A/N: 1. Aye: I do read the review. Every. Single. One. I even translate the ones that aren't in English. Reviews are like crack to me! I LOVE THEM! I love knowing how my story is affecting people and what they think about it. I have been known to get inspired by a review and change/add a chapter. :)

2. As many have asked, I do not plan to do any chapters from Magnus's POV. I like the suspense created by not knowing what Magnus is thinking.

3. Mrs. Magnus B : Are you a Kentucky girl, too?

Halloween had never meant much to Alec. He didn't eat much candy and didn't care much about wearing costumes, so the appeal of the holiday was kind of lost on him. Consequently, he was a little reluctant to allow Austin and Cammie to drag him to a Halloween party. And he flat refused to wear a costume. Until Cammie started on him and he finally agreed to wear his cheerleading uniform. He felt it was a compromise, but she was unimpressed.

"You wear that all the time!" she protested. "Come on, Alec!"

She was wearing a kind of cute/kind of slutty nurse costume, and Austin was dressed as her patient. He had a friend in medical school that got him a hospital gown and supplies to look like he was attached to an IV. Alec was glad to see his friend was wearing clothes underneath the open-backed hospital gown. He didn't think they were going to that kind of party.

"Sorry, Cam, this is my costume. Take it or leave it," he said brightly.

Cammie scowled at him. "What would you do if I said 'leave it'?"

A mischievous grin spread across his face. "I'd go change into jeans and a t-shirt."

"Whatever."

She turned her back on him and started down the sidewalk, pretending to ignore the fact that he wasn't playing fair. He ran up behind her and scooped her into his arms, swinging her around in a circle. Her hair flew out behind her in a wide, blonde arc and she kicked her feet, giggling like a little girl. He heard Austin's laughter as he came up behind them and Alec sat her down. She punched him in the arm before continuing down the sidewalk, looking back over her shoulder periodically to make sure Alec was behaving now.

They entered the frat house to a barrage of loud, thumping music. Everywhere Alec looked were writhing bodies in various costumes. Some were very elaborate, and probably very expensive. Others were clearly homemade and just barely passed as a costume. Alec suddenly felt his cheerleading uniform was just fine. At least he wasn't wearing a plain white t-shirt with multiple rolls of toilet paper attached to it. What the hell was that supposed to be anyway?

He glanced around the room and found the beverage table. He leaned close to Austin and Cammie to see if they wanted anything, but they waved him off. They were going to hit the dance floor first. He sighed. His first frat party, and he was single, didn't even have a date. Boo. He knew Magnus was off partying somewhere, but they hadn't really discussed specifics. All he knew was that Magnus had left the dorm room earlier looking ten kinds of hot in nineteenth century gentleman's attire. Where he got the costume, Alec had no idea, but damn did he look good in it. Plum with gold striping waistcoat, white frilly button-up shirt, top hat and coattails. Yum. He wondered if Magnus could pull off a good British accent. Alec would be putty in his hands if he did.

After half an hour of standing around bored, Cammie dragged him onto the dance floor. He danced with Austin and Cammie, carving out a triangle shaped area in the center of the room. Alec liked to dance, and was fine with group dancing. That was about all he got to do in high school. There just weren't many gay boys in his school, and even fewer that were willing to publicly dance with him.

They danced for hours, working up a sweat, moving to the hip hop songs that vibrated through the speakers and into their souls. Alec was having fun, but his mind kept drifting, like it so often did, to Magnus. He wondered where Magnus was, what he was doing. After a while, he realized his heart wasn't into the party any longer. He wanted to go back to his room, be alone, think. No, what he really wanted was to talk to Magnus.

He remembered sitting together on the couch watching videos of basketball stars performing insane feats. He recalled the look in Magnus's eyes and how excited he got as they watched. That beautiful, open, unhindered expression when Alec could see straight into his soul. Yeah, that's what he wanted.

He dragged Austin and Cammie off the dance floor and told them he was calling it a night. They looked disappointed to see him go, but he smiled softly to them and they smiled back. He knew they worried about him, especially when he saw the expression on Cam's face. It reminded him of the way Izzy looked at him when he broke up with Eric.

He pulled her into a one-armed hug and kissed the top of her head. "I'm fine. Stop worrying about me." She grinned up at him with an expression that clearly said she would not stop worrying. He released her and clasped hands and chest bumped with Austin. "You guys have fun. I'll see you later. Okay?" They agreed and Alec headed for the door. He looked back one last time before he left and caught the look that passed between Cammie and Austin. There was only one word to describe that look. Love. He hoped someone would look at him like that someday.

He casually walked back to the dormitory, wondering if he would be the only person in the entire building tonight. Halloween had been the topic of every conversation for the last two weeks. It seemed the entire campus had plans for tonight. Perhaps he would text Jace and see what he was up to.

He let himself into his dorm room. As he expected, he didn't encounter a single person along the way. Everything was quiet. Perhaps that's why the noises coming from Magnus's room startled him so. He glanced in the direction and received the shock of his life.

Magnus's bedroom door was wide open. Magnus was kneeling at the foot of the bed behind a girl on her hands and knees, and he was fucking her senseless. Her long black hair draped over her lean body, and she emitted some incredibly wanton noises. She flung her head back and Alec caught a glimpse of her face. She had startling blue eyes, but she was not the same girl Magnus had been with that night he nearly knocked him to the ground outside the weight room. This girl had a more slender, heart-shaped face. Both were stunningly pretty.

The girl let her head fall back down as Magnus continued to pummel into her. Alec felt like he was rooted to the spot, unable to turn his eyes away, no matter how much he wanted to. And, unlike when he caught Magnus jacking off, this time he desperately wanted to look away. This was a private moment, and he hated intruding on it. Hell, he hated that it was even happening. He felt a surge of jealousy, but he knew that wasn't fair. Sure, he had caught Magnus looking at him on many occasions, and they were becoming pretty good friends, but Magnus had not admitted to any feelings for Alec, had not even admitted that he could have feelings for a guy. Still, would it have killed him to shut the fucking door?

Alec's eyes involuntarily scanned the girl's body, from her flowing black hair to her slender waist, and came to rest on Magnus, whose hands where gripping her hips so tightly his knuckles where turning white. His eyes grazed over his perfect torso, currently covered in a thin sheen of sweat from exertion. He looked so beautiful like that, even if he was with a girl at the moment. That part didn't really do anything for him, but just watching the graceful arc of Magnus's body made him wish he could take the place of that girl. Alec continued his trail up Magnus's body, finally landing on his face, which was contorted into a mask of tension and…frustration? Could that really be what Alec was seeing?

The girl started bucking wildly on Magnus's dick, vocalizing her release, and Magnus's face scrunched up tighter. Alec wasn't an expert in heterosexual sex, but the look on Magnus's face didn't reconcile with what he should be feeling at this moment. The girl finally stopped moving, collapsing into a panting mess against Magnus's mattress, but Magnus continued pounding her, still searching for his own release.

To Alec's horror, Magnus's eyes cracked opened, and immediately found him. He was caught watching, and was completely embarrassed by it. He wanted to run, hide, possibly never face Magnus again as long as he lived. It's what he deserved. He had no business watching Magnus, and he was sure his friend would let him know that. He expected Magnus's wrath, but what actually happened caught him completely off guard, and left him questioning everything he knew. Instead of looking angry or ashamed or anything else Alec thought Magnus would feel at being observed, Magnus's features softened, his lips turning up at the corners into a soft smile. He held Alec's gaze, his unique green-gold eyes locked onto Alec's brilliant blue. His hips pumped a few more times, then his body trembled and spasmed. His mouth fell open in silent release, but he did not break eye contact with Alec. His body stopped moving, all the tension draining from him, and he finally let his eyes slide shut in relief.

Alec stood there long enough to see Magnus pull out of the girl, climb off the bed, and discard the condom in the trash. Then he turned and darted into his bedroom as fast as he could. He leaned against the door, panting as if he were the one who had just had sex. It took several long moments, and many deep breaths to steady him. What the hell just happened? he thought. He couldn't make sense of it. It was almost like Magnus was struggling to get off until he saw Alec. But that couldn't be...could it?

Alec was a jumble of emotions. He couldn't honestly describe how he felt at the moment. It hurt to see Magnus with a girl, and he was jealous as fuck about it! He was slightly traumatized at having caught Magnus, again, in such an intimate situation, especially one that involved someone else. His feelings for Magnus seemed to be increasing by the day, but now he wondered if he was making a mistake getting close to him. Maybe Magnus was straight after all. But then, why did he seem so happy to see Alec, and get off right after that? Or was that just a coincidence and he was about to finish, regardless of him standing there? Did it even matter? If Magnus was fucking some chick, he didn't seem to be any closer to coming out than he was a month ago when Alec moved in. And, tickling at the back of his mind, not yet forming into a coherent thought he could analyze, was the fact the both girls Magnus had been with this semester had black hair and blue eyes...just like Alec...

After an unknown amount of time, he heard the door close and only then did he venture back out into the living room. He didn't want to face Magnus at the moment. He was still reeling from what he had witnessed, still trying to process it all, still trying to figure out how he felt about it. He hated seeing Magnus with someone else. Seeing him with a girl made him question if Magnus really was attracted to guys. Of course, seeing him with another guy would have meant that he was indeed attracted to guys, just not Alec. He really wished he hadn't seen him with anyone. He stood in the kitchen, his thoughts chasing each other through his mind, for a ridiculously long time before finally deciding to pop some popcorn and watch a movie, drowning his sorrows in mindless TV and super-buttery, fattening comfort food.

To Alec's surprise, Magnus returned before the popcorn was finished popping. Shit. He had hoped to be back in his room with his laptop and Netflix before Magnus returned, but now he had no excuses to avoid Magnus. The girl must not live far away, Alec thought. His mind searched for something to say to Magnus, something to make the situation not so awkward. He rather thought that was asking a lot.

Magnus strolled over to the refrigerator, yanked the door open and pulled out a bottle of water. "Want one?" he asked Alec, who suddenly realized he hadn't thought of something to drink with his popcorn. Magnus looked up, caught Alec's eye, his expression completely neutral. The expression he used on everyone in his life. The expression that gave nothing about his feelings away, nothing whatsoever.

"S-sure," he stammered, still not sure how to handle this situation.

"Do I smell popcorn?" Magnus closed the refrigerator door and handed the bottle of water to Alec.

"Yeah." He still couldn't believe how nonchalant Magnus was acting, so calm, like he hadn't just gotten off while staring directly into Alec's eyes. Alec's hand was trembling, he noted with a deep sense of unease, as he took the water bottle Magnus offered.

"There enough for me?" Magnus asked. "I'm starved."

I'll bet you are! Alec thought, but simply nodded to Magnus instead. He dumped the popcorn into a bowl and grabbed his water bottle off the countertop, then headed to the couch, followed closely by Magnus. This was not the plan. Not that he really had a plan to begin with, but sitting next to Magnus on the couch sharing popcorn was not going to help him clear his head.

Then, before his brain-to-mouth filter had a chance to kick in, he found himself saying, "Why do you do that?" Oh, shit! He hadn't meant to start this conversation, though if he were honest with himself, he really wanted to know the answer. Perhaps being straight-forward was the best option. God he hoped it was.

"Do what?"

Alec looked at him incredulously. Was this guy serious? "Oh, I don't know. Walk around the dorm naked? Leave your door open to include me in your private moments?"

The corner of Magnus's mouth hitched upward. "We don't have to make a big deal out of this."

Alec spluttered, his eyes rounding in disbelief. "Not...big deal...What?" He opened and closed his mouth a few times. He knew he looked stupid, but he just couldn't believe Magnus had said it wasn't a big deal. "It's a big deal to me!" he said, finally getting his brain and mouth to coordinate.

"Why?" Magnus said with genuine interest in his tone.

Alec bit his lip, thinking fast. Oh, he was so not going to answer that question. "That's not important," he said. "But it is a big deal, and I want to know why you do it."

Magnus shrugged. "It's what I've always done," he said offhandedly.

Alec turned in his seat to look more closely at him. "But why?" he said earnestly. Despite his discomfort, he really wanted to know what was going through that gorgeous head right now. If Magnus had done this before, he must have a reason.

Magnus dropped his gaze to his hands. "Because I never wanted a roommate. I thought if I ran them all off, maybe they would finally stop giving me new ones, and let me live alone."

Alec wasn't prepared for that. Those words stung him more than just about anything else Magnus could have said. He wanted so badly to get to know Magnus, it really hurt to find out he was trying to get rid of him all along. "Oh," he said softly, his voice sounding hollow even to himself. He edged to the corner of the couch, about to get up, then said quietly, "I'll ask Mrs. Greene for a transfer on Monday."

"What?" Magnus said, sounding alarmed. "No! I don't want you to go!"

Alec chanced a glance at him and was surprised to see that his face held the same strain that was in his voice. He sincerely didn't want Alec to move out. Alec's heart fluttered, but he was confused.

"But you just said…"

"I know what I said," Magnus said urgently, "but I didn't mean you."

"Why not me?" Alec asked, half afraid of the answer.

"Because," Magnus said softly, "you're different."

Alec looked at him, his brows furrowed in question. "What do you mean?"

Magnus looked distinctly uncomfortable. Alec was sure that he was. They were wading into some deep waters here, and Alec felt the trepidation as well. "I never wanted a roommate. I've always wanted to be alone. It's easier that way. I can be myself when I'm alone. And I don't like to talk about personal things, you know?"

Magnus paused, and Alec held his breath. He didn't want to push Magnus, but he knew that they needed to get this out in the open if they were going to continue to be roommates. This was a long time coming. He waited for Magnus to continue.

"My first roommate was pushy," Magnus said. "He didn't get the hint that I am a private person and didn't want to talk about things with him. I finally managed to push him away and get him to leave, but it was difficult and very uncomfortable for me. He found out some things I didn't want him to know…"

Magnus swallowed. "Anyway, after that, I started doing the naked routine. Do you know how most people responded to that?" Alec shook his head, though he had a pretty good idea. "They shut themselves up in their room and pretty much never spoke to me." Magnus shrugged. "It was what I wanted, I guess."

"It wasn't what you wanted?" Alec said, reading between the lines. He was more than a little surprised.

"I thought it was what I wanted." Magnus shook his head as if trying to shake a pesky fly. "No, it was definitely what I wanted. I didn't want anyone else in my life...but then you came along and took me by surprise."

"I did?"

"Yeah," Magnus said. "You didn't hole up in your room and ignore me. You sat down next to me and had a conversation, like me being naked is the most natural thing in the world. And for some reason unknown to me, I liked that. It felt like you accepted me. That doesn't make any sense, does it?"

"No, it does. And I do accept you." Alec looked at him thoughtfully for a moment. "So, was this all some kind of...test?"

"I never really thought about it like that before," Magnus answered honestly. "I guess, in a way, it was."

"And did I pass?" Alec said, unable to keep the note of hope from his voice.

Magnus grinned at him. "With flying colors." Alec beamed, his whole body filled with a glowing warmth at Magnus's words. Magnus wanted him to stay, wanted him as a roommate.

"Awesome," he said happily. "I think I'm glad I was randomly selected to be your new roommate."

Magnus snorted, then turned a surprised look on Alec. "Is that what they told you?"

Alec's forehead crinkled into a frown. "Yeah," he said uncertainly.

Magnus shook his head. "You weren't randomly selected. You were chosen on purpose." His voice was as certain as Alec's was doubtful.

"Why?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Magnus said patiently. Alec didn't answer. "They thought you would be able to deal with me. It's no secret among Mrs. Greene and the administrators why I can't seem to keep a roommate. They've tried to reprimand me, several times, but there's nothing they can do, really. So, they chose the openly gay, easy-to-get-along-with guy. Plus, they always choose freshman. I think they think the freshman wouldn't know anything about me and might get them a couple extra months before they cave. Freshman don't like to make waves if they can keep from it. Usually." He smirked a little at Alec at that last statement, though Alec wasn't sure why. He certainly didn't tend to make waves. Did he?

"So they took me away from a place where I was happy, with a roommate I got along with well, because they thought I could handle your…eccentricities?"

Magnus burst into laughter, though whether from Alec's indignation or his calling Magnus's nudity an eccentricity, he didn't know. Alec watched him laugh for several moments before finally conceding that his statement was funny, and laughing lightly with him.

"I'm sorry, Alec," Magnus said when the laughter had finally died. "I never considered how my actions were affecting others. No, that's not true. I never cared how my actions affected people. I just wanted to be alone and that was the only thing I could think of to make it happen."

Alec studied him for a moment. "Don't you get lonely though, being alone all the time? Don't you want a friend, someone to talk to?"

Magnus shrugged. "I have Will. He's all I need." He glanced sideways at Alec. "Need-ed," he amended.

Alec looked sharply at Magnus. "Needed?"

Magnus stared determinedly at his hands as he quietly said, "Yeah. I like having you as a friend."

Alec dragged his lower lip between his teeth, chewing thoughtfully. He was hesitant for some reason. Well, not for 'some reason.' He didn't want to ruin this moment by saying something stupid or grabbing Magnus and kissing him, like he really wanted to do. Magnus had just said he needed him, liked having him as a friend. Alec felt fairly certain that he had never uttered those words to anyone, other than maybe Will, in his entire life. His heart swelled, but he had to remain grounded. Magnus had used the word 'friend' after all. Oh, God, he was in so much trouble.

Finally, he said, "You're friendship means a lot to mean too, Magnus."

Magnus looked up, his eyes wordlessly telling Alec that his thoughts were correct, that Magnus had never really put himself out there like that, with anyone, again, other than Will. But in many ways Will didn't count in this scenario. He and Will had been friends their entire lives. Will knew where he stood with Magnus, and vice versa. There was no question about that. And consequently, no need for Magnus to make himself so vulnerable.

Magnus's expression eased, and he reached for a handful of popcorn. He leaned back on the couch, stretching out and getting comfortable.

"So, what movie should we watch?" he said casually, like they had not just had a life-changing conversation. Well, it had changed Alec's life anyway. He wondered if Magnus felt the same.

Alec picked up the remote and flicked through the options on Netflix. "Ferris Beuller's Day Off!" he exclaimed excitedly.

"Ferris what?" said Magnus skeptically.

"Oh, come on. Surely you've heard of one of the best '80's movies ever!" Alec said, looking at Magnus as if he were a new species he didn't understand.

Magnus chuckled. "Sorry. No."

"Then we are definitely watching it," Alec said, clicking the button. He leaned back on the couch, grabbed a handful of popcorn and waited for the movie to load. He glanced sideways at Magnus, and realized he was watching him with a crooked grin on his face. "What? My parents love '80's movies…and music…and just about everything for that matter. Relax and enjoy the show. You'll love it, I promise."

Magnus's grin widened, but he did as he was instructed. He reached for some popcorn and bumped hands with Alec, pulling away shyly. Alec offered the bowl to him, not wanting anything to break the spell they seemed to be under at that moment. Then he settled in to watch the movie, sitting closer to Magnus than was strictly necessary to share popcorn. He caught a whiff of Magnus's scent, that musky, masculine smell, lightly flavored by sandalwood and sweat. He torn his mind away from his roommate and focused on the antics of one Ferris Beuller.