Magnus Bane, a Downworlder and one of the most unnoticed boys in Idris High, was watching one of the Marked. In his defense, the boy he was watching was very attractive. High cheekbones, nice jawline, muscles, and beautiful, innocent blue eyes. But in the three days Magnus had watched him, he hadn't done anything. He had noticed him watching Mark get beaten up by Sebastian, and had seen a look in his eyes like he wanted to stop it, but he just... Hadn't. Like all the Marked, he supposed. But there was a look in his eyes... That boy didn't seem like the rest of the Marked.
The real reason Magnus was watching him was because he was jealous. Jealous that one person could be attractive, have his absolute favorite hair and eye color combination, and have a mark on his hand. That and a significant other. That was all Magnus wanted in his life, and that boy had it. He probably had the sweetest parents as well, not like Magnus' stepfather. Magnus' real father had been a Downworlder, just like him, but had tricked his mother into believing he was one of the Marked. When Magnus was born, he ran off before she discovered his secret. Magnus' mother tolerated Magnus because he was her own kin, but his stepfather hated him. He beat him every night, without his mother knowing. There were scars on his shoulders from when his stepfather's fingernails dug into his skin. That was why Magnus was jealous of the boy, for having a loving family.
"Hi." A female voice said from behind him. Turning around, he saw his two best friends, Catarina Loss and Ragnor Fell. Catarina frowned and pushed Magnus' overgrown hair out of his face. "Show your eyes, Magnus. They're pretty."
Ragnor scoffed.
"You say that to everyone, Catarina. But seriously, Magnus, you're going to run into one of the marked and get beaten up all 'cause you couldn't see out of your hair curtain."
Magnus smiled. He loved his friends.
"Hey, Ragnor, Maia, Lily, Raphael, Mark and Helen are all coming over tonight for Downworlder Rights Club. Wanna come?" Catarina asked. The club she had invented, Downworlder Rights Club, was just a bunch of people complaining and eating popcorn. Some of Magnus' favorite things.
"Yeah, sure. I'll be there at two forty five." Magnus said, right before the bell rang.
"Okay. See you at lunch!" Catarina waved and walked away with Ragnor.
Even though Magnus was good at school, he hated it. All the Marked acting like they're better than everyone. Magnus was glad that it was lunch time so he could talk to his friends. He sat down at a table with his best friends, Helen, Mark, Lily, Catarina, Ragnor, Raphael, and Maia. They all waved hello. While they ate lunch, they discussed random things, like what would happen if the world had a self destruct button or how time travel worked. Magnus was only half listening. The other half of his attention was being used to watch the blue eyed boy, who sat next to a girl named Aline. Magnus knew her name because Helen was always talking about how she wasn't like the other Marked, how she was partnered with her in English class. Magnus could tell she had a huge crush on her, but she was dating the blue eyed boy, as far as he could tell.
"Hey, Downworlders." A voice spat. It was Sebastian Morgenstern and his cronies, of course. "You should probably know that the Marked are way better than you, and just the name Mark," he glared at Mark, "shouldn't be allowed for filthy Downworlders. So," he said, cracking his knuckles. "We thought we might teach you a lesson about standing up to us. He grabbed Helen, who went pale in surprise, and punched her, very hard, in the jaw. She collapsed to the floor. Mark jumped up to protect his sister, when a voice sounded.
"Sebastian, quit it." It was Aline Penhallow. "You already beat them up this morning, give it a rest." She helped Helen up, who started to blush.
"Are you standing up for these filthy Downworlders? They are less than us!" Sebastian snarled.
"You shouldn't hit them." The blue eyed boy had come up behind Aline. Seeing the look on Sebastian's face, he paled. "I...I mean...the lunch lady is looking this way, and...um...you know she doesn't tolerate that. I don't want to get you in trouble, Sebastian." Sebastian looked at him in confusion, then a look of normalcy. He clapped him on the shoulder.
"Thanks, bro. Us Marked, see, we look out for each other." Sebastian said, walking away. Aline and the blue eyed boy gave the Downworlders embarrassed smiles and walked back to their tables. The blue eyed boy glanced over his shoulder on the way back, and looked Magnus directly in the eyes. Magnus melted.