Chapter Thirteen: Camille and Confusion

The first thing Magnus realized when he woke up the next morning was the empty space on the bed beside him. Confused, he sat up and looked around. "Alec?" He called. Alec's shirt was missing from the floor.

No answer. Starting to get concerned, Magnus got up and walked into the mainroom, then sighed with relief. Alec was sitting at the kitchen island, eating a piece of toast and reading a magazine. "Good morning beautiful." Magnus said brightly, walking towards him and grabbing a piece of toast.

Alec glanced up and smiled. "Hey!"

"What are you reading?" Magnus asked, looking at the cover of the magazine. "Really Alec, I didn't think you even knew what a fashion magazine looked like."

Alec glared at him and set down the glossy magazine. "Its not mine! Its Izzy's. She leaves them around my apartment around christmas with the things she likes dog-eared. It doesn't make any sense though, I can't buy any of these, they're all designer stuff."

"What do you mean? It makes perfect sense." Magnus said, sitting down and taking the magazine from him. "From marking the ones she likes you can get a sense of her style and -" He broke of, eyeing Alec's dreary black attire. "Well….nevermind. I can help you find something for her, if you want."

"Yes please. This is giving me a headache." Alec groaned, dropping his head onto his arms.

Magnus laughed softly and ran his fingers through his boyfriend's hair. "You know….I think I have just the thing."

"Already?"

"Yeah, there's this one dress in our winter line that would look absolutely beautiful on her, if she's anything like you." He said, smiling.

Even though he couldn't see his face, Magnus could tell Alec was blushing. "Oh course, she couldn't wear it until after Christmas, since the line isn't being unveiled until Christmas eve."

"Unveiled?" Alec asked, sitting up.

Magnus rolled his eyes and bit back a smile. "Yes dear, large fashion lines typically get unveiled all at once. Since the collection usually has a theme, there's a huge party and everything. This year it's Winter Wonderland, perhaps the most cliche name ever, but it wasn't my choice." He said, looking bitter.

"Isn't it your fashion line though?"

"Well...they're my design, my idea, but unfortunately Camille, one of my colleagues got to name it this year. She wanted something traditional, and when she sets her mind on something, it's best to just give it to her rather than endure the bloodbath that will follow if you don't."

"That's what Izzy's like." Alec said, smiling.

"Speaking of the unveiling party…" Magnus said, getting an idea. "You should come with me."

"What?" Alec looked taken aback.

"You should come with me, to the party. It's fun! And all the snow and winter decorations will match perfectly with your eyes."

Alec bit his lip and looked away, like he always did when he was thinking about something that made him worry.

"You don't have to, if you don't want to. But it would make me happy." Magnus said, leaning forward on his elbows.

"I know...its just…" Alec was avoiding eye contact now.

"Hey," Magnus said softly.

He reached out and turned Alec's face gently towards his. "There are hundreds of people there, everyone who works at or with the company is invited, no one would know who you are, and no one would care. And if they ask you can just say you work in my department."

"I don't know…"

"Please Alec? You don't have to stay very long. And besides, it wouldn't even be a lie. You do work with me, you're my relaxation team." He said, laughing.

Alec smiled and rolled his eyes. "Fine. I'll come for a bit, but only a bit! Okay?"

Magnus beamed at him. "Wonderful! Oh crap, I gotta run darling, meetings and such. See you tonight though?" He asked, standing up and grabbing his bag from where he had placed it the night before.

Alec nodded and went back to his toast after giving Magnus a quick kiss.

"Oh, by the way!" Magnus called, suddenly re-appearing at the door. "Charles is coming by to pick up his check sometime soon, its on the counter, can you just give it to him for me?"

Alec nodded and placed his dish in the sink. "No problem, now get to work."

"Thanks sweetie. Bye!"

Alec

It was almost noon when Charles knocked on the door. Alec was lying on the floor, totally immersed in his book and almost didn't hear it. "Sorry! Coming!" He called, jumping up and making his way towards the door.

"Hey Magnus isn't here so he asked me -" Alec stopped mid sentence.

The person standing in the doorway was definitely not Charles. Her bleach blonde hair hung in perfect hollywood waves, and her bright red lipstick gave the appearance that she had painted them with blood, almost like a vampire.

"I-uh-i" Alec began to step back.

"What are you doing here?" She snapped, her voice cutting through the air like a razor.

Immediately the memory of his encounter with her in the hallway outside of Magnus's office came surging forward and he tried to shut the door, but she placed her hand on the frame. "I thought I told you to leave Magnus alone."

"I don't...I-" Alec stammered, terrified.

"Look. I get it, hes hot and rich, and he makes you feel like you're the most amazing person in the world. But he can never be serious with you. Don't you get it? You're not part of our world, and you never will be. So save yourself some time and leave him alone."

"Its not like that I-"

"What? You think you're any different from the hundreds of other people Magnus has dated? Trust me, I was there for all of them, I know how it goes. All the pet names, the sweetie, the darlings, the exasperated half smiles and the you're just so cute." She said, imitating Magnus's laugh. "You honestly think you're any different? Trust me, soon he'll move on and won't even remember your name."

Alec felt like his heart was being ripped out and put through a paper shredder. This was everything he had been afraid of. "Consider yourself warned." She scoffed, flipping her hair and throwing the file she was carrying at her feet.

Alec shut the door and leaned against it, mind going a million miles an hour. What if she was right? Magnus was from a rich upper class society that barely knew people like Alec existed. He had amazing fashion, and Alec always looked like a rag. He was beautiful, amazing, extraordinary and outgoing, and Alec was...well….plain, boring, awkward and quiet. Why was Magnus even dating him? Alec clenched his jaw and wiped the tear that had escaped his eye away.

Magnus

"I hate people sometimes." Magnus yelled, slamming his apartment door and throwing his keys into the bowl beside it. "They're just so frustrating! If only we could replace everyone with cats." He paused.

Usually when he came home, if Alec was still there, he'd have said something by now. "Alec?" He called, eyes searching the apartment.

"Alexander?" He said again, walking towards his bedroom.

This is weird. He thought. Alec always texts him or leaves a note if he leaves unexpectedly. Starting to get nervous he slid his phone out of his pocket and dialed Alec's number. Voicemail. He tried three more times throughout the next 10 minutes, and all three times he got sent to voicemail. He tried to shrug it off, Alec was probably at the library and turned his phone on do not disturb.

The sun sank deeper and deeper in the sky, and with every inch it sank, Magnus's worry began to grow. Alec had never gone this long without returning a call. When it was about 7 o'clock, Magnus grabbed his coat and headed out of his apartment. He may not know where Alec went to sleep at night, but he had a pretty good guess as to where he might be.

It took almost 20 minutes of searching, but eventually, Magnus found Alec curled up in a corner of the library, reading My Bloody Valentine: When Shadowhunters Turn Evil. "Hey, thank god you're here." Magnus said, sighing in relief.

Alec glanced up, but then kept reading his book with no reply. Magnus tensed; something was wrong. "Alec?"
"What?" He snapped, clenching his jaw.

"What's wrong?" Magnus said, sitting down next to him.

As soon as he sat down, Alec stood up and snapped his book shut. "Nothing. Not that you'd care."

"What the hell are you talking about Alexander." Magnus demanded, standing up to face him.

Alec glared. "Don't call me Alexander." He hissed, turning on his heel and walking away.

Magnus tried to follow him, but Alec kept disappearing behind the shelves. He finally caught up to him on the steps of the library. "Alec. Stop." He called, grabbing his shoulder.

Alec whirled around, eyes shining with anger. "Just leave me alone!"

"What is going on? Was it something I did?" Magnus asked, perplexed.

Alec stood there for a moment,looking down at his shoes. Then he looked up. "I'm not just something to occupy your time before you move on."

"What?" Magnus was completely baffled.

"I know your class. Your worlds all politics and money, and it doesn't matter if you hurt people lesser than you. Well I don't want to be those people. I had to work two jobs just to pay rent for my shitty apartment, and you have a penthouse for god's sake. How was I ever so stupid to think you might actually like me."
"Alec I don't know what in gods name your talking about, I don't care -"

"Just shut up! I don't want to hear any more of it. Magnus, I can't just pretend I'm someone I'm not." Alec turned and ran down the steps.

"Alexander!" Magnus shouted, trying to run after him.

By the time Magnus got to the end of the steps, Alec had vanished into the crowd.

Don't forget to comment! :D Also, who else died at the Malec kiss on tuesday?