First Fanfiction! I hope you enjoy it! (No copyright intended, all characters belong to Cassandra Clare)

CASTLES MADE OF SAND, CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Strawberry Fields Forever

"Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see.
It's getting hard to be someone but it all works out.
It doesn't matter much to me."

Magnus had to admit that he always loved the soft innocent putter of a cars radiator. Preferably his own car, in which the hum resounded throughout the whole space, creating an uplifting harmony, that took over Magnus' senses, whenever driving through the city scape. William was sitting in the passenger seat next to him, typing away feverishly on his sleek black iPhone. They were on their way to the boat docks, just as a quick drop by -seeing as Magnus had a 'dinner party' to prepare for later that night -otherwise, they would have stayed there all night. Gerald, his father, had specifically told him to be home at the latest five, so they could go over a few things before the Lightwood's arrived.

The little drop by at the boat docks was to loosen Magnus' stress, and nerves essentially. Drinking with everyone in the broad daylight, on old man Penhallow's boat, was always a very entertaining thing to do; and today was the perfect opportunity for that. Magnus lived for his memories -whether they were good or bad; he thrived off of the false light it gave him. For sure, his father was going to give him hell when he got home, smelling the alcohol waver off of him, in crisp streams -but Magnus could really care less about that. He had endured worse things, for even worse circumstances than drinking.

After classes had ended, Magnus and William darted from the school, beating out any of the commoners traffic down to the authentic districts of downtown; past the re-vamped, and old districts. Quite readily it was Magnus' favorite part of Alicante to visit, besides his and his mothers lake. He knew everyone and anyone that worked at all of the little shops and bistros on the block; it had a cozy atmosphere to it, very inviting -everyone at ease. Almost all of the people down there, Magnus could call family -only because after they moved to the hilltops, Sarah and Olive would take him on their escapades to the hair dressers, and Italian bread shops -eventually the owners warmed up to Magnus, and likewise Magnus had invited them into his soul -to a degree.

Once he and William had made it down to Sage's rusty bar, they asked easily for a quarter pint, bottles of tequila, and a couple of mickeys, for the boat docks. Knowing the bar owner, always came with its benefits. Magnus could walk into any one of the shops, on either side of the authentic districts' one way street, and be greatly welcomed in with warm, familiar, loving arms.

Now they were headed on a narrow dirt back trail, which would lead out into the grey slate parking lot of the boat docks at its end. "Did Biology, go well?" William asked, never releasing his eyes from his phone, as he continued to text. His attention was elsewhere, that much was obvious enough.

"Yes, I got him to actually talk to me," thank gosh, Magnus thought, as an after thought. It was definitely worth the effort to talk to Alec, and it was also equally worth the effort to dart around certain things he hadn't wanted to discuss with Alec -just yet. Playing the piano was one of them. It was always a touchy subject for Magnus -seeing as his mother taught him everything he knew, and just that sheer thought made it difficult for Magnus to even be in band class, let alone play. James was supposed to be the only one who knew, because he could trust James in that way. He didn't need another person to divulge himself into -really this plan was for the purpose of Alec trusting him, not the other way around.

Likewise he had to struggle around the topic of his family; speaking briskly and huskily. He didn't think Alec would have caught the 'was' in his statement, but low and behold Magnus found out that Alec was a very observant and tentative person. Unlike William, here, sitting beside him, half paying attention to his phone, and the other half, to Magnus.

"Then things are going well -on plan." William smirked to himself, and shoved his phone into the back pocket of his black jeans, bucking his hips forward in the air to rise out of his seat. "Any plans for tonight, Magnus?" William asked, as they came around a sharp bend in the road. Magnus cocked his eyebrow high on his head, and skeptically looked at William, for a beat too long, before realizing he had eluded to the fact that the Lightwood's were coming over to his house for dinner.

"Oh, how could I forget. The Lightwood's are coming over later tonight, for dinner. Basically the reason why I need this brief drinking spree." Magnus shrugged nonchalantly rounding off into the vast expansure of the grey slate covered parking lot, which opened up freely, to the image of the fresh deep blue water ocean. The sky was absolutely cloudless, and a bright dazzling blue -just looking at it, reminded Magnus of his blushing blue eyed boy.

...His? When, and how did thoughts like those break through, into his mind?

"When were you going to tell me that?" William straightened his back, and unbuckled himself from the seat, as they came upon their destination to stop. Magnus parked the car next to the bright indigo sports car -where everyone was standing in front of. Except for James and Tessa.

"Does it really matter all that much?" Magnus sighed, turning off his car, and stepping out onto the grey top. "Where's Jem and Tessa?" Magnus called over to Camille, who was leaning against Simon's black four by four turf truck, now, Johnathan hovering over her. She was standing next to Clary as well, who was surprisingly attached to the hip of a tall golden haired boy. Magnus had to take a moment of pondering to realize that, that was Jace. He had only met him this morning, and Jace was definitely hard to forget, but seeing as Magnus' mind was stuck on lake blue eyes and a crimson flush -it seemed that nothing stayed in his mind for too long, before it was overshadowed by that.

"Over there," she tilted her chin suggestively to the far left side of the parking lot. Magnus turned his head sharply to the left, to find James and Tessa walking towards them, hand in hand -both smiling and laughing freely with one another, as they always did. But what caught Magnus' attention, and quite nearly caused everything else to drop out of view, was Alec. "Damnit..." Magnus hissed under his breath. He needed time in between intervals of seeing Alec again. Quite readily he was shocked that the plain image of Alec, once again, took the breath right out of his lungs for a brief, almost insignificant moment.

His charcoal black tosseled hair, whipped wildly in the oceans crisp cool breeze momentarily, shadowing his eyes. His white shirt gleamed in the sunlight, making it hard to stare at him for too long -but Magnus did anyways. "And so the plot thickens," William came to stand beside Magnus, regarding Alec as well, with his arms folded over his chest, and a devious grin plastered to his face.

"Shut up." Magnus scowled, not liking having William and Alec in the same place at the same time after school hours. In any other case it would have been fine. But since the circumstances were risky -where one person wanted to destroy the other -this was not good. "Don't say anything to him. Stay away from him, Will." Magnus warned, catching his deep brooding blue eyes under his gaze -and holding them firm with his own, to convey his warning.

"Don't worry about it. He'll probably avoid me like the plague anyways. Otherwise it's all fun and games," William scoffed under his breath and chuckled to himself.

"Hey!" Tessa said as they neared the group. "Magnus, Will, you know Alec," Tessa tilted her head to the side gesturing to Alec who stood beside Jem -Alec, who also, had a very permanent pissed off look on his face. He was not happy to see William, and possibly Magnus? Although, Magnus didn't want to think that he was the cause of Alec's expression.

"Oh, we definitely know each other," Magnus suggestively said. He did have to put up an act around William, that was one thing he couldn't skirt around. The rest of them, would have their questions obviously -but those explanations could wait for a later time. Alec raised his head in one swift movement, as Magnus spoke -his eyes widening, lips dropping slack open, and a bright scarlet flush staining the ivory skin of his cheeks. Magnus winked, and made sure that no one else had seen it -because then he would have a lot more problems to deal with.

"How nice of you to grace us with your presence, Alec." William smirked, largely and extremely sarcastically. "I really did begin to miss you,"

"Don't, Will." Magnus hissed low under his breath, turning his head to the side, in attempt to make himself heard only to William.

"Oh c'mon Magnus. I'm just having a bit of fun. Right Alec?" William cocked his head to the side, and raised his right eyebrow high on his unblemished forehead. By now, everyone besides Gabriel, Gideon and Sebastian, were intently paying attention to their little exchange.

"Right. Fun." Alec replied sheepishly, shuffling his feet in front of himself, rather nervously. Another quirk of his, that Magnus found quite endearing.

"What was that, Alec? I don't think I heard you," he placed his hand in a cupping position around his ear, leaning forward on the balls of his toes.

"Enough, Will!" Magnus semi scream-whispered; boring his eyes straight through William, hoping it would lace his heart with Magnus' anger.

"He said, yes William." James cut into the conversation, studying William, with strangely calculating silver eyes. Magnus knew that glint to James' eyes; he was searching a way to make some form of justice or reason, as to what tempted William to behave in this manner. "Why are you acting like this?"

"I was only asking Alec a question. Who knew there was any harm in that."

"Hey, Will is it?" Jace unlatched his hold on Clary's tiny frame, and walked over to stand next to Alec. "I don't know what the hell your problem is, but he doesn't need to answer any questions from you."

"Soooo," Camille clasped her manicured hands together loudly, jerking every ones attention towards her. She was attempting to divert the path in which the conversation deemed to be heading towards. And Magnus was very thankful of that. "Should we get this started? Old man Penhallow, does have a mean stride with that cane of his. I wouldn't want to stick around long enough to see what else he can use it for,"

"Oh god, do you guys remember that one time last summer, when John passed out, and no one picked him up?" Sebastian snorted, returning to the group, reminiscing on one of the greatest nights of their lives. The rest of them laughed at will, also remembering the ramifications of that one boat trip -and consequently dissolving away from the current mood in the air.

"That wasn't funny." Johnathan snarled, baring his teeth slightly, his eyes black as night, even in the full sunlight of the day.

"Yes it was John," Clary giggled to herself. She sauntered her way up to her brother, stood in front of him -his towering body overshadowing her petite frame -and pat him lightly on the cheek twice, "try not to pass out again." If it were anyone other than his sister that touched him, he would have gladly shoved them or punched them in the face. Thank gosh there was a shred of conscience in Johnathan, a conscience that unfortunately their father Valentine did not possess.

William went around to the trunk of Magnus' car, and with the help of Johnathan and Sebastian, brought out only some of the alcohol, and started towards a faded cherry red fisherman boat, nestled along the far end of the docks. James, Tessa, Clary, Jace, Camille, Simon, Gabriel, and Gideon, followed the crowd earnestly, all goofing off, and talking to one another about plain nonsense. Before Alec could get any further, Magnus latched his hand around his warm forearm, and pulled him back.

"I've got a couple of packs in the backseat. Mind helping me, lovely?" Magnus drawled, gesturing back to his car. Alec gave him a hesitant look, as if he were internally battling with himself, if he should do it or not.

"Sure, why not?" Alec smiled, a bright white smile. His eyes were less hesitant than they were before, with everyone huddled around. Was it just Magnus' perceptions, or did it seem as if Alec was much more open and confident, when not around a large group of people? If so -Magnus had to come up with newer ideas on how to get him alone, other than their Biology class. They walked the short distance to his car, and in the back seat was a couple bottles of smooth baileys, hard Smirnoff, and ice cool tequila.

Alec reached inside, the coils of muscles in his arms hardening as he lifted the bottles with ease into his muscled arms. "Do you drink, Alexander?" Magnus asked, as he too, shared in the load, and closed the shiny red door swiftly with his foot.

"Nah, I can't really stomach the taste of it that well," Alec shrugged his shoulders, as they began to walk towards the small fisherman boat, which everyone by now was inside of.

"That's a shame, because if there's one thing, you should know, about hanging out with our group -it's that we are amazing drinkers." Magnus lightly chuckled, eliciting a small laugh from Alec as well.

"I'll just need to stay away from those situations then," Alec returned, and gazed into Magnus' eyes. Magnus had seen blue eyes before, obviously, more than one of his best friends had blue eyes -but somehow Alec's were far different than the rest. They reminded Magnus so fondly of his and his mothers lake in the winter, and how the white cloud covered sky tainted the color of the water to a striking hazy blue tone -and when the sun would peak out of the clouds, it created the speckles of light that rimmed Alec's pupils. It was crazy how detailed his eyes were, even if Magnus was staggeringly terrible at art -he would draw and or paint Alec's eyes any day.

"Lovely, you're walking head first into one of those situations, right now."

"Today's an exception. I didn't know what I was getting myself into. I didn't even think you or Will was coming -"

"Shame is it? I bet you were wishing we didn't show up." Magnus teased a bit, but his words were said truthfully. If anything he couldn't blame Alec for not wanting to see William, or him for that matter.

"No -yes, I mean -no, I guess I wanted you to come, but not Will..." Alec trailed off, and bit his lip feverishly, his eyes calculating, as if what he had just said would be offending. The way Alec bit his thin pink bottom lip, sent an indescribable heat to course throughout Magnus -he couldn't define this heat for the life of him; all he knew was that, on more than one occasion he has had to stifle back a couple of moans, which would bubble up hotly in the back of his throat, whenever Alec gnawed on his lip.

"Understandable. Will is quite intimidating." Magnus nodded his head in silent agreement. They were coming up to the washed out brown boat dock, which paved a path for them to the red boat at the end of the way. The boat bobbed lazily and subtly against the waters edge.

"I don't find him intimidating," Alec more-so said to himself, but not quiet enough that Magnus couldn't catch it. "He just... just hates me -I think. And I have no clue why. You should have seen him today Magnus, in my math class. I felt like cringing into myself at the glares he kept giving me. He's just awful, always whispering to Johnathan about whatever it is that he says, while blatantly starring at me. And back there at the cars, just now -" Alec breathed, a shaky sigh. Not as if he was about to cry, because he seemed like a person that didn't show that kind of raw emotion, but rather as if the mere thought of William, absolutely frustrated him. "And I know I shouldn't be saying this to you, because you're his best friend and all. But I don't know -I-I just, feel as if I can tell you that." Alec stopped in his tracks, causing Magnus to stop as well. At that moment, Alec looked so vulnerable, it caused Magnus' body to shutter.

Surprisingly Magnus was fully intent on what Alec was saying, there was no doubt about that. It was a weird sensation for Magnus, he wasn't the type of person to keep himself divulged into conversations that long. Usually he zoned himself out, right up until the end, where he could reply, and the person wouldn't suspect a thing. But with Alec, he felt as if he needed to listen; his body and senses ached to hear the sound of Alec's voice.

"Is that weird?" Alec continued. "That, I, uh, feel as if I can trust you with that?" He sheepishly smiled, not baring his pearly whites. His angular dark eyebrows were furrowed together upon his creamy milk and ivory honey forehead, in apprehension.

"Well, we are friends now, aren't we, lovely?" Magnus smirked, and narrowed his eyes in a sultry way. He could see William obscurely watching them from one of the many boat windows -the whole charade needed to be put into motion once again when they stepped through the boat door. Alec gingerly nodded his head, and his eyes brightened two shades lighter.

"Yeah, I guess we are."

"So you can trust me." Magnus insisted. "Come on then, we have minimal time to waste before dinner tonight." Magnus ushered Alec before him, as they stepped onto the boat. A happiness Magnus didn't think would ever exist within him again, hummed a very dim, almost insignificant hum, in his chest. Even if it was small, it was still present -and it's presence made Magnus feel at least optimistic for what the near future might hold.

A/N: You guys have waited long enough for the dinner scene... I know. But guess what? It's the next chapter to come pretty's -And I've been working on it like a mad woman, but, it won't be up for a few days. (Just remember, that the dinner scene isn't going to be the biggest scene ever! Lol, there's still Homecoming, the Bane Banquet, and a few other events to come.. so hold on for the ride!) But, it is a monster in size. I am currently going back to touch things up, and it's already at 3,500 words... (and when I say touching things up -that's not even my definition of what I do to 'edit' these chapters -weird right?)
So this chapter was just to ease into the idea of Magnus and Alec, sort of accepting the fact that they could be friends; and about learning a bit more about Magnus' life in Alicante. I hope all of you get the sense that this isn't being too rushed, I mean, for gosh sakes it's been -what, fourteen chapters, and they're just becoming friends? (Am I being too cruel with the long waiting until certain points?)
Also... I love your reviews. I read every last one of them, and I just get so happy, you have no idea. I will tell you this now: I am currently writing, Castles Made of Sand, Angel Baby, my own novel of the sorts, and drawing like a mad woman... It's getting a bit busy! But I will try to keep everything under control so I can update on schedule. Have faith in me (:

Review! And in the next Authors note, I'll include a little snippet of one of the future chapters (;

Lets get it to 150!

Amber,