"What?!" I positively bellowed into the intercom. It was half passed 11 on a Saturday night. I had accepted some clients earlier that day and although I hadn't been taking on much work lately, I was already sick of it. I was just getting ready to go veg out in front of the TV, so whatever 'emergency' spell this person needed was going to have to wait.

"Bro, let me up." Answered an amused and slightly accented voice. Damn. It was Pablo, High Warlock of Queens, loyal to a fault, and part-time pain in my ass. He was also one of the only people I could stomach talking to lately. Go figure.

At that moment, though, I didn't answer him. There I was, rattling around in my rattiest clothing (okay, maybe they used to belong to a certain blue eyed shadowhunter, but what he'd left in my apartment was fair game, right?) moping on a night that was just made for partying. This had, unfortunately, become my new normal. But I didn't have time to dwell on that since I had Pablo to deal with, who was pressing the buzzer non-stop.

"If you're here to talk about my feelings again, you can just shove off. And stop abusing my poor buzzer, you ass."

Pablo responded with an easy laugh, "Well let me up, Magnus, and I'll stop pushing your buttons, boo."

I considered leaving him out there, but I knew that his knack for persistence wouldn't allow him to leave me alone. He would either keep buzzing until I gave in or forced his way in magically. To be sure, Pablo was probably the only being who could possibly succeed in using force to get in since I have my place warded pretty heavily against everyone except him.

Yes, Pablo was annoying, but its probably only because he had been looking out for me. I haven't really been taking care of myself since Alec… And damn, now I was thinking about him again… But really, what else was new?

I decided to take the path of least resistance and buzzed Pablo up. He had just started to ring the bell in the tune of something that sounded suspiciously like that new Lady Gaga song. I unlocked my door and headed to the bathroom to grab some aspirins that I would surely need to make it through this visit.

Pablo was sitting at my table with a bottle of whiskey and two shot glasses. His eyes narrowed when I walked into the kitchen with my pills. "Bro, get your clothes and your face on, we're going out," He said, as if going out was something we did every weekend. He used to come to my epically fabulous parties, but I didn't go out with him on a regular basis.

"Oh are we?" I asked dryly. "What's the alcohol for?" I wasn't at all curious, but I asked anyway, just to speed the conversation along.

"For shots" Pablo looked at my blank expression. "To drink while we get you all prettied up. Now come on hot stuff, get ready."

"And if I refuse."

"I will stay here all night drinking myself stupid and we'll continue that conversation about your feelings that I know you are dying to get back to." Pablo had the gall to smile toothily as he said this.

"Fine." I groaned, knowing Pablo never made empty threats. I was not in any mood to talk, but maybe I needed to get out of my apartment. I was sure my cat wouldn't mind. Chairman Meow had actually been avoiding me for the past few days; he probably wasn't used to me being in his face all of the time. And I was always trying to get him to cuddle with me while I watched TV all day. But I had offered to let him watch Animal Planet, so...

"Don't forget to shower," Pablo called as I walked slowly to my bedroom. I heard him mumble something about being able to smell me from the kitchen table. I couldn't help but crack a tiny smile. Pablo had a way of knowing how to make me feel better, if only a bit.

An hour and a half and several shots of whiskey later, we were making our way to some club in Queens that I'd never heard of. I had taken my time to get ready, but I wasn't exactly magnificent, at least not in the way that others have come to expect of me. I had on some black skinny jeans and a deep purple muscle shirt. I had washed and conditioned my hair, which, it seems, I hadn't done in days. Really, I hadn't been paying much attention to hygiene lately. (Possibly another reason the Chairman didn't want to socialize with me.) My hair was back to being shiny, though. I didn't bother with any spikes or glitter, though, because what was the point? I wasn't looking to impress anyone tonight. The last thing I had done before leaving was my makeup. I slapped on some eyeliner to my lower lash lines, coated my upper lashes with brown mascara, and doused my lips in clear lip gloss. Definitely an understated look for me.

We pulled up at the club. There were people lined up down the block, waiting to get in. Pablo paid the cabbie as I walked to join the back of the line.

"When have you ever waited in a line?" Pablo scoffed at me. "Come on, hot stuff." He led me around to a back door where he greeted a bouncer like an old friend. We got right in.

I don't know what Pablo had in mind, but I made a beeline for the bar. By the time my companion found me I was already halfway through a Pina Colada. "So you dragged me out to a mundie club?" I asked him.

"Um yeah… Less complications this way." Pablo replied. He sat down next to me and ordered a beer.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Pablo sighed. "Look Magnus, I'd rather just let you have a good time tonight and talk about this tomorrow, or something, but... Some downworlders have been questioning you recently."

"Questioning me?" I screeched incredulously. I gave myself a moment to allow my voice to return to normal. "I haven't been that bad, have I?"

"Yes." Pablo looked me in the eye with an expression that would make an overprotective parent proud. "You have been sulking around for months and it is getting worse, not better. It makes it even worse that this is all over a shadowhunter. Don't look at me like that, Magnus. I know you don't want to talk about him. But you do realize that overwhelming majority of the downworld hates shadowhunters, right? They feel like you betrayed them only to played by the guy and tossed aside like trash."

I blinked at him, expressionless. "What a nice fucking speech. Ya know, if this whole warlocking thing doesn't pan out you should totally consider motivational speaking."

"And while you're being sarcastic, I'll be taking this seriously, ya know, like the situation merits." He sighed, taking a heavy gulp of his beer. "Your ear is not exactly to the ground anymore, Magnus. People are talking. You have enemies that have been waiting for decades, centuries even, to find a way to get at you and you just sit there with your sarcasm, daring them to knock on to your narrow ass."

"Is my ass really all that narrow?" I asked him, genuinely concerned.

Pablo smiled a bit, shaking his head. "I have half a mind to slap that pretty little face of yours, but you being single-mindedly worried about your appearance is actually a step in the right direction."

"Whatever." I turned to the bartender and motion for another Pina Colada. "That blonde over there has been trying to get your attention ever since you sat down," I point out.

"Blonde in the little red dress, yeah, she has my attention," Pablo replied, without looking up, but with a gleem in his eye. "She just doesn't know it yet."

"Why don't you head on over before she gets desperate enough to start taking her clothes off." I was only halfway kidding. The poor girl really wanted Pablo to notice her. With good reason, too. Pablo was all kinds of hot and sexy. Everything about him was dark and sweet. His skin was slightly darker than mine, the color of brown sugar. His eyes, the color of molassas. He was also super-muscled with arms all thick and tatted up. The biggest turnoff for me, though, was that he was completely straight. Plus, he was like family to me.

Pablo shocked me out of my reverie and waved at someone across the bar. "Don't look now, but you have an admirer of your own."

So I didn't look.

Pablo sighed. "You know when someone says 'don't look now' it means 'look right this instant'." When I still didn't budge he added, "He's cute. Red-headed, though."

I finally looked up, but only because I was tired of staring at my drink. Okay so the guy wasn't bad looking. He smiled a bit shyly at me as I eyed him. "Hmm."

"Alright Magnus, back in the saddle!" Pablo damn near shouted.

"What?" I laughed, eying him in all his craziness. "I'm just looking. I am no where near ready to date again."

"How about a one night stand? That used to be enough for you."

"You offering, sexy?"

"You wish. I already have a pretty good idea who I'll be leaving with tonight, anyway."

"I don't know. It looks like you've got some stiff competition, now. You are moving entirely too slowly for that one."

"Focus on your own game. There is absolutely no need to sweat my technique, Maggie baby. You could come with me, if you feel the need to get schooled." He paused. "Actually, you should really handle your little fanboy over there. He's practically drooling over you."

"Just go." I sighed. "I might talk to him."

Pablo smirked at me and got up, making his way over to his blonde bombshell, who had been swinging her hips slowly, seductively and checking every few seconds to see if he had been looking at her. I rolled my eyes as he walked straight up to her and whispered something in her ear. Her eyes widened and she smiled, pressing her curvy body into his.

At least someone was going home happy tonight. I looked back across the bar. That red-head was texting someone. I noticed that he was still working on the same drink that he had the last time I'd looked at him. I saw him look up so I looked away. I didn't want to give him the wrong idea. There was no way I was actually going over there to talk to that guy. He was kind of cute, but not enough for me to forget about Alec.

I rolled my eyes at myself this time. There I was thinking about him again. Maybe I should just go for the quick lay. Maybe that would get my mind off of him. And maybe the Clave would start inviting me to Christmas dinner.

I ordered another drink. This time a long island. I texted to order an uber to pick me in 1 hour and then proceeded to alternate my time between people watching and messing around with the apps on my phone. I couldn't find Pablo anymore. I'm sure he was busy somewhere with his club vixen.

My bladder was complaining to me, so I took a trip to the men's room. As I made my way back to my little spot at the bar, stumbling only a little, I noticed someone approaching the red-head. He looked familiar. Too familiar. I was feeling a little more than a little bit tipsy, but I would recognize that boy anywhere.

He didn't see me as I watched him like a hawk. My stomach made its descent, slowly, down to the floor as he smiled at the red-head, inhaling sharply as the guy smiled back. Then they hugged. If there was one thing I could cling to its that they did not kiss. Well not yet, at least. But the hug was bad enough. It lingered like they didn't want to let each other go. Their bodies were in contact, albeit lightly, all the way from their heads to their feet. Their hands rubbed each other's backs. I was absolutely frozen. I don't recall even breathing.

I stayed like that, stuck in that spot, in that position even as they'd broke apart and the newcomer sat down next to the red-head. I must have looked awfully strange because Captain Red was giving me a look. That made Sir-hugs-a-lot look in my direction. And smooth ole me still couldn't move.

Alec (my Alexander) locked eyes with me, his just as wide as mine. For the splittiest of split seconds, he looked guilty, as if I had caught him cheating. Then his expression changed to a mix of awkward and nervousness.

I finally regained control of my motor skills and got up, threw some money down on the bar and turned to leave. I'd just made it outside when I heard Alec calling my name. It sounded so sweet coming from his perfect lips.

I turned. "Why? Why did you come after me?" I asked, confused, looking anywhere but at him.

"I don't really know," He said in a quiet voice. "I guess I just wanted to make sure you would be okay."

I snapped. "Okay, Alexander? Okay?" I fumed. "I have been rotting around my apartment for the past few months and it seems you've been out here whoring it up with mundanes."

Well, his expression changed pretty quickly. "You broke up with me." Alec reminded me heatedly. "And you have refused to talk to me. How long, exactly, did you expect me to pine after you?"

"Hmm. Forever." I answered, crossing my arms over my chest, well aware that I sounded like a petulant child.

Alec narrowed his eyes and looked completely disgusted. "Do not talk to me about forever. That's not something I can give you whether it be in a relationship or pathetically begging you to come back to me." He didn't shout, but his words had a hard edge to them.

I couldn't meet his eyes again because he was right, wasn't he? I was the one who had ended things and I hadn't wanted to hear his sorry excuses. And I was still mad at him. And seeing him out and enjoying himself when I was so damn miserable did something to me. It turned me into a jealous and bitter monster.

"No, you couldn't. But you could have given me way more time than what we had." I shot back at him. "Yeah, I broke us up, but it was you who cut our time short, not me and don't deny it. What we had was damn near perfect." I was shouting and creating a bit of a scene by that time. "And you fucked it up!"

"Near perfect? Maybe, maybe not. We had plenty of things we should have worked on. The sad part is that most of the problems had simple solutions. You just refused to address them, Magnus."

I'm sure we'd made for a strange spectacle; what with me raving like a lunatic, all up in Alec's face and him standing calmly and perfectly still. Cue more raving and lunacy from me.

"Are you trying to say you were right, Alexander? And I was so wrong? Was I so horrible? And you so perfect? Did you have all the answers? Did you think that you loved me more? Hmm? What the hell do you know about love?"

"What do you know about it?" Still so quiet. Still so calm. It was a bit creepy, really.

My eyes widened as I look at him in shock. The shock was quickly replaced by anger. "Why don't you go back to red-head." My words stung as they tripped off my tongue. "He's worried about you. I'm sure you'll be needing to comfort him." I turned away from him.

Alec sighed. "I will." He whispered.

Before I could respond, Alec was speaking again, a bit louder. "Look," he said. "I think you're just shocked to see me like this after all this time. And you're drunk. Just sleep it off and I'm sure you'll go back to forgetting about me again."

I turned around to respond. I guess I took longer than I thought, though. By the time my eyes found Alec he had already gone back to his date (or boyfriend, or whatever) and they were hand in hand.