OUTSIDE

It was cold on the night of Simon's concert. The last days of October brought a brisk air and the chill of it made Simon's body tremble, or maybe he was just nervous about his first-ever public event. He wasn't used to singing in front of a crowd and he was slightly hoping that only a few people will show up – even if it meant little income from Jordan, who put a good word in for Simon to his boss so he could play at Hunter's Moon. No, he didn't want a few people to show up, he just wanted to not be scared anymore. He wanted to be braver, wanted this to be a little easier. But more than that he wanted to sing his songs in front of people and make them feel the way they wanted to feel. He wanted his songs out there so there was no turning back from tonight's event.

He snapped out of his internal monologue and looked in the distance. He saw a tall figure approaching and he could immediately recognize Clary's walk. There she was, his rock, his best friend. If anything were to go wrong tonight, he would look at her, and she would smile with her reassuring smile and he would find the strength to go on. He felt so grateful for her. It's not often that you realize how lucky you are to have someone you can call your friend. He waved as she approached and she answered with a smile.

"Ready?" She asked when she was closer.

"I was born ready," he said half convincing.

She laughed and before they got in, she grabbed his arm to stop him. "Simon, I just want to say that I am so proud of you, for doing this and for making it till here. They're going to love you."

He looked at her and saw how beautiful she was. Her fiery hair was darker in the evening light and strands of it were blowing in the wind. She looked him straight in the eye and smiled, with her most sincere and warm figure. He wanted to hug her and maybe kiss her. Yes, at that moment he wanted that and it took him by surprise like every other time he thought of the two of them kissing. He took a deep breath and tried to erase the image from his head. One huge event was enough for him tonight.

"Thanks. We should get in. We have one more hour before people start showing up."

Magnus was getting more nervous by the second. Alec and he arrived at Hunter's moon a few minutes ago and now they were waiting outside for Alec's siblings to get there. He knew Isabelle from college and sort of remembered Jace from his party. But now Alec wanted to introduce him and he felt like he was going to pass out any minute from now. He wasn't used to this sort of feelings, he couldn't remember ever being so nervous about something, but he never had the chance to meet the family of any of his past lovers.

"You seem quiet."

"Mhm?" It took Magnus a second to snap out of his thoughts. Yeah, it's just...I hope I'll make a good impression."

"You're nervous?" This seemed to sort of amuse Alec. "You're actually nervous. Who is this Magnus I've never seen before?"

Magnus gave him a funny look but then his expression turned to worry again.

"Hey," Alec took his face in his palms. "It's cute." Magnus closed his eyes and tried to calm himself down. "You're cute." Alec lowered his hands and entwined them with Magnus'. "Your hands are like ice. Are you cold?"

Magnus just shook his head.

Alec raised their hands to his lips and breathed into them. The warm feeling gave the boy goosebumps on his heels. He saw Alec smiling with the corner of his mouth as he kept blowing hot air into their palms. The wind blew Alec's hair and Magnus watched him as he stood there, in the October night, with his coat slightly blowing in the breeze. The noise from the city seemed to fade away and he could see them from out of his body. Two boys in the middle of the road, staying very close to each other, their hands clasped together...He almost couldn't believe he was one of them. He let himself feel everything: the happiness of being near Alec, how lucky he was to be falling for someone with such a sincere soul, how Alec's warm breath made him want to kiss him, how he couldn't take his eyes off Alec because he was so beautiful, how he raised his blue eyes, which color he couldn't distinguish in the fade light but knew was there, and looked at him with so much emotion. Could this be true? Or could it be too much for him? So much happiness had to cost him something in return, right?

His thoughts were interrupted by a hoarse voice.

"Hello there!"

Two young people stood a few feet away from them. Magnus saw the younger, female version of Alec with different eyes tonight. All the other times he looked at her he saw a very beautiful, attractive young woman, but tonight what he felt towards her was a sort of affection and almost a need to protect her. The boy on the other hand, or rather the young man, was somehow quiet. Magnus could tell Jace was analyzing him as much as he was analyzing Jace.

Without realizing it, Magnus grasped Alec by the arm. The boy turned towards him, smiled, and then gently took his hand in his.

"You're here! Izzy, Jace, I would like you to meet my boyfriend, Magnus."

Jace pushed open the door, stepping outside in the cold air. The autumn crisp was stinging his cheeks. He pulled his leather jacket from the sides trying to get a little warmer. Hunter's Moon was on a narrow alley, just a few feet away from the main road. All he could hear was cars passing by echoed by the noises coming from the pub. There were so many people inside, he felt he might suffocate. Was Simon so popular? He was good, he could give him that. He sang some songs that Jace figured must be his own and a few covers. The crowd loved it. It wasn't Jace's style, but he did enjoy it. And he had to admit, he did not expect the pub to be full and Simon to be so good. Izzy was very pleased to see him on stage and before Jace went outside, she excused herself and went to give her compliments to the artist. Jace could tell she was into him, but Simon sang his songs mostly for Clary. Or maybe he was nervous and look for a familiar face in the crowd. "Lucky Simon," he said to himself while lighting his cigarette.

"Are athletes allowed to smoke? Doesn't it mess with your lungs?"

Jace didn't hear Magnus coming out of Hunter's, so he was a little bit taken by surprise.

"So you know I'm an athlete?"

"Yeah, well…" was all that Magnus answered.

"Man, I can't catch a break."

"Oh, don't mind me. Smoke away. I was just trying to make conversation."

Jace heard him but said nothing in return. They stood like that in silence for a few seconds and Magnus seemed to want to leave. He didn't want to be rude, but he couldn't just welcome Magnus with open arms. Not after everything Alec told him and Izzy, all he suffered when he was younger. He was allowed to be a little skeptical.

"He's good, isn't he? Simon, I mean." So he wasn't going to give up. Okay Magnus, let's give you a chance, thought Jace. Skeptical didn't have to mean rude after all.

"Yes, he's got something the crowds like. Who knows, maybe he's gonna be the next big thing in the US."

"Maybe. So, Alec told me you're in New York for a few weeks. Where are you staying?"

"Some motel. I'm about to move to New York, but I didn't have a chance to tell Alec yet. Do you happen to know someone who's renting an apartment maybe? Doesn't matter where, I just don't want to end up living with Max and Maryse." This was a little too much sharing for Jace, but he was desperate and he had to beers so he wasn't going to be too harsh on himself right now. Maybe in the morning.

"No, sorry. I'll look into it though and let Alec know if I find something."

"Thanks."

Magnus didn't want the conversation to be over. He felt like he would talk more and maybe get to know Alec as Jace did. The Alec from high school, the one from childhood, the Alec he didn't get to know. He felt a little envy because there was a part of Alec that he would never know: all his experiences from his teenage years, all his past lovers maybe, young Alec partying, or going to concerts, or drinking with his friends; it was all secluded to him. He wasn't going to ask Jace anything too obvious, but he was hoping for something however small. And it surprised him to feel this way, but in a way it also made him smile.

"We met Maryse a few days ago." That's all he could come up with. Very smart, Magnus.

"Oh, was it weird? Alec hasn't spoken to her in a while."

"It was, a little. I don't know much, but I could tell Alec was tensed."

"One of these days, he's going to have to talk to her. It's not going to be easy for him." Jace suddenly looked at him intensely.

"I know he hasn't come out to her yet. And I know it's been hard for him. I'm going to try my best to help him."

"Listen, Magnus. Don't just say these things if you don't mean them."

Magnus turned his head towards him and smiled. Jace was a little surprised, he hoped he could scare the guy a little bit, but Magnus stood his ground. He kept talking. "I know Alec. I can tell he's happier, I can see he cares about you. But he gets hurt easily and deeply, so I swear to God if you cause him any unhappiness of any kind, Magnus...If you're just in this for the fun, don't. He doesn't need this, okay?" He aimed his cigarette towards the bin and didn't even look to see if it landed inside. He was standing closer to Magnus now and looked at him with a serious look on his face. "Don't break my brother's heart, that's all I'm trying to say."

Magnus was still smiling when he answered. His expression was the one of someone who chose his words wisely. "Me and Alec...I think what drew us together is us wanting the same things. I'm not in this for the fun, I'm done with that. The things I feel for your brother are very different and sometimes it scares me. But I'm not running away from this". He paused for a few seconds and then continued, "But thank you, Jace. I'm glad Alec has someone to look after him like this." Magnus smiled fondly and Jace looked away. "I'm gonna let you enjoy your smoking now, I'm cold and a little tipsy. I get too sentimental when I'm tipsy."

"Magnus?" He was just about to get into the pub, but Jace's voice stopped him. He turned around. "Do you have someone who'll have your back in case…you know, my brother happens to break your heart?

Magnus" smile grew bigger. "Oh, I do. She would hunt him down and kick his ass." He let out a small giggle and got back inside.

Jace was left alone. With the door now closed, it was just him and the city buzzing in the night. He reached for one more cigarette but then remembered Magnus' words: "Are athletes allowed to smoke?". Shit. Shit. He hated this.

He was startled by a loud noise when the door opened again and outside stepped Clary. She was dressed only in an orange dress and the wind was messing up her hair. Jace took off his jacket and got closer to her.

"Not a great idea to come out like that. Where's your coat?" he asked already putting his jacket around her shoulders.

"It was impossible to get it. It's so crowded."

"Well, your friend's good."

"I know! I keep telling him that. I'm glad so many people came. I knew I invited a lot of friends but this is unexpected. I'm so happy for him." Jace didn't answer but instead smiled at her, and gestured towards the door.

"What was your favorite song?". He turned towards her and saw the look on her face. Her eyes seemed to say Don't go, stay, and tell me your favorite song or whatever else but don't go.

He decided to go along with it. "Hmm...I think Fly Away was the best."

She smiled. "Mine too." He looked at her glossy lips and remembered he had two beers during the gig. He tried to look away. "Anyway, what were you doing out here by yourself?" she said.

"Thinking."

"About?"

"About a lot of things, it's been a tough week. You?"

"I thought I wanted to be alone for a few seconds."

"Sorry."

"Don't be. I said I only thought I wanted so it means I was wrong." She smiled and looked at him.

"I'm a little drunk for twisted words." But her words gave him the courage to get a little closer. He could feel her warm breath on his freezing cheek. Jace could see she looked really tired and even sad. She was shivering from the cold and looked up, into his eyes. She even seemed scared. He closed his eyes and blamed the beers for all of this. He had to keep it together.

"I'm sorry, you must be freezing too." She put her hand on his arm and he slightly trembled.

"Don't be. I'm not," he said winking at her. "The jacket looks good on you." He looked her up and down and gave an approving nod.

"Doesn't go with the dress," she said in a whisper. "You should go, it's freezing out here. Ironic, because inside you'll be asphyxiated."

"You'll be okay here on your own? I don't mean to be rude, but you seem sad."

"Foolish of me to think that make-up will do the trick." She put on a sad smile and moved away from him. "I am, but just a little bit. It's weird. I'm very happy and a little bit sad at the same time. Tonight's been great, it feels like an escape from everyday life. But tomorrow…Tomorrow I have to go back."

"So what? Enjoy this, enjoy tonight, enjoy the city in late hours, enjoy your friend's songs and worry about tomorrow when tomorrow comes."

"I guess I could try and do that."

"And I'm just putting this out there, but if you want to be sad and happy with me over coffee someday…I'll find something on the internet because I have no idea where to take you in this city."

She laughed a loud laugh that made Jace smile. "Are you asking me out on a date?"

"A nicer way to ask for my jacket back, yes."

"I happen to know a few places where we could have coffee. But I have to know. What did you find more attractive, me freezing with my hair swirling all around or just me being sad and tired?"

He looked at her and pretended to think about the question. "Just you," he finally said.

She raised her head and looked him straight in the eyes. "Jace?"

"Yes?" He smiled and got closer to her.

"Your lips are turning purple," she said and drew away, heading towards the pub.

They both started laughing and headed back inside Hunter's Moon.

A/N: They're always on my mind