"Izz, maybe you should let me do that..." Alec suggested, eying her nervously.
"This would be," Jerk, "so much easier if," rip, "we just could find that," scrape, "pizza slicer."
Alec nodded, biting his lip. She was butchering the pizza. The space she was trying to cut between two slices of pepperoni looked like...well, the pizza had gone to battle, with tomato sauce and pepperoni laid to waste all over the pan. Some of it had escaped to the table, out of range of her knife.
It was so sad. The frozen pizza looked fine when it came out of the oven. They'd managed not to burn it, not even the bottom. But now, it was steadily being ruined by his sister's (lack of) cutting skill.
"God, I'm starving," Jace complained.
"I'm working here," Isabelle growled, scraping across the pizza pan with her blade. Both boys cringed.
Finally one piece came loose and Isabelle picked it up and set it on a plate, then walked off with her food, returning to her room. They could serve themselves. And she didn't feel like doing the family dinner thing around the table.
Alec took over from there, slicing the rest with ease. Poor pizza. He served Jace first, trying to fit three slices onto his plate, which left Alec with two (well, one and a half - his piece bordered the piece Isabelle had brutally removed).
"Want anything to drink?"
"Coke," Jace requested, taking his plate into the living room so they could make use of the flat screen.
"Is House on?" Alec asked, rummaging through the fridge.
"Do you know what day of the week it is?" Jace teased, biting a chunk off his pizza.
"Thursday?"
"House was on three days ago."
"Oh."
"They're reruns right now anyway. The fall stuff doesn't start for another month, at least."
"See, I don't understand that. School's back in. We need our shows." By which, Alec really meant just the one show - which Jace had turned him on to. Otherwise, he was pretty ignorant about what was on prime time TV.
"Right. Something to look forward to other than early wake-ups and school. And after-school practice."
Alec nodded, setting his food and the drinks down before sitting on the couch. They really shouldn't be eating out here - mom would flip her shit if she knew. She was very protective of her furniture, and the couch was definitely a no food or colored drink zone. The fact that Jace initiated the rule-breaking made him a little braver, but that's not to say if the front door opened unexpectedly right now, that he wouldn't grab his food and coke can and fly back into the kitchen with it, leaving Jace alone to take the rap.
"So, don't wait up for me after school tomorrow," Jace was saying, reaching for the remote and turning the TV on.
"Oh?"
"I'm going to meet up with Raphael. His uncle wants to see me face to face - probably to make sure I'm not a screw up, and threaten me in person to treat his car with the utmost." Jace smirked like he wasn't the least intimidated by that scenario, but instead - tickled. He flipped absently through channels.
" 'You be careful, kid. If there's just one scratch, one tiny ding, it'll be your ass,' " Alec said, trying to sound hardcore Bronx, old-school gangster, but it just came out wrong. He laughed at himself and Jace snickered.
"Well, he is a cop."
"Whoa."
"Yeah, so he's got the full force of the law behind him. He could throw me in lockup if I use half a tank of gas and don't replace it."
"Maybe you shouldn't do this, Jace," Alec said, no longer able to see the humor in the situation.
"Are you kidding me? This is an once in a lifetime experience. I'm never going to own an Aston Martin, and I don't plan on lifting one in the near future. I'm not going to let the Po Po scare me."
"What about...the girl? Is she coming with you to get the car?"
"No, I'll roll by her house afterward. In style."
Alec rolled his eyes.
"Well, don't forget to bring your license to school. And charge your cell phone."
"Thanks, mom. Anything else?"
Alec punched his arm. Jace shoved him lightly in retaliation, causing Alec to spill his soda on the edge of the cushion.
Alec gasped in horror, then sprung up, cursing. "Damnit, Jace!"
"It's not my fault you have a can to mouth problem. Or that your mother is neurotic."
"Shut up and help me clean this up," Alec urged, using all the napkins. But it wasn't enough. He had to make sure it wasn't going to stain.
Jace sighed, setting down his pizza. Reluctantly, he got up and followed Alec into the kitchen.
"Lies," Magnus said, flipping through the latest edition of People.
"People isn't a tabloid, dumb ass. Those are real stories," Paul said, turning on his computer.
"No way. I don't buy half these celebrity relationships. They seem more like PR stunts to push their movies. Like this chick from Twilight," Magnus tapped the picture with a polished nail. "Rob is hot - don't get me wrong, but he's how many years older than she is? And the make out scene in the movie was just awkward. It can't be real - their 'off cinema romance'. I bet she's annoying."
Paul scoffed, unwinding his headphones. He was preparing for his evening dose of WOW. Consequently, he'd only heard half of what Magnus had said - and he felt the need to protect his magazine's honor. He was all about celebrity gossip. "Celebrities are real people too. They've just got better makeup."
"And an insane amount of disposable income."
"And perfect DNA."
"And awesome dentists," Magnus retorted, looking at each smiling face. He didn't 'read' magazines like this, just scanned the captions and perused pictures.
"You've got perfect teeth."
"I went through a lot of pain when I was younger. I had half my baby teeth pulled."
"Ouch," Paul replied, loading the game.
"Yeah. And you'll love this one -- they said my mouth was too small."
Paul laughed, glancing over his shoulder at his friend - who was sprawled across his plaid comforter, going through his new PG reading material (the good stuff was under the bed, in a lock box - safe from his sister and snooping parents. That's also where he kept his journal and a few CDs he didn't want to get scratched. Like an autographed Elton John).
"What did they know?"
"Indeed," Magnus agreed with a wink. Paul turned back around in his chair, looking uncomfortable.
"So should I head out?" Magnus asked after a minute. He pushed People aside, glancing disinterestedly at Seventeen and Us.
"You can hang out."
"But you're going to be talking with your cyber friends," Magnus pointed out, sitting up.
"You can watch."
Magnus rolled his eyes. Because that was his idea of a hot time. "Thanks. I'll see myself out."
Paul was already distracted by the game. He blew Magnus an air kiss without turning around.
"Later, Ragnor," Magnus said.
"See you tomorrow," Paul replied.
Maybe they would see each other at school. But he'd probably have to text or call Paul later - when he wasn't sucked into World of Warcraft, and remind him that he was walking home alone tomorrow. Magnus had a date with Alec Lightwood.
Speaking of. Magnus removed his cell while he headed down the stairs of the building. He'd programmed Alec's number into his speed dial. Number 1, of course. Paul had been demoted to 2 - a fact he knew better than to share with his possessive friend.
Holding down the button, Magnus shoved his free hand inside his coat pocket. The line started ringing.
On the third ring, when he was already rehearsing what his message would sound like, Magnus was surprised to hear Alec's voice picking up.
"Hello?"
"Hello," Magnus greeted, sure Alec could hear the smile in his voice.
"...Magnus?"
The smile turned into a full-sized grin. Magnus nuzzled the fur lining of his coat, trying to keep warm. The temperature had dropped significantly since he'd left school that afternoon.
"Mhm."
There was an awkward silence. Magnus lifted a brow. "You did say it was all right to call you."
"Yeah."
"You aren't in bed?"
"Yes. I mean...I wasn't sleeping. I'm reading."
Magnus smiled at the mental image of Alec Lightwood curled up beneath his comforter with a worn paperback book - pushing the hair out of his eyes, a cute look of concentration on his face.
"What are you reading?"
"Catcher in the Rye. It's for English."
"Oh, yeah? Read that one sophomore year."
"At your previous school?"
"Mhm."
"Did you like it?"
"I guess so. I liked the way it was written. The main character was kind of a punk."
"Yeah, I think that's why it bothers me so much. He doesn't seem to care about anything."
"And that's his problem."
"Yeah," Alec agreed.
"But you don't have that problem."
"No."
"Me neither. I know what I want."
Magnus had a pretty good idea that Alec was blushing on the other end of the line, and he snickered.
"What's that?" Alec whispered tentatively.
Mental squeal. As if you don't know, darling. "A scholarship to NYU next fall."
"Oh." Alec sounded almost disappointed.
Poor boy. He really was hopeful. Well, Magnus had been tempted to say 'you,' but without being able to see Alec's face, the lengthy pause sure to follow would be meaningless. He would have no way of knowing if Alec was flattered, excited, repulsed, or in horror. Better to save that for tomorrow night.
"I'm looking forward to tomorrow night."
"Yeah..." Alec replied, still in that soft voice. "Me too," he admitted.
Magnus smiled, heading into his own building. He shed his coat going up the stairs. "Well, I'll let you get back to your book. But there is something I wanted to ask you."
"What?"
"Want to eat lunch with me tomorrow?"
"Well, I don't usually...eat. But if you want to sit together, that's fine."
"You will eat tomorrow," Magnus decided. "I'll provide the food. And hey, if there's leftovers, you can give Jace some."
"OK. He never turns down food."
"Smart kid."
"He's a pig," Alec laughed. Magnus thought of a few other choice phrases, but didn't comment.
"So I'll see you in the morning?" Magnus said, sliding the key into their front door. He could hear the vacuum roaring to life in the background.
"See you," Alec replied.
Magnus hung up before opening the door.
"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEEN?" His mother yelled over the vacuum. Not that it mattered - she was always yelling.
"Paul's house," Magnus answered, shutting the door back behind him and locking it.
"WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING ALL THIS TIME?"
"Living in sin," he muttered under his breath. He tossed his coat over the arm of the couch.
"THAT DOESN'T GO THERE!"
"Give me a break, mom. I'm exhausted."
"YOUR LIFE IS NOT HARD! TRY WORKING TWO JOBS AND GETTING PAID LIKE AN IMMIGRANT! THAT IS HARD!"
Magnus rolled his eyes, snatching up his coat and heading to his room.