Magnus took the risk of sitting on the sofa next to Alec. Even though he wanted to stay as far as way as possible, he wanted to properly have a conversation with him and he knew that sometimes Alec mumbled and that he'd have to sit close to hear him clearly. So he sat next to him, which was a bold and dangerous move.
Magnus felt incredibly guilty about treating Alec like trash. He had been ignoring him and it was killing him inside but . . . deep down, he knew it was the right thing to do. He couldn't deny he had feelings for the younger boy. Not big feelings, but there was something there. Every time he saw Alec he got butterflies in his stomach and that definitely had to mean something, right?
And there was no doubt that Magnus found Alec attractive. Alec was just so tall and muscular and Magnus couldn't get enough of it. The thing that drove him crazy was Alec's red eyes. Every single time Alec looked at him with those flaming red orbs, Magnus melted. In addition, Magnus found Alec's multiple scars and tattoos and burns undeniably gorgeous, and he could literally spend an entire day looking at every square inch of Alec's beautiful body.
But every time Magnus caught himself staring at Alec for too long, he'd remind himself that Alec was his student and it was incredibly wrong to do that. That stupid voice in the back of his head was always telling him to stop.
Alec felt conflicted about Mr. Bane. His attraction to the man was more physical than anything. He thought Magnus was incredibly fit and handsome. Alec had never liked another boy before, so his attraction to Magnus was a bit odd- scratch that, a lot odd. He wanted to ignore it but he simply couldn't.
Alec was about to confess his biggest secret to someone that didn't even care about him. What had he gotten himself into?
"So," Magnus said, clearing his throat to break the awkward silence.
"Right, the story. Well, I guess the first thing you should know is that I used to be really popular back at my old school. I didn't always have these scars and stuff, y'know? I had perfect skin and hair and eyes. I was kinda worshiped by everyone else," Alec admitted..
"Very modest," Magnus scoffed.
"I'm being honest, Mr. Bane."
Magnus sighed, "Okay, okay . . . continue."
"Thanks. Anyway, as I was saying, I was really popular but I teased people a lot. I was nice to about five percent of my school and the rest I treated like dirt. I was a monster," Alec said, his throat bobbing as his brain dug up the memory of himself from a few months back.
"You were a bully?" Mr. Bane asked softly.
"Precisely. Well, one day I teased this kid named Jace. I was making fun of him because he was a jerk and dumped his lunch on me-"
Magnus giggled at the thought of Alec getting food expelled on him, interrupting Alec's story.
"It's not funny!" Alec squealed.
"I know, I know. I'm sorry, go on," Magnus said, fighting back a smile.
Alec shot him a short glare, "Right, so, I was making fun of him when he suddenly said that he'd get his revenge or something like that. I didn't think much of it. The next morning, I woke up and . . . yeah, I looked like this."
Magnus tilted his head, "How is that even possible?"
"I don't know. We went to see a doctor and he said he had no idea. Jace said that I had 365 days to find love, and when all of the pedals disappear from the rose tattoo on my wrist- each pedal represents one month- then I'll stay like this forever," Alec said, his voice fading at the end.
Magnus rose an eyebrow and grabbed Alec's wrist, examining Alec's tainted skin. The rose only had nine pedals left.
"You have nine months," Magnus said weakly.
Alec uncomfortably pulled his hand back, "Yeah."
"And your mum didn't want the public to see you, so she made up a bullshit story about you being mentally ill to keep you home schooled?" Magnus said, catching on.
"Yup," Alec said, popping the p. Magnus placed his hand on Alec's thigh, trying to comfort him.
"I don't know what to say," Magnus gulped.
"Don't say anything. Please don't feel sorry for me, I don't need your pity." Alec spat.
Magnus stared down at the ground, removing his hand from Alec's leg, "So that's it then? We're back to where we were before? Nothing is going to change between us, right?" he asked, his voice cracking with vulnerability.
Alec shook his head, "I don't know. Why can't we be friends? I don't get it. I understand if you don't want to be a thing with me, but a friendship won't hurt."
Magnus inhaled a sharp breath, "But it'll hurt me."
Alec scoffed, "Why? This is bull! You're just going to continue to hate me and give me the cold shoulder and treat me like shit?"
"Alec, I can't be friends with you, alright?" Magnus snapped.
"Why!?" Alec demanded.
"Because I can't just be friends with you! If I get too personal I know I'm going to fall for you and that can't happen, alright? Is that what you wanted to hear?" Magnus growled, standing up from the sofa angrilly.
Alec swallowed thickly, "Magnus- I mean, Mr. Bane, we can't act like there's nothing between us, though."
"We can try," Magnus said, almost in a whisper.
"You sure 'bout that?" Alec asked, standing up as well. He stood a few inches over Magnus, even though he was a few years younger. Alec brought up his thumb and gently brushed it over Magnus' cheek, sending shivers down the older boy's spine.
"Alec-"
"Shh," Alec whispered, cupping Magnus' face gently. He stared intently into his eyes and leaned in, going for a kiss. Magnus' stomach bubbled as he moved in as well, tortuously slow. Magnus could feel himself melting as he felt Alec's hot breath brush against his face.
Right before their lips were about to touch, Magnus' brain told him no, so he turned his head quickly to the side, causing Alec to kiss his cheek instead of his lips.
Magnus shoved him away and muttered a quick apology. He grabbed his coat and briefcase and left, leaving a stunned and broken Alec behind.
"Woolsey, I did it again," Magnus sighed, grabbing a piece of pizza from the box. They were watching a match on the tellie and enjoying dinner in the living room, casually chatting about their days.
"Did what?" Woolsey asked with a mouth full of pizza. His cheeks were stuffed like a chipmunk's. Pizza sauce oozed from the corners of his mouth. Magnus chuckled and wiped friend's mouth with a napkin, dabbing away the sauce. Woolsey laughed and thanked him.
"You're so messy," Magnus joked.
"I know. I'm sorry! Anyway, you were saying?"
"Right, well, eh- I almost kissed Alec again today," Magnus said, avoiding Woolsey's eye contact.
Woolsey almost choked on his food and stared at his friend with wide eyes, "Again!?" he demanded.
Magnus blushed bright red, "Yeah."
"Geez, this is the third time! Maybe you need to call Ms. Lightwood and quit. This is getting out of hand," Woolsey said.
"I said I almost kissed him. I stopped myself. At least I'm controlling myself," Magnus shrugged.
"I know you're gay, Magnus, but going after your student? Really? Are you that desperate?" Woolsey asked, laughing a bit, but Magnus didn't find it funny at all.
"Shut up," Magnus hissed.
Woolsey rolled his eyes, "I was just joking-"
"I'm going to sleep. Night," Magnus huffed.
He put his remaining pizza back into the box and shuffled into his room, ignoring Woolsey's desperate and whiny apologies behind him. He walked into his room and shut the door with a frustrated slam, remembering to lock it.
[I'm so done with my school friends. I don't want to self harm myself again so I wrote this chapter.. I feel shit and I took sleeping pills because I really don't want to go to school]