Mason was moving backwards and forwards, holding a defensive stance, and occasionally falling to the ground intentionally as if avoiding an attack. It was the practice drill Jace had just assigned him, and the guy wasn't half bad so long as he wasn't interacting with anyone, but as soon as Mason started practicing the contact part of this contact sport, he froze up. There was no getting around the fact that wrestling is a contact sport, and Mason wasn't getting any better. A part of Jace wanted to suggest Mason join the soccer team or something. Though Jace supposed that could just be the part of him that didn't want to be here.

"Okay let's do this again," Jace said, trying to stop himself from sighing with frustration. Mason looked nervous but moved closer. "Now your hand goes here," Jace pointed to the side of his neck. "And you have to flip me over. Understand?" Mason nodded but without much conviction. More gently than he should have, Mason's hand made contact with Jace's neck.

"You aren't going to knock me down with that attitude," Jace said. "Come on." Mason's grip improved, but only slightly. "Alright better, now move your other hand around my shoulder, hold me down and knock me over." But Mason's movements were still too slow. If this was a real match, Jace would have had Mason pinned a long ass time ago.

Finally letting out a sigh of frustration, Jace moved away. He took a deep breath before speaking. "Okay, let's try this another way," he said. Then after a moment of silent thought, Jace gave Mason new instructions. "Pretend there is a person in front of you, and explain to me how you execute the move without actually doing it."

"My hand goes up under your arm and around the back of your head," Mason said. "Then I tuck your head into your shoulders, and flip you."

"See that's perfect," Jace said. "So do that."

"Easier said than done," Mason mumbled.

"I just don't understand why though," Jace replied. "I've seen you pull this off in group practice before."

"Yeah," Mason mumbled.

"So is it just me you don't like touching?" Jace asked, trying and failing to contain his annoyance. "Because if so, I could get one of the other guys on the team to train you, no problem."

"That isn't what I meant," Mason mumbled. "Nevermind."

"Hey, I'm sorry okay," Jace said, gesturing apologetically. "I just don't understand, and it doesn't help that I kinda resent the fact that I am stuck here every Wednesday night instead of hanging out with my girlfriend, though that isn't your fault because the silly woman went and signed up for defense classes on Wednesdays anyway, so even if I wasn't here, I wouldn't be with her."

"Yeah," Mason said in a small voice. He was looking down at the floor now. Jace never got the impression that Mason enjoyed their training sessions, but this was different. Mason seemed to deflated as if Jace's words had cost him something.

"What's wrong?" Jace asked.

"It's nothing," Mason replied, but it was very obviously not nothing.

"Listen," Jace began. "We are both stuck here till seven, so either we can train - which I don't think you are too keen on - or you can tell me what's up?"

Still Mason didn't say anything, and Jace reached his breaking point. "Why did you join the team anyway?" Jace asked too loudly, frustrated at the whole situation. He'd resisted asking this question every Wednesday night for months now, and he was done. "I mean you clearly don't enjoy it and I'm sorry, but I gotta be honest, you aren't that great at it either."

"It's okay," Mason mumbled. "I know I suck."

"Then quit," Jace said.

"I-" Mason began.

"As far as I know, you don't have any good friends on the team, you aren't trying to impress a girl, and you aren't required to be on the team for a scholarship," Jace exclaimed. "I really don't think you have a great love for the sport itself, unless you are really secretive about it. I don't understand what could possibly be keeping you here?"

"You," Mason's voice was so quiet, Jace was sure he'd misheard.

"Didn't catch that?"

"You're keeping me here," Mason whispered, just slightly louder. He was looking down at the ground now, shuffling his feet as if trying to make himself seem smaller.

"Yeah, well I'm supposed to be teaching you till seven," Jace stated, confused. "So I guess I am technically keeping you here now, but I don't see how that matters in the grand scheme of things."

"No, not that," Mason whispered. Then he took a deep breath looked up and said. "I joined the team to get closer to you."

Jace had absolutely no idea what this guy was talking about. If Mason wanted to be such close friends, why the hell was Mason so afraid of touching him?

"You know what," Jace sighed. "I'm tired. You're tired. Let's call it an early night, shall me? I won't tell the coach if you won't." But when Jace turned to leave he suddenly felt Mason's hand on his arm. Turning back to Mason, Jace found himself locked in the other man's gaze, and it was then that Jace saw it, something in Mason's face he hadn't noticed before. He knew the expression well, however he'd never before seen it on a man's face directed at him. Jace couldn't help his reaction. Startled, he jumped back, quickly getting out of Mason's reach, putting space between them.

It all happened so fast, Jace barely had time to compose his thoughts before Mason was moving away, running for the exit. Recovering from his shock, Jace jogged after Mason, feeling like a jerk for reacting like that. Within seconds, Jace stood in Mason's path, blocking his way out.

Mason looked scared. His eyes were darting past Jace to the exit, but Jace was determined to not make this any worse than it already was. At least, Mason wasn't actively trying to leave at the moment, but he wouldn't look at Jace either.

"I'll go," Mason whispered, slightly franticly. "I'll quit the team and never bother you again. I'm sorry." His body language still screamed 'run away' as Jace tried to compose a reply.

"Relax," Jace said as calmly as he could. "You just took me off guard, that's all."

"I-" Mason began. "But I saw the look in your eyes."

"Yeah surprise," Jace stated. "Now, before I go assuming that what I saw is what I think I saw, I have to ask." Jace was sure at this point he was right, but in this situation, he felt being sure was important. "Are you gay?"

The moment stretched out, long and silent, until Mason finally nodded.

"Okay then," Jace said. "That explains a few things."

Mason seemed to be waiting for something. He was gazing very keenly at Jace's face, nervous and expectant.

"And if I add two and two together," Jace continued, rationally. "I take it that you like me?" Mason said nothing, but his blush gave him away.

Jace ran his hands through his hair, trying to process. "I need a drink," he chuckled.

"Sorry," Mason muttered again. He looked like he wanted to bolt again, but Jace took a step to the left, and cut off his path. Of course, Jace wasn't holding him, so Mason could have gotten away if he'd really wanted to, but Jace was trying to use his body language to show he wanted Mason to stay and talk.

"You don't have to be sorry," Jace said, with an exhalation of breath. "I know what it feels like to be fixated on something that you can't have. Something that is out of your control. So don't be sorry, Mason. Maybe you should have told me sooner."

"I didn't know how to tell you," Mason said very quickly. "I haven't even told my parents. And I knew it wouldn't matter because you're straight."

"Okay fair point," Jace admitted. "Straight and taken. Kinda ruins it, huh." Mason nodded vigorously. Jace tried not to think about how Clary had been technically taken when he'd been in Mason's shoes, and Jace had managed to break that up. However, Jace had the distinctive advantage of falling for someone who was capable of being attracted to him.

"You don't have to quit the team," Jace informed him. "I'll talk to the coach and get someone else to train you. If you don't want the coach to know why, I'll make something up, promise. I get why this would be awkward for you." Jace couldn't help but imagine how difficult it would have been for him to be asked to platonically touch Clary when he'd been in love with her last year, while she'd been with Simon.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" Mason asked. He seemed more shocked than Jace thought he should be.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Jace asked. He'd experienced turning down interested girls before, so it was only the guy part of this equation that was new to him. Though, Jace had rarely turned down hot girls before he'd gotta all monogamous, he'd turned down plenty that he hadn't been into.

"I thought you'd be disgusted," Mason admitted.

"Yeah, well my best friend is gay," Jace explained. "And I'm hot so… what ya gonna do."

"And your funny," Mason added, with affection. "And kind. You're a good teacher too, even if I was a horrible student."

"You know, I had a crush on a teacher once," Jace said, smiling. "And I failed that class. Don't be too hard on yourself."

"Sorry," Mason said.

"Please stop saying that," Jace sighed. He was trying to remember if there'd been anything that would have made him feel better when he'd been the one confessing unrequired feelings to someone else. "You don't have to be sorry."

"Sorry," Mason said, but this time he was grinning.

"Okay, now you are just doing it to make me feel bad," Jace whined. "And don't quit the team just because of me. I don't need that on my conscience."

"No really it's okay, Jace," Mason replied, smiling. There was an affection to the way he spoke Jace's name, which until this moment Jace hadn't noticed, but he realized now that it had always been there since the day he'd met Mason. "I don't really like wrestling anyway."

"As long as it's what you want and not about me," Jace replied.

"It is promise," Mason smiled. He made to go, but Jace wanted to try one more thing.

"Listen, I know I can't be who you would like me to be, or feel what you want me to feel, but is there anything I can do? We could be friends?"

Mason laughed once without humor before speaking. "As much fun as that sounds," he said sarcastically. "I think I'll pass."

"Fair enough," Jace chuckled.

"But if you ever get bi-curious," Mason replied, grinning back. "Call me, okay?" Laughing, Jace agreed to his terms and Mason walked out of the gym. He was glad Mason had left without feeling put down or insulted, because Mason didn't need to be. Jace felt like he'd dealt with that rather well all things considered. And he didn't have training on Wednesdays anymore. Bonus!

Jace collected his things and headed home only to discover his second surprise of the day: Alec was home.

"You're here," Jace said to his usually absent roommate.

"I live here," Alec reminded him.

"Only in name, my friend," Jace chuckled. Jace sat down next to Alec on the couch, and Alec clipped him around the ear in a teasing manner.

"Ouch," Jace grumbled, robbing the side of his head.

"Are you trying to ditch me?" Alec accused him. "Think you can find a better roommate, huh?"

"Never," Jace laughed. "You pay the maid." Then they were both laughing.

"But like seriously dude, you are never home," Jace said when the laughter died down.

"Magnus is visiting Tessa," Alec explained his presences. Jace knew a bit about what had happened to Tessa, but not much. He'd overheard Alec talking to Magnus on the phone the other day about her having postpartum depression, whatever that was. "She's a bit better now, but Will called earlier and told Magnus she could use a friend, so he went."

"It was good of Magnus to go see her," Jace replied.

"Yeah," Alec sighed, turning at gaze off into space at the wall. Jace looked over just in time to witness the dopey-eyed look on his best friend's face.

"Are you high?" Jace asked, laughing.

"Oxytocin is my gateway drug," Alec grinned.

"Don't get me wrong," Jace said. "Biology wasn't my best subject, but isn't that a hormone?"

"Yep," Alec smiled.

"Why do I remember it being about childbirth?" Jace asked, confused. Had he been asleep that day in Biology 101?

"Ew!" Alec grumbled, hitting Jace with a pillow. "It's the love hormone, genius." His laughter settled down, and Alec continued in a dreamy voice. "I can't imagine being with anyone else but Magnus. It's like my future blurs out if I don't include him in it."

"Yeah, I know what you mean," Jace replied.

"I've been wanting to, or at least thinking about it," Alec started though he wasn't making much sense. "It would help with the money, or at least it might, but still that isn't why. Then again maybe he isn't thinking like I am. He's never mentioned he is thinking of us like that so-"

"You lost me," Jace said, blinking dumbfounded at his friend.

"Nevermind," Alec said. "So how was training with Mason tonight?"

"Well, I found out why he's always so nervous and awkward in training," Jace said.

"Oh why?"

"He likes me," Jace said. "Like he likes me, likes me."

"What are you twelve?" Alec whined. "Likes me, likes me. Who says that?"

"Whatever," Jace said with a wave of his hand. "He's into me, and that's why he joined the wrestling team even though he doesn't like wrestling."

"That's awkward," Alec said. "What are you going to do about it?

"I offered to get him a different trainer, but Mason wants to quit," Jace explained. "I offered to be his friend, but he turned me down."

"Smart man," Alec laughed.

"Yeah," Jace sighed. "And I get my Wednesday nights back… but that doesn't help me since Clary's still got her self defense class."

"Just think all that extra time for homework," Alec chuckled.

"I don't see no text book open near you either there, wise guy," Jace grumbled. Alec rolled his eyes.

"Have you picked a major yet?" Alec asked.

"Yeah," Jace replied. "Sales and Marketing, why?"

"Urg!" Alec groaned laying his head back on the couch. "At this rate, everyone will have a major before me." He paused, pulling his head forward again and asked, "Why did you pick that one?"

"Selling someone something is kinda like picking up girls in bars," Jace replied. "You are just selling a product instead of yourself. I found my sales and marketing classes the easiest so I picked that one. I figure why not put the skills I developed to good use, since I don't plan on picking up girls in bars ever again."

"You can picture yourself with Clary for the rest of your life then?" Alec asked.

"I mean I guess so," Jace replied. "I hadn't really thought about it like that."

"It's all I can think about," Alec said. "Maybe it's because Magnus is graduating next month. It just feels like real life is creeping up on me."

"I supposed I would lose Clary if she dumped me," Jace said, thinking out loud rather absently. He hadn't been listening too closely to what Alec had said. "Or if she dies."

"Just those two scenarios, huh?" Alec chuckled.

"Well yeah. Do you have another one?" Jace asked. Alec shook his head like Jace was missing the joke or something. Then he changed the topic.

"Magnus and Izzy seem to be getting along better," Alec informed him.

"That's good," Jace replied. "Have you heard anything about how Simon is getting on with her? I worry about that nerd sometimes."

"Yeah, it seems like he broke things off with her," Alec explained.

"Really?" Jace asked surprised. "I didn't see that coming."

"I think Izzy was surprised to," Alec said. "It's a pity. I was hoping he'd be good for her."

"Alec," Jace began thoughtfully. "Did you ever have a crush on me?" The resulting laughter from his question was Jace's third shock of the day. Alec doubled over, holding his stomach, unable to breath as he slid almost off the couch onto the floor.

"I'll take that as a no," Jace said.

Disclaimer - I know nothing about wrestling. If any of this turned out like it is meant to wrestling wise you can thank youtube and a google search. :D

Author's notes... author's notes... notes I have to author... yeah I'm drawing a blank. lol. I am rather proud of my update speed with the new full time job and everything so there is that. And it seems some people have picked sides in the one way competition of Izzy and Alec picking majors. I did not realize this would become a thing. o_O Also my beta laughed like crazy at the end there and I hope I made you laugh too. It seems this story has been lacking humour lately! *shocked emoji* That just won't do!

Sneak Peek Chapter 82

"Oh, how is Clary working out as the substitute?" Tessa asked.

"She's at Jace's a lot," Magnus explained. "But when she's home it's great. We watch rom-coms and eat ice cream in onesies."

"Sounds like heaven," Tessa laughed. "So long as that rom-com is Pride and Prejudice."

"You would pick a Jane Austen," Magnus chuckled.

"Why of course!" Tessa replied in mock horror in her best British accent. "Romance hasn't been quite the same since the 1800s."

"You prat," Magnus chuckled. "You weren't alive in the 1800s." Tessa was laughing with him. She had so missed adult conversation. Will worked quite a lot and Jem more often spoke in baby voices these days than adult ones or so it seemed to her. For a man who'd permanently decided he wouldn't have children at the age of eighteen he'd taken to fatherhood like a fish to water.

"Do you want kids, Magnus?" Tessa asked suddenly when their laughter died. She was starting to realize most people talked about this before all the group sex and antibiotics lead to crying infants and she wanted to know what the consensus was. Tessa had already asked a few of her old school friends and been rather fascinated by the results.