Working at 'Bloom' falls into a soft routine. It's like any job, I'd assume, simple, slightly boring, but it does the trick. The one little catch is the coworkers. Between Magnus constantly asking me what flowers look like- and me always finding creative ways to say they're alright without giving him the word he's looking for- and Lydia making passes at me, it gets exhausting. Besides, Lydia won't take the hint that I don't swing that way. That, maybe, when Magnus makes joking passes at me just to annoy her, they mean more. It's only been two weeks of working here and it's wearing thin.

"Alexander?" Magnus' voice chimes from the front window where he's arranging a display. I look up from my book, seated on the stool behind the counter. It's a Wednesday, slow and quiet.

"Yeah?" I ask, setting my book down after sliding a receipt in it to hold my place.

"Come here," he instructs softly. Sighing, I hop off of my stool and walk over to him, standing about a foot away as he picks up an orchid that's been dyed blue.

"What do you think of this flower?" He asks for the 4th time already this week. I sigh, frustrated and push my hair back with my hand, turning away from the pretty flower to look at him. Magnus watches me with bright, whisky eyes, his mouth turned upwards in a quaint smile. His navy button up tee shirt clashes brilliantly with his smooth skin, his black jeans tucking neatly in his brown boots.

"What do I think of that flower?" I ask in return. Magnus nods, confusion tainting his otherwise perfect features. Over the past couple of weeks, I've grown closer to him, often wandering down the block when we close for lunch, sharing food and conversation. And, with excuses to my mother, spending time after work with him, also. Wandering the streets, watching the sunset and the stars blink brilliantly into existence. It's these small occurrences that have shown me how enamoured I've become with Magnus Bane, how, maybe, it's not that I didn't know what beauty was, but maybe, it's just that I'd never seen it until I met him.

"I think it's hard to focus on a stupid flower when you're standing here, so beautiful it hurts." I step back, my words falling into the space between us, the air around us spiralling to a halt as Magnus' eyes match his smile as they both widen.

"You think I'm..." he trails off, his hand dropping to his side, the flower falling to the floor. We ignore it as I stare at him, tucking my bottom lip up between my teeth.

"Yeah, I do," I reply honestly. As a Lightwood, one thing we've always been taught is to not hold back. We feed off of emotions, we learn and sway with them. I've always hidden in the background, but with Magnus, sometimes it feels like I was never meant to be a minor character. Maybe I've always been destined for the lead role. Before I can further embarrass myself, I look away, staring out onto the bustling street to distract myself.

"It's okay, though. I don't want you to think into it too much, I don't want you to-" Magnus cuts me off, his steady hand making its presence known on my bicep.

"Are you saying you don't feel anything else? That I'm just beautiful, nothing else to you?" He asks seriously, a hint of disappointment seeping into his tone. I take a deep, shaky breath.

"Magnus, you don't know what you're getting yourself into. I come from a well-known, wealthy family. I come from a place where being different isn't accepted, where everything is so formal and proper that it's stale. I don't...lead the life you lead. I'm not carefree or easy-going, I don't have fun, I don't let loose, I don't fall for people. I'm a closeted 17 year old just trying to survive high school until I can get out and get away from everything." I confess, saying more to him than I'd ever intended, saying more than I ever have to him. Magnus knits his brows together, a frown forming on his face and I decide right now that I don't want to see him sad, not now, not ever.

"Maybe I don't care where you come from. Remember, to me, you're not a Lightwood. You're just Alec. Alexander. You're just here, my friend, my coworker. I just want to get to know you, is that too much to ask?" Desperation is evident in his mesmerising eyes as he gazes at me, barely an inch shorter. I find myself shaking my head.

"No, but what if getting to know me doesn't work? Are you going to be okay if this doesn't end the way you want it to?" Even when my hearts on the line, I can't help but worry about him. Magnus makes me want to put him first, always.

"You don't need to worry about me, Alexander. You wouldn't be my first heartbreak." I don't want to feel jealous over something so simple, yet the feeling bubbles up in my chest and I swallow thickly to disperse it.

"You'd be mine," I tell him, my voice barely breaking a whisper. Magnus smiles softly and kneels down to pick up the earlier discarded flower before holding it out to me.

"I hope it never comes to that. Let's just be friends- real friends- for now, at least. Until we figure all this out." I nod feebly, accepting the flower from between his fingertips, bringing it up to my nose experimentally, inhaling softly and letting the scent wash over me.

"It is a beautiful flower," I murmur softly. Magnus just laughs.

Lydia walks in at 2 o'clock, throwing me a flirtatious grin as she walks passed, sure to flip her hair back over her shoulder. Magnus rolls his eyes at the obvious motion, making me laugh. I find myself laughing a lot more around him. I find myself a different person around Magnus in general. A better one.

"What's so funny?" Lydia asks, cocking a brow. I just shake my head, swallowing the fit of giggles and smiling at her.

"Oh, nothing. How are you?" I ask. She returns to her usual self, turning her back on Magnus, intent on gaining my undivided attention while I seem willing to give it.

"Good, really." She grins and I nod, watching as she turns to walk over to the counter.

"What's this?" She asks, pointing to my flower from Magnus, sitting in a thin crystal vase on the counter.

"It's a flower I gave Alexander this morning when we confessed our love for each other," Magnus responds easily and confidently. I blush, feeling the heat flow right up to the tips of my ears. With her back to me, I can't see her expression, but I can only assume Lydia is practically fuming.

"Very funny, Magnus. Now, what is it really?" Knowing there is no way she'll take Magnus seriously now, I walk around the counter to stand next to Magnus, a little closer than necessary, but comfortable.

"He's not lying, fully. We didn't confess our love for each other, but we did talk, and he did give me this flower." I shrug, pretending the memory from earlier in the day doesn't send my stomach into nervous flutters. Lydia's eyes are hard as she glares at the flower as if it has personally offended her. After a beat of silence, she forces her gaze to soften, a false smile gracing her lips as her gaze snaps up to us.

"How nice. Are you two an item?" She asks, gesturing between us. Magnus turns to look at me, a grin playing at the edges of his smooth, kissable lips.

"Not yet." He replies, still looking at me. I find myself smiling back before I gather my jacket and bag, turning to wait for Magnus. Lydia watches with an undetectable expression, but I throw her a pitiful smile as Magnus comes around the counter to walk alongside me.

"Are you busy tonight?" I ask him when we walk into the hot afternoon. After thinking for a moment, he turns to me.

"No, why?"

"Well, I have a proposition," I tell him, drawing the words out as I think about what I'm about to ask.

"Shoot," he prompts me, walking me to my car.

"Well, my mother may or may not say yes, but...since we're...entertaining the idea of this...of us, working, I was thinking maybe..." I sigh deeply, fumbling for the right words, knowing the lines I'm about to cross.

"Maybe...?" He draws out, stopping next to my car to look at me.

"Do you want to come over for dinner? Meet my siblings, my parents? As a friend, of course. For now." I ask, the words rushing past my lips before I can second guess them. Magnus' face lights up like a billboard as he grins at me.

"Really? You're not afraid?"

"I'm terrified. But I want to be able to hang out with you and not lie. I'm proud of our friendship, of these possibilities. And I want my family to know you," I shrug as if it's not a big deal, but it weighs heavy in my chest. Magnus smiles and nods.

"Sure, I'd love to."