Chapter 13
Disclaimer:...get with it
this chap has a lot on the other characters, but it's just a one of.
I will proof read it later today :)
Chasing Alec
"You're the only thing I love.
It scares me more every day" - Snow Patrol
Magnus sighed again and glanced down at the little numbers displayed on his phone screen. It was five minutes past ten o'clock and Alec was nearly half an hour late. Magnus scowled and leaned back in his chair.
The people at the surrounding tables kept shooting him sympathetic looks- something that he did not appreciate- as they sipped from their coffee cups and snacked on baked goods. Magnus glanced down at his own barely-touched latte and pondered the reason for his boyfriends absence. Alec was usually an extremely prompt person, and magnus had never known him to be late to a lesson, let alone a date.
He had tried calling Alec many times, but the boy's phone must be broken or off, as it always went straight to voicemail. Magnus had even considered paying Alec a visit the previous night, after he had finished at Taki's (as he hadn't wanted to go home) but thought it too be a bit too weird, if not slightly creepy, to turn up at his room unannounced.
Still the fact that Alec was not there and not answering his mobile was starting to worry him. glancing down at his watch he decided to call Tessa as she may know where Alec was.
"Hey," Tessa greeted, answering the phone at record speed.
"Tess hi, it's Magnus."
"Magnus, it's great to hear from you. How are you? It sucks that you couldn't come with us."
"I'm fine, and what do you mean come with us? Where are you? Is Alec there?"
"...didn't Alec tell you?"
"Tell me what."
"...We're at Jem's house, staying in his cabins for the weekend. We're back Sunday evening."
Magnus stared ahead his jaw dropping. Alec had just left, with no warning at all. Wasn't it common courtesy to at least tell your boyfriend where you were going before you left. The fact that they clearly weren't as close as magnus had thought hurt. Alec said he would be there for him, but he wasn't.
"He didn't tell me," Magnus whispered to Tessa, trying to ignore the feeling of dread that was rising through his body, there had to be another reason.
"Well, we were kind of surprised to see him too. He said he wasn't going to come when we asked on Friday, then he just turned up this morning and got in the car. Actually now I think about it he did seem upset."
Magnus racked his brain for a reason Alec would be mad at him. They had parted yesterday on good terms, with a kiss and a promise to see each other soon, what had changed? Maybe something happened when Alec had dinner with his sister and mother. He pressed his lips together.
"Tessa, can I have Isabelle Lightwoods number."
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Isabelle
"When everything is wrong I'll come talk to you" - Weezer
Isabelle lightwood had woken up beside quite a few men in her time. This wasn't to say she slept around….she just….well actually she guessed she kind of did sleep around. It was hard not to when you looked like her.
She was tall with long, slim legs and evenly tanned skin. Her silky black hair fell almost to her waist and fanned out around her shoulders in wild waves. She was also incredibly stylish and although she barely earned enough money to buy clothes from the mainstream chain stores she used her pretty face and sexy aura to attract those who could provide her with the best.
But although she had woken up next to big muscled football players, fashion conscious pretty boys and the occasional artistic dreamboat...she had never had the feelings that she did when she rolled over to face the boy beside her.
He was thin and lean, with a mop of messy brown hair and soft hazel eyes that stared back at her through thick lens. He was propped up and his elbow and seemed thoroughly confused. "At first I thought I was dreaming," he said conversationally and Isabelle tried hard to focus her sleep addled mind on his words, "but then after pinching myself for a bit I decided that I wasn't."
Isabelle didn't quite know what to say to this. "Why did you think you were dreaming?" she asked.
"Because this doesn't happen to guys like me." Seeing her confused expression he expanded, "wake up half-naked next to one of the most beautiful girls in the world I mean."
A thrill ran through Isabelle when he called her beautiful, but she quickly dismissed it. "Simon," she started but then stopped, as what he said was true. Waking up next to Isabelle lightwood was not something that happened to geeky, awkward guys like Simon. In fact she never thought it would.
She had first met Simon lewis barely a week ago when she had visited her brother at Idris Academy….
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Isabelle's mouth gaped wide open as she set eyes on him. He was tall and tanned, with spiked hair, a nose piercing and professional-looking make up.
"Wow," she gasped, still unable to believe what she was hearing, "are you telling me my brother kissed that hot...hot piece of ass." She glance over at her brother, expecting to see him blushing furiously, but he didn't seem to be listening. He stared at Magnus Bane intently, with a slightly worried expression.
Then before she knew it he was off, running towards the taller boy, his black hair flying everywhere. Isabelle watched him leave, dumbstruck. She had never seen her brother act like this. He was always so quiet, so reserved and he hardly ever let his emotions get out of control. et there he was, running after a clearly gay and apparently rebellious guy, not caring who saw him. He was clearly changing and she felt proud.
"He must really like this guy," she murmured to herself.
"Magus is a great guy. So is Alec actually, one of the best people I've had the pleasure of knowing." Tessa smiled.
Isabelle returned the look, "yeah, Alec has always looked after me and…..well me. He's almost been like a parent, cooking, cleaning driving us places…..and he never once complained. I never understood how he could be so selfless, mum used to say he was an angel sent from heaven to help us out," she laughed softly.
"Look guys I know the resemblance is striking but I swear I'm not an angel." Isabelle looked up to see the arrogant blond from earlier flop down besides Clary. Isabelle wasn't sure what to make of him. Her first impression was that he was a complete arse, but Alec had insisted that he had hidden depths and there was something in the way that he looked at the redhead that made Isabelle think he was a good person.
Jace wrapped his arms around his petite girlfriend(?) and she squealed and tried to push him off. "Ewww Jace don't, you stink." Isabelle watched as the two continued to roll around, giggling and insulting each other. She envied them, as for all her many affairs, she had never come close to a relationship like theirs.
The other three people, who had been playing football with Jace, sat down as well and began chatting. "Hey, where's Alec?" the brown haired boy asked, adjusting his glasses.
"He ran off with a glittery hottie," Isabelle replied, smirking again at her brother's uncharacteristic escape.
Simon raised his eyebrows, "oh…." he trailed off, clearly unsure of what to say.
Isabelle frowned, "why, do you have a problem with that?"
"no no not at all…..it...just doesn't seem like the kind of thing Alec would do." Izzy smiled at this, she was glad she wasn't the only one who noticed the change in her brother.
"Yeah, it is very out of character," she mused, "Alec's normally dead shy. In fact apart from me, Alec hasn't ever had friends before he came here."
"Really? I'm surprised, he's such a nice guy…...Are you two really close then?"
Isabelle surveyed the brown haired boy closely. Normally she hated confiding in people, as it made her feel vulnerable, but Simon seemed nice and she got the feeling he wouldn't tell anybody. "Well us Lightwoods have always been incredibly poor. Our Father left when I was eight, leaving my mum to raise Alec, Max and I by herself."
"Max? Alec never said he had another sibling.." Simon interrupted.
Isabelle gave him a sad smile, "Yer Alec doesn't like to talk about it." Simon raised an eyebrow but let her continue. "Mum would always have to work so hard to provide for us. She'd sometimes have nearly three jobs and we'd hardly see her. This meant that Alec practically raised us, even though he was only just nine. He'd cook, clean and make sure we always got safely on the bus to school. He arranged play-dates and made us do all our homework. I don't think I realized how amazing he was until I was a bit older, but...he was, and still is, the best older brother I could've ever had. Then when I was sixteen I persuaded Alec to go to a party with me- as he never really went out- and he got really drunk. Then he had to go pick Max up. I don't think he realized how drunk he was, I told him not to go but then I gave in quick because Alec always knew what was best. But he didn't that night. He crashed the car and Max died….I don't think he ever forgave himself. He thinks it was his fault and no matter how many times I try to tell him it was, it's no use. If anything it was my fault. I shouldn't of made him go to that stupid party and I shouldn't have let him get in the car."
Izzy wiped her eyes furiously. She hated it did feel good to talk about what happened. She had only really discussed it with her therapist and her mother as when ever she brought up the subject to Alec he froze and seemed to mentally retreat to somewhere she couldn't reach him.
"Hey Iz, don't cry," Simon murmured taking her hand and rubbing circles on her palm. Isabelle was surprised to say the least. No boy had ever comforted her with such a sweet and simple gesture before.
"Look," he murmured his glasses slipping down his nose as he leaned closer, "I don't really know you, or Max or exactly what happened but…..I know that it wasn't your fault and you should never think that it is ever again."
Isabelle gave him a small, watery smile. Gazing into his warm chocolaty eyes she could see hope. It was only a spark...but it was enough.
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After their first meeting things had only got better. They had texted for about three days straight- as although they didn't actually have that much in common, there was always something to talk about. Then they finally arranged to go out for a meal on friday evening. They'd had a great time, filled with laughter, dancing (mostly from Isabelle as Simon had two left feet). Then they had gone back to Isabelle's in a flurry of drunken kisses which soon turned to more.
Which left them lying in her bed staring at each other. "Look simon," Izzy said firmly sitting up, "I know that I have a bit of a reputation but I promise you're not just another guy I sleep with. I really like you." She let the words pour out. She could often be quite blunt.
Simon gaped slightly, but before he could speak, Izzy's shrill ringtone sounded, causing them both to jump violently then laugh. She fished out her mobile and looked down at the number on the screen. It was unknown so she hesitated but still answered it, because as much as she didn't want to talk to a sales company or some random guy she met in a club last week, it could be important...it could be Alec and she couldn't risk losing him.
"Hello," she said, praying it wasn't someone trying to sell her stuff.
"Hey," a smooth, velvety voice answered, "is this Isabelle?"
"Yeah, who is this?"
"Um Magnus Bane, you might not know me. I'm dating your brother."
So this was Alec's exotic hottie, Isabelle could barely contain her excitement. "MAGNUS! I'm so glad to talk to you! I can't believe you managed to encapture my nerdy, angelic, not to mention absolutely virginal in every way brother. He is completely smitten with you, not that I'm really surprised, I mean you are gorgeous and your fashion sense is awesome." Out of the corner of her eye she thought Simon seemed slightly jealous, but she ignored him.
Magnus chuckled on the other side of the line, "Well let me tell you that Alec has shown me many pictures of you and you too are always dressed to impress, although the boiler suit phase was…..interesting."
Isabelle groaned. When she was ten she had been given a leopard print pink and yellow boiler suit and she wore it obsessively for half a year. It had haunted he since.
"But actually," Magnus said, his voice turning slightly more serious, "I actually phoned to ask what happened when your had a meal with you yesterday. Because before we were fine and now he's not answering my texts or calls and has suddenly decided to take a weekend trip." The hurt and worry in Magnus' voice was clear and Isabelle was pleased that her brother had found someone who cared for him. But then what Magnus had said sank in and she frowned in confusion.
"But Alec didn't have a meal with us, I cancelled at the last minute. Last I heard he was going somewhere with Jace."
There was a long silence then Magnus said stiffly, "I have to go," and hung up.
Isabelle turned to look at Simon, "I think Alec's messed up."
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Magnus put down the phone with a shaking hand.
He just didn't understand. Why had Alec lied to him. Why had he not told Magnus he was going away. Why was he ignoring him.
Magnus was certain he hadn't done something to upset the boy in their short separation. In fact Magnus was the one who should be upset. He had just found out that his mother had committed suicide and Alec was throwing a hissy fit about….well nothing. He needed the boy, and Alec had let him down.
It must have been Jace's fault, he concluded after a bit more pacing. The blond had never liked Magnus, so maybe he'd said something to Alec on their little bonding night out that had put him off dating Magnus.
Magnus clenched his fist and prepared to make yet another phone call.
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Jace
"I plan on burning through another nine lives"- Shinedown
"I bet you can't"
"Well you my friend are a fool, as I can and I will prove it."
"Jace don't, it's too dangerous." Jace Herondale hesitated slightly, not wanting to upset his girlfriend, but the challenging look in the other boy's eyes was impossible to ignore. "Clary dear, I am sorry, but this idiot needs to know that I'm better than him."
Clary scowled but stepped back and let Jace turn back to the cliff edge. They were all staying in log cabins on Jem's grounds. The place was beautiful with carefully trimmed lawns that slowly turned into a thick forest. The wood ran for a couple of acres before thinning out to reveal high cliffs that gave way to an enormous lake.
Jace, Clary, Tessa and the latest addition to their group: Will. Jace had decided- five minutes after meeting him- that he hated Will. The boy was confident, cocky and a daredevil. He had curley black hair and blue eyes (that Clary had described as "pretty"). In fact Tessa had been very surprised by the obvious animosity between the two boys because, as she pointed out, they had a lot in common.
However that was the problem. They were too alike.
"Go on then Johnny boy, do it or are you too scared."
"My name is Jace," he growled back, before turning back to face the cliff edge. Earlier that day they had been talking about the hot weather and how nice it would be to swim in the lake when Jem mentioned that some of the local boys liked to jump of the nearby cliffs into the water below. Jace had said that that was an awesome idea and he would do it any day, Will had then called his bluff which led to them all standing on the cliff, waiting for Jace to jump (with the exception of Jem and Alec who were both feeling ill).
Jace stepped right to the edge, curling his toes round the chipped rock. It was a long way down and he couldn't tell how shallow the water below him was. Plus if he jumped wrong and hit the rocks then he would be seriously injured, if not dead. A shiver ran down his side and he took a deep breath, reading himself.
"Jace wait, please don't do this," Clary begged from besides him, her voice fearful. She grasped his hand desperately but he just gently detached himself and leaned forward slightly. "Wait," he said, pulling out his mobile and handing it to Clary. However just before the black rectangles touched her skin, it began to vibrate.
"Huh, I should probably get this," he mused, pressing the accept button and pressing the phone to his ears.
He thought he heard Will mutter, "coward" and had a good mind to punch him, but the other person was speaking.
"Hello," a smooth voice said and Jace recognised it instantly (he had an excellent memory), it was Magnus Bane.
Oh, it's you," he scowled. He wasn't overly keen on Magnus, despite his badass fighting skills. "What do you want?"
"Gee no need to be so nice. Actually, I want to know what's up with Alec. He's ignoring me and I don't know why."
Jace debated whether or not he should tell Magnus about their little visit to Taki's, but he guessed it was Alec's choice. "It's up to Alec weather he tells you or not."
"But he's ignoring me"
"Well tough luck," Jace said bluntly, not being mean but merely factual. His finger was about to press the end call button when Magnus cried, "Jace wait…..look, I know you don't like me but…..I need him. I need to talk to him. Please tell me what's wrong."
Jace gritted his teeth, he knew that as Alec's friend he should just hang up but something about the desperation in Magnus' voice stopped him.
"Fuck it," he swore and told Magnus everything. When he's finished there was a silence, punctuated only by heavy breathing. "he saw me?" Magnus said.
"yep"
"and he got mad?"
"sure did"
"and ran away?"
"like an olympian"
He heard Magnus swear colorfully before hanging up abruptly. Jace stared at his phone until a voice broke his thoughts.
"Gonna jump now or do you have to go run a couple more errands?"
Jace turned to glare at Will, all his pride and determination returning. "Nope, I'm ready," he replied, handing his phone to Clary and resuming his place on the Cliff edge.
"Will, take it back. This is ridiculous," another person said, Tessa this time.
Will looked bored as he drawled, "yeah I guess it is, this was a hard challenge and not everyone is incredibly brave."
That did it. Jace turned to look the shorter boy in the eye. "But I am," he said and jumped.
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Magnus
"Why does the world, as I know it, keep on bringing me down" - Forever the Sickest Kids
Magnus banged his head rhythmically against the wall. Why did everything have to go wrong. Why was his life so full of shit.
Of all the places Alec could have gone, Taki's was where he was. He had seen Magnus at his worst. A primordial caveman, unable to control his anger. No wonder the boy ran.
Sweet innocent Alec, he must hate Magnus now. He was probably disgusted and horrified by his violent, angry side that Magnus had tried so hard to hide.
Well he guessed that was it.
They were probably done.
What hurt most was that he never got to say goodbye…...he remembered tessa's words, how she had told him to come and texted him the address.
He could go.
just to see Alec one last time. To say he was sorry.
He could…..
A/N
Hey guys, soooo I hoped you liked this. It was a bit here and there and there are a hell of a lot of phone calls, but I think it's necessary.
see bit at end of A/N for how to get a sneaky SNIPPET of next weeks chap
I'm writing this in the park right now and it's really nice and sunny-which is unusual for england- and I'm waiting for an audition. A real audition…...wish me luck :/
Also I have prom tomorrow so I have to do the whole try and look pretty thing, which is exhausting and hair and i have heels that I can barely walk in soooo that'll be interesting.
One last thing, how do you guys feel about LEMONS (this is in caps so you will read). I'm not sure whether I will write any or not but please review and let me know if you want them or i defo won't do them…..
reviews (last chap was my most reviewed yet):
SherryBane- Thanks for such a lovely review. I'm glad you like my writing technique, I think it's really started to improve since I stated on this website. They should teach fanfiction at school. I agree that Anzo sucks and symbolism is always nice in literature. Sorry to prolong the Malec fight suspense, but they will talk next chap. it's so nice finishing exams isn't it *high five* and cheers to a long long long summer holiday XD
soul eater fan and mangaanima- Here is more…..maybe Alec will forgive him, wait and see ;)
DanyJay- great review xx it makes me happy to think that you read this all in one go, thats a lot of time so thanks. Glad you like the atmosphere, even though it's mostly depressing and I think I actually have an idea for what's gonna happen next, fingers crossed.
Putty Tat Lion- Thanks, and thank you for reading regularly :)
gsugav- I know cliffhangers are a pain, but that's how I make you come back for more. I have another fic called The Favour that's completed…..just saying. Don't worry tho I won't stop this story half way, I hate it when other writers do it so I won't, pinky promise.
SharkAngel- tah dah
Reader7264- hopefully they will keep their heads and talk it out but who knows.
adelsaro- confrontation is coming, and you should always expect the unexpected cause I love surprising people.
Guest- I can't promise anything
deviant97- I know I was going to have Magnus watch Alec leave (cause like you said the dram would have been awesome) but I wanted magnus to be a detective and figure out why alec was ignoring him. The suspense continues.
.SomerhalderJacobBlack- Ikr
AngelWithASeraphBlade- I can't promise anything….hehehe…..wait till next week
SparklesAreMyLife- Glad you like Magnus' backstory, I tried hard to make it very similar to the books, but still my own.
Anairafuji - finger's crossed
kokozfic- Yay you have an account :) Magnus' mother is so nice isn't she. Hopefully Alec will listen to Magnus and let him explain. Alec and Jace are so good together aren't they, YOU are MY little god ;)
ChocolateWriter- nice guess, bet you can't guess what will happen on the death anniversary… :p thank you for reviewing on like every chapter xx
RedCoral- Yep, hopefully Alec doesn't scare easily.
Intoxic- Yeah, I wanted Magnus' mum to kill herself like she did in the books. Magnus is a total ninja :) I hate Anzo too :( xx
MagnusBane800- i'm glad that her death was sufficiently dramatic enough, I was going to originally just have Anzo kill her, but I figured that everyone expected that so I didn't.
RangerofFiction- hopefully I can make you actually cry soon, (in the non-mean way).
Phew that was a lot of reviews.
Review this chap to get a snippet of the next
Cya soon
lot's of virtual love
Amy
xxx