Chapter 1

Alec jolted awake when Jace burst through the door.

"Jace, must you keep doing that?" Alec groaned.

"I only do this when I have something huge to tell you".

Alec raised his eyebrow, "Yesterday you did it to tell me that they opened a new milkshake place down the road".

"Exactly!"

Alec slumped back on the sofa, what had he been thinking when he agreed to share an apartment with Jace? Jace was always interrupting his peace and quiet time by dragging him to the bar downstairs, ever since he and Izzy attempted to cook dinner it was agreed that Alec would be the one to cook all the meals, Alec was always cleaning up after Jace's messes and hardly had any time to himself anymore. Of course, he knew the reason why he put up with all this, he just tried to ignore it. But this was hard when Jace was there all the time, and Izzy kept bringing it up.

Alec sighed, "So, what is this huge news?" Alec said sarcastically.

"I'm going to propose to Simon!" Jace said excitedly.

Alec felt his heart drop, he couldn't believe this was happening he was losing the man he loved. Before college it had just been him, Izzy and Jace, but everything changed the day they met Simon. Alec's heart had ached when he saw the way Jace and Simon had looked at each other. When Simon and Jace began dating, Alec hadn't liked Simon and was hostile towards him. But when he had saved him from his ex-Jonathon who wouldn't leave Alec alone they bonded. Though he had become friends with Simon it didn't stop the pain he felt every time he saw him with Jace. But that pain was nothing compared to what Alec was feeling now. Alec had always hoped that he would have a chance with Jace, but now there was no chance at all.

Despite his pain Alec forced himself to smile, "That's great Jace".

Jace beamed at Alec, "Yeah I can't wait, though part of me is terrified..."

Alec wasn't really hearing what Jace was saying, Alec felt as though his world was falling apart. Alec wished he could hate Simon for this but he couldn't. Alec snapped back to reality when he felt Izzy dragging him out of the apartment, (when had Izzy come in?). They left Jace pacing while practicing his proposal.

"Izzy, what are you doing?"

"Taking you to the bar duh", Izzy said.

Alec took his hand out of Izzy's, "I'm not in the mood Iz".

"Come on Big Brother, I know what you're going through you need fun".

"Izzy", Alec whined, but knew she was right. A night with Izzy at the bar would help him forget his pain, it wasn't a permanent solution but better than nothing. So he reluctantly followed Izzy to the bar.

When they got their drinks Alec tried to go to their usual booth but Izzy grabbed his arm and smirked at Alec.

"No", Alec said sternly.

"What?" Izzy asked innocently.

"I know that look, we are not playing have you met Alec?"

Izzy's grin widened, just as Izzy turned to the man next to her Alec escaped and hid in a secluded booth. Alec sighed in relief, but jumped when a man opposite him spoke, "Who are you?" He said seductively. Alec had been so focused on escaping Izzy that he hadn't seen the man already sitting in the booth opposite him.

"Um..." Words failed Alec as he took in the man's appearance, the amount of glitter he was wearing wouldn't have looked good on someone like Jace but it enhanced this man's beauty, his gaze was drawn from the man's ring adorned hands to his cat like eyes which were mesmerizing. Alec quickly looked away when he realized he was staring, "I'm Alec", Alec managed to say.

"Magnus, it's wonderful to meet you Alexander".

"It's Alec", Alec said.

"Really? Alexander is such a beautiful name, very appropriate for you", Magnus said with a wink.

Alec wanted to retort that he preferred Alec, but somehow ended up saying, "Would you like to have dinner with me?" Alec inwardly cursed he hadn't meant to say that but found that he didn't want to take the words back.

Thankfully Magnus grinned widely, "I would love to Alexander".

"Really? I mean great, when would be a good time for you?"

Magnus gave Alec a sultry smile, "Now would be a good time".

Twenty minutes later Alec found himself sitting across Magnus in a restaurant waiting for their meals.

"So, who were you hiding from?" Magnus asked curiously.

"Huh?"

"Back at the bar".

"Oh", Alec smiled sheepishly, "My sister Izzy was trying to help me meet someone".

"Well, you certainly don't need help in that department", Magnus said making Alec blush, "I was actually about to come and talk to you, but then you hijacked my booth".

Alec stared at Magnus in disbelief, "You're joking right?"

Magnus frowned, "No of course not".

"Oh", Alec said in surprise and looked away, Jonathon had always said that no one could love Alec, that he was lucky Jonathon even looked at him let alone asked him out. Had Jonathon been lying this entire time? Or was Magnus messing with him.

Alec jumped when he felt Magnus' hand in his, "Are you okay Alexander?" Magnus asked gently.

"Y-yeah I'm fine", Alec said.

Magnus didn't look convinced, "You really thought I wouldn't ask you out?" Alec looked away again and that seemed to confirm Magnus' suspicions because he comfortingly squeezed Alec's hand which made him look back up at Magnus.

"Alexander, please believe me when I say that I really was going to".

Alec searched Magnus' beautiful eyes for any hint of a lie, he felt a warmth in his chest when he found none. Alec smiled happily at Magnus, "I believe you".

Their meals came shortly after that, and and Alec changed the subject.

"What do you do for a living Magnus?"

Magnus grinned widely Alec, "I'm starting a job teaching graphic design in September".

Alec returned Magnus' grin, "That sounds great, are you looking forward to it?"

"Yes I am, I have always loved graphic design and everything they say about teaching being rewarding it actually true. What about you?"

"I'm a detective".

"Wow, what made you want to go down that route?"

"I want to help people, particularly those who don't get the help they should", Alec tried not to think about how close his situation with Jonathan was to many of the people he saved but was unable to keep himself from going there.

Alec jumped when he felt Magnus cup his face looking concerned, he was about to say something but was interrupted by the very person Alec had been thinking about.

"Alec, where have you been? I have been looking everywhere for you!" Jonathan shouted angrily, causing a few people to stare at them. Before Alec could react, Jonathon pulled him roughly away from Magnus and to him and kissed Alec. Alec froze but when he came out of his shock, he pushed Jonathon away from him and turned to Magnus but he had gone, he must have thought he and Jonathon were together.

"How could you do this Jonathon? I told you we're over Magnus was my date!" Alec said angrily, while he had been with Jonathon he wouldn't have yelled at him like that, but he had regained some of his confidence since their breakup. Alec tried to run after Magnus, but Jonathon grabbed his arm again this time his grip was so tight that Alec winced in pain.

"We are not over Alec-" Jonathon said but was interrupted by a young waitress.

"Is there a problem here?" She asked, though given the fact that she was glaring at Jonathon she knew there was and that Jonathon was the cause.

"No leave us alone", Jonathon said.

"There is, my ex is harassing me", Alec said ignoring Jonathon's glare.

"Sir, I think you should let this man go right now".

"And if I don't?" Jonathon said cockily.

"I will get my manager and she'll call the police".

"Fine, but I mean it Alec this isn't over", Jonathon said and harshly banged into Alec before he left.

"Are you okay?" The waitress Alec saw was called Kathy asked.

"Yeah, thank you so much Kathy".

Kathy grinned at Alec, "No problem", her grin turned into a frown though, "If he ever bothers you here again you come straight to me okay?"

Alec smiled gratefully, "Okay, thanks". When Alec paid for their meals he ran out of the restaurant praying he could catch Magnus before he went home. After searching for ten minutes he found Magnus sitting on a bench staring into space.

"Magnus?" Alec said causing Magnus to jump.

"What are you doing here Alec, shouldn't you be with your boyfriend?" Magnus said.

Alec felt an ache in his chest when he called him Alec, he had found himself liking being called Alexander it felt more personal,"Magnus, he wasn't my boyfriend he's my ex".

"Then why did he kiss you?"

Alec sighed, "He doesn't let go easily and won't leave me alone. I'm not lying please believe me".

Magnus laughed bitterly, "I've been burned so many times that I was scared to try dating, but you seemed like a good guy so I gave you a chance. Guess I was wrong".

"You weren't wrong, I-"

"Save it Alec, I'm not putting myself through anymore heartbreak", Magnus said and ran off. Alec wanted to chase after Magnus but knew it would only make things worse, feeling dejected Alec made his way back to his apartment. Alec had to get through the Pandemonium bar to reach his apartment and hoped that Izzy had already left she would never let him leave without an interrogation. Alec had nearly made it out of the bar, but Izzy stood in his way with her hands on her hips.

"Alec Lightwood, how could you ditch me-" Izzy cut herself off when she saw how upset Alec was, "Alec what's wrong?" Izzy asked in concern.

Alec sank into the nearest booth, and Izzy followed him. Alec told her everything that had happened, Izzy was furious by the end of his story she and Jace were the only ones who knew what had happened between him and Jonathon and they hated him.

"I'm going to kill him!" Izzy said angrily making to get up, but Alec stopped her.

"Izzy, please don't I need you now".

Izzy reluctantly sat back down, "Fine but only for you. I'm so sorry that happened, you really like Magnus, don't you?"

Alec nodded it was with a shock that, he realized that he hadn't thought about Jace the entire time he was with Magnus. It was so typical that when Alec was starting to move on Magnus would be taken away from him.

"Hey, you can't give up on Magnus", Izzy said she knew Alec so well that he was like an open book.

"Izzy, he made his feelings pretty clear".

"People change their minds all the time Alec, he was at the bar tonight maybe he'll come back".

Alec felt hope start to fill him, "You're right, and he doesn't know I'm a regular, I'm not giving up".

Izzy smiled happily at Alec, "You deserve to be happy Big Brother, I think this is your chance".

Alec hugged Izzy, "Thanks Izzy".

Izzy grinned, "Anytime, it's like I said he's out there Alec".