Hello my beautifuls,
Thank you so much for your awesome reviews!
Hopefully you'll like this chapter, good things are happening!
Anyway, here you go, have chapter 8 :)
Disclaimer: Still not mine but I'm loving writing it
Familiar Faces
On Monday morning, Clary made her way to school with twice as much excitement and nervousness as she had the previous Monday. She stopped in for coffee as she had grown accustomed to, to have a chat with Simon.
'Hey Simon!' she called through the coffee shop. It was empty as it usually was at this time in the morning, so she could be as loud as she wanted.
'Hey Clary!' she heard him call back from the store room.
Simon came tumbling out of the store room door, and everything he had been carrying landed on top of him. Clary rushed over to help her friend.
'Jesus-'
'No actually, just me, although I've been told the resemblance is uncanny,' Simon interjected. His wit was still intact even if his dignity wasn't.
Clary cracked a smile but ignored his statement. 'Simon! Are you ok?' She'd only known him for a week and it already seemed like she'd checked he was ok after an incident far too many times.
'Yeah, just a little crushed, would you give me a hand?' he asked, a little embarrassed.
'Of course!' Clary replied as she started taking boxing off him and helping him back up. 'How did this even happen?'
'I don't know, I'm always falling over…' he trailed off, his blush a little brighter.
'Me too,' Clary agreed, she wasn't quite as clumsy as Simon but she felt he needed some reassuring. 'Anyway, how was your weekend?'
'Great actually,' he replied, suddenly enthusiastic again as he started making Clary's usual black coffee. 'The band's got a gig on Friday so we spent most of the weekend practicing. What about you, how was your weekend?'
'That's awesome!' She toyed with the idea of asking where his gig was so she could go. She was intrigued to see what Simon's band sounded like, however she had only known the guy a week, so maybe that would be weird. 'My weekend was pretty cool too, I spent most of it celebrating and catching up with a friend I hadn't seen since college.'
'Nice! What were you celebrating?'
'On Friday, Ms Herondale the head mistress told me I would start as a real teacher today. God, Simon, I'm so nervous, but its going to be great!'
'Clary that's awesome! Have you told her about all of your ideas for the department?' Clary loved that Simon was so genuinely pleased for her, it seemed like she had known him for years, so naturally she'd been updating him every morning before work about what had been going on with her. Sometimes he'd attempt to explain a remarkable development in his PhD, but Clary would get a little lost so they'd end up talking about books or video games.
'Yeah, she told me that I get to start changing things up as soon as I walk in. I'm going to start decorating the walls today, get some displays of the kids' work up, and maybe sort out an after school art thing?' she said as a sort of question, she hadn't really thought this idea through very much, but it would be an opportunity for the students that weren't taking art to get creative if they wanted to.
They chatted until the regular flow of customers came in, Clary excitedly discussing her ideas and Simon listening intently, caught up in how passionately she talked about her subject.
Across town in the Vogue Headquarters, however, Magnus was having the worst morning imaginable. He had gotten to the building early with Tessa at his side, hoping to find a suitable model for the men's half of his collection and run through his presentation before he was summoned by the Vogue bigwigs.
Tessa was brilliant, she was ready and gorgeous and perfect despite never having modeled professionally before, but it seemed that all the models with Alec's measurements had a day off or they just simply didn't exist. Magnus had tried various outfits on a model almost Alec's build, but they all looked wrong. The arms were too long or the pant legs were saggy or the shirt just didn't sit right, there was always a problem.
There was only one person Magnus could call that could make this better, and he hated that he had to make this call.
Alec was sitting in a coffee shop nearby, working on some designs for a job he'd started working on recently. He'd dropped Magnus and Tessa off at Vogue and decided he'd wait for them. He wanted to be the first one to know how it all went so he could celebrate or commiserate accordingly (although he was almost completely sure Magnus would ace this presentation).
After about 45 minutes, Alec's phone started buzzing. He was confused when he saw that it was Magnus calling, as he should have been in his presentation by now.
'OhmygodAleceverythingisgoingwrongandIdon'tknowwhatI'mgoingtodoohgod-' A stream of barely understandable words flowed from the phone speaker as Magnus panicked down the phone to his boyfriend.
'Magnus, Magnus! Calm down! What's wrong?' Alec asked, worried. Magnus was rarely panicked or upset so it was generally a matter to be concerned about when it occurred.
'Everything. There are no models with your measurements, I found one with close measurements but everything looked wrong, completely un-presentable.' Magnus sounded sorrowful instead of panicked now, as if he had given up.
This is what made Alec made the split second decision to help. He leapt up and put his things away, hurrying out of the coffee shop. 'Which floor are you on?'
'What?' Magnus asked, completely dumbfounded.
'I'm coming to help, which floor?' Alec was now running towards the doors of the Vogue building.
'19th, Alec wha-'
'Great, see you in two minutes.'
Alec hung up and hurried to the lift in the foyer. The receptionist shouted for him to stop and sign in, but just as the lift doors were closing, he shouted 'I'm a model, and I'm late!' In the second before the doors shut completely, Alec saw the receptionist give him an understanding and somewhat pitying look, as if this happened often and the consequences weren't great.
The truth of his statement hit him as he relaxed for the time it took to get to the 19th floor. I'm actually doing this? He thought to himself, shocked. Jesus. He took deep, steadying breaths whilst telling himself that it wasn't the time to worry about his insecurities. This was for Magnus and he'd do anything for him, even if it involved strutting his stuff in front of the people controlling Magnus's career.
Magnus was waiting by the lift and as the door opened Alec could see how worried his boyfriend was. His body language was defensive and his eyes looked red as if he'd been holding in tears.
Alec enveloped Magnus in a hug in an attempt to make the forlorn expression on Magnus's face go away.
'You don't have to do this, you know,' Magnus whispered into Alec's shoulder.
'Of course I do,' Alec replied, 'This is your career we're talking about. Now show me what I have to do.'
Clary's morning was going brilliantly. The project that the kids had been working on was a portrait of a familiar person, be it a parent or a best friend or a sibling. This week's project would be a portrait of an unfamiliar face, then they would compare how the process of drawing a familiar face differs from drawing an unfamiliar one.
The second lesson of the day brought some delightful juniors into Clary's classroom. The art that the students had produced was phenomenal, for example, Kaelie Evans, a little air headed but incredibly talented girl had drawn a picture of her little sister, which could easily have been a photograph. Helen Blackthorn, a quiet but cool girl had drawn a picture of her girlfriend in different shades of pink and purple, which was really effective. But there was one boy who blew all the other pieces out of the water, and his name was Ragnor Fell.
Ragnor was a short boy with bright blue ends to his dark hair, numerous visible tattoos and an eccentric fashion taste. He reminded Clary a little of a young Magnus Bane. His drawing startled Clary for a second, as it looked like he had drawn a charcoal portrait of Alec, but ten years younger. She shook off this idea and noticed the differences, for example the boy in the picture had glasses and freckles, and a slightly different shaped face.
Despite how badass Ragnor Fell looked on the outside, he seemed to be particularly shy and reserved. When Clary came round to admire all of the kids' work, he asked her if his was ok, when clearly it was the best piece in the room.
'This is incredible, Ragnor,' Clary enthused. She wanted him to be confident in what he could achieve. 'In fact, do you mind if I display this piece? I want it to be the first piece on the wall.'
'Really?' Ragnor asked, incredulous.
'Yeah, really!' Clary answered.
'Sure, I guess, thanks Miss Fray.'
'No problem! Just one thing, you have to name your piece, so who is this?'
'Oh, he's my best friend. Just call it 'Max'.'
Magnus had taught him how to walk down a catwalk, and Alec couldn't help but regard it as the most humiliating thing he would ever do. 'Sway your hips, darling!' Magnus would say, and another little piece of Alec's dignity would crumble away. When Magnus was satisfied that Alec could walk properly and pose properly, he entered the presentation room 15 minutes late.
'You're late, Mr Bane.' A stern voice called out through the room that seemed to come from the scary looking woman at the front. A selection of Vogue people were at the front of the room, seemingly led by this severe woman.
'Fashionably so, wouldn't you say?' Magnus replied, his tone dramatic and slightly flirty. This seemed to shut the woman up, so Magnus started his presentation.
'I am Magnus Bane, here to introduce you to my collection. I feel clothes speak louder than words, so first up is Daywear.'
Right on cue, Alec and Tessa started walking down the catwalk. Tessa was wearing a short dress with orange tones, while Alec was wearing navy fitted chinos and an orange ty dye style tee. Alec swallowed all of his pride as he posed at the end, Tessa attached to his side.
After walking back, Alec heard Magnus begin to speak again. He knew it was to fill the time whilst they were changing. Happily, Tessa was used to changing quickly and Alec was on the soccer team in school, so he was used to changing quickly and getting the hell out of the boys locker room.
This went on for all of the collection and the expressionless panel of Vogue employees was a tough crowd. Magnus was enthusiastic and his general smooth and confident self.
The last lot of clothes was Eveningwear and Magnus held his breath the whole time Alec and Tessa were on the catwalk. These was the most troublesome to make but God did they look perfect when they walked. Magnus even took the time to notice Alec may be slightly possibly enjoying himself. He'd got more relaxed and with this last one, they were better than any professionals. It probably helped that these were the people Magnus had made the clothes for anyway.
Magnus rounded up the presentation and there was a small round of applause, and the severe looking woman offered Magnus a seat to talk. Alec could only hope this was a good sign. He caught the beginnings of their conversation before he and Tessa were rushed out of the room.
'So, Mr Bane, I didn't recognize your models. Who are they?'
'Oh, they're not models, they're my friends…'
At lunchtime, Clary went to the staff room and sat with Jia as usual. Jia was marking some work as Clary excitedly told her about her day.
'Do you have Ragnor Fell? He is just phenomenal, he drew this portrait of his best friend and- just wow.' Clary enthused to her friend.
'I took him for History a couple of years ago, I always knew that boy would do well at the arts.' Jia replied. 'Mainly because he drew in his textbooks! It was very annoying. At least Max has the decency to make his doodles history related.'
'Max?' Clary asked, suddenly very interested.
'Yes, Max Lightwood, I think he and Fell are friends. Every time I collect his work in, it's covered in cartoons of historic events. He's very bright and he's very talented. It's a bit of a shame he doesn't take Art really.' Jia pushed over one of the pieces of work she was marking and it was covered in doodles and cartoons of various dictators.
This Max Lightwood was talented and Clary was determined to see if he would be interested in an after school art class. She wanted to get kids drawing because they wanted to, and Max seemed to be a prime example.
Also, she was curious to meet the boy. He was a Lightwood, which confirmed her suspicions of being related to Alec. He must be a cousin, she thought, as she had never heard Alec talk about any siblings.
The bell went for last lesson, but Clary was set on finding out about Max.
'What does Max have now?' she asked Jia who was packing away her things.
'I think he has English, why?'
'Do you think the teacher will mind if I steal him for 5 minutes to ask about his art?'
'I'm sure Mr Wayland won't mind.' Jia replied with a knowing smile on her face, which confused Clary. Also, that name rang a bell…
She ran down the English corridor and knocked on the classroom door. A voice called for her to come inside, but the sight in front of her prevented her from speaking.
It was him. The man with the golden eyes.
AN: Here you go! Well done for waiting 8 whole chapters to get another glimpse at our favourite sarcastic blond! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, don't forget to review!
