"Magnus, you need to stop!" Magnus Chase froze. He didn't like being yelled at, but he especially didn't like being yelled at by his crush, Alex Fierro.

"Um, what?" He replied, unintelligently. He really didn't know what he had been doing wrong.

"You need to stop staring at me, it's getting kinda creepy!" Oh right. That. Magnus never realised when he was staring, but Alex was so handsome that he couldn't help it. Especially when in battle. He was so graceful, but so fierce, not getting a scratch, and doling out plenty of punishment on the people who tried to harm him. Magnus didn't understand how he was so good, and how he was even friends with a loser like him.

"Magnus!" Alex was yelling at him again. They were in the middle of the daily battle, and somehow Magnus had managed to survive, even though all his friends from Floor 19, besides Alex, had already died.

"Sorry, I just zoned out." He knew it was a weak excuse, so he made sure to look sheepish as well. How did Alex not realise how big his crush on him was. Magnus really didn't care whether Alex was male or female, he just liked him for who he was. He was smart, witty, mischievous and fierce, but he also had a soft side, caring and considerate, listening to Magnus' problems (though sometimes making snarky remarks about smaller things, though he would never do it to upset him) and being comforting. Magnus was in deep, and there was no way he was getting out. He has been crushing too hard.

"Oh my gods Magnus, I'm done here, if you aren't going to stop staring then I'm leaving." She turned and walked away. Wait, she? Magnus followed.

"Alex, wait, I'm sorry, please forgive me, I'm a worthless human being."

"Damn right you are." But she was smiling now, though it was more of a smirk.

"You're female now aren't you?" That morning, like most mornings, Alex had told them all her pronouns 'he/him.' Alex laughed, and Magnus was glad she was happy again.

"How do you always know Maggie?" She stopped laughing and looked at him intensely. Magnus didn't know what to do. She was scaring him, this time not because she was angry, but because she looked…hurt? Why was that?

"Have you been spying on me Magnus?"

"What, no! I would never do that! I respect your privacy, definitely more than the others do."

"And why's that?" The intensity of her stare made him take a step back.

"Because you're my friend, and they're basically barbarians." There was that laugh again. To Magnus it was intoxicating, better than any drug.

"Aww thanks Maggie!" Magnus hated that nickname, but from Alex he could tolerate it (secretly he liked being called it, but only by her). "Now let's get back into this!"

They both died shortly after that, Magnus first of course. When he woke up in his room about two hours later he looked up to see Alex standing there.

"You're cute when you sleep Maggie." Magnus' heart skipped about a thousand beats. He blushed heavily, and tried to hide it with a yawn.

"Now quick, get up, or you'll be late to dinner." And then she turned and walked out, leaving him to slowly die from his crush.

When Magnus finally got down to Dinner, the hall was busy with Valkyries flying everywhere, occasionally dodging a piece of food some einherji had thrown across the length of the room. Magnus' friends had saved him a seat, which he was grateful for, but it was next to Alex, which was slightly worrying for his health. Magnus grabbed a plate of food and walked over to his friends. He sat down next to Alex, careful not to stare at her. She was dressed in a pink and green flannel shirt, green jeans, rose gold high tops and a pink jumper. Magnus thought she looked very pretty, but he would never tell her that while their friends were around, and also from fear of decapitation. Dinner started off just how it normally did, Mallory and Halfborn joking around, fake arguing and kissing, and Magnus making conversation with T.J. and Alex. Then about halfway through the meal Alex turned and looked at Magnus. No, not looked, stared. Magnus began to realise how Alex must have felt about the staring, because it was creeping him out.

"Uh Alex, are you ok?" He asked gingerly, worried about angering Alex. But Alex just kept staring.

"O..k…" Magnus said, inching away from Alex in his chair.

"Oh Magnus, am I scaring you?" Alex asked with an evil grin. Magnus was scared. He studied Alex's face for any sign of something being wrong, but he thought he almost detected a look of…knowing. Sort of like Alex was flirting with him. No, that can't be it, he thought, Alex doesn't like me, he's made that clear enough. But Magnus was getting flustered and confused, and didn't know what to do. The only properly formed thought going through Magnus' head was he's male now. Because he was, and only Magnus had picked it up. Halfborn stood up and spoke.

"Ok guys, Mallory and I are off, we'll see you for breakfast tomorrow." He did a little wave and the two walked off towards the elevator.

"I'm off too guys, I want to do some training before the fight tomorrow. Remember, tomorrow is Thursday and you know what that means." Thursday. Lindworm day. No one likes Lindworm day.

"Magnus, there's something I have to do in Boston tomorrow, do you think you could come with me?" Alex was looking slightly embarrassed, looking down and blushing lightly.

"Sure Alex, if you need someone with you then I'm your guy." Magnus didn't know what Alex wanted to do in Boston, but from his expression it seemed like it was something personal, so Magnus kept quiet, knowing that Alex would tell him in due time.

"Thanks Magnus, you're such a good friend." And with that, Alex got up and went to bed.