Chapter 22

Mistakes are perfectly human

"You are more than the choices you've made

You are more than the sum of your past mistakes

You are more than the problems you create" - Tenth Avenue North

Something soft and slender, caressed his cheek, rousing him from his dream. He was surprised to feel a scratchy fabric pressed to his skin, rather than the familiar cotton of his duvet. Funny he must have slept on the sofa or something, his lethargic mind didn't care...it just wanted to sleep.

However after it became clear that sleep wasn't an option, he attempted to crack one eye open. He tried to make sense of the weird kaleidoscope of colours but soon gave up. It was then that he realised that the things stroking his face were fingers. He smiled slightly and hummed with contentment. Alec must have slept over.

"Good morning beautiful," he slurred opening his eyes (successfully this time). But to his shock, instead of the azure iris's he was expecting, he was met with an emerald green pair.

"Camille!?" He exclaimed, scooting away from her touch. Then he remembered yesterday's events. "Shit, shit, shit. I didn't call Alec. He's going to be mad." Magnus gasped, scrambling past the girl, completely missing her hurt expression. He grabbed his phone only to see it had no battery.

He turned to Camille, "can I use your phone?" He asked.

She frowned slightly, "I don't know, I thought we were going to hang out"

Magnus scowled, "I never said that Cammie. I'll give you a call and we'll meet up for a coffee."

"...but you've known me way longer than him and-"

"-yeah and I've known my father the longest and I'm not planning to see him any time soon" Camille looked a bit shocked by this comparison so Magnus hastily continued. "Anyway, it doesn't matter I'm going to see him now so you need to go."

She opened her mouth, but changed her mind, grabbed her stuff and flounced out.

Magnus sighed, the self-obsessed diva side to Camille had certainly not been missed. Grabbing his keys and jacket he strode out the door.

Twenty minutes later he was stood outside Alec and Jace's door, giving himself a last minute pep talk. "OK, you fell asleep...simple as that. Not with Camille though...no you sleep separate sides of the apartment. You would have phoned, but you were shocked that Camille turned up." He puffed out his cheeks, exhaling slowly. Maybe he should have got flowers...damn...why hadn't he got flowers. However just as he was considering going to get some the door opened, revealing a bedraggled Alec, dressed only in a pair of boxers.

Magnus gulped, unable to tear his eyes away from the pale sculpted chest, flat stomach and trail of hair that led straight to his...oh shit, he was so screwed. "Stop looking Magnus you perv" he scolded himself, forcing his eyes up. There was something he meant to say.

"Magnus?" A small voice brought him back to reality and he realized that Alec was talking to him.

"Yes" he blurted "that's me, good old Magnus- not that I'm old of course... That would be weird and um not something that's going to happen..." He trailed off, mentally face palming. Why did he say that.

"OK..." Alec bit his lip awkwardly.

"Um...look the reason I came here was to apologise for yesterday. I shouldn't have let Camille dismiss you from my apartment as if you weren't important, because you are Alec" he reached out to pull the other boy closer, but let his hand drop as considering Alec's current state of undress he may not finish his sentence, let alone speech. "You have become the most important thing in...well my life. It doesn't matter that I've known others longer than you. What matters is that I love you...and that I make sure you always know that."

Magnus finished, twisting the hem of his jumper nervously. Alec blinked appearing slightly shell shocked.

"I-I love you too." He finally said, his lips curving into a small smile. "And I forgive you. I shouldn't have doubted your feelings for me. It's important to have other people to love and trust- I can't be your whole world"

Magnus smiled in relief and wrapped his arms around his boyfriend (temporarily forgetting his lack of clothes). "You may not be my whole world, but you're the endless blue oceans, the strong and stubborn mountains and the forests- full of life. You're everything I love most about this world."

Alec pulled away slightly and pressed his lips against Magnus' in a hot, passionate kiss. Their lips molded around each other and the touch of Magnus' tongue made him shiver and bite down on his boyfriend's lower lip.

However just as Magnus was about to slip a hand under Alec's shirt and they were. Interrupted by a loud groan.

"No. No no. Alec I am all for you getting some, but not in front of me. And certainly not in the morning, when I'm hard. I don't want my roommate to turn me on. Its weird".

Alec jumped away from the other boy, their lips disconnecting with a smack, and fell backwards comically.

Both jace and Magnus laughed raucously until Alec shot the latter a death-glare and he stopped hastily. This only made Jace laugh harder. He made a whip noise. Magnus pouted.

"Alec can we go, the blond twat is annoying me- I hate the smell of hair dye"

Jace stopped laughing and frowned at the taller boy, "hey I'm naturally golden," he sniffed haughtily. "Your just jealous cause you could never pull blond off"

"Yes I could! Although I wouldn't want to. Blond is for people who aren't naturally hot...like myself and Alec"

Alec himself rolled his eyes, "well I'm going to get changed Mags so we can go somewhere, I hope you win the battle of the egos" he vanished into the room, leaving his boyfriend and roommate glaring at each other.

Ten minutes past in which they barely blinked. Then Alec reappeared, adjusting his black sweatshirt. "Shall we go?" Looking hesitantly between the two boys.

"There's nothing I'd love more, I'm allergic to Hollister" Magnus sneered strutting down the hall.

"I hope you choke on glitter" Jace yelled at his back.

"Well I'd rather choke on my glitter than your di-"

"-Magnus!"

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"Oh my skin what a mess you're in

but it's hard to know where to begin.

In 20 years you've changed three times,

I can't afford to lose this life tonight." - Jeff Pianki

"I'm sorry , I don't know what to tell you. We're doing everything we can, but it may not be enough."

Will raked his hand through his already disheveled hair. He felt like a caged animal being forced to endure cruel taunts from rude kids. The pent up frustration made him feel sick.

He nodded jerkily at the doctor, before taking a deep breath. "When are his parents getting back?" He asked.

The Doctor mirrored his sigh. "We're not sure. They're presumably still hiking in the Himalayas- we haven't been able to contact them."

Will felt a sudden irrational hatred towards Anita and George Carstairs, why had they chosen now to go on vacation. But he knew he was being unfair. They were excellent parents and barely left Jem's side since he was diagnosed. In fact Jem had been the one to buy them the plane tickets, knowing that they'd always wanted to see the mountains and insisting they take a break.

Jem was a fool

Will finally looked up into the doctor's eyes, seeing the sorrow there. He scowled, why did life have to be so cruel to someone as kind as James.

Back in the room he and Tessa sat in silence, staring at the pale face on the bed before them.

"I think we should tell the others" Tessa said after a while, her voice hoarse from misuse.

"Jem didn't want anyone to know about his illness" Will returnee blankly, his eyes not leaving Jem.

"But...but what if he-...if the worst happens? They have the right to say goodbye." Tessa bit her lip, trying to stay strong.

"Jem has the right to decide who knows!" Will snapped, meeting her eyes with his cold sapphire ones.

Tessa took his hand gently, no longer attempting to hide the tears in her eyes. "He may not be able to make any decisions" she whispered.

Will gulped tightly, trying to dispel the lump in his throat.

"OK..."

"Do it, I don't care. I just want him to wake up"

Tessa's arms wrapped around him, cocooning him in warmth.

Slowly and painfully William Herondale allowed himself to cry.

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A/N so just in case you don't know, the bits in bold in the section are quotes, the characters don't mean everything they're saying they're just having...a 'quote off'...is that a thing? Idk

"This ain't a fairytale" - Taylor Swift.

"No I said dice the carrots, not hack them into random chunks"

Magnus pouted slightly, "I tried Alec, real hard"

Alec snorted, "yeah right you were too busy dancing to even concentrate"

The pout went up a notch "but I love Taylor Swift"

Alec sighed, "I knew you were trouble when you walked in"

Magnus lit up, but then hastily composed himself, "why you gotta be so mean" he whined.

"The story of us seems a lot like a tragedy now" Alec frowned.

"But...you are the best thing that's ever been mine"

"So is it gonna be for ever? Or will it go down in flames?"

"I miss screaming and fighting and kissing in the rain so please stay...I've been loving you for quite some time."

Alec stepped closer, "well I have the best days with you always.."

They stared at each other and Alec thought they were about to kiss before Magnus started cackling, "Taylor Swift?! Really?! That's not grungy at all!"

Alec blushed turning back to stir the meal, "shut up...she's my guilty pleasure"

"What!" Magnus feigned a look of shock "I thought I was your guilty pleasure."

Alec chuckled but then pulled Magnus closer, "oh I'm not guilty" he murmured leaning forward to press against his boyfriend's body.

However before he could touch Magnus tempting lips, the shrill trill of his phone went off.

"Seriously" he exclaimed, "why is everything such a cockblock!" Magnus sniggered at Alec's uncharacteristic language and slowly reached into Alec's pocket and pulled out his mobile, making sure to caress as much of the other boys tight as possible.

"H-hello" Alec choked slightly as he answered the call, Magnus' hand resting lightly on his upper leg.

"Hey...its Tessa"

Alec frowned and pushed Magnus' hand away. His friend did not sound food. "Are...are you OK?"

"I-I... No. No I'm not. I'm at the hospital?"

"What?!" Alec lept to his feet, his mind frantically entertaining various scenarios.

"Jems in a coma" she whispered, "and Alec he-...he may not wake up"

"Shit" Alec dropped the phone.

"What's wrong?" Magnus asked, worried.

But Alec didn't reply...he was lost in his search for the car keys.

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I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints - billy joel

On the other side of Brookland, Camille Belcourt stood by the window of her carefully built house, bathed in the moons glow. She twisted strands of hair round her finger nervously, her eyes fixed on the neighbouring house. She wasn't sure what she was doing.

Before she'd always ran of her instincts and whims, after all a Belcourt could do what they please...according to her mother. But hurting someone she cared deeply for was never her intention.

She was brought out of her revery by the rustle of sheets as the man in her bed shifted in his sleep. She glanced over at him.

He was beautiful...there was no denying that. His face was chiselled to perfection, all angles and high cheekbones. His eyes, when open, were so deep and consuming and contrasted with the rest of his palette. He could smile with the light of angel and then glare like a demon.

Sometimes his coldness and hatred scared her and she wondered whether he was even human, but he was like a drug. A beautifully destructive thing that she couldn't keep off her mind.

She knew he didn't really love her. But she loved him. For now that was enough.

Climbing back into bed she tried to erase the choking guilt from before and instead focused on her lover's poreless skin and soft silky hair. She knew who she had to prioritize….and it wasn't Magnus.

A/N

So…..what do you think. Poor jem, he's so lovely. And Will and Tessa getting all emotional. At least Malec are back together and being cute. Who do you think the man at the end is? its kind of obvious but i was trying to be all mysterious.

This month is going to be crazy! Its my birthday and Im going to see Wicked! which is my favorite musical. I also have a ton of english corsework deadlines, a performing arts exam, dance exam, stagecoach exam and school play…..I think I may have a mental breakdown so don't expect an update for a bit.

Thanks to all the reviewers I have or wil reply to you all via pm but for those of you who dont have accounts:

Guest: well I say yer at the begining but I think it's meant to be yeah. but that's what we say...but I'm English.

Guest (AB): Thanks you so much for reviewing and welcome :) Thank you for noticing, I try really hard to stay as true to the books as I can...like magnus' mumm commiting suicide and camille and magnus being friends and then not. Not to mention the simon clary jace relationship. but my first fic is a lot more accurate cause it's set in a more similar world. but i try. xx

thank you.

Until next time!

Please review and ill try and squeeze out an update this month.

Lots of Virtual love

Amy

xxx