Chapter Text
Magnus hesitated as he approached the doors of the building. Garroway’s School For Boys was definitely not a place he should be attending, the exterior showed that straight away. He felt a pat on his back as Jocelyn Fray stepped up behind him. Magnus could only think of the moment Jocelyn offered to help him, when he heard the news of the car crash that took his parents lives he went running to his neighbour, her name was Dot. She helped him through the beginning of his mourning and along the way managed to enlist the help of Jocelyn. The instant Magnus saw Jocelyn, he loved her - not in a romantic way, but platonically. She was like a mother he had never had, beautiful, funny and kind. She took him in during the summer so that Dot could get back to her summer work. Jocelyn then began planning to take Magnus to Garroway's School For Boys, she said she could easily get him enroled there - he'd have an education and a place to live. Jocelyn explained he'd have to live in the dorms just as her own daughter did as she had to pick up extra work in the evenings which meant she was barely ever home.
Magnus loved Jocelyn, but he didn't love the idea of going to a private school. It was obvious enough for Jocelyn to sense his nerves.
“Magnus, trust me, Luke is eager to have you enrol here,” she gave him a sweet smile.
“Yeah but I mean… Money and stu-”
“I’m paying, thanks to my ex-husband, I have the money for it.”
“But-”
“Hey, I promised to help you,” Jocelyn brushed a hand through Magnus’s hair as though he were her own son, “trust me, this school is a safe environment. Besides, I’ll be here, I’m the art tutor.”
“Oh,” Magnus felt a small smile show on his face, “alright then, that… That does make me feel better actually.”
“Good,” Jocelyn let out a small laugh as she led the boy into the school.
“I’ll see Clary again, right?”
“Of course, you can visit us on the weekends!”
Magnus nodded slowly, he then let out a quiet sigh, “I’m sorry if I caused a bother.”
“Absolutely not!” Jocelyn placed an arm over his shoulder, “I just want the best for you Magnus, trust me.”
“Okay,” Magnus nodded again, “thank you Jocelyn.”
Jocelyn led Magnus through the complicated halls of the school, Magnus tugged his satchel bag closer to him as he passed a group of uniformed students.
“Good morning Ms. Fray,” a blond boy smiled as Jocelyn and Magnus walked by.
“Good morning Jace,” Jocelyn replied to the blond boy with a sweet smile, she turned to Magnus and quietly informed him about the boy, “Jace and Clary used to be very close before Jace was sent here.”
Magnus was smiling again, he was glad that someone else knew Clary, he would have something in common with him. Magnus then wondered if any of the boys at the school were anything other than straight, and if they were out. He just wanted someone who could understand him.
Jocelyn stopped as they reached a door, Magnus glanced up. Near the top of the door the name ‘Principal L. Garroway’ was engraved on gold plating. Jocelyn then knocked sharply three times. Magnus tensed up when he heard the low voice call them in. He followed Jocelyn into the room and let his head hang as he walked, he was too scared to look at the man who called them in.
“Ah, Jocelyn, this must be Magnus,” the man’s voice suddenly seemed gentle. Magnus glanced up and gave a quick flash of a smile to the man, the man was grinning at him, “you don’t have to be nervous Magnus, I don’t bite,” he paused and let out a chuckle, “well unless it’s a full moon.”
Magnus stayed silent as Jocelyn and Mr. Garroway both began to laugh. He looked down to the floor again and shuffled his feet.
“He’s kidding of course,” Jocelyn patted Magnus on the back, “come on Magnus, I know you’re not usually this shy.”
Magnus shrugged, “I uh… I just…” Magnus pressed his lips together before speaking again, “I’m nervous, I’ve never been to a place like this before.”
“Don’t worry too much,” the principal shook his head and stood up from behind the desk, “this school has a no bullying policy, so you’ll be able to fit in easily.”
“No bullying doesn’t mean that people will be nice to me.”
“The majority of this school are nice boys, there are just a few that are… Hard to talk to.”
As if on perfect cue the door to the office flew open and a tall boy with dark hair rushed in, “Mr. Garroway there is no way you’re letting Jace leave!”
“He’s not leaving the school, he’s still going to study here, Alec.”
“But that’s totally… Jace had been my roommate for four years now! I can’t just be left on my own,” the boy, Alec, argued with the principal.
“Well I’m glad you brought that up, Magnus, this is Alec - you’re going to be sharing a room with him,” Luke gently smiled to the two boys.
Magnus tried to be polite to the other boy, he glanced over, gave him a sweet smile and held out his hand, “hi.”
Alec looked down at the boy’s hand, then back to Luke before scoffing and rushing out of the office. Magnus turned back to Mr. Garroway with a sarcastic look.
Mr. Garroway only shrugged, “he’ll get used to you, I promise.”
* * * * *
Alec stormed back over to the blond who was now stood by himself in the hallway, he gave him a look of disbelief and crossed his arms.
“I can’t believe you, I really-”
“Alec! I didn’t even know that my real family were alive until the beginning of the summer, the time I spent with them-”
“Whilst I was cooped up here all summer, struggling to sleep every night,” Alec hissed to his friend.
“The time I spent with them,” Jace repeated, giving Alec a ‘shut up’ look, “was the most amazing time of my life, Alec I have a family who love me-”
“Thanks for that morbid reminder,” Alec pulled a face.
“I didn’t mean that. I just meant… Alec they want me to live with them, and I want that too,” Jace began to smile, “Alec, sometimes I have to do things for myself.”
Alec rolled his eyes, “yeah I get that, but you also have to do things for me, Jace I need you!”
“No you don’t,” Jace shook his head, “you can survive without me, I’m not going to be there all the time to comfort you.”
“Yeah but you should be,” Alec looked away, “no, no. Whatever, you go have fun with your loving family, I’ll stay here with a stupid new roommate.”
“I’m still here during the day,” Jace continued to smile.
“Well that’s not when I need you,” Alec whispered, he rolled his eyes and then began to walk away from Jace.
“Alec!” Jace called after his friend.
Alec didn’t turn back, he just began walking back to the dorm. He didn’t want to face anyone else in that moment, he ran through the hallways until he was finally outside his door. He pushed the door open and walked into the room, he wondered how Jace could up and leave so easily. Some of Jace’s belongings were still left in the room, it was obvious he had no intention of taking everything until the last minute. Alec could freak out in that minute and smash Jace’s remaining belongings, or he could just passive-aggressively pack them for him. He grabbed one of Jace’s bags and threw the belongings into the bag, he took a moment to look at the photo of the two of them together when they were only fourteen. Alec had the urge to throw the photo at the wall, but that would definitely destroy any friendship he had left with Jace.
Instead, Alec put the framed picture in one of his own drawers. He then looked at Jace’s side of the room which was no practically bare.
“I can’t believe him,” Alec mumbled, “what kind of fr- Friend does that to someone?”
Alec kicked Jace’s bedside unit and glanced over to the door as it opened.
He expected Jace, but instead it was the boy from the office.
“Oh great, it’s you.”
Magnus pulled a face, “thanks? Luke sent me here to put my stuff down and also get changed into my uniform.”
“That’s great,” Alec sarcastically replied, “and?”
“And… Well, could you leave the room or turn around whilst I change?”
Alec rolled his eyes, “yes, your majesty,” he left the room and stopped outside the door, pausing to take a slow calming breath. That’s when Jace slowly approached him.
”I think you’re being ridiculous,” Jace whispered, “Alec I have worked non-stop to make you happy again, now I get a chance at happiness and you don’t want me to have it?”
Alec crossed his arms and stared at the blond boy, “of course I want you to be happy, but you have to risk my own sanity to be happy?”
“You’re going to be fine, besides I’m sure that Magnus kid will help you out.”
“What, you think I’m gonna let him hold me like you do? Nope, never, I will not conform to that. Hey, here’s an idea, I’ll come live with you, kill three birds with one stone, you’re happy, I’m happy and nobody has to room with Mack!”
”Magnus,” Jace corrected Alec with narrowed eyes, “I’m sure he’s not as bad as you think.”
“I’d rather move back to my parents than let you leave me, Jace,” Alec frowned at his friend, “please, don’t go.”
“It’s too late now Alec, my stuff’s packed, Magnus is moving in, my parents really want me to stay with them.”
Alec’s frown turned into a scowl again, “I hate you.”
“Love you too,” Jace shrugged, he moved past Alec and knocked on the door, “hey new kid, are you decent? I just have to grab something.”
Alec heard an answer of ‘yeah’ from the other side of the door. He stayed, waited for Jace to come back. Finally, when the blond returned, he had a smile on his face.
“I think you’ll like him soon enough,” Jace pulled a suggestive face, “he was shirtless and… Well pretty good looking.”
“Jace!” Alec hissed, checking the area to make sure nobody heard, “that’s not even… Remotely funny.”
“I’m being serious, you’ll end up liking him eventually.”