Alec POV:

At lunchtime, Alec headed to the cafeteria to meet Izzy and Jace. Isabelle was lounging on top of one of the cafeteria tables like she owned it, talking to Cecily Herondale, another popular girl from her grade.

Alec also spotted Magnus Bane, the guy from French class, thanks to his impressive height and outrageous hair (Alec had never thought that he could be turned on by sparkles). He was, to Alec's surprise, sitting with Alec's own cousin, Gideon. Also the table were Cecily's brother, Will, his best friend James, Charlotte Fairchild and Henry Branwell, and a scholarship student named Sophie Collins. They were talking to Magnus animatedly, like they knew him. Sitting next to Magnus was Theresa Gray (one of the few kids from C.C. Prep who associated with the children of the institute before the merge), and Alec supposed that she was the reason that Magnus was so friendly with those nephilim. It made him feel something… Jealousy? But he ignored it. Over the years Alec had gotten very good at ignoring feelings.

As he sat down next to his sister, her eyes followed his gaze until they settled on Magnus, "Who's he?"

"Oh…Um…Magnus Bane, he's in my French class." Alec struggled to sound nonchalant. "Well, his hair is incredible!" Gushed Izzy. Cecily was looking at Magnus now to, "You should see him when he's not wearing a uniform." She said, "He hangs out with Will sometimes because he's friends with Tessa, and he owns more brightly coloured skinny jeans than I knew existed." Isabelle laughed, "Well I want to meet him. Maybe we could invite him to our party!" Alec whipped his head around, "What party?"

"The one that we're throwing on Friday because it's the beginning of the school year and because Mom and Dad are going to be out of town for a whole month."

"When did we decide this?"

"Me and Jace planned it during first period. I texted you."

Alec checked his phone:

Izzy Lightwood: Hey! Party our house Friday. Cool? ;)

Izzy smiled winningly, "I took your silence as a yes. I already invited a whole bunch of people." Alec sighed, knowing there was no way to win this, "What about Max?"

"He can stay at a friend's house."

"You've thought of everything?"

"Yes."

"Is there any way I can convince you not to do this?"

"Of course not."

"Fine, but it had better be over by one o'clock." Izzy squealed and hugged him, "Thank you!" she said, then added in a whisper, "And hey, look on the bright side, now you have an opportunity to see Magnus, who you totally think is hot, in brightly coloured skinny jeans." Alec blushed and sputtered indignantly but Isabelle had already moved on. She had spotted their brother walking into the caf. "Jace, over here!" She cried waving. Jace ran over, "Alec said yes to the party idea!" Jace smirked, knowing that Alec had had no say in the matter at all, "That's great! Hey you'll never guess what happened in second period. This girl slapped me!" Cecily laughed, "It really was only a matter of time Jace. Anyway, bye Iz!"

"Bye Cecy!" Isabelle waved the other girl off before turning to Jace, "So why did she slap you? Did you sleep with her?"

"No, she's new to the school. She's not even from Cassandra Clare; she's from some public school called St. Xavier's. She knows a few of the downworlders though, she's friends with this guy named Simon Lewis. Anyway, I accidentally broke his glasses with a soccer ball."

"Oh Jace! Did you at least say that you were sorry?"

"No, it was an accident! Why should I? Besides, the guy was really annoying. Anyways, you two are missing the point of the story."

"Which is?" Asked Alec.

"That this girl, who just met me, was immune enough to my charms that she was able to do physical damage to my beautiful face!" Isabelle snorted, and Alec found himself rolling his eyes. That surprised him. Usually, whenever Jace started talking about how good-looking he was, Alec got so uncomfortable that it was all he could do not to blush. Now, something had changed. Now, Alec was fighting off a very different urge, the urge to stare longingly across the cafeteria at Magnus Bane.

Izzy and Jace continued to talk about the slapping girl (apparently her name was Clary) and their various party details, but Alec tuned them out. He was suddenly very angry with the boy with the strange eyes. Seriously, how on earth did a kid who seemed to be Pilipino, end up with eyes like a cat? Was it just contacts? And why the hell did Alec find it so sexy?

Before Magnus, Alec had had a plan: Be invisible through high school, go to a university or college that was far away, and then… Come out? Alec had always assumed that he could figure that out once he was graduated. Once he was away from his family, his parents, the Nephilim Institute. But something about Magnus made a part of him want to jump out of the closet, waving a rainbow flag, just for the chance to be his boyfriend. It was a small part of him, but Alec had a terrifying suspicion that it would start to grow. And that would be bad. Or would it? He thought.

Then he told himself to shut up because Magnus was looking at him. I must have been staring. Alec realised, I was staring and he noticed. Why else would Magnus be looking at him? A horrible thought crossed his mind, what if Magnus could tell? If Magnus knew that he was gay… No, Alec decided, he doesn't know, and he's not going to find out. I am going to forget about Magnus Bane, because nothing is ever going to happen there.

If only Magnus would stop looking at him, then maybe Alec could stop wanting to look back. Maybe all of this would just blow over…

Magnus winked at him.

Or not.