INSIDE

The music was very loud. It was the only thing he could hear. Simon's concert was over, and now there was a party going on in Hunter's Moon. Simon's singing was something else, and Alec found himself really enjoying it. There was something in the lyrics of Simon's original songs that reached the crowd. He was singing with all his being, and he won over the entire pub in just a few seconds. Clary had been right to insist on everyone coming, and he thought she must be a great friend to Simon. Just as he was thinking about them, he spotted Simon on the other side of the pub, next to the improvised stage, speaking to Izzy. She was all smiles and giggles, and the boy couldn't enjoy it more. Alec let out a soft laugh and tried to look around for Jace. He couldn't find him anywhere, but then again, the pub was so full of people it was almost impossible to find a specific person. He spun in his chair, now facing the bar, and placed his glass on the counter. He only had a beer that night, and frankly, he didn't like it that much. He remembered Magnus laughing at the faces he was making as he was sipping his drink.

"It's like that green tea all over again."

"Oh, shut up."

"Hey, I'm not complaining. That tea led to our first kiss," he said with an impish smile. Magnus came closer to Alec's ear and continued in a lower voice, "I could taste the herbs when we kissed. It was hot."

"You had too much to drink," Alec answered with a smile in the corner of his mouth. "I, on the other hand, have to finish this overpriced thing."

Now, Magnus was in the bathroom and Alec waited for him at the bar, his beer finally finished. He was getting ready to order something he actually enjoyed, but he couldn't see the barista anywhere. She was probably on a smoking break. So instead, he gazed at the numerous drinks displayed on the wall in front of him. It had been a while since he had a drink. He wasn't trying not to drink on purpose, but back in high school, he used to drink too much to make himself forget. Now he didn't need that anymore, and he also partied way less than when he was younger. But tonight, he felt like loosening up a bit. He could have a Tom Collins, but maybe gin wasn't the way to start. Maybe a Manhattan. Yes, that sounded right. The music was so loud. He recognized the song that came on. It reminded him of all the parties he used to go to in high school and all the fun he used to have, all the drinking, all the dancing. It had been a while since he danced. He couldn't remember when was the last time he did it. And here, everyone was having such a great time, and no one cared what he was doing. So, he closed his eyes and let the alcohol he had earlier slightly take control of his body. He started moving his head to the beat of the music, swinging it from right to left, letting the music guide his moves. Shortly after, his shoulders followed. Soon his upper body was dancing, and he started smiling. Yes, let it go, Alec enjoyed dancing, and frankly, he was quite good at it. Feel yourself, let yourself go with the music. Now that beer didn't seem that useless anymore. The alcohol was slightly intoxicating his senses.

He was pulled out of this trance when he felt a hand placed on his shoulder. He opened his eyes and looked at the man standing next to him. He was tall, but not a stall as him, blonde strands of hair framing his face. Alec could tell by the look on his face that he was very drunk.

"Hy there, handsome. Want to take those moves to the dance floor?" He whispered closer to his ear, his breath smelling like alcohol.

Alec had to admit he was a little taken by surprise. Boys didn't usually come up to him, and he figured it must be something about his persona that drove them away. The look on his face, his attitude maybe. He just wasn't the type you'd usually hit on, and he was okay with that.

"Sorry, but I'm waiting for someone."

"And? Can't you dance while you're waiting?"

"I'm guessing you don't want to just dance. So sorry, but I'm here with somebody. Oh, there he is." Alec spotted Magnus coming out of the bathroom and smiled towards him.

The stranger turned around to look at the man coming towards their way, and then he said to Alec, "No problem, I'm sorry I wasn't the first to meet you." He winked and then left, getting lost in the crowd. Alec laughed at the way he was trying to find his way through the dancing people. But then, his eyes followed Magnus as he was getting closer.

"I'm gone for a few minutes, and they're already all over you."

"He was so drunk," Alec said, still laughing. "Besides, I turned him down politely and told him I'm waiting for someone."

Magnus came closer so he could hear Alec. He spoke right in his ear.

"You could have danced with him." Alec's puzzled look urged him to continue, "It would have been weird though, giving the fact that you just introduced me as your boyfriend a couple of hours ago," Magnus said, slightly raising his eyebrows.

"Was that okay? Was it too soon?" I wasn't thinking at the moment. I just wanted them to know."

"Well, we went on a few dates, we've kissed, we actually spent a night under the blankets watching the sun come up. So yes, I'm your boyfriend." He looked up right into Alec's eyes, and he couldn't hold back his smile. It was such a childish and pure smile that it made Alec want to hug him right there in the middle of the crowd. Instead, he grabbed Magnus' arm and pulled him on the dancefloor.

"Let's dance, Magnus. I want to dance with you," he said with a sudden burst of courage.

They made their way into the center of the crowd, Alec leading the way. He liked feeling like this, maybe it was the beer, maybe the way Magnus' smile made him feel, he didn't care right now. He just wanted to be in this moment and feel the music that was blasting all around them. It had been a while, and his first moves were a little out of sync. For Magnus, on the other hand, dance was flowing through his veins.

"I might step on your toes," he said, not entirely joking.

Magnus just smiled, and Alec could see the laughter glitter in his eyes. He kept his eyes on Alec, and then his hands were on him too. He towered over Alec with a swift move and whispered, "Follow me" in his ear. With Magnus' hands just above his waist, Alec closed his eyes and let it all in. The sweat-stained air, the pleasure of having a body so close to his, this art of emotion. He felt restless, alive, burning with life even. This was the way he wanted to feel, this was the Alec he missed.

Magnus' hand grabbed him, and Alec was mildly swung sideways, the flashing colors momentarily blinding him. His back was now being pressed against Magnus' torso, and he could feel the other boy's body, his every breath, the sweat on the right side of his neck. He pressed harder into Magnus' body and let his head slightly rest on his shoulder. He raised his hands and let his fingers slid into Magnus' hair. Their bodies were one, their feet moved in sync. Magnus' hands were on his hips and they were slightly squeezing as to urge him to keep on moving this way, to let himself go.

"Damn, Alexander."

Alec smiled and bit his lower lip.

I can show you more, he thought in response. And he could, he wanted to. He wanted his moves to drive Magnus insane, he wanted to feel both of them losing control, but at the same time, he liked the way Magnus led their dance. He was gentle in the way he moved, the way he urged Alec to sync with him. When Alec took a wrong step, Magnus just smiled and moved along with it, as though it was just the way he meant it to be. At one point, Alec turned around, and he could tell by Magnus' look this was unexpected. Good. Now you watch me. And Magnus watched indeed. He watched how Alec came closer with a hunger in his eyes that he couldn't control. Then they were pressed together by the sweaty bodies of the people dancing next to them, and Alec closed the distance between them and kissed him. He kissed him hard, biting his lips and then slightly tracing their shape with his tongue. He tasted the bitterness of the beer Magnus had earlier and the saltiness of his sweat from just above his lips. He felt the urge to invade Magnus' senses just as he was doing to his own. He wanted to leave part of him there so that Magnus could taste him.

"You can dance, alright!" Magnus told him when they finally broke apart, his lips just slightly swollen.

Half an hour later, they were both standing at the bar.

"God, I forgot that dancing is like a cardio workout," said Alec, catching his breath.

"I must say, I haven't danced like this in a while. You made me go almost all out."

"Almost?" Alec responded with an impish smile.

"There're some things you haven't seen. Yet." He winked

"Well, we could go to my car, and you could show me some more."

Magnus raised his brow, somewhat taken by surprise. "You're not at all as innocent as you want to seem. Car it is then."

"I just have to use the bathroom first." Goddam that beer that was now cockblocking him.

"Go ahead, I'll wait outside." Magnus squizzed Alec's hand and then turned around toward the door. Alec looked at him for a few seconds, admiring his figure. Damn, he looks fine. With the image of Magnus in his mind, he hurried to the bathroom.

Just before he stepped inside the boy's toilet, he heard a weird sound coming from the girl's restroom. It sounded as somebody was choking. He thought he could just mind his own business as it was probably just a drunk girl puking, but something inside him made him turn around. He peeped his head inside and slightly knocked on the door. From one of the sinks, the water was running and a girl was aimlessly trying to reach the flow. Her hair was falling around her, covering her face, so it took Alec a few seconds to recognize her. A look of horror spread around his face and he felt the world spinning around him. He ran towards her and caught the girl in his arms, just as she was about to fall on the floor. Her face was pale and her lips were slightly trembling. She had a small cut on her forehead and she could barely open her eyes.

"Izzy! Izzy, can you hear me? Izzy!"

"Alec?" Her body seemed to loosen up a bit in his arms as she recognized his voice.

"What happened?" He was scared. He could feel the panic spreading through his veins. Something was wrong. She was becoming paler by the second.

"Alec, I think someone poured something in my drink."

Magnus decided to leave Jace alone and returned inside the pub to see what was taking Alec so long. The cold and his conversation with Jace changed his mood, but he hoped he would return to his previous state before tiredness would kick in.

He headed towards the bathroom, thinking about a way to explain to Alec that maybe it was better to postpone their make-out session for another time.

He heard a loud voice coming from the bathroom, shouting what he thought was a name. The music was so loud he couldn't be sure of what he heard, but the thought that it might be true made him hurry. When he reached the girl's restroom, he felt as though someone had punched him in the gut.

"Magnus, call 911!"

Alec was on the floor, and in his lap, he was holding Izzy. His face had an expression of pure fear, and he was chaotically running his hands through her hair, caressing her face and trying to comfort her.

Just her lips were moving, slightly trembling.