Alec was staring at his phone. His sister had left after breakfast to go see Marvin or whatever his name was. His parents wouldn't be home until the evening and his little brother Max was upstairs in his room. It was now or never.

Why was typing a single sentence suddenly so hard? Hi remember me the guy you undressed with your eyes. Or hey I'm the guy who stared at you until he was almost drooling. How about hi this is the random guy whose arm you drew on.

Alec took a deep breath and typed a single word, hello. He hit send. There that was simple enough. There is no way hello could be embarrassing.

The second after Alec hit send, he panicked. What if Magnus had forgotten him? What if he didn't respond? What if he didn't realize who had texted him and just ignored the text? Could Alec text him again or was that not allowed? How long should he wait before texting again? If by some miracle Magnus answered what would Alec say?

Alec was pacing back and forth in his hallway trying to lower his heart rate when suddenly he froze. His phone had gone off. Alec whipped the phone up to stare at the screen. His heart sank. It was Jace.

Alec sighed and texted back. Jace wanted to meet up and hang out. Probably talk about Clary the whole time. Alec decided it was better than panicking about Magnus textinging him.

When Jace arrived he looked rather worried but also kind of excited. Alec had never seen Jace like this before.

"When are your parents home?" Jace asked as they sat in the living room sharing a bag of chips between them.

"This evening," Alec said. "Why?"

"No reason," Jace said. "It's just that maybe your mom will cook."

"You know," Alec said. "You could learn to cook."

"Sure," Jace said waving his hand as if to say I'll get around to it. Alec knew he wouldn't.

"So you know Clary's mom is out of town right?" Jace said. Alec nodded not really sure that Jace was getting at. "And her sort of a step dad doesn't live with her." Alec nodded again. He knew all of this because he had already endured hours of Jace talking about nothing but this silly redhead girl. "And she never really knew her dad so I am off the hook there but from the sounds of it her mom is basically as bad as…"

"Get to the point," Alec said.

"How can I make her mom like me?" Jace asked. Alec rolled his eyes.

"Don't be yourself," Alec said.

"What's wrong with me?" Jace said. Alec gave him a look.

"Mother don't like their daughters dating guys who have dated as many girls as you. You are what they call a player."

"So don't be me?" Jace paused. "How do I do that?"

"Be nice?"

"Oh thanks," Jace said sarcastically. "Thats a great help."

"What is it about this girl anyway?" Alec said. "You have known her all of a few weeks and already you want to make nice with her mom?"

"I know I know!" Jace said. "It's just… I don't know. She is different."

"If you say so," Alec said. "How was babysitting sherwin last night anyway?"

"Fine," Jace said. "You know my mom doesn't notice anything. He just slept on the couch. No big deal."

"Still you didn't even hesitate to say yes," Alec said. "You were grinning about it actually."

"Clary loves her friend," Jace said. "She would do anything for him. If I thought she had feeling for him I would probably hate the guy but she doesn't."

"He has feeling for her don't doubt it," Alec said.

"That doesn't matter," Jace said.

"What if she thinks about him differently when she finds out?" Alec said. "Cause from what I have seen Clary has no clue."

"You used her name," Jace said, smiling. "That's the first time you know."

"Really?"

"Yeah," Jace said. "You kept calling her redhead."

"Oh," Alec said. "Sorry thought I only called her that in my head." He sniggered.

"Why don't you like her anyway?" Jace said.

"I-" Alec froze.

"She's so fiery," Jace said. "And smart. Beautiful too. I don't understand why you always shun her. She's never done anything to you."

Except capture your attention like I never could Alec thought.

"No reason really," Alec lied. "Just a feeling."

"Well you need to get over it," Jace said. "I can't have my future wife and my best friend not getting along." Alec almost choked on his chip.

"Your what!"

"Future wife," Jace said.

"Jace you are sixteen," Alec said. "Aren't you a little young to be engaged."

"Oh she doesn't know she is my future wife," Jace said. "I am not crazy you know."

"Clearly," Alec said getting up and heading into the kitchen for a glass of water. Alec could still feel the potato chip lodged in his throat and he took a big gulp of water before heading back into back into the living room.

"I don't see other girls anymore," Jace said, seriously when Alec returned with his water. "I know she's the one."

"She only got transfered into our school three weeks ago?" Alec said. "I think maybe you might be crazy."

"So," Jace said, trying to change the topic. "Have you called that girl yet?"

"What girl?" Alec asked without thinking.

"The one who wrote her number on your arm?"

"Oh right," Alec said. "I texted. But no answer."

"You have to call," Jace said, with a teasing tone. "That way she knows you are serious."

"But we met yesterday," Alec said still avoiding pronouns. "Isn't that clingy?"

"Kinda," Jace said. "But at least she knows you are interested."

"I guess," Alec said.

"School tomorrow," Jace complained. "I hate mondays."

"The years almost over though," Alec said.

"Yeah but then there is next year," Jace sighed. "Not for you though you lucky graduate."

"Almost graduate," Alec said. "I am still in grade 12 for a few more weeks."

"Yeah but then you are free," Jace said. "Free to never return to the concrete walls and horrible cafeteria food that is high school."

"Not sure if that really means freedom but okay," Alec said. They heard footsteps coming down the stairs and turned to see Max.

"Jace!" Max said running over to give Jace a hug. It had been Alec who brought Jace into the family so to speak it and Alec was happy when Jace acted at home here. Like when he just opened the fridge and started eating whatever he wanted like a resident rather than a guest. Alec always wanted Jace to be a part of his world but sometimes it bothered Alec how close to his family Jace was. Max looked up at Jace like he was a hero or something and it made Alec jealous. Why didn't his little brother look at him like that? Just because Jace was the best athlete at their school and every girl in the school was in love with him didn't mean Max had to be enamored with him too.

"How are you buddy?" Jace asked.

"Great," Max said. "I am almost finished at my school then I get to go to the same one as you!" For instance why couldn't Max be excited to go to the same school as Alec his actual brother rather than Jace? It wasn't fair.

"That's great Max," Jace said. "Can't wait to have you there." Max beamed.

Suddenly the door banged open and Alec's enraged sister stormed in without a word and sat fuming on the chair across from them.

"What happened?" Alec said.

"Don't wake the beast," Jace whispered. Izzy glared at him.

"I broke up with Mitchell," Izzy said.

"Really?" Jace said. "Cause from your face I am pretty sure he broke up with you." If looks could kill Jace would have been nothing but ash.

"Jace," Alec said gently. "Remember what we talked about before? Cause this would be a great opportunity for you to not be you."

"Nah," Jace said. "I am not worried about Izzy liking me."

"Oh is that so!" Izzy said. She picked up the small blanket on the chair and whipped it at him with rather impressive skill Alec thought.

"Okay okay!" Jace said. "I care if you don't like me. Just stop hitting me!"

"Humph," Izzy said then stomped off up the stairs.

"Poor Iz," Jace said. "I hear it sucks getting dumped."

"Oh really?" Alec said. "So no girl has ever dumped you then?"

"Never," Jace said. "I mean why would they?" He gestured to himself. Alec rolled his eyes and then tensed at the awed look Jace was getting from Max.

"Wow," Max said.

"Max," Alec said, secretly hoping Clary dumped Jace tomorrow. Not that they were dating technically speaking. "Don't you have homework to do or something?"

"Oh Jace!" Max said quickly not even looking at Alec. "Can you help me with my homework?"

"Sure buddy," Jace said and he let himself be lead out of the room not even glancing behind him. Sometimes Alec wished he had just kept Jace to himself instead of sharing him with his whole family. But as Alec watched the happy smile on Jace's face he took it all back. Alec was glad Jace was basically family. Everyone needed a family and if Jace didn't have one of his own Alec would share even if sometimes it made him grumpy.

Alec smiled to himself as he checked his phone out of habit. He had totally forgetting how anxious he had been about his text to Magnus until he saw that Magnus had replied. The reply read 'Hello who?'

What should he say? They hadn't exchanged named yesterday so he couldn't very well say hi this is Alec Lightwood nice to meet you. Alec took a deep breath then held his fingers over the screen of his phone waiting for something to come to him. But his mind was blank. So very blank. In fact Alec wasn't even sure he had ever formed words into sentences before.

His phone binged again and a new message appeared. 'Is this blue eyes?' the message said. Alec sighed in relief. Magnus did remember him. Well his eyes anyway but it was a start. Alec typed back just one word, 'yes'. One a few seconds later the app on his phone light up with Magnus's reply.

'Are you a fairy or something that can only say one word at a time? What do I have to do to get more words out of you? Is magic required?'

Alec laughed out loud in his living room then quickly stifled the sound so Max and Jace wouldn't hear from where they sat in the dining room presumably doing Max's homework. Alec walked quickly up the stairs and locked himself in his room.

'I can type more than one word at a time.' Alec's fingers were shaking slightly as he held his phone.

'That's good to know. So tell me blue eyes. Why were you at the party?'

'My friend's girlfriend dragged him and he dragged me.'

'I see. Shame you left so soon.'

'Parties aren't really my thing.'

'That's too bad. With looks like yours, you would be a hit at any party.'

Alec couldn't help but blush bright red and was very grateful he was alone in his room.

'It was just the lighting. I am nothing special. Promise.'

'Have you never looked in a minor?'

'That's a weird question. Hasn't everyone?'

'Then I don't understand how you can see yourself so inaccurately.'

Alec felt his blush intensified. His fingers hovered over the keys not sure what to say next. They had been replying so fast Magnus must have noticed Alec's hesitation.

'We can talk about something else if you like,' Magnus typed. 'Don't go back to one word answers just because you are being flirted with. It rather defeats the purpose, darling.'

'Darling?' Alec couldn't help asking.

'I call everyone darling so stop freaking out.'

'I'm not freaking out.' But he was. No one had ever called him darling before.

'Yes you are. I can tell.'

'How? You saw me for like a minute.'

'Am I wrong?'

'No.' Alec admitted. He could almost imagine the smirk on Magnus's face as he read the one word answer.

'Why were you at the party?' Alec asked trying to change the topic.

'A old friend of mine throw it. It was a bit lame though for a Saturday night.'

'Why specifically a Saturday?'

'Parties are always best on Fridays or Saturdays.'

'I didn't know that.'

'Well now you do.'

Alec started at the phone. The conversation had hit a natural end and he had no idea how to start it up again. He was however surprised just how much he wanted to start it up again.

'Does your friend throw a lot of parties?' Alec texted.

'Sure. I would throw parties myself but my flatmates wouldn't like it.'

'Flatmates?'

'Like roommates only English.'

'Are you from England?'

'No but my flatmate Ragnor is. He always calls us his flatmates so I started doing it too.'

'Why don't your flatmates want you to throw parties?'

'The noise mostly.'

'That party yesterday was rather loud.'

'The DJ was lame. They are supposed to be louder.'

'Wow really?"

'Yep.'

'I didn't think the party was lame.'

'Parties aren't your thing remember?'

'Yeah. What school do you go to?'

'None.'

'I am graduating in a few weeks. When did you graduate?'

'Oh no Blue eyes. You will not get my age out of me that easily.'

'Sensitive about your age huh? Must be pretty old.' Alec had already hit send before he realize what he had said. Calling Magnus old, oh no! Alec had almost convinced himself Magnus would never talk to him again when his phone received a text.

'I am ancient actually. Far too old for you. Guess we shall have to call this whole thing off. ;)'

'What's ;)'

'Have you really never seen an emoji before? It's a winky face. It means I was joking.'

'Oh so you don't want to call this whole thing off?'

'Nope. I am quite enjoying myself.'

'Really?'

'Yes.' Alec was beaming down at his phone. Suddenly very sure it was his favourite object in the universe.

'Blue eyes may I ask your name?'

'Oh sorry! Alec.'

'Alexander.'

'No Alec.'

'I like Alexander better.'

'Only my parents call me that.'

'But we have already established I am ancient remember?'

'I hope you are joking again.'

'I am.'

'Good.'

'You are not used to being teased are you?'

'No.'

'^_^'

'What is that?'

'Sigh.'

'Are you really texting sigh at me?'

'Yes.'

'Why?'

'Because you are so silly.'

'I am not the one texting random punctuation that happens to look like faces.'

'Exactly.'

'You lost me.'

'I bet you always follow the rules don't you.'

'Isn't that what they are there for?'

'Not in my experience.'

Alec suddenly found himself very curious about Magnus's experience with rule breaking. In fact he was very curious about everything to do with Magnus.

'If you're not in school what do you do?'

'I think it's my turn to ask a question.'

'No. I answered yours already.'

'My job is boring. Trust me. You are fair more interesting.'

'Then tell me something else about yourself.'

'No siblings. Only child.'

'What's that like?'

'I don't really have anything to compare it to so normal I guess. Was that your sister I saw at the party?'

'Yes.'

'Any other siblings?'

'Little brother.'

'So Alexander, are you always this much of a tease or do you just not like me?'

'What?'

'You are supposed to ask me out.'

'Why me?'

'Because I gave you my number so you have to do the asking.'

'You skipped a step. You gave me your number and then I texted you so it's your turn again.'

'Doesn't work that way.'

'I thought you didn't like rules?'

'I thought you did?'

'That sounds like a made up rule to me.'

'Guilty.'

Alec's fingers hovered over the keys. Could he ask Magnus out. It seemed like Magnus wasn't opposed to the idea but what if Magnus said no. Alec took a deep breath and typed.

'Do you wanna get coffee sometime?'

'I'd love to.'

Alec stared down at the three words. Never before had he realized how amazing those words were when placed in that order.

Beta read by Rosycat