Magnus watched as the happy expression on Alexander's face faded with the loss of his friend. In so many ways, Alec was easy to read - like a book with lots of pictures - but in so many other ways Magnus had absolutely no idea what the beautiful man was thinking. This was quite new for him. Usually Magnus found people easy to figure out. Most of them wanted sex in his experience, or money, or some variation or combination of those things. Some people might call his view on people jaded, but Magnus liked to think of it more as realistic. As far as Magnus could tell however, Alec wanted nothing of the sort. Alec was just Alec, genuine and kind. Alec didn't fit into Magnus's way of looking at the world, and he found that fascinating.
"You're really gonna miss her aren't you?" Magnus observed.
"She's been a part of my life for as long as I can remember," Alec stated, by way of reply. Then he returned to his seat at the table and his other guests, a smile fixed to this face. Magnus couldn't help but think that his smile was more for the others around him than what he was actually feeling.
Magnus had done nothing this evening, but make a study of Alexander. He'd spent half the night in conversation with Alec's best friend, and the other half watching Alec's face to try and learn the workings of the thoughts behind the expressions. He wasn't sure how long this interest would hold, but at the moment he was quite content to simply observe the blue eyed man.
Magnus watched as Alec smiled, and talked politely with his guests. He watched as those guests began paying their bills and collecting their coats. Alec hugged most of them as a way of saying goodbye, always with a smile on his face. Even sad as he was now, the joy this boy radiated was almost infectious. He was like the sun, or some kind of angel.
What surprised Magnus most was that Alec's smile persisted past the last guest walking out the door.
"Didn't even say goodbye," Alec laughed. "Wow, Jace must of really hit it off with Clary."
"Indeed," Magnus replied. "I hardly saw him talk to anyone else all night."
"Oh, and Jace is so not a five by the way," Alec chuckled. "Not that I'd expect a guy to really notice that."
"Are you calling me straight?" Magnus scoffed. He tried to tease, but the idea of Alec's thinking this didn't sit well with him. Magnus was no stranger to these feelings. He knew he was attracted to Alec, and yet he'd been attracted to people before without feeling the need to study them so thoroughly.
"Are you telling me, you aren't?" Alec replied. "Cause most people are."
"I am not most people," Magnus stated easily.
"Oh," Alec said, and once again Magnus was drawing a blank. No matter how he tried to figure the other man out, the inside of Alexander's mind remained a mystery to him. He had no idea what Alec thought of this new information, though still, the strangest part of all this was how badly Magnus wanted to know what Alec was thinking.
"Did you still want those driving lessons?" Magnus asked, giving up understanding the inner workings of Alec's mind for now in favour of securing more time with him instead.
"Oh yeah, that would be great!" Alec exclaimed, clearly delighted.
"When did you want to start?" Magnus asked.
"Whenever you want!" Alec replied. "I'm just really grateful you'd be willing to put up with teaching me."
"I quite enjoy your company actually," Magnus responded, feeling like he'd said a lot more than he'd intended to.
Alec grinned, clearly happy to hear such. Magnus sensed Alec did not understand the depth of meaning he'd accidentally conveyed, which he supposed was a good thing. It made Magnus feel less vulnerable somehow.
"But haven't Tessa and Jem offered to teach you to drive?" Magnus asked when Alec didn't speak.
"They already do so much for me!" Alec exclaimed. "And ask nothing in return. I'd rather walk to work than burden them further."
"That's silly," Magnus laughed, once again taken aback by Alec's reply. This man was different than anyone Magnus had ever met.
"Then I'm silly," Alec chuckled.
"It would seem so," Magnus agreed.
"Is there something wrong with silly?" Alec asked.
"Not necessarily," Magnus remarked calmly.
"Well, I like silly," Alec grinned. "If you ask me, life's too short to be serious all the time."
"What a positive and healthy way to look at the world," Magnus commented. "You'll have to teach that to me one day."
"Deal!" Alec laughed. "Driving lessons for-" but then he seemed to get suck on naming exactly what he was to teach Magnus.
"Positivity lessons," Magnus chuckled.
"Yeah sure," Alec smiled. It was quite remarkable how much this man smiled, especially given all he'd lost. Magnus found his own face so rarely pulled into that expression.
"Speaking of driving," Magnus continued. "How are you getting home tonight? Is someone picking you up?"
"I could call them," Alec said. "But it's late, and I wouldn't want to wake them."
"If I know Tessa she isn't sleeping," Magnus smiled. "I bet she's staying up in case you need a ride."
"What really?" Alec asked, clearly upset by this news. "But I never asked or expected her to do that?"
"Won't matter," Magnus replied easily. "It's just who she is."
"Do you know-" Alec began, awkwardly. "I mean she seems so motherly and yet-"
"Why don't Tessa and Jem have kids, you mean?" Magnus translated Alec's scattered words. Alec nodded. "Honestly I have asked myself the very same question, and have yet to come up with an answer."
"How do you know them again?" Alec inquired.
"I was once their student," Magnus explained. "A long long time ago."
"Not that long ago," Alec scoffed. "I mean, you aren't forty or anything."
"Meh," Magnus shrugged. "It feels like a long time to me."
"Fair enough," Alec smiled. "I mean time is relative after all." There was a moment's pause, then Alec seemed to suddenly remember that someone might be inconvenienced by his lack of action. "I should definitely call now so Tessa doesn't waste her whole night waiting on me."
"I could give you a ride home if you'd like," Magnus offered.
"Really?" Alec exclaimed looking thrilled. "That would be great." He paused only a second for Magnus to nod before continuing on as if nervous. "I had planned on asking Charlotte, but she left with Emma and Abby, and I wasn't sure if there'd be room in the car, plus I still had other guests here so..."
"It's all good," Magnus replied easily. "I'm happy to drive you."
"Thanks," Alec smiled, as he collected his coat from a rack behind them. "That's so nice of you."
"I have been known to be nice," Magnus replied easily. "On occasion."
"You're plenty nice," Alec replied grinning. "When you aren't flinging paint at me, that is."
And just like that Magnus was laughing. It was quite remarkable. They walked out of the restaurant in silence, and once again, Magnus found himself incredibly curious to know what Alec was thinking, but the ebony haired man didn't speak. He just was.
Magnus got behind the wheel and made a mental effort to focus. He knew where Tessa and Jem's place was, and had already mapped the way in his mind as he was pulling out of the parking lot. Magnus never forgot a place, or how to get there. He only had to travel somewhere once for that path to be permanently etched in his mind.
"Best birthday I've ever had," Alec finally spoke about five blocks down the road.
"I'm glad to hear it," Magnus replied easily. "Though, slightly disappointed at your parents for making all your previous ones so shitty."
"It wasn't their fault I sucked at making friends," Alec answered. "I had lots of birthdays that were just me and Maia."
"Ah, but one person who cares is worth as much, or more than an infinite amount who don't," Magnus stated easily.
"True," Alec agreed. "Though it was nice to have more people to invite, and to have those people show up!"
"I can imagine," Magnus responded as he checked over his shoulder to see if it was safe to turn left. Driving down an empty road once more, Magnus added, "I'm glad you had a good birthday."
"Thanks," Alec said, and Magnus could almost hear the smile in his voice even without turning his eyes from the road.
Moments later, Magnus was pulling into Tessa's driveway. He put the car in park, and turned to face Alec.
It was the strangest sensation. Magnus instantly had to hold his muscles rigidly still in order to stop them from moving. Suddenly Alec was like a magnet. Every fibre of Magnus's being wanted to reach out to the other man and do… something. He wasn't even sure, and he hardly cared. The pull was strong, and it was all he could do to hold himself still.
"Thanks for the ride," Alec said, innocently unaware of the effect he'd created.
"You're welcome," Magnus replied, all the muscles in his arms and legs uncomfortably tight.
"Umm okay, I'll text you about getting together for driving then?" Alec asked. Magnus nodded, hoping Alec would get out of the car soon before Magnus did something stupid.
Alec reached for the handle. The door opened, then closed, and Magnus relaxed. He let out the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. What the heck was that? Shaking his head vigorously in the hopes of clearing it, Magnus took the car out of park and headed home.
Maybe he was just horny, Magnus thought as he went home. Maybe he needed to call up an old friend and get himself sorted out. He didn't need to get all pulled in by an extremely innocent eighteen year old who had no idea how hot he was! Those crystal blue eyes and such dark hair, paired with that perfect pale skin. Alec was a walking fantasy. Even the innocent thing was working for Magnus at the moment. He could imagine teaching Alexander all sorts of things; being the beautiful man's first everything sent shivers down Magnus's spine.
Parking his car at a strange angle and not even caring a little, Magnus walked up his driveway and into his apartment where he collapsed face first into the couch.
"Tough dinner, huh?"
Magnus just groaned. It was his roommates voice.
"How hungover are you gonna be tomorrow?" the voice continued. "Do you need me to pick up your car?"
"I'm sober," Magnus replied, his voice only slightly muffled by the pillow.
"Then I'm confused."
With a great sigh, Magnus rolled over to see the face of yet another angel, though thankfully not one he was remotely interested in.
"I've got the hots for someone who is way out of my league," Magnus explained. "Who I am too old for, and who I would probably corrupt and be a horrible influence on."
"I see," Raphael replied slowly. "Well, I can't say I'd be any good at helping with that, but good luck man."
"Thanks," Magnus said sarcastically, rolling his eyes.
Raphael was younger than Magnus by about five years, but still looked like a teenager. He had curly hair that was dark, though not as dark as Alec's. His skin was honey coloured due to his mexican heritage. Though raised in Canada, Raphael often swore in Spanish. If he'd wanted girls, boys or anything in the middle, Raphael could have had them. Even if he was only 5'5, Raphael was built in the shoulders and definitely a catch. But Raphael wasn't interested in love or even sex. It had been a great source of shame for him most of his life, and had been a major factor in how Magnus had met his now best friend.
"Sometimes I think you're the lucky one," Magnus told his friend absently. "Sex and love make life too damn complicated."
"On that point we can agree," Raphael laughed. Magnus listened as his friend's footsteps moved away. He didn't move, but instead gazed up at the ceiling, trying not to think about how amazing it would feel to have someone else's hands touching him right now.
And before he knew it his mind was on Alec again. Alec here with him. Alec touching him. Magnus groaned, touching himself tonight just wasn't gonna cut it.
Getting off the couch and reaching for his phone, Magnus scrolled through his contact list, trying to figure out who to call. He didn't have the energy to meet someone new tonight, to break the ice and try and be charming. That left someone he'd already been with. Exes. So many exes. Too many. But the question was, who would come over and help him out?
His high school girlfriend would never in a million years return his call, let alone show up to his place and have casual sex with him. Maybe didn't even really consider Camille.
The series of flings that followed her wouldn't do either. Kitty, Richard and Axel he'd left without a second thought, and Magnus didn't want to reopen those wounds.
Magnus knew Etta was married now, though only through her social media. The women posted literally everything about her life, including her breakfast!
Imasu was halfway around the world by now, studying his first and only love: music.
Magnus knew who he was gonna call. Had always known, even if he wasn't totally happy about it. There really was no one else.
Though many people had entered his life over the years, almost just as many had left it. No family, so few friends, lovers who leave. It was a sad story, but the only one he had. A lonely story, filled with moments that didn't last.
As Magnus dialed the phone he heard Raphael call from the other room. "If you are having him over here I'm going out."
"No it's fine. I'll go out," Magnus called back, trying to be nice. Just because he was having a shitty evening doesn't mean his roommate had to as well.
"Why, hello there," Woosley Scott's voice could be heard over his phone.
"You busy tonight?" Magnus asked his longtime kinda friend with occasional benefits.
"Depends on what you had in mind," Woosley chuckled.
Magnus easily communicated his intentions, and as he'd hoped, Woolsey's reply was simply, "My place or yours?"
First Magnus point of view chapter in this whole story! What did you think?
Also to the guest reviewer: PLEASE LOG IN SO I CAN TALK TO YOU!
Sneak Peek Chapter 11
"So that's the break," Magnus said far more patiently than Alec deserved.
"Right," Alec muttered, fumbling with his hands when he should have been moving his feet.
"Nothing to be nervous about," Magnus replied. Then he laughed and added, "At least you got the brake confused for the gas instead of the gas confused for the brake."
Now Alec was picturing totally Magnus's car and Tessa's house at the same time, by doing just that and sending them soaring through the garage wall.
"Sorry," Magnus's voice continued.
"You aren't the problem," Alec whined. "I suck."