A/N: I wanted to do something a little different with this one. As a HUGE college basketball fan, I thought I would bring some of my world into Malec's. You will encounter b-ball terms that I hope won't be too confusing, and I'll do my best with the cheerleading terminology (though all I know about cheerleading is what I've witnessed at games and what I've found on internet searches. Sorry, it's not my thing.) Anyway, I thought a little role-reversal would be fun to try. Hope you enjoy it.

Alec Lightwood stared up at the enormous, looming red brick building that would be his home for the next four years. The structure itself was intimidating, but the prospect of living with so many other people, so many other guys was scaring the hell out of him. He knew no one, had no friends or family here. His life was basically starting from scratch. He was suddenly paralyzed with fear.

"That's the last box," Jace Wayland said as he came to rest at Alec's right, holding a box of Alec's possessions in his lean, muscular arms. Alec jumped and turned to smile at his best friend.

Jace was two years younger than him, a junior in high school. Their parents had been close friends forever and that friendship had trickled down to Alec and Jace when they were young boys. When Jace's parents died six years ago in a car crash, Jace came to live with the Lightwoods and he and Jace had been inseparable since. Wherever one was, the other was usually not far away. Only now, Jace couldn't follow Alec. Alec was going to be on his own for the first time ever.

He glanced around at his mother, father, sister, brother, and Jace, his own personal moving crew. Each was carrying a heavy box of his possessions, and that thought finally broke through his fear and kicked him into gear. He moved toward the daunting building with its rough exterior and glass doors and security system.

He depressed the button on the intercom and waited. A moment later, a crackly voice asked what he wanted. After a quick conversation and the sound of a buzzer, the door popped open, admitting them to its interior.

They stopped at a window and received a temporary card. "That card will give you access to the building and the elevator. After orientation tomorrow, you will get your student ID which will replace the temporary pass. Here is a key to your dorm room. The number is 404. Take the elevator to the fourth floor, turn left, second door on the right," said a young guy in an extremely bored, monotone voice. Alec wondered how many times he had given that spiel in the last few days.

He thanked the man and entered through another set of double glass doors into an open area. He could see tables and chairs and a kitchen area in the distance. There was a ping-pong table, a shelf with board games, and several televisions scattered around the room. This must be the common room. The walls were lined with small rooms with computer stations and doors, and were obviously used for private study sessions.

The elevators were immediately to the right of the doors, and Alec punched the 'up' button to call the elevator down. The elevator dinged instantly, and the doors parted. They entered the metal box and rode up to the fourth floor.

Alec was apprehensive as he turned the key to his dorm room. He was about to meet his roommate for the first time, and then his family would be leaving him. Alone. At least he had chosen to go to a university in Brooklyn so he wouldn't be too far away from his family.

Alec had grown up in a penthouse on the thirtieth floor of a high-rise residential building in Manhattan. His family came from 'old money' and had been wealthy since long before crossing the Atlantic Ocean and coming to America when the country was young. His father, Robert, was a successful businessman, adding his contribution to the sizeable family wealth. His mother, Maryse, had never held a paying job.

Many people assumed that, given the circumstances of being from a wealthy family, Alec and his siblings had grown up in a sterile environment lacking love. But that was simply not the case. Oh, they had a nanny and a butler and several other servants and housekeepers, but his parents had very much been a part of his life. His father, busy as he was, had never missed one of Alec's little league baseball games. He had been the one to teach Alec to throw a baseball, to swing a bat, to shoot a basketball. He had even tried to get him interested in football, but Alec had not taken much interest in that sport. When Jace moved in with them, Robert had helped him with soccer practice. He was a busy man, in constant demand, but family came first.

His mother was just as supportive. She had met Robert in at a social event at the college they both attended. Robert was smitten with her at first sight. Maryse had studied to become a teacher, but when she married Robert their senior year of college, he had given her a life that meant she never had to work. Instead, she spent her time volunteering with underprivileged children, helping out in homeless shelters, and being an upstanding member of society.

When Alec came along, and then two years later they had Isabelle, Maryse devoted her time to them. She used her education background to give her kids the best possible start in life. She home-schooled them until they reached high school. At that point, she wanted them to have the interactions and opportunities they would need to thrive in college. Plus she could devote more time to their youngest son, Max, who was just a toddler at the time.

No, Alec Lightwood had nothing to complain about when it came to his childhood. He had been loved and cared for. He had been lucky.

And that made it so much harder to leave.

Alec pushed open the door to his dorm room to discover a small living area with an even smaller kitchen. He sighed in relief when he saw the bedrooms were separate. He didn't like the idea of sharing a bedroom with a stranger. Especially a strange boy. He was a private person, mostly, and needed a comfortable place to get away from everything and relax and think.

A tall, thin, well-build guy with dark blonde hair and a deep tan sauntered into the room. His loping gait and slouched posture gave him the appearance of someone lazy, but the well-defined biceps and abs that peaked through his thin tank top told another story altogether. This guy was an athlete, as was every other guy in the building. What sport he played Alec still had to find out.

The guy stretched out his hand to Alec. "Austin Chambers," he said as Alec shook his hand. He had an easy smile, open and inviting, and just a hint of a southern accent. Alec felt inexplicably comfortable around Austin, and thought they might get along just fine. He immediately began to relax.

Alec made introductions, and Austin politely shook hands with Robert and Jace as well. He turned on the charm with Maryse and Isabelle, dragging their hands to his lips and planting a gentle kiss over their knuckles. Both ladies smiles and blushed. Yeah, this guy knew how to work the women. He was thoroughly glad Izzy was too young to join him at college.

Alec's family stayed and helped him find places for all his belongings. The dorm came furnished with furniture and appliances. Since he only had to bring his personal effects, the process of putting everything away didn't take very long. He tried to drag it out, knowing that they would soon be leaving and he would be on his own. Not that he wasn't excited about college, he was. Very. He was just nervous about being away from home. He was also nervous about the response from the jocks once they discovered he was a member of the cheerleading squad. He had received a lot of grief from the boys at his high school, being one of only four male cheerleaders, and he hoped the next four years wouldn't be just as bad.

Of course, the main thing his classmates had assumed was that he was gay. Which he was. So he really had no comeback for that one. It did irritate him that they assumed all the male cheerleaders were gay, however, especially since the other three were not. He hated stereotyping. Of course, assuming that the jocks would give him grief was in itself stereotyping, so perhaps he was being hypocritical. And overthinking things.

His family stayed for another thirty minutes after his room was organized. He hugged Jace and Izzy goodbye first. Then his mother squeezed him tightly and kissed his cheek, promising to see him soon and to send him some of Cook's best comfort foods. Then his father gripped his shoulders, pulling him into a hug and telling him how proud he was of him. And then they left, and Alec was alone. He felt a twinge in his gut at the thought, then mentally slapped himself. He wasn't alone. He was in an eight-story building full of college guys. Hot college guys. Hot athletic college guys. Surely at least one of them would be gay, right? And even if there weren't any other gay guys in his dorm, at least he would have plenty of eye candy. Maybe it was time to do some mingling. He may not be outgoing around large groups of strangers, but he could hold his own in a small group, and he could look.

He tossed himself on the futon couch in the tiny living room. Austin was sitting in a mismatched armchair, his long, tanned leg thrown over the side and his arm dangling over the back. He looked comfortable…and kind of sexy. He lolled his head around to look at Alec. "So, Lightwood, what's your story?"

Alec raised an eyebrow. "My story?" Oh, hell, that could take awhile. He hadn't even decided how much of his story he would tell people at college. He was a fairly open person, and honest sometimes to a fault. If someone asked him straight up if he was gay, he would certainly tell them the truth. But he wasn't sure how much information he wanted to offer. Should he tell people his family is loaded, and though he is here occupying a scholarship, his parents had insisted on paying his tuition instead of taking the university's money? What to tell and what to keep to himself, that was the question.

"Yeah," Austin drawled. "You're living in the Athletes' Dorm. I assume you aren't here on a ping-pong scholarship."

Alec snorted. "No." He tilted his head in thought. "Do they have ping-pong scholarships here?"

"I don't think so," said Austin. He slid his leg over the side of the chair and sat up straighter, studying Alec. "So, what's your sport?"

Alec hesitated, but what was the point. He couldn't actually hide being a cheerleader, and he didn't really want to. He truly enjoyed it. Besides, he would likely be on TV during basketball and football games. And if they were good enough, he might even be on ESPN for the cheerleading competitions in the spring. "I'm on the cheer squad," he replied, hoping that sounded a little more masculine than 'cheerleader.'

Austin's eyebrows disappeared in his hairline, and he inclined his head in interest. "Never would have guessed that. You're built like a football player."

Alec gave him a skeptically look. "What. Not a lineman or anything. More like, I don't know, a running back or a wide receiver. You're obviously strong, broad shoulders." Austin shrugged, unfazed.

Alec chuckled. "You try holding a hundred pound girl over your head and see how big your upper body gets!"

"I never thought of that," Austin conceded. "So, how did you get involved in cheerleading?"

"Uh-uh. Question for question," Alec said, holding up a finger. "What sport are you in?"

"Swimming," Austin answered casually. "I'm gonna be the next Michael Phelps."

"Cool."

"Now, answer my question. Why cheerleading?"

Alec grimaced. He really didn't like answering this question, but everyone always wanted to know. Maybe that's why he didn't like the question, because everyone was always asking it. People rarely asked basketball or football players why they played their sport. They assumed they played because they liked it. Why did cheerleading have to be different?

"I played a variety of rec-league sports as a kid: basketball, baseball, soccer. But I always loved tumbling and doing flips and such. So my mom enrolled me in gymnastics. I liked it a lot, but I didn't care much for some of the apparatuses." Alec shrugged. "Then I started high school, and my school didn't have a gymnastics program, but they did have a limited number of positions for male cheerleaders. I loved it. I got to do the parts of gymnastics that I loved, without the parts that I loathed."

"Plus you got to look up the cheerleaders skirts," Austin said with a knowing look. Alec looked away. "Oh, hell, don't tell me that's wasted on you." He groaned with disappointment.

Alec laughed. "What can I say? That does absolutely nothing for me." He liked Austin. He seemed easy-going, and not put off by the fact his roommate was gay. That was a relief.

"Unbelievable," Austin sighed, shaking his head. But he was grinning. "So, what do your parents think of having a gay son?"

Alec shrugged off the question. "They're really cool about it, actually. My sister, Izzy, and Jace have known since I hit puberty I think. They've always been great about it. They don't care at all. They kept my secret for many years.

"When I was fifteen, I met a guy. We liked each other a lot but he was so scared we would get caught. He didn't want anyone to know about us. Thought people would give us a hard time about it. We would frequently meet in an out-of-the-way bathroom at school that no one ever used, and would make out. It was fun because there was always the risk of getting caught. I cared about getting caught, but I didn't at the same time. In a lot of ways, I wanted to get caught, wanted it out there so I could just deal with it. Does that make any sense?"

Austin nodded. "Yeah. No one wants to hide who they are and what they want."

Alec smiled. He definitely liked this guy, and had no trouble imaging them becoming good friends. "Anyway, one day we were leaving that bathroom, and walking to class. Our classes that period were right next to each other. We had been dating secretly for months, and for some unknown reason, I subconsciously grabbed his hand in the hallway and pulled him to me and kissed him, right there in the doorway to my classroom. We were already late for class and my teacher was standing at the door about to close it when it happened. Every single student in class was watching us. My boyfriend was utterly horrified. He broke up with me via text message and never spoke to me again."

"Ouch."

"Yeah. It sucked. When I got home, I told Jace and Izzy all about it. I hadn't gotten into trouble at school, not even for being late to class, but it was out there. Everyone knew or would know pretty quickly. I knew I had no choice but to tell my parents. So we sat in my room, me on my rolling desk chair, them perched on my bed, and discussed what I should say and do. I was terrified. I had no idea how my parents would react. Would they accept me? Kick me out? I was only fifteen, but still, my imagination was running wild."

Austin was perched on the edge of the chair now, raptly caught up in Alec's story. "When my dad got home from work, he and my mom knocked on my door. I think I jumped about a foot in surprise. I still hadn't figured out what to say. My dad demanded Izzy and Jace leave, and I could tell by the look on their faces that they were worried and didn't like the idea of leaving me to deal with this alone. But they left. You met my dad. He can be intimidating when he wants, especially if he doesn't get his way."

Austin nodded his understanding. Robert Lightwood was a very large, very muscular man. He had a short, crisp haircut that made one think of the military. Even though he had been a wonderful father to Alec, he could still be scary.

"So, my mom and dad sit down exactly where Jace and Izzy had been sitting. I take a deep breath and start to spill my guts, but my dad cuts me off. Apparently he had already gotten a call from a family friend at the school who was worried about how I would handle this news getting out. He wanted to give my dad a heads-up. So, my dad says, 'Alec don't bother. We've suspected you were gay since you were little. When you reached the stage where boys go crazy over girls, we noticed the way you looked at boys instead. We've always known, we just weren't sure you had come to terms with it yet, and wanted to give you the space to figure things out for yourself. Clearly you've done that. If there is anything we can do to make this easier for you, all you have to do is tell us what that is.'"

Austin sucked in a breath. He was very good at making the appropriate responses at just the right times.

"I was floored. I mean, they knew! They already knew! They had known for years and nothing had changed between us. They accepted me unconditionally. So, I said, 'You just did it, dad.' And they had. Their acceptance made everything easier. I knew I could face whatever the rest of the world threw at me, because my family had my back."

Austin let out a low whistle, and shook his head. "You're gorgeous, have a rocking body, and you're parents support you being gay. I'm pretty sure I hate you."

Alec grinned. "I'm one of the lucky ones," he agreed. "So, what about you? What's your story?"

Austin waved an impatient hand. "My story is boring. My mom raised me. Dad ran off before I was born, and I've never even met him. I started swimming and diving in the local public pool and got lucky enough to make the swim team in high school. My coach saw something special in me and got some colleges to scout me. That's how I ended up here with a scholarship. I'm a sophomore this year, and really want to make the Olympic team, but it's so competitive, and I don't have money to compete with some of the other kids." He shrugged as if resigned to his fate.

"Maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones, too," said Alec. He checked his watch. "Listen, I have a squad meeting in twenty minutes. Meet and greet and all that. I gotta run."

"Yeah, I have swim practice, too. The pool is next door to the gym. I'll walk you over."

Alec was thankful for that offer. He had been on campus several times, but never to the dorms and he had no idea where the gym was in relation.

Twenty minutes later he was standing outside the closed gym doors, in a cool, dim hallway, waiting for basketball practice to end so they could use the space. Someone propped open the door, and the deep voice of the basketball coach filtered through the doors and into the hallway. A moment later, the team started filing out. A dozen guys jogged past the cheerleaders as they waited their turn. A few girls started into the gym and the rest of the squad followed. As Alec rounded the corner, he almost ran headlong into a heart-stoppingly gorgeous guy.

The guy was several inches taller than Alec's six-foot-two frame, but Alec judged that he was probably twenty-five to thirty pounds lighter than Alec. He was lean, with well-defined arm muscles. He was wearing a basketball practice jersey that hung loosely, but Alec still got the sense that underneath that jersey he would find a well-toned body. His skin was smooth and honey-colored, and currently glistening with a layer of sweat. He was obviously of some Asian descent, with his jet black hair and slightly slanted eyes, eyes that were piercing, and the most unique shade of green-gold, amber like a cat's. He moved with an easy grace that Alec could never pull off, casual, aloof, unconcerned, at ease in his own skin, like he knew everyone liked him and he was okay with that. It was a heady combination and Alec found himself wanted to lick the sweat right off his body.

He stared at the guy for several long moments, fantasizing about what he would do with this beautiful, exotic male specimen, before he was forced back to reality by the sound of his cheer coach blowing her whistle. With a last glance at the mystery man, he wrenched himself away and jogged over to the rest of the team.

Today was mostly about meeting each other, and getting partner assignments. They got their practice schedules, and an outline of expectations. The University of Kentucky's cheerleaders have won twenty of the last twenty-two National Championships, and this was the standard by which they, the Idris University cheerleaders, would be measured. Alec thought those were pretty lofty goals, but there was nothing wrong with trying to be the best. The coach was intense, and driven, and demanding. This should be an interesting year.

The meeting adjourned and everyone cleared out rapidly. Alec was about to leave, too, when a cute, perky blonde with stunningly green eyes approached him. "Alec Lightwood?" she said. "Hi, I'm Cammie Belcourt. You've been assigned as my partner, but I need to see what you can do before I agree to it."

She raised her eyebrows in challenge, her hand resting firmly on her hip. Alec wasn't exactly sure what she meant, so he hesitated. "My last partner graduated last year. He was great, and made me look good. I want to see what you can do," she persisted, and stretched her arm out toward the gym floor. Alec got the message, loud and clear.

He was glad he was wearing gym shorts and a tank top, items he could easily practice flips and tumbling in. He stretched his arms up and behind his head, swinging them to loosen his muscles. He stretched his back and leg muscles, then did a few experimental moves to make sure he wouldn't hurt himself when he put effort into it. Normally he would tape his wrists, but he wasn't planning to do much, so he didn't bother.

With a grin at Cammie, he took a deep breath and launched into a run. After a few steps, he did a cartwheel into a series of back handsprings interspersed with other random flips as he saw fit. He let his instincts take over. He landed perfectly about three-quarters of the way down the length of the basketball court. To his astonishment, Cammie actually applauded as he jogged back to where he was standing.

"That's really good!" she said in the most cheerleader voice ever. Her praise made him grin, much to his chagrin.

"Thanks."

"What's your longest time holding up a flyer?" she asked.

Now that he had impressed her, she seemed to be open to not only being his partner, but being friendly with him as well. That was a relief. It would really suck to be partnered with someone who disliked him and gave him a hard time. In fact, it would likely be impossible to do that. Cheerleading partners needed to have the utmost faith and trust in one another, or else someone could get seriously hurt.

"Minute forty-seven. One-handed," he answered. He remembered that day well. His partner in high school, Miranda Hinkley, had been a good friend of his throughout high school. They had practiced a lot of things that his coach never taught them, stuff they found on the internet, just to push their limits and see what they could do. He once held her balanced on one hand for one minute and forty-seven seconds, his personal best. His arm had felt like rubber afterward.

She whistled appreciatively. He smiled again. He wasn't sure why her approval meant something to him, but he couldn't deny that it did. He had a feeling this was going to be a good partnership. So far he was batting a thousand with the people he met since he arrived on campus, and was beginning to feel he had worried so much over nothing.

They were nearly to the gymnasium door when Cammie stopped him. "I…um…saw you looking at Magnus Bane earlier," she said awkwardly.

Alec gave her a puzzled look. "Who?"

"Magnus Bane. The totally hot basketball player you nearly flattened on you way into the gym. Ring any bells?"

"Oh. Yeah." He could feel the blush creeping into his face.

"You seemed interested," she pressed pointedly.

"Um…" He shifted uncomfortably. He had already spilled his guts to his roommate today, and now this. What's worse is she noticed him checking this Magnus Bane guy out. How many others noticed, too? He suddenly had a sinking feeling, which evidently showed on his face.

Cammie waved a dismissive hand. "I'm not saying this to make you uncomfortable. And I don't care that you are gay. In fact, I'm kind of glad you are." He gave her a skeptical look that made her laugh. "I don't have to worry about your intentions," she added and punched him lightly on the arm. He laughed in response. "Anyway, I just wanted to warn you about Magnus. He's a strange guy. And he's very straight."

"Oh," Alec said, with crushing disappointment. That guy was hot as fuck! Of course, he would be straight. That was Alec's luck. Damn it all to Hell and back! "What do you mean he's strange?" he replied, holding in all of the things he wanted to say instead.

"He's...aloof, very confident, but closed off. Basketball is the most important thing to him, and you will rarely see him without one in his hand. He's a natural leader and his teammates follow him around like lost puppies, but he doesn't let anyone get too close, not even the girls he dates. And you will never see him with the same girl more than a few weeks, maybe a couple of parties."

"So, he's a player."

Cammie shook her head. "I don't think it's that. I think he just doesn't let anyone in. You know what I mean?"

Alec nodded. "Yeah."

He opened the door for Cammie and she pranced through. Then a thought occurred to him. "You seem to know a lot about him. Have you been with him?" he asked curiously.

The clunk of the heavy door resounded behind them as she hesitated with her answer. Finally, she nodded. "Yeah. He's spectacular. Best orgasm of my life."

Alec groaned. Of course he was great in bed. Fuck it all.