Isabelle Lightwood was so done with High School. Sure, it was only March and she was stuck there until June, plus she had to wait all summer, but Izzy couldn't wait for University to start. Consequently, it made perfect sense that she'd told her parents she wanted to spend spring break getting to know the campus. Too bad that was a lie.
The truth was that she wanted to spend her spring break with her brother. Not only did she missed him terribly, but she was worried about him. There had been a strange, poorly concealed panic in Alec's voice the last few times she'd called him. With a few well-placed questions, Izzy had determined that Alec was having boyfriend problems. Though, as far as Izzy could tell, this Magnus person was just stupid. Alec was rich, hot and in love with him. Alec was a catch. She was therefore, here to snap some sense into her brother's boyfriend.
The cab dropped Izzy off at the campus. She'd seen enough photos of the place to know which building was the dorms. Yet another reason why a tour was unnecessary, but her parents didn't need to know that. She could try and find Magnus on her own, but she thought she should probably check in with Alec before she ran off to interrogate his boyfriend. Izzy knew which dorm room was Alec's, since they were all numbered and she'd long ago managed to squeeze Alec's dorm number out of him.
She knocked, but rather than actually waiting for an answer, Izzy just opened the door and entered, eager to surprise her brother. She surprised the occupants of the room alright, but her brother wasn't one of them. The couple who's make out session she'd interrupted jumped and turned to face her. Izzy recognized the blonde as Jace from High School. She knew Alec and Jace shared a dorm, but she still hadn't been quite prepared to meet him like this, sucking face with some redhead.
"Where's my brother?" Izzy asked.
"Wow, Izzy!" Jace said. "Blast from the past."
"Ha!" Izzy scoffed. "What past."
"True," Jace laughed. Their past consisted only of her repeated rejection of him.
"So, Alec?" Izzy asked again. She hadn't quite believed her brother when he'd said Jace had changed and interrupting him making out with someone had done nothing to help Jace's case. Izzy never had understood why women went out with Jace in the first place? Did they have no self-esteem? She wondered what Jace had told this particular redhead to get her into his arms.
"Alec isn't here," Jace said. "He's at Magnus's." Jace then gave Izzy directions.
"Thanks," Izzy said as she turned to leave, closing the door behind her. It seemed Magnus lived just across the street from campus, which Izzy found awfully convenient since she didn't have to wait for another cab. Putting the address into her phone for safe keeping, Izzy started the short walk. It was a rather nice day. Sure, it wasn't quite warm enough to be summer but at least spring was in full swing. Izzy's heels made a pleasant clip clop noise as she walked along the clear, dry sidewalk.
When she reached the correct apartment building, Izzy went up the stairs and within moments stood in front of the room number Jace had given her. Izzy knocked, and this time she waited for someone to answer. There was something different about barging into a dorm room than an actual apartment, the door being locked for one.
When the door opened there stood a tall man with Asian features and caramel skin. He had black spiked hair with blue tips. His outfit, though stylish, was lacking in quality. He likely hadn't spent more than twenty dollars on a single item of clothing. Izzy was suddenly even more annoyed at this man, since she knew instantly who he was. Alec had described Magnus to her more than once and if Magnus wasn't wealthy, surely Alec having money would be a good thing.
"You must be Magnus," she said.
"And you must be Isabelle," Magnus replied smiling at her. He looked slightly stunned by her arrival, though not unwelcoming.
"How did you know?" she asked.
"Family resemblance," Magnus replied. "Alec's sleeping."
"What the heck is he doing asleep in the middle of the afternoon!" Izzy asked annoyed.
"He's got the flu," Magnus explained.
"Hmm," Izzy deliberated, switching her focus. "I guess he's off the hook then."
"What are you doing here?" Magnus asked. Izzy looked over Magnus's shoulder and saw the back of her brother's head laying on the couch. Alec didn't need to overhear this. She grabbed Magnus by the scruff of his shirt and pulled him outside before closing the door behind them.
"I'm here to talk to you," Izzy told him seriously.
"Why?" Magnus asked dumbfounded, while trying to straighten his shirt.
"I want to know what your problem is?" Izzy asked.
"Excuse me?" Magnus said coolly.
"Alec's miserable," Izzy yelled at him.
"Miserable is a bit of an exaggeration," Magnus countered. He was clearly on the defensive now and Izzy internally sighed. Subtlety had never been her strong suit.
"I may not know you well," Izzy said. "But I know Alec, and if you hurt him I will hunt you down."
"Woah!" Magnus said with his hands up. "When did this escalate to physical violence. We just met!"
"We met on the phone," Izzy corrected him. "Besides I've listened to Alec talk about you enough." She paused for only a second before adding, "I once told Alec you'd soon be a couple too cute to stand. I know you guys were once before and I know it's your fault you aren't now."
"Too cute to stand?" Magnus asked skeptically.
"Where is the happy?" Izzy asked. "I talked to you moments after you and Alec got together. I remember the joy in your voice. Where did it go?"
"I-" Magnus started. "I don't know."
"Well you better figure it out!" Izzy demanded. "Because Alec is a catch and he could do better."
"You don't have to remind me of that!" Magnus yelled and Izzy suddenly realized she'd hit the target.
"I see," Izzy said thoughtfully. "There is your problem."
"You have been here all of thirty seconds and now you think you know what my problem is," Magnus yelled angrily. "By all means, enlighten me."
"This has nothing to do with Alec loving you or his family fortune," Izzy diagnosed. "This is all about your insecurities."
"You have some nerve," Magnus said coldly. "Showing up unannounced, pulling me by the front of my shirt out of my house then proceeding to lecture me about things you don't understand."
"And you are just a big scaredy cat who's afraid of a serious relationship," Izzy replied. "And I don't want you to break Alec's heart figuring that out."
"You don't know anything about my life," Magnus yelled at her. "Go away!"
"No," Izzy replied stubbornly. She had her back to the door so Magnus couldn't sneak back into the apartment. Izzy was just starting to wonder what could break their impasse when suddenly someone else arrived on the scene. But it wasn't her brother waking up from their yelling and opening the door behind her, it a brown haired woman coming up the stairs to join them.
"Tessa?" Magnus asked. "Are you alright?"
"I feel like crap," Tessa grumbled.
"Ah so that's why you're home early," Magnus said. "Alec's inside asleep. He has the flu."
"Oh fabulous," Tessa complained as she swayed slightly, clearly unsteady on her feet. "So, I probably have his flu. Stupid spring."
"My roommate," Magnus explained to Izzy. "Tessa this is Alec's sister."
"Hi," Tessa said absently. Then her hand went to cover her mouth and both Magnus and Izzy moved aside to let her pass.
"Call if you need something," Magnus yelled after her.
"Oh, so you will help your roommate out," Izzy said. "But not your boyfriend."
"Oh shut up," Magnus replied as he pushed his way past Izzy and into the apartment. Izzy was having none of that. She followed him.
"I don't recall inviting you inside," Magnus said. "In fact, I recall doing the exact opposite." Izzy just stuck her tongue out at him. She was nothing if not determined to spare her brother heartbreak and the best way to do that was to be in the apartment. Izzy walked straight to the couch where she'd seen Alec earlier. He was still there. Izzy leaned down and gently nudged her brother awake.
"Hi big brother," Izzy whispered. "Wake up."
"Izzy," Alec mumbled, his eyes half closed. "You can't be here."
"Why not?" Izzy smiled at him. He was clearly still half asleep.
"You have school…" Alec started then took a few long seconds to add. "Somewhere else."
"It's spring break," Izzy told him giggling. "So, I came to see you." Alec blinked a few times then sat up and looked her up and down. He seemed to be waking up.
"Izzy?" Alec ask more coherently. She nodded and he stood up, pulling her into a hug.
"It's so great to see you!" Alec exclaimed but then Alec swayed and nearly fell backwards onto the couch.
"Whoa," Izzy said as she helped Alec lay back down. "Don't get up, really."
"This is all Clary's fault," Alec whined.
"I am blaming you!" Tessa yelled from behind the closed bathroom door.
"Plenty of blame to go around," Magnus said. Alec turned to face Magnus and Izzy also shifted her gaze to Alec's boyfriend, who was standing a distance behind them with a grumpy look on his face.
"Why are you so far away?" Alec asked.
"Oh, your sister hates me," Magnus said cheerfully.
"Why would you say that?" Alec asked. He looked a little hurt and Izzy wanted to roll her eyes are her overly sensitive brother.
"I might have yelled at him," Izzy admitted.
"You did what?" Alec asked.
"Oh, come on," Izzy defended herself. "He needed a good lecture."
"Do refrain in the future from telling your sister about our problems," Magnus said coolly.
"What the hell, Iz?" Alec yelled with rather a lot of energy for a man who looked so ill. Izzy didn't reply. She just held her head high and turned to face away. Alec switched tactics. He turned to Magnus.
"Magnus," Alec said gently. "Just ignore her okay?"
"You must complain about me a lot," Magnus said. "For your family to think so little of me.
"I-" Alec started, but he seemed at a loss for words.
"He didn't used to complain," Izzy chipped in. "It used to be all lame gushing until you started being weird about Alec having money."
"Why you little-" But Magnus's insult was cut off by his phone. As Magnus read the text with wide eyes Izzy got a sinking feeling. Izzy didn't like the look on Magnus's face. She knew Alec wouldn't pry though, so she took it upon herself. In one fluid motion Izzy had Magnus's phone out of his hands and quickly read the screen.
'Magnus,' someone named Camille had texted him. 'Ralf dumped me. I need you. Please.'
"Who's Camille?" Izzy asked. Magnus didn't answer but snatched his phone back with a vengeance. Izzy turned to Alec and was about to repeat her question, but the look on her brother's face stopped her cold.
"What's going on Magnus?" Alec asked, fear obvious in his voice.
"I-" Magnus started. "I… er… have to go." And with that Magnus got up, grabbed his jacket, put his shoes on and was out the door in a matter of seconds.
"This is his apartment?" Izzy scoffed. "And he's just leaving us here?"
"What did that text say?" Alec asked in a terrified whisper.
"That some guy named Ralf dumped her," Izzy explained. "What's going on?"
But Alec just pulled his knees up to wrap his arms around himself, tears spilling from his eyes as he answered her. "Camille is Magnus's ex-girlfriend."
"Oh," Izzy said softly.
"I don't understand," Alec sobbed. "He was opening up and talking to me just hours ago." Izzy suddenly felt horrible. Maybe she hadn't helped. Maybe it was her fault. Maybe Magnus had left to get away from her.
"I'm sorry," Izzy said.
"Why did you have to butt in, huh?" Alec yelled. "I love him, Iz!"
"And would someone who loved you back have just run off to help his ex like that?" Izzy countered.
"I don't know okay," Alec said angrily. "But you definitely didn't help!"
"I think he's just scared of a serious relationship," Izzy said.
"That isn't it, Iz," Alec replied.
"How do you know?" Izzy asked. "Because it sure seems that way to me. You could do better you know."
"I don't want better," Alec yelled at her. "I want him." And with that Alec got up and started unsteadily for the front door, but Izzy jumped up to stop him.
"You're sick, Alec," Izzy reminded her brother. "Don't go running after that idiot right now."
"Don't call him an idiot," Alec snapped, but he was unsteady on his feet and clearly saw the logic to her argument.
"He's an idiot if he lets you be the one that got away," Izzy said stubbornly. Alec was spared having to defend his boyfriend's horrible behaviour by the reappearance of Magnus's roommate. Tessa exited the bathroom with a sour look on her face.
"I don't have time to get sick," Tessa whined. "Why did you have to share your flu with me Alec."
"Sorry," Alec mumbled. Izzy was studying Tessa. She didn't look as pale as Alec nor was her skin clammy like she had a fever.
"Have you checked your temperature?" Izzy asked Tessa.
"No," Tessa said.
"I didn't get a fever right away," Alec explained. "Neither did Clary. It seems to be a twenty-four-hour thing."
"Well, then I have just a few hours left," Tessa sighed. "I thought I had food poisoning yesterday."
"I don't think you have Alec's flu," Izzy told Tessa. "When mom was pregnant with Max she threw up a lot."
"I'm on the pill," Tessa explained. "And before you ask, I haven't missed a day."
"Alright," Izzy said skeptically.
"That would be rather awkward," Alec said absently. "What with you dating Jem and Will."
"Wait!" Izzy said. "You're dating two guys at once?" Tessa just looked annoyed by the question, which Izzy took as a yes. "And if you were pregnant you wouldn't know whose it was?"
"I'm not pregnant," Tessa said annoyed, then she turned to Alec. "I know she's your sister, but I don't know her. Could you maybe keep my life out of your conversation."
"Sorry," Alec mumbled again. "Magnus ran off to see Camille. I am not thinking straight."
"He did what?" Tessa yelled. "Oh, I am going to kill him."
"Get in line," Izzy agreed.
"Stop it!" Alec yelled. "Both of you."
"That fool," Tessa scoffed. "I am going after him!"
OMG ONLY TWO MORE FOLLOWS AND I HAVE 200! Please please be my 199 and 200th follow!
Also... what do you guys have to say? I am super curious!
Because ALL the things happened! hehe. Trying to keep it interesting here people! First Izzy POV chapter. Malec crisis. Tessa?
Sneak Peek Chapter 43:
The prospect of walking the last few blocks to Camille's apartment made Tessa want to curl up in a ball and never move again. Switching tactics, Tessa got out her phone and dialed Magnus's number. No answer. She dialed again. Went to voicemail.
'I am not sure if you are ignoring your phone or just forgot to bring it,' Tessa texted Magnus instead. 'But if you are reading this remember that Camille never cared about you! She cheated on you. Don't do this Magnus. Go back to Alec.'
Tessa sank into a bench outside a cafe as she caught her breath. That was all she could do at the moment.
