"No, Isabelle, for God's sake, no!"
I was arguing with my little sister, Isabelle, about something stupid. She wanted me to go to the Pandemonium club. I said I didn't want to. She said I needed to meet people. I said I didn't like people. She said I was an antisocial idiot. I said she was a social idiot. The argument kept going around in circles, until finally:
"FINE! If it makes you sooo happy, I'll go to the stupid club! But I'm not letting you choose what I wear."
I knew that if she did choose, I would end up wearing something way too dressy. I usually just liked to wear black faded tracksuits and a black t-shirt. But Izzy was having none of it.
"Alexander Lightwood, you will wear what I tell you to." She advanced on me, her teetering heels giving her extra height. We stood staring at each other, fuming, until I couldn't stand it.
"Fine." This time I was resigned rather than angry. "But please, nothing too…" I trailed off at the evil grin Izzy was giving me.
Forty-five minutes later Izzy, Simon, Jace, Clary and I were being admitted into the Pandemonium club. I was dressed in a blue button down shirt, tighter than what I was used to, and skinny jeans. Despite her implications, Izzy had taken mercy on me and not made me wear anything too outrageous.
As we entered the club we passed right by a massive speaker and the blaring noise almost deafened me. I clapped my hands over my ears until we had passed by. The music was still unbearably loud, but not so loud that I had to cover my ears. I turned to Izzy.
"I'm going over to the bar!" I yelled.
"Okay!" She shouted back, "Go meet someone!"
I blushed. Izzy knew about me being gay, and also having a deep crush on Jace; she was determined for me to get a boyfriend.
I wandered over to the bar tucked into the corner, where you could almost talk normally and still be heard. I leaned on the counter and asked for a coke.
"Sorry, this ain't the pace to get drugs, mate." Answered the bartender apologetically.
I was stunned for a minute, then I realised he thought I meant cocaine. I shuddered.
"No, I-"
"Some people don't live for cocaine, Bruce," purred a voice from behind me. I turned around and became face-to-face with a pair of green-and-gold cat eyes. Warlock, I thought. All my instincts screamed at me to move away from him, but I just couldn't. I could feel his breath washing over my face and I was intoxicated. Then he spoke.
"By the Angel. Hell-oo Gorgeous!"
This snapped me out of my trance. I stepped back half a step, and took in the rest of his appearance. He was wearing, from what I could see in the dark room, a skin-tight sparkly jacket and multi-coloured sparkly skinny jeans, not to mention the fact that his eyes were outlined in a thick layer of sparkly eyeliner and his hair was gelled up into sparkly spikes. Even his very skin seemed to shimmer. And, although I hated myself for admitting it, this guy was hot.
"How about I buy you that drink?" He winked at me.
"Um, thanks." I swallowed and looked down, my face completely red. I saw the drink slide towards me, and I was grateful. I needed something to distract me from this guy.
"Well, now, Handsome, I can't very well see your face if you keep it down there, can I?"
I reluctantly lifted me face to him. He smiled a slow, sexy smile.
"That's better." He purred. I shivered.
"Cold, are you?" Cold? How could I be cold in here? But I knew it was an excuse, because he started trailing his fingertips up and down my bare arm. It tingled wherever he touched it.
The Bartender spoke.
"Oi, lay off 'im, Magnus, mate, he's gunna hyperventilate in a minute!"
I turned around and glared at him. I will not be reduced to hyperventilation just because of a Warlock. But a little voice in my head said, but he's not "just a Warlock". Is he? I shut that voice up.
"I am not." I growled at Bruce.
"God, you're sexy when you growl." Magnus muttered. I was about to retort when a loud voice made me jump.
"Magnus Bane, are you trying to seduce my brother?" It was Izzy. I noticed Magnus's hand still on my arm and stepped backwards.
"Ah, but how could I resist?" Said Magnus with a raised eyebrow. Izzy rolled her eyes.
"Come on," she said to me, "we're leaving now."
"'Kay." I answered, but as I started to walk away, Magnus caught my arm.
"You haven't told me your name."
I turned, but stopped when I realised he was about an inch away from me, I was unable to form words.
"Uhhhh-"
"Never mind. I'll just have to call you "the Hot One"." Magnus winked.
I think I would have just stayed there for the whole night, staring, if Izzy hadn't pulled my arm and said with a barely stifled laugh, "Come on."
I was just walking out with Jace, Clary, Izzy and Simon when I heard Magnus again.
"Hey! The Hot One!"
I winced at his nickname for me and slowly turned around.
"Not you." Magnus said with disgust, looking at Jace, to my left, who seemed to think the nickname was for him.
"Him," Magnus pointed to me, "The one with the blue eyes." He winked again. "Call me." And with that, he flicked his hand and, in sparkly bright pink writing, a phone number wrote itself on my arm. He chuckled at my stunned expression, turned, and melted back onto the crowd of people.
I thought I might die of embarrassment, but at the same time, I was secretly pleased that Magnus had chosen me above Jace, who usually received all of the attention.
When we were outside, Jace turned to me.
"So. What's with you and Magnus Bane, eh?" He grinned. I looked down, feeling my face heat up.
"Nothing." I mumbled. He rolled his eyes.
"Well it was obviously something… did he kiss you?"
I turned, mortified.
"No! Of course not! How could you- why would you even-"
"Alright, alright, I was just asking!" Jace held his hands up in defeat. I sighed.
"I'm going back to the Institute." I muttered. To call Magnus, said a little voice in my head.
NO, I growled back. In my head. But that only made me think of Magnus's comment about how he thought I was sexy when I growled…Stop it, Alec. Seriously. I'm reduced to arguing with myself.
When I arrived back at the Institute I flopped straight down onto my bed and stared at the number on my arm. Thinking.
I woke up two hours later.
I didn't even realise I'd fallen asleep until I noticed there was no light coming in through the window. I groaned and rolled my head over, only to see a sparkle of glitter in the darkness.
I jumped back, thinking Magnus had sneaked in here whilst I was asleep, but then I realised it was just the number on my arm. I stared at it for about thirty seconds before making up my mind.
A minute later I was lying back down on my bed, phone in hand, listening to it ringing. It picked up on the sixth ring.
"Whoever this is, it had better be important." Came Magnus's voice, rough from sleep.
"Um, it's me. You met me at the Pandemonium club last night….yesterday."
There was silence then-
"You had better be the Hot One."
"Um. I think so?"
I could almost hear his grin.
"Are you blushing right now? You are so blushing right now."
"N-no," I stuttered.
"Oh, you are such a terrible liar…" He trailed off. "You never did tell me your name."
"Oh. It's, um, Alec. Well. Alexander. But no one calls me that."
"Well, then, Alexander…" But he stopped at the strangled breath I had just taken.
"Are you quite alright?" I had no idea what had just come over me. I don't know why, I just…liked it when he said my name. I didn't know why. I just did. Well, more than liked it.
When I didn't answer, Magnus asked again.
"Tell me, Alexander."
I groaned. "There it is again."
"There is what again?" Magnus's voice was amusement bordering on exasperation.
"I just…I just like it when you say my name." I said in a rush, and then blushed furiously. Magus took a while to answer.
"Well…Alexander…Why don't you come over?"
It took me a moment to process what he had just said.
"You want me to come over…now?"
"Why not, Darling?"
"Well, it is two thirty in the morning."
Darling darling darling darling darling darling darling darling.
"Actually it's two thirty three." Magnus teased.
I rolled my eyes.
"Even worse!" But I was laughing.
"Don't make me come over there, Alexander." He purred. I groaned. I could hear his quiet laughter on the other end of the line.
"I'm getting my stuff ready. I'm dressed. I'm at the door. I'm-"
"Alright, fine I'll come over!" I giggled uncontrollably like a little girl but I didn't care. Then after a moment, "You're not even dressed, are you, Magnus?"
"Nope," was his reply.
I rolled my eyes again, but only said: "See you in fifteen minutes."
"Goodbye, sexy." The line went dead.
