CCHS
Chapter 55: Networking
"Are you OK?" Magnus asked, touching Alec's arm when he reached the end of the hall. Magnus was laying, well, leaning in wait for him, an overly tall, lanky boyfriend lounging against the wall.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Alec replied, trying to give Magnus a really-I'm-OK smile, though his eyes followed Isabelle stalking into the other room, concerned. Why was she freaking out so much about Sebastian? Alec didn't even realize they knew each other. He'd seen them talking once at practice, but it couldn't have been that bad of a convo. Besides, that was how many months ago?
"Alec," Magnus prompted, snapping his finger.
"Hm?" Alec replied distractedly.
"Don't brush me off," Magnus insisted, fingers tickling beneath Alec's chin. He was probably trying to do something that felt good, but honestly, it did tickle. Alec twitched and ducked his chin a little.
"I wouldn't," Alec muttered, reclaiming his cup from Magnus. He took a quick sip, trying to focus on the soda and the carbonated fuzz sliding down his throat instead of Magnus's hardcore staring. But he could feel it, that stare. And when Alec looked back up, Magnus was still looking at him, brows raised, his free hand now on his hip.
And no, he wasn't looking at the way his shirt rode up, or how low-waisted Magnus's pants were. That didn't even enter into his mind.
"Seriously! Stop doing that. It's creepy."
Magnus finally softened his expression and smiled a little. "Sorry."
Alec tentatively smiled back, handing his cup back off to Magnus. "I'm hungry."
"Of course you are. Let's go raid your fridge."
"I thought you set up the dining room table with stuff?"
"It's all crap. You need something more substantial," Magnus decided, grabbing at his hand and steering him towards the kitchen.
- - -
Isabelle sat on top of dining room table, just on the periphery of Magnus's artful arrangement. She had grabbed two serving sizes worth of potato chips and piled them high on a napkin - for which she felt supremely guilty. Normally she would have stopped at precisely 13 chips. But tonight, she needed some greasy, fatty food. With every shameful, crunchy bite, she did feel a little better.
Later, she'd feel worse. This was definitely not within her disciplined diet regimen. This kind of crap was exactly why so many of her classmates had acne and undesirable body fat.
She had opened a can of Coke, but decided dark carbonated soda wasn't what she needed. She needed a beer. Maybe Jace had it right. It was hard not to drink when she thought of Sebastian talking to everybody like he was one of their friends, like he didn't have ulterior motives in coming to the party.
Bull shit. He knew exactly what he was doing. Unfortunately, Isabelle wasn't sure yet what that was. To torment her? To spy on them up close? To make jabs at Jace? Just to be a thorn in their sides and make their evening unpleasant?
Maybe he was bored on a Friday night, and obviously lacking friends of his own, he thought it'd a fun time to crash Alec's party, knowing no one would be rude enough to tell him to turn back around once he was at the door.
But damnit, Alec. Grow a damned back bone. Sebastian deserved rude. He deserved worse!
Isabelle hated him so much, it made her stomach churn. She reached for the abandoned cup of soda, about to take a sip, but decided to take a swig of the beer instead, hating the taste.
The door clicked open. Isabelle's head shot up, recognizing the blond head before Sebastian ducked inside, closing the door behind him. She was pretty sure she saw him finger the lock, and her skin prickled with anxiety, angry color rushing into her cheeks.
"Hey you. Drinking all alone?"
"Get out," she growled, hand tightening around the beer. There was no point hiding it now.
He didn't even seem effected by the acid in her tone. He smiled as if she'd actually said something pleasant.
"Whatever would your parents think if they knew you and your brother were drinking beer while they were away?"
"That's none of your business, ass hole."
"And a mouth too. I didn't realize you'd turned into such a deviant in a less than a year."
Isabelle made no answer to that, but took another sip of the beer, refusing to look at him.
When she didn't gratify him with a reply, he added: "Or should I say... you've turned into a foul-mouthed slut with a drinking problem."
Gasping, Isabelle threw her beer bottle at his head. He ducked to the left and it crashed against the wall, with an explosion of glass and foam.
Sebastian turned slowly as if to inspect the paint job, then gradually looked back at Isabelle with a sickeningly sweet smile. "That was close."
"It was meant for your face."
"Good thing you have shitty aim then, huh?"
"Yeah. It's a pity. Maybe if your face was as ugly you are, people wouldn't even come close to you."
"Ouch. I don't know what brought this on."
"You're a demon!" she cursed, lip curling back in anger and disgust.
"Now, now. That's harsh. You're really hurting my feelings now."
"What feelings?" Isabelle cried, hands flattening out against the table. "You don't feel anything."
"That's awfully presumptuous. I am human."
Isabelle slid off the table, though still gripping the edge. "Just leave me alone! I worked hard to make sure you weren't invited and you still had to show up. No one wants you here!"
"Oh?" Sebastian asked, head cocked to one side. He was watching her every move, dark eyes barely flickering. "Alec let me in, just fine. And it's his party, after all."
"That's because he doesn't have any idea what you are! What you did!"
"No? You didn't tell him? You and Herondale have been keeping secrets from your older brother?"
"I don't want him to know," Isabelle replied, wincing.
"Is it too embarrassing to admit that a boy got the better of you? Because you're such a strong, independent female," the last part was said in a mocking voice, while combing his hair back from his face. "You wear boys out like new shoes. They would never be able to--"
"Shut up!"
"So you're not going to tell him how close we were?"
"We're not close!" she growled.
"...how you kissed me last year?" He continued, approaching the center of the table, opposite her. "How much you liked it at the time? Oh, yes. Don't you remember?" Sebsastian crooned, rounding the table slowly. "It wasn't until we really got down to business that you decided you were in over your head."
"You were hurting me!" Isabelle hissed, backing up a step. "And I didn't want you."
"Oh? So the story changes over time."
"I didn't want that."
"Your kiss was convincing. Don't tell me that's all you wanted, either."
"I didn't want you to rape me!" Isabelle replied, in an uneven voice. "You knew exactly what you were doing, and I'm glad Jace came when he did and beat the crap out of you. I would have done it myself if I hadn't been trapped beneath your fat ass!"
Sebastian blinked, something flashing across his face. Probably his hurt vanity at the 'fat ass' comment. Then it was gone. Sebastian laughed, trailing his fingertips along the surface of the table as he continued to move closer. "Well, you can't hide behind Herondale now. So what's your next move, Isabelle?" He purred her name, while advancing on her.
She pulled one of the chairs out, as if that would block him from coming any closer. Then she stumbled back, shoving another chair out of her way. Sebastian was grinning now, moving with exaggerated slowness, while Isabelle scrambled to the opposite of the end the table, stepping out of shoes (preparing to run).
Then the door clicked open again, and Simon walked in, blinking in confusion. "Umm. Sorry. I just...wanted a soda."
"There's a better variety in the fridge," Isabelle pointed out, speaking in a rush. Without a backward glance at Sebastian, she moved quickly over the door, taking the new kid's arm. "Here, I'll show you," she breathed, hand clamping hard on his forearm.
"Great. Umm. Thanks," Simon answered, overwhelmed by her eagerness, and not particularly caring that her hand was hurting his arm. Isabelle pulled him back down the hall.
"Are you OK?" He asked, realizing she was shaking.
"I am now," Isabelle answered, continuing to pull on him when he paused in the living room. Instead of heading into the kitchen where the others had assembled, Isabelle veered left and down another hall, ushering him into her bedroom and locking the door behind them.
"Isabelle?" he tried, not sure what was going on.
"Just stay with me. Please. Just until he goes away," she said in a pleading voice.
"Sure." But he wanted to ask what happened, why she was so upset. But Simon didn't say anything. He didn't want to make it worse.
"Thank you. Whatever your name is."
"Simon," he reminded, looking down at his feet. No one here knew him. What was even doing at the party? He was like a seventh wheel.
"Right. Simon," she repeated. Then Isabelle grabbed at his shirt and pulled him closer, kissing him with such an outpouring relief and gratitude, it left them both shaking.
A/N: I am so sorry for the lateness in this update, but I swear on my beloved dog that I won't let it happen again. I am getting back in the saddle. I'm working on Between Betweens, Magic Moment, and When the Bell Drops as well, and there will be chapter updates on each soon.
For anyone who is reading Magic Moment, or if you're just a Malec fan, Katara-Alchemist made a wonderful sketch which has sinced been colored, inspired by the latest chapter of Magic Moment. Here it is (just substitute . for the *, OK?)
http://katara-alchemist*deviantart*com/art/Warming-Up-Colored-150537070
