Hello again! Thanks for all the comments, I haven't replied to all of them because I don't want to spoil you, but know that I've read them and they make me smile. Anyway, have fun reading this chapter...what you've been waiting for is just around the corner ;)

Chapter 9

The party was too crowded and way too loud for Alec's taste. People all around him were already drunk or on their way to be, and the whole place was packed with dancing bodies and/or people playing silly drinking games. The party was taking place in an abandoned warehouse two blocks away from campus. The organizers, some members from the Kappa Alpha whatever fraternity, had transformed the whole place into some sort of psychedelic nightclub, with robotic neon lights, a live DJ and tons and tons of drinks.

Alec looked around and sighed loudly. Yes, the place looked nice and very...festive, but parties were definitely not his thing. He couldn't understand how people actually enjoyed doing...well, whatever they hell they were doing. He liked other things, more mundane things...like going for long walks around the city with no particular direction, reading a good book under the shade of a tree, drinking a good cup of coffee when it was freezing cold outside, watching some shitty romantic movie when the weather forced him to stay inside. In short, he enjoyed the simple things in life.

Some people might call that kind of life boring, but for him, it was not. He liked who he was, and he was not about to change it just to fit in some kind of overrated society. He knew he was different and although being a fruit loop in a world full of cheerios was, well, hard, he was not going to change who he was. If people could not see that then he-

"We should get drunk." Lily suddenly said, snapping Alec from his thoughts. They were at their table pretending to enjoy the party, while Maia and Lydia danced with some random guys who had approached them about an hour ago.

"Why?" Alec asked.

"So we can enjoy this." Lily stated the obvious. "I really thought this was going to be fun, but I just can't see the appeal."

"Me neither." Alec confessed. At least he was not the only one.

"Maybe with some alcohol in our systems things can start to get better."

"I don't think so."

"It worked for Lydia and Maia."

Alec smiled. It was true. His two friends had had some drinks and now they seemed to be having the time of their lives.

"Maybe later." Alec said, returning his attention to where his eyes had been for the past two hours. On the dance floor, where Magnus and his friends were dancing. Alec had found almost impossible not to look at Magnus. His roommate looked simply dazzling tonight and it had nothing to do with the glitter that he loved to wear, no, he had actually toned it down a bit for this party, but Magnus was wearing an almost sinful see-through black shirt that left nothing to the imagination. His hair was perfectly stylized in asymmetric spikes and his makeup was, as per usual, on point. He looked like a freaking supermodel.

Alec sighed still observing the group. Ragnor was dancing with Raphael, Tessa with both Jem and Will, Catarina was with a boy Alec didn't recognize and Magnus was with Camille. They had been dancing all night long. She was wearing a very beautiful red dress that was drawing all the attention.

"She's such a slut." Lily said out of the blue.

Alec found himself nodding, but thinking that maybe they weren't talking about the same person, he asked. "Who?"

"Camille." Lily said, pointing at them. "You were looking at them, right?"

Alec got a bit nervous. He had thought he was being discreet. Apparently, he had not. "I-I…" He stuttered.

"It's fine, I don't blame you, he's cute. Not my type, but I can see the charm." Lily said.

Alec ignored the last thing his friend said and better asked about Camille. It was not that he cared what people thought of her. If half the Campus thought she was a slut, it was not his fault, but he was curious to know why Lily had such a strong opinion about her. The two girls were roommates after all. "Why did you say she was a...slut?" He asked, whispering the last word. He felt weird saying it out loud.

"Because look at the way she's dancing around Magnus. She should show some self-respect. Like, love yourself, girl."

"Why do you say that?"

Lily sighed. "She tried to go out with him, but he rejected her."

"He did? I mean, I thought they were dating." Alec said a bit confused. All this time he had thought they were a couple. A weird and not very affectionate couple, but a couple nonetheless.

Lily shook her head. "She wants to, but Magnus doesn't. Sometime during our first month sharing the room I overheard a conversation between them. They had just arrived from a party or something and they thought I was asleep, so they were not exactly discreet when they started talking. Camille asked him why he hadn't asked her out if they always had a great time together and Magnus told her that he was already interested in someone else. Ever since that day she has tried to make him change his mind, but nothing has worked."

"And-and, do you know who he's interested in?" Alec asked, trying to sound as if he were just following the conversation and not because he was dying to know. That funny feeling in the pit of his stomach was back and in full force.

"She asked him, but he said that she already knew who he liked, so no idea who that can be." Lily said. "It could be anyone, though. As far as I know Magnus is openly bisexual."

Alec didn't say a word.

"You like him, don't you?" Lily asked.

"Me? Like him? No...I-I don't-I-"

"Yeah, you do." Lily said, smiling.

Alec sighed. It made no sense to keep denying the obvious. He liked him. He liked him very much. "Maybe a little." He confessed.

"Don't worry, you're not the only one. I heard that at least half the Campus has a crush on him."

"Why? He's not even that handsome." Alec said.

"Let's be honest...he is." Lily said.

"Yeah, he is." Alec admitted, because, well, he was. At least for him.

In that moment Lydia and Maia joined them again and asked them to dance with them. The music was at its highest and apparently Lily and Alec were the only ones who were still sitting.

"Come on, Alec!" Maia insisted. "Just one dance...pretty, please?"

Alec hesitated. He was not a dancer, in fact, he hated to dance, but he suddenly felt the need to show off. He wanted Magnus to notice him. Why? He didn't know, well, not really. He knew why, but it was better to pretend he didn't. So he just nodded, letting himself be pulled to the dance floor and smiling along the way.