Breathless • Malec

vi. Magnus

"Hey," he panted, pushing his hair back with one hand. "Can I help you?"

"I'm looking for Alec," I explained. "He's here, right?" I checked my watch. It was 8:00 exactly.

Jace turned around. "Alec!" he yelled. "Your friend is here!"

"One second!" I heard Alec yell from the bathroom. He emerged a few seconds later. My heart paused for a millisecond. His hair was a mess, he was wearing a light brown, baggy sweater that brought out his blue eyes very nicely. He had on tight, ripped black jeans and black lace-up boots.

"Magnus," he smiled. I was quite sure that it was the most beautiful smile I had ever seen.

"Ready to go?" I asked him, smiling back nervously.

He nodded. "See you later, Jace," he waved to his roommate.

As he walked out the door, I handed him his coffee. He took a sip, then looked up and smiled at me. "How'd you know I liked just plain black?" he asked.

I shrugged. "You're easier to read than you think," I smirked.

We began walking down the hallway, towards the exit.

"So, uh, where are we going?" Alec asked me as we left the building, the cold October air hitting our faces.

"I planned on going to dinner if that's alright with you. I know this amazing Thai place."

Alec shrugged. "Sounds good to me."

"It's like, a five-minute walk from here," I told him. We walked in silence for a few minutes. It wasn't necessarily awkward, but it felt... empty. I began second-guessing myself. Maybe this really was an awful idea.

Suddenly, I was snapped out of it by Alec touching my shoulder. "Are you okay?" he asked. "You seem nervous."

I snorted. "No, I'm fine," I told him. "I guess I am a bit nervous, in all honesty."

Alec gave me a half-smile. "Why's that?"

"You, I suppose," I smirked. "You make me nervous."

"Me?" Alec stumbled over his next few words, obviously taken aback. "I mean, me? Why?" His face began turning red.

I took a long sip of my coffee. "I just don't know. You're different from anyone I've met before."

"Is that a good thing?"

"I don't know yet." I paused. "I do hope so."

Alec smiled again, a nervous one. "I guess I do too."

We both walked into the restaurant. Since I made up over half of the investors, I always had my own private booth.

"Mr. Bane," a waitress greeted me. "Your seat is open, as usual."

Alec whistled. "Man, is there anywhere you're not welcome in this town?"

I shrugged. "In this town, no. Although, I am banned from Peru."

"Peru?" he laughed, a truly enchanting sound. "What'd you have to do to get banned from Peru?"

"Believe me," I rolled my eyes as we sat down. "I have absolutely no clue."

"I don't think I've ever had Thai food," Alec tells me as he thumbs through the menu.

"Really?" I ask him, a bit astonished. "Personally, I don't think anyone has lived until they've had Pad Thai."

"Looks like I'll be getting that," he tells me. I smile, glad he took my suggestion into account. The waitress, a girl with neon green hair, comes and takes our orders. I decide to get the Pad Thai, too, along with a bottle of champagne for the both of us.