Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the reviews and favorites and follows. Hope you're having a good start to your 2015 so far! :)

~ xx Lady Knight xx

Later that night, exhausted after closing up the coffee shop and training Raphael, Magnus felt his phone buzz in his back pocket. He did not stir from the position he was currently in: facedown on his bed and with no intention of moving in the near future.

His phone buzzed again. Slowly, he pulled out his phone and blinked at the message on the screen: hey

Magnus bolted upright, all tiredness forgotten.

A second text quickly followed the first: It's Alec.

Magnus quickly texted back: Alec? Hi! This isn't some stupid joke from Ragnor…right? haha

After a brief moment during which Magnus was sure strands of his hair were turning gray from worry, a text arrived: Um no, sorry. This is Alec Lightwood. From school?

Magnus laughed out loud. Believe me, I remember who you are.

A minute passed, then Alec texted again: Not everyone does haha.

Magnus frowned, then read the next text coming in: So…when should we meet up for English?

M: You up for a sleepover?

A: ….(Alec is typing)

M: HAHAHA just kidding. Tomorrow?

A: …Sure. After school?

M: Anytime. How was your first day? No one directed you to the fifth floor or anything, right? Cause the fifth floor doesn't exist.

Alone in his room, Alec smiled slightly, then smiled wider at the next text.

M: NOT that I speak from previous experience or anything.

A: Pretty good. Had an awesome student ambassador. Made a new friend, I think.

Alec winced as soon as he sent the text. He always felt like a klutz with words. Oh God. Why wasn't Magnus responding? He could practically feel his heart rate increase as the minutes ticked by.

M: So happy to hear it. ;) So what's up besides school? Sorry about the texting delay, my cat can be temperamental.

A: Your cat?

M: Chairman Meow. He gets jealous.

A: Great name for a cat.

M: You have a great name too.

A: Are you saying you want to name a cat after me?

M: Maybe. ;) Must sleep now…not sure how I am currently functioning. So tired.

A: Get some sleep! See you tomorrow!

Barely able to shrug off his shoes, Magnus let his phone hit the floor with a clunk and drifted into sleep. He was accompanied by dreams heavily populated by a pair of beautiful blue eyes.

Lying back on his pillow, Alec snapped his phone off and gazed at the ceiling in a daze, grinning slightly. His window shades were open, bright moonlight flooding the otherwise dark room.

The next day at school, Magnus was at his locker, shuffling through binders and trying to stifle yawns. Slam! His locker door closed suddenly and a beautiful girl with long dark hair leaned upon the closed door. Magnus seized her up carefully and then said: "Lightwood." It wasn't a question. There was just something about her that told him.

"How'd you know? I'm Isabelle." she offered a pale hand with perfect fingernails painted scarlet, but when he gripped it he was surprised to find it covered in callouses.

"Magnus Bane."

"Oh, I know who you are." Isabelle smiled dangerously.

"Fabulous. I don't suppose it's because you admire my ability to set hair trends and my unceasing support of the glitter industry, is it?"

"While those are admirable accomplishments, I was thinking of something else." Izzy drew closer, staring at Magnus and whispered: "Alec is my big brother. And if you break his heart, I will make you pay."

Magnus gulped. Isabelle didn't intimidate him exactly, but he had the feeling that revenge and protection was her favorite game to play and that she was not in the habit of losing.

"I've got no intentions-"

"Oh, but no one ever does." Isabelle was busy examining Magnus's newest hairstyle, then lifted his wrist and examined his watch while nodding approvingly. "I want us to be friends."

Magnus began to back away slowly; the way he imagined one did from hungry bears, vicious howler monkeys and the like.

"But Magnus, remember." Gray-blue eyes met golden eyes. "I never give second chances." Isabelle declared, before flicking her scarf over her shoulder and melting into the crowd of sleepy students stumbling through the halls.

"Hey." Magnus visibly jumped at the sound, after reopening his locker he had half-expected Isabelle Lightwood to come striding back. Fortunately, it was Alec, who was dressed in a light blue t-shirt that matched his eyes and dark jeans. Magnus practically felt his heart skip a beat.

"Hey, yourself." he said easily, smiling again.

"Was that Izzy I just saw over here?" Alec asked, frowning momentarily.

"Er…yes. Just looking out for you, I think." Magnus said, avoiding Alec's gaze, his smile slipping away.

Alec groaned, slumping against the wall of lockers. Magnus noted how his t-shirt was slightly too small and rode up to expose an inch of skin. He hastily jerked his gaze away when he realized Alec was talking to him.

"Sorry about that. She gets a little protective. Don't know why." he said, running his hand through his dark hair. Magnus resisted the urge to haul Alec off to the nearest supply closet and make out with him passionately. Instead, he cleared his throat and said: "Siblings, I understand." As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he wished he could take them back.

"Do you have any?"

"Actually, no." Magnus's face darkened and Alec touched his arm gently, concerned at the look in the other boy's eyes.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean…to pry or-"

"It's fine. It's nothing. I mean, I've heard stories and stuff. So do you have any plans for New Year's Eve?" Magnus said brightly, lightly running his hand over Alec's hand on his arm.

"Nothing much." Alec responded, shivering slightly at Magnus's touch and accepting the change in conversation. "Possibly nothing at all, actually. Jace hit it off with some girl named…Clara? No, that's not it..."

"Clary?" Magnus smiled slightly.

"Yes! They're going to a party, some club called Pandemonium. And Izzy will probably tag along with them or something."

"Hm." Magnus drummed his fingers, thinking. "I think I might end up going to that same party. You want to go?"

"I-you-you mean me?" Alec's ears were turning pink, rapidly progressing to a fire-engine red.

"Yes, you." Magnus said, turning to face Alec and giving him a gentle smile. "Alexander- wait, what's your middle name?"

"Gideon."

"Yes, you, Alexander Gideon Lightwood."

"I- I'd love to." Alec stammered out, gazing at Magnus like he was the best thing he'd seen since toasted bread.

"Great. Then it's settled." Magnus said simply. And that was that.

Later that day, when Alec had to kick Magnus to wake him up after nodding off in English, the lecture of the teacher about lazy students had no effect on either of them. Alec's ears remained a steady red, his lips constantly fighting a smile, while Magnus couldn't keep a silly grin off his face.