Ehehehehe...Yes I know I haven't been updating quickly (please don't hurt me...) but life keeps getting in the way...

I've had to write papers, go on dates, argue with my mom, watch my sisters, get ready for my school concert, go to a psychologist, go through personality tests, take tests in health class, do homework, and work on this...

Oh, and apparently I suffer from depression (Just like everyone else...yay...)

SSSOOO, I just finished writing this, and I know Alec is kinda OOC...But I went through this a million times, and he just. Won't. Stay. In. Character. (GGAAAHH!)

(Oh, and there is SOME cursing...just to warn you)

All, right I'll stop rambling. You can decide for yourself if it's any good.

UPDATE: I made some mistakes. They should be fixed now.

Awkward Conversations...

"Hello? Are you still there?" He asked.

I realized I hadn't spoken since he called.

"Um…yes, I'm still here…" I stammered. My face and grown from pale to red in less then three seconds…Dear God, help me…

I could hear the smile in his voice as he replied. "Are you a Shadowhunter?"

"Y-yes…"
"Do you have blue eyes?"
"Yeah…"
"Did I ask you to call me?"
"Uh-huh…"

"Then you're the one I'm looking for. Now, you didn't happen to have accidently taken one of my books, did you?" I looked at my bed, and went from very embarrassed to confused in less than two seconds.

On my bed, there was a book that wasn't there before. It was written in an ancient warlock language that I couldn't read. I knew I shouldn't, but curiosity got the best of me and I flipped the first page open.

Almost immediately, a bunch of tentacles reached up out of the book.

"HOLY MOTHER OF GOD!" I squealed.

"What? What happened?" At any other time, I would have thought something along the lines of: Aw! He cares about me… and then I would blush and think: Don't be ridiculous, Alec. He won't ever like you like that… but at the time, the only thing I was thinking was: OH MY GOD! THERE ARE TENTACLES COMING OUT OF THE BOOK!

"What do I do? The book opened!" I didn't really succeed in keeping the panic out of my voice. I heard a relieved sigh, and then a smirking voice.

"Just close the book."

I stared at the phone. "Close the book?"

"That's what I said."
"That's it?"
"Yes."

I slowly went near the tentacles and slammed the book shut. The tentacles disappeared back into the book. I stared for a few moments before I heard his voice again.

"Hello? Are you still there?"

I put the phone back to my ear. "I'm going to refrain from commenting." I said, my eyes still on the book. I heard laughter and I finally remembered why I was so nervous earlier.

"Magnus Bane?"

"That would be me, darling." I could still hear him smiling. "Now, if you aren't too busy, would do me a favor and return that book? I'm going to need it back…"
"Um…sure? I-I'm not too busy right now…I guess I'll be over in a few minutes…" I stammered, feeling ridiculous.
"Thank you." Magnus chirped, then the dial tone.

I gingerly picked the book up by the spine and slid it gently into my bag; I wasn't taking any chances with that thing. After drawing an invisibility rune on my arm, I made my way to Magnus's flat.

I got there in ten minutes, and rang the buzzer.

"Who are you, what do you want, and why are you ringing my buzzer?" The system crackled.

I bit my lip, and decided to be a little bold. I took a deep breath and tried to imagine that I was standing in my room, looking in the mirror. It helped me a lot, and when I actually spoke, my voice didn't betray my nerves! "Alec Lightwood, go to sleep and I am trying to give you your book back."

The system broke up his chuckle. "Ah…I remember you…you're the cute Shadowhunter with the blue eyes, correct?"

I blushed, all former confidence gone. "Um…yeah…"

"Then, come on up." The door buzzed and I pushed it open. I walked up the stairs timidly. I didn't know how I was supposed to respond to Magnus, he was intriguing and intimidating to say the least. For obvious reasons.

When I walked into his apartment, I marveled at how different the place looked when it had actual furniture. It was messy, but in an organized way. This was only the second time I'd been here, but it felt more like 'home' then the Institute ever had…strange…

However, when my attention landed on the owner of this homey apartment, all coherent thoughts ceased to exist.

He was sipping champagne and sitting cross-legged on his fluffy pink couch. He had exchanged his extravagant outfit for multi-colored leopard print pajamas. His body seemed to glow and sparkle, even though he no longer wore any glitter. His face and hair were the best part, however. His midnight black hair was now hanging a little past his ears, and the skin beneath his make-up was flawless. He looked even more beautiful then he had at the party, if that was even possible.

He smiled at me, and I blushed.

"Uh….hi?" I mentally slapped myself. Keep it together, Lightwood!

"Hello…Alec, was it?" He set down his glass and folded his hands behind his head, his eyes swept over my body in a way that almost made me shiver.

"Um...yeah…uh…here." I quickly (and gently!) set the bag on the ground and (carefully!) removed the book, making sure it stayed closed.

Magnus smirked and held out his hand. I handed it to him and tried to ignore the 'spark' I felt when our fingers brushed. I was pretty sure it was just my imagination. Or Magnus was purposely letting some magic slip from his fingers to mess with me.

Magnus opened the book, and the tentacles came out again, but instead of freaking out, he just mumbled a few words under his breath, and they went back into the book with a sucking noise.

He put the book on the table and looked back at me. I stood there awkwardly.

"Um…sorry" I apologized.

Magnus raised an eyebrow. "For what?"

I shuffled my feet. "For the party…and the bikes…and my brother…and the book…" I mumbled, my face felt like it was on fire. Angel, help me…

"Just out of curiosity…" Magnus said, his eyes searching mine, "why are you apologizing to a lowly Downworlder?"

I looked at him, confused. "Why wouldn't I?" I asked. "We shouldn't have disturbed you like that, it was inconsiderate. You don't need to be bothered with our problems."

He looked surprised, as if someone had told him that he was getting his birthday presents early this year. "You are a strange one." He said, taking another sip of his champagne. I scowled.

"What is that supposed to mean?" I tried to look intimidating.

He smiled, and from the amusement dancing in his eyes, it was clear that I was failing terribly with the 'intimidation' thing. Well, there goes what little self-confidence I had…

"Now, usually, a Shadowhunter wouldn't think twice about taking advantage of a Downworlder. Now matter how powerful that Downworlder is. They wouldn't do favors for one."-At that, he indicated the book-"Or squeal when something unexpected happens." He grinned.

"I didn't squeal!" I protested weakly. I felt my already deep blush go two shades darker. His grin grew wider.

"Yes, you did. No denying it, now."
I groaned. "But I didn't!"
He laughed. It was such a wonderful sound...

"You are too cute." He brought the drink to his lips, still chuckling. I caught myself watching his lips as he sipped. He put the drink back down and smiled, showing his sharp teeth.

"You can sit down, you know. I don't bite." I bit my lip and sat down in the chair that was opposite of him.

I heard a mewling noise at my feet. When I glanced down, I saw a white tuft of fur about the size of a large rat staring at me with green eyes. I tilted my head to the size in curiosity. The furball did the same. I tilted my head to the other side, and the creature copied me. Then the creature, which I now recognized as a cat, meowed. Then, he jumped in my lap and started purring. Magnus was staring at us, incredulously. But when I hesitatingly started to pet the cat, he began to laugh.

"What?" I asked.

He shook his head. "Nothing." His eyes were twinkling. "Except that Chairman Meow hates everyone and everything…except me and my glorious self, of course."

I looked down at Chairman Meow. I smiled at him and he batted my hand with his paw.

"Well, he likes me more then Church…"
"Church?"
"The Institute's cat. He hates everyone, except maybe Isabelle…"
"Why?"

"Because…" I mumbled, my blush was back. Damn it. "When no one eats what she…cooks, she feeds it to Church." I shook my head. "I think it's cruel, but they don't care what I say." I mumbled sadly.

Magnus raised both his eyebrows. "Why not?" He asked, taking another swallow of his drink.

I shrugged. "Neither of my siblings are very good with authority." I sighed. "And everyone else thinks I don't know what I'm talking about."

Magnus nodded. "I know the feeling…" He sighed.

"You do?" I stared at him, surprised. I knew he had lived a long time, but it was one of those situations that I thought only I would have to deal with.

"Yes." He took another sip. "It's a long story..." He trailed off.

"Oh…well, I've got time…unless…you want me to leave…" I mumbled. He smiled.

"Well…" He then proceeded to tell me all about how when he was training with the Warlock Council, he was one of the least experienced in his age group. Therefore, even now, when he was a High Warlock, one of the most powerful in the world, he was still treated as if he was an amateur.

We related our experiences and then moved on to other things, like the stereotypes of Shadowhunters and various Downworlders. I made a remark about how strange it was for a Shadowhunter and a warlock to have a civil conversation about the Clave and made him laugh. It was nice, although I was pretty sure that my face had permanently gone a light red color and a permanent smile was forever going to be on my lips.

Eventually, I fished my phone out of my pocket, and saw that I'd been here for over an hour. "Well…uh…maybe we can…hang out…sometime…" Great, I was back to stammering like an idiot. What he must think of me…

"I'd like that." He grinned.

I picked up the cat and gently put him on the floor. He meowed in protest, but I patted his head. Magnus got up as well and followed me to the door. I stopped when I was standing outside the entryway and he leaned down to whisper in my ear. "Until next time, Alexander." He murmured, causing shivers to race up my spine.

"Y-Yeah…" I stuttered, unable to think with him standing right there.

I felt him smile, before I opened the door, walked out into the stairwell, and down into the night.

I ran the rest of the way to the Institute. My smile didn't fade until the front door closed behind me.

Yeah, sorry no kiss. I'll give it to you at some point in the next few chapter, is that okay?

And I swear, girl scout's honor, that I will try to update faster. (Note: key word is TRY!)

ANOTHER UPDATE: Since most of you have read this already, I'm going to post the next chapter in a few minutes...

Reviews are like music to my ears...(or milky ways to my tongue...)