Chapter 18
Magnus' POV
"You didn't have to stay and help." Alec said as he handed Magnus another plate he had just washed and Magnus started drying it with a towel.
"It's no problem." He replied. "You think I wouldn't jump on a chance to get to spend more time with you?"
Alec glanced at him with a smile and Magnus kept smiling back at him even when Alec turned his attention back to the dishes.
"I didn't know about your dad." Alec's voice said then and Magnus looked down at the plate, wiping off few last drops of water before putting it on the table.
"There's not much to know." He just said and watched as Alec was scrubbing the next plate clean.
"I just didn't wanna ask." The boy mumbled. "I thought maybe you didn't wanna talk about it since you didn't mention it."
"There's nothing wrong with asking if you don't know." Magnus told him. "But I could've just mention it too, you're right."
"No, it's okay." Alec said, washing the soap off. "I mean you don't have to go around telling people your dad is dead in case they didn't know. I could've just asked." He turned, handing Magnus the plate and spilling water on the floor. "Oops." He said and gave Magnus the plate before taking another towel and wiping the floor.
"When we first met, did you think we'd ever be in this situation?" Magnus asked curiously as he started drying the plate.
"What?" Alec asked, looking up at him. "Did I see myself wiping the kitchen floor? No, not really."
"No, I mean washing dishes and talking about my dead dad." Magnus said with a sarcastic tone. "No, smartass, what do you think I mean?"
Alec grinned. "You had just as a smartass reply as I did." He pointed out as he got off the floor and put the towel aside. "So, what did you mean then?"
Magnus smiled but rolled his eyes. "That we would be together. And openly. Having dinner with your parents and washing dishes."
"No, definitely not." Alec admitted, taking a glass and starting to scrub it. "I mean definitely not when we first met. Later.. Well, I really liked you. But I didn't think you'd like me. And I definitely didn't think that I could be open about my relationship with anyone. At least anytime soon."
"Why wouldn't you expect me to like you?" Magnus asked frowning as he put the dry plate on the pile where the others were.
Alec shrugged. "I don't wanna sound too pathetic or like I somehow pity myself, but I've never really had very good friends, let alone boyfriends, or people who were somehow interested in me. And you just kinda seemed like someone.. Very interesting. I thought you had enough people admiring you for you to really notice me, especially when there's obviously nothing that noticable about me."
"You're the most ridiculous, blind, idiot that I have ever met." Magnus said and Alec glanced at him over his shoulder.
"Thanks."
"No, I really mean it." Magnus said and Alec turned to him, once again dripping water on the floor from the glass in his hand but didn't seem to notice it.
"Well.. Thank you?" He said, looking confused. "Or should I get offended? Or..?"
Magnus rolled his eyes and took the glass from him, washing it clean from the soap under the tap and then starting to dry it. "Let me explain. I-..."
"Damn, I can't wait to hear why I'm such a ridiculous, blind, idiot." Alec said with a sarcastic tone, setting his hands on his hips and Magnus grinned at his pose.
"Look, just because you've never had a boyfriend or someone hasn't walked up to you and said 'You, Alexander Lightwood, are such a wonderful and interesting person', doesn't mean you aren't." He said and put the dry glass on the table next to the pile of plates and then kneeled down to wipe the soapy water off the floor. "You see, life isn't that simple. First of all, not all people are gonna think you're awesome, that's a fact no matter who are we talking about. Second of all, you can't just stand in a corner and think that you're not interesting because no one has showed interest in you. The whole point of being alive is to go out and get it." He went on as he stood up and put the towel away. "Have a little courage and confidence to show people who you are and there will be a lot of them who like you. That's all it takes. You don't have to change who you are or wonder what would make you interesting, that doesn't help. What helps is actually going for it and seeing for yourself. Finding what interests you about other people and what your own great qualities are. And just because someone doesn't see them, doesn't mean they aren't there."
Alec seemed to be biting the inside of his cheek and frowned slightly. "You make me feel kinda stupid."
"Why?" Magnus asked frowning.
"Not in a bad way." Alec explained. "I mean you're right, and I only now realized that. I really have kinda held myself back and just settled with how everything is."
"It's not always bad. People are different." Magnus told him. "And we still found each other, didn't we?" He asked grinning, wrapping his arms around Alec's waist and the boy laughed.
"We certainly did." He said laughing and then smiled, wrapping his arms around Magnus' neck and leaned closer. "I'm glad we did." He mumbled and his lips only brushed his until a voice spoke up.
"I knew you weren't just washing dishes." Isabelle said with a smirk as she walked into the kitchen, putting her hands on her hips. "Alec, Max needed your help with some homework stuff."
"Oh. Um..." Alec mumbled as he pulled away from Magnus. "I'll go see quickly." He said before disappearing around the corner.
"I heard your conversation." Isabelle admitted to Magnus who opened his mouth but got interrupted. "No, I didn't eavesdrop, I just happened to hear, okay?"
Magnus rolled his eyes. "Sure."
"But that was good." Isabelle said nodding. "You said some good stuff. I think Alec really needed to hear that." Magnus shrugged. "I also think you guys make a pretty good team."
"Thanks." Magnus said with a smile.
"Though you obviously can't get the dishes done together." Isabelle observed. "But otherwise you work together."
Magnus laughed. "Ah! We did get lots done." He said and pointed at the pile of six plates and that one glass next to it.
"Wow, good job." Isabelle said grinning and clapped her hands together sarcastically. "Maybe you'll get to the forks and possibly even knives by midnight."
Then Alec walked in with a frown. "Max didn't need my help. He was kinda offended when I thought he would. Apparently he knows math better than I do."
"Oh, my bad." Isabelle said innocently and shrugged before walking out, winking at Magnus who rolled his eyes.
"Should I know something?" Alec asked frowning.
"No." Magnus replied with a laugh.
"Did Izzy say something?" Alec asked, glancing after his sister even though she was out of sight.
"Yes." Magnus said. "That we should get started on the dishes or we'll be still doing them at midnight."
"Hmph, you should've told her to do them herself." Alec said with a smile and took the next glass.
"Well, I have nothing against doing them." Magnus replied, taking the towel ready. "So far this has been the best one of all the times I've washed dishes."
Alec grinned. "Should I be flattered?"
"Well, you're already blushing." Magnus observed.
"I am not!" Alec argued.
"Really? Cause I don't remember you having that red cheeks normally." Magnus said frowning and tried to take a closer look but Alec nudged him away.
"Don't make me spill water on you on purpose, Bane."
AN: Yaas, okay, I'm updating pretty quick nowdays, huh? Weird considering I'm usually one of those hated writers that leave the story alone for two months and then write a quick update in panic. Well, I hope you guys like this pace.
Also hope you liked this chapter, leave comments! :) And thanks to all those people who have been leaving comments, they make my day. Lots of love xx