Okay but, the Sebathan brotp. Pun Master! Jace. Ukulele Player! Simon. Protective Younger Sister! Isabelle. My heart can't altogether with this chapter.
When these chapters are meant to be easy to write fillers, but they end up being more time-consuming and thought-provoking than the actual chapters.
Also, I'm looking for a beta so if anyone is offering, PM me.
Disclaimer: I don't own The Mortal Instruments, and that's why I cry myself to sleep.
6th grade. -Technically 7th grade for Jonathan, Sebastian, Magnus, and Alec.- 10/7/10
"Dude."
"Dude."
"Bro."
"Bro."
"Dude."
"Bro."
"Bro."
"Dude."
"And here you see two species of idiot boys in their natural habitats, both in an attempt to secure their future mate," Magnus drawled. "Could you two just kiss already and call it a day? Please, put an end to the very odd, yet slightly fascinating courting process." Magnus lifted his head from the latest edition of People magazine he had previously been engrossed in a mere few seconds ago.
Jonathan made a disgusted noise in the back of his throat as he began to shake his head rapidly back and forth. Sebastian's hand flew up to shove the other boy's face in the opposite direction of his own, as if to emphasize his own disapproval of Magnus' words. In the seat beside Magnus at their table, Alec laughed quietly. He attempted to muffle the sound behind the sleeve of his sweater, but Magnus heard. He beamed at the shyer boy.
"Not everybody is gay like you, Magnus," Jonathan pouted, swatting Sebastian's hand away from his face. "Stop that, Sebastian," he murmured under his breath to his friend who had attempted to slap him again. "Believe it or not, there are still some straight people left in this world."
Magnus bristled and sniffed in his seat, feigning serious offense at Jonathan's remark. "I'll have you know that I am not gay. I am a proud bisexual, though I am slightly more interested in the male gender. Besides, I wouldn't be surprised if there were more bisexuals in America in a couple years than there are straight people."
"Whatever Magnus," Jonathan smiled slightly as he turned to face Sebastian. "So, we're on for tonight, right?"
"Affirmative," Sebastian nodded, shooting finger guns at his light-haired friend.
"Hot date tonight?" Magnus asked, raising a question brow. His gaze settled back on the page he had previously been reading in an attempt to appear nonchalant. He was achieving at his goal too. "You have my number, be sure to send me the juicy details after the fact. You know, who made the first move and such. Just don't get to frisky now, you are only thirteen. . . How can Julia Roberts' eyes be so dull, yet so utterly beautiful and breathtaking at the same time? It's a real wonder."
"But really, what are you two doing tonight? Anything interesting?" Alec asked, leaning forward.
"My parents are out of town for the weekend, so Jonny Boy is coming over and we're going to hang out, and wreak havoc on the neighbors," Sebastian explained to Alec. He held out his fist, and Jonathan bumped his own against Sebastian's. "Ka-bam!"
"Hmm," Magnus hummed thoughtfully. He lowered his magazine from his face so that only his eyes were visible and peeking out from the top of the magazine. "How strange. My invitation to the party seems to have gotten lost in the mail on the way to me. No matter, tell me what time to be at your house, and I'll make sure that Alec and I are there."
"Pssh, you weren't invited Sparkles, for what I think are rather obvious reasons. It's Jonathan and Sebastian bonding time," Sebastian said, stressing the Sebastian and Jonathan. "Not Magnus, Alec, Jonathan, and Sebastian bonding time/"
Mirth lit up Magnus' eyes. "Jonathan and Sebastian bondage time, you say? Tsk, tsk, they're starting younger every day. I'd say use protection but I suppose you two wouldn't exactly need it. But, you're right, I definitely wouldn't want to interrupt that, and I'm glad my invitation got lost. Don't even worry about us. Alec and I can surely find something else to tie us up." Magnus winked flirtatiously as he finished his sentence.
"Ack!" Alec exclaimed, his normally pale face exploding with color and turning a vibrant shade of red at Magnus' implications. "D-don't-!"
"Jeez, Magnus. You really are a kinky bastard aren't you?" Jonathan shook his head in disbelief.
Magnus laughed at what he thought to be an awfully clever joke on his part and Alec continued stammering. With his face still aflame with mortification, Alec leaned over quickly to snatch the People's magazine out of Magnus' hand. He made quick work of rolling it up and whacking Magnus over the head with it. Magnus flailed, and the other two boys couldn't decipher whether or not Magnus was still laughing, or shrieking in pain. They decided to themselves that it was probably a mixture of both.
"Dude," Sebastian watched he scene unfold before him, his eyes wide.
"Bro," Jonathan breathed in reply, his eyes equally wide.
"Promise never to abuse me like that."
"I promise."
o.O.o.O.o
After school that very same day Jonathan and Sebastian headed over to the former's house to pack what he would need for the overnight stay. Jocelyn drove them over to Sebastian's house afterward, not wanting them to walk that far when it was getting increasingly darker and later outside. Jocelyn was unaware that there would be no parental supervision over the weekend, and was insisting upon going inside with them and thanking the people who would be keeping her son for the weekend so she could have a much needed break. The boys had shared identical, panicked looks, unsure of how to talk her out of it. It was only a well-timed call from Luke that got her running back to her car after a quick kiss pressed to both boy's cheeks.
"I wonder what that call was about," Jonathan remarked, his duffel bag slung over his shoulder.
Sebastian stood next to Jonathan in the driveway. He watched as his friend's mother sped down the street, not even stopping for a stop sign. "Must've been something really serious to get her in the car that quick."
Both boys shared a look before simultaneously shrugging it off and making their way to the front door Sebastian went first, sticking the key in the doorknob. It unlocked with a soft click. He removed the key, tucking it into his pocket, and placed his hand on the doorknob. Sebastian shot Jonathan a wide grin over his shoulder. "Get ready to have the most fun any thirteen year old can have without drinking alcohol or getting into trouble with the law." As he turned back around, the doorknob twisted beneath his hand. Alarmed, he jumped back, bumping into Jonathan who stumbled and dropped his duffel bag in the grass.
"Sebastian!"
"A-Aunt Élodie!" Sebastian gawked at the petite woman with the stern face standing in the doorframe. "W-What are you doing here? You live all the way in France for Christ's sake!"
"Language Sebastian," the woman, Sebastian's aunt Élodie, stepped forward to smack her nephew harshly on the side of his head. Jonathan bit his lip and winced from the sound of it. "Mon neveu, come give me a hug. It's been too long. I see tu pére let you grow your hair out. Come along and don't worry about a thing, I can cut it for you."
Sebastian's hands twisted into his tangled raven locks as his eyes widened impossibly further. "W-what are you doing here Aunt Élodie?" He spluttered.
"En français, Sebastian," Élodie chided, raising her hand high above her head again in a threatening manner.
Sebastian shrieked as he threw his arms over his head in a lame attempt to protect himself. "Don't hit moi!"
Élodie t'sked and shook her head in a disappointed manner. "Much improvement needed, mon neveu. Now, why aren't you hugging me? And who is tu beau ami?" Élodie's eyes finally shifted to Jonathan. He shrunk back from the cool gaze of the woman's sharp and dark eyes. Oh God. He was easily terrified of this woman who couldn't be any younger than forty, and no taller than 5'2.
"Je m'appelle Jonathan!" He squeaked in his horrible French accent. It had been the only phrase that he had remembered from the French class he had to take last year, and had ultimately failed by the end of the school year.
Élodie's eyes narrowed as she scrutinized him. "Handsome, but has a very awful French accent. Probably the only thing he knows how to say. Dumb. Just like you Sebastian. Are you two dating?"
"Aunt Élodie!"
"Stop acting so scandalized, Sebastian, and quit speaking in English. If you want to speak to me, and want me to reply, do it in your native language."
"But. . . English is my native language. . ."
"En français!" Élodie snapped.
". . . Dude. . ."
Which is how what was meant to be the greatest night of their middle school careers morphed into them sprawled out on the couch watching old episodes of SpongeBob that Nickelodeon was playing.
"You're trash. Absolute trash. Complete and utter garbage."
"I'm sorry."
"I could be doing this at home. I didn't come here to watch freaking SpongeBob, despite its high quality."
"I'm sorry."
"I hate you."
A small gasp. "Bro. . ."
". . . Dude."
7th Grade. 4/5-10/12
A pun war. Who's genius idea had that been? Of course, it couldn't have been anyone else other than the combined minds of Isabelle Lightwood, Simon Lewis and Clary Fray. When those three were involved, Jace found it hard for anyone to even compete with their idiotic acts. But back to the particular issue at hand. Isabelle always enjoyed a challenge and was never one to turn anything down. Simon who would do anything to impress the girl of his dreams, even if it meant participating in something as idiotic. And Clary who liked dumb things like puns. Somehow, as always, his objections were ignored when he said he didn't want to play, and he was somehow roped into it.
The game started Monday and would end by the last period of the school day on Friday. There was one list that kept track of all the points each individual had. The player with the most points by the end of the school week was declared the champion and official Pun Master. There were only three real rules. Rule one, a un had to be uttered in front of at least one other player, or it doesn't count. Rule two, a pun couldn't be repeated by another player, even if it was repeated by the original player who had first used it. The final rule being that the puns couldn't be random and that they had to make sense with whatever was happening when the puns were being made.
On Monday, when the game officially started, they sat in math class. The desks in that classroom were arranged in pairs by alphabetical order of last name. Jace had gotten lucky that in that class, there were no kids that had last names beginning with 'G', or otherwise Clary and him wouldn't have sat next to each other. Isabelle and Simon, with the last names Lightwood and Lewis, sat in the desk pair directly behind them.
When the teacher passed out a worksheet on all they had covered in class so far, she said move your desks and work with whoever you want, but work in groups no larger than four people. So Jace wasn't all that shocked when Isabelle and Simon made quick work of gathering their things and moving their chairs so that they could sit in front of them.
His torture had begun.
"Math class is so radical, my dude," Simon grinned impishly as he settled into his chair. He was sharing his desk with Jace, while Isabelle shared a desk with Clary.
"Math class always has my undivided attention," Clary added as she returned his grin.
"Stop it, both of you, before I subtract you both from my life," Isabelle murmured, squinting a little at her work sheet.
"Pssh, no you wouldn't. Besides, you're only adding to the problem with your puns that should be worth zero," Simon pointed out, tapping the side of his head with his pencil.
"How annoying you are has just been multiplied in eyes. So please, just lower your volume," Isabelle replied, her eyes glinting.
"Hey guys, I forgot to mention this earlier, but I sketched Isabelle last period in art. Though, my opinion on it isn't two positive. In fact, it's really negative. Her face is all hard angles, and she isn't looking all that acute. The picture just doesn't look right." Clary's lips curled into a victorious smirk, knowing full well she had one this round. "What do you say about the probability of me emerging with the most points for the day?"
Jace allowed his eyes to wander over to Clary. He was lost in his thoughts as he stared at the side of her face. Surely, if he had really been participating in the game, he could have been less obtuse and come up with sum more puns that actually counted and made real number sense. . . Oh God. . . Did he just. . .?
o.O.o.O.o
On Tuesday, they struck again with their horrible just after the school soccer team had won a soccer game. Clary's face was flushed red as she made her way onto the field to congratulate him. She always seemed so nervous around him, he noticed, but never really thought much of it. He murmured something that vaguely resembled a 'thank you'. She seemed to perk up at that, but the serene moment didn't last very long as Simon and Isabelle came racing onto the field.
"Did you bring an extra pair of shorts with you today Jace?" Simon questioned, attempting to sound genuinely curious. Jace raised a dubious brow, not very impressed. The boy before him was up to something, judging by the way he was swaying back and forth, and the cheeky smile that lit up his face. "You know, just in case you had gotten a hole-in-one today."
Clary, who had still appeared a little star-struck quickly snapped out of it as soon as she had heard Simon. She turned to Isabelle quickly. "Does that count? Because this is a soccer game, not a golf tournament."
Isabelle hummed thoughtfully before she nodded her head. "I think it should. Soccer and golf both fall into the larger category of sports, so technically the pun does make sense in the end."
"Thanks for being such a good sport Isabelle," Simon snapped his fingers and winked.
"Pfft. Don't thank me until I've evened up the score," Isabelle grinned, flipping her hair. "Let me be the won to point out that I'm not too far behind."
"Whatever. You guys are no match for my tennis puns. I'm going to serve up an ace of puns, and I assure you they'll be a real racket," Clary smirked slightly.
"Quit running your mouth Clary," Isabelle huffed, taking on an exaggerated tone of annoyance. "At least SImon and I are still in the game. According to the scoreboard, Jace has love."
"Don't you mean nil? Besides, it's his long-term goal to remain stoic and silent throughout his entire life. Who are we to blow the whistle and bench him for doing what he wants? Now that would just be foul play," Simon shook his head, but seemingly perked up as a smile stretched across his face. "Any who, don't you think he's made great leaps and rebounds in regards to his socializing skills?"
Isabelle and Clary shared a look. "Why does Simon know more sports puns than us?"
Jace stopped listening as he turned his back on the three and made his way off the field. 'Now those puns really deserved a penalty. Maybe if I pitched one or two of my own jokes, they'd shut up. . . I bat they would.'
o.O.o.O.o
Sometimes, the school didn't want to bother with hiring a substitute. It didn't happen too often, and it never happened in any of the main core classes. Though, when one of the three music teachers was missing, the would mash up two classes, and have one of the teachers attempt to watch over sixty students crammed into one classroom.
Jace had chorus with Isabelle and Clary for fourth period, and it had only happened once before this school year. It wasn't that he enjoyed singing. Actually, he kind of hated it. Jace was just in the class for an easy A, as most of the other students were. He didn't really feel like applying much effort and learning how to play an instrument well, and could a teacher really punish you if you genuinely couldn't sing, but still tried your hardest? No, not really, which is why his plan worked out perfectly.
Any who, Wednesday had been one of those days where two classes had to be mashed up. The band teacher wasn't there that day, and Jace already wasn't looking forward to the day. Who actually wanted to be shoved into a classroom for forty-five minutes with classmates that all talked at once and gave you a massive headache? However, he began to really dread the period when Simon walked into the room and plopped into the chair opposite of him and Clary, next to Isabelle. He heaved a hefty sigh as he raised his head. He was trying to pull off a defeated look, but Jace could see the smile that was threatening to break out.
"I'll have you guys know right now that music puns aren't really my forte."
The corners of Clary's lips twitched up. "Well, at least yours don't fall flat like mine. I'm always out of tune and missing notes."
"I bet you two think you're real clef-er don't you?" Isabelle rolled her eyes. "Anyway, I don't think I ever told you guys how I ended up in chorus. My mom didn't want to expose me to all that sax and violins that band and orchestra had to offer."
"Only a minor setback for your musical career," Simon noted.
"Yeah, it's such a classic mom move. I just wish I had an alternative choice. But it doesn't really matter since I've had major developments since then. I can even sight reed now."
"Wow, Isabelle, you are such a lyre," Clary accused, reaching out to shove her friend in the shoulder.
With their horrible music puns, Jace was sure he was safe to assume that none of them had ever been accused of being sharp in their lives.
o.O.o.O.o
On Thursday Jace faked being sick so he didn't have to endure any puns that day. He spent the day in his backyard, lying with his cat Chaton in a sun patch. His mother didn't suspect a thing. He was content. He was happy. He wished he didn't have to go back to that hellhole called school.
o.O.o.O.o
Friday he returned to school less than amused. As he balled up his sweater to tuck under his head so that he could sleep in homeroom, he was informed by Clary that they were all even with about twenty-five points each by the end of Thursday. By last period on Friday, they punned furiously and they all had at least doubled their points. Everybody had been excited for science, their last period, seeing as it gave them a lot of free range. However they were all sorely disappointed when their teacher whipped out a periodic table review worksheet.
They sat in silence for more than half the period trying to come up with something. Anything.
Clary sighed a little as she glanced up. "Class is so Boron when you can't come up with any puns."
Simon groaned in frustration and Isabelle placed a hand on his shoulder. "Chin up, Bromine, you'll find something."
"But all the good puns Argon," he whined.
"Listening to you three make crappy puns all week has made me realize what true Sulfur-ing is."
Everybody paused, and slowly lifted their heads to stare at him. The pencil that Jace had held in his hand rolled out as he tensed up. The words had escaped his mouth before he could stop them. He hadn't meant it. He hadn't meant it! A wide grin stretched out across Clary's face and she looked like she positively radiated joy with that expression. He felt his heart involuntarily clench as she began to laugh quietly.
"I concede," Simon whispered in awe. "I concede."
"You win Jace," Isabelle admitted, shaking her head in disbelief. "I can't compete with that. I gladly drop out of the race, and hereby crown you Pun Master."
Jace rolled his eyes as Simon and Isabelle continued to admit their defeat. He cast another glance over to Clary across the table. She was still giggling to herself, her eyes screwed tightly shut and her freckled cheeks rosy. What he had said wasn't even that funny, though he did now consider it a victory, but not for the reasons Isabelle and Simon would assume. Jace smiled fondly at the small redhead laughing before him. He was a little glad that he just couldn't resist the temptation of punning.
8th Grade. 12/9/12
It was Simon Lewis' birthday and he was turning fourteen. After a lot of pleading, begging, groveling, and helping out around the house, Simon's mother agreed to let him have his friends over. 'It doesn't even have to be a party, I just want to hang out with them!' But, of course, if it was one's birthday and friends were coming over, it was a party to some extent. His mother had gone out to buy balloons, and steamers, a small cake, and pink candles to spite him. He'd invited some of the very few friends he had; Clary, her older brother, Jonathan, Isabelle and her older brother, Alec, Sebastian who didn't want to be left out, an old friend of his, Eric, and upon Clary's insistence, Jace.
Isabelle Lightwood was coming. Simon stared intensely at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. Isabelle Lightwood was coming. Simon brushed some of his hair to the side of his head, so that the locks were no longer hanging in front of his eyes. Isabelle Lightwood was coming. He took his glasses off and rubbed the lenses against his shirt in order to clean them. Isabelle Lightwood was coming. Simon placed his glasses back on his face and smoothed out the wrinkles that he had created in his shirt. Isabelle Lightwood was coming. Simon lifted his head again to further inspect his appearance. Isabelle Lightwood was coming. He blinked calmly at his reflection. Isabelle Lightwood was coming.
He shrieked loudly. Isabelle Freaking Lightwood was coming, and he was most definitely not freaking out.
A light rap against the bathroom door was followed by a concerned voice, "Simon, are you alright? You're not dying in there, are you now?"
He recognized the soft voice as belonging to his best and closest friend, Clary Fray. He let out a strangled laugh and clutched the bathroom counter rather tightly. "Oh I'm dying alright, but I think I'll be fine."
Clary paused for a second. "And this wouldn't happen to be about a certain Miss Isabelle Lightwood that would be attending your party the fine December afternoon, now would it?" Simon leaned away from the mirror, and threw open the door. Clary was there, leaning against the opposite wall, and her expression was lit by mirth, her smile sly.
"Tell me, since when does it not have anything to do with Isabelle Lightwood?" Simon retorted. He flicked off the light switch for the bathroom and stepped into the narrow hallway.
Clary leaned forward to wrap her arms around her best friend's waist. In turn, he pulled her against his chest and rested his chin atop her head. "Happy birthday Simon. One year closer to natural death. Woo-hoo, what a time for celebration!"
"Boy, do you make growing up sound so desirable," Simon murmured lowly into her hair. He rolled his eyes, but smile despite himself.
Clary laughed as she leaned away from him. She lifted her hands to his face and began straightening out his crooked glasses. "You're fourteen today, Si. You gotta start dressing to impress. Your glasses can't keep being askew. They have to be straight from here on out."
"It's not my glasses, it's just my head," Simon admitted sheepishly. He raised a hand to scratch the back of his neck.
"You're so dumb," she shoved him lightly in the shoulder and he laughed loudly.
o.O.o.O.o
"And now, time for my gift," Clary announced, wiggling in excitement from where she sat on the floor.
Simon smiled nervously at her. She would be the last one to give him her present to unwrap. Isabelle and Alec had went in on a couple present together that he had been confused about upon opening. They had bought him toys. A sock monkey, newton balls, Lincoln logs, an abacus, and a Spirograph design set. He blinked down at all the toys, unsure of whether or not there was a joke tied to these presents that he wasn't getting. Going off of Alec's wide and genuine smile, this was not all part of an elaborate joke that they had planned out. Just because he liked comics did not mean he was six and wanted toys for his birthday.
Isabelle must have sensed his confusion because she moved from her position perched on the arm of the couch to sit beside him on the floor.
"For your retro toy collection," she explained, smiling hesitantly at him. "Remember a couple weeks ago, you were telling me that you wanted to start a retro toy collection. I remember thinking you were joking at the time, despite how serious you sounded. Anyway, Alec and I were going absolutely crazy trying to figure out what to get you. And then Alec held up a sock monkey and said 'what about this?' And the first thought that went through my head was 'oh God, what a terrible idea.' But then I remembered that conversation from a couple weeks ago sooo. . ." Isabelle trailed off.
Simon's eyes widened as she recounted the events that had led to her and Alec's questionable gifts. She remembered them talking about that? Holy crap, he didn't even remember telling her about that. She really did listen when he spoke.
"I thought it would be a pretty neat idea, and original too," Isabelle beamed at him. "I mean, who would honestly think to get a fourteen year old toys? And if you don't like it, act like you do, because I won't hesitate to punch you in the gut."
"No, no, it's great! It was great idea!" Simon exclaimed, having trouble containing his wide grin. Isabelle's happiness was truly infectious. "I love it, I really do. Thanks so much you two!"
Isabelle pulled him into a quick hug and ruffled his hair affectionally. "You're welcome, Si. Happy birthday." She pulled away and punched him lightly in the arm before she retreated back to her seat next to her brother.
Eric got him a guitar pick for a guitar he didn't even have. Magus got him a video game for a console he didn't even own. Jonathan got him a couple graphic T's, and Sebastian did just the same. And Jace got him a fifty dollar gift card.
Clary plopped onto the floor in front of him, her legs tucked beneath her. She placed her gift in his lap. It was easily the largest present, though surprisingly light for its size. The box was in the shape of a triangle and Simon gingerly began to pull back the Winnie the Pooh wrapping paper. He puffed out his cheeks, and began tearing away the cardboard of the package to reveal a powder blue ukulele. He gaped at it.
"Happy birthday," Clary said cheerily. "You're always saying how much you want a guitar, but those are a little out of my price range. I figured this was the next best thing." Clary leaned forward to pull the ukulele out of the box and hand it to him. Then she pulled out a small booklet. "It even comes with a beginner's guide to get you started."
Isabelle peered at the ukulele. "Aw, it's so cute." Simon stared dubiously at her as he plucked at the strings. It sounded like it needed to be tuned. "I'd much rather be serenaded with this little thing than a big and clunky guitar." She flashed him a dazzling wink.
Simon quickly snatched the beginner's guide out of Clary's hand and began flipping rapidly through the pages. Never in his life had he been more eager to read something and learn how to do something new.
Isabelle and Clary shared a look before they both burst into laughter. Simon was too preoccupied to notice.
9th Grade. -Technically 10th Grade for Magnus and Alec- 4/21/14
"I hear you and Alec are hanging out tonight," Isabelle started conversationally. Magnus glanced up, slightly startled by the new voice. Isabelle was leaning against the locker beside his, and she was pretending to be engrossed with her nails. When Magnus looked back at whatever he was doing Isabelle peeked at him from the corner of her eye. "Is it a date?"
Magnus turned his head again to look at the younger girl. "He's your brother, isn't he? Why don't you run along and ask him?"
"Oh, c'mon Magnus," Isabelle dropped her arm down to her side. She placed her right hand on her hip and narrowed her eyes at the glitter fanatic before her. "Don't catch an attitude with me. I'm just looking out for my brother, you know that. He's living in denial of who he really is every day of his life, and as his sister it hurts for me to see him like that. All I'm getting from him in the matter is radio silence. And since he doesn't want to talk to me about these sort of things, and you're just as close to him as I am if not closer, I figured I'd come and talk to you. Now are you going to play nice and put my conscious to ease, or not?"
Magnus looked thoughtful as he gave her his reply. "Alec is very adamant about this not being a date. I won't force anything on him that he doesn't want. Had I intended for it to be a date when I asked him to hang out with me one-on-one tonight? Yeah, I had, and I made that very clear to him. And then he made it very clear to me that that idea made him uncomfortable, but he would be happy to hang out with me as just friends. I don't want to make him uncomfortable, so I said that was fine. I know I may not act like it all the time when I make my dumb jokes, but I do know where to draw the line.
"It's different for everybody. Alexander is already shy and very reserved as it is. He's probably one of the greatest I'll ever have the pleasure of knowing, but he doesn't know that because he lacks a very important quality called self-confidence. He's also not very good at keeping his sexuality a secret. Everybody at school knows it. But if he comes out, he needs to do it on his own terms. He can't be forced into it. Calling it a date even though he doesn't want to be wouldn't be fair to him, and it's forcing him into something he doesn't want to be forced into.
"You know that I genuinely care about your brother, Isabelle. I know I flirt with him rather obnoxiously, and it may make my intentions seem less than innocent, and my feelings anything but genuine, but they aren't. It's just who I am. I'm content about where my relationship with Alexander is at. I can wait for him. And if that means that I have to wait thirty more years before he's ready, then that's exactly what I'll do. You know that, don't you?" Magnus asked Isabelle.
Isabelle nodded her head slowly and smiled slightly at him. "Of course I know that Mags. And when he's ready, I know you'll do everything you can to help him and look out for him, just like you are right now. Even if it's not a date."
Magnus shut hos locker door when she finished and he slung his bookbag over his shoulder casually. He shot Isabelle a sly smile and his eyes gleamed with mischief. Isabelle narrowed her eyes at him. "Hey now, I know that look Magnus. I thought you said just now you weren't going to do anything to make him feel uncomfortable."
"I'm not," Magnus assured her as he adjusted one of the straps of his bookbag. "It may not be a date now, but I'll be damned if by the end of the night your older brother wasn't wishing it was one."
Magnus winked slyly at her before he sun on his heel and began making his way down the very empty hallway. He was a little late to soccer practice at that point, but that was alright. Isabelle's footsteps echoed up and down the halls as she ran after him.
"Where are you taking him anyway?" Isabelle asked curiously as she caught up with him.
Magnus scoffed noisily as he walked briskly toward the entrance of the locker room. "You want me to tell you where I'm taking your older brother on our not date so you can what? Gather the usual gang and spy on us like we would do if it were Clary and Jace, or you and Simon?"
"Oh, come on Magnus. We'd never stoop as low as that. I'm sure that everybody else and I would just so happen to end up at the same place as you and Alec and at the same time. The whole incident would be nothing but pure coincidence."
"Fat chance. I'm not dumb, I know better, and I'm not telling you. Good try though. A valiant and admirable effort."
"You think I need you to tell me, because I don't. I was just trying to be polite. I can find out on my own. I don't need you."
"Mhm. Sure you don't." Magnus swung the door of the locker room open and peered at Isabelle over his shoulder. "I believe this is where we part ways, darling."
o.O.o.O.o
Magnus ended up taking Alec to Taki's later that night, the diner the gang usually frequented after they won a game to celebrate. It had become a tradition at the start of the school year, after Jace and Simon had made the team as freshman. Magnus had stumbled across Taki's when he was in eighth grade, It was the kind of place that didn't often any newcomers, so when he wondered in, and nobody there could address him by name, they acted as if they weren't quite sure what to do with him. However, he's started stopping by at least twice a week with all of his friends, and he soon learned while new faces weren't all that common, they were always welcomed with open arms.
Taki's at night was simply breathtaking. The first time Magnus discovered this was when he couldn't fall asleep so he ended up going for a late night stroll. With really nowhere else to go, and really craving a burger, Magnus found himself at the only 24-hour diner that he was familiar with. They'd never gone to Taki's after dark, so they had no idea that it was a completely different experience from the day time. When Magnus pushed open the door he was met with a stunning sight that he had not been expecting at all.
It was fairly dim when he stepped inside. The only source of illumination were small fairy-lights strung up all around the diner. Some were wrapped around what looked to be surprisingly real artificial pine trees and fake potted flowers that he couldn't recall seeing in the afternoon, despite him being there that very same day only a couple hours earlier.
"Magnus!" A young waitress approached him, and he recognized her quickly to be his friend, Aspen. She was in her early twenties and very polite to him and his friends. She beamed at him.
Magnus blinked at her, trying not to be impolite by staring. Aspen frowned slightly at him before she gasped loudly as if realizing something for the first time. She laughed a little after that.
"I forgot you've never been here after the sun's already gone down." Aspen made a wide sweeping gesture with her arm. "Beautiful, isn't it?"
"You're beautiful," Magnus confessed as he took in the sight of her.
"Thank you!" Aspen exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. "I'm supposed to look like a fairy to accompany the enchanted forest theme."
Her pale blonde hair fell down to her lower back in soft waves, and it looked slightly green under the fluorescent lights. A crown made of plastic butterflies that looked extremely life-like and ready to take flight rested atop her head. And her dress swirled around her legs when she moved, and it looked as if it could have been made of real flower petals and leaves. Intricate designs and patterns were painted all over her exposed skin in gold, glittering body paint. Sparkly silver wings extended from her back, and Magnus had never realized it before, but her physique, small and lithe, seemed fitting for a fairy cosplay.
"Well you really pull it off."
"Thank you! It's one of the main reasons I work the shift that I do. The second I walked in the manager wanted me on the night shift."
The not date had ended up being spectacular on both ends. Or at least that was how Magnus perceived it. Magnus had Alec laughing so hard, his face was filled to the brim with color, and he ended up choking on air for a few good minutes. That had been hilarious for Magnus to watch, and after Alec got over his initial embarrassment, he was able to laugh once again. By the end of the night, he walked beside Magnus travelling in the direction of his house. Magnus playfully knocked into his side every now and again, and Alec had never felt more content than in that very moment. When they made it to Alec's front door, he lingered outside with Magnus.
"I had fun tonight, A lot more than I expected, honestly," Alec confessed nervously, staring at Magnus. A timid smile adorned his lips.
Magnus returned the smile. "I had fun too, Alexander."
Magnus took a small step forward, locking eyes with the boy in front of him. Alec's body tensed up slightly. "You know," Magnus whispered softly, his eyes flickering quickly down to Alec's lips. "If this were a date, this would be the part when I kissed you."
Alec's eyes grew impossible wide as he stared at Alec, his face now flaming. Magnus' eyes were now closed. Did he want this? Apparently his body thought he did because he found himself leaning forward and his eyelids fluttering shut. His mind offered no objections. He felt Magnus' breath fan out across his cheeks, indicating just how close the boy was. Alec's heart was racing.
He felt Magnus lean in even closer, the heat radiating off his body. Alec had the urge to wrap his arms around Magnus neck, crash his lips against his, and just hold him there. He felt Magnus lips brush softly against his ear as he whispered, "too bad it's not a date."
It took a second for Alec's brain to register what had just been said to him, but when he did, his eyes shot open. Magnus cackled gleefully at the expression on Alec's face. He quickly said goodbye and began skipping down the street. Alec stared after him, his mouth hanging wide open, still in complete disbelief of what had just happened.
After a minute of staring, Alec closed his jaw and smiled at the retreating form of the boy.
Maybe he hadn't wanted it to be a date to start with, but he may have wanted it to be now.
Heat rose to his face just thinking of it. He smiled wider.
Simon doesn't have a canon birth date, or at least none that I could find, sooo. lmao, just winging it. Also, I'm well aware that I write really, really ooc, but god asdfghjkl I just loveeeeee my version of Alec in this. He's just so adorable, and shy, and awkward, and ack he just makes my heart melt.
Also, I only skimmed this chapter quickly so I apologize for any mistakes.
SCHOOL IS OVER. OH YEAHHH.
Quickly.: Sebethan sleepover happened because I wanted an excuse to write in a crazy French aunt because she reminded me of my old French teacher. Pun Master! Jace because asdfghjkl I love puns and I feel like Jace would have a secret love of them too. Ukulele Player! Si because I recently got a ukulele and I'm having so much fun learning. And Malec not-date becase ADORABLE.
And hit me up if you're a beta, I really need one. ;']