As promised, I had managed to plan a big going away party with all of our friends two nights before Alec's leaving day. It didn't take much convincing from everyone to join us on short notice. After convincing Alec's parents to go out for the night so that he could have a night to say goodbye to his friends properly, the house was packed with people drinking, playing games and definitely lots of people making out. It also sounded like the advice I gave to Alexander to make sure the doors upstairs were locked was not listened to if the creaks from the ceiling were anything to go by.
As I was passing through to the kitchen, I ran into a stunning black haired beauty who enveloped me in a tight hug.
"Magnus! Thank you for organising this party for Alec. I know that he wouldn't have let me organise one for him"
"Isabelle. I know you are Alexander's little sister but there are just some things only a best friend can do. In this case, make sure Alexander has the best send off possible" I grinned at her
She grinned back at me with a few tears lingering in her eyes. "I know you don't want him to go as much as I do" I stiffened in the hug knowing that she had hit the nail on the head. On the outside I was happy and enjoying the party, I mean who doesn't like a good party, but on the inside I was crushed. Even thought I had pretty much spent every day with Alexander after he told me he was leaving, I hated the idea that I was not going to see or hear from my best friend, and secret crush, for months on end. I remember it happening when Jace left and how upset Alexander and Isabelle were when Jace was not allowed to contact them for a few months so he could adjust to life in the army and being away fromhome comforts.
"It's not like we have a choice Isabelle. Alexander chose this and you know what he is like once he sets his mind to things"
Izzy breaks from the hug and looks at me concerned "What are you on about? Alec never chose this"
I look at her perplexed "But that's what he told me. He told me first that your mum and dad was forcing him to go but then he finally told me that he had wanted to go for a while and just didn't want to tell me because he knew how I would react"
Isabelle looked a little taken aback "Ah okay. Yeah…uh… that's why he didn't tell you first thing."
I scowled at Izzy "What aren't you telling me Iz?"
She waved her hand to dismiss my comment "Nothing. Nothing. Don't worry about it. Come on let's go get a drink and dance the night away. I need as many of those amazing cocktails you make in my system before mum and dad get home"
"Now you're speaking my language" I grin, grabbing a few bottles to make a massive cocktail for the pair of us.
After lots of dancing and many drinks later, the party is starting to die down as people started to leave. The alcohol was definitely making it's way through everyone's system but there was one person who I knew could not hold their liquor and he was the guest of honour tonight. Knowing this, I went off to go and find Alexander. I decided to try his room first, which was currently empty. I tried Isabelle's room as sometimes he likes to hide out there when there are parties downstairs but instead I found Izzy and her boyfriend Simon making out on her bed.
Shocked at the idea of being caught, they both jump seeing me open Izzy's door.
"Magnus what the hell!" Simon groans at me causing me to roll my eyes.
"Oh come on. I've seen worse from you two" I jest causing them both to blush "I'm looking for Alexander. Have you seen him?"
"I think I last saw him talking to Clary outside" Izzy answers.
"Okay thanks" I say turning to close the door and leave them to it.
"Wait!" I hear Isabelle shout stopping me "There's something I need to ask you"
"But babe, can't it wait?" Simon protests
"No this can't and you know why" I watch as Izzy throws Simon a daring glare which shuts him up immediately and causes me to chuckle. Izzy is most definitely not one to be held in her place.
"What's wrong?" I ask
"Magnus" She sighs and pats a space on the bed to gesture me to sit down next to her. I pause. The only time she ever does this to me is when there is something that she needs a serious conversation with me about. I sit down next to her with Simon on her other side. She grabs my hands in hers and starts to run her thumb over them almost comforting me. "You know how much I love you and you know that you mean the absolute world to Alec but I need to ask. Are you ever going to tell Alec how you really feel about him?"
"Izzy. I don't think we should-"
"It's okay Simon." I interrupt "How- how long have you known? Does Alexander know?"
"He doesn't know and I've had my suspicions for a while. Just the way you look at him is different to how a friend would"
I sigh "I've wanted to tell him but I've always held back because I know that it would ruin our friendship. Plus, now he going away I don't see the point. There's no reason to start something that we can not finish."
Izzy sighs loudly "You boys are unbelievable" She mutters under her breath but just loud enough that I can hear it still. "He needs to know before he goes Magnus otherwise you will never tell him and you may forever regret it. Just go outside and talk to him. He is going to miss you terribly when he goes so spend as much time with him as possible" With that she shoos me out of her room, leaving me to find Alexander.
Just like Izzy predicted, Alec was sitting outside on one of the garden bench's leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, holding a bottle of beer in both hands. I'm quite used to seeing Alexander like this when he has had too much of a party. He normally does this to get a bit of quiet. That was originally how we met. We were both at a house party and decided to go outside to get a bit of piece and quiet and as they say the rest is history.
"Hey you" I say causing Alec to look up in my direction. He smiles when he realises it's me and looks back down to his bottle of beer as I sit next to him on the bench. "Getting a bit much?"
"You know me so well" We both laugh.
"How are you feeling? Nervous yet?" I ask trying to make some form of idle talk
"Not really. Just hate the idea of going and not seeing everyone for a while" He answered sullingly
"Oh come on. You won't fully be on your own. You'll have Jace with you"
"Yeah. But I won't have you there with me"
"As much as I will miss you, I am not going to join the army just to spend time with you" I joke causing Alec to laugh
"No offence, but I don't think you would last 5 minutes. Anyway you need to focus on your clothes designing. Some of the stuff you have designed is really good." I beam at Alec
"We can always write to each other and stuff. I'm not going anywhere while you are gone"
"I hope so. I don't think I can live without you Mags."
"I already told you" I say moving myself so I am on my knees infront of him, my hands on his thighs, forcing him to meet my gaze. God he has beautiful eyes "I'm not going anywhere" I say sternly
"I hope you know how much you mean to me Mags" He said placing a hand on my cheek. I decide to break down my walls slightly and melt into his hand, enjoying the feel of it against my skin.
I smile "I wonder if it is as much as you mean to me Alexander"
"Probably not" He chuckles.
He needs to know before he goes Magnus. Isabelle's advice currently running through my head and with a lot of liquid courage in my system I decided that Isabelle was right. Alec does need to know. I need to tell him. But how do I go about it? I look down, breaking eye contact with Alec, thinking that if he can't see my face then he can't see how nervous I currently am.
"Listen Alexander. There is something that I need to tell you. I don't want you to leave without knowing how I feel" I take a deep breath. It's now or never.
"What's wrong?"
"When I say how much you mean to me, I need to tell you that you mean…more to me than a friend"
"Of course I know that. I've been hoping you would say something to me for a while." Alec laughs
"You do?" I ask surprised
"We're best friends Magnus. Do you think that I don't know? Have you ever thought that I think of you more than a friend as well?"
I laugh softly "Izzy was right. We are unbelievable"
"What do you mean?"
I decide to bite the bullet, ignoring his question "Can I show you how much you mean to me?"
Alec stares at me and slowly nods, a slight smile gracing his face. With that confirmation I lean towards him and linger, hovering my lips over his, giving him a chance to back out. But he doesn't. Instead he grabs my head in his hands and gently presses his lips against mine.