Chapter 8

Alec hadn't been more grateful for his sister as he was at that moment. As she had promised the day before, Izzy had payed Alec a visit after school and brought with her some clothes for him to dress at the party. She had showed him how to «properly stylize» his hair and had left only after she had been certain that Alec knew exactly what to do with his outfit.

So now he was getting ready in his room, thanking the gods above that his roommate was nowhere in sight. Alec was nervous enough to add Magnus to the mix. He hadn't shared with his friends yet that this would be his first college party ever, so he was a bit anxious about it. He didn't know what to do or what was the protocol, but his plan was to follow his friends everywhere and do whatever they did, well, almost everything. He wasn't going to lose his head with alcohol.

Alec put on the blue denim shirt that his sister had picked up for him, rolled up his sleeves a bit and fastened just the right amount of buttons, making sure to 'leave the last three open' as Izzy had said.

Usually, he never payed attention to the way he looked. He didn't like to draw attention to himself. The more invisible he were the better, his siblings drew enough attention for all of them as it was, and Alec was used to that. He had never considered himself handsome or attractive enough, at least not in the way Jace and Izzy were. He liked to think of himself as a standard beauty. However, the image that the mirror was reflecting tonight was that of a man Alec didn't recognize. The man standing there looked good, really good, some people would even dare to use the word handsome.

Alec smiled. He liked the way he looked. He was finally hitting puberty and, well, he seemed to be doing pretty well so far.

He was smiling at the reflection in the mirror when the door of the room opened and Magnus walked in. He was all wet from a shower and Alec tried very hard not to look at the way those tiny drops of water rolled down his roommate's neck.

"Alexander…" Magnus whispered a bit out of breath. He had clearly just noticed Alec's attire.

"Magnus." Alec said to acknowledge him. He was trying not to over-analyze the way his roommate was looking at him, although in this case, ogling would be a more appropriate verb. Alec could see something different in the way Magnus was looking at him, there was some darkness in his eyes that he hadn't seen before.

"Are you-are you...hmmm, going somewhere?" Magnus asked.

"Yes." Alec replied, putting aside the fact that Magnus Bane, Mr. I'm-so-sure-of-myself, had stuttered. He never did, he always expressed very loud and clear. This was definitely a first. "I'm going to the party."

"To the party? Really?"

"Yes, why are you so surprised?" Alec asked, finally turning around to face Magnus.

"Well, because parties are not your thing." Magnus said sincerely.

"How do you know what's my thing?" Alec asked back. He hated to be so predictable.

"Well, because we've lived under the same roof for some months and I think I know you pretty well. Actually, I happen to know for a fact that parties are definitely not your thing, darling. You've never been to one."

"Well, maybe you don't know me as well as you think." Alec said, picking up his phone. It had just started ringing. "Yes?" He answered it.

"Where are you? We're waiting for you downstairs. Hurry up, Cinderella!" Lily said.

"I'm on my way, is Lydia there already?"

"Yes, we all are here. Hurry up or the carriage will turn into a pumpkin."

"Okay, I'll be there right away." He said, ending the call.

He grabbed his black leather jacket—also courtesy of Izzy—and walked to the door. "I have to go, my date is waiting downstairs...I guess I'll see you later."

Magnus smiled, but his smile didn't reach his ears. "Your date?"

"Yes, my date." Alec said. "I'll see you later."

"You bet you will."

Alec didn't say anything else and just made his way out.

"And, Alec?" Magnus said when Alec was closing the door.

Alec froze in place. He was a little shocked to hear Magnus calling him Alec. He always used his full name. Why had he called him Alec? And, why did that bother him? He hadn't realized that he liked the way his name sounded when Magnus said it.

"Blue is definitely your color."

Alec smiled, took a deep breath and closed the door behind him.