Chapter 8 – Camping, Encouragement and Malec.
Alec lead his best friend along the trail, trees hung over them and his them from the warm summer sun. Alec had found the place they were going to camping at on the computer, it was an hour's drive from their houses so was very peaceful and quiet but lots of people did go there. Alec was carrying the tents and food for them both, Magnus had the blankets and clothes. Catarina, Ragnor, Alec's siblings and their counterparts were all coming by later on to camp with them.
Not much had changed in their relationship with Magnus still feeling hurt from Camille's cheating, but Magnus was very willing to change that, especially as he admired his friend's behind in the new denim knee lengths he had convinced Alec to wear, his eyes darted to the rippling muscles under the thin white V-neck (Magnus had even convinced him to put away the black sweaters). Magnus really did appreciate his friend for booking a space for a few days at the campsite away from home, so he could get over Camille without her knocking on his door or ringing his phone every day.
"It's just a little further." Alec reassured his friend.
"That's fine." Magnus replied.
They tromped through the wooded area until the trees thinned and then opened up into a large clearing, on three sides were trees but the other side opened up to a huge blue lake. Tents and caravans were already set up and people were walking around and chatting, a few were fishing near the lake, some children played in the shallow waves and some braver and older one swam out into the blue water. A building near the trees had signs to indicate they were the toilets and that the bins were there, a small stage was set up for some entertainment later that evening. The site even had a bonfire so they could sit round the fire in the dark evening. The sunlight shone brightly and made the area look more magical. Magnus' lips curled up into a smile.
"It's beautiful, Alec." He gasped. He glanced over at the boy and was blown away by his looks. The blue-eyed boy was smiling at him, his eyes crinkled slightly, his lips open in a big grin revealing his perfectly straight perfectly white teeth, he had small dimples which Magnus found adorable and he realised what a lucky person he was to have someone so beautiful love them.
"I'm glad you think so." They walked to an empty spot and dropped their stuff.
"It really is incredible." Magnus smiled.
"It'll do you good to get away from that town." Alec told him.
"It should do, without her bothering me every day." Magnus agreed, "And I'll be with friends so it's even better."
"I hope it is." Alec smiled.
"You're going to be okay sharing a tent with me right?" Magnus asked. "If you get uncomfortable I don't mind if you want to swap."
"Why would I want to swap? It would be you getting uncomfortable. I should be saying this to you."
"I don't mind, it's just if you want to swap I won't mind." Magnus answered. "We should probably get the tent up though."
"True." Alec smiled, they started with the tent.
It actually took them a good hour and a half to get the tent up because they kept arguing how to do it properly. Neither had really ever been camping and so they didn't have many clues about how to do it, but they did eventually.
They flopped on the grass, beating hard but happy with their accomplishment on the tent. They were both warm and sweaty but couldn't be bothered move.
"Thank you Alec." Magnus said as he rolled onto his side to look at his best friend, Alec did the same and their eyes locked together.
"It's okay." Alec smiled, "I wanted to go camping anyway."
"You're so sweet it breaks my heart." Magnus felt his eyes tear up, how could he not love Alec? How could someone so selfless and caring ever love someone like Magnus? To Magnus he'd never know how but he desperately wanted to do something to thank Alec.
"Hey, hey, it's okay." Alec's voice was quieter and softer, Magnus felt him move closer. A tear rolled down his cheek and Alec brushed it away.
"No it's not." Magnus replied. "You like me and I do like you back like that but I can't act on it because I'm not over Camille and I really, really want to get over her. And then you make it worse, by doing all these nice things and I know it must be hurting you but you keep putting me first. You just deserve so much Alec, so much I can't give you right now."
"I can wait Magnus." Alec responded, "I believe in the end it will be worth it."
"I'm going to make it up to you, I promise." Magnus told him.
"I'll hold you to it." Alec smiled.
"You'd better."
They lapsed into silence, just looking at each other and enjoying their time together, after a few minutes they unpacked their sleeping bags and bedding, they put their clothes in the tent and sorted out food. After this Izzy turned up with Simon, Jace and Clary – the six of them put up the other two tents and then they chatted and talked. Alec and Jace changed into swimming trucks and raced to the lake – shouting taunts about who would lose the race they were planning. Simon went to get changed as did Clary and that left Isabelle and Magnus. They sat together drinking lemonade.
"So he told you?" Izzy asked as she watched her brother splashing Jace. Simon ran from the bathroom to the water with Clary and they both screeched when they realised how cold the water was.
"Yes." Magnus answered.
"What are you doing about it?" she asked, her dark brown eyes desperate to know more. "He won't tell me anything more and it is killing me."
"Well, I do like him that way back…"
"But?" she raised an eyebrow.
"But, I need to get over Camille."
"Oh boohoo." Izzy said sarcastically, "It's been a month, for crying out loud, how long do you need?"
"Izzy…" Magnus trailed off as she carried on.
"You'll both be at college soon, then university. You'll grew apart again so why don't you make sure you prevent that by getting together with him? He's not going to wait forever Magnus, one day he'll realise that there are other guys who are just as awesome and who actually like him back exist and then where will you be?" She asked, it was clearly rhetorical and she carried on, "Alone. That's where."
"I do like him back."
"Then act on it!" she rolled her eyes at him. "There is no way he'll ever cheat on you and you know it. You're making up excuse." Magnus sat quietly for a minute, Izzy broke the silence, "I'm sorry if it seems harsh but…"
"You're right." Magnus nodded. "I needed to hear it."
"Well, go on." Izzy nodded towards the water were their friends splashed around.
"I'm planning, don't rush me." Magnus smiled. Izzy laughed but accepted it.
"Okay, I'm going down there. Remember my words or there'll be trouble." She warned as she took her top off, her red bikini underneath, she took off her skirt too and then ran down to the water, her black hair flowing behind her.
"Magnus! Get your butt over here and help me!" Magnus knew that familiar voice, he turned to see his two other best friends struggle into the clearing, Cat opened her mouth to yell at him again but he got out of his chair and hurried to her.
"How much stuff did you bring?" Magnus asked. Since prom Ragnor had confessed how he felt for Cat and she had surprised them all by agreeing to go out with him. Magnus took two of her bags off her and they walked over to the other tents, they dropped their stuff.
"Not that much, I bet Isabelle brought more." Cat smiled.
"I don't know." Magnus smirked. "I'll go get Alec and Jace so we can get this tent set up."
"Hurry back." Ragnor called after him as he jogged down to the lake. Ragnor turned to his girlfriend and said, "I hope he's okay."
"He will be." She replied, Ragnor put his arm around her, her blue eyes were locked onto Magnus as talked to Alec and his brother. They started walking up to the couple.
"I think I 'ship them'." Ragnor told her with a disgusted expression. "I'm turning into you and Isabelle."
Cat wrinkled her nose but smiled, "That is scary!" Ragnor laughed and kissed her on the mouth.
"Get a room!" Jace called up to them.
"We would but it's not set up yet!" Cat retorted as Ragnor pulled away, he laughed at his girlfriend's spirit.
The other three hurried up and they all set up the tent, it barely took twenty minutes with Jace's organisation. Soon the five of them were re-joining the others in the clear blue lake, Magnus had even ventured into the water, despite his fear, he had stayed mainly in the shallower water but he had done it. After they swam and splashed around they got changed back into clothes and cooked some dinner, the owners of the camping site had a karaoke machine and they dared each other to sing, it turned out good fun for everyone at the camp.
After that they had split off in their pairs, Izzy and Simon, Clary and Jace, Cat and Ragnor which left Magnus and Alec. They stood awkwardly for a moment.
"Do you want to go for a walk?" Magnus asked his best friend. He wanted to get Alec away from everyone else so he could surprise him and act on Izzy's words.
Fortunately Alec agreed and the two of them started through the darkened forest. The stars were visible from under the leafy trees, Alec was ultra-aware of Magnus body next to his as they stepped through the foliage, how was he going to survive the night in a tent with him? Alec was sincerely doubting he would be able to. Magnus lead them through the night for a few more minutes, chatting quietly.
"Alec." Magnus said his name carefully as he stopped walking, he had hold of Alec's slim wrist and pulled the shorter boy to face him, Alec's face blushed slightly at the close proximity and his blue eyes were questioning. "I thought of a way to make up the hurt to you."
"What is…." Alec was cut off as Magnus leaned down, their lips connected in a sweet kiss, it took a moment for Alec's shock to wear off before he shut his eyes, his long eyelashes tickling Magnus' cheek, he started kissing back.
Magnus hand had let go of Alec's wrist and was now around Alec's lower back, Alec's hands were around Magnus' neck, playing with the hair at his nape. Magnus' other hand was in between Alec's strong shoulder blades. Alec felt himself being moved backwards, pushed up against a tree. The kiss turned quite passionate and needy quickly.
The pulled away, breathlessly. Magnus had his forehead against Alec's and stared into the depths of his blue eyes. Alec was breathing heavily, he felt like floating he was so happy. But a small part of his mind wondered if Magnus was ready for it, if Magnus could really commit to being with him after Camille's betrayal.
"Are you sure?" Alec said before he could stop himself. "Because I don't want you to kiss me because you think you should or you think it'll help you get over her. I'm not going to be used, i…"
Magnus put a hand over Alec's mouth to make him stop. "I'm sure, Alec. I know you'd never cheat on me, not because there wouldn't be someone one out there willing to help you but because you're so damn loyal, even after not speaking for eight months you still came to be there for me when I needed you. And, it's not just that, I really do like you. You're sweet and kind, you're beautiful and sexy but you have a cute under confidence about you that's so endearing – and I believe we would work well together. So yes, Alec, I'm completely sure I want to kiss you, Gods, I want to do more than kiss you but we'll wait, see you're blushing and I've not even been specific. It's proof that I'll need wait until you're ready to do more. And, I never want to hurt you – it will happen but it can't be helped, I will try to minimise it too. I'm sorry it took so long for me to see that I belong with you and if you'll have me then I'd love to be your boyfriend."
Alec felt his eyes water and he found himself nodding and then they were kissing again, conveying their feelings through their lips and tongues. They broke away and were slightly confused by the sounds of applause around them.
Alec and Magnus squinted through the darkness and saw their friends appear from around trees, they were cheering and clapping and congratulating the newfound couple. It made Alec blush but Magnus accepted the congratulations, he bowed and held Alec close to him. It was a memory they would both hold close to their hearts.
The rest of the trip was full of laughter, love, late night kisses and joy - it passed quickly but would be cherished for a long time after. And even months later they would look back on the camping trip and feel the love and joy they still felt, and when things got bad one would look at the other and say their 'forever', their 'always' or 'okay', their saying was slightly longer but full of their love, four words: you belong with me
W/M: so in America what comes after high school? Here, we finish secondary school, go to college or apprenticeships then university. But what about America? I need to know so I can write the epilogue and sequel.
Anyway, you finally got romance. I promised. I know it's not much but it's the best I can do right now - I find it's hard to write happy moments when I'm not happy but I tried my best. What did you think?