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"Alec, dude," Jace began through a mouthful of toast, "why are you so boring? You always work out- alone, I might add- and do... whatever it is you do for a living. Oh wait, you don't need to work, ever, because you're a Lightwood-"
"Jace," I cut him off, scowling at him as I tied the laces on my trainers, sitting by the front door to our apartment. I was getting ready for a run, as I do every morning, only this time I wouldn't go to the studio, I'd be going to the gym or something. I had the rest of the week off- which I haven't had in a while- and I didn't quite know what to do with myself. All this free time... What did I even do before I became a porn star?
"What I'm saying is," Jace continued, "you should meet some new people. There must be some gay guys as your gym."
"I've told you before Jace, just because I'm gay it doesn't mean that my entire life is about having sex with men." Oh, the irony. "If I met someone, I've met someone. If I haven't, I'm not going to search."
"I still find it hard to believe that you haven't been on a date, ever, and you spend lots of time in the gym. Guys AND girls would want you, especially in that sports gear..."
"You going gay for me Herondale?" I teased with a smirk.
"I don't have to be gay to be observant," he dismissed, turning his attention back to the fifth slice of toast he was munching on as he leaned against the work-surface by the toaster.
"Right," I said, standing up, a rucksack filled with gym-gear slung over my shoulder. "I'm off. I'll be back around six...I'll text you when. Don't be late for school," I reminded him.
"Yes mom," he called back, still focused on the toaster.
I left after a quick backwards glance and a sad smile before leaving the small apartment. I set off at a steady job down the stairs and headed for the local gym; local as in three miles away. I ran all the way there, keeping my head down when passing people as if I was paranoid that they might recognise me from my... work. Of course, no one had recognised me so far, but I hadn't done that many high-profile movies. That was about to change. I tried not to think about it too much.
After a morning of weights, bazaar looking fitness machines and politely declining every "interested" person with an 'I've got a boyfriend' or something of the sort, I then showered and changed into more- or less, depending on how you look at it- acceptable clothes for being in public: loose black jeans, black sweater with home-made holes for my thumbs and a baseball-cap so I'd both fit in and be unrecognisable.
With the copious amount of spare-time on my hands, I decided to visit a place that reminded me of the happiest moments in my childhood: a book-store. I actually had a pretty good childhood. I only went and ruined it before it was over. This particular book-store was one I hadn't been to before, but it looked fancy from the outside so I wanted to take a look. The old, female shop attendant gave me a warm smile as I entered the quaint shop. "Anything I can help you with dear?"
"Um, could you point me in the direction of the fantasy section please?" I asked politely, taking off my cap. No, I didn't think this lady watched gay porn. The store was also empty of people, as far as I could tell. It seemed to stretch far back in a maze of bookshelves.
To my delight, the old-fashioned store had a very large fantasy and sci-fi section, though that was mainly because the store had every edition of the Lord of the Rings trilogy available. Apart from that, it did have a wide selection of other things, like Steven King and Neil Gaiman and a few classics. Despite there being a vast range of other books, I immediately wondered over to the "Game of Thrones" section, which was a larger section than one might have thought.
I had already read all of the "Song of Ice and Fire" books, so I was just admiring the new-looking hard-back editions which were a big contrast to my tatty, well-used paper-backs. A sudden voice close behind me made me jump, dropping the heavy book on the floor with a 'thump'. "'You know nothin', Jon Snow,'" said the deep, mocking voice of someone attempting a Scottish accent. I quickly picked up the book as the stranger gave a light-hearted laugh and turned round, a scowl prepared on my face. My scowl quickly faded when I came face to face with possibly the most exotic-looking man I'd ever seen, which is saying something because I had seen plenty of attractive men up close. Way too close.
The man was clearly gay, as shown by his tight, black pants and matching ensemble of cleverly put-together clothes. He was tall, a little taller than me. His eyes had a gorgeous asian slant to them, out-lined with a thin stroke of black eyeliner and a natural shadow that complemented his flawless caramel-coloured skin. His hair dark, long and natural, pulled back in a small ponytail, a few strands falling forward in a way that reminded Alec of anime heros.
"Yeah," the stranger began with a grin, "I've only watched the TV show. Just the look of those massive million-page books makes me yawn."
"Well I like the books," I mumbled, turning away from this slightly overpowering man to go and pretend to look at the 'Lord of the Rings' books.
"Ah, those I've read," he interjected, taking a large step over to where I now was. He leaned against the book-shelf with his knees bent so that he was looking up at me.
"Aren't they just as long?"
"Yes, but they have Legolas and I would gladly wade through a billion words of long-windedness to read about Legolas," he said, mockingly swooning with a hand over his heart. When he saw my grumpy expression, he said "What! Legolas is beautiful and Orlando Bloom without a blonde wig just looks wrong-"
"Look, um..." Wow. This guy sure had a unique way of hitting on people, if that was really what it was.
"Magnus," he said brightly, flashing his bright white teeth.
"I-I'm just... I... I don't..."
"You want to be left alone?" he finished for me, his smile faltering slightly.
"No! It's just that..." Oh God, why did I say no? "I'm not-"
"Gay? Aww, that's too bad. I was so sure-"
"I was going to say," I interrupted his interruption loudly, "that I..." Had a boyfriend? That's what I usually say in these situations. "I'm not looking for anyone, right now."
"That's fine," Magnus shrugged. "I understand." He took another step towards me so that his body was so close to mine, sending my pulse fluttering and causing me to gulp. He looked down on me with a predatory smirk, buying his lower-lip seductively, and raised a slender hand to trail down my clothed chest and my side before reaching down behind me, towards my ass-
"There it is," he exclaimed, suddenly snatching a book from the shelf and spinning round so that he was a comfortable two meters away from me. "I have been looking for this book forever..." Magnus was holding a copy of "the Return of the King", a sly glint in his eye as he looked up at me.
I blushed and gulped again. "I th-thought you had already read those..."
"Yes, as an E-book, but that was only because they had this edition for just the first two books, and I wanted them to match," he said, inspecting the book with a deep concentration. After a few moments of me staring at a guy who was staring at a book, he said "right, I'm buying this. You wanna book?"
"Uh..." came out my mouth because it wad the most intelligent thing I could think of.
He blinked and smiled. "Do you want me to buy a book for you?" When I didn't say anything and looked at him questioningly, he explained himself. "Usually, a guy who likes the look of another guy would buy said guy a drink, but there are no drinks. This is a book store."
"I told you, I'm not looking for anyone," I said in a small voice.
"Well, I'm not just 'anyone'. I was going to buy you a book. 'Anyone' wouldn't buy you a book, they'd buy you a drink," he pointed out, "which in my opinion should be the more common social etiquette."
That made me smile. "I do agree, but-"
"Yeah, yeah, you're not looking for 'anyone'. Neither am I. We could, ya know... just chat? I know a coffee place that does the best muffins ever..." he said in a sing-song voice.
Which part of 'I'm not looking for anyone'- or, in short, go away- didn't this guy understand? Even though he was attractive- very, extremely, inhumanly attractive- I just didn't want to begin going down there. Magnus, or any sane man, wouldn't want to go out with a porn star, and I didn't want him to find out even though he was a complete stranger. I didn't want anyone to know, but that was unavoidable.
"You don't even know my name," I protested.
"Then tell me- no, actually, don't. I want to guess."
I smirked a little. "Well, in that case, my name is-"
"LA LA LA LA," he yelled, sticking his fingers in his ears.
I cringed at the shrill noise interrupting the once quiet book-store. "Magnus!" I stage-whispered. "Shut up!" Although I sounded angry, there was a little grin playing on my lips that I tried to conceal by pursing my lips.
"IT'S FINE THE STORE'S EMPTY LA LA."
I scowled fondly at him. "Stop being childish," I scolded.
"THEN LET ME BUT YOU COFFEE, LA LA, AND LET ME GUESS YOUR NAME LA LA."
"Fine," I sighed, rolling my eyes, and with that, silence. And Magnus grinning triumphantly.
In the end, he did buy me a book; Foundation by Isaac Asimov. The shop attendant gave us both weird looks as we left the shop, exchanging amused glances.
When he bought us both coffee, he turned to me and said "And now I'm buying you a drink as well as that book. You should be blown away."
"I am," I said flatly.
"I bet I knocked your socks off."
"And now I can't get them back on."
"And now you can't even hear yourself think over the sound of how incredibly awesome I am."
"I wouldn't go that far." We both giggled like school-children at our childishness, before taking a seat in the leather armchairs at the back of the shop. This made me relax a little more because no one that could possibly recognise me would see me in the shop window. God, I was paranoid.
"Jason?" Magnus asked, licking the cream off his frappaccino like a cat. I had plain, black coffee which I continuously stirred with a table-spoon.
"Nope."
He smoothed back his ponytail as he frowned in thought. "John?" I shook my head, smiling. "Jack? Jake? Joe? Joseph? Blue-eyes?"
"No, no, no and no. And no."
"Would you tell me if I got it right?"
"Yes."
"Could you tell me your last name?"
I paused, still stirring my coffee. "That might give it away..."
His eyes widened. "Are you supposed to be famous or something?"
"God no! My parents run a business. They are the famous ones. All they gave me is a last name that I avoid telling people," I added, looking down at the coffee table.
"A famous company... Lightwood," he said suddenly. "Lightwood? Is it Lightwood? Did I get it right?" I sighed and nodded as I sank into the back of the armchair, willing it to swallow me up. "I knew I recognised you from somewhere... You look a bit like your parents, but cuter. And a lot hotter," he said with a wink. "Now, if only I could remember the name of the eldest son of the world-famous weapons manufacturer... William? Alistair?"
"Kind of closer on that last one."
"Alistair, Al... Alex?"
"Yup- well, Alec, actually, but that's close enough."
An enormous grin lit up his face. "Alec, as in Alexander?" I nodded. "Well then, Alexander Lightwood," he said triumphantly, letting my name roll off his tongue in a seductive manner, "it is a pleasure to meet you."
Abruptly, his phone rang. Magnus looked like he thought about leaving it, but rolled his eyes and said "I have to get this." I couldn't hear the voice on the other side clearly, but as soon as Magnus heard the voice, his expression fell and turned glum. "What?" he demanded sourly. After a few moments of dialogue from the other line, he sighed. "Fine. I'll be there in fifteen."
"You gotta go?" I asked, surprised at how disappointed I felt.
Looking at me apologetically, he said "As much as I'll regret it, I have to. Work beckons. It's quite an emergency." He stood up, taking his book with him. "I'd like to talk again sometime," he declared with a grin. "I very much enjoy your company. Call me," he said playfully. And then he was gone, disappearing as quickly as he had arrived, leaving me spluttering and telling him that I didn't have his number.
I then looked down to the book he left me. Only then did I notice a piece of paper tucked into it that wasn't the receit. It was a pink post-it note, with some writing scrawled in pen on it. The message read: "Magnus Bane 07645 213376 call me ;)"
I grinned, feeling a lot happier and a lot lighter than I had in a while.
What did you think of their first meeting? Please let me know. Until next time...
AllNightmareLong666