Maia knew why she had been so cruel to Jace, though she wasn't so keen to admit it to herself let alone anyone else. It probably said more about her than it did about him, and she didn't like that feeling. At the time she hadn't been quite as aware of the motivations behind her actions, but now with some time and thought, Maia was pretty sure she'd figured it out. Jace reminded her of Daniel, the brother she would never be able to match. Maia had long ago accepted that her parents would never look at her the way they looked at him, but that didn't mean she should be projecting those feelings on Jace just because they were both stereotypically good looking guys who seemed to whine about having everything. Maia was also ashamed of how good it had felt to hurt Jace. It was Daniel and her parents that she wanted to yell at, not him. If only she wasn't so scared to just tell them how she really felt, maybe she wouldn't have blown up at Jace like that.

Then again, there had also been some truth in what she'd said. All Jace had to do was wait for his soulmate to come back to him, while she had to watch Jordan happy with someone else. Of course, another main difference is fault. Clary's circumstances had been beyond Jace's control, while Maia had no one else to blame but herself. How many times had she thought back to all those missed opportunities? How many times had he been right there, telling her how he felt? How many times had she let him walk away without even trying to figure out what she truly wanted? If even once she'd given him a moments hope, maybe he wouldn't have moved on when he did? But no, every time he'd be kind, every time he'd showed her he still cared, she'd turned him away. And even after that, she'd let the idea of them float around in the back of her mind as something that would always be there if she changed her mind! What the hell was wrong with her? At the time, she'd convinced herself it was because they hadn't worked out, or because she liked being single. She'd denied reality until it had come crashing up to hit her in the face. The reality was that Maia was lonely and she'd missed her chance, missed so many chances. When she'd learned of his parents interference, Maia should have run into Jordan's arms.

Maia banged her head on the table. Her thoughts were in no way helping her with her homework, but that wasn't the only thing hindering her progress. Her stupid computer was acting up again. The best way she could describe it was like a twitch. The mouse would start shaking on the screen, then suddenly vanish for a while before reappearing. Maybe it was time to take it to an actual tech guy, even if it would probably cost her an arm and a leg, because it wasn't like she could go ask Jordan for help. She knew he'd be able to fix it, but the idea of going to ask him made her stomach all twisted. Maybe she could get away with not fixing it for a while longer. After all, the glitch didn't seem to be interfering with anything major.

She was saved from her thoughts by a knock at the door. Getting up from the table, she went to get the door. To her great surprise there stood Alec.

"My sister around?" Alec asked.

"She's at class," Maia replied automatically. "Why?"

"The plan was to convince her to order food," Alec explained. "But if she isn't here…" Moved past Maia and into the apartment, Alec went straight for the kitchen.

"You're going to raid our fridge?" Maia finished his sentence as she watched him do just that. Alec didn't answer so Maia followed him, and then watched as he snooped his way through her every cupboard.

"Is Magnus starving you or something?" Maia laughed.

"My mom is," Alec grumbled. Then he closed the final cupboard with a groan. "And your guys food sucks."

"What are you talking about?" Maia huffed. "I just went grocery shopping two days ago."

"I'm hungry," Alec whined. He was looking all together rather pathetic, and Maia decided to take pity on him.

"Oh alright fine," she sighed. "I'll make you something. What do you want?"

"Sushi!" Alec said.

"Yeah can't make that," Maia replied. "How about stir fry?"

"Meh," Alec grumbled. It was then that Maia decided Alec wasn't quite as bad off as he seemed.

"When did she cut you off exactly?" Maia asked.

"Yesterday!" Alec exclaimed. "It's hell."

"Oh dear…" Maia whispered.

"And Magnus is no help," Alec continued. "He keeps saying there's plenty of food in the cupboards, and the rents paid for the next two months, so what's the problem?"

"Yeah, I'm gonna agree with Magnus on this one," Maia nodded. "That doesn't sound like a problem to me."

"Not you too," Alec whined. He was doing a lot of that today in Maia's opinion.

"Yes me too," Maia replied. "It sounds to me like you are just complaining, rather than actually working on solving your problem."

"And I had to cancel the maid!" Alec exclaimed, clearly not listening to her. "Do you know what that means?"

"You might have to clean something?" Maia shrugged.

Looking like his entire world had crumbled under him, Alec left the kitchen and collapsed face first onto the sofa.

"Has anyone ever told you that you're a drama queen?" Maia asked casually.

"No," came Alec's muffled reply through the pillow.

"Well, you most definitely are," Maia stated firmly, then added in a light teasing but still serious voice, "Get up, get a job and stop whining, ya overgrown baby."

Alec sat up, looking pathetic but somehow more composed. "I suck," he said.

"Lazy yeah," Maia replied. "Not so great with change, for sure, but let's not generalize."

"I can't get a job," Alec said. "Who in their right mind would hire me?"

"I find it hard to believe you've only now realized you'd have to get a job one day," Maia laughed. "I mean you can't be a student forever."

"I hadn't really thought about it," Alec shrugged. "After all, it's another year till grad."

"And what makes you think future you will be any better at problem solving?" Maia asked.

Alec shrugged before replying. "Future me will be older."

"Oh boy," Maia sighed. "Okay, why don't you apply to one of the companies your parents own? Might help you get your leg in the door."

"I don't know," Alec sighed. "Then I'd be the boss's, boss's boss's kid."

"Then work somewhere else?" Maia suggested.

"Arug!" Alec groaned.

"There there," Maia chuckled, patting him on the back in a slightly condescending, but still mostly kind way.

Once again, Maia was interrupted by her front door. This time though it was her roommates. Izzy entered the room with Simon beside her. The two of them were in the middle of a conversation, but it ended when they saw Alec.

"He's here to steal our food," Maia added helpfully when Izzy looked confused.

"And what's so wrong with your food that you have to come here for mine?" Izzy asked, taking off her fall boots before moving farther into the apartment. Simon remained by the door, jacket on.

"Mom cut me off," Alec mumbled just loud enough for his sister to hear.

"Well, don't expect any sympathy from me," Izzy huffed. "I've been telling you for years that you eat out too much."

"Mom said she was cutting you off too!" Alec snapped back.

"Not today though," Izzy grinned at him, walking forward to pinch her brother's cheeks, which Alec didn't seem to enjoy at all. "Today you're SOL, not me."

"SOL?" Maia asked.

"Shit outta luck," Izzy explained with a laugh.

"Now Izzy," Simon began, speaking for the first time since arriving. "Don't you think you are being a little harsh."

"Oh, but harsh is so much fun," Izzy argued.

"Yes, but he's your brother," Simon continued. "It wouldn't kill you to show some sympathy."

"Urg," Izzy groaned. "How dare you try and turn me into a better person." Simon laughed and then Maia watched as Izzy went forward to hug her brother. Then she picked something up from the kitchen table and moved back to the door.

"There, done," Izzy grinned. "See you later." She slipped her boots back on and made to leave.

"Wait, where are you going?" Alec asked.

"Out to lunch," Izzy giggled.

"But you just got here?" Maia inquired, confused.

"Take me with you!" Alec pleaded, but Izzy ignored him and seconds later, Maia was alone with Alec again.

"She did that just to spit me," Alec grumbled. "Stupid sister."

"There are worse siblings, trust me," Maia said. "So how about that stir fry?"

Alec didn't respond, but rather collapsed face first on the couch again. Realizing she was hungry, Maia went to make herself a simple snack as she wasn't quite hungry enough to make a full meal for one. As she prepared her toast with peanut butter, Maia ignored the rather pathetic lump on her couch.

"Lunch is the worst meal of the day," Alec said into his pillow as Maia ate her toast. "It's like you're hungry enough for a full meal, but you don't want to invest in one, you know?"

"I really don't," Maia chuckled at him. "Move over." Maia made herself space on the couch and started scrolling through netflix on Izzy's tv as she ate.

They were halfway through an episode of some comedy show Maia hadn't picked out too carefully, and would likely never watch again, when the front door opened.

"Where is that ridiculous husband of mine?"

Maia pointed very obviously at the Alec shaped lump taking up two thirds of the couch.

"There you are!" Magnus stated firmly as he moved quickly to Alec's side. "Get up!"

"Don't wanna," Alec whined. Maia watched as Magnus grabbed Alec by the arm and tried to make him sit up, without success. Magnus sighed and then joined them on the couch.

"It really isn't that bad," Magnus tried to tell Alec. "Come home and I'll make us something."

"It's not that," Alec mumbled so quietly Maia almost didn't hear him.

"What is it then?" Magnus asked.

"It was my idea you take the volunteer job," Alec began so quietly, Maia almost felt rude for eavesdropping, even though they were in her living room. "And, I mean I've always been able to take care of you, but now-" Though Magnus was looking at Alec, Alec couldn't bring himself to, and instead spoke to the pillow in his hands. "Now I can't."

"That isn't how this works Alec," Magnus said calmly. "Life is going deal us cards that we don't like, and we are going to change and grow. The important thing is that we grow together and we face change together."

"I know, I just-" Alec began again. "I love you."

"Not really following your logic there, but I love you too," Magnus chuckled. "Now can we please go home?"

Alec looked up, his eyes dreamy as he gazed at his husband. Maia was having a hard time not tearing up herself, and was very glad the newlyweds left before anyone noticed.

"Stupid sentimental moment," Maia muttered to herself as she looked for something with blood and violence to watch instead.

But then she was smiling again. She'd give Alec a few weeks to search on his own, and if he didn't find anything, she'd try to get him a job at her grocery store. It was locally owned, and in no way related to his parents companies which Alec would probably appreciate.

Not long after Malec left, Maia found herself with yet another couple walking in her front door. The difference being that this was the one who one lived here. Maia would have been really happy living with Simon if not for the Sizzy factor. They both walked in with dovey eyed expressions, gazing at each other, or so it seemed to Maia. Then again, if she could be happy for Alec and Magnus, she supposed she should learn to be happy for Izzy and Simon too. Stupid people and their stupid happiness. Where did one find the rare priceless commodity she was dying to know.

"Alec's gone I take it?" Izzy asked.

"Yep," Maia replied. "His husband collected him."

"Good," Izzy grinned. "Magnus can fix him. Now what's for lunch?"

"I thought you went out for lunch?" Maia scoffed.

"Nah, I was just teasing Alec," Izzy replied. "We had a study group thing. I came home to get my notes." And Izzy held up the item Maia had seen her take off the table, which it turned out was a notebook.

"You two are the worst," Maia laughed.

Izzy made sandwiches for herself and Simon, while Maia made herself turn off netflix in favour of homework. It was a slow and tedious process that made her want to bang her head on the wall. The computer acting up was in no way helping anything.

Maia resolved to just bite the bullet and take the stupid thing into a shop if it was still acting strange by the end of the week.

Who is sick of Maia's whining? I know my editor is. ^_^ Also Alec isn't really any better right now... lol

Sneak Peek Chapter 129

"Okay now breath," Simon told her. "Life as we know it isn't ending because you're computer sucks."

And like that her anger disappeared. She collapsed into a chair looking rather pathetic. Simon decided she needed a hug.

"It's a good thing your computer isn't broken," Simon told her as he got up to go over to her. "Isn't it?"

"The desktop icons are vanishing," Maia groaned. "The guest login is gone too."

"Did you tell the tech guys that?"

"Yes!" Maia exclaimed, her anger coming back with a vengeance. "They just said I probably forgot that I deleted them. Idiots!"

"Alright bring it in," Simon said holding his arms out. "Yep that's right this hug is mandatory." Maia laughed slightly, but accepted the hug.