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Chapter Three: Complicated Conflicts

Alec Pov- I opened my eyes looking around my bedroom wondering how I even got there in the first place. After I left Michael Wayland I used the money he gave me to score some coke. I went into an ally and injected it into my arm. Then I went to a bar and drank myself into blackness.

I knew mixing drugs and alcohol wasn't the best idea but I really needed to stop thinking about my father and what he thought of his best friend. Now somehow I was in my room laying in my bed safe and sound. "Did I manage to walk home" I asked myself turning around to face the wall. The moment I finished turning my face was inches away from a sleeping Magnus.

I screamed quickly sitting up and falling off my bed hitting the floor hard. Magnus sat up quickly from hearing the loud crash and he looked around before looking down at me. "Alec why are you on the floor?" I sat up glaring at him "Why are you in my bed?"

He sighed running his hand through his messy hair. "You came home completely high as fuck, and you kept screaming at me before breaking down crying. I had to call your brother just to have you calm down." I flinched before getting on the bed "You called Jace!?"

He rolled his eyes "I didn't know who to call or how to help you so I called him. I gave you the phone and you just kept telling him how much you love him and your sister." I shook my head "I didn't want him to ever hear me when I was like that." Magnus just shrugged "maybe you shouldn't be like that at all. Watching you last night was painful Alexander."

I glared at him "Who cares what you think? You don't know what I go through so you can just stay out of it." Magnus frowned thinking before reaching over and grabbing my hand "I do care Alec, last night you told me that you don't want to die alone. If you keep doing what you're doing then you will die alone and I don't want that for you."

I met his eyes watching them intensely "I said that to you?" He nodded "You really did." I watched him a little longer wondering what to say to that but I was saved by the doorbell ringing. Magnus blinked looking out my bedroom door "You have a doorbell?"

I nodded standing up "I forgot about it since everyone I know usually just walks into my home." I walked out of the room going to the door and when I answered it I was struck frozen seeing the face of my brother Jace. "Jace! What are you doing here?"

He shrugged coming inside "You told me not to come but I didn't listen." "How did you even find out where I live?" he looked around my apartment with disapproval "That's an interesting story actually. I asked a guy on the street where I could find Alec Lightwood and he directed me to this shady brothel."

I frowned "He did?" He nodded "So I asked the owner where I could find you and she said it was your day off. She gave me your address without even knowing who I was, I could have been a creep she didn't care. Before I left she told me that you would like a pretty boy like me and we would, and I quote 'Have a lot of hot fun together'. Care to tell me why she got that impression?"

"Um… want some lemonade?" "You don't have lemonade" Magnus mumbled and I sent him a death glare. "You know I hate when you avoid my questions Alec. What have you been up to since coming here? I know from our phone call that you have a drug problem so I know everything's not fine like you told me before."

I sighed "Jace you need to go home. You don't belong here and if dad finds out you're here he will lose it." "Like I give a crap what dad says? I lost my respect for him when he disowned you and forced you to come here."

I looked at Magnus wondering what he would say about that but he just shrugged "You told me this last night in your hysteria." "Of course I did" I sighed looking back at Jace "Look I'm not the person I was when I lived uptown. I'm a downtown guy now. I do what I want and don't have to listen to what anyone else says."

Jace frowned at this "But that's not you. Isabelle and I do what we want and you keep us out of trouble and do the right thing." I sighed closing my eyes "Jace… things down here are different. I had to be different to survive here. I met amazing people and they helped me."

"Helped you what? Become a drug addict and a prostitute?" "I am not an addict" I argued but it sounded like a lie even in my own ears. I knew I was an addict there was no denying that but I didn't have to admit it to them.

"By what I heard last night on the phone I'm going to say that's denial. You were an emotional mess" Jace accused crossing his arms. He looked at Magnus "Tell me I'm wrong." I looked at him too "Yeah Magnus tell him he's wrong."

Magnus watched me before glancing at my bedroom. It was only a quick glance but I caught it and sadly Jace caught it as well. He dropped his duffle bag on the ground before making his way to my room. "Jace wait!" I yelled watching him before punching Magnus in the arm. "Why would you do that?"

Magnus rubbed his arm "I didn't do anything." I rolled my eyes and ran to my room where Jace was examining all of my empty injection shots. "There's over twenty shots here Alec." I bit my lip "There not all mine…"

"Well I'll make a bet that most of these are yours. Who is this 'friend' who is making you act this way?" "That friend would be me" Sebastian said leaning on the doorframe of my room. I sighed putting my hand over my face. The last thing I needed was for Jace to see Sebastian.

Jace turned to look at him and was shocked "Jonathan Morgenstern?" "It's Sebastian. Why are you here Jace Herondale?" Jace didn't answer him he just looked back at me.

"How could you be friends as someone like him? He's crazy we both were there the day he flipped out at his father's party." "You don't know what you're talking about so shut up" Sebastian yelled getting in his face. I got between them pushing them away from each other. "How about we take a step back for a moment?"

Jace looked at me with cold golden eyes "This isn't you. This isn't my brother or my best friend. I don't like what this place has done to you and I'm not leaving here without you. I will stay here as long as it takes for you to come back with me."

"Like he could do that. Your father won't let him come back and you know it" Sebastian retorted making me sighed loudly. "Sebastian I can handle this." I turned to face Jace putting my hands on his shoulders "Jace I can't go home. There's nothing for me there."

He smacked my hands away "There's me and Isabelle. Don't bother telling me that you would have nowhere to go because I talked to Michael Wayland yesterday." That made my body stiffen "What did he tell you?" I asked hoping he kept out the part of us sleeping together.

"He said that he seen you yesterday and that he offered to take you in and also pay for rehab." "That would be so great for you Alexander" Magnus said softly. I looked at Magnus almost forgetting he was even here. Sebastian gagged "Oh please Alec doesn't need the charity. He is doing amazing on his own."

Jace glared daggers at Sebastian "He's abusing drugs and sleeping with strangers!" "He's making a living!" Sebastian yelled back and I let out a yell of my own that made everyone become quiet. "I can't do this right now!"

I looked at Jace again pleadingly "Jace you have to go home please. If something were to happen to you here I would never be able to live with myself. You wouldn't survive a day here." Jace crossed his arms and now had that stubborn grin on his face that I really couldn't stand. "I'm not going anywhere as long as you're here."

I looked at Magnus fuming with rage "This is why I didn't want him to know the truth. Why the hell did you have to call him?" Magnus put his hands on his hips "I believe last night you thanked me for calling him." I grabbed my hair wanting to pull it out "I obviously wasn't in my right mind!"

It was Jace's turn to put his hands on Alec's arms. "You're going to blow a gasket Alec. Try to calm down." I closed my eyes for a moment before doing calm breathing "You're right."

Magnus seemed shocked at how fast I calmed down which wasn't surprising. Jace has always been able to stop me from over reacting and blowing my top. No matter how much I didn't want to admit it I was glad Jace was here. I missed him so much and I miss, Isabelle as well.

"How is Isabelle doing?" Jace frowned at the mention of our sister "She's still not happy with our father for sending you away. He has made her the head of his company and she's furious." "Isabelle never wanted anything to do with the company though. That was always… my dream."

Jace nodded "He asked me first if I would run it but I refused. I refuse to live out your dream." I let out a dry chuckle "That's so you Jace." I sat on my bed moving one of the empty syringes back and forth with my foot.

"I don't even know if that really was my dream. I guess I just wanted father to be proud of me like he used to be. If I ran his company then he might respect me again." "But he stole that company from Valentine" Magnus chimed in before glancing at Sebastian hesitantly.

Sebastian had told Magnus to keep his father's name out of his mouth but this time he didn't seem bothered by it. "I think my father deserved what he got." "What makes you say that" Magnus asked looking at him. Sebastian didn't answer; he just looked over at Alec "I have a date to get to, I came over because I wanted to borrow one of your sweaters."

That made me look at him suspiciously "You hate my sweaters. Why would you even consider borrowing one?" He shrugged "I figured if I dressed like I lived in a dumpster it would make my date spend more money on me out of pity." I picked up my favorite sweater hugging it tight to my chest as if it was my wounded child "How dare you say that about my sweaters."

Magnus looked at the sweater like it was a dead bug on the bottom of his shoe "What is that hideous heap of fabric?" I glared at him "My favorite sweater Magnus." Magnus looked at it before sighing "It's okay, it's not your fault you have no choice but to wear holy fraying sweaters. You can't afford anything better."

There was a long awkward silence and Jace smirked slightly "Actually he's had that sweater for six years. Most of his sweaters he has owned even before living here." That just made Magnus look shocked "Why would you do that?" I glared at him "You insult my way of life, call my brother causing him to come here, and now you're insulting my sweaters? I really don't like you."

I grabbed another sweater and shoved in to Sebastian's chest before walking out of the room. "I have work to do and I want to go alone. Magnus make sure Jace stays here where it's safe." I walked out of the apartment slamming the door closed behind me.

Magnus Pov- Jace waited for Sebastian to leave before turning to me. "Come on I want to take a look around. I need to investigate this town and see what else Alec's been keeping from me." "He told me to keep you here where it's safe."

Jace crossed his arms looking me over "Why are you even here Magnus Bane? I highly doubt your parents disowned you or sent you down here to scare you." "I wanted to see if it was really so bad here. So far it's worse than I ever imagined."

Jace stared at me for a moment before turning and walking out of Alecs' room going into his living room. "I'm leaving with or without you." Sighing I left the room following him outside "Alexander won't be happy about this." Jace stopped walking looking back at me "Do you get away with calling him that?"

I blinked confused "calling him what?" "Alexander, Alec hates being called that from anyone besides our parents. Even more so now that our parents hurt him so bad." I shrugged "He yelled at me last night about it and sure he looks a little uncomfortable when I say it but I love the tint of red that appears on his cheeks when I say it."

I don't even know if Alexander noticed it himself but every time I called him by his full name he would blush. Alec looks super cute when he's blushing. I closed my eyes shaking that thought out of my head. I can't think Alec is cute it will interfere with my work and make me second guess everything.

"Do you want to date Alec or something" Jace asked raising an eyebrow. I shook my head no "I'm just working with Alec on a project nothing more." He shrugged and walked down the street forcing me to follow him. "It's so dirty here" Jace said looking around frowning.

He looked over at one of the homeless but I quickly grabbed his arm making him look at me instead. "Alec told me not to look at the homeless, I rather not get stabbed because of a misunderstanding." Jace rolled his eyes at this "I'm sure Alec told you all that to scare you." I let go of his arm frowning "no I think he was serious, there are some shady people around here."

Jace looked around before smiling seeing a rundown bar "let's go in here, with all the stress Alec has put me through I need a drink." To be honest I really needed a drink too. These passed couple days have been the hardest of my life. "Fine but we can't stay in here long. If Alec comes home and you aren't there he'll stab me with a butcher knife."

Jace sighed walking across the street "I want to say that Alec wouldn't do that but it seems I don't know my best friend anymore." We walked straight to the bar and bought a few shots before bringing them over to a table in an isolated corner of the room. "Can you inform me more on what happened between Alec and his family? He told me that they disowned him and he was once in love with you." I winced once I was done talking, hoping that Jace was aware that Alec once held a torch for him.

Jace didn't seem surprised by this though. "I can't tell you anything you didn't already know. I knew all along that Alec liked me like that but I never let it affect our relationship. When I was adopted by the Lightwoods Alec was the first to make me feel at home, which was interesting because Alec absolutely hates change. He accepted me though and we hit it off right away."

He grabbed one of the shots and chugged it down before looking at his empty shot glass sadly "the day Alec got thrown out… I was completely blind sighted. It was the only time I ever seen Alec cry. Robert threw him out locking the door and Alec kept slamming his fist on the door crying, begging to be let back in. Robert locked Isabelle and I in our rooms until Alec finally left. He went missing for a whole month before I finally got a phone call from him."

I listened trying to imagine Alec begging for acceptance. I couldn't imagine Alec Lightwood begging for anything. He seems like such a strong independent guy who hated looking weak but at the same time he let Downtown beat him into the ground. "Do you really think Downtown changed him?"

Jace clenched onto his shot glass frowning. "the guy I seen this morning… that isn't my best friend. I don't know how to deal with this version of him. He seems even more stubborn than me and that's really saying something."

I drank one of my shots before frowning at Jace. "I'm sorry but I don't think you'll be able to convince Alec to come home. He's too proud to admit he needs help. He won't accept it from anyone."

Jace shook his head "Robert made him feel like he wasn't worth the trouble. Alec feels unneeded now and that's far from the case. Isabelle and I need him along with our little brother Max." I frowned at this news "Max?"

Jace bit his lip slightly, knowing he just said something he wasn't supposed to. "We… we have a little brother named Max. He's only nine but he's the smartest, brightest kid I've ever known." "From what I know about Robert Lightwood he would just kill to have a son like that. How come I've never heard about him till now?"

Jace drank another shot "Max is sickly, the lightwoods can't look weak. Alec hasn't seen Max in three years." That made me frown "but Alec has only lived here for two years right?" Jace nodded "yes but Max lived with his grandparents for a year because when Alec came out his parents thought it would be best to not have Max by him. They didn't want Alecs… preferences to rub off on him."

I slammed my fist on the table standing up "that way of thinking is outrageous." Jace nodded looking up at me "I agree but it was out of our control." I noticed people staring at us now so I quickly sat down embarrassed. I finished our last shot before clearing my throat "maybe we should head ba-"I got cut off by Jace shoving me into a booth not too far from us. He squeezed in too before looking over the booth.

"What are you doing" I hissed not liking being shoved. "Alec is here" Jace whispered getting lower. I looked at him before looking over the booth with him scanning the room for Alexander. Like Jace said he was indeed here and he was with a man half his age.

Jace crinkled his nose in distaste "that guy looks older than his parents." "I'm guessing in his early fifties" I mumbled looking over the man. He had silver hair with random patches of gray mixed in. His suit was designer meaning he was from uptown and he obviously had no respect for personal space. He kept touching Alec on the shoulder, on the waist, and around him neck.

Jace sat up more so he can see better and he growled when the man put his arm around Alecs' waist. "Jace, Alec can't know you're here" I whispered. My warning fell on deaf ears though as Jace stood up and walked over to the bar. Alec was fake laughing at something the guy said and his laughter died when he seen Jace standing behind him.

"What are you doing here Jace" Alec asked in a friendly tone of voice but you could hear all the anger he was trying to control. The man with Alec turned around and smiled looking Jace over with his eyes. This only seemed to make Jace even angrier "The better question is why you are here?" "I'm on a date" Alec said through clenched teeth.

"Its fine Alec, if your friend wants to join us I don't mind, he's very handsome" he said reaching out to touch Jaces' face. Jace backed up glaring at the guy "Don't touch me creep." The man frowned at that comment "well aren't you rude?" Alec sighed standing up "I'm sorry about him. I should take him home."

Alec started pushing Jace to the door but his date grabbed his arm painfully pulling him back to him. "I already paid ahead of time. You're not just going to walk away like that. Who do you think you are?" The entire bar went quiet and all eyes were on them wondering what will happen.

"How about you let him go" Jace said glaring at the guy. He had his hands clenched tight as if he was resisting the urge to kill the guy. The guy glared back at Jace, just making his grip on Alec get tighter. This made Alec close his eyes in pain.

"How about you mind your own business kid. I paid to fuck this guy and that's what I'm going to do." Alec looked away from Jace, looking ashamed but Jace wasn't looking at Alec. He was staring intensely at the man. "You have three seconds to let go of my brother or I'll kill you" Jace said in sounding like he meant it.

This just made the guy laugh and tug Alec into his arms. "Oh please, this boy is nothing but a homeless rat living in the gutter. He thrives on being with people like me." The guy leaned down kissing Alecs neck and that was the last straw.

Jaces fist flew so fast it was a blur in the air. I was able to see it though as his fist collided with Alecs dates face sending him falling to the ground. I quickly stood up and ran over to Alec grabbing his arm and pulling him out of the bar. Jace quickly followed holding his fist cursing under his breath.

Once we were a block away Alec pulled his arm out of my grasp, stopping in place. Jace and I both had to skid to a stop before looking back at him. "How could you do that Jace? I told you to stay home and now I'm going to get in trouble with my boss."

"Who gives a fuck about your boss? Alec do you not see how much of a creep that guy was? The way he handled you wasn't okay." Alec closed his eyes hugging himself "Jace every guy I see is like that. I'm used to it and can handle myself."

"Are you crazy" Jace screamed making me put my hand on his shoulder to silence him. "Jace calm down, we don't want to bring attention to ourselves." Jace smacked my hand back with a bloody hand "stay out of this Magnus." Alec looked at Jace's hand frowning before reaching out and grabbing it "Is this your blood?"

Jace pulled his hand away "No it's that creeps blood. Why are you with people like that Alec? This is far from who you are and it's far from okay. This place changed you."

Alec frowned glancing away "I know… that's why you need to go home. I don't want anything to happen to you." He turned his back to us "I have to go apologize to my customer." "Why should you apologize to him" I asked frowning.

Alec looked back at me "he paid my boss already. If I don't go through with it the company will get crap for it and I won't get paid for days. I might even get fired and I can't let that happen." "You shouldn't be working there at all" Jace yelled.

"You don't understand Jace so just shut the hell up" Alec yelled back. Yelling at his siblings must not have been something Alec normally did because Jace was frozen in shock. His shocked face soon turned to disgust "are you trying to drive me away? It's not going to work so just stop it."

Alec turned to face him "Go. Home. Jace" he said with clenched teeth. Jace crossed his arms "I'll go back to the apartment but I'm not going home." He turned walking in the direction of the apartment and I watched him before looking at Alec.

Alec backed up to a wall before sliding down to the ground running his hands through his hair. His eyes were wide and his breathing quickened to a dangerous rate. Frowning I got to his level grabbing his arms and pulling them away from his head "Alec calm down. You're having a panic attack."

Alec wasn't listening to me though. He looked down gasping for air and crying shakenly. "I… I can't…. I can't bre-"he gasped again trying to breath but he couldn't. I grabbed his face forcing him to look me in the eyes.

"Alexander you need to calm down right now and take deep breaths." He gasped a couple more times, tears dripping from his eyes and landing on my thumbs. The gasping stopped and regular breaths took their place. I smiled caressing his cheek "There you go Alexander."

Alec stared into my eyes breathing before leaning forward and hiding his face in my neck. "I can't let him stay here. He'll be killed and it will be all my fault." I wrapped my arm around him holding him close while I used my free hand to stroke his hair. "That won't happen Alec."

He let me hold him for a little bit before sighing and sitting up straight "you don't know that for sure Magnus. Jace is reckless and doesn't know how to keep his mouth shut. He'll get in a lot of trouble and he's already getting me in trouble." "He does seem to have a big mouth" I agreed.

Alec met my eyes again frowning "having him here is just reminding me of the life I could have had. I'm trying to remake myself and start over but the universe isn't letting me. First it sends me you, who is constantly interested in my past and now they send Jace. It's ridiculous."

I couldn't help but laugh at that comment "yeah it is a little ridiculous." I reached over grabbing his hand "tell me Alec, you say you want to start over and be someone new but do you even like this version of you?" Alec frowned looking at me "What?" I shrugged "you can't be happy sleeping with old men and getting high all the time. You obviously want more."

"I can't have more Magnus. You and Jace just don't understand and I don't think you ever will." He pulled his hand away before standing up. "I have to go see my boss. I'm sure the guy went back and got a refund."

I stood up frowning "Can I go with you? You might need someone there to protect you if that guy is there." He shook his head no "Please go to the apartment and make sure Jace actually got there. I would be happy if you could keep him there this time."

"Hey he's a stubborn guy" I pointed out crossing my arms. Alec nodded "Believe me I know. Please just keep him occupied so he doesn't get bored and wander again." I nodded sighing before turning and heading toward the apartment like he asked.

Alec Pov- The moment I walked into work everyone's eyes were on me meaning they all already knew what happened. Even if the guy for some reason wouldn't report it back to my boss she still would have figured it out. News travels fast around here especially when there's fighting involved. I ignored everyone, heading to the back to talk to the boss.

I knocked on the door and didn't even have to announce myself. "Come in Alec" the boss said already knowing it would be me at her door. I walked in looking at the beautiful red head sitting at her desk doing paperwork. "Miss Seelie I need to tell you what happened."

She held up her hand not looking up from her paper work "I don't want to hear excuses Alec." She pointed to the chair in front of her desk "sit." I did as she said frowning "I really am sorry." She finally looked up at me "Alec you have been having a lot of complaints."

That shocked me "what? But this is my first incident." She pulled a file out of a drawer before throwing it onto the desk. "Your customers haven't been satisfied lately. They all say you're so doped up on drugs it's like they're sleeping with a rag doll. You aren't very attentive and you zone out."

I bit my lip looking through the file. There were over ten unsatisfied customers. "I wasn't aware that I was doing that." She folded her hands on the desk watching me "I like you Alec you know I do but I can't overlook all these problems. You're on probation until I say otherwise and half your customers have been referred to Mark Blackthorn."

I stood up outraged "Mark Blackthorn! He's a child he only just started working here." "Sit down Alec" she said warningly. I sat down frowning "You can't be serious."

Miss Seelie leaned back in her chair "Mark may be young but he's full of potential. This is a cruel business Alec, one day you're in and the next you're out. Two years ago you came to me and I hired you because you were new and young. You aren't new anymore Alec."

I frowned "What are you saying?" she shrugged going back to her paperwork "I'm saying don't be surprised if after a year or so you stop getting requests. You were popular for a while but your ruin is coming to an end. You might want to start looking for new work."

"This is all I have" I said softly, looking at my clenched hands in my lap. She shrugged "life is hard Alec. I have to stay with what gets us customers and right now that's Mark Blackthorn. He's new, skilled, and frankly more attractive than you."

I wanted to tell her she was wrong but she was far from it. Mark Blackthorn really was a handsome guy. He had pale blonde hair and was in pretty good shape. His winning point though went to his eyes. Unlike my normal blue eyes he has one blue and one gold.

"Your customer almost sued us in case you wanted to know. If Mark didn't step in I don't know what we would have done. If I get any more complaints I won't have any choice but to fire you. Do I make myself clear?"

I nodded standing up "I hear you crystal clear ma'am." She nodded "good now get out of my office." I walked out of her office closing the door behind me before sighing. "I'm fucked."

I started heading for the door just wanting to go home and shoot up but I stopped when I heard a familiar voice chuckling next to me. I glanced over to the booth closest to the door and let out a long sigh seeing Raphael Santiago sitting there. "Are you stalking me now? Leave me alone."

"Now Alec you don't have to be so snooty. I just wanted to have a chat with you is all" Raphael said moving over to make room for me. I was expecting Lilly or Elliot to be sitting on the other side of him but instead it was a boy with messy brown hair and glasses. He was wearing a Star Wars shirt and had his arms wrapped around Raphael's arm in an affectionate way.

I finally gave in and sat down not taking my eyes off the new boy "who's your friend Raphael?" Raphael smiled "not that it's any of your business but this is my boyfriend Simon Lewis. We met uptown a few weeks ago and he decided to come Downtown with me." "Romantic" I said sarcastically.

"Anyway, I couldn't help but notice that your popularity is plummeting at a fast rate. If only there was a job for you that would pay you handsomely." I rolled my eyes at this "Nothing you can say is going to make me join your mafia group. Why do you even want me anyway?"

He put his free arm around me "I want the best of the best on me team Alec. Don't think I haven't paid attention to your family over the years. You are very smart and would have made an amazing CEO for Light Co. Your father was a fool for letting you waist away to nothing here."

"What are you getting at Santiago" I asked losing my patients. "What I'm getting at is that you are a bright boy Alec. You can help me take my business to new heights." There was something unsettling about a fifteen year old calling me a 'boy'. "You serious?"

Simon was the next one to speak "I think you should take his offer into consideration. From what it sounds like you're going to be out of a job in a year or less. Winter is coming and it's not kind." I bit my lip not wanting to think about the harsh winter coming our way.

"I can assure you both that I am still in high demand and I am far from being out of it." I stood up frowning "now if you'll excuse me I have a lot to do today." I headed for the door again and Raphael laughed saying "denial will only get you so far. You need me Alec lightwood."

I opened the door and glanced back at him for a moment before shaking my head and leaving. Even thinking about joining Raphael for a second was suicide. I just couldn't understand what it was that he wanted with me. What was so great about me that he would go through all this trouble?

"Alec!" I turned around hearing Aline yell for me from behind. She ran to me out of breath "I heard about what happened to the bar and I was rushing to your apartment to see if you're ok." I frowned "Has everyone already heard about it?" She nodded frowning "afraid so."

I sighed shaking my head and started heading home "of course they all know. Where's Helen?" Aline followed me shoving a piece of gum in her mouth "She's on a date by herself. I'm waiting for her to get done so we can go on a date together."

"At least someone's having a good day. What are you doing for your date?" She smiled "well actually we were hoping it could be a big group date. Maybe bring Magnus and even Sebastian if he feels like coming."

I was shocked at this "you hate Sebastian." She nodded "I do but I would like as many people as possible on this date for we don't stand out." The more she talked the worse it sounded. "What is this date Aline?"

She grabbed my hand "Helen and I are dressing up in our best clothes and going uptown for some fun. I want you and anyone else you can think of to come with us." I yanked my hand out of hers and looked at her like she was crazy. "I will not be going anywhere near uptown."

"Come on Alec, you can call your siblings and have them meet us. I know how much you miss them and I know you miss uptown too. It's only one night what's the harm?"

"The harm is a lot of things can go wrong Aline. We can get caught and thrown in jail not to mention I have no money." "Helen and I want to pay for everything. We just got a big check from one of our dates and we want to have some fun before winter comes."

I frowned thinking about winter and the trouble it will bring everyone. All the rich go to warm places and all the dealers leave for the warmth of the indoors. Maybe there was no point in worrying about getting fired or not being wanted next year. There's a huge possibility that I'll die this winter.

"I don't have anything nice to wear to go uptown" I pointed out starting to walk again. She smiled seeing my wall was cracking and she linked her arm with mine as we walked. "You can borrow clothes from Sebastian. He has a lot of nice shirts and jeans."

I thought it over seeing that I had no more excuses as to why I can't go. Finally I gave in "fine if that's what you want then I'll go with you uptown tonight. Magnus and Jace will be able to keep us out of trouble… or at least Magnus will." Aline smiled "so you'll call your brother?"

I frowned "Actually Jace is here in downtown." Aline stopped in front of the apartment steps frowning "Oh Alec this is no place for him." I nodded "I keep telling him that but he won't listen to anything I have to say. He won't go home without me."

She was silent for a moment before saying "Alec I think you should consider his offer." I just stared at the ground not looking at her or responding. She put her hand on my shoulder "Alec this is a horrible winter coming… I don't know if you'll survive." "It doesn't matter if I do or not" I said softly making her gasp.

I glanced at her "I don't belong in that world anymore Aline. I can go over there and pretend tonight but I can't do it forever. The old me, is gone and this is who I am now." I looked at my shaking hand "no one can really love me like this."

"Maybe Magnus can" Aline said softly. That only made a dry laugh escape my lips "I am far from anything someone like Magnus Bane will ever want. I'm his project and nothing more. Once his experiment is done he'll give me that money and I'll be able to live off it for the winter."

Aline just frowned staying quiet and I glanced at her before walking up the steps to my apartment. Once inside I was surprised to see Jace attempting to clean my place. He would soon have to learn that this feat is impossible for I have tried many a time. "Jace there's really no point in what you're doing" I said watching him try to fix the light in the refrigerator.

He stood up straight frowning "how can you stand living here? There's a family of mice living under your sink." I nodded grabbing a water bottle out of the refrigerator "I like to think of it as their little house." Magnus just shuddered most likely remembering my comment about the mice nesting in his hair.

Aline smiled at Jace looking him up and down "So you're the famous Jace that I have heard so much about." Jace smiled "guilty as charged, and you're the girl that I've heard absolutely nothing about." I rolled my eyes at this "I have told you about Aline and Helen Jace." He crossed his arms "but how am I supposed to know anything you said on the phone is true."

I nodded "Okay I deserved that one. I've never lied to you about Aline and Helen they really are as cool as I told you." Jace smiled at Aline shaking her hand "it's a pleasure to meet you." She smiled "right back at you."

I sat on my couch next to Magnus "So we're all going uptown tonight" I said making Jace and Magnus both stare at me in shock. "You're coming home with me" Jace asked excited but I shook my head no. "Aline wants to go somewhere fun so I said I would go. It's only for one night."

Magnus smiled looking excited "finally I get to dress up to my full potential." I frowned at this piece of information "what do you mean full potential?" The way he dressed was outrageous enough yet Magnus said himself that he considered it low key. God only knows what he wears when he wants to be noticed.

"I'm also inviting Sebastian" I announced making them both look less happy. "Jonathan Morgenstern shouldn't be anywhere near uptown" Jace said crossing his arms. I rolled my eyes "he likes to be called Sebastian and he will behave himself as long as he's with me." "I still say don't invite him" said Jace sitting on the floor.

"I have to borrow clothes from him anyway so he will find out one way or another. It's best to invite him instead of having him invite himself." Aline nodded "agreed." Magnus sighed "fine if we must bring him along then make sure he's under control."

I raised an eyebrow at him "Believe me, I get the feeling like I'll have to keep all of you under control." That made everyone laugh but I wasn't joking. None of the people in this room are good at not getting in trouble. "Everything will be fine Alec" Aline reassured me. I couldn't help but feel like this was going to be far from fine.