Dancing was never really my strong suit. I mean, really, these days it's just moving up against people. And who was I going to do that to? Nobody in my group, that was for sure.
Jace thought it would be particularly hilarious to press up behind me, though. I think I jumped a mile high when our hips touched. When I span around, what felt like faster than I've ever moved, he was practically doubled over laughing. So, smirking, and fuelled by the drinks I'd already had, I took a step closer and draped an arm over his neck. From the corner of my eye, I saw Izzy slow her dance with Simon down a touch so she could gawk.
For a second, Jace raised an eyebrow at me. Then his own signature smirk crept onto his face. Crooked, but in a sort-of-cute way I used to obsess over back when I had a crush on him. Way back when.
"Oh?" He said, closing most of the gap between us. "We're playing this game?"
He was confident that nothing was going to happen, so I put on a look of mock-determination, leaning my forehead against his. He was smaller than me, which felt kind of odd. And I could smell alcohol in the space where our breath mixed together.
Clary made a squeaking sound. Jace rocked onto his toes, closer. Dr Zacheriah cleared his throat.
Crap.
I jumped a mile again and Jace got this completely smug look on his face. I wanted to make some kind of bruising remark, just to knock his ego down a little. But saying something like 'I wasn't into it anyway' didn't seem like a great idea in front of the Doctor, or Imasu for that matter.
"Happy Birthday, Alec." The older of the newcomers greeted. Dr Zacheriah was only in his twenties, but he could well have been the oldest guy in Pandemonium. While he looked sort of uncomfortable, I glimpsed one or two girls looking away with evident disappointment.
Great. Now I had to get conscious about being somebody else's entertainment. Somewhere in my memory drifted something Simon once said about girls going nuts for guys who kiss guys. Apparently Clary was reading this Asian comic full of it at the time. I wasn't completely sure how to react at the time.
The little redhead was stealing a kiss of her own from Jace as I slipped away from the dance floor.
"Thank you, Doctor." I said, ducking my head and hoping I wasn't turning red. Or that if I was it wouldn't be noticeable with all the lights flashing in different colours around us. "Our table is just this way."
Nice one, Alec. It was the first time these guys saw me outside of work and I was all over some guy. Never mind that he was my best friend, or that nothing like that had ever happened before, they didn't know that. I tried not to groan outwardly.
"Zach." The Doctor said. I almost didn't hear it over the sound of the pounding music.
I blinked, regretting drifting off in my own thoughts. I looked down at him because I was higher up the staircase. Usually we were around equal height.
"Pardon?" I asked.
"You don't have to call me 'Doctor' all the time." The Doctor said. "Zach is fine."
I thought about it. For one brain-dead moment I questioned what parent would name their child 'Zach Zachariah', before I realised that was dumb and he was obviously withholding one of his names.
For some reason, I glanced at Imasu. He seemed to be taking stock of the other people around us. I guess I wondered what he called the- Zach. They'd come here together. How close were they?
If nothing else, I'd learned that I should really get to know the people I worked with a little better.
"Well, drinks anybody?" Imasu finally said. I saw him throw another lingering stare towards the dancers in the middle of the room, but I had no idea who he was looking at.
"Sounds good to me." Izzy chimed in out of nowhere. Like she'd been lying in wait for somebody to offer another round. When she asked for something alcoholic Zach laughed, and we went through an awkward moment where he realised my sister wasn't actually joking.
Then he looked uncomfortable again. Not that I was all that thrilled with the idea of her drinking, but I couldn't help but feel the guy needed to loosen up. Watching him felt unsettlingly like watching myself. Hopelessly out of place. And I liked to think I was a little more socially capable than that.
Then, before I knew it, Izzy and Imasu were gone for the bar, and we were left stood alone.
"You know, in Europe the drinking age is lower." I pointed out, hoping to make the situation seem lighter. Even I wasn't twenty-one yet.
Zach – that would never stop feeling weird to say - just laughed.
"I'm not going to get on your case about it." He said. "I was a teenager once."
I scoffed. I couldn't help it. Did he think I saw him as ancient? That was hilarious. Not that he'd get what was so funny, having not met the thirty year old married man I was in love with.
"Not that long ago, either." I said to give him some peace of mind. He smiled and stepped closer, maybe having trouble hearing me over the music. It seemed to be getting louder as the night went on.
"So," he said. Well, called. "Do you need to get back to your boyfriend?"
I flinched, stunned for a second. Did I say something about Magnus out loud? Was he some kind of mind reader?
"I don't have a boyfriend." My voice was a little too quick and a little too high in pitch to make me sound anything but guilty. Even though it was a technically true statement.
"So the blonde guy...?" Zach asked, glancing over to the dance floor for a second.
Then my brain kicked into gear. I was so stupid sometimes.
"No! That's Jace!" I laughed. Panic over. My boss wasn't telepathic. Duh. "We were just goofing around."
Goofing? Who said that anymore?
When Zach didn't look convinced I took his wrist and guided him over to the railing, where looking down we could see Jace. His arms, as I suspected they would be, were locked around Clary. And they moved with each other in such a way that probably would never be deemed appropriate if his girlfriend was a better dancer. Instead, she just looked kind of adorable.
"Jace is very straight." I explained. I realised with a start that I was closer than I thought to Zach's ear. He winced, but didn't shift away, so I lowered my voice a little. "Straightest guy I know."
"And you?" He questioned, turning to face me. His shoulder brushed mine.
I looked quizzical. "What about me?"
"Straight?" He asked, simply, like it was the most obvious question he could ask. I didn't know how to react. I mean, I'd been out for a long time, but out of nowhere my internal alarm was flashing.
Why would he be asking? Wasn't there that whole... Don't-ask-don't-tell thing? Or was that just the army? Did it matter? Did he care?
"No." I blurted. I'd gone too long without saying anything.
Zach didn't react at all; I kind of wanted him to; just so I could know what his stance was. I'd never really encountered homophobia, not offline anyway, but it would be just my luck if my boss was one of them. Finding out and then waiting for me to slip up so he could get rid of me.
Yeah. I really need to work on this pessimistic thing I've got going on. I felt my face drop as I convinced myself of the worst.
Then he moved closer, only inches from my face. Lips parted, and I waited for him to say something. That was when Izzy and Imasu reappeared with the drinks. What seemed like moments later, a signal was given to the guys on the dance floor and we were surrounded by the group again.
The rest of the night was fun. But I never did find out what he wanted to say.
I hope this read well enough; thanks for reading everybody. I know, I know, Magnus was absent. But he's back in the upcoming chapter; "Traditionalist".