Magnus couldn't help but smile at the beautiful blue eyed man holding his necklace. He had given it to Alec in a moment of frustration, but now he was rather happy with the arrangement. It had even meant getting Alec's number…not that anything would come of it, but it was nice to have the contact information all the same. At least now he wouldn't mistake other blue eyed, black haired guys for Alexander. Aline asked to see the necklace and Alec handed it over.
"It seems I have indeed made a friend here today," Magnus said in response to Alec's offer for Magnus to text him anytime, even if Magnus just wanted to talk about Camille.
"Yes you have," Alec said, smiling.
"This is beautiful, Magnus!" Aline exclaimed.
"Well I doubt Alec will want to wear it," Magnus said laughing. "That leaves you." Aline smiled and quickly put the necklace around her neck, flipping her hair so the chain rested against her skin.
"I wonder if Helen will like it?" Aline wondered out loud as she gazed down at the pendent resting on her skin.
"Helen?" Magnus asked. "A friend of yours?"
"Maybe but I have to meet her first," Aline said laughing. "For such a small school it sure is tricky to run into specific people sometimes."
"I know what you mean," Magnus said. "I saw you and Alec at the orientation party before classes started, but I couldn't find you again after that."
"Were you the one staring at me?" Alec inquired smiling. Magnus's expression must have given him away because Alec continued. "That explains so much. Maybe I'm not crazy."
"Sorry," Magnus said. "I didn't realize you had noticed me."
"Why didn't you just come say hi?"
Magnus didn't want to admit the truth. Not only was Alec taken, but Alec couldn't be interested in Magnus so what was the point in admitting something that would ruin a potential new friendship? Besides, Magnus was done dating anyway. Despite what his friends thought he was sick of getting his heart broken. No matter how wonderful the beginning could be, the end always shattered him and he couldn't take it anymore.
"The party was kinda lame," Magnus said. "So I went home." This was the truth, it just wasn't the whole truth.
"So why were you staring at me in the first place?" Alec asked. The question seemed innocent enough, but Magnus thought for a split second he saw something else in Alec's gaze. Magnus had to remind himself he was only seeing what he wanted to see and then he had to remind himself he shouldn't want to see it at all since he wasn't interested.
"Just scoping the party," Magnus said, casually. "But as I said. It was lame. You two were the most interesting people there."
"Thanks… I guess," Alec said laughing.
"It's good to be interesting Alec," Aline said grinning at him. "Don't sound so confused." Alec laughed, but he also rolled his eyes slightly at his girlfriend.
Mangus could tell Aline and Alec cared about each other from the way they looked at each other. He thought they must be very serious since there was a trust and affection surrounding them that almost felt like family. Magnus wondered how long they had been dating but he didn't want to ask.
Magnus reminded himself that this was good. Alec was safe, there was no chance this friendship could turn into anything more. Alec was gorgeous, but who said eye candy wasn't a good quality in a friend anyway.
"I'm a history major," Magnus said trying to start up a casual conversation. "What are you guys studying?"
"Well this idiot," Aline said pointing to Alec. "Has no clue but I'm doing psychology."
"Ah, I have heard that is a very interesting field of study," Magnus replied.
"It can be," Aline said. "But it's still school so it can also be boring." She laughed slightly and Magnus smiled.
"Good point," he said. "History has its moments of boring as well, but most of the time it's fascinating."
"What's your favourite thing about studying history?" Aline asked.
"I love it when you learn something and realize things really aren't quite so different now as they were then," Magnus said then he added with a laugh. "And of course puns. History puns are the best. My cats are proof of that."
"How so?" Aline inquired.
"I named them The Great Catsby and Chairman Meow," Magnus explained. "Though I will grant you The Great Catsby is a pun off the novel The Great Gatsby and though it was written in 1925 that really wasn't long ago as far as history is concerned. Chairman Mao was a communist revolutionary for the Republic of China around 1949."
"Into history huh?" Aline said smiling. "Never would have guessed."
"Sorry," Magnus said. "But you asked."
"I did," Aline said holding her hands in the air in mock surrender. "If I ever want history facts I'll let you know."
"Jokes too!" Magnus said. Aline nodded in understanding.
"I thought we couldn't have pets on campus?" Alec asked finally adding to the conversation.
"That's one of the many perks of living off campus," Magnus said.
"What year are you in?" Alec asked.
"Third," Magnus said. "But I remember freshman year well." He laughed. "Are you drowning in homework yet?"
"Only a little," Alec said. "But I have a feeling it's going to get a lot worse before the winter break."
"You just wait till second year," Magnus said. "Then you will think this is a picnic."
"Oh great," Aline said sarcastically. "Why do they make us pay so much to work so hard again?"
"Something about having a successful future or some such nonsense," Magnus laughed. This light conversation was such a welcome relief to the hurt and misery he had been sulking in for weeks. He couldn't be around Clary without seeing the pity in her eyes and he hated it. Tessa was no better. They'd known him while he was happy with Camille and they knew how broken he really was now. These wonderful new people had no idea what he had been like before today. It was such a weight off his shoulders. It felt like finally setting down a heavy load after carrying it for miles. The relief was glorious.
"You sound like my dad," Alec complained, then she continued in what Magnus could only guess was a poor imitation of his father. "Go to college then I'll groom you to take over the family business."
"Ah," Magnus said. "I have heard of this concept."
"I bet your parents aren't trying to run your life though," Alec said.
"That would be rather tricky," Magnus said, laughing. "As I have never met them."
"Who raised you?" Alec asked, looking rather surprised.
"My mother's half-sister," Magnus said. "Not sure if that makes her only half my aunt, but I always called her my aunt."
"Doesn't your aunt know what happened to her sister?" Alec asked.
"Nope," Magnus said. "It's what they call a cold case."
"What about your dad?" Aline asked.
"Oh him I do know something about," Magnus said, with a smile. "I know he didn't want a kid."
"How can you smile about that?" Alec asked.
"Because my aunt's awesome," Magnus said. "Who needs a dad who doesn't want you? She's all the parent I could ask for." Magus paused then added. "She's Dutch but my mother was half Dutch and half Indonesian."
"You must look nothing alike," Aline observed.
"We don't," Magnus laughed. "The looks we got when I was a kid and called her auntie were priceless."
"Did you explain she's just your half-aunt?" Alec asked smiling.
"Where is the fun in that?" Magnus said. "We preferred to watch the chaos. Though calling Clary my little sister creates even more confusion. People look at me-" Magnus gestured to his coloured skin and dark black hair. "-then at her and shake their head, continuing to look between us for some hint of similarity or any indication we were teasing." Magnus wiped a tear from his eye. He hadn't laughed this hard in what felt like forever.
"Clary loves you," Alec stated. Magnus was surprised to hear no trace of a question in Alec's words. Alec was quite observant.
"She's been my best friend for as long as I can remember," Magnus said. "But right now I am really sick of being treated like glass. Both she and Tessa seem to think I need to be tip toed around since..." Magnus trailed off, not wanting to take the thought further and think of the moment Camille had broken his heart.
"Well I promise to never sugar coat anything for you," Aline said cheerfully.
"Thanks," Magnus said. "For everything. I think I really needed this."
"What are friends for?" Alec said smiling.
"For letting me go on and on about my life it seems," Magnus said.
"You have a very interesting life," Alec replied.
"I shall take that as a good thing," Magnus smiled then he noticed the clock on the wall. Magnus's eyes widened as he said urgently, "My class started five minutes ago."
"You better run," Aline suggested. Magnus jumped to his feet grabbed his bag and dashed down the hall. Magnus had a smile on his face as he snuck into the class and sat at the back. The lecture was on European history, which was one of Magnus's favourite classes, but he just couldn't focus at the moment, not ever on the middle ages.
The intense relief from his conversation with new friends was still making Magnus feel giddy. He took notes as the teacher lectured but his mind was otherwise occupied. Magnus ran over the conversation in his head and realized he hadn't asked Alec more about his parents. Magnus hadn't inquired about them at all. This was very unlike him but Magnus told himself he would make it up to Alec and Aline later. Maybe they could have a homework study session.
Magnus was snapped back to attention when the teacher switched from his boring lecture voice to the tone he used when he was assigning homework. Magnus copied the essay topic off the board with a sigh. He would definitely need a homework session now. Everyone got up to leave but Magnus stayed in his seat. He pulled out his phone and quickly texted Alec while his fellow students bolted for the door.
'Thanks again Alec,' Magnus typed. 'And sorry for the ex-girlfriend drama.'
Magnus didn't get a text back right away and he didn't have any more classes today so he decided to head home. The walk home was lovely and for the first time in what felt like forever Magnus could appreciate the sun on his skin. So what if he still loved Camille! So what if he was a pathetic mess who wanted her back while she was happy with someone else! Life went on. Magnus had dear old friends he loved and new friends he was excited to get to know. He had classes to attend and homework to do. He had two perfect cats and a loving aunt. Even without Camille and without dating, Magnus's life was still rich.
As Magnus approached his apartment he heard the soft tunes of a delicate instrument. It made Magnus think of a concert hall. Magnus opened the door and the lovely music grew in volume. Magnus couldn't help but be moved by the beautiful sound, especially considering his current good mood. It made Magnus think of joy surrounded by sorrow.
A tall slender man Magnus had never seen before was playing a violin while standing in the center of Magnus's living room. The man had dark brown hair with streaks of grey. Though his eyes were closed while he played, the curve of them suggested he had a similar asian heritage as Magnus. There was an elegance about him but also a frailty. Magnus couldn't explain it, but the man seemed by no means weak despite his delicate appearance. What Magnus was most impressed by was the casual way the man was playing his violin, like it was as natural as breathing. His skilled hands flowed seamlessly over the strings while he expertly worked the bow, coaxing the most touching melody that was currently filling the room.
As Magnus continued to watch, the man moved the bow smoothly over the strings of his violin and drew Magnus's focus to Tessa. His roommate was looking at the man with the same look on her face Magnus had witnessed in the cafe when she'd been talking with Will. It was the look of new love. Magnus knew the joy that expression could bring, but he couldn't help but picture the pain that followed the pleasure of meeting someone new.
But Tessa hadn't met one person, she'd met two. Magnus was instantly worried this would backfire on his friend. If they learned of each other surely Tessa would lose them both.
"Oh Magnus!" Tessa said when the slender man stopped playing. "Wasn't that beautiful!"
"Very," Magnus said. Tessa seemed to have quite forgotten Magnus had never met this man though Magnus knew who it was all the same. "Jem, I presume?" Magnus expended his hand.
"Yes I am," Jem said shaking Magnus's hand. "Most people call me James before I correct them."
"Tessa told me you go by Jem," Magnus explained.
"What else has Tessa told you about me?"
"Well I now know her boast of your musical skills wasn't a lie," Magnus said.
"I am sure it was an exaggeration," Jem said.
"Actually," Magnus said taking a seat on his couch as Jem also sat down. "Quite the contrary. She was humble on your behalf."
"Ah but that is one of the wonderful things about her," Jem said. "Is it not?" Jem was gazing at Tessa with all the love and affection he had seen in his friend's expression moments ago. Magnus suddenly found himself on team Jem. Will's expression had not been so honest when he looked at Tessa.
"I am glad you think so highly of her," Magnus said.
"Please stop talking about me like I'm not here," Tessa scolded.
"I shall leave you two alone then." Magnus said laughing. Tessa gave me a look that was both grateful and regretful at the same time so Magnus headed into his bedroom and closed the door. He knew Tessa well enough to know her only regret was being rude to Magnus. Tessa wanted to be alone with Jem.
Magnus should have started his homework but he ended up on YouTube watching endless videos. The vibration of his cell phone receiving a text finally snapped Magnus out of his YouTube stupor.
'No problem,' Alec's text read. 'Happy to help and no worries.'
'Do you want to hang out again?' Magnus texted back. 'Maybe do homework or something. You can bring Aline if you like.'
'Sure,' Alec replied. 'Friends are great homework motivation.'
'My thinking exactly.'
Beta read by Holly0114
Also thanks to Selfreak for help with describing Jem playing the violin. ^_^ As you know description is not my strong suit. So thanks!
Again I am uploading this late at night when I should be sleeping. :D Oh well! Please review!
...sigh so this is why I shouldn't upload when I am half asleep... I forgot the sneak peek!
Sneak Peek Chapter 9
"He needs some comforting," Sebastian said winking at the african woman then he turned to the strawberry blonde. "Come on darling. I think there is a bathroom stall with our name on it." The woman giggled and followed him.
"My friend lied," Jace said as soon as Sebastian was out of sight. "I am not hung up on my ex."
"Oh but you are hung up on someone," the woman said knowingly. "I can tell."
"Oh great," Jace whined as he turned back to face the bar and ordered another drink. "So I am that obvious then?"
"Kinda yeah," she said.
