Efflorescence (Sequel)

Efflorescence Twenty One (Final)

"You should come over," Alexander breaks the silence in his car on our way back from skydiving. My heart is racing and at this point, I'm unsure whether it's from the dive or the words that just passed his lips.

"And face your parents?" I know it sounds pathetic, but just thinking of Maryse reminds me of where all of this started. I guess part of me blames her. Maybe I'm just tired of blaming myself.

"I want to see Maryse's face when I bring you home. She's been so...distant since- I just hate it." He shakes his head and I know then that I'll go. Only because he asked.

"Yeah, Alright. Let's go." He reaches across the console and tugs my hand from my lap, our fingers slotting together smoothly. "Can you tell me something first?" I ask, even though I'm not sure I want to know just yet. Being oblivious and ignorant is so sweet.

"Anything." He's quick to answer. I wonder for a moment if he'll regret that.

"Are we getting back together? Because if not I'm not sure I can do all of this. I can't go through all of these motions knowing that the end is going to be the same anyways." Slowly, he pulls the car over, cutting the engine until we're left in deafening, suffocating silence. I can't bring myself to look at him.

His hand lets go of mine before he's cupping my face in his hands, brows knit together into one, incredulous look on his perfect face.

"I don't know how I managed to live without you. And I won't do it again." It's so much like Alexander to say something so chaotic, so wonderfully startling in so few words. It's one of the things that makes him so undeniably beautiful. He works emotions out of thin air, wreaks havoc on every fibre of my being simply by existing. It reminds me of seeing him on stage. How without saying a thing, he can make me feel so much.

When he kisses me, it feels like warmth and home are flooding my veins. Everything feels confusingly numb and electric, eyes closing as I soak up the feeling of him against me, of everything sliding so slightly into place that I let go of the breath I've been holding onto for 3 months.

My chest feels light, heart full and mind melted into the moment.

He pulls away with a gorgeous, crooked smile, dragging the pad of his thumb across my bottom lip before he starts the car.

It's not often I'm left completely speechless. But in this moment, I don't think any words, in any language could ever be enough.

So we drive to the Lightwood mansion in companionable silence, knowing deep in our chests, the knowledge resonating within our souls, that our world is okay again. That we're going to be perfectly fine.

As he pulls into the garage, I swallow my nerves and turn to look at him, familiarity and de ja vu hitting me all at once.

"Does this remind you of the first time I came to your house for dinner?" We slide out of the car and he looks at me, grinning.

"Yeah, it does. We were so afraid back then. Well, I was. You were so brave." Shaking his head in disbelief, it's he who reaches for my hand first this time. He's the one who anchors me, who reminds me that we have risen, are as strong and steady as any mountain, anything that we'll ever have to face.

"I love you. So much," I confess, the moment hitting home so strongly I feel as though I might cry. It's pathetic, but Alec does strange things to me. I'd be lying if I said I hated it.

"I love you too, Mags. Now let's go. Max has been dying to see you." He opens the door and we walk into the living room. As we head further into the house, Alec let's go of my hand, winding his arm around my waist instead.

"Robert, Maryse, I'm home," he calls softly into the seemingly empty house. I wonder if he told them where he'd be all morning. I wonder if they know I've come home.