Here's the new chapter. I really hope you like it! I would love to hear what you think of the story so far ;) I know we haven't seen much, but I think it's pretty clear what kind of relationship these two have. Anyway, I'll try to upload CH3 tomorrow. Perhaps if all goes well and life doesn't get in the way, I'll post one chapter per day...we'll see.

Chapter 2

A couple of days later, Alec was trying to read some book while waiting for his next class. He was sitting under a tree, enjoying the amazing October weather. Autumn was his favorite season of them all and not because of Halloween as everybody might think, but because it was the best time of the year to just chill and enjoy the city in all its glory. It was not too hot, nor too cold, so you could just walk around the streets crushing leaves while enjoying all the reds and oranges that covered every corner of the big old city.

Alec was so lost in his book that he didn't even notice when a very pretty girl sat next to him. She had sun-kissed hair with bright blue eyes and a lovely smile.

"You know? People say that it's good to read a good book every day, but you follow that advice almost to the letter. Every time I see you, you're reading something new." She exclaimed.

"Hi, Lydia." Alec said with a smile.

Lydia was one of the few friends Alec had made so far. They had met during their first week and he had liked her almost immediately. She was a Law student and although they didn't share any classes, they had clicked almost immediately. She was so much like him—organized, responsible, dedicated. It was hard to find people like that nowadays. People their age were just so stupid. They didn't realize how lucky they were to be getting a college education, so they partied to their heart's content without thinking too much about the consequences. 'You only live once' It was the excuse they used—a concept that Alec simply couldn't understand.

"What are you reading now?" She asked intrigued. "Is it for some class or something?"

"No, actually it's not. My little brother sent me this one. I used to read him at night since he was little, so I guess he thought I would like to read this book." Alec said with a smile.

That was something he only shared with his little brother, they both loved to read. They had very different tastes, but it was only natural, Alec was almost ten years older than Max. While Alec enjoyed a good novel, Max loved everything that had to do with fantasy, magic and knights.

"It's a fantasy story, so it's not really my cup of tea, but I couldn't not read it. I mean, he sent it to me." Alec explained.

Lydia picked up the book to see the cover. "Dragons?" She asked, quirking a brow.

"More like dragon riders, elves and knights in shining armor."

Lydia laughed. "Aww, that's so sweet."

"It is…" Alec nodded, "and the book is actually pretty good, I'm liking it so far. I may even go get the other books, I think it's a series."

"Let me know if they are worth the try, but anyway...how have you been?"

"Good, and you? Where have you been these past days, huh? I sent you a text and you never replied."

"I got a job," Lydia shared, "I got this position as an intern in this new firm."

"Really? That's incredible, I'm glad for you. You're going to get a lot of experience, and you know what Einstein said about it,'the only source of knowledge is experience.'"

Lydia laughed. "You and your random quotes, but you're right. And so far it's been amazing, although my boss is crazy...she's what my teachers would call a law-maniac."

"Really?"

"Yes, you should see her…'the law says this, the law says that.' 'According to the law, it is impossible to prepare a defense under those grounds.' She drives me crazy. If she tells me one more time that 'the law is hard, but it is the law,' I'm gonna punch her in the face."

Alec laughed.

"But never mind my crazy, obsessed boss, tell me about you...how's college life treating you so far?"

"Well, I can't complain, I like it. My lessons are great and I love all the stuff that I'm learning. It's been pretty great so far, I kind of feel that-"

Alec was saying when out of nowhere Magnus and two of his friends, that girl named Camille and Ragnor or whatever, passed right beside them. They were laughing loudly and throwing leaves at each other.

"Do you mind?" Alec said, when a bunch of leaves flew in his direction and landed on top of his head.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," The guy, Ragnor, said, "we didn't see you there."

"Clearly." Alec muttered bitterly.

Lydia was helping him brush the leaves off from his hair and clothes.

"Is that your girlfriend, Lightwood?" Camille asked. "I have to admit it, I didn't think you had it in you. I'm impressed."

"Why do you care? My life is none of your business." Alec replied, sending her a killing look.

Alec didn't like Camille. He didn't like her one single bit. He had met her two or three weeks after classes had started. Magnus had taken her to their room and since then, she had been a constant presence there. Alec couldn't care less about her, the problem was that every time she was somewhere near Alec, she tried to antagonize him. It was as if she had some sort of personal dispute with him. And that was something Alec couldn't understand because he didn't even know her that much.

"Let him be, Camille." Magnus said.

"Are you seriously defending him right now?" She questioned him.

"No, I'm not. I don't think Alexander needs someone to defend him, I'm sure he can do that on his own. I'm just simply trying to bring some peace here...why are you always trying to pick up a fight with him? Can't we just go to where we were going and forget that this incident with the leaves happened?"

Alec saw Camille rolling her eyes.

"Fine." She muttered, turning around as if to leave.

Alec sighed in relief, but he celebrated too soon because just when they were leaving Camille turned around and directed her venom now against Lydia. "Sweetie...if you really are dating him, then I feel sorry for you. It must be really hard to be with a man like him. I mean, he's somehow cute and all, but he's so-"

"Camille, that's enough!" Magnus snapped, practically dragging her with him and disappearing from view almost immediately.

"My apologies again for the leaves." Ragnor said, making a quick bow and running to catch up with his friends who were now a long distance ahead.

"So that's Magnus's famous squad." Lydia said.

Alec nodded. "They were missing a few of its members, though. It's worse when they all are together." Alec sighed.

Magnus's squad was pretty exclusive. Magnus was a popular man, so naturally, everyone wanted to be his friend, but the admission to the Bane circle was quite limited. Alec had counted only seven members, plus Magnus: Tessa, Catarina, Camille, Will, Jem, Ragnor and Raphael. They always hung out together.

Alec knew a thing or two about the group thanks to his relative closeness to the 'founding father.' Ragnor and Raphael were kind of a couple, or at least the acted very coupley around each other. Will and Jem were attached to the hip, but they were not really a couple, they both looked quite smitten around Tessa, who along with Catarina were the nicest of the group. Camille was, well, Camille, and Magnus…Magnus.

"Why does she hate you so much?" Lydia asked intrigued.

"I don't have a clue," Alec confessed, "ever since I met her she has treated me like that. I don't know what's her deal with me, and to be honest I don't care, but there are days when she really gets on my nerves. I can't stand her."

"Well, she looks like the kind of girl who can be quite annoying. But anyway, at least Magnus defended you this time, right? I mean, if you call what he said a defense."

Alec laughed. "He was just trying to stop his girlfriend from making a scene. That would have tainted his perfect reputation."

"Is he really dating her?" Lydia asked.

"I guess?" Alec shrugged. "They are together like all the time."

"I don't like her for him." Lydia said.

Lydia and Magnus knew each other since they were kids because their families had been friends for years. They were not close at all. In fact, Lydia barely talked about Magnus. Alec had only heard the story about them knowing each other for years because the first time Alec invited Lydia to his room Magnus had been there and he had greeted her with a lot of familiarity. Apparently, both their great-grandparents had been best friends or something.

"I'm not that close to him, but I know he's a good man. He deserves someone better than her."

"If you say so…" Alec said, trying to sound uninterested, "I have to go...my next class starts in five."

"Okay...then I guess I'll see you around some day."

"Sure...see you around. Bye, Lydia."

"Bye."