AN: Heyyyy! I've got my motivation back! You'll be seeing more of me from now on, dears. Also, for some reason, I've made the date 2016, so that is why May 7th is a Saturday.

Magnus' POV

The Friday before Max's game, Alec came to school with a heavy air surrounding him. Immediately, I ask what's wrong. "I saw my dad yesterday when I w-was at the mall with Iz." He tells me and I grab his hand.

"Are you okay?"

He nods uncertainly, "I think so, it's just… No, I'll get over it."

"If you're sure. However, you're out of his control now, remember that." I knock into his shoulder lightly and he nods, blushing faintly. "Good. I'll see you in art, Alexander." I smile as we part ways in the crowded hall.

My first class is, horrifyingly, with Johnathan, the shit drip. He doesn't make a show of harassing anyone though, so that's good. But it's still early. When the bell rings, I grab my things and head to Alec's locker, dropping by mine on the way. When I spot him, his shoulders are hunched and he is staring at his shoes as he shuffles through the mass of teens. I frown and wait by his locker. He straightens a little when he sees me and offers a poor excuse for a smile. I don't mention it because he looks like he is on the verge of a break. I wonder if his dad affected him that much or if it is something else.

I try to take his mind off of whatever it is, joking around like normal. I sit at the table with him and Simon during art and barely listen to Miss Fray, being too absorbed in trying to read my raven haired boy. My? Where did that come from? I ask myself and sigh.

Lunch goes as it usually does and Alec seems a bit better, but I suspect he is acting for his siblings' sake. I know I'm right when I see him in our English class. When school is out, I snag his sleeve. "Come over to my house." I ask/demand.

"Why?" He chews his lip and I completely forget what I was about to say. Ugh, why does he have to be so dreamy?

"Because something is wrong and I want to help." I tell him when I regain some brain function. He seems to debate my plan but eventually nods, texting Jace to let him know. "Alright, come on then." I say and hop into my minivan. He follows behind me on his new motorcycle. Not to be a broken record, but by the angel he is dreamy.

When we get to my place, he pulls off his helmet and runs his hands through his soft locks to fix his helmet-head. "Mom, Alec is over; we're going to my room." I call as we pass the kitchen.

"Okay, have fun. Be safe." She smiles. Alec just laughs, being used to my mother's antics by now.

After closing my door, I ask, "So, what is really going on?" He slumps and looks at me like a lost puppy. I have no idea what to do, so I lead him over to my bed and sit us so we are facing each other. "Alec?"

"I'm trying, Magnus. I'm really trying to be happy and strong, like I never was. Mom and Iz and Max all believe that I'm better, only Jace has seen through me a few times, but… It's so hard, Mags." He confesses and it looks like he deflates. Any happiness I feel at the relatively new nickname is overshadowed by the desire to comfort him. I wrap him in a hug and rub his back as he clings to me.

"Alexander, you don't have to be happy all of the time. You're allowed to feel gloomy and mope around every once and a while. And you're wrong to say that you aren't strong because I know you are. Besides the fact that you have been clean an entire month, you dealt with your father for years with no one to lean on. I'm not condoning that, by the way, I just don't think you could have managed if you weren't so resilient." I tell him, but by the way he stiffens, I can tell he doesn't believe me about that last part. That's okay. I'll convince him eventually.

His hair tickles my chin and I decide to be brave. I bury my face in his hair sigh. A shiver runs through his body and I smile. After just enjoying the feeling for a moment, I speak again, "Please don't feel like you have to pretend, especially in front of me. Alec I l— I'm here for you." Thankfully, he doesn't notice my slight word fumble.

"I know, Magnus. And I'm sorry to be so troublesome. I guess I'm still not used to letting people in…" He says with his hands clenching my shirt.

"Of course you're not. But you are progressing, and that's enough." I assure him and he lets out a sob. As I rub his back and whisper sweet words, I can't help but curse myself. There is no going back for me now. I've begun to plummet down a cliff and either this boy with gorgeous blue eyes will catch me, or he'll watch as I hit the ground.

Alec's POV

Eventually, I regain some dignity and untangle myself from him. "Sorry. I'm gonna go wash up." I mumble and nearly sprint from his room. When I agreed to come over, I had planned on convincing him that I was fine, not pouring my heart out to him. While I'm in his bathroom, I spot his razor lying near the sink. It is the kind with replaceable blades, so it wouldn't be hard to get them out.

I stare at the seductive strips of metal for almost a minute before bolting back to Magnus' room. I swore that I'd never cut again, and I've broken my promise twice already. I won't do it again, not today, at least. "Whoa, you look frantic, is everything okay?" Magnus asks when I barge in. I nod, then a grin overtakes my face. I just walked away from a razor. It might not sound like much, but it is, nonetheless, a victory.

"It is, thanks, Mags." I say and hug him. This is the first time we've embraced that one of us was not on the verge of tears. It feels good. He makes a startled sound then relaxes and holds onto me. "Thank you so much. For everything." I whisper.

At this, he squeezes me tighter and laughs—a sound of pure happiness, "It was my pleasure!"

AN: Addressing the issue of shorter or longer chapters, I guess I'll go with shorter, more frequent ones since that was the only suggestion.