Chapter III

Welcome to our group"

The air in the room was thick and heavy. I felt like I couldn't breathe properly with Magnus ogling me. This was the first time we have been this close to each other. His eyes couldn't leave my face, which must have been as red as a tomato by now. Dear Lord, the boy of my dreams was standing right before me. It was incredible and scary at the same time. My heart was beating fast, almost like it would like to rip out of my chest. He smirked at me, winking twice. I didn't even know that I could feel so hot in my body as I was at that particular moment. There was a small desire in my mind to run like crazy from the room.

"Alec?" He spoke my name like it was some exotic, foreign, beautiful word. No one else has said it this way before. I prayed silently for him to do it again. "Alec?"

"I'm Aline," I heard the voice of my friend behind my back. "Welcome to our group."

"I know, who you are, Aline," he responded lightly. Sweet, merciful God. His voice was intoxicating. It was almost like he was purring during talks. Like a kitten. I scolded myself for such thoughts. It wasn't the time to have them. I couldn't get excited before him.

"And this is Helen Blackthorn." The introducing was moving forward.

"Nice to meet you, Helen." He addressed her softly. Have I mentioned that his voice is melodic? For sure, it was. Like music to my ears.

"Likewise," Helen muttered, while I was admiring him silently.

Magnus's face was perfect in my opinion. He had high-placed cheekbones. Sharp, but not a too big nose. Golden-green eyes, which reminded me of a cat's eyes. His dark lashes were covered in black mascara, which made them look even longer than they were in reality. There was some glittery blue eyeliner on his eyes. A transparent lipstick with colorful glitter was covering his thin lips. Today, he wore a light blue T-shirt with some white letters on, but I didn't focus on them. His white skinny jeans were fitting in with his cast. Magnus was slim, but not anorexic. He was very tall, two inches taller than me. His long, black hair with colorful highlights were put up in spikes.

This was truly a hot look on him. I loved it.

Suddenly, I felt a nudge on my ribs. I looked to the side and spotted the pointed look of Aline Penhallow. I followed her eyes and realized, that Magnus was still standing, leaning on his crutches. I scolded myself silently again, and moved a chair for him to sit down. When he did so and smiled at me honestly, I felt my cheeks burning again.

"Thank you, Alec."

"You're…wel…welcome," I stuttered, trying to look above him, so he wouldn't see my blush.

Aline and Helen left us alone. My heart was going crazy, both with excitement and panic. I was all alone with Magnus Bane. I hoped, in the bottom of my heart, I wouldn't embarrass myself in front of him. I sat down next to him, and waited for him to begin our talk. I had no idea what to say. And frankly, I was sure that whatever I'd say, then, will sound too stupid.

"So, Alec…" he started, as he placed his hand next to my knee on my chair. "What should I do here?"

"Well…you…am…you…you…" For heaven's sake, why could I not stop stuttering? Minute by minute I was making more fool of myself. Magnus grabbed my hand in his and started to brush it lightly. His touch was like touching a hot pan, yet, it didn't make me flinch or pull away from him. Instead, I pushed my hand more into his own. I craved this hotness, hidden in the gentleness of his touch.

"It's alright. Just breathe and start again," he instructed me with his soft voice, never letting go of my hand. He winked at me, causing another blush on my cheeks.

"Ok." I took three deep breaths and started again. "You will be assigned to one kid. And you're obliged to help him with studying, or homework." He nodded to that, brushing the pad of my hand with his thumb. "And if you're good, you can stay with me…I mean with the group!"

"Alright," he laughed a bit. "So…which one of them is mine?"

"Depends," Alec finally calmed his stuttering voice. "What are you good at? Besides English?"

"How do you know I'm good in English?" he asked suspiciously.

"We do have the same classes, Magnus." It was true. We have most of our classes together. "And I saw your grades a few times. You're good in English." Bane was looking through me. For a moment I had a feeling that he's stripping me with his gorgeous cat eyes. "And other subjects?"

"Well…Al…"

"How nice to see you on this fine Saturday, Alexander." The smile dropped from my face as soon as I heard the female voice. I didn't have to turn around to know that it was Lacey. A girl from grade ten, who has a crush on me. At least that's what Simon told me once. "How are you? Did you miss me?"

"Em…" I didn't know what to say to her, but I was beaten to it by the melodic voice of Magnus.

"Excuse me," he started, glaring her coldly. "If you don't mind. Alexander and I are having a little talk here. So shush, hon." He waved her off. The girl walked away from us with anger written all over her face. I sighed out with a relief. "Your ex-girlfriend?"

"No! Dear god, no!" I answered immediately. "She's not even my friend."

"Ah, so she has a crush on you." I nodded, not looking in his eyes. "Well, can't blame her. You're very attractive, Alexander."

"It's Alec."

"I prefer Alexander." He grinned at me, making my knees go weak. Thank god that I was sitting on a chair, otherwise I would have fallen down to the floor. "So…who's my little victim?"

Magnus was sitting before Maureen trying to teach her some English. I could see that he was explaining something to her. If I read his lips well, he was telling her about Shakespeare. If I recalled correctly, it was what grade ten was doing now. Unfortunately, she didn't make any progress with him. She wasn't making any progress with anyone besides Simon, who was absent today, because of the doctor's visit. There was a reason why Maureen wasn't making any progress. She was in love with Simon Lewis, everyone in the school knew it. She wanted to spend as much time as she could with him, and refused to learn anything from anyone. But it wasn't the point of tutoring. We were supposed to help kids with their studying.

I recalled how I got to the group. It was just after my first detention for fighting with Woolsey Scott. From the moment I got here, I liked it very much. I enjoy teaching kids who need my help. I especially loved the moment when they got a good grade and they came to tell me about it. I didn't like their thanks, I loved their wide smiles and happiness. I felt as if I mattered then. Like I'm finally doing something good, worthy.

"Alec!" I heard some light, boyish voice. I looked above my desk and spotted Tim. A grade nine student. He was running towards me with a huge smile on his face.

"Hi, Tim," I greeted him. "What's up, kiddo?"

"I got B+ on the math test." He jumped on my desk, shoving the papers to the floor. He handed me a white sheet with some red mark. Ah, his test. I looked proudly at it. He was getting better with every other test. I was truly proud of Tim.

"Congratulations, Tim. I knew, you could do it."

"Thank you! Thank you!" he threw himself on my neck, squeezing me as hard as he could. I hugged him back, patting his shoulder lightly.

"You're welcome, Timmy."

Later, I was working with Sandy, a girl from grade ten. She had trouble with math as well. While she was trying to figure out the equations, I looked over at Magnus. He was trying to teach Maureen. He was frowning all the time, and I could easily tell that it was hard for him to not snap at her. I couldn't blame him. Maureen was a difficult case. There was remorse in my heart when I was watching them. I should have given him someone easier to work with. When I was finally done with Sandy, I decided to save Magnus from his nightmare. I walked towards them and stopped next to their table. He looked up at me with a soft, small smile while Maureen was shooting daggers with her eyes at him.

"How's it going?" I tried to sound casual, even though my hand was shaking, as always, when I was close to Magnus.

"Great," Bane's voice was dripping with sarcasm.

"He's bad at this. I want Simon." The girl demanded, glaring at me.

"Well…Sheldon isn't here. So you have to stick with me, girl!" Magnus snapped at her. I couldn't blame him.

"I don't have to!" she barked back and got up too quickly, throwing the chair away. It landed hard on the floor, almost breaking. Maureen left the room.

"I'm sorry," Magnus sighed loudly. "I really tried."

"It's ok," I offered him a small smile. "I shouldn't have paired you with Maureen. She's difficult and hard to anyone who isn't Simon."

"I see." We shared another small smile, mine was followed by a blush. After that I left to help some other kids.

The time passed too quickly. Before we realized it, it was almost 3 p.m., which meant the end of the tutoring session. The rest of the kids who came in later were sent home already and we, the tutors, stayed behind to clean up the room. Once we were done, Mrs. Branwell collected us all in a circle, to have a better look at us, as she said.

"Thank you all for coming here. You did wonderfully today. Have a great rest of the weekend."

We bid her goodbye and to each other and left the building. When I got to the parking lot, I realized that most of the tutors have gone already. I saw that the only ones left was me and Magnus. As I opened the door of my car I saw that Magnus was talking to someone over the phone. Bane's voice was upset.

"Great! So how am I supposed to go back, huh? You promised to pick me up, Camille! You know that I can't drive myself!" he huffed and screamed into the phone, while leaning hard on his crutches. For a moment I was afraid that he'll fall down. "You know what? Screw you, Cam! So much for friends!"

He ended the call abruptly, shoving the phone in his jeans' pocket. He threw his backpack on his shoulder and started to move slowly. For a brief moment I debated myself, what should I do. And soon, my heart agreed with my manners. I slowly closed the door and walked closer to my crush.

"Magnus?"

"What?!" he snapped at me, harshly. Yet, I didn't take this to heart. I knew he was upset. "Sorry."

"Do you need a ride?"

"What?" this time he asked softly.

"Do you need a ride home? I'm going to Brooklyn anyway. I promised to pick up Jace from Clary. I can drop you off."

"If that won't be a problem for you." I shook my head and led him towards my car. "Thank you, Alexander." I blushed at him using my full name. I helped him get into the car and carefully laid the crutches in the back.

We were silent during the ride. No one dared to speak. I didn't know what to say anyway. I have never been that close to my crush. My heart was beating like crazy, my hands were sweating. To hide my nervousness, I turned the music on. From Magnus's face I could tell that he's not into this kind of music. Before I decided to change the station, a song of Alexisonfire burst through the speakers. Bane's eyes were wide open as he turned it down and then looked at me.

"What in the god's name was that?!" he exclaimed loudly, changing the radio to some pop station.

"That was one of their greatest hits." I answered, not taking my eyes off the road.

"This wasn't music. Those were screams."

"It is music." With that, our conversation ended.

Further into the drive, I could smell the sweet scent of Magnus. A mix of sandalwood, a perfume and some personal smell of just Magnus. It was intoxicating for me. I craved to smell it more, which was totally creepy, as Isabelle would say. Yet, I couldn't even let him know that I like him that way. He would never look at me that way. How could he? He's perfect, shiny, loud, out-going. While I am silent, shy, embarrassed most of the time. I don't even look so good, despite the public opinion. I'm only a nerd, like those that his friends are picking on constantly. Though, Magnus has matured since last year. He's telling his friends to stop doing this, every time he's a witness to such harassment.

"I can walk from Clary's place." His voice brought me back from my thoughts.

"It's okay. I can drive you home. I can't let you walk with those crutches," I added silently, not looking at him. Magnus agreed with it and looked outside the window. Twenty minutes later we were at his place. I pulled over and helped him get out. When our hands touched it was strange. His hands were warm and smooth and nice to touch. It sent some electrifying feeling to my body. The positive one. I think Magnus felt it too. He looked quite shocked. I pulled my hand from his once he stood steadily on his feet. For a moment there was an awkward silence between us. "So…erm…bye."

"Bye, Alexander. And thank you." For a moment I looked slightly confused. "For a ride and for what you have done in school, for what you have said to Jace." He kissed me lightly on the cheek. It was more like a peck, yet, it left me flushed and stunned.

I stood like an idiot on his porch a few more minutes after Magnus went inside. My head was spinning. My heart was hammering. And I tried not to overthink what had happened. Magnus Bane kissed me! My longtime crush kissed me! I touched my cheek, where his lips were seconds before just to assure myself that it was real. It wasn't the way I dreamt it, but it was still amazing. As I walked back to my car, I couldn't wipe the grin off of my face. Soon, I drove off and picked Jace up.

"What's this?" Jace pointed at something on the front passenger seat. I looked closer and realized that it must have been Magnus's glitter. After all, he had it on his hair today. "Is that a glitter?"

"Probably Magnus's. I gave him a ride today." Jace looked at me puzzled. "He's in our tutoring group."

Jace started to laugh, as I stopped in our driveway.

"What a loser."

"Don't call him like that, Jace." I warned him.

"Whatever," he muttered, getting out. "Anyway, why did you give him a ride today?"

"He just didn't have anyone to pick him up today. And I was picking you up from Brooklyn anyway. I was being nice to him." He looked annoyed at me. "I am nice, not like you."

"You know, this being nice to everyone will bring you harm one day. Especially, being nice to Magnus Bane." I rolled my eyes at him, as I stepped inside the house. "He's mean."

"He was nice to me."

"Yeah, but don't get your hopes up." Jace warned me, looking deeply into my eyes. "I know you like him that way. I just don't want you to end up being hurt, big brother."

When he left me alone, I wondered about his words. Was Jace right to warn me against Magnus? If I would get closer to Magnus, will he break my heart? Maybe I should be careful with my feelings. Maybe I should watch out.

I shook my head. This was ridiculous. I had nothing to worry about. Magnus Bane will never look at me that way. I was sure that he won't even talk or look at me on Monday at school.

But boy, I was so wrong.


A/N: Did you like it?

Thanks for all followings, favorites and of course reviews. You are amazing. Still, I'm looking for someone who'd like to draw scenes for MWAAF.

Beta: The one and only Red Coral. Amazing person and wonderful writer. Check out her stories here on fanfiction.

If you know spanish, there's a link in my bio to the spanish version of MWAAF on wattpad. Check it out.

Review if you feel like to,

Intoxic