Sick

I spent the rest of school in the nurses office faking a stomach ache waiting for the final bell to ring so I could escape to Warlock Fashions. Magnus never showed so Maia, Jordan and I were stuck taking the subway instead of riding with the ever mysterious BZ. Izzy called me as the three of us made the short walk to the building, but I promised her I was okay to work. I had to get better and prove to Magnus I'm not just another nobody. She seemed to understand and wished me luck before hanging up to attend the club she joined because of Simon. They play some weird game called D-n-D and they go on adventures in people's basements. I don't understand it but whatever, Izzy's dating the geek not me.

Once at work and on the twelfth floor Scott was spouting orders left and right with a red face that made his golden monocle stand out even more against his skin. When he turned on me I stared at him wide eyes and not ready to receive his wrath. I wondered what happened to piss him off? Scott is strict but I've never seen him angry strict.

"Get to measurements Lightwood." He growled with a flick of his wrist pointing to a line forming at the south side of the floor.

Lightwood? What happened to Boy?

"Was I speaking French? Get your ass over there Lightwood!" He yelled and I scrambled for the controls that would make my legs move.

"Come on Alec." Jordan chuckled uneasily as he pulled me towards the line Scott pointed too. The blond huffed angrily and stomped off to yell at another innocent model bringing the poor girl to tears.

"Thanks." I said as Jordan and I stood in line. "I was in shell shock I think. I've never seen him like that."

Jordan scratched nervously at the back of his neck and said, "Neither have I. Something must have happened this morning. I don't know what but I'm sure we'll find out by the end of the day. Workers here may not be able to talk about work outside the building but that just means gossip flies so much faster around here than in high school or the media."

I nodded in understanding as I peeked back over at Scott still laying into the same model who was clinging helplessly to a garment bag, her friends having abandoned her to save their own skins. Though she was never kind to me I couldn't help but feel bad for her, she didn't deserve Scott's bad mood. No one did, except the person who caused it.

"Hey Alec, you feeling okay?" Jordan inquired looking at my face I wish people would stop asking me that. "Your eyes are swollen and kinda bloodshot."

I ran a hand through my hair trying to divert his attention away from the proof that I had cried like a baby in the middle of school. "Yeah, I just didn't get much sleep last night. I stayed pretty late last night practicing."

"Damn dedication you have dude. But don't overwork yourself or you'll make yourself sick." Jordan said with a kind smile that I genuinely returned.

The line moved slowly as we waited to be measured for the clothes. They took measurements of my waist, chest, shoulders, both arms, and my legs. They weighed me twice, and took down my hair and eye color and put it all into a Manila folder with my name on it. It was awkward having someone wrap a cold ribbon of plastic around my bare skin and their arms brushing mine when I don't even know them. When I was finally allowed to dress and leave I was completely red faced and embarrassed. Jordan was already done and working with a seamstress about a pair of insanely ripped jeans that looked to be too long.

I made my way to the mirrored wall and practiced the end pose that last night Scott said I still had to work on. I tried putting my hand on my hip and cocking my leg out to the side but I looked ridiculous, so swallowing my embarrassment hoping no one saw it, I tried another pose. I put my hands in my back pockets and leaned on my left leg with a half smile. It wasn't bad but I still felt self-conscious posing in front of people, but it was just another obstacle I had to past to get Magnus to notice me. I tried another stance with my head tossed to the side and my arms folded over my chest and I couldn't help but feel like Jace when he was looking down on someone. I put an end to that one with a frustrated groan.

Behind me I could hear people talking. It was whispered and rushed like when teens gossip. I looked at them in the reflection of the mirror as they spoke.

"Really? He's not here? Like at all?" A guy asked the only girl in the group.

"Yup. He's sick apparently and that's why Scott's gone chaotic." She nodded and her full-volume hair bounced around her shoulders.

"Well Scott is his legal guardian. They've been together for what, thirteen years?" A dark skinned guy said and suddenly I became extremely interested in their conversation. My posing practice forgotten.

"Yeah and Magnus isn't one to get sick, I've heard. Seems this show is way more stressful than the others. Wonder why?" Another guy said.

"Who knows. But he has to get better quickly if he wants the show to go perfectly. There's still a lot left to do." The girl said crossing her arms.

"Do you know how bad it is?" The first guy asked her.

She shrugged and flipped her hair out of her face. "No idea. But judging by Scott's tantrum it can't be all that good."

I couldn't listen any more I had to take action. I scoped the room and found Maia across the floor stretching with a group of girls, they were next to go down the runway. I hurried over to her almost at a full sprint and tapped her shoulder.

"Hey Alec, what's wrong?" She asked looking at my face. I wonder how I must appear to her. Nervous, upset, maybe scared? I feel scared, but not for myself.

"Can I ask you something real quick?" I said motioning for her to follow me.

Maia nodded and got to her feet and followed me as I stepped a few yards away from her group. I turned to face her and nearly spat my question at her. "Do you know where Magnus lives?"

Her eyebrows shot through the roof as she stared a me with dark eyes. "Umm, yeah. But why do you want to go there? We have Bootcamp, and I hear he's resting today." She crossed her arms, but her expression was thoughtful.

"I can't really explain. I just have to go, so can you tell me?" I begged. I was feeling fidgety, I can't just not do anything.

Maia stared at me for another long moment then sighed with a smile and gave me the address. Without hesitation I ran across the floor to where I left my backpack, grabbed it, and hurried to the elevator where I rushed down to the lobby and the street below. I hailed a taxi and gave the cabbie the address Maia gave me and then he took off into the midday traffic. God I hate NYC! I was nearly twitching in the backseat as we slowly made our way uptown.

Way uptown too. I stared out my window confused, but with the nagging feeling of recollection that wanted to break through. The cab dropped me off on the Upper East Side and I paid my fare without looking at where specifically I was then jumped out of the car.

"No goddamn way." I gapped staring up at the building I was standing in front of. It was the made over warehouse that Jace dragged me too for that obnoxiously loud party. Now it looked empty and abandoned, but the fact that it was in such good shape said otherwise.

I walked up to the front door remembering the address and checked it with the numbers painted above the door. They matched. It was the right place. This was Magnus Bane's home.

Suddenly Magnus' laughing at the party made sense.

""I didn't know you would be attending this function."" He had said, and I being unknowing had replied, ""Same."" It was his party, of course he would be there.

I was about to die of embarrassment when I remembered why I had raced all the way there without telling anyone but Maia. I had to check on Magnus. Scott wasn't here to do it, or to take care of him, so who was if anyone? I hated being alone when I was sick. Jace knew that, so when we were younger all the way until middle school if one of us got sick the other would fake it so we could stay home together while everyone else worked and went to school. We watched movies and read comics and ate the ice cream mom hid in the back of the freezer. Magnus doesn't have a brother to do that with so wasn't he lonely?

I didn't want to think about it, I reached for the door knob and it -surprisingly- turned. I didn't pause to marvel at Magnus' lack of concern for his safety, I charged up the four flights of stairs and to the door on the top floor. I tried to go right in but this door was locked. I was partly pleased he wasn't completely against locked doors, but the other part of me didn't like being shut out when I was so close to seeing him. To knowing how sick he was, if he was taking care of himself correctly.

My fist was raised to knock on the door, but like some horribly evil procrastinating cue my phone rang. I angrily pulled it from my pocket and answered with a very dark "Hello?"

A chuckle greeted me and I scowled at the door like it's my caller. "There's a key under the mat." It was Scott. I looked at my phone's screen to see Maia's number and immediately knew she ratted me out. "Take care of him for me, Boy. He's a stubborn one when it comes to restrictions." Scott said then the call went dead.

I stared down at my phone the screen dark and closed it. Was Scott okay with me leaving Bootcamp? Was he fine with me going to Magnus' on my own accord? What, was he planning I would go? No that's crazy. That old man makes no sense at all.

I pulled up the welcome mat and there was indeed a house key there. I'll have to tell Magnus he needs a better hiding spot than the world's most cliché place. I grabbed the key and replaced the mat. Standing up straight I glanced down at the silver key in my hand and I couldn't help the part of me that wished I had my own copy instead of using the spare. I shook the thought off as I put my attention back towards helping Magnus, sick and should be sleeping.

Though I somehow knew that wasn't what I was going to find behind the door in front of me. Magnus does things his way, even if they're the wrong way. I love that about him.

Two more days and I will announce the winner. ^^ I can't wait to find out what kind of character the winner will decide on. Female or male? Idk it'll be fun writing their character into the story.

Btw I know I'm about forty minutes early posting this chapter, but it's close enough to Wednesday I think I can let a few minutes slide. Do I hear any complaints? Nope heehee. Hope you enjoyed this chapter!