Chapter Ten: "Facing Demons"
Of Lights, Camera, Action
A/N: Hello lovelies! Sorry this update took so long. Wattpad was calling my name! So this chapter is in Alec's POV and starts when Magnus agrees to be his boyfriend and goes through the meeting of the parents. I hope this makes up for the wait.
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!DISCLAIMER! There will be harsh language because of Robert and Maryse's bigoted and close-minded opinions. None of this is my opinion and is only for the story. I own nothing!
Enjoy!
APOV
"Of course." Magnus said with a smile and we both leaned in for a kiss that started sweet, but something clicked in me and my hands went to his hair and things soon got heated.
"Magnus…" I moan and bite my lip want more from the kiss. All thoughts of being embarrassed were completely out of my mind.
"Alec, we need to stop." Magnus says breathlessly.
"Why…"
"If we don't, I won't be able to control myself." I look at him slightly confused before everything clicks and I mutter a quiet 'oh'. I try to compose myself and I remember the reason I grabbed my camera this morning.
"I was planning on going out to take some pictures and get out of the house. Do you want to come?" I ask since my mind finally got back on track.
"I always want to come, baby." He says with a smirk causing my face to heat up.
"Magnus!" I say and hit his arm while blushing, making both of us laugh. We head downstairs to find the others while holding hands.
"Hey guys. Magnus and I are going out to explore and take pictures in case anyone wants to come." I say as we find everyone in the game room.
"Let me grab my camera." Maia says.
"I'll go too. There's nothing better to do anyways." Izzy says. After Maia came back, we head out and walk down the boardwalk. Maia and I separate from Izzy and Magnus and we help each other take better pictures.
"Thanks for helping me. I think it will take my blog to the next level." Maia says excitedly.
"No problem. Most people like the pictures that relate to their life and I try to make sure all the pictures for my blog have a story, even if a random person is in the picture." I tell her as we make our way back to Magnus and Isabelle.
"I never thought of that." We walk up just as they were finishing their conversation.
"It was meant as one." Izzy says to Magnus
"What was meant as one?" I ask and they turn their attention to me.
"Oh nothing, darling. Did you guys take all the pictures you wanted?"
"Yep, and Alec gave me some tips to make my pictures better." Maia says.
"It was nothing special, just a few things I picked up along the way." I blush and unconsciously curl into Magnus, ignoring the girls' questioning eyes.
"Okay… I don't know about you all, but I'm hungry." Maia says and we all agree and head to a restaurant on the boardwalk. Magnus and I hold hands on the way there causing my face to heat up.
As the waiter left with our orders, Izzy looked at us both, "Okay, what's up with all the touching?" I choked on my drink and Magnus patted my back and had a smart remark too
"Are you okay darling?" He says with a smirk and I glare at him.
"I'm fine Magnus." I say sharply and he raises his hands in surrender, "I don't know what you are talking about."
"Alec." Izzy said as a warning.
"Fine. I asked Magnus to be my boyfriend." I blushed as I said boyfriend and Izzy's face lit up like a Christmas tree.
She looked at Magnus, "Why didn't you tell me when we were talking earlier?"
"I wanted Alexander to tell you." Why does he always use my full name?
"It's Alec."
"Whatever you say sweet cheeks." We fell into a comfortable silence and finish our food and walk back to the house. When we noticed that it had gotten late, we all headed to take showers and go to sleep.
As I walked out of the bathroom, I forgot Magnus was there and I quickly ran back into the bathroom blushing like crazy.
"Alec, come back." I heard him call out, laughter evident in his voice.
"Close your eyes first." I call to him
"Fine." He says with a huff. I quickly run over to get clothes and change, occasionally looking over my shoulder to make sure his eyes are still closed.
"Okay you can open them now." I walk over and sit next to him in his bed, curling myself into his side and he wraps his arm around him.
I quickly fall asleep after hearing him whispering goodnight to me…
Thursday passed by quickly and uneventfully as everyone was trying to pack and mentally prepare themselves for the upcoming trip. It was now Friday morning and Izzy, Magnus, and I were heading to the airport. The downside of being in LA is that anytime you roll into the airport in a blacked out car, the paparazzi immediately swarm your car. I looked at Magnus and took his hand, ignoring his shocked expression.
We exited the car and quickly walked into the airport seeing as they already got our luggage out of the car. The paps were firing questions left and right about why we were holding hands and how the reality show was going. I quickly answered saying that we were dating and the show was going to be airing soon and they could see it all.
Despite the hectic start, the airport was surprisingly not busy and we were able to get through security and find our gates in perfect time for our flight. We were all seated in the same row and I couldn't help but be nervous. I was seeing my parents for the first time in three years. As if reading my thoughts, Magnus tightened his grip on my hand causing me to look at him and see his calming smile.
"I will be right by your side the entire time. There is no need to be nervous."
"You're right, I'm freaking out for no reason. Thanks for being here."
"No problem babe." I smiled at him and rested my head on his shoulder. I felt him kiss my forehead before drifting off into a peaceful sleep.
I awake to the sound of the flight attendant saying that we are about to land. I lift my head and see that Magnus is asleep as well.
"Magnus… Wake up." I gently nudge his shoulder and his eyes open and confusion is written all over his face, making him look adorable. We land and wait for everyone else to get off before gathering our things. Izzy is talking about who knows what and apparently Magnus is able to follow her.
Thankfully the paparazzi aren't as bad as it was in LA and we were able to make it to the car relatively fast. My parents' butler, Stephen, opens the door for us.
"Welcome back Mr. Lightwood, Miss Lightwood." He says as we enter the car. I try to smile, but the nerves from earlier come back. Sensing my nerves yet again, Magnus and Izzy turn their attention to me.
"Alec, I'm not going to say that this will be easy. But I am saying that no matter what happens we will both be there for you. Our parents' words were, and still are terrible, but if you let that stay in your mind now, you will never get closure. This will remain a terrible scar instead of a life lesson." Isabelle said and for the first time in a long time, I let what happen three years ago slip from my mind.
The rest of the ride was spent in peaceful silence. As the gates to the Lightwood estate opened, I heard Magnus gasp from its size. I stopped calling my former home a house long ago. Its size is double the size of a mansion. We arrived at the door and I went to grab our luggage. Izzy led Magnus inside to the living room to wait for our parents and the cameras were getting set up.
"Mr. and Mrs. Lightwood are in the study. I will go retrieve them." Stephen said before walking down the hall. We took a seat on the couch and I gripped Magnus's hand to calm myself down.
My parents walked in and immediately greeted Izzy.
"Isabelle dear. How are you?" Maryse said as Robert smiled warmly, still ignoring me and the cameras in the room. I am now wishing that they weren't here.
"I've been spending time with my amazing brother and his boyfriend, so life couldn't be better." There's the Izzy I know. It was impossible to miss my parents go rigid as she said boyfriend and I knew it was about to get interesting.
Robert muttered, "Not this again."
"Yes, Dad, it is this again and it's going to be different this time." Izzy said glaring at them.
"Now your sister is fighting your battles. I was right, you are a fucking fairy." He spat hatefully at me.
"I don't need her to fight to my battles, Robert. I'm just tired of fighting. I'm tired of having people walk all over me and I just sit back and take it." I say
"Tired of what Alexander? We gave you everything and you turned out like that! Ruining the family name by dating a guy and you're tired. Please."
"You didn't give us everything. You made our lives a living hell when you were here and not across the world doing God knows what. We hated when you were here and counted the damn seconds until you left. Because of you I was terrified constantly. I knew I was gay when I was fourteen and I couldn't tell anyone because I knew you would react this way. So yes Robert I am fucking tired. I hid who I was for five years only to have my worst nightmare come to life." I screamed at him.
"I am happy, Robert, truly happy for the first time in my life. What you said three years ago hurts, it does and I can't deny that, but I'm so done taking shit from people. Whether you accept my sexuality or not won't change who I am. I will still be gay, I will still be with Magnus, and I will still be happy." I say with an air of finality as I sit back on the couch.
"Alexander, I will not accept this behavior of yours. I also will not accept the fact that my son is a fag." Robert says making my heart sink a little. I can't believe that I thought he could change.
"Then I guess I'm not your son anymore. Let's go Magnus." We stand up and I walk to grab our luggage without looking back. I spot Stephen in the hall and ask him to give us a ride to a hotel. He leads us to the car and we get in wordlessly.
I think Magnus can tell that I can't talk right now and waits until we get settled into the room. I made sure to get a simple room seeing as we would be here for a short time.
"You want to talk about it?" Magnus asks softly wrapping me in his arms. I probably won't say this out loud, but I love being in his arms. It makes me feel safe, especially after the whole fiasco with my parents.
"I just can't believe that I still let him get to me. You would think I wouldn't care, that I would hate him, but I don't. I still want his approval and acceptance." I bury my head into the crook of his neck and breathe in the familiar sandalwood scent that I have started associating with him.
"Darling, they are still your parents and every child wants their parents to be proud of them, it's only natural." He kisses my forehand while moving his hand up and down my back.
"Maybe you're right." I mumble
"Darling I am always right." Hs says cockily making me laugh and just like that I feel a million times better.
"Thank you for coming." I say seriously. He will never know how much this meant to me. Without him, I don't know if I would have been able to face my parents.
"Thank you for allowing me to come." He says and we exchange a quick kiss before returning to our original position in a comfortable silence. A while later, my phone starts ringing and Izzy's name flashes across the screen.
"Hey Izzy." I put the phone on speaker so Magnus could hear as well.
"Hey Alec, Magnus. Where are you guys?" She asks and I tell her the name of the hotel. I also tell her that we would be coming by to pick her up tomorrow in my car. I bought it when I turned sixteen then realized that I didn't like driving in New York and it just sits in a parking lot close to my apartment.
"Okay. I think I got through to at least Mom. Dad is just a lost cause." She says exasperatedly.
"Thanks Izzy. They are not my problem anymore." I said and for the first time, I truly believed that.
Saturday turned out to be a lot more uneventful than Friday. Magnus and I spent the first part of the day shopping with Izzy and the evening was spent in the home movie theater with Maryse and Robert far away. I guess the cameras got what they wanted and left that afternoon for LA. Magnus and I spent another night in the hotel and met Izzy at the airport Sunday.
The flight passed quickly since the three of us were asleep the entire time. When the house came into view, I breathed a sigh of relief that this weekend was over. I hate the fact that my father's words and actions still bother me, but I was determined not to let it show.
I was going to enjoy the summer with Magnus and let the rest play out however it was intended. I faced my demons this weekend and it didn't destroy me like it had three years ago.
Okay you guys. I changed this chapter about five times trying to make it perfect. I hope I fulfilled this part of the story to your liking. There will be a Clace and Sizzy chapter. Each person will tell their part, but it will be in the same chapter for each pair. As for Maia, I will have a part for her too, but I may be at the end of the other pairing's chapter.
I start school back up next week, so updates will be sporadic, but I am not abandoning either one of my stories.
Review if you wish,
Faking A Smile