How the Stars Shine Chapter 8: On the Road At Last, a mortal instruments fanfic

Hey people! Long time, no see. Hehehe... yeah, I know. I suck. You should all be very angry with me for leaving you waiting so long and feel free to throw mental chairs at me. If there are any mistakes in this chapter, I'm very sorry. I had a very prominent headache when I finished this and I really didn't want to look over it for the thousandth time. :P

Aaaaanyway, you guys have waited long for this and you all deserve to go ahead and read my crappy story.

Disclaimer: I don't know why anyone thinks I own this when I don't. -_-
(Song by Rocket to the Moon)

Be free my children! (Even though most of you are older than me...)

"I want you to text me all the time, okay? I want to know where you're going, where you are; every single detail must be shared. I want to know what crazy things you guys are up to, I want you to send tons of pictures, but most importantly, I want a phone call every two days – at the least – with an update. You got that? I'm serious, Alec!"

You'd think I was talking to my mother wouldn't you? Nope. It was just my little sister, squirming her way into my life as usual.

"I'm regretting telling you already," I huffed under my breath, not really wanting to share every single detail about Magnus' and my time together. She smacked me upside the head.

"Just do it!" she demanded with a face that said she would totally harass me until I complied.

"Okay, okay, I will!" I relented when she made a move forward as though she was going to whack me again. Izzy seemed partially satisfied but skeptical, which she was right to feel since I didn't plan on contacting her as much as I knew she'd like me to during the next few weeks. We turned and watched for a moment as the rest of our family loaded our rarely used Subaru with numerous suitcases.

"Have you told them yet?" she asked casually. I shook my head and looked at my parents while they stopped packing to talk , probably about if they were sure they wanted to leave me here since I saw my mother glance over at Isabelle and I before going over to my father. "I was thinking I would tell them after Magnus and I had already left. That way we'd already be miles from here and neither of them can stop me."

"I like it," she smirked, "Taking life into your own hands for once; making your own decisions. That seems like something only Jace or I would do. Perhaps we're rubbing off on you?"

"I really hope not," I joked, making her laugh. We paused when we saw Max struggling with what looked like one of our parents' and then knock it over – releasing various articles of clothing – over the cement of our driveway when he rolled it over a crack. My mother went over to him immediately so she could take care of the damages.

She turned coyly back to look at me when she asked, "Where exactly are the two of you going to run off to, hm?"

I blushed, even though it was an innocent question. But Izzy always did have a knack for making innocent things sound promiscuous. "No. I asked him last night but he just shrugged and said something like 'wherever the wind blows us' or some crap."

I knew she had some sort of retort she wanted to say but she held it back as Jace walked over to us.

"Okay, you," he said, pointing at Izzy, "Need to get your thousands of girly bags into the damn car before Mom tells me to go do it-," she huffed. "And you," he said, pointing at me, "I want to talk to."

"Wh-what about?" I asked shakily. It wasn't like I was scared of talking to my own brother but I felt kind of like the way all kids do when their parents say they want to talk and then they remember every mildly offensive thing they've ever done. That was me, except I was thinking of everything Jace could have found out and not my own actions.

He looked over at Izzy before answering and stared at her until she caved. "Fine, I get it. I'm not allowed in your stupid boy club so I'll just go." And she walked away with a smirk.

"So what did you want?" I asked again after she'd gone far enough to be out of ear shot.

"I just wanted to make sure you weren't gonna doing something stupid, like watching paint dry, the entire time we're gone. You should, like, make a plan of something to do, or places to go while you miss this perfect face," he smiled and I rolled my eyes.

"Oh I'll find something to do; maybe I'll watch ungodly hours of Netflix or wallow in misery as I bang my head on my piano. But I promise there are some things I will not be doing, such as missing your…'perfect' face." He staggered backwards with mock hurt as he put his hand on his chest.

"Alec, there is no reason be so cross! Just because you're upset about losing this luscious piece of golden bod you don't have to go around insulting those more attractive than you! You really should learn to get a handle on those emotions, dear brother."

I let loose an amused smile and replied, "I can only try." But I'm not entirely sure he heard me over his terrible monologue.

He came up to me and put a hand on my shoulder as he continued to act like the huge dumbass I'd come to love. "Yet, how can I blame you for not wanting to lose me. It is a hardship that comes with all who I meet and a burden I too must bear. But seriously," he looked me in to eye, "Don't squander away your time with no supervision brooding about the house. Go out, meet someone, have a good time – ya know, live."

"Jace…" I sighed.

"Nope! I don't wanna hear it! If you don't promise to at least leave the house a few times a week I swear to God I'll tell Mom you asked me to stay and I will not leave you alone the entire time they're gone!"

"Okay, okay!" I backed down with my hands up in surrender. "I promise I won't spend so much time in the house." And for once, I wasn't lying. If anything, I wasn't giving enough credit to how much time I'd be spending away from home. Or how far.

Before he could say make me cross my heart and hope to die or some shit, my dad called out to all us kids, "Okay guys, it's time to load up into the car so say goodbye to your brother. We don't wanna be late!" He was surprisingly cheery for a man stuffing his daughter's various pink cheetah print bags into the back of a suburban.

"We good?" I asked, turning back to Jace. He smirked per usual.

"Yeah we're good, pretty boy." He shoved my shoulder and I shoved his back since that had always been our weird way of saying goodbye. He left, probably to help our father with our sister's luggage, and I turned to see Max waiting behind me, pouting.

"Why aren't you coming?" he grouched, crossing his arms over his small chest. "You never come."

I felt bad about this for the first time since I'd decided to stay behind. I'd completely forgotten that Max might be upset. "I'm really sorry, bud," I apologized, kneeling down to his level. "But I have to… work." Lie.

"You're always working. And you're not even a grownup."

"I know, but you'll be in Hawaii. You'll be having so much fun with Izzy and Jace that you won't even think about me." I tried smiling to convince him, but it didn't work. The little bugger had his sulky face on and he was sticking to it. I sighed. "I just really need some time alone. To get away from everything." Another lie.

He huffed in annoyance but relented. "Okay. But you'll call like usual right?"

"Definitely," I smiled and we walked to the car together to where our family had assembled. Jace and Izzy were fighting about something, and my parents were closing up the back when we got to them.

"Uuuuggh I don't even care, Jace! Just get in the car!"

"Fine! But I'll be taking my coconuts with me!" (Don't ask. I don't understand either.) He dramatically opened the door and looked to me, "Goodbye, dear brother of mine." And he slammed the door behind him just as dramatically.

"One child down," Izzy huffed, and turned to Max. "Alright, Maxi, time to get in the car."

He nodded and gave me a hug. "Bye Alec." And he got in the car with Jace leaving me with Isabelle. "Updates," she said simply. "All the time." Our parents came around and she opened the door but first gave me a smirk and a wink. "Have fun!" And then my father was in front of me.

He put a loving hand on my shoulder and beamed. "I'm not at all worried about leaving you here alone. But for good measure; no fires or parties or girls. Alright?"

I nodded. "Course, Dad. Like I would even know how to act out of hand."

He laughed, "Right, right. Have a good time, son. Try to clear your head." And he left me to the mercy of my mother.

She and I just looked at each other for a moment, soaking in the blatant awkwardness of the situation. "Alec, honey…"

Oh, here it comes.

"I'm sorry."

"What?" I asked immediately. She looked at me with the soft blue eyes I'd inherited.

"I'm sorry," she repeated, "I shouldn't have judged your friend so quickly and I know you're a good boy so I trust you to make your own decisions."

I blinked. "Really?" She nodded.

"Well then I should tell you, um, I met up with Magnus again last night and he thinks we should get out of town for a while. And I think he's right, so we're going on a little road trip."

I waited for her outburst of refusals and "Hell no's" to come but she just looked a little surprised, not murderous. "Alright," she said slowly, obviously wrapping her head around the idea. "Well, I trust you," she finally said.

"So I can go?" I asked getting excited.

She nodded and smiled a bit. "But I want you to call every time you pass over a state line, got it?"

I nodded, thrilled, and bit my lip to keep from grinning. "Yeah, yeah, of course!"

She sighed but looked happy. "I love you, Alexander."

I hugged her before she left and told her I loved her too. And as I watched them drive away, I was more content with my family than I'd ever been. Then I realized-

It was almost ten and Magnus was gonna be here in less than three hours. I sprinted to the house.

Omigod, I need to shower and eat and figure out what to bring and gaaaahhhhhhh!

It was only 11:15 but I'd been twitching to see Alec, so here I was outside his house 45 minutes early. He lived in a very beautiful white… well, mansion to be honest. I could almost see him as a little kid running around on the large expanse of lush grass; it was very homey with all the expertly placed foliage and stone walkway. I leaned against my newly bought, dark blue truck and whipped my phone out of my pocket to text Alec.

Magnus: Come outside ;)

And not a minute later, the mahogany door opened and Alexander was standing there with startled features on his gorgeous face. "What are you doing out here? And… what is that?" he questioned walking to me then seeing the surprise I'd attached to the side of the truck.

"It's how we're gonna decide where we're going!" I exclaimed, procuring a dart from my back pocket. "And you're looking lovely this morning, I might add."

He blushed – fulfilling the main reason I'd said that last part – but didn't respond to my comment. "So you want to throw a dart at a corkboard you've taped a picture of the U.S. which is, by the way, on your truck?"

"No," I smiled tapping him on the nose with the dart before placing in his hand. "I want you to throw it." His blue eyes got wide.

"Bu- wha- ha- you-," she sputtered adorably, "W-what if I hit your car?"

"You won't."

"I might!"

"You'll be fine!" I said, steering him back a ways and positioning him away from the board.

"Magnus!"

"Just throw it!"

"I can't!"

"Yes you can!" He looked from me to the dart and it was silent for a moment. "ALEC!"

"OKAY!" Then he shut his eyes and finally threw the damn thing. He heard it make impact but instead of looking, he clamped his hands over his eyes. "I can't look! Did I hit it?"

"Oh, yes, darling," I smiled and peeked out from behind his fingers. "And guess where we're going."

"Oh God, where?"

"Montana!"

"That's almost on the other side of the U.S."

"Yes," I mused, taking down the corkboard, "It does seem the way. But that means further to travel and more time away from here!" I put threw the thing in the back of the truck and went over to Alec, who seemed rooted to the spot. "So are you ready to venture out to the wonders of Montana?"

"What is even in Montana?"

"I dunno," I shrugged, "But you and I are gonna find out!"

I'd packed light, as Magnus had instructed. After the whole "picking process," we'd gone inside so I could grab the items I still needed to put in my small duffle bag. We'd both agreed to bring just a few extra clothes and random knick-knacks – like our IPods, for instance – and if we needed anything along the way, we could just stop and buy it somewhere. After all, we both had a surplus of money just waiting to be spent.

The one thing I'd made sure to grab was the white container of prescribed sleeping pills on my dresser. They sucked, but at least they kept me quiet at night'; I definitely did not want to have an episode with Magnus around.

So far, we'd been on the road for a couple of hours and to pass the time, we'd been playing some 80's rock music station on the radio and a really boring game that consisted of us counting the certain number of cars that passed us if they were the right color. I counted the blue ones and he countd the red. So far he was winning. By alot.

"46," I said, finally advancing a freaking number after an expanse of five whole minutes.

"93...94..." he responded, obviously amused by my losing.

"Okay, next neither of us gets red because apparently every car owner in America has a secret fetish for driving around in the color of death!"

He chuckled and continued to drive. "Sorry sweatheart, but I did allow you to choose the color you wanted to count first if you recall."

"Yeah, yeah," I smiled, leaning my head on my hand so I was tilted towards him.

After a moment of silence - well no really silence because Magnus counted two more cars in that amount of time - he cleared is throat and glanced at me with an expression that was less than playful as per norm.

"Um, Alec?"

"Yeah?"

"I've sorta - 97 - been meaning to ask you something." Now his eyes were glued on the road as I looked at him with slight anxiety.

"Uh huh..."

"Well..." he fiddled with his hair a bit before letting his green eyes lock with mine. "Are you... gay?"

...

I couldn't help it, I just started giggling uncontrollably.

"O God don't laugh! I don't know what that means!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! It's just," I wheezed in between spruts of laughter, "After everything that has happened in the past three days, you're still trying to peice that together?"

"So you are?"

I nodded with a blush as I came down from my emotional high. "47," I whispered, suddenly feeling totally at home next to Magnus.

"98," he smirked.

"Aaauuggghh!" i groaned.

~HSS~

The Fault In Our Stars, Ready Player One, Wither...

I skimmed my fingers lightly over the paperback spines of the books on the shelf of the Barnes and Noble as I waited for Magnus to come back. He'd dropped me off at the first bookstore we'd come across since we'd stopped in the city we were going to spend the night in-I hadn't even bothered to notice what city- since he apparently had another surprise for me. I'm not sure I could take many more surprises; I was seriously worn out from everything that'd happened today.

After a quick conversation with my sister and talking to my mother so she knew I was still alive, I sat down in the empty reading space with a John Green book. He was my favorite author- and vlogger for that matter -and I'm not afraid say he usually made me cry. But nobody needed to know that.

When did finally text that he was coming back for me, I quickly bought the book, Looking For Alaska, and went out to find Magnus pulling up. I hopped in eagerly, since it was freaking cold, and he greeted me with a smile.

"You ready?"

"For what?" I asked innocently, not noticing the mischievous glint in his eye. He shrugged with a contained smile.

"You'll see."

~HSS~

"This is possibly the greatest idea I think I've ever heard of or seen," I grinned turning from the back of the truck to see a pleased looking Magnus.

"You like it?"

"So, so much." He came to stand right beside me and he glanced at his masterpiece of pillows upon pillows that he'd somehow got loaded into the back of his truck. The idea was that we were going to be spending the night parked on a secluded part of the mountain he'd found, under the prominent and twinkling stars. I blushed when I thought the entire thing through.

We would be sleeping side by side in an isolated area on an almost literal sea of fluffy pillows and blankets. Yeah, I blushed like an idiot.

MB
I listened intently and soaked in the beauty of Alec's laugh after I finished saying something unimportant; something I'd said only to be graced with that melodic sound. His cheeks turned an adorable shade of pink when he caught me staring at him and he quickly looked away, up at the stars.

Alec and I were laying amongst the mound of pillows about a foot from each other; definitely not as close as I'd wanted. A few blankets were pooled around our feet but neither of us seemed to have the drive to move and draw them up.

We lapsed into comfortable silence while Alec's gaze was fixated on the many brilliant stars above us and I soon joined him. I realized that I'd never once took the time to glance up over years of being in the, sometimes metaphorical and sometimes not, spotlight. I took simple miracles for granted and didn't even care until that moment. I couldn't help but give into my desire to see Alec, so I tried to inconspicuously move my head to silently gawk at him like always.

"I've always loved stars," he mentioned suddenly.

"Well you are one so…" I joked, feeling my heart grow warm when he giggled lightly and let me catch those cerulean orbs in my gaze.

"You know what I meant," he smiled. A rush of chilly air suddenly went past us and Alec shivered as goose bumps appeared on his arms. I was warm as always – I'm like a raging furnace every second of the day, not sure why – so I took this as an opportunity to get closer.

"You cold, darling?" He started to give me some excuse but I interrupted him with an arm around his waist. He sucked in a surprised bout of air when I pulled him towards me until we were touching; enough so he could feel my warmth but light enough so he wouldn't freak out. "Better?"

He bit his lip with a blush, but nodded, even though he refused to look at me. I reached down and pulled the nearest blanket up so it rested over us and I felt Alexander's body relax a bit.

"You should tell me more about your love for the stars," I whispered, feeling as though I shouldn't corrupt the quiet air between us with noise.

"Um, I don't know, I've just always liked seeing them; knowing they were there." He fiddled with his hands as he spoke. "I would wish on them like all my siblings when I was younger."

He glanced up at the sky, and for a second, I caught the reflection of millions of shining dots in his eyes. "When I was really little, I used to think when people died they became stars so we could still see them and they could watch over us. But that's stupid, isn't it?"

It was too much; he was so perfect and my resolve began to falter. I stared at his flawlessness with wide eyes as my desire for him started running rampant. "Magnus?" he asked softly when he noticed this, his innocent face looking up at me with worry.

That was the moment my body took over my actions and I did nary a thing to stop it.

My fingers moved to take hold of his delicate chin and my grasp on his body became firm, unwilling to let the boy go. Slowly, so he had time to realize what was happening, I lowered my face to his and stopped just before my lips touched his. "Mag-nus?" he breathed, grasping at my shirt.

Then I kissed him, and everything I had worried about – him pushing me away or not wanting me like I wanted him – melted away with the feeling of his soft lips. I felt the sparks fly between us - as cliché as that sounded it was true. Just the light brush of my lips against his was enough to make me want to capture him under my body and ravish him until he couldn't think; but I knew that would be for a later time.

He let loose a satisfied sigh and I went giddy when I felt him relinquish control to me. He trusts me enough to do this...He was warm and his skin felt like silk as I caressed him. My heart swelled with joy with a simple touch from this spectacular boy so the effect his kiss had on me was significantly more pleasurable. I moved the arm around his waist down to his hip so I could curl my fingers under the sweater he was wearing and spread them across the smooth expanse of his hip bone. I felt him shiver and, as though he passed it on to me, goose bumps soon appeared on my arms as well.

When we had to pull away for air, he was panting with that delicious blush on his cheeks. He started to fumble around with the questions displayed clearly on his face; I didn't let him go on for long. "Magnus, wha... I don't-,"

"Shh," I whispered, drawing him back for a second kiss. This time, with my hand cradling his delicate face, I pressed my lips to his with a bit more urgency, as to explain to him my desire. I'm not sure he understood but his body suggested he was willing. With my thumb, I slowly eased his mouth open but prodded at his lips with my tongue to make sure he was alright with it. When I got no sign of rejection, I slid into his hot cavern and moaned when his tentative tongue lightly brushed against mine.

It physically pained me to have to leave his warm mouth so we could breathe in the less appealing, but entirely necessary, air. I gazed at his angelic face as he caught his breath then pecked him lightly on the forehead just because I could.

He tried speaking a second time. "M-Magnus, I d-don't… why would you-,"

I kissed him quickly to quiet him. "In the morning, darling," I murmured into his glossy hair as I held his body to my chest. "We'll get time in the morning. For now, just try to sleep." I closed my eyes, breathed in his sweet scent, and smiled when he cuddled into me adorably.

My eyes are no good, blind without him
The way he moves I'd never doubt him
When he talks he somehow creeps into my dreams
He's a doll, a catch, a winner
I'm in love
And no beginner could ever grasp or understand
Just what he means

Baby, baby blue eyes
Stay with me by my side
Till the morning
Through the night
Oh baby, stand here holding my sides
Close your baby blue eyes
Every moment feels right
And I may feel like a fool
But I'm the only one dancing with you

I drive him home when he can't stand
I'd like to think I'm a better man
For not letting him do what he's been known to do
He tries hard but he always falls
I let her think he's a know-it-all
But whatever he does wrong, it seems so right
My eyes don't believe him
But my heart swears by him

Baby, baby blue eyes
Stay with me by my side
Till the morning
Through the night
(Can't get you out of my mind)
Oh baby, stand here holding my sides
Close your baby blue eyes
Every moment feels right
And I may feel like a fool
But I'm the only one dancing with you
(Can't get you out of my mind)

I swear I've been there
I swear I've done that
I'll do whatever it takes
Just to see those

Baby, baby blue eyes
Stay with me by my side
Till the morning
Through the night
(Can't get you out of my mind)
Oh baby, stand here holding my sides
Closing your eyes
Every moment feels right

My eyes are no good, blind without him
The way she moves I'd never doubt him
When he talks he some how creeps into my dreams

Baby Blue Eyes - By Magnus Bane

Omigosh! Their first kiss! Did I do that alright? Did I mess anything up? Tell me if I did! Seriously!

Oh and I changed my pen name! It's a reference to John and Hank Green - I believe I mentioned John just now - who vlogging youtubers that are the "leaders" of Nerdfighteria. John writes amazing books, that I also mentioned just now, and if you haven't read any of them, GO DO IT! HE IS THE GREATEST! And Hank writes crazy awesome songs about pretty much everything. So go check them out; their channel is called Vlogbrothers.

So thank you, everybody, for sticking with me and to anyone who reviewed - especially those who reviewed recently, when I was having trouble writing. It encouraged me to get this thing done!

Review! Please! For me? :3

~Brina-Bot~