She Said What?

Magnus never returned to school so Jordan, Maia, and I had to take the subway to Warlock Fashions. It felt like weeks since I last went to practice but it had only been a couple of days. Surely Woolsey would let me off easy since I took care of his "kid." That's what I figured as we ascended in the elevator.

Nope. I was wrong. Very, very wrong. I should have guessed.

"Boy!" He called the moment I stepped onto the floor. The hairs on the back of my neck prickled at his tone, and I approached him cautiously. This morning he had been pretty cool, making breakfast and talking like we might have bee friends instead of the guardian of the guy I totally like. Well things change when at work.

"Yeah?" I said standing in front of him.

His monocle was in place and his brows were furrowed with stress. This fashion show was going to kill these two if it didn't go just the way they wanted. He made a gesture and a woman appeared at his side. She was pretty with long black hair and bright enthusiastic gray eyes. "You're behind and Storm here is going to make sure you're ready for the show next week." He said and the woman smiled at me.

"Oh." Was all I could say.

"Let's get along famously, Alec." Storm hummed as she clasped her hands on my shoulders, a bright smile on her face.

"Umm, yeah." I half smiled.

"Get moving." Scott ordered as he stepped away and towards a gathering group of models.

Storm took hold of my arm and began pulling me to the mirrored wall. When we stopped I was prepared to be told what to do, but instead she sprung like a lioness and nearly knocked me to the ground. I gasped as my back hit the wall and Storm came real close to my face, for a moment I thought she was going to kiss me but thankfully she didn't.

"So you're the blue-eyed boy that's causing such a ruckus around here." She stated with a giggle.

"Ah, yeah sure. I guess." I muttered wishing I could move away from her but she had me pinned between her and the mirror.

She tilted her head to the side as one of her hands came up and brushed my hair back. "Well he's always had excellent taste. Damn those are some blue eyes, like water or a twilight sky." She said staring into my eyes. I felt my face heat and my heart was racing nervously in my chest. What was going on? What the hell was this woman talking about? And why is she so touchy-feely?

"Umm. . . "

"Oh right. Unlike me you only swing one way." She teased as she took a step back. I was left using the wall as support as I stared at her completely embarrassed and more than a little confused.

"Ah . . ."

"For an adorable guy you don't say much do you?" She tittered spinning on the balls of her feet, twirling her long skirt around her legs. "Well it doesn't matter cause you're ready."

I found my tongue and said, "Ready for what?"

"For the show." She stopped spinning. "Scott's just freaking out because it's his job. I saw the security camera's footage of your late night practice Sunday. You're definitely ready as long as you can keep that happy place." She beamed and I flushed again. I didn't think anyone would know about that. "What did you think I was talking about?" Her expression became sly and her gray eyes zeroed in on me.

"Uhh, nothing." I stammered.

Her smile became devilish as she leaped directly in front of me clasping my hands in hers. "You were thinking of Magnus weren't you?" She snorted and released me hands. "What am I saying, of course you were. You are smitten. It's written all over your face. You love Magnus."

I clamped a hand over her mouth knowing my face was the color of scarlet. "Shh, don't say it that loudly." I shushed between clenched teeth.

Storm just laughed under my palm. I slowly removed it and she continued to laugh. "It's okay, I know it's suppose to be a secret. I am Woolsey's best friend after all." She said smugly, though I don't see why anyone would be proud of that. The guy's a weirdo.

"Then. . . Am I really that obvious?" I asked knotting my hands together. Now I desperately wished I had one of my over-sized hoodies to hide in, Magnus' tight clothes were to reveling and provided little refuge for a person like me who preferred to hide away.

"Like a lighthouse in fog." She replied. My shoulders slumped and I huffed a sigh. "Relax Boy." She patted the top of my bowed head. Oh no, not her too. "Love is something you should never be ashamed of."

"I'm not, I'm just-"

"You are." Storm's tone became ridged and serious. I looked up at her to see her once warm and friendly gray eyes now hard and staring at me with such intensity it became clear she much older than me in the life of love. "You're ashamed and that's why you can't approach Magnus. I can't stand people like that. If you can't go for love with all your might you're better off never have loved. And as for Magnus, he doesn't need another half-ass love. I don't want to see like that again, and if you cause him pain you will be sorry." A shiver ran down my back at her words. She was just like an older sister defending her younger brother. I knew the feeling. I threatened many guys with Jace on behalf of Izzy, but being on this side of the threat was scary.

Was I ashamed? I couldn't tell my parents, or Jace who's not only my brother but my best friend. I told Magnus I wanted a date, but I still wanted me being gay to be kept a secret. Storm was right. I was ashamed, and scared. I had gotten ahead of myself by asking for a date from Magnus. I was lucky that he even agreed to be my friend. I was in the wrong. Like danger-zone red wrong.

I lowered my head again and pressed my hands to my eyes to stop the tears that threatened to spill. I wasn't going to cry. This was my fault. I had no right to cry.

"Sorry." I choked out to Storm.

She was silent a moment then I felt a warm hand on my arm. I peeked between my fingers to see it was her with a softened expression, but she still had that flaming protective older sister aura that didn't help settle my feelings. "Apologizing isn't going to change anything. So just start doing something about it. And you might want to start walking or smiling so Scott doesn't think I'm bullying you." She looked back over her shoulder at the pacing blond who was going back and forth with his phone and a clipboard.

Taking a long deep breath I smothered the twisting and nauseating feelings inside me and tried to focus on practice. Storm said nothing as she just watched me. I stumbled and knew my smile was horrendous, but I pushed myself to continue. By the end of practice I was probably worse off than when I started. I just couldn't get her words out of my head. They were all true, and yet I didn't know what to do.

I was packing up my things to go when Storm came up behind me and said, "Just because you're ashamed doesn't mean you should give up. Just change the situation." Then she left with a group of beautiful smiling girls.

I slumped against the wall where I had dropped my backpack and buried my face into my arms. I didn't want to go home and face my mother now. I didn't want to talk to Izzy about practice. I didn't want to face Magnus who was waiting in the lobby like he said in the text after lunch. No it wasn't that I didn't want to, I always want to see Magnus, the reason was I couldn't. I couldn't face him with these unsure and unfair feelings. I couldn't smile casually with him even if I tried my hardest. What I didn't want was him to see me like this. He didn't need to worry about me when he has work consuming his attention at the moment.

How do I sneak by him? He'll see me for sure.

"Boy? What are you still doing here?" Called Scott. I looked up to see him making his way to the elevator.

"Magnus is waiting for me." I replied resting my chin on my arms.

"And you're not jumping for joy?"He raised a brow as he removed his monocle.

"I can't see him right now." I mumbled lowering my gaze to his shoes. They were brown, shiny and looked really expensive.

"Already avoiding him? The one-night-stand too much to handle?" He chuckled, and I couldn't even react like he wanted. I just continued to stare down at his shoes. He sighed and there was a shuffle of clothing on skin. "Yeah, it's me." Now I looked up to see Scott on his phone. "I need you back up in your office, there's been a problem." A pause followed and I could hear the echoing voice of Magnus on the other end. "Yeah yeah, just get back up here." Scott said then hung up.

Not a moment later did my phone go off and it was a text from Magnus saying he couldn't meet up after all.

"There. Now wait here till I tell you you can leave." Scott said making his way to the elevator.

I was speechless. Did Scott just do something kind for me? That was extremely out of character.

So I sat and waited, when I finally received Scott's text I nearly ran out of the building. Storm's words never leaving my head as I hurried home. "If you can't go for love with all your might you're better off never have loved." She was right, and it hurt. My heart ached and the tears were there the whole ride home threatening to spill over and the sobs I held back choked me. "Just change the situation." But how? I didn't know. I had no idea. Maybe I'm just not meant to date Magnus. . .

I'm sorry it's been so long but I was stuck for the longest time on how to write this chapter. But here it is ^^ I love Storm in this chapter, she helps Alec realize so much and shows how much she cares for her friends but at the same time showing how hurt she still is over her past. Heehee hope you guys liked it and remember to leave a review, and to check out the spin-off series and review on that. I beg you guys to please. No one has and I have no idea what people think of Lies, Screams, and Complexes. It's kind of frustrating. Anyway thanks followers and readers ^^