"What do history teachers make when they want to get together?"

"I have no idea," Alec replied with only a slight eye roll.

"Dates!" Magnus grinned, unable to stop himself despite Alec's annoyed expression. "Oh and what do history teachers talk about on these dates?"

"I don't think I want to know," Alec said but he was smiling so Magnus decided his history jokes were a forgivable sin and continued.

"The good old days," Magnus laughed.

"You really weren't kidding huh?" Alec said shaking his head. They were sitting together at a table in the cafeteria with their textbooks and papers spread out before them. Alec had very foolishly referenced Magnus' previous conversation about his history skills. Alec had reminded Magnus of the comment he'd made during their first meeting with Aline when she'd joked that should she ever find a need for history facts or jokes in the future she should simply ask Magnus. Magnus was giving Alec a taste of his gifted mastery of history humor to prove just how talented he truly was.

"How do you to play the War of 1812?" Magnus asked.

"I believe you!" Alec implored him. "You can stop."

"By burning down a White House," Magnus smirked.

"Back to homework," Alec said firmly.

"Spoil sport," Magnus pouted. "If you don't like jokes how about pick-up lines." Magnus continued before Alec could say no and ruin his fun. "You must be related to Nikola Tesla because you're electrifying."

"You are relentless," Alec sighed. "You know that right?"

"So I've been told," Magnus said, smiling. "Though usually by Tessa. She likes to quote Charles Dickens to me… and sure technically speaking that's a historical drama but-"

"But you've decided it makes you even so that you can continue tormenting her with your history jokes," Alec said.

"Perceptive," Magnus confirmed. "Aren't you Alexander?"

"Alec," the blue eyed man corrected him.

"But Alexander is such a beautiful name," Magnus complained. "Why don't you like it?"

Alec shrugged. "My parents are the only ones who call me Alexander and usually only when they are mad."

"What could angelic Alexander ever possibly do to anger his parents?" Magnus teased.

"Believe me," Alec laughed. "I had my moments." Before Magnus could inquire as to what those moments might be Camille and Ralf walked into the cafeteria. Magnus froze. Just seeing her was enough to cripple his good spirits. It make him so mad he wanted to hit something, but it also reminded him of how happy he had been when she was on his arm rather than across the room on someone else's. The combination of misery, anger and loss hit Magnus all at once. The force of them overwhelmed him and he laid his head down on the table.

"Just ignore her," Alec said. Magnus felt Alec's hand on his shoulder and was thankful for the comfort, but didn't lift his head. Instead Magnus tried to hide his face more completely in his arms.

"I said ignore her," Alec repeated. "We have a great deal of homework to do remember?" Magnus could hear the smile in Alec's voice. Usually Magnus would call Clary at a time like this, but he was surprised to find Alec's presence to be just as reassuring as hers, if not more so. Magnus took a moment to compose himself before lifting his head.

Alec was smiling at him and Magnus tried to focus on his friend rather than on the emotional heart break across the room.

"You have an essay to write about the civil war remember?" Alec said obviously trying to distract Magnus. "And I have homework too." But despite Alec's efforts Magnus couldn't focus on homework. His eyes darted across the room to stare at her, or maybe he was glaring.

Magnus heard Alec sigh deeply as if resigned. "What did one flag say to the other."

"Nothing," Magnus said. "It waved." He turned to Alec and he couldn't help but smile. Alec was determined to cheer him up and Magnus was going to try and let him.

"There, see," Alec said. "That's the smile I was looking for."

"Thanks," Magnus replied. "But that joke is better if you say which flags were involved."

"You're the expert," Alec said. "I was just working with what I had."

"You just wanted to distract me," Magnus accused.

"I don't know what you are talking about," Alec said innocently. Magnus muttered under his breath, but he was grinning. Alec was such a good friend. Though Magnus seemed to be cursed in the love department he did have many wonderful friends and he was grateful for that. They each returned to their respective assignments. This wasn't the first homework session they'd had together, but it was the first one where Aline hadn't joined them. Magnus always made a point to invite her. Inviting only half a couple was rude after all.

"Arg," Alec complained after a few moments. "These questions are so stupid."

"Well if I recall correctly," Magnus mused. "That class is called the Foundations for University Success. What did you expect?"

"I need to pick a major, don't I?" Alec whined.

"It's advisable," Magnus laughed. Focusing on Alec's problems was so much better than dwelling on his own. "Unless you want to get stuck in classes like that."

Now it was Alec with his head resting in the crook of his arm on the table. Magnus rolled his eyes at his indecisive friend. What was so hard about picking a major anyway?

"You know," Magnus said. "I could help you pick a major, if you like. We could do up a pros and cons list."

"Thanks," Alec mumbled into his arms. Magnus was smiling watching Alec when he heard that oh so familiar laughter from across the room. He couldn't stop himself from turning to look. Ralf was making her laugh and not just laugh but laugh the same way Magnus used to make her laugh. His homework forgotten Magnus wallowed, gazing at her radiant smile he let himself miss her. He usually tried so hard not to, but for the moment he was feeling too sorry for himself to put in the effort.

"Magnus," Alec said warily. Magnus turned away from Camille slowly, reluctantly as if moving through molasses. "She isn't worth it Magnus." Alec's tone had a warning in it, but also kindness. Magnus took a deep breath.

"I know," Magnus whispered. "I just... can't help it."

"Do you want to get out of here?" Alec asked.

"Yes please," Magnus sighed. Magnus stood and began to pack up his books. The two of them headed out of the cafeteria and Alec seemed on his way to the same seating area where they had met, but Magnus had a better idea.

"You don't have any more classes today right?" Magnus asked. Alec nodded. "Do you want to come over to my place to do homework?" Magnus didn't want to be in this school any more. He didn't want to be anywhere near Camille and Ralf.

"Sure," Alec said.

"Great!" Magnus exclaimed. "It's just across the street from campus."

"You have a roommate right?" Alec asked as they packed up their books and walked toward the exit. It was thoroughly fall now so they both stopped to put on their jackets before leaving the school.

"Tessa," Magnus replied. "She's nice. You'll like her." Alec didn't reply, but Magnus liked walking with Alec even in silence. Alec had a comforting presence.

"Do you think Aline would like to join us?" Magnus asked as they passed the dorms. "She lives on campus like you right?"

"Why do you always invite her?" Alec asked.

"It feels rude not to."

"Why?" Alec asked. "Just cause you met her at the same time you met me?"

"No," Magnus said. He wasn't sure why Alec was acting like he didn't want his girlfriend here. For some reason the words 'Aline's your girlfriend' just didn't want to escape Magnus's lips.

"I know you gave her your necklace," Alec said. "But my cousin doesn't really like jewelry. She gave it back to me."

"Your cousin?" Magnus asked. He'd almost stopped walking out of shock, but caught himself just in time.

"Yeah," Alec said. "What did you think she was?"

"Never mind," Magnus laughed trying to hide his surprise. "Clearly I was very wrong."

Alec looked down at the ground as they walked in silence for a few more minutes then suddenly Alec's head snapped up to look at him. Magnus stared; Alec's face was suddenly so changed. He was grinning and on the verge of laughter.

"You thought she was my girlfriend didn't you?" Alec said obvious relief in his voice.

"Well yeah," Magnus said rather ashamed of himself now. To Magnus's surprise Alec stopped walking. He turned to face Magnus and again Magnus saw something he couldn't quite identify in Alec's beautiful blue eyes.

"I don't date girls," Alec explained, he was grinning from ear to ear with hope in his eyes and Magnus balked. Alec was gay. Alec was single and Alec was looking at him with expectations.

Magnus took a step back to remove himself from the electricity he suddenly felt between them. He took a deep steadying breath then forced his face to relax.

"Clearly my gaydar needs some major repairs," Magnus laughed. "Sorry I should have just asked earlier instead of assuming." Magnus couldn't see Alec's face; he was looking away. Magnus wasn't totally sure he had seen what he thought he had. He hoped he'd imagined it. Hurting Alec was the last thing Magnus wanted to do. Magnus started walking again, hoping this would release the tension. Alec followed but Magnus still couldn't see Alec's face.

"We're almost there," Magnus said after they walked in silence past the campus and across the street. Alec didn't turn to face Magnus until they were almost at Magnus's house. By then Magnus was very worried, but to his great relief when Alec looked at him he was smiling.

"Great," Alec said. "My hands are freezing." Magnus let out the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

"Why didn't you bring gloves?" Magnus scolded.

"I live on campus," Alec said. "I never have to go far remember?"

"Well I promise to make you some hot cocoa when we get to my place," Magnus said. "It should warm up your hands."

"Great, thanks."

They turned the corner and found themselves at Magnus's front door. When they entered the apartment the first thing Magnus did was dump his school stuff on the table and go put the kettle on.

"Please, make yourself at home," Magnus called to Alec from the kitchen. When Magnus entered the living room moments later with two cups of hot cocoa Alec had indeed made himself at home. Alec was sitting on the couch with Tessa and they were engrossed in conversation.

"Oh Magnus!" Tessa said in a tone suggesting he was to blame for something.

"What?" Magnus objected, her tone suddenly making him not sorry for not having any hot beverage for her.

"Sworn off dating huh," Tessa mocked.

"This is my friend Alec," Magnus said. "Get your head out of the gutter."

Tessa was about to reply but Alec cut her off. "What do you mean sworn off dating?"

"Oh, when Camille returned the necklace," Tessa said. "Magnus made one of his silly declarations, which we all knew he'd never keep."

Alec seemed about to say something but suddenly Chairman Meow jumped into his lap. Alec looked slightly startled, but petted the cat almost automatically.

"Chairman likes you," Magnus said smiling. "He doesn't like anyone."

"Not true," Tessa said. "He liked Jem."

"Yes how is Jem?" Magnus teased his friend. "Have you told him about Will yet?"

"That is none of your business," Tessa reminded him.

"Ha!" Magnus laughed since Tessa had just been trying to meddle in his non-existent love life.

"I am so sorry Alec," Tessa said. "My friend has no manners."

"How long have you been friends?" Alec asked.

"Since last year," Tessa said. "When we started our second year and needed a roommate. Though Magnus took a while to warm up to me."

Magnus laughed. It was more like Tessa took a while to get her nose out of a book long enough to talk to him, but he decided to let her believe what she wanted.

"It seems you two won the roommate lottery," Alec laughed. "I definitely lost."

"How so?" Tessa asked.

"Oh it's a guy I went to highschool with," Alec said. "Real jerk."

"At least you only have to room with him this year," Tessa comforted.

"True," Alec said then added thoughtfully. "Though now that I think about it he has stopped snoring lately. I have been getting way more sleep."

"Maybe he's trying to be less of a jerk?" Tessa ventured.

"Maybe he just doesn't snore anymore," Alec shrugged. "I mean sometimes that happens right?"

"No clue," Tessa said smiling. "I'm an English major. You'll want a nursing major or something to answer that question."

"You just insist on seeing the good in everyone, Tessa," Magnus told her. "Even in Jace Herondale."

"Jace what?" Tessa asked. Magnus had listened to Alec complain about Jace for long enough now to know his full name. He hadn't thought twice about using it for emphasis but now that he'd said it out loud...

"That's Will's last name too," Magnus said as he realized.

"They must be related," Tessa said. "Therefore Jace can't be all bad."

"You see what I mean?" Magnus told Alec. "She's relentless." But he smiled at her. Seeing the good in everyone wasn't a bad thing, in fact Magnus wished he was more like her some days.


Beta read by Holly0114


And of course as soon as I decide I only need to update twice a week I go on a writing binge. Sigh. Oh well! Are you really going to complain about more chapters? Hopefully now that I've gotten so much writing done I can finally get something else done... like dishes. lol. Or laundry! Sigh... why aren't there more hours in the day anyway? Even if I have the whole day at home to do nothing but write and clean it seems to me the day ends all too quickly... and the cleaning doesn't get done... but on the plus side new chapter!

Though I have chapter 12 finished, chapter 13 almost half done and chapter 14 just slightly started... chapter 11 is still rather short. ^_^ So this sneak peek is as usually subject to change.


Sneak Peek chapter 11

"Why must you always be the better person Alec?" Magnus whined. "Can't we just watch tv, drink our hot chocolate and relax."

"After homework," Alec stated firmly. Tessa watched as Alec managed to motivate Magnus into productivity. Her friends eyes were lit up when he was with Alec. It was quite remarkable. Tessa didn't want to see Magnus sad like he had been after Camille ever again and she hoped Alec would be the one to fix Magnus rather than the one who broke him anew.

"Shall I leave you boys to it then?" Tessa said smiling at them.

"Don't you have homework?" Magnus asked.

"Finished it," Tessa grinned. "And I have a date." With that she turned and left before Magnus could tease her further about her two timing ways.