overly dramatic groan that makes Alex roll her eyes but smile anyway. “This is worse than I thought.”
“I told you to prepare.” Alex teases. “Now you just have to live with it for the next 40 years or so.”
“Live with what?” It’s Mrs Sawyer. She walks into the room and places a kiss on Maggie’s head and hugs Alex warmly.
“Hi, Mrs Sawyer.” Alex smiles. Maggie’s mom is practically a second mom to her. “Maggie has some interesting news for you.”
She gives the same dimpled smile as her daughter. “What is it?”
“I got my period.” Maggie lifts her arms and covers her face. Not in embarrassment, no, the good thing about their families is that they don’t shy away from topics of this nature. “And it does not feel good.”
“You’re a woman now.” Mrs Sawyer teases, her eyes twinkling.
Maggie scoffs. “I don’t feel any different.”
Mrs Sawyer laughs and runs a hand through her daughter's hair. “Why don’t you go to your room and rest.” She turns to Alex. “And Alex you know you’re welcome to stay.”
Alex looks to Maggie who mouths “stay” to her, as if her mother wasn’t looking right at her face. “I’ll stay.”
They go up to Maggie’s room, where Alex is kind enough to bring her a heat pad that Mrs Sawyer gave her. Maggie accepts it and cuddles up with Fang.
“You’re lucky it’s a Friday and we have all weekend to laze around.”
“When you get yours I’m gonna laugh at you.”
She does. Maggie laughs at Alex when she calls her one Saturday morning a few months later, groaning about how terrible she feels. But she also comes to Alex’s house almost immediately with a heat pad and chocolate bar in one hand and DVDs of Alex’s favourite movies in the other.
**
They join their first science fair in middle school, specifically in 7th grade. Alex is brimming with excitement that Maggie fully reciprocates. They make an amazing lava lamp together, with the help of Dad, that fills them both with pride. It’s simple, easy and they have an amazing time at the fair.
“Dude, do you think we could win?” Maggie jumps excitedly, as the judges roll around the hall.
Alex grins at her. The judges had just inspected their project and they seemed pretty impressed, asking the both of them questions that they answered precisely and easily. “I dunno but I think we stand a pretty high chance.”
“They seemed to like theirs.” Maggie motions to the judges, opposite their table, inspecting M’gann and Lucy’s experiment on self-inflating balloons.
“They liked ours too.” Alex points out and Maggie nods. “Either way, we win the prize of having fun with it.”
They win. When the judges call out their names for first prize, they squeal and crash into a bone crushing hug. “We did it!” Alex says and Maggie repeats it back.
The trophy is almost too big for the both of them to hold but they still hold it and smile widely for the cameras. After that, Maggie and Alex win every science fair they join. There’s an entire shelf in each of their homes holding their prizes.
**
The summer holidays after 8th grade is spent with long days under the sun, with shorts and cute hats, and nights spent camping in a tent outside either of their homes, staring at the stars and learning the constellations.
“I think my favourite constellation is Delphinus.” Alex mentions one night, as the two of them lie on the grass, looking up into the vast night sky. There’s no cloud in sight and the stars are bright and twinkling. The full moon casts a pale glow on their faces and Alex feels like nothing could go wrong.
Maggie traces out the constellations with her finger and turns to look at Alex. “Why’s that?”
“Delphinus found Amphitrite for Poseidon and they fell in love, he put up the constellation to show his gratitude. I just think it’s a sweet story.” Alex explains.
“Do you want me to be your Delphinus? I can find you a sweet someone?” Maggie laughs at her, her eyes shining bright as the stars above them. “I’d be happy to as long as you make a constellation in my name too.”
“Shut up, Maggie.” Alex playfully smacks her shoulder.
In that moment, it dawns on Alex that Maggie is truly the most beautiful girl she has ever seen.
***
Lucy Lane is the daughter of Sam Lane, General of the United States Army, which leaves her with a lot of free time in her large empty house when her father is away on business. Her relationship with her big sister is rocky and when Alex sees them together she has a sudden urge to be Lucy’s big sister instead. Just so she can treat her better. She sees the disappointment in Lucy’s face every time Lois dismisses her.
Maggie, Alex, and M’gann spend many days of their summer holidays since grade seven at Lucy’s backyard. She has a large pool there that the girls find perfect for cooling off in the hot summer heat.
They sit on the sides, drinking cool fruit punches, talking about life and school. Alex loves being with them. It’s like her own little family.
**
Their parents surprise them the summer before seventh grade with a week-long camping trip.
They pack their bags that night while chatting erratically over the phone about the excitements of the coming week.
They share a tent together and spend the nights talking, barely getting a wink of sleep. Sometimes they look at the stars and the moon, pointing out constellations like they usually do and watching clouds pass over the moon. Sometimes, they simply wrap themselves in blankets, hiding out in their tent while they listen to the sound of the crickets singing and owls hooting.
In the daytime, they cloud gaze, go hiking and swim at the waterfall hidden a little into the woods, the water clear as the sky and the splashing of the waterfall their background music. In the water they splash at each other, laughing till their cheeks start to hurt.
Alex has the most wonderful time. They’re parents look on at them with smiles on their faces.
Dad teaches them how to start a fire and they sit around it, roasting marshmallows and living the dream. Their parents get buzzed over the wine and beer that they keep far away from the two girls and Maggie laughs as their parents dance under the moonlight, cheeks red and eyes lit.
It doesn’t take long for Maggie to pull Alex up and dance with her too. Maggie’s eyes shine bright as they dance around the campfire and Alex has never felt more full and happy in her life.
They settle down after dancing for what seemed like hours and sit around the fire once more. Mom preens. “I’m so happy you two found each other. I’ve never seen a friendship quite as pure as yours.”
Alex smiles and Maggie leans her head on Alex’s shoulder. “What can I say, Mrs Danvers, we’re a match made in heaven.”
Mr Sawyer laughs. “True that.” He looks to his wife. “Can you imagine them in the future, wreaking havoc. They’re gonna be one hell of a team.”
“Their husbands are probably gonna be jealous with how much time they spend together.”
Their parents laugh but Maggie pulls her head away from Alex’s shoulder and looks away from them, a slight frown on her face. It doesn’t go unnoticed by Alex. “You okay?”
Maggie nods but she gets up and stretches, her usual cocky smile returning, but a little less defined. “I’m tired. I’m gonna go to bed.”
“Me too.” Alex quickly says and their parents still don’t notice the sudden aura of discomfort Maggie gives. They hug their parents goodnight and head to their tent.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Alex asks because it’s not like Maggie to suddenly go quiet and retire to sleep.
“Just a little tired.” Maggie yawns but Alex knows her enough to know that it’s a fake one. She gives Maggie a pointed look and Maggie sighs. “I just don’t like thinking about our future husbands.”
“Why’s that?” Alex is genuinely curious. She hasn’t exactly given that topic much of a thought.
“I just don’t like the idea of being with some guy for the rest of my life.”
Alex is quiet for a moment, a million untraceable thoughts in her mind. “We’re thirteen, Maggie, we don’t need to think about this for now.”
“Yeah, I guess.” Maggie sounds defeated.
“If it’s any consolation, I don’t like the idea of getting married to some guy too. Seems like a boring life, doesn’t it?” Alex laughs. “We should just get married to each other.”
Maggie gives her a sad smile. “Yeah.” She sighs and Alex thinks she may have crossed a line. “I really am tired though. Night.” She turns her back to Alex.
“Night.” Alex goes to sleep that night with a million more untraceable thoughts in her head.
When she wakes up, Maggie is next to her again and they spend the rest of the holidays as if the previous night’s discussion never occurred. Alex even forgets the entire conversation after some time.