AN: Hey guys! I'm not really gonna say much here, it usually ends up being pretty much the same thing anyway. I know not a lot of exciting things happen in this chapter, but I'm trying to give Clace a little bit of a break before the drama starts up again. But, as always, I really appreciate everyone reading, following, favoriting, or reviewing!
Shailene: Merp, I'm sorry! Please don't die! Here's the update!
keekaybites: Yes, of course! There are a few in this chapter, and there definitely will be some more!
Meeeeee: Haha, me too probably. It doesn't sound repetitive to me, I'm just glad you're still enjoying it! Yeah, I know the feeling. Things can get a bit busy around here. Sorry for being a bit pushy! :) I don't play minecraft, but I do read a lot. Like a lot. Like anything I can find I will read it. Also I've been watching some YouTube and a lot of anime. Enjoy the chapter!
Guest: Yup, here you go! Glad you're liking it!
Disclaimer: No, I don't own the Mortal Instruments.
I recognized Isabelle in the middle of the store we had agreed to meet in. Looking like a madwoman, she waved me over.
"So did you ask Magnus about what his ideal date would be?" she tried to whisper. Unfortunately, it came out much louder than intended.
"Of course I did! He likes restaurants on the fancy side but doesn't mind a good diner now and then, and he likes beach walks, so maybe as an afterward activity. We could bring them down the shore!" To be fair, I also failed at whispering.
"Um, maybe not. Alec says he despises fancy restaurants, that they're too stuffy. He says more low end places are too greasy for him. He pretty much just makes his own food. Also, he hates sand. He does, however, love parks! Maybe they could go there?" she questioned hopefully.
"That's a no go. Magnus is allergic to grass. How about the movies?" I answered.
"Too sticky according to Alec. Ice skating?" It was beginning to become a verbal match of tennis, or something else of the sort.
"Iz, it's the middle of summer. No on goes ice skating in July. Um, bowling?" I replied, rolling my eyes to go along with the start of my sentence.
"I think it would be romantic, going when no one else is around. Have you ever been to a bowling alley? It's kind of creepy in those places." It was my companion's turn to roll her eyes, but it was a somewhat dramatic version of mine.
"Wait a minute! I don't think Alec would even agree to a date in public! He hasn't come out yet, remember?" I reminded her, glad I had thought of it before we shoved an excited Magnus and an uncomfortable Alec into the same room together.
"Then we'll just send them to Taki's! It's nearby, they can just say they're friends, and it don't think Alec will mind going to a diner considering he'll be going with Magnus Bane! Remember how he had pictures tacked up in his apartment? Well, I asked him about them and he didn't even take them down out of embarrassment! For Alec, that's like a huge accomplishment. He gets embarrassed when you say hi to him." Isabelle rationalized.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. This is going to be interesting. Alex sounds pretty shy and Magnus is like the most outgoing person I've ever met. I hope it turns out okay. Well, I have to run, call me later! I'll tell Magnus about the plan, and you tell Alec. I'm sure they'll both go along with it when they hear who the date will be with!"
I gave her a quick hug goodbye before texting Jace to meet me at the mall. Isabelle and I hadn't spent much time and I could call Magnus to come with us to 'hang out.' By hang out, I meant tell him all about the plan and about Alec. A little bit of preparation would probably be useful, and Jace could also give us some information on Alec since they were close friends.
They arrived and we sat down on a bench positioned in the center of the building. Jace picked a spot next to me, lacing our fingers together slowly where Magnus couldn't see. I smiled to myself and at that point Magnus had probably guessed we were having a bit of a moment, so he let us be for a minute or two before asking a few questions.
"So why are we here? Your text said something about dating, but with who?" Magnus asked.
"Well, Izzy and I are setting you up on a date with Jace's friend Alec, and so Izzy and Jace here are going to help us plan a perfect date for the two of you." I replied, rather bluntly. Magnus's smile grew very wide, as opposed to Jace's face which had gained a sour and confused look.
"No, really Clary, what are we doing?" he asked. At that point, I was getting as confused as he looked.
"Um, exactly what I just said we were doing." I responded slowly, as if trying to make sure he understood this time around.
"But... Alec isn't gay." He mimicked my slow voice from the previous sentence.
Now Magnus looked appalled. "You're trying to set me up with a straight boy?!" he asked incredulously.
"I assure you Magnus, Alec is gay. Jace, you didn't... You didn't know?" I asked, trying to be gentle as he was probably shocked.
"Well, this is the first I'm hearing about this. I can't believe he- ugh!" he replied, sounding very annoyed. I was getting a bit annoyed myself, thinking he was annoyed because of what he found out, wondering if he had a problem with it. If he did, then he really wasn't someone I wanted to be with.
"I don't care who he likes, as long as he's happy, but I'm pretty mad that he didn't think he could tell me. He's my best friend, he can tell me anything. I wouldn't judge him for that, I wouldn't judge him for anything." I sighed in relief, glad that he wasn't mad because of some prejudice or something like that.
I gave him a hug in order to calm him down a bit, and it worked. His tense body visibly relaxed.
"Hey, I'm sure he was just waiting for a good time to tell you. He knows you wouldn't judge him." I said. His phone began to rang, and I saw that the caller was Alec. He sighed, saying he would go take the call in a more private area so as not to disturb anyone.
I sent Isabelle a quick text.
Clary: So I may have just accidentally told Jace that Alec is gay... I thought he knew!?
She replied almost immediately.
Isabelle: Well, I guess that's okay considering I just convinced Alec to call Jace and have him come over his apartment so that he could tell him. He'll just be a bit more... Prepared, that's all.
Jace came back from wherever he had gone with a puzzled look on his face.
"He wants me to come over. It sounded kind of urgent. Maybe we can meet up at sixish or so when I'm done?" I agreed, and we said goodbye, walking towards different ends of the malls. Jace, towards the parking garage with Magnus, and me towards a store. If we were going out later, I figured I'd might as well be wearing a new dress when we did.