The High Warlock of Glitter: Jace isn't as okay with it as he seems.
A/N: This is just pure randomness, but the tradition of putting the tree up the day after Turkey Day is actually one my dad and I have had since forever.
18
It's nice to cuddle under a blanket with Alec and watch scary movies. I like spending time with Izzy, and I don't really wanna tear Jace apart now.
"Tomorrow, we can go get a tree and ornaments if you feel like it," Alec murmurs, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
"Okay. What Christmas traditions do you have?" I reply.
"We used to ball up the scrap wrapping paper and throw it at each other. Jace decided to play baseball with it last year," Izzy tells me.
I can barely make out the glint of her white teeth as she smiles in the dark.
"Neither of you tried telling me not to," Jace adds.
"I've tried telling you no. I might as well talk to the wall," Alec replies.
"It sounds really fun," I offer.
I'm really looking forwards to my first real Christmas.
"Do you guys wanna go with us to get the tree and ornaments? If Magnus is okay with it?" Alec asks.
"I like your family. Except your mom. She can go—" I begin.
"The cat's really starting to grow on me," Jace laughs, cutting me off.
Smiling, I snuggle against Alec. I'm glad Jace isn't being mean to me any more, but I still don't trust him.
I don't wanna get up in the morning. I'm more sore today, but I don't wanna take a painkiller and be stoned and tired for shopping.
"Magnus, we can go this afternoon if you wanna sleep a little longer," Alec murmurs, kissing my hair gently.
"I'm sorry, but that does sound good," I reply, curling up with his pillow.
It smells like him. And I feel better if I have something to cuddle with.
"It's fine. I'll bring you your breakfast and medicine before you go to sleep," he tells me.
Around noon, I stumble into the bathroom to get dressed. I pull on one of my favorite t-shirts, a white one with 'Glitter is for every occasion' on the front, with a sparkly green sweater over it and black jeans. Once I'm done dressing, I get started on my makeup and hair. I use lime green hair chalk on the tips of my hair and set it into spikes with my glitter gel. For my makeup, I use shimmering emerald eyeshadow, gold eyeliner, black mascara, and iridescent red lipgloss that's flavored like punch.
Alec smiles when I come in the living room.
"You okay?" he asks.
"I'm fine. Thanks for letting me sleep."
"You're welcome. Are you looking forwards to this?"
"Besides getting clothes, this is the first shopping trip I want to go on."
"Where's Jace?"
Izzy's sitting next to Alec, but I don't see their brother anywhere.
"He went to get a blood test," Alec explains.
"Oh. I really am sorry about it. I didn't mean to make him sick," I reply.
"You don't know if he's positive or not. And it's not your fault. He should've never done that."
After Jace gets back, the four of us head to Wal-Mart.
"I still hate this," Alec tells me, hooking my leash to the cart.
"I do too," I reply, placing my crutches in the cart.
I limp beside him slowly. Everything is snagging my attention. There's so many different things I never saw before and so many noises. It's louder than any place I've been in before, even the pound.
"The Christmas stuff is all the way back here. If there's anything else you wanna look at, we can," Alec tells me.
We get a pre-lit tree that's almost as tall as I am before moving to get ornaments. Alec and Isabel are a few feet away, looking at some. Jace is standing next to me. He looks really upset and depressed.
"When will you find out your results?" I ask quietly.
"Next week," he replies.
"I hope you don't have it."
He laughs bitterly.
"Shut up, cat. I know you think I deserve it," he tells me.
"No, I don't. The only nice thing about it is Ragnor might have it too," I reply.
He doesn't say anything.
"Baby, what do you think of these?" Alec asks, showing me some really cute kitten ornaments.
"I like those," I reply, smiling.
"Did you find any you liked?"
I show him the tubes of glass ornaments I like. One has black ornaments with gold glitter. One has white with blue glitter. One has light blue with pink glitter.
"I like those. Do you wanna get them? We need a topper and garland. Or do you want just ornaments?" Alec says.
"Okay. The garland's up to you," I reply, placing the tubes in the cart.
"I don't really care for it myself, but it's up to you guys. Jace, do you see any you want?"
Jace shakes his head. He doesn't look a bit happy. And it's my fault.
"Is there anything else you guys wanna look at?" Alec asks.
Izzy and Jace head off in separate directions.
"Thanks for bringing me with you," I murmur, touching Alec's hand gently.
"No problem. Anything you wanna look at?" he replies.
"Besides you?"
He blushes adorably.
"Besides me," he says.
"Books or movies?" I ask.
I don't buy anything, but it's nice to be with him.
After we get done shopping, we stop at Alec's old house so Jace and Izzy can get their stuff.
"Are you sure you're okay with Jace living with us?" Alec asks.
"I'm okay with it. I don't trust him, but I can get along with him. Besides, he's your brother," I reply, smiling.
"I just don't want you to feel like you have to live with him."
I kiss his cheek lightly. I don't know if I'll ever get used to how considerate he is.
When we get back to the apartment, Alec, Izzy, and I put up the Christmas tree. Jace is sulking in his room for some reason.
"Thanks for letting us move in," Izzy says, smiling gratefully.
We had discussed it last night and decided to move them in before things got worse.
"No problem," Alec replies.
It's nice covering the tree with ornaments. I like being able to spend more time with Alec and his siblings.
While Alec showers tonight, I'm curled up on the couch with a mug of hot cocoa and a blanket while I watch TV. Izzy's doing whatever it is girls do. Jace is lounging on the other end of the couch.
"Did you make Alec sick too?" he asks quietly.
"No. Look, Jace, I didn't even know I was positive until now. The other vet never told us," I reply.
He glares at me angrily.
"I don't believe you, cat," he growls.
"I'm not lying. I wouldn't lie about something like that, especially not to Alec," I reply.
"If I'd known you were sick, I wouldn't have helped you."
"Alec would've never forgiven you."
"I'd buy him a new pet."
"He loves me."
"So? You're disease-ridden."
"At least he didn't have me killed like anyone else would've!"
I never raise my voice. Ever. But this really hurt.
"What's going on?" Alec asks.
"You're not gonna do anything about him giving me HIV?" Jace replies.
"You don't even know if you're positive. It's your fault because you were the one that couldn't keep it in your pants and attacked him. I don't feel sorry for you."
Jace looks like he wants to hit one of us.
"You touch him and it'll be the last move you ever make," Alec warns, slipping between us.
"I'm going out. Not sure when I'll be back," Jace replies, stalking out of the apartment.
"I'm sorry," I offer once Jace leaves.
"Why're you sorry? You didn't do it," Alec replies.
"I was talking to him about it earlier. I asked when his results would be in and said I hoped he didn't have it. The only person I'd wish it on is Ragnor because he sucks at being a human being."
"Magnus, you were trying to be nice. Why'd you ask about his results?"
"Talking usually helps. And I wanted him to know I don't particularly hate him right now."
"Thanks for trying to help. I know he's upset about it, but he doesn't need to take it out on you. I'll try to talk to him tonight. I love you."
I think I might be falling for Alec. Or maybe I fell a long time ago and just now realized it. I've never met anyone as amazing as him. He's genuinely caring. And loving. He can be so incredibly shy and it's the most adorable thing I've ever seen. He's more innocent than I've ever been, which makes it even more surprising that he wants someone like me.