A/N: Hey guys! Look! I'm finally posting. Sorry for the huge gap in between updates, but the reason I don't have a writing schedule is because I randomly have bursts of inspiration and really long periods of writer's block. Anyway, here's some cute Alec+Aline friendship AND the start of some Malec. ;)

Aline pulled Alec around the back of the school and promptly collapsed with her back to a tree.

"Wow," Aline breathed, "I haven't done that much exercise since I was required to take gym classes!" Alec sat down next to her. "Alright, down to business: you're an idiot."

"Trust me, I know." Alec sighed. "I'm doomed."

"Whaddya say we cut class?" Aline offered, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

"Whoa, are you kidding? My parents will murder me! I'm already in enough trouble as is!"

"Ok then, I have a plan."

"Oh no, you have a plan."

"Yes, I have a plan." Aline stood up with her hands on her hips, looking determined and stubborn. She offered Alec her hand. "Come with me."

"How in the world did you do that?" Alec questioned as Aline was driving his car home.

"Oh, just a few tricks I picked up in elementary school. Trust me, I've faked being sick more times than I've taken a test in my life."

"Okay, but what was that tablet you gave me?" Alec asked, concerned.

"It wasn't drugs, if that's what you're thinking." She smiled in a way that made Alec not believe her. "It just makes a thermometer think you have a fever." She took both her hands off of the steering wheel to put her hair up.

"Where did you… Hey!" Alec exclaimed, pushing her hands back down. "Where did you get them?" Aline smiled creepily, but didn't answer. "You scare me sometimes, Ali."

"Good." Aline blew her hair out of her face. "And don't call me Ali or you'll have a reason to be afraid, Mr. Goody-Two-Shoes." She scrunched her eyebrows together, trying to look angry, but Alec saw that the corner of her lip kept turning up. She was trying not to smile.

"You know, I've never understood that phrase. I mean, are rule followers the only ones who wear two shoes or something?" Aline's angry face broke down and she started to laugh.

"You know, you're right," she said, giggling. "It really doesn't make any sense." She pulled into Alec's driveway and took the keys out of the car. "Do you need anything? Like for me to carry you out of the car?" She said with a fake sympathetic look on her face. Alec made a face.

"I'm not actually sick." Alec got out of the car and stole the keys from Aline to unlock the front door. "Isabelle is gonna kill you." Aline said, flopping on the couch. "Who's she gonna get a ride from?"

"Jace or someone." Alec sat down next to her.

"Hey, don't sit that close to me!" Aline said, pretending to be disgusted. "I don't want to get sick!" Alec just shook his head, and Aline smiled, snuggling up next to him like a cat. Suddenly, she smirked.

"I don't like that look." Alec said warily.

"Have you ever seen Mean Girls?" Aline asked. Alec frowned.

"No, why?"

"Oh boy, do I have a movie for you."

"I'm almost positive I don't own that movie."

"You don't, but Izzy does. I know she does."

After almost an hour of digging through Isabelle's excessive movie collection, Aline yelled, "Aha!" And held up a pink movie.

"That looks like the dumbest movie ever." Alec moaned.

"It is." Aline agreed. "But the main character is basically you." Alec snatched the movie from Aline's hand.

"I fail to see how a redhead girl who kind of looks like Clary could ever be 'basically me'." Aline stole the movie back and put the DVD in the DVD player.

"Trust me, Alec." She pointed to Regina George on the cover of the movie. "You see that one? She's Sebastian." Alec laughed.

"Now that makes sense! Now let me guess; she's a self-possessed popular girl who everyone loves but is actually a bully." Aline spit out a laugh.

"Spot on. See, I told you, she's Sebastian."

"I still don't believe you about the redhead." Alec said.

"The redhead's name is Cady Heron and she's dumb."

"If she's dumb, she can't be me." Alec tried to protest.

"She's not 'not smart dumb,'" Aline smiled, "she's like 'gives in to popularity so she doesn't get bullied by Regina George' dumb."

"Hey!" Alec said, trying to protest again. "Well… I guess that kind of is me."

"Yeah, and she has two awesome gay friends as well. Cady equals Alec." Aline sing-songed.

"Why are we watching this movie anyway?"

"Why not?" Aline shot back.

"Because it's almost Halloween. Let's watch something scary like The Shining."

"Nope." Aline said, pushing him onto the couch. Alec groaned, but stayed where he was. Aline started the movie. "I'm going to go make some coffee. I'll be right back."

"You mean I have to watch some stupid chick flick alone?" Alec shouted after her.

"I said I'll be right back! Plus, aren't gay guys supposed to like chick flicks?" Alec flushed, and was glad Aline wasn't there to see it.

"Make me some coffee!"

"I know! I will!" Alec was about to tell her what he wanted in it, but she yelled, "I know you want just sugar, one scoop! No need to tell me!" Alec smiled.

"Thanks, Ali!" He teased. Aline walked into the room, holding the coffee pot threateningly.

"No." Was all she said before walking back into the kitchen.

"I am not anything like Cady!" Alec shouted, a bit louder than he should've. Aline threw popcorn in his face.

"Yes, you are. Plus, now that you've seen the movie, you have to push Sebastian into a bus and become homecoming queen."

"Four problems with that:" Alec began, "One, if I pushed Sebastian into a bus, his dad would kill me. Two, Cady didn't actually push Regina into a bus. Three, I'm not going to homecoming, and four, I'm not a girl."

"Wait, you're not going to homecoming?" Aline frowned. "So that's why you haven't asked me yet!" She threw more popcorn at him. "Dummy. Our relationship is supposed to be believable."

"I just don't want to go." Alec said.

"So I have to go alone?" Aline's bottom lip trembled and her eyes began to water.

"Nice try, Aline. I can tell when you're faking." Alec said, but immediately felt guilty. Aline began to cry, and Alec wrapped his arms around her.

"Fine, I'll go." He relented. Aline looked up, her eyes wet.

"Promise." Alec sighed.

"I promise." Aline rubbed her eyes and laughed.

"I know just how to play you." She smirked. "Any tears and you break down."

Alec took the opportunity to retaliate and threw popcorn back at Aline.

"You suck." He said, catching a piece of popcorn Aline threw at him in his mouth.

"I should be an actress! Nice." She acknowledged Alec catching the popcorn.

"We got to watch your movie, it's my turn now." Alec said, getting up to grab a movie. Aline shrieked.

"Nope, nope, nope-ity nope nope nope."

"The Conjuring." Alec said, holding up the case.

"I HATE scary movies!" Aline protested.

"Well I HATE chick flicks!" Alec shot back. Aline glared at him.

"We need more popcorn." She said. "I volunteer!" She tried to get up, but Alec pushed her back down.

"Nope. It's my turn now." Alec put the DVD into the player and walked into the kitchen to make more popcorn. He took a packet out of the pantry and put it in the microwave while grabbing glasses to make root beer floats. After a minute or so he smelled smoke, so he turned around to check on the popcorn. The microwave was in flames. His eyes widened and he ran to get the fire extinguisher.

"Did you burn the popcorn?" Aline yelled from the living room.

"More than just the popcorn!" Alec yelled back.

"What?" Aline questioned, confused. "I'll be right there." She ran into the kitchen and saw the fire.

"I told you I should've made it!" She yelled over the sound of the fire extinguisher.

"My parents are going to kill me." Alec said after extinguishing the flames. Aline shrugged.

"Probably." She rubbed the burnt microwave with a paper towel. Barely any soot came off. "You can barely tell this was just on fire! Except for the fact that it's hot." She rubbed her fingers. Opening the microwave, she carefully took out a bubbling mess of popcorn and plastic. "Seriously, Alec? You left the plastic on?" She shook her head.

"At least I made root beer floats." Alec offered her one. She took it. "Now let's go finish the movie." Aline grimaced, but followed Alec back into the living room.

Aline spent most of the movie with her head in between her knees, and even got so scared at one point when she was taking a sip of her root beer that she threw the entire thing in her face and yelled "SHIT!" At the top of her lungs. Luckily, no soda got on the couch, but she had to borrow some of Isabelle's clothes.

"How in the world does Izzy fit in these?" Aline questioned, referring to a pair of skinny jeans she had taken from Isabelle's room. "It's impossible."

"Well, you fit in them."

"Not well."

"Whatever. Anyway, you don't get anymore root beer. I don't want my parents to come home and find out I've ruined the microwave and the couch."

"Aw, come on!" Aline complained. "Well, I guess it's okay. I've probably had too much anyway."

"Hey, let's go for a walk." Alec offered. "I think I've had enough of sitting around and eating junk food.

"You can never have too much junk food. But yeah, a walk would be nice."

Magnus hated staying at home doing nothing. Yes, his back still hurt, but he could walk around after a couple hours of resting. He left the house and went to a calm, quiet park and scrambled up a tree, like he usually did when he didn't want to bother Catarina and his mother was being a jerk. It hurt more than then pulled out a book that Maia had lent him called "Legend" by Marie Lu (A/N: read it! It's amazing) and a bag of almonds out of his backpack. A squirrel climbed up the tree, saw Magnus, and cocked its little head. Magnus held out an almond in the palm of his hand and the squirrel took it. Suddenly, Magnus heard voices.

"That's strange," He said to the squirrel, "Almost no one comes around here." He peered through the leaves and saw two familiar black haired people. "Alec and Aline? Shouldn't they be at school?" He wondered aloud. The squirrel seemed to shrug and scurried away. Magnus bent over to look closer to determine it was them, and then he was falling. Alec looked up, and his eyes opened in shock. Magnus, not wanting to hurt Alec, somehow grabbed a branch as he was falling and swung out of the way, landing on the ground. On his back. Oh my god, I'm dying. He thought to himself.

"Are you okay?" Alec asked, concern written all over his brow. No, no I'm not. He thought.

"Oh, come on!" Aline cried. "You were supposed to be his knight in shining armor, catching him in your arms majestically!" She used exaggerated hand movements and ended it all with a twirl. Magnus saw Alec's face flush, but Alec still offered his hands to help Magnus up. "Why were you in a tree?" Aline asked curiously.

"Catarina wanted me to stay home today." Magnus answered, taking Alec's hands. They were warm and strong and… He shook his hair out of his face. "I'm not a big fan of sitting inside all day. What about you guys?" He stood with difficulty.

"Sebastian trouble." Alec said.

"Your friend Catarina is a badass." Aline added approvingly. Magnus' eyes widened.

"What did she do?" He was a little nervous. Cat could lose her temper sometimes, and that wouldn't be good around someone like Sebastian.

"She saved Alec's life." Aline said solemnly, her eyes large like a young child's.

"Not really. But she did beat the shit out of Sebastian." Alec said. Aline gasped and put her hand on her chest.

"Alexander Gideon Lightwood!" She reprimanded, like a mother would. "Did you just…" She took a hiatus for dramatic effect, "swear?"

"Calm down, you do it all the time." Alec said.

"Yeah, but you would never! You are a perfect, innocent small child."

Magnus' eyes flickered between the two of them. They bantered like two people who were the best of friends, which he supposed they were. It reminded him of Catarina. Aline's black hair swished back and forth as she crossed her arms across her chest and smiled knowingly at Alec, in a way that said 'I know I'm right', just like Catarina would do when they argued. Alec had a look of stubbornness on his face, but a different look in his big, blue eyes that showed that he knew that Aline was right. Just by witnessing that, Magnus knew for sure that their relationship was a platonic one, even though they said otherwise. Maybe I have a chance then? He thought to himself, but then shook the thought off. He'd never date me. I'm a guy, and a Downworlder. Unlovable.

"Anyway, Magnus," Aline's voice sounded and Magnus snapped back to attention. "Wanna come walk with us?"

The early chill of autumn nipped at Alec's nose and ears as they walked along, Aline filling what would've been an awkward void of silence with mindless chatter. Alec kept stealing looks at Magnus and noticed he had his jacket pulled up to his chin, which gave Alec the almost uncontrollable urge to give him his scarf. But he resisted, somehow.

Aline talked as they walked, neither Magnus nor Alec saying a thing. Magnus felt oddly warm in the cold weather. Maybe it was his jacket. Or maybe it was the fact that every once in a while Alec's hand would accidentally touch his and make his heart flutter. Magnus tried to fight the urge to look at Alec, but his eyes betrayed him and he noticed that Alec's ears were turning red. In Magnus' pocket was the hat that Catarina had bought him for his birthday. Should I give it to him? He wondered.

"Do you want a hat?" Alec heard Magnus say while Aline was on a break from her talking to breathe. He looked over and saw the taller boy holding a black hat. There was only one problem: the hat was completely covered in golden glitter. Magnus seemed to notice the way Alec looked at the hat and put it back in his pocket.

"Sorry, it's probably too flashy for you." He said, his face red. Alec was much too polite to refuse a kind offer like that, and he would never say no to Magnus anyway.

"No!" Alec said. "I would love to borrow your hat." He blushed a little. "You just didn't strike me as the glitter type." Magnus half-smiled and ran his hand through his thick, shiny black hair.

"Yeah, well… Glitter is really underrated." Magnus said, handing Alec the hat. He slid it over his head. It was actually really warm and soft.

"Thanks." Alec said gratefully.

"No problem." Magnus responded. Aline cleared her throat.

"Okay, boys, I'm going to go get some apple cider from that coffee shop over there so I can stop being the third wheel over here. Do you guys want any?"

"No thanks." Magnus and Alec said at the same time.

"Alright, suit yourselves. I'll be right back." She left seeming to be smirking to herself. Alec thought he heard her say, "Don't make up without me." But that made no sense. Alec and Magnus sat down on a bench in a way that any closer would uncomfortable but any farther away would be awkward.

"So," Magnus said, attempting to start a conversation, "what exactly did Catarina do?"

"Well, Sebastian was about to hit me, but Catarina… Poked him. A lot. And he fell over."

"Pressure points." Magnus nodded. "Catarina's training to be…"

"A nurse, right?" Alec said. Magnus nodded again. "How's that going to work? Her being a Downworlder and all." Alec mentally kicked himself for being stupid enough to say that. "I mean, us Marked aren't good at giving Downworlders good jobs like that."

"Don't say us." Magnus reprimanded him. "You and Aline aren't like that." There was silence for a second, but it felt like forever. "Anyway, she wants to work at a Downworlder hate crime clinic. You know, where they send severely wounded Downworlders who are victims of a hate crime." There was another silence.

"You know," Alec said quietly. "I think it's cool that we can just talk."

"With no judgement or prejudice." Magnus added just as quietly.

"I'm sorry about my parents."

"You can't choose who you're born to." He sounded as if he was speaking from experience. "It's not your fault." Alec noticed that Magnus had moved his hand closer towards the space between them. Alec's thumb twitched, and he placed his hand on top of Magnus'. They sat in silence, just like that, Alec's hand over Magnus', until Aline returned.

Yay! Malec is finally happening. Also, I was writing some of this on October 3rd, so that's the reason for the whole Mean Girls thing. Hopefully you guys thought it was cute. I hope you enjoyed my extra writing as a gift because of my extreme break in between writing. Please review, tell me what you want to happen later on! I'll try to write quicker next time. Also, any anime fans, check out DinoGods17 's story for Fairy Tail, as I'm beta-ing for them right now. Also also, thanks to Alecline and Hera/Jaia for betaing-ish. Sorry again!

Amma Lightstairs