"Are you going to keep working here through the school year?" Magnus sweetly asks Lydia. It's the last Friday before school begins. The shop is slow, Lydia sweeping across the room while Magnus and I trim and wrap some bouquets. Not a single customer has been in in nearly an hour, but it's to be expected.

"No, I don't think so. I think I'll focus on my studies," she replies drily. In other words, the sooner she can get away from the two of us the better. Or maybe, the sooner she can get away from Magnus. She doesn't necessarily hate me, but he's not her favourite, that's for sure.

"And you?" Shoot. Its something we haven't spoken about, something I never even thought of. I tie some twine around a rustic looking bouquet before turning my eyes to Magnus. He takes my breath away, every time.

"If your mother will have me, I'd love to." I answer honestly. It'll keep us closer if we're constantly working together, help us stay together when everything is prying us apart.

His smile lights up his eyes, like flicking on the lights and I know I answered correctly. Magnus would never hold it against me if I said no, if I quit and studied instead, or holed up in my room doing nothing. But I'd hold it against myself.

He's selfless that way, always out to make others' happy above himself. Nights could go without sleep, needs unmet as long as he's working hard for someone else. It's in his nature, to give and give but never ask for anything in return.

It's one of the millions of reasons he's the one my hearts chosen, one of the billions of ways in which Magnus Bane is beautiful.

I finish up with the bouquets and place them out in their holders before leaning across the counter, pressing my palms against it. Magnus turns and smiles gently at me before leaning in and pressing his lips to my own in a quick kiss.

It's not quite like rockets, or fireworks or whatever cliche thing everyone claims they feel. It's like laying back in a meadow in the sunlight, that warm breeze, the heat from the sun washing through your bones. It's a slow, peaceful happening, a welcome home, a safe haven.

Lydia scoffs under her breath but I just chuckle. I can't help but find it a little bit funny how she's upset over Magnus stealing me. It's not like he turned me gay, I've just never fallen for someone like this. I doubt I'll ever find someone else like Magnus Bane in my life, he's one of a kind, unique.

***

"Do you want a ride?" I ask through the phone, tossing my last notebook into my black shoulder bag and pulling my leather jacket off of the chair I've started leaving it on.

"Do you want to pick me up?" Mags' counters cheekily. I roll my eyes, knowing he can't see, but let a smirk crawl onto my face.

"I have to drive Iz and Jace too but I'll reserve you the front seat, Bane. See you in 15."  I hang up the phone and jog downstairs, grabbing an apple off of the table.

"Morning, dad," I greet quickly, taking a bite. He looks up from his morning paper with a smile.

"Morning, Alec. Are your siblings ready? Your mother already took Maxie to school," I lean back to peek around to the stairs, releasing a mildly aggravated sigh when I see no signs of Jace or Izzy.

"If they don't come down in 5 is it cool to leave them behind?" I comment snidely. My dad laughs and shakes his head, ruffling the pages of his paper before bowing his head to continue reading. I make my way to the bottom of the stairs.

"Jace! Iz! Lets go! We're picking up Mags'!" I call, knowing if my mother was home I'd get slapped for yelling in her house. But dad just chuckles and takes a pull from his coffee cup, ignoring us.

A couple of minutes later, I toss my apple core in the compost, hearing the clicking of Izzy's heels on the stairs and Jace's booming voice going on about how dumb school is.

"Ready?" I cock a brow and twirl my keys around my finger, tempted to just make them take one of the 6 other cars for making me almost late. Izzy rolls her eyes and flicks her dark locks off of her shoulder before striding towards the passenger side of my Mercedes. I lock the door with the fob and shake my head as I head to the drivers side.

"Magnus gets shot gun. Hop in the back, pretend you're in a limo," I chime with a grin. Izzy's face twists into a glare but she concedes with a slight slam of the back door once she's in. I slide behind the wheel and start up the engine before making my way to Magnus' house.

When he comes out, he's still running a hand through his spiky hair, wearing a calm composer, yet I can see the strain behind it. I lean over to kiss him, earning some loving gagging noises from Jace. I sigh and lean back, glancing at Magnus.

"You okay?" I ask softly once I've turned the back speakers on.

"Yeah, just argued with my dad before leaving." I sigh and reach over to intertwine our fingers, giving his hand a gentle squeeze as I head to school.

Parking is a pain, as usual, but once I've found a spot decently close to the doors of the academy, I slip out, adjusting my forest green v-neck and sliding my leather jacket on before grabbing my shoulder bag.

I take a second to admire Magnus. Well-fitting tam chinos cover his legs, ending at navy chukkas. His matching navy blazer sits neatly on top of a clean cut white tee. A silver chain claims the exposed part of his chest, and his several rings glint in the morning sun.

"What's your first class?" I ask once I'm finished adoring him. He reaches into his bag, fishing out how schedule and beginning to study it as we head towards the main building.

"History, you?" I reach over, slipping my arm around his waist lightly as we walk. I don't miss the way his cheeks flush faintly pink before he leans into the casual touch.

"Literature, but I think we have second block psych together," I press a quick kiss to his temple, hearing him hum softly, either in response to my words or touch, I'm not sure which.

The bell rings loudly and I stifle a sigh. I've grown so accustomed to spending every waking minute with Magnus over the summer that even an hour and a half away for class seems too long.

Yeah, I never thought I'd be the clingy type.

I lean in, kissing him sweetly before pulling back and matching his gaze.

"I'll see you soon, have a good class," I murmur just loud enough for the two of us. Even when we're surrounded by thousands of other kids, he can make me feel like it's just the two of us. I love that about him.

"You too, darling," he sends me a cheeky wink before turning on his heel elegantly and striding through the hall with an air of importance about him.

He has a way of making even Jace look irrelevant, and that's saying something.

I find myself staring after him even after the sparkles in his hair are no longer discernible from the other bobbing heads.

Lunch comes quickly, which I'm grateful for, and I find Magnus in the mass of students leaving Art. It feels like ages since I last held him. I slink my arm around him and guide him toward the cafeteria.

We make our way to a table and it's a new feeling. Magnus and I share different friend groups, that's for sure, and I wonder who will be brave enough to join us. Eyes follow us briefly, whispers circle us. I've never stood out before, yet that's all Magnus does. It's an anomaly, to see us, two guys from absolute opposite ends of the spectrum sliding together and fitting so absolutely perfect. I don't blame them for staring.

It isn't long until Jace and Iz are sitting across from us, already engaged in deep conversation about who knows. An unfamiliar mop of brown hair sinks into the seat to Magnus' left, silent yet brooding.

"Alec, this is Ragnor, a good friend of mine." Magnus introduces briefly as he picks at his pecan strawberry salad. I smile politely, yet neither of us make any move to get to know each other. It's fine by me. A few other strange faces file to our table, taking seats and striking up conversations. Simon, this nerdy guy who hangs around with Jace's girlfriend, Clary, takes a seat next to me, launching into some discussion about a movie I haven't seen.

It's hectic, unfamiliar, and a little bit crazy. It's definitely not how I expected to start my senior year, but it's alright. Magnus folds his hand into mine and everything else loses focus, just as it should be.