It was Valentine's day and Alec still didn't know what he was going to give Magnus. However, at the moment he had other worries.
"Never before have I been so disappointed in a class's performance," the professor's voice echoed through the classroom. Alec was sitting at the back, but that didn't stop him from sinking lower in his chair. "I told you all this would require you to keep up with it. You are first year students, but that's no excuse. Even first years should be able to follow such a simple instruction." The Professor slammed the stack of papers, that consisted of their poorly done assignments, on his desk.
"Do you think I'm stupid?" he asked. "Do you think I can't tell the difference between a month's work and a night's cramming? Do you think this is my first day teaching?" He paused to move from one side of his desk to the other. "I have to say I am very disappointed in each and every one of you, and I expect each and every one of you to redo the assignment. To be handed in again next week." He started moving among the students, handing back assignments.
Alec was feeling about as important as gum on someone's shoe as he sunk lower into his chair. He kept going over and over the assignment in his head, wondering where he'd gone wrong. He couldn't stop his brain from going over every detail and trying to remember exactly how it didn't match the instructions.
"That guy is intense," Jace sniggered from the seat beside Alec.
"How can you be so calm?" Alec muttered. Jace just grinned like a fool. Ever since Jace had started actually dating Clary, Alec had noticed a huge change in him. Mostly this change consisted of Jace always grinning like a fool.
"It's Valentine's day!" Jace whispered. "And I'm seeing Clary later."
"So basically, what you're saying is girls are more important than school?"
"No," Jace corrected him. "Clary is more important than school."
"Oh yes," Alec replied sarcastically. "Because heaven forbid we call her a girl."
"Shut up," Jace said grinning. Alec turned away from Jace as the Professor walked by them. Alec took back his assignment but he had his eyes shut tight to avoid seeing his own failure.
"Oh yeah," Jace said, happily. "That could totally have been worse." Well if Jace had done badly, surely Alec hadn't done worse? He opened his eyes.
"Huh?" Alec said stunned, staring at his homework. What the hell was the professor's problem. Had he just been trying to give Alec an ulcer?
"Sorry Lightwood," the professor said before moving past them. "Nothing I said applied to you." Alec just blinked down at his 100% score in awe.
"Great," Jace smiled. "You can help me fix mine." The class was dismissed while Alec was still staring dumbfounded at his paper.
"Why did you lecture the whole class then?" Alec asked.
"Well it was that or ask you to leave the room," the professor replied. "And I didn't want to single you out like that." The professor moved on to hand out assignments to the rest of the students, but Alec was still at a loss. Did the professor know his parents? Or had he actually been the only student in the entire class who didn't need to redo their homework? The professor finished handing back the homework and the class was dismissed.
"You coming?" Jace asked. He was already packed up, books in hand and was waiting for Alec to join him.
"Yeah, one sec," Alec replied as he walked past their row of seats toward the teacher's desk.
"Geez!" Jace called after him as Alec left. "A perfect score isn't good enough for you huh?" Alec ignored him.
"Excuse me," Alec said as he approached.
"Yes?" the professor replied then he turned and saw who'd addressed him. "Oh, Mr. Lightwood. Of all the people I thought would approach me after that, I didn't think it would be you."
"I just wanted to ask," Alec said. "I mean why-"
"You did the assignment correctly," the professor replied, simply.
"So, it's nothing to do with my parents then?" Alec asked. He really hated the idea of getting a free pass.
"Nothing whatsoever," the professor said. "Don't get me wrong. When I saw your name on my class list at the start of the semester, I knew right away who you were, but I don't grade students based on that."
"Thanks," Alec said smiling as he turned and headed back to Jace, who was standing in the doorway to the hall, looking rather impatient.
"What was that about?" Jace asked.
"Nothing," Alec answered. "Just had a question."
"On your perfect score?" Jace scoffed. "Oh please."
"I'm allowed to ask questions," Alec defended himself.
"Yeah, sure Hermione," Jace teased.
"Her-who?" Alec asked.
"Please tell me you've read Harry Potter?" Jace whined.
"I've heard of it," Alec replied.
"Sometimes I think you live in your own little world," Jace laughed.
"Speaking of worlds," Alec said. "I seem to be far more central to yours lately. Where is that extremely rude friend of yours anyway?"
"Sebastian changed schools," Jace replied, suddenly stoic.
"Not that I'm complaining," Alec said tentatively. "As it's been quite refreshing not to be yelled at by a drunk, but may I ask what happened? Why did he leave?"
"He just left," Jace replied. Alec sensed that Jace didn't want to say more on this matter and let it drop, but he didn't forget the pained expression on his friend's face. It seemed Jace had finally given up on Sebastian. Alec had to admit that he was surprised.
"So, you're meeting Clary later?" Alec changed the topic and Jace jumped at the chance to talk about his girlfriend.
"Yep," Jace said. "I'm so excited."
"Your first Valentine's day with a girlfriend," Alec said. "I'm not surprised you're excited."
"Even if it wasn't Valentine's day," Jace continued. "It's still amazing. I get to hold her hand now. And go see her whenever I want. Oh, and talk to her every day."
"Yes, it's called being in a relationship," Alec laughed. They were walking together down the hall now, heading to the cafeteria for lunch where they were meeting Magnus and Clary.
"I don't care what it's called," Jace replied, clearly too happy to care that Alec was laughing at him. "It's awesome."
"You're hilarious," Alec chuckled with a shake of his head. "From relentless player to clinging boyfriend. Clary must be magic."
"Am I clingy?" Jace asked, the gleeful tone of his voice switching to worry.
"I'd have to say yes," Alec replied. "Definitely clingy, but that is only a problem if it bothers Clary."
"Maybe I should ask her!" Jace exclaimed. "What do you think?" Alec had to resist the urge to pity pat him.
"Why are you looking at me like I'm a puppy or something?" Jace asked pausing in the hall.
"Because you are!" Alec laughed. "Adorable, that is. It's like watching a child learn how to walk. Having a girlfriend is so foreign to you."
"Oh, shut up!" Jace said waving his hand dismissively as they started walking again.
When they entered the cafeteria, Jace saw Clary sitting at a table with Magnus and all other thoughts and priorities apparently left his mind as Jace half jogged toward his girlfriend, effectively leaving Alec in his dust. Jace was already sitting beside Clary when Alec got to the table. Alec suspected Jace had decided that the thirty seconds it would have taken him to walk at a normal human pace was just thirty seconds too long away from Clary. Definitely clingy.
"Were we this gushy when we first got together?" Alec whined as he sat beside Magnus. Jace and Clary were already making out.
"I suspect so, yes," Magnus sighed. "And what do you mean were? It's only been a month and a half, Alexander. Surely we haven't lost our fire yet."
"I didn't mean that," Alec told his boyfriend. "I meant that we don't, well" - he gestured to Jace with his tongue down Clary's throat - "do that in public."
"True," Magnus chuckled.
"Sorry," Clary mumbled as she broke apart from Jace and turned to face them, red in the face. They went to order food and when they all returned to the table, somehow the topic shifted back to what happened in class today.
"Everyone in the class is redoing the assignment, but I have a week to do it," Jace was telling Clary. "Lot's of time."
"You shouldn't leave things to the last minute," Clary scolded him.
"But it's Valentine's day," Jace reminded her. "Our first."
"How are you the same person I knew in high school," Alec sighed with a shake of his head. Everyone at the table ignored him.
"Oh, alright, but you are working on it tomorrow!" Clary said, smiling. "You can't flunk out just to spend time with me."
"Well my roommate is the only guy in the class who doesn't have to redo it," Jace said, almost like he was bragging. "So, I think I know a guy who can help me." He winked at Alec who rolled his eyes.
"Really?" Magnus asked.
"Well unless you don't have time," Jace amended, looking at Alec.
"No, I meant a perfect score Alec," Magnus said smiling.
"Yeah. He gave us a very long lecture about being disappointed first. Had me all psyched out," Alec whined. "If he'd just handed them back first I wouldn't have been so worried."
"And everyone else in the class had to redo it?" Magnus asked.
"Yep," Jace said, laughing. "Little teacher's pet Hermione-ed the homework."
"It's called listening to instruction," Alec told Jace. "It doesn't take a genius to follow instructions you know. Though I guess at first I thought it could have been because of my par-" He stopped mid-sentence.
"Your par?" Jace asked, still laughing.
"My parrot," Alec said thinking fast.
"You have a parrot?" Magnus asked, skeptically.
"I wrote him a funny joke about a parrot," Alec said hastily. "On the homework that is."
"Oh what joke?" Clary asked.
"I can't remember," Alec lied. Clary and Jace seemed to take it in stride, but Magnus had a strange expression on his face. Alec had a funny feeling Magnus wasn't going to let this go. He changed the topic and Magnus didn't object. Alec hoped that was the end of it. They finished lunch and headed to their afternoon classes. Alec's last class ended around three-thirty and Alec went straight to Magnus's, arriving just in time to see Tessa leave. They waved to each other as they passed.
"Happy Valentine's day," Alec greeted his boyfriend with a kiss, as he entered the apartment. Magnus wrapped his arms around Alec and a soft contented noise escaped Alec's throat.
"And you think we aren't gushy," Magnus scoffed as he kissed Alec again on the cheek.
"I didn't mean it the way you heard it," Alec whined. "Now come back here. I wasn't done kissing you." Magnus smiled and pulled Alec close before putting his hands under Alec's shirt. He loved the feel of Magnus's hands against his skin. Alec quickly deepened the kiss and moved his own hands to move over Magnus's back. The kiss deepened and soon their shirts were on the floor, Alec's bare chest against Magnus's felt wonderful.
"Hmmm…" Alec moaned into the kiss. Oh, how he loved this man. Resisting the urge to confess the love overwhelming his heart, Alec leaned his head to the side so Magnus could kiss his neck.
"Want another hickey, do you?" Magnus chuckled as his lips moved down Alec's shoulder.
"A hidden one," Alec whispered, smiling. He felt the slight pain of Magnus's hickey just under his collarbone. The kisses and caresses grow more heated until Alec was about ready to drag his boyfriend off to the bedroom. Then Magnus pulled away, grinning.
"Tease," Alec muttered.
"I got you a present," Magnus said with a twinkle in his eye. He looked so happy Alec couldn't be annoyed. Magnus ran off toward his bedroom and returned a moment later with a small box. He placed the box in Alec's outstretched hands.
"What's this?" Alec asked.
"Open it," Magnus said, excited. Alec gently lifted the lid of the box and saw a small silver key resting on red velvet. "Since you're here so much anyway," Magnus added. "I thought you should have that."
"Is this the key to your apartment?" Alec asked.
"Yes," Magnus replied. "Do you like it?"
"It's perfect," Alec said smiling at Magnus. Placing his present down, Alec threw himself at his boyfriend and kissed him again.
"Sorry," Alec said when they broke apart. "I didn't get you anything. I thought about it all week, but-" All Alec had come up with was telling Magnus he loved him for the first time on Valentine's day. It was such a romantic notion, but the problem was that if Magnus didn't say it back, it might be a problem and in the end Alec wasn't willing to risk it.
"It's the thought that counts," Magnus whispered as he kissed Alec's cheek. Alec turned to kiss Magnus's mouth and within moments all else but each other was forgotten. Chests pressed together, lips locked, they slowly moved toward the doorway to Magnus's bedroom. Alec smiled into their kiss as he guided them to the bed.
"Not such a tease, now am I?" Magnus smirked as he flung Alec's pants across the room. Alec laughed. Rather than reply, he saved his mouth for rather more enjoyable activities.
"I think we missed our dinner reservations," Magnus chuckled a while later. They were lying naked together under a sheet on Magnus's bed.
"We could order in?" Alec suggested. "I, for one, don't want to leave this bed."
"Ah, but someone would have to get up to get the door," Magnus reminded him.
"True," Alec said grinning. "Let's starve."
"As much fun as that sounds," Magnus laughed as he sat up to look for his phone. "I think I'd prefer Chinese." Alec listened to Magnus order their dinner over the phone while he laid back to admire his beautiful, still very naked, boyfriend.
"Thank you," Magnus said as he hung up the phone and turned to Alec. "Dinner will be about an hour." Alec grinned and half sat up to pull Magnus down with him.
"What shall we do while we wait?" Alec smirked. Magnus smiled and pulled Alec down to kiss him. Alec's hands ran through his boyfriend's hair while Magnus's hands moved down Alec's sides. Both already spent, the kissing soon turned to cuddling. Magnus's fingers slowly running through Alec's hair.
Alec closed his eyes. "That feels nice," he said.
"Parrot," Magnus replied.
"Huh?" Alec asked, opening his eyes.
"You have never once made a parrot joke Alec," Magnus said. "I am sure that isn't what you were actually going to say."
"Oh that," Alec sighed. He had so hoped Magnus would forget about his slip up at lunch.
"So, are you going to tell me then?" Magnus asked.
"One of life's little mysteries," Alec said, trying to sound nonchalant.
"Yeah, no," Magnus replied smiling. Then he added as sweetly as he could, "Please Alec. It's Valentine's Day. Satisfying my curiosity could be your present to me."
"Trust me it's not much of a present," Alec muttered but Magnus insisted, even pouting a little and looking up at Alec with those big beautiful eyes. Alec couldn't say no to those eyes. "I was worried the teacher only gave me a good grade because of my parents."
"Ah," Magnus said. "Par as in parents."
"Yeah," Alec mumbled, crossing his fingers that Magnus wouldn't ask for more.
"So who are your parents?" Magnus inquired. "Come to think about I know nothing about them, while you know all about me."
"I don't like to tell people about them," Alec confessed. "It's just easier."
"Are they bad parents?" Magnus asked.
"No," Alec said. "It's not that. They're great. It's just that I don't like it when people look at me differently." He paused and put a hand on Magnus's cheek lovingly. "I especially don't want you to look at me differently."
"Just tell me, Alexander," Magnus said. He sounded a little worried now and Alec wondered if Magnus was imagining it worse than it was.
"My parents, Maryse and Robert Lightwood, are the CEOs of Idris Industries," Alec said cautiously.
"Idris Industries?" Magnus asked. Alec wasn't surprised Magnus didn't know the name, since it was more a holding company than a brand. Alec started listing the franchises and chain stores owned by Idris Industries. He watched as Magnus's eyes went wide, his mouth slightly open.
"But, Alec," Magnus gasped. "Those are some of the most prosperous stores in the country?"
"I know," Alec sighed.
"So, you're rich," Magnus stated, clearly shocked.
"My parents are," Alec corrected. "This isn't a big deal. I promise."
"I still don't understand why you thought it would affect your homework," Magnus said, but he was clearly overwhelmed and Alec was worried.
"I don't really know how much, but I know my parents have donated a lot of money to this school," Alec explained.
"I see," Magnus replied, calmly. Too calmly.
"Please don't freak out," Alec replied quickly.
"I'm not freaking out," Magnus said, but his words and his tone did not match up. He was clearly freaking out.
"Magnus," Alec whispered placing a hand on his boyfriend's shoulder. "Nothing's changed."
"Except that you are now out of my league," Magnus laughed, but there was a strange edge to his laughter that made Alec think Magnus actually meant what he was saying more than he seemed to.
Alec pulled his hands away in frustration. "Stop please!" Alec exclaimed. "We went this long without it being a problem. Love has nothing to do with money."
Magnus stared up at Alec with wide eyes. "Love?" he whispered.
"Cat's out of the bag huh?" Alec half laughed, trying to hide his fear. "Wow, I am on a roll today."
"Alexander," Magnus said urgently. "I-"
"It's okay," Alec said gently placing a finger over Magnus's perfect slightly swollen lips. "I know it's too soon. You don't have to say it back."
*hides from Malec shippers* hehe but at least they got some plot again right? :D
If you haven't already PLEASE go check out my new Malec story "Forgotten" ^_^ The second chapter is going up very soon. Just waiting for my beta to return it. And sorry for the slow updates on this story guys. I have been focusing on other things but I was binge writing R&S just the other night so you should get updates a little faster... I hope. This chapter was finished ages ago but my beta got busy. :(
And WOOT! I'm at 179 follows! I so want to see it get to 180 but more than that WOULDN'T IT BE SO EPIC if this story reached 200 follows! o_O Please guys that would b so awesome! :D
Sneak Peek Chapter 38:
"Clary," Jace started. "Am I clingy?" Every since he'd talked to Alec about it this morning he'd wanted to ask her this, just to make sure.
"A little," she laughed. "But I kinda like it."
"Great!" Jace exclaimed. Jace gathering up their trays and walked over to the trash, Clary following him.
"I'm worried about Simon," Clary said after a moment.
"Okay I liked it better when you were worrying about Magnus," Jace whined.
"Sorry," Clary said. "It's just that he's my friend too and he's hurting."
"He's also your ex," Jace added. "And I know I have no legs to stand on here but could you not bring him up on Valentine's day."
