Chapter XXIV
"Storm"
I observed Miss Blackwell and the rest of our group as they were running around the stage as if they were chickens with chopped off heads. The open night of our play was in three days, a week before a graduation and everything was in chaos. The set wasn't as Alec designed it, but it could not be when Sebastian, Jonathan, Jace, Ragnor, and Jordan were to arrange it, to fulfill their punishment. Trees were still not painted, lights weren't set perfectly to show our perfect sides.
It was a total mess.
Same as me, whenever I was forced to participate in the rehearsal, which lately was taking most of my time, along with exams and classes. I had barely time to see my lovely Alexander. I missed him dearly, especially when I wasn't allowed to see him when he was too tired to have visitors. In the past two weeks, Alec felt worse than before. He had gotten weaker and thinner. He lost his weight dramatically. His cheeks were hollow, dark shadows popped out under his eyes. Yet, he was still the most beautiful man I've ever seen.
"Hey, you ok?" Ragnor's voice reached my ears. I turned my eyes from my phone, where I've been sliding through Alec's pictures and looked at my best friend. "You've been acting off this week. It's about Alec?"
My sad look told him everything.
"How is he?" Ragnor asked, sitting down next to me on the stage. Fell threw his arm over my shoulder and drew me to his side. "Magnus?"
"Not good," I battled the tears that tried to push themselves out of my eyes. "He's in good hands. Laura, his doctor is actually the best in the hospital and she's trying everything, but I can't stop being…"
"I know, and I wish I could do something for you, Magnus." Ragnor placed a kiss on the top of my head. "I hate watching you suffer. But I'm here for you, when you need me, Mags. Same as Cate and Tessa. We're here for you and Alec. We're here."
"Thank you." I tried to not take Ragnor's pitiful look in my heart. I knew that almost everyone who had seen me lately with Alec felt sorry for me.
It hurt me to admit, but I understood the looks. I've heard that many people leave their sick partners when it's getting worse. I couldn't imagine myself leaving Alexander at all. Hell, if I could help it, I'd stay with him every single second of my life. Sometimes, when David had a night shift, he was letting me stay a night with my boyfriend with a promise to leave before the morning round of check-ups on patients.
Alexander tried to make me leave him, but I could never. He was my heart, even though it sounded ridiculous to say by a nineteen-year-old man.
"Ok, let's get back to rehearsing, people." Miss Blackwell clapped her hands to gain our focus. She rushed us to our positions and the staff was ordered to step to the backstage. "Ok, Magnus and Lacey, start from the scene twenty, ok? We will start from the moment, they're making the main decision, ok? Let's do it, guys."
"You cannot fight my brother, Tony," Lacey grabbed my hand and brought it to her heart. "I'll die if you'll die."
"I'll die if you'll die too, Alec…" everyone's eyes were directed at me, as it slipped out of my tongue. Never in my life, I felt so intimidated by my own words. Did I really think that? Did I really feel that? Did I really…
"Pause!" we heard Ms. Blackwell's frustrated voice "Magnus please focus on your lines. Let's start from the top!"
"I love you, Tony."
"I love you too, Marie."
"You cannot fight my brother, Tony. He'll kill you. I'll die if you'll die."
"I'd die if you die too, Marie. But they won't let us be together."
"Then we'll run away."
"We have to fight… I won't give up on you Alec…"
"Stop!" Miss Blackwell shouted again, a small growl escaped her mouth as well. "Focus, Magnus. The premiere is in three days and you keep messing." If a look could kill, she'd be dead by now. "Please, Magnus. Everyone, take five."
"Hey, Princess," Lacey came closer to me, as I moved to the nearest stall to look if Alec had called me. There was no message or a missed call. "Get it together, drama queen. What? Trouble in paradise? You're not getting laid?"
"Shut up, Lacey, before you say one word too much!" I warned her, with a death glare.
"Or what, huh? What do you do? Nothing." She smirked at me, giving me a mocking look. "What? There was not enough glitter in the store? Or maybe Alec finally decided to dump your sorry ass?"
I growled loudly and pushed her at the stall with a loud thud. I've never been hostile and abusive towards girls or women but Lacey pushed me to the edge then. If it weren't for Miss Blackwell's scream and Lacey's surprised gasp, I'd probably hit her then.
"Shut the fuck up! You have no idea about my problems!"
"Hey!" Miss Blackwell pulled me away from her and stood before us, with a hand on my chest to prevent me from an attack. Rage was radiating from my trembling body. "Stop with this, now. Magnus, you don't want to hurt her." She pushed me back more and turned to Lacey. "And you, do not provoke him! You are so lucky, you're my main stars, otherwise, I'd give you the detention. Instead, you're going to be punished with a lower mark from your behavior at the end of the year. And your grade from English will be lower as well."
"He started it!" Lacey accused me, trying to lower her punishment. "If the Diva here wouldn't act so uptight, we would be better at this. We have the premiere in three days and he keeps messing the text, mentioning Alec. How is he even putting up with you?"
"I swear, Lacey if you won't shut up, I'll do something that I may regret later."
"Enough!" Miss Blackwell said for the last time and pointed the opposite corners of the stage. "Both of you, stop this feud. Take as much as you need and calm yourselves then apologize. We don't have much time!"
"You're right," I said, realizing something very important. "I don't know how much time I have left… I need to get going." I went to grab my bag and jumped off the scene, leaving them with mouths gaping. "I need to be with him."
"Where do you think you're going, Magnus?" Miss Blackwell called out to me when I was walking towards the exit. "Come back here, Magnus! We have a rehearsal to finish!"
"I don't care."
"Magnus!" She tried again, but I cut her off before she could say anything else.
"I don't care about the stupid play!" I lashed out, glaring them all. "I only agreed to do it, because Alec asked me to. Now, he's not going to see it. So, what's the point of being me here? I have better things to do now."
"What are you doing, asshole? Get back on the stage, we need to practice!" Lacey shouted at me as well, placing hands on her hips.
"How does it look like, huh? I fucking quit!" With that, I turned on my heel and left the room, ignoring all the screams and calls from my teacher and other students. As the door closed behind me with a loud bang, I sighed in a relief.
I had more free time to spend with my Angel and cherish our every moment together. Just what I needed to do now.
The word about my morning tantrum spread around the school immediately, reaching principal Herondale in no time. Just before the bell for a second class, I was called to her office for a talk. We, Lacey and me, were sitting in front of her, murdering ourselves with our looks.
"It is not too late to suspend both of you and punish you, with summer class." She drawled, playing with her pen. "Especially you, Magnus. I can hold you from graduation. You promised you will behave until the end of the year. almost two weeks until the graduation, couldn't you just keep it down?"
"She provoked me," I said through my teeth. "I'm in not so good place now, Mrs. Herondale. I'm sorry."
She sighed loudly, putting the pen down.
"Why did you provoke Magnus, Lacey?" She turned to the girl.
"He was messing the lines again on purpose! We have the open night in three days and he's the drama queen, who brings his life problems to the stage." She spat, averting her gaze from me. "I've done nothing wrong. He attacked me. If it weren't for Miss Blackwell, I'm sure Magnus would hit me."
"But I didn't, so fuck off!"
"Magnus Bane!" Principal Herondale warned me with her serious gaze.
"Ok, let's finish it. Punish me, with grades or lowering my grade for behavior. Whatever you do, just don't keep me in the school after classes, Mrs. Herondale." I begged her with the biggest puppy eyes I could muster now. "I need to get to… you know where. I can't be here for more than it's necessary. Please, Mrs. Herondale, you must understand me. Please."
"Your behavior will be lowered, Magnus and you won't get the extra credit for the drama class." She looked at me with sadness in her golden eyes. "I'm a patient woman, but both of you, wore it thin today. We're at the end of the year and you're causing so many problems. As if I didn't have enough of them lately. I'm seriously considering giving you both summer school."
"Please, don't!" we both said in unison, though for very different reasons. Lacey probably didn't want to lose her summer like that.
"Look, I'm sure Magnus and I can resolve this and play it cool till the graduation, right?" She looked at me with a knowing look. "I'm sorry for provoking you. I shouldn't say those things."
"I'm sorry for pushing you on the stall, Lacey." Even Mrs. Herondale knew that the smile following my words was fake. Nevertheless, Lacey smiled back, equally fake, and we shook our hands in agreement. "All's alright now, yeah? We can totally go back to our lives."
"And to the play." Lacey chimed, grinning.
"I still quit," I stated firmly, grabbing my bag from the floor. "David can replace me, he knows my lines perfectly and I can record my singing…but I cannot participate anymore."
"But…"
"I'm sorry, I need to go." Mrs. Herondale nodded and waved me off, calling her assistant to bring Miss Blackwell to her office.
Two hours later I was on my way to the hospital to see Alec. I was freshened up and changed to look nice for our date night. As every other Friday, we were watching a movie on Alec's laptop in his hospital room with food made by my mom. I loved our Friday nights, even though we spent them in the hospital. In fact, I was yearning the whole week for those nights, quiet and comfy on the bed or couch, if Alexander was feeling better. We would cuddle, kiss softly, simply enjoy ourselves.
When I walked into his room, I spotted Alec sitting crossed leg on his bed with a thoughtful look. His tablet was lying in front of him. It seemed that Alec was either writing or reading something, I couldn't tell for sure.
"Hello, Angel," I greeted him, kissing the top of his head. Today, Alec decided to wear a blue beanie, I bought him last week after he shaved his head. Alec wore today his skinny jeans and midnight blue dress shirt. He always decided to dress up for our Friday dates, even though I didn't mind, if he'd wear his pajama or sweatpants and hoodie. "How are you, sweetheart?" When he didn't reply, instead, frowning at me, it got me worried. "Is everything alright, Alexander?"
"You tell me, Magnus."
"What do you mean?" I asked, placing my bag on the couch. I sat down on the bed next to him and pushed the tablet to the side. "Alexander?"
"Why did you quit the play?" His question confused me. Not because it wasn't true, but because he knew about it. I wondered who told him? Was it Jace? No, he wasn't there to witness his outburst, as Jace had to participate a soccer practice today. Then who was it? "Magnus?"
"Who told you, Alexander?" I decided to learn it the easy way.
"It doesn't matter now. Why did you do it?" Alec bore his eyes into mine trying to discover the truth.
"Who?"
"Lacey called me and said to end whatever problems we have because you threw a bitch fit in the theater room today," Alexander explained, putting a strand of hair behind my ear. "Then, Miss Blackwell called, asking me to convince you to get back to the play. Of course, Miss Blackwell said that she understands your rage fit, but she loves you in this play and would want you to still be a star of it." Alec took a deep breath and let out the air slowly. "So, what really happened?"
"Oh, that bitch had no right to call you!" Of course, I was talking about Lacey, not our teacher. "When I'm in school, I'll talk to Lacey…she'll regret calling you in the first place."
"Magnus!" Alec screeched, grabbing my wrist and slightly pulling it. I looked at him trying to calm my anger. "What happened?"
"Nothing, I just don't feel like doing this anymore." Alec wasn't buying it at all, as he gave me one of his pointed looks before I lowered my head and voice. "What's the point of me being in it when you won't see it?"
"Oh, Mags…" Alec brushed his fingers on my left cheek lightly, smiling sadly. "Look at me, love."
Alec moved his hand under my chin and lifted it to look me straight in the eye. "Is this the reason you quit the play?" A small nod was the only answer I gave him. "You fear I won't see it?"
"You won't."
"Maybe I'll convince Lauren to let me out for a few ho…"
"Absolutely not!" I interrupted him firmly, already fearing the consequences. "You're sick, Alexander. I'm not risking your health for my selfish reasons. You're staying here until you'll be well."
"Then I'll ask my dad to record it all, and we'll watch it together here. Maybe even I convince mom to bring us some popcorn?" Alec winked at me, making me laugh. "Hey, I'd love to be there in the first row to see you being spectacular on the stage. I'd give you the biggest applause and then give you dozens of red roses a star like you deserve to get. I'd be, no I am your number one fan, Magnus. I'm sorry that I can't get to see you live on the stage."
"It's not your fault, darling," I stated, throwing my arms around Alec's neck. I leaned down to capture his lips with mine own in a sweet, short kiss. "I need to apologize to Miss Blackwell."
"You do," he confirmed, pulling me to his chest. Alexander lay us down on the bed and stroked my loose hair. "But that can wait for a while now. Let's watch a movie and then you'll call Miss Blackwell and tell her that you will participate in the play, ok?"
"Ok."
Two hours later, as I bid goodbye to Alexander, I called Miss Blackwell with apologies. She was beyond happy that I decided to get back to the play. She also apologized for calling Alec, but I understood her. All she wanted was to have a great play with me and my voice.
Three days later, I was pacing around the backstage, repeating the lines in my head. My hands were shaking at the thought that I was to play a song about my love to Alec in front of the entire school and the rest of guests. Many people believed that I've written the song just for the play, but those who knew me well knew that it was about my Angel. The way he made feel, like no one else before. He opened me to a real love. A feeling that I never knew for real.
"Ready?" Suddenly I heard Miss Blackwell's voice behind my back. I turned around and gave her a small smile. "Thank you, that you didn't bail on me, Magnus. And once again, I'm sorry for calling Alec and persuade him, but…I was desperate. I always knew that you're great, ever since I've heard you at your music class back when you were a sophomore. Your voice was amazing and I knew that I need you in my play."
"It's ok, Miss Blackwell," I assured her, putting back the script. "I acted rashly and stupid, but I was stressed. I'm sorry too."
"How is he?"
"Not worse, so it's an accomplishment. But he will get better, he will fight it off." She hugged me tightly. For a moment, I felt her stiff, before she rubbed my arms and drew away from me with a small smile.
A second later, I felt arms circled around my waist and a body pressed against my back. I admit I jumped in a fear, not knowing what was happening. I pushed the arms off me and turned to my attacker.
However, I did not expect to see him.
"Alexander?!" Alec Lightwood was standing in front of me with a goofy smile. He wore his black jeans, his dark gray hoodie with a hood on and the black leather jacket. "What the hell are you doing here?!"
"This is not the reaction I expected." He said, giving me a strange look. "Aren't you happy to see me?"
"Oh god…did you run away from the hospital? Alexander! Your parents must be looking for you. Maryse will have my head if she knows…"
"My parents and siblings are sitting in the front row with your mom," Alec interrupted me, walking closer. He grabbed me by my hands and drew to his chest. "I wanted to be here with you on your big day. I told you, I'm your number one fan, Magnus."
"But, Alec, your health…"
"Don't you worry your pretty head about it, love." Alec leaned on his toes to kiss me. "Lauren gave me permission to leave after she gave me a shot. I can stay here three hours, maybe four if I won't be so much tired. Yeah."
"Is it really ok for you to be here, sweet pea?"
"Positive." He replied with the widest smile.
"Ok, we're out in a minute, guys!" Miss Blackwell shouted to all of us. People started to get ready for their roles. I sighed loudly, closing my eyes.
"I think it's my cue," Alec whispered, kissing my lips for the last time. "I'll be in the front row. Remember, number one fan. Good luck, sweetheart, I know you'll be great. I love you."
"I love you too, Alexander."
On the stage, I tried my best to act to make Alexander proud of me. He was watching us mesmerized, following each of our movements. Alec was squeezing my mom's hand and his mother's as well, especially, when I sang this song.
You're the rock that I'm willing to chain myself to.
As long as we're together, nothing can break us through.
In the final scene, I was holding Lacey's hands in mine, gazing almost lovingly into her green eyes, picturing Alec standing before me. We leaned down and kissed, receiving a wave of clasps from our viewers.
"I love you, Tony."
"And I you, Marie. And I you. Forever."
A loud applause went through the room as we bent after the final scene. Some people were even whistling in a good meaning. When I left the stage, my mother and the Lightwoods were the first one to congratulate me.
"You were amazing, sweetheart!" My mother, pulled me into her arms, kissing my cheek. Then I received the same congratulation from Izzy, Maryse, Robert, and Max. Jace bumped me in an arm and gave a thumb up.
"Not bad, Sparkles."
"Shush, Jace, he was incredible," Alec told Jace off and drew me into his arms. "You were wonderful and spectacular, love. I'm so proud of you."
"Thank you, darling." We kissed, receiving a role eye from Robert and Jace and awes from our moms and Izzy. "I'm so glad you're here, Alexander."
"I'm happy too, Magnus."
After the play, we went to Atelier for a small dinner, before we got Alec back to the hospital. Surprisingly he didn't feel tired, moreover, he felt excited, buzzed. He looked almost healthy today. You could easily believe that nothing was wrong with him.
I could easily believe that everything would be ok with my Angel. I could hope for it.
A/N: Did you like it?
Sorry for a late update, but I had problems with my laptop.
Anyway, I may add something to this chapter, later, so check out in a few days. If I'll add this thing after the next chapter, I'll give you a notice on Tuesday.
Review if you feel like to,
Intoxic