A/N: ngl I had a lot of fun writing this chapter lol

Magnus

"Hey, what happened on Friday?" Sam asks, catching up with me on the way to History.

"Uh, what do you mean?" I ask nervously.

"It looked like you and Alex got in a fight or something. You were all weird around each other and then you just left kind of abruptly."

"No, we're fine. It's fine. No- nothing happened." I cough quickly to hide the crack in my voice.

Sam looks at me quizzically. "Sure." She peels off to head to AP Lit, and I turn into Mr. Brunner's classroom.

I immediately want to turn around and head anywhere but here. The only other student in the room is Alex, and Mr. Brunner is mysteriously absent. I keep my head down and sit down at my desk, which is sadly right next to hers. I pull my headphones over my ears and turn slightly so I'm facing away from her.

Fight or flight, I'd rather die

Than have to cry in front of you

Fight or flight, I'd rather lie

Than tell you I'm in love with you

Mr. Brunner wheels in before the song is over, and class starts.

I manage to get through the whole day by avoiding Alex whenever possible, and acting like nothing's wrong whenever we have to interact. I'm almost in the clear, walking out of the school to a perfectly blue sky, when I see a bright green head bobbing towards me.

"We need to talk." She says, her two-toned eyes piercing me.

"What is there to talk about?" I ask in a low voice. "I kissed you, you didn't want me to, I'm sorry, it won't happen again."

"Why have you been avoiding me?"

"It's embarrassing! Why wouldn't I avoid you? For all I know, you hate me now!"

I can almost see Alex's heart breaking. "I don't hate you. Magnus. We're-"

She cuts off abruptly, staring in horror at something past my shoulder. I turn around quickly, and my blood runs cold.

A severe-looking man in a dark suit stands glaring at Alex.

"Alex." He says it like a weapon, a curse.

"Dad." She says it the exact same way.

I stand in between them, completely frozen. Alex is looking like a scared dog, hackles raised, hoping to be perceived as a threat. Her father seems like an actual threat, like if you make one wrong move he'll backhand you across the face.

"What are you doing here? How did you find me?" Alex says, her voice shaking slightly.

"Son-" Her father starts, stepping forward menacingly.

"DON'T call me that!" Alex yells, flinching backwards with tears in her eyes. "Even if I was a boy right now, which I'm not, I am sure as hell not your son." She hisses, lacing her words with a defensive venom.

Mr. Fierro sighs dismissively, as if he's heard this all before. "Like it or not, Alex, you are my child, and you are. My. Son. Now come with me, and we can get this all straightened out."

I hear his unspoken words. And we can get you all straightened out. I can tell Alex hears it too. She growls, her fingers flexing into fists.

"Stay the fuck away from me! I am not going back with you, and if you ever come near me again, I swear to god I will get a restraining order!" She turns away and stalks back into the school quickly.

I watch her go, tears of sympathy pooling in my eyes, then turn to face Mr. Fierro.

"You are a monster. Alex is probably the most sincere, clever, brave person I've ever met! And all you do is cut her down! She ran away from you because she couldn't bear to be in the same place as you, and here you go chasing her down, just so you can mold her to be your perfect little cishet offspring! But that's not who she is! You should respect that, because she's completely amazing how she is. I see that. How can't you?"

I turn away before I can see his expression and chase after Alex.